Williston Park 2019_08_23

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Serving Williston Park, East Williston, Mineola, Albertson and Searingtown

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Friday, August 23, 2019

Vol. 68, No. 34

BACK TO SCHOOL

COMPLAINT FILED AGAINST TERRY

TOWN HIGHWAY SUPERVISOR RESIGNS

PAGES 27-36

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E.W. cost for water called high

TA L K I N G P O L I C E P R E S E N C E

Mayor calls study ‘flawed’ BY TOM M CC A RT HY A recent study showed that East Williston is paying some of the highest water rates on Long Island, but Mayor Bonnie Parente said the analysis ignored the differences in taxes that other municipalities with water districts may also be paying. “It was flawed,” Parente said. “It did not compare apples to apples.” A study conducted by the Citizens Campaign for the Environment called “What Does Your Water Cost?” places East Williston fourth in the top 10 most expensive water districts on Long Island. The study hit the public eye after an Aug. 13 CBSNewYork News story cited its findings. When it comes to water bills and understanding why exactly they cost what they do, Adrienne Esposito, executive director for the organization, said, “There should be more clarity.” Continued on Page 50

PHOTO BY TOM MCCARTHY

Williston Park Mayor Paul Ehrbar, pictured with Trustee Michael Uttaro on right, said police presence in the village has grown since Memorial Day burglaries. See story on page 2.

Laffey Real Estate founder dies at 81 Real estate tycoon and Irish immigrant Thomas Laffey lived in W.P. since the ‘60s BY R O S E W E L D ON Laffey Real Estate founder Thomas Laffey, a longtime Williston Park resident, has died at age 81. Laffey died of natural causes on Aug. 14 at St. Francis Hospi-

tal in Flower Hill, his son Emmett said in a phone call with Blank Slate Media. An Irish citizen who emigrated to New York in 1956 at 17, Laffey made a name for himself as the founder of Laffey Real Estate, which now comprises 15 offices on Long Island and in Queens. Laffey began his real estate career as an agent in Floral Park. Upon marrying his wife, fellow Irish immi-

grant Eileen O’Grady, he purchased a home in Williston Park in the late 1960s and founded his company in 1970. Emmett Laffey and two of his brothers joined their father’s firm at age 18. “It was part of our day-today life. Real estate, buying houses, was in our DNA,” Emmett Laffey said. In addition to his wife, Thomas Laffey is survived by his sons Phillip, Emmett, Mark,

Brian and Desmond, and nine grandchildren. A funeral service was held on Tuesday at St. Aidan’s Parish in Williston Park. Laffey said his father was described at the ceremony as “a pioneer, a maverick and a legend.” The family as a whole will soon travel to Laffey’s homeland for a burial in Connemara, Galway, Emmett Laffey said. Continued on Page 51

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