A Connecticut minor league baseball team is banning peanuts and Cracker Jack from its stadium to protect fans with food allergies — and it’s even rewriting a classic ballpark song because of it.
As of the 2019 season, the Hartford Yard Goats will no longer sell peanut products at Dunkin’ Donuts Park, according to a team announcement. While other teams have hosted peanut-free nights or maintained peanut-free sections, team officials said they believe they are the first to implement a full ban.
ANNOUNCEMENT: The Hartford Yard Goats are going to be a PEANUT FREE ballpark in 2019. pic.twitter.com/eQR6Dab1t0
The decision came after Kerry Adamowicz and other local parents approached team officials about their children’s food allergies. Adamowicz’ two-year-old son, Sam, has a life-threatening peanut allergy, and the new policy means he can grow up a baseball fan, she told NBC Connecticut.
“It’s a huge relief,” Adamowicz said. “It’s a really good feeling to come to the park and know that’s one stress that is taken away and we can breathe a sigh of relief and enjoy baseball.”
As many as 2.5% of U.S. children are allergic to peanuts, an increase of 21% since 2010, according to a recent estimate from the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. A recent study also estimated that about 4.5 million adults are allergic to peanuts, and 3 million are allergic to tree nuts.
Yard Goats President Tim Restall told the Hartford Courant that helping kids and adults with peanut allergies to enjoy the game is more important than selling peanut products.
“The way we look at it, if we eliminate this one item to allow kids to enjoy a baseball game, that’s what it all comes down to,” Restall said. “Why prevent someone from catching a foul ball or getting a picture with [mascots] Chompers and Chew Chew because of a food item?”
And while General Manager Mike Abramson admitted to NBC Connecticut that the team would likely get “flak” for the decision, it’s taking it in stride.
The team is even sponsoring a contest to rewrite the “peanuts and Cracker Jack” lyric in “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” and the winning submission will be sung at the park this season, the Courant reports.
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I’m not afraid to say it: I’m a diehard ABBA and Mamma Mia fan. As my exasperated pals can attest to, I would not shut up about Mamma Mia 2: Here We Go Again when it came out and I’ve been low-key trying to sneak 70s inspired pieces into my wardrobe ever since. While the summery dresses won’t work for the winter cold anymore, I have been noticing a pretty surprising fashion trend around a lot recently: the return of the white go go boot. And honestly, I stan.
Although in the past I’ve typically only seen them at costume parties, they’ve cemented themselves a little niche amongst the fashion forward this season. From chic leather pieces to jaw-dropping white snakeskin, a number of them were spotted all over the fashion week just gone.
With some of my favourite high street retailers and luxury brands jumping on the bandwagon, I’m genuinely tempted to join in – even if they’re not the most practical colour. (Needs must when it comes to looking cool AF.)
REX/Shutterstock
While they might seem pretty daunting to style, they’re a total dream if you pair them with another big winter trend: patterned midi dresses and midi skirts. And seeing that shock of white underneath a statement winter coat will have you Instagram ready in no time with a kick ass OOTD.
If you’re a go go boot purist, this might not be 100% the right edit for you as I’ve popped in a few pieces that take the staple into 2018. Don’t @ me on Twitter for steering away from the latex please, I’m just a girl in love with white boots.
FIND is fast becoming one of my favourite new brands, as they’ve been knocking it out of the park with their footwear recently. After I fell in love with our Digital Fashion Editor Penny’s faux snakeskin cowboy boots, they had me falling in love all over again with these beauties. (P.S. They’re currently 30% off and also come in red and black.)
New Look has really stepped up their game with this piece which brings the best of both winter trend worlds together: white footwear and Western-style boots. With subtle embroidery and a faux wood block heel, they look ultra expensive and won’t set you back too much.
These are about as close as you’ll get to a traditional go go boot, as they’re made of the same shiny patent leather we’ve come to associate them with. That said, the pointed tip and rounded top bring it more into 2018 – so it’s more a chic throwback than a dated reference.
These are the shoes that kicked off my obsession with white boots, if I’m being perfectly honest. I saw them in Mango and they actually look a little paler than they do here, so IMO they still belong in the shade territory. Animal print is the trend that just doesn’t want to die this season and with faux snakeskin like this, why would you ever want it to?
Gabriela Hearst may be better known for their bags which swept Instagram into a frenzy, however these faux croc boots are a great case for why they’re nailing the broader fashion game. Pair it with a cosy long dress and you’ll be a total winter goddess.
It came out recently that & other stories’ white cowboy boots were amongst the most in demand styles this season and they show no sign of slowing down with these boots. With a blockier heel for extra support, these boots were truly made for walking and are the epitome of Scandi-chic.
I can never resist a bit of faux fur. These boots aren’t quite as tall as the others on the list and come to about your mid-calf. They’re giving me total Parisian chic vibes and while they’re a bit pricier, the quality speaks for itself as they’re made from Nappa leather and lined with faux fur inside to boot.
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