Full service with a smile at Hayden gas station
<p>SHAWN GUST/Press Michael Trautvetter, a service attendant at the Chevron service station on Honeysuckle Avenue in Hayden, finishes pumping gas for a customer Wednesday during his shift. The station is offering full service at no charge during the winter months for the third consecutive year.</p>
HAYDEN — With the onslaught of nasty weather on the horizon, Tom Paschane wants to remind folks that his gas station is going full service for the winter.
This marks the third year that Paschane’s Honeysuckle Chevron in Hayden has hired Mike Trautvetter as an attendant to fill gas tanks for the season.
“Mike is very passionate about the job and I am lucky to have him back,” Paschane said, adding Trautvetter has a tendency to put a smile on his customers’ faces.
Paschane said he started the service in mid-November once the weather started to change.
Even though this is Paschane's third year offering the service, many of his customers are surprised when Trautvetter greets them as they pull up.
Paschane said the service really attracts elderly and disabled drivers who have a hard time getting in and out of their vehicles during the icy winter conditions. But, he added, he has plenty of average-aged drivers who enjoy the service as well.
“We get single parents coming in who have children and don’t want to leave them in the car to go inside and pay for the gas,” he said. “Then I have customers who say it is impossible for them to get out of their cars in snowy or icy conditions.”
He said many of those customers have encouraged him to publicize the service so others realize it is available.
The full service is available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., and if customers need to call, they can reach Paschane at 762-8103.
Paschane said he plans to continue offering the service until the weather begins to turn more spring-like.
“As long as there is snow and cold, we will be doing it,” he said. “Icy weather mandates the need for this.”