Senator Elaine Phillips Honors Members of the Carle Place and Westbury Fire Departments

Senator Elaine Phillips recently honored members of the Carle Place Fire Department and the Westbury Fire Department, both of the Ninth Battalion, as part of her series of First Responders Appreciation Nights throughout the 7th District

Senator Phillips recognized former Carle Place Fire Department Chief John Driscoll and former Department President William Weingarten, as well as Westbury Fire Department Rescue Captain Gary Bartunek and Chief Instructor Craig Stewart.

“Volunteer fire and EMS personnel are the backbone of our local communities and I truly believe we can’t thank them enough for all they do to keep our families safe. The commitment and dedication shown by our local first-responders is unmatched, and we appreciate all they do, including spending time away from their families to protect ours Senator Elaine Phillips said. “It takes real courage and fearlessness for these men and women to put their lives on the line every day.”

Former Department President William Weingarten, a lifelong resident of Carl Place, entered the department in 1996 and was elected president 2010. He served a second term in 2014 when the then chief passed away. He is a graduate of Carle Place High School and he and his wife, Jeanne, have two children and seven grandchildren.

Former Chief John Driscoll, who moved to Carle Place when he was 8, joined the department in 1992, and became Second Lieutenant in 1998 and worked his way through the ranks to Chief. He was also a Carle Place Fire Department Drill Team member from 1992-2102 and the team captain from 1998-2010. As a member of the New York Police Department, John was a first responder on 9/11 and worked at Ground Zero for one month.

“Being an active volunteer in the fire service is not an easy task these days,” Carle Place Fire Chief Timothy Stellato said. “Increasing service demands and training requirements make volunteering very difficult. The people being honored still go above and beyond after many years of participation. We appreciate their dedication and service to their community.”

Rescue Captain Gary Bartunek has played an instrumental role in the Westbury Fire Department, setting up a narcotics program, which allows the department to provide necessary medication to the community.

Chief Instructor Craig Stewart has been training members of the department for years and has worked with the board of instructors to make themselves available to the members of the department for training purposes. He has been pro-active in setting up plans for new construction throughout the district.

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