BUSINESS BOLSTERS BBVFC - Monte Wisbrock

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Local businesses are the lifeblood of our community in many ways. From providing the goods and services for everyday living, to creating jobs, to undergirding our resort economy, their impact is enormous. One area where they don’t get enough recognition is their support for the fire company. First and foremost, many owners and managers are long term and among the most active members of the BBVFC. That list includes Hal Barber of Tansey-Warner Real Estate, Gene Hazzard of Hazzard Electric, Virginia Childers-Davidson of Sea Shell City, Steve, Mary Beth and Doug Murray of Murray Property Management, Brian Martin of Martin Property Services, Richard Mais of McCabe’s Gourmet Market, Michael Wilgus of Wilgus Associates, Wilbert Powell of the Bethany Arms Motel, Luke Powell of Emergency Pro Property Management, Chad Hickman of Jack Hickman Builders, Bob Webster of the Chalkboard Tavern, Charly Curcio of Jefferson, Urian, Doane & Sterner and Todd Hickman of NV Homes. Equally important, local businesses are generous financial supporters of the Company. Wilgus Associates, Miranda & Hardt Contracting, Zonko Builders, Miken Builders, PNC Bank, Royal Plus Electric, SLD Investments, Dr. Dave Marshall at Sea Colony Tennis, Long & Foster’s Wayne Lyons and the Twinings of Nantucket’s have contributed over $200,000 to our $3 million Major Capital Campaign through which we are trying to pay off debt on our headquarters and aerial ladder truck. The business community also creates terrific and practical fundraising opportunities for us. Last year, Armand’s Pizzeria in Sea Colony Marketplace donated a percentage of one month’s sales to and collected contributions for the major capital campaign. DiFebo’s recently had a guest chef night where members helped with the cooking and serving and the Company received 30% of the evening’s food sales. The Roadhouse in Rehoboth Beach held a similar event. Bethany Blues sold BBQ dinners at our HQ and most of the proceeds went to the BBVFC. We hope to have several events like these again this summer. Grotto’s regularly contributes free or heavily discounted food in support of various Company activities. Most recently, Representative Gerald Hocker selected the BBVFC to be the beneficiary of his Annual Springtime Jamboree and the business community has rallied behind us to purchase sponsor ads in the popular event’s program. Several local businesses including Creative Concepts and the Carl M. Freeman Companies contributed greatly to the construction and outfitting of our new firehouse. ¬¬¬¬ I would be remiss if I did not mention the wonderful support that we constantly receive from the Chamber of Commerce, which is made up of these same businesses. The Chamber and its affiliate, the Quiet Resorts Charitable Foundation, have funded our Special Operation trailer, designated us as a beneficiary of their annual golf tournament in 2007 and 2008, made a significant gift to the major capital campaign and helped us communicate with the community through its newsletter and e-mail system. To all of these businesses, to those that I missed and to those that always offer window space for a poster or counter space for raffle tickets, you have our sincere thanks. Monte Wisbrock is a firefighter with and assistant secretary for the BBVFC, which he joined in 2001. He is a retired U.S. Army sergeant major and past president of the Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce and was the BBVFC’s Firefighter of the Year in 2005. Monte lives in Bethany Beach with his wife, Cheryl, and can be reached at [email protected].