The Taste of Norway, Lost Arts Fair, and Fall Arts and Crafts event on Oct. 3 has been cancelled by the Iola Historical Society.

The members of the Iola Historical Society assembled for their scheduled monthly meeting on Monday evening, July 27, after discussing the pros and cons of proceeding with the conduct of its planned 11th annual Taste of Norway and Lost Arts Fair event, set for Saturday, Oct. 3, voted to cancel the event. The vote of those members in attendance was unanimous.

The overriding consideration expressed and recognized by the attendees concerned the uncertainties insofar as governmental restrictions and recommendations for controlling the spread and dangers of the coronavirus/Covid-19 pandemic as/how those considerations unfold and are addressed in the weeks and months to come.

Considerations discussed and pondered included:

• The control of social distancing;
• The exposure and health risks concerning our “taste” demonstrators;
• The exposure and health risks where our attendees would be concerned;
• The effectiveness of hand sanitizing guidelines;
• The reality that public events are still being widely cancelled in our area;
• The observance of facemask recommendations; and
• The gamble that would be taken in preparing for an uncertain turnout.