Despite all remaining COVID-19 restrictions in Massachusetts being lifted last month, Nantucket Cottage Hospital announced yesterday afternoon that its largest annual fundraiser and what is typically the biggest event of the year on the island – the Boston Pops on Nantucket – was cancelled.
The concert, which had been set for August 14, would have marked the 25th anniversary of the Boston Pops on Nantucket. Hospital President and CEO Gary Shaw cited the island’s “stretched” resources as it emerges from the pandemic.
“After consulting with the Town we have made the difficult decision to postpone celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Pops to 2022,” Shaw said “All of the island’s resources are stretched while we are re-adjusting to a post-COVID world. It has been a difficult 15 months for NCH and the loss of financial support from the Pops presents another real challenge. We are grateful for the support of our donors during this time.”
Town officials had previously raised concerns about having enough personnel resources, especially community service officers, to support an event at the scale of the Pops, which draws more than 7,000 people to Jetties Beach and requires road closures and other municipal resources.
