Small Town News

Dance proceeds help fire charity

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It's not quite Valentine's Day, but a dance is being planned to raise money for a local fire district.

It's the Sweethearts Dinner Dance, organized to benefit the Verde Valley Fire Foundation, a group that for the past few years has raised money to help out the Verde Valley Fire District.

This is the first sweethearts dance hosted by the foundation.

Throughout the year it holds different fundraisers like golf tournaments and other events.

The dance is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 8, at the Moose Lodge in Clarkdale, 1051 S. Broadway St.

Doors open at 6 p.m., dinner is served at 7 p.m. and is either steak, chicken or vegetarian and the dance is set from 8 to 10 p.m.

The dress code is business casual.

Tickets are $40 per person or $75 per couple. To get the tickets, call Amy Bayless at 639-0121 or email aabayless@gmail.com.

Alternatively, tickets can be obtained from any of the Verde Valley fire stations, numbers 31 and 32, 2700 E. Godard Rd. in Cottonwood and 1120 Page Springs Road in Cornville, respectively.

Verde Valley Fire Chief Nazih Hazime said that the foundation has been a big help during his tenure as chief and even before that.

"It was established a few years ago by a group of residents who wanted to help out the district," Hazime said.

The foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

"There are golf tournaments, there are Christmas tree sales," Hazime said. "They bring me in and ask what I need to enhance the safety of the firefighters and the effectiveness of the department."

Hazime said he consults with his captains to get and idea of what the department could use a bit of extra cash for and presents a "wishlist" back to the fire foundation.

Some recent items the foundation has been able to provide include an off-road quad-type vehicle outfitted with an area to put a stretcher.

The quad is a help, Nazime said, when the firefighters and rescue personnel have to traverse difficult terrain.

It comes in handy for swift-water rescues or any other time the department is faced with a more challenging trail or landscape'.

Hazime also said the foundation has provided equipment for a stretcher that is designed to accommodate heavier patients, one that helps reduce potential strain and injury to firefighters.

Other items provided by the foundation were some "mayday" flashlights, Hazime said, lights with different settings that can clip to a firefighter's lapel and make it easier to locate them if they happen to get into trouble.

The foundation also helps fund the Verde Valley Ambulance Company, Hazime said.



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