Bennington Banner from Bennington, Vermont • 3

BENNINGTON BANNER LOCALSTATE TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 1992 i Buskirk buys lightweight pumper MATT KELLY banner staff writer i BUSKIRK, N.Y. The Buskirk Fire Department is moving away from heavier fire trucks with the new pumper it puts into service this week. The truck, a polypropolene body on a Ford chassis, weighs six tons. And this is the second truck in the departments fleet that can legally cross the Buskirk Covered Bridge, a wooden span over the Hoosic River with a six-ton posted weight limit. In recent years there has been a tendency that bigger is better," said Dennis Flynn, chief of the Buskirk Department.

I am not convinced. This truck may prove that a smaller, lighter truck can do things better. The new pumper, which carries 300 gallons of water and has a a minute, rear-mounted pump, carries a generator, which Flynn said is enough to power the firehouse and hall in case of emergencies. It has a turbo-charger on its diesel engine, boosting the trucks horsepower to 250-horsepower. A four-wheel drive vehicle, Flynn said the truck will be one of the departments main response vehicles.

This will run to every call, Flynn said. Weve tried to make it as versatile as possible. i The truck, which was delivered last Friday by Fire Apparatus Unlimited of Scotia, will cost the department $79,000 with an additional $15,000 for equipment. Flynn said the cost of the truck has been built into the departments budget and will be paid for over 10 years. In the three-year contract we signed with White Creek, Hoosick and Cambridge in 1990, there was an understanding that we would have at least one class A pumper that would go over the bridge, Flynn said.

The new truck will replace the departments 1960 Dodge pumper, which has been loaned to the Hoosick Falls Fire Department. Flynn said the Dodge will probably remain in service in some capacity. Its old, but its in too good shape to just get rid of," Flynn said. Right now its on loan to the Hoosick In recent years there has been a tendency that bigger is better. I am not convinced.

This truck may prove that a smaller lighter truck can do things better. Dennis Flynn Falls Fire Department until their new truck comes in and then we can loan it to another department that needs it or find someplace to store it. Firefighters from the Buskirk department began training with the new truck Saturday, learning its pump capabilities and practicing driving it. -S. Biisklrk, N.Y., Fir Chief Dennis Flynn (rear) discusses the operations of the departments now track with North Hoosick firefighter Robert Bornt (foreground) and Buskirk firefighter Paul Timmerman (center).

The departments new truck Is lightweight with a plastic body on a four-wheel-drive frame. Local officials critical of Dean plan Rutland mayor enters race for Sanders seat projects, as intended by Congress. Because Old Bennington and North Bennington operate highway budgets independent of Bennington, all three governing bodies would be required to establish tax cuts for the plan to work. Corcoran said he did not think it could work. Assistant Town Manager and BSD board member Stuart Hurd also had doubts about the plan, though he said he, would not oppose it.

The town of Bennington is starved for transportation money. We could do a lot with that, he said. Last year Bennington budgeted $1,353 million of taxpayer money for highway spending, and received another $173,000 from the state, Hurd said. With the extra federal funds expected for next year, the town could work on long-delayed maintenance projects like sidewalk repair and drainage construction, he said. That transportation bill was (passed) to create jobs, noted Corcoran.

Hurd also criticized the plan as a one-shot deal that would artificially lower taxes this year, but leave school districts suffering next year when they have grown used to higher levels of spending. It sounds to me like a one-shot deal, and then were praying that we get through the recession. And then if we dont, were facing an even greater increase next year, he said. mary against Smith in 1990, and Rutland businessman Ralph Sinclair. No Democrat has entered the race.

But Sen. David Wolk, D-Rutland, said yesterday he is considering a congressional run. He is also looking at the lieutenant governors race and re-election. Im still considering a (congressional) run and that is not affected This will be an uphill battle, but Im convinced it can be won. by (Wennbergs) entry into the race, Wolk said.

Sanders won the House seat in 1990 by defeating first-term Rep. Peter Smith. Paul Poirier, a Democrat who lost in a three-way congressional race in 1988 that included Sanders, said the independent looks well-positioned for re-election. If you take a look at whats happening in Washington in terms of the agenda they have to deal with health care reform, tax breaks for middle class those are issues that Bernie and a lot of us have been talking about, Poirier said. Hes going to say he went to- Washington and got their attention, he added.

You cant discredit that. But William Gilbert, a Burlington attorney and lobbyist, said "the bloom is off the rose with Bernie Sanders in Vermont. Gilbert, a Republican, said Sanders message of taking from the rich and giving to the poor an income-transfer policy wont sell this year with Vermonters. PETER STANLEY BANNER STAFF WRITER BENNINGTON Gov. Howard Deans plan to use federal transportation money to offset a possible $6 million reduction in school aid has been criticized by local officials, who called it complicated and shortsighted.

The officials praised Dean for his attempt to resolve the budget crisis, but said this solution probably will not work for Bennington. I just dont see it working the way they might see it working, said Bennington Selector and Rep. Timothy Corcoran. Deans plan would provide each town with extra highway funds equal to the cut in state aid for local school districts. The towns could then use the extra funds to reduce taxes, while school districts increase their taxes to offset the cut in state aid.

If the plan is coordinated among town and school governments, there could be no net effect on taxpayers, according to the governor. The Vermont League of Cities and Towns along with some officials from other towns has decided, after some initial hesitation, to support the plan. But Corcoran said I think (Gov. Dean) -had poor advice on that one. Philip Hyjek, superintendent of the Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union, said he thought the plan was too complex to work, but he called it a great gesture.

According to Deans plan, the final decision on how to spend the extra funds would rest in each case with the town body, or bodies, in Benningtons case. The town board could decide to reduce taxes, or to spend the money on transportation chant for iconoclastic spellings. Stephentown bills itself as the lone Stephentown in a world of APToby Talbot Rutland Mayor Jeffrey Wennberg I think hes weaker than I thought hed be. I really didnt see the economy collapsing as seriously as it has, Gilbert said. Income transfer wont get us out of this.

Income development will." Gilbert and Poirier agreed that a strong candidate from the Republican and Democratic parties could present a serious challenge to Gilbert said' it is too early to know if those who have stepped forward will be able to present that challenge. Poirier added that Wennberg and Wolk could split the moderate vote. He said Sanders would have been more vulnerable if both parties had unified behind one candidate, particularly Wolk. A good, credible candidate that would appeal to the traditional Democrats and the moderate Republicans could run a good race, he said. As it gets into a three-way race, its clearly to the advantage of Bernie.

BSD Chair Alexandra Cohen agreed. Weve come to a time in history where weve got to stop thinking in a quick-fix mentality, she said. Legislators should start looking at a long-term plan to fund education through other means than the regressive property tax, she said. i HURRY IN SALE ENDS fill 15 SSOFA 1 Pearson Contemporary Sofa Pastel Plaid Was NOW 995 Flexsteel Traditional Camel Back Sofa Apricot Teal Stripe Damask Was 1,263" NOW 795 BroyhUl Traditional Sofa Lt. Blue 4c Ivory Check Was 1,300 NOW 7550 Harden Channel Beck Soft Multi-Color Floral Chlnti Was 1,857 E2HE Broyhill Wing Chair Red Blue Plaid Was 666 Flexsteel Leather Wing Chair Slate Blue Leather Was 1,625 NOW 795 Harden Wing Chair Multi-Color Flame Stitch Was NOW 570 Harden Leather Desk Chair Burgundy Leather Was 971- NOW 595 10VESEAT BroyhUl Traditional Loveseat Navy Floral Paisley wWoodTrim Was 978" NOW 595 Flexsteel Contemporary Loveseat Blue White Ticking Stripe Was 950- NOW 545 Broyhill Contemporary Loveseat Blue it Mauve Floral Was 915 NOW 545 Broyhill Traditional Loveseat Blue Mauve Floral Stripe Was 820- NOW 495 (SECTIONAL Bi Teal 4t Mauve Stencil Was NOW 1,895 Flexsteel Contemporary Sectional Mint Green Geometric Was NOW 1,495 Broyhill Traditional Sectional real 4c JR JBEDROO iV BroyhiU Contemporary Bedroom 6 Pc.

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Oak Set Was 5,525" NOW 3,757" MLIVtRY A FINANCING AVAIL ABU mi DCBMN SBRVtCC AVAILABLI Mon thru Frt 9 to 30. Sat 9 to 5, Sun. 12-5. Qoaad Sundays thru July A August SUSAN ALLEN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS MONTPELIER Rutland Mayor Jeffrey Wennberg said yesterday job creation and effectiveness will be key issues in his bid to win Vermonts U.S. House seat away from independent Rep.

Bernard Sanders. This will be an uphill battle, but Im convinced it can be won, Wennberg, a Republican, said at a Montpelier news conference. The challenge of the Wennberg for Congress campaign will be to show Vermonters that Bernie Sanders record and rhetoric do not speak for them. Wennberg said Sanders socialist philosophy and abrasive style in Congress have made him an ineffective voice for Vermonters. Our lone representative in Congress must be respected and effective if we are to have any hope of competing with the other 49 states for federal attention and support, he said.

Wennberg declined to outline his position on issues, but said the top concern among the electorate is job growth and economic development. Sanders socialism offers no solutions for creating jobs, he said. Wennberg expects to raise several hundred thousand dollars to com-pete in the GOP primary and the-subsequent general election. He said he would accept contributions from political action committees. Wennberg, 38, was elected mayor in Rutland in 1987, after serving as the city planner and development director from 1985 to 1987.

Other Republicans saying they plan to enter the race are Wallingford insurance salesman Timothy Philbin, who lost in the GOP pri Petersburg puts JORDAN RAU BANNER STAFF WRITER PETERSBURGH, N.Y. The silent at the end of this towns name has remained too silent for the last 200 years, town officials have decided. Petersburgh was born in 1791 and almost immediately lost its final letter, said Peter Schaaphok, the town supervisor and town historian. The first set of minutes started with an and by the end of the minutes they were spelling it with a he said. The town was only a day old and they did that.

The name was never officially changed and Schaaphok has one hypothesis why town officials at that first meeting may have neglected the h. The first meeting did take place in a tavern and they may have had a few in them by the time they finished, he said. In the years since, the town became known as Petersburg. The post office facade does not acknowledge the and the plaque for the bridge over the Little Hoosac River ajso left it out. But last years bicentennial fervor its name, becomes Petersburgh Schaaphok said.

It makes us a little unique. Petersburgh is not the only town in Rensselaer County with a pen the back in sparked an interest in reuniting the town with its long-lost letter. It started as a lark, Schaaphok said. Barbara Snyder, the town clerk, was ordering bicentennial stickers and she spelled Petersburgh with an h. The oldest seal we have still has the on it, Snyder said.

I thought it would be a nice idea. I think its just a matter of once it catches on. Last April, residents at the town meeting voted overwhelmingly in support of the with the stipulation that existing Petersburg signs be allowed to remain until they wear out. If anyone wants to spell it wrong, theres nothing to stop them, said Schaaphok. Everyone I know in town thinks its a great idea and has been using the since the April town meeting, said Petersburgh resident Dale Kolenberg.

It was a very hard year in the town. People were fighting about a lot of things and it was great to have something everyone could agree on, Kolenberg said. The town board reaffirmed the last week. Its kind of nice, MT. ANTHONY C0UNTRY CLUB PATS SUPER 7.95 SPECIALS Serving Tuesday thru Friday Fri.

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