GC Fire Chiefs, Officers Take The Oath

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

Chief of Department William Graham was unanimously nominated and elected to serve a second term for the 2010-2011 year; 1st Assistant Chief Charles Cavarra, 2nd Assistant Chief William Castoro and 3rd Assistant Chief Joseph Nadolny were also re-elected.

Mayor Robert Rothschild swore in all four chiefs, followed by Fire Commissioner Brian Daughney, who swore in the department's corporate officers at the April 15 board of trustees meeting.

Chief 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.

He is retired from Brooklyn Ladder Company 169 of the New York City Fire Department after 20 years of service. He is a member of Chemical Comp

First Assistant Chief Cavarra has been a member of the department since 1988, assigned to Truck Company. In 2003, he too was awarded Fireman of the Year. 

Second Assistant Chief 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.

Third Assistant Chief 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.

Each of the department's four volunteer companies also held elections April 8 to elect captains and lieutenants for 2010-2011: (Engine Company) Captain Vincent DeJoseph, Lieutenant Tom Strysko; (Truck Company) Captain Brian Gallo and Lieutenant Robbie Horvath; (Chemical Company) Captain Mark Hyer and Lieutenant Frank Schlichte; (Fire Rescue Company) Captain Douglas O'Mara and Lieutenant Dave Hroncich.

Department corporate officers Steve Carss (secretary), Greg Young (assistant secretary), Gerry Whalen (treasurer) and Robert Kalb (assistant treasurer) were also re-elected.