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Elmwood Park honors firefighters; Elks donate safe‑sleep boxes to residents program
Summary
Elmwood Park council recognized firefighters and civilian rescuers with life‑saving and unit citations for multiple rescue incidents, and the Elmwood Park Patterson Elks Lodge donated 10 safe‑sleep boxes to the town's Residents Assistance Program, expanding a grant‑funded infant‑safety effort.
The Elmwood Park Mayor and Council honored members of the borough's volunteer fire department and mutual‑aid partners on Oct. 16, presenting life‑saving awards and unit citations for several rescue operations. The ceremony, which drew former chiefs, active firefighters and family members, highlighted a June 28, 2023 water rescue at the Dundee Dam and a May 13, 2024 vehicle extrication that required coordinated extrication and EMS care.
"Tonight we're gonna be giving away some service awards," said Joseph Dombrowski, who emceed the ceremony and identified many of the recipients by name, noting the roles they played during the incidents. The council recognized ex‑Chief William Shadwell, firefighter Ryan Tamesco, and Garfield firefighter Ken Robertson/Robinson with life‑saving awards, and announced unit citation recipients that included members of Elmwood Park engine and rescue companies.
The council published the incident narratives as part of the presentations: in the June 2023 water rescue, Elmwood Park Marine 1 and Marine 2 deployed with Garfield and Clifton units to reach construction workers stranded near a falls; crews used throw bags and lifesaving maneuvers to recover rescuers and civilians. In the May 2024 crash, borough rescue and engine crews used airbags and cribbing to extricate a trapped victim who was transported to St. Joseph's Trauma Center.
Mayor (speaker 4) praised the volunteers for their courage and sacrifice. "These men and women run into [danger] to save lives on a daily basis," the mayor said, thanking both current and former chiefs in the audience. Fire Advisor Mr. McDermott also commended the department, noting long years of service and the frequency of calls the volunteers answer.
Earlier in the meeting the council also accepted a donation from the Elmwood Park Patterson Elks Lodge No. 60: Lisa Nazaretto, exalted ruler of the lodge, presented 10 safe‑sleep boxes to the Residents Assistance Program, describing the boxes' contents — swaddles, sleep sacks, pacifiers and educational materials — and the program partners that support the initiative.
"Each box represents hope, comfort, and the promise of a safer start for a newborn child," Nazaretto said, and noted the project was supported by an Elks Grand Lodge impact grant. Recipients' representatives described the boxes as "life‑saving" and said the program has grown from a handful of prototypes to hundreds of distributed kits; the lodge said it aims to expand further with additional grant funding.
The council recessed briefly for photos before resuming regular business. No formal actions were required to present awards or accept the donation. The ceremony underscored the borough's reliance on volunteer emergency responders and local nonprofit partnerships for public‑health outreach.
