Events off

take action Thursday. The Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty canceled Saturday’s Shamrock Shuffle 5K/10K & Community Block Party, an event it holds annually to encourage and support community connection and philanthropy.

“Considering the recent outbreak, we had a strong recommendation to cancel the event,” said Erin Clemons, president and CEO. “The health and safety of participants and the community is the top priority.”

The foundation will do a “virtual run” and encourage residents to contribute their event registration fee to the foundation and a new Community Health Fund, Clemons said.

The fund will be used to respond to current and future community health needs, enabling the foundation to respond to the effects of this public health crisis through activities like health screenings, senior citizen services and food pantry staples, she said.

The Sorg Opera Board of Directors has decided to postpone all scheduled events this weekend at the Sorg Theater. Postponed events include Friday’s “Etta at Last: A Tribute to Etta James,” Saturday’s “Night Fever: The Best of the Bee Gees” and Sunday’s “Photographers Open House.”

The board wrote in an email that the Middletown Health Department asked it to reschedule the events.

Downtown Middletown Inc. Executive Director Jeff

Payne said the organization recognizes that there is nothing more important than the health and well-being of the citizens of our community.

“As such, we are postponing all (Downtown Middletown) large-scale public events until further notice unless attendance can be controlled and numbered to ensure it falls within the state mandated maximum,” Payne said. “This does not mean our Downtown Businesses or that Downtown is closed, and we are not looking to deter people from visiting or supporting businesses or our downtown.”

The governor’s order directly impacts Downtown Middletown’s large public events, which would include nonticketed public events, Payne said.

Community Building Institute Middletown postponed its second annual Lens of Hope 2020 Gala scheduled for Friday at the Windamere in the city’s downtown, a decision not made lightly, according to CBI Executive Director Karin Maney.

“CBI’s board and I are following the recommendations of our local health board and the governor’s office to postpone or cancel large group events to prevent the risk of spread to any possible attendees with underlying health concerns,” Maney said. “Our desire is to reschedule the event as soon as possible.”

Maney said she is hoping to reschedule CBI’s gala to mid- to late May.

Although Miami University is still open and holding classes remotely, Miami University activities and events that are not academically essential are now canceled through April 12, and possibly longer. That includes all public programming at Miami Hamilton Downtown center, according to John Vaughn, the center’s coordinator.