CONTACT: Catherine Rust 908-979-0900

The Centenary Stage Company (CSC) and the Hackettstown Fire Department will team up this fall to offer a special benefit performance to help raise money for the new Arial Pumping Truck which the Fire Department is required to purchase this year. The special benefit performance of the classic comedy, "The Rivals" will be held on October 17 at 2:30 PM at the Centenary Stage Company on the campus of Centenary College in Hackettstown.

Due to state regulations, the fire department is required to replace their trucks every 20 years. Hackettstown Fire Chief Glen Hoffman reported that the current truck is now 30 years old, having been refitted in 1994 and given an extra 10 years of service. Arial pumping trucks for the Fire Department must pass a series of tests every two years, and the aged truck now in use would be immediately pulled from use were it to fail any regular testing procedures.

The new truck, which will cost $900,000, will be ordered this month, but takes several months to be delivered. Funds raised in several efforts this year will help offset the impact to the taxpayers of the cost of the bond which will be issued for the truck and paid out over the next two decades.

Tickets for the Special Benefit Performance of "The Rivals" will be $20 and the afternoon will begin at 1:30 with a reception with light refreshments in the Grace Memorial Parlours of the College prior to the performance. Tickets for the benefit may be purchased by calling Glenn Hoffman at 908-852-8109.