Budgets for the Hampton Library in Bridgehampton and the John Jermain Memorial Library in Sag Harbor passed by comfortable margins on Sept. 29.

The Hampton Library’s 2013 budget of just over $1.5 million passed with 56 for and 7 against. Residents of the Bridgehampton and Sagaponack School Districts cast ballots in the library vote.

Harvey Loomis, who ran unopposed, was elected to represent the residents of Sagaponack on the library board.

In Sag Harbor, the budget of just over $2.2 million was approved 163 to 24.

Michael Garabedian was elected to a second three-year term on the board, and Craig Rhodes, a former board member, was elected to return to the board. Both ran unopposed.

    A fall 2013 wedding is planned for Meghan Ryan and Nick Finazzo, Montauk residents who had been introduced by friends and became engaged on Aug. 19.

    Ms. Ryan is the lead therapist and manager of Manual and Sports Physical Therapy in Montauk. She graduated from Smithtown High School in 2000 and went on to earn an undergraduate degree in chemistry in 2004 from the State University at Binghamton and a doctorate of physical therapy from the State University at Stony Brook in 2007. She is the daughter of Michael Ryan of Smithtown and Mary Ryan of Hauppauge.

    Mr. Finazzo is a son of Rori Finazzo Butterfield of Montauk and Michael Finazzo of West Palm Beach, Fla. He graduated from East Hampton High School and from St. Joseph’s College with a certificate to teach high school math. He is a teaching assistant at the Amagansett School and working toward a master’s degree in elementary and special education at Touro College. He is also the bar manager at the West Lake Clam and Chowder House in Montauk.

    By a vote of 195 to 36, taxpayers overwhelmingly approved an almost $2 million 2013 budget for the East Hampton Library on Saturday. The increase from this year’s budget was just over $120,000.

    Dennis Fabiszak, library director, said the library board and staff were thankful for the support, noting that the budget was approved by 84 percent of those who voted.

    Since 1995, the library has received donations totaling nearly $15 million. The revenue from fund-raising events and donations expected in 2013 leaves $1,375,442 to be raised by taxes. The average district property tax increase is estimated to be $7.58. This year’s coffers were significantly boosted by a $250,000 gift from the actor Alec Baldwin.

    The library has begun construction on its 6,800-square-foot children’s wing, which will include dedicated space for young adults.  Salary for a part-time librarian to work with them was added to the new budget. “That age group has never had its own place in the building,” Mr. Fabiszak said. “During finals, we would close the entire library for students to come in and study after school and there was a huge response.”

    Mr. Fabiszak expects construction of the new wing to be completed by Memorial Day 2013.

    The library also plans to hire a part-time custodian.

    Materials make up the second highest increase in the budget, $10,900 more for a total of $135,000.

    East Hampton School District voters cast 165 of the ballots, with 130 supporting the budget. Fifty-four Springs residents and 11 Wainscott residents showed up to vote yes, with only one Springs resident opposed.

    At a meeting on Friday, for the second time, the East Hampton Village Zoning Board of Appeals granted Howard Schultz, the president of Starbucks, and his wife, Sheri Kersch Schultz, an interior designer, a coastal erosion hazard permit and a variance to allow the construction of a deck and a 2,521-square-foot addition at the first floor and basement levels of their waterfront house on Gracie Lane. The property is just over four acres.

    The Z.B.A. first granted approvals on the Schultz’s application on April 29, 2011. It expired a year later because construction had not been completed. Because the new application was identical to last year’s, the board simply reissued the permit, adding a condition that a variance granted in 1986 allowing for more than 650 square feet of habitable floor area in a caretaker’s apartment be removed.

    The board’s decision was not without contention. In a letter submitted on Sept. 12, an attorney for Donald Kostin of 73 Lily Pond Lane argued that an alternate lot line calculation should be considered, which would require a side yard setback variance.

    The board decided, however, that the owners had demonstrated “that no reasonable, prudent, alternative site is available,” and had taken “responsible means and measures to mitigate adverse impacts on natural systems.”

    Rocio Fidalgo, a native of Chile, and Julio C. Vasquez were married on Sept. 9 in Manhattan at the St. Columba Catholic Church in Chelsea. The Rev. Keith Fennessy officiated. A shipboard reception took place aboard the Bateaux New York dining cruise, which departed from Chelsea Piers.

    The couple met four years ago in Chile, where Mr. Vasquez had gone to study Spanish.

    A daughter of Maria Susana Gallardo and Gerardo Fidalgo of Santiago, Chile, the bride graduated from the Redland School in Santiago in 2004 and received a bachelor’s degree in journalism and social communications from the Universidad del Pacifico, also in Santiago.

    Mr. Vasquez is the son of Diana and Julio Vasquez of Springs. After attending East Hampton High School, he graduated from the Pratt Institute with a degree in graphic design and is a senior designer at Celtra, a mobile advertising firm in Manhattan.

    The bride wore an off-white Torino taffeta drop-waist A-line gown with a strapless sweetheart neckline. In her hair she wore a soft handmade hairpiece of lace, ivory velvet leaves, and Swarovski crystals. She carried a long bouquet of Versilia roses, calla lilies, and white Gerbera daisies accented with green hypericum berries.

    Her maid of honor was her sister-in-law Natalia Vasquez of East Hampton. The bridesmaids were Elisa Burriesci, who is another sister-in-law living in East Hampton, Tonya Rea of East Hampton, and five friends who flew in from Chile: Vilma Queirolo, Maria Paz Mercado, Francesca Spalloni, Javiera Salazar, and Valentina Kerr. They wore floor-length navy blue chiffon dresses and carried bouquets of mango calla lilies, peach roses, orange daisies, and hypericum berries.

    Mr. Vasquez’s brother, Charles Ahrens of East Hampton, was best man. He was also attended by his brother-in-law, Frank Burriesci of East Hampton, and six friends from East Hampton High School: Kelley Daige, David Gay, Ricardo Salmeron, Diego Palomo, and Victor Giannini of East Hampton, and Pat Bock of Santa Barbara, Calif. They wore gray suits with navy blue vests and ties, and DC skate shoes.

    The couple took a weeklong wedding trip to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. They live in Brooklyn.

    Eighty percent of the night life in the entire town of East Hampton is now in Montauk, East Hampton Town Police Lt. Chris Hatch, who is also the Montauk precinct commander, told the Montauk Citizens Advisory Committee Monday night.

    The nightclubs located in the other hamlets are really seeing a drop in business, a member commented.

    The subject came up during a discussion about regulating taxicabs. This year the easternmost hamlet saw a proliferation of cabs from New York City and other areas UpIsland added to the increasing number already working here. At times there were 8 to 10 cabs parked on both sides of the street in front of the Montauk Chamber of Commerce.

    Asked about it after last month’s discussion, East Hampton Town Clerk Fred Overton said that 75 permits had been issued at a price of $200 per business and $150 for each additional vehicle. There are now 375 cabs in operation, he said. The cab company owner is subject to a background check, said Mr. Overton, while cab owners are required to show proof of insurance and a business license to get a permit.

    The permits are supposed to be placed on the vehicle’s front and back windows. Diane Hausman, the advisory committee’s chairwoman, said on Monday that she had been conducting an informal check of those stickers. “I haven’t seen any,” she said.

    Committee members think the regulations are too light and have asked that the town create a taxi commission and raise the fee for a permit upward of $5,000 apiece. Permits should not be issued, members said, unless the business owner can provide a local physical address, not a box number. Off-duty cabs would be parked on the owner’s property, not taking up parking spaces. Also, members said, taxi drivers should be regularly drug-tested, and rates should be posted where customers can see them.

    Cab companies should be required to bid for a permit, just like the food truck vendors, said Lisa Grenci, a member and former chairwoman of the committee. “If we’re charging food vendors, then the taxi permits should also go out for bid,” she said. “They’re making a lot of money out here.”

    Morgan Neff, who said he was a former New York City cab driver, said the answer was simple: raise the permit fee. “If you pay a lot of money, then you respect it. If you come here to run a medallion you’re going to have to pay for it,” he said.

    Trish Scott, a former cab driver, said drivers already receive quite a bit of scrutiny from the police. She suggested the committee invite cab owners to a meeting and let them have their say.

    Moving on, the committee descended upon triathlons, marathons, and bike races, which seem to take place almost every weekend since the spring. One member said last weekend was horrible, filled with bikers jamming the roads and blocking side streets and driveways. The committee will ask the town board for more oversight when granting permits for these events. It was suggested that the board does not have the time to review each application carefully.

    Jay Fruin reminded members that last year Tom Bogdan, a Montauk resident, had suggested a subcommittee be formed to scrutinize the applications and make recommendations to the town board before it issues permits. It might also find out exactly where the event proceeds go. Committee members said some event organizers charge $150 per person to participate and there are often over 200 people registered. The town should be getting more money from the races, they said.

    “People are coming into our town, raping us, and then leaving. The money should be going to the Police Department so they can get more help,” said Richie Weiss, a guest.

    With the Montauk Chamber of Commerce’s annual Fall Festival this weekend, the end of summer is now official. And this chamber knows how to send out a season. There will be fireworks by Grucci, a clam chowder contest with over 30 restaurants vying for the title, live music, beer and wine tastings, clams and oysters, German-style food, a farmers market, games, inflatable jumps, face-painting, pumpkin-decorating, crab races, a 30-horse carousel, and more — lots more.

    The fun starts on Saturday with the popular chowder contest at 11 a.m. Be forewarned: the lines start forming much earlier. There will be local food personalities judging the best of the New England and Manhattan blends and a people’s choice award for both. Volunteers will shuck the freshest clams and oysters available. Music will be performed by Nancy Atlas and the Uncle Susie Band from 2 to 5 p.m.

    Later on Saturday, the Atlantic Terrace Motel is sponsoring a fireworks by Grucci display that will start at about 7 p.m. from Umbrella Beach. It will be visible from most of the downtown beaches.

    All features continue on Sunday. The folks from the Montauk Playhouse Community Center will join in, under a tent on the east side of the green, with a huge silent auction, featuring gift certificates for restaurants, motel stays and fishing trips, designer jewelry and handbags, electronic devices, art items, and more. Nearby, there will be entertainment and sports memorabilia for bidding.

    Carnival-type foods, including popcorn, cotton candy, and chocolate goodies, will be offered, and the 3B’s will get listeners jazzed up with their personal style of Montauk rock.

    Gurney’s Inn is offering a weekend special for anyone who would like to stay over, with breakfast and dinner, use of the seawater facilities, and an ocean-view room.

    There are still tickets left for the chamber’s big raffle, with cash prizes up to $20,000. The tickets cost $50 each and will be sold at the festival. The drawing will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday; it is not necessary to be there to win.

    Voters in the East Hampton Library District, which includes the East Hampton, Springs, and Wainscott School Districts, will vote on Saturday on a nearly $2 million budget for 2013, an increase of just over $120,000 over this year’s budget.

    According to the proposed budget summary, personnel expenses comprise the largest increase in spending, $105,000 more than this year for a total of almost $1.4 million.

    The library has begun construction on its 6,800-square-foot addition, which will include dedicated space for young adults. It plans to hire a part-time librarian to work with them. “That age group has never had its own place in the building,” said Dennis Fabiszak, the library’s director. “During finals, we would close the entire library for students to come in and study after school and there was a huge response.”

    Mr. Fabiszak expects construction of the new wing to be completed by Memorial Day 2013.

The library also plans to hire a part-time custodian.

    Materials make up the second highest increase in the 2013 budget, $10,900 more for a total of $135,000.

“When it’s broken down by the three districts, it’s only about a $7.50 rise in an individual’s tax,” said Mr. Fabiszak. “Since 1995, many residents and library board members have donated close to $15 million, which has lessened the need for taxpayer assistance.”

    “This is only the third time we’ve asked for an increase,” said Mr. Fabiszak. “We didn’t ask for an increase at all last year.”

    Voting will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the library.

    Bailey Marie Thompson and Jeremy Ryan Somero of Beach Plum Road in Montauk were married on Sept. 14 at St. Therese of Lisieux Catholic Church in that hamlet. The Rev. Mike Rieder officiated. A reception catered by the Harvest restaurant followed at Montauk County Park.

    The bride, who will keep her name, is a daughter of Deborah Thompson of Montauk and the late Larry Thompson. A massage therapist at the Deborah Thompson Day Spa, she graduated from Colby Sawyer College in 2003 and from the Finger Lakes School of Massage in 2007.

    Mr. Somero is the son of Deborah Somero of Coco Beach, Fla., and the late Peter Somero. He graduated from Seminole Community College in 1999 and is a service manager at Uihlein’s Marina in Montauk. The two were introduced by Marilyn Behan, who works with Mr. Somero.

    The bride was attended by her mother and her sister, Brittany Thompson, also of Montauk, who was the maid of honor.

    The bride’s mother wore a custom-made dress that she designed herself. The bride wore a dress by Allure Bridal and the bridesmaids wore dresses from Jordan’s Fashion.

    Mr. Somero was attended by his mother. His sister, Jyll St. Cyr, was his best woman.

    Music at the ceremony was performed by Jane Hastay on organ, with Ashley Reilly and Ms. Thompson’s uncle, David Schminke II, as vocalists.

    The newlyweds have not yet taken a wedding trip, but have their sights set on Peru this winter.

   East Hampton Town Councilman Peter Van Scoyoc has gotten the ball rolling again, so to speak, on the renovation of the Montauk Skate Park on Essex Street.

    The East Hampton Town Board liaison to the Town Parks and Recreation Department, Mr. Van Scoyoc met on Sept. 19 with employees of the department to identify issues still needed to be addressed at the town-owned park.

The town has been sitting on $30,000 in grant money obtained by former Councilwoman Julia Prince for the work several years ago. The town also received a pledge of $32,000 for the project from a benefit in 2010 when artists and skateboarders joined forces to raise money through an art show and cocktail party at the Out East gallery in Montauk.

    Employees of the town’s Building and Grounds Department are expected to swarm the property today to repair the damaged edges of the north side of the site, which will be transformed to a basketball court from an open court that has been used in various ways, including roller skating, handball, and as a dog run.

    Mr. Van Scoyoc said this week that the first order of business after the cleanup will be to resurface the grounds. The work was not expected to begin until October, but it has been rescheduled and will start immediately. The Highway Department is supplying the materials.

    It was also reported this week that a new, appropriate boulder has been found for an already finished plaque in honor of Lars Simonsen, a young man who often used the park and was killed in a construction accident in June 2007. The park is to be dedicated in his name.