The Sea Cliff Village Board met for the first time in 2004 this past Monday night to celebrate the firefighters' grant and usher in a new season of meetings.

Sea Cliff enjoyed a relatively quiet and joyous, if spring-like, holiday season. Mutual Concerns, with the aid of the Knights of Columbus and the American Legion, distributed food baskets, their help reaching almost 70 families during the holidays. The New Year's Eve Bonfire was also a success, with many thanks to Larry Gordon and Alex Kaminski for pulling it off; and to the Fire Department for its careful watch over the events.

Village residents should be busy this January, with a number of upcoming meetings in village hall. The Landmarks Preservation Commission met Wednesday, Jan. 7 at 8 p.m., the Downtown Task Force Tuesday, Jan. 13 at 8 p.m., Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee the following day at 7:30 p.m. and the Website Committee Wednesday, Jan. 21 at 7:30 p.m. The next village board meeting will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 20, as village hall will be closed Jan. 19 in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Looking further into the future, the board also passed a resolution designating Sea Cliff School as official polling place for the village election on March 16.

Of particular note and pride to the village in the New Year is the 2003 Assistance to Firefighters Grant awarded the Sea Cliff Fire Department. The $140,463 will go toward the purchase of a host of new equipment, including an automatic electronic defibrillator and upgraded protective equipment for firefighters. The funds also forward plans for the purchase of new portable radios, a thermal imaging camera, a computer database of village structural information, special equipment for biological and chemical emergencies, and a keyless entry system for the firehouse.

Resident concern centered around beach clean-up and the legality of skeet shooting at the Yacht Club. Mayor Krieb has promised to look into possible resolutions to both issues.

Deputy Village Clerk Pat Guy also reminded residents that the deadline for payment, without penalty, of second half village taxes, was Jan. 2. Please call village hall at 671-0080 if you have misplaced your second half stub.