by Alex Brooks
The Stephentown Fire Department held its Installation Dinner on January 5 at the Fire Hall on Grange Hall Road. Master of Ceremonies Henry Zwack kicked off the event with some opening words and recognition of guests, and Father John Close gave the invocation and blessing before dinner.
Dinner was provided by the Hitchin Post Restaurant, and it was a lavish spread.
[private]Following the dinner, the Officers for 2013 were sworn in by Battalion 5-0 Commander Cyril Grant.
County Executive Kathy Jimino then took the podium and made a speech in tribute to the “bravery and generosity of our first responders who give so much of their time and expertise to keep us safe.” She presented a certificate of appreciation to Stephentown Fire Chief Joseph Zwack.
Outgoing President Bob Adler had lost his voice, so he kept his remarks very brief. He said he had recently read an article about declining volunteerism, which cited three major reasons people give for not volunteering: the first two had to do with time constraints, and the third was – “No one asked me.”
Joseph Zwack gave over his Chief’s Minute to a report on calls to which the Department responded in 2012. There were 110 EMS calls, 7 EMS calls cancelled, 19 calls for Mutual Aid on EMS calls, 1 ATV accident, 11 traffic accidents without injury and 3 traffic accidents with injury, 1 call for mutual aid on a traffic accident with injury, 19 EMS calls with no transport, 4 structure fires, 6 calls for mutual aid on a structure fire, 2 chimney fires, 1 shed fire, 8 brush fires, 1 call for mutual aid on a brush fire, 3 vehicle fires, 2 transformer fires, 2 search & rescue, 2 CO detector calls, 10 good intent, 2 standby, 26 calls about wires on trees, 4 traffic control, 1 traffic control mutual aid and 11 calls to which the Department was unable to respond. This came to a total of 256 calls.
Chief Zwack then recognized the members of the Fire Department who had answered the most calls. Rik McClave attended the most calls, 180. Bill Jennings attended 101, Tammy Madden 100, Justin Cameron 96 calls, Alex Haley 70 and Dan Ebbert 67.
Five year active service awards were given to Renee Baker, Danielle Hoffman, Gary Goodermote and John Zwack. Richard Burgess was given an award recognizing his ten years of active service and Jeff Brokalis an award for his twenty years of active service.
Henry Zwack then turned to the Chief and Assistant Chiefs and said it was time for gag gifts, but there were none. Zwack was incredulous – no trucks backed into trees, no comical problems with turnout gear? None of the kind of comical mishaps that inspire the gag gifts? He was assured that there were none, and he moved on.
Zwack noted the passing of three members of the Stephentown fire family in the past year, Scott Baker, Vivian Close and Bill Sullivan.
The SVFD Officers for 2013 are:
Chief – Joseph Zwack
Asst. Chief, Fire – Donald Hoffman
Asst. Chief, EMS – Rowland McClave III
Captain, Fire – Bryan Barnum
Captain, EMS – Julie Joyner
Captain, Fire Police – Alexander Haley
Lieutenant, Fire – Gary Joyner
Lieutenant, Fire – John Angley
Lieutenant, EMS – James Bonesteel
Lieutenant, EMS – Justin Cameron
Safety Officer – Charles Riccardi
Safety Officer – Stephen Whitman
President – Christopher Headley
Vice-President – John Linton
Secretary – Tammy Whitman
Treasurer – William Jennings
Director – Wyatt Haley
Director – Robert Adler
Director – Frank Zwack, Sr.
Director – Charles Hoffman
Director – Dave Cornell
The Officers of Stephentown Fire District #1 for 2013 are:
Commissioner – Frank Zwack, Sr.
Commissioner – Douglas Griswold
Commissioner – Lewis Sharp
Commissioner – Richard Burgess
Commissioner – Wyatt Haley
Treasurer – Andrew Maguire
Secretary – Patricia Goodermote
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