From the Desk of East Williston Mayor: Bonnie L.S. Parente

Dear Residents,

I’d like to share some highlights from our recent village activities and upcoming events.

We recently held the gold tree lighting ceremony on September 6th, honoring Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month. Carol Ruchalski and Anthony Leva shared powerful stories about their children, Mary and Anthony Jr., whose lives inspire us to support families facing similar challenges. The gold-lit tree stands as a symbol of strength and remembrance.

Additionally, our village had the honor of welcoming two families from Uganda and Azerbaijan. These families traveled to the United States so their children, aged 11 and 8, could receive life-saving heart surgeries in New York. Their surgeries were made possible through the compassionate work of Dr. Michael Balboni, whose life’s mission has left a significant impact on countless families. Our own Village Clerk, Joanna Brilliant, along with her family, has played a crucial role in supporting one of these families during their stay. Joanna has accompanied them to doctor’s appointments, hospital visits at St. Francis, and to and from their temporary home at the Ronald McDonald House. The dedication shown by Joanna and her family has been both heartwarming and emotional to witness.

In other village business, we recently tackled an underground leak in the street near the toddler park. It was not an easy issue to identify, but thanks to the keen observations of two alert residents, Mike Baltzer and Tim Kelly, we were able to address the problem before it escalated. This “see something, say something” approach helped us save the village from what could have been a much larger issue.

We are also addressing a drainage issue with a non-connected catch basin in our storm drain system. This was discovered after water was not properly dissipating. Our Deputy Mayor, Anthony Gallo, determined that the basin had not been connected to a drain, and we are now working to resolve this.

Looking ahead, we have a lineup of exciting fall events, including the community yard sale, emergency preparedness training, fire safety programming, and opportunities for students interested in law and village government. I encourage all residents to participate in these activities and enjoy the season with your neighbors. All event flyers are available on our village website.

Thank you for allowing me to share these stories and updates. I’m proud to be part of a community that supports one another and stays engaged. Together, we are making East Williston an even better place to live.

Warm regards,
Mayor Parente

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