By EMILY SPARACINO / Staff Writer

CHELSEA – A badge pinning ceremony was held for Chelsea Fire and Rescue’s newest full-time firefighter during a Chelsea City Council meeting on Sept. 1.

Fire Chief Wayne Shirley introduced Bert Seitz to the council and audience before pinning his badge to Seitz’s uniform and reading the department’s employee code of conduct aloud.

“He has been with us a year and a half,” Shirley said of Seitz, who joined Chelsea Fire and Rescue as a volunteer. “He’s achieved 17 different certifications. We’re glad to have him as part of our family.”

Shirley said Seitz has completed Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) school and is working toward completing paramedic school.

“I appreciate the opportunity,” Seitz said. “I’ll do everything I can to help the city.”

In other business, the council approved a resolution to re-appoint Dawn Wilson to the Chelsea Public Library Board for another four-year term.

“Dawn is a great commission,” Mayor Earl Niven said of Wilson. “We’re very proud of that commission.”

Wilson’s new term will expire in 2019.

The council also approved two proclamations, one naming September as “Ovarian and Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month” in Chelsea, and the other naming Sept. 28 as “Family Day” in the city.

Shirley said the fire department will be “turning our fire station teal in September” in support of Ovarian and Gynecologic Cancer Month by installing colored filters on the exterior lights that illuminate the station at night.

Chelsea is among other places that participate in such efforts through A State of Teal, an organization whose primary mission is to raise awareness “to the signs and symptoms of ovarian and gynecologic cancers.”

“My wife is a five-year survivor of breast cancer,” Niven said. “We need to call awareness and we need to encourage our ladies to go and have these examinations.”

Niven said Family Day on Sept. 28 is designed to emphasize spending time with children.

“Kids learn so fast, and this is the time to teach them,” Niven said.