* April 19, Leviton will conduct Seminar classes on topics ranging from Bose audio theatre to Growing Your Business.  For further information and details, contact Leviton rep Jon Werner at 631-382-7707.  The event will be held at Leonard’s of Great Neck, and will include a great buffet.

*  SCECA Business Seminar tentative date is May 21; details to be announced.

* Board member Kevin MacLeod is organizing a SCECA family outing, with discount,  to Splish Splash, on a Sunday in July, 2005.  Specific details to be announced.

*  SCECA Picnic probable date & location:  Sunday, 9/11/05, at Heckscher State Park.

Lester Gochman (631) 643-2063

As always, we request that appropriate information be provided to Lester and/or Joe, so we may celebrate your joys and share your sorrow.

by Joe Mikulas

I received the following e-mail from my son, a graduate student at Texas A & M, in Galveston, TX.:

Hey Dad,

Yan from the lab had some scary stuff to say about the electrics in her apt.  Was wondering if you had any suggestions?  She was home and smelled smoke; noticed that her DVD player was smoking, so she unplugged it and put it outside.  Then she came back, and there was more smoke, coming from everything that was plugged in, even though they were turned off, (TV, VCR, etc.).  She unplugged them, but they are all fried.  The apt. maintenance was called, and rewired a light fixture in the kitchen, saying that was the problem.  It crapped out before they left, after completing the job.  They said her surge protector’s green light was on, (Yan thought it wasn’t working), and being Friday, they’d be back Monday. 

            Yan woke up to sparks and the smell of burning.  She was disoriented and scared.  (By the way, when the kitchen light crapped out, Yan said it would get bright white, then dull.  No one else in the building is having problems.  The maintenance guys were clueless, so they called the power company.  She just got a call that everything is fine, but they didn’t know what was done.  Any words of advice?

As you may expect, I phoned my son and asked to speak with Yan at the school’s lab.  I was full of advice and diagnostics.  (I wondered about a missing neutral, suggested a smoke alarm, and suggested that her apt. manager be asked to reimburse for the destroyed electronics.)  However, being over 1,000 miles away, my ability to help was limited.  Yan was reimbursed, but there was definitely a lapse in life safety.  Perhaps the best gift for a college-bound student would be CO & smoke alarms and a copy of this!

Stuart A. Sinclair, CPA
(516) 935-2086

The state and cities are increasingly hungry for funding.  NY State has increased its highest personal income tax rate to 7.7% for incomes in excess of $500,000 for the tax years 2003, 2004 and 2005.  NY City has raised its top rate for taxpayers with incomes of excess of $500,000 to 4.45%  To avoid penalty, you must have paid in by estimates or withholding tax an amount equal to last year’s tax, or to 110% of last year’s tax, if it is in excess of $150,000.

Editor’s note:  Another reason to be happy you’re an electrical contractor??

As always, we recommend that any questions regarding accounting and taxes be directed to Stuart.

* * * * *

SCECA JACKETS:  :  :

We have begun to receive our first order of SCECA “three-season” jackets.  General members will soon be able to place their orders.  We expect the price to be in the $50 range, depending on size and personalized lettering.  Please provide us with your name, size, color choice and phone number.  Ad Apparel and/or Joe Mikulas will call you to process your order.  You can call (631) 361-7474 and FAX a message, or see our recording secretary before or after the General Meeting.