SEDONA AZ (April 29, 2011) –The Sedona Fire District is sponsoring a free child car seat inspection event on Saturday, May 7 2011, from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at the new ReMax Real Estate Office located in the Safeway Shopping Plaza, 2290 West State Route 89A, Sedona. Certified technicians will be on hand to assist you with installation of your child’s car seat.
According to the National Safe Kids Campaign “car seats when correctly installed and used are extremely effective in saving children’s lives, reducing the risk of death by as much as 71 percent for infants. However, they may be complicated to install and use, making mistakes extremely common. In fact, studies have found that as many as four out of five car seats are installed or used incorrectly. Factors contributing to the difficulty of using seats correctly include a variety of age and size requirements, incompatibility between car seat and vehicle design and improper seating position.”
For additional information on this event contact the Sedona Fire District at (928) 282-6800. Additional information on the proper use of your child car seat can be obtained at http://www.safekids.org/.
Attended my first SFD Governing Board meeting (Tuesday’s Budget Workshop) since the election of the board and I was amazed by the lack of respect shown to the first professional Chief they have had for quite a long time. The Chairman, Dave Blauert, kept on addressing Chief Hazime as “Mr. Hazime” the entire meeting…and I know that it was intentional. Even though that meeting was meant to allow the public to speak out, since this Wednesday they voted on the 2011/12 budget without public input. It was obvious that there was no intention on the part of the Chairman to allow for citizen’s input. The majority of this board has thrown all democratic principles out the window and don’t care what anyone has to say about it. The sad part is that they allowed to get away with it.
Near the end of theTuesday meeting, Mr. Blauert read a statement dealing with “insubordination by senior members of the SFD staff (meaning Chief Hazime) that was meant as his “last warning before further action is taken.” Seems to me that they are trying to force the Chief out because he is not willing to undertake their reckless actions that will negatively impact all of the residents of the SFD District.
What the new majority of the SFD Governing board fails to realize is that his job as a professional in his field is to protect the lives and properties of the residents/businesses in his district and not cover up for their lack of knowledge and experience. Anything less on his part would be dereliction of duty. They are the ones who are guilty of insubordination. They were NOT elected, nor are they competent to tell the Chief how to do his job. Their constant micromanagement of this professional organization will endanger the lives and properties of its residents.
It’s indeed ironic, that Mr. Blauert, the son of the woman who helped as a volunteer to set up what became our initial fire department, is the one who will be instrumental in leading the dismantling of an extremely successful fire district.
It’s a very sad day when the residents of our district are standing by and allowing an inexperienced board to decide the fate of our lives.
As appropriately stated by Jim Buehler in an editorial in today’s Red Rock News: “Who on the board is qualified to decide the manpower and support equipment sufficient to respond to both a heart attack in West Sedona, and a fire in the Village of Oak Creek at the same time? Which member is qualified to determine the appropriate training and support to handle our rural and urban settings? We know the qualifications of SFD Fire Chief Nazih Hazime to make these decision; what are the fire board’s?”
I would rather leave that call to the man we spent a lot of money seeking out, and whose credentials are impeccable. That’s why we hired him, right?…Let the Chief determine our protection needs, not civilian wannabees. That’s what we hired him for.
Only the residents of the SFD District can decide how this will play itself out. It’s time to get involved before it’s too late!
Tom Longo
Sedona, AZ
watched dr drew yesterday
4/30/11 is national take back drugs and medicines at police stations
get car seats checked and clean out medicine cabinets for drop off to police for disposal at same time
The Sedona Fire District (SFD) is seeking $3000 to help cover the cost of the 9th Annual Sedona Pre-Fire Season Cleanup Event. Sponsored by SFD, Waste Management, US Forest Service, BSE Rents, City of Sedona and Village of Oak Creek Association the event offers Sedona and Village of Oak Creek area residents an opportunity to dispose of their yard waste and combustible vegetation prior to fire season. Residents may drop off yard waste at SFD Fire Station #3, in the Village of Oak Creek, May 14 and May 15 and at SFD Fire Station #4, in uptown Sedona, on May 21 and 22. Contributions can be made by contacting Fire Chief Nazih Hazime at 282-6800. Your donations are needed and appreciated.