KENT, Conn.—A gold waxing crescent moon paired with a stunning Venus in the dark sky shone bright over town the first night of the month.
Inside the dining hall of Marvelwood School that night, the stars of the Kent Volunteer Fire Department shone just as brightly during the department’s member appreciation and awards dinner.
More than 70 members and guests from neighboring companies attended the event that honored the department, the outstanding members in it, and those who earned service pins.
2025 officers Gary Hock, assistant fire chief, Bonnie Donzella, secretary, and Jean Speck, assistant ambulance chief, led the awards ceremony following a buffet of appetizers and entrees.
This was the first awards ceremony since 2016.
CHALLENGING CALLS
Bonnie Donzella, who most recently served four years as ambulance chief, kicked off the presentation by honoring individuals who faced five “particularly challenging” calls in 2024.
“We would like to recognize the people who were on these calls,” she said. “Each and every one of you came together, worked as a team, and made these calls go as smoothly as possible.”
Individuals who responded to the calls were given a certificate.
The first challenging call was for a young girl who fell off the zip line at Club Getaway and was located on the far south end of the property in June 2024. Responders transported her to the main entrance, where she was transferred to LifeStar.
She sustained injuries, had surgery, and recovered.
Those recognized were EMS members Laura Day, Bonnie Donzella, Jordan Donzella, Alan Gawel, Jill Scholsohn, and Mary Ann VanValkenburg, and fire members Joe Gawel, Gary Hock, Kathy McCann, John Russell, Bill Smith and Ane Star.
A week later, responders were dispatched to an overturned car in a brook, with the driver still inside the motor vehicle.
“Many of you jumped in, literally, and got to work freeing the gentleman from his car,” said Donzella.
“We had a lot of people on this one and that can make for light work,” she said.
After being freed from the car, the motorist was transferred by helicopter to a hospital.
“Last I heard, the patient didn’t have any significant injuries and was released from the hospital the same day,” she said.
Department members who received a certificate were, for EMS, Jordan Donzella, David Joray, Jean Speck, Jill Scholsohn, and Mary Ann VanValkenburg, and for fire, Pete Bernard, Joe Bisenius, Taylor Christen, Sean Dingee, Alan Gawel, Joe Gawel, PJ Haviland, Gary Hock, Kathy McCann, John Russell, Bill Smith, Wendell Soule, and Ane Starr.
The following month, KVFD responded to a tree worker who had been injured by a fallen tree on the Appalachian Trail.
The individual was “extricated, treated on the scene” and then transported to a nearby field at Marvelwood School where LifeStar—called to Kent for the third time in a matter of weeks— flew the patient to Hartford Hospital.
Those honored were Diane Impastato, Alex Limbos, Larry Schenk, Jill Scholsohn and Mary Ann VanValkenburg, all for EMS, and Dean Ackerman, Pete Bernard, Bonnie Donzella, Joe Gawel, Kathy McCann, Wendell Soule and Ben Soule, all for fire.
Bonnie Donzella described the fourth challenging call, suggested by Chief Alan Gawel, who was unable to attend the evening’s event.
Gawel wanted to recognize a group of firefighters who were “part of a large team of folks from all over the region and the state who came together to rescue people who were trapped when the waters in the streams broke and rivers rose to unprecedented heights, washing out bridges and roads” on Aug. 19 in Southbury, Conn., and vicinity, she explained.
Fire members Pete Bernard, John Christen, Taylor Christen, Lou Dingee, Sean Dingee, Alan Gawel, PJ Haviland, Gary Hock, John Russell, Bill Smith, Ben Soule, and Wendell Soule were called up to receive their certificates.
The last call Bonnie Donzella described was for an individual who “sadly did not survive his injuries” following a lawnmower rollover in September.
“This call was extremely challenging as the man was pinned under a very large mower on a hill,” she related. “Due to the Herculean strength of PJ (Haviland) and others, they were able to get him out from underneath the mower and begin lifesaving measures.”
The patient was then transported by LifeStar to Sharon Hospital, where he was stabilized before being flown to Hartford Hospital.
The individual “ultimately succumbed to his injuries,” she said, “but great, great work by everyone on that call… you guys were amazing.”
EMS members Bonnie Donzella, Jordan Donzella, Alan Gawel, Diane Impastato, Jill Scholsohn, Jean Speck and Mary Ann VanValkenburg, and fire members Dean Ackerman, Pete Bernard, PJ Haviland, Gary Hock, Dan Kabasakalian, Caralee Rochovansky, Wendell Soule, and John Russell were presented certificates for their response to the call.
Jon-Paul Aubry, fire chief at J H Ketcham Hose Co Inc. in Dover Plains, N.Y., asked to be acknowledged after responders received their certificates.
“From one department to another, I know we deal with tough things,” Aubry said.
He explained the individual involved with the lawnmower rollover was the brother of a past member of his department.
“He and the family had nothing but good stuff to say for the efforts given trying to save his life,” he relayed. The chief spoke of the difficult scenarios all first responders face, “And we deal with this.”
“When it hits—when it’s close to home—that’s tough for him, but he had nothing but good stuff to say about everyone who worked hard that day to try and save his life,” he said. “So, thank you.”
A round of applause echoed throughout the dining hall.
FIRE SCHOOL
Four KVFD members graduated from Firefighter 1 course at the end of 2024: PJ Haviland, Bill Smith, Carter Sneller, and Ben Soule.
YEARS OF SERVICE
Hock then called up individuals for service pins.
Recipients were Jordan Donzella (10 years), Jill Scholsohn (15 years), Sean Dingee, Lou Dingee, and Gary Hock (20 years), John Christen, Bonnie Donzella, John Russell, Jean Speck and Rob Kennedy (25 years), Caralee Rochovansky (30 years), Mary Ann VanValkenburg and Wendell Soule (35 years), and Ed Matson (40 years).
In total, those honored account for 350 years of service to KVFD.
TOP RESPONDERS
Each year the top five EMS responders are recognized.
This year, due to the increase in the volume of fire calls, the department decided to also honor the top five fire responders.
Recipients of a certificate included PJ Haviland with 173 fire calls, Gary Hock with 169 calls, Wendell Soule with 130 calls, Sean Dingee with 120 calls, and Bill Smith with 113 calls.
On the EMS side, those presented certificates were Jordan Donzella with 121 calls, Mary Ann VanValkenburg with 106 calls, Jill Scholsohn with 96 calls, Larry Schenk with 70 calls, and Diane Impastato with 65 calls.
“When you add up all these responses, it makes me teary eyed—it adds up to a lot of hours,” said Speck.
“Some calls last for three, four or five hours,” she said. “Most people in this room know this… responders walk away from their job, their family. Thank you.”
THE 100 CALL CLUB
Bonnie Donzella introduced the newest members of the 100 Call Club.
For EMS, Jordan Donzella with 121 calls and Mary Ann VanValkenburg with 106 calls, and for fire, PJ Haviland with 175 calls, Gary Hock with 170, Alan Gawel with 149, Sean Dingee with 143, Wendell Soule with 136, John Russell with 119, and Bill Smith with 130.
FIREFIGHTER AND EMS PROVIDER OF THE YEAR
Recipients of the 2024 Firefighter of the Year and EMS Provider of the Year—PJ Haviland and Jill Scholsohn, respectively—were then called up to receive plaques.
They were chosen by the department’s chiefs and assistant chiefs, according to Bonnie Donzella.
“This doesn’t always go to the person who goes on the most calls, but PJ, yeah, you went on the most calls,” she quipped.
“PJ, you’re receiving this award for your willingness to help wherever needed, whenever asked,” she said. “You always say ‘yes’. You are part of the group that took the Firefighter 1 class last year. You are the true definition of a dedicated volunteer,” Bonnie Donzella said.
“Thank you for everything you do, she summed up.
Scholsohn was then introduced and honored for her commitment.
“Jill, you were chosen, like PJ, for your dedication to the department,” she related. “You step in to cover shifts even if they’re at night. Your willingness to share your knowledge and teach the younger EMS people is invaluable. Your eagerness to learn in an ever-changing world of EMS is an inspiration to others. Again, you are the definition of a volunteer. Thank you.”
CHIEF’S AWARDS
Rhonda Smith and Wendell Soule were then each presented with the department’s highest honor—the Chief’s Award.
“As your chief, I was very fortunate to have so many individuals that gave so much to this department, despite their busy lives,” said Fire Chief Alan Gawel in a letter he wrote, read aloud by Bonnie Donzella. “Picking one individual for the chief’s award in 2024 was a difficult task.”
Smith was cited for her “continued learning and training in firefighting, rescue, fire truck driving, including pumping and operations” and for chipping “away at the critical position of records clerk.”
Donzella then introduced the recipient of the EMS Chief’s Award, Wendell Soule.
She recognized Soule as someone who “inspired me the most” and who, despite facing challenges in 2024, did not let them stop him.
“This award is in recognition of your perseverance and determination in the face of adversity,” Bonnie Donzella said, addressing Soule.
OTHER NEWS
Last month, at its first monthly membership meeting, on Jan. 6, KVFD elected its officers for the new year.
They are Caralee Rochovansky, president, who previously served as secretary; Bonnie Donzella, secretary, who was previously ambulance chief; and Eric Epstein, treasurer.
Officers for emergency are Fire Chief Alan Gawel; Assistant Fire Chief Gary Hock; Assistant Fire Chief Wendell Soule; Ambulance Chief Mary Ann VanValkenburg; Assistant Ambulance Chief Jean Speck; Fire Captain Tim Sneller; Fire Captain John Russell; Fire Lieutenant Peter Bernard; and Fire Lieutenant Lou Dingee.
