_______ Malverne/West HeMpstead ______
HERALD $1.00
WHHS Rams have strong fall season
Malverne’s Nativity history
Students shop at holiday boutique
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VOL. 28 NO. 51
DECEMBER 16 - 22, 2021
Mask-or-vax requirement
EMMA TOBACK, 11, Ella Miller, 8, and Jayden Alvarado, 11, after the tree lighting.
Some worry that local businesses will be affected by new mandate surges during the upcoming holidays, as more people gather in indoor spaces to shop and celeOn Monday, local businesses brate. “The temporary measures began reinforcing indoor mask- I am taking today will help ing rules for staff and patrons, accomplish this through the holafter Gov. Kathy Hochul issued a iday season,” Hochul said. mask mandate, Amanda Jane excepting only busiPorco, owner of nesses that have Wayback Burgers in implemented a West Hempstead, requirement that all said she didn’t employees be fully believe the mandate vaccinated. A violawould af fect her tion of the mandate business, and undercan result in a fine stood that the manof $1,000. date is “for general “I have warned protection.” She for weeks that addiadded that most of tional steps could be her staff was vaccinecessary,” Hochul nated. said last Friday, KATHI MONROE “Everybody is, I “and now we are at President, would say, very cool that point, based about it in this Malverne Chamber upon three metrics: area,” Porco said. increasing cases, of Commerce “They know if reduced hospital you’re not vaccinatcapacity and insufficient vacci- ed [to] stay safe and put a mask nation rates in certain areas.” on. I haven’t had any issues tellSince Thanksgiving, the ing somebody to put a mask on state’s average weekly case rate before. They always comply.” has increased by 43 percent, and Kathi Monroe, president of Covid-related hospitalizations the Malverne Chamber of Comhave increased by 29 percent. merce, said she had mixed feelThe purpose of the mandate, ings about the mandate. “I do which the governor said would believe that some businesses will be re-evaluated on Jan. 15, is to protect the economy and prevent CONTINUED ON PAGE 14
By LISA MARGARIA lmargaria@liherald.com
I
am worried how some will manage to survive another slump in business.
Courtesy Sara Miller
Holiday festivities return
Annual party makes comeback after Covid By LISA MARGARIA lmargaria@liherald.com
The West Hempstead Community Support & Civic Association hosted its annual Holiday at Hall’s event last week on Dec. 5, with a Christmas tree lighting and Hanukkah celebration at Hall’s Pond. Roughly 100 residents gathered for the festivities and a children’s party, sponsored by Heatherwood Luxury Apartments, which included facepainting, ornament-making
and the stuffing of plush toys. Riesterer’s Bakery provided hot chocolate and cookies for families to sip and snack on while enjoying Hanukkah and Christmas music by Carlson & Grant, a duo based in Franklin Square. And Santa Claus made an appearance as well, escorted to the event on a fire truck by the Lakeview Fire Department. “We enjoy getting together as a department to help the community celebrate the holidays,” Heather McNeil, LFD’s
vice president and a former chief, said. “Escorting Santa is a tradition for us to help usher in Christmas and the festive season.” After a blessing by the Rev. Ray Lorthioir, of Trinity Lutheran Church in West Hempstead, Children gathered by the tree, which had been decorated by LFD volunteers, for a countdown to the lighting. Rabbi Yossi Lieberman, of Chabad West HempCONTINUED ON PAGE 14