🌱Westbury Robbery Suspect On The Loose + Power Outages Plague LI

Morning, people of Merrick! It's me again, Ash DeMello, your host of the Merrick Daily.

First, today's weather:

Turning sunny; breezy, colder. High: 30 Low: 16.

Here are the top five stories in Merrick today:

1. A suspect is at large after a robbery at a Dunkin' Donuts in Westbury. Witnesses say an individual held a gun to the clerk and demanded cash around 7:20 PM on Thursday. Click over to the Daily Voice to read a description and learn how to report tips to Nassau County Crime Stoppers.
2. Owners at the Zim Zari California Coastal in Massapequa announced earlier this week over Facebook they'll be closing. The closure of the popular restaurant comes after the unexpected death of owner Keith Giannadeo last year. The establishment is already in the hands of new owners who will reinvent the space as Vida, although details about that spot are still awaited. (Rutherford Daily Voice)
3. Learn about the originators of Baldwin in an article by Karina Kovac. Karen Montalbano of the Baldwin Historical Society shared her findings in a recent presentation titled, "Meet the Baldwins." Founded in 1855 as Baldwinsville, the town was home to a number of prominent Baldwin family members, including the politically active Sarah Barnum. Get the rest of the story at liherald.
4. Relive the beauty of last weekend's snow days with photos from Cedar Creek Park, published in the liherald. It's estimated that around 500 people gathered at the park to play in the fluffy white stuff.
5. Brace yourself for the next storm: Zak Failla reports on power outages throughout Long Island as a new wintry storm swept through. Over 100 residents were impacted by the outages as of Friday morning, and PSEG Long Island anticipated restoring power by around 1:00 PM. (Daily Voice)

Today in Merrick:

• Parent & Child Animal Sewing Class - Freestyle Swim Kids invites kids ages 4-8 plus their grownup for fun crafting time! $25, registration required. (10:00 AM - 11:30 AM)
• Sharing the Shore: Beach Nesting Birds and Audubon New York - Audubon of New York presents an opportunity to learn about shorebirds, their nesting habits and conservation efforts @ Jones Beach Energy & Nature Center. Free; registration required. (11:00 AM - 12:30 PM)
• Scott Joplin: King of Ragtime [Virtual] - Freeport Memorial Library hosts a chance to learn about an iconic musician. Registration is required. (2:00 PM - 3:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Merrick Library says you still have a chance to join the Freedom Quilts program happening on Wednesday, February 9th at 4:30 PM. The program is designed for kids in grades 2-6 to learn about the Underground Railroad. (Facebook)
• Look out for a new IPA in the area! Long Beach Brewing is sharing its latest collab with @18thwardbrewing today from 1:00 - 9:00 PM! (Instagram)
• Check out a list of some of the latest furry folks looking for homes over at the Long Island Press. (Twitter)

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You're all caught up for today. I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow with your next update!

— Ash DeMello