Freedom Riders take to the road for
Caledonia Fire Department

   You may have heard the roar of dozens of motorcycles driving through Caledonia on Sunday, August 19 as the Western New York Freedom Riders Chapter 911 held a dice run and bike show to benefit the Caledonia Fire Department.

   The nearly 70 mile run started from J.W. Jones Hall in Caledonia and traveled to Leicester, Avon, Henrietta and Scottsville before arriving at their destination, Shooters Bar and Grill located on Route 5 in Caledonia. Once there, the drivers and riders enjoyed a chicken barbecue, compliments of Shooters’ owner, Amy Burnside and caterer Barbara Martin. WBEE 92.5 country radio personalities Megan Carter and Brian Chase were also on hand to help with judging over 45 bikes entered in the show. Trophies provided by Bowlers World in Rochester were presented and dozens of prizes were given away, as well.

   Bruce Calkins, vice-president of the Freedom Riders, and his wife Christine recently moved to Caledonia, though Christine lived here during her teen years. She remembered the Caledonia Fire Department and ambulance volunteers had always provided good emergency care to her ill grandmother. With their chapter named 911 as a tribute to all of the rescue workers associated with September 11, 2001 terror attack on American soil, Bruce and Christine and the rest of the members thought it was fitting to donate the proceeds of the dice run to the local fire department.

   Tom Sims, Caledonia Fire Department President, said it’s always difficult to get people to support fundraising for the fire department, especially nowadays when there are so many organizations competing for donations. Sims said he was impressed by their willingness to do all of the organizing and coordinating and especially their fundraising support for the all-volunteer fire department.

   Amy Burnside said she was happy to offer Shooters as the final stop for the bikers and even more pleased that it was all done to raise money for the local fire department.

   "I like to do benefits and I was more than happy that they (the Freedom Riders) ended here," Burnside commented. Burnside has held other benefit events at Shooters, including one for the family of Chris Paladino, a Caledonia man killed in a car accident and another for a man suffering from cancer.

   Calkins was busy with judging the bikes and with giving away the dozens of prizes donated for the event by local and area merchants but says the total dollar figure that will be donated to the Caledonia Fire Department will be determined in the near future.