pOn Saturday evening Hose Company members local politicians and distinguished guests gathered at the Level Banquet Hall for the annual Susquehanna Hose Company Banquet.nbsp This years banquet marked the 108th year of service for the Susquehanna Hose Company.ppPresident Charles Packard began the evening by introducing Merrill Dougherty as the Master of Ceremonies followed by Chaplain Roths benediction before dinner which was prepared by the Level Ladies Auxiliary.nbsp Following dinner Mr. Dougherty welcomed amp recognized special guests and then kicked off the awards ceremony.nbsp ppPresident Packard began the awards ceremony by awarding the following individuals with his Presidents awards.nbsp Lieutenant Shawn Hursts wife Wendi was the first to be recognized by President Packard for all her hard work behind the scenes.nbsp Wendi puts in many hours assisting Lieutenant Hurst with multiple tasks and was a big help with many projects over the past year.nbsp Firefighter Walter quotPee Weequot Glenn was next to be recognized by President Packard for all his hard work and dedication with the Board of Directors.nbsp Pee Wee puts in many hours and is a great asset to the Hose Company.nbsp Captain Bob Goll Jr was next to receive a Presidents Award.nbsp While being a Top 5 Responder for the Hose Company Captain Goll has found time to be the chairman of Harford Countys Recruitment amp Retention committee and also put in many hours with the Hose Companys Pension system.nbsp Life Member Noble Mentzer was the final recipient for the Presidents Award and was awarded with the title of Assistant Chaplain.nbsp Noble recently became an Ordained Minister and will now assist Chaplain Frank Roth with Chaplain duties.ppIt was then time for several members to be recognized for their years of service with the Hose Company.nbsp Firefighters Ed Grainger Richard Berg amp Richard Lewis were recognized for 15 years of servicenbsp Firefighter John Harris was recognized for 20 years of service Firefighter Buddy Schweers was recognized for 25 years of service Firefighter Bay Wettig was recognized for 30 years of service Firefighter Joe Mergler was recognized for 35 years of service Firefighters Fred Cullum amp Donald Wooten were recognized for 40 years of service.nbsp ppFollowing the Years of Service presentation Chief Scott Hurst provided his 2009 Fire Chiefs Report.nbsp The Hose Company handled 696 calls for service in 2009 with an average of 43.82 members per call.nbsp Hose Company apparatus had an average response time of 1 minute and 29 seconds on these 696 calls and an average on location time of 3 minutes and 34 seconds.nbsp Also during 2009 Hose Company members logged over 9000 hours of training over 5000 hours of collateral and over 5000 hours in meetings.nbsp These hours amp averages continue to improve from year to year.ppIt then came time for Chief Hurst to present his Chief Awards.nbsp Each of the 5 Houses had a member that were presented with an award.nbsp Vice President Joey Steelman House 1 was awarded for all of his hard work and dedication as the chairman of the Hose Companys Fire Prevention committee.nbsp Lieutenant Matty Bannon House 2 was awarded for the many hours he put in with revamping the Hose Companys RIT packs that are carried on Tower 531 amp Quint 535.nbsp Secretary Gail Reeder House 3 was recognized for all her hard work and dedication with serving as the Hose Companys Secretary.nbsp Lieutenant Gene Burchette House 4 was recognized for the many hours he has put in over the past year at House 4.nbsp Gene serves as the Training Officer for House 4 and is a great mentor to the members.nbsp President Charles Packard House 5 was recognized for all his hard work over the past year serving as the President of the Hose Company.nbsp Without Charlie the Company wouldnt be where it is today.ppThe Top Ten Responders for 2009 were then recognized by the Chief amp Assistant Chiefs.nbsp Assistant Chief Steve Allers- 683 calls Captain Bob Goll Jr- 648 calls Secretary Gail Reeder- 562 calls Firefighter Fred Cullum- 545 calls Captain Scott Pentz- 513 calls Firefighter Tom Phelan- 506 calls Firefighter Willie Ryan- 495 calls Firefighter Melvin Wolinski- 491 calls Firefighter John Stansbury- 439 calls amp Firefighter Harry Foust- 436 calls.ppFollowing the Top Ten Responders members with the most training hours for 2009 were then recognized.nbsp Firefighter Josh Hurst- 339 hours Chief Scott Hurst- 276 hours Captain Bill Reeder- 235 hours Secretary Gail Reeder- 206 hours Captain Ron Cardwell- 199 hours Firefighter Duane Teuffer- 187 hours Firefighter Taylor Miller- 178 hours Firefighter Ryan Petrovic- 161 hours Firefighter Tom Phelan- 158 hours Firefighter Brett Wilson- 155 hours Firefighter Chris Redding- 144 hours Captain Scott Pentz- 143 hours Lieutenant Shawn Hurst- 143 hours Lieutenant Gene Burchette- 141 hours Firefighter Willie Ryan- 140 hours Assistant Chief Allers- 140 hours and Firefighter Allen Durham- 138 hours.ppTwo unit citations were then presented to units that responded on two motor vehicle accidents with patients trapped in 2009.nbsp Following the Unit Citations two Life Saving Awards were presented.nbsp The crew of Mini-Pumper 545 was presented with a Life Saving Award for their life saving efforts on a cardiac arrest in February and the crew of Marine 552 were recognized for their life saving efforts on a water rescue in December.ppPresident Packard amp Chief Hurst then presented an AED to Havre de Grace Little League President Donnie Crites.nbsp The funds from the Bulle Rock Turkey Trot were used to purchase the AED and it will be kept at Stancill Field.ppChief Hurst then presented a Citizen Life Saving Award to Bob Flemming for performing CPR prior to fire company amp EMS arrival in February.nbsp A Citizen Valor Award was then presented to Evan Cook for his heroic efforts on a boat explosion with patients at the City Park in July.nbsp Both of these men did an outstanding job and were deserving of their recognition.ppIt then came time for a presentation from the Harford-Cecil Volunteer Firemans Association.nbsp Captain Bill Reeder and Firefighter Bob Goll Sr. were inducted in to the Harford-Cecil Volunteer Firemans Association Hall of Fame.nbsp Both of these men have served in the Hose Company for many years and are very deserving of their induction.ppFollowing the Hall of Fame inductions Chief Hurst presented several special awards.nbsp Firefighter amp Banquet Chairman Barry Hewitt was recognized for his hard work and dedication with preparing the annual banquet for the 29th yearnbsp Firefighter Ed Grainger was recognized for going beyond the call of duty with several maintenance issuesnbsp Assistant Chief Steve Allers was recognized once again as being the Top Responder for the Hose Companynbsp Firefighter Jim Miller was recognized for chairing the awards committee for the banquetnbsp Firefighter Frank Hawley was recognized for preparing the unit citations Captain Bob Goll Jr was recognized for putting in many hours with the Hose Companys Recruitment amp Retention and Firefighter Brian Minutoli was recognized for his many hours of assisting with Hose Company training.nbsp Several committees were also recognized by the Chiefs for all of their hard work.nbsp The Quint 535 committee was also recognized for all of their hard work with designing and putting in service Quint 535.nbsp The committee consisted of the following members Chairman Terry Horrocks Co-Chairman Ed Grainger Chief Scott Hurst Lieutenant Shawn Hurst Lieutenant Paul Ishak Firefighter Tom Phelan Firefighter Jim Hawkins Firefighter Craig Triplett Lieutenant Lance Waller President Charles Packard Firefighter Brian Minutoli amp Firefighter Allen Durham.nbsp The House 5 Renovation committee was also recognized by Chief Hurst and consisted of the following members Chairman Shawn Hurst Co-Chairman Scott Pentz President Charles Packard Chief Scott Hurst Lieutenant Paul Ishak Firefighter Tom Phelan Firefighter Tony Meehan Firefighter Ed Grainger Chaplain Frank Roth amp Firefighter Randy McRoberts.nbsp The Fire Prevention committee was recognized for all of their hard work with the Hose Companys annual open house.nbsp The committee consists of Chairman Joey Steelman Captain Ron Cardwell amp Firefighter Melvin Wolinski.nbsp The I.T. committee consisting of John Harris Keith Beckley Dave Larson and Tom Phelan was also recognized.nbsp These men put in many hours making the job easier for the Officers amp Members.ppIt then came time to recognize The Record Firefighter of the Year and the Hose Company Firefighter of the Year.nbsp This years Record Firefighter of the Year was awarded to Billy Lamana.nbsp Billy has served with the Hose Company for the past seven years and has put in many hours with the Hose Companys website code messaging system map book work and several other tasks.nbsp Shawn Hurst was awarded the Hose Company Firefighter of the Year.nbsp Shawn put in many hours in 2009 chairing the Quint 535 committee and also serving on the House 5 Renovation committee.nbsp Both of these men are also Top 20 responders in the Hose Company and serve as Lieutenants of their respective Houses.ppFollowing the Awards Ceremony the 2010 Officers were inducted by Harford County Volunteer Fire amp EMS Association President Albert quotCubbyquot Bair.nbsp ppGuests then enjoyed a dance amp social period with music provided by DJ Jeff Thompson.ppThe Hose Company Officers amp Members would like to thank all those who attended the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company for covering our first due during our banquet and a special thanks to the local elected officials for their continued support.p
