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Ambulance Service Salutes Members, Community
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Community residents turned out for the annual Appreciation Breakfast hosted by Escalon Community Ambulance on Sunday, gathering at the community center.Times Photos By Marg Jackson
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Scout Steinkamp, left, announces the ticket number as Jessica Campa displays the next raffle prize to be awarded during Sunday’s breakfast hosted by Escalon Community Ambulance. Times Photos By Marg Jackson
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Rotary Club member Debby Renfroe stayed busy cooking up the eggs, helping out at the Escalon Community Ambulance breakfast served up on Sunday.Times Photos By Marg Jackson

Eggs were scrambled, pancakes were flipped and prizes were won – all part of the third annual Escalon Community Ambulance Membership Appreciation breakfast staged on Sunday, Sept. 9 at the Escalon Community Center.

“I think honestly the best part is the ability to see these people on a good day, get to mingle and socialize,” said ECA Manager Vanessa Herrero.

Typically, she said, crews are responding to a call or rushing from one place to another and don’t get the chance to just sit and visit with residents, like they were able to do on Sunday morning.

The newest ECA ambulance was also on display and open for tours, with former ECA Chief Mike Pitassi, now retired, among those hosting the tours and providing information on the rig.

Herrero also said there are several new crew members at ECA that were able to meet and greet residents on Sunday.

“It’s kind of cyclical with us, it ebbs and flows,” Herrero said of the staff, noting that ECA is a good “stepping stone” for those getting into the emergency services field.

Along with several ECA staff members and volunteers working at the breakfast, Herrero said they also had help from the Escalon Rotary Club and the high school’s Key Club, the youth arm of Kiwanis, for cooking and serving, set up and clean up.

While the meal was free for ECA members, there was a $5 charge for adult non-members and $2 for children. There were also a number of raffle prizes to buy tickets for and ECA license plate frames, T-shirts and reusable tote bags were available for purchase.

Herrero said ECA staffers truly enjoyed the chance to spend some quality time with the community. She also thanked those residents who are ECA members and those who have donated in any way.

“We appreciate every penny,” Herrero said.