🌱 Three Village Daily: HSBC Bank Robbed + WMHS Exploration Event

Happy Friday, neighbors! Here's everything you need to know about what's happening in town today.

First, today's weather:

Clouds giving way to some sun. High: 49, low: 43.

Here are the top 4 stories today in Three Village:

1. Suffolk Police is investigating a robbery that occurred at a Commack bank. On Dec. 29,
   a man entered HSBC, located at 5880 Jericho Turnpike, at 4:35 p.m. and handed an employee a note threatening violence and demanding money. The teller gave him what asked, and the man ran away on foot. Detectives are asking anyone with information to call the Major Case Unit at 631-852-6553 or Crime Stoppers at 800-220-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential. (smithtownmatters.com)
2. Three Village's Ward Melville High School announces the first Special Elective Exploration event. On Wednesday, Jan. 5., the school invites all to “SEE” the future and explore the elective course options for art, business, technology, and family and consumer science offered at WMHS. Teachers from these departments will be available to share information about their programs of study and elective courses that will be offered next school year. This event will take place the same night as the Sophomore Orientation. (Three Village School District)
   
3. Port Jefferson Library will give prizes to community programs attendees. During the months of January and February, for each library program you attend, you will receive a special “program” ticket. If you earn three program tickets, you get to take a chance at spinning the Teen Center’s prize wheel for various prizes. Some prizes may contain allergens. The Teen Center is not responsible for lost or stolen tickets or prizes. (Port Jefferson Library)
4. Suffolk Police released the name of the woman who died after a van caught on fire. Early this month, police received a call that a Ford Econoline van had become "fully engulfed" at Pine Road in Coram. When officers arrived, they saw that the driver of the van, 53-year-old Mount Sinai resident Talal Saad had been able to get out of the van, police said. His passenger, Hameedei Saad, 41, of Mount Sinai was not able to get out of the van in time and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Talal Saad was transported by local ambulance to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of "non-life-threatening injuries. (Port Jefferson Patch)

Today's Three Village Daily is brought to you in part by our friends at Verizon. They're building the fastest 5G network in the country. To learn how 5G is going to change life for you and your community — and to get access to this amazing technology — click here. And thank you Verizon for sponsoring this community resource in Three Village!

Today in Three Village:

• Noon Year's Eve — Comsewogue Public Library. (11:30 a.m.)
• New Year's LAUGHIN' Eve — Theater Three. (6 p.m.)
• FOXWOODS NEW YEAR'S CELEBRATION — The Greater Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce. (9 p.m.)
• KIT D.I.Y. Ugly Sweater (Comsewogue). (9 p.m.)
• KIT Raspberry Lemonade Lip Scrub (Comsewogue). (9 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Stony Brook Football: "Signed! We are excited to welcome Jace Rodriguez to Seawolves country!" (Instagram)
• Stony Brook University: "Looks like snow on campus took the prize yesterday! Now which is a better day: Like for move-in and heart for commencement!" (Facebook)
• 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. Thirteen new state testing sites are now open! Get tested to keep yourself and your neighbors safe." (Nextdoor)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Clinton PARP Kickoff — Comsewogue School District. (Jan. 3)
• Clinton PARP Week — Comsewogue School District. (Jan. 3)
• No Homework Tuesday — Comsewogue School District. (Jan. 4)
• Add your event

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• Send me a news tip or suggestion at ThreeVillage@Patch.com

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

— Debora Whitehead

About me: Debora Whitehead is a dedicated wife and homeschooling mom from Coram, NY. She has a bachelor's degree in Education and loves to teach and write. Her passion for the community reflects on her volunteering work at the "Mariposa Ministry, " a nonprofit family assistance program. One of her strongest believes is Jesus Christ and when she is not parenting, teaching or reading, she is writing. One of her favorites quotes is: " The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."- Eleanor Roosevelt.