Week in Review

There was plenty of news in Merrick last week and Patch was on the scene to provide you with quick, reliable reports on it all.  In case you missed it: 

On Sunday, our top story was on a busted drug deal on Merrick Road, where three people were arrested, including a mother whose 2-year-old son was in the backseat of a Jeep during the incident.  

On Monday, it was back to school for the kids, and the news was positive on the high school sports scene, as the Bellmore-Merrick hockey team defeated Cold Spring Harbor in the first round of the division playoffs.  Reporter Rick Karas put on his dancing shoes and took a class at the Arthur Murray Dance Studio in Merrick.   

On Tuesday, we checked in on a meeting of the North Merrick Civic Association, where the main discussion revolved around the MTA's planned service cuts to the LI Bus Merrick shuttle.   The North Merrick Library is now offering video games for patrons to borrow, and Patch stopped by a video game contest between parents and tweens at the library.  The Bellmore-Merrick Bulldogs hung with Long Beach for one period before , in the hockey playoffs.  

On Wednesday, we turned our attention to the South Merrick Community Civic Association, which met to discuss updates on recent home burglaries. It also honored Auxiliary Police Officer Eugene Lowenberg with its "Community Service Award."  County Legislator Dave Denenberg (D-Merrick) spoke with Patch about the recent pay raise controversy in the legislature.  We also stepped into Merrick's Zippity Doo's Cuts for Kids, where owner Terry Teriolo has been making children look forward to getting their haircut for the past decade.  

On Thursday, we had the details of a preliminary budget plan for the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, which may be forced to raise taxes and cut programs if proposed state aid cuts are not restored.  The Community Wellness Council of the Bellmores and Merricks held a "What's in Your Medicine Cabinet?" event to discuss the current drug scene.   A minivan struck a vacant storefront at the corner of Merrick Road and Wynsum Avenue, sending three people to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.  We also provided you with our weekly Merrick Crime Report. 

On Friday, children awoke to the third Snow Day of the month, as local schools shutdown after a storm slammed Merrick overnight.  The Merrick Cook, Laura La Vacca, offered up a simple recipe for artichoke hearts.  The Birch Elementary School PTA held its annual Founders' Day Celebration to honor parents, teachers and other community members for their service.  

On Saturday, we headed into Kennedy High School for coverage of its Class Night-Teacher's Edition, where students got the chance to watch their teachers compete in a variety of different sporting events.  Patch columnist Claudia Borecky  argued that the while the MTA builds a $1.4 billion palace in New York City, Long Islanders are being forced to bail them out by enduring service cuts.