Dear Lakesiders,
Over the weekend, a dusting of snow fell upon Lakeside. This snowfall seemed to parallel what we're experiencing in the world today. The colorful spring flowers popping out from under the snow reminds us that there will be color, beauty and rebirth after the cold and smothering snow of COVID-19.
We come to you again with our weekly response to the effects of COVID-19. I hope this note finds you and your family healthy and safe. We continue to monitor and follow state and local health directives while preparing to open our venues as soon as it is safe to do so.
As you plan for spring, please keep the following in mind:
- The State of Ohio’s ‘Stay at Home’ mandate remains in place through May 1, 2020. The mandate requires all Ohioans to stay at home and that non-essential travel is prohibited. To help prevent the further spread of COVID-19 in Ohio and to protect our friends, neighbors and vulnerable populations, please stay home.
- The Ottawa County Community Partners – consisting of the Ottawa County Health Department, Ottawa County Emergency Management Agency and Magruder Hospital – is communicating that anyone coming to Ottawa County should plan now, visit later. So for now, please stay home and safe.
We know that Lakesiders are anxious to return to open their cottages and see the Lake, but now is not the time to do so. Please heed the orders of the state and county and resist the urge to visit Lakeside at this time.
This week, the Lakeside Chautauqua Board of Directors will meet. We will discuss COVID-19 and plans that staff has developed for operating under various conditions that may exist throughout the summer and varying levels of state and local health directives.
The Board will review the operational, financial and staffing changes that have already occurred and the future cuts in programs and staffing that will be necessary for Lakeside to operate with reduced expectations for the season. We will also discuss reduced pricing for the season that is justified by those reduced expectations.
Over the next two weeks, we will communicate how the Lakeside Board and staff intends to operate Lakeside for the season. Obviously, any notion of operation will be dependent on future loosening of the ‘Stay at Home’ mandate, as well as directives established by the State of Ohio for the safe operation of businesses, restaurants and venues for recreation, education and entertainment.
We are glad that Ohio is starting to consider steps to reopen activities within the state
in the future
.
We realize that this will be a slow process and that it will proceed with a series of steps. However, it gives us hope that Lakesiders will be able to enjoy some portion of the summer.
We look forward to welcoming you back,
when the time is right
,
but that time is not now.
