Friday, November 11, 2011

Veterans' Day, 2011


Scenes from Veterans' Day in Seaford, New York, November 11, 2011.





The Seaford Fire Department adds a wreath.


After the volley, the young man (third from left) skillfully sounded taps.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Election Results, November 2011

Yesterday, the residents of Seaford were asked to vote for ten State Supreme Court judges, a county judge, a district court judge, one county legislator, and several Town of Hempstead officials.
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However, I should mention the numbering of Election Districts.  When one visits the Results section of the Nassau County Board of Elections, the Election District is specified with a six-digit number.  The first number, 2, may represent the Town.  The second and third digits represent the Assembly District.  The fourth, fifth, and sixth digits represent the Election District.  For example, Election District 26 (north of the Seaford Avenue school) is within the 19th Assembly District (Assemblyman McDonough), and the Town of Hempstead.  Hence, it is numbered 219026.
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Incumbants (except for judges) won reelection:  County Legislator Dennis Dunne, Town Councilwoman Angie Cullin, Town Receiver of Taxes Donald Xavier Clavin, Town Supervisor Kate Murray, Town Clerk Mark Bonilla.
As for the judges on the ballot, it seems that the ten candidates who won the most votes for the ten State Supreme Court judgeships (with 14-year terms) were all the Republican candidates.  The ten-year seat on the Nassau County Court went to Angelo Delligatti, Republican.  For the Second District Court (vote for 3 judges, each for a six-year term), the three incumbents won (Bjorneby, Knobel, Paradiso).

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Election Day, 2011

Having just voted, this is my recollection of the ballot in Seaford, New York, 11.8.2011:
Fourteen columns of judges to be elected.  "Vote for any ten."  One county legislator.  Supervisor of the Town of Hempstead.  Town clerk.  Member of the Town Council.  Receiver of Taxes.  Total:19 columns, but 15 votes maximum.
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Apparently, if one casts too many or too few votes, the scanner gives further instructions.  In the case of too few votes (as, for example, not voting for ten judges), after the warning, you may still cast the ballot.  The machine will swallow the paper ballot and declare your vote counted.

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Seaford School Board meeting 11.3.2011

The November 3, 2011, meeting of the Seaford School Board opened with the Pledge of Allegiance at 7:30 p.m. in the Harbor School.  About sixty residents attended.  All five trustees were present.
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A potential buyer has toured the Seaford Avenue school, with consideration to use the building for the firm's office space.  The broker and district continue to market the school, which for decades has not been used as a district school, but has been leased at various times.
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In 1961, fifty years ago, ground was broken for the Seaford Harbor school, which welcomed the first students in 1963.
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The board received donations to assist the schools in this year of a contingency budget. Save Seaford Sports presented a check for $43,000, to be used to restore winter sports and middle school sports.
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The superintendent outlined the much-changed procedure and calendar for determining the 2012-2013 budget. One deadline is Mach 1, 2012, when the district must present to the state the Tax Levy figure.  Note that the 2% cap is on the Tax Levy, not directly on the budget.  It is said that New York State will provide in January or early February the amount it intends to provide to each district, so that the Tax Levy could be computed.  The entire procedure is quite different from other years, and it offers uncharted challenges.  Again it has happened that some new State mandates provide no funds to accomplish what is newly required.
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The Board discussed the membership and necessary work of the Audit Committee and the Budget Committee.  This writer has noticed that the meetings and preparatory work done by volunteers of the Board or for the Board has increased in recent years.  Instead of meeting just monthly, they and their helpers have invested much more time in preparation for decision-making.  Notice of these additional committee meetings are posted at the Seaford Public Library and on the district website.