As part of the events leading up to the celebration of the Parc d’Escalon on August 5 and 6, Mr. and Mrs. Escalon’s main lunch is scheduled for Tuesday, August 2.
Receiving the honor this year are Tom and Sally Hale, who have lived in the community for over 30 years.
They moved to Escalon in 1991 and said they “feel lucky” to have landed here. After settling here, they both continued to work for another 18 years. In 2009, both retired, Sally Hale from teaching and Tom Hale from the US Postal Service.
After retirement, the Hales had time to become active in the community and immersed themselves in a number of projects.
Passionate about history, they joined the Historical Society of Escalon. The two are still occasional volunteers, with Sally working on data entry and Tom performing guide duties for the annual sophomore excursion downtown, which the Hales coordinate each year.
In 2011 Tom and Sally became members of the Friends of Escalon Library where Sally was secretary for several years and is currently president. And Tom is the driving force behind most library projects.
In retirement, Tom also works for the InShape health club and teaches fitness classes such as spin, Pilates and water aerobics. Sally’s main retirement “job” is to work with CSU Stanislaus and the Escalon School District to produce the Great Valley Writing Camp in Escalon each summer. In this extended teaching unit program, teachers meet and study books during the school year, then develop a program for a summer writing camp for students. Due to pandemic restrictions, the Great Valley Writing Camp in Escalon has been suspended since 2020 but will return in the summer of 2023.
Sally also volunteers at the Great Valley Bookfest in Manteca each year, coordinating the Writers Nook, a venue that features panels of published authors offering advice to aspiring writers on publishing and writing.
The Hales said they “feel blessed to have landed in Escalon” as they believe it is the “greatest little community” in the world.
To recognize their dedication and years of service to the community, they will be honored at Mr. and Mrs. Escalon’s main luncheon and will also participate in the Park Fete Parade on Saturday morning August 6th.
Lunch is scheduled for noon on Tuesday, August 2 at the Escalon Community Center, 1055 Escalon Ave.
Dinner tickets are $20 and must be reserved in advance. Contact Gracie at 209-988-5673 for more information or to reserve tickets.
