PFD165

Ahhhh, stupidty........And I am sure they thought it was hillarious. Guess this goes right along with the story on the FDNY being requested not to participate in the St. Pat's Day parade down in Georgia because of drunken and disorderly conduct. Being stupid is one thing, being drunk and stupid in uniform, Career or Volunteer, is unacceptable and should not be condoned or tolerated.

The building stands in the way of the planned realignment and new bridges along Rte 9 between Main Street andRequa/ Bay Street area. The original plan was to move it across the street to the Lincoln Plaza with funds coming from the State, the developer at the time and by the City obtaining grants. It would have then been placed near the Lincoln Depot to serve as a "utilities" closet for the Lincoln Depot. It would have also housed either a restaurant and or a visitors center and would have provided public restrooms for that plaza. The State has now deemed it too hazardous to move(asbestos,structural integrity, etc..). If you know the size of the original structure( the addition was not going to be moved)it would be impossible to fit all these uses into that building. Therefor, even if the building was saved and moved it would have walls removed or opened to allow for additions and the usage it was slated for. It is just a shame that it has taken more than 20 years of abandonment for people to react to saving and preserving it and the history behind it. The rumor on NYS DOT starting the Rte 9 project is Summer 2008, guess we will just have to wait and see who wins this tug of war.

Hey folks if you are a fan of Irish Tenor Ronan Tynan mark Friday March 14, 2008 on your calendar. Mr. Tynan will be performing at the Paramount Center for the Arts in Peekskill. All proceeds will benefit the Sam Oitice Heroes Remembered Memorial. Final contract details are being worked out, look for tickets to go on sale sometime late October at the Paramount box office. What a way to start the St. Pat's weekend!

New England is a good team, but not nearly as great as they are made out to be. When the breaks go your way,you always look terrific. I agree with ALS, having watched several of their games this year I am not sure that the officials actually look at them to call a penalty. But they are 16-0 and congrats to them.

The following was released via e-mail by the Westchester County Volunteer Fireman's Association It is with Deep Regret, that we report the passing of Christian Jos. Becker, WCVFA Past President, Life Member, Editor for 37 years of the "Westchester Volunteer", Exempt Member of Ardsley Engine Co. #1 and Associate Member of Independent Hose Co. #6, Ossining. Chris passed away at 8:30PM on 12/27/2007. Arrangements have been made by Flynn Memorial Home, Inc. 1652 Central Park Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10705-2096 (914) 963-5178. Services to be held on Sunday, December 30th, 2-4PM and 7-9PM. Firematic Services to be held Sunday evening. All Westchester County Association Members to meet at 7:00PM in uniform. Memorial Service to be held Monday, December 31st, at 10AM (Same Location) The Website will be updated when we receive additional information. http://www.wcvfaweb.com. Harriette has requested no flowers. Harriette has requested donations be made to the Firemen's Home. The above information has been provided by Harriette and verified by Flynn Memorial Home.

Irish tenor lends his voice to Peekskill firefighters memorial By BRIAN J. HOWARD THE JOURNAL NEWS (Original publication: November 23, 2007) PEEKSKILL - Fundraising for a firefighters memorial still has a long way to go, but a little Irish luck has given the project a needed lift. Ronan Tynan, the "Irish Tenor" who has sung at presidents' birthdays and funerals and at every big New York Yankees game in recent years, will perform a benefit concert at the Paramount Center for the Arts early next year. Proceeds from the concert will go to the Sam Oitice Heroes Remembered Memorial. Tickets are on sale now. "I'm ecstatic," said Deputy Fire Chief James Howard, the memorial committee's chairman. "I feel that's the boost we needed, to be aligned with such a talent who's been such a friend to all the emergency services." Fundraising has been a slow go since the Fire Department received a $125,000 state grant for the memorial last year. The total cost is estimated around $300,000. The city has committed to contribute up to $20,000 toward the memorial, which is slated to be erected at Lincoln Plaza off Water Street. The memorial will include a statue of Oitice, a Peekskill firefighter who died at Ground Zero, and the original fire bell that once called volunteers to emergency scenes. Plans also include a monument to the seven Peekskill firefighters killed in a 1918 fire at the former Fleischmann's factory and to all the emergency responders killed in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. The Verdin Co. of Cincinnati has cast the statue and restored the 100-year-old bell, which until March had been mounted at Fireman's Park off South Division Street. Verdin is known for its replica Victorian street clocks. The memorial's location depends on whether state Department of Transportation engineers determine the former Centennial Firehouse is structurally sound enough to be moved to the plaza, city Planning Director Brian Havranek said. The firehouse must be moved or demolished by spring, when widening and bridge replacement on Route 9 is to begin. Although recent elections saw sweeping changes in city government, Councilman Don Bennett said support for the memorial is unchanged. Receipt of the state grant enabled the 17-member memorial committee to move forward with the statue and bell more quickly than planned, committee spokeswoman Sue Sheridan said. Those items have been in storage since their completion.

Rest in peace

Happy Birthday! Job well done by everyone involved in keeping EMTBravo running.

Check your mail, several folks I know received theirs today.

Here is a sneak peek at the finished bronze work for the centerpiece

Tickets for the concert are priced at $48,$58 & $68. Tickets go on sale at the Paramount Center Box Office on November 14 at 12 noon. Paramount Center

Now Now RWC!!!! It was said that the business was in Arkansas. LOL.....

Two months past due?

I would be willing to give them a try, just to see how they compare, if I could get myself to stop doing the Darth Vader impersonations once I put it on.

Eternal Rest grant unto him lord. My thoughts and prayers to the Beddia family and the brothers of the FDNY in this time of sorrow.

May God keep you and grant you eternal peace. My thoughts and prayers are with the Graffagnino Family and the brothers of the FDNY.

According to Councilwoman Foster ( Mayoral Candidate - 07) Dragon Boat practice for the Peekskill Celebration the Saturday following the memorial both years. Too bad FD gets dragged in, but then again 7 brothers who gave their lives be it 89 years ago deserve to be honored and remembered by the city officials. Personal obligations and vacations are understandable, but Dragon Boat Practice with 19 other team members? I think a 1/2 hour is not too much to ask and then to Dragon Boat practice. But to each his/her own and what they feel is a priority, it will be up to the department members who are eligible to vote in November to decide what they feel is the right vote for them. God Bless the Fleischmann Seven - Peekskill August 1, 1918

The clambake has been cancelled due to poor ticket sales. If you purchased a ticket please see your seller for a refund.

Pajama's? Do they really wear their pajama's? I am amazed.

Here is a sneak peak at the finished full size clay statue for the Peekskill Fire Department Sam Oitice Heroes Remembered Memorial. This statue along with the replica FDNY gear of Sam Oitice will be out to the foundry shortly for casting.

It will be along Water Street in the area that has been deemed for Riverfront Development. Memorial Park will include the old Centennials firehouse refurbished and moved to the new location( that spot has not been officially named yet ) this statue, the granite base with Sam's gear, a wall with the names of all the fallen firefighters and police officers from 9/11 and the refurbished fire bell that used to sit in the old Fireman's Park near Broad Street behind the High School. The bell will now be in a 20' tower and retrofitted with an electronic striker to give it ringing abilities again. We are still $175,000 shy of our goal of $300,000 so send in a donation if you wish to help make this memorial park come to life or stop by and say hi to Doreen: Sam Oitice Heroes Remembered Memorial Attn: Doreen Leonard Hudson City Savings 1019 Park Street Peekskill, NY 10566

Peekskill staffing is as follows: 24-25 Career 4 Engines - 1 Career per(2 FF/EMT's & 2 FF/Paramedics) 1 TL - 1 Career 1 Rescue - 1 Career per 180 Volunteers Volunteers respond to scene Our career staff provides a double service on the engines. On two of the engines a firefighetr/EMT provides BLS assistance for VAC when necessary. The other two engines staff a firefighter/paramedic providing coverage under the Peekskill/Cortlandt Regional Paramedics when necessary. Each of these two houses have a fly-car located in the house along with the engine.

If CDMA is what Verizon used a few years ago as their answer to Nextel, there will be no reason to stay with Spint. Verizon "Push to Talk" was absolutely horrible and subsequently dropped by Verizon wireless. There was nothing instananeous about their "Push to Talk".

I have the same problem with the Nextel Hybrid, but so far it still has not been corrected. I guess it just takes a little time.

On Wednesday March 21 at 09:00 the old Peekskill FD fire bell will be removed from its home of the past 45 years and will be sent to the Verdin Company in Cincinatti to be restored. The bell is a bronze bell 53" in diameter weighing approximately 3,000 lbs attached to a steel yoke weighing an additional 2,500 lbs. The bell was cast in 1907 by the Meneely Bell Company of Troy, NY. The bell tolled out the only LODD fire in the City's history, August 1, 1918 - Fleischmann's Warehouse. 7 Peekskill volunteers were crushed by the collapse of the grain silo walls. At its current location, between S. Division and Crompond Rd near the firehouse, the bell sits on the ground and is subject to vandalism by the local high school students. When the bell is returned it will be restored to its orginal bronze color and will hang from a 20' garden tower at the Lincoln Plaza located on Water Street across from the old Centennial Hose building. The bell will be retrofitted with an electric clapper that will allow the bell to be programed to ring at various times as set by the FD/City. There will also be a remote for the ringer so that it can be used for specific ceremonies such as the annual August 1 memorial service and September 11 memorial service. The Lincoln Plaza will also be the home to the Sam Oitice Heroes Remembered Memorial and Wall of Heroes. This memorial will honor Sam Oitice of FDNY L4 and Peekskill E134 along with the other 342 FDNY, 37 PAPD and 23 NYPD members killed on September 11. This statue is also being cast by the Verdin Company and is in the design stages. The department has a committee - the Sam Oitice Heroes Remembered Memorial Committee - that is raising funds for these projects. The committee is still approximately $80,000 short of the goal to memorialize the 7 heroes lost on August 1, 1918 and the 403 lost on September 11, 2001. Anyone who wishes to make a donation or purchase a t-shirt, patch, bracelet, decal can e-mail pintl@aol.com, mrspat16@aol.com or capte130@aol.com for more information. The help and support of all those in the fire service and law enforcement would be greatly appreciated in this truly fitting tribute to those who have made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. Photos: [attachmentid=2295] [attachmentid=2296]