A BIG THANKS FIREFIGHTERS GET COMMUNITY HUG.Byline: DENNIS McCARTHY Dennis McCarthy may refer to:
Jesus Pasos took one look around the grounds at Shomrei Torah Synagogue synagogue (sĭn`əgŏg) [Gr.,=assembly], in Judaism, a place of assembly for worship, education, and communal affairs. The origins of the institution are unclear. One tradition dates it to the Babylonian exile of the 6th cent. B.C. in West Hills on Sunday afternoon, and summed up in one word what everyone was thinking. ``Wow!'' the young Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. city firefighter said. Yeah, wow. Pasos and his fellow firefighters were standing in the middle of the biggest community hug any of them had ever seen. More than 400 residents came to a barbecue at the synagogue to thank local firefighters for saving their homes from the Topanga Fire, which scorched scorch v. scorched, scorch·ing, scorch·es v.tr. 1. To burn superficially so as to discolor or damage the texture of. See Synonyms at burn1. 2. more than 24,000 acres and destroyed three homes before it was put out earlier this month. The last time Sheri Pilosof saw many of these firefighters she was running down her street, Wooded Vista, with her children - looking over her shoulder at the approaching flames and thinking she might never see her home again. She did - on TV at a friend's house. For a day and a night, she watched the water drops and firefighters standing in her backyard keeping the flames at bay. ``They saved our homes, and there was no way I wasn't going to be here today with everyone else in our community to say thank you to them,'' Sheri said. Jeff and Pat Druyan felt the same way. ``This is a rare opportunity for us to meet and have a hot dog with the people who protected and saved our homes,'' Jeff said. ``It's a great feeling to be able to walk up to them, shake their hands, and say, 'Thank you, you saved my neighborhood.''' The feeling was mutual for the 30 firefighters there from eight fire stations in Battalion 17, which protects the West Valley. They wouldn't be human if it didn't make them feel a little humble to have so many people show up on a Sunday afternoon for them, said Firefighter Jenifer Kaufmann. ``This is just so cool, so awesome,'' she said. ``We train hard to do our jobs, and it's exciting to be here meeting them after doing that job.'' Sure, they're used to people thanking them individually on the street, or even stopping by their station house with some home-cooked food or cookies. But this was something different. This, Pasos and his buddies said, was something special. Fire Engineer Lee Marshall
Lee Marshall is a professional wrestling announcer formally of the American Wrestling Association (AWA). has been a city firefighter for over 20 years, but said he's never felt the kind of gratitude he felt Sunday. ``When we show up, it's usually because people are in need, and we can help them immediately, whether it's fighting a fire threatening their home or helping them after a car accident,'' he said. ``The feedback is immediate. We can usually alleviate their problem, and they're grateful. Police officers, on the other hand, usually show up after something has happened, like a burglary or robbery. ``They weren't there to stop it. It's not their fault, it's just the way it is. Firefighters get this kind of gratitude because we get to stop something bad before it happens. ``And no matter how long you're on the job, that has to make you feel awfully good inside,'' Marshall said. Gratitude, though, can be fleeting, said Rabbi Richard Camras. Next month, it would be too late to say thank you. It had to be now, while the fires - and the menacing threat they posed to many of the homes in this community - were still fresh in everyone's mind. So, when Mireille Bieber, a member of his synagogue, said she wanted to do something special for the local firefighters who had saved their homes, Camras said go for it. She and her friends put together this community barbecue in less than two weeks. They got the El Camino High School "El Camino High School" may refer to:
band - instrumentalists not including string players to perform, and Boy Scout Troop 246 in West Hills to lead everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance Pledge of Allegiance, in full, Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, oath that proclaims loyalty to the United States. and its national symbol. . They served over 2,000 hot dogs and drinks, and gave free massages and back rubs to the firefighters and their families - gratis GRATIS. Without reward or consideration. 2. When a bailee undertakes to perform some act or work gratis, he is answerable for his gross negligence, if any loss should be sustained in consequence of it; but a distinction exists between non-feasance and healing-touch therapy. The firefighters were even told to stop by Luciano's Salon during November for a free haircut Haircut 1. The difference between prices at which a market maker can buy and sell a security. 2. The percentage by which an asset's market value is reduced for the purpose of calculating capital requirement, margin, and collateral levels. Notes: 1. , which drew a lot of applause and laughs. That's what she was hoping for, Bieber said. ``You can always write letters of gratitude, send cards, or stop by their station house individually to say thanks, but we wanted to do something special as a community. ``To all come together at one time to say thank you.'' To make the firefighters who saved their homes take one look around and say, ``Wow.'' Dennis McCarthy, (818) 713-3749 dennis.mccarthy(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 3 photos Photo: (1 -- color) Fire Capt. John McDonald John McDonald may refer to:
(2) L.A. firefighters get a round of applause Sunday during a party of thanks at Shomrei Torah Synagogue in West Hills. (3) Los Angeles Firefighter Bill Kasuba of Station 72 is presented with a homemade home·made adj. 1. Made or prepared in the home: homemade pie. 2. Made by oneself. 3. Crudely or simply made. Adj. 1. chocolate Bundt cake Sunday by Calabasas residents Maya Weintraub, 8, left, Nikkie Gorman, 10, center, and Jenna Weintraub, 10. David Sprague/Staff Photographer |
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