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Hello, my little leprechauns! Yours truly is here bringing you the latest and greatest scoop on anything and everything Irish. Just a hop skip and a jump across the Tappan Zee Bridge (yea I said that), is the Gracie Rose, located in the heart of downtown Pearl River, NY. The quaint Irish tea shop and grocery store offers a variety of delicious dining options from Shepherd and Biddy Pies to freshly baked Scones, Traditional Brown Bread, Fish and Chips and Sausage Rolls. The shelves and refrigeration sections are packed with the usual Irish delectables; black and white pudding, Irish sausage, Barry's Tea (as if anyone would dare choose another), jams, marmalades and a vast selection of sweet treats. We all know that the Irish love their sweet treats. This was our haul. Trust me those Curly Wurley's will not survive the night, and I will be on the treadmill first thing tomorrow morning! Enjoy the video and put this one on your to do list when you travel through Rockland County! Slainte. #Sprinklingirishmagic

Saint Mary Catholic Church is located in downtown Norwalk, CT. It was founded by the Irish immigrant community and Reverand Brady in 1848. A fire destroyed the original church on Chapel Street and was torn down by unfriendly neighbors. The community continued to thrive and grow, and the church was rebuilt by the Irish congregation and their Pastor in 1854. Did you know that up until 1964, all the Pastors at St Mary Church were Irish? In 1857 Reverend Smith broke ground on the current Gothic Revival structure that was designed by Irish born Architect James Murphy. For additional information about this Irish historical gem please visit the Connecticut Irish Heritage Trail Website. #sprinklingirishmagic

I did this. I do not own the rights to this music. Thats EVH, the song it perfect!

Kay Petroff has been an NYS Certified Interior Firefighter and EMT serving the Croton Falls Fire Department (CFFD) for 15 years. At one point, Kay was one of three female members. Over the past couple of years, that has changed… slightly.  Quite frankly, this job isn’t easy and if it was easy, everyone would do it.   My first encounter with Kay was at a CME (Continuing Medical Education) event for EMT's.  We became fast friends; in fact, she convinced me to cross over to the dark side and join CFFD. Over the past few years, we’ve worked several EMT events together. We are quite the tag team at the Old Salem Farm Horse Shows. Hey, when you find that EMT 'person' you find your person!  Kay taught me everything there is to know about horses, she’s well versed on the topic, having grown up training and competing in the sport herself.  If one could sum up Kay in one sentence, she is that show- up -step -up firefighter, EMT and friend.    Earlier in the week, surrounded by her fur babies, we had dinner at her place, caught up about life and talked about what we always talk about being firefighters and EMT’s.  Everybody has a backstory what’s yours? Why did you become an EMT and Firefighter?   “My son Tyler was a Boy Scout. One night I was sitting with the other moms waiting for the meeting to end.  Joe Consentino was the pack leader and the chairperson for recruitment and retention for CFFD. Joe asked me, what was I going to do when Tyler was away at college?  He convinced me to join.  After all, I like helping people and would enjoy becoming more involved in the town. I was a single mom and worked two jobs, but my life always revolved around everything and anything that pertained to Tyler. He was really active! I knew when he was out of the house, there would be a void.  So, I filled out the application and joined.  The thought of being a woman in the department didn’t really hit me until someone said that there were only three girls in the department!  Hey but it all worked out and if I can do it at 50, then anyone can do it!” What are the pros and cons if any?   Pros: “Probably the same reason everyone does this, to help people in distress.  To support the community and town.  It’s just rewarding and makes you feel good. It can be tough, but it really gives you confidence in yourself.”        Cons: “Its time consuming and I don’t just mean the calls. A lot goes into this, lots of continued strenuous training, meetings and sponsored events.  It can be emotionally damaging; we are exposed to lots of unpleasant things.”   What would be your elevator pitch to convince someone to join?   “There is a great camaraderie. It’s like having several brothers and sisters.  Also, if you like meeting new people, there is a lot of interaction with the community. There is also a tax break, and it looks great on your resume.   They say everybody has three calls that affect them emotionally.  How many do you have?  What are they?   “The first one that comes to mind was when Hurricane Sandy hit New York and blew through the lake areas in North Salem. Two young boys were in a house, their mothers were in the house next door.  In a split second it, that all changed.  A large tree fell on the house, it was enormous. That tree was so long and wide, and the house was narrow. It fell dead center. Then the house caved in around it and nearly almost split it in two. Responding was tough, there were downed trees, it was like a war zone.  So many departments responded, there were chain saws everywhere.  We had to get the tree out of the way to gain access to the boys inside. It was hard for everyone but being a mother, watching these two mothers waiting, pacing in horror.  It's something that you don’t ever forget.  Carrying those boys out.  There are no words.  It just stays with you.  When I am out on the lake and look over in that direction it’s an immediate flashback.”   “The next one that comes to mind was the horse rescue.  It was a really cold night when the call came in that a horse was stuck in the woods off Hardscrabble Road.  What we thought was going to be a quick rescue turned out to be many long hours!  Everyone knows that I have a soft spot for horses.  The hard part was trying to locate where the rider left the horse in the mud, in the dark, in the cold.  When we realized how bad this was, we summoned help from the Westchester and Putnam Technical Rescue Teams. It was heart wrenching, but we got it done!  We saved a horse and earned a new member; the horse’s owner was so impressed and thankful that he joined the CFFD team.”   “The last one would be the plane crash into Titicus Reservoir. The call came in around 1:00AM. Everyone was there, the entire department, MA16, the police.  My assignment was to drive over the dam in the utility and shine the flood lights onto the water as we continued to search for survivors and the plane wreckage.  We were there until around 4:00AM, when the county took over with their dive team. They finally found the plane, a husband and wife still strapped into their seats. Prior to that, all I could think about was would we see a body floating on the water, how awful that would be.”      What advice would you give to new members?   “Listen.  Ask questions but pay attention, you are there to learn. There are people that have been doing this along longer than you and this is life and death.  It’s not easy and you need to get tough skin.  My training cohort included mostly twenty-year-old kids, and I was in my fifties. You can do it.  Don’t get discouraged in the beginning, once you start learning things you will get more responsibility, but it will happen have patience and keep showing up.” What would you change if anything about the volunteer service?   “EMS needs a paid crew and better wages, EMS is essential.  We contribute so much time, taken away from our family it would be nice to get some discounts, like fuel.  We drive back and forth to the firehouse so many times.  Expand the HERRO Program to promote education.”    What has changed the most in fifteen years?    “Training has changed significantly. There are a lot of training hours required by the county."   If you could have one wish, if you could purchase anything for the department what would that be?   “A vehicle assigned to just EMT’s that are also firefighters, it should be fully equipped and stocked with ample supplies.”   “And a Dalmatian would not be bad either!”  LOL. As a female and a male dominated industry, what advice would you give to other females?   “Don’t be afraid to try, if you decide to go forward you will get the support that you need and if you get your balls broken don’t take it personally.  There are people that will be there for you and there will be some not so much, stay with the people that are with you. Those are your people.”  Thank you for your service, Firefighter-EMT Petroff!

The First Responder family extends far and wide so please help pass this along or stop by to show some support for Paramedic Brandon Smith. Event details below: Many thanks to the Plattekill Fire Department Station 1 for hosting this amazing event for our fellow first responder brother.

The Glenville Mill is located in the heart of Glenville, Connecticut. Just a stone's throw away from the famous eatery, Glenville Pizza (yum). It was the first cotton mill of its kind and primarily built by the influx of Irish immigrants. Operations began in 1790 and since then its changed hands several times. Over the years it welcomed many new buildings and thriving businesses. By 1880, the mill and the surrounding area were made of predominately Irish immigrants. Those Irish immigrants chose to settle and raise their families. Their generosity fostered growth within the surrounding community and the Catholic Church. Irish Immigrants organized St. Paul Roman Catholic Church as a mission of St. Mary's Church in Greenwich. The new church was erected with glorious stained-glass windows, paying homage to the Irish donors. Today, the compound includes several residences and thriving businesses, a must see in the warmer weather to enjoy the peace and tranquility of nature and the cascading waterfall. For additional information, please visit the Connecticut Irish Heritage Trail website. Stop by for lunch and dinner, be sure to admire the buildings architecture and the glorious view! The Traveling Redhead-Sprinkling a little Irish Magic Thanks for following!

On a quest to feature and highlight some of the amazing contributions made by Irish immigrants and Irish Americans, we are kicking off The Traveling Redhead and The Tag along blond with a gem. Nestled on the outskirts of coastal neighborhood of Rowayton, in the city of Norwalk Connecticut, you can find Rock Ledge Estate and Stables. The original owner of the estate was James Augustus Farrell who began his career as a laborer working in a wire mill. Who, in the true embodiment of the American dream climbed the corporate ladder to become the President of the US Steel Corporation. Farrell and his family earned a prestigious place in society as one of the first affluent Irish Families in the area. Rock Ledge was considered a summer residence, the architecture was ornate, and an example of eclectic revival. Stone carvings paid homage to the Farrell Families Celtic roots. Today the main property is home to a financial management firm and the stables were converted into the Rowayton Community Center and library. The complex contains several offices, meeting rooms, a teen center, Paddle huts and a dog park. This is a must see on your to do list! For additional information pertaining to the history behind the estate, please visit the website for Connecticut Irish Heritage Trail. The Traveling Redhead-Sprinklng Irish Magic. Thank you for following!

A New Dawn   Majestic trees swaying. Whispering in the wind. Casting tall shadows. Reaching high above from within. Infused with colors. Shades of pink and vibrant orange. So rises the sun. Dark clouds scatter, fearing its strength and power. Rays illuminate. A glorious blue sky.  It’s a new dawn. It’s a new day. It’s a fresh start. It’s a new beginning. A blank page. Another journey. So many possibilities. For you are the dream maker, the navigator.      Be brave. Be strong. Stand alone. Dance enthusiastically. Surround yourself with good people. Ones that fill your heart with joy. Be different, a tapestry of sparkling colors. Acknowledge the past, embrace peace and clarity. Walk away. Let go of what no longer serves you. Nurture yourself. Learn to be alone. This is your dawn. This is your new day. This is your fresh start. This is your new beginning. It’s time to write the next page.

Goodbye 2024! Let the 2025 adventures begin!

Coming soon to a theatre near you ... wait what am I talking about? It's not 1980 anymore! Let's start over, coming soon to a social media platform near you, we are pleased and very excited to announce a Fitzpatrick cousin collaboration: The Traveling Redhead and The Tagalong Blonde Come join the Fitzy cousins as we explore centuries of Irish folklore, traditions and historical sites set off the beaten path.  Pull up a chair and grab a pint while we sing some rebel songs and share stories about days gone by. Together we will celebrate our Irish Heritage and the countless contributions made by Irish Americans and the Irish back home.  We are a tapestry of colors sewn together by our ancestors. A strong fabric carefully threaded and intertwined preserving our faith, our long-standing traditions, and our Irish Heritage. Centuries of folklore and customs passed down through countless generations, that are practiced to this very today. We are the children of Ireland. We are the keepers of her secrets, the myths, the legends, and the magical spirituality that it beholds. The journey has just begun! Be sure to sign up for our newsletter. We have lots of giveaways coming this year!

For those of you who are not first responders in Westchester County, 60 Control is the beating heart that supplies and provides us with critical information and additional resources (ex. mutual aid.) Our 60 Control Team consists of seasoned firefighters and EMS providers. Their mission is to support first responder needs, including Fire, Haz-Mat and EMS. On Monday, CFFD along with Somers, Goldens Bridge and Pound Ridge Fire Departments (to name a few) participated in an informative session about the 60 Control Mobile Services available for our use, as needed. Mobile Field Communication Units are essentially dispatched to the scene of a large multi-agency event. The units Field Comm 1 and 2 are equipped with mobile technology, bringing the dispatch team to the scene. Each unit contains a variety of additional tools and resources: telephones, CAD, digital recording devices, weather monitoring, portable radios and remote paging capabilities. In addition to the mobile units, departments can tap into the following equipment resources as needed: multi band portable radios, multiple command post radios, UTAC repeater, UTAC/VTAC repeater, wireless phones and portable wi-fi routers and multi band desktop radios. The attendee's had a chance to peek into each of the mobile units, unfortunately none of my photos survived my less than stellar photography skills. :( Many thanks to 60 Control! Last Saturday a few members of CFFD joined dozens of first responders (and non-first responders) in the annual Putnam Valley Holiday Parade. Many thanks to 2072 and 2073 for allowing me to tag along and a shout out to my ride or die ladies (Joanne and Deb) in the girl's car! Always good to connect with neighboring departments and catch up with some of my favorite Instructors Kinash and Fanelli, not to mention seeing my firefighter sister Angela Maass! Great to see so many happy little faces waiting for Santa!~ Always wanted brothers, now I have these two (and a few others not present)