🌱Long Beach Lottery Scam + New Cold Front To Hit LI

Good morning, neighbors! It's me again, Ash DeMello, your host of the Merrick Daily.

First, today's weather:

Increasingly windy. High: 46 Low: 23.

Here are the top five stories today in Merrick:

1. A series of pellet gun shootings in Wantagh, Levittown and Massapequa are possibly linked to the injury of a young girl in Deer Park. Police say the shooting in Deer Park may be related to a TikTok challenge with nationwide participants. Authorities are looking for a dark-colored four-door Hyundai Elantra with possible connections to the incidents. (Daily Voice)
2. Students in West Hempstead are getting creative when it comes to honoring Black History Month. Instead of writing an essay, kids in teacher Michael Hall's classes are working on a virtual museum featuring posters, dioramas and music videos. See examples of their work at News 12 Bronx.
3. What's in store weather-wise for the week ahead? Joe Lombardi reports on a new cold front headed Merrick's way late Sunday evening and into Monday. (Daily Voice)
4. New legislation seeks to make it more affordable for veterans to get civil service jobs in Nassau County. Although many jurisdictions nationwide have done away with the fees for testing to become a police officer, mail carrier or other civil service jobs, the fees are still customary on much of the East Coast. The legislation from Nassau County Legislator Joshua A. Lafazan would exempt veterans and active-duty service members from paying Nassau County civil service examination fees, which can cost up to $200. (Long Island Weekly)
5. A woman in North Long Beach was arrested on Feb. 20 for illegally printing lottery tickets. Investigators say that Ana Pachucho, 50, of Babylon, printed tickets worth over $35,000 on that day at her workplace, Liberty Gas Station on Austin Boulevard. Police reported that the fraudulent sales were about thirty times the typical lottery sales for that location, which triggered an investigation. (Daily Voice)

Today in Merrick:

• Winter Walk @ Restoration Farm - Bundle up to join a group walk of public lands. (11 a.m.)
• Scenic Ascension @ Muse Paint Bar - Head to 837 Franklin Avenue for an expert-led painting session. $45. (5 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.)
• Try Curling! Long Island Curling Club Open House - Did you get inspired by the Olympics? Get a taste for a fun activity in Syosset. $35. (8:30 p.m.)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Sunday off right. I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow morning with a new update!

— Ash DeMello