2024 Romeo Peach Festival Grand Marshal Erwin Slava
BY LARRY SOBCZAK
Erwin Slava, 77, of Romeo, has been chosen as the grand marshal for the 2024 Romeo Peach Festival.
He will appear in the Hometown Parade which will travel southbound on Main Street from Gates Street to Durham Street at 1:30 p.m., Labor Day, Sept. 2.
Slava has taught at Romeo Community Schools for more than five decades.
“I joined the faculty of Romeo High School in 1973. At that time, a large majority of the students were rural living away from town,” he said.
Slava recalled when he started teaching at Romeo that parts of Carriage Hill subdivision, a well-established neighborhood located at 28 Mile and Mound roads, was still under construction.
It was a time when a train would run daily through town.
“The railroad tracks ran across Van Dyke on their way to the Ford Engine Plant,” Slava said.
Born in Detroit and a 1965 graduate of Edsel Ford High School, Slava moved to Romeo to establish a family and raised his son after graduating from Eastern Michigan Undergrad University with a master’s degree and permanent certification.
Tragedy stuck his family with the loss of his high school sweetheart during his career in Romeo.
“A year and a half after my son’s birth in 1984, and after a severe illness, my wife passed away in 1986,” he said.
His son, Brent, attended Romeo High School and graduated in 2002. He went on to receive a degree from Western Michigan University.
“I am especially proud that I have where I’ve taught three generations within the same family,” he said. “In more than a few instances, I’ve taught the grandparents, parents, and now their sons or daughters. I am also proud of the fact that I was the English teacher to several members of our faculty.”
2024 Michigan Peach Queen of Romeo Joanna Cowells
BY STACY SOBOTKA
Joanna Cowells, 19 of Washington Township is the 2024 Michigan Peach Queen of Romeo.
The daughter of Jason and Jessie Cowells. she is a 2022 graduate of Stoney Creek High School in Rochester. At SCHS, she was involved in the National Honor Society, Link Crew, basketball, and cross-country.
Cowells was awarded the Scholar of Distinction medal, two National Honor Society cords, and a varsity letter for basketball.
Cowells is now heading into her third year at Oakland University where she is a double major in Accounting and Finance. On campus, she plays for the OU Women’s Club Lacrosse Team and is involved in the Business Honors Program, Oakland Accounting Student Information Society (OASIS), and Younglife. She has been awarded the Distinguished Scholar Award, Semester Honors, and made the Dean’s List. After graduation, Cowells plans to take the CPA exam to become a certified public accountant.
She also works locally as a receptionist at Brush Salon & Spa.
Cowells was crowned as the Romeo Peach Queen at the annual pageant held in May.
“I decided to run for Romeo Peach Queen because Romeo holds a very special place in my heart and I wanted to be able to give back to the community. I have always viewed the Romeo Peach Queens as a role model for young girls in the community, so being chosen for this role is such a blessing and an honor,” she said.
During the pageant she shared her passion for community involvement, and her plan for how she would spend her reign as Peach Queen. This year, Cowells will be raising money to donate to the ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation.
Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is a fast-growing type of brain tumor that starts in the part of the brain stem called the pons. In the United States, about 300 children are diagnosed with DIPG each year. DIPG primarily affects children between the ages of 5 and 10 years but can occur in younger children and teens. DIPG is rare in adults.
The ChadTough foundation funds DIPG research and provides support for families who have been impacted by DIPG.
“I chose the ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation as my charity because I wanted to support families who have been impacted by DIPG, which is a fatal type of childhood brain cancer. I have personally met families who have been impacted by DIPG, and seeing their strength despite their circumstances inspired me to choose the ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation,” Cowells said.
She said that she is honored to represent the greater Romeo community and the Romeo Peach Festival as the 2024 Michigan Peach Queen of Romeo. She feels blessed to have an opportunity to be a role model for the community and will represent her town with pride.
“I am most looking forward to the Hometown Parade at this year’s Peach Festival. The Hometown Parade has always been my favorite event at the Peach Festival, and I’ve always loved getting to watch the Peach Queen’s float pass by. Getting to sit upon the float this year as the Peach Queen is going to be such a surreal experience that I will cherish forever,” she said.
2024 Lil’ Miss Peach Blossom Marielle Osebold
Marielle Osebold, 6, of Oakland Township, is Lil’ Miss Peach Blossom 2024.
Her parents are Joseph and Jennifer Osebold. Her brother is Lucas, 8.
She will be entering first grade this autumn at Hamilton-Parsons Elementary School.
Her pet cat’s name is Sassy.
Her favorite things to do are playdates with friends, going to school to learn, and going up north to the cabin.
2024 Mr. Peachy King Dylan Thompson
Dylan Thompson, 8, of Washington Township, is Mr. Peachy King 2024.
His parents are Kristal and Mike Thompson. His siblings are Emily 19 and Brody 10.
He will be starting third grade this autumn at Hevel Elementary School.
His pets are a miniature dachshund named Chewy and a turtle named Billy.
His favorite things to do are play football and basketball as well as hang out with his friends.