🌱 Motorcyclist Dies In Crash + Nassau's Economy Hit By COVID-19

Good morning, people of Merrick! I'm here with today's edition of the Merrick Daily.

Nassau's economy was hit harder by Suffolk's in 2020 from the pandemic recession. A LI astronaut helped a new space exhibit open nearby. And a motorcyclist died in a crash with a van this week in Nassau.

First, today's weather:

Cloudy and milder. High: 50 Low: 45.

Here are the top stories in Merrick today:

1. News 12 checks out the Cradle of Aviation Museum's new exhibit called New Views of the Universe. It features real images collected from the Hubble Space Telescope of other planets, black holes and galaxies. Franklin Square native Mike Massimino was part of the telescope team and talked to children about being a NASA astronaut. (News 12)
2. Nassau County's economy was hit harder than Suffolk's by the COVID-19 pandemic. The county's gross domestic product was $83 billion in 2020. down 6.4 percent from 2019. (Subscription: Newsday)
3. The Daily Voice reports that the male driver of a motorcycle was killed after a crash with a 2001 Ford Cargo van in Hempstead on Tuesday night. The victim's name was not released. (Daily Voice)
4. Jerry Barmash writes that the Chabad chapter of Merrick, Bellmore and Wantagh started a fundraising campaign for more space for their Alan & Tatyana Forman Jewish Early Learning Center, Chabad Hebrew School and Gan Israel day camp in Merrick. Rabbi Shimon Kramer said they need $100,000 in donations. (Patch)

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From my notebook:

• Merrick Bellmore Little League is looking for baseball and softball umpires. (Facebook)

From our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Long Island Gay Men's Chorus — Home for the Holiday Special (N. Bellmore) (December 10)
• Festival of Games — a retro holiday shopping and gaming event (December 11)
• INN Holiday Curbside Drive (December 11)
• Holiday Tales at the Castle at Sands Point Preserve (December 12)
• Big Apple Circus is NOW OPEN in New York City! (December 12)
• 57th Annual Children's Christmas Toy Drive (December 13)
• Add your event

Announcements:

• Behind The Scoreboard — Ed Sullivan’s Huge Lesson For The World (Details)
• Add your announcement

Job listings:

• Lumber yard worker/ facility attendant/ Customer Service (Details)
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You're officially in the loop for today! See you tomorrow morning for another update.

— Jackie