Firefighters honored at Jan. dinner

Plumsted

PLUMSTED - Mayor Ronald Dancer installed officers of the New Egypt Fire Company and the fire company presented awards for special achievements at its annual installation dinner held at the firehouse Jan. 27.

The evening began with an invocation from the fire company chaplin, past president and life member Bartom Amburgey. Quality Plus Caterers of Allentown served dinner to the 130 guests.

District firefighters Kyle Asbrand and Kevin Panacek presented a slide show depicting last year's fire calls. Volunteer firefighter Chris Bruno assisted.

Commissioner Aaron Heller introduced the honorary guests in attendance: Mayor Dancer; New Egypt First Aid Squad President Deneen Hill, Capt. Dave Rogers and EMS\CSO Jody Byrne; Cookstown Fire Chief Buddy Wilkins; Jacobstown Fire Chief Chris Herbert; Hope (Allentown) Deputy Chief Don Swaysland; Fort Dix Assistant Chief Tom Trembula; Ocean County Assistant Fire Marshal Bill Hopson; Ocean County Fire Coordinator and past president of the county chiefs association Fred Fritz; and Lt. Mike Ciampo of the Fire Department of New York 45 Truck Company.

Dancer swore in the following incoming officers for 2007: Chief Billy Allen, Deputy Chief Steve Morgan, Assistant Chief Don Kernan, Capt. Ron Tilghman Jr., Capt. Tony Addesa, Capt. Rick Byrne, Chief Engineer Mark Matyi, Engineer Marvin Howell, Fire Police Capt. Mike Cowell, Safety Officer Wayne Wharton, President Bob Brady, Vice President Dave Gindlesperger, Secretary Phil Sinicropi, Assistant Secretary Bill Rasmussen, Treasurer Allen C. South, Assistant Treasurer Ted Haefner and Trustee Vic Seidman.

Brady thanked his family for supporting his many hours of volunteer service last year. Brady presented outgoing captain Vic Seidman with a President's Special Appreciation Award in recognition of Seidman's contributions last year. Don Robbins received the President's Award.

Brady thanked outgoing vice president A.J. Mazzarella and secretary Robert Arnold for their years of service. Brady commended the Ladies Auxiliary and President Sara Jo Mains for all the support they give and invited them to a dinner prepared by the fire company.

Brady then thanked Chief Billy Allen "for bringing us all together." Brady recognized life members in attendance - Bartom Amburgey, Kenneth Ivins, Alan L. South, William L. Wilkins, Roger Havens, Steven C. LaChance, Martin Mains, Robert Brady, Aaron Heller, Steve Morgan, Richard Sech, Robert Nymick, William Rasmussen, William Allen, Michael S. LaChance, Jerome Mercadante, Timothy Byrne and Richard Byrne. All life members received a newly designed fire company identification card.

Aaron Heller presented the FDNY's Ciampo with a plaque from the International Fraternal Order of

Leatherheads Society in recognition of his work in training firefighters with the New Jersey Chapter of the group dedicated to promoting brotherhood in the fire service.

Heller also acknowledged Ciampo's many hours of instruction to the New Egypt Ladder Company and how his efforts ensure "our firefighters return home safely."

Ciampo spoke about how proud he is to be a fourth generation firefighter and how he feels like family when visiting New Egypt.

Allen presented the following top 10 responders with an embroidered work shirt: Kenny Ivins, Mike Cowell, Wayne Wharton, Tony Addesa, Steve LaChance, Vic Seidman, Donny Robbins, Phil Sinicropi, Don Kernan and Bob Brady.

The chief thanked his family for supporting his many hours of volunteer service last year. He welcomed new members Rob Broehl, Kevin Conner, Chris Lindsey and Vincent Migliaccio. Allen thanked his officers "for their support and for respecting my decisions." He commended the fire company on its achievements in 2006.

He gave special thanks to Deputy Chief Steve Morgan for his assistance through the year in coordinating the implementation of the district's six paid employees with the fire company.

The chief thanked the district commissioners for providing safe equipment, the best employees, great training and for being sensitive to the fire company's needs. Combined, the New Egypt Fire Company responded to 344 calls totaling 3,975 man hours, and provided 1,628 hours of training. Allen presented Addesa with the Firefighter of the Year Award.

Heller commended the fire company volunteers for assisting in the process of implementing a combination paid/volunteer fire department. He said, "You guys made the process seamless. Thanks for working together for the betterment of the department and the protection of the residents of New Egypt."

Kernan entertained the group by giving his annual take on humorous events that occurred during 2006.

New Egypt Fire Company No. 1 is an all-volunteer organization operating together with the Plumsted Fire District to provide rescue, fire protection and suppression to Plumsted Township and first alarm response to the southeast section of Upper Freehold Township. The district is funded through a dedicated fire tax and the fire company is funded through fundraisers, donations, the New Egypt Speedway and supplemented by the district.

The fire department operates from the firehouse at 59 Main St. For more information call Deputy Chief Steve Morgan at (609) 758-2350. Residents wishing to join may visit the firehouse between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or any Thursday after 7 p.m.