🌱 Smithtown Daily: $2M Smithtown Marina Upgrade + 2 Bank Thefts

Morning, people of Smithtown! It's me again, Diane Witek, your host of the Smithtown Daily. Here are the top 4 stories in Smithtown today.

First, today's weather:

Mostly cloudy. High: 51, low: 46.

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Here are the top stories today in Smithtown:

1. Smithtown officials said the southern portion of the Smithtown marina is scheduled for a long-awaited rebuild in 2023. Bulkheads at the parking lot will be replaced, floating docks will be stabilized, electrical equipment will be updated and there could also be a handful of new slips at the Roger Balducci Marine Facility on Long Beach Road. The southern portion of the 185-slip, 180-mooring marina was last rehabilitated about 40 years ago. (Subscription: Newsday)
2. Check out all the upcoming events that are happening in Smithtown this weekend and during the week. You get to participate in everything from Boy Scout Troop 410's 13th annual Polar Bear Swim to chair yoga! (Smithtown Patch)
3. See three homes in Smithtown that are listed on the market. Here's just a sampling of the newest batch of properties to hit the market — such as a listing with 4 beds and 2 baths for $299,000, and another with 5 beds and 3.5 baths for $750,000. (Smithtown Patch)
4. On Wednesday, two banks in Commack were robbed over the span of a couple of hours. A man went inside Capital One on Jericho Turnpike at about 11:50 a.m.; and at 4:35 p.m., a man went inside HSBC down the road on Jericho Turnpike, police said. In both instances, the robber handed a teller a note "threatening violence and demanding money," and when the teller gave over the cash, the robber then ran away, according to police. Major Case Squad detectives are asking anyone with information about the robbery to call them at 631-852-6553 or anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. (Patch)

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From my notebook:

• Governor Kathy Hochul, State of New York: "New state testing sites now open. We are using every tool at our disposal to get through this winter surge and protect New Yorkers." (Nextdoor)
• Sweetbriar Nature Center: "What is Diego, our ambassador American Kestrel, doing? I’ll give you a hint — we just fed him. What you are watching is known as mantling. Birds of prey do this over a recent kill to conceal it from other birds and predators." (Facebook)
• Smithtown Performing Arts Center: "Please join us in thanking all of our swings and understudies of Disney's 'Frozen Jr.' Being a swing or understudy is not an easy task and this group of performers handled their duties in the most professional way." (Facebook) (Website)
• Smithtown Performing Arts Center: "Our Theatre Education Program Winter Classes begin on Jan. 10! Spots are open for our classes of '101 Dalmatians Kids' & 'The Addams Family.' The objective of each class is to give the student a creative, collaborative atmosphere." (Facebook) (Website)
• Smithtown Historical Society: "How Rebel keeps dry on this dreary day. #thehenden." (Facebook) (Website)

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Featured businesses:

• Fitness 4 You. (Visit website)
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Events:

• Ring In the New Year With 15 Percent Off Beautiful Blooms From FTD! FTD Flowers. (Dec. 31)
• Troop 410 Polar Bear Swim. Located at Steers Beach, 1 Asharoken Ave., Northport. (Jan. 1)
• Add your event.

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You're officially in the loop for today! I'll see you soon.

— Diane Witek

About me: Impassioned Writer, Website Designer, Social Media Marketer and newly proclaimed Baker. Lover of nature and animals of all kinds.