Jason Butler of Yankee Hill Painting brushes on a fresh coat of paint to the exterior of the Broadalbin Inn on Thursday.

Just in time for summer

District Superintendent David Ziskan, left, retired Amsterdam firefighter Michael Demars, and Career and Technical Education Principal Michael DiMezza take a look at a former Amsterdam fire truck donated to the school for hands on training Thursday.

Career and Technical Education Principal at HFM Boces Michael DiMezza, left, Kristina Marsahll, District superintendent David Ziskin, and HFM BOCES instructor Mike Demars take a look at a former Amsterdam fire truck donated to the school for hands on training Thursday, June 5, 2025.

An aging fire truck is transitioning to a new career in education at Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery BOCES.

“A piece of equipment like this really helps us develop the future workforce in the HFM region,” said Michael DiMezza, principal of Career and Technical Education at HFM BOCES.

The city of Amsterdam donated the 28-year-old truck to HFM BOCES for its new fire science program launching this fall. Though still operational, the vehicle had reached the end of its useful service life for the Amsterdam Fire Department.

The equipment might have fetched up to a few thousand dollars had the city sold it, but donating the truck to HFM BOCES will provide invaluable hands-on-learning experiences to students.

“Any time that we can afford to do something that’s........

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