Local Businesses Donate To Wallingford Police, Fire Departments

WALLINGFORD, CT — (Contributed press release): Dino Fernicola, owner of Dino’s Modern Barbershop located at 202 Center Street in Wallingford and barber Mike Katuzney organized a donation drive to contribute to the Wallingford Police Department’s K-9 program and the Wallingford Fire Department’s smoke detector program. This is the third year that Dino and Mike have organized a donation drive, which coincides with Celebrate Wallingford.

During Celebrate Wallingford, the barbershop set up collection boxes inside their shop seeking donations from customers. In collaboration with local businesses that they sought out, all agreed to match a percentage of the donations received. Three years ago, the donation drive started with six businesses and has grown to eleven businesses this year. Dino plans to continue growing his fundraising efforts in the years to come.

In addition to Dino’s Modern Barbershop, the other businesses that made a donation are Alyssa’s Cakery, Barros Builders, Shirt Graphix, Wallingford Flower Shop, Salon Pizzucci, Rosa’s Deli, R. Frank Printing, Incredible Oil, John J. Kovacs Insurance, and Center Street Luncheonette.

On Oct. 18, Dino and Mike, along with representatives from each of the businesses made a presentation of the checks at police headquarters. A check in the amount of $983 was presented to Police Chief William Wright. A check in the amount of $941 was presented to Deputy Fire Marshall Shachar “Shock” Baitch.

Dino requested that the funds raised for the Police Department go toward the K-9 program because of his love for animals. The money raised will be used for maintenance and care to support Tate, the department’s only K-9. Tate is a Labrador that is trained in narcotics detection and tracking.

Baitch said the donation will be used to fund the fire union’s smoke detector program. Through this program, the fire union donates smoke detectors to the community through the Fire Marshall’s Office. Over the last three years, the Fire Marshal’s Office has used the donation to distribute over 300 smoke detectors to the Wallingford community.

Pictured: Dino Fernicola presenting checks to Police Chief William Wright and Deputy Fire Marshall Shock Baitch. (Contributed photos)