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your HEALTH body / mind / fitness
November 23, 2021
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Diab etes and Weig ht Mana geme nt
HERALD your Health Inside
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Vol. 21 No. 52
Fun awaits at Christmas House
Star runner is a state competitor
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DECEMBER 23 - 29, 2021
Mask mandate has business owners worried cine, and the county had adequate hospital capacity, so he did not believe the mask requireD e m o c r at i c G ov. K at hy ment was needed and would only Hochul recently ordered mask- hurt business. wearing in public spaces where As of press time Tuesday, coronavirus vaccines are not Long Island’s Covid-19 infection required and checked. Nassau rate had surged past 9 percent — County Executivethe highest in the elect Bruce Blakestate. In the past two man, a Republican, weeks, Nassau’s hosa n n o u n c e d d ay s pitalization rate later that he would increased 54 percent not enforce the manand cases by 94 perdate, leaving many cent, according to local business ownDec. 19 data. ers perplexed. According to the “ I d o n’ t eve n state, businesses and know what I’m supvenues can either posed to do, and require proof of full DaVE BollER that’s the thing,” vaccination or L a u r e n M a s l o v, Owner, implement a mask owner of Pietro’s Garden Social Beer requirement, but Pizzeria in East Garden and Kitchen they cannot manMeadow. “Things date both, according seem so vague, and t o a s t at e n ew s if someone comes in without a release. The order applies to cusmask, I don’t feel comfortable tomers and employees. Those telling them to put it on.” who do not comply could face Hochul’s mandate, which took civil and criminal penalties, effect statewide Dec. 13, applies including fines of up to $1,000 to restaurants, offices, shopping per violation, and local health centers, grocery stores, houses departments are responsible for of worship and recreational enforcement. spaces. If a restaurant or venue Blakeman said that 98 percent implements the mask requireof Nassau residents had received ment, it must ensure that all the first dose of a Covid-19 vacContinued on page 14
By MalloRy WilSoN mwilson@liherald.com
i
Mallory Wilson/Herald
MaRia aND ToM LaSala have decorated their East Meadow house for almost 30 years.
Christmas spirit lights up LaSala house on Star Street By MalloRy WilSoN mwilson@liherald.com
Maria and Tom LaSala have decorated their house, at 364 Star St. in East Meadow, for almost 30 years. The high school sweethearts and more than 50-year East Meadow residents love Christmas, they said, and host Christmas Eve and Christmas Day celebrations at their house every year. “The best part of being a kid and growing up is believ-
ing in Santa Claus,” Tom said. “I love making kids believe that they could believe in Santa Claus forever.” “I still believe in Santa Claus,” he added. “In my heart, we’re kids.” This year, after discovering that their house was put on the “Holiday Houses on Long Island 2021” Facebook page, with 20,000 members from across the Island, the LaSalas added a giving back aspect to their holiday cheer. After they had Santa stop
by their house Dec. 17, they raised almost $500 for Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New Hyde Park. “I saw that our house was added to the [Facebook] page, and I thought, ‘You know what? We should use that to do a good thing,” Maria said. “I never thought it would blow up like this.” Maria said that they chose Cohen’s because of the help the hospital has given them Continued on page 14
t’s always an uncomfortable situation when you’re playing mask police.