cheshirecitizen.com
Volume 11, Number 34
Thursday, June 4, 2020
Strawberry Festival among canceled fundraisers
BOUTIQUE BARGAINS
By Bailey Wright Record-Journal staff
The First Congregational Church of Cheshire’s annual Strawberry Festival is canceled for the first time, due to the pandemic. The long running popular local event has been held for 83 consecutive years. It’s typically held the first weekend in June on the church green. Cheshire Historical Society created a pop-up version of its "Boutique-in-the Shed" over the weekend. CHS President Diane Calabro said the historical society and shed have been closed due to COVID-19, and a backlog of “for sale” items meant that the shed was just about bursting at the seams. To reduce inventory, organizers hauled the goods out to Peck Lane and took any offer for any item generating some very good deals for customers. Bargain hunters in the photo are, from left: Brandy Elliott, Meriden, and Fran Dupre, Cheshire, along with Calabro. Dupre picked up fabric to make masks. Also shown is 8-year-old Aaron Carmody. Joy VanderLek, The Cheshire Citizen
DAR scholarships awarded to CHS grads The Lady Fenwick DAR Chapter recently announced awards of two $1,000 scholarships. The winners are both students from Cheshire High School. Every year, the local DAR chapter offers a scholarship to a graduating high school senior who is a resident of Cheshire, Prospect or Wolcott and who will pursue an undergraduate degree or studies in pre-law, criminal justice or American government, history or civics. Applicants are judged on academics, service to school and community and financial need. The scholarships are named in memoriam for Chapter members who have passed. The 2020 Lady Fenwick DAR
The outdoor summer celebration usually features live music, local vendors, crafts and homemade strawberry shortcake and serves as a fundraiser. Typically, crowds of 1,000 or more attend and this year organizers made the hard call that the event could pose a hazard to vendors and attendees. Discussion is underway as to the possibility that a festival could be held later in the summer or the fall. The local event is just one of the popular events affected by the current situation. All around the area, local nonprofits are looking into alternative fundraising after pandemic restrictions forced them to cancel most annual events.
Ruth Del Vecchio
Scholars are: Ruth Del Vecchio and Jenna DeGennaro. Del Vecchio was awarded the Jean Schorer Oberst Memorial Scholarship. She will attend Quinnipiac University in the fall See DAR, A2 Jenna DeGennaro
Recently, After the Storm, Inc. announced the 12th annual Art Bra event, scheduled for Aug. 6 at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington, was canceled. “We erred on the side of caution and looked at all aspects involved. We’re still looking for ways to help See Nonprofits, A2