The Village of Williston Park hiked water rates 33% for its residents and the Village of East Williston to fund a new system for treating "forever chemicals."  East Williston buys its water from Williston Park The filtration system will be used to help Williston Park comply with federal regulations requiring four parts per trillion of PFAS chemicals in drinking water by 2029 Environmental Protection Agency adopted that limit in 2024 putting it below the level New York State adopted in 2020: 10 parts per trillion They are found in various household items and have contaminated Long Island's water supply Williston Park Mayor Paul Ehrbar said his village was left with few options given the 2029 deadline: "We won’t meet that,” he said in an interview “We need to put in a filtration system to meet the guidelines.” "Myself and my whole board is not happy with this It is not something we enjoy doing," Ehrbar said East Williston Mayor Bonnie Parente has urged Ehrbar to reconsider the $29.5 million filtration system Williston Park could adopt a more targeted approach to treating contaminated areas she said in a letter to Ehrbar that was published on her village's website While the Village of East Williston is facing a 33% hike for water officials haven't decided on residents' new rates "Our residents want us to pause and review whether this is absolutely necessary from an EPA standard and whether there's not another way to do this," Parente told Newsday in an interview village clerk and treasurer Kristi Romano wrote in an email East Williston has about 840 homes that Williston Park serves the rate for households using 10,000 gallons or fewer will rise from $51.40 to $68.40 Residents who exceed 10,000 gallons will pay an additional $6.84 per 1,000 gallons households will then be charged an additional $7.13 per 1,000 gallons The dispute comes amid a recent lawsuit filed by two national water utility trade groups seeking to overturn the EPA's limits on forever chemicals The Trump administration has asked the U.S Court of Appeals for time to reconsider the regulations which were implemented during the Biden administration Lido-Point Lookout and Bowling Green Estates Ehrbar said the village has received some grants to "defray" the cost of the filtration system and hopes more are approved Parente has urged Ehrbar to pause the rate hike she cited state data showing that Williston Park's water quality has been "consistently below 4 [parts per trillion] for 3 of the 4 prior years for PFOA contaminants." Ehrbar told Newsday while East Williston is allowed "input into what we do The public squabbling came to a halt in 2016 when the villages signed an exclusive water sale contract Parente said the villages depend on each other "East Williston needs a water provider and Williston Park needs a large customer," Parente said "So we should be in this together to find a solution." Ehrbar on March 7 hand-delivered a written response to Parente's letter at her law office in Williston Park The two mayors had what she described as a "cordial" conversation about the situation “I’d consider us one community,” Parente said “I don't think our disagreements have any animus in them." Joshua Needelman covers the Town of North Hempstead for Newsday A Long Island native and University of Maryland graduate his work has appeared in publications including The New York Times and The Washington Post Trump's influence on NY's future .. Get the latest news and more great videos at NewsdayTV Get more on these and other NewsdayTV stories The Newsday app makes it easier to access content without having to log in Unlimited Digital AccessOnly 25¢for 6 months 2024 at 9:31 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Anthony Miola was arrested on Monday night for burglarizing a Williston Park restaurant NY — A Mineola man was arrested on Monday evening for a burglary in Williston Park was taken into custody for an overnight burglary at Yummy Gyro on Willis Avenue Miola stole a lockbox containing approximately $3,000 and $500 from a cash register An investigation led police to locate Miola at a nearby parking lot He was in possession of a glass pipe containing a burnt substance believed to be crack cocaine Miola is charged with third-degree burglary third-degree grand larceny and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance He was scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. which recently raised its water rates 33% to help pay for a new filtration system Williston Park's mayor has barred East Williston's mayor from accessing his village's water facilities the latest development in a long-running feud between the two communities over water cost and quality East Williston Mayor Bonnie Parente asked Williston Park Mayor Paul Ehrbar for permission to access the facilities East Williston has long purchased its water from Williston Park, which recently raised its water rates 33% to help pay for a new filtration system The system would be used to help Williston Park comply with federal regulations requiring drinking water to contain a maximum contaminant level of 4 parts per trillion of PFAS chemicals by 2029 are commonly referred to as "forever chemicals." They can be found in household items and have contaminated Long Island's water Parente wanted to hire an engineer to conduct a study to determine if there are cheaper alternatives to the estimated $29.5 million filtration system “We don’t believe the need for them to go into the facility to study the water issue,” Ehrbar said “The filtration system is unconnected to what we have now that would necessitate them actually looking at the system.” He suggested Parente’s team could review previous water reports and analyses “We think they only have considered one method of coming to compliance and that that method is exceptionally costly and maybe overkill for what the issue is,” Parente said in an interview “The only way for us to know that is for us to engage an engineer to review whether there are other options.” the rate for households using 10,000 gallons or fewer will be $68.40 it will rise an additional $6.84 per 1,000 gallons households will pay an additional $7.13 per 1,000 gallons the rate will rise from $6.79 per gallons for the first 100,000 gallons used to $9.03 per 1,000 gallons And for residents who exceed 100,000 gallons it will rise from $7.04 per 1,000 gallons to $9.36 per 1,000 gallons Parente said some East Williston residents on social media have suggested the village build its own well She said that would likely cause financial distress to Williston Park “We’re not looking to punish Williston Park we’re looking to work with them,” Parente said “It’s unfathomable to me that Williston Park wouldn’t want to be working with the residents and board of East Williston to come up with a better solution.” She added: “The fact that they think their first and most expensive solution is the best and only solution is irresponsible.” Ehrbar said his team of engineers has already considered possible alternative treatments but it was determined the current plan is “the most viable cost effective means” to bring the village into federal compliance The villages’ feud over water dates back decades They signed an exclusive water sale agreement in 2016 ending the public back-and-forth — until now and intermunicipal agreements are supposed to work,” Parente said Butter chicken momos in a tomato makhni sauce at Varli Indian Street Kitchen in Williston Park The new Varli Indian Street Kitchen sure is a vibrantly colorful restaurant The small storefront in Williston Park is decked out with vintage Bollywood posters and a wall-length mural of a woman with sultry eyes and flowing hair who stares you down while you eat butter chicken momos A colorful mural at Varli Indian Street Kitchen in Williston Park The restaurant is within a genre of keenly designed Indian street food spots that have become more common across New York City Owner Varli Singh is an entrepreneur and a Renaissance woman of sorts with a popular TikTok presence where she raps and stars in her own dramatic videos and founded Varli Magazine and a subsequent Varli Food Festival to promote Indian food culture Varli serves a variety of street foods and fusion dishes from across India the spiced curries served with potato bread Most items range from $8.99 to $13.99 but are more like shareable plates than full entrees are Nepalese dumplings bathed in a buttery tomato sauce imbued with Indian spices hails from the streets of Amritsar in Northern India Nuggets of fish are coated in spiced chickpea flour and fried until they're crispy and snackable The menu also has its fair share of biryani rice dishes and curries which are served in cute little stainless steel carriers called tiffins A server unlocks the top of the tiffin and sets it on your table Curries run the gamut from vegetarian chickpea chana masala and yellow lentil dal tadka to chicken But the classic saag paneer ($14.99) is a comforting choice especially when the creamy spinach is paired with a piece of fluffy garlic naan bread Varli Indian Street Kitchen, 78 Hillside Ave., Williston Park, 516-500-9429, varlikitchen.com Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application Evelyn Louise Atanas Lifelong Resident of Williston Park a beloved lifelong resident of Williston Park Evelyn was the daughter of Esehak and Rachael Atanas Evelyn’s greatest joy in life was her family her great-nephews Matthew Plaut (Alexandra) and her great-great-nephew Oliver Christopher Matthaeus Evelyn attended Mineola High School and went on to study at Lasell University After building a distinguished career as a fashion buyer which took her on extensive travels throughout Europe and Asia Evelyn returned to Williston Park and founded Atanas Realty Corporation in 1984 Her business acumen and commitment to her community made her a respected figure in the local area Evelyn was devoted to giving back to her community She was honored for her contributions to community service by the Long Island Board of Realtors (LIBOR) in 2015 Evelyn’s leadership extended to roles as a director of LIBOR zone chairperson for the Multiple Listing Service of Long Island (MLS) and President of the Chamber of the Willistons She was also an active member of the Williston Park Historical Society a vigilant member of her neighborhood watch and a dedicated volunteer driver for Meals on Wheels warmth and passion for helping others will be greatly missed by all who knew her Her legacy will live on in the many lives she touched family and friends are invited to celebrate Evelyn’s life and her remarkable contributions to her community by making a donation in her memory to the organization running Meals on Wheels in her hometown: https://eac-network.org/donate-now/ This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors NY) passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family he was the son of the late Duncan and Rose (née Ritz) McPherson He was a volunteer for the Williston Park Fire Department prior to becoming FDNY He was also a member of the FDNY DART Team Bryan is survived by his beloved wife Jean; sons Christopher and his wife Lucie and Ryan McPherson; daughter Ashley McPherson and her fiancée Matthew Ulrich; and four cherished granddaughters A celebration of life will be held at a later date please consider a memorial donation to Tunnel to Towers Foundation Arrangements were made by Lazear-Smith & Vander Plat Memorial Home, 17 Oakland Avenue, Warwick, NY. To send an online condolence, visit lsvpmemorialhome.com Global Sisters Report a project of National Catholic Reporter Sign up now who celebrated her 108th birthday April 20 is the second-oldest living religious sister in the U.S View Author Profile View Author Profile Francis Dominici Piscatella's extraordinarily long life into historical perspective consider that Pope Pius X was pontiff and Woodrow Wilson was U.S is defying the aging process while living independently in a condominium apartment she shares with another religious sister at a Long Island village Piscatella celebrated her 108th birthday April 20 Data collected by the Gerontology Research Group an organization that tracks centenarians globally said Piscatella is the second-oldest woman religious in the United States She resides in a long-term care facility managed by her community in St Piscatella told Catholic News Service she doesn't feel her age reading and doing things an old lady would do," she said "Normal" isn't the word most observers would use to describe her is seen at her 105th birthday party with Msgr Piscatella remains in exceptional physical and mental health 90 years after entering religious life solving word-search puzzles and watching the Catholic Faith Network and other television programming with whom she lives and who drives her to church and other appointments Piscatella manages to get around without the use of a wheelchair Piscatella's left forearm was amputated after she sustained a serious hand injury She later recovered from a car accident that resulted in a shattered right arm and bounced back from a near-fatal brain bleed suffered when she fell at age 102 one of seven children of Italian immigrants Salvatore and Angela Piscatella credited her mother for developing her drive to overcome personal obstacles "Nobody has ever had to help me," she said I had to prove to my superiors that there was nothing I couldn't do." Piscatella joined the Dominicans in 1931 after other religious communities turned her away because of her physical disability She responded to the call to serve the church as an educator where she earned bachelor's and master's degrees Possessing an aptitude and love for numbers Piscatella excelled as a math teacher and tutor at several grade schools in the Diocese of Brooklyn and subsequently at Dominican Commercial High School in a neighborhood of the New York City borough of Queens and Dominican-run Molloy College in Rockville Centre where she worked for 52 years before retiring at age 84 Kammer was one of the thousands of students inspired by the beloved nun She was taught by Piscatella at Dominican Commercial and later asked her to sponsor her when she applied to enter the order Kammer became a religious sister and a teacher serving in elementary schools in the Brooklyn and Rockville Centre dioceses before reuniting with her as a fellow professor at Molloy Piscatella and Kammer have recorded 156 years of religious life Prayers and a positive attitude have helped the two women religious navigate life during the coronavirus pandemic They have found sanctuary in their home and leave the apartment only when necessary Kammer drives Piscatella to doctors' appointments They resumed going to Mass when their parish Francis Dominici Piscatella looks on as relatives gather for a photo outside the window of her East Williston Kammer also will make occasional trips to the store for provisions to supplement the cooked meals relatives and friends deliver to them Cabin fever has not affected the two women Piscatella's last two birthday celebrations were restricted to the lawn outside the front windows of the ground-floor apartment where family members and other well-wishers gathered with balloons and signs and sang "Happy Birthday" to her who have received the first dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine remain hopeful that Piscatella will be able to celebrate her next birthday at a restaurant that can accommodate a guest list that includes her eight nephews and nieces and 25 great-grandnephews and great-grandnieces who will achieve "supercentenarian" status when she turns 110 "I guess God doesn't want me yet," she said waves as relatives and friends gather outside the window of her apartment to celebrate her 108th birthday April 20 then enter your email address and click "subscribe" Global Sisters Report 2024 at 10:45 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Early voting begins on Oct 26 and check out the list of locations in Nassau County But Nassau residents can cast their ballot even sooner Early voting begins this weekend and runs until Sunday to 7 p.m.(The BOE has extended hours on Oct you must use your designated polling place to vote Here is the list of locations (in alphabetical order): Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Get important news about your town as it happens Get the top stories from across our network Are you sure you want to unsubscribe from daily updates An accused burglar is behind bars after allegedly stealing thousands of dollars from a Long Island business Nassau County Police said officers responded to Yummy Gyro located in Williston Park on Willis Avenue An investigation found that someone broke into the restaurant and stole approximately $3,000 from a lockbox and another $500 from a cash register Officers located 49-year-old Anthony Miola in a nearby parking lot after identifying him as a suspect and criminal possession of a controlled substance Miola was carrying a glass pipe containing a burnt substance believed to be crack cocaine He was scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Hempstead on Tuesday NY – Williston Park is about to experience a vibrant addition to its culinary landscape Varli Indian Street Kitchen will officially open its doors offering a fresh take on the rich and diverse flavors of India Spearheaded by renowned restaurateur and cultural advocate Varli Singh this establishment promises to be more than just a dining experience—it’s a journey into the heart of Indian culture At the core of Varli Indian Street Kitchen is a menu crafted with deep respect for tradition and a passion for innovation Drawing on recipes passed down through generations Singh has meticulously curated dishes that reflect the bold and diverse flavors of India But what truly sets this restaurant apart is its unique approach to cocktails Infused with traditional spices like Tamarind the drinks menu offers a modern twist that promises to delight the adventurous palate “My vision for Varli Indian Street Kitchen is to create a space where guests can not only savor the incredible flavors of Indian cuisine but also immerse themselves in the traditions and culture that make it so special,” says Singh “This restaurant is about bringing people together through food and I can’t wait to share that experience with the community.” Varli Singh is no stranger to the culinary world She has long been a driving force behind Indian cuisine’s global presence and recognizing excellence in the culinary arts Her influence extends beyond the kitchen as well—Singh is the founder of the Varli Foundation a charity dedicated to feeding hungry children around the world A portion of the restaurant’s proceeds will go towards this noble cause emphasizing Singh’s commitment to making a positive impact both locally and globally The opening event on August 21 promises to be a celebration of food Guests will be treated to a special tasting menu and the chance to meet Varli Singh and her two daughters who are already carving out their own paths in the worlds of entertainment and philanthropy Both daughters have played significant roles in shaping the restaurant’s ambiance Singh’s influence also extends to publishing a publication dedicated to Indian cuisine and culture she has created a platform that showcases the richness of Indian culinary traditions a company specializing in kitchen equipment and serveware further solidifying her status as a multifaceted leader in the culinary world The soft opening of Varli Indian Street Kitchen is set to be a memorable evening promising a warm and inviting atmosphere that reflects the essence of Indian hospitality For those looking to experience the vibrant flavors and culture of India For more information, visit Varli Indian Street Kitchen’s Instagram or contact the restaurant’s media representative Parikh Worldwide Media is the largest Indian-American publishing group in the United States The group publishes five periodicals – “News India Times,” a national weekly newspaper; “Desi Talk in New York,” a weekly newspaper serving the New York-New Jersey-Connecticut region; and “Desi Talk in Chicago,” a weekly newspaper serving the Greater Chicago area and the Midwestern states; and “The Indian American,” a national online quarterly feature magazine The combined circulation and readership of these publications make the media group the most influential in the ethnic Indian market This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Credit: AP / Hostages Families Forum Headquarters Jewish leaders and other Long Islanders reacted with shock Monday after the Israeli military announced that Plainview native Omer Neutra an Israeli soldier once thought to be alive in Hamas captivity had been killed the day of Hamas' attack more than a year ago the Israeli Defense Forces said it confirmed Neutra's death "based on intelligence." The 21-year-old was a platoon commander in the Israeli Defense Forces which included an undated photograph of him and the traditional Jewish phrase used to express condolences after a death: "May his memory be a blessing." The IDF release said Neutra's body had been "held in Gaza" since the Oct The IDF press office did not respond to emailed questions about the nature of the intelligence or the location of Neutra's remains The office of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Hamas had Neutra's body politics and crime stories in Nassau County By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy A representative for Neutra's parents on Monday released a statement from the family that said in part: "It was an unimaginable nightmare to be acting based on the hope that he was alive despite having little information or signs of life since he was seen on video being taken." Omer Neutra "fought to the end" out of an "isolated "The grief is heavy," they added calling on American and Israeli leaders to use "all of their leverage" to return the remaining hostages News of Neutra's death "brought me to tears," said Rick Lewis who knows the Neutra family and met Monday with Jewish leaders from the region a 2019 graduate of a Williston Park Jewish day school where he was in charge of a small base when Hamas attacked holding them as hostages in Gaza in the Oct Nearly half the hostages were released in November 2023 in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel Of the roughly 100 hostages thought to be still in Gaza Israel estimates that two-thirds are alive the Neutra family had "the representation of everything that's going on in Israel We want to avoid any more families ever going through the pain and suffering that they're going through." for members of his congregation who had attended school with Neutra at Schechter or gotten to know the family over the past year the announcement was "shattering." Buechler said members of his congregation were proud of Neutra for serving in the IDF The rabbi said he'd seen Neutra's face every day on a poster affixed to the synagogue wall soon after Oct We are beyond traumatized that his only homecoming will be for a burial and memorial service." Lewis and Buechler said they hoped Neutra's death would catalyze efforts to bring home remaining hostages said he was asking congregants to perform mitzvahs — good deeds derived from religious commandments — in Neutra's memory "He was a holy young man who came from holy parents," Perl said "We should continue his legacy of life even as we send our condolences to his parents."  deferred college at Binghamton University to enlist in the IDF He was an honors student; the captain of his basketball soccer and volleyball teams; and highly active in several Jewish community organizations who said they spoke to him by phone the day before the attack both dual American-Israeli citizens who had lived in Israel and served in the IDF meeting with President Joe Biden last December addressing the Republican National Convention in July and speaking at gatherings on Long Island Orna Neutra addressed her missing son: "We love you very much .. And we know we will be together again soon." Ronen Neutra described his son as "an American; a good Jewish boy who loves both the American country and the Israeli country." This fall after more than a year of uncertainty about the couple's son he told Newsday that not knowing had been "an agony no parent should have to go through." Neutra's photograph was one of roughly 230 hung on empty chairs at a Shabbat service at Woodmere's Young Israel Hundreds chanted "Bring Omer home" at a rally at Plainview-Old Bethpage Community Park "We feel the urgency," Rabbi Joel Levenson of the Midway Jewish Center in Syosset Biden said he and first lady Jill Biden were "devastated and outraged" to learn of Neutra's death Omer planned to return to the United States for college He dreamed of dedicating himself to building peace," Biden's statement said "To all the families of those still held hostage: We see you And I will not stop working to bring your loved ones back home where they belong." Israeli president Benjamin Netanyahu called Neutra "a man of values blessed with talents and a Zionist in every inch of his limbs He immigrated to Israel to enlist in the IDF chose a combat path and was chosen to command and lead This is what he did at the outbreak of the war on October 2023 when he fought fiercely at the head of his soldiers to defend the settlements surrounding Gaza who had issued a statement on Thanksgiving calling for the safe return of Neutra and others taken by Hamas followed it up Monday with a post on X: "We just learned that this prayer couldn't be answered for the family of Omer Neutra Omer was barbarically murdered by Hamas in the Oct We pray that his body can be returned to his family who have been speaking out for him & all hostages since that horrific day."  including many who championed the Neutra family's cause over the past year hailed Omer Neutra as a "cherished Nassau County resident whose life was tragically cut short by acts of unimaginable terror." 2024 at 11:01 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Check out the list of locations for early voting in Nassau County Here is the list of locations and times for Nassau County early voting A person was struck and killed by a Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) train on Friday afternoon The incident happened near the Copiague station A "trespasser" was on the tracks when they were struck by a train The victim was pronounced dead at the scene Riders were experiencing scattered 15 to 20 minute delays on the Babylon Branch as a result New owners rescue 1920's ice cream parlor that was about to closeByRolando Pujol and Brittany Winderman Tuesday 2022The new owners of Hildebrandt's are making sure the crown jewel here gets the shine and spotlight it deserves - the ice cream.WILLISTON PARK Henry Hildebrandt opened a luncheonette and ice cream parlor in Williston Park It was a time when stores like Hildebrandt's were the heartbeats of American downtowns Hildebrandt's was among the last of its kind The Long Island restaurant was so unique that it became a darling on Instagram its storefront hailed as one of the most beautiful in America Hildebrandt's almost became a statistic a memory just like all the others that were missed and mourned and the family running the place since 1974 put up the white flag - Hildebrandt's would close unless a miracle happened The Los Angeles Rams were not the only winners that night That's when Randy Sarf and his father walked in for some ice cream Sarf was a regular at Hildebrandt's - it was the place to go growing up - and when the owner at the time confirmed to him that the ice cream parlor was doomed Sarf decided right then and there: "We're going to save the place." buying two plush tigers that the shop was selling - appropriately the Cincinnati Bengals were the other team playing that night - for $1,000 and they bought the place in a 10-year deal to build a business that will thrive for another century at least With Sarf's business chops and Singer's experience in trades they are putting their complementary skills right to work And Nassau County and beyond," Singer said of how Sarf and so many others view Hildebrandt's "When I first stepped back into this place they've committed to not simply keeping Hildebrandt's open but to revitalizing it Those careful changes will highlight its historical character - like revealing a long-hidden tin ceiling - while making tweaks to the menu but still preserving the classic dishes customers crave And they are making sure the crown jewel here gets the shine and spotlight it deserves - the ice cream and is the foundation for an expansion of Hildebrandt's beyond its almost century-long home "We're gonna stay true to what Hildebrandt's is," Singer said "We see Hildebrandt's not only as this great community staple and we want people to enjoy it from far and wide So the ice cream is really how we're going to stay around for another 100 years local restaurants and then bring it direct to consumer we'll expand with the ice cream." The place is like a set from a movie set in the 1960s appearing in a scene from Martin Scorsese's "The Irishman." It's easy to see why it's popular and during the Localish shoot the other day Singer and Sarf were making sure customers were all right all while sharing their vision for a vibrant Hildebrandt's seated by the front door for the interview Any table you'd like," was one of many warm greetings Singer offered to the lunchtime crowd Even the previous owners remain as the new era at Hildebrandt's begins "This place definitely means so much to me and my family," said Hunter Acosta who had run Hildebrandt's with her dad "We were about a month away from shutting down and then Randy and Spencer just swooped in and saved the day We know Randy and his family for a very long time It's really cool to have a family that my family knows take over." Singer and Sarf say they have a plan and the means and everyone from neighbors on Long Island to admirers of vintage architecture around the world is rooting for them and there were four generations at one table," Singer said and it's short and sweet: "It's family first It's a new adventure every day." Following more than a decade of discussion and planning a commuter park-and-ride facility at Exit 12 on Interstate 89 in Williston this week was awarded a state permit to begin construction The 142-space lot would be built just south of the cloverleaf on Vermont 2A — right beside a new, $12 million state police barracks proposed for the site Construction is likely to begin in spring 2022 and wind up summer 2023 according to the Vermont Agency of Transportation A bus shelter, bike racks and ample lighting figure into designs for the $4.2 million parking project Williston approved plans for the Vermont Agency of Transportation park-and-ride lot in 2014 — partly in response to overcrowding at the commuter lot in Richmond the cost estimate for developing the lot in Williston was $2 million EARLIER: Support grows for Williston park-and-ride Support for a Williston park-and-ride to ease traffic congestion in Chittenden County has been steady at the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission since at least 1999 The Vermont Natural Resources Board approved an Act 250 permit for the current project Nov RELATED: Why some Vermonters prefer to commute by bus Contact reporter Joel Banner Baird at  joelbaird@freepressmedia.com Home/Firefighting K2M Photography – In the early morning hours of Sunday 2019 the Williston Park Fire Department was called to a truck fire at the rear of 61 Hillside Avenue [Bagel Express] they were met with a working van fire at the rear of a one-story commercial building with extension to the interior The fire quickly spread through the bagel store and consumed the adjacent tutoring center on the exposure four side Multiple hand lines were put into operation alongside Mineola Ladder 168 and Williston Park Ladder 862 Several other agencies were on scene including OEM The cause of the fire is currently under investigation See More Videos on FirefighterNation.com John O'Hara and Joe Leone have been friends for decades ever since attending elementary school together at Saint Aidan in Williston Park the two both spent "formative years," as O'Hara calls them Did they ever think they would own the place but after the 40-year-old TR's closed last year Leone and O'Hara dove into business together reopening the bar this fall as Willistons' to almost immediate swarms of locals I wouldn't have had an interest in it but because of our personal and town history we had a sentimental attachment," said O'Hara who met the woman who would become his wife I cut out a section of the bar where we met," he added O'Hara and Leone spent about a year renovating the historic brick building into an upscale tavern unearthing original brick walls and adding an ornately tiled floor 14-seat bar and oversized black leather booths along one side of the bar room The ground floor is lined by windows and seats 44 people dozens of wines by the bottle (12 by the glass) and cocktails such as an espresso martini and blood-orange cosmo A clubbier upstairs dining room-slash-private event space (with its own bar) has space for another 60 diners "to show that it belongs to the town." O'Hara and Leone have grappled with staffing challenges but leave most operations in the hands of general manager Chas White The kitchen is the realm of chef Rich Schoenacher who has worked on both the West and East coasts and has rolled out a hard-to-categorize menu with appetizers running from deviled eggs fried calamari salad and both "bama" and Buffalo wings to bao buns filled with spiced chickpeas and ale-stamed mussels accented with sauerkraut and mustard There's also carnitas and birria tacos; burgers; a BLT and a hot fried chicken sandwich grilled salmon in a citrus beurre blanc sauce and Brazilian seafood stew "We're expanding the menu judiciously," said O'Hara as well as running specials and adding brunch in the coming months Appetizers start at $7 for deviled eggs; sandwiches salads and tacos fall between $11 and $19; and larger plates are $19 to $45 for filet mignon in a red-wine sauce with glazed baby carrots and garlic mashed potatoes Willistons' Restaurant & Bar is open Wednesday to Sunday from 4 p.m. on at 17 Hillside Ave., Williston Park. 516-490-4877, willistonswp.com Get updates on important news and legislation from the Local Government Committee Martins was in Williston Park on a recent sunny Sunday for the Williston Park Street Fair business and organizations were out in full force as the community celebrated this annual event that features the best of Williston Park Senator Martins greeted many of his friends from the community on Hillside Avenue.