POUGHKEEPSIE – Members of the City of Poughkeepsie Police and Fire Departments brought a fall festival to Main Street on Saturday, offering fresh apples, cider donuts, and cups of apple cider to passersby of the Public Safety Building.
The professional firefighters, members of IAFF Local 596, used their relationship with Locust Grove Fruit Farm in Milton, which donated several gallons of apple cider and several dozen cider donuts.
Working with the firefighters, some of the city’s police officers secured a large number of apples from two Ulster County farms; Williams Fruit Farm in Highland and Porpiglia Farms in Marlboro.
Set up in front of the building, the first responders from the two departments greeted the pedestrians and offered free treats to them. Many of the people took an apple while some families stopped to partake in all of the offerings while interacting with the uniformed servers.
“We enjoy getting out and meeting with people without an emergency being involved,” said City of Poughkeepsie Police Officer and PBA President Kevin VanWagner. “This is just one more initiative we have undertaken to strengthen community relations with the residents we protect.”
City Firefighter and Local 596 President Nick Bucher echoed his counterpart’s sentiments. “The community usually sees us in their time of need. This fall festival lets us meet the community during a less-stressful time and the community feedback has been very positive.”
