Photos by Richard Lewin Professional Photography (soniboy@aol.com)
Welcome to this month’s edition of the Montauk Fire Department Corner. I hope everyone had enjoyable Easter, Passover, Mother’s Day and Memorial Day Holidays. The weather is certainly starting to warm up and it’s nice to see a lot of our second home owners and visitors in town.
I’d like to start off by wishing Fireman Tom Dess congratulations on his retirement from the Department of New York State Parks and Recreation. Tom has worked for the New York State Parks Department for over Forty-Five (45) years and has put in over thirty years as Superintendent of all the State Park facilities in Montauk. He has done a fantastic job for the Parks Department and he will be sorely missed. Tom and his lovely wife Cindy will be moving upon his retirement. His departure will be a loss to our Community and particularly to the Montauk Fire Department. During his thirty plus years of volunteering for the Montauk Fire Department, Tom has served as Lieutenant, and then Captain, of Company No. 1. He has also served on countless committees and was the Chairman of many of them. He has also been a District Commissioner of the Montauk Fire District for many years. On behalf of the Officers, men and women, of the Montauk Fire Department, I would like to congratulate Tom on his retirement and to wish him and Cindy the best of luck in all their future endeavors. Please see Tom’s Cover Story here on a recent issue of The East Hampton Press.
I would also like to congratulate Firefighters Luke Stein and Terrance Curley for their recent completion of their Firefighter One course, and for moving from probationary status to becoming full-fledged Firefighters. For those of you who are not aware, this course of instruction takes over eight months to complete and is as grueling mentally as it is physically. I thank them for their efforts, and welcome them into the ranks of the Montauk Fire Department. Please see their proud photo here.
On May 4th, First Assistant Chief Peter Joyce, Jr., Second Assistant Chief John McDonald and I were invited to, and had the pleasure of attending, the East Hampton Fire Department’s Annual Inspection Dinner at the Maidstone Club in East Hampton. As you can imagine, it was a very nice event, attended by most of the East Hampton Fire Department, their spouses and guests. It is always enjoyable to be able to get together with our brothers and sisters from nearby Departments. Thank you to the East Hampton Fire Department for their gracious invitation. Here and above are some photos.
Runners and walkers warmed up and put on their numbered bibs at East Hampton’s Main Beach early on Sunday morning, May 5th, to prepare for the start of the annual May Day 5K race. I’d like to thank the organizers of the Race for choosing the Tyler Project to benefit from the proceeds from this event. The Tyler Project is near and dear to all of us at the Montauk Fire Department as it honors our departed Member, and son of Ex-Chief Mitchell “Mickey” Valcich, Tyler Valcich. Please visit tylerproject.org
This wraps up this month’s edition of the Montauk Fire Department Corner. Thank you for checking in with us to keep up with what’s going on in the Department. Have a safe and fun Fourth of July weekend and we’ll see you next month.
~ Ken Glogg, Chief, Montauk Fire Departmet
https://www.montaukfiredistrict.org
