THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 3, 1995 TAG: 9511020203
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY TOM HOLDEN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 148 lines
IT IS MORE A BUNKER than a headquarters.
Built to survive hurricane force winds of 150 mph, the new Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad building that will be dedicated Saturday sits on a once vacant parcel of land at 17th Street and Arctic Avenue.
Its windows can withstand flying rocks and debris from storm shattered buildings. The gas-turbine, 175-watt generator could supply enough electricity to run the building during a blackout with a little left over.
At 17,500 square feet, it is nearly three times the size of the building that it replaces three blocks away. The closed-circuit television system allows people in the communications bay to see every important location inside the building and out.
It has separate sleeping and shower quarters for men and women, plus bunks for the teams that run the heavy-duty crash truck. For the first time, all of Station 14's equipment can be housed in one garage, which itself is equipped with a ``drive over'' service pit.
There is even an OSHA-certified decontamination area to wash away bodily fluids that might contaminate stretchers and other life-saving equipment. And more amazingly still to veteran volunteers, the building has an auditorium that can seat up to 150 people.
This monument to community self-reliance will be dedicated Saturday by the men and women who conceived, designed and built it. About 400 people are expected to attend the party to celebrate the building project and to strengthen the community's resolve to carry the volunteer tradition forward. An open house for the public is planned for Nov. 11.
``It is unbelievable the amount of cooperation we got from the city and the community,'' said Patrick L. Standing, a former mayor and chairman of the building committee. ``To have a building of this quality for volunteers is remarkable.''
Completed three months ahead of schedule and under its construction budget, the new building represents the work of hundreds of volunteers and generous citizens who pitched in with contributions of money and services.
But most agree that it could not have happened had three men not stepped forward to bring together all the pieces: R. Bradshaw Pulley, chairman of the rescue squad's advisory council; Peter A. Agelasto III, the capital campaign chairman; and Standing, who is chairman of the board of the Bank of Tidewater.
``With the effort given by these men, the rescue squad has raised over $1.7 million, developed a plan for the building and gotten us into it in less than a year,'' said Rick Schoew, a 19-year member and the squad's public relations officer.
``A minor miracle by most standards, I would think,'' Schoew added. ``We broke ground on Jan. 11 and we were in the building by the first week of October. To say that it was an incredible effort by these three gentlemen is an understatement. Without them, it would not have happened.''
Since its founding in 1952, the Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad has grown to become the biggest and busiest of the 11 squads citywide. Each year, its volunteers respond to more than 9,000 pleas for help in an area stretching from the Oceanfront to London Bridge and from 89th Street to Dam Neck.
For nearly its entire existence, the squad had operated out of a building at 408 20th St. Built in 1957, it was designed to accommodate 30 men in 5,000 square feet of space. That first year they handled 400 calls.
But with a growing city came increasing demands on the emergency medical services. Today about 100 volunteers - men and women - take turns working out of a building with a leaky roof, a faulty furnace, and hardly enough room for the basic needs of the squad.
The need for a new building was apparent, but raising the money and getting one built was a task none on the squad had ever attempted.
A few years ago, Schoew was appointed as the first building committee chairperson. He put together a list for a proposed building committee and a way to raise the money. But it quickly became apparent that the task was far bigger than Schoew's committee could handle, so they looked to the community and squad leaders who have helped guide Station 14 through the years.
Pulley had been on the squad's advisory council for more than 20 years. Rooted in the community as few others are, he has been everything at one time or another: from King Neptune to his more familiar role as a businessman.
``He was always involved in charities and was a faithful and loyal member of the rescue squad,'' Schoew said. ``So we approached him and he said he'd be willing to be the chairman if we could find someone to take responsibility for the capital campaign.''
That man turned out to be Agelasto, another life member of the squad. Over the years, Agelasto had been the rescue squad's legal adviser and, as an investment counselor, he was well connected to the community.
``He had just completed a capital campaign for the Norfolk Botanical Garden, so he had just been through the process and had the knowledge the squad needed for its $2 million capital campaign,'' Schoew said.
Completing the trio was Standing, who was picked as the building committee chairman. He would work with architects and the city to put together the blueprints and bring the building to fruition.
Among the first tasks for the committee was to find land for a new building. It found a willing helper in the city, which has long supported rescue squads citywide when fund drives fall short and expenses must be met, although Station 14 takes pride in having raised all its own operating expenses.
To that end, the city donated 1.4 acres of land on 17th Street and provided $500,000 in site work. It also gave a $1,250,000, 10-year, interest free construction loan.
As it turned out, the squad raised the money it needed for the building, but will repay the loan over the 10-year term. It can do this because of community generosity.
One family donated $50,000 for a day room; a group of Oceanfront restaurants donated $10,000 to equip the kitchen; four friends donated $100,000 toward the exercise room. Still, most donations have arrived in far smaller denominations and mostly from the community it serves.
Despite the generosity, the squad still needs money. It has set out on a $2 million capital campaign for the building. It is fast approaching the goal.
``If everyone in the service area gave just $5 they would more than exceed the goal,'' Schoew said. ``So we don't ask much but we only have a 6 or 7 percent response to the annual fund drive.
``You never know when you're going to need assistance from the rescue squad,'' he added. ``You see them going down the street helping other people. But some day, they may have to help you or your family and for that reason, they need support for everyone.'' MEMO: [For a related story see page 11 of THE BEACON for this date.]
ILLUSTRATION: [Cover]
[Color Photo]
A TRIBUTE TO VOLUNTEERISM
ON THE COVER: The key planners that made the new Oceanfront Rescue
Squad happen, left to right, are Pat Standing, Brad Pulley and Peter
Agelasto.
Maggie Zontini, an emergency medical technician, enters information
in a computer after returning from a call. Closed-circuit TVs
monitor the complex.
Staff photos, including color cover, by DAVID B. HOLLINGSWORTH
At 17,500 square feet, the new Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad
building on 17th Street is nearly three times the size of the
building on 20th Street that it replaces.
Paramedic Robin Dennis parks one of the emergency units after
responding to a call. For the first time, all of Station 14's
equipment can be housed in one garage, which itself is equipped with
a ``drive over'' service pit.
OPEN HOUSE
A Community Open House for the new Virginia Beach Rescue Squad will
be Nov. 11, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. rain or shine. Everyone is
welcome. Bring family and friends to tour the building and talk to
rescue personnel.
by CNB