LAPEL — For the first time since 2019, Lapel is scheduled to have its annual Village Fair.

Lapel Community Association President Herschel Hinkle told the council at its Jan. 20 meeting, the scheduled dates for this year’s Lapel Village Fair are July 8-9 (a Friday and Saturday).

Along with giving dates, Hinkle asked the council for support on blocking streets and security for the event that was canceled each of the last two years with concerns of the COVID-19 virus.

Hinkle said meetings for the event were scheduled to start in February.

“Hopefully, the town will provide us the help we need to get the Village Fair started back in this year,” Hinkle said at the meeting. “Hopefully, we can still have it.”

Prior to last year’s cancellation, the community celebration had taken place for more than 30 years.

The two-day fair traditionally includes a parade, live entertainment, food tents, rummage sales, games, a car show and vendor booths along with other festivities.

Retherford to lead council

To start 2022, Lapel town council members voted for a change in leadership.

Teresa Retherford was elected town council president. Chad Blake, the former president of the council, was voted in as the group’s vice president.

Blake had been president since 2020. He and Retherford were elected to the council in November 2019 and began terms in January 2020.

Tom Marvel was the previous vice president. He resigned from the council at the end of 2021 to concentrate on his recent election as chief of the Lapel Stony Creek Township Fire Territory.

The Jan. 20 meeting was the first for newest member, Marvel’s appointed replacement, Noah Bozell.

The council also voted to continue its meeting schedule — monthly on the third Thursday.

Officer leaving

Lapel police chief Kelly Naselroad informed the council that officer Spencer Dulaney, who joined the department in 2019, had worked his last shift with the department.

Dulaney has taken a position with the Alexandria Fire Department.

Naselroad said he and his department wanted to wish Dulaney well in his new job.

The police department is accepting applications for a full-time officer. Applications are available at Lapel Town Hall. Completed applications are due Feb. 21.