COVID-19 scrambles events planned by local organizations

MOSES LAKE — Postponements and cancellations of events, along with facility closures, have piled up nationwide as a response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Locally, some events have been canceled or postponed, while others are going ahead as scheduled.

Denim and Diamonds, the annual Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce auction, is scheduled for tonight and “it is happening,” wrote Lori Robins, the chamber’s marketing director. The event will be at the Grant County Fairgrounds, with the silent auction beginning at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m.

“We ask that no one shakes hands or hugs during the event,” Robins said. “We will have hand sanitizer at the entrance and ask that everyone use it as you enter.”

Other chamber events, including the April Business After Hours and the Occupation Exploration tour, have been canceled.

The annual fundraiser for Moses Lake Christian Academy, planned for March 21, also is going ahead, according to Mark Perry, director of teaching and learning, said. But that could change depending how the situation develops.

The North Central Regional Library had a number of events planned for the week of spring vacation, but those have been canceled, according to a press release.

Meeting rooms at all libraries have been closed to community use, and the book mobile and other outreach services have been canceled, the press release said. The restrictions will last at least through April 5. “At this time, all of our branch libraries continue to operate with standard hours,” the press release said. “Please do not visit the library if you are experiencing flu-like symptoms.”

The Grant County Economic Development Council has postponed but not canceled its annual banquet, which was scheduled for April 2. Executive Director Brant Mayo said the banquet will be rescheduled, but a new date hasn’t been selected.

Some restrictions are in place through April 12, which is Easter weekend and means, among other things, Easter egg hunts. Susan Hickok, president of the Moses Lake Lions, said the status of its annual Easter egg hunt in Moses Lake is still to be determined. “Right now, it’s day by day,” she said.

But the annual “flashlight Easter egg hunt” sponsored by the Ephrata Parks and Recreation Department is going ahead as scheduled, at least for now.

Traci Bennett, Ephrata Parks and Recreation director, said city officials are following the guidelines set by the Ephrata School District. School district officials are, at least for now, restricting access to district buildings and canceling indoor events. But outdoor events are continuing.