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Friday, August 23, 2019
Vol. 7, No. 34
BACK TO SCHOOL
COMPLAINT FILED AGAINST TERRY
TOWN HIGHWAY SUPERVISOR RESIGNS
PAGES 27-36
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Ex-Albertson chief picked for state board
A WORK OF ART
Jose ‘Joe’ DaRocha installed by Firemen’s Assoc. at convention BY R O S E W E L D ON Albertson resident and former Fire Chief Jose “Joe” DaRocha has been elected to a five-year term on the board of directors of the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York . DaRocha, 74, a member of the Albertson Engine Hose Hook and Ladder Company No. 1, was inducted at the organization’s 147th Annual Convention Aug. 10 in Syracuse. He had previously served two years on the board and been on the board of trustees for the FASNY-operated Firemen’s Home for 10 years. A native of Manhasset Valley, DaRocha began firefighting shortly after graduating from Manhasset High School in 1963, where he played football, basketball and baseball. “Some of my friends belonged to the Fire Department already,” DaRocha said. “They approached me, they said, why don’t you join?
So I did.” He began his career with two years at Manhasset Lakeville Fire Department Co. 2, before moving to Albertson and joining its fire service, where he has stayed for 54 years and served as chief from 1981 to 1983. DaRocha’s family also became involved with the department, with his late wife, Ann, serving in Albertson’s Ladies’ Auxiliary and eventually becoming president of its Nassau County chapter. Daughter Gina also joined the Ladies’ Auxiliary, and DaRocha’s two sons followed by serving in fire departments, with younger son Robert volunteering at the fire service in Westbury. Joel Melamed, who entered the Albertson Hook and Ladder Company No. 1 as a junior fireman in 1994, was accompanied by DaRocha on many of his first calls. Now, as a 1st assistant chief himself, Melamed remembers DaContinued on Page 61
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ART GUILD.
A work in progress at Children’s Art Studio. The Art Guild recently released its fall schedule of art classes. See story on page 50.
Tom Laffey, founder of real estate firm, dies at 81 BY R O S E W E L D ON
causes on Aug. 14 at St. Francis Hospital in Flower Hill, his son Laffey Real Estate founder Emmett said in a phone call Thomas Laffey, a longtime Wil- with Blank Slate Media. An Irish citizen who emiliston Park resident, has died at grated to New York in 1956 age 81. Laffey died of natural at 17, Laffey made a name for
himself as the founder of Laffey Real Estate, which now comprises 15 offices on Long Island and in Queens. Laffey began his real estate career as an agent in FloContinued on Page 61
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