DAYTONA BEACH — Nearly 250 people filled the ballroom at the Ocean Center Friday night for The Daytona Beach News-Journal's fourth annual Hometown Heroes awards gala.

The event honored 30 outstanding first responders from throughout Volusia and Flagler counties. The gala included the presentation of three special awards: Jon Moscowitz, a lieutenant with Flagler County Fire Rescue, received the 2022 Hometown Heroes Award; Steven Taft, battalion chief with the Daytona Beach Fire Department, received the 2022 First Responder of the Year award; Daytona Beach Police Sgt. Lissette Deschamps received the 2022 Heroes First Home Loans "Outstanding Leaders in the Community Policing" award.

The other 2022 Hometown Heroes honorees included Bob Adkins, Gaige Bryant, William Buckhannon, Annie Conrad, Marcus Dawson, Stephen Dembinsky, Joseph Depoutot, Charles Garay, Adam Gossett, Raymond Griffin, Kasey Hagan, Andrew Hardesty, Gerald Heikkila, Chris Hughes, Patrick James, Brandon King, Stephanie Newberry, Keatan Nicastro, Kevin Nugent, Marc Pedevillano, Marka Rexford, Jordan Rogaliner, Cassie Sciotto, James Stasko, Andy Thomas, Stanley "Jack" Watson and Robert Woell.

"This year, not only did we collect nominations from the community and give out awards, but we also opened the doors to allow any first responder and their families to attend for free," said the gala's organizer Kaitlyn Stier, regional event director for The Daytona Beach News-Journal and LocaliQ.

Hometown Hero of the Year

Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly presented Moscowitz with the Hometown Heroes "Hero of the Year" award which goes to a local hero that has gone above and beyond the call of duty.

Staly praised Moscowitz for coming up with the idea to create "Brookie Boxes" on every fire truck and rescue in Flagler County. The boxes contain objects to soothe children during traumatic events.

"Usually when a firefighter is on scene of an event, it is unpleasant. (Moscowitz) created these boxes to make the children more comfortable and allow them to better to communicate with any child with disabilities. He also organizes a toy drive every year at his home around the holidays to collect money and gifts for local kids who are less fortunate."

First Responder of the Year

Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood presented Taft with the 2022 First Responder of the Year award for encompassing "the definition of honor, courage and sacrifice."

"This year’s recipient is a hero in many ways," said Chitwood of Taft. "He joined the Daytona Beach Fire Department as a young firefighter out of high school with ambitions to follow in his father’s footsteps."

After being promoted to lieutenant, the 15-year veteran was asked to bring his skills and knowledge to the department’s training division. Initiatives he introduced included the creation of a department-wide Surface Water Rescue Program which trains Volusia County first responders on water survival, search and rescue techniques and emergency bunker-gear removal to be used in the event a firefighter falls into the water with their gear on.

"(Taft) along with his specialized team of former lifeguards turned firefighters trained over 130 firefighters from not only the Daytona Beach Fire Department but also extending the opportunity to Holly Hill Fire Rescue and the Ormond Beach Fire Department as well," said Chitwood. "His dedication, initiative, and innovation have enhanced the Daytona Beach Fire Department’s level of service to the public and commitment to their safety, while helping ensure his fellow firefighters make it home to their families at the end of a shift."

Outstanding Leaders in the Community Policing Award

Chitwood and Sam Royer, national director of Heroes First Home Loans, presented Deschamps with the Outstanding Leaders in the Community Policing Award.

"Deschamps exemplifies what it is to be a community servant and dedicated professional in policing," Royer said. "Leaders like her come along once in a lifetime for a department and the citizens of Daytona Beach  are lucky to have her."

The 2022 Hometown Heroes gala's presenting sponsor was Heroes First Home Loans. The event included a special performance by the Coastal Florida Police & Fire Pipes & Drums, Cassandra Hartman who sang the National Anthem, and the Clayton & Diane duo who provided music for the cocktail hour. The evening's host and DJ was Matt Graifer.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Hometown Heroes: News-Journal honors Volusia-Flagler first-responders