O c t o b e r 2 0 2 0 • M a r i e m o n t , O h i o • V o l u m e X L V, N o . 2
Saluting Mariemont’s First Responders By Peter McBride Needless to say, the Coronavirus19 pandemic has exacted an exhaustive toll on people across the nation and worldwide. The number of confirmed Coronavirus cases, hospitalizations, and - alas - deaths has been staggering. However, equally impressive have been the efforts of those who have risked life and limb to protect, comfort, and save others during the crisis. Mariemont has its own core of community protectors and first responders in its police and fire/rescue departments. The Town Crier was curious about how these local heroes were impacted by and have adjusted to the pandemic. So we invited a couple of them to share some thoughts.
Tim Feichtner, Mariemont Assistant Fire Chief Tim’s great uncle was a volunteer firefighter who inspired Tim to pursue a career in firefighting and as an EMT. He did his EMT training in 1997. He has been in his current position in Mariemont since October 2019, but previously served as a first responder in several other local jurisdictions. Tim recognizes that in the earliest weeks and months of the pandemic, there was less knowledge of the infectious nature of the disease and lots of uncertainty. Despite their training and awareness of a virus’s effects, there were less well-defined protocols for Tim and his team. This included, for example, determining when masks needed to be worn, even when loaded down with firefighting gear, or even when grocery shopping for the fire/EMT team at Kroger’s. There was also less certainty in how to
Tim Feichtner (L) and Fred Romano interact with one another and with community members - in both emergency and even nonemergency situations during a pandemic. Such best practices and regimens were soon put in place and continue to be strictly adhered to. Tim added that residents who have needed emergency medical or other assistance before and during the pandemic are always grateful for the support and assistance they receive from the Mariemont EMT/fire department. Moreover, despite the many shifts in community relations and other dynamics being caused by the pandemic, the fire/EMT team remains committed to respecting and prioritizing the needs and concerns of the people in the Village.
Tim’s biggest regret is that he and his colleagues cannot network with Village families as much as previously and as much as they would like to. Parents and grandparents can’t take the kids to see the fire engines and emergency vehicles or to give out hugs to their local heroes there at the station. Not quite yet, at least.
Fred Romano, Mariemont Police Department Schools Resource Officer
Officer Fred Romano serves the community - and especially our high school students - as the Cont'd on page 4