ptwatson

Rainbow Bridge
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....
Author unknown...

Rainbow Bridge.doc

Lets throw another wrinkle into this. 1st its not that Pelham will not provide additional taxes, in reality they can't. Because the population is so small, the per capita costs to improve are never going to happen. The real issue for Pelham, Pelham Manor and any other small community FD or understaffed FD (career, combo or vol.) is ISO's plan to change the rating system this year.
Under the new plan, any dept that responds to fire calls with fewer than 6 firefighters (2 in / 2 out, MPO & IC) will automatically become an ISO 9.
What does this mean for Pelham?
Annual insurance premiums for commercial and residential properties in Pelham is approximately $5.1 million. In Pelham Manor the premiums are approximately $5.9 million. Combined, the property owners in Pelham and Pelham Manor pay roughly $11 million per year in premiums.
Both PFD & PMFD are ISO PPC 4's. If the 2 depts do not restructure the way the respond to fire so the have at least 4 interior qulified members + an MPO & IC, Both villages will see the ISO change them to 9 and the insurance premiums will go up by 40% per year. Thats a combined increas of $4.4 MILLION.
This increase is more than the current combined budget of the 2 fire departments.
Meanwhile the Pelham Village Mayor and Board are considering reducing manning.
I suspect nothing will change until the ISO rating does and then the finger pointing at village hall will begin.

OFD arrived with ladder 41, Engine 97, Engine 100 ,2331 and 2334. and 25 Ossining Firefighters. There were no Sing Sing Fire brigade members. OFD was escorted in and a count was taken of the FF. There was no delay upon arrival. We arrived at the block and was advised by corrections officers that there was a loud pop followed by smoke and then the electric going out. Once the keys to an exterior door and gate was obtained, a 2 1/2 was stretched through the door and down a set of stairs where the smoke was coming from. The stairs lead down to a utility hallway that housed steam pipes and electrical conduit. 3/4 of the way down the hall the fire was located (with T.I.C.) in an electrical room. Upon a second confirmation that the power to the block was shut off, the room was entered and a large junction box on the ceiling containing feeder cables were burning along with combutibles on the floor, The fire was extinguished and the smoke was evacuated from the building.
Upon leaving the complex, the FF were counted and the apparatus' examined. There was no contact with inmates, many of them were still in their cells until they were evacuated. The operation went well without incident.
2331
Special thanks to Briarcliff FD for having their Tower Ladder stand by in their quarters. (OFD TL-42 OOS )

Screw the family of DJ Henry. I for one am sick of their sh*t. He tried to run down a police officer and died in the process. Boohoo but I dont lose any sleep on it. I congratulate PO Hess for this award and commiserate the split second decision he made, while that decision needed another individual life, the decision was made to protect the officers life and public safety in general.

I agree that the preservation of the history of Emergency Services in Westchester County is important. In 100 years the make up of the services that protect those who work live and travel in Westchester County will certainly be very different from what they are today and people will be interested in learning about and researching the organiztions and people who protected our communities in days past. However, instead of looking to start a new venture, we should be looking to existing resources.
There is already an organizton in Westchester County who's mission is to document and preserve the history of Westchester County. The Westchester County Historical Society founded in 1874 is a library and research center located in the county records center in Elmsford. They have an expansive collection of books, pamphlets, photographs, maps, newspapers, scrapbooks and manuscripts - and a good deal already on the history of firefighting in Westchester all of which are stored in a climate controled environment optimal for preevation. They have an excellent staff who are beyond knowledgeable, friendly and passionate about the preservation of all aspects of Westchester's History. Better still - they have a very easy to use reading room that is open to the public on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
When I worked for WCHS I tried my best to grow the collection as it relates to the history of fire fighting in Westchester County. If you personaly or your department (fire, police or EMS) has any materials that they would like to see preserved in a location where the public can view them this is the place where you should looking. You can learn more about them by visiting their website http://www.westchesterhistory.com.
That's my two cents worth.
- Mussels

Eastchester (through all of it's faults) could be used as a model for consolidation. The consultant's report done in the 1990s broke down what the cost would be if the Town and the two villages within the town, had each gone their own way at the turn of the Twentieth Century, and created three separate departments instead of creating one fire district. In the 1990s the savings was already in the area of many millions of dollars.
The study that the Career Chiefs put together with the people at Pace U a few years ago (Captain Nechis is an expert regarding this study) showed what could be done with south Westchester career/combo departments.
The models are out there, the studies completed, all that is needed is action. It has been pointed out this action will more than likely come from pressure at the State level, County level, or elsewhere. External pressure will force departments to start taking this matter seriously. A consolidation action committee should be formed, consisting of elected officials from fire districts, towns, villages and cities, their fire chiefs, along with union representation from the affected locals. Open communication, seriousness of purpose, and determination to improve delivery of service could result in progress. The resulting improvement in service delivery, along with safer working conditions for firefighters can be accomplished. The time is passed due for changes to be made.

I do believe that consolidation is the wave of the future! In Eastchester we have had one town wide F.D and also one town wide VAC for decades. I could really see if being benificial with the all volunteer departments. Let's face the fact that people need to work more to pay their bill's these days.They don't have as much time to volunteer these days. This is not just in the fire service but in all volunteer programs. I think this change in society plays into the lower ranks of volunteer firefighters. If a town with a volunteer department covering each village in that town I would think that it would be sensable to combine forces and have one town fire department. You would have a greater source of man power and a stronger department. Also, you would not need as much appararatus. As for the career dept's mostly in the southern part of the county I believe that there has been serious discussion on combining on responding. For example my brother lives 3 houses over the Eastchester border in Mt. Vernon. If he has an emergency his 1st due is Lincoln Ave a few minute away yet an Eastchester Engine is less then a minute away. What the plan would call for is that the Eastchester Engine would be the 1st due even though he lives in Mt. Vernon etc.. It makes sence! It would/will save lives! The system that was set in place during the early 1900's in my opinion is outdated. As we know tradition and pride is a big factor in the FD. However, if the apparatus needs to be re-lettered from a village name to a town name to become a town wide dept to save the tax payers money and pool resources then so be it. Let a new tradition grow out of the fine tradition of the past.

I do believe that consolidation is the wave of the future! In Eastchester we have had one town wide F.D and also one town wide VAC for decades. I could really see if being benificial with the all volunteer departments. Let's face the fact that people need to work more to pay their bill's these days.They don't have as much time to volunteer these days. This is not just in the fire service but in all volunteer programs. I think this change in society plays into the lower ranks of volunteer firefighters. If a town with a volunteer department covering each village in that town I would think that it would be sensable to combine forces and have one town fire department. You would have a greater source of man power and a stronger department. Also, you would not need as much appararatus. As for the career dept's mostly in the southern part of the county I believe that there has been serious discussion on combining on responding. For example my brother lives 3 houses over the Eastchester border in Mt. Vernon. If he has an emergency his 1st due is Lincoln Ave a few minute away yet an Eastchester Engine is less then a minute away. What the plan would call for is that the Eastchester Engine would be the 1st due even though he lives in Mt. Vernon etc.. It makes sence! It would/will save lives! The system that was set in place during the early 1900's in my opinion is outdated. As we know tradition and pride is a big factor in the FD. However, if the apparatus needs to be re-lettered from a village name to a town name to become a town wide dept to save the tax payers money and pool resources then so be it. Let a new tradition grow out of the fine tradition of the past.

When I was a student at Immaculate Conception on late spring days when the windows would be open and you had a class on the Winterhill Rd side of the building you could hear the rescue truck leave station three and hear the siren get louder and louder as it came up Midland toward Winterhill. That thing sure was loud!

"So for decades, the NYPD ESU was the sole provider of emergency rescue services in the City of New York."
Rescue 1 1915 Rescue 2 1925 Rescue 3 1931 Rescue 4 1931 Rescue 5 1948. So I don't think the good men of the NYPD ESU were the sole provider's of rescue services. FDNY was right along side of them!

Would it be a cost saving measure if all Westchester Town and Villages changed over to the County PD? In my personal opinion I think it would be great but I'm no expert. I would imagine that the cities would/should continue to police themselves. However, there so many PD's in Westchester. I'm curious if it would be a better system. I'm a big fan of mergers that could save tax dollars while still providing the same great service.

Would it be a cost saving measure if all Westchester Town and Villages changed over to the County PD? In my personal opinion I think it would be great but I'm no expert. I would imagine that the cities would/should continue to police themselves. However, there so many PD's in Westchester. I'm curious if it would be a better system. I'm a big fan of mergers that could save tax dollars while still providing the same great service.

The crime rate in some areas of Westchester is(or was) greater than the areas of NYC I mentioned. And a county dept in Westchester would not have the right stuff if it was properly sized? Since police patrol, the number of stations does not have a major affect on response times.
How does more precincts benifit other than it might save a mile or 2 drive. The costs are stagering and how often does the public go to the stations?
The playland "precinct" is really a substation and I think other than in name is not really a "precinct".
You are correct that depts could merge stations, the question is what is the right number?
Did you know that New Rochelle Police HQ is closer to parts of Larchmont, Town & Village of Mamaroneck, Pelham, Pelham Manor, Mt. Vernon, Eastchester, Bronxville, Tuckahoe and a very small portion of Scarsdale and Yonkers than to parts of New Rochelle? That would indicate that since it covers 100% of New Rochelle, the distance could cover much more (I do not think it would be physically large enogh or so configured to cover all of that area). Now the northern most 50 streets in New Rochelle are actually closer to White Plains PD HQ than to NRPD HQ.
What is the right size coverage area for a police precicnt? I don't know what if any formula is use (I know fire & EMS ones and I would think PD's are normally larger because they patrol vs. respond from the staation).
Based on the 1/2 way point between NRPD & WPPD I worked out a precinct radius of 3.75 miles. Based on that a single police dept in Westchester would need about 12 precincts. Nassau County has 8 (plus some local PDs) and they cover an area that is 25% smaller (433 vs. 287 sq miles). So I figure my quick #'s are not far off.
Lets see that a reduction of about 60% from the current number of stations. Cutting the cost of maintenance, insurance, staffing, replacement, etc. can we reduce our taxes, while improving capabilities, i would think so. Someone with a backround in police deployment will be better suited to do this than I, but with just a few minutes work, I think I have shown it is possible.

Would it be a cost saving measure if all Westchester Town and Villages changed over to the County PD? In my personal opinion I think it would be great but I'm no expert. I would imagine that the cities would/should continue to police themselves. However, there so many PD's in Westchester. I'm curious if it would be a better system. I'm a big fan of mergers that could save tax dollars while still providing the same great service.

From what I understand the County Sheriff's are a police auxillary extention of the County Police.? In my opinion you would have one county precinct in every town in Westchester. That precinct would cover that town and any village that is within that town. For example one precinct in Eastchester that would cover Eastchester, Tuckahoe and Bronxville etc.....

With all respect Brother "Men Of Fire" I have to disagree with you. As far back as firefighting goes, there have been hairbags that come into the service either by volunteering, or somehow scoring well enough and bluffing their way onto a career job.
But we cannot take a broad stroke of the brush and paint all junior men/women into one complete group of people in the service who do not care about keeping the traditions, the nobility and the comrade-re of the Brotherhood alive. As an example, just look at how many of our members here on Bravo in the younger age group have become such active members here, and show so much interest in those traditions, and learning "the ways" of the fire service.
I remember hearing senior men, when I was a junior man, extolling their observations that the Brotherhood wasn't what it used to be; that the Brotherhood was doomed to extinction.
Those that do believe in the virtues of our Brotherhood need to be reassured by senior men such as yourself, that the traditions you speak of are indeed still alive, and need to develop the belief in themselves that they are part of something larger than just a job, and need to be taught that they will in the near future be the ones responsible for carrying on the Brotherhood, when they move into positions of seniority, promotion, and leadership.
If we truly care enough in our fraternity to want it to survive and thrive well into the future, then senior men today need to redouble their efforts in seeing to it that these junior men are properly taught about the sacrifices our fore bearers gave to this noblest of professions. All members in senior positions, and leadership today need to be asking themselves a very personal question; are my judgments about the future being clouded by my personal disappointments about things that have happened to me through the years of my career?
It becomes very difficult at times as the years pass, to maintain the motivation to want to pass on our finest traditions. To want to help our junior members succeed in gaining the true understanding of how the Brotherhood continues to evolve, through generations of sacrifice, members being killed in the performance of their duty, members fighting to gain workplace improvements through the collective bargaining process, and members becoming sick through a lack of workplace safety.
I always believed the best way to educate our younger members about these things was to show them examples of what conditions were like before improvements were made. To tell them the stories of what our members went through to gain the improvements we have in place today.
Some things obviously cannot be easily taught. Some things members are just going to have to learn for themselves; generosity and caring for each other, being able to forgive each other for mistakes and not hold grudges.
But I truly understand how you feel. Sometimes it feels like paddling upstream against an overwhelming current. Sometimes we just want to throw it all down, and simply walk away. But the past generations of Brothers who fought so hard for all of the improvements we enjoy today; the firefighers who never got the chance to enjoy some of those improvements, because they got sick or were killed from the very things they were fighting so hard to improve; for the memory of these Brothers passed, we owe it to their memory to continue the fight. To continue to impress upon on our newer generation of firefighters that some things are worth fighting for, some things are worth giving our all for; and the Brotherhood is the greatest of attributes we share in the fire service.
It may not feel like you are making much headway in passing these lessons on, but I guarantee you when the time comes and you have moved on from the job; if you have put in the effort to share with your newer members all of the greatest things about the Brotherhood, your efforts shall not have been in vain.

My grandfather was a WWI vet. He was part of the 1st American air force. Back then it was the Army air corp. He flew in France and was actualy shot down twice. Each time he walked away from the wreck. Unfortunatly, all that poison gas they were throwing down below rose and the flyboys flew though it. In the end it gave him horrible stomach ulcers that eventualy killed him in 48'. In todays world his medical problems would be a routine fix. He was also a WWII vet and served as a flight instructor down in Arkansas. I just don't get todays politicians. Come on people its the last American WORLD WAR ONE vet. We should honor all of their service by havng him lay in state in the rotunda. What a discrace!

Pete Watson 15 year volunteer member with Eastchester. Member of Union Corners Engine & Hose Co. 4 -Engine 30. Rose through the volunteer ranks to Deputy Chief. Currently living in N. Westchester and looking to associate with a new department soon.

http://www.lohud.com/article/20110301/NEWS02/103010367/Bar-owner-says-slain-Pace-student-sped-toward-cop?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFrontpage
An interesting read....aka the truth

Hey Capt Rescue 5... Shouldn't that say Eastchester on the side...wishfull thining!! lol !

SO true Capt. Being in the classroom I can tell you first hand that the youth of America feel that there are NO consequenses to their actions. If the dear darlings get into trouble its the parents to the rescue. They put all kinds of pressure on administration who always buckles and the kid then gets away with it. In my day if I got in trouble I was more afraid of going home then going to the principals office. Unfortunatly, the youth of America are not held accountable for their actions. Always the other guys falt. It's a sad road they are going down!

Beautifull truck! Best of luck to Pleasantville with it!