ST. HUBERT'S CELEBRATES HISTORIC "GROUNDDIGGING"

We thank everyone who attended St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center's historic "Grounddigging" to kick off our Shelter Expansion and Renovation.  The event was held on April 3, and although it was raining "cats and dogs," many supporters, local officials, volunteers, board members, media representatives, staff and friends were on hand for the event.  We thank Chatham Township Mayor Kevin Tubbs, as well as Dog "Dig"nitaries, Sandy and Juice Bursey (accompanied by their owners, Bruce and Diane Bursey) who presided over the festivities.  To date, St. Hubert's has secured $8.3 million and seeks to raise an additional $7 million to complete the project.  Here are some photographic highlights of the day.

Chatham Township Mayor Kevin Tubbs, St. Hubert's President, Elizabeth McCorkle
and Morris County Sheriff Ed Rochford admire a model of the expanded facility

Diane Rau, Chairwoman of St. Hubert's Board of Trustees, hosted the event

Dog "Dig-nitaries" Juice and Sandy Bursey, with their humans, Diane and Bruce Bursey

Despite the weather, a nice crowd was in attendance for the historic ceremony

CJ, one of our official "grounddiggers"
 

Our canine and human "grounddiggers" pose for the cameras
 

Diane Rau and Elizabeth McCorkle (with Nevar) lay the dedication stone
 

Elizabeth McCorkle presents an illustration of the new building to Trustee Emeritus
Barbara Ridder Irwin in recognition of her generous support of the building

Celebrating the "Grounddigging" (from left): VP of Operations, Meg Struble, VP of Programs, Nora Parker
Trustees Diane Rau and Ted Shepard, President, Elizabeth McCorkle, Trustee Dave MacNeil, VP of Development,
Jane McClellan, Trustee Kevin Feeley and Trustee Karen O'Connell (in foreground with black jacket)

Jim Brown, Trustee Emeritus and Chair of the Capital Campaign Committee, makes a celebratory toast

Members of St. Hubert's Building Team (from left):  Elizabeth McCorkle, Meg Struble,
Rusty Schommer (Schommer Engineering), Gerald Chirico (St. Hubert's Project Manager),
Wm Blanchard representatives, Richard Samonfeld, 
Nicholas LaVacca, Gary Javorsky and from St. Hubert's, Nora Parker

Jane McClellan, VP of Development and Doug Pitney, of Todd Architectural Models, view the
3-D model of the building expansion which his company created