GAW6

Thornwood does not run EMS - Pleasantville VAC covers the Thornwood Fire District.

REALLY???? I think I know that! But they do NOT have ANY jurisdiction in Graham Hills, which is what this topic is about. If you want to get "techincal" about EMS districts in the Town of Mount Pleasant, then you have to add Chappaqua, Briarcliff, and Sleepy Hollow.

All Fire Districts with budgets over a certain amount are required to have an internal "Yellow Book Audit", which then gets forwarded to the State. I don't believe the State is randomly auditing; I believe everyone is being looked at. I might add that the "Yellow Book" audits are costing each District approx. $16K per year. As long as every District follows the "rules", there shouldn't be a problem. I know in our District, if there is a question on how something should be handled, the "Yellow Book" comes out and that's where we get our answer. There have been plenty of Tele-Conferences, Seminars, etc. throughout the State for Commissioners to attend and get "educated" on the "rules", there is really no excuse for Commissioners to be saying "we didn't know".

Congratulations Millwood! You guys truly deserve it after all the "red tape" you guys have been dealing with. I am very happy that Millwood was awarded the funds, but very disappointed that Pleasantville VAC was denied a $65k grant to help fund our Rehab Unit. Especially since we have made the unit available to anyone in the County. We run our VAC on a mere $145k budget, and we asked for the grant to help out with stocking the unit. Oh well, maybe next time. Congrats again Millwood (and Chief Rod!!!!).

As the Captain of said agency, I feel it is my responsibility to answer the question since it appears to be so important to people. First of all, if you read a previous post of mine, it was in fact a year ago, not 5 months ago. The majority of our mutual aids for 2009 occurred in the first 2 months of the year. I went to our Board of Directors and said that an RFP needed to be sent out for daytime EMT services on a per diem basis when needed. By the time the RFP went out and quotes came back, we had an influx of new EMTs and we were covering calls. We also had an agreement worked out with Hawthorne. A couple of our EMTS are "mutual aid" members (myself included) with HFD and we were responding to their calls on nights and weekends (they only had a paid daytime EMT at the time); therefore they were helping us out during the day and mutual aiding for us when needed. We have NEVER had to mutual aid at night (we have set night crews, weekend nights included) or on the weekend (unless we were already tied up). This thread should not have become an inquest of PVAC. But any other further questions about my department I would be MORE THAN HAPPY to answer; please PM me. Thank you.

REALLY???? That's why snot-nosed, hot-shot new Medics treat EMTs with over 20 years experience like they are the hired help and know nothing!!!! In my books, 20+ years is both TIME & EXPERIENCE which should be respected! Sorry Lt. - I got off of your original thread also.

I have held back from getting involved in this thread because I hate when the paid people get on with their comments and it becomes a paid vs. volunteer issue (hence why I rarely go on this sight anymore). But I have to correct one thing - it was not 5 months ago it was a year ago. Carry on......

I totally agree with Chris. But I also feel that wrong-way drivers are probably not something new. It's just that since the accident of July 26th, everyone has become more aware. People do make mistakes. Columbus Avenue in Thornwood/Valhalla for example has wrong-way drivers quite frequently. In fact, a young woman was killed in the 70's - but guess what? By a DRUNK wrong-way driver. Sober people realize their mistake, especially when people are blowing horns and gesturing to them - drunk people don't!

Sutphen.

Thank you for saying this. I have seen far too many "macho" firemen and policeman refuse any help and they end up holding onto it for years. Your words were so very touching about your comrade; you must be a very special person.

Thank you so much!

As one of the responders last week, one of the things that got me through it all was that it appeared that those children died without knowing what hit them. Now hearing this has me so upset thinking about how frightened those little ones must have been in the car with that drunken, stoned maniac!!!! And the husband, he had to have known, he was probably drinking and smoking with her and then took off in his truck - at least he didn't kill the dog, so that 5-year old little boy has something left! She's nothing but a MASS MURDERER!!!! God Bless the Bastardi and Longo families, and the occupants of the third vehicle, they are going to need a lot of prayers after hearing this news.

Re-bid.

Well said CKroll!

Unfortunately, in the Mt. Pleasant system, EMTs end up driving the Medic's car, therefore they are not getting any "hands-on" experience. This is part of the problem and reason as to why new EMTs are so "medic dependent".

Thornwood has a siren. I can remember growing up in Valhalla when they had the signal system. Each street had a code and the horn blew the code for 4 rounds. Grasslands was 777 - so you heard that 4 times. And guess what? No one ever complained! Now you have people saying that the sirens are ruining "their quality of life"! I think these people need to get a life!!!

WOW - remember that day well - was one of my first "dates" with my husband!!!!

Hey Raymond - Good Luck with the new bus! When's the wetdown?????? Gail

First of all, I cannot speak for all VACs, but in mine all new members go through an interview process. Rules are explained, references are checked, etc. We have had people complete applications for membership and are not accepted due to the applicants history, etc. As far as discipline - there's plenty in my VAC. This guy would be thrown out without batting an eye. This past summer I had a member who was in the news for doing something stupid (no one was harmed, was not done on VAC property and what he did really wasn't "illegal") but because the VAC was brought in to it on the news, he was suspended for 30-days. Someone misses (2) calls on their shift, they are suspended for 30-days. I do not accept the "it's volunteer" attitude. There are rules and regulations attached - if you can't accept them, then get out or don't join. EMS is serious business - and should be treated that way whether you're paid or not. This Sleepy Hollow VAC guy was actually living in our district at one point and showed interest in joining. When he heard our rules and regulations - he said "this VAC wasn't for him - too many rules". So I think that shows his character. This should not be a career vs. volunteer. This could happen anywhere - and I am sure it has - paid or vollie.

That was great!!! I am sure the people of your community loved it! And remember - you should keep the spirit of Christmas all year long!!!!!

No, it was the ice skating rink first. When I was a Town Camp Counselor in the mid-seventies, we used to take the kids there. The place is now Bloomingdale's furniture outlet.

Very sad to hear this news. I thought Lake George was great this year - was looking forward to going again in 2009. I believe that the Turning Stone Convention Center is a much longer distance to travel for us Westchester people.