Vernon Responders, Citizens Honored For 'Heroic' Acts

VERNON, CT — The Vernon Fire Department this week honored members for "heroic and life-saving acts," and honored good citizens who "stepped up to help" when lives were at risk.

Among those honored at the department’s annual awards program at Rockville High School were a woman who saved a toddler who was choking on a grape, passersby who helped firefighters and police rescue people from a burning Union Street building and teams of rescuers who responded to serious crashes.

Vernon Mayor Dan Champagne thanked the volunteers for all they do.

"I can’t be any prouder of you and the work you do," Champagne said. "Your dedication and commitment
to serving our community is appreciated. The people of Vernon are truly fortunate to have you."

Town Administrator and Emergency Management Director Michael Purcaro told the department that its
performance during an unprecedented year with a record call volume was inspiring.

"You define courage through your daily unselfish and noble acts," Purcaro said. "Your dedication to serving
others and the sacrifices you make to serve are recognized. We are grateful to and your families for all that you
do, and all that you are willing to do, in service to Vernon."

Fire Chief Stephen Eppler reminded his colleagues of the special status they hold in the community, and the
responsibilities that come with that. Being a firefighter, he said, is the greatest job in the world.

"We are the last chance for the public when they call us," Eppler said. “When they need us, they really need us.
They love us. They trust us. They count on us."

Firefighter Robert Turkington was the evening’s master of ceremonies.

Two firefighters, Lt. Blake St. John and Engineer Stan Landry, were awarded the Medal of Valor for their efforts at a fire in March 2021 at a Union Street tenement. With fire blasting out the windows from the third floor of the building, both men climbed ladders and rescued people hanging from the windows. St. John then climbed back up the ladder and into a second floor apartment to search for a third person. No one was on the second floor.

Engineer Kevin Bowman received a phone call about the fire from his barber, Sam Flint, and headed to the scene before being formally dispatched. On board his pumper was the 24-foot ladder that made the rescues possible.

Other members of the team that assisted St. John, Landry and Bowman that day were honored, including Purcaro Vernon Police Officer Allison Lawrence, Flint and other civilians Brett Rhinehart and Nathan Pisani.

Others recognized include:

• Lieutenants Jeff Schambach and Brian Johnston, Firefighters Zachary Lopez, Tyler Branon and Danielle Solito, Emergency Medical Technicians Octavio Muniz and Robert Doton, American Medical Response Paramedic Jane Gordon, Rockville Medic Michael Carl, Tolland Firefighters Tim Seitz and Trevor Gantic, Crystal Lake Fire Officer Rob Edwards and Vernon Public Works Mechanic Rick Toper were honored for their response to a serious crash on August 19, 2021. A young man from Tolland, Jonathan Prouty, was seriously injured in the crash. Firefighters removed Prouty from the wreckage and the paramedics and EMTs provided a high level of care that saved his life. Prouty presented the team with their awards and he and his father, Paul Prouty, attended the ceremony to thank the rescuers.
• Assistant Fire Chief Robert Babcock, Lt. Jeff Schambach, Lt. Bert Lessard, Engineer Stan Landry, and Firefighters Dennis LeClair, Kelly Tischbein, Connor Raymond, Ashley Shepard and Ian McMahon were honored for their work at a crash on October 21, 2021 on Route 83 at Merline Road that involved serious injuries.
• Lt. Jeff Schambach, Lt. Bert Lessard, Lt. Nick Bartos, Engineer Stan Landry, and Firefighters Kelly Tischbein, Dennis LeClair and Ian McMahon were honored for their efforts at a serious crash on December 2, 2021 on I-84 where they stabilized a truck and rescued the driver.
• Zaida Rodriguez Adorno received the Citizen’s Life Saving Award for her acts on November 19, 2021 saving a toddler. Zaida, a guest at Cornerstone's New Hope House in Vernon, went to the aid of a fellow guest who was choking on a grape. She leaped into action and performed abdominal thrusts on the near lifeless child before EMTs arrived. Her quick thinking and prompt action saved the child’s life.
• EMTs Justin Czarnota and Robert Doton were honored for their response on March 2, 2021 to a person experiencing cardiac arrest. The EMTs performed CPR and used a defibrillator to revive a patient, then quickly transported the patient to a hospital. The result was a positive outcome for the patient. Czarnota and Doton received the Pre-Hospital Code Save Award.
• Engineer Stan Landry, Lt. Brian Johnston, Engineer Scott McDonald, Lt. Nick Bartos and Lt. Spencer Padget were recognized for their work planning, organizing and constructing a training facility at Fire Station 1 on Hartford Turnpike. They received an Achievement Award. Jack Yang of Artisan Development received a Citizen’s Award for his contributions to the department for use in the training facility at Fire Station 1 and a structure he donated for training.
• Ryan McKinney was recognized as Junior Firefighter of the Year for his initiative, eagerness to learn and drive and dedication to the department.
• Kelly Tischbein was honored as Firefighter of the Year. She joined in the fire department in 2020 and embraced training and devoted hundreds of hours to volunteering. She responded to 340 calls in 2021 has gained the respect of fellow firefighters and department leaders.
• Heather Graveline was recognized as EMT of the year for regularly going above and beyond, her work training colleagues and the professional and courteous care she provides to patients.
• Lt. Nick Bartos was recognized as Fire Officer of the Year for his devotion of hundreds of hours, response to many calls and leadership by example. He also devoted many hours to developing training programs for his company and played a key role in the fire department’s drone program.
• Lt. Ashley Shepard and Lt. Andre Lisee were recognized for being newly elected company officers. Retired Captain David Maguda and retired Engineer Craig Bowman were recognized for their service to the department. Magda served 42 years and Bowman 28 years.

The following volunteers receive length of service awards:

• 45 Years: Engineer Bart Blonstein, Capt. Michael Colt and Auxiliary member Dorothy Konarski
• 35 Years: Engineer Warren Boulette, Department Secretary Diane Carpenter, Engineer David Dube, Engineer Ronald Fischer, Capt. Jack Fisher, Deputy Chief Christopher Hammick, Engineer Larry King, Engineer Stan Landry and EMT Mary Males
• 30 Years: Engineer Mitchell Dlubac, Fire Chief Stephen Eppler and EMT Jason Hahn
• 25 Years: Capt. Daniel Robertson
• 20 Years: Assistant Chief Robert Babcock
• 15 Years: Engineer Austin Coppinger, Firefighter James Robinson, Lt. Ashley Shepard and Lt. Blake St. John
• 10 Years: Capt. Chris Prue and Firefighter Reilly Tuttle
• 5 Years: Auxiliary member Nyla Hadden, Lt. Bert Lessard and EMT Jonathan Towler