Escalon City Hall will be closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 27 and 28, for the Thanksgiving Holiday observance. Regular hours resume on Monday, Dec. 1. The Escalon City Council has a regularly scheduled council meeting at 7 p.m. on Dec. 1, while the city’s Recreation Commission meets at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 3 and the Planning Commission has a 7 p.m. session scheduled on Tuesday, Dec. 9. A second council meeting for the month is set for Monday, Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. in council chambers at 2060 McHenry.

Additional City Hall closures for the rest of the calendar year will include Wednesday, Dec. 24 and Thursday, Dec. 25 for the Christmas holiday and Thursday, Jan. 1 for New Year’s Day.

All schools in the Escalon Unified School District are also out this week for the holiday break and will have an additional off day on Dec. 1, with classes resuming on Tuesday, Dec. 2.

There is no mail delivery on Thursday, Nov. 27 for Thanksgiving Day and banks will be closed. Businesses have the option of closing; The Times will be closed both Thursday and Friday for the holiday observance.

Escalon Library will be closed for the holiday on Thursday, Nov. 27 but has some special events coming in December. Tony Borders brings his Frosty’s Puppet Magic Show to the library on Second Street on Thursday, Dec. 4 at 4 p.m. and the holiday performance of the San Joaquin Hand Bell Ringers is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 6 at 10 a.m.

Also, the library will close at 5 p.m. on the following upcoming dates: Wednesday, Nov. 26; Wednesday, Dec. 24 for Christmas Eve; and Wednesday, Dec. 31 for New Year’s Eve.

Another holiday effort is also taking hold: Escalon Fire Department is hosting a one-day sign-up for families to participate in the Toys for Tots giveaway. Those signing up must live in the boundaries of the Escalon Fire District and the sign up is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 3 at the firehouse on Coley Avenue. This will be a one day sign-up only. Distribution of the toys is scheduled at the firehouse on Monday, Dec. 22 starting at 10 a.m.

Escalon Fire Department Battalion Chief Terry Pinheiro said donations have been down the last few years, so they are especially asking for donations from residents to help meet the local need. Area businesses and schools will soon have the collection boxes for the toy drive. For more information, call the fire department at 8389-7500.