🌱 Racist Act At Mepham Basketball Game + COVID-19 Numbers Up

Morning, Merrick! Let's get you started this Saturday with everything you need to know going on today in Merrick.

A racist gesture and comment at a Mepham basketball game sparked outrage. Long Island's COVID-19 numbers are going up. And residents say some people coming to the UBS Arena are trashing their homes.

First, today's weather:

A couple of showers. High: 59 Low: 44.

Here are the top five stories today in Merrick:

1. Jerry Barmash reports that a racist comment and gesture was made at a basketball game between Elmont Memorial High School and Mepham High School. Someone in the Mepham stands Tuesday night called out "here monkeys, come and get it" while holding a bunch of bananas. (Patch)
2. Keep track of the local real estate market by viewing the three most expensive homes that sold last month in Massapequa. They range from $1.1 to $1.3 million. (Subscription: Long Island Business News)
3. The Daily Voice has an update on COVID-19 numbers in Nassau and Suffolk counties. Long Island's seven-day average percentage of positive test results went from 5.89 percent to 6.04 percent over the last three days. (Daily Voice)
4. A Massapequa Park man died after crashing into a box truck on Route 110 at 4 a.m. on Thursday. Steven Zaug was 35 years old. (Daily Voice)
5. News 12 Long Island talks to residents near the new UBS arena. At a Floral Park Civic Association meeting on Thursday, people said eventgoers are urinating on peoples' lawns and throwing garbage around. (News 12)

Today in Merrick:

• HDF Winter Breakfast, Snow Date, North Merrick UFSD, 10 a.m.

From my notebook:

• 50 kids from the Westbury School District went on a Walmart shopping spree as part of an annual “Shop with a Cop” event. (Facebook)
• Merrick Bellmore Little League registration closes Jan. 15. (Facebook)
• Nextdoor Neighbor, N. Merrick: "I read a post about a mother asking for type A blood for her daughter. Now I can’t find the post to reply and I have type A. I would like to help out. If anyone has the post, could you send it to me?" (Nextdoor)

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Events:

• Festival of Games — a retro holiday shopping and gaming event (December 11)
• INN Holiday Curbside Drive (December 11)
• Holiday Tales at the Castle at Sands Point Preserve (December 12)
• Christmas Tree Lighting (December 12)
• Big Apple Circus is NOW OPEN in New York City! (December 12)
• 57th Annual Children's Christmas Toy Drive (December 13)
• Add your event

Announcements:

• Behind The Scoreboard — Ed Sullivan’s Huge Lesson For The World (Details)
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Housing:

• 1194 Gianelli Ave., Merrick-OPEN HOUSE 4 SALE, Dec. 18 and Dec. 19, 1-4 p.m. (Details)
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Job listings:

• Lumber yard worker/ facility attendant/ Customer Service (Details)
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That's it for today! I'll see you soon.

— Jackie