Fire Chiefs, Officers Take the Oath

Garden City volunteer fire chiefs and company officers took their oaths of office Thursday. Elections were held earlier this month.

Mayor Don Brudie swore in all four chiefs, followed by Fire Commissioner Nick Episcopia, who swore in the department's corporate officers, captains and lieutenants at the April 14 board of trustees meeting.

Chief Charles Cavarra has been a member of the department since 1988, assigned to Truck Company. In 2003, he too was awarded Fireman of the Year. He is a department trainer on Ladder Tower 147 and is also qualified on the Heavy Rescue Apparatus, the Engine Apparatus as well as both department ladder trucks. He holds numerous New York State certifications, including vehicle extrication, hazardous materials and aerial equipment operations.

He takes over the reigns for ex-Chief William Graham, was unanimously nominated and elected to serve a second term for the 2010-2011 year. Graham joined the Garden City Fire Department in 1996 and was named Fireman of the Year in 2004 and is a member of Chemical Company.

First Assistant Chief William Castoro has been a member of the department since 1994, assigned to Fire Rescue Company. In 2002 he was awarded Fireman of the Year, and received a unit citation for a house fire in 1995 and a unit citation for a building collapse in 1998.

Second Assistant Chief Joseph Nadolny joined the department in August 1995 after serving three and a half years in the Junior Firefighter Program. Assigned to the Fire Rescue Company, Nadolny was named Fireman of the Year in 2005. He is a third generation firefighter; both his father and grandfather are ex-chiefs of the Hempstead Fire Department.

Third Assistant Chief Brian Gallo has been a member of the department since 1991, assigned to Chemical Company for the first 10 years and later transfered to Truck Company in 2001. He is department trainer of Ladder Tower Apparatus 147 and has numerous certifications, including NCFSA Ropes Certified, NYS Extrication Certified and NYS Aerial Operations Certified.

Each of the department's four volunteer companies also held elections in April to elect captains and lieutenants for 2011-2012: (Engine Company) Captain Thomas Strysko and Lieutenant Vincent DeJoseph; (Truck Company) Captain Robert Horvath and Lieutenant Richard Chiarello; (Chemical Company) Captain Neil O'Malley and Lieutenant Ralph Aquino; (Fire Rescue Company) Captain Matthew Tittler and Lieutenant Greg Young.

Department corporate officers Steve Carss (secretary), Trey Wehrum (assistant secretary), Robert Kalb (treasurer) and Gerry Whalen (assistant treasurer) were also re-elected. C. Richard Gardner was re-elected First Battalion delegate; he currently holds the position of secretary to the Nassau County Fire Commission.