🌱 Shirley-Mastic Daily: Anxiety Over LI School Violence Threats

Good day, people of Shirley-Mastic! It's me again, your host of the Shirley-Mastic Daily.

Students and parents across Long Island are feeling stressed after a week of school violence threats and rumors. The husband of slain Centereach woman Melissa Molinari is accused of stabbing her over 20 times.

First, today's weather:

Winds becoming strong. High: 59 Low: 42.

Here are the top three stories today in Shirley-Mastic:

1. More details emerged about the slaying of Centereach woman Melissa Molinari. Her body was found in the woods in Middle Island Thursday, stabbed over 20 times. Her husband now faces a second-degree murder charge. Four of their children are now being cared for by family friends. (Patch)
2. A Northwell Health child psychiatrist says anxiety is high in children with continued school violence threats and scares happening across Long Island. Sachem, Smithtown, West Babylon and West Islip all experienced threats or rumors of threats, many fueled by social media, scaring many students and parents. (News 12)
3. Port Jefferson's 25th Annual Charles Dickens Festival has been extended for two more Saturdays in Port Jefferson Village. Street characters will walk around the village and more events will take place at Village Center and Masonic Lodge on Saturday, and Saturday, Dec. 18. (Patch)

Today in Shirley-Mastic:

• Eileen Ivers Joyful Christmas, Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts, 71 E. Main St, Patchogue, 8 p.m.

From my notebook:

• The best pizza on Long Island is debatable: Donatina, 18 West Ave., Patchogue, makes Newsday's top picks list. (Subscription: Newsday)
• Make-A-Wish Suffolk County, NY: For every letter written to Santa online or dropped off in stores until Dec. 24, Macy's will donate $1 to Make-A-Wish. (Instagram)
• Nextdoor Neighbor, Mastic: "Hi neighbors, Mike from Hand Forged by Mike, your village blacksmith. We’d like to thank our customers for a great year and for all their support of the smithing trade. The shop will be closed from Dec. 24th until Jan. 2." (Nextdoor)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Saturday off right. See you all tomorrow morning for another update!

— Jackie