News

News to members of the Baltic Fire Engine Company # 1
It was with deep regret that we announce the passing of Ethel A. Narciso, mother to Fire Fighter Frank Narciso. The following was the orbituary published in the Westerly Sun Newspaper on July 13,2010.

Ethel A. (Bowman) Narciso, 77, beloved wife of Frank J. Narciso Sr. for 55 years of Walton Street, Westerly, passed away July 12, 2010, in The Westerly Hospital..
Born in Stonington, she was the daughter of Harry and Constance (Harvey) Bowman.
Ethel was a communicant of St. Michael the Archangel Church, Pawcatuck, and a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Amancio-Falcone-Gaccione VFW Post #8955. She enjoyed yard sales, bingo and going to lunch with friends. She was a very caring person who took care of family and friends.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by a son, Frank J. Narciso Jr. and his wife ,Katherine, of Baltic, Conn.,
a daughter, Ellen Regan, and her husband, Thomas; a brother, Robert Bowman, all of Westerly; a granddaughter, Mikaela Narciso; and several nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by a brother, Harry Bowman Jr. Ethel also leaves her devoted dog, Woody.
Visiting hours will be held Wednesday in Gaffney-Dolan Funeral Home, 59 Spruce St., Westerly, from 5 to 7 p.m. Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated Thursday at noon in St. Michael the Archangel Church, 60 Liberty St., Pawcatuck. There is no procession from the funeral home to the church. Burial will be in St. Sebastian Cemetery.
For online condolences, go to www.gaffneydolanfuneralhome.com.

Published in The Westerly Sun on July 13, 2010

It was with deep regret that we learned of the passing of Timothy John O'Brien, father of Chris O'Brien ( Five Star Fire Apparatus)

O'BRIEN, Timothy John Timothy John O'Brien, 66, of Andover, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, (July 20, 2010) at Manchester Memorial Hospital. Tim was the husband of 45 years and best friend to Georgia S. (Bruce) O'Brien. He was born in Bronx, NY, the son of the late Timothy and Ethel (Cronin) O'Brien. Tim was a 1965 graduate of Iona College and had a 45-year career in retail shoe sales working for Miles, Thom McCann and Pragues. He was an avid fisherman and a huge fan of the Yankees, NY Giants and UCONN Basketball. Besides Georgia, he is survived by his daughter, Denise M. O'Brien of Columbia; his son and daughter –in-law Christopher J. and Louise O'Brien of Andover and his grandchildren, the light of his life, Timothy and Leah. He is also survived by his siblings, Lorraine, Linda, Noreen and Stephen and their families and the Bruce families, Bob, Joy and John and his many friends, all by whom he will be greatly missed. He was also predeceased by his sister, Kathy. Tim's family would like to offer a special note of thanks to the Andover Volunteer Fire Dept. for their special efforts and assistance. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, July 24, at 10:30 at St. Columba Church, Rte 66, Columbia, followed by burial in Townsend Cemetery, Andover. There are no calling hours. Memorial donations may be made to the Scholarship Fund for Tim's grandchildren Timothy and Leah c/o New Alliance Bank, 164 Rte 66, Columbia, CT 06237. The John F. Tierney Funeral Home, Manchester has care of arrangements.

Published in The Hartford Courant on July 23, 2010

                              Department News
   On Monday, August 10th, 2009 we took delivery of our new tanker truck. Please look through the photos to see our newest addition to our Fire Fighting Vehicle line up.

       In the photo section you may notice that we recently had a very special dinner in honor of one of our members, Gerald Bastien, who has given the town so MANY Volunteer hours as we all celebrated that Gerry Bastien has served SIXTY (60) years with the Baltic Engine Fire Company # 1. Congratulations to Gerry for dedicating so many years to the Baltic Fire Department and to a town that he has loved lived in and raised his family in for so many years. Our Hats go off to Mr. Gerald Bastien for his loyal dedication, there are very FEW departments that have had a member serve so many years and we are all so very lucky that he chose Baltic as his home. Thank you so very much Gerry for your SIXTY years of service!!!!!!!!!!!

        The Baltic Volunteer Fire Department is very fortunate to say that we have several members who have close to FIFTY years of service with OUR fire department alone that is not counting the many years that many of our members have volunteered in prior fire departments. That being said and so soon after we were so pleased to help Gerry Bastien celebrates his SIXTY years of service, we found ourselves celebrating yet another milestone for another member of our own. Albert Grenier has recently celebrated FIFTY years of service to the Baltic Engine Company # 1 (Baltic Volunteer Fire Department.) On our photos page you will see some photographs that were taken at our firehouse as Al, his family & friends all celebrated his FIFTY (50) Years of service to the town of Sprague (Baltic.) Thank you so very much Al for your Fifty years of service!!

                                        Baltic Fire Department's Safe Halloween Program

        The 2009 Safe Halloween Program was a hit in town with attendance of over 750 people filling the fire house. The members of the Baltic Fire Engine Company # 1 wish to say THANK YOU to EVERYONE who made a contribution of money and or candy which in turn allowed this program to continue.
         We would like to express our sincere thanks to a few businesses that made the event such a hit. AMGRAPH INC and it's owner Ken Fontaine is and always has been the TOP Business in town who have made a large contribution each & every year making sure that we would be able to hold our event. Along with AMGRAPH we would also like to say THANK YOU to the owners of SHARKIES PIZZA on High Street who has made a donation of six bikes for the children in town since the first Safe Halloween Program in Baltic. New Britain Candy Company also makes a contribution and allows the dept to purchase candy through their store. Frito Lay of Dayville Ct. has once again made the donation of all of the chips for the children and the Malerba Farm, owned & operated by Vinnie Malerba has always donated at no cost, all of the pumpkins that we have used in all of our events.
         The Baltic Engine Company # 1 would like to remind everyone in town that we will once again host our Project Safe Halloween Program at the Baltic Fire House on October 31, 2010. With the present economy we are anticipating a year when the donations may not meet the demand. We are asking all Sprague, (Baltic, Versailles & Hanover,) residents, businesses to please try to make a donation for our yearly event. WE would be happy to stop by your home or place of business to pick up any candy that is individually wrapped, still in the original bag (s), cartons, etc. This year we could use all of the help possible to help to insure that this event will be able to run without any problems. If you are making a donation by check, please write in the lower left corner (memo area) either Halloween Event or Project Safe Halloween so that the money will be credited for the Halloween party. We hope to see everyone there from our town. PLEASE remember that ALL children who attend our event MUST have a parent with them while taking part in the costume parade and also while on the fire department's property. At the 20009 event we had over 850 people attend, this was a few hundred more then we had expected and we apologies to anyone who felt that they had to wait in line too long. We would also like to remind everyone that this entire program is only possible through the donations that are mailed in for this event. If you would like to make a donation please include on the check in the lower left corner (memo area) that this is for the Halloween event. If you are making a donation that will need to be picked up please feel free to contact the fire house at 822-6580 or E-Mail Reg Patchell at: reginaldpatchell@sbcglobal.net.