Ambulance Volunteers Honored [PHOTOS]

Members of the Hampton Bays Volunteer Ambulence, East Quogue and Westhampton War Memorial Volunteer Ambulance were honored Friday evening at the second annual Southampton Town EMS Advisory Committee Volunteer of the Year awards dinner.

During the event, each EMS agency in Southampton presented an extraordinary volunteer, or team of volunteers, with a Volunteer of the Year Award.  Additionally, Karl Klug, the Suffolk County EMS deputy chief of operations, presented each honoree with certificates of recognition.

Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst and Councilwoman Christine Scalera represented Southampton Town. Throne-Holst told the volunteers, "We honor all of you for the work that you do and the sacrifices that you make. ... It's certainly not lost to us the role you play and your importance to the community."

From Hampton Bays Volunteer Ambulance, Chief Christopher Fraser presented Carl Schottenhamel Sr. with Hampton Bays' award. Fraser said Schottenhamel has answered 1,000 alarms in three years and was previously awarded Rookie of the Year and Driver of the Year.

Westhampton War Memorial Volunteer Ambulance Chief Rita Wyatt presented its agency award to the entire team behind a cardiac rescue, Ben Hubbard, Allaine King, Jeff Platt, Andrew Lenchen, Jimmy Zambile and paid member Brian Danowski.

In absentia, Faith Erwin received East Quogue Fire Rescue's award.

Other awards went to the following:

Rescue Volunteer Philip Cammann received a high honor.  Paramedic Cammann, an ambulance volunteer since 1980, was presented with the Nancy Makson Award of Excellence, named for the late Flanders Northampton Volunteer Ambulance Company co-founder.  In addition to his service in Bridgehampton, where he spearheaded the first responder program, Cammann was the founding chief of Southampton Volunteer Ambulance, according to Dave Skretch, who presented Cammann with Bridgehampton's agency award.

Chief Ian King presented Christopher Epley, a young ambulance member and son of Village Mayor Mark Epley, with the village ambulance corps' award.

's award, presented by Chief Lucy Gulli, went to Joseph Louchheim, the agency's treasurer. Gulli said Louchheim joined in 2008 and became a highly trained volunteer who now teaches CPR himself.

Chief Edward Downes presented Edward Tuohy with Sag Harbor's award.

Also absent was Ronald Hintze, who could not be present to receive his award from Flanders Northampton Volunteer Ambulance because he is currently serving in Afghanistan. His son, Andrew Hintze, accepted the award on his behalf.