Italian festival a success, date set for next year
The Tuscarawas County Italian-American Festival Foundation recently met and discussed the results of the 2009 festival. Even with the extremely hot weather on Sunday, the festival was successful. Sunday’s attendance was down by about 40 percent compared with last year’s record attendance.However, Friday’s attendance was about equal to last year’s record and Saturday’s attendance smashed the 2008 attendance record by 25 percent, bringing the overall festival attendance to just slightly more than the 2008 event. It was also reported that the picnic, held in September for all members and volunteers, was a huge success.
Other announcements made were the dates for next year’s events. The Spring Fling will be held April 24, at Tuscarawas Central Catholic Elementary, the John Vesco Memorial Golf Tournament will be at Green Valley Golf Club on July 10, and the 2010 festival will be in downtown Dover August 13-15. More information will be forthcoming on these events. The foundation participated in the Dover Halloween parade on Oct. 28 and will participate in the Dover Christmas parade on Dec. 5. The festival will again be a member of the Ohio Festival and Events Association and will have eight members attending the OFEA convention in November.
The new stage constructed last year by the foundation was praised by the entertainers who performed on it. Changes needed were discussed and a scenic design proposed to be painted on the inside walls by Teresa Prince was viewed. Also discussed were possible benefits and problems involved with renting the stage to other organizations. The board will examine the possibilities, pro and con, before entering into any agreement for use of the stage.
The nominating committee then took charge of the meeting to elect a new board of directors for the 2010 year. Marsha Mari was re-elected president for a two-year term. Former past president Kraig Rion was elected vice president. Re-elected were Bonnie Domer, treasurer; Fran Mason, recording secretary; and Rita Casella, trustee for a two-year term. Elected to the corresponding secretary’s position was Patty Knisely, and Betty Jane Fischio and Joe Sciarretti were elected to serve two-year terms as trustees. The remaining members of the board who still have a year left on their terms are trustees RaeAnn Dabel, Larry Fontana and Dick Mason. At the conclusion of the election, the board went into executive session because of the vacancy created by the election of Kraig Rion and voted to install former president John Correll as past president, which he accepted.
The next meeting will be held Nov. 18, in St. Joseph Family Life Center. All persons interested in assisting the foundation in providing scholarships for Tuscarawas County students are encouraged to attend. All profits are used for scholarships.