🌱 First Omicron Cases In Nassau + Car Dealership Fires

Morning, neighbors! I'm here with a fresh issue of the Merrick Daily.

Nassau County sees its first two cases of the omicron coronavirus variant. Two fires broke out at Nassau car dealerships. And Bellmore-Merrick student athletes were recognized for their 2021 accomplishments.

First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny. High: 50 Low: 38.

Here are the top stories today in Merrick:

1. Nassau County records its first two cases of the omicron variant of coronavirus, and Long Island begins a new mask or vaccine proof policy set by Gov. Kathy Hochul this week. New York State cases have gone up 49 percent since Thanksgiving. (Subscription: Newsday)
2. The Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District's Board of Education honored student-athletes at a recent meeting. Stanford H. Calhoun High School boy’s cross-country team was named for winning the county championship and state qualifier meets. Sofia LaSpina, of Wellington C. Mepham High School, the first female football player on Long Island to score a touchdown, was also recognized. (LI Herald)
3. Two fires were reported at two different Nassau car dealerships on Sunday night, they were at Westbury Toyota on Old Country Road in Westbury and a Jeep dealership on Jericho Turnpike in Jericho. It's unclear if the two fires, at 8:30 p.m. and 9 p.m., were related. (News 12)

Today's Merrick Daily is brought to you in part by our friends at Ring, the home security company. Ring does a lot more than doorbells: check out their full suite of smart home products at Ring.com. And thank you Ring for helping to make local news happen in Merrick!

Today in Merrick:

• Board of Education Meeting, HDF, North Merrick UFSD, 7 p.m.

From my notebook:

• Hector Nunez worked as a Nassau police officer at the fifth precinct in Valley Stream for 16 years. A funeral was held Monday for the 42-year-old father of four, who died from COVID-19. (News 12)
• Nextdoor Neighbor, South Merrick - West: "Missing male cat in Merrick for a couple of weeks. Last seen Chestnut Street, off of Babylon Turnpike just south of Sunrise Highway. If seen please call 516 521-5978." (Nextdoor)
• Nextdoor Neighbor, Margaret Blvd: "Does anyone have any experience with momentum solar panels? We are considering this company. Need feedback on their performance." (Nextdoor)

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That's it for today. I'll see you soon!

— Jackie