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Community Corner

Mighty Fine Wine Raises Ambulance Corps' Spirits

Madison Volunteer Ambulance Corps benefit an education in wine appreciation.

member and self-proclaimed amateur connoisseur Paul Rogers had a lot to say about wine at Saturday's benefit tasting, but it all boiled down to one tidbit.

"Who is the best judge of wine?" Rogers, of Chatham, asked the crowd of about 55  Corps supporters. "You."

Those who attended the event, one of two fundraisers currently run by the Corps each year, were treated to an informative presentation about wine, a guided tasting of wines at their tables, and then invited to participate in a blind taste test of five Napa Valley selections.

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Rogers, who joined the squad in September, came upon his knowledge of wine through interest. That and a branch of his insurance office conveniently located near the Napa Valley wine region in California, gave him enough information to run the tasting portion of the event. Rogers also chose the wines to be tasted, and each bottle sells for no more than $20. 

This is the third year the Corps has hosted a wine tasting. As in past years, the wine was provided by Bottle Hill Wine and Liquors. The Corps was founded in 1954 and provides free emergency medical services to borough residents and visitors from its Prospect Street headquarters. The Corps has three ambulances staffed by volunteer Emergency Medical Technicians at all times.

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"We're much better at the drinking than the tasting," joked Shaun Hurley, attending the event with girlfriend and Madison native, Kimberly Dorn.

Dorn's brother, John Dorn, organized the event and has volunteered with the Corps for 15 years. He serves as vice president and also works as a fundraiser for the Boy Scouts.

As the evening progressed, raffle tickets to win items donated by local businesses were sold. Prizes for the raffle and the blind wine tasting included glassware sets and baskets of wine accoutrements such as crackers and cheese.

"Tonight I'm here purely for the ambulance squad," said Bob Landrigan, Corps president and Republican candidate for town council whose spittoon was noticeably filling with wine he hadn't consumed.

Other Madison notables in attendance included Mayor Mary-Anna Holden and  Chief John Travena. 

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