Fish fry launched in the 1960s canceled for tonight due to fire

A fish fry that dates back to the 1960s has been canceled due to a blaze.

Partners For Community Living's 2019 Fish 'N Chips Fish Fry, scheduled for tonight, April 5, was canceled due to a fire at the location it was to be held Huber Heights Athletic Foundation, 5367 Fishburg Road.

"They reported a fire in the laundry facility that needed to be cleared up," said Annie Shaver, the development coordinator for Partners for Community Living, a collaboration between Choices In Community Living and Resident Home Association.

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Those organizations provide assistance to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Based on information from a longtime employee, Choices office manager Dan Cochran said the fish fry is a tradition that dates back to the 1960s.

Selena Crace, the Athletic Foundation president, said the small, 1 a.m. Monday, April 1, dryer fire also forced the cancellation of this weekend's bingo games hosted by other nonprofits.

The foundation is working with a restoration company.

“It not an income loss it is just an inconvenience,” she said.

Shaver said Partners did not publicly announce that the fish fry was canceled until Tuesday, fearing people would think the notice was an April Fools Day prank, she said.

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The fish fry will not be rescheduled.

“We will be able to focus our attention the the 2020 fish fry,” Shaver said. “We are doing refunds on tickets for anyone who reaches out to us.”

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She said the event is one of Partners’ largest fundraiser, but did not immediately have information on how much it generates.

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