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Blizzard buries South Shore passes through main roads before turning their attention to neighborhood blocks. Most Oceanside and Island Park primary roads were expected began digging out on Monday to be passable by Tuesday after a powerful storm blan- morning, with side streets and keted the South Shore with parking remaining snow-covmore than a foot of snow, forc- ered and narrowed by high snowbanks. ing widespread cloBlakeman said sures but causing that 75 county only limited damt r u ck s h a d b e e n age, according to d e p l o ye d b e g i n local officials. ning early Sunday By Monday to salt roads ahead after noon, snowof the storm, with fall totals in both plows dispatched communities had once snowfall surpassed 15 inchreached roughly 3 es. The snow was inches. Crews predicted to end by expected to continMonday evening, ue operations leaving road crews through the night to work overnight Monday to address to finish clearing drifting snow and m a j o r t h o ro u g h icy conditions. fares and residenR e s i d e n t s tial streets. reported seeing Due to the plows in their storm, Nassau neighborhoods, County imposed a though many said temporary travel significant shovelb a n o n M o n d ay, ROB KEILSON ing remained to be and County Execu- Oceanside resident done amid continutive Bruck Blakeman urged residents to stay ing snow and strong winds. “May it be the last of the off the roads unless travel was season — melting quickly and absolutely necessary. “It’s treacherous out there promptly be greeted by plows — we need time for our work- ready to clear our streets,” ers to continue to plow road- Oceanside resident Seth Blau had said ahead of the storm. ways,” Blakeman said. Another Oceanside resiIn Oceanside, town and county plows made multiple CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
By ABIGAIL GRIECO
agrieco@liherald.com
H
Courtesy Oceanside Lutheran Church
Feasting before the fast Congregants paraded through the Oceanside Lutheran Church, uniting Shrove Tuesday tradition with a Mardi Gras-inspired celebration. Story, more photos, Page 3.
A hands-on taste of Italy in O’side By ABIGAIL GRIECO agrieco@liherald.com
The aroma of warm milk and melted curd filled the fellowship hall at Oceanside Lutheran Church on Saturday as more than two dozen residents gathered to learn an old-world craft with a local twist — how to make fresh mozzarella by hand. Leading the class was Peter Cuccio — the church’s president and Oceanside resident with deep roots in the restaurant industry — who has turned a lifelong love of food into one of the church’s most popular community outreach events. “I’ve always liked cheese,” Cuccio said. “It’s great to bring places, and it’s always better fresh and warm.”
Cuccio’s connection to mozzarella dates back decades. His grandparents opened a family restaurant, Sal’s Wander Inn, in Baldwin around 1950, and he later became one of the original owners. Though he now works as a nuclear medicine technologist at Mercy Hospital, food has remained a constant thread in his life. “In the ‘90s, I remember everybody started getting fresh mozzarella — in every butcher and every Italian grocery store,” he said. “A friend once invited me to Pastosa Ravioli in Oceanside to watch the cheesemakers at work. That was my first experience watching someone beat cheese.” Cuccio originally informally taught friends the process, often bringing fresh mozzarella to parties. “I’ve always loved to serve people in the restauCONTINUED ON PAGE 10
aving dealt with the worst winter in a long time, we’re now facing an even bigger storm. As long as everyone is careful shoveling and driving, this too shall pass.