PAX Centurion - January / February 2013

Page 38 • PAX CENTURION • January/February 2013 617-989-BPPA (2772) A Boston EMS Christmas Carol T his is the 33 rd year that theEMSDivisionof theBPPAalongwith Boston EMS (use of vehicles, personnel, re-assignments etc.) have donated their time, money, and talent to spread some Christmas joy with some pretty remarkable kids. Dressed as Santa and Mrs. Claus, a Christmas Tree, Frosty the Snowman, and a variety of elves we set out to sing Christmas Car- ols led by Len Shubitowski, Jake Doyle, and little Lenny Dance while Santa’s special elves passed out gifts to children. These gifts are bought by the EMS division of the BPPA along with some gifts donated by BEMS department members. Initially started when the CAP program (Children with AIDS) was a locked unit at the BMC, these kids received very few social visits until Neil Braverman and other EMT’s and Paramedics from BEMS decided to change all that. Sadly we never saw these kids two years in row, now with the progress made in the treatment and prevention of HIV we are lucky enough to see these kids again and again. Several years ago the CAP programmoved to a free-standing building on River Street in Mattapan. It is now called The SPARK Center (Supporting Parents and Resilient Kids) still a program affili- ated with the BMC; SPARK treats not only children with HIV but also children with various medical and developmental delays and in some cases neglect and abuse. This year, we visited the SPARK Center and then traveled to the SMILEDaycare onDudleyStreet, singing songs andpassingout gifts to 96 children. Mrs. Claus (Paramedic Sharon Cintolo) had a tight hold of the reins as she navigated Santa (Captain George Murphy, BEMS Ret .), and an ambulance full of presents to our destination, once again we arrived safely thanks to our escort, the always impres- sive Boston Police MOP unit. It is quite a sight to see a child (some no bigger than a motorcycle boot) looking up at a Boston PoliceMobile Operations Patrol Officer walking towards them with a box of presents. Just don’t say I said it but Santa might have a little competition. Of course it is a tossup as to who enjoys this day more, the little kids at the centers we visit or the big kids at BEMS; Special Ops, thank you for always making this day a prioritywithin your busy schedule, we appreciate your logistic- mindedness and always being one step ahead while the rest of us are running around in tights and reindeer hats. Special thanks to Beth Rimas, Lee Alexander, Mary Labelle, Jacque Pow, and Joanne Dance for all the sewing and organizing. Thanks to Marc Steeves for picking up the toys again this year.Many thanks to all of you, who along with family members came to wrap gifts, including PattyDeYoung who brought her famous homemade Christmas cookies. Thanks to the Alexander’s,Wilson’s, Guinta’s, Cavaleri’s and Jeremiah Pow who came back to christen the new Christmas Tree costume PatAshe appeared only slightly dehydrated after “Thumpetty Thump Thumping” all day as Frosty. Sharon Efstathiou, Meg Tuthill, James Spellman, Gillian Haley and Juli Nichols, outdid themselves as Santa’s elves, making sure each child had the opportunity to sit on Santa’s lap, and receive a gift, and get a little special attention from an authentic elf. Once again, thank you to everyone who helped make this event a success, it’s an extremely rewarding event and one you should get involved in if you haven’t already.Also if there is a community/neigh- borhood organization for kids that you think would be appropriate for part of our Christmas Pedi Event let myself or a Union Rep know and we will look into it for an upcoming year. Thank you again. – Virginia Famolare and the rest of the Boston EMS Family Wishing you all a Happy and Healthy NewYear O nce again it appears as the Sparks party was a huge success. Thanks in part to the BPPA EMS Division, EMS Special Ops, BPDMOP, Boston EMS Command staff for allowing the use of vehicles and reassignments for the day, and the general membership of BEMS and their family and friends (and anyone else I may have omitted), we were able to bring numerous smiles to the faces of children who otherwise might not have had a very special day. This event has been go- ing on for over 33 years, WOW! Thru the fiscally tight times over the years that folks have gone thru we always dig deep to make sure that those who are less fortunate have something to smile about at this special time of year. Boston EMS are the often unsung heroes of the City of Boston. We operate in the open but very rarely get the recognition of our other Pub- lic Safety brothers and sisters. We do not have the media machine nor the resources that other agen- cies have so I thought it was time to recognize those that have participated year after year and then the That wonderful time of the year Happy Holidays from Boston EMS then the newbies to the group. Thanks again to all. With the passing of 2012, may you all have a fantastic 2013. – Eric McDevitt, C73