To the delight of all who swoon over boys
in uniform, the 2007 "New York City Firefighters Calendar"
is now available for purchase.
For two of Brooklyn’s bravest, becoming pin-ups was just another
day on the job.
Mr. April, aka Dellon Morgan, came straight from Brownsville’s
Engine 283, and he is enjoying what he calls his "15 seconds
of fame." Morgan has already been recognized around the
borough for his smokin’ calendar picture.
"It was a great experience," said Morgan, an East New
York resident. "I’m getting a lot of attention for it, but
most importantly, it’s all for charity. It was also great to
hang out with the other guys; it keeps the brotherhood tight.
Being in the fire department is the greatest job in the world."
Fifteen percent of the proceeds from the calendar sales go to
the Children’s Storefront School, an independent and tuition-free
Harlem school, and the Thomas Elsasser Fund, which benefits the
families of firefighters who die while off-duty.
Although Morgan may look hot in his calendar picture – taken
in DUMBO with the Manhattan Bridge as a backdrop – he was anything
but smoldering during the photo session.
"It was February, and I was freezing," Morgan said.
"But the shoot only took about 20 minutes."
Both Morgan and Mr. October, Bensonhurst-native Michael DeMeo,
were recommended for the calendar by firefighters who have stripped
down for a cause in the past.
"Charity is the number one reason why I was in the calendar,"
DeMeo, of Engine 284 in Dyker Heights, said. DeMeo was also bare-chested
in the middle of winter, his picture taken in front of the World
Financial Center in Manhattan’s Battery Park City.
Even though these lifesavers modeled to benefit charities, they
won’t be able to save themselves from firehouse jokes.
"They haven’t gotten a hold of the calendar yet, so the
abuse hasn’t started," DeMeo said with a laugh. "I’m
sure I’ll find my face on every door of the firehouse pretty
soon."
Morgan agrees, "Sure, people have made jokes, but it’s all
in good fun."
Behind the camera is photographer Alan "Battman" Batt.
This is the second "New York City Firefighters Calendar"
he has released, but he’s no stranger to shooting washboard abs
and muscular arms. Battman was the original photographer for
the FDNY’s official calendar, "Calendar of Heroes,"
when it first came out in 1996 and has worked on all of the "Hero"
calendars through 2005.
"The FDNY wanted to take their calendar in a different direction,
but I decided to keep doing it," Battman said. "It’s
a good thing. The firefighters are happy to do it, and the charities
are always delighted. We raised a half-million dollars for charity
over three years."
On June 8, the 12 hunky firefighters held a calendar signing
at The Original Firestore in the West Village.
"It was big, one of the best signings we’ve ever had, and
the women who come are always amazing," Battman said.
In fact, Battman recalled that when he was photographing Morgan,
"A woman got off of a bus and came up to us, standing in
the middle of the street, and said ’Oh my God, I have to touch
you!’ "
Battman said as of June 21, there will be a few firefighters
signing calendars every Wednesday at the Times Square Information
Center, 1560 Broadway between 46th and 47th streets. On these
days, 100 percent of the proceeds go to charity.
Sure, you’ll get to meet some sizzling firefighters, but by attending
a signing – and purchasing a calendar – you will be doing your
part to help these charities, which is what’s truly important.
(At least, that’s what you can tell your friends.)
"The 2007 New York City Firefighters
Calendar" is $14.99 at The Original Firestore (17 Greenwich
Ave. between Christopher and West 10th streets in Manhattan).
For more information, visit www.nyfirestore.com
or call (212) 226-3142.
In July, the calendar will also be available at the Barnes &
Noble in Downtown Brooklyn [106 Court St. at State Street, (718)
246-4996] and Barnes & Noble in Park Slope [267 Seventh Ave.
at Sixth Street, (718) 832-9066].
Models will be on hand to sign the calendar on Wednesdays through
Aug. 30, from 11 am to 2 pm, at the Times Square Information
Center, 1560 Broadway between 46th and 47th streets in Manhattan.
For more information, call (212) 869-1890.
