75 years ago, The Boardman News published its first edition out of an office space in a building owned by Dr. Robert Heaver at Market St. and Rt. 224 (now the headquarters of esteemed local defense attorney J. Gerald Ingram and his co-counsels who include his son, Ryan, as well as Frank Cassese, Corey Grimm and ‘of counsel,’ noted civil lawyer Charles Dunlap).
      At that time, 75 years ago, Rt. 224 and Market St., ‘out in Boardman,’ were country, two-lane roads, largely bounded by woods and farms, save for Southern Airways that operated an airport near where West and East Parkside roads are today.
      There were no elementary schools, and the public school system was contained in one single building known today as Center Intermediate School. Spartan athletic teams (football, basketball, track and baseball) were members of the Tri-County League.
      About 13,000 people lived in the township.
      Boardman Park was no more than an idea being discussed among local civic leaders.
      There was no, organized township police department. (The township was served by constables). The Boardman Fire Department was the centerpiece of township government, and zoning codes were still being considered.
      Then along came a man named Edward J. DeBartolo, who in the 1950s lived on Danbury Dr. with his wife, Marie, and his son and daughter, Ed Jr. and Denise.
      Mr. DeBartolo, disgusted with Youngstown politicians, had an idea---he wanted to build a shopping plaza ‘all the way out in Boardman,’ at Rt. 224 and Glenwood Ave. And he did, and the Greater Boardman Plaza became the centerpiece of Boardman Township, featuring two grocery stores (A&P and Century Foods), a women’s apparel store (Livingston’s), a hardware store (Stambaugh Thompson) and a five and dime store (W.T. Grant).
      His concept was an instant success and changed the face of Boardman forever.
      Two decades later, Mr. D built an enclosed shopping mall, Southern Park, at Rt. 224 and Market St.
      With Boardman a retail hub in Mahoning County, and unions driving the steel mills out of business in Youngstown, Boardman became a popular place to live and work, and by the turn of the 21st century, more than 40,000 people and 3,000 businesses called Boardman Township home.
      Mr. DeBartolo’s impact on Boardman Township spurred the implementation of a zoning code in 1948, and the formation of the township’s police department in 1951.
      As Boardman Township grew, so did the public school system. In addition, St. Charles School was formed amidst great debate about the value of a ‘parochial’ school.
      In the late 50s and 1960s, public school board members, like Atty. William Fowler, Dr. Art Nicolette, Don McKay and Clarence R. Smith began to issue warnings about over-reach by state government into the public school systems.
      “We need local control, not state control,” Mr. Smith would say, adding “If the state gets too much control, we will be teaching at state minimum standards, not ‘our standards.’”
      Today, 75 years after The Boardman News was founded, indeed the Ohio Department of Education has so many standards that teachers spend much of their time teaching kids in a manner that is dictated by the state report card, much of which has nothing to do with education.
      Boardman Township’s Police Department has grown to some 60 full-time officers and more are needed in an era when drug overdoses permeate our town---to the point there are now more than a dozen agencies that exist to provide drug rehabilitation programs; and drug dealers often get little more than a slap on the wrist in the court system.
      The Boardman Fire Department operates on standards established by the National Fire Protection Association (more geared to large cities than suburban towns like Boardman).
      The Boardman Zoning Department now has inspectors who daily perform property maintenance inspections---a duty first called for by Trustee Elaine Mancini before the turn of the century, in an effort to maintain the integrity of Boardman Township neighborhoods.
      A half century after it was built, the Southern Park Mall has been remodeled as a destination not only for shopping, but as a social gathering place---a sign the residential development (like so-called luxury condominiums) may soon be considered on that property, and perhaps across the street at Center Intermediate School (as the current school board indicates it would consider further adding to its ‘campus’ at Boardman High School).
      Rt. 224 and Market St. are now four-lane highways where state troopers often intervene in accidents on those roadways.
      Consistent with the Army Corps of Engineers ‘cleaning-up’ Cranberry Run in the late 1930s, surface water issues have been just as consistent since that time, especially in Ridgewood Estates and neighborhoods near Market St. Elementary School. In addition, streams that flow into Mill Creek are often clogged with debris, causing surface water issues near Tippecanoe Rd. and Rt. 224. So actually, the Corps of Engineers compounded drainage issues in Boardman, and we are still dealing with them today.
      Two decades into the 21st century, township government is once again addressing those drainage issues. One of the most unique concepts in the efforts to alleviate surface water issues is the creation of a stormwater park on the property of Market St. Elementary School. (Market St. Elementary School was the first, public elementary school built in Boardman Township in the early 1950s. School officials said it was needed to help handle the local system’s ever-growing student population. Projections ‘back in the day,’ were Boardman’s population was growing so rapidly, more elementary schools would be needed to handle a student population that could reach as many as 10,000 kids. That certainly didn’t prove to be true, and today, after more than a couple of decades of discussion, the school board finally closed down Market St. Elementary School).
      Of note, and in difference to the Boardman Local School System of 70 years ago, according to the Ohio Department of Education, 1,660 students, or 42.3 per cent of students in the Boardman Local School District are economically disadvantaged.
      Good Things
      Just about the time The Boardman News published its first edition, Boardman Park was formed and for more than seven decades it has been a place of peace and fellowship.
      In its early days, Boardman High School played its baseball games at the park, and a skating rink attracted thousands of people every winter.
      Through the years, Olde St. James Church, the oldest Episcopal church building east of the Mississippi River, was moved to the park, spurred by the volunteer efforts of Tom and Miram Masters. The church now graces the entrance to the park on Boardman-Poland Rd.
      Indeed, during the 1960s and 1970, many houses of worship left the city of Youngstown for locations in Boardman Township.
      It was in 1993 the Boardman community came together to build a Kids Town playground at Boardman Park, where thousands of parents take their children every year to play and have fun.
      An outdoor theater was built at Boardman Park in 1996 and now every Fourth of July, thousands gather there for an annual fireworks show, accompanied by selections of patriotic music.
      In 1976, during the bicentennial of the United States, more than 15,000 people came to Boardman Park to celebrate the nation’s 200th birthday, highlighted by shooting an old canon that carried on a tradition begun on America’s centennial when a canon was shot into the air at Boardman Centre to mark America’s 100th birthday. To be certain, the Bicentennial Celebration was the harbinger of Boardman Rotary’s annual Oktoberfest in the park.
      As the 20th century came to a close, the Boardman Local School System added an auditorium to its high school building---now called the Boardman Performing Arts Center.
      Its construction was bolstered by a two-year fund-raising campaign that raised more than $1.5 million over a two-year period. The campaign was based on fellowship among people in the community. For example, both local GOP and Democrat parties had a role in the campaign to build the auditorium; and a one day Boardman PTA garage sale at the Southern Park Mall raised more than $60,000 for the campaign. That community effort would not have been successful if it were not for the volunteer efforts of co-chairman Tom Costello, treasurer Ed Lugibihl and secretary Nancy Terlesky, who gave countless hours to help complete the ‘Auditorium 2000’ campaign.
      Another major community effort created the Fields Of Dreams off McClurg Rd. some two and a half decades ago. Today the complex is one of the largest youth baseball facilities in the eastern United States. Upwards of 20,000 people attend baseball games there every year. The facility would not have become a reality if it were not for the contributions of architect Chuck Schafer, funds provided by Clarence Smith Jr. and John and Denise York; and work on the project donated by the A.P. O’Horo Co. and Joe Dickey Electric. Volunteers Greg Krieger, John Walsh and Marykaye Carlson oversaw the effort.
      To be certain, Boardman Township is fortunate to be blessed with philanthropists who haven’t forgotten the community in which they work and live.
      D.D. Davis, Clarence R. Smith, Edward J. DeDartolo Sr., Edward J. DeBartolo Jr., Denise DeBartolo-York, John York, F.W. Knecht, Joe Sylvester, Joe Dickey Jr. and Tony Lariccia come readily to mind. Over the years they have quietly supported civic groups and civic causes with leadership, and with many, many monetary donations.
      Our community would not be as vibrant as it is today, if it were not for the contributions of these individuals; as well as service clubs like Boardman Kiwanis, Boardman Rotary, Boardman Optimists and the Boardman Lions.
      Since The Boardman News was founded, in large degree the community has been served by good public officials, and well protected by members of the Boardman Police Department.
      Adept public officials who are easily recalled include Trustees Robert W. Bannon, William G. Houser and his son, Joe; John Cox, Elaine Mancini, Tom Costello, Larry Moliterno and Brad Calhoun---Clerks/Fiscal Officers Margaret VanBrocklin, Genevieve Novicky and Bill Leicht---School Board members Clarence R. Smith Sr. and his son, Clarence; Dr. Nicolette, William Fowler, Don McKay, Larry Springer, Charles Beeghly, Mark Huberman, F.W. Knecht, Leroy Olson. Fay Heintzelman, Nik Amstutz, Jeff Barone--- And Boardman Park has prospered under the leadership of Dan Slagle.
      Chiefs of Police who stand out include Dan Maggianetti, Grant L. Hess, Glenn Bowers, Jeffrey Patterson, Jack Nichols and Todd Werth.
      It was under Chief Bowers, with help from his fellow officers who included Steve Balog and George Statler, that the modern-day Boardman Police Department was conceptualized.
      Under Chief Jeffrey Patterson, the Boardman Police Department made its biggest step towards professionalism when it became certified by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA). Sadly, the accreditation was lost due to political manuevering when Patrick Berarducci served as Boardman police chief.
      The Boardman Fire Department would not be the same today if it were not for the pioneering efforts of Chiefs Merle Gifford, Don Cover. Jim Wilson and Jim Dorman. (Although much of what the Boardman Fire Department does today is couched behind so-called Hippa laws).
      Under the leadership of Trustees Mancini, Cox and Joe Houser, Boardman Township became a large urban township, and the position of township administrator was added to the public workforce. Boardman Township is fortunate to have had Robert Schaal, Curt Seditz and Jason Loree serve in that position.
      -----Just some thoughts, as The Boardman News observes its 75th year of publishing; and thanks to the community for making that possible.
      Gwen and John A. Darnell jr.