By Jack Halchak, Past Chief HFD
The Hurleyville Fire Department is always looking for help, to fight fire or support those that do. We even supply all of the gear and provide all of the training needed, for free. Stop by any Monday night and find out how you can help.
On May 7, the Sullivan County Volunteer Firefighter’s Association held their 58th Annual Memorial Service at the Sullivan County Government Center to remember those brothers and sisters that answered their last alarm in 2016. The weather was a little wet, so we didn’t line up outside, instead all the firefighters in their full dress blue uniforms lined the hallways in the Government Center. The color guard with bagpipes playing led the families down the hallway through the lines of blue to their seats.
Hurleyville Fire Department Chaplin Melvin Boone was honored to give the memorial message. He spoke with elegance about service to your community and how the firefighters are always called upon for any need in our small communities.
As the roll call of departed members was read, a firefighter escorted a family member to the podium to receive a red rose.
At the conclusion, the weather cleared some and the officers of the Association placed a wreath in front of the firemen’s stone behind the Government Center.
Hurleyville Fire Department honored three fallen members: Richard (Ricky) Simmons, Robert (Bob) McKay and William (Chipmunk) Cole.
On Saturday, May 20, the fire department held the seventh annual Bill Carlson Golf Classic at the Tarry Brae golf course. PGA golf pro Glen Sonnenschein and his staff had the course in magnificent shape for the tournament. In addition to getting the course ready, his staff put on a great lunch before the start and a tasty awards banquet at the end. A 50/50 was held and many raffles were drawn.
Tournament Director John Jaycox was closest to the pin on the par 3 seventh hole. He was a mere four feet four inches from the pin. James Bertholf, Jr. had the longest drive on the par 4 16th hole.
The winners were the father and son team of Harold and Sandy Diamond along with Mark Danvet and Ray Campbell. They shot a best ball score of 61, which was 11 under par. Second place was the team of Billy Wood, Jeff Taylor, Wayne Pirnos and Vinnie Dollard, shooting a 65.
Next up is the 16th Annual Morningside Fishing Classic sponsored by the Town of Fallsburg Parks and Recreation Program, the Hurleyville Fire Department and the Loch Sheldrake Fire Department. It will be held Saturday, June 17, at the Morningside Lake on Brickman Road in Hurleyville. This is the first day of the 2017 bass season. It will start at 5:00 am and end at 1:00 pm.
There will trophies for first, second and third in three different categories: bass, walleye and pickerel. In addition, there will a Lunker prize of $50.00 for the largest single bass, pickerel or walleye caught by weight at the contest.
Registration will take place at the lake and will be $10.00 per person.
Fishing can be from boats with trolling motors only, and everyone in the boat must be registered, or you can fish from shore.
To see pictures of winners from previous years, visit us at www.hurleyvilleny.com
For further information: Jack 436-5418 or Woody 434-3103
On the firematic front the “New York State Burn Ban” expired on May 14. With the rain that we have had, spring has finally sprung and the fields and woods have greened up. There is still always a risk or danger of a brush fire. There were three different brush fires because of downed arcing powerlines in the past week even with all of the green.
Now that the grass is green and growing, you are going to need to cut it. When getting gas for your mower, please make sure that you use a “real gas container” not a plastic gallon jug. Putting any gas container in the trunk of a car in the heat of the day can be very dangerous. The can will expand and could leak gas or crack open resulting in a potential bomb.
The same goes for your barbecue propane tank. The gas will expand and be released through the safety valve filling the car or trunk with propane vapor.
Both of these situations are just looking for a spark to explode.
Be safe.