Beneath snowy skies that finally gave way to sunshine Wednesday, crews with Nosal Builders Inc worked a crane, lifting roof trusses onto the new ambulance garage.

Walking across rough, frozen ground at the new construction’s location at Fairfield Hills across from the Reed Intermediate School, Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Association Corps member Stuart Rieve and Clerk of the Works Brian Feeney watched as large triangular-framed wood assemblies rose into position. With the building’s sides and main roof in place, Mr Rieve looks toward a July/August finish date for a building that will serve as headquarters for Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps members and activities.

Somewhat behind schedule, Mr Rieve said, “We were ahead a few weeks around Christmas, but winter has taken its toll.”

The official groundbreaking ceremony was July 29, 2013.

The Board of Trustees last June voted unanimously to move ahead with the estimated $4.5 million new emergency medical service facility. The six-bay, 14,500-square-foot garage’s design has taken into consideration the need for increased integration with other Newtown-based health and wellness organizations, with a second floor devoted to education. Features of the building will include individual crew-member bunk rooms, office space for the executive board and the Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Association Inc, three double-long garage bays, and technologically advanced electronic and security systems.

This building will also include a large training room to facilitate increased community educational opportunities such as CPR and AED training, first aid, and scout merit badges. It will also provide space for equipment storage and training for emergency medical technician classes, which are imperative for the continuity of an all-volunteer corps.