Andrea Macko is reporting for Porcupine Soup the Kiskatom Fire Department has been awarded a $50,000 grant to fund the construction of a medivac helicopter landing zone at the firehouse on State Route 32. The award was announced July 29, by state Senator Michelle Hinchey whose office awarded the State and Municipal Facilities Capital grant. Kiskatom Fire Chief Peter Kusminsky thanked Hinchey for the funding. “This landing pad will make the community and the first responders safer,” Kusminsky said. The project would include the construction of an access road from State Route 32, built large enough to accommodate any responding firetrucks and ambulance vehicles needed to safely transfer patients to an aircraft, as well as sufficient outdoor lighting to make the helipad fully functional at night. Medivac helicopters administered by Albany Medical Center, the New York State Police, and other regional agencies will be able to use the helipad for emergency transports requested by Greene County. Read the full story at porcupinesoup [dot] com.