FORT LEE—The Pascack Valley shines, once again, in Rep. Josh Gottheimer’s Fifth District Hometown Heroes awards ceremony, the latest installation spotlighting 20 movers and shakers on Monday, July 15.
Among the nearly two dozen accomplished recipients: Lisa and Ashley Holl of Montvale; Nina Larson of Park Ridge; and Marc Fedorchak, Dan Olivier, and Andy Scallo of Westwood.
Gottheimer noted the awards were bestowed in the wake of the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania—rifle rounds tore Trump’s ear, killed one spectator, and critically injured two others. Gottheimer called for unity and honored unsung local life-saving first responders, veterans, volunteers, community leaders, and residents during his Fifth District Hometown Heroes Ceremony at the Barrymore Film Center in Fort Lee. He acknowledged all recipients’ dedication to improving the lives of their neighbors, families, and communities.
Gottheimer opened the event by condemning the political violence, against Trump, on July 13 in Butler, Pa.
He said in part, “We cannot allow this depraved act of political violence to extinguish our nation’s hope. On Saturday, I felt hope when I saw our law enforcement heroes work to restore order and protect everyone on the ground. I felt hope when I saw our country’s leaders stand united against violence and extremism.”
He added, “I felt hope when I saw everyday Americans set aside their political differences and put our country first. If you look hard enough, you can see incredible stories of hope in our communities every day: the EMT who has saved countless lives and volunteered decades of service and the young student going above and beyond to help her fellow classmates.”
Gottheimer said, “Even in the face of our country’s challenges, we need to spend more time showcasing all of the good that happens every day—and recognizing what it means to be a great citizen in the greatest country in the world. Today, we are here to highlight those from across North Jersey who are hard-wired to help others.”
From the press release (you can see the ceremony on video):
Lisa and Ashley Holl
Montvale
In February, Lisa and Ashley noticed smoke emanating from a neighbor’s windows and attic vents. Lisa rescued her elderly neighbor from the home, even though she wasn’t sure the home’s floor would hold. (“The Heroes Next Door,” John Snyder, Pascack Press, page 1, Feb. 12, 2024.)
Beyond their heroic rescue, Lisa and Ashley help North Jersey residents every day by working in healthcare. Lisa has worked at Montvale’s Spine and Health Center for the past 12 years, and Ashley works as the scheduling coordinator for the Mental Health Association in Montclair.
In addition to her day job, Lisa volunteers for Baking Memories 4 Kids, baking cookies every holiday season that help pay for terminally ill children to go to Disney and other theme parks in Orlando.
Nina Larson
Park Ridge
Nina has served as the CEO of Bergen Volunteers since September 2020, a social service agency that supports youth, seniors, and families across the county, including homebound residents.
Nina successfully navigated the Volunteers through the COVID-19 pandemic and expanded key programs like the CHORE senior repair and Bergen LEADS civic training programs.
Before leading the Volunteers, Nina was an arts administrator, serving in leadership roles at both Kaplen JCC on the Palisades and BergenPAC. In both roles, she championed arts accessibility, launching music scholarships and free arts programs for lower-income Bergen County residents.
Beyond her nonprofit career, Nina serves on the boards of beloved community institutions like HACPAC and Flat Rock Brook Nature Center.
Two years ago, Nina was recognized for her incredible commitment to service with the Governor’s Volunteerism Award Medal of Honor.
Marc Fedorchak
Westwood
Marc joined the Oradell Police Department in 1999 and served for 25 years, first as an officer, then as a detective beginning in 2011, and finally as a detective sergeant 2018–2024.
During his police career, he received numerous PBA awards and the Bergen County Police Chiefs Award.
Even in retirement, he serves as a Cresskill Special Three Police Officer. Marc is a 32-year veteran of the Westwood Volunteer Fire Department. He spent several years in the Department’s leadership, serving as chief from 2009 to 2010 and now, as secretary on Westwood’s Board of Fire Officers.
Marc instituted a first responder health screening program, which helped detect a firefighter’s throat cancer, and helped convince Westwood to put defibrillators on its field after saving a referee’s life.
In 2022, Marc was inducted into the Westwood Fire Department Hall of Fame by Mayor Raymond Arroyo.
Dan Olivier & Andy Scallo
Westwood
Dan sits on the Westwood Planning Board and serves in the Westwood Volunteer Ambulance Corps. In addition to their service to the town, the duo worked together to create a second 9/11 monument in Westwood.
Andy is a union ironworker who worked “The Pile” after 9/11, the large mass of debris and rubble that formed following the collapse of the Twin Towers. He and his fellow ironworkers carved crosses into the steel beams as a sign of hope and faith.
In 2022, Andy approached Daniel, asking to donate one of those steel sections that he salvaged to the town’s Veterans Park. It would memorialize the hard work of ironworkers and first responders who sacrificed their health to help our nation recover after 9/11. They assembled a team of volunteers and local employees from Westwood’s Department of Public Works to move the steel segment to Daniel’s house. They spent months mocking up a design for the memorial and assembling it at Veterans Park.
Today, that steel segment sits in Veterans Park with a bronze plaque from Westwood PD to memorialize those who worked so hard and so long to find our people. The memorial is the site of Westwood’s annual 9/11 memorial service, which was coordinated by the late “Skip” Kelley, honored as a Hometown Hero last year. (“Sept. 11 Observances Around the Valley,” staff, Pascack Press, Sept, 12, 2022.)