Atty. Steven Yacovone
      Appointed To Park Board
     
      BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      Meeting on Monday night, Boardman Township’s Board of Trustees recognized Joyce Mistovich, of Presidential Dr., who has retired from the Boardman Park Board of Commissioners after 15 years of service.
      She was first appointed to the park board in 2009 and served ten years as its president. Her involvement with Boardman Park began while she was just a teenager, as a member of the Summer Day Camp staff.
      During her tenure, Boardman Park programming expanded and a variety of capital improvement projects were completed, including expansion and renovation of the Lariccia Family Community Center and the Georgeanna Parker Activity Center, development of Marge Hartman’s Paws-town dog park, development of a long-term tree management plan and creation of a disc golf course.
      For 25 years, she has served as a judge for the park district’s annual Pumpkin Carve-Out.
      She helped to develop a master plan for the Southern Park Historic District, that to date, has not been acted upon.
      Mrs. Mistovich is a former art teacher in the Boardman Local Schools. In 2014, she was honored as a distinguished graduate of Boardman High School, where she also served as program director for Boardman Local Schools television.
      In 2018 she was presented the Children’s Advocate Award by Akron Children’s Hospital; and in 2020 she was honored as Citizen of the Year by the Boardman Civic Association.
      She was a founding member of the board for the Boardman Schools Fund for Educational Excellence in 2009; and is a member of the Boardman Lions Club and Junior League of the Mahoning Valley.
      She currently serves as director of education at the Butler Institute of American Art, serves as secretary of the board of the Northeastern Educational Television of Ohio, Public Broadcasting System of the Western Reserve; and is a member of the Board of Directors of Sight for All United.
      Mrs. Mistovich and her late husband, Ron, are the parents of three children---Justin, a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon; Ryan, a Pittsburgh art educator; and Joy, an accessibility specialist and education department assistant at the Butler.
      In acknowledging the proclamation in her honor, Mrs. Mistovich noted that her “inspiration and passion to serve our community, specifically the greatest gem in Mahoning County, Boardman Township Park, is rooted in my educational and family values.”
      She noted that growing up in Boardman provided her with a solid foundation of learning, exposing her to a broad spectrum of community service.
      “I’ve been blessed to have the opportunity to give back to our beautiful Green Oasis, in the heart of Boardman, through my role as park commissioner,” Mrs. Mistovich said,” adding that she was grateful for the support of the Board of Township Trustees---Tom Costello, Brad Calhoun and Larry Moliterno, as well as the late executive director of Boardman Park, Dan Slagle.
      Mrs. Mistovich said she was honored to serve with current park commissioners Trent Cailor and Liam Jones “who are insightful in all they bring to the table.”
      Following Monday night’s meeting, Trustees adjourned into an executive session, following which they appointed Atty. Steve Yacovone to replace Mrs. Mistovich.
      In seeking appointment to the post, Yacovone said he will dedicate himself to maintaining and improving the park system in Boardman.
      He is currently employed as an assistant county prosecutor in Columbiana County.
      As a resident of Boardman Township, Atty. Yacovone said that he has a “vested interest in the continuing success of our township, and that includes our beautiful park system.”