Fish fry season is rapidly approaching, but some organizations have been forced to bow out of one of the region's most loved traditions.
Several churches and fire departments have already canceled their annual fish fries. Many cited supply chain issues and high costs.
The Claridge Volunteer Fire Department has hosted its Lenten fish fry for many years, selling 500 pounds of fish per week.
Department treasurer Jeff Adamson says this year, their longtime supplier said it couldn't satisfy an order that big.
"We did look around," he said. "I asked some other restaurateurs that I know and some other folks did some checking with other non-profits. It seemed like they were all kind of having the same problems."
The difficult choice to cancel means a big financial hit for the fire department. Adamson says the fish fries typically bring in $30,000 over the course of a season.
"That's a significant impact on our annual budget," he said. "We count on that and rely on that to get us through a large majority of the year into the summer."
The department is still discussing how to recover some of that money. Adamson says it will likely be a combination of efforts, like selling hoagies or hosting a different kind of event.
While the financial consequences are significant, he adds it's a blow to the community too.
"It's really bringing the community together because people come there for our fish fry each year that haven't seen each other for the whole year," he said. "They get together. They catch up, see friends and relatives they normally don't see."
On the other hand, some organizations are moving forward, but paying higher prices for their supply this year. That could mean higher costs for customers at the door this spring.