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<\/a>Pictured, in the front and holding their awards, are the Firefighters of the Year – Anthony and Domenick Camerota, from the Yorkville Volunteer Fire Department, and Jacob and Jordan Ryan, from the Whitesboro Volunteer Fire Department. (Photo provided by Marlena Rieben)<\/p><\/div>\n
Growing up in a firefighting family with my uncle, Ronald \u201cDutch\u201d Williams, serving on and off as Chief of one of the department\u2019s in Rochester, N.Y. for many years, the inner-workings of a convention, as well as the hose races, was a familiar activity for this writer. In fact, my own uncle now has a brick at the Fireman\u2019s Fountain in Owego – an extension of that firefighting family.<\/p>\n
I recall the bucket brigade races many years ago, and the larger hose racing events that would take place in Long Island and other areas around New York State. The clambakes were my personal favorite.<\/p>\n
<\/a>The Garden Hosers are pictured during Friday night\u2019s Block Party in The Flats. (Photo by Wendy Post)<\/p><\/div>\n
For the convention, with the last being held in 2010 in Owego, and during a tumultuous year for the department, the camaraderie was evident throughout the entire weekend, with several of the guests commenting, \u201cWe are like one big family,\u201d and with many of them reuniting for the first time since the onset of the pandemic last year. In fact, the convention was originally scheduled for 2020, but was postponed until this year.<\/p>\n
Organized by Owego Hose Teams, Inc. and The Owego Fire Department, this year welcomed units from around Central New York to participate in the activities, as well as the parade.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Pictured at Friday\u2019s Block Party is Stevie Gavin, grandson of Fallen Owego Firefighter and Hose Team member Steve Gavin. (Photo by Wendy Post)<\/p><\/div>\n
According to Patrick Gavin, organizer for Owego Hose Teams, Inc., and instrumental in the planning and execution of the event, approximately 50 units participated in the parade alone. He noted, to offer an idea of the parade\u2019s size, that all of Owego is considered one unit.<\/p>\n
Firehouse Subs, who returned for Friday evening\u2019s Block Party at Croton Hose Company #3 in The Flats, did about $2,000 worth of business that evening, and 175 dinners were sold for the dinner event that took place on Saturday. <\/p>\n
<\/a>Pictured are golf outing winners Jason Weaver and Jim Morris, from Team Morris. (Photo by Wendy Post)<\/p><\/div>\n
For the golf outing on Friday morning, Gavin stated that 18 teams were signed up, but two had to cancel because of weather. The event, held at the Tioga Golf Club, was a success, however, with Team Morris walking away victorious. Team members included Jason and Shawn Weaver, Nick Jerzak, and Jim Morris.<\/p>\n
For the service at Baker Fireman\u2019s Fountain on Saturday morning there were 75 chairs, and 100 attended. The purpose of the ceremony was to memorialize members that have passed, and to present awards. <\/p>\n
<\/a>Pictured are the Parade Grand Marshals, Dick Franz and Bob Thompson. (Photo by Wendy Post)<\/p><\/div>\n
Owego has five Fallen Firefighters who have died in the line of duty – Roy Wiltse (1939), Winfield Knapp (1965), Richard Beck (1993), Steve Gavin (2003), and Matt Porcari (2013). <\/p>\n
Receiving awards during the convention were Scott Swank, American Automobile Association (AAA), for Civilian of the Year; Anthony and Domenick Camerota, from the Yorkville Volunteer Fire Department and Jacob and Jordan Ryan, from the Whitesboro Volunteer Fire Department were awarded Firefighter of the Year; this year the James W. Wright Journalism Award went to James Rada, associate professor, Department of Journalism, Ithaca College and Justin Rouzier, Michael Pyskaty and Matt Ristaino, students in the Department of Journalism at Ithaca College.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Southside competes in the Wye Race. (Photo by Wendy Post)<\/p><\/div>\n
Out of the five Hose Teams that competed, the Owego Susquehanna Hose Company #1, with 14 points and members Dayton Coney, Danny Gavin, Pat Gavin, Tim Gavin, Charlie Olmstead and Hank Thomas defeated the Owego Croton Hose Company #3 Team, who had 13 points. The Early Owego Antique Center donated the trophies for the Hose Race.<\/p>\n
For the 43rd Central New York Firemen\u2019s Association Past Presidents and Installation of Officers Dinner on Saturday, President Rev. Dr. Rick Waite gave an introduction of past presidents; Gordy Kotars, banquet chair, introduced distinguished guests; and Patrick Gavin presented the awards. Tom Rothdiener presented the Installation of CNYFA Officers. <\/p>\n
<\/a>Pictured is the Westmoreland Fire Department. (Photo by Wendy Post)<\/p><\/div>\n
Living Past Presidents include James Daley (1987-1988), William VanShufflin (1989-1990), Robert Lang (1995-1996), David Jacobwitz (1997), John Durfee (2000-2001), Ken Czupryna (2002-2003), David Spencer (2004-2005), Peter Holmes (2006-2007), Rebecca Franklin-Guild (2008-2009), Charlie Skinner (2010-2011), Kenneth Holmes Sr. (2012-2013), Jeffrey Martin (2014-2015), Thomas E. Rothdiener (2016-2017), and Gordon Kotars (2018-2019). <\/p>\n
Paul Rieben, from Oriskany, N.Y., is the newly elected CNYFA President.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Pictured is the Newark Valley Fire Department. (Photo by Wendy Post)<\/p><\/div>\n
There were also some past fire chiefs around for the weekend to include Ken Easton, a familiar face to the community. Joining him was his wife Donna, along with other family members.<\/p>\n
Easton, who resides in Florida, felt good to be home and found the convention weekend to be a great time and filled with fun activities and events.<\/p>\n
Others felt the same.<\/p>\n
<\/a>The Owego Free Academy Band performs on top of an OFD Rescue Truck in the parade. (Photo by Wendy Post)<\/p><\/div>\n
\u201cThis was very well organized,\u201d said Jim Raftis Sr., who served as a judge for the parade.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is nice to see something happening in town following a year of lockdowns,\u201d stated a business owner on Front Street.<\/p>\n
<\/a>OFD Chief Jim Morris, front, and other OFD members march in the parade. (Photo by Wendy Post)<\/p><\/div>\n
Last weekend the community was filled with one big firefighting family, surrounded by a community that welcomed them all! Purebred for Action, the convention\u2019s logo and mascot, the weekend long event was a success! <\/p>\n
To learn more about Owego Hose Teams, Inc., visit www.owegohoseteams.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n Owego #1 competes in the Wye Race. (Photo by Wendy Post)<\/p><\/div>\n Owego 3B competes in the Straight Lay Race. (Photo by Wendy Post)<\/p><\/div>\n Southside competes in the Wye Race. (Photo by Wendy Post)<\/p><\/div>\n CNYFA officers are sworn in during the convention. (Photo by Wendy Post)<\/p><\/div>\n Pictured is newly elected CNYFA President Paul Rieben, from Oriskany, N.Y. (Photo by Wendy Post)<\/p><\/div>\n Pictured is Hose Team member Tim Gavin, with his daughter Evelyn and his son Nathaniel. (Photo by Wendy Post)<\/p><\/div>\n Pictured are Hose Team members Tom Donovan, Lou Striley, and David Franz. (Photo by Wendy Post)<\/p><\/div>\n Pictured is the Southport Wye Race. (Photo by Wendy Post)<\/p><\/div>\n Pictured is Past CNYFA President, Gordy Kotars. (Photo by Wendy Post)<\/p><\/div>\n Apalachin Fire Department\u2019s Dave Ritz is recognized during the convention. (Photo by Wendy Post)<\/p><\/div>\n Pictured is Newark Valley Fire Department\u2019s Ernie Tuetken. (Photo by Wendy Post)<\/p><\/div>\n Pictured is Nichols Fire Department\u2019s John Kopacko. (Photo by Wendy Post)<\/p><\/div>\n Pictured is Tioga Center Fire Department\u2019s Charlie Martens. (Photo by Wendy Post)<\/p><\/div>\n Pictured with his trophy is Hose Champion Hank Thomas. (Photo by Wendy Post)<\/p><\/div>\n Pictured are CNYFA Past Presidents. (Photo by Wendy Post)<\/p><\/div>\n Pictured are the Broome County Celtics. (Photo by Wendy Post)<\/p><\/div>\n Pictured at the fireworks site is Bagpiper Josh Nytch. (Photo by Wendy Post)<\/p><\/div>\n Pictured is Garden Hoser Emily MacNaughton. (Photo by Wendy Post)<\/p><\/div>\n Pictured is Garden Hoser Maddy Bouchard, niece of Fallen Owego Firefighter Matt Porcari. (Photo by Wendy Post)<\/p><\/div>\n Pictured is Sara Gavin, Garden Hoser. (Photo by Wendy Post)<\/p><\/div>\n Pictured are Sara and Anna Gavin. (Photo by Wendy Post)<\/p><\/div>\n Pictured, at Friday night\u2019s Block Party, are Larry Ferguson and Ken Easton. (Photo by Wendy Post)<\/p><\/div>\n Mike and Joy MacNaughton are pictured with Cheri Porcari. (Photo by Wendy Post)<\/p><\/div>\n Mike MacNaughton is pictured with Taz Howard during Friday\u2019s Block Party in The Flats. (Photo by Wendy Post)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>