February 7, 2026 — Members of the Bethel Volunteer Fire Department and their guests gathered Saturday evening at Fire Headquarters on South Street for the department’s annual Installation and Awards Dinner, celebrating leadership appointments and recognizing outstanding service from the past year. Newly elected Chiefs, Captains, and Lieutenants were formally sworn in by First Selectman Dan Carter, marking the start of the department’s 2026 leadership term. Several members were honored for exceptional dedication, including Deputy Chief Brendan Ryan as Firefighter of the Year, Lt. Ted Landwehr as Officer of the Year, Dante Leon as EMT of the Year, Zander Lopez as EMT Rookie of the Year, and Rachel Bowers as Administrative Member of the Year. The Ex-Chief Peter J. Valenti Jr. Award for outstanding service was presented to EMS Director Gail Clark, while a Special Recognition Award was given to local yoga instructor Kay Mello for her continued free “Yoga for First Responders” classes. The department also acknowledged its top fire responders for 2025, led by Bill McAllister with 448 calls, and its top EMS staff by service hours, with Joe Schaad contributing 1,270 hours. The evening highlighted the commitment, volunteerism, and community spirit that define Bethel’s fire and EMS services.