Florida Firefighters and Paramedics Bearing It All; Calender Raising Funds For Charity
When Joe Falcone got the memo about the inaugural Delray Beach Firefighter and Paramedic Calendar for 2005, he thought, "Thanks, but no thanks."
The memo invited Falcone and his colleagues to ham it up for the camera, shirtless, with a bevy of admiring Miami Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles cheerleaders.
"I'd never done anything like this before and didn't know what to expect. I knew I'd get some teasing from people," said Falcone, 27, a firefighter and paramedic who lives west of Boca Raton.
"But some of the guys said, `Just show up and take your shirt off and look good.' That's all; it'll be fun!" said Falcone, who has been with the department two years. "Then two of us were asked if we wanted to do a second photo on the ladder truck.
"My wife laughs about it and has been very cool. She probably teases me about it more than anybody."
Falcone is one of 20 firefighter/paramedics and calendar models who will meet the public and autograph copies of the calendar at its official rollout party on Wednesday at Bru's Room Sports Grill in Delray Beach.
The $15 calendars will be sold at the event and subsequently at Bru's Room and other Delray Beach locations such as Boston's on the Beach, Hand's Office Supplies, the Delray Beach Fire Department and at local city events, such as the Summer Nights block parties, the Bed Race on July 30 and the Garlic Festival in November.
It's more than just toned bodies on display.
"We realized if it was mainly a beefcake calendar, then mostly females would purchase it. But if we show a little bit of what firefighters do, then we can tap into more people," said Lt. James Tabeek, 43, of Sunrise, president of Professional Firefighters and Paramedics of Delray Beach, who appears in uniform.
"I wanted to showcase the things they do in the community. They're great people, and its part of their personality to help others," said Nancy Stewart, owner of Avenue Creative Group, who has worked with the department on the project since January.
Some photos are posed, while others capture events or training. Divisions and activities represented include Emergency Medical Services, Training, Fire Safety and Administration, dive rescue exercises, high-angle rescue and child safety, including car seat training.
Profits from sales will go to the American Cancer Society, the Jackson Memorial Medical Burn Center and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Stewart approached the department, offering to produce the calendar at no cost. The final photo shoot took place June 12. Chief Kerry Koen had the final say on the photos chosen.
Sponsorships, by Bru's Room, the Delray Beach Marriott, Delray Beach Medical Center, Crane's Beach House, Palmbeaches.com and Delray Camera Shop, which sponsored the photography, funded the project. The Miami Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles cheerleaders donated their time.
The first 1,000 copies are free to the department. Another 1,000 are being purchased through its union, the Professional Firefighters and Paramedics of Delray Beach.
The firefighters were a bit camera-shy.
"Not a lot of people stepped up to the plate," Tabeek said.
"When I got the memo, I hoped it wasn't some beefcake calendar," said Ilene Rose, 36, a driver engineer and 10-year veteran of the department.
Rose became the only woman on staff to appear in the calendar -- in a black sports bra. Her Dalmation, Pumper, joined her, wearing -- well, nothing but black spots.