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2026-27 Officers Elected

June 1, 2026: Front row from left is Chief Anthony Capozziello, Second Assistant Chief Rob Sibley, Deputy Chief Ryan Clark, and First Assistant Chief Andy Ryan. Standing from left are Engineers Steve Stohl, Kyle Keeping, Kevin Keohan, Jon Doyle and Leslie Richards; First Engineer and Commissioner Tim Whelan; President Bradley Richardson; Lieutenant Archie Paloian; Vice President President Matt Dobson, Captain Stephen Clark, Second Engineer Bruce Clark, EMS Captain and Treasurer Karin Halstead, Engineer John Moore, Secretary Shannon Will, Engineer Massimo D’Alessandro, and Assistant Treasurer John Jeltema. The term runs July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027.

During the annual company meeting on Monday, June 1, 2026, the following were voted into Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company firefighting branch and administrative officer positions for the period of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027: 

Firefighting Branch/Line Officers — Chief, Anthony Capozziello; Deputy Chief, Ryan Clark; First Assistant Chief, Andy Ryan; Second Assistant Chief, Rob Sibley; Captain, Stephen Clark; Lieutenant, Archie Paloian; First Engineer, Tim Whelan; Second Engineer, Bruce Clark; EMS Captain, Karin Halstead; and Engineers: Massimo D’Alessandro, Jon Doyle, Kyle Keeping, Kevin Keohan, John Moore, Ryan Piccirillo, Jeff Platek, Leslie Richards, and Steven Stohl; and 

Administrative Branch — President, Brad Richardson, Entering His 26th Year In That Position; Vice President, Matt Dobson; Secretary, Shannon Will; Treasurer, Karin Halstead; Assistant Treasurer, John Jeltema; and Commissioner, Tim Whelan.

  • July 1, 2026 in News

LobsterFest In The Books For Another Year

Hundreds of people joined Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company members, friends, family and other volunteers for this year’s LobsterFest, which was presented at our main station Friday and Saturday, June 5-6, 2026.

Thank you to everyone who played any role in presenting this event, a major fundraiser for our company. We hope everyone who attended enjoyed themselves.

We’ll see everyone next year.

—Bill Glass photo, used with permission

Furthest Traveled! Mike Grist, who lives in Florida, and Jackson Whitlock, Zach Grist, Andrew Gleespen, Brooke Gleespen, Ryan Gleespen, and Ralph Flynn, who all live in Ohio, traveled from Ohio on June 5 to attend LobsterFest. Once they enjoyed their dinner they returned home. Andrew told firefighters he and some friends “stumbled upon this event a few years ago while on our way home from a vacation.” They now make it an annual tradition to drive in for our event.

Handling the shucking duties this year were, from left, Sandy Hook VFR members Randy Muller and Kevin Keohan, and Kevin Marquis, a longtime member of Dodgingtown Fire who has volunteered with fellow first responders at LobsterFest for many years. —Bill Glass photo, used with permission

—Bill Glass photo, used with permission

SHVFR Chief Anthony Capozziello, who is also LobsterFest Chair, with longtime Ladies Auxiliary member Deb Aurelia Halstead on the serving line. —Bill Glass photo, used with permission

Sandy Hook VFR firefighter Craig Kampmier was one of three members of the fire company offering shuttle service between parking lots. —Bill Glass photo, used with permission

—Dee Liska/Sandy Hook VFR Ladies Auxiliary photo

Read more here: Another Clawsome Good Time At LobsterFest (The Newtown Bee)

  • June 12, 2026 in News

Back To Basics: Chainsaw Training (Monday, March 23, 2026)

Sandy Hook VFR welcomed Mission CIT instructors Eric and Justin for an evening training session.

Members broke into two groups, with one session focused on chainsaws and the other going over roof saws. Each instructor covered basic checks, safe use and applications before the groups rotated between the two stations. 

  • March 25, 2026 in News

Back To Basics Training: Driver Recert

Members of Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue spent part of the morning of Sunday, November 9 doing driver recertification. Stations and courses were set up at multiple locations withing our district, where drivers were tested on different pieces of apparatus.

Pump operations were also tested during the annual training.

First Engineer Tim Whelan monitors while a driver maneuvers Tanker 449 through a cones course during driver recertification on November 9.

Drafting and pumping water was also part of the morning’s training.

Deputy Chief Ryan Clark and Firefighter Matt Dobson set up pumping between Engine 441 and Brush 445.

Deputy Chief Ryan Clark (left) and Firefighter Matt Dobson (right) work with Firefighter Kevin Keohan at Engine 441’s pump panel.

Firefighter Scott Allen also does pumping detail on Engine 441.

  • November 10, 2025 in News

23rd Annual Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service

Members of Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Recue (above) joined firefighters from across the state on Sunday, September 28, for the 23rd Annual Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service. The ceremony was conducted at the state’s memorial in front of Connecticut Fire Academy in Windsor Locks.

The names of five men who died in the line of duty were added to the memorial this year, including two from Newtown: Botsford Fire Rescue Assistant Chief Pete Blomberg and Hawleyville Vice President and Firefighter Lewis Durgy.

Sandy Hook firefighters were honored to present the colors at the event.

Members of Dodgingtown Fire also attended the ceremony.

Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue presented the colors during the 23rd Annual Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service.

Relatives of the late Botsford Fire Rescue Assistant Chief Pete Blomberg and Hawleyville Volunteer Fire Company Firefighter Lewis Durgy are surrounded by Newtown volunteer firefighters at the Connecticut Fallen Firefighters Memorial on September 28.

Members of Botsford, Dodgingtown, Hawleyville and Sandy Hook volunteer fire companies all attended The 23rd Annual Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service.

Sandy Hook VFR members also paid their respects to the late Chief Bill Halstead, whose name was added to the state memorial in September 2022.

Read more here: Newtown Firefighters Among Those To Be Memorialized This Weekend (The Newtown Bee)

and here: Two Newtown Firefighters Among Five Men Memorialized During Annual Ceremony (The Newtown Bee)

  • October 4, 2025 in News

Four Trophies From State Convention (Sunday, September 14, 2025)

Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue won four trophies following the 142nd Firefighters Convention Parade in Orange.

Firefighters earned Best Appearing in Coats, Best Appearing Color Guard and Most Firefighters in Line.

Our Ladies Auxiliary won Best Appearing Ladies Auxiliary-Runner Up.

Congratulations to Middlebury Volunteer FD, who won Best Overall.

  • September 14, 2025 in News