NEWS
Elsmere Fire Co. A, Inc. Installs 2012 Officers
Chairman of the Board John E. Brennan (left) installs Chief William H. Webb (center) and Asst. Chief Frank Wickham.
Chief William H. Webb installs Fire Line Officers: from left to right: Fire Police Lieutenant Stephen Wright, Lieutenant Jeffrey Obernesser, Lieutenant Michael Moon, Lieutenant Marc Futia, Lieutenant Robert Baldwin, andCaptain John Zboray. President Joseph Catalano (right) looks on.
Chief William H. Webb installs 2012 Civil Officers (left to right): Directors Schuyler McCammon and John Murphy, Quartermaster Steven Taylor, Treasurer Robert Johnson, Secretary Patrick Wickham, Vice President Christopher Massie and President Joseph Catalano.
Leader Tonya Bardin introduces members of Explorer Post #30.
Chairman Brennan swears in Explorer Post #30 officers (from left): Captain Jessica Hyndes and Lieutenant Louis Antenucci.
President Catalano recognizes Wayne R. Johnson for fifty years of active service.
Firefighter Don Ballard finally gets his boots.
Commissioner Webster receives a reminder of his run in with a traffic cone from Auxiliary member Nancy Wickham.
Elsmere Fire Co. A, Inc. Elects Officers for 2012
The Elsmere Fire Co. A, Inc. held its annual election of officers on December 8, 2011. The following were elected to office for terms beginning in 2012:
DISTRICT OFFICERS
William H. Webb, Jr. - Chief
James Reagan- First Assistant Chief
Frank Wickham - Second Assistant Chief
District Officers are nominated by the active firefighters and appointed by the Board of Fire Commissioners.
LINE OFFICERS
John Zboray - Captain
Robert Baldwin - First Lieutenant
Marc Futia - Second Lieutenant
Michael Moon - Third Lieutenant
Jeff Obernesser - Fourth Lieutenant
Steve Wright - Fire Police Lieutenant
CIVIL OFFICERS
Joseph Catalano - President
Christopher Massie- Vice President
Patrick Wigkham - Secretary
Robert Johnson - Treasurer
Steven Taylor - Quartermaster
Schuyler McCammon - Director (3 Yr Term)
Rev. James Daley - Chaplain
Joseph Catalano - Lay Chaplain
Jessica Ballard - Lay Chaplain
Tonya Bardin - Lay Chaplain
Daniel Sutherland - Lay Chaplain
Anthony Morrell - Lay Chaplain
2011 Company Inspection and Awards
The annual Company Inspection was conducted on May14th. Firefighters spent many hours in the weeks leading up to the event getting the fire apparatus and equipment in inspection-ready condition. The results of the scoring (1st to 4th Place), conducted by independent judges, are as follows:
Lieutenant Jeffrey M. Obernesser Receives the 2011 Kevin M. Shea Award
This year's recipient of the Kevin M. Shea Participation Awardhas been a member of the Company for a little over seven years, joining in 2004, but you certainly wouldn't know it. From the beginning, taking Firefighter I, and progressing through at least twenty more courses and lectures, Jeff has shown a great interest in the fire service. He is constantly trying to better himself and is always there, ready and willing, to lend a hand to his fellow brothers and sisters. With his drive and determination, he ran for Lieutenant and was sworn in in January of 2009. He continues to hold this position currently. Jeff is aware of the responsibilty to pass on his knowledge and he has done a remarkable job in only a few short years. Hopefully, with many more years under his belt, Jeff will be a great leader and a valuable asset to the Company. Jeff has a particular fondness for Truck Company operations, just as Chief Kevin M. Shea did, which makes him a perfrct candidate for this award. No one else has called 30 Truck in service and gotten away with it. Join me in congratulating this year's winner of the Kevin M. Shea Participation Award, Lieutenant Jeffrey M. Obernesser.
Chief William H. Webb, Jr.
Daniel P. McMahon Jr. Receives the 2011 Kenneth E. McNary Achievement Award
Daniel P. McMahon Jr. joined the Elsmere Fire Company on June 29, 1978, becoming an active firefighter on August 8th of that year. He served as a Lieutenant from April 1988 through April 1990, and again from November 1991 through April 1993. Firefighter McMahon's resume of firefighter training is too lengthy to detail here, including more than fifty courses completed. Dan is also very active in the Town of Bethlehem Fire Officers Association and the District's fire prevention program. He is a Life Member of the Elsmere Fire Co. A, Inc. and was awarded Life Membership in the Hudson Mohawk Volunteer Fireman's Association in July 2006. Dan's active involvement in and service to the Elsmere Fire Company and the Elsmere Fire District is testimony to the committees decision to name him as recipient of this award.
The following were also recognized for their service to the Fire Company and District:
5 YEARS
Firefighters Alan Antennuci, Ann Austin-Strayer and Steven Hannigan
15 YEARS
Firefighter Matthew Grant and Company Treasurer Robert C. Johnson
20 YEARS
Firefighter Nancy Elizabeth Dearstyne
40 YEARS
Past Chief Edward J. Costigan
50 YEARS
Firefighter Wayne R. Johnson
Elsmere Fire Co. A, Inc. Installs 2011 Officers
Elsmere Fire Co. A, Inc. Elects Officers for 2011
The Elsmere Fire Co. A, Inc. held its annual election of officers on December 9, 2010. The following were elected to office for terms beginning in 2011:
DISTRICT OFFICERS
William H. Webb, Jr. - Chief
James Reagan- First Assistant Chief
Frank Wickham - Second Assistant Chief
District Officers are nominated by the active firefighters and appointed by the Board of Fire Commissioners.
LINE OFFICERS
John Zboray - Captain
Robert Baldwin - First Lieutenant
Marc Futia - Second Lieutenant
Michael Moon - Third Lieutenant
Jeff Obernesser - Fourth Lieutenant
Steve Wright - Fire Police Lieutenant
CIVIL OFFICERS
James Trotta - President
Michael Walsh - Vice President
Mike Levin - Secretary
Robert Johnson - Treasurer
Chris Massie - Quartermaster
Scott Travis - Director (3 Year Term)
Rev. James Daley - Chaplain
Joseph Catalano - Lay Chaplain
Jeff Dievendorf - Lay Chaplain
Anthony Morrell - Lay Chaplain
2010 Company Inspection and Awards
The annual Company Inspection was conducted on May 8th. Firefighters spent many hours in the weeks leading up to the event getting the fire apparatus and equipment in inspection-ready condition. The results of the scoring (1st to 4th Place), conducted by independent judges, are as follows:
Fire Police Lieutenant Stephen R. Wright Receives the 2010 Kevin M. Shea Award
This year's recipient of the Kevin M. Shea Participation Award is no rookie. Having over thirty years of service and dedication to this organization, he is one of the reasons we are the "Pride of Bethlehem". This person, over the course of his career, has held various positions on the Company side, including serving as President for several years. He has truly put Elsmere's name out, not only in our county, but surrounding areas as well. From being heavily involved in firematic organizations, running conventions, playing in a band and spearheading the County's R & R Committee, this person has accomplished more than a lot of us put together. The time and devotion that he has put in is what a true volunteer is, which is the same mindset that Kevin had. This person was one of Kevin's good friends. This past year, he led the Company in fire call attendance (249 out of 376, or 66%). He also switched gears from his llong civil officer career to the fire line side, being elected Fire Police Lieutenant. I could go on and on, but we all know that without this individual, our Company probably wouldn't be where it is today. So, this year's winner of the Kevin M. Shea Participation Award is Stephen R. Wright.
Chief William H. Webb, Jr.
Terence S. Hannigan Receives the 2010 Kenneth E. McNary Achievement Award
Terry Hannigan is a thirteen year veteran of the Elsmere Fire Department. He came to us with experience from a previous membership in Carmen Fire Department. He was also an Explorer for Niagara County Sheriff's Office. Terry has been an Emergency Medical Technician since he was seventeen years old. He worked for the Capital District Ambulance service while he put himself through law school. He graduated from Albany Law School in 1985. Terry has received several citations for assisting in the reversal of cardiac arrests. Terry has acted as Counsel for the Elsmere Fire District for many years and was instrumental in reforming Line of Duty Death (LODD) benefit legislation. A number of fire and EMS families have benefited from his efforts, including the family of Chief Kevin M. Shea after his LODD in 2004. He is also a very active member of the Department's Public Education Committee.
He has served on the Town of Bethlehem 20/20 Committee, which is a Committee charged with studying Bethlehem's needs for the future. In the background, Terry has always made himself available to help fellow firefighters with legal questions or help with a legal issue.
The following were also recognized for their service to the Fire Company and District:
5 YEARS
Firefighters Donald Ballard, Chris Massie, Sr., Timothy Stark, Robert Symmons,
and Patrick Wickham
10 YEARS
Firefighters David Putnam and Scott Turner
25 YEARS
Chief William H. Webb, Jr., Timothy Haverly, and Richard Zigrosser
35 YEARS
Assistant Chief James Reagan and Fire Police Lieutenant Stephen R. Wright
40 YEARS
Fire Police Officer Michael Taylor
50 YEARS
Fire Police Officer and Chairman of the Board of Fire Commissioners Frederick C. Webster
Elsmere Fire Co. A, Inc. Elects Officers for 2010
The Elsmere Fire Co. A, Inc. held its annual election of officers on December 3, 2009. The following were elected to office for terms beginning in 2010:
DISTRICT OFFICERS
William H. Webb, Jr. - Chief
James Reagan- First Assistant Chief
Frank Wickham - Second Assistant Chief
District Officers are nominated by the active firefighters and appointed by the Board of Fire Commissioners.
LINE OFFICERS
John Zboray - Captain
Robert Baldwin - First Lieutenant
Michael Moon - Second Lieutenant
Marc Futia - Third Lieutenant
Jeff Obernesser - Fourth Lieutenant
Steve Wright - Fire Police Lieutenant
CIVIL OFFICERS
James Trotta - President
Nancy Dearstyne - Vice President
Christopher Massie - Secretary
Robert Johnson - Treasurer
Matthew Grant - Quartermaster
John Murphy - Director (3 Year Term)
Rev. James Daley - Chaplain
Joseph Catalano - Lay Chaplain
Anthony Morrell - Lay Chaplain
Chief Kevin M. Shea
ELSMERE FIRE DEPARTMENT LOSES A HERO
FIRE CHIEF KEVIN M. SHEA DIES IN THE LINE OF DUTY
January 24th, 2004: Kevin M. Shea (DOB 11/05/49), Chief of the Elsmere Fire District, died suddenly after responding to an emergency call. Chief Shea collapsed at the firehouse after returning from an alarm at a local nursing home. Despite the heroic efforts of fellow firefighters, EMS and police personnel at the scene, Chief Shea died a short time later at Albany Medical Center. Chief Shea was a volunteer firefighter for 30 years. Kevin Shea was also the Town of Bethlehem's Building Inspector. He leaves behind a wife and daughter.
Chief Shea's Poem
by Steve HaggertyKevin Shea
You meet a man.
A good man,
an Irish man,
an Italian man.
And he is your brother,
and he is your husband,
and he is your dad, a good man,
a fire man.
And you call him Chief,
And you call him Brother,
and you call him lover, boss, friend.
And you call him dad.
This good man,
this fire man.
And here we gather because
this good man, this fire man is gone.
He was our right hand man,
he was our champion,
he was our Chief.
And in common each of us must whisper,
“Who loved him more than me?”
And in common each of us must say to the other,
“Who loved him more than you?
Chief Shea's Homily
Kevin Michael Shea
My sisters and brothers, we are gathered here this morning in this place because we are a people of faith – we have faith in God and faith in Jesus. That faith is a gift of the Holy Spirit. That faith calls us to reflect on the fact that after James and Rose Shea gave Kevin life on November 5, 1949, they gave him a greater gift still. On November 20, 1949 Kevin was baptized in the old Saint Thomas Church on Delaware Avenue, by Father Daniel Markham. That’s how this ceremony began, sprinkling Kevin’s casket, covering it with a white pall, placing it next to the Paschal candle – all symbols and reminders of November 20, 1949 when Kevin went into the waters, there to die with Christ and rise from those waters sharing a life that never ends.
James and Rose Shea were Kevin’s first teachers. When he got old enough, they enlisted the aid of the Sisters of the Holy Names at Saint Thomas school to help them. It was in those formative years that Kevin learned and made his own the virtues that endeared him throughout his life to the hosts of people who called him “friend”.
On May 25th 1957 Kevin came to the altar to receive the Eucharist for the first time. Three years later on May 29, 1960 he was confirmed in his faith by Bishop Scully. And on November 15, 1980 Kevin Shea and Kathleen Malone stood before Father Charles Phillips in the Chapel of the Mercy Motherhouse on New Scotland Avenue and promised to become a sign to the community, a sign of faithful love.
How did Kevin’s baptismal commitment which he reaffirmed in Confirmation and pledged to Cathy in marriage play out in his life? I think the scripture chosen by the family tells us. The book of Wisdom called him the “just man” and adds, though he die early he shall be at rest. And why? Because he had attained understanding and lived a good life. When Kevin was being formed in his faith he learned the Jesus commanded two things of us – to love God and to love neighbor. He heard Jesus say “I have come not to be served, but to serve” He heard him say “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all”. Those words made sense to Kevin and they became part of him. His faith made him who he was.
The reading from Corinthians is a pretty accurate picture of the kind of love that burned in Kevin’s heart. He shared that love with Cathy, with Kelly, with his family, with the Elsmere Fire Company and with the community. Kevin learned the most important thing about love - he learned that love consists in this, not that we love God, but that God first loved us. Notice I’m not talking about the beautiful people here, I’m not talking about saints, I’m talking about us. God loves us so much that he sent his son to suffer and die and rise from the dead so that we might share his glory. Kevin believed that.
So Kevin lived his life here pretty much the way Jesus tells us in this morning’s Gospel we should live it. He had no big “ego”, he didn’t wear his faith on his sleeve, it was in his heart and in his deeds – he was a servant – teaching, coaching, encouraging, laughing, playing, cooking, serving – nothing seemed too much to ask him. He was at home with preschoolers, teaching them about fire safety, he was at home in the halls of government urging the adoption of uniform codes, but he was most at home, at home. So there can be no doubt that before his fellow firefighters got to his car on Saturday someone else had been there. The Lord Jesus embraced him and said “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom”.
And now we will go to the altar. We will prepare simple gifts of bread and wine. We will incense them, offering them to God. Then we will go down to the casket and incense Kevin’s body joining his whole life of loving service to our offering. Our faith tells us that our simple gifts become for us the body and blood of Jesus, the savior, the holy, the living, the acceptable sacrifice whom we will share in the Eucharist. It is in this offering and sacrifice and communion that we are consoled and in our grief find peace. Amen.
Written & Read by Rev. James Dailey
January 29, 2004
Chief Shea's Final Tones
ANNOUNCEMENT
The sirens and tones of the Town of Bethlehem Emergency Services have been activated in honor of our fallen brother Chief Kevin Michael Shea of Elsmere Fire Company A, who answered his final alarm on Saturday, January 24, 2004 while serving his community.
Rest in peace Chief.
Hazardous Materials
Elsmere Hazardous Materials Program
Elsmere Fire District is one of the newest participants in the Albany County Hazmat Group. The program falls under the direction of the Albany County Fire Coordinators Office. Elsmere's district, which borders the City of Albany to the east, Delmar Fire District to the west, and Selkirk Fire District to the south, is part of the Town of Bethlehem. The district is comprised of a mix of residential and commercial occupancies. They also cover several major transportation corridors. Since 1996 the membership has participated in numerous hours of training in the area of hazardous materials mitigation and decontamination to protect specific occupancies within their fire district. Elsmere Fire is capable of handling incidents involving products, which require level B protection, or less. They currently have 37 members trained as hazardous materials technicians. Additionally their fire officers have completed the NYS Hazardous Materials Incident Command Course. Their specialty is the decontamination of fellow responders handling an incident and mass decontamination of several hundred civilians at a large gathering or at the entrance of a health care facility.  
Their response vehicles consist of Squad 33, a 1999 Pierce Sabre squad vehicle. MERV 38 a Ford F350 pickup and decontamination trailer. If an incident warrants, the incident commander may request, MERV 39 a 27 passenger 2001 International Bus. It is available as a mobile briefing center, rehab station, or for civilian housing/evacuation. It is equipped with a restroom, full emergency response package and extensive low/high band radio capabilities.
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Elsmere Fire Company A, Inc.
15 West Poplar Drive
Delmar, NY 12054
(518) 439-9144
efcwebmaster@elsmerefire.org
