Rocky Ridge Volunteer Fire Company Holds Annual Banquet

Grace Eyler On January 26, 2017, Rocky Ridge Volunteer Fire Company (VFC) members and their families came together to reminisce and recognize their achievements from the previous year. The banquet was held at the New Midway Volunteer Fire Company. Rocky Ridge VFC President Dale Kline began his review of 2016 by recognizing the members who passed away in the previous year, and called upon Pat Riggs to join him to lead a memorial prayer. Betty Brown, born on September 27, 1933, was the last surviving charter member of the Rocky Ridge Fire Company’s Auxiliary that began in 1955. She spent her time serving food to participants at the “Penny Bingo Games.”  Through the years, Betty helped with banquets, dinners and the carnival. She passed on July 20, 2016, at the age of eighty-three. Edna “Libby” Myers grew up in the Creagerstown area, but spent much of her time in Rocky Ridge. She operated her own hair salon, “Libby’s,” out of her home, located next to the fire company. Libby joined the Auxiliary in 1969, and became a member of the fire company in 1984. Libby even volunteered her time in-between appointments at the salon. She made homemade goods for dinners, banquets, and the carnival, but was most known for her “Chocolate Pudding Pie, made from scratch.” In 2008, she was recognized as an honorary member of the Auxiliary. She passed on December 18, 2016, at the age of ninety-four. After Pat’s touching speech and memorial prayer, Pr. Jim was welcomed to provide a memorium. President Kline then spoke proudly about the company, “This company has been in service for sixty-seven consecutive years, serving the Rocky Ridge community and surrounding areas very well.” He spoke about the many activities the company hosts each year, including the annual carnival; country butchering; Ridgefest; a Halloween party; and a community favorite, Santa’s Detail. Smaller benefits include bingos and gun raffles on a more frequent basis. President Kline gave special recognition to the butchering volunteers. “I used to think these guys were doing it to be helpful, now I understand they come over just to eat!” he said with a smile and the entire audience laughed, admitting that he had been there to eat, too, and, “It is very, very good.” For this year’s butchering, they expect at least five hundred people to pass through for fresh meats and breakfast line. Kline recognized Company 10 members who weren’t in attendance as fill-in for Rocky Ridge. He also recognized the Maryland State Fire Association, calling upon President Mike Davis to introduce his table. Also in attendance was Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner. Gardner said, “You really exemplify the idea of people helping people… you save the tax payers of Frederick County a lot of money through volunteerism and fundraising.” Also in attendance were Frederick County Councilmen Bud Otis and Kirby Delauter. President Kline invited the President of the Auxiliary, Betty Ann Mumma, up to join him. “It’s just so good, as we all support each other and everything pretty much works out in the end. We are fraternal friends, and I think that is all that matters in this life,” said Mumma. She then presented Kline with a check in the amount of $20,000 from their fundraising efforts in 2016. Linda Northrup and Bonny Hurley came forth to provide 2016’s awards. The first award presented was “Outstanding Junior Award.” The ladies mentioned that before this person became a volunteer for the company, she was already volunteering her time every Saturday night at Bingo. The award was presented to Brianna Kaas, who volunteered 64 hours of her time at various activities in 2016. Next, the “Charles Mumma Firefighter of the Year Award” was presented to Paulette Mathias, who has been a member of the company since 1984. She was recognized for her work on several different committees, helping with the annual butchering, Holiday House Tour, and spaghetti dinners. The “Robert Albaugh Outstanding Volunteer Award” was established because Robert loved all components of the fire company. In order to receive this award, a volunteer must be a member for at least three years and also work off of LOSAP system. This year’s recipient has been a member since 1994 and treasurer of the auxiliary since 1972. Having donated 382 hours during 2016, Betty Lee Mumma received the once-in-a-lifetime award. Ronnie Eyler was presented the “Honorary Member Award.” He has volunteered for thirty years with the company, serving in many committees, as well as serving a previous vice president for the company. Ronnie, being a recognized driver for the company, has even been privileged to utilize the Model A Fire Truck. Vice President Denny Mathias and Secretary Paulette Mathias presented the Five-Year Pin awards to: (5 years) Jerry Free and Steve Myers; (10 years) Franklin Free, Robert Free, and John Reese; (15 years) Debbie Eyler and Patsy Wetzel; Shirley Brown, Robbie Eyler, Jamison Mathias, Theresa Kaas, Clarence White, and Wilton Smith (20 Years); Tom Myerly (30 Years); James Willard and James Glass (40 Years); and Barry Burrier (45 Years). Luke Humerick presented awards to the Junior Fire Company for volunteer hours. Humerick stated, “They’re a bunch of hard working kids; they are willing to help whenever we ask. We couldn’t ask for a better group to jump in and give a hand.” Those recognized were: Jolene Mathias (21 hours), Jacob Dolly (28 hours), Josie Kaas (55 hours), Breezy Combs (88 hours), Brianna Kaas (64 hours), Wayne Lewis (61 hours), Heather Hurley (54.5 hours), Robert Albaugh (57 hours), Hunter Hurley (43 hours), and William Kaas (38.5 hours). The tiniest of the junior company, Devin and Blake Youngermen, recieved an award as well. Chief Alan Hurley provided company statistics and presented this year’s Chief Award. “This year, I started a little something to recognize our top ten firefighters.” He recognized Matt Moser (178 calls), Alan Hurley (155 calls), Bonny Hurley (140 calls), Christina Hurley (134 calls), Luke Humerick Jr. (99 calls), Kevin Albaugh (97 calls), Leon Stover Jr. (95 calls), Kerri Gasior (77 calls), Craig Hovermale (58 calls), and Wesley Burrier (53 calls). Steve Orndorff was recognized for being Top Responder for the Fire Police. The all-volunteer fire company tended to 233 emergency calls, totaling 1,300 volunteer hours over the year. The highest volume of calls occurred on Thursdays (a total of 38) and the busiest month for the company was November, with 31 calls. President Dale Kline closed the ceremony by presenting the President’s Award. Dale reminisced about working with the recipient of the award for forty-five years. He said, “When I was nineteen, he [recipient, Dennis Mathias] was probably twelve or thirteen and was already on the fire trucks, learning how to pump water and so forth.” Kline then asked for Vice President Dennis Mathias to stand. Kline recognized that Dennis’ family, from parents down to grandchildren, have volunteered their time with the company. Rocky Ridge’s Volunteer Fire Company is always looking for new recruits, however, it’s very clear that instead of joining a company, it’s really a family of volunteers working together for the greater good of Rocky Ridge.   (left) President Dale Kline presents Vice President Denny Mathias with this year’s President Award. (below) President Dale Kline receives a check from President of Ladies Auxiliary, Betty Ann Mumma, in the amount of $15,000. Photos by Grace Eyler