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First Irish Festival for Bellaire being planned

T-L Photo/SHELLEY HANSON MEMBERS OF Bellaire Village Council oversee Thursday’s regular meeting. From left are Clerk Mary Nixon, Mayor Vince DiFabrizio, Treasurer Tom Sable, Councilman Michael Doyle, Councilman Gay Lucci and police Chief Dick Flanagan.

BELLAIRE — A village resident is planning to put on a new festival aimed at celebrating the region’s Irish heritage.

Cy Yaegel received Bellaire Village Council’s blessing to more forward with his idea to plan the first Irish Festival in the village in May.

Yaegel said he has lived in Bellaire for the past four years with his wife, Johnetta Yaegel, who was one of the founders of the new St. John Central Academy, which opened in the former St. John Central Catholic School building following its closure last June. Yaegel said, however, that long before the news came that the Catholic school was to close, he was already brainstorming plans for the festival.

Yaegel said that though he is not originally from Bellaire, he wants it to improve and succeed, and he believes having the Irish Festival can help in that regard.

“I want to do something different and uplifting,” he said.

Yaegel said in addition to celebrating Irish heritage, the festival will feature a variety of musical acts. Since he is new to this kind of endeavor, Yaegel said he has enlisted help from Diane Jordan, who organizes the Sternwheel Festival in Wheeling.

After hearing Yaegel’s idea, in a show of support, council voted to allow him to move forward with his plans. He said he would like the festival to be held Memorial Day weekend. Mayor Vince DiFabrizio said the village would have to check to ensure no other events would conflict with the festival.

In other matters, council approved hiring a law firm — Isaac Wiles Burkholder & Teetor of Columbus — to represent the village in a pending lawsuit. The village will pay the firm $250 per hour. The nature of the suit was not disclosed. Following a closed-door session to discuss the possible litigation, the decision to hire the firm was approved unanimously. Councilwoman Nikki Liberatore abstained from voting because she has a possible conflict of interest, she said.

Sable said the village is permitted to hire outside legal counsel if it deems it necessary.

Meanwhile, during his report to council, Bellaire Volunteer Department Fire Chief Josh McMahon said he was disappointed he was not informed ahead of time of the village’s plan to reduce his department’s training/equipment budget line item by $8,000 in the temporary 2020 budget. He said he did not understand how the decision could have been made without any input from him.

It was noted the issue would be discussed with McMahon during a committee meeting at a later date.

In other matters, Martins Ferry resident Michael Winland said he recently purchased the property of the former bowling alley in the village, and announced his desire to put an RV park on it. DiFabrizio said council would have to consult with its solicitor, Michael Shaheen, about whether it would be legal for Winland to do so under current village law.

Winland said he believes he could fit 15 rental sites on the property. It would cater mainly to oil and gas workers needing living space. Winland, who owns a demolition company, said he also recently purchased empty lots in the village and he is planning to build some new, small houses on them.

Also, village water department employee Rick McCabe said he heard that several other village workers had received $2 per hour raises and he wanted to get his “fair share” as well. Following the meeting, Councilwoman Nikki Liberatore said council did approve raises for some employees recently: an additional 50 cents per hour. Sable noted council has not approved any $2 raises.

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