Irvington wins three trophies at Ardsley's parade

Irvington firefighters took home 3 trophies on Saturday at Ardsley's 110th anniversary parade. Despite marching 1.7 miles on one of the hottest day's of the summer the department won best non-regulation uniform, best rescue and best ladder truck. Our band, Yonkers Military Band, also won best musical unit.

Ardsley signals all-hands response, area FFs join celebration & parade to mark 110 yrs

By ROBERT STONE
Senior Correspondent
1st Responder Network

http://www.1stresponder.com

ARDSLEY, N.Y. - This small Westchester County village tossed a rousing parade and party to celebrate the 110th anniversary of the Ardsley Engine Company No. 1 on Sat. July 29.

Originally named Ashford, the village changed its name to Ardsley in 1883 and within two months of its incorporation in 1896, Ardsley Hose Company No. 1 was organized and accepted by the village board.

Today, the Ardsley Fire Department is a well-respected part of a village of 6,000 residents and is a key member of the Westchester County fire service.

The 110th anniversary celebration and parade not only recognize today's Ardsley first responders, but also salute all the firefighters in Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties that Ardsley has worked with over the years, Fire Chief Joe Cipollone said.

Nick Macri, a veteran with 56 years of service with the department, was the grand marshal of the parade, and led the Escort Division of the Red Knights Motorcycle Club at the front of the parade; Mayor Jay Leon and the village trustees followed. Next came The Westchester Brassmen, followed by the Ardsley Fire Department.

Parade Marshal Bill Watson, Sr., a 52-year veteran of the department, headed up the First Division which was comprised of the Ardsley-Secor Volunteer Ambulance Corps, the Verplanck, Hastings-on-Hudson, Dobbs Ferry fire departments and the Westchester County HazMat Team.

They were followed by Parade Marshal Paul "Doc" Seitz, a 59-year veteran, leading the Irvington, Elmsford, the Village of Mamaroneck, Tarrytown and Port Chester fire departments.

Also marching with the Second Division were Chief Ted Knoesel, with 56 years of service, and ex-Chief Joe Marsek, a 42-year veteran.

During the 90 minutes of marching, the temperature was in the nineties.

Six of the professional judges were seen walking alongside the band they were judging as the band approached and then passed the reviewing stand.

Visiting County officials, fire chiefs and guests of the Department watched the parade from a viewing stand in front of 701 Saw Mill River Rd., where the Ardsley Department has leased and is remodeling a former garage site to house the department temporarily until a new fire house building is built to replace the old fire headquarters on Ashford Avenue. No date has been announced for the start of construction of a new firehouse.

The Ardsley Department moved into the new Saw Mill River Road location
in time for the parade, and fire trucks and firefighters now respond from the Saw Mill River Road firehouse.

Robert Reid, an ex-chief (1993-1995), was the announcer. He identified each fire company, band, apparatus and special fire equipment as it passed in review, in many cases giving a brief history.

When the parade was over, Chief Reid walked over to a woman he had been talking to during the parade and asked her how she liked it.

The woman told a nearby reporter that she was a librarian at the Warner library in Tarrytown and her name was Jeanne. She said, "His presentation was very good. He's my son."

Chris Becker supplied the historical information on the fire department for this article.