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At this week’s regular meeting of the Peninsula Township Board, the board will recognize Nick Haines’ promotion to Lieutenant in the Peninsula Fire Department.
In a letter to the Township Board, Fire Chief Fred Gilstorff writes that Haines has been with the fire department for more than seven years. “Nick has a great passion for the department and the community. His leadership and work ethic are noticed each and every day, and he strives to better himself each day he is at the fire station. I believe he will continue to be a good leader within the department.”
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He adds that Haines’ desire to be the best he can be will help guide those that he supervises. His promotion takes effect today, July 9, 2018, and he will be presented with his badge at the Township Board meeting on July 10, 2018.
Gilstorff has also announced the hiring of two new paramedic/firefighters and one new firefighter to the fire department. Ethan Passalacqua has been hired as a paramedic/firefighter, and comes to the Old Mission Peninsula from the City of Harbor Springs Fire Department and Oscoda County Ambulance Service.
“Ethan has a number of years experience in the fire service and displays a great passion for helping people in any way possible,” notes Gilstorff, adding that Passalacqua has also worked with the Red Cross doing many fire safety talks and presentations.
“I believe the passion and drive that Ethan has will go a long way in helping the Peninsula Township Fire Department provide a great service to the community.” His first day with the department is today, July 9, 2018.
Joseph Sicoli has also been hired as a paramedic/firefighter, and comes to the Peninsula from the Cadillace City Fire Department, Missaukee County EMS and Munson Hospital. Gilstorff says that Sicoli has been a paramedic for more than four years and has experience both in the field, as well as in a hospital setting. He is also a Basic Life Support instructor, which will allow him to teach CPR classes to Peninsula Township residents.
“Joe brings a lot of experience both medically and in firefighting to help the Peninsula Township Fire Department grow into the future,” says Gilstorff. Sicoli’s first day on the job will be July 16, 2018.
Gilstorff has also asked the Township Board to approve the hire of a new paid on-call firefighter, Donald Plassman, who currently lives near Eighth Street and Garfield in Traverse City. Plassman has a college education from the University of Michigan, along with some emergency medical training.
Gilstorff says he shows a great enthusiasm toward becoming a member of the fire service. The Township Board will likely approve this hire at their meeting this week.
SUPPORT YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL NEWSPAPER: I started Old Mission Gazette in 2015 because I felt a calling to provide the Old Mission Peninsula community with local news. After decades of writing for newspapers and magazines like the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Family Circle and Ladies' Home Journal, I really just wanted to write about my own community where I grew up on a cherry farm and raised my own family. So I started my own newspaper.
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