TIME RUNNING LOW TO GET YOUR RESERVATION IN FOR THE FUN !!!

 

There will be plenty of Olesky and Fazio cousins at the July 17 J&J&Lions Get-Together in the Monongah Town Hall.

Co-hosts Jackie Olesky Straight, Class of 1955, who lives in Rivesville, and her brother, John Olesky, Class of 1950, who lives in Tallmadge, Ohio, of course.

But also cousin David Fazio, Class of 1975, and wife Cora Fazio, who does such a great job operating her facility in Stoney Lonesome for the elderly. 

And Mary Chris Ramsey and husband Tom Ramsey, who also live in Monongah. Mary Chris once worked at the bank on Walnut Street at Camden Avenue. 

I was born in my Olesky grandparents’ home on Walnut, at the Pike Street intersection, during the Great Depress (I wasn’t “great” in my childhood memories).

Then there are second cousins like my niece Lea Ann Straight Barnes and her husband John Barnes, my daughter Monnie Ann Olesky Johnston and her husband Bob Johston of Brunswick, Ohio (they live across the street from former WVU and Cleveland Browns player John Talley), Belinda Straight Morris and husband Dave Morris, my son John Larry Olesky of Tallmadge, Ohio, my chauffeur and heavy lifter (including the 25-pound blue and gold cement outline of West Virginia that I’m picking up from May Brothers in Fairmont), and Rene Straight, Jackie’s daughter.

I’ve learned over the years that nearly everyone in Monongah is connected by blood or marriage anyway.

Besides the slew of cousins, there will be friends, Monongah High alumni, residents of Monongah and family showing up for the 6 p.m. dinner and music for listening and dancing till 9 p.m.

You’re running low on time to make your reservations. At this late stage the only way to get in on the fun is to call Jackie Olesky Straight at (304) 278-7157 and she’ll give you directions to her Rivesville home. 

Co-host Jackie has Reservation forms for you to fill out. Then you give Jackie $20 for each person attending (CASH ONLY AT THIS LATE DATE; NO CHECKS).

And prepare to have the most fun since the pandemic hit.

Mayor Johnboy Palmer will draw the winning raffle ticket for the football autographed by Nick Saban, Alabama super coach, and his wife Ms. Terry Constable Saban. 

Additional tickets will be drawn for the boxful of items that Brother sent to me until every Saban-provided article is gone. The money will go to the Monongah High Alumni Association scholarship fund.

The only way to buy a raffle ticket is to first make a Reservation and pay $20 for the dinner and music. No one will be allowed into the Monongah Town Hall without being on the advance Reservations list. And the raffle tickets will be sold only inside the Town Hall.

Councilwoman Susan Sanders and Shelly Yankie are handling the black and red streamers (Monongah High colors) and other decorations. 

I am providing a 28 x 36 framed photo of the Monongah High Lion, a 15 x 20 foot WVU cloth wall hanging, a photo frame with 1,400 revolving photos including Monongah High Alumni Banquet pictures from earlier years and 72 songs of continuous music coming over a speaker, including “Country Roads.”

So, what are you waiting for? Call Jackie and join the fun. Even if you’re not my cousin. You’re Monongah and that’s close enough for me.

I can’t wait for the event to start Saturday, July 17.