Your Town

Andy Thomas, FireFlight.

Courtesy photo

FLIGHT MEDIC EARNS CERTIFICATION

Flagler County Flight Operations Flight Medic Andy Thomas recently became a Certified Flight Paramedic by the International Board of Specialty Certification – an organization responsible for the administration and development of specialty certification exams for critical care professionals.

“It was a voluntary effort that required an immense amount of studying and test preparation,” said Flight Operations Chief/Director of Flight Operations Dana Morris.

The certification, which Thomas completed on his own, is in addition to the State required Air Medical Crewmember Certification Course that all Flagler County Flight Medics must complete before flying as a crewmember on FireFlight.

Worldwide there are fewer than 12,000 International Board of Specialty Certified Flight Paramedics. “Andy is a valuable asset to Flagler County Flight Operations,” said Morris. “He is an inspiration to the other Flight Medics. Congratulations to him for this hard earned certification.” The Junior Chamber of Commerce is a growing group of 30 Flagler Palm Coast High School students who are actively seeking to better understand their future and the community in which they reside. Led by FPC student Bryan Soudrain, in partnership with the newly created Palm Coast-Flagler Regional Chamber, the Junior Chamber of Commerce has already hosted a conversation with Palm Coast Mayor Milissa Holland and have their sights set on growing the group beyond FPC students.

“The values the Junior Chamber hopes to instill in students include determination, ambition, understanding the importance of hard work and striving to have an exceptional work ethic,” Soudrain said. “Our Junior Chamber is ‘for the youth, by the youth,’ and we are interested in exploring our future career opportunities, better understanding the business world and creating opportunities for our group members.”

The Junior Chamber is officially sponsored by the Palm Coast-Flagler Regional Chamber of Commerce, which was recently created after the dissolution of the Flagler County Chamber.

Greg Blosé, chamber President, said: “Business leaders in our region are concerned about the quality of our future workforce. During this time, Bryan Soudrain contacted me to talk about dozens of students who wanted to do more to better prepare for their future careers.”

Call 386-846-1864 or email Greg@PalmCoastFlaglerRegionalChamber.com.

YOUR TOWN

TRIBUTES

Wilbur J. Rau 1925-2021

Wilbur J. Rau, 95 of Palm Coast, Florida and formerly of Eatontown, NJ passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 5, 2021 surrounded by his family. He was born in Elizabeth, NJ, was raised in Linden, NJ and resided in Fair Haven and Eatontown for over 50 years before moving to Florida in 1991.

Mr. Rau was a Logistics Manager with SATCOM, Dept of the Army at Ft. Monmouth, NJ retiring in 1982 after 33 years of service. He was a veteran of World War II serving in the US Navy, a communicant of St. Dorothea’s RC Church in Eatontown and most recently a communicant of Santa Maria del Mar Catholic Church in Flagler Beach, Florida. He enjoyed boating and was a former member of the Long Branch Ice Boat & Yacht Club and a founding member of the River & Surf Yacht Club in Long Branch, NJ owning several boats both building and re-building many of them.

Mr. Rau was pre-deceased by his wife of over 50 years, Jane Lammerding Rau in 2005, his parents; Frederick F. and May E. Rau, his brother, Fred T. Rau and his two son-in-laws; Abe Soldyn and Michael Barker.

He is survived by his son, Kenneth J. and wife Ellen Rau of Middletown, NJ, his daughters; Pamela J. Soldyn and Kathryn Barker both of Palm Coast, Florida, his grandsons: Andrew and wife Laura and Alexander Soldyn. He is also survived by his step-grandchildren; Caren, Bryan & wife Jaclyn Bloom, Jessica & husband Jamie Welford and step-great grandchildren Ava, Kellen, Nolan & Julia, his sister-in-law, Grace Henkel and many nieces & nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held at 11:00 am, Saturday, January 9th at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 4600 Belle Terre Pkwy, Palm Coast, Florida. Visitation took place on Friday, January 8th from 5-8:00 pm at Lohman Funeral Home Palm Coast, 220 Palm Coast Pkwy, Palm Coast, Florida. Interment will take place in Rosehill Cemetery in Linden, NJ.

Arrangements are under the direction and care of Lohman Funeral Home Palm Coast – (386) 449-1100. Please visit our website to sign Mr. Rau’s online guestbook – www.lohmanfuneralhomes.com DONATIONS: In lieu of flowers, please consider a monetary donation to the Fisher House Foundation, Inc. An organization created to help veterans and military families – www.fisherhouse.org.

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