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Community Corner

🌱 COVID Testing Crunch + Nassau D.A. Won't Prosecute Cuomo

The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Mineola.

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Joanne Gallo, Neighbor
(Patch.com)

Hey everyone! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! I hope you enjoy this Christmas Eve edition of the Mineola Daily. Please know that, like most of you, I will be taking the day off to enjoy the festivities, so there will not be a newsletter in your inbox tomorrow. We hope you all understand the slight pause in the Mineola Daily. But don't worry -- we will be back to our normal routine Monday morning!

First, today's weather:

Variable clouds; not as cold. High: 45, low: 37.

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Here are the top stories today in Mineola:

  1. As COVID-19 surges across Long Island, residents have quite a challenge trying to get tested before gathering with loved ones for the holidays. Pharmacy after pharmacy on Long Island has completely sold out of the rapid antigen home test, and testing sites and walk-in clinics have long lines requiring hours of waiting. The shortage here is similar across the country, as President Joe Biden outlined a plan to distribute 500 million home testing kits. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul also announced an online testing portal where New Yorkers can order at-home PCR tests that will be sent out by overnight mail. People can swab themselves, send it back and have results in 48 hours. (East Hampton Patch)
  2. Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo will not be prosecuted by the Nassau County District Attorney's Office in response to sexual harassment allegations from a female state trooper who said Cuomo touched her inappropriately at an event at Belmont Park in Elmont in September 2019. Acting Nassau County District Attorney Joyce Smith said that while the report of Cuomo's conduct was both "credible" and "deeply troubling," these actions weren't criminal under New York state law. (NEWS10 ABC)
  3. An individual who was struck near Mineola by an eastbound LIRR train on Tuesday night has died, according to the MTA. A preliminary investigation found no suspected criminality, officials reported. (The Island Now)

Today's Mineola Daily is brought to you in part by our friends at Verizon. They're building the fastest 5G network in the country. To learn how 5G is going to change life for you and your community — and to get access to this amazing technology — click here. And thank you Verizon for sponsoring this community resource in Mineola!

Today in Mineola:

  • Christmas Eve Observed: Village Offices Closed - Village of Mineola Public Meetings. (All Day)
  • Christmas Eve: Schools Closed - Mineola Public Schools. (All Day)

From my notebook:

  • Our Lady of Victory School - Floral Park: "A great Christmas tradition at OLV is The Nativity, presented by our 6th Graders. What a beautiful job they did!" (Facebook)
  • Family & Children's Association - Garden City: "Today a very generous crew from Amazon Logistics's Distribution Center (DBU3) in Carle Place and Keybridge Smiles came to FCA's Garden City office for our annual Share the Warmth Drive. These incredible staff members brought coats, hats, scarves, gloves, gifts, and more to donate to FCA clients. We are overwhelmed with gratitude for all of the amazing individuals and organizations who have contributed in the last few weeks!" (Facebook)
  • Master Jeon Taekwondo - Mineola: "Check your raffle ticket number and if won, pick up your prize after 3 PM tomorrow. Good luck everyone and thank you!" (Facebook)
  • Island Harvest: "Time is running out to contribute to #IslandHarvest this holiday season. The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to make it difficult for families to make ends meet & to put food on their tables. With your support, we will continue our vital work. Won't you consider a meaningful contribution before we turn the page on 2021? https://bit.ly/3sqY3BH." (Facebook)
  • Long Island Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence - Westbury: "SAFE and Long Beach Coalitions co-hosted a virtual town hall featuring speaker Steve Chassman, Executive Director of LICADD. https://patch.com/new-york/glencove/amp/30196808/safe-glen-cove-coalition-alcohol-kids-a-dangerous-mix" (Facebook)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Friday! I'll be in your inbox tomorrow with another update.

— Joanne Gallo

About me: Joanne Gallo is a lifelong resident of Long Island and a writer/editor for 30+ years. After earning a B.A. in Journalism and an M.A. in Writing from NYU, Joanne edited and produced engaging, quality content for a diverse array of consumer publications, from the Johns Hopkins White Papers to Soap Opera Weekly. Raised in the nearby town of Roslyn, Joanne is happy to call Mineola her home for the past 7 years. She loves the arts, dining, gardening and all the natural beauty that Long Island has to offer.

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

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