County Volunteer Firefighters' Parade set for Sept. 24

Monroe - The Mombasha Fire Company and the Monroe Fire Department will host the 90th Orange County Volunteer Firefighters' Association Parade on Saturday, Sept. 24. More than 45 fire companies, guests and marching bands will be in attendance. The staging area will encompass all of Still Road and its side streets. The 1.9 mile parade route will pass the Mombasha Firehouse along Route 17M, make a right on Stage Road to Lake Street then turn right on Millpond Parkway and end in Crane Park. The parade will begin at 2 p.m. Leading the parade will be Grand Marshal former Chief Herb Dorn. Orange County Fireman's Association President, former Mombasha Fire Chief John Karl, III will follow leading the county officers. Traditionally, the community where the association president resides hosts the parade. It was last held in Monroe in 1998 when Richard Jones was president. Parade features will include antique fire trucks, marching bands, trophies and T-shirts with Mombasha's 1925 Mack antique fire truck commemorating the parade, will be available for sale. Members of the parade committee are chairman Rich Jones, Rich Draiss, Robin Draiss, Tom Sullivan, Aldo Chiappetta, Jeff Mahran, Vini Tankasali, Bill Scolza, John Kerwan, John Karl, Dale Forsberg, John Lewis, Mark Kennedy, Rick Neale, Karl Martin, Bill Trimble, Jayne Hesse, Kelly Hesse, Katie Kasch, John McGovern and Tony Cassas.