Special Events Information

The gods were smiling for our Celtic Beltane Festival on the 30th of May. We weren't the least bit sure when we were heading home on Friday after beginning the set-up. The gloomy clouds gathered dark overhead. It looked ominous.

But the day dawned brightly if a bit chilly and the weather improved to be absolutely perfect. What a wonderful day we all had. It was the very best Beltane Festival yet.

We have so many super people to thank. Bill Bakan has turned the winery pavilion into a charming shelter - from sun or inclement weather. He mowed the extensive grass and made sure everything was in order. We cannot ever thank Bill enough for all he has done for us. Patronize Maize Valley

Winery at every opportunity, folks. He well deserves our custom.

Frances Acar did a fantastic job. Many folks helped, but without her guidance and organizational skills it just wouldn't have worked. Kudos and applause Frances! You are a great lady. Thanks to her husband Will, as well. He was patient and supportive. We need these guys.

Thanks to my husband Jim, who did endless chores for the festival. He puts up with me (big feat in its own right) and manages to be one of those reliable worker bees who gets things done. He does far too much for me to write it all down. Thank you, sweetheart - I do appreciate you.

Thanks to Donne Shepperly for her help with the clans, the contracts, and for buckets of good advice and input. Donne contributes a great deal in her quiet way. We are so glad to have her help.

Thanks to Gene & Betty Marcus for handling the gate once again. They do a remarkable and efficient job with their team - which included Kim Belvin, her best friend Emma, Ann & Bill Heflin and various others. This is an important job and they do it perfectly.

Thanks to both Gene and Don for their help with the advertising. Every bit helps to add to our festival's success.

Thanks to Don & Joann Mellen - Don does a fantastic job on the parking, which is a difficult job.He also made the schedule boards and handled the signs. Joann took on the job of the Cornhole toss. Even made the bags to use. Both have been there with advice and concerns at all points.

Don had help on the parking team with the "Scotsmen" Jon Belvin and Shay Harvey, and with granddaughter Amanda Argenti and her friend. Thanks to all of these young folks as well.

Thanks to Brian and Julie McElhiney. Julie did the basket auction (made the baskets) and the program. No small feat here. She was helped by her super husband, Brian, who also organizes the field and gets everyone in place. Brian is one of those worker bees that just is there when you need him.

Thanks so much to Liz and Dave Belvin. Liz worked at the sales table and Dave helped getting those Celtic Beltane Festival tee shirts organized and with clean-up. The tee shirt design, by the way, was by Liz. We have more of these left. If any of you would like one, they are $10 and make a nice shirt to wear for the summer. (Dark blue with white logo. Very becoming to all.) You might want to be sure and get one to wear next year - when the festival will be on May 22nd. We plan to sell them at the Ohio Scottish Games, but if you let me know you want one, I'll get it to you - promise!

Thanks so much to Ginny Black, Amy Barrington, and to Brad Walker. Ginny tirelessly substituted in various places giving folks breaks and filling in wherever needed. Brad did the same and also brought some new and special books for Liz Belvin to sell at her table. Amy primarily substituted on the Genealogy table. This is a new preoccupation for Amy. She is very interested in doing genealogy and research for herself and others. Thanks too to Amy's husband Jayson who was there to help on Friday evening and Saturday morning. What a great guy.

Thanks and thanks again to Christie and Tim Walsh and their exuberant family. How would we ever manage without them? Kate and Mary, Ann and Joe, all wonderful kids. A super, super addition to any event. Tim and Christie did a perfect job setting up the children's games, running the "Kilted Kutie" contest,

dancing and of course, with both the Kent Scottish Country Dancers and the Tigh na Creige Highland dance group. [If you are interested, more information is elsewhere on this site.]

Beyond thanks, but I don't know any words - to the two guys who do the sound system, Jim and Bob Morehead. They are so completely competent and add so much to the festival. They are such professionals, we are so fortunate to have them. And folks, they do this on a volunteer basis. Is that fantastic, or what?

Please recommend them to anyone who needs this service. Brides or festivals. "Live Bands, Live D.J.'s Live Sound Mixing" to quote their card. Phone: 330-608-5826, e-mail: jmoreh6318@msn.com

Russ Luyster did a super, super job as our Emcee. Somehow he sorted out the madness that is our Beltane and helped make sense of the proceedings. He kept the show running and never batted an eyelash when he was handed last minute changes and additions. Great job Russ!

Thanks so much to our entertainers! They sure were super. All those attending were totally enthralled by the performances of the NEO Harp group, Melinda Crawford from Pennsylvania playing the fiddle (if you missed

her, she does have CD's), the Akron Ceili Band, the McKenney Family singers, the Heather Belles under the direction of Jenny Mae Caronchi, The Rampant Mandolin, Bill and Julie Kennedy, the Columbus Country Dancers under the direction of Sandi Utrata, the Kent Country Dancers, under the direction of

Frances Acar, and the Welsh Country Dancers from Columbus. They kept toes tapping and got audience members up to help with the dancing. Great fun. Audience members were encouraged to participate in the Waulking exhibition, too, with encouragement from Frances, some of the winning waulking team (including the unrepentant Kennedys) also participated.

Thanks to Josh Raab and the Highland Athletes. They are a highlight of our festival and great folks besides.

The two pipe bands, the Gleann Mòr and the Akron and District, stirred every heart there with their performances. Great stuff! We certainly thank them for taking the time and trouble to attend. They are an important part of the event.

The 23rd Regiment, Royal Welsh Fusiliers - Welsh Military re-enactors - were handsome and added an elegant touch to our festival. They have promised to return next year. Our own Dennis Gressock, the Revolutionary War Scottish soldier, enthralled the folks with his "kit" and the colonial re-enactors

showed how it was to live in America in the mid-19th century.

Heather MacNaughton's wonderful Scottish foods were quickly gobbled up, but Maize Valley offered plenty of other foods and wine tasting. The basket raffle went well, though personally I had hoped to win that magnificent basket donated by JTS Landscaping (Russ Luyster's business), but didn't. All the proceeds from the basket auction are donated to Pegasus.

There were excellent vendors there - hope they received enough business. I know our family came home with far less in our pockets. Thank you Liz, Amy, Lexi, and Himself ...

Thanks to all the folks who brought their vintage and interesting cars to the event. They were very fascinating to all. From those that are rarely seen to the vintage Cadillacs - dream cars in their day - they added a great deal of interest.

Thanks to all the clan members who came and set up tents. Folks love to talk about their history. Did everyone notice the chief of Clan Claus? Yes indeed, he was there, walking around. Maybe next year he will set up, too. (He does promise to be at Ohio Scottish Games this year.) Thanks to all the Sas'y members and friends who attended. It's just fun to visit with you all.

Among those attending were our very own celebrity, Carol Leslie-Hosticka, and our first Rose and Thistle award winner, Agnes Bagley. Agnes will be celebrating her 100th birthday on September 27th of this year.

Do give a listen to Joe Nicholls and Kevin McGinty, at 4:00 today, the "Sounds of Britain and Ireland" on WCPN, 90.3 FM. Last week when Frances and I were up at the studios doing pre-Beltanepublicity (these guys are a hoot both on and off the air, by the way), they said they might consider doing a remote from our festival next year. Wouldn't that be great? One way or another, a great big THANK YOU to both of them for all their help. You might like to check out their profiles elsewhere on our web site.

ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION DRILL TEAM