🌱 Affordable Housing In Nassau + Mask Mandate Enforcement?

Good morning, people of Merrick! I'm here with the Wednesday Merrick Daily.

First, today's weather:

Some sun, then clouds; mild. High: 52 Low: 52.

Here are the top four stories in Merrick today:

1. Nassau County approved the $1.6 million sale of two county-owned properties in Freeport and Roosevelt to a developer to build 155 units of affordable housing. MHANYS Freeport LLC is a nonprofit and will build mixed income, multifamily residential housing and ground-level commercial space at 450-46 North Main St. in Freeport and 470 North Main St. in Roosevelt. (Subscription: Newsday)
2. Nassau County Executive-elect Bruce Blakeman said he will not enforce Gov. Kathy Hochul's new mask mandate. And a spokeswoman for the current executive, Laura Curran, said she will not be actively enforcing the mandate, only responding to complaints. (Subscription: Newsday)
3. A Hudson Valley woman was arrested for the Nov. 25 murder of a Hempstead man on Fulton Avenue. Veronica Hardwick, 51, of Poughkeepsie, is accused of stabbing and killing 35-year-old Richard Reshard. (Patch)
4. Flu cases are beginning to rise, and Nassau has the most cases of anywhere in New York State. This week saw 2,871 cases of influenza out of more than 64,000 tests. Both Nassau and Suffolk reported more than 10 new flu cases per 100,000 residents. (Daily Voice)

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Today in Merrick:

• FAPA at Mepham, 7:30 p.m., Bellmore-Merrick Central School District.
• Narcan Training sponsored by Councilman Carini & the Town of Hempstead, Freeport Library, 6 p.m.
• SEPTA Event, North Merrick UFSD, 7:30 p.m.

From my notebook:

• A Carle Place man was killed Friday after losing control of his vehicle and hitting a highway overpass on the Northern State Parkway in North Hempstead. Gregory Gordon, 29, died after his car caught fire. (Daily Voice)
• This Saturday, Santa will visit Merrick with Merrick Truck Co. 1. The first stop is at 2 p.m. at Merrick and Loines avenues, and then at 3:30 p.m. at Julian Lane Park. (Facebook)
• New York State Police are hosting a recruitment drive today at 2 p.m. at Freeport Library. (Patch)

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)
• Add your event

Housing:

• 1194 Gianelli Ave., Merrick — OPEN HOUSE 4 SALE, Dec. 18 and Dec. 19, 1-4 p.m. (Details)
• Add your listing

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You're all caught up for today. See you all tomorrow for another update!

— Jackie