First Posted: 1/28/2015
PITTSTON — The Emergency Services Ball, sponsored by the Pittston City police, fire and ambulance, is for members of all three parties to celebrate their hard work.
“The Emergency Services Ball is for all of us to come together and celebrate what we do,” said Pittston City Police Seargeant Neil Murphy, one of the coordinators. “Cops, firefighters, EMS, we all deal with the same people. We all have the same beliefs and core values of wanting to help people in the community and giving back to the community.”
The ball will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 7 at St. Joseph Marello Parish, 237 William St., Pittston.
Tickets for the ball are $35 per person and include food, entertainment and beer. Catering is by Michael Valenti’s Restaurant and entertainment is by DJ Flaxy Morgan. The event is open to the public.
Murphy said the money earned from those attending the ball will be returned to the community.
“The main purpose is so that any money we make we can put into the community to help with certain events,” said Murphy. “Easter egg hunts, Christmas specials, we’ve been doing charity softball events every since 2007. We’ve done chairty events for Make-A-Wish, Miles for Michael, (late Pennsylvania State Trooper) Josh Miller and Fallen Officers Remembered. We always try to hit something different. The money and proceeds we get helps us do those kinds of things.”
Tickets may be purchased at the police department, the fire department or the ambulance building.
Money for the event comes from donations through local businesses.
The Emergency Services Ball began in the early 1990s when Murphy was a part-time police officer.
A few years ago however, the Emergency Services Ball would be no more.
“It became difficult,” said Murphy. “We didn’t have the manpower, the resources and the volunteers to help. Now, that it’s been idle for a couple of years, people have realized the value of what this ball can do.”
Murphy said the younger members of the police, fire and EMS organizations helped bring the Emergency Services Ball back to the agenda.
“We have a lot of young blood in the department now,” said Murphy. “They realized they missed out on the opportunity and thought it would be a great experience to bring it back. We have a lot of guys that want to get involved in the community and want to start giving back. It’s a good thing, so we wanted to start moving forward with it.”
Immediately after the Emergency Services Ball, there will be an after party at Red Mill at 340 S. Main St., Pittston.
Murphy said admission to the after party will be a $5 donation if a ticket was purchased for the ball, but $10 without a ticket. The after party will also consist of a DJ as well as light refreshments and food and is also open to the public.
“We’ve had a lot of help from volunteers between the fire, the ambulance and the police department,” said Murphy. “A lot of people have been committed to making this a success, and we believe it is going to be a success. We estimate between 100 to 150 people for the ball.”
Murphy hopes the Emergency Services Ball will be back for good.
“We anticipate it to be back,” said Murphy. “We would love to keep it every year and we would love to keep it going. We don’t want it to stop if we don’t have to.”
