babysitters banquet 2004

   Members of the Caledonia Fire Department joined distinguished guests, course chairpersons, and family members in congratulating the 39th Babysitters Class on their completion of the course. Twelve students received certification from the Caledonia Fire Department for completing education and training in personal and fire safety, first aid and childcare techniques.
   Larry Heins chairs the Babysitters Course and is assisted by co-chair Patty Lysko. Caledonia Police Officers Joe Rychlicki and David Witherspoon are police safety instructors and Donna Bailey provides first aid instruction. The Caledonia FD Ladies Auxiliary cooked and served a delicious roast beef dinner for the banquet attendants.

   Many special guests attended the banquet to congratulate the students and to commend the Caledonia Fire Department on one of the most successful and long standing community service programs anywhere in Livingston County. Special guests included Livingston County Sheriff John York, Town Supervisor Dan Pangrazio, Caledonia Police Officers Joe Rychlicki and David Witherspoon, Middle School Principal Robert Molisani, the Board of Directors and Commissioners of the CFD – Don Mosele, Bill Reid, James Murphy, Jack Southcombe, James Dutton, Leonard Ranous, Mark Schroeder, Ivan Carson, Don Manley, past course instructor Diane Carson, Fire Chief Mike Burnside, Deputy Chief Bob Beisang, President Tom Sims, Secretary Stanley MacWilliams, Treasurer Susanna Heins and Auxiliary President Donna MacWilliams.

   Students were required to complete two assignments for the course, a written essay and an escape route plan. Three winners were announced for each assignment. Essay winners: first place – Bailey McCombs, second place – Taryn Poole, third place – Taylor Binnert. Escape route plan: first place – Kayla Sickles, second place – Samantha Stein, third place – Josh Ball.

   Students completing the 39th Annual Caledonia Fire Department Babysitters Banquet are: Josh Ball, Abby Formella, Stacey Johnston, Bailey McCombs, Kayla Sickles, Taylor Binnert, Kristen Hume, Rob Lysko, Taryn Poole, Samantha Stein and Shawn Wolcott.

Course participants of the 39th Annual Caledonia Fire Department Babysitters Course. Special guests from around the county joined their families in celebrating the successful completion of the program.

It isn’t often that a small town program sponsored and taught by volunteers can be called "one of the best in the county," and earn the regard of local and county-wide law enforcement and emergency medical personnel. But the Caledonia Fire Department’s Babysitters Course has not only accomplished that, but has stood the test of time as this year’s class is the 39th annual.

Larry Heins chairs the course and Patty Lysko co-chairs. Both bring a unique perspective to the material taught to the babysitters in training. Their valuable insight is reinforced by guest speakers from the Caledonia Police Department (Sgt. David Witherspoon and Administrator Joe Rychlicki) and Paramedic Donna Bailey. Topics covered over the five week course include police and personnel safety, first aid, fire safety tips and basic child care tips.

Students in the course will complete their training with an exam, a written essay and a designed fire escape route. A banquet to honor their course completion will be held at J.W. Jones Hall on March 31.

Paramedic Donna Bailey instructs students in the Caledonia FD Babysitters Course on how to help a baby who is choking or not breathing.

Babysitters Course students practice securing a possible broken limb with a hand made sling.