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Country Fusion brings Nashville to Garden Social By JoRDAN VAlloNE jvallone@liherald.com
Alex Pakula/Herald
Liz Mooney, with the microphone, led a country line dancing class at Garden Social on Jan. 29. An East Meadow native, she’s the founder of Country Fusion, a workout program and lifestyle brand based in Nashville.
From cowboy boots to sneakers, dancers of all kinds have shuffled across the floor at Garden Social in East Meadow, learning the art of country line dancing one step at a time. The dance classes, led by Liz Mooney, an East Meadow native and the creator of “Country Fusion” — a workout program and lifestyle brand based in Nashville — brought generations of dancers together, Mooney, 41, is a graduate of East Meadow High School. She was a dance major at Nassau Community College and spent time as an early adult taking classes like Steps on Broadway and the Broadway Dance Center, both located in New York City. The fitness world found her, she said, and at 23 she began working at the Synergy Fitness Club in Levittown. Eight years ago, Mooney created “Country Fusion,” the only country-based fitness program, rooted in CoNtiNuEd oN pAGE 10
Norma Gonsalves, beloved in East Meadow, dies at 90 By JoRDAN VAlloNE jvallone@liherald.com
Norma Gonsalves, a former Nassau County legislator, community leader, and educator, died on Feb. 4 in East Meadow. She was 90. Born in Brooklyn on June 11, 1934, Gonsalves earned a bachelor’s degree in history from St. Joseph’s College for Women and later received a master’s degree from Hunter College and Brooklyn College. She spent 25 years as an educator in the New York City school system, primarily teaching English at a junior high school in Bushwick. Passionate
about literature and an active member of the performing arts, the East Meadow she introduced stuChamber of Comdents to classic merce, the Kiwanis p l ay s, i n cl u d i n g C l u b, a n d o t h e r “Romeo and Juliet,” civic g roups. She and took pride in also served on adviseeing some pursue sory committees for acting careers. the Nassau County In 1962, she marCorrectional Faciliried John Gonsalves, NoRmAN GoNsAlVEs ty and the Town of also an educator, and Hempstead’s solid the couple moved to waste management East Meadow, where they efforts. raised their family and In 1998, Gonsalves was electremained for the rest of their ed to the Nassau County Legislives. Her husband died in 2019. lature, representing East MeadGonsalves was founder of ow and surrounding communithe Council of East Meadow ties. A Republican, she served Community Organizations and for 19 years and became presid-
ing officer in 2011. She was known for her bipar tisan approach and commitment to public service, championing initiatives such as the implementation of the NARCAN program, the establishment of a veterans’ clinic at Nassau University Medical Center, and outreach efforts for Hispanic Heritage Month.
Upon her retirement in 2017, she reflected on her years of service, saying, “It has been an honor to serve the taxpayers of the county and my constituents in the 13th (legislative district). Lowering crime and implementing the NARCAN program were two of the many public safety initiatives of which I am CoNtiNuEd oN pAGE 4