At the Stephentown Volunteer Fire Department’s Annual Installation Dinner this year on Saturday, January 9, Girl Scout Troop 1154 received certificates of appreciation for the wonderful job they did with the centerpieces and setting the tables. An excellent dinner was catered by Frescos of New Lebanon, with dessert by Tina Johnson. Father John Close gave the Invocation and Blessing.
Gaston Roberts, Past Fire Chief in New Lebanon, did the honors as MC. Fire Chief Rich Burgess introduced the honored guests including County Executive Kathleen Jimino, Rensselaer County Sheriff Jack Mahar, County Director of Public Safety Kelly Paslow, County EMS Coordinator Evan Eisenhandler, County EMS Zone Coordinator Amy Manchester, Berlin Fire Chief Bill Osterhout, Lebanon Valley Protective Association Assistant Chief Mark Sheline, Petersburgh Fire Chief William Seel, Tsatsawassa Fire Chief Jay Kreutizger and Assistant Chief Eric Coburn and Stephentown Town Supervisor Larry Eckhardt.
Active Service Awards were handed out to Alexander Haley, Jessica Joyner-Negus and Henry Persons for achieving five years of service, to James Bonesteel for achieving 10 years of service, to Earl Buffa and David Corlew for achieving 15 years of service and to Frank Zwack Jr. and Henry Zwack for achieving 35 years of service.
Special recognition and thank you for help during the year, and especially during the summer flooding, went to the Rensselaer County Highway Department, various Mutual Aid Departments, the Rensselaer County 911 Dispatchers, Madden’s Service Center, the Town of Stephentown, the Stephentown Highway Department, Kelly Paslow and the County Bureau of Public Safety, Jack Thomas of Rensselaer County Emergency Services, the Drubie Mart, Dunkin Donuts and AKF Small Engine Repair.
In the lineup of officers for 2010, Joseph Zwack moves up from Fire Captain to Assistant Fire Chief. Rik McClave moves from that position over to Assistant Chief-EMS. Donald Hoffman replaces Zwack as Fire Captain. Robert Adler moves up from Vice President of the Department to President and is replaced as Vice President by Danielle Hoffman.
The following officers were sworn in by Cyril Grant, a Stephentown Town Justice as well as Battalion 5-0 Coordinator:
Chief – Richard Burgess
Assistant Chief-Fire – Joseph Zwack
Assistant Chief-EMS – Rowland McClave III
Captain-Fire – Donald Hoffman
Captain-EMS – Patricia Goodermote
Captain-Fire Police – Alexander Haley
Lieutenant-Fire – Jeffrey Brokalis
Lieutenant-EMS – James Bonesteel
Safety Officer – Charles Riccardi
Safety Officer – Stephen Whitman
President – Robert Adler
Vice President – Danielle Hoffman
Secretary – Julie Joyner
Treasurer – William Jennings
Director – Wyatt Haley
Director – Doug Griswold
Director – Frank Zwack, Sr.
Director – Charles Hoffman
Director – Dave Cornell
Commissioner – Frank Zwack, Sr.
Commissioner – Sylvester Close
Commissioner – Lewis Sharp
Commissioner – Earl Buffa
Commissioner – William Jennings
Treasurer – Andrew Maguire
Secretary – William Jennings
