The evening sky was aglow for the 2025 Firehouse Feast on Oct. 18th when the community gathered to support the Pedernales Fire Department. Friends enjoyed perfect weather, outdoor music, camaraderie and the chance to connect with their first responders and Chief Tony Haden and Assistant Chief Tye Prange.
Attendees selected their tables before browsing dozens of silent auction items, generously donated by local businesses and organized by the PFD Auxiliary, with Cristal Kordzik overseeing the process.
This year featured a new Vendor Booth area, coordinated by Laura and John Kudlow, where locals could meet business owners, learn about their products and services, and sign up for prizes and discounts.
Early in the day Donna Alum and Gwen Jones coordinated the delivery and plating of the dozens of homemade desserts donated by the good cooks in the community.
That evening many guests stopped to chat with Jane Coco and Gwen Jones, possibly picking up an official Pedernales Fire Department cap or a glow-in-the-dark T-shirt.
Spectators watched as first responders demonstrated their medical and structural rescue skills. EMS Coordinator Clay Blount showcased the new Trauma Care/EMS manikin used to train for CPR, airway management, bleeding control, and IV administration, and also led CPR classes for attendees using training manikins.
Demonstrations continued as the team used the PIG and Halligan tools on a forcible entry door prop, showing how first responders break through locked doors during emergencies.
Children enjoyed games and prizes in the Children’s Area, thanks to Lexi Crawford, Erin Jones and Cass Leony, and supervision by Cristal Kordzik.
Delicious food from It’s All Good BBQ was generously served with lots of smiles and laughter as the food lines were overseen by Dee Dee Flauding. What great service was provided by Melody and Al Hostetler, Marilyn Batten, Ken Flauding, Mike Jones, Thomas Maione, and Christine Elliott.
Special thanks to photographer Bridget Stevens for capturing the magic of the evening, all the dedicated volunteers, the PFD Auxiliary members, and the unsung heroes, “The Shadow Auxiliary” —the husbands who supported the event by working it and from behind the scenes: Rich Allum, Steve Bailey, Vinny Coco, Paul Eagan, Ken Flauding, Al Hostetler, Mike Jones, John Kardow, and Kelly Kordzik. We are so grateful for their encouragement, their ideas, their trucks and their muscles. 💪🚒
And once again, we want to acknowledge the tremendous work and efforts of the PFDA president for her truly remarkable organizational skills and her unfailing perseverance in making this event with its dozens of moving parts come together and work.
Thank you President Melody Hostetler. ❤️
