Newark Strawberry Festival canceled for second consecutive year
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NEWARK The Newark Kiwanis Club announced the cancellation of the Newark Strawberry Festival for a second consecutive year due to ongoing health concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic.
The annual three-day festival draws more than 30,000 visitors to downtown Newark the weekend after Memorial Day. The festival, a fundraiser for Camp O Bannon, a summer camp for low-income and at-risk children, and other local charities, raised a record $34,403 in 2014.
The Kiwanis Club canceled the festival s 37th annual event in 2020, during the early months of the pandemic. The county has endured more than 16,000 COVID-19 cases, 341 hospitalizations and 210 deaths, while the state has had more than 1 million cases, almost 57,000 hospitalizations and 19,000 deaths.
COTC President John Berry said signs were posted about the training, but the warning system failed. The criminal justice instructors notified the campus safety and security office, which did not forward the information to the entire campus.
“Anytime they do this, we always inform all of the campus community, Berry said. Unfortunately, this time it didn’t happen. It was an administrative glitch I’m assured will never happen again.”
Jeff Sowards, assistant professor of law enforcement, said he was not there for the training, but confirmed the instructors notified campus safety and security of training in Adena Hall on Wednesday and Thursday.