Serving Williston Park, East Williston, Mineola, Albertson and Searingtown
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Friday, September 11, 2020
Vol. 69, No. 37
BEST OF THE NORTH SHORE WINNERS
VIRTUAL SUMMER CAMP
STATE LAUNCHES PORTAL FOR ABSENTEE BALLOTS
PAGES 27-70
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Two village justice races contested
LIGHTS FOR A CAUSE
No incumbent trustees in Willistons area being challenged in elections BY E LL I OT W E L D Residents in the villages of Mineola, Williston Park and East Williston will go to the polls on Tuesday for elections that were delayed from March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Village justice races in Mineola and East Williston are the only two that are contested. In East Williston, Trustee James Lark is running unopposed. He took over the spot left vacant by longtime Trustee and former Mayor Anthony Cassella in October. Another unopposed trustee candidate, Anthony Gallo, is seeking the seat held by Deputy Mayor Christopher A. Siciliano, who did not seek re-election. “Trustee Lark has been an incredible asset and resource since his appointment several months ago and Mr. Gallo has been an active member of our community,” East Williston Mayor Bon-
nie Parente said. “I look forward to working with both of them and appreciate their commitment to the betterment of our village. Especially during a pandemic, having individuals who are willing to put themselves in the forefront is something I cannot and will not take for granted in these two individuals. I feel lucky they are making themselves available for this role.” Lark said Cassella left “big shoes to fill” as he had been a village public servant in multiple roles. He said he has known the mayor for a number of years and is a “civic-minded and reasonable person who would not take the role lightly.” Lark said he wanted to continue in this role because a strong mayor, village board and office staff are working toward the same goals. Gallo is an estimator at VMR Civil and said he decided to run Continued on Page 82
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE VILLAGE OF MINEOLA
The Village of Mineola lit its Christmas tree in gold lights in honor Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month in September. Pictured are the village trustees with the Ruchalski family, who lost a daughter, Mary, to cancer and founded the Mary Ruchalski Foundation.
Fairgrieve, Barnwell vie for Mineola village justice BY E LL I OT W E L D Two candidates are on the ballot for the Village of Mineola’s only contested race in Tuesday’s election, for village justice. Both are longtime resi-
dents of the village and have been practicing law for decades. One candiate, Scott Fairgrieve, has been a resident of Mineola since 1978 and currently serves as a judge in Nas-
sau County District Court. He will have to step down in December, when he turns 70, the mandatory age limit for judges in New York. Continued on Page 83
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