Photo courtesy of Kathy Idhe Last year’s Copper Harbor Improvement Association Performances in the Park series was an enormous sucess. Provided the events adhere to the COVID-19 guidelines provided Governor Whitmer’s Executive Order No. 2020-115 during this summer’s events, the Grant Township Board has approved the organization to put on the eight-week event this summer season.

COPPER HARBOR — The Copper Harbor Improvement Association’s (CHIA) Performances in the Park co-coodinators have received permission from the Grant Township Board to go ahead with the eight-week event.

“We’ve been on pins and needles to see how Grant Township would address our event this summer,” said Kathy Idhe. She and her husband, Jeff, are the event’s co-coordinators.

“…We attended the monthly board meeting to secure their approval,” said Idhe.

Luckily, she said, they did that after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer updated Michigans’s re-opening plan earlier this month. The board approved the event to go forward, as long as the COVID-19 guidelines provided in Whitmer’s Executive Order No. 2020-115 are followed.

The following are excerpts from the order that may impact CHIA Presents Performances in The Park:

• Outdoor parks may be open, provided they make reasonable modifications necessary to enable patrons not part of the same household to maintain six feet of distance from one another and and the gathering consists of no more than 250 people.

• Everyone must follow social distancing measures recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including remaining at least six feet from people from outside an individual’s household.

• Wear a face covering over their nose and mouth, such as a homemade mask, scarf, bandana, or handkerchief when in any enclosed public space (this is noted in case of rain and the event must move inside somewhere), unless the individual is unable medically to tolerate a face covering.

As co-coordinators for CHIA Presents Performances in The Park, the Idhes have added two guidelines of their own to help protect their performers and guests:

• Audience members must be wearing a face covering when putting cash into the tip pitchers (there will be Purell pumpers next to each pitcher).

• The event plans to have disposable face coverings available for people who do not have one, including tourists from out of the area who might not have seen the Township’s Covid-19 Guidelines published prior to coming to Performances in The Park.

“Our first performance date will be July 2nd and we will post this season’s performance schedule as soon as we hear back from all our performers,” Idhe said. “We plan to keep you updated as the season moves forward.”

Idhe said she and her husband are grateful for the support the event has received from the Copper Harbor community, adding: “We cannot wait to hear music in the park again.”

“We know this is a really scary time,” said Idhe, “but we will make every effort we can to make CHIA Performances in the Park a safe and fun event for our performers, their families and friends, and our entire community.”