jcoppola

I got a 8GB Nano. Love it, use it in the car, running, at work, at home, everywhere. My biggest weakness is itunes. It is far too easy to sit there and buy every song I ever liked growing up for a buck. Problem: the bucks add up. On my ipod, you will find Boston, Journey, Marshall Tucker Band, Allman Brothers, Iron Maiden, Spyro Gyra and other misc. jazz, Rush, Metallica, Hootie & the Blowfish, and a bunch of playlists for the kids including songs from Spongebob Squarepants, Jimmy Neutron, iCarly, and other nonsense. Even with over 700 songs, there is hardly a dent in the 8GB. Joe C.

Not to get too political here, but the IAFF has put it's support behind Barack Obama for the 2008 Presidential Election. As a member of the IAFF, I am quite upset and suprised at this move, as I would have thought the IAFF, in it's infinite wisdom, would have supported a man who is veteran of the US Armed Forces, a national war hero and former POW. Instead, our leaders have chosen to back a man who has a lot of ideas and has offered no explanations on how he will accomplish them. I am quite perterbed over this endorsement and I am positively voting for John McCain in the election. Joe C. P.S. I am glad to have made this post my 500th.

The simple answer to your inquiry about the IAFF polling it's members, that would be NO. They leave the decision on who to throw thier money (and my union brothers and sisters') behind to lobbyists in DC. I still feel that this is a travesty, but, the other part of it is that neither candidate seems to have what it takes to lead such an unstable economy and warped foreign policy to the right track. We are screwed either way. I personally think the country would be better off with McCain, but he definitely has no use for organized labor, while Obama says that he does. What to do? What to do??? JVC

Date: 08-24-2008 Time: 02:27 Location: 40 Meadow Street - LaJoie's Scrap Metal Frequency: 151.445 Units Operating: Norwalk: E5, E2, E3, E4, E1, T2, T1(RIT), R2, C2, C13, Westport: E2, New Canaan: Ladder 3, NPD, DEP Description Of Incident: Initially dispatched as a car fire in the yard, E5 arrived and found a large pile of tires and debris buring in the yard. E2 laid LDH supply line into the junkyard for water supply. Writer: JVC 02:27: Initial Dispatch Westport E2 relocated to NFD Station 4 (Wetport Ave) New Canaan Ladder 3 relocated to Norwalk HQ Norwalk E1 relocated to Norwalk HQ 08:48: Norwalk E5 returned to service

I know what hyperbole means, but I was wondering if Hyper"POLE" was some newly diagnosed medical problem.

Pete, What in the heck is a hyperpole??? I just had to ask. Joe Coppola

Your attitiude and comments are spoken like a true veteran of the service and I applaud them. I have stated over and over again that where I came from was Belltown and I am where I am today because of the organization. I still remain proud of the place, despite some crappy comments about paid personnel that have come out (which I addressed in writing to the offender and have not received any reply whatsoever, not suprising), and some actions that I disagreed with but, everyone has their job back and they are hopefully prospering. I just have doubts about any fire department remaining successful as a 100% volunteer organization in this day and age. I see the move as a step backwards, but if it could work, Godspeed. JVC

Paul, I totally agree with your points and I also hate to be the Doubting Thomas, but I have a hard time believing that these 100% volunteer fire houses are going to be able to keep up with the demands placed on a modern fire service without any normally operating staff, call it career, paid, professional, whatever you want, like you said, this most likely will come full circle and become too much to handle. With the elimination of funds that the city pulled on BFD and TRFD, how can they be blamed for the eventual demise? They really can't. I applaud the pride and effort in trying to stay afloat, but reality is reality and one has to wonder how long it can last like this. A bake sale by a fire department looks amateurish, I'm sorry. The preception of that is not good (in this writer's opinion). Joe

I believe that since the shift of paid personnel from SFRD to the northern districts (Engines 6, 8 & 9), the residents of those once "volunteer" areas are now paying for their fire protection through their current taxes. To even think to add more taxes is totally absurd. I live in a fire taxation town and I pay nothing to the town for fire protection, I pay annual fire taxes based on the mil rate of my property. By all accounts, the local departments do a good job of managing the money. Although, we have a large amount of shiny, overpriced fire equipment in our town, but I guess morale has a price. Joe

I would totally agree that the Democratic Party has a better record with supporting labor unions, and the IAFF almost ALWAYS supports the Democratic candidate.

Date: 08-14-2008 Time: 21:45 Location: Vicinity of Maple Street near the Norwalk Hospital Frequency: 151.445 Units Operating: NFD Engine 2, Norwalk Hospital Medic 402, Norwalk Police (numerous), Norwalk PD ESU Description Of Incident: Engine 2 was called via radio en route back to quarters for a PD assist for a male who poured a flammable substance (reportedly gasoline) over himself and had a lighter in hand and was threatening to use it. PD had the vehicle pulled over and it attempted to flee when it was stopped again by Norwalk PD. Engine 2 assisted PD and EMS in preparing the patient to be transported to Norwalk Hospital. The situation was brought under control without incident. Writer: J. Coppola

Date: 08-13-2008 Time: 00:50 Location: 27 Blue Mountain Road Frequency: 151.445 Units Operating: E4, E1, T1, T2, R2, C2, E3, Car 3, Car 13, NPD, NHEMS, CSP Description Of Incident: Multiple 911 calls reported fully involved vacant house on fire. E4 arrived and confirmed total attic involvement. This house was the site of an earlier working fire in February of this year. CSP assisted Norwalk in cause determination. Writer: JVC Last unit cleared scene at 07:09 (T1)

How about we worry less about vests and worry about wearing the basic PPE required at a MVA. Especially EMS services who wear uniforms and no PPE and put the IC in a tough spot because they are working in a dangerous environment with zero protection from burns, cuts and flying debris. Personally, I think vests are stupid, we spend all that money on reflexite and flashing lights and teach our people to use apparatus as a sheild, yet we add another layer of garb that only hinders our mobility while working.

How about "doubtful" and "probably will hold"

Congrats, thanks for contributing in such a productive manner. Joe

Not sure how long you have in the paid fire service, but I have a newsflash for you...there are plenty of these "tools" you speak of in the career service too. And they are all over, Norwalk or Stamford is no exception. Joe

Its not irrellevant if you are a member of that place...lets show a little humanity...I realize that SFRD is the big boy in all of this but lets not get out of control with it...

I have to think that the court can order personnel and equipment anywhere they feel that public safety is jeopardized. Shutting down firehouses because of lack of funding and consolodation of expenses goes directly at public safety. Take a look at Bridgeport a few months ago when they had that fire right near the closed quarters of Engine 7/Laddder 11. Not saying that the closed firehouse was a direct reason that there was a loss of life, but the public most certainly perceives so.

I would like to know how long the departments that received this "radically" reduced budget will be able to survive while this case is dragging along in court. Not knowing anything about the bills and expenses of Belltown and Turn of River, but realistically how far can 20 grand go with energy, communications and fuel costs the way they are??? Is there some kind of contingency plan in place when these organizations run out of money? Liquidation of assets? JVC

That explains www.emtbravoaustin.com...LOL Best of luck in your new hometown, we will continue to help keep things going up here. JVC

Great picture! Thanks.

I took this pictue from the top of a ferris wheel that I was on with my boys. Ironically, I was just trying to get an aerial picture of downtown York Beach (Maine) and the little rescue truck just happened to appear in the frame as I took the shot. I spend a lot of time in this town in the summer and the fellas at the FD are always accomodating for whatever need should arise, including bathroom breaks for the tots, good conversation and coffee on all the time. Thanks YBFD for another great summer trip to town.

York Beach and York Villiage FD's have a miche-mache of apparatus. Nice stuff for the most part.

Congrats and good luck, speaking from much experience, you'll need it. I have found that the hardest attribute to have as a new dad is patience. Its real hard to find and real easy to lose! Joe

Yeah thats the one, I knew it was one of those chemical companies on the south end. Sorry.