Many recognized at Follansbee Community Days kickoff dinner

FOLLANSBEE -- The efforts and contributions of several former and current residents, in a variety of areas, were recognized at the Follansbee Community Days kickoff dinner on Saturday at St. Francis Centre.

Mayor David Velegol Jr. served as master of ceremonies for the event, while Nicco Marchiol, quarterback for the West Virginia University Mountaineers, was guest speaker.

The annual dinner serves as a prelude to the festival, which will return to the Follansbee Community House parking lot July 7-9.

Velegol asked for moments of silence to acknowledge the deaths this year of two who had played an active role in Community Days: Nina Meca and Anthony Paesano.

"Nina was such a big part of this city. When you talk about love of God and love of city, you talk about Nina," he said.

Velegol noted that in addition to co-chairing the Community Days Committee for many years, she was called upon, while serving as office manager at the City Building, to serve as acting city manager for a time and following her retirement, served on City Council.

She was a volunteer for Valley Hospice, reader at St. Anthony Catholic Church and member of various civic groups and was known for planting flowers at the city's welcome sign.

Velegol noted that while Follansbee's mayor, Paesano launched the Community Days Dinner and its tradition of recognizing various citizens. His many years of public service included leadership of the Follansbee Chamber of Commerce and the Brooke County Schools Education Foundation and membership in the Brooke County Board of Education.

Honored at Saturday's dinner were:

— Anthony "Yaggy" Tacozza, a member of the Brooke County Pioneer Trail Association who has been active in recent years as a volunteer with American Red Cross disaster assessment and diaster action teams.

His work has included setting up shelters for victims of Hurricane Ian in Florida, delivering a vanload of food for tornado victims in Kentucky and delivering drinking water to victims of flooding in California.

— Diane Boger, who recently retired as owner of the Crown of Gold Family Hair Salon, which takes its name from a reference in Revelation 4:4.

Velegol said Boger has been assisted through the years by more than 35 employees, including her daughters, Arlene, who has taken over the business, and Renee. He added she has been an active member of the community and financial supporter of Community Days.

— Arnold Plittman, who recently retired as owner of Weisberg's Clothing Store. Opened in Follansbee in 1928, the store was part of a chain originating in Mingo Junction in 1893 and run by the Weisberger family.

Plittman had worked at the store as a student under his uncle, David Weisberger, before going full-time there in 1975.

— Mike Highfield, for his efforts as member and commander of the Ohio Valley Veterans Memorial Squad, to provide military honors at the funerals of hundreds of area veterans. A Vietnam War veteran deployed two weeks into the Tet Offensive, Highfield was a member of Vets for Veterans, a group that visited veterans at local nursing homes.

— Paul DiGiacinto, for his service to the Follansbee Volunteer Fire Department for 54 years, on the Brooke Hills Park board, Follansbee water and sewer boards and as coach for local sports leagues.

A member of the Community Days Committee, DiGiacinto is among those involved in decorating Follansbee Park for the Christmas in the Park festival.

Jim Piccirillo, who introduced DiGiacinto, said he has answered numerous calls for the department, noting in 2017, he pulled to safety a woman who was poised to jump from the Market Street Bridge.

— Nick Fuscardo, who has been inducted to the Fullerton College Hall of Fame following 32 years as the California school's baseball coach during which he led the team to the 2013 California Community College Athletic Association's state tournament and 2016 Super Regionals and set Fullerton's record for career wins, with 655.

Fuscardo, whose honors include Orange Empire Conference Coach of the Year and All-American Coach of the Year, has coached more than 70 players who have gone on to professional baseball and more than 200 who have gone to play at four-year colleges.

The awards presented to the six were linked to the city and state's past.

Velegol explained the Thank You for Shining awards, given to Plittman, Tacozza and Boger, were inspired by President John F. Kennedy's comment that "The sun doesn't always shine in West Virginia, but the people do."

The Major Benjamin Follansbee Award, presented to Hightower, was established in memory of an Army Special Forces commander whose grandfather was one of four brothers who founded Follansbee Steel.

The Anthony Paesano Making a Difference Award, received by DiGiacinto, was launched by its namesake, who enjoyed telling a fable about a girl who saved starfish washed onto the beach by tossing them into the ocean because for each, it made a difference.

Velegol noted the Lou Holtz Silver Spoon Award, presented to Fuscardo, was spurred by a comment made by the famed college football coach at past Community Days dinners and elsewhere.

"Lou said he was born in poverty in Follansbee but with a silver spoon in his mouth because he learned here a commitment to excellence, education and hard work," said the mayor.

During the dinner, Marchiol visited each table to chat with guests.

Before coming to WVU in 2022, Marchiol amassed 8,310 passing yards and threw 91 touchdowns over 43 games while serving as quarterback at Hamilton High School in Chandler, Ariz., and earned honors including Arizona Gatorade Player of the Year and National Football Foundation Frank Kush Award Arizona Player of the Year.

Marchiol said it was clear to him that Follansbee residents are a tight-knit group that values faith, family and community, and he has learned they are "things you can come back to in times good and bad."

He said he was attracted to WVU because of its large and loyal fan base and understands that he and his teammates "are playing more than for the names on the backs of our jerseys. We're playing for the name on the front and all of you."

The Rev. Joseph D'Aurora delivered opening and closing prayers for the dinner.