The Holmdel First Aid Squad’s 2008 officers were sworn in on January 12th at its annual Installation Dinner.  Captain Levent Sasmazel began his second term welcoming current members, life members and local dignitaries to the function which also celebrates the Squad as it enters its 39^th year of service.  Squad President Mike Nikolis joined Captain Sasmazel to present length of service pins as well as a special pin celebrating a CPR save to Shufen Hwang, Matt Esposito, Tim Satty, and Joe Duffy.

Special acknowledgement was given to individuals who reached the milestones of responding to 100 and 200 plus calls in 2007.  Paula Ford, Mike Nikolis, Tony Peterson, Levent Sasmazel, Dennis Schultz and Matt Esposito each answered over 100 calls last year.  Captain Sasmazel commented on Matt’s dedication as a HFAS EMT noting that he made 129 calls even though he is away at college and only rides for several months a year.  Five members, who each made over 200 calls, were recognized:  Bob Bliss, Lynn Davis, Paul Fellingham, Mike Korda and Evelyn Puig.  In 2007, Paul Fellingham was appointed the Squad’s first “Tenured Active Driver”; currently, he is in training to become an EMT.

Along with the Captain and President, the following individuals were sworn in as Line Officers:  Lynn Davis, First Lieutenant; Evelyn Puig, Second Lieutenant; Dennis Schultz, Third Lieutenant; Steven Wolkovitz, Engineer and Bob Bliss, Assistant Engineer.  First Lt. Davis joined the Squad in 2001 and has been a Holmdel resident for over 23 years while working for Alcatel-Lucent.  She has been one of the Squad’s most diligent and active responders.  Like many in the Squad, Lynn attributes high call count to her love of being an EMT and “the support of my understanding husband, Keith, and my children, Hannah (22), Becky (20), Sean (15) and Tim (12).”  Bob Bliss, an ex-Bell Labs person who came to Holmdel in 1968, is holding his first elected position within the Squad. 

The Squad Administrative Officers were also sworn in:  President Nikolis, VP Dave Lewinski, Treasurer Maureen Dronne and Secretary Erin McKane.

Also in attendance were representatives of the HFAS Explorers, including present Explorer President Yoyo Hwang (a second generation member) and past Explorer Presidents, Matt Exposito and Chris Trischitta.  The high school aged Explorers were acknowledged by the Captain and President as the “future of the Squad, and the future of volunteerism in Holmdel.”

Captain Sasmazel also thanked the HFAS Auxiliary headed by MaryAnn Kalucki.  The Auxiliary works in support of the Squad doing fund raising activities, and offers a way for residents to actively help the squad without going out on calls and training to become EMTs.  2007 saw the Auxiliary raise hold its annual raffle which netted HFAS $8,000.  The Squad congratulates the winners of the raffle held in early December:  Billie Metzger, Frank Miele, Harry Hammer and Patrick Impreveduto.

If anyone is interested in joining the Squad, please contact Paula Hoffman-Ford, the Chairperson of the Membership Committee at  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .  MaryAnn Kalucki would be happy to hear from people interested in help out behind the scenes with the HFAS Auxiliary.  She can be reached by leaving a message at the Squad at 732-946-3239.

2008 Officers Being Sworn in by Holmdel Township Clerk, Maureen Doloughty,  Left to Right:

Treasurer Maureen Dronne, Secretary Erin McKane, 3^rd Lt Dennis Schultz, 2^nd Lt Evelyn Puig (obscured), 1^st Lt Lynn Davis, President Mike Nikolis, Captain Levent Sasmazel, Engineer Steve Wolkovitz, Ass’t Engineer Bob Bliss, VP Dave Lewinski, Trustee Steve Kimball.

1^st Lt Lynn Davis receiving her length of service pin from Captain Sasmazel and President Nikolis