Lowellville festival prepares to wrap up 111th go-round

The festival ends with fireworks just before midnight tonight.
By SARAH POULTON
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
LOWELLVILLE -- Police Chief William Vance had his new cruiser waxed and ready to go for the start of Lowellville's 111th annual Mount Carmel Celebration.
The new cruiser is a 2006 Crown Victoria police package purchased June 30 at the Texoma Ford/Mazda dealer in Denison, Texas. It cost $18,977 before the $4,500 trade-in for the 2002 car, Vance said.
Cruisers usually last about four years, and money is budgeted for these purchases, he noted.
The trade-in was black with white and gold decals, the chief said. He decided to update the new one with white trimmed with the popular Lowellville High School colors -- blue and gold -- on the side. He also added the sentimental symbol of the rocket on the fender.
"The 2002 car was getting pretty worn down," Vance said. "It was time for a new car, and I know that a lot of departments are going back to the white cars because they are safer."
White cars are easier to see at night, he explained. The decals on the side were designed by Vance and Mike Staaf, part-owner of Metro Signs. Vance is no stranger to designing decals. He has been racing stock cars at Mercer Raceway Park for as long as he can remember and has designed the decals for his own cars.
The car came almost fully loaded, Vance said. The Lowellville officers installed their own radios, shotgun mounts, radar systems and the laptop from the old car. The dealer will refurbish the trade-in and sell it to a taxi company, he said.
Cause for concern
The chief said though he's proud to show off the new cruiser at the celebration, the parking situation makes him nervous, especially near the railroad tracks. Two years ago, three cars were hit by a train because they were parked too close to the tracks, while a fourth was hit because it was on the tracks, Vance said.
This year's festival began at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
City Administrator Phil Alfano said it's the oldest one in the area, and the only one to incorporate "The Babydoll Dance" -- a Lowellville tradition for which someone dresses up in the 7-foot Babydoll costume, which spouts fireworks from its hands and head and dances to "The Babydoll Dance," played by the Mount Carmel band.
"Fireworks are one thing, but 'The Babydoll Dance' is unique," Alfano said.
This festival runs through 11:45 tonight, when fireworks will light up the sky, Alfano said. The parade and feast day are scheduled for Sunday and will be a separate celebration, he added.
Donald E. D'Onofrio Sr., Mount Carmel Society treasurer, said that along with the usual activities, the annual memorial boccie tournament honoring Frank J. Lellio Sr. will be included for the fourth time.
"The whole name of the game," D'Onofrio said, " is one word -- tradition."
spoulton@vindy.com