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Hawleyville Volunteer Fire Company Celebrates 100 Years With Award Banquet

Published: Sep 09, 2025 7:00 am

On Saturday, August 23, members of Hawleyville Volunteer Fire Company gathered in the Alexandria Room of Edmond Town Hall to celebrate 100 years of service.

The evening’s entertainment was a documentary film about the history of Hawleyville Fire Company called Exit 9, The Way of Life in Hawleyville, 1925. The documentary will be screening again for the public on Friday, September 12, at Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main Street. The screening will be free, but donations will be accepted to benefit the fire company.

Many awards were given to Hawleyville Volunteer Fire Company members (see pictures above). Other awards given were to Paul Basso, current assistant chief, for 48 years of service; Mike Neiman for 35 years of service; Ray Fuller for 35 years of service; Gordon Johnson for 28 years of service; Betty Warner, for her work in the Ladies’ Auxiliary.

Also awarded, but not present at the dinner, were Cliff Beers, current president of the company, for 65 years of service; John Basso, past chief, for 46 years of service; Douglas Ruffles Jr for 39 years of service; Thomas Ramsdell for 17 years of service; and Lila Dean, Ladies Auxiliary.

Hawleyville Fire parked its 1948 fully restored Mack Firetruck outside and lit up the front of Edmond Town Hall in the signature red color citizens have come to associate with fire departments. —photos courtesy Donna Kern Ball

Mike Zilinek can be seen driving a Jeep that is pulling the 50th anniversary float at the Labor Day Parade in 1976. His father, Nick Zilinek, also a member of Hawleyville Fire Co, is the passenger. —photos courtesy Donna Kern Ball

Mike Zilinek was awarded a plaque that commemorates his 50 years of service as secretary and former fire commissioner at Hawleyville Fire. —photos courtesy Donna Kern Ball

Assistant Chief Paul Basso and First Selectman Jeff Capeci hand Billy O’Keefe an award to celebrate his 44 years of service to Hawleyville. —photos courtesy Donna Kern Ball

A special award was presented to William Durgy Sr of Brookfield, to commemorate the death of his grandfather, Lewis C. Durgy, as a Line of Duty Death in 1933. —photos courtesy Donna Kern Ball

Joan Clark

Janice Marion Kinsley Jones (1950-2025)

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Yikes, talk about not doing a basic level of research. As my kids would say, "bruh, aren't you embarrassed?" James Buchanan (its not spelled Bucannan, Steve), the guy who put a black family back into slavery was -- wait for it -- A DEMOCRAT. Abraham Lincoln, the fella that ended slavery, was A REPUBLICAN. Herbert Hoover, a Republican, did not unilaterally cause the Great Depression. The stock market crashed within the FIRST year of his presidency. The imposition of his tariffs sought to help American industry, when there was little work to be had. Yes, FDR, a Democrat, led us out of the Great Depression, but with a heavy assist from the war-based economy in the run-up and through World War 2. And yes, Herbert Hoover did meet with Adolph Hitler in 1938 - A FULL 5 YEARS AFTER HE WAS OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE. It was done as a diplomatic courtesy on the 20th anniversary of the end of World War I. Steve, if I were you, I'd ask the Bee to pull this Letter to the Editor.

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Your statement: "The EPA is now telling us there is no Climate Change", I believe is incorrect. Can you provide documentation for this? The The fact that there is climate change, I believe is a generally accepted consensus by all sides of the climate debat. What's driving this climate change and it's ultimate impact on society, is where the consensus fractures. I do appreciate your pointing out President Nixon's role in creating the EPA. Nixon is also responsible for signing into law both the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts. Respectfully, James Swift

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Jeff, thank you for setting the record straight and for focusing on facts over speculation. It’s clear you’re working collaboratively, in the open, and always with Newtown’s best interests at heart. As a First Selectman, you’ve shown that leadership is about results, not partisanship, political slogans, or bashing the other guy. That’s the kind of honorable, steady, experienced, and community-focused leadership this town needs — progress that actually works for everyone, not just a political agenda.

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Looks like someone is getting the politics 101 course and is leaning heavily on the “status quo” and “stagnation” talking points, the reality is that our current First Selectman is only completing his first term in office. Hardly the entrenched, decades-long politician Bruce suggests. In fact, in just this one term, the current selectman has delivered meaningful progress — addressing core infrastructure, keeping budgets responsible, and ensuring that Newtown remains a strong and vibrant community. That’s not “stagnation.” That’s steady, thoughtful leadership in action. If Bruce were truly ready for a challenge, he would have answered my July questions on how to would handle large-scale protests and rallies at the flagpole? Our current First Selectman put forward an option for positive change, and was met with shouting from the mob. What would Bruce do differently? And just how responsive and open to real change will he be when facing that same kind of pressure, or would it not matter when clearly Bruce wants to play the partisan line?

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Hahahaha! Oh Jim, your hyperbole knows no bounds.

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Hawleyville Volunteer Fire Company Celebrates 100 Years With Award Banquet

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