Firefighting must be in the blood of the Krukowski family of Roslyn Heights. After giving over 30 years of service to the Roslyn Rescue Fire Department, Henry Krukowski was honored with "Firemen of the Year" citations from not only the Village of Roslyn Board of Trustees, but also from the offices of Nassau County Supervisor Thomas R. Gulotta and County Legislator Craig Johnson. State Assemblyman David Sidikman was also on hand during the ceremonies held at the Village Hall last Tuesday, Nov. 21.

Mr. Krukowski is currently serving in his 32nd year as a volunteer fireman in Roslyn. He has served as treasurer of the department, and is now its president. During many of those years, he also served as a police officer with the Nassau County police department. He retired from the police department eight years, but he is still on the force at Roslyn Rescue. Upon accepting the award, Mr. Krukowski remarked that his son, Steven, is also a fireman with Roslyn Rescue. Not only that, but his father and several cousins and uncles were also firefighters in Roslyn.

In all, Mr. Krukowski figures that his family has given over 200 years of service to fire protection in the Roslyn area. Mr. Krukowski also noted that he had been born in Roslyn, was raised in the village and married another native of the village. The only slight deviation was the Krukowski's relocation to nearby Roslyn Heights, where they currently live.

The proclamation from the village declared, in part, that Mr. Krukowski had "continually proven himself worthy of public acclaim, working diligently on behalf of the village, assisting all segments of the population" while "[having] a profound and beneficial impact on the lives of many individuals in the community."

Craig Johnson offered his own citation to Mr. Krukowski. Mr. Johnson also used the occasion to cite his own "good working relationship" with Roslyn Mayor Janet Galante, who recently announced she would not see re-election to her current position in next year's village elections. Mr. Johnson especially noted the ongoing renovation of the Roslyn Grist Mill, which was a special project for both Mayor Galante and Mr. Johnson's mother, Barbara, the late Nassau County legislator. Mayor Galante joked that even though she was stepping down as mayor, she's "not leaving town." Such projects would still remain her concern.