Hello, and welcome to this month’s edition of the Montauk Fire Department Corner. I hope everyone had a safe and happy Labor Day weekend. I am sure that you will agree with me that we are all looking forward to a nice fall, with Columbus Day weekend right around the corner.
First I would like to offer my condolences to the family of MFD Ex-Chief Robert Killey who passed away last month in Florida. Bob was a very active and respected fireman while he lived in Montauk, and rose to the rank of Chief Engineer. On behalf of the Officers, men and women, of the Montauk Fire Department, I offer our sympathy to his family and friends.
I am thrilled to report great news for the Montauk Fire Department and our Montauk Community. With an incredible display of generosity and community spirit, the Hildreth and Kansler Families of Montauk recently donated a critically valuable vehicle to the Montauk Fire Department. Please see the photo here of them standing beside the new fully equipped Chevy Tahoe that they recently donated to the MFD. The vehicle, designated “9-3-81”, is being used as a first responder vehicle for volunteer personnel to respond to a scene, and to provide medical assistance prior to the ambulance’s arrival. In its first week of service, Paramedic Tom Flight already responded in 9-3-81 and saved the life of a man in cardiac arrest.
On Sunday, September 19th the Montauk Fire Department held our BIG BUCKS drawing at the Montauk Fire House. Unfortunately, due to the recent spike in COVID-19 cases and its DELTA variant, we had to dispense with our usual party/BBQ and hold the drawing live over YouTube. I am hopeful and confident that by next year we will be back to normal and that the drawing and party will once again be outdoors on the Montauk Fire Department grounds. 
Be that as it may, the Montauk Fire Department was still able to pay out $165,000.00 to thirty-eight different winners on the day of the drawing. Before I list the names of the $5,000.00 to $50,000.00 winners, I would like to thank Fireman Rick White and his entire committee who run our BIG BUCKS fund raiser. It is their continuing hard work and dedication to this cause throughout the year that makes the BIG BUCKS such a BIG SUCCESS. Please see the photo here of me (on the left) with First Assistant Chief Scott Snow (center) and Second Assistant Chief Ken Glogg (on the right) preparing for the Drawing.
THIS YEAR’S BIG MONEY WINNERS ARE:
$5,000.00 • Angela Nichols • Boynton Beach, FL
$5,000.00 • Joseph S & Joseph M Bloszko • Milford, CT
$5,000.00 • Anthony & Sandra Hallinger • Glendale, NY
$10,000.00 • A. Casone • Malverne, NY
$15,000.00 • John G. Marks • Bethpage, NY
$20,000.00 • Robert Carpenter • Massapequa, NY
$30,000.00 • Gary Stevens • Montauk, NY
$50,000.00 • Ricki & Gary Kuehn • Montauk, NY
Well, that wraps it up for this month’s edition of the Montauk Fire Department Corner. Please enjoy the beautiful Montauk Fall weather. See you next month.
~ Mitchell Valcich, Chief, Montauk Fire Department
