Nassau County Legislator Dave Denenberg, a Democrat from Merrick, is advising residents to protect themselves while holiday shopping. "Holiday shopping should be fun, not a time when you become a victim," Denenberg said. "By following a few simple precautions, you can protect yourself from thieves and carjackers." more

A recent string of fires at Calhoun High School in North Merrick has prompted an arson investigation, officials say. According to Vincent McManus, division supervisor at the Nassau County Fire Marshal's Office, there have been six suspicious fires at the school since Nov. 19, three of which the North Merrick Fire Department responded to. more

The North Merrick School District Board of Education announced at a Dec. 8 public meeting that a resolution is expected to be reached in coming weeks on teacher contracts that expired in June 2008. The breakthrough was reached at an 8 a.m. negotiation session on Sunday, Dec. 6. more

A woman at the wheel of an SUV swerved to avoid another vehicle and plowed into the front of Pizzelli's pizza/deli in North Bellmore at 6:15 p.m. on Dec. 3, according to police. "She lost control of the vehicle, looking to avoid another vehicle," Nassau County 1st Precinct officer Michael Bentivegna said at the accident scene. "She must've hit the curb and a sign that was there, and then spun out." more

The Mepham High School varsity cheerleading squad recently placed second at the Universal Cheerleading Regionals. The win earned the team a bid to the UCA Nationals in Orlando, Fla. The team will be conducting fundraising for the trip in the near future. Above are, from top to bottom, Jenna Sidor, Jamie Taratko, Brianne Mulligan, Kayla Donnelly-Smith, Remi Gurdon, Alyssa Barbieri, Nicole Altomare, Breena Sherlock, Lauren Warner, Samantha Sepe, Michelle Cristina, Kristal Sedita, Kathy Tota, Taylor Labate, Stephanie Mojica, Kristen Ferrara, Krista Barbieri, Samantha DeLuca, Nikki Stahurski, Nina Proscia, Erica Schaab, Samantha Maddalena and captains Jahniece Hall and Cali Curry. more

Dana Brown and Kaitlyn Paeth, both fifth-graders at Camp Avenue Elementary School in North Merrick, are dancing in the children's cast of the Eglevsky Ballet's 2009 production of "The Nutcracker," Dec. 19 to 21 at Tilles Center for the Performing Arts. They were among 66 of Long Island's most talented young dance students selected through competitive auditions to appear in this year's production. more

Police: Armed robbery at Dunkin Donuts A man armed with a black handgun entered the Dunkin Donuts at 2084 Sunrise Highway in Merrick on Dec. 7 at 9:15 p.m. and demanded money from a 33-year-old male employee, police said. The suspect, described by authorities as a black male in his mid-20s, about 6-foot-2, wearing a grey mask, dark hoodie and dark pants, reportedly ran off with an unknown amount of money from the cash register and was last seen heading toward Hewlett Avenue. Detectives ask anyone with information regarding this incident to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous. Teen arrested for car theft Officers from the First Precinct arrested Joshua Gonzalez, 17, for stealing a 2000 Honda Civic from Schermerhorn street on Nov. 30 at 2:22 a.m. He was arraigned in First District Court on Dec. 1 and charged with third-degree Grand Larceny. Burglary A Tadmore Street home was burglarized on Nov. 30, and assorted jewelry was stolen, police said. The burglar reportedly entered through a back window. more

Craig Papach, Kennedy High School's athletic coordinator and a 19-year phys. ed. teacher, had long heard the stories of poverty and loneliness, and he wanted to help. So, on Thanksgiving morning, he and his family piled into their car and made the trek from their suburban home in a quiet Wantagh neighborhood to a tiny church on Beach 94th Street in Queens. They went to lend their hands and, equally important, their ears to a day-long effort to aid the homeless. Papach was one of 10 Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District teachers who joined roughly 100 volunteers from Rock and Wrap It Up, a Five Towns-based nonprofit group founded by Syd Mandelbaum, to feed hundreds of impoverished street denizens, some of whom had not eaten for days. more

It was a weekend full of holiday fun on Dec. 5 and 6 in Merrick, thanks to the Chamber of Commerce. The chamber was proud to present two holiday celebrations at the Merrick train station gazebo to ring in the start of the holiday season. A visit from Santa lit up children's faces with smiles on Saturday, and on Sunday, two community icons -- Merrick Avenue's own Christmas tree and Menorah - brought cheer to the neighborhood at the annual lighting ceremony. more

A woman at the wheel of an SUV swerved to avoid another vehicle and plowed into the front of Pizzelli's pizza/deli in North Bellmore at 6:15 p.m. on Dec. 3, according to police. more