Annual Awards Dinner

Peter Demico received a Life Membership award.
Pictured above: Dave Thomas, Squad Captain; Mary Ann Cascarino, 2nd Assistant Chief Training Officer; Peter Demico; Tony Quartarero, Chief; and Roy Ryan, 1st assistant chief.

The Apalachin Fire Department held their Annual Awards Dinner last month. The following awards were presented:

40 Years of Service

Kenneth Brinkman and Robert Squier

25 Years of Service

Polly Getkin, Phyl Hamlin, Helen Bickle, and Madeline Barno

20 Years of Service

James Kelly

5 Years of Service

Brian Cascarino, Jason Allen, Todd Jacobs, Sammi Garrett, and Robert Staudt

2 Years of Service as an Officer

Blaise Ryan, Joseph Clark, Carl Squires, Scott Sanquinito

Life Membership

Peter J. Damico

Help-A-Hydrant

The Apalachin Fire Department is beginning its fifth year of the Help-A-Hydrant Program and is looking to have more hydrants adopted this year. All that's necessary is to keep snow clear of the hydrant for a three-foot radius and check for cracks, leaks, and missing parts. There are no special rewards for doing this civic minded activity, just the satisfaction of knowing that firefighters are saved precious minutes if a fire should start in your neighborhood.

For more information or to adopt one of the over 200 hydrants in the Apalachin Fire District, call 625-2790.

Apalachin firefighters express sincere thanks to the following individuals who have adopted hydrants this past year: Chris Pullano, Ed Balunas, Harry Stoke, George Wheeler, Bernard Fry, Tony Hurchla, Bill Walker, Paul Defide, Chuck and Barb Zwick, Kevin Lewis, Richard Fowler, Willard Edwards, Matt and Terry White, Joe Clark, Bonnie Runyon, Karl Lason, Mary Ann Merrill, Chuck Wagstaff, Tom Varner, Lee Blood, Barry Watkins, Wally Harrington, Richard McPherson, Jim Harrington, Jean Tolbert, Rick Barton, Chuck Edwards, Domingo Jimenez, Ed Lewis, Hawk Haflin, James and Karen Conn, Richard Bidwell, Tom Whitaker, Al Bailey, Bill Bodie, Phillip Eiche, Herb Stamer, Ray Linder, Joe Scordino, Frank Mols, Wayne Frye, John Krein, James Johnson, Paul Huonker, Wade Geary, Chris Basile, Fred Blyler, Dick Manning, Chuck and Joy Yonko, Eric Eiche, Bob Ferris, Paul Thurman, Jr., Ed Sledziona, The Gorman Family, Dave Parker, Gabe DeSantis, and Scott Sanquinito.

Young people ages 16 and 17 can join the department with parental/guardian consent. While apprentices are allowed to participate fully in training sessions, there are restrictions during emergency operations. Apprentices cannot operate fire pumps, enter burning structures, or contaminated atmospheres, and they are not placed in any situation that could endanger themselves or other firefighters. Apprentices must maintain good academic standing in order to stay active.

If you live in the Apalachin Fire District and your family has experienced the birth of a new born child in this past year, the Apalachin Fire Department would like to give you a free smoke detector. Simply call 625-2790 or stop by Station #1 at 230 Pennsylvania Avenue any Wednesday between 7:00 - 9:00 pm to obtain your free smoke detector. While you are there, take some safety brochures which cover topics such as fireplace safety, barbecue safety, and wood stove safety.

Visit the Apalachin Fire Department's Web Page at:

http://www.fire-ems.net/firedept/view/ApalachinNY