August Press Release

The Southeastern Adams Volunteer Emergency Services—SAVES announced this week that the organization has achieved its capital campaign goal of $1 million as part of the financing for the new fire station and social hall located at 5865 Hanover Road. After more than 2 and one half years of planning, SAVES will begin operations at the new facility September1st. On Sunday September 20^th a public dedication will be held. SAVES which began operations on January 1, 2005, was formed a year earlier when the former Brushtown, Centennial, Conewago and McSherrystown fire companies consolidated operations. Over the past five years the organization transitioned from four stations to the new centrally located facility.

SAVES, which serves all of McSherrystown Borough, Conewago Township and parts of Mt. Pleasant and Union townships, achieved their goal after receiving a $250,000 contribution from Conewago Enterprises, the lead contractor on the project. Conewago Enterprises told us that they would be a contributor to the project very early in the process, said Wayne Reid, SAVES President. “Conewago Enterprises donation demonstrates again the strong community support SAVES enjoyed for this project”. SAVES project coordinator Tom Weaver said that as of August 1, 2009 pledges to the capital campaign stood at $ 1,099,000. The Campaign began last fall with a strong kick-off of $425,000.

The 32,000 square foot facility has ten apparatus bays, men’s and women’s bunk rooms, a large capacity social hall with kitchen and seating for 600, an archive room and offices. The total cost was estimated at $5.1 million which included a turning lane upgrade to Rt. 116. Although all of the invoices for the project have not been received yet, Weaver said it appears that the project will be completed on budget and about one month ahead of a schedule.

The public is invited to the September 20^th dedication with more information to follow in the upcoming weeks.