The
BRESNAN DISTRIBUTOR
ACFD Retiree’s Newsletter June/July 2015 -Year #10 Issue #61
Debra and I Will be in York, PA for the milk truck convention from May 2431. No, my milk truck is still not running, but we are going anyway.
Editor: Rich Ferguson
309 Beverly Ave.
San Leandro, CA 94577
510-568-0887 cell 510-219-7752
[email protected]
www.bresnandistributor.com
Mailing: Connie Nabonne
Don’t forget that I am going to stop doing the printed paper version of the
Bresnan at the end of the year. I think that will be 3 more issues mailed by US
Mail. After that the Bresnan Distributor Newsletter will be on the web site
only. If you don’t have a computer you will have to get a friend or relative sign up to get our email
and then they can print the Bresnan for you. The suggested donation for the Bresnan is $5 per year.
We got to visit with Keith Mietz at his winery in Healdsburg
recently.
FERG <><
Rich,
On behalf of Don
Graff, my husband,
please accept this check.
Don enjoyed reading the
ACFD retirees newsletters.
Don was in hospice and
passed away in January
2015. I know he’d want
me to thank you for all
your hard work.
Crystal
COMING UP
Welcome Back Retirees Open House
and Luncheon
Thursday May 28, 2015
11:30 am to 2:30 PM
Luncheon 12:00 PM
ACFD Station #25
20336 San Miguel Ave. Castro Valley
RSVP 925-833-3473 xt.1121
or [email protected] before
5/18/2015
Dale & Karen Valentine
40th Anniversary
Kieth Mietz - FERG - Nancy Mietz
Jenn Bauman with
Pep Bauman and
Heather Bauman.
Millville, DE ·
June/July 2015 Page 1
Some photos
from the
Ed Larsen
Service
Passing of Former ACFD Firefighter
Pete Bestrop
Hello all,
I am sad to report that, former ACFD Firefighter, Pete Bestrop has passed away. I
don’t have very many details on this, but please keep his family in your thoughts and
prayers. As I get further, I will pass along any specifics.
Thank you,
Dan Benfield
At this time it looks like there will be no public services
Bruce Bradley Passes
It is with sadness that I relay the news that retired Fire Chief
Bruce Bradley passed away on March 27th, after a bout with
lung cancer. Chief Bradley retired in 1993.
Bruce’s son Dan is a member of the City of Alameda Fire Department. Dan said his mom, Pat, is doing as well as expected.
Service was April 21, 2015 Immaculate Heart of Mary
June/July 2015 Page 2
The 2015 Nabonne Retiree’s Luncheon
Rich.
It was good to see the guys again especially Dave Patterson. It’s been a long time since we’ve been able to talk.
I hope to be able to visit him and others that we talked
about in the future. Sure wish some of the newest retiree’s
from San Leandro would show up. Even though this is a
retiree’s lunch for all retiree’s (even those from ACFD) I
would still like to see more San Leandro guys come. Ever
since Hal Ryder hooked me into taking over having these
annual luncheons, I’ve looked forward to seeing the guys
I worked with.
Floyd
Who was there:
Floyd & Connie Nabonne
Ham & Carnie Hamilton & son
Bill & Donna Caplinger
Ralph Ivey
Ken Davison
Damon & Lenny Orr
Bill Robertson
Jim Quadros
Paul DelPiano
Kris Kerstetter
George Bungarz
Rich ferguson
Lyle Stepman
Art St. Clair
Tom Castro
Jeff Solfarelli
June/July 2015 Page 3
Ferg,
from Jim Dorpinghaus
A while back, you mentioned you’d like more news from
your readers. I’d like to submit a topic that has never been
covered by the Bresnan, so am going to start it off to see what
happens. The topic is memorable first meals prepared by the
new guy when it was his (now also her) turn to do their thing
in the kitchen.
Will begin by referring the first meal I prepared for the guys
when I got my first station assignment after completion of
training. I mentioned to the crew that I was a novice in the
kitchen and they suggested I prepare something that I prepared at home. Sooo, I did!! They each gave me the $1 that
was required at that time and with the $5 in my pocket, went
shopping.
When all was ready, I mentioned the ‘soup was on’ and they
filed into the kitchen. One thing very noticeable was they
were rather quiet when they saw the repast placed there before them. It was a pan full of fish sticks, another pan full
of tater tots, a bowl of veggies, a loaf of bread with sticks
of butter and a spoon of cottage cheese with a half peach
topped with a dab of mayo and sprinkled with paprika--for
a colorful touch! It was rather quiet while we ate, but they
did eat everything I’d put on the table. I was feeling pretty
good about the success of my first firehouse meal until I accidently overheard a couple of the guys mention they “hoped
he never fixes that again!” It goes without saying my ego took
a big hit when I heard this, so I began putting some thought
into preparing something more edible.
Thinking back, my meal was an epicurean delight compared
to what another new guy put on the table for his first effort
in the kitchen. It consisted of 2 cans of pork & beans heated
with pieces of hot dogs he’d cut up and added to the pot.
Also on the table was a big bag of potato chips, loaf of bread
& butter and no salad. We ate it, because that’s all there was,
but told the new man the ice cream with chocolate topping
was good as a dessert. Our menu for meal preparation improved greatly in a short span of time.
There are other memorable stories overheard about ‘kitchen
miscues’ over the years. One such story came from a member
of another department when he mentioned one of their new
guys served a can of Kipper-Snacks & crackers to the crew for
his first meal. Also a couple more stories about others when
a man on probation heard his new Captain liked beets,--so
June/July 2015 Page 4
he put some on the table with his first meal at
that station. The Captain looked at him and
informed him it’s customary, when serving
beets, to cook them first!!!! (A true story!!) Another new man felt everyone liked cherry pie
so made one for dessert for the crew the first
time he cooked. There was just one little problem with the pie--the guy had bought cherries
with the pits still in them.
Am sure there are other similar stories about
‘first meals’ and it would be interesting to hear
from the guys, including the retirees, on some
of their experiences.
Will close by saying the first station I worked
at was in the county--the old Ashland station-before being hired by San Leandro. Only this
time, the crew tried to gross out the new guy
and it backfired when I turned the table on
them. We’d had a training film on Emergency
Childbirth earlier in the day and that night
they put a piece of raw liver on my plate at
meal time. They’d given me a pretty good initiation on previous shifts which was part of
being accepted. Well, when I saw the liver, I
noticed they were all staring at me, so I took
my knife, cut off a small piece and ATE it,
after which I told them it needed some salt.
They were very quiet during the meal and thus
ended the initiation of the new guy!!
A good many meals put on the table at the
firehouses were absolutely delicious, so maybe
we can get some input on those.
Take care, a big HI and good health to all!!
Dorp.
Money
Income = $75.00
Expenses= $284.18
Current bank balance=$929.05
Please remember when sending in a check,
make it payable to Rich Ferguson, not Bresnan.
Suggested donation is now $5 per year.