The Bergen County Firemen’s Home Association: The August Barbecue August 15th, 2021

Members of the NJ Firemen’s Home at the Bergen County Firemen’s Home August Picnic

August brought beautiful weather and an great opportunity for another barbecue sponsored by the Bergen County Firemen’s Home Association. Since the COVID pandemic brought a shut down of all activities in 2020, the Bergen County Firemen’s Home Association decided to cancel our annual August meeting and with the success with the June barbecue (minus the drizzle of rain) decided it was a perfect opportunity to host another barbecue for the residents NJ Firemen’s Home and their guests.

Chef Prince and Chef Bob manning the barbecue buffet

Chef Bob Ordway manning the grill

The delicious meal was enjoyed by everyone

The weather was beautiful that afternoon, warm and sunny going up to 82 degrees. The perfect day for an outdoor event. Many residents were brought out into the lawn in front of the home to enjoy their meal and a little comradery with their fellow fire fighters. Family members are always invited to this event making it even more special on this gorgeous day. The tents we provided and the gazebo that was a previous gift to the home was used for residents to provide shade.

The members of the kitchen staff cooked a wonderful barbecue lunch that included chili, hamburgers, hot dogs, ribs, potato and cole slaw salads, corn on the cob, baked beans and fresh watermelon for dessert. Member and Wyckoff Fire Fighter Nick Ciampo’s wife, Lois, baked special cakes for an extra treat for dessert.

The entertainment that afternoon which was also provided by the Bergen County Firemen’s Home Association was the Bloomingdale Coronet Band, who entertained us with Big Band and Swing music along with traditional American classics like the Star Spangled Banner. It was an engaging afternoon for everyone.

Longtime member of the BCFHA, George Steger, who now resides at the home, was joined by twelve members of the Maywood Fire Department for his 98^th birthday. It was a really nice afternoon for him with balloons, well-wishes and a visit by the Maywood FD Ladder in his honor.

BCFHA Member George Steger on his birthday with members of the Maywood Fire Department

Our Brother, George Steger in front of the Maywood FD Truck

This afternoon was enjoyed by the residents of the Firemen’s Home, who always relish an afternoon out. Everyone had a great time. This wonderful event could not happen without the help of the staff of the Firemen’s Home of Boonton, NJ especially the Activities and Kitchen staff, which does such a great job cooking the food and providing the set up and getting the residents outside.

The members of the Bergen County Firemen’s Home Association, a group of dedicated firefighters and retired fire firefighters from the various firehouses in Bergen County, NJ, did a great job serving all the residents and their families.

The barbecue is paid for from donations made to the Bergen Country Firemen’s Association Fund that is generously funded by fire company donations from all over Bergen County, NJ.

The Bloomingdale Coronet Band entertained everyone with big band sounds

BCFHA Member Nick Ciampo serving dessert to our guests and their families

Members of the Bergen County Firemen’s Home Association and their guests enjoying lunch

The Bergen County Firemen’s Home Association: Meeting & Entertainment April 14th, 2019

The members of the Bergen County Firemen’s Home gathered on April 14, 2019 for their quarterly meeting to discuss organization business and to host the entertainment for the afternoon to the residents.

We discussed the progress of our recent fundraiser in which the response so far has been very positive. We are raising much needed funds for residents who live at the home in way of entertainment, events sponsored with meals and gifts for the holidays to spread cheer. We are also looking to get the organization’s activities publicized more in the outside community.

After the meeting, the members met in the large meeting room at the NJ Firemen’s Home and the residents and their guests were entertained by the Bloomingdale Coronet Band, who lead a rousing set of numbers including music from the Big Band era, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin and many other modern artists. The array of music was fantastic and really livened up the room on a rather gloomy day outside. Everyone looked energized when the group finished with “New York, New York”.

During intermission from the entertainment, the members of our organization served refreshments and conversed with all the residents and their family members. Tom Simpson, our Secretary, introduced all the members of our organization to the residents which much praise for their work and let all the residents know that we will see them in June for the Annual Barbecue that we sponsor.

Members of the Bergen County Firemen’s Home Association’s April Meeting and Entertainment at the NJ Firemen’s Home in Boonton, NJ

It was a nice way to spend a rather gray and dreary afternoon with lively music and good conversation. We can see it really makes our fellow fire fighter living at the Home happy and feel remembered.

See you all in June for the Barbecue!

The Bergen County Firemen’s Home Association: The April Meeting & Entertainment April 9th, 2017

On April 9th, 2017, the Bergen County Firemen’s Home Association sponsored one of our monthly concerts for the residents of the NJ Firemen’s Home in Boonton, NJ and their families. It was a nice afternoon for everyone.

We were entertained by the Bloomingdale Band with a series of songs of the ‘Big Band’ era amongst other songs. At the intermission, the members of the Bergen County Firemen’s Home Association assisted in serving refreshments to the residents. Tom Simpson, our secretary, introduced all the members of the BCFHA to the residents so they could put a name to face.

These afternoons spread a lot of good cheer to the residents and reminds us of what the ‘Brotherhood’ is all about. See everyone at the June barbecue on June 11th.