Montauk Fire Department Corner: July 2024

               Good day and welcome to this month’s Montauk Fire Department Corner. I hope everyone had a safe and fun Fourth of July weekend and that you are looking forward to a beautiful summer in Montauk.

               As Chief of the Montauk Fire Department, I have the opportunity to do many things, and one of my favorite duties is to award Montauk Fire Department Scholarships to Montauk students graduating from high school and moving on to college. I had the pleasure of doing this on Thursday, June 13th at the commencement ceremony at East Hampton High School.

               We are very proud of our commitment to our scholarship program which started in 1970. Through the stewardship of our committee chairman Herb Herbert, we are able to give four graduating students $3,000.00 a year for their four years of their undergraduate studies.

               It gives me great pleasure to list this year’s winners:

               I’d like to wish all graduating students from this year’s class of 2024 the best of luck in all their future endeavors.

               Another congratulations to Fireman Rick White who is retiring from teaching Montauk School fifth grade after over 30 years of dedicated service. Rick is a special person, and he has had a positive impact on many, many, many Montauk School students throughout his career. As you can see by the photograph, this year’s class gave Rick a nice surprise party on the Mustangs field. On behalf of the officers, men and women of the Montauk Fire Department, I’d like to congratulate Rick on his retirement and wish him all the best in the future.

               On Saturday, June 8th Montauk Fire Department Fire Police and EMT’s assisted with the smooth running of the Mighty Montauk Triathlon. It was a very nice event with over 600 participants and I’m glad to be able to report there were no injuries. Thank you to our members who helped out on this annual event.

               EMS appreciation day was celebrated recently, and I’d like to thank all of the Montauk Fire Department’s Emergency Medical Service personnel for their outstanding contribution to the goals of the Montauk Fire Department and their unwavering commitment to serving the citizens of Montauk.

               Many Montauk Fire Department personnel not only volunteer with us but also volunteer with other civic minded organizations in the community. This was evident on Thursday, June 20th when Firefighters Joe Dryer, James Wright and Rich Schoen were sworn in as officers of the Montauk Point Lions Club. Joe will be First Vice President, Jim will be Third Vice President and Rich will be Treasurer. Also in the picture are Joyce and Carmine Marino. Joyce is a longstanding member of the Montauk Fire Department as an EMT and is now in our Fire Police Company No. 6 and Carmine is a District Commissioner. Lisa Valcich of our Company No. 2 also became one of the first two female members of the Montauk Point Lions Club.  Thank you for your volunteerism for the community of Montauk.

               This wraps up this month’s edition of Montauk Fire Department Corner. Please have a safe summer and remember, when you hear the approaching sirens of emergency vehicles, please pull safely off to the shoulder of the road to let them pass.