Assembly Resolution No. 1007

BY: M. of A. Lupardo

COMMEMORATING the 75th Anniversary of the Union
Center Fire Company of Endicott, New York

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is proud to commemorate the 75th
Anniversary of the Union Center Fire Company and to honor its past and
present firefighting members for 75 years of fire protection to the
citizens of Endicott, and its surrounding communities; and

WHEREAS, Fire departments are an integral part of community
protection services in every locality of our State; during the past 75
years, the courageous and devoted firefighters of the Union Center Fire
Company have valiantly responded to all types of fire emergencies and
have won the praise and respect of the community which they serve; and

WHEREAS, In 1947, the Union Center Fire Company was established with
one station located at 1805 Union Center Highway in Endicott; over the
years, this station has been expanded, by purchasing neighboring
property in 2006, and building a larger station to meet the needs of the
community; today, the station is located at 1811 Union Center-Maine
Highway; and

WHEREAS, As the population grew and shifted to the North Side area,
a two-bay station was built at 1209 Taft Avenue, which has since been
upgraded to a four-bay station; and

WHEREAS, In the mid-1960s, the Union Center Fire Company started a
First Aid Team, and in 1992, an EMS team was formed; the team is made up
of personnel with CPR training, New York State Certified First
Responders, Emergency Medical Technicians, and Paramedics; and

WHEREAS, The EMS team is trained to use an Automatic External
Defibrillator (AED) for cardiac arrest patients, oxygen, and airway
management equipment, all of which is contained in their EMS response
vehicle; the equipment and personnel are dispatched to respond in
advance of an ambulance to get medical aid to a patient as quickly as
possible; and

WHEREAS, All emergency calls are received at Broome County's
state-of-the-art 911 Communications Center, and all alarms are
radio-dispatched to its personnel through this Center; upon receiving an
alarm, members respond to the station and respond with the proper
emergency equipment to the scene; and

WHEREAS, Currently, the Union Center Fire Company is led by Mark
Belensky, Chief; Dan Hoeflein, 1st Assistant Chief; Anthony Silvestri,
2nd Assistant Chief; John VanKuren, Day Captain; Brian Haas, Lieutenant;
and its Board of Directors, Wes Miga, President and Treasurer; Jim
Brown, Vice-President; Barrilyn Polhamus, Secretary; Bob Bealo, Director
at Large; and

WHEREAS, With a membership of dedicated firefighters, the record of
the Union Center Fire Company in public service and fire protection is
one to be envied; for 24 hours a day, for 365 days a year, for 75 years,

whenever the alarm sounded, these noble volunteers left their homes and
went to the aid of their neighbors; and

WHEREAS, The brave firefighters of the Union Center Fire Company are
prepared to risk their lives every day to help save the lives of others
and to protect homes and property from the destruction caused by fire;
and

WHEREAS, In addition to the skill and devoted service demonstrated
by individual firefighters, the Union Center Fire Company reflects the
history and development of firefighting over the past 75 years; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body cannot express sufficient gratitude
to those devoted individuals who recognize that the preservation of life
and property is a sacred responsibility and who make that responsibility
their own by serving as firefighters; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that we should
give special recognition to those who work so assiduously for the
betterment of their communities, and acknowledge publicly the heroic
good works performed by the volunteer fire departments of this great
Empire State, their officers and auxiliaries; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
proudly commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Union Center Fire
Company; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Union Center Fire Company.