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Community Corner

🌱 Mask Mandate Upheld + Mineola War Hero Dies + Weekend Storm

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

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Joanne Gallo, Neighbor
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(Patch.com)

Hey, people of Mineola! It's me again, Joanne Gallo, your host of the Mineola Daily.

First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny and cold. High: 31, low: 28.

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Here are the top stories today in Mineola:

  1. The mask mandate in New York State was quickly reinstated Tuesday afternoon, after the State Attorney General's Office filed an appeal to Nassau County Judge Thomas Rademaker's ruling that the mandate is unconstitutional. Even after the initial unconstitutional ruling, the Mineola School District required all students to wear masks; however, other Nassau County school districts like Glen Cove, North Shore and Locust Valley swiftly made wearing masks optional. (PIX11 New York)
  2. Mineola's Oracio "Ray" Vaz passed away on Saturday at age 97. Vaz was a World War II veteran who fought in Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge and helped liberate the Buchenwald concentration camp. Vaz lived in Mineola since he was three months old, and his father, Antonio Vaz, was one of the founders and builders of the Mineola Portuguese Club. After returning from the war, Vaz helped build the Northern State Parkway before settling into a career selling kitchen appliances. Vaz was predeceased by his wife of 68 years, Ann. He is survived by his children Caryl, Anthony and Suzanne, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. (The Island Now)
  3. A significant winter storm is brewing for Friday night into Saturday on Long Island, and this time heavy snowfall is expected along with strong winds and coastal flooding. The Weather Channel says we can expect 5-8 inches of snow on Saturday during the day and another 1-3 inches Saturday night. AccuWeather says there is the potential for more than a foot of snow. (Miller Place Patch)

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Today in Mineola:

  • House Plants as Pets (In Person) — Mineola Memorial Library. (2 p.m.)
  • Zoning Board of Appeals Public Hearing — Village Hall, Mineola. (7:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

  • Nassau County Police Department: "There has been an increase in catalytic converter theft across Long Island. Here's what you need to know: Catalytic converters contain precious metal. The most targeted vehicles: Honda Accord and Toyota Prius. It is illegal to drive without your catalytic converter." (Facebook)
  • St. Aidan School - Williston Park: "How do our 'Many Hearts Do Great Things At Saint Aidan School'? Our school community is filled with 'many hearts' and together we are the Saint Aidan School Family. Join us on Sunday, Jan. 30, and take the first step to joining our SAS family! Click here to make your appointment today!" (Facebook)
  • Local 338 RWDSU/UFCW - Mineola: "Are you a caregiver for someone in your family? As a member of Local 338, you have access to Dari by Homethrive, a tool designed to help caregivers receive the information, recommendations, and support they need. For more information, you can sign up for free here: dari.homethrive.com/welcome/local338." (Facebook)
  • Long Island Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence - Westbury: "LICADD's 2022 One-Day, Court-Approved Anger Management schedule released! Please contact us at 516-747-2606 to register! #LICADD #angermanagement #oneday #courtapproved #emotionalregulation #LongIsland #NewYork" (Facebook)
  • Island Harvest: "Island Harvest Food Bank is excited to be part of this initiative, helping food generators set up their donation programs." (Facebook)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed! I'll see you around.

— 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.

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