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Despite COVID, monthly Dixonville fire breakfasts back

Liverpool Township firefighters Andrew Ice (clockwise from left) and Tye Edwards serve diners Tammy Pugh and Bentley Edwards, 4, Sunday afternoon when the Dixonville fire station hosted its monthly fundraising breakfast for the first time to dine-in customers in over four months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The monthly all-you-can-eat breakfast is the department’s biggest fundraiser. (Photo by Stephanie Ujhelyi)

EAST LIVERPOOL — One of the most popular places to be on a Sunday morning once a month is the Dixonville fire station for the Liverpool Township Fire Department’s fundraising breakfasts.

For six years, Assistant Chief Don Danver explained that diners have stopped at the station either before or after church for some of what they often describe as the best homefries ever. However, until Sunday, the breakfasts have been shut down.

Around 10 a.m., the station was again bustling with hungry diners, as firefighters hosted their first in-person breakfast since the COVID shutdown.

According to James Savina, one of the department’s members who was accepting donations, two weeks ago the station had offered the breakfast drive-up style only. While still offering drive-thru service like previously, diners could elect to come in and pay their $7 each for a sitdown all-you-can-eat style meal indoors.

Calcutta McDonalds also is quick to offer assistance with the menu, providing items like hot cakes, sausage and syrup packages in addition to the individually prewrapped utensils, providing the in-kind donations to the firefighters’ fundraising efforts with enthusiasm.

Crew members including bacon fryer-extraordinary Jeremy Maze, admit they handle the rest of the cooking, including preparation of 30 lbs. of bacon, 50 lbs. of potatoes seasoned with bacon drippings, as well as Chief Dave Ward cooking between 35 and 50 dozen eggs (all handcracked and scrambled) in an electric skillet.

And, the department’s partners in safety protection, both from neighboring police and fire departments, could be seen stopping by Sunday morning. In the case of East Liverpool, Savina consented to deliver to firefighters at the downtown station, as they were too understaffed to go fetch breakfast as they would have liked.

Although they were able to get the addictive homefries two weeks ago in a to-go box, many diners miss the fellowship and that is what made this past week special. Once again, they were able to sit down and enjoy the food with a neighbor or friend.

But, of course, COVID-19 has meant some changes in protocol, according to firefighters.

Diners stopping by the station on Sunday morning were still served the portions they want, but tables were spaced out using both bays of the station to maintain social distancing with mask wearing mandated until seating for eating.

Sometimes when the monthly breakfasts were in full swing, Savina explained they offer door prizes at the end such as Fiestaware and sleeping bags or purchase into drawings for gas grills with $200 meat packages or lottery wreaths. All the funds raised through these endeavors go to sustaining the volunteer department, which currently is under contract with Liverpool Township for fire protection.

While the department not only provides emergency support, it also supports local charities and foundations, such as Shop With A Cop, the Nick DeSarro Foundation and the ELHS Band Boosters.

The Dixonville station, which is located at 1181 Anderson Blvd., will again host the highly popular breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon Sunday, Nov. 1.

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