🌱Ghost Guns Found In Massapequa + 99 Ranch Market To Open In Westbury

Happy Wednesday, neighbors! Here's everything you need to know going on in town today.

First, today's weather:

Rain in the morning. High: 52 Low: 47.

Here are the top five stories in Merrick today:

1. An arraignment this week revealed that a Hempstead man rifled through the victim's pockets as he lay dying, according to the Nassau County DA. Deshawn Martin, 25, faces multiple charges in relation to the January 30 killing of Santos Valeriano Argueta. Witnesses say Argueta was attempting to intervene when Martin was attacking another individual during an armed robbery. Martin is due back in court on May 13. (Patch)
2. Gerald Gilraine, 21, of Massapequa, was arrested with ghost guns after shooting himself, police say. Emergency workers responded to a 911 call regarding a self-inflicted gunshot to the hand on the afternoon of April 2. An investigation revealed Gilraine was in possession of the undocumented weapons, gun parts and ammunition. (Daily Voice)
3. Remember boy bands from the `90s? They're still around, and one is headed to Jones Beach. The band Why Don't We will perform on the Northwell Health stage at Jones Beach Theater on July 6. The band has an impressive global social media following and a chart-topping album, The Good Times and The Bad Ones, which was released in 2020. (Patch)
4. A West Coast-based Asian grocery store is coming this way! 99 Ranch Market will open its first LI store this week in Samanea New York shopping center in Westbury. (Patch)
5. Have you been to Rockville Centre's downtown lately? Newsday calls it a "magnet for dining and shopping." Click over to the article to find out why (subscription required).

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Today in Merrick:

• Circle Time - Freeport Memorial Library welcomes the littles (and their grown-ups) for a fun-filled story time with songs! Ages 1-3. (10:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.)
• African Art in Context - Hofstra University hosts a free discussion at the David Filderman Gallery. Registration is required. (2:40 p.m. - 4:05 p.m.)
• Wine Down Wednesday - The Ainsworth RVC offers a spot to decompress mid-week with half-priced bottles, flights and live music! (5 p.m. - 9 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Public Information Representative Donna Harris, United States Postal Inspection Service - New York invites you to a special educational series to combat various types of fraud. AARP and Postal Inspectors: Fighting Against Fraud Series will feature three sessions starting Thursday, April 7. Pre-registration is required. (Nextdoor)
• Here's another save-the-date to add to your calendar: Long Beach Brewing Company is hosting a pop-up featuring Beechwood BBQ on Sunday, April 10. Click over to the post to get more delicious details! (Instagram)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• The Wellness Tour; Marci Baron Mindfulness and Meditation Event and Tasting (April 6)
• Yiddish Fight Club with Dr. Eddy Portnoy (April 6)
• Holy Land Hardball Film Screening (April 10)
• Palm Sunday Brunch and Branches! Free Family Community Event! (April 10)
• Celia Berk Sings: On My Way To You: Improbable Stories that Inspired an Unlikely Path (April 10)
• Add your event

Announcements:

• Legacy Wood FloorsLLC (Details)
• Behind The Scoreboard – Ed’s Love Of Baseball (Details)
• Add your announcement

Loving the Merrick Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved:

• Send a friend or neighbor this link so they can subscribe
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• Send me a news tip or suggestion at ash.the.copyartist@gmail.com

You're officially in the loop for today! I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow morning with your next update.

— Ash DeMello