Pine Island firefighters install new officers, celebrate another year of community service

Pine Island - The Pine Island Fire Department - consisting of the Pulaski and the Amity fire companies - held their annual inspection dinner at the Polish Legion of American Veterans Hall on Jan. 12. Department Chief Rich Koziola and Department President Floyd Morgiewicz were co-masters of ceremonies. Orange County Deputy Commissioner of Fire Services John Horan installed the following officers for 2008: • Pine Island Department Officers: Chief Rich Koziola, First Asst.Chief Daryl DeFreest, Second Asst. Chief Pete O’Connor, DC#1 David Allan, DC#2 Joseph Gallagher, Safety Officer David Paffenroth, President Floyd Morgiewicz, Secretary Melissa Allan and Treasurer Dave Allan. • Amity Fire Co.: President Daryl DeFreest, VP Dave Allan, Treasurer Bill Nolan, Trustees Ken VanEtten , Vincent Wosneski and James Rudy. Captain Vincent Wosneski and First Lt. Matt Matson. Pulaski Fire Co.: President Floyd Morgiewicz, VP Peter Vutianitis, Secretary-Treasurer David Paffenroth, Trustees George Gurda, Vincent Morgiewicz and Ray Labanowski; Chaplain Daniel Kane; Captains Ken Miller and Peter Vutianitis, First Lt. Ryan Blaikner, Second Lt. Scott Hansen, Engineer; Ken Gurda; and Assistant Engineer Scott Corter. Daryl DeFreest was named Pine Island firefighter of the year; Ryan Blaikner was selected Pulaski firefighter of the year; and David Morgiewicz was named Rookie of the Year. Service certificates were presented to: Matthew DeLeeuw and Larry Kuraath for 5 years; John Mydosh for 10 years; Peter O’Connor for 15 years; Richard Wesolowski for 20 years; and David Paffenroth for 35 years. Chief Koziola said the department responded to 151 calls in 2007; the seven members who made 100 calls or more also were acknowledged for their service: Robert Faulls, Daryl DeFreest, David Paffenroth, George Gurda, Peter O’Connor, Scott Corter and Rich Koziola.