🌱 East Rockaway High Goes Remote + Nassau Chief To Top NYPD

Welcome back, Five Towns! Here's everything you need to know to get this Thursday started off right.

First, today's weather:

Variable clouds; breezy, mild. High: 59 Low: 54.

Here are the top four stories today in Five Towns:

1. East Rockaway Junior-Senior High School started six days of remote learning Wednesday after positive COVID-19 tests meant around 100 students had to quarantine. Elementary classes will remain in-person. (Subscription: Newsday)
   
2. Nassau County's chief of detectives was named New York Police Department's 45th, and first-ever, female commissioner. Keechant Sewell has been with the Nassau police for 22 years and originally hails from Queens. (Patch)
3. A threat made on TikTok against Dodd Middle School in Freeport was found to be a prank, police say, and they found the two students who made it. The threat is not believed to be credible. (News 12)
4. Another school threat happened Monday at John Lewis Childs School in the Floral Park-Bellerose School District. A student found a note and the school was temporarily evacuated. (Daily Voice)

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Today in Five Towns:

• Hewlett Elementary School Winter Concert Assembly, Hewlett Woodmere School District, 9 a.m.
• Woodmere Middle School Grade 6 Winter Concert at Hewlett High, Hewlett Woodmere School District, 7:30 p.m.

From my notebook:

• A video of two Wantagh brothers has gone viral on TikTok. Rome is 2 years old and his brother is 22, and the video of him telling his big brother that he loves him charmed social media. (News 12)
• Nextdoor Neighbor, Franklin Elementary: "These running shoes with spikes are in great condition. My son grew out of them in high school. Can anybody use them? Size 10M." (Nextdoor)
• Nextdoor Neighbor, Hewlett/Woodmere: "I do pet-sitting in my home. My experience is working for a 24/7/365 emergency animal hospital." (Nextdoor)

From our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Big Apple Circus is NOW OPEN in New York City! (December 17)
• Amahl & the Night Visitors — Family Opera at Sands Point Preserve (December 18)
• Brighten The First Day Of Winter With 15 Percent Off FTD’s Sunniest Blooms (December 21)
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You're all caught up for today. I'll be in your inbox tomorrow with your next update!

— Jackie