Voting for fire district commissioners on Dec. 13

The Five Towns and surrounding communities will hold district elections for commissioner on Dec. 13.

A fire district is a political entity established to provide protection against fire by responding to emergencies. The district purchases equipment the fire department needs.

Atlantic Beach Fire Rescue

Joe Montilli, 55, has firefighting in his blood. He is the son of the late chief of the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department Anthony Montilli. Joseph is running unopposed for re-election as a commissioner. He has been a volunteer firefighter for more than 30 years and part of the Lawrence-Cedarhurst department. He has been the commissioner for Atlantic Beach for seven years and is seeking to use tax dollars to good use, such as improving fire, rescue and medical services. 

Voting is at Atlantic Beach Fire Rescue, 1 Rescue Road from 6 to 9 p.m.

Inwood Fire District

Frank Parise is running unopposed for the five-year fire commissioner term. For Parise, having the best equipment possible to protect members in his fire district is one of the few things he values.

“It’s a balance between spending money wisely and protecting the members,” he said. Parise, 75, has served for Inwood fire for 30 years and takes pride in public service.

He has held many positions in the fire department and fire district, including lieutenant, captain and deputy chief from 2016 to 2017. He was commissioner for 10 years from 1990 to 2000 and was named Inwood Civic Association’s Citizen of the Year in 2020.

In the Lawrence School District, he served as a Board of Education trustee from 2000 to 2006 and was board president from 2004 to 2006. He is the superintendent of Public Works at the Village of Cedarhurst for the past 18 years.

Voting is at Inwood firehouse,188 Doughty Blvd., from 6 to 9 p.m.

Woodmere Fire

Ilana Kahan is running unopposed for the five-year term. She is not a member of the fire department and this is her first time becoming involved. She works as an attorney for a nonprofit agency. She said she wants to serve the community.

Voting is at Woodmere firehouse, 20 Irving Place, from 6 to 9 p.m.

Hewlett Bay Fire District

Steve Medina is running unopposed for the five-year term. He ran in 2021 against Joseph Ruvolo who won re-election by 120 votes.

Voting is at Hewlett firehouse, 25 Franklin Ave., from 6 to 9 p.m.

Meadowmere Park Fire District

Incumbent Kevin Bennett Sr. is running unopposed for the five-year term. Voting is at the Meadowmere firehouse, 14 Meyer Ave.,  Meadowmere Park from 6 to 9 p.m.

North Lawrence Fire District

Three fire commissioner spots are open in the North Lawrence Fire district. The candidates running unopposed for the three uncontested openings are local residents Pinchas Faska, Ari Shapiro and Joel Krinsky. Each candidate is running to help fill the void after three of the commissioners Gary Caparelli, Thomas Vairo and John Pescatori all resigned. The district serves the residential and commercial areas outside Cedarhurst and Lawrence.

Faska, a five-year resident of North Lawrence works in administrative health care. His community service goes back to his childhood when he was a Boy Scout. Faska is also the president of the local North Lawrence synagogue.

Shapiro, a four-year resident of North Lawrence, currently serves as the treasurer of the local North Lawrence synagogue. Shapiro served in the past as a fireman and in the Coast Guard. He also volunteers for the North Lawrence Citizens Patrol. Krinsky is a 15-year North Lawrence resident and owns a local car body shop.

Voting is at the Five Towns Community Center, 270 Lawrence Ave., Lawrence from 6 to 9 p.m.