Adena Heritage Day's Rolls Agenda
The committee of Adena Heritage Days gathered in full attendance at the Adena Community Center to plan fundraising for the upcoming summer 2008 festival. A
polka dance will held Friday, August 1st and most everyone who attends delights in Polka music, beer, and polish food. A street fair is held the next day at Town Square with a parade, music, entertainment, children's rides and activities, sports, and street vendors.
President Dot Czibor called the meeting to order and handed out copies of the groups' by-laws. This committee was officially established in March of 2005 as a Corporation for Non-profit. The group's objective is to raise funds for the advancement of various projects to benefit the village of Adena. Membership of the organization is open to anyone interested in helping the community benefit Adena. Committees were also founded in the By-Laws. The assembly unanimously voted to accept them.
The committee also held an election of officers via secret ballot and the elected executive board is as follows, President, Dot Czibor, vice-president, Lynn McConnell,
Secretary, Judy Whiting, and Treasurer, Shelly Masloski.
August 2007 - As temperatures soared to the 90s, Adena Heritage Days were celebrated with hot temperatures. Charlie Tansek and the Chicago Tradition were the entertainment Friday evening at the Adena Community Center. Despite the fact that there was no air conditioning people danced polkas as the band played on. Ethnic food such as pierogies, cabbage, noodles, hot dogs, sauerkraut and sausage took second in sales compared to the cold beverages. The ethnic entourage quenched their thirsts with beer, soda, and water.
Saturday's festivities warmed up with parade on W. Main Street. Political dignitaries: Bill Decker, Mayor of Hopedale, Hopedale Police Chief Ron Bone, Lt. Mark Touville, Harrison County Sheriff and daughter Sara, John Corrigan, Jefferson County Clerk of Court, and Raymond Agresta, Jefferson County Auditor, were among many who took part in the parade led by Adena's Grand Marshal, Bill Walker. The parade consisted of almost all Adena businesses and residents.
After the opening prayer by Msgr. John Kolesar, Amanda Borkoski sang the National Anthem. Adena Mayor Ray Jeskey welcomed all in attendance and gave awards to several townspeople. In appreciation, dedication and contributions of gifting the village with their generosity the following Adenians were recognized: The Adena Heritage Day Committee, Michael Basich, Randy Bednarski, Joe Braun, Bob Ferda, Jim Horton, Alex Lishick, Ray and Lois Konkoleski, Chet Masloski, Zeroski Excavating and Mike Zonkoski.
The sweltering noon heat didn't melt the royal court who were all looking stately splendid. Queen Helen Sliva of 2006 slipped Tootsie Roski (2007 Heritage Day
Queen) the tiara customarily in place of Dorothy Soboleski 2006 Heritage queen who was absent this year. Jenna Young baby princess of 2006-crowned 2007
winner Elizabeth Clelland. Handsome young Prince Nathan Toto handed his scepter to Jace Braun, 2007 baby prince. First grader Madison Young crowned Haley
Marshall, 2007 junior princess and royal awards were presented to the junior contestant court consisting of Kacey Toto, and Brianna Brokaw.
Adena Legion Past-Commander Roger Sliva and Chief Gary DeNoble conducted the annual veteran ceremony calling forth and recognizing every serviceman
present. In the day's humidity, fully uniformed officers such as Jefferson County Sheriff Fred Abdalla, and the American Legion/Sons of the Legion took part in the affair. All uniformed men stood unwavering as stifling temperatures sweltered into the nineties.
The crowd cooled down with snow cones from Wodarcyk's stand, cold water from the Adena Lions Rest Stop, Steffel's homemade ice cream, and Simeral's dairy delights. Delicious cultural food was available from several vendors such as,
P & M Restaurant, the Snack Shack, Lynn McConnell, Figurski's Catering, the St. Casimir's Catholic Women's Club, the American Legion and Legion Auxiliary, etc. Various craft vendors sat in the sun selling sorted goods.
The populace dissipated due to feverish weather and some re-appeared in early evening. Several softball games were on the afternoon's agenda at the former AHS
Football field. The sun didn't seem to slow the children who took part in face painting, game playing, and romps on inflatable rides.
Fans circulated air on stage for all of the performers as the Ohio Valley Promenades led the entertainment agenda followed by Amanda Borkoski, accompanied by
Dustin Kinsey. Lynn Yanda and Roz Zifzal, a mother and daughter duo, sang oldies and young talent Ashley Myers sang and yodeled. The afternoon concluded
with three of the Vinyl Four oldies group playing majestic music that inspired some people to twist, dance, and shout.
After the affair, the Adena heritage committee members recounted that this year marked the 8th annual event with no rain just hot summer weather.
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William Walker was born June 1, 1924 to Morris and Beatrice Walker, in Mt. Pleasant Ohio. He attended Adena High School and graduated in 1942. Bill remembers pumping gas at an Adena Gas Station, then known as Phil Pots Gas, in the years of 1940-41 with Heritage Day Queen Jennie Roski. Both candidates remember that gas sold at a price of nineteen cents a gallon.
In 1942, while he was loafing at the Adena soda shop, Candy Land, he met a girl from Pittsburgh, PA, and asked her to the senior prom. Her name was Irma Geresti. She accepted his proposal and they later married after he returned from the military in 1945.
Bill served in the U.S. Army for thirty months and was stationed for two years in Saipan. After the war in 1945, he returned to the states and settled in Adena with his beloved Irma. They had two children Kevin and Cheryl, (Cheryl is fondly known as Sherry) and both of his children reside in the Ohio Valley. Bill labored for ConSol as a mechanic in the strip mine for 45 years.
After 45 years of marriage and suffering a long illness, Bill's wife, Irma passed away. In 2005, Bill remarried Nancy Zurek of Adena. Bill says is blessed with two beautiful women in his life. Bill and Nancy currently reside in Adena with their dog Zeke.
Bill is an excellent woodcraft, has a beautiful singing voice, and is very active in the Adena Lions Club. He was an end man for years in the Club's annual Minstrel Shows. He enjoys carpentry and is a parishioner of the Adena United Methodist Church. He is and actively involved in these charitable endeavors. Bill is an insightful, reliable, thoughtful man. Bill is warm hearted, kind mannered, and has a smile that melts your heart.
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Jennie (Tootsie) Roski was born in Kenwood, Ohio three miles outside Adena. She was born to Micheal and Rose Gretchen on March 15, 1925. When Jennie was born, her parents named her Tootsie. She is known by that name today. Her parents had eight other children. Living today, she has a sister Katherine Lipus, of Hamilton, Montana, two brothers, and Robert and Joseph who both live in the Adena area. Her deceased siblings are Micheal (Meter) Gretchen, John and George Gretchen, Anna Furbay, Mary (Murph) Olszewski.
Tootsie attended Adena Grade School and Adena HS. In Sept. 1948, she married Ben Roski at St. Casimir's Catholic Church and had four sons. She survived the death of her son Donald, and her three other sons live close to her in Adena. They are John (Crusher), David (Friday), and Ben Jr., (BJ). She is a grandmother of seven, has four great-grandchildren and three step-grandchildren. Throughout her life she worked at numerous jobs that were all within the Adena area. She volunteered to help with school clubs and projects while her children attended school. She worked for the parents club at St. Casimir's Grade School and with the Booster Club when her boys attended sports at Adena High School. She worked at the Adena Post Office as a custodian and says this was her favorite job, because she kept busy, was with people, and she got a paycheck. Today she volunteers washing dishes at the Adena's Snack Shack, just to keep busy.
Tootsie cared for her husband Ben for 59 years and remained with him throughout his illness. Ben has recently passed away but he had a nickname, for her. He named her "Energizer Bunny" because she is always doing something. Today she visits people and sometimes volunteers for the Adena Fire Auxiliary. She always helps friends, family, and neighbors in need. Tootsie likes doing puzzle books, cooking, and canning. She used to attend local Bingo games when they were held in Adena and will enjoy an infrequent trip to the Wheeling Downs Gaming resort. Although she has experienced medical problems, she still takes delight in an occasional polka dance.
Tootsie is a people person. If you get her on a good day, she can still tell an ornery joke. She has lived and shared much history of Adena.
  
 
 
 
Above pictures Heritage Day 2007 courtesy of Judy and Steve Whiting, and MaryAnn Kahrer
 
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Adena Heritage Days by Carol Bednar, Editor 
