🌱Lawmakers Demand Jones Inlet Dredge + LIRR Graffiti Cleanup

Happy Friday, neighbors! Here's everything going on today in town.

First, today's weather:

Cloudy with a little snow. High: 36 Low: 23.

Here are the top stories five today in Merrick:

1. The Nassau County District Attorney announced that a Uniondale man was sentenced on Thursday for the attempted murder of four Nassau County Police Department members. Duane Costa, 40, fired at least two rounds at the officers as they pursued him through Hempstead in 2018. Costa will spend 25 years to life in prison. (Press Release Desk)
2. Locals throughout the area awoke to graffiti on January 19. Residents reported tagging at the Seaford, Wantagh, Bellmore and Baldwin Long Island Railroad Stations. A city councilor, LIRR staff and others worked together last weekend to get it cleaned up. (liherald)
3. Boaters and lawmakers are demanding expedited dredging of the Jones Inlet near Lido Beach, James Bernstein reports. The spot was the site of a fatal boating accident in 2020 when two boaters were killed in its shallow waters. State Senator Todd Kaminsky of Long Beach says the Army Core of Engineers is supposed to dredge every six years; Jones Inlet was last dredged in 2014. (liherald)
4. Get a closer look at the dinosaurs at the Long Island Children's Museum as part of the "Roadtrip Close to Home" segment from News 12 Bronx. The new exhibit features nine animatronic dinosaurs and much more.
5. Celebrate local history with the Long Beach library's upcoming exhibit of photographs documenting the city's past. Beginning February 5, the facility will share the Harvey Weisenberg exhibit on the first floor, featuring a collection of artifacts, some of which date back to the early 1900s. Registration is recommended. (Newsday; subscription required)

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Today in Merrick:

• Friday Films: Leonardo the Works (Documentary) - Learn about Leonardo Da Vinci, his life and times and his masterpieces at the Merrick Library. (2:00 PM - 3:45 PM)
• Time for Trivia [online] - Freeport Memorial Library invites kids in grades 5-12 to test their smarts! Call for the link. (6:00 PM)
• Decadia Live at Mulcahy's - Celebrate the 1980s with a live performance. $20. (Doors open at 7:00 PM; show starts at 9:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Nassau County Police Department gave a shoutout to local student Caitlyn Michaels, who dropped off 500 pieces of winter clothing that she collected through her organization, Caitlyn’s Vision. The agency's POP officers will work to distribute the items throughout the community. (Facebook)
• Needing an afternoon pick-me-up or wine-down? Standard Pour LI offers two-for-one drinks on Thursday and Fridays from 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM. (Instagram)

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That's it for today! I'll be in your inbox tomorrow morning with your next update.

— Ash DeMello