PITTSTON — It’s not often Pittston City firemen, police and EMTs departments get together, unless an unfortunate disaster has occurred, but on Nov. 4, all three departments gathered for a fun event — the annual Emergency Services Ball at St. Joseph Marello Hall.
The ball was created in the mid-1980s to promote camaraderie and fellowship among members of the emergency services community.
“We bring all three branches of the emergency services together, fire, police, and ambulance, so it’s a really nice night and we invite the community to join in the party,” said Sarah Donahue, special events coordinator for the City of Pittston.
Approximately 85 members of the service departments, along with city officials and members of the community enjoyed an evening filled with food, fun and music provided by Pittston’s own, Flaxy Morgan.
Earlier in the evening, a check was presented to the owners of Maxwell’s House, an animal grooming and boarding home located in Pittston. The donation to Maxwell’s House was made in gratitude for free services provided throughout the years. Maxwell’s House has donated its services for animals rescued or found by any of the emergency services departments.
“Every year, the ball committee likes to donate to a different cause or group in the community and Maxwell’s House has been really helpful to the emergency services since they’ve opened in 2014 and they’ve come out on different emergencies and helped animals in need,” Donahue said. “They are a really great business in town and they’ve been really helpful to the emergency services.”
“We are totally shocked and honored for the award,” said Liz Nayavich, co-owner of Maxwell’s House. “It’s never anything we would do to gain anything from it; we are a business, but we also do as much as we can to help rescue dogs and we always want to do whatever we can to help give back and help them. We are just happy to give back to them (emergency services) for all they do for us.”
Pittston’s Fire Chief James Rooney has been a public servant of the city for 41 years and has attempted to attend the yearly ball celebrating emergency services since the mid-80s.
“It’s camaraderie; you get to have fun and party with your brothers that serve,” Rooney said. “We get to be with the police, fire and ambulance all under one roof and it gives us a chance to let our hair down. Usually out in the field when we all get together, it’s not a good circumstance.”
Donahue thanked Ron Faraday, president of the Greater Pittston Historical Society, who donated many photos of the City of Pittston’s emergency services over the past decades that were used for a slideshow that replaced a program booklet.