Like clockwork – a sure sign of the end of summer vacation – Escalon United Methodist Church hosts its annual ice cream social, with the community invited in to share homemade ice cream and a variety of dessert treats.

For the past 17 years, Annabelle Martin has overseen the festivities, helping coordinate the multiple varieties and donations of homemade ice cream. Grandson Klint Turner has been her ‘right hand man’ for the past 10 years and she is hoping to convince him to step into her shoes to take it over.

“This is my last year,” Annabelle said on Saturday night, as a crowd filled the church social hall, enjoying the dessert gathering. “It has been going on for 20-plus years, and I hate to see it quit.”

Coordinating the annual event is getting to be too much for one person, Annabelle explained, and while she said she will stay on to help, she doesn’t want to oversee it anymore.

“I can help him,” she said, indicating grandson Klint.

Also among the helpers this year was 17-year-old Will Turner, Klint’s younger brother and both dutifully helped their grandmother out, making sure diners had plenty to eat.

The ice cream social is typically the first Saturday in August, one of the last community-oriented activities for families to enjoy before summer vacation is officially over and school is back in session.

It has remained a favorite, and Annabelle said that’s because the homemade ice cream “tastes a lot better” than any brand you can buy at the store.