Callery fire department hosts End of Summer Fest
CALLERY — The Callery Volunteer Fire Comapny on Saturday held its first End of Summer Fest for the community to say goodbye to the season.
Main Street was closed for the daylong event in which the fire department displayed recent renovations to the fire station and hall, and area businesses and vendors set up booths and food trucks.
“Not many people know that we’re here,” said Randy Hoffman, assistant chief of the department.
In July, the department completed a renovation project that included construction of an addition for offices and gear storage, upgrades to the rental hall, new cement floors in the fire truck bays and other improvements, Hoffman said. The station also boasts a large gym for members.
He said he hopes the renovated station will encourage people to join the department.
The fire department has 15 active firefighters and has responded to 405 calls so far this year, but there are also eight community members of the department who help organize events such as Saturday’s festival and assist the department with logistics, he said.
“I don’t think a lot of people understand that we do a lot of fun things ...,” said Courtney Foreman, one of the community members who helped organize the festival. “We help with events and help the community.”
The department organizes events for Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Christmas, and then assesses the events every year, Hoffman said.
Natalie Turzai-Okular also helped organize the End of Summer Fest as a community member of the fire department.
With her two young children, Charlotte and Alexander Huffman, at her side, Turzai-Okular had a booth on Main Street and was selling photo boxes and other items to store keepsakes.
She said people had been stopping at her booth and visiting other vendors throughout the day.
A variety of food also was available at the event, including barbecue from the recently opened Back Home BBQ & Brew Co. of Evans City.
Several businesses had giveaways for visitors as well.
