Jamie Anderson, right, from the American Lung Association, with Brockport Firefighter Zach Delaney.Zach Delaney has been a member of the Brockport Fire Department for over 10 years. He has a deep commitment to his community. That commitment was the initial drive behind his participation in the American Lung Association’s First Annual Fight for Air Climb on November 10.
However, on October 24, that challenge took on a whole new meaning. That is the day that Zach’s fire department colleague, Roger Smith, died after a seven-year fight with pulmonary fibrosis. Smith, a 42 year veteran of the Brockport Fire Department, became Zach’s inspiration to train harder and raise $2,000 in donations.
Delaney said Roger was “just an all around great guy; the kind of guy that when it’s raining, he’s out dancing in the rain. He’s smiling and cracking jokes. He just kept us all united throughout his service time there.”
Brockport Firefighter Zach Delaney carries fellow firefighter Roger Smith’s photo on his back for inspiration during 20-story Fight for Air Climb. Smith died October 24 of pulmonary fibrosis.On Thursday, December 6, with a standing ovation, Delaney was presented his Third Place award by Jamie Anderson of the American Lung Association in front of his personal and fire department families.
“The Lung Association is grateful to Zach, not just for his incredible support and the funds he raised for our mission, but for helping to raise awareness about lung disease and the personal toll it takes on so many of us,” said Jeff Seyler, President and CEO of the American Lung Association of the Northeast. “The Fight for Air Climb is a way for us to all come together as a community to raise the funds we need to find better treatments and cures. By honoring the life of Roger Smith, Zach has brought us closer to that goal and he’s inspired us at the same time.”
Twenty stories and 450 steps later, Zach finished third in his age group. What made this feat so much more impressive is that Delaney competed wearing his complete firefighting gear, including a 40-pound air pack.
Santa- Mayor Joe LeeThe Christmas Float traveled through the many streets of Hilton on four evenings, December 16, 17, 22 and again on December 23, bringing loud Christmas songs with 2,600 flashing LED lights synchronized to the music and shouts of “Merry Christmas” from Santa and his helpers on the float. Pulled by a truck, the initial slow-traveling run on a cool and breezy snowless evening was made on December 16 from 7 to 9 p.m. with Rick Bjornholm driving the truck, Santa (aka Mayor Joe Lee) Apple Fest Committee members Linda Viney, Cathy Bjornholm and Jane Mitchell and Westside News Inc. photographer sitting on hay bales and shouting “Merry Christmas” whenever people activity was noticed. This initial trip, begun from the Hilton Community Center, was mostly in the northeast quadrant of the village, and the reception from the residents and passing cars was warm and joyful. Many excited children looked out windows or stepped outside on their porch to wave to Santa and reciprocate our greetings of “Merry Christmas.”
The group (pictured right) is ready to roll! Members include Rick Bjornholm, Jane Mitchell, Linda Viney, Cathy Bjornholm and Santa’s helper, aka Mayor Joe Lee, (all are on the Apple Fest board) and were joined by photographer Walter Horylev.
The Christmas Float idea, initiated by Mayor Joe Lee, was brought to fruition through donations for the LED lights by the Hilton Apple Fest, Lions Club, the Hilton-Parma-Hamlin Chamber of Commerce and the Knights of Columbus, Chapter 9461. Rick Bjornholm, Chairman of the Hilton Zoning Board, programmed the battery-operated computer-controlled lights on the sides of the trailer and the Christmas tree at the end of the trailer to be flashing synchronous to the music, adding greatly to the overall effect. The truck and trailer were provided by the Hilton DPW, who also modified the trailer; the bales of hay were donated by the Eichas Farm.
