Richville FD honors members’ dedication to the fire service

by Rachel Hunter

The Richville Volunteer Fire Department recognized the hard work and dedication of its membership at its annual banquet, held on Saturday, April 20 at the Gouverneur Elks Lodge No. 2035, 1419 US Highway 11, Gouverneur.

All those in attendance were welcomed by Richville Fire Department President Martin Hassett. Richville Fire Department Chaplain David Hart gave the invocation. A special moment of silence was held in memory of Shelley Prashaw, former Village Clerk of Richville. The Gouverneur Elks Lodge No. 2035 served up a delectable meal featuring prime rib or chicken parmesan, with strawberry shortcake for dessert. Gratitude was extended to the Elks for their service.

The officers of Richville Fire Department are as follows: President Martin Hassett, Vice President George Prashaw, Secretary/Treasurer Rick Terpstra, Chief Corie Farr, First Assistant Chief Tammy Jenkins, Second Assistant Chief Travis Davenport, Fire Captain Michael Thomas, Fire Lieutenant Brian Davenport, EMS Captain Terry Bango, EMS Lieutenant Keirsten Thomas, Safety Officer Erwin Wallace, Sgt. At Arms Al Garrand, Steward Korissa Seguin, Fire Police Captain Leslie Davenport, Chaplain David Hart, Fire Training Officer Craig Allen, and directors Matt Drake, Corey Morrow, and Gary Mitchell.

Also recognized were the past chiefs, the exempt members, and the invited guest including Town of DeKalb Supervisor Jordan Deleel, Town of DeKalb Clerk Kelly Davis, Town of DeKalb Councilperson Connie Elen, Town of DeKalb Councilperson Michael Livingston, Village of Gouverneur Mayor Ron McDougall, Village of Richville Mayor BlueJay Fenlong, St. Lawrence County Legislator District 6 Larry Denesha (R-DeKalb), Deputy Chief of Staff Meredith George from the Office of Senator Mark Walczyk, Chief of Staff Tammie Nabywaniec from the Office of NYS Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush, County Car 5 Vincent Ferry, among others.

Also present were representatives of the mutual aid departments, including: Gouverneur Fire Department, DeKalb Fire Department, Hermon Fire Department, Edwards Fire Department, and Canton Fire Department.

David Hart, Chairman of the Fire District, also recognized the contributions of the fire commissioners, including Dave Bishop, Linda Bishop (treasurer), Al Garrand (secretary), Barbara Creazzo, Joe Peters, and Matt Drake. “We thank the commissioners,” President Hassett said. “They provide a lot of guidance. We’ve gotten great financial support for our fire district. We really appreciate their service.”

Richville Fire Department Auxiliary President BlueJay Fenlong then took to the podium and said the following: “I would like to introduce our auxiliary. We started a new group in March of 2023. We are new. We are one year old, but we have done some exciting things already, and we got a lot more on our radar that we want to do.” She then introduced the following auxiliary members: Christine Wood (secretary/treasurer), Korissa Seguin, Nancy Garrand, Keirsten Thomas, Tami French, Karen Davis, Lynn Jackson, Arnold Jackson, and Kateena Smith. “Thank you all for all your hard work, and all your effort. We’re doing a great job. We got a lot of things we want to do.” The auxiliary members then distributed keychains featuring Richville’s “Fighting 41” as small tokens of appreciation to the firefighters and junior firefighters in attendance. We are very honored to be able to help our fire department, and we just want to thank you for all you do for the Village of Richville,” Fenlong said. The Richville Volunteer Fire Department distributed carnations to the auxiliary members in attendance, and great applause sounded in appreciation of the auxiliary and its dedicated membership.

President Hassett then took to the podium, and extended a special word of appreciation to the politicians and political representative in attendance. “We really appreciate our politicians,” he said. “We have a lot of unfunded mandates. In training, New York State is pushing for more and more hours. Our list of volunteers for recruits is diminishing. There’s not a line at the door these days like there was when I got in 49 ½ years ago. Things have changed. We were hoping that we would get some help from all levels of the County and the State to help us out with these burdens. I’d like to thank the politicians who put into effect. Now we have a small stipend for someone who takes Firefighter I, Basic Exterior Firefighting Operations, and Fire Officer. That is great. It offsets some of the expenses when they use their own car, their own gas to get to these places. There are a lot of unfunded mandates and stuff coming down the pike that is scary with OSHA and PESH. As it is laid out right now, at first blush, you would probably see half of these volunteer fire departments in the state and the country basically close. They just can’t keep up with it. So, we really appreciate the assistance from our politicians. Thank you very much.”

President Hassett then introduced First Assistant Chief Tammie Jenkins to talk about the Junior Firefighter Program and Richville Fire and Rescue. The program currently has four junior firefighters, with Logan Hill and Nick Canell in attendance at the banquet. “Tammy does a nice job with the junior firefighters,” President Hassett said. “The neat part about this is that they get the experience, and they get the training. If they stick around, they become members. And they are some of the best members. We have members that are in this group now that were junior firefighters.” Thunderous applause sounded in recognition of all past junior firefighters, now current members of Richville Fire and Rescue.

Vice President George Prashaw then offered a series of jokes and stories for about 10 minutes. Great applause sounded in appreciation of the comic relief.

President Hassett then returned to the podium to talk about trainings and courses that members had taken in the past year, including the following: Basic Exterior Firefighting Operations (BEFO), Apparatus and Pump Operator, Principles In Instruction, Firefighter Cancer, and Passenger Vehicle Extrication. “There’s a lot of people taking classes. It takes a lot of time. It’s a lot of hours. We really appreciate that. Thanks to everyone who is doing that.”

President Hassett also talked about future improvements at the Richville Fire Department and the Village of Richville. “We got a new flagpole for the cemetery. There’s going to be a solar light on it. That will be up shortly. We have a new digital sign that will be on the fire station. Thank you to the previous auxiliary for the funds they gave us for that. Mikey Thomas and Craig Allen have taken over the installation of that, with a bunch of other people to help out. That’s going to be a great looking sign. Our auxiliary, we want to thank them. It’s newly formed last year. They’ve done a lot of great things for us. We just appreciate them very much. They support us very well.”

President Hassett then encouraged the community to support the Richville Fire Department by attending the Annual Mother’s Day Weekend Chicken Barbecue. It will be held on Saturday, May 11, starting at noon. Cost is $15 per meal or $9 per half chicken. The meal includes half-chicken, salt potatoes, baked beans, cole slaw and dessert. Pre-order by calling 315-287-7045. Delivery also available. There also will be a Car Wash and Food Sale at the Richville Fire Department on Saturday, June 1 during the Village Wide Rummage Sale Weekend.

“In the coming year, we look forward to serving the citizens of our fire protection district, along with assisting our mutual aid departments to the best of our abilities. We call ourselves and our neighbors the best professional volunteers, and we try to achieve that and provide the best protection for fire and EMS that we can for our taxpayers. At this time, I’d like to thank our families. They put up with a lot of stuff with us gone. They allow us to do this voluntary work. Thank you for allowing your lives to be interrupted at any moment. Your support is truly appreciated.”

Service Awards

Richville Fire Department Secretary/Treasurer Rick Terpstra announced the service awards as follows: “Tonight, I’d like to honor several members who have achieved a milestone in their years of dedicated service to our department.”

Recognized for Five Years of Service was Erwin Wallace, who started with Richville Fire and Rescue in 2019 after transferring from the Oxbow Fire Department. He is the department’s current safety officer. He was extended a certificate of appreciation for his years of dedicated service.

Recognized for Five Years of Service was Matthew Morrow, who started in 2018. He was in the junior firefighter program at the Richville Fire Department, and later gained full membership status. He was extended a certificate of appreciation for his years of dedicated service.

Recognized for Five Years of Service was Nathan Jenkins, who started in 2018. He was in the junior firefighter program at the Richville Fire Department, and later gained full membership status. He was extended a certificate of appreciation for his years of dedicated service.

Recognized for Fifteen Years of Service was Gary Gilbo, who has held several officer positions in the Richville Fire Department. This month, the Richville Fire Department granted him the exempt firefighter status.

Recognized for Twenty Years of Service was Mark Shippee.

Recognized for Thirty-Five Years of Service is Corey Morrow, who started in January 1989. He has held officer positions of Assistant Foreman (one year), Foreman (three years), Second Assistant Chief (two years), First Assistant Chief (one year), and Fire Chief (one year). He also served as director for over 20 years. He was bestowed a plaque in recognition of his dedicated years of service.

Recognized for Forty-Five Years of Service is George Prashaw, who started in January 1979. He has held the following officer positions: Secretary (four years, 1985-1988), Second Assistant Foreman (one year, 1987). He received a prestigious award, Agitator of the Year, in 2008. He was bestowed a plaque in recognition of his dedicated years of service. “Thank you, and hopefully another five years,” Mr. Prashaw said. “It’s a good company. I’m proud to have been there… Thank you.”

The service award recipients received citations and commendations from the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly. Words of congratulations were extended from New York State Senator Mark Walczyk, who is currently serving the country in Kuwait as a captain in the U.S. Army Reserve, through his Deputy Chief of Staff Meredith George. Also from New York State Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C-Black River) through his Chief of Staff Tammie Nabywaniec. “Congratulations. The Assemblyman finished the budget today for New York State. Amen. He wishes there was more in there for firefighters, and for what you do. Most of the conference was working very hard to get that in there. Thank you for all that you do.” Thunderous applause sounded as the honors were extended to the award recipients.

Firefighter of the Year

RFD Chief Corie Farr and First Assistant Chief Tammy Jenkins then presented the Firefighter of the Year Award to Craig Allen. FF Craig Allen started in the fire service in August 2003. He has served the department as steward (two years), a director (three years), fire lieutenant (four years), IT officer (two years), and the department’s new training officer. “Craig has done quite a bit in his time with us,” Chief Farr said. “He has taken his Firefighter I course, Fire Police, Accident Victim Extrication, Truck Company Operations, Pump Operator, Principles of Instruction, and is signed up for the Passenger Vehicle Rescue course coming up. So again, Craig, thank you very much.” A standing ovation with thunderous applause was given in recognition of this year’s RFD Firefighter of the Year.

Chief’s Report

RFD Chief Corie Farr then took to the podium to give his annual report. In 2023, the Richville Fire Department had 112 calls for service, including 63 EMS, and 68 mutual aid calls. “We are staying busy,” Chief Farr said. “Thank you very much.”

In conclusion Richville FD President Martin Hassett said: “I want to thank everyone for being here and supporting the Richville Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.” Chaplain David Hart closed the banquet in the following prayer: “Gracious God, we give thanks for the success this year of the Richville Volunteer Fire Department. We ask that you continue your blessing on this department. We ask for your protection on all who participate, as they prepare themselves for another year of service to our community. May God bless you and keep you. May He make his face to shine upon you. May He be gracious unto you, and give you peace. Amen.”

All those in attendance were invited to a gathering at the Richville Fire Hall to follow. Much gratitude was extended to all those who contributed any type of service to the event’s success. For more information on the Richville Fire Department or the Richville Fire Department Auxiliary, visit its Facebook page.