🌱 House Fire Injuries + Home Health Aide Arrested In Man's Death

Hey, neighbors! I'm here with your Thursday edition of the Merrick Daily.

First, today's weather:

Mostly cloudy, a little rain. High: 50 Low: 46.

Here are the top five stories today in Merrick:

1. One person is in critical condition after they were rescued from the basement of a burning home on Eastlake Avenue in Massapequa Park at 4:35 p.m. on Tuesday. The 58-year-old man was rescued from the basement of the home. Two other residents escaped on their own and were treated for smoke inhalation. (Patch)
2. A home health care aide was arrested and charged with killing an elderly man in Garden City. On Monday police found an unconscious 83-year-old man at a home on Monroe Street and later that night, Gail Godwin, 63, of Bay Shore, was arrested in connection with the man's death. (Patch)
3. Northwell Health announced a new drive-thru coronavirus testing site at Christopher Morley Park in Roslyn on Tuesday. Nassau County hit a seven-day positivity rate of 16 percent, the highest since May 2020. (The Island Now)
4. The Brooklyn bodybuilder accused shooting his parents in their Hewlett Harbor mansion on Christmas Day waived his right to an extradition hearing in New Jersey. Dino Tomassetti, 29, will appear in Nassau County Court later this week. (Subscription: Newsday)
5. SLSHology is a slushy shop that opened in November at Roosevelt Field in Garden City.
   There are strawberry, mango and blue raspberry flavors and toppings. (Subscription: Newsday)

From our sponsor:

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Today in Merrick:

One World One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure, Cradle of Aviation Museum, 11 a.m.

From my notebook:

• Long Islanders voted Front Street Bakery in Rockville Centre the Best Dessert Place on Long Island in the 2021 Bethpage Best of Long Island contest. (Long Island Press)
• Nextdoor Neighbor, Merrick: "Does a Navien tankless water heater need to be cleaned or serviced? Ours is about two years old." (Nextdoor)
• Nextdoor Neighbor, N. Merrick: "I am looking for a child’s seat for the back of my bicycle. I would like to take my son on bike rides when the weather is nice." (Nextdoor)
• Nextdoor Neighbor, South Merrick - West: "If you have water coming into your house from the foundation, roof, gutters, call JJM Waterproofing Man’s Roofing at 516-523-0057." (Nextdoor)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• 3 New Year's Eve Parties to choose from! (December 31)
• Ring In the New Year With 15 Percent Off Beautiful Blooms From FTD! (December 31)
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Alrighty, you're all caught up for today! See you all tomorrow morning for another update.

— Jackie