🌱 Choir Director Child Porn Prison Sentence + Noose Hung

Up and at 'em, Merrick! It's Friday, so let's get you started with everything you need to know going on in town today.

Police are investigating who hung a noose in North Amityville. A former choir director at St. Agnes Cathedral was sentenced to prison on child porn charges. The Republican County Executive challenger is accusing Laura Curran of misusing funds. And two October events are coming up: one for canines and one for beer-loving humans.

First, today's weather:

Intervals of clouds and sun. High: 75 Low: 65.

Here are the top stories in Merrick today:

1. CBS News reports that someone hung the noose from a pergola behind North Amityville Senior Center between Oct. 1 and Oct. 4. Police are asking anyone with information to contact them. (CBS New York)
2. Alex Costello tells us that the former choir director of St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre was sentenced to 72 months in prison for receiving child pornography. Michael Wustrow, 59, of Freeport, pleaded guilty on June 13, 2019 to the charges. He formerly directed children in choirs in the church. (Patch)
3. Long Island’s biggest dog Halloween costume contest and parade returns to a live event this year after a virtual event last year. On Oct. 30, the 9th Annual Nassau Barkfest will be held in Eisenhower Park. (LongIsland.com)
4. The New York Post explains how Nassau Republican County Executive nominee Bruce Blakeman is accusing current Exec Laura Curran of using taxpayer-funded mailings as campaign materials. (New York Post )
5. The LI Herald previews a brand new Oktoberfest bar crawl that will take place in Wantagh this weekend. On Saturday, crawl participants will hit Croker’s, Craft, The Irish Poet, Bunker Hill, Corry’s, The Wantagh Inn, Ridgewood and Mulcahy’s. (LI Herald)

Today's Merrick Daily is brought to you by Verizon, a Patch Brand Partner. Learn more about online gaming relationships and how they've helped some children through the pandemic.

Today in Merrick:

• Transcript request due to registrar for Nov. 1 application deadline, Bellmore-Merrick schools.
• Camp Book Fair, North Merrick UFSD.
• HDF Marine Science Trip Rain Date, North Merrick UFSD.

Merrick Patch Notebook

• Merrick Chamber of Commerce invites everyone to a Halloween parade on Oct. 30. The parade will go down Merrick Avenue, starting at the gazebo at 11 a.m. and end at 1 p.m. (Facebook)

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Events:

• “The Play That Goes Wrong” — Broadway’s Funniest Smash Hit Is Back! (October 15)
• Sondheim, Part 1, with Paul Baer and Richard Knox (October 17)
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Alrighty, you're all good for today! See you all tomorrow for another update. If you're into these newsletters, consider bringing some more friends and neighbors into the fold. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— Jackie

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Merrick Daily? I'm all ears. You can email me at Merrick@Patch.com.