Woodbury Volunteer Firefighters viewed a premiere of the efforts in a vid created by fellow firefighter and Emmy-award winner Raphael Sbarge at the annual awards dinner Thursday night June 25th, 2026. “The premier knocked it out of the park,” says Fire Chief Janet B. Morgan. “It’s a wonderful video.” She freely admitted getting red-eyed and slightly teary during the six-minute-long video aimed at informing watchers and encouraging recruitment.
Said Mr. Sbarge in comments to firefighters, families, and guests at the 1754 House, “The video shows that we are all neighbors helping neighbors. The department is not a closed social club. It encourages everyone to join.” He added the video will be available for showing at town committees, councils, and commissions as well to clubs, social groups, church meetings, and other organizations after the summer. Mr. Sbarge, a well-known Broadway and Hollywood actor is also a producer and director. His Emmy award is for a documentary called ‘Ten Days in Watts,” a neighborhood in south Los Angeles.
At the same event, Chief Morgan was honored with the dedication of the department’s brandnew Rescue 3 firetruck with her name on a vehicle plaque. Chief Morgan has been a firefighter for 40 years and in charge of the department for the last 25 years. The $830,000 vehicle replaced a truck that was more than 30 years old. “The new truck was ordered two years ago, it came this week on budget and on time,” added a happy Paul Zulpa, Woodbury’s first selectman and former member of the finance committee.
Newly elected officers were sworn in: Deputy Fire Chief Dave Lampart, Fire Captains Steve Cunningham and Corey Shaker, and Fire Lieutenants: Jason Hatstat, Ryan Murphy, Chris Start, and William Hickey. When not engaged in fire or rescue efforts, Lampart is an executive with a group of FM radio station, Cunningham is an IT security consultant, Shaker is CEO of an automotive group, Hatstat is an inspector with Aquarion Water, Start is a builder, Murphy and Hickey are career firefighters. Jim Arndt, chair of the Board of Fire Commissioners, administered the oath of office to them and active firefighters.
Among other award recipients, Earl Gillette received a bronze statue honoring his fifty years as a Woodbury firefighter. Mr. Gillette, a retired commercial pilot, also is a repeat winner of the fire department record for responses. He rolled to 300 call-outs in the last 12 months. Jonathan Kapstein, currently department Public Information Officer, was named Most Valuable Member for bringing the department’s work to public view over the last decade.
In his remarks Fire Capt Shaker noted that nationally fire department volunteers had crashed by 62 percent across the country in the last several years. “But,” Mr. Shaker said, “Woodbury’s membership had gone almost exactly the opposite way by adding 63 percent.” Said Chief Morgan, “We’re in a sweet spot. At any moment I can call upon 40 or 50 firefighters out of our total membership.. Everybody is welcome to drop in, look around, talk with neighbors who are volunteer firefighters, and chat about joining us.”
During the evening, Bethlehem’s volunteer fire department provided Woodbury with fire safety by posting a truck and firefighters at department headquarters. Woodbury will return the Mutual Aid response later in the year.
