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Health & Fitness

Novato Firefighters Show Talents at Feb. 27 Event

Our common mental image of a firefighter is someone calm in the face of chaos, wearing a yellow coat, carrying hoses and charging into a burning building or climbing a ladder to rescue a child.

They do that…and more! This week, we’ll have another view when Fresh Starts Chef Events hosts Chef Marvin Blandon, a Novato firefighter, joins Chef Rachelle Boucher to present a cooking demonstration. He was named California’s best firehouse chef after a “secret ingredient” contest at the 2013 State Fair.

A third view comes from paramedic firefighter Jeff Lemelin, who has worked full-time with Novato’s fire department since 2002. He’s also an accomplished photographer who will donate a unique photo print to be raffled at our Thursday event.

A scuba diver for seven years, he took up photography after a dive in Thailand where he had the chance to talk to the official dive photographer. Most diving trips include the opportunity to buy underwater photos.

“I thought I’d try out taking photos myself and got really interested. I upgraded my camera, took some classes, and now I spend about a month per year in Indonesia,” Lemelin says.

Also an avid surfer, Lemelin says the ocean always has been a respite for him, since the job “can be occasionally stressful.” He says the photos bring a sense of the ocean’s peace and wonder inside.

He launched a second profession in photography about three years ago, when he set up his website at BeneathTheWavesPhotography.com.

Printed on metal, his works have a durable shine and a colorful presence. To see his photography, visit the website gallery – or join us this week at Fresh Starts Chef Events for a chance to win one to take home.

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