Orland Fire Foundation awards scholarships at annual fundraiser

For the third year in a row, community leaders and senior activists joined together with officials and volunteers of the Orland Fire Protection District’s Fire Foundation to raise funds for educational and training programs on lifesaving, CPR and emergency services. This year the Orland Fire Foundation also awarded three scholarships to graduating high school seniors.

The Orland Fire Prevention District’s Fire Foundation awarded scholarships during its annual fundraiser Thursday May 21 at 94 West Grille & Tavern to three graduating high school seniors who are pursuing Fire or EMS college studies.

The annual Fire Foundation event raises funds to support a wide range of programs including: donating Knox Boxes to seniors; hosting the annual Kids Fire & Life Safety Camp; providing free CPR and AED public training; and donating to other charitable fire related causes including this year to the family of Wes Peak, an Orland firefighter who died in 2014.

Patti Brucki, the volunteer coordinator for the Orland Fire Foundation, said the evening raised more than $13,000 and nearly matched the $14,000 raised at last years reception.

“This year we are most excited in announcing our inaugural scholarships for young adults who are entering fire service or emergency medical service,” Patti Brucki said in welcoming the more than 250 guests.

Orland Fire Prevention District Trustee Jayne Schirmacher introduced the three $1,000 scholarship winners. They are:

• Amber Snedden, a graduate of Andrew High School, will be attending Loyola University in the fall to pursue a career in medicine. She has performed more than 200 hours of community service.
• Sarah Cinquepalmi, a graduate from Sandburg High school, will be attending the University of Iowa and will study Emergency Room Nursing. She was a 4-year member of the student council and the Sandburg debate team. Sarah performed more than 406 hours of community service.
• Mitch Zieler, a graduate of Sandburg High school, will attend Moraine Valley Community College to study Fire Sciences and hopes to become a fire chief one day.

“The Orland Fire Foundation supports public safety and education in the Orland Park community and surrounding areas through the Kids Fire & Life Safety Camp, and the Community Care Safety Program,” Patti Brucki explained.

“So if you don’t know CPR or don’t know how to use an AED, give us a call. The foundation is running free classes all the time. And if you want them to come out and do a training at your business, your school or organization, they will do that.”

From Left, Amber Snedden, Sarah Cinquepalmi, Fire Chief Ken Brucki, Mitch Zieler, OFPD Trustee Jayne Schirmacher

Fire Chief Ken Brucki acknowledged the local public officials who attended and support the foundation reception. They included Cook County Commissioner Elizabeth “Liz” Doody Gorman, Orland Park Mayor Dan McLaughlin, Orland Park Village Manager Paul Grimes, High School District 230 Supt. Dr. James Gay, School District 135 Supt. Janet Stutz from, Orland Village Trustees Dan Calandriello, Michael Carroll, and Carole Griffin Ruzich, and Fire District Trustees John Brudnak, Chris Evoy, Blair Rhode and Jim Hickey.

“This is another example of how our taxing bodies are working together for you and for our residents. It takes all of us. It takes a village. It takes a community,” Chief Brucki said.

Each year since 2013, the OFPD Foundation has donated money to underwrite programs that include providing Knox Boxes to Seniors, offering public CPR and Emergency response training, supporting the annual children’s fire and life safety camp, and donating to other fire-related charitable needs.

“All of these programs help raise public awareness of emergency safety issues and support important community causes,” said Patricia Brucki, who serves as the Foundation’s volunteer coordinator.

The Knox Box is a home security system that allows firefighters to enter homes in response to emergency calls when the homeowner may not be able to respond or open the door. The OFPD Foundation provides support to purchase Knox Boxes on loan to senior citizens and individuals who are disabled.

The evening’s food was donated for the third year in a row by attorneys Jim Roche and Burton S. Odelson. Entertainment was provided by Donny O and Rhonda Lee.

Other Foundation members and volunteers included members of the Senior Advisory Council members Diana Husband, Mane Pritza, and Pete Stoncius, and retired and active Fire District personnel including R.J. Stachnik, Gerry Strunka, Joan Pickens, Bob Palermo, Stephanie Koenig, Senior Advisory Council Coordinator Rosemaria DiBenedetto, and community members Janette Walsh and Jerry Ruggio.

Raffle prizes were donated by Vera Bradley, and donated services from Uncle Julio’s, Texas Roadhouse, Giordano’s, Orland bakery, and Q spa.

Attendees also donated bags of food that were delivered to the Orland Food Pantry.

For more information and to see a full list of the contributors and sponsors of the foundation event, visit the Orland Fire Protection District website at www.OrlandFire.org.

Christopher Evoy elected as new OFPD President

Orland Fire Protection District Board members, from left, John Brudnak, Jim Hickey, Jayne Schirmacher, Chris Evoy and Blair Rhode.

The Orland Fire Protection District Board of Trustees Tuesday (May 19, 2015) named Christopher Evoy as its new president, succeeding Jim Hickey who is stepping aside as president to focus on increased personal responsibilities.

Hickey has served on the board as a trustee since 2009 and was elected to serve as board president by the board in 2010. He was re-elected to a second six-year term this past April. Evoy has served as a trustee since his election in 2011 along with Trustee Blair Rhode. Trustees John Brudnak and Jayne Schirmacher were elected to the board in 2013.

Christopher Evoy

Hickey said he remains committed to the Orland Fire Protection District but decided to step down serving as president because of increased responsibilities in his personal life.

“I started law school and am completing my first year and it requires a lot of my time and attention,” Hickey said.

“I am proud of what I have been able to accomplish with the support of the Orland Fire Protection District Board but I don’t feel that I can continue to meet the responsibilities as board president while also pursuing my law degree, which requires very rigorous studies. I know Chris Evoy will be a great board president.”

The board voted unanimously to elect Evoy as President, and named Brudnak as President Pro Tempore, serving in the absence of the president. Schirmacher, who served as Secretary to the board was elected Treasurer, and Rhode was elected the board’s new Secretary.

Evoy’s election in 2011 marked a major refocus for the Orland Fire Protection District which is one of the largest in the Midwest. Evoy, Rhode and Hickey immediately refocused the board to address the public’s concerns over excessive spending by the prior board leadership, and implemented stronger budget management imposing spending limitations and reductions.

“We saved the district more than $4 million during the first few years and have held down spending considerably,” Hickey said.

Evoy praised Hickey’s service and stressed that the change over is not about performance but personal needs at this time.

“Jim has done a great job as president, leading the board through a transition that has refocused the Fire District towards budget savings while maintaining the highest levels of emergency service and response,” Evoy said.

Under Hickey’s leadership, the board also implemented a full transparency policy to provide all district documents to the public online.

“Our biggest accomplishment was putting the brakes on the spending,” Hickey said. “We’ve done that and continued to maintain the highest professionalism at the Fire District,” Hickey said.

Some of the volunteers at the 2014 Orland Fire Foundation event

“I think residents can be proud that they have the best Fire District in the Midwest and they receive the best possible service and emergency response.”

The board last month changed the originally scheduled board meeting of Tuesday May 26 to May 19 because of the Memorial Day weekend holiday.

In other business, the board tabled a proposal to renovate Fire Station #3. Fire Chief Ken Brucki announced the Orland Fire Protection District has scheduled this year’s popular Kids Camp for July 14 through July 17, and the annual Open House for Sept. 26. Last year’s Open House attracted more than 800 attendees.

The Orland Fire Foundation will host its annual fundraiser this Thursday at 94th West Grille, to support both the Kids Camp and educational programs and CPR training directed towards Seniors and the public.

For more information, visit the Orland Fire Protection District’s website at www.OrlandFire.org.

Orland Fire District swears-in 10 new firefighters

Orland Fire District swears-in 10 new firefighters

The Orland Fire Protection District this month began a year-long training for nine recruits hired to fill existing department vacancies, and officially swore-in 10 recruits hired last year.

The 10 recruits who completed more than a year of training are Brian Paliga, James Logan, Jason Postma, Justin Dublin, Kory Tuburan, Mark Hogan, Martin Majda, Matt Giermala, Matthew Hoover, and Steven Prohaska.

The swearing-in ceremony was held on Tuesday May 12, 2015 at the Orland Fire Protection District’s Training Facility, 10728 W. 163^rd Place in Orland Park.

Fire Chief Ken Brucki said the 10 recruits have earned their positions in the OFPD, noting that they recently completed an intensive, year-long training program.

Leading the training for the OFPD are Lt. David Piper, the Training & Safety Officer, and Mike Seifert and Carl Jones, both firefighters and graduates of the district’s training academy program.

Brucki said new firefighter recruits are evaluated in a variety of fire and emergency simulations including fighting fires, rescue and equipment management. Every OFPD recruit must be professionally trained both as a firefighter and as a paramedic, he said.

“The recruits train 8 hours every day. Their day begins with a regimented exercise program to help eliminate injuries caused by muscle strains & sprains, which is one of the most frequent injuries firefighters experience,” Brucki said.

Training included a specific series of exercises. They included fighting a fire on the first floor of the Training Centers fire range. Teams of trainees, led by instructors, covered each of the key areas, connecting the hoses to the fire hydrant, scoping out the scene to identify any civilians in the building, and coordinating the response to the fire and smoke. One team approached to extinguish the fire, a second team climbed to the building’s roof to perform ventilation, while another scaled the building via ground ladders from the front to “rescue” several “victims.”

On hand for the ceremonies were officials of the OFPD District, board trustees including President Jim Hickey and trustees John Brudnak, Jayne Schirmacher, Chris Evoy and Blair Rhode, and members of the recruits' families.

Fundraiser set May 21, 2015 for Orland Fire Protection District Foundation

Fundraiser set May 21, 2015 for Orland Fire Protection District Foundation

The Orland Fire Protection District Foundation will hold its 3rd annual Fundraiser on Thursday, May 21, to raise monies for a wide range of programs and services for District residents.

This year, the OFPD Foundation will award three scholarships to graduating high school seniors college pursuing careers in firefighting and Emergency Medical Services (EMS).

Trustee Jayne Schirmacher addresses guests at
last year's (2014) Foundation fundraiser

Each year since 2013, the OFPD Foundation has donated money to underwrite programs that include providing Knox Boxes to Seniors, offering public CPR and Emergency response training, supporting the annual children’s fire and life safety camp, and donating to other fire-related charitable needs.

“All of these programs help raise public awareness of emergency safety issues and support important community causes,” said Patricia Brucki, who serves as the Foundation’s volunteer coordinator.

The Knox Box is a home security system that allows firefighters to enter homes in response to emergency calls when the homeowner may not be able to respond or open the door.

The OFPD Foundation provides support to purchase Knox Boxes  on loan to senior citizens and individuals who are disabled.

“Every senior should have a Knox Box to ensure that emergency first responders can enter their homes with out damage if for some reason they can’t open the doors themselves,” Brucki said.

“Many seniors have them now but many more are needed. The money we raise from the generosity of the public helps us purchase the Knox Boxes and loan them to seniors.”

Brucki said that the Foundation will announce the first three scholarship recipients at the foundation event which will feature cocktails and appetizers on Thursday May 21 at the 94 West Grille & Tavern, 15410 S. 94th Avenue. The event begins at 6 pm.

“The scholarships are intended to continue an honorable legacy to encourage students to pursue careers in firefighting and in emergency medical services,” Brucki said. “We will award three at the event, each in the amount of $1,000.”

Additionally, Brucki said that money raised at the Foundation’s annual dinner will also help underwrite the annual Kids Fire & Life Safety Camp. Each year, about 40 to 50 young people attend the week-long camp to learn how to recognize and respond to emergency situations. It also teaches young people about the dangers of fire and how to contact emergency personnel in an emergency situation. Among the sponsors and instructors at the camp is Bear Paddle.

“The children learn about home safety, basic safety and first aid safety skills, as well as finding safety during weather-related emergencies,” Brucki said.

“The children get to practice some of the things firefighters do with firefighters who volunteer to educate the children. The students get to compete in an abbreviated combat challenge similar to what fire fighters run in training scenarios.  Students get to meet the comfort dogs, compete in Game show style safety reviews, and train with current OFPD cadets. Brucki noted that many of the safety programs are supervised by Public Safety Coordinator Betsy Dine.

Last year, the Foundation also donated money to the family of Wes Peak, a firefighter who died in an automobile accident last September.

Foundation funds are also donated to support the OFPD Community Care Program which provides CPR instructions to members of the pubic, and also training in how to use AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators). AEDs can increase the chances of survival for victims of heart related emergencies.  Business owners are encouraged to contact the fire department to schedule trainings for their staff. Two of the program instructors are retired OFPD Engineer Robert Palermo and Chris smith.

Entertainment will be provided by Donny O and Rhonda Lee. Tickets are $50 per person and can be purchased at the Fire District, at the door on the evening of the fundraiser, or online at www.orlandfire.org.

“Individuals who bring a bag of canned food that will be donated to the Orland Pantry will get two tickets for the price of one,” Brucki said. “Last year we collected 50 bags of food that were given to the Orland Pantry, which helps families in need.”

Other Foundation members and volunteers include Fire Trustees: Jayne Schirmacher, Board President Jim Hickey, Senior advisory council members Diana Husband, Mane Pritza, and Pete Stoncius, and retired and active Fire District personnel including R.J. Stachnik, Gerry Strunka, Joan Pickens, Bob Palermo, Chief Ken Brucki, and Stephanie Koenig. Community members include Janette Walsh, Jerry Ruggio, Fire District attorney Jim Roche.

A raffle will offer prizes including a 60 inch screen TV, play tickets, $500 cash.  Other prizes include sporting tickets, jewelry, gifts from Vera Bradley, and donated services from Uncle Julio's,  Texas Roadhouse, Giordano's, Orland bakery, and Q spa. Unique prizes include rides on a fire truck, dinners at the fire house, and fire-themed bag sets.

To learn more, get tickets, or to make a donation visit www.OrlandFire.org.

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