From the Desk of East Williston Mayor: Bonnie L.S. Parente
Dear Residents,
As we bid farewell to August, I am reminded of an important upcoming deadline. By October 16, 2024, the federal government requires municipalities to submit an inventory of lead lines in public water systems. Since our water systems were built long before modern technology, we’re relying on paper records—and in some cases, no records at all. As part of this process, we are continuing to schedule appointments for visual inspections of water lines in homes. If you receive a letter, please cooperate. If not, we may already have documentation for your home. Additionally, we are working to document the lines in our streets as well.
This past week, I had the honor of attending the official dedication of the Anthony Leva Jr. Memorial Garden, created by Girl Scout Breanna Janicek. The event was attended by both Anthony’s and Breanna’s families, who are now connected forever. Anthony had originally approached the village with plans for his Eagle Scout project but tragically passed away before completing it. Breanna took it upon herself to honor him by creating a beautiful memorial garden where families can commemorate their pets. It was a touching project, and Breanna’s perseverance in seeing it through is truly inspiring. As Breanna heads off to college, we wish her the best and know she will continue to achieve great things.
September is Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month, and I want to draw attention to the ongoing need for research funding. The medicines used today in pediatric cancer treatments are, in some cases, the same as those used in the 1970s. On Friday, September 6th at 7 PM, we will light our village tree in gold to raise awareness. Please join us for a brief presentation by Carol Ruchalski, whose daughter Mary, forever 11 years old, remains in our hearts. We will also take a walk over to the Anthony Leva Jr. Memorial Garden in Anthony’s memory. It will be a night of love and remembrance, and I hope to see you there.
Recently, I attended the annual fire department inspection, a tradition and requirement to ensure the department continues receiving village funding. I was especially impressed this year. The vehicles, ranging from the 1995 Ladder 813 to the 2019 Rescue Truck, were in pristine condition. Special thanks to David Black, our behind-the-scenes superhero, for his tireless work maintaining the equipment. I’d also like to thank Chief Nick Dipasquale, Assistant Chiefs Tom Devaney and Robert Batterson, and our commissioners Patrick Theodore, Steven Jones, and John Signorile. Congratulations to our newest full firefighters, Jocelyn Morante-LaRocca, Rushi Vaidya, and Rajiv Katwala, who completed over 111 hours of training. Your hard work and dedication do not go unnoticed.
On September 11th at 7 PM, we will hold our annual candlelight vigil to honor and remember the lives lost on September 11, 2001. If anyone would like to share a personal memory from that day, we are looking for a speaker. It’s not an easy task, but sharing our stories is how we fulfill the promise to never forget.
Lastly, I am thrilled to announce that Joseph Potucek will be our keynote speaker at our Veterans Day ceremony on November 11th at 11:15 AM. Please mark your calendars.
I hope you’ve all had a wonderful summer, and as always, if you need anything, don’t hesitate to reach out.
Warm regards,
Mayor Bonnie L.S. Parente
