By Howard Goldstein
The North Bellmore and Bellmore fire districts will hold elections Tuesday, Dec. 10, with two candidates running in North Bellmore and four in Bellmore.
Commissioners are responsible for overseeing department budgets and supplying fire and rescue equipment to volunteer firefighters.
The term of a fire commissioner is five years, and the elected officials take office Jan. 1.
North Bellmore
In North Bellmore, Mark DeLuca is challenging incumbent Timothy Green. The Dec. 10 voting is scheduled for 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at either the Fire Chief's office at 821 Newbridge Rd. or the Fire District Office at 1500 Newbridge Rd.
Timothy Green
Timothy Green is a 50-year resident of North Bellmore whose home has been owned by his family since 1903. He recently retired from his position as a fire inspector in the Nassau County Fire Marshal's office.
He has been an active member of the North Bellmore Fire Department for 35 years, serving as commissioner from 1997 to 2002, as lieutenant and captain of Company No. 2 three times, and as assistant chief and department chief in 1984.
Green is a member of the American Legion, the Emerald Society, the Fraternal Order of Police, the Fire Marshal's Benevolent Association and the Children of Hope Foundation and is a sponsor of Project Children.
During his tenure, the Board of Commissioners purchased a Fire Prevention Trailer through grants supported by elected leaders, as well as new emergency medical services life packs and defibrillators to enhance the emergency-services program. The board also completed a state-of-the art computer dispatching center and bought new firefighter turn-out and EMS gear, while holding the line on the budget.
Green is a Vietnam veteran, and he served in the U.S. Coast Guard until 1972. He and his wife, Mary, have two daughters, who live out of state.
Mark DeLuca
Mark DeLuca is a lifelong resident of North Bellmore. He joined the fire department's Engine & Rescue Company No. 2 in August 1981. He was elected second lieutenant in 1990 and served as captain in 1993. DeLuca was elected third assistant chief in 1998 and became chief of the department in 2001.
He has been involved with many department and company committees and currently holds active memberships in state and national firematic organizations. In 1991 DeLuca was awarded a medal for saving a choking infant, and in 1993 he was awarded the medal of valor for saving a woman from her burning home.
He met his wife, Rita, in 1983, and they have been married 15 years. They have two daughters, Nicole and Samantha.
BELLMORE
Running in Bellmore are Robert Angrisani, George Pitts, Ed Ryan and John Scalesi. The voting on Dec. 10 is scheduled for 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Bellmore Fire Department Station 3, Newbridge Road, just south of Merrick Road.
Robert Angrisani
Robert Angrisani, 30, is married, has two young children and has lived in Bellmore for most of his life. For the past seven years he has worked for Verizon Communications as a field technician. Angrisani has been a member of the Bellmore Fire Department for 10 years, and for four of those years he's been an EMT as well.
He stated that the safety of all Bellmore firefighters and EMS personnel is one of his top concerns.
Ed Ryan
Ed Ryan is married, has two daughters, and has been a Bellmore resident and homeowner for the past 31 years. He's retired from a 33-year career in county government, where he was most recently operations supervisor.
Ryan joined the Bellmore Fire Department in January 1975 and is still an active firefighter. For the past 21 years he has been the engineer on Engine 603. Ryan believes that as a retiree, he has the time to meet the fire department's challenges head on.
George Pitts
George Pitts has been an active member of the Bellmore Fire Department's Advance Hook Ladder & Engine Company No. 1 for more than 25 years, and has been company president twice.
He is vice president of the Bellmore Volunteer Exempt Firemen's Benevolent Association and a member of the Bellmore Fire Department Color Guard, the South Shore Volunteer Fire Department Association and the Nassau County Firefighters Emerald Society. He has served as public information officer and has been a member of the Nassau County Firemen's Association. He is a certified defensive-driving instructor for the National Safety Council, and he is a past exalted ruler of the Freeport-Baldwin Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.
Pitts has lived in Bellmore his entire life. He said that he is concerned with residents' tax bills as well as the safety of Bellmore firefighters and emergency personnel.
John Scalesi
John Scalesi has been a Bellmore resident for 37 years and an active fireman for 22 years. He has received four County and three town firematic awards. He is a member of the Nassau County Firemen's Drill Team Captains' Association, the Nassau County Regional EMS Council, the NYS Firemen's Association and the Nassau County Firemen's Association.
Scalesi was voted Fireman of the Year by Newsday in 1991. He served as NYS Fire Instructor captain in 1996 and is a Red Cross instructor. He is the advisor for the Mepham High School Key Club, vice president of the Bellmore Lions Club and a member of Bellmore Kiwanis and Sons of Italy.
Scalesi is a single parent. He has a 12-year-old daughter, Maria.
