The biggest news this week is regarding Arcanum High School’s graduation exercises. Administrators habe been busy reviewing the guidance at the state level and meeting with local officials, and submitted a plan to the Darke County Health Department for final approval. After receiving approval of the plan, they are now officially releasing the information. Graduates and their parents will receive a letter from HS Principal, Jason Stephan, outlining the specifics of the plan that will require an RSVP. Please be looking for that letter soon.
AHS graduation will take place on Saturday, May 23 at 11:00 a.m. with a rain date of Sunday, May 24 at 2:00 p.m. The district will utilize a “drive-in” option in the main parking lot at school. Graduates and immediate family members will meet at the community ballpark in one vehicle per graduate, where a processional will depart at 11:00 and make their way through town to the school parking lot. A stage will be set up and one socially-distanced parking spot will be designated for each graduate and his/her immediate family. Graduates will be able to leave their car, one row at a time, and while maintaining appropriate social distancing, have the opportunity to walk across a stage and receive their diploma before returning to their vehicle. At the time that students are receiving their diplomas, the immediate family members will be permitted to leave their vehicle to take a picture and then return directly to the vehicle. Once one row is finished, that row of vehicles will move to the back of the lot, allowing another row to move forward until all graduates have received their diplomas and are back in the original designated spot. Commencement exercises will be live-streamed and the immediate families will be able to tune-in through a radio transmission while in the lot. Immediately upon completion of commencement, all vehicles will depart in a recessional.
While not the traditional ceremony, administrators are glad to have the opportunity for immediate family members to be with their graduate and watch them walk across a stage to be honored. Closer to graduation, they will release information on how to access the live feed, as well as the path of the processional from the ballpark to the school.
The local Farmers Market sponsored by the AWTHS is planned to start every Saturday during summer beginning June 6 from 9 a.m. to noon at Veterans Park on West George. All vendors are welcome to come and setup, contact Sharon Troutwine 937/692-5128 with questions. They are specifically looking for garden produce, fruit, honey, baked goods, quality crafts and homemade items.
The trustees of Van Buren Township and Twin Township regretfully have cancelled the annual Memorial Day Services at Ithaca Cemetery and Abbottsville Cemetery this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The trustees state that they will still be placing honorary flags on veteran’s grace during the week prior to May 24th.
The Arcanum Public Library will soon begin the process of reopening to the public. There will be several changes to the way the Library normally operates and they will be following recommendations from the Governor of Ohio, the Ohio Department of Health, the State Library of Ohio, and the Ohio Library Council. Here’s what you need to know. They will be open to the public our regularly scheduled hours beginning Tuesday, May 12, 2020. Patrons are requested, but not required, to wear masks in the Library. Patrons are requested to maintain the 6-foot social distance. Staff will be wearing masks. Staff will be sanitizing all high touch surfaces frequently to ensure everybody’s safety. Returned materials will be isolated for 72 hours before being shelved. They will be limiting the number of patrons in the building to 15, so they are asking that all patrons keep their visits brief to allow more people to access the building. They will only have 3 computers available for public use and these will have a 30 minute time limit. They will begin curbside pickup beginning Tuesday, May 12, 2020. We will take calls for orders beginning Monday, May 11, 2020. Patrons can check out items from the Arcanum Public Library ONLY at this time. There is NO Delivery of books from other Libraries. (Please note that our library has no control over when delivery will resume.) You can search for item availability on the website or by downloading the COOL Libraries app from your mobile app store. Make a list of the items you would like to pickup curbside. Either contact the Library at 937-692-8484 and give then your list over the phone or send an email to [email protected] Note: It may take up to 48 hours to process your request. The staff will contact you that your requested items are ready for pickup. If you do not have access to their catalog please contact the Library at 937-692-8484 and they will be happy to assist you over the phone. Soon they will hopefully have an announcements on Summer Reading in the near future. Thank all of the patrons of the library for your understanding during this difficult time.
To our local restaurants, thank you for keeping us fed with your delicious meals and service during these past few weeks. Let’s give a big shoutout to A.R. Winery, Picnic’s Pizza and Grille, Quick Stop, Brumbaugh’s Fruit Farm and Bakery, Farmer Brown, Huston’s Restaurant, Miller’s Tavern, and Petey’s Pizza and Carryout.
