Motorcycle Ride And Pig Roast Raise Funds For New Firehouse
Motorcycle Ride And Pig Roast Raise Funds For New Firehouse
By Kendra Bobowick
Former Hook & Ladder Fire Company #1 Chief Ray Corbo parked the fire truck along Wasserman Way last Sunday, then looked downhill as rumbling exhaust pipes grew louder.
Soon passing by were nearly 40 motorcycles as riders and passengers returned from their loop through Brookfield and Bridgewater, then back to the One-Eyed Pig Bar and Restaurant at 71 South Main Street where the September 12 fundraiser, pig roast, and live music were underway.
Organizing ticket sales, raffles, and entrance fees for the dayâs pig roast and party to raise funds for a new Hook & Ladder Fire Company firehouse were firefighters from Hook & Ladder and other companies in town, which supported the event.
Newtown police officers assisted with traffic control as the ride left the lot at 10 am and flashes of chrome and leather whipped out onto Main Street to return roughly one hour later.
Beneath a tent hung T-shirts for sale, tickets for raffle prizes, and wristbands to enjoy the food on the back patio. Thanks to The One-Eyed Pig, Swanky Franks, and Steve Ford, a local butcher who provided the pig, guests enjoyed food at tables set up beneath an awning and an outdoor bar. Firefighter Chris Gindraux displayed the shirts for sale while Emily Anastasio sold a ticket to Dave Farrell, who arrived that morning to join the ride.
The Adults played to crowds inside while raffles prizes went to the lucky winners.
Outdoors leaning like dominos along the parking lot were motorcycles that reached around back where the pig roast found guests, a buffet, and burgers on the grill.
Later that afternoon Newtown First Selectman Pat Llodra and State Representatives for Newtown Christopher Lyddy and DebraLee Hovey greeted guests and made their way through the crowd.
Plans are underway to build a new firehouse at a Sugar Street location. The current facility behind the Edmond Town Hall is in disrepair, and no longer accommodates the fire companyâs needs.
Background
The Inland Wetlands Commission has scheduled a September 22 public hearing regarding Newtown Hook & Ladder Fire Company, Inc, #1âs proposal to build a new firehouse at 12 Sugar Street (Route 302). The fire company has submitted its application to the commission as part of the proposal to construct an 11,414-square-foot firehouse on the 9.4-acre site northwest of the Elm Drive intersection. Per the proposal, the Borough of Newtown Land Trust, Inc, and the R. Scudder Smith Family Partnership would donate land to create a site for the new construction. The land is currently undeveloped, lightly wooded, and contains wetland areas.
Last March, representatives of Hook & Ladder and the Board of Fire Commissioners sought financial support for the firehouse project from the Public Safety Subcommittee of the Legislative Council. The commission, not the fire company, has made the funding request, Firefighter Rob Manna explained.
The firehouse project has been placed on the townâs Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). Under that spending plan, the town would contribute $1.5 million toward the construction project. The funding would be spread across three fiscal years, through three $500, 000 increments.
The fire company has asked that the town provide $1.5 million toward the overall cost of a $2.6 million firehouse. Through the use of âvalue engineeringâ the fire company is seeking to hold the cost of the project down to $2.2 million or $2.3 million.