submitted by Alan Bornt
The North Hoosick Fire Department recently installed its 2010 officers at its annual Installation of Officers banquet held at the fire station on Saturday, January 9. Rick Ferrannini was the master of ceremonies for the evening. Special guests attending the banquet were Buskirk 2nd Asst. Chief Brooks Stradinger, Hoosick Fire Chief Bill Rifenburg, Hoosick Falls 1st Asst. Chief Robert Bornt, West Hoosick 1st Asst. Chief Carl Brownell, White Creek Fire Chief John Cross, North Bennington 2nd Asst. Chief Keith Cross, Town of Hoosick Rescue Squad President Bill Gaillard, Rensselaer County Fire Coordinator Ivan Wager, Town of Hoosick Supervisor Keith Cipperly and Board members Jeff Wysocki, Louis Schmigel and Mark Surdam, former Town of Hoosick Supervisor Marilyn Douglas and former Board Member Kevin O’Malley, Hoosick Town Clerk Sue Stradinger, Joseph Steller, Rev. Michael Benoit and Rensselaer County Deputy Sheriff Paul Davendonis. The entertainment for the evening was a special performance by magician Larry Lessner of Guilderland. The meal was catered by Jean’s Place in North Hoosick.
Alan Bornt was elected to his 25th term as Fire Chief, and Corey Kessler was elected to his fourth term as the Department’s President. Other department officers are Vice President Michael Higgins, Treasurer Eric Amidon, Social Treasurer Robert Cook and Secretary Michael Cottrell.
Fire Department line officers appointed by Chief Bornt were 1st Asst. Chief Edward Bornt, 2nd Asst. Chief Eric Amidon, 3rd Asst. Chief John Lettre, 4th Asst. Chief Steve Gorman, Operations Coordinator Paul Baker, Safety Coordinator Michael Cottrell and Safety Officer Michael Higgins.
Elected to the Board of Directors for a three year term were Edward Bornt, Butch Conway and Thomas Sullivan. Butch Conway was appointed Fire Police Captain. Michael Higgins was placed in charge of the Department’s Emergency Disaster Committee while Eric Amidon was placed in charge of the Department’s Safety Committee.
Service Awards
Service awards were presented to the following members of the Department for their years of service: Edward Bornt, 35 years, Rick Ferrannini and Edward Flood, 20 years, Butch Conway, 15 years, Steve Gorman, 10 years, Michael Higgins and Pete Stanley, 5 years.
Special Awards
Special awards were presented to former Town Supervisor Marilyn Douglas and Councilman Kevin O’Malley for the services they provided to the Town and to the Fire Department over the past several years. Other awards were presented to County Fire Coordinator Ivan Wager, Sue Stradinger, for installing the Fire Police officers, and area fire departments and rescue squads for providing services to the North Hoosick Fire Department.
Fireman Of The Year
Michael Higgins was presented with the Department’s Firemen of the Year award, an award voted on by the members of the Department.
Award To A Charter Member
A special award was presented by Chief Bornt to Ira Fisk for 63 years of service to the Department. Ira is a charter member of the Department. He helped form the Department in 1947 and played an important role in purchasing the Department’s first fire apparatus in 1948.
Ladies Auxiliary Officers
The Ladies Auxiliary also installed their newly elected 2010 officers. Auxiliary officers are President Kathy Amidon, Vice President Lori Higgins, Treasurer Missy Cottrell and Secretary Tammy Hudson. Bev Flood, Lori Higgins, Heather Conway and Tammy Hudson each received awards for five years of service to the Ladies Auxiliary.
2009 Report
Chief Bornt gave his 2009 report and provided a list of alarms that were answered during the year. They were – one structure fire, 19 traffic accidents, 21 mutual aid calls, three brush fires, three wires/trees down, two vehicle fires, two fire alarm activations and one missing person call. Several members participated in the Department’s 32 hour SCBA course as well as a flash over course held in Vermont. The Chief also said that the Department has been notified that it will receive its third Assistance to Firefighters Grant for 2009. This grant will allow the Department to receive 20 new sets of turnout gear and to begin upgraded its extrication equipment with new spreaders, cutters and an Omni tool. This grant will be awarded in the near future.
The evening ended with Rensselaer County Deputy Sheriff Paul Davendonis installing the 2010 officers of the North Hoosick Fire Department and Ladies Auxiliary. Ninety members and guests attended the festivities.
