“The city hopes to revive the city-sponsored events once a new community projects coordinator is hired,” said Clayton Castle, communications manager for the city.
Events sponsored by other organizations, such as Downtown Middletown Inc. events, the Ohio Balloon Challenge, Hops in the Hangar and Very Merry Middletown, are still happening.
The farmers market pause leaves many vendors with gaps in their schedules and cuts to seasonal incomes.
Kristie LeVangie-Melke, owner of 4th Avenue Farmhouse, said she received an email from Jeri Lewis, Middletown’s former community project coordinator, at the end of March with extensive details about the events, starting in June and continuing until October.
“We were nervous because we hadn’t heard anything yet and had to track down our check which was sitting in the city building. Uncashed. I did hear at least one other vendor did pay as well,” LeVangie-Melke told Journal-News.
Jeri Lewis, Middletown’s former community project coordinator, recently left the position.
LeVangie-Melke received an email regarding an update Friday after making her Facebook post.
In the email, the city wrote: “If you made a payment for this event, please provide your receipt so we can process your refund.”
LeVangie-Melke doesn’t want to give up, though. She has found a small location in downtown Middletown to carry on farmers markets, though she said the space will be very limited.
She has created the Facebook page Save the Middletown Farmers Market, to post updates regarding the issue.
“The support is so humbling. We are working on details and hope to share some good news soon,” she wrote.
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