Guest Column: Fire Department Wine-Tasting Fundraiser Gives Me a Chance to Say Thanks

After eight years as manager of Pavinci Italian Grill, Mario Ferra wanted to give back to the community. She he called Hopatcong Councilman Richard Bunce with an idea.

It came to fruition Tuesday night, when Ferra's restuarant hosted a wine-tasting fundraiser for Hopatcong's fire department.

The fire department just needed to collect the donations from its attendees. Everything else was taken care of by Pavinci.

There to welcome benefit attendees were Hopatcong Fire Department long-timers Bob Walsh, Ken Schneider, Steve Kucevic and Mike Rahill. Walsh has been with engine company No. 4 for 36 years; Scheider has 18 years with No. 3; Kucevic has spent 12 years with No. 2; and Rahill, the fire chief, has been in the department for 16 years.

Standing in front of me were 82 years of community service, but it was the first wine-tasting fundraiser for these firemen. Chief Rahill said that Hopatcong, unlike some towns, provides primary funding to the fire department.

Still, with tight budget caps imposed this year, Rahill said this fundraiser would help update the department's radio and paging equipment.

It was nice to be face-to-face with an organization that is respected for its heroic deeds. I told firefighters of my personal experience of having a house fire eight years ago, when we were not home on Christmas Eve. I commended them on putting out the fire in our recreational room. But they went beyond their call of duty when they took a photo portrait off the wall and placed it behind a bookcase so it wouldn't suffer further smoke damage.

I always wanted to thank them, but never had the opportunity. Now I was able to tell them in person what a nice gesture it was rescuing a portrait photo that had sentimental value to someone.

Despite their experience and undoubtedly vast array of stories, they didn't want to discuss them. Walsh said they were "just doing their job."

I look forward to the other community groups that Ferra and Bunce plan on organizing in the near future. It was a pleasant and wonderful to way to meet with great people who provide such a valuable service to our community. It was also a great way to connect with the neighborhood community within a nice social atmosphere.