Submitted by Frank Reilly, Stirling firefighter PIO
Stirling Volunteer Fire Co. firefighters held their 19th Annual Venison Dinner on March 4, 2018, in the firehouse, 321 Somerset Street, Stirling, New Jersey. More than 200 people feasted on a dozen varieties of venison specialties that were prepared by the firefighters. Some of the specialties were tenderloin, cutlets, chili, stew, meatballs, meatloaf, sliders, stuffed peppers, and tacos. An array of vegetables, salad, fresh baked bread, beverages, cookies, and cake were also enjoyed by the diners who raved about the excellent tasting food and the great variety.
Chairmen of this annual fund raiser was Deputy Fire Chief Al Gallo who was assisted by more than 25 Stirling firefighters. The firefighter chefs who cooked the food were Al Gallo, Joe Cerami, Albert Pepe, Troy Pytell, Craig Tuma, and Ryan Vrindten.
Almost 400 hours was spent by the firefighters cooking, staffing the event, and cleaning-up afterward. The income raised from this event helps pay for training, firefighting equipment, and maintenance of the firehouse that is owned by the Stirling firefighters.
Diners came from all over central and northern New Jersey. One group of firefighters from Fords arrived in a stretch limousine donated by a limousine company for the trip.
While the Stirling firefighters were setting up for the event on Friday afternoon they heard a loud wood cracking sound and thought it was just another tree branch breaking off during the on-going Northeaster Storm. But the lights went out momentarily and when one firefighter looked out front he was surprised to see a major telephone pole with three large transformers on top had snapped off at the ground level and fell across Somerset Street toward the firehouse taking down all the power lines with it. It blocked two of the four fire truck garage doors.
The electric company was immediately notified, the Long Hill CERT was called to the scene to provide traffic detours, the firefighters moved their trapped fire engines through the back garage door so they could promptly respond to alarms for help, of which there were several that evening, and they proceeded to get ready for the big dinner fund raiser the next evening. The downed pole did not dampen the enthusiasm of the firefighters or diners and the street remained closed until four days later when the broken pole was replaced.
For more information, visit the Stirling Fire Department at: stirlingfd.com or call 908-647-2669.
(above, l-r) Ryan Vrindten, Troy Pytel, Albert Pepe, Craig Tuma, Joe Cerami, and dinner chairman Alex Gallo. The firefighter chefs who cooked and prepared all the food: L-R
(above, l-r) Four of the dozen firefighter servers: Danny Rito, Jack Remington, Matt Rozmerski, and Nick Giglio.
