By Kate J. Conde>

As if the boys weren’t busy enough with all the classes and special trainings, we decided to start a winter project by moving forward with an addition to the fire museum. This new development is long overdue; the current space is getting crowded, and our hope is to be able to beautifully showcase fire pieces in the future. The selectmen came down for the groundbreaking last month, and we would like to thank them for all their support and enthusiasm on this exciting undertaking. All hands are on deck for this one, and Don O’Shaughnessy promises to have it framed by the New Year!

The change of season brings a change in routine for us as well. Our monthly dinners and meetings have returned, with Engine One in the kitchen dishing out Matt Millman’s tender meatloaf. Everyone was around the next day for lunch with hearty leftovers — even better the second time around. We look forward to the boys (and Kara) of Engine Two to heat up the kitchen next month.

Summer flew by this year, with many activities in and around the station. The association hosted our first annual open house with pancake breakfast in August. The morning was a full house of sun-kissed faces of visitors and locals alike, and when I say full, I mean it. We were anticipating 300 people, maybe 400 tops — after all, they’re just big red trucks with lights and sirens, right? No one could have predicted what happened next: With balloons and books for kids, free blood pressure screenings, live demonstrations of a Stokes basket rescue and the jaws-of-life, and Sparky the fire dog on hand, our open house quickly turned into a full house. Nearly 1,000 people got their fill of fire trucks and flapjacks that overcast Sunday morning. And just think, next summer we can offer tours of the new museum!

Special thanks to Capt. Sam Koohy for keeping us elbow deep in pancake batter after several trips to the Stop & Shop and to Dippin’ Donuts who kept the coffee coming down the street. Chief Shemeth acknowledged the hard work that went into putting together this extraordinary community event and commented on the positive feedback he had received throughout the neighborhood, truly a reflection of this department. President Kelly was presented with an award of excellence for his efforts on this event.

Our annual golf tournament was a big success again this year. We welcomed over 100 golfers at the Edgartown Golf Club on a sunny September afternoon. Special thanks to Vineyard Vines for sponsoring the event and giving each participant a new golf shirt. All our golfers were treated like kings (and queens) as they feasted at a nice luncheon spread donated by Stop & Shop. A round of swinging the clubs just wouldn’t be the same without the raw bar — thanks to Dan Larsen for setting this up for us. Special thanks also to Rita Brown of Vineyard Gourmet Bakery for all the delicious pastries and to Dippin’ Donuts for the coffee to really get the early round underway. Many thanks to Mark and Kathy at the club for all their efforts to make this day run so smoothly. Thanks to the generosity of our community, the top 13 teams won prizes and applause.

As always the real winners of our annual golf tournament are the recipients of the association scholarship. This year’s winners include Frank Williams Jr., who is the very first active firefighter to receive the award, Paul Bagnall Jr., and Justin Kane. Congratulations to all on your fine achievements and good luck!

The association welcomes new members Raphael Magri, who has been a delightful addition on the ladder truck, and Hadley Antik, who is our newest full-time paramedic in town. Our deepest condolences go out to the family of the late deputy chief Billy Norton.

The existing fire museum is always open, come on down.

As an unknown author once said, “Hug a firefighter and feel warm all over.”