Originally planning to resume their once-a-month dinner gatherings in January, members of the Escalon American Legion Gustafson-Thompson Post have had to put that idea back on the shelf.

With new, tighter restrictions taking hold throughout California and much of the nation due to increasing omicron variant COVID cases, officials with the local post said they unfortunately have to cancel the event. It was to be a ‘Soups and Stews’ dinner night at the Second Street post rooms, with Legion members and some community members expected to attend. Date for the first of the year gathering was to be on Saturday, Jan. 15 but it has been cancelled.

Legion members said the Adjutant for the American Legion in California notified them of the new restrictions and directive. Hoping at first to host it but with mask requirements while people were mingling but not eating, the state informed the post that, at least for the time being, they are requesting that no public functions be hosted at the Legion hall.

Whether the third Saturday dinners can resume in February remains to be seen. The mask mandate for indoor gatherings in the state was extended through Feb. 15; if it is discontinued then, the post may be able to have the February gathering.