Photos by Richard Lewin Professional Photography (soniboy@aol.com)
Welcome to this month’s edition of the Montauk Fire Department Corner. I hope everyone had a wonderful and safe Labor Day Holiday weekend, and that you are enjoying our early fall weather and the little less crowded roadways.
It is with deep regret that on September 16th,, twenty years plus, retired Montauk Fire Department Member Kevin Reilly answered his last alarm. Kevin was a retired Major in the United States Air Force who moved to Montauk upon his retirement. He joined the Montauk Fire Department shortly after settling here and was an outstanding volunteer for the community. He was a member of Company No.6, MFD’s Fire Police Company. He resigned from the Department nine months ago and moved to San Diego to be with his daughter Shannon and her family. On behalf of the Officers, men and women of the Montauk Fire Department, I extend our sympathy to the Reilly family. May Kevin rest in Peace.
On Thursday, September 11th the Montauk Fire Department participated with our brothers and sisters from the East End in a Memorial Service at Hook Mill in East Hampton Village, commemorating the 24th anniversary of 9/11/2001 when terrorists hijacked civilian commercial aircraft and plunged them into the two World Trade Center towers, the Pentagon, and an open field in Western Pennsylvania. The Memorial was attended by the Montauk Fire Department, and the Departments from East Hampton, Springs, Amagansett, Bridgehampton and Sag Harbor. Members of the East Hampton Town and Village Police Departments were also in attendance. Assistant Fire Chiefs Ken Glogg, Joe McDonald and I laid a wreath at the base of the Memorial. I would like to thank all the Montauk Fire Department personnel who attended this solemn event. It is so important that we continue to memorialize this tragic event in our history. We must NEVER FORGET.
On Sunday, September 21st the Montauk Fire Department hosted our 43rd annual Big Bucks drawing at our Fire House. It was on the first day of Autumn, a beautiful day.
Several hundred people came from all over to have a delicious barbecue lunch, to listen to the Nancy Atlas Band, and to see if they were lucky enough to win some money in our Big Bucks drawing. We gave away over $150,000.00 in prize money to forty-three lucky winners.
I appreciate everyone who buys tickets for this event. The proceeds allow the Montauk Fire Department to continue to give out four college scholarships per year and to sponsor many local sports programs for Montauk’s youth. Special thanks to Rick White who, with his team, organizes the sale, distribution of the Big Bucks tickets and the distribution of the money to our lucky winners. Also, a big shout out to Eddie Eurell who is the Chairman of the Big Bucks Fundraiser. Without Rick, Eddie, their committees, and the Members of the Department and Ladies Auxiliary we wouldn’t be able to have such a successful fundraiser, and fun event. Some photos are here. The top prize winners this year are as follows:
$5,000.00 WINNERS: ELLA ROSE ATKINSON, DAMIAN OSTROFF & MORGAN SIEGEL, ANDREW KUNETH
$10,000.00 WINNER: WILLIAM & KAREN KUNETH
$15,000.00 WINNER: BILL BABINSKI & ROB BYRNES
$20,000.00 WINNER: JONI HEGNER
$30,000.00 WINNER: VICKIE MARRAZZO
$50,000.00 WINNER: VIOLA ANGELIDIS
Thanks for reading this month’s edition of the Montauk Fire Department Corner. Enjoy this beautiful weather and have a safe and happy Columbus Day Weekend.
~ Peter Joyce Jr., Chief, Montauk Fire Department
https://www.montaukfiredistrict.org/