By Cindy J. Roth
Sound the alarm, it's fire commissioner election time in the Bellmores.
On Tuesday, elections will be held for the post of Fire Commissioner in both the Bellmore and North Bellmore Fire Districts. Both districts have two candidates running that if elected will be responsible for overseeing the taxpayer's dollars and ensuring that the proper fire and rescue equipment and personnel needs are met. This includes the purchase and repair of all fire trucks, vehicles and equipment and the upkeep of all Fire District properties. The fire commissioner term is held for five years and newly elected officers will take the reigns on Jan. 1.
North Bellmore
Voting for the North Bellmore Fire District Commissioner election takes place Tuesday, Dec. 11 from 3 to 9 p.m. North Bellmore Fire District residents can cast their votes at either the Fire Chief's Office at 821 Newbridge Road or at the Fire District Office at 1500 Newbridge Road.
Bob Podolski
Bob Podolski has served as a North Bellmore fire commissioner for the past 10 years. He has been a volunteer firefighter for 39 years and was voted North Bellmore Firefighter of the Year in 1970. A life member of the Smithville South Hook, Ladder and Engine Company No. 1 in North Bellmore, Podolski is also an honorary member of Engine and Rescue Company No. 2 in North Bellmore. The long-time North Bellmore resident has also served as the Sixth Battalion representative for the Nassau County Firefighters Burn Foundation, chairman of the Sixth Battalion Chiefs from 1993-1994 and chairman of the Four Towns Training Center from 1995-1996.
During his tenure with the North Bellmore Fire District, Podolski and the board purchased a fire-prevention safety trailer, placed CPR resuscitators in the chief's and rescue car, and acquired thermal-imaging cameras and fireproof Nomex uniforms for the fire volunteers.
Beyond his work with fire departments in the Bellmores and Nassau County, Podolski has served as president of the Bellmore Kiwanis Club this last year and taken part in the annual Bellmore Family Street Festival for four years with the club. Podolski has also been an adviser to the Mepham High School Key Club for the last three years, a member and usher at St. Barnabas the Apostle Roman Catholic Church for 28 years, a member of the North Bellmore Republican Club for 35 years, serving as president in 1993, and a member of the Bellmore Chamber of Commerce and North Bellmore Civic Association.
Richard Wallis
Richard Wallis was born, raised and educated in North Bellmore. He has been employed by the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District for 29 years and currently works as the head custodian at Brookside School. In his 25 years with North Bellmore Fire Department, Wallis has served on many committees and was elected captain of Smithville South Hook, Ladder and Engine Company No. 1 in 1990. In 1989, Wallis was awarded the Nassau County Firefighter of the Year award, which he received again in 1997 and 2000. In 1996, Wallis was elected department chief and was reelected in 2000.
Wallis is also an advanced emergency medical technician, for which he has received many life-saving rewards. In 1995, the North Bellmore firefighter was awarded the Bronze Medal of Bravery by Nassau County for rescuing a North Bellmore resident from his burning home. Wallis is also a member of the North Bellmore Technical Rescue Team and the Sixth Battalion Technical Rescue Team, one of the first local units to respond to New York City on Sept. 11.
Bellmore
Voting for the Bellmore Fire District Commissioner election takes place Tuesday, Dec. 11 from 6 to 9 p.m. Bellmore Fire District residents can cast their votes at the Bellmore Fire Headquarters on Pettit Avenue.
Thomas Gunther
Thomas Gunther is running for re-election as Bellmore Fire District commissioner. Gunther is now chairman of the Board of Bellmore Fire Commissioners and treasurer of the Bellmore Fire Department Fund Drive. He is a life member who served the department for more than 20 years and has held many positions, including engineer, lieutenant, captain, president and trustee of the Advance Hook and Ladder Company and president and trustee of the Bellmore Benevolent Exempts Association, which provides monetary assistance to needy firefighters.
Beyond his work with the fire department, for the past 10 years Gunther has played Santa for the children of the community and volunteered his service to the Bellmore Chamber of Commerce and to St. Barnabas the Apostle Roman Catholic Church. He has served as cubmaster of St. Barnabas Pack 580 and has been involved as a soccer and baseball coach of the Bellmore Police Activities League. Gunther was also awarded the New York State PTA Life Membership for his outstanding community service.
Several of Gunther's other affiliations include being a third-degree member of the Bellmore Knights of Columbus, a member of the National Fire Protection Association, National Safety Council, New York State Chiefs Association and International Chiefs Association.
Joe Occhipinti
Joe Occhipinti has been an active member of the Bellmore Fire Department for the past 11 years. He has held the positions of engineer, lieutenant for two years, captain for two years and fire company president. In 2000, Occhipinti was presented with the Nassau County Firematic Service Award for assisting in the rescue of victims caught in a Bellmore fire.
Occhipinti has lived in Bellmore for 16 years and has run a successful local appliance business for the past 20 years.
