A Lehighton man was honored recently for completing 30 years of service with the Northern Valley Ambulance.

Crew members, representatives of several organizations, family and friends gathered at the South Station of NOVA on Levans Road to honor Jason Nicholas for his service.

Kristie Wentling, executive director of NOVA, and Kevin A. Schmidt, president of its board of directors, presented a plaque to Nicholas, while state Rep. Zachary Mako presented the honoree a citation from the state House of Representatives.

The citation, in part, expressed the House members’ appreciation of Nicholas and first responders, stating they “take great pleasure in recognizing those citizens who selflessly devote their lives to ensuring safety of the residents of their communities and ultimately of all the people of this great Commonwealth.”

The citation also reads, “The House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania proudly notes his record of exemplary service, in keeping with the highest ideals and traditions of this Commonwealth.”

Nicholas began his tenure in emergency services as a junior firefighter with West End Fire Company No. 2 in Palmerton at the age of 14. He served as a volunteer with the former Slatington Ambulance from 1991 until its merger with Northern Valley Emergency Medical Services Inc., where he has been employed since 1994.

A former member of Neffs Fire Volunteer Fire Company, he has been active with the Slatington Fire Department since 2005 and held the positions of lieutenant, chief, deputy chief, captain and president. Employed by Lehigh County as a deputy coroner since 2001, Nicholas began serving Carbon County in the same capacity in 2024.

In comments, Nicholas recalled his journey through emergency services, recalling that when he first joined the West End Fire Company it had only three pieces of apparatus: a tower, closed cab engine and open cab engine. He said his equipment consisted of a bunker coat, hip boots, gloves and a helmet.

David Lucia was the chief for the Palmerton Fire Department at the time, and Nicholas said that he highly regarded the chief and considered as a father figure.

Nicholas further reminisced the department cleaned chimneys for residents as a fundraiser and would be called to pump out basements on Lehigh Avenue due to flooding. He also remembered cleaning and polishing the trucks for parades.

Nicholas plans to work full-time for the Lehighton Ambulance Association, while also working part time at NOVA and the Palmerton Ambulance. He will also remain a part-time employee at the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office and will assist the Carbon County coroner.