ST. CLAIRSVILLE — A Weirton restaurateur had some inspiring words to a collection of local graduates: “the American dream is still alive.”

The Undo’s Upper Ohio Valley Italian Festival named Dewey Guida, owner of Dee Jay’s BBQ Ribs, as its Italian-American of the Year for 2021 Wednesday night. At their media night Wednesday, the festival board also recognized 12 students with a $1,000 college scholarship.

Guida spoke before a gathered crowd of students, parents, board members, and friends to advise the graduates not to get disillusioned with the “American dream,” as the living Italian community thrives, thanks to the ambitions of their ancestors who chased that dream.

“Be proud of your Italian heritage. Your ancestors came here with nothing but the American dream,” he said. “I still believe in it, and I still believe in you, and I believe this is going to be a wonderful time for all of you to shine.

“You’ve got to keep your values,” he continued. “Not only that, you’ve got to make sure that you take responsibility for what you do. If we don’t do that, then we’re going to be the country I see, that is sometimes needing more leadership for their younger people.

“Nothing comes easy. Hard work, faith, belief in God, belief in your family, belief in whatever is important to you. If it weren’t for that foundation, I don’t think I could be standing here.”

The scholarship recipients, representing Belmont, Brooke, Hancock, Jefferson, Marshall and Ohio counties are Alex Douglass, Alana Trigg, Kamryn Bable, Jeana Battista, Sydney Crawford, Madalena Daugherty, Madison Phillips, Joseph Rohde, Regan Gray, Zara Zervos, Gino Gentile and Giuilo Gentile.

The Upper Ohio Valley Italian Heritage Festival, confirmed earlier this year to be happening in July, is still shaping up to be a good year, if a little light on the vendors. Board President Michele Fabbro said there are fewer vendors lined up so far from a typical year, but that they still expect a strong turnout.

“We have a little less than we usually do, but we still have plenty of time, so we’re still planning on getting more. We’re just going to put on the best festival we can; that’s our plan,” Fabbro said.

As of Wednesday, Fabbro said 32 vendors were signed on to sell at the festival, which will run July 23-25. A typical year usually sees about 50. Notable in its absence this year is the bocce tournament, one of the perennial favorites of festival attendees.

“We have a few new things; the only thing we don’t have, that we usually have on-site, is the bocce (tournament),” she said. “… We still have a lot of our traditional events; a Veterans Day ceremony, opening ceremony on Friday, and a Catholic Mass on Sunday. All of those things will be in place.

Guida, like thousands of Ohio Valley residents, was elated to see the Italian Festival return this year.

“Oh, it’s wonderful. Truly, one of the greatest festivals that has been going on for years,” he said. “It’s bringing people together, sharing fun, food, music, and everything that goes along with the festival. It’s been, probably, one of the greatest ongoing legacies. … People have missed a lot of things in 2020, the pandemic changed things, but hopefully we’ll get back together now, and start seeing us go back, having good food, loving the live music, and sharing our Italian heritage.”