Top Stories for Tuesday January 15, 2008

Looking at Fire Safety
By Mike Cameron
   For over 40 years, public safety, police work, and the fire service has been a large part of Tom Hooker’s professional and private life.
   As head of the Pittsford Vermont Volunteer Fire Department, Hooker manages a close knit group of dedicated firefighters in a small but growing community.
   The chief is a hometown boy who has been married to his wife Barb for over 40 years.  They have one daughter Kelley who lives and works near New York City.
   The couple owns and operates Valley Electric Supply in Middlebury.  Their dog “Barney,”is as much a part of the family and their business as they are.  The little guy even has his own personal recliner in the showroom.
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100 Years Young Weybridge-New Haven “Rattling Bridge” Re-Opens for Traffic

  Freshly painted, stronger and newly decked one of the oldest steel frame bridges in Vermont stands proudly in the background for the official opening ceremony. Spectators happily reported a modest rattle from crossing vehicles.
   Ribbon cutters (L-R) John Rouleau -great, great grandson of New Haven Selectman Amos Rouleau; Chris Bray-State Legislator; Andrew White-CCS Crane; Rob Young - Bridge engineer VAT; Keith Hall-Selectboard, New Haven; Neale Lunderville-Transportation Secretary; Karen Brisson-Town Clerk, Weybridge; Peter James - Chairman Weybridge Selectboard; Burt Allen-Chairman New Haven Selectboard; Adam Lougee-Executive Director ACRPC;  David Youlen-Stantec.In back row (L-R) Scott Newman-Division of Historical Preservation-VAT; Dale Norton-Resident Engineer VAT      
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Town Hall Theater Meets $5 Million Challenge

  After ten years of hard work, Town Hall Theater, Inc. has reached its capital campaign goal of $5 million.  The historic theater is scheduled to re-open in the summer.
   A key reason for the group's success is a $500,000 challenge grant made by anonymous local donors in July, 2007.  If the group could match it, it would have enough money to complete the restoration.
   There was just one catch:  the match had to be made by December 31, 2007.
   “That gave us only five months to raise the final $500,000,” says THT executive director Douglas Anderson.  “But the community really responded to the challenge.”
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