Among the highlights for the South Byron Volunteer Fire Department in 2024 was the purchase of 11 air packs with 22 cylinders using $91,000 in grant funds, according to Chief Brian Hickey.
"In turn, in good fortune, in our brotherhood, the well-maintained air packs (being replaced) were donated to New Hope Volunteer Fire Department in Kentucky," Hickey said.
The department installed officers and presented annual awards at its annual dinner at the South Byron Fire Hall on Saturday evening.
The department has 22 active members and responded to 62 calls in 2024, with no reported injuries or deaths.
The newly installed firematic officers for 2025:
Brian Hickey, chief
Scott Blossom, deputy chief
Vito Muoio, assistant chief
Chase Cone, captain
Al Secash, 1st lieutenant
Mathew Dougherty, 2nd lieutenant
Haley Rimmer, engineer
Reggie Macdonald, fire police captain
Theresa Hammer, fire police sergeant
Dan Rimmer, fire police corporal
Administrative officers for 2025:
Reggie Macdonald, president
Robert Wilson, vice president
Alfred Klycek, treasurer
Elizabeth Penkszyk, secretary
Theresa Hammer, membership chair
Roseanne Klycek, sunshine chair
Auxiliary Board for 2025
Theresa Hammer, president
Haley Rimmer, vice president
Roseanne Klycek, treasurer
Melody Stone, secretary
Theresa Hammer, party chair
Melody stone, sunshine chair
Captain Chase Cone was named Fireman of the Year. The award was presented by Alfred Klycek. Photo by Howard Owens.
Administrative officers Jan Macdonald and Reggie Macdonald, president, were named Members of the Year. Award presented by Alfred Klycek. Photo by Howard Owens.
Chief Brian Hickey presents the Most Calls Award to First Lieutenant Al Secash. Photo by Howard Owens.
Michael Dougherty received an award for most training hours. Photo by Howard Owens.
The auxiliary purchased lighted safety vests for the department. Photo by Howard Owens.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Department members and auxiliary members Photo by Howard Owens.
The Town of Byron Sewer District and Waste Water Treatment proposed project informational meeting has been changed from the Town Hall to the South Byron Fire Hall, 7398 South Byron Rd. Byron on Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m.
This change was made to accommodate the number of attendees.
MRB Group, project Engineers will be explaining the reasons leading to the proposed project and the plans going forward.
Public questions are welcome.
The regularly scheduled Byron Town Board Meeting will immediately follow the informational meeting.
Fred Klycek, left, is speechless after Bob Wilson, vice president of the South Byron Fire Company, presented him with awards as Fireman of the Year and Member of the Year. Photo by Virginia Kropf
South Byron Volunteer Fire Company’s 48th annual banquet was one of celebration and remembrance.
The fire company, which is 104 years old, began the evening with a welcome and introduction of guests by emcee Fred Klycek.
After a prayer by the Rev. Harold Coller, a buffet dinner was served by Fred Hamilton and his crew.
Town of Stafford Justice of the Peace Bob Mattice swore in officers of the fire company, auxiliary, and fire police.
New firematic officers are Chief Brian Hickey, Deputy Chief Scott Blossom, Assistant Chief Jim McKenzie, 1st Lieutenant Christopher Hilbert, 2nd Lieutenant Al Secash, and engineer Matthew Dougherty.
Administrative officers are President Reggie Macdonald, Vice President Robert Wilson, Treasurer Alfred Klycek, Secretary Elizabeth Penkszyk, membership chair, and Sunshine Chair Theresa Hammer.
Members of the auxiliary board are President Michelle Dougherty, Vice President Beth Wilson, Treasurer Rozanne Klycek, Secretary Melody Stone, and party chair and sunshine Chair Theresa Hammer.
Fire police officers are Captain Theresa Hammer, Sergeant Reggie Macdonald, and Corporal Fred Klycek.
In a moving presentation, Elizabeth Penkszyk paid tribute to the one member lost during 2023, her grandfather Allan “Sneakers” Blossom. Blossom was a 47-year member of the fire company, who was dedicated to its mission.
“He’s the reason why I joined the fire company, making me a third-generation member,” Penkszyk said.
Her father, Scott Blossom, is a second-generation family member of the department.
In concluding the memorial ceremony, Penkszyk and her grandmother Mariellen Blossom lit a candle in honor of “Sneakers,” while observing a moment of silence.
The fire company gained one new member last year, Aaron Lathrop, who is carrying on his grandfather’s legacy, as Penkszyk did, she said.
The next presentation was the Auxiliary’s gift to the fire company.
“We wanted to make sure our firefighters are safe and well-seen when they respond to a call,” said Michelle Dougherty, Auxiliary president.
She was assisted by Melody Stone, Auxiliary secretary, in presenting Reggie Macdonald with one of the lighted safety vests they purchased for the department.
Macdonald next announced donations and tips from the bar would be donated this year to Mercy Flight and to the South Byron Rescue Squad to help pay for their new ambulance. No one was present from Mercy Flight, but Brad Nickerson accepted the check for the Rescue Squad.
Scott Blossom gave a firematic report, saying they had responded to 60-some calls last year. Chief Brian Hickey was named top responder in those calls
The department logged 535 training hours, with Matt Dougherty accumulating the most.
Fireman of the Year and Member of the Year were awarded to the same individual – Fred Klycek. When Bob Wilson called him to the podium to accept the Fireman of the Year Award, he said he didn’t expect that, and he was speechless.
“I had no idea,” he said. “But it takes a whole crew, and they all deserve this award.”
When he was called back and named Member of the Year, Klycek said he was really flabbergasted.
Wilson said Klycek does a tremendous amount of work for the fire company, and has for years.
“Much of what he does wouldn’t get done if he didn’t do it,” Wilson said.
The evening concluded with the awarding of door prizes and a benediction by the Rev. Coller.
Michelle Dougherty, right, president of the South Byron Firemen’s Auxiliary, and secretary Melody Stone, pose with fire company president Reggie Macdonald, after presenting him with one of the lighted safety vests the Auxiliary purchased for the fire department. Photo by Virginia Kropf.
Elizabeth Penkszyk, left, and her grandmother Mariellen Blossom observe a moment of silence during a tribute to Penkszyk’s grandfather Allan “Sneakers” Blossom, a 47-year member of the South Byron Fire Company, who died last year. Photo by Virginia Kropf.
Bob Mattice, the town of Stafford justice of the peace, swears in new officers at the South Byron Volunteer Fire Department banquet Saturday night. Photo by Virginia Kropf
Among the honorees at South Byron Volunteer Fire Department's annual dinner on Saturday night was Gerald Bateman, who was recognized for 65 years of service to the department. State Sen. Michael Ranzenhofer and Assemblyman Steve Hawley were on hand to honor Bateman's service to the community.
The 2018 firematic officers are: Scott Blossom, chief; Brian Hickey, deputy chief; Jim McKenzie, assistant chief; Chase Cone, captain; Andy Konieczny, 1st lieutenant; Matt Dougherty, 2nd lieutenant; Nicole Bold, engineer; Reggie Macdonald, fire police captain; Elizabeth Blossom, fire police sergeant; Steve Sharp, fire police corporal.
Administrative officers: Dean Bates, president; Reggie Macdonald, VP; Elizabeth Blossom, secretary; Alfred Klycek, treasurer; Bob Fite, membership chair; Al Secash, bell jar chair; Allison McKenzie, sunshine chair; Rev. Harold Coller, fire chaplain.
On Saturday, the South Byron Volunteer Fire Department held its annual banquet and named Chief Scott Blossom Firefighter of the Year and President Dean Bates Member of the Year. They are flanked by Sen. Mike Ranzenhofer and Assemblyman Steve Hawley.
Robert Fite, pictures below, was honored for 50 years of service.
At the department's installation dinner this weekend, Jacob Yasses was named South Byron's Fireman and Member of the Year. Presenting the award are Christopher Hilbert and Assemblyman Steve Hawley, who also acted as emcee for the dinner.
Sworn in as firematic officers where:
Robert Wilson, chief
Jefferey Starowitz, deputy chief
Scott Blossom, assistant chief
Chase Cone, captain
Ben Baun, 1st lieutenant
Jacob Yasses, 2nd lieutenant
Christopher Hilbert, engineer
Lenny Peterson, fire police captain
Jim McKenzie, fire police sergeant
Reginald Macdonald, fire police corporal
Administrative officers:
Christopher Hilbert, president
Jacob Yasses, vice president
Sandee McKenzie, secretary
Alfred Klycek, treasurer
Photo and information submitted by Peter and Michelle Yasses.
