Quinton Volunteer Fire and EMS removes women’s auxiliary group from station

A women’s auxiliary group that has traditionally helped host a number of popular fundraisers and annual activities in western New Kent can no longer function out of the building the group has called home for many years.

Action took place in early October to remove the women’s auxiliary for Quinton Volunteer Fire and Rescue (Company 2) from the company’s station on Route 249 (New Kent Highway) in Quinton. The move by company officials apparently places the group’s existence in jeopardy.

New Kent Fire and Rescue Chief Rick Opett confirmed that the group no longer will be allowed to use the property. He also mentioned that the action is strictly that of Quinton Volunteer Fire & Rescue and that New Kent County is not involved with the situation.

“I received an email from [Quinton chief] Sid Lucas that said they were no longer cohabitating the facility,” Opett said. “That’s as much as I know. They are a volunteer organization and New Kent has nothing to do with their actions.”

One of the auxiliary group’s tasks has been to organize fundraisers for the station. Those events include the “Fireman’s Stampede” steak feast, “Breakfast, Honey?” featuring Santa Claus, and the station’s annual Thanksgiving dinner. Now, members remain clueless as to the future of those events and the group’s status. A few agreed to speak to the Chronicle on the condition of anonymity.

“It’s a shame the way they made their decision and did not include or even forewarn us,” said one member. “They caught us off guard and it upset not only this group, but some of the older volunteers of the station itself.”

“I don’t see how they could make a big change,” added another member. “We’ve been organizing events for more than 40 years and just to have it taken away really breaks my heart.”

Those members believe one reason for the group being ousted is based on financial matters. In August, a former treasurer for the company, Lucinda Marciniak Crump, 48, was convicted on three counts of misdemeanor embezzlement in New Kent Circuit Court, sentenced to 36 months in jail with all but two suspended, and ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution to the company.

Another member said cancellation of the annual “Fireman’s Stampede” in September could have contributed to the group’s removal.

“We canceled the stampede because we were losing money,” said the member. “It made no sense to continue it if we were losing the finances and people weren’t purchasing tickets.”

Group members have yet to meet in a new location since being removed from the station. The matter continues to baffle members who know future events are now at risk.

“I don’t think we will host our annual Thanksgiving dinner or our ‘Breakfast with Santa’ this year,” said one heartbroken member. “I can’t believe it came to this.”

When contacted, Lucas said the issue is an internal matter and he couldn’t comment on specifics.

“The decision was made at our monthly business meeting based on my recommendations,” Lucas said. “We cannot dissolve the group because they are their own separate entity.”

Lucas acknowledged, however, that past issues with the women’s auxiliary contributed to the group’s removal. As for future events, the chief said Quinton Volunteer Fire and EMS stages fundraisers through its own auxiliary that is not affiliated with the women’s auxiliary.

“We run our own separate events,” he said. “When [the women’s auxiliary] had events, we assisted them.”