PASCACK PRESS
HILLSDALE, N.J.—Congratulations to the men and women of the Hillsdale Volunteer Ambulance Service (above), who held their annual installation dinner Jan. 26 at Seasons Catering in the Township of Washington and had plenty to celebrate.
At the meeting, honored for their years of service were John Beatty (10 Years/Life Membership), Glen Ford (20 years) and Lori Famoso (25 years).
The corps also honored members for two CPR saves on back-to-back days, Sept. 16 and 17, 2018. Credited for the Sept. 16 save were Beatty, Bridget Sottile, Lauren Carratura, and Amelia Moran. Earning admiration for the Sept. 17 save were Mark Richards, Cassie Gehan, and Amelia Moran.
Alexis Menzel received the Officers Award of Recognition.
The HVAS also swore in 2019 officers, including Capt. John Beatty, First Lt. Bridget Sottile, Second Lt. Cassie Gehan, President Joe Patti, Vice President Tara Tamburro, Secretary Nicole Nebbia, Treasurer Marty Ward, Trustee Chairman Rick Savino and Trustees at Large Lori Famoso, Mark Richards, and Jeff Alboum.
The Top 10 Responders of 2018, honored that night include Sottile (186 calls), Daniel Tamburro (165 calls), Beatty (160 calls), Tara Tamburro (145 calls), Richards (141 calls), Gehan (132 calls), Kim Pane (126 calls), Lucia Sharma (116 calls), Menzel (110 calls) and Savino and Michael Villegas (who both responded to 108 calls).
The Hillsdale Volunteer Ambulance Service provides emergency medical response to Hillsdale residents and surrounding communities on a mutual aid basis 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
As its website notes, “We are your neighbors: men and women who are New Jersey State Certified Emergency Medical Technicians. We are trained in the latest CPR and first aid techniques, and our Ambulance is equipped with the latest lifesaving gear.”
HVAS works as part of a team with the Hillsdale Police Department, paramedics from nearby hospitals, and others to provide the best care possible.
The Hillsdale Volunteer Ambulance Service provides emergency medical response to Hillsdale residents and surrounding communities on a mutual aid basis 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. | Zoltan Horvath photo2018 in review
HVAS certainly has its fans in the community. The service boasted it received more in online donations in 2018 than ever before, with nearly $2,100 clicked in.
Fully $1,500 of that was donated in December, with many additional donations mailed in, HVAS reported.
Throughout 2018, HVAS responded to hundreds of calls in Hillsdale and covered hundreds more in Emerson, River Vale, Washington Township, Westwood, Old Tappan, Montvale, Park Ridge, and Woodcliff Lake.
“We value the safety, health, and happiness of our community and each of its residents above all else, so every donation, from $1 to $1,000, is put to use making sure that residents of Hillsdale and the surrounding towns are happy, healthy, and safe year-round,” the volunteers said.
The corps provided medical services at Pascack Valley football activities, Hillsdale Festival Day, the Hillsdale town concert series, Hillsdale baseball and softball, the Tri-State Wheelchair and Ambulatory Regional Games, and other community events.
It also responded to calls on a golf course, at motor vehicle accidents, for a car that wound up in the side of a house, at fires, “and maybe even at your house, where we met incredible members of the community, provided top-quality emergency medical services, and even made some great friends,” HVAS said.
Donations help emergency responders teach first aid and CPR to community members, scouts, Pascack Valley students, Hillsdale Baseball and Softball association coaches, “and everyone else we possibly could, because we know that everyone should know the basics.”
As well last year, the HVAS:
- Hosted its annual beefsteak dinner and sent prize winners to a Mets game, Medieval Times, and more;
- Marched in the Memorial Day Parade “to remember and honor those we lost as they served our country and defended our freedom”;
- Raised money for breast cancer research;
- Joined the Santa Town Tour “to spread holiday magic…and collect non-perishable food items for families in need;
- Sent many new members to EMT school and watched many more graduate as EMTs, nurses, physician assistants, and other medical professionals;
- Supported younger members in their studies as high school and college students at Pascack Valley High School, Park Ridge High School, Bergen Community College, Pace University, NYU, Drexel University, “and tons of other incredible schools and universities”; and
- “Became newsworthy for having a majority of members under 30, seeing an amazing number of young members of our community step up as leaders to support the health and safety of their neighbors and friends.”
In longer remarks shared to Facebook, the HVAC concluded, “Thank you all for keeping us in service through donations and for giving us purpose and inspiration by being incredible patients, neighbors, and friends! We look forward to seeing you in 2019!”
For more information, visit hillsdaleamb.org.