ELLSWORTH – More than 70 emergency medical service personnel from Hancock and Washington counties attended a barbecue at Maine Coast Memorial Hospital’s annual EMS recognition get-together on Aug. 20.

Addressing the attendees were hospital President and CEO Doug Jones, incoming board of trustees Chairman Jeff Dow, Ellsworth Mayor Lee Beal, and state Rep. and City Councilor Robert Crosthwaite, R-Ellsworth.

Certificates of appreciation were given to each fire department and organization that works with the MCMH emergency department.

The Outstanding EMT of the Year Award went to Carol Hamor of the Northeast Ambulance Service and Jamey Whynott of Sorrento Fire and Rescue. Both were honored for their years of dedicated service to emergency medicine in Down East.

More than 15 first-responder organizations work with the hospital throughout the year and more than 18,000 people are treated each year, many of whom are brought to the facility by the local services.