Where we started:

      A.R.E.A. Services, Inc. was developed on April 10th of 1989 by its owners, the 
Rumberger family.  In April of 1989', Bernie Rumberger's dream of serving his 
community became a reality.
     Gia Koshinskie, Bernie's sister, reported for work at 8:oo a.m. in "Mom and Pop" 
Rumberger's garage. Her job was to take calls and dispatch Bernie, and Emergency 
Medical Technician since 1979', and Eric Rumberger, Bernie's brother, who served as the driver.
     How did Gia notify the crew that there was a call? She rang a copper colored 
"cowbell". This cowbell has since been framed and hangs in Bernie's office.
Rumberger's fleet started out consisting of 3 ambulances. The first call which came 
in at 10:30 p.m. was for epistaxis (nosebleed). The pt. was well known to Bernie and 
Eric, as it was their grandmother, Emma Haddock.
A.R.E.A. hired its first employee, John Campbell, followed one week later by Ed 
Reed. Dan Lewis was hired in September, all other employees were hired as they 
were needed. A.R.E.A. was on its way.
     In August of 1989', Gia and Eric attended E.M.T. class and successfully received 
their state certification. In November of the same year, A.R.E.A. purchased Jack 
Rosini's Trucking Garage, the present site of A.R.E.A. Services main headquarters.
Leader Nursing Home signed the first contract with A.R.E.A. and is still signed with 
the ambulance company today.

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    The year 1990' started with the addition of a dispatcher / secretary / driver, all in the same person, Pansy, Bernie's wife.  When Gia wasn't on the road, she was helping in the office. She like many others, helped where help was needed at that particular time. For the most part, and even with over 60 employess, it is the same way today.  It hasn't always been easy going for A.R.E.A.  Bernie saw the need for a paramedic truck, which would provide the community with Advanced Life Support. This also meant hiring a Paramedic to provide the higher skilled level of care.  Medic 911 was born with Bernie Brida at the helm. The need was there, but the call volume for Medic 911 was not great enough to financially support its service. Medic 911 was taken out of service in 1993'.
     A.R.E.A.'s financial stability was shaken but it would not stop the dream. "It just wasn't the right time" as quoted by and A.R.E.A. official.  A contract between Shamokin Communications (911) center and A.R.E.A. Services 
was signed in 1991'. The communication center would answer the phones from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. the next morning. The communication center would contact one of the family members who were standing by "on call" that particular night. The birth of the on-call schedule schedule for all employees began with the Rumberger family themselves.

     In 1993', the decision was made to promote David Alderson to Manager. This was a new position at A.R.E.A. and Alderson was followed by James Catino. The new title for this position was "Director Of Services". In 1994', the Director was Charles Heartter. In 1995', another Director was added in which Kevin O'Hearn was 
promoted.
     The summer of 1994' into 1995' was an expansion  and remodeling period for 
A.R.E.A. Services. The business office was expanded into the lounge and a second floor was added to the building. The second floor consisted of a lounge and 2 offices, one for Bernie, the services Chief Executive Officer, and the other to be shared by Haerrter and O'Hearn. The increase of the business office, as well as an increase in contract, created a need for additional help in the office. Sandy Weaver was hired to assist with all the office duties.
     In July 1995', Rumberger added the company's own dispatching system. The 
computer network was upgraded to utilize Alpha-Numeric pagers that were provided by R.F. Communications.  Not only did Rumberger expand with the capability of paging its own employees, he upgraded so A.R.E.A. could answer telephones and page for other businesses. A.R.E.A. now has contracts with Doctors offices, Heating companies, concrete and block suppliers, as well as an oxygen supply company. A.R.E.A.'s telephone system has a 12 line capability.
    

     With the addition of this new service, A.R.E.A. hired more personnel, including 
Tracy Rumberger, Erics wife, who filled one of 3 full-time and 4 part-time posts that 
A.R.E.A. created  with the addition of the paging / dispatching service.
A.R.E.A. now had the reputation, experience and the staffing to offer the City Of 
Shamokin a contract for first-due service to the community. City council approved 
the contract and A.R.E.A. has been providing that service since October of 1995'.
Between 1990' and 1996' A.R.E.A. expanded its nursing home contracts into 
Selinsgrove, Sunbury, Northumberland, Coal Township and Mount Carmel areas. 
Not all residents of nursing homes need tranpsorted by ambulance so in July of 1995' a multi-passenger wheelchair bus was purchased. This helped provide additional service to the nursing homes as well as keep ambulances available for emergencies and routine appointments for those residents who require special care during transport.

     In November 1995', Rumberger again saw the need for an Advanced Life Support Unit and decided to place a Mobile Intensive Care Unit into service. The dream he had in 1990' with Medic 911 went one step further. Now M.I.C.U. 18 was added to A.R.E.A.'s fleet and Fredrick Haas Jr, NREMT-P, was hired as its coordinator. Providing prompt emergency services to the Sunbury area required another expansion. This time that expansion was to a 4 bay garage in the City of Sunbury. A.R.E.A.'s second facility housed 2 B.L.S. ambulances and M.I.C.U. 18.
A.R.E.A.'s fleet increases from 3 ambulances to 8 ambulances, one M.I.C.U and a 
wheelchair bus. The maintenance requirements increased as well. Ray Koshinskie, Gia's husband, was added full-time as head mechanic. Eric Rumberger, who still runs calls, served as Ray's assistant.
   

      In June, a 6-foot-high Saint Bernard was added to the staff, "Life Saver" the mascot, is an effective public relations representative. Additional renovations were made by upgrading of the computer systems and purchase of more computers. Dispatchers were moved to a communication center on the second floor.Today A.R.E.A.'s main headquarters is still on 6th street in Shamokin. This station has 2 Advanced Life Support Units - MICU 90 and MICU 92, multiple BLS ambulances and wheelchair vans. The sister station moved and is located on Prince street in Northumberland, this station houses 1 Advanced Life Support Unit - MICU 91, 2 BLS ambulances and 1 wheelchair van.

     A.R.E.A. maintains many nursing home contracts in the Coal Township, Mount Carmel, Sunbury, Selinsgrove, Northumberland and Lewisburg areas. The answering service contracts are also still in effect as well as a contract for the transport of M.H.M.R. patients. A.R.E.A. provides first due coverage to Shamokin and Northumberland, the units are dispatched by the Northumberland County 911 center or directly from A.R.E.A. base.  A.R.E.A. also assists with second-due coverage to the surrounding areas of Shamokin and Northumberland.  The billing office is maintained by Gia, Tracey, Tina and Sandy. The billing office is shared by James Zablosky, who is a Paramedic and the services Operations Manager. The Chief mechanic is still Ray Koshinskie and he is assisted by his son, Ray. Bernie has assigned some staff of A.R.E.A. specific duties to help keep up with the demand of certain needs within the service. A.R.E.A. is a well rounded, respected and professional service that, even with all the past "ups and downs" is going strong and is here to stay and serve the community. A.R.E.A. has been able to provide its employees with good pay, uniforms, benefits and the classes to help maintain a professional appearance and keep the levels of care to a maximum level. A.R.E.A. Services has been able to keep up with all the constant changes that occur within the EMS service, they are a H.I.P.P.A complaint service and maintain their EMS licensure through the Seven Mountains EMS Council and the P.A. Department Of Health. Bernie Rumberger's dream came true and has become more than he ever imagined.
 

   A.R.E.A. is an equal opportunity employer and there are currently over 60 employees employed with A.R.E.A. Services.