T-L Photo/CARRI GRAHAM Judge Frank A. Fregiato, center, stands with members of the Belmont County Veterans Services Commission and the Classy Chassis Car Club in anticipation of the upcoming 2019 Belmont County Schools Staying Clean Car, Bike and Truck Show Festival. The carshow will be held 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, September 14 at the Ohio Valley Mall.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — An upcoming carshow will be held next month to promote a drug free lifestyle among students.

Belmont County Common Pleas Judge Frank A. Fregiato has teamed up with Belmont County Veterans Services and the Classy Chassis Car Club for the third annual Belmont County Schools Staying Clean Car, Bike, and Truck Show Festival.

The car show is meant to raise awareness and funds for the high schools’ Staying Clean Clubs and to continue to extend these clubs throughout the grade schools as well.

“We intend to defeat the problem by making sure it doesn’t ever even become a problem, while still developing and retaining a very successful drug court program helping those who are already addicted,” Fregiato said.

The drug-free program is now established in all Belmont County schools, both public and private, Fregiato said.

“It’s been a major success and we are indeed putting drug-free programs in all of the grade schools, public and private, to inundate and saturate the students of the drug-free concept by the time they reach seventh or eighth grade, there’s no drug decision to be made,” he said.

Fregiato said the fundraiser netted $22,368.71 in 2017, $43,275 in 2018, and already has grossed $68,650 for 2019.

Registration for the car show begins at 10 a.m. Sept. 14. The show runs 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the southeast end of the Ohio Valley Mall.

Unlike most car shows, the Staying Clean show will have no restrictions on the vehicles entered. The decision not to use restrictions is to make certain students can enter their own vehicles, Fregiato said. There will be no charge for Staying Clean members or spectators.

Trophies will be awarded in multiple categories by independent judges and two trophies awarded by students. Students at Belmont Career Center are making the trophies out of used auto parts and “they are fantastic,” Fregiato said. Dash plaques will be awarded to the first 250 registrants and free T-shirts to the first 150 Staying Clean Club members.

The event will feature music by Frank Allen. The Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle will be on display courtesy of the Belmont County Sheriff’s Department, food vendors, photographs, a 50/50 drawing and door prize drawings will add to the festivities.

Although Fregiato owns numerous classic cars that he plans to display at the show, he has disqualified himself and his family from receiving any awards due to being the overall event organizer.

“We are indeed excited about the cars, but more excited about this becoming a major community event, but mainly excited for the kids, whose lives you are saving,” Fregiato said.