By David Flint
At the annual Installation Dinner on Saturday, January 6, the officers of the Stephentown Volunteer Fire Department were sworn in this year by Rensselaer County Sheriff Patrick Russo.
Cyril Grant, filling the role of MC this year, introduced guests who included from the County level: newly elected Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin, Director of Operations Rich Crist, District 4 Legislator Jake Ashby, Acting Public Safety Director Ray Davis, Fire Car 1 Commander Ivan Wager, Fire Car 2 Commander William Gummer, EMS Coordinator Amy Manchester and Chief Fire Investigator Jack Curran. Representatives of neighboring fire and ambulance departments included Fire Chief William Osterhout and Rescue Squad Captain Tammy Osterhout from Berlin, Assistant Fire Chief Bob Childs and Ambulance Chief Mitch Levinn from Hoags Corners and Chief Greg Gilliland from the Lebanon Valley Protective Association. Present also was Town Supervisor Larry Eckhardt.
Beverley McClave, President of the Stephentown Historical Society, presented a slide show of pictures taken at parades, musters, exercises and other events, dedicated “to the men and women of the Fire Department who have served our community for 78 years.” She said the photos were mostly from a collection donated from the Close and Brazie families. Putting together the pictures with a musical background was the work of Brett Chmura and Megan McClave. The photos showed many members of the Department over the years, including old mainstays such as Johnny Johnson, Gus Johnson, Walt Sykes, Paul Sykes, Charlie Hoffman, Joe Rieger, Sy Close, Wyatt Haley, Mike Ward and Ray and Elsie Carpenter.
Recognized for achieving milestones of service were Rich Burgess for 15 years and Jeff Brokalis for 25 years.
Rick McClave, who has now moved on from the Assistant Fire Chief position to become one of the five Fire Commissioners, was recognized for his 54 years of service. President Henry Zwack noted that McClave had held every office in the Department including Lieutenant, Captain, President and several terms at different times as both Fire Chief and Assistant Chief. “He has been an important member of our Department for so many years in so many roles, in so many ways. We recognize and appreciate your great service to the community,” Zwack said.
Cyril Grant also recognized seven new members of the Department: Michael Angley, Hannah Burdick, Amanda Despart, Ronald Disher, Lyndsey Miller, Laura Ryder and Mark Talluto. “With Firefighter 1 Training now running about 176 hours and EMT classes running over 100 hours,” Grant said, “this is an enormous commitment on the part of young people with their busy school, work and personal lives.”
County Executive McLaughlin said that regarding public safety at the County level, he would be focused in the near term on filling the job of Public Safety Director and other vacancies in that department. He also wants to see to providing a new fire training tower.
McLaughlin thanked the members “for all you do for us.” He noted that Rensselaer County is second highest among 62 counties in the State in the amount of training that volunteer firefighters receive. “This is partly the work of Ivan Wager,” he said, “and it’s really impressive. You want a lot of training, you get a lot of training, and you are very, very well trained. As County Executive, I will do whatever I can to help.”