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The latest on legionnaires’
Students conduct cancer research
Chef pursues his lifelong dream
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Vol. 69 No. 46
NoVEMBER 11 - 17, 2021
Much more than sports Mike Kruter is the chamber’s 2021 Businessperson of the Year “It’s important to take an interest in the people around you and the people that support you,” she Hard work never scared Mike said. Kruter, and running a business is The store caters to sports in his blood, he says. enthusiasts, with all of the equipKruter, the owner of Life- ment and uniforms they may styles Sports, on Wantagh Ave- need. It offers in-house printing nue, was honored as and embroidery, for the 2021 Wantagh those who want to Chamber of Comcustomize uniforms. merce Businessper“Without them, son of the Year at the there’s no us,” Mike Nassau Council of said of his customChambers’ annual ers. He and Valene, awards breakfast at he said, have worked Crest Hollow Counat the store seven try Club in Wooddays a week for four bury on Oct. 29. and a half decades. The Bellmore resTheir three chilident and his wife, dren — Brandon, 33, Valene, started the and twins Andrew business 45 years and Taylor, 29 — all ago in Brooklyn, and MiKE KRuTER decided to get moved it to Wantagh involved in the famiabout 30 years ago. Owner, ly business over the L a s t y e a r t h e y Lifestyles Sports past seven years. expanded the store. Mike said that “Wantagh is an they’ve helped the amazing community, with very business grow tremendously, loyal families,” Kruter said. “It especially by creating a website reminds me of a town from the and online store. Midwest, because people grow up “I’m glad my kids have shown here, go away to school and come an interest in the business,” back and start their own families Valene said. “They brought it to here.” the next level, and they’re going It’s important to be involved in the community, Valene said. Continued on page 9
By MalloRy WilSoN mwilson@liherald.com
M
Kate Nalepinski/Herald
a warm irish welcome Bagpipers from the Nassau County Police Emerald Society Pipe Band performed outside the Irish Poet on Wantagh Avenue on Oct. 29 to welcome the restaurant to the community, following a ribbon-cutting ceremony organized by the Wantagh Chamber of Commerce.
Vaccine eligibility expands
Children ages 5-11 now in line for Covid-19 shot By KaTE NalEpiNSKi knalepinski@liherald.com
Wantagh and Seaford adults — and now children — are eligible for the Covid-19 vaccine following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s emergency use authorization of the Pfizer-BioNTech shot last month. The vaccine’s approval for children ages 5 through 11 was followed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s
endorsement last week. The vaccine is successful in protecting against Covid-19: It was found to be 90.7 percent effective in preventing the virus in children in that age group, according to data from the FDA. Over 28 million children in the U.S. are now eligible for the shot. “I am absolutely recommending vaccination for everyone who is eligible,” said Dr. Adina Geller, a pediatrician at ProKids Pediatrics, a division of Allied
Physicians Group in Levittown. “The vaccine is safe and effective in children and adults. It is highly protective against the virus, particularly severe illness, hospitalization and death.” “As a mom,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in a press release, “I encourage parents with questions to talk to their pediatrician, school nurse or local pharmacist to learn Continued on page 12
y wife, children and I know that the number one priority to our business is our customers.