Marion Volunteers honored at Select Board Meeting

MARION — At the Sept. 7 meeting of the Marion Select Board, there was cause for celebration as members of the Marion Community Emergency Response Team, or CERT, were awarded diplomas for completing a months-long course.

“It’s an exciting day for the Marion emergency management agency,” said Police Chief  Richard Nighelli, who along with Fire Chief Brian Jackvony handed out the diplomas to nine graduates of the program.

CERT is a national program that educates volunteers in disaster preparedness, training them in fire safety, search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations, said Nighelli.

During extreme situations, like floods or other natural disasters, CERT volunteers can handle some basic tasks, “allowing our first responders to focus on more complex tasks,” he said. Read More…