Every year, billions of dollars in state tax money flows directly from the state to local governments to support essential services, including police and fire. Thanks to the state budget shortfall, and the politics at the Capitol, local government's piece of the pie is about to get a lot smaller.
Firefighters are getting more news that matter to them in minutes, courtesy of CPF Firevision. Since CPF Firevision launched in January, the online news service has reported on issues affecting our profession, like the re-introduction of the Emergency Response Initiative, the California Firefighters Memorial Ceremony and pension-slashing measures.
In the classic holiday movie “It’s A Wonderful Life,” Jimmy Stewart’s guardian angel showed him that he was the “richest man in town.” Ventura County Firefighter Greg Chavez’ “Guardian Angel” has made him a rich man, too. Chavez, a member of Ventura County Firefighters Local 1364, has won the nationally broadcast American Inventor contest – and a $1 million prize – for his holiday fire safety device disguised as a Christmas tree ornament. His “Guardian Angel” design beat out five other finalists and literally thousands of entries to with the contest, which aired on ABC television on Wednesday nights.
If you're looking for something to make those firehouse menus really sizzle, have we got a hot product for you ... Palo Alto Firefighters Hot Pepper Sauce. Thanks to Palo Alto Engineer Lee Taylor and his special recipe of serrano and jalapeno peppers, a homebrewed pepper sauce has become an area sensation. Bottles are selling by the thousands, yielding huge donations to Local 1319's non-profit charitable fund.
At the 41st CPF Convention, Bobby Weist was elected by acclimation to the post of Vice President for CPF's 3rd District. He replaces the position formerly occupied by Brian Rice.