By Maki Becker
The Buffalo News
SOUTH LOCKPORT, N.Y. — A purported sex party that had been scheduled at the South Lockport Volunteer Fire Hall on Transit Road for Saturday night was canceled after the fire company’s board of directors learned about the plans for the event.
“The swingers party will not be going forward,” said attorney Steven M. Cohen, who represents the volunteer fire company.
According to Cohen, a man filled out an application on Aug. 30 to rent one of the two fire halls for what was billed as a “family party.”
The South Lockport Volunteer Fire Company, like other volunteer departments across the country, rents out its halls for wedding receptions, anniversary parties and family reunions.
“That’s one way for the fire companies to raise revenues,” Cohen said.
But sex parties?
“We’re not having that sort of activity at our fire hall,” Cohen said. “We don’t even permit stag parties for firemen there. We have a very high moral code that we adhere to.”
Word got out to fire officials and town leaders Friday afternoon about the nature of the party planned for Saturday.
The party was supposed to have had a scavenger hunt theme, dubbed “Welcome to the Jungle.” Among activities listed was “Truth or Dare.”
An e-mail that had apparently been sent to party guests described “two private on-site locations for use” for “adult” and “extreme” activities. Guests also were invited to rent rooms at a group rate at a nearby Holiday Inn.
The e-mail urged attendees to make all who attend feel comfortable by asking everyone to “communicate your likes, dislikes, level of involvement, etc. with people as you meet. Obviously ‘No’ means ‘No’ for every person at this event. We want this to be a ‘No pressure Event’ and want everyone to have an incredible experience.”
The e-mail also discusses the fire hall.
“Many have questioned the discretionary capability of holding it in such a place,” the e-mail said. The e-mail claimed that “one member from the hall” knew about the swingers party and was “in the lifestyle” and that he would be attending the event with his wife.
Cohen said fire officials are looking into that claim.
“We have no idea who this could be,” he said, adding “I can’t imagine any of these people would be involved in adultery or wife swapping or husband swapping.”
A man who answered an e-mail request for an interview via an e-mail address associated with the invitation denied that the event he had planned was a swingers party.
“I rented the hall initially for a surprise anniversary party for my wife,” the e-mailer told The Buffalo News. “I was told about a sight[sic] to advertise it on and make it a large reception-type dance. I then got creative and started adding fun games like Simon says and a scavenger hunt. At no time was it mine nor anyones[sic] intention to have a sex party as alleged.”
The e-mailer said that someone on the invitation list put the party on a swingers site.
“But we refused and canceled his invitation,” he wrote. “This obviously angered him so he sent out a revised version of my actual invitation.”
The e-mailer said no laws were broken but was “told after we signed a contract and paid our deposit just like any other party would that we are canceled because of false claims. I’m not sure that is legal. But with negative publicity it is understandable.”
Board members held an emergency meeting Friday night and voted to cancel the party and refund the down payment. The organizer was informed about the decision Saturday morning.
On a Web site publicizing the event, someone wrote: “The party has moved to a location that someone doesn’t know about.”
Cohen assured that even if no one had found out about the swingers party ahead of time, it would have been shut down as soon as it started. Someone from the fire company attends all events at the halls, in case there are any issues.
But firefighters have never dealt with any issues of this nature, Cohen said. Before Saturday, he said, “all that has happened was somebody trying to give an underage person alcohol.”
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