Congratulations to the new 3044 officers.

Vice President Jamie Valyou
Secretary Mike Lachance
Treasurer Joe Keenan

On January 16, 2010 the Burlington Fire Fighters Association will be hosting a 'Lessons Learned' Seminar at the Hilton Burlington.  Speakers to include Captain Emmet 'Pat' Nichols, Jr. of Boston Fire Department Ladder Company 10, discussing the August 29, 2007 Tia-Ho Restaurant Fire; with Eugene Stalowski of Rescue Company 3 Fire Department of New York City and Brendan Crawley of Ladder Company 27 Fire Department of New York City discussing the January 23, 2005 FDNY Black Sunday Fire.  They will each discuss the basics of their fires, their long roads to recovery and the aftermaths of these tragic events.

Registration fee $55 in advance by January 8; $65 the day of the seminar.  Registration includes a continental breakfast and lunch.  Continental breakfast at 8:00 am with seminar beginning at 8:30 am.  See registration form for further details and information on discounted room rates at the Hilton hotel.

44th Annual Labor Day Telethon Is September 6-7
Burlington Boot Drop. August 28th from 7:30 - 5:30

The IAFF has supported MDA for 55 years and counting, raising more than $375 million. As the 44th annual Labor Day Telethon approaches, the IAFF is encouraging all affiliates to “Fill the Boot” on behalf of MDA.

“We have raised incredible amounts of money – a record $27.5 million last year alone – for MDA to fund research that is developing effective treatments and working toward a cure,” says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. “These are challenging economic times, but I know our members are committed to another record-setting year of fundraising for MDA.”

The 2009 Labor Day Telethon will be broadcast live from the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa in Las Vegas September 6-7. Find your station or follow the Telethon on Twitter.

In addition, the 2009 Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon Online Auction is September 1-15, and offers great deals on thousands of items.

Contributions will enable MDA to fund research to find treatments and cures for muscular dystrophy and related diseases. Additionally, the money also supports MDA summer camp, medical clinics and provides financial assistance to families to purchase wheelchairs and other equipment. “The IAFF’s support of MDA is a true labor or love,” says Schaitberger. “Jerry’s Kids need us now more than ever.”

A video set to “Walking on Sunshine” features fire fighters out for their annual Fill-the-boot campaign for Jerry's Kids.

Before

After

 More Photos HERE.

A car overhanging a retaining wall, teetering and on the verge of plunging down to a parking lot below -- with the driver inside.

The scene played out Wednesday morning -- not in a Hollywood movie, but in a lot off Battery Street in Burlington, where the reality didn't quite match the hype. The wall was about 5 feet tall, so the vehicle's plunge would not have been too spectacular -- or disastrous.

In any case, the episode had a happy ending. No one was hurt; the car was still drivable; and the only real damage was to the driver's wallet -- the fee paid the towing company to pull the car off the brink.

Here's what happened:

Debora Cherington, 55, of Calais steered her 2004 Subaru Forester into the parking lot at 196 Battery St. shortly before 8 a.m. -- as she does every week before a regular Wednesday appointment. She pulled up in front of a parking sign at the southern edge of the lot, but then she put her foot down on the wrong pedal -- the accelerator instead of the brake. The vehicle lunged forward and wound up hanging over the retaining wall above the parking lot for an adjacent business, Kelliher Samets Volk.

Cherington stayed where she was and hoped for the best -- she could feel the vehicle tipping -- until the Burlington Fire Department arrived.

Firefighters got her out, and Spillane's towed the car back into the upper lot. The vehicle suffered no major damage, but an apparent oil leak would have to be checked out. Cherington planned to call her husband about that.

Contact Tim Johnson at 660-1808 or tjohnson@bfp.burlingtonfreepress.com. Sign up for Free Press headlines, delivered free to your e-mail, at www.burlingtonfreepress.com/newsletters.