BRIARCLIFF MANOR ROTARY CLUB MEETING
Friday, May 16th, 2009
A BANNER DAY IN HISTORY
Today is National Piercing Day, a day to get one or both ears pierced—or a navel,
if you are so inclined.
Throw a Piercing Party today! And don’t forget: Support your local piercer!!
SIGNS OF THE TIMES.
It is estimated that 2.6 million homeowners will lose their homes this year.
Uh-oh.
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OPENING CEREMONIES: Our weekly meeting was opened precisely at 12:18 pm to roars of approval and very annoying foot-stomping.
PRESIDENT’S REMARKS AND MEMBERS’ INSIGHTFUL OBSERVATIONS:
Guests were welcomed and club members were applauded for their participation in
our recent Truck Show. And Marie Fuesy announced that she was proud to be on
The Board next year. (She still hasn’t sold her house, but people are looking. Not buying, mind you, just looking.)
NEXT WEEK: President-Elect Mark Seiden will bring us news about the Upcoming Rotary Year.
OUR SPEAKER TODAY: Our guest speaker today was Mr. Douglas Cacciola, Briarcliff Manor Fire Department Chief, who spoke to us interestingly on “Briarcliff Fire Department History.”
Interesting Fire Department facts, as related by Chief Cacciola:
. The Briarcliff Fire Department (really Walter Law’s fire department) was founded in 1907, at which time, most of the members worked for Mr. Law);
For the next four years, firemen were farm hands in their real life, and most were still employed by the aforementioned Walter Law.
At that time, fire engines were stored in the barn at the Presbyterian Church;
In due time, the fire department was handed over to the village of Briarcliff Manor. In 1934, Briarcliff Manor was growing by leaps and bounds, and so was the Briarcliff Fire Department: by order of the Board of Trustees, it was split into three companies, to better serve the Village;
There are more than 700 ambulance calls a year in the Village. The Ambulances Corps is attached to the Fire Department;
All fire Department uniforms and food are paid for by fund-raising;
The current Fire Department owns a Fly Car, which responds to medical emergencies;
. It also owns an 80 lb. Extractor, a heavy tool that is used to extract car-accident victims (There are many, far too many car accidents on the Taconic and on Rts. 9 and 9A.);
. The Briarcliff Fire Department owns a white fire engine. Legend has it that it is white so that it can be seen on the streets at night. The real reason is that the engine is white, as a tribute to Walter Law and his dairy farm. (Milk is white--get it?)
. . The fire alarm, sitting atop the Municipal Building, had a signal that was grating on the nerves. It now has a new electronic signal. Unfortunately, it continues to be grating.(It sounds at 12:02 pm, so as not to conflict with the Ossining Fire Deparment signal which goes off exactly at 12:00 pm, miffing many.).
. The Briarcliff Fire Department is comprised solely of citizen-volunteers, to whom we owe a heartfelt vote of thanks. We also owe a vote of thanks to Chief Cacciola. Bravo, Chief, for an excellent talk!
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THE DRAWING: The first lottery winner was Ernie Pacchiana. (Cries of “Fix! Fix!” thundered throughout the hall!.) There was no second-place winner.
It is reported, but unconfirmed, that Bishop John immediately went into a downward emotional spiral and resigned from the Church.
MEETING CONCLUSION: The meeting was adjourned at 1:32 pm, to the sound of loud sobbing and a spirits-lifting trumpet voluntary.
Submitted by
Recording Secretary, Don Wilde
5/15 Attendance - Frances Chu*, Etrusca Cosentino, Zachary Cosentino, Zeneth Eidel, Rodney Ertischek, Marie Fuesy, Peter Fulfree, Peter Garth, John Herzog, Eric Leberson, Rachel Leihbacher, Shelley Lotter, Geraldine Mahoney, Ernest Pacchiana, Paul Rosen, Mark Seiden, Donald Wilde, Elinor Yuter, Sy Yuter
