🌱 More Funding To Protect Synagogues, Churches + Winter Storm

Happy Friday, people of Five Towns! Here's everything you need to know to get this day started off right. Here's everything going on today in town.

First, today's weather:

Cloudy with a little snow. High: 36 Low: 22.

Here are the top four stories in Five Towns today:

1. On Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer called on Congress to double the amount of money available through the Not-For-Profit Security grant program. The program helps nonprofit organizations like religious institutions and schools that are at a high risk of terrorist attack to upgrade the physical security of their buildings with federal funds. (LI Herald)
2. A winter storm watch has been issued for Long Island for a weekend nor'easter. The storm watch will be in effect from 7 p.m. Friday until 8 p.m. Saturday. Nearly a foot of snow is expected along with wind gusts as high as 45 mph. (Patch)
3. A Uniondale man was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison today for attempting to murder four Nassau County police officers at a traffic stop in 2018. Duane Costa, 40, was convicted on four counts of attempted first-degree murder, first-degree criminal use of a firearm and three counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. (Patch)
4. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is accepting comments from the public on an application for a Brownfield Cleanup at the Barrows Chemical Site in Inwood, on Prospect Street. You can contact project manager John Sheehan at john.sheehan@dec.ny.gov or by calling 631-444-2444. (Patch)

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Today in Five Towns:

• Hewlett Elementary School Spirit Day, Hewlett Woodmere School District.
• Quarter 2 Marking Period Ends, George W Hewlett High School.
• Hewlett High School Regents/Midterm Exams, George W Hewlett High School.

From my notebook:

• Caitlyn Michaels visited the Nassau County police department to drop off 500 pieces of winter clothing that she collected through her organization, Caitlyn’s Vision. (Facebook)
• Lawrence boys basketball team is still hoping to make it to playoffs. The Tornadoes have four games to go. (LI Herald)
• Nextdoor Neighbor, Inwood: "Snow removal available, Five Towns area. Call Jose now to get on his snow removal list, free estimates, 516-462-6223." (Nextdoor)

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That's it for today! See you tomorrow for your next update.

— Jackie