🌱 Nautical Mile Hotel + Online Betting And Gambling Addiction

Morning, people of Five Towns! I'm here with a brand-new Five Towns Daily.

First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny, breezy and cold. High: 27 Low: 19.

Here are the top three stories today in Five Towns:

1. A new hotel with a ballroom, rooftop bar and restaurant is coming to the Nautical Mile in Freeport, at the old Schooner's site. NBD Holding LLC, a development group, will build a 100-room Hilton Garden Inn, a $43.58 million project. (Subscription: Newsday)
2. Mental health experts are warning that online betting is a risk for gambling addiction. New York has broken records for the largest population of sports betters in the country and more than 31 million Americans are expected to bet on this year's Super Bowl. (News 12)
3. Jurassic Quest is coming to Nassau Coliseum from Feb. 19 to 21. More than 70 animatronic dinosaurs can roar, move, open their mouths, and blink their eyes. (Subscription: Newsday)

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Today in Five Towns:

• Hewlett Elementary School Friendship Dance, Hewlett Woodmere School District

From my notebook:

• New York state has given the City of Long Beach with a $90,100 grant to hire a consultant for environmental-related projects and to help develop a waterfront revitalization program for Long Beach. (Patch)
• Five Towns resident David Friedman, the former ambassador to Israel under President Trump, along with wife, Tammy, will be honored by the Chabad of the Five Towns as “Ambassadors of Light,” at the religious organization’s 27th annual gala dinner on Feb. 15. (LI Herald)
• The Nassau County Peer Diversion Court is a program where high school students act as attorneys and jurors for a juvenile who has committed a nonviolent crime. Now the program is being offered to middle-school students. (Subscription: Newsday)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed! See you all tomorrow for your next update.

— Jackie