WILLIAM LAGRANGE, VETERAN VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER ,
TURNs 100 YEARS OLD
The Firemen’s Home, located in Hudson, recently celebrated a birthday milestone for one of its members. William “Bill” LaGrange enjoyed his 100th birthday at the Home accompanied by several residents and staff members. Bill has been a loving member of the Firemen’s Home since December 2007.
Bill was born in Westerlo, New York on January 18, 1910. He grew up on his family’s farm where he helped his father with the farm as well as the family’s trucking business, repair business, and ice cream parlor. After completing high school, Bill worked as a tractor trailer mechanic and took a position with Hannay Reels. Bill later helped found the Westerlo Volunteer Fire Company, where he served as an active member for 69 years.
Described as a pleasant and sociable person, Bill likes being outdoors on his scooter and enjoying the fresh air and different activities around the Firemen’s Home. Some of his favorite past times include sitting by the aquarium, watching the activities at the barn, and doing a word search puzzle.
Bill has three children: Peggy Maynes, Harriet Bernard, and Wayne LaGrange, nine grandchildren, and several great grand-children.
When Administrator, Karen Woodcock, asked how he felt about celebrating his 100th birthday, Bill replied, “I feel with my hands!”
Heros & Villains
A Sayville resident since 1993, Ex. Lt. Thomas Westman out of the Williamsburg, Brooklyn 108 Ladder and Battalion 35 NYFD stands proudly with his wife Colleen and daughter Meghan at his Survivor party held at the Historic Sayville Inn on Middle Road, Sayville, where his friends and family watched the season's 20th season opening show of Survivor 2010 Challenge on CBS/2 called “Heros & Villains.” This is Tom's second time after winning " Survivor 10 " two years ago. He rebuffed the show’s offer in 2008 because of his new job with The Hartford - Group Benefits in NYC. His wife encouraged him to take the challenge this year as CBS was at his door for the third time. He's a well-liked guy, and a Survivor, and fireman hero to boot. Tom’s father, Thomas Westman Sr., was also a fireman: located at Engine 21 in Manhattan, where he spent much of his time for 26 years. According to Tom's sister Colleen, they would go to the fire house and see the camaraderie. Now Tom is at a computer, which he's not used to, getting a commuter ticket, wearing a suit and tie.....but enjoying it.
Fire News photos by Wayne Carrington
New York State Firefighter One
Winter Boot Camp in Niagara County
Twenty-two Niagara County firefighters recently completed the New York State Firefighter One training course in January. The 86-hour course, normally run during the summer, was offered for the second time as a winter session in hopes of attracting new firefighters who are students on winter break or have summer jobs. Many of the participants were students, including four out-of-town Niagara University students from Upper Mountain Fire Company.
The curriculum was presented during the course of ten, eight hour-plus days. Training sessions included both classroom instruction and experiential practice.. Topics included firefighter safety, personal protective equipment, self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), building search, Haz Mat Operations, ground ladders, water supply, hose practices, vehicle fires, portable extinguishers, live fire and initial company operations.
In addition to firefighting basics, students were also given the opportunity to hone their leadership skills by acting as “companies” during the course of the training, with the position of “Captain” and other duties rotating among the “company” members daily.
The course was hosted at Niagara County’s two firefighter training facilities. Instruction was led by Niagara County State Fire Instructor Les Myers of Lewiston #1 Fire Company with assistance by fellow Niagara County Instructors Richard Silvaroli of Frontier Fire Company, John Lapham of North Tonawanda Fire Company, Russell Jackman of Wilson Fire Company, and Sam Ricotta of Lewiston #1 Fire Company. Other assistance was provided by New York State Fire Instructors Bruce Elsenheimer, Jr. and Raymond Morgan and New York State Fire Specialist Bruce Oliphant.
The course concluded with a graduation ceremony conducted at the Wendelville Fire Hall on Friday, January 15, at which each student was presented with a New York State Firefighter One certificate by John Cecula, Niagara County Assistant Director of Emergency Services. Companies and personnel who assisted with the execution of the course were also presented with Certificates of Appreciation by Les Myers.
The newest graduates of the New York State Firefighter One training course are as follows: Stephen Lee, Barker Fire Company; Joshua Austin, Cambria Fire Company; Rachel Goodman, Lewiston #1 Fire Company; Kyle Townsend, Main Transit Fire Company; Brett Newton, Middleport Fire Company; Anthony Bandinelli and Justin Bedford, Olcott Fire Company; Andrew Doyle, Rapids Fire Company; Joseph Simmons, Nicholas Zaccarella, Shawnee Fire Company; Joshua Brad, South Line Fire Company; Jessica Brown, Patrick Reynolds, South Lockport Fire Company; Veronica Campanella, Matthew Demarco, Richard McKee, Katlyn Rice, Upper Mountain Fire Company; Joshua Gibbons, Justin Graham, Benjamin Regester, Wesley Sorg, Wendelville Fire Company; and Robert Davis, Youngstown Fire Company.
Provided by Glenn Christman