🌱 Nassau Tax Appeals Moved $1B In Taxes + Local Artist Is Viral

Good day, people of Five Towns! I'm here with your Monday Five Towns Daily.

First, today's weather:

A bit of snow. High: 32 Low: 25.

Here are the top three stories today in Five Towns:

1. Tax appeal firms representing Nassau County homeowners earned more than $500 million in fees after winning assessment reductions for clients while county tax rolls were frozen, according to a new county audit. Comptroller Jack Schnirman’s audit found that the appeals shifted $1.1 billion in tax burden onto other Nassau County homeowners. (Subscription: Newsday)
2. Director Spike Lee purchased a portrait from a teenaged artist from Valley Stream for $1,000. Kailee Finn shared her artwork for a class final at the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan and it caught the director's attention. (News 12)
3. In Long Beach, Liz Nachman began making t-shirts with the phrase “Rebuild the Beach” in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. She was able to donate about $45,000 to the school district and her apparel has now been sold in stores around Long Beach, including Synergy Gym and Tutti Frutti. (LI Herald)

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Today in Five Towns:

• Glowing Snow, Paint and Sip Experience, Muse Paintbar, 837 Franklin Ave., Garden City, 7 p.m.

From my notebook:

• Staffing shortages due to omicron are leading to longer ambulance call times in Nassau County. (Subscription: Newsday)
• The Powerball jackpot has increased to $522 million after no winner was found during Saturday's drawing. The next drawing is tonight at 11 p.m. (News 12)
• Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library has storybooks in French, over 1,350 digital titles. (Facebook)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Monday. I'll see you soon!

— Jackie