Our Hospice of South Central Indiana has canceled this year’s annual Labor Day weekend concert which was to feature nationally touring and locally flavored Yacht Rock Revue at Mill Race Park in downtown Columbus.
The concert, which also was set to include popular local band 40 Years of College, among the event’s favorites for years, was planned for 6:30 p.m. Sept. 4. Rising cases of COVID and the looming threat of the delta variant locally were a serious concern of organizers.
Our Hospice President Laura Leonard explained the decision in a statement. “We worked closely with the COVID Task Force of Bartholomew County and, as a community organization have made the difficult decision to cancel due to rising cases of COVID and increasing hospitalizations,” Leonard said. “We cannot risk the health and safety of our community members. We are deeply disappointed as we, along with so many fans, were excited to see Yacht Rock Revue come to Columbus to perform.”
The band, including Columbus natives Nick Niespodziani and Peter Olson, performed a streaming Our Hospice concert last year from their home base in Atlanta and helped raise a record amount of $157,000 for the nonprofit’s care for patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families.
Niespodziani has dreamed of performing for the hospice concert locally since he was a teen musician. But he’s also a realist.
“This resurgence of the variant has just knocked us all for a loop,” Niespodziani said Tuesday from his home. “We support the decision of the concert organizers 100 percent and promise we will make this happen eventually. This only strengthens our resolve. Until then — musk up, mask up, vax up and stay safe.”
Dr. Brian Niedbalski, Bartholomew County health officer, offered his view in a prepared statement.
“The health and safety of our community members is our top priority,” Niedbalski said. “Even though the concert is an outdoor event, the large number of people gathered together at Mill Race Park presents a great risk for transmission of the more infectious delta variant. Although disappointing, this is the right decision in light of the escalating number of cases and hospitalizations from COVID in our surrounding areas.”
Hospice fundraising still will continue.
“Even though the concert will not take place this year, we are optimistic that we can count on the generous support of our communities, as we need it now more than ever,” said Leonard.
The $10,000 raffle drawing will take place at 7 p.m. Sept. 4. Winners will be notified by phone that evening and the results will also be posted on the Our Hospice Facebook https://www.facebook.com/OurHospice and Instagram pages www.instagram.com/OurHospice.
“We are very grateful to our concert presenters, Faurecia and Columbus Regional Health, as well as our donors, benefactors and supporters who so generously give in support of the concert each year, Leonard said.
Those interested in making a donation may contact Julie Davis at (812) 371-7973, [email protected] or go online at crh.org/ConcertDonations.
