The Williston Times, Friday, September 25, 2015
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Fastenberg victory gives challengers sweep Continued from Page 1 Fastenberg, who will serve a four-year term, participated in the village’s meeting Monday, during which she was appointed the board’s government liaison for the remainder of the 2015-16 fiscal year. “I hear from people who know best, that we accomplished a rare feat. We unseated a ruling party and well entrenched administration and served notice that we expect to compel a change,” Fastenberg wrote. “Now the job ahead is to deliver,” she added. “I do not expect it to be easy. If the fight for this job is any indication it promises to be a wild ride.” Baker, who with Chimerine unseated incumbent trustees Harvey Simpson and Christopher Sauvigne in June, was appointed as the board’s budget
officer, a position previously held by Weinberg. Weinberg will continue to serve a one-year term as a member of the village’s architectural review board. Following the Sept. 8 runoff, Fastenberg led Weinberg by 249 votes, but 268 absentee ballots had not yet been counted. Weinberg initially defeated Fastenberg by three votes in the village’s June 16 election, but Fastenberg filed for a recount with the Nassau County Board of Elections after she said she was informed that several voters faced difficulty in casting ballots. Upon various recounts, Nassau County Supreme Court Justice Arthur Diamond ruled in early August that Weinberg and Fastenberg were tied and that the election board would be given jurisdiction in deciding a
winner. Diamond also determined that the village should not have accepted Weinberg’s oath of office filing on July 17 because the race’s outcome was still being reviewed. Weinberg’s representatives had argued that the court did not have jurisdiction because he had already taken office and began participating as a member of the village board, which held its first public meeting following the election on July 20. “There were so many interesting personalities, side stories, twists in turns in this insurgent campaign that it started to sound like a Netflix series,” Fastenberg wrote. Fastenberg in her post thanked her family and supporters for their work during the elections, saying her neighbors’
Leslie Fastenberg was installed as Old Westbury’s newest trustee Monday night after winning a Sept. 8 runoff election against Andrew Weinberg. involvement in a village whose “It was the stringing togethresidents typically remain pri- er of all those small acts that revate was an “unexpected sur- sulted in this victory,” she wrote. “Thank you.” prise.”
Nathan criticizes public service contracts Continued from Page 1 decision to cut nine bus routes makes it harder for people who cannot afford a car to get where they need to go. Nathan also called for greater transparency when it comes to the county’s contracts. In his experience as North Hempstead’s bay constable, he said, he has found that towns in Suffolk County have made all their contracts with private companies public on their websites. Nassau County should do the same, he said. Nathan also said he thinks contracts should come under more scrutiny on the front end of the process. He questioned the county rule that only requires the Legislature to vote on contracts worth $25,000 or more. “Maybe these thresholds for dollar amounts need to start at zero,” he said. “Maybe everything needs to be looked at.”
chances of victory are slim, NaNathan said he has much than said conversations with respect for Nicolello, but said voters have reaffirmed that his he is “voting with the group” campaign is important. on contracts and other budgetMany have not known ary issues. about the county’s financial isNicolello’s campaign websues, he said, and they are “assite touts his support for the tonished” when they find out. “public-private partnerships.” “Sometimes you can’t The NICE bus services save the blame people for not wanting county $33 million each year, to read the horrible news about it says, and another contract the county’s budget, so it’s easfor prison health care services ier to ignore,” he said. “But we saves another $8 million. can’t ignore it anymore.” Nicolello has the upper The Ninth District includes hand financially in the race. New Hyde Park, Garden City The most recent available Park, Williston Park, East Wilstate campaign finance filings liston, Albertson, parts of Rosshow Citizens for Nicolello, a lyn and parts of Manhasset. political action committee affiliated with him, had $12,135.12 in its war chest in July. Reach reporter Noah ManNathan, on the other hand, skar by e-mail at nmanskar@ said he has raised about $2,000 theislandnow.com or by phone Democratic Nassau County Legislature candidate Mal Nathan over the course of its campaign. at 516.307.1045 x204. Also folThe legislative district also low us on Twitter @noahmanskar has more active Republican vot- from the Nassau County Board any extra money, Nathan said, and Facebook at facebook.com/ it has provided staff to help ers than Democrats — 18,448 of Elections. theislandnow. While the county Demo- with the campaign. versus 15,683, according to Though he knows his the most recent available data cratic Party has not given him
A Mediterranean touch comes to W.P. Continued from Page 20 tire lives,” their attorney Marco Silva told the board. They met while working at Picholine, a two-Michelin star Manhattan restaurant headed by acclaimed chef Terrance Brennan. Alexopolous has run his own restaurants before and also consults with other restaurateurs.
Peralta, who will oversee Xarello’s front-of-house operations, was the general manager at Picholine, where Ramirez was a cook. Peralta brought Alexopoulos to Williston Park after a friend told him The Ivy Cottage had closed. The two had discussed leaving Picholine to open a restaurant
together, and they fell in love with the area when they visited. The trio wants Xarello to be a place where residents feel at home, as its predecessor was, Peralta said. “We want to be a restaurant for the neighborhood,” he said. “We want to be a part of people’s lives with tasty food.” Part of doing that, Peralta
said, is having “affordable” prices. No dish will cost more than $30, Alexopoulos said; the average price for an appetizer, entree, dessert and glass of wine will be between $50 and $60. The restaurateurs served samples of the menu at Sunday’s Williston Day Street Fair, where they said the food was well received.
They also gave tours of the interior, which Williston Park resident Maria Zappala said maintains The Ivy Cottage’s “countrystyle charm.” After completing the “finishing touches,” such as painting and hiring new staff, they plan to open Xarello in about three weeks, Alexopoulos said.