Trustees cancel children’s Christmas party

Concerns about coronavirus spread forces decision

Amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, the Painesville Township trustees have decided to cancel this year’s Children’s Christmas Party originally scheduled for Dec. 12.

The decision came in the Nov. 4 trustees’ meeting.

Township Administrator Mike Manary said concerns of contracting and spreading the coronavirus to children and family members at the Christmas party is what prompted the trustees to cancel the annual event.

Manary said this event cancellation is “just like the other events” that the township decided to cancel this year as a safety measure against the virus.

“We hate to give them up,” he said. “We just got to do what’s best for everyone right now this year.”

The event is typically held in at the Painesville Township Park Community Center where attendants would be in close quarters.

Trustee Gabe Cicconetti said since the beginning of the pandemic, regulations have changed in several ways, but the one factor that has stayed the same is avoiding large crowds.

“The one thing that’s always remained constant, no matter what, is large amounts of people in close proximity, indoors for a long period of time,” Cicconetti said. “It is the highest risk.”

In the community center, Manary said there is typically a large turnout for the Christmas party.

“We’ll get 150 kids there plus their parents,” he said. “It’s a lot of people in that room, and it just makes sense for everyone’s safety.”

Though the annual party will not take place this year, Cicconetti said the trustees are in the works to find a safe event that the children could participate in, similar to the drive-thru trick-or-treat events held in the area.

He said there may be a decision at the next trustees’ meeting on Nov. 17 but isn’t certain yet.

Cicconetti said he is already looking to do something next year if permitted.

“Next year, we’ll throw a bigger Christmas party for our community,” he said.

“We hate to give them up. We just got to do what’s best for everyone right now this year.” —Mike Manary, Perry Township Administrator