The committee that organizes Unity in Community Days in Penn Hills has given up on holding the event this year, but hopes it will return soon.

This year, Penn Hills School District will not offer use of the Linton Middle School field, which the district has provided for the past nine years for Unity in Community Days.

Last year, two Penn Hills juveniles caused more than $75,000 in damage to the middle school a fight broke out and a festival vendor was robbed during Unity in Community Days. During the fight, police received a complaint that someone had a gun and threw it next to bleachers.

Police detained a few youths for refusing to disperse. An ambulance took one man to a hospital for treatment of two facial cuts.

A statement from the Unity in Community Days committee said, "We do not make light of several serious incidents that took place on the school grounds during the event last year, but neither can we ignore the overwhelming positive outpouring of community spirit that takes place every year at this event.

"The thought that the actions of a few can counter the positive community spirit that came with the food booths, the art show, the music, the idol contest, the children's tent, the car show and the fireworks finale is amazing."

The statement was signed by Howard Davidson, municipal planning director; Christopher Blackwell, municipal principal planner; Dan Miller, municipal parks and recreation director; and Liza King, state Rep. Anthony DeLuca Sr.'s legislative assistant.

An arts festival was a large part of Unity in Community Days. The arts festival will be moved to William E. Anderson Library of Penn Hills.

An art show, music, children's activities and other programs will be held from Aug. 22 to 23, said Janice Pfeifer, Penn Hills Arts Council president.

"Although we have separated from Unity in Community Days for this year, we feel the new venue will be quite appropriate and rewarding," she said.

Erin Vecchio, Penn Hills School Board president, said Unity in Community Days could return in its full form in the future.

Penn Hills School District needs to focus on its financial situation as it deals with the 2008-09 budget, according to Vecchio, who said the damage done during last year's festival increased the district's insurance premium. Insurance covered all but $2,500 of the damage.

The district needs to be assured that enough police will be assigned to security when Unity in Community Days is held again at Linton, Vecchio said.

She was planning a vote on the Unity in Community Days committee's request for the field at the April 7 school board meeting, but Vecchio said she learned an official vote was not necessary.