Jaycees: Labor Day Regatta a Labor Day Celebration This Year
LOCK HAVEN – The Lock Haven Area Jaycees on Thursday announced plans for a modified Labor Day celebration along Water Street in the city.
The Jaycees had announced in early June the community service organization had to scratch its traditional Labor Day Regatta after the membership of the Delaware Valley Outdoor Racing Association had voted to cancel what would have been the 50th anniversary regatta.
The Jaycees said at the time that alternate plans, minus the boats, were being considered. On Thursday, they announced the new plan:
The Lock Haven Area Jaycees are pleased to announce our “Labor Day Celebration” this Labor Day Weekend.
With the races being cancelled and continued concerns over COVID-19, we discussed our options for Labor Day Weekend, our biggest fundraising event of the year, by far. After conversations with officials from the City of Lock Haven, our vendors, and WSQV/WBPZ and Bear Country 99.9, we have come up with this alternative:
The “Labor Day Celebration” will be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 6. We are looking at fireworks for Sept. 6 at 9 p.m. to keep up the long-standing tradition of doing fireworks. Due to our continued work to help the community and with funds draining fast, we do ask for donations/sponsorships from the public, businesses and organizations.
ALL of the food vendors from last year will be back this year. Water Street will be closed from Jay to Henderson streets.There will be entertainment provided on the Lock Haven Floating Stage both days. Details are currently being worked out and will be announced.
There will be NO arts and crafts area or carnival rides due to health and safety guidelines.
There WILL be portable toilets provided by the Jaycees. We will follow the cleaning and safety protocols as directed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.The Jaycees will also provide a dining area with picnic tables in Canal Park with cleaning and sanitizing procedures mandated by the commonwealth.
We do ask the public to please follow the commonwealth’s guidelines.We realize this is more than two months away, but our planning actually normally starts in January each year.
The guidelines may change between now and then. We can only encourage the public follows the various government and health experts at all levels to continue to have decreased people exposed and infected. As the commonwealth has and may still change guidelines, the Jaycees will continue to follow any changes.
The Lock Haven Area Jaycees were chartered on March 3, 1971 and have served the greater Lock Haven community since through the generous support of the community. This year was especially taxing on us and the entire world. We will always step up and help the community when needed and are thankful we have still been able to do that in this dire time.
We encourage all who attend to practice social distancing and if you don’t feel well, please stay home.
On July 1, Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine signed an order requiring, “that masks are worn whenever anyone leaves home.
Members of the general public don’t need a surgical mask – we need those for our health care workers and first responders. Instead, they are encouraged to wear homemade fabric or cloth masks.
Homemade masks limit the spread of infectious droplets in the air by containing coughs and sneezes. When a homemade mask can’t be acquired a scarf or bandana can be utilized. Learn more about when to wear a homemade mask and how to wear one.
By implementing community use of these homemade fabric or cloth masks, everyone will have a higher degree of protection from this virus.”
Last thoughts: This is all dependent upon you, our community. If we stay “green,” we can do this. This is all contingent on us staying “green.” We are counting on you.
Wear a mask, wash your hands, social distance.We have laid all of the groundwork. It is up to you to make it happen.
Remember, the commonwealth “mandates” all people wear a mask when in any business and in any social gathering of more than 250 people. We’re in this together.
Thank you.
Lock Haven Area Jaycees.
