The Roslyn Fire Companies have reported another extremely successful fundraiser for the Nassau County Firefighters Wounded Warriors Project. Following its debut last fall, the Roslyn firefighters again organized a Doo-Wop concert to support this important cause. Recently, community members packed 500 deep into the auditorium at the Roslyn High School to listen to the concert and support the cause. All told, firefighters and other community members helped raise $31,000 for injured servicemen and women throughout the country. Many other Nassau County fire departments support the Wounded Warrior project, and this winter many will travel to military hospitals to visit some of those who have just returned from Iraq and Afghanistan. The fire companies have already announced a third concert for next year, with the hopes that this program can continue to generate the kind of support that past years have demonstrated. “This year’s concert attracted another sell-out crowd,” said Henry Krukowski, who leads the fire companies’ committee to support the Wounded Warriors. “We feel strongly about supporting our country’s armed forces, particularly those who are injured while defending the country,” he added, noting that this year’s program was again put on with generous support from the Roslyn Heights Funeral Home. Information on tickets for this fall’s concert will be forthcoming later this spring. Anyone interested in learning more about the program or making a donation can call the fire companies’ dedicated Wounded Warrior line at 587-7187.

Honoring his 50 years of service as a volunteer firefighter, the Roslyn Rescue Fire Company recently dedicated their newest firetruck to Ex-Chief Edward T. Sendlenski.

Under a cloudless blue sky, scores of firefighters from Roslyn and neighboring departments gathered for the ceremonial wet-down and to honor Ex-Chief Sendlenski. After a series of short tributes by officers of the fire company, Sendlenski cracked a champagne bottle over the bumper of the new truck, and ladder trucks from neighboring departments then began dousing the new truck with water, their horns and sirens blaring in a stunning tribute to the newest addition to the fleet.

That new firetruck, a Ferrara Heavy Rescue, arrived earlier this year, and replaced a 1988 unit that was due for retirement.

A heavy rescue in fire department parlance refers to a vehicle that typically holds no water, but carries heavy-duty tools for specialized rescue, including hydraulic tools like the “Jaws of Life” and other equipment for freeing victims who are trapped in a variety of settings. Roslyn’s heavy rescue holds six firefighters, thousands of pounds of equipment, and features a telescoping light tower on its roof to illuminate emergency scenes.

“It is a true honor to dedicate this truck to someone who has spent a lifetime serving this community,” said Chief Salvatore Mirra, Jr. “We can only hope that more of our volunteers will follow Chief Sendlenski and reach the 50 year milestone.

Wreath Laying Ceremonies at Clock Tower, Arlene Park

Written by Joe Scotchie, Roslyn News 9/16/2011

The lives of fallen heroes were very much on the minds of village residents last Sunday as the Village of East Hills held a special event commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.

The day was marked by both a wreath-laying ceremony and a single bagpipe player and made even more melancholy by the fact that the ceremony was held at Arlene Park in the Norgate residential area. The park is named for Arlene Fried, an East Hills resident and a victim of 9-11. The park also features a plaque honoring all the local residents who perished that day, including Thomas and Peter Langone, the Roslyn Heights brothers who served, respectively, for the New York City Police and Fire Departments and also for Roslyn Rescue Fire Department.

The two brothers received a special remembrance not only because of their special service but also by the attendance of numerous members of Roslyn Rescue and Roslyn Highlands at the ceremony. A firetruck that honors the Langone brothers was on display and their legacy was remembered by various speakers, including Jeff Kozuch, an East Hills resident and a lieutenant and 20-year veteran of the FDNY.

"[They made] the supreme sacrifice so that others could be saved," recalled Sal Mirra, Jr., chief of Roslyn Rescue.

Alan Schwalberg, an ex-chief at Roslyn Rescue eulogized Peter Langone, hailing him as a loyal son of Roslyn, who grew up in the village, attending local schools, and later, purchased a home there to raise his own family.

"He was a member of Roslyn in a way few of us will ever be," Schwalberg said. "We all are better off for his life."

Schwalberg also remembered Peter was a hardworking fireman, a teacher and a leader who loved hunting and rooting for the New York Knicks.

"He would teach you once, teach you twice, and after that, you had better get it right," Schwalberg recalled of Peter Langone's no nonsense approach to his profession.

Jon Sendach, a past president of Roslyn Rescue also remembered his friend Thomas Langone as a teacher and confidant to younger members of Roslyn Rescue.

Tommy, Sendach recalled, was especially useful to first responders, teaching them constantly to remain professional and stay calm at the scene of an accident.

Sendach also remembered a time in his own career when he was thinking of leaving Roslyn Rescue.

"Tommy convinced me not to quit," Sendach said. "He said communities like Roslyn need us."

For Sendach, the deaths of the Langone brothers only highlighted the tragic events of Sept. 11.

"It never occurred to me that they could be killed," he said. "They always seemed totally in control."

Board of East Hills Trustee Gary Leventhal is also a longtime member of Roslyn Rescue. In an emotional talk, he remembered Tommy Langone as a "good friend to everyone" and noted the plaques and tributes paid to the Langone brothers.

The East Hills resident for whom the park is named for was an employee of Cantor Fitzgerald, the firm that suffered significant losses on 9-11. Mayor Michael R. Koblenz recalled that he had done consulting work for Cantor Fitzgerald and was in the subway heading downtown when the terrorist attack took place.

Mayor Koblenz recited the names of the local residents who perished that day, while declaring the United States a "stronger nation, a more resolved nation, and a more revived nation" as a result of the terrorist attack.

Other dignitaries who attended were Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman, Nassau County Legislator Wayne Wink, Town of North Hempstead Receiver of Taxes Charles Berman, Town of North Hempstead Clerk Leslie Gross, plus Rabbi Ben David of Temple Sinai and Rabbi Alan Lucas of Temple Beth Sholom. All hailed the heroism displayed on that day, with Supervisor Kaiman noting that 61 victims were from the Town of North Hempstead and 300 in total from Nassau County.

Ceremony in Roslyn

On Friday, Sept. 9, the Village of Roslyn held a similar ceremony at the Ellen E. Ward Clock Tower. The ceremony was held at 9 a.m., around the same time of day that the terrorist attacks took place. As with the East Hills ceremony, the names of local victims were read as bells from the clock tower rang and moments of silence were observed.

Village Trustee Marshall Bernstein compared the attack to Pearl Harbor, while adding that the United States responded in kind to both attacks, first against the Japanese and in recent years, in both Afghanistan and Iraq.

Trustee Craig Westergard’s in-laws from Normandy, France sent the following message: "Sept. 11, a time to unite and reflect. All over the world, people are commemorating this anniversary. The reactions of the Normans are very important as it is a way to remember what the Allies did in pervious wars and to thank them. This date will be engraved in our memories"

Mayor John Durkin was unable to attend 9/11 ceremony. However, he made the following statement: "As we remember and honor those who perished on 9/11, we must also remember to support their families, the survivors and our heroic first responders."

As with other speakers, Charles Berman noted the fast passage of time that has taken place since Sept. 11, 2001. In both ceremonies, the immediacy of the event made the distance of 10 years much shorter than it actually is.

Written by Joe Scotchie

Concert Raises Funds for Injured Servicemen and Women

For months, Roslyn Rescue president Henry Krukowski had been planning for a “Roslyn Rocks For Wounded Warriors” concert at Roslyn High School. When the big day came on Saturday, Oct. 16, Henry’s expectations were happily exceeded as more than 500 people jammed into the high school auditorium for an evening of music and speeches, all intended to benefit the Nassau County Firefighters, Operation Wounded Warrior project (NCF-OWW).

A color guard comprised of servicemen from the four branches of the Armed Forces, including those just back from service in Afghanistan, enter the auditorium.

The event raised over $15,000 from ticket sales, raffles, Chinese auction items and donations. Among the bands in concert were Lenny Cocco and The Chimes, Barbara Harris and The Toys, The Cavaliers, Earl Lewis and The Channels, and Sammy Sax and The MDs. All performed the Doo-Woop music that many in the audience had grown up on. The event was supported by numerous local politicians, including Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto and Rep. Gary Ackerman.

The stage was decorated by an American flag, plus those of the four branches of the Armed Services, and banners with lyrics from the rock opera Tommy by legendary British band, The Who. The latter extravaganza was supplied by Roslyn High School students. Most dramatically of all, the color guard featured local veterans who had just returned to the States from a tour of duty in Afghanistan. When concertgoers drove to the high school, they were greeted by a super-large American flag, this one flying high from the crane of a Roslyn Rescue fire truck.

Wounded Warriors Services

The event was co-sponsored by both Roslyn Rescue and the Roslyn Heights Funeral Home. There are up to 25 other fire companies in Nassau County that sponsor Wounded Warrior events. This was the first time such an event was held in Roslyn and Krukowski hopes it can become an annual occurrence. The Roslyn branch of Wounded Warriors is strictly non-profit with no paid positions.

The purpose of Wounded Warriors is to provide needed items to injured servicemen and women throughout the country. In early December of each year, up to 100 Nassau County firefighters visit injured troops in both Walter Reed and Bethesda hospitals in the Washington, DC area, plus at such bases as Camp Lejeune and Fort Bragg, both located in eastern North Carolina to provide cheer and needed essentials. That includes telephones, televisions, and even a bedroom set for a newborn child.

“Whatever they need, we give them as long as we have the money,” Krukowski said.

Krukowski added that the next Wounded Warriors concert in the Roslyn area would be held on Sunday, Nov. 21 at the Williston Park Fire Department firehouse on 454 Willis Ave.

Reprinted with permission from The Roslyn News

When officials at the Roslyn Rescue Fire Company began planning for the start of an ambulance service in the early part of 1991, an important financial challenge was before them. An ambulance and the requisite lifesaving equipment were not in the annual budget of the all-volunteer fire company.

"We searched the used equipment dealers and found a used ambulance and cardiac monitor/defibrillator, and were fortunate to have a neighboring fire department donate some old supplies," recalled ex-Captain Frank Califano, a former commanding officer of the fire company's emergency medical service, who worked on the committee to form the service more than 15 years ago. "We wanted the community to have a fire department-based EMS program to supplement the ambulance service being provided by the Nassau County Police Department and we already had the trained personnel - we just needed the ambulance and equipment," he added.

Today, that fledgling service has grown in all directions. In the last decade, EMS personnel from Roslyn Rescue have combined forces with their firefighting partners at the Roslyn Highlands Fire Company, and personnel from both groups now man two advanced life support ambulances and four first responder units, known in fire service parlance as "fly cars" because they ferry paramedics and EMT's to the scene of medical emergencies and typically arrive in advance of the ambulance to begin provided care. Responses are up considerably since 1991, as the strain on the 911 EMS system has intensified, according to Capt. Jon Sendach, a department spokesperson.

While much has changed, the need for capital equipment and the challenges of funding it remain a constant concern for fire company administrators. Thanks to generous support from the Alvin and Dorothy Schwartz Foundation, Roslyn EMS last month took delivery of three new cardiac monitors/defibrillators, and 15 new automated external defibrillators (AED's), as well as a 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe equipped as a first responder unit.

The Alvin and Dorothy Schwartz Foundation has been a longtime benefactor of Roslyn Rescue and was formed by the parents of former Roslyn Rescue emergency medical technician, Jane Stein. An earlier donation by the foundation in 2004 helped fund a replacement ambulance and cardiac monitor, and in recognition of her ongoing support to Roslyn Rescue, the department bestowed on Mrs. Stein the rank of honorary EMS chief at a dedication ceremony for the new ambulance that spring.

"This equipment is extremely advanced and will allow our paramedics and EMT's to provide the highest level of emergency care to the public," said Roslyn Rescue EMS Capt. Adam Levy, a career paramedic who currently heads the department's emergency medical service, following a recent in-service training on the new equipment. Capt. Levy pointed out that this equipment replaces cardiac monitors and defibrillators on fire trucks and ambulances, as well as other department vehicles, that were about seven years old, and that the department researched and secured favorable trade-in values on the old equipment.

The new responder unit received a warm welcome as well.

"From an operational and logistics perspective, we rely heavily on the responder units to cover a large response area," explained Lt. Sam Williams, an EMS supervisor who headed the group that specified and designed the new responder unit. "The new truck replaces one that was over 10 years old and was really getting tired," he added. The Roslyn Fire Protection District includes coverage of parts of 10 municipalities, and is among the largest such territories in Nassau County in terms of square miles covered.

Following a recent training on the new equipment with firefighters and EMS personnel, an elated Capt. Levy simply grinned. "I am really impressed with the kind of technology we are putting in the hands of our emergency responders, and we couldn't be more grateful to the Alvin and Dorothy Schwartz Foundation," he said.

A mass casualty incident [MCI] occurred on the campus of C.W. Post one recent rain-misty morning. A bus rolled on its side in a campus parking lot trapping a number of students inside the vehicle as well as tossing others onto the tarmac. Fortunately, it was just a training drill where local fire departments, emergency medical services and federal and county programs responded. Additionally, one local hospital became the recipient for the injured and in that way, they too, practiced their skills and tested their disaster plan.


On November 8, 2008, area ambulances responded from C.W. Post, Roslyn Rescue, Roslyn Highlands, Port Washington, Sea Cliff and the City of Glen Cove to the Brookville campus. In addition to the emergency medical services, the Roslyn Highlands and Roslyn Rescue fire departments assisted with scene safety and extrication of victims. Also participating were members from the Nassau County Department of Health’s Medical Reserve Corps as well as volunteers from FEMA’s Community Emergency Response Team [CERT]. The emergency department at North Shore-LIJ at Glen Cove was the final destination for the victims of this mock drill.


In preparation for the drill, Pierce County Day Camp donated a full-sized yellow bus which was towed to the college, in advance of the drill, and turned on its side. Immediately before the incident, CERT volunteers applied moulage [injury simulation material] to numerous C.W. Post student-volunteers as well as other volunteers. The victims were given instructions as to their roles and injuries and were strategically placed at the scene to await rescue.


First on the scene were members of C.W. Post’s public safety who sent out the MCI alarm. Roslyn Rescue arrived and set up the incident command center that organized the participants and coordinated communication between the various services. A triage team then went from victim to victim to assess each of the passenger’s injuries. Victims on the bus were extricated and all of the injured were moved to a pre-hospital treatment staging area in the parking lot. Twenty-six injured victims required immediate care and were loaded onto ambulances and transported to the emergency department of North Shore-LIJ Glen Cove for continued diagnosis and treatment. After the critically injured were transported, nine victims, with non-critical injuries, were transported by van to the hospital. The scene of the disaster was cleared of all the victims within an hour.


The purpose of the drill was to simulate a mass incident in order to practice and hone skills that are necessary in a chaotic and confusing environment. This very important mock disaster would not have been possible without volunteers who organized the event, the many student volunteers who showed up to play their roles and the volunteers from the various departments and organizations that participated during the event.
Many thanks are extended to all who participated and a special thank you to C.W. Post for hosting the drill again this year. To our role-playing victims, thanks for coming out for us instead of sleeping in…we couldn’t have done it without you!


Most of the organizations that participated in this event are staffed by volunteers and are always interested in adding to their ranks. For further information about becoming a Roslyn EMT or firefighter email emsinfo@roslynrescue.org and next year you too can participate in the mass casualty incident.

The officers and members of Rescue Hook & Ladder Co. #1 wish the entire community a prosperous and healthy new year. Homeowners are reminded during this winter season to keep fire hydrants clear of snow buildup. If you have a fire hydrant on your property, please remember to clear the snow around it at the same time that you remove snow from your driveway and walkways. Snow cover can make hydrants hard to locate in an emergency and can delay access to vital water supply in the event of a fire. Stay tuned for more news from us soon....