The Post-Standard News |
||
|
Post-Standard,
The (Syracuse, NY) July 22, 2004 DICK CLARKE CRIME & SAFETY WRITER If the Syracuse Nationals whet
your appetite for classic cars, then your appetite might be further served
at the pancake breakfast Sunday at the Borodino Fire Department.
"We're using a classic car theme this time," Fire Department
President Matt O'Brien said. The breakfast runs from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the fire house at
3500 Nunnery Road. The menu includes pancakes, fried eggs, scrambled eggs,
sausage and drinks.
The cost is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $3.50 for ages 6 to 12
and there is no cost for children 5 and younger.
"There is a classic car show in Auburn at the time of the breakfast
so maybe some will drive over for breakfast," O'Brien said.
This is the second of four summer breakfasts at the fire house.
The first one, in June, was a smashing success, O'Brien said.
Usually, they serve about 800 at the June event; this year, they
served 1,082 breakfasts. July and August breakfasts annually are the
biggest, averaging 1,200 to 1,300 meals served.
"The summer population at camps in our district bumps our
population," O'Brien said. "That's why we do the breakfasts then.
"I think we'd hear a lot of protesting if we ever stopped them."
On another subject, O'Brien said the department's electric car has
been used at a couple of community functions, including the chicken
barbecue at the Grange Hall.
"It's a great way to get our name out there, in the public," he
said. "We're there as EMTs, and we're there if anyone wants to talk about
the department."
Also, at the meeting July 12, Victor Sayko, of Spafford, was
approved as a new associate member.
The pros and cons Cell phone stories have different rings in two villages.
Solvay Officer Ed Kieszkowski is a traffic-oriented patrolman. He
pulls over a lot of people for illegally using cell phones and walks away
shaking his head.
"I always remind them of two recent accidents where people talking
on a cell phone were involved in fatal accidents," Kieszkowski said. "The
general reaction is they heard about them; not one has said they haven't
heard about them.
"The next comment is usually them asking me how much the fine will
be."
Kieszkowski said it seems like the stops are little more than an
inconvenience to the drivers.
"My point is that everybody knew about the fatals," he said, "and
it's obviously not affecting them."
Skaneateles Police Chief Jack McNeil said one of his officers made
a DWI arrest recently because concerned parties called on cell phones to
report the driver.
"We had complaints from three witnesses," McNeil said. "They tried
to talk him out of driving but it didn't work."
Calls came in immediately and an officer not far from the scene
found the car heading out of town. He stopped the vehicle and wrote the
ticket.
"Our guy stopped him before he killed himself or someone else,"
McNeil said, adding that the driver was quite drunk.
Asked if police get a lot of citizen complaints about poor driving,
he said, "Yes, when they have a cell phone. We get a lot of calls about
reckless driving."
In the past, by the time someone could get to a phone to call
police, it's usually too late, McNeil said.
Firemen's association Two western area high school students received $500 scholarships,
courtesy of the Onondaga County Volunteer Firemen's Association.
Justin Kurtz and Tyler Zysk were chosen based on an essay contest
on volunteerism.
Kurtz, who recently graduated from Westhill High School, is a
member of the Solvay Fire Department's Explorer Post. He was an Honor
Society member and played football, where he won a sportsmanship award and
a National Hall of Fame Athletic Award.
He will attend the State University of New York at Buffalo.
Zysk recently graduated from West Genesee High School. He was an
Honor Society member and captain of the football team as a senior. Dick Clarke covers police, fire departments and public safety for
The Post-Standard in the western suburbs. To reach him, send e-mail to
dclarke@syracuse.com or call 470-2248. | ||