BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      A stormwater park, believed to be the first of its kind in the state of Ohio, moved a step closer towards construction on Wed., Mar. 22 when the demolition of Market St. Elementary School, 5555 Market St., was begun.
      In 2019, the Boardman Local School Board closed the school that was the first ‘separate’ school building ever erected by the local, public school system. (Prior to its construction, all students in the Boardman Local Schools attended classes one building that is today Center Intermediate School).
      Market St. Elementary School opened in 1950. When it closed, Market St. Elementary School had an enrollment of 351 students, more than half of whom were deemed “economically disadvantaged” by the Ohio Department of Education.
      The closing of the school opened the door for the development of a 14.6-acre green space that will become the Forest Lawn Stormwater Park.
      Demolition work is expected to be completed within 60 days, depending on weather conditions. Bid for the demolition and site improvements was awarded by the ABC Water and Stormwater District to Gary Modarelli Excavating, of Poland Oh., at a cost of $147,000.
      Once excavation and site work is completed, the design concepts will be finalized by CT Consultants and the Davey Tree Resource Group. That portion of the project will be done with funding provided by a $300,000 grant provided by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s office.
      The Forest Lawn Stormwater Park will be designed to improve drainage flows in the Cranberry Run watershed. Once completed, the park will provide improved surface water flows impacting up to 1,400 homes; and will include the creation of a passive park where people can gather and walk along a lighted sidewalk.
      During heavy rainfalls, the project will be able to hold up to the equivalent of 9-feet of water spread over the surface the size of a football field.
      In addition to the design funding, the stormwater park will be funded by a $1 million grant from Mahoning County Commissioners Anthony Traficanti, Carl Rimedio-Righetti and David Ditzler; a $2.167 million FEMA/Ohio EPA hazard mitigation grant, a $500,000 Capital Grant secured by Rep. Al Cutrona, and a $750,000 Ohio Capital Grant announced by State Rep. Cutrona and State Sen. Mike Rulli (phase 2 of the project that will include construction of an environmental center).
      In an agreement with the Boardman Local School Board, property for the stormwater park was formally transferred (donated) to the water and stormwater district in Apr., 2022.
      Township officials expect the Forest Lawn Stormwater Park will help solve a long-standing issue of flooding in the neighborhood during heavy rain events and improve water quality in the Anderson Run – Mill Creek watershed. The project involves the daylighting 700 ft. of a culverted stormwater system that runs underneath the property. The stream will be naturalized by creating a winding stream that flows through the 14-acre property. Floodplains will be created and native species planted. A walking path will be installed around the area and viewing platforms will be available to encourage watching wildlife that will be attracted to the natural area.
     
      PICTURED: ONCE DEMOLITION OF MARKET ST. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL is completed, a stormwater park will be created on the site. Above is an artist’s conception of the park that will be designed to help alleviate surface water flooding during peak rainfall periods. Total project cost is more than $3 million, with all funding provided through local, state and federal grant monies.

     BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      First-opened in 1950 to combat overcrowding at Boardman School (that at the time served students in first grade through high school), Market St. Elementary School closed its doors at the end of the 2019-19 school year in light of the district’s enrollment that has been declining for more than a decade.
      “While most may believe cost savings is the driving force behind the recommendation [to close the school], cost savings is not the only benefit, nor the greatest benefit,” said Supt. Tim Saxton. “Ultimately, we believe this move will help us provide greater educational services in a more efficient manner.”
      A news release about closing Market St. Elementary School, stated “The prospect of closing Market Elementary has been discussed in district-wide focus groups and strategic planning sessions that date back more than a decade. The school board believes now is the time to move ahead with that plan.”
      With the closing Market Street Elementary School, the remaining three elementary schools (Stadium Dr., Robinwood Lane and West Blvd.) became kindergarten through third grade buildings; and all fourth grade through sixth grade students in Boardman Local Schools were enrolled at Center Intermediate School; and Glenwood Jr. High School was tapped to service seventh and eighth grade students.
      History
      Market St. Elementary School was built with funding (a bond issue) approved by the electorate in the late 1940s.
      At that time, enrollment in the local school district reported enrollment growing at some 8 per cent annually. Amidst such growth in student population, Supt. Irvin J. Nisonger noted “The need for Boardman’s new, separate elementary school...being built on a 14-acre plat between Meadwobrook Ave. and Erskine Ave. is shown by the large number of children between the ages of five and seven-years-old in the school district.
      “The new elementary school at the north end of the township will absorb part of the overcrowding when the first six grades are opened there.”
      Although the school board projected cost of the new school to be $700,000, its construction was actually closer to $1 million.
      Among 19 firms that submitted bids to construct Market St. Elementary School, G.F. Howard Co. of Canfield was selected as the general contractor for the project at a cost of $557,501, a cost that was reported at the time at about $120,000 lower that the next lowest bidder.
      Other bids for the construction of the new school were taken for cafeteria equipment, plumbing, heating, and electrical work.
      “Despite its desire for economy, the school board is faced with the problem of providing adequate room, even at inflated prices, for the children of Boardman,” Supt. Nisonger said at the time, adding “The school will be one of the show places of Ohio, rating as perhaps the best of its kind in the state in physical equipment.”
      During the construction of Market St. Elementary School, then Boardman Trustees Fay C. Heintzelman, Howard Cherry and J. Donald Smith waived building permit fees for the project.
      “Collecting that fee, we felt, not only would be kind of double taxation, it would be diverting tax money from Boardman people which can be well used in building our new school,” Trustee Cherry said.
      At the time of its closing, Ohio Department of Education statistics claimed more than half of the students attending Market St. were “economically disadvantaged.”

     YSU Dana School of Music will present the Dana Spring Choral Concert, “Love, Laugh, Longing, Harmony, and Praise,” as part of its Choral Masterworks Series on Monday, March 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the Boardman United Methodist Church. The featured ensembles will be the Dana Chorale, directed by Hae-Jong Lee, and Voices of YSU, directed by Adam Howard.
      The evening’s program includes some of the most enduring and beloved choral masterworks from the Renaissance to contemporary composers. Selections will consist of classics such as Thomas Morley’s ‘My bonny lass she smileth,’ an English madrigal, Palestrina’s ‘Sicut cervus,’ Brahms’ ‘Geistliches Lied,’ Faure’s ‘Cantique de Racine,’ Haydn’s ‘Awake, the Harp’ from the oratorio The Creation, and many more. The concert concludes with an uplifting song inspired by the West African saying, “It takes a village to raise a child.” The music embodies the cultural concept behind the proverb - all the individual parts are linked and working together to create and support the whole.
      Admission is free and open to the public.

     Kenneth Goldsboro, of Reserve Dr., Boardman, was elected chairman of Potential Development at the agency’s annual meeting held in February.
      Other officers include Deloran Thompson, vice president; James Houck, treasurer; and Linda Mansfield, secretary.
      “Potential Development is strengthened by those on our board. We look forward to the guidance and support these talented individuals will provide our school over the next three years,” said Paul Garchar, CEO.
      Garchar acknowledged outgoing chair, Sue Stricklin for her terms in office.
      Potential Development, founded in 1953, is a Pre-K through 12th grade school for children with autism. It provides a safe, structured educational environment with supportive services that gives students the necessary skills and independence to lead a productive life. In 2013, as Potential Development entered its 60th year of service, and expanded its services to include a high school.

     Meeting last week, Boardman Trustees Brad Calhoun, Larry Moliterno and Tom Costello adopted a resolution aimed at improving drainage in the township, saying they will cooperate with the ABC Water and Stormwater District “to efficiently provide stormwater drainage through the Cranberry Run stream area, that will include the proposed Forest Lawn Stormwater Park that is scheduled to be built on the property of the now vacant Market St. Elementary School, 5555 Market St.
      Construction of the stormwater park will begin after asbestos removal work is completed at the school. The removal work is supposed to be completed in late February, Trustee Costello said.
      The stormwater project is collaborative project funded by ABC District monies, federal and state grants, and a $1 million grant from the Mahoning County Commissioners.
      Trustees have designated Road Superintendent Marilyn Kenner as agent for mitigation grants submitted to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, as well as a state-local hazard mitigation grant.
      Goal of the proposed stormwater park is to alleviate high, surface water flows during peak rainfalls.
      In other matters---
      Trustees approved the purchase of four,2023 Ford police utility vehicles at a cost of $172,206.92 for user as unmarked police units, upon the recommendation of Police Chief Todd Werth.
      Based upon the recommendation of Kenner, Trustees approved the purchase of a 2023 Chevy Silverado for the Road Department at a cost of $40,800.
      Kenner also recommended a temporary easement be granted to the East Ohio Gas Co. at 5007 Southern Blvd. to allow for the construction of gas lines along Southern Blvd. Trustees okayed that request.
      The Township Trustees endorsed C-1 and C-2 liquor permit requests for the Garden Kettle, 8049 Market St.; and voted unanimously to not endorse a D-3 liquor permit request sought by the Ohio Sport Bar and Betting LLC, 5600 Market St.
      C-1 and C-2 permits allow carryout sales of beer and wine. A D-3 permit allows the consumption of high-proof liquor until 1:00 a.m.
      Trustee Moliterno and Administrator Jason Loree were appointed as Boardman Township’s representatives to the Mahoning County Tax Incentive Review Counsel.
     

     The National Speech & Debate Association announces that Eric Simione of Boardman High School is a recipient of the Diamond Coach Award, recognizing a professional career that combines excellence and longevity in speech and debate education. This is his fifth Diamond Award.
      To earn a Diamond Award, a coach must be a member of the National Speech & Debate Association for at least five years. Coaches earn additional awards with more points earned in the Honor Society. A coach who attains 15,000 points is awarded a first Diamond; they receive a second Diamond for 30,000 points, a third for 60,000 points, and so on. Five years must pass between each Diamond Award.
      “Our Diamond Award winners provide access to the life changing benefits of speech and debate for thousands of students,” said National Speech & Debate Executive Director J. Scott Wunn. “We are proud to recognize these educators for their service, and thank them for their hard work.”
      All Diamond Award winners will be recognized at the world’s largest academic competition, the National Speech & Debate Tournament, in Phoenix, Arizona in June 2023. More than 10,000 students, coaches, and parents from across the nation attend the National Tournament every year.

     BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      More than a decade ago, Boardman High School graduate Mike Mannozzi was at a wrest-ling meet hosted by Kent State University where he gained entry as an ‘unattached’ wrestler. At the meet, he wore a hoody bedecked with a logo of YSU wrestling.
      YSU had dropped its wrestling program, but wearing the singlet with the YSU logo opened a door for Mannozzi to attend Notre Dame College in South Euclid, Oh. when a father of a Kent State wrestler approached Mannozzi, and inquired about YSU not having a wrestling program.
      Mannozzi explained he was seeking an opportunity to wrestle at the collegiate level and was actively in contact with multiple colleges after unsuccessfully trying to revamp the program or start a wrestling club at YSU.
      Mannozzi immediately researched Notre Dame, set up a campus tour, visited and signed his letter of intent within 90 days. His timing could not have been more perfect as he was part of the inaugural recruiting class for wrestling and was one of over 65 wrestlers to enter the program.
      “When I first went to a wrestling practice, I learned I was the only member of our team who had never competed in a state championship meet,” Mannozzi recalls. “It was daunting.” He stuck with the program and was one of only 24 wrestlers to return to the program for its second year, despite posting just a 4-12 record in his first season on the college mats.
      Believing he could be better in another sport, Mannozzi had a burning desire to compete in cross country and track and field.
      His focus on running was met with doubt and questioned by many, especially the Notre Dame cross-country coaching staff that required approval to switch sports from the school’s wrestling coach, and also mandated that Mannozzi be able to keep up with the runners on the team.
      Notre Dame’s head mat coach, Frank Romano, okayed the move and it was the beginning of the now 36-year-old’s career as a race walker.
      In his first competitions, Mannozzi wasn’t that good, often times finishing his events at the back of the field. Showing persistence, he began to improve, eventually becoming a scoring member of the Falcons varsity team in every race.
      His college coaches reminded him that he was “not a bad runner for a wrestler.” In track, he competed in the 800 meter run, and threw the javelin, although they were not events in which he showed much promise.
      His javelin coach, Dave Bellar, asked Mannozzi if he was willing to try the race walk.
      Knowing nothing about racewalking, Mannozzi accepted the offer and turned his attention to racewalking.
      After becoming Notre Dame’s first walk- on to qualify for national competition, his scholarship was changed from wrestling to cross country, and indoor and outdoor track and field.
      Despite being a back-up on a national championship wrestling team with a paltry 4-12 record, Mannozzi applied the mental fortitude and discipline honed during his time as a grappler to help him persevere in race walking, and despite finishing last in his first race in 2008.
      Just a year later, his dedication and hard work paid off. He won his first race collegiate race walk.
      Then in 2010, something magical happened---Mannozzi competed in the 2010 NAIA national racewalking championships in Johnson City, Tenn. at Eastern Tennessee State University. Trailing by at least 80 meters on the final lap of the race, the former Erskine Ave., Boardman resident surged to take first place in the race, including defeating the defending national champ.
      After graduation in 2011, he didn’t give up on his racewalking career and competed in meets at venues all across the world, becoming known in his sport as ‘The Italian Stallion,’ first qualifying for a spot in the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2011 where he also finished 12th in the Pan Am Games. Despite strong performances finishing 9th and 5th respectively in the 20k and 50k race walks, he didn’t reach his goal of making the cut to be on the 2012 U.S. Olympic team
      Following that, he went on to win the 1-mile racewalking title at the prestigious Millrose Games in 2012, as well as competing in the 2013, 2015 and 2017 Pan Am Cups, 2014 World Cup, and World Racewalking Team Championships in Italy in 2016.
      In 2017, he became the first student-athlete in track and field to be inducted into the Notre Dame Hall of Fame, while also being the first to be inducted as part of two different sports in the same ceremony, as he was part of the 2010 national championship wrestling team.
      In 2019, Mannozzi enlisted in the United States Air Force where his first duty assignment was at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Oh. He was up early in the mornings while there, at 4:00 a.m., practicing his racewalking before he assumed his duties as part of the Chaplain Corps, where he was a Religious Affairs Airman while also competing as a race walker for the Air Force.
      In 2020, he gained recognition as the Air Force Male Athlete of the Year.
      Including his time in college, as a civilian and as a military member, Mannozzi is now an 18-time USA national champion in various distances and events in racewalking.
      At 36-years-old, married and the father of two children, Mannozzi still hasn’t given-up on his Olympic dreams.
      Now stationed in San Diego, Calif., he is a full-time athlete for the Air Force and in Jan., 2023 he qualified for next year’s 2024 racewalking Olympic trials in the 35K distance (21.75 miles). It will be his fourth try at making the United States Olympic team. At the qualifying meet, he finished eighth, walking the 35 kilometers in a time of 3:18.41, overcoming a torn adductor and not being able to train every day.
      “Getting assigned to the World Class Athlete Program (WCAP) as an Air Force athlete is a dream for me---I now have the opportunity to train with the most U.S. Olympic racewalkers in one location. Qualifying for the for a fourth consecutive trials is wonderful!” Mannozzi said.
      Truly an underdog story, ‘The Italian Stallion’ hasn’t given up on his Olympic dreams
     
      PICTURED: NEVER GIVING UP ON HIS DREAMS, Boardman native Mike Mannozzi qualified for his fourth racewalking Olympic Trials in the 35K event that will be held next year. Mannozzi now competes for the United States Air Force where he is now stationed in San Diego, Calif. and is a member of the World Class Athlete Program. He is pictured crossing the finish line in a qualifying event held in January in Santee, Calif.

     BOARDMAN PARK’S 19th annual Father-Daughter Dance opened last weekend at the Lariccia Family Community Center to a sellout crowd. Among those in attendance was Glenwood Jr. High School Principal Bart Smith, pictured with his daughters, Bella, at left; and Lia, at right.

     BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      Following DNA testing that resulted in naming the killer of 13-year-old Bradley Bellino 50 years ago, Boardman police are now considering their options into advanced DNA testing in an effort to determine what caused the death of 13-year-old David Evans in 1975.
      Bellino’s body was found in a dumpster behind the Boardman Plaza on Apr. 4, 1972. Three weeks ago, Boardman police announced that DNA testing had determined his likely killer was a man named Joseph Norman Hill, formerly of 151 Shadyside Dr. in Boardman. Hill was 32-years-old at the time, and police say his family relocated to southern California about six years later.
      Following the death of his wife, Bonita, in 1993, Hill became estranged from his remaining family and lived in various places in California until he died on July 3, 2019 in Yusiapa, California of senile degeneration of the brain. To date, there is a paucity of information about Hill’s life in California, except one claim he was charged in 1986 with solicitation of a lewd act.
      David Evans lived at 208 Ridgewood Dr. in Boardman, and on Jan. 18, 1975 at 2:10 a.m., his father reported his son, a diabetic, was missing. The boy’s frozen body was found four days later in the rear yard of a home on Crestline Place, near the intersection of Rt. 224 and Market St.
      Like the Bellino death investigation, efforts to determine what happened to David Evans have been ongoing for nearly five decades, and now veteran Boardman police detective, Sgt. Mike Hughes, has been named the lead investigator on the case. Hughes has been a Boardman police officer for three decades, serving the department for many years as head of its Narcotics Enforcement Unit (NEU).
      The Story of David Evans
      The Evans family moved to Boardman’s Ridgewood Estates in 1976 from Lakewood, New York in New York State’s southwestern tier, by Lake Chautauqua.
      Interviewed by legendary local writer, Janie S. Jenkins a week after David went missing, his parents, Peter and Gracia, said the family moved to Boardman, in part because the local school system offered what their children needed.
      At school in western Ney York, David was described as a self-conscious lad who was often the subject of ‘verbal harassment’ from his schoolmates. He was born with a deformity that resulted in one hand with two fingers and a thumb, and more narrow than the normal hand---He also had an operation to correct eye muscles when he was six, and at the age of nine was diagnosed with diabetes.
      “The other children in New York were not kind about it,” the parents told Ms. Jenkins.
      In Boardman, David played in Boardman Little League for longtime coach Rudy Granito. He learned to catch using his deformed hand to catch the ball without the glove falling off, spending hours bouncing the ball from his house roof into the mitt. He was an ‘A-B’ student as a seventh grader at Center Middle School, where he was a member of the band. He went to the YMCA and liked model airplanes.
      Mr. Granito told police that David was not the kind of boy who would get into a car with somebody that he didn’t know.
      “He was shy...picky with his friends and did not just mingle with anybody...He was a more grown-up boy that some of the boys on our team,” Granito told police.
      His father told Ms. Jenkins his son had “a fierce determination to succeed in everything, from studies to athletics, and that was the result of having ‘to excel to overcome’ the diabetes, eye surgery and malformed left hand.” He also said his son wasn’t ‘a hanger-outer’ and had been taught to let his parents know where he was going after school, or after a game, and he always did.”
      A Boardman Police Department report taken at 12:10 a.m. by Ptl. George Statler on Jan. 18, 1975 provided the first notification that David Evans could be missing, when his father said his son had not been seen for six hours.
      David was last seen near the intersection of Withers Dr. and Market St. about 6:00 p.m. on Jan. 17, an area where the stocking hat he was wearing was later found in the snow. His father said he thought David was walking home and told Ptl. Statler his son “never had any problems at home, nor had he been depressed,
      “Mr. Evans then stated ‘David is a diabetic’ and needed a shot once every day.”
      Within 20 minutes of the information, Boardman police scoured the Ridgewood Estates neighborhood, nearby Lake Forest Cemetery, as well as Boardman Lake area---then the Boardman Plaza, Southern Park Mall, Boardman High School, and two middle schools
      “Many dumpsters were looked-in, all of the night coffee shops and restaurants were checked,” Capt. Harry VandenBosch said. Information in the missing boy, as well as his need for insulin was provided to all area law enforcement agencies. The Ohio National Guard provided a helicopter to assist in the search.
      On Jan. 23, 1975, Boardman police were notified a body had been found in the back yard of a home on Crestline Place. David Evans was found---laying on his back in below-freezing temperatures, without the stocking cap his father said he had been wearing.
      One day after the body was found, Mahoning County Deputy Coroner Dr. William A. Johnson ruled an “investigation developed no element of criminality” into Evans’ death, and the immediate cause of death as a diabetic coma.
      County Coroner Dr. Nathan Belinky said “since David’s death was caused by diabetic coma, and there were no physical findings serious enough to cause traumatic death.”
      The ruling was made, despite strong objections from Ptl. Steve Balog, who was on the scene of the discovery of the body.
      As Balog and others argued, the body of David Evans showed fractures to his left radius and ulna were suffered after he died, as well there was a puncture wound in his lower back, also incurred after death. Assistant Coroner Johnson also noted the were “multiple abrasions” on the child’s face, including left eyebrow, right chin and earlobe, and upper part of his back.
      “How could the boy suffer broken bones after he was dead,” Capt. Balog and others opined.
      Despite the coroner’s findings, then Boardman Police Chief Grant L. Hess asked the Ohio Bureau of Identification (BCI) to process an ‘Inventory of Evidence’ that included the clothes Evans was wearing, “slides” of fingernail scrapings and a surveyor’s stake.
      “We are particularly interested in any evidence of semen, blood, hair samples, fibers or other particulars,” Hess said.
      On Feb. 3, BCI Identity Technician Charles Barna told Hess his examination found “no seminal fluid or blood on Evans’ clothing; hair,” however he did find red and white fibers and orange paint particles on Evans’ shoes, and a hair was found on the jacket the boy had been wearing. A button was also missing from the jacket he was wearing.
      “The red and white nylon fibers could be from a blanket or a carpet,” Barna said, noting the greatest concentration of material on the shoes was “on the back of the heel, as though he was drug.” Barna also said the sole of a shoe “appeared sticky.” He also noted a tire track had been located near where the boy’s body had been found, but was “as yet unidentified.”
      Late in the evening on Jan. 24, 1975, a woman called police saying she was in a parking lot of a dance studio on the night Evans was first reported missing. The parking lot abutted the property where Evans’s body was discovered.
      The woman said she pulled into the parking lot about 7:00 p.m. and believed she observed a “red, full-sized auto back up to the embankment, near where Evans’ body was found,” Ptl John Rosensteel said.”
      According to a report filed by Rosensteel, the woman said a white man wearing a tan windbreaker exited the car, “looked around and then tossed something over the embankment.
      “She observed the man return to his car, flip the front seat forward and flash a light around the back seat.”
      The woman gave police what she believed was the first several letters and numbers on the car’s license plate. Several years later, attempts were made to match the license plate with a red car, to no avail.
      As for the stocking cap found the night of David’s disappearance in the area of Market St. and Withers Dr.---On Jan 28, Ptl. William Laubenheimer said that he received a call from an anonymous man who said sometime between 6:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 17, someone had observed a man and a boy in a struggle near Market St. and Withers Dr., during which both got into a black car.
      Boardman police never closed their files on the Evans case, and as in the death of Bradley Bellino, tracked down potential suspects throughout much of the eastern United States; and as was the case in the Bellino investigation, to no avail.
      Sometime after his son’s death, Peter Evans received a letter in the mail from an inmate in an Ohio Penitentiary in which the inmate claimed to know his son’s killer, who was also in the same jail and had talked about the crime.
      After lengthy exchanges of letters, on July 26, 1988 BPD Capt. Steve Balog (who as a patrolman found Evans body) and Det./Lt. Robert Rupp travelled to Lucasville Prison to interview the inmate.
      “After listening to the facts of the case that he was aware of, it became evident that his knowledge of the case is extremely limited,” Capt. Balog said.
      Current Investigation
      Det./Sgt. Michael Hughes is hopeful that new and enhanced DNA testing could lead law enforcement to a suspect in the Jan., 1975 death of David Evans, as it did in the Bellino investigation; and anyone with information can call him at 330-726-4144.
      Bellino Investigation
      In the Bellino investigation, certain evidence in an effort to obtain DNA samples was sent by Boardman Det. Ben Switka to BCI on Sept. 19, 2017 for analysis that concluded that semen had been identified on pants that Bellino was wearing, and on Jan. 11, 2018, DNA was obtained from one of the boy’s femur bones. Then on Nov. 1, 2022, evidence sent by BPD Det. Rick Kridler contained another DNA standard.
      DNA that showed Joseph Norman Hill as a 98 percent match for the DNA found on Bellino’s body.
      A 100 percent match was not possible because Hill was cremated after his death and had no DNA on record to test, Boardman police Capt. Albert Kakascik said, adding a forensic scientist with the Bureau of Criminal Investigation was comfortable agreeing it was Hill’s DNA that was found on Bellino’s pants.

      San Francisco 49ers CEO Jed York, 43, son of John and Denise York, is among 14 persons set for induction into the Cardinal Mooney Hall of Fame in ceremonies that will be held Sat., Feb. 18 at the Lake Club.
      York is a 1999 graduate of Cardinal Mooney, where he was captain of the baseball team and served as senior class president.
      He grew-up with the Niners, under the wings of his grandfather, Edward J. DeBartolo, and Mr. DeBartolo’s son, Eddie, and daughter, Denise.
      Since Denise’s father, Edward J. DeBartolo Sr., purchased the 49ers in 1977, she has been an integral part of four decades of 49ers football, including more than 50 playoff contests and five Super Bowl victories.
      In 2000, Denise and her husband, John, assumed control of the Niners and their eldest son, Jed, now carries on the family’s legacy.
      As chief executive officer of the San Francisco 49ers, Jed York oversees all aspects of the organization. Now in his 18th year with the team and 13th as CEO, York has been a driving force behind the 49ers success on and off the field during that time.
      During York’s tenure, the team has experienced great success having won four NFC West Division titles (2011, 2012, 2019, 2022), advanced to six NFC championship games (2011, 2012, 2013, 2019, 2021 and 2022) and two Super Bowls (Super Bowl XLVII and Super Bowl LIV).
      In Oct., 2017, York was the feature of an interview with the National Museum of America History, excerpts of which follow--
      “Sports is a platform that can help make our country a better place; I will fight for that,” Jed York says.
      “As a kid, I played baseball, soccer, basketball, everything. There was a lot of going into the woods and fishing. I was a student council president and captain of my baseball team. I loved the camaraderie and the physicality of sports.
      “My dad is a doctor. His family is German, Pennsylvania Dutch and Polish. His great-great-grandfather was an indentured servant, as was his great-great-grandmother. They met in Pennsylvania and still had several years of servitude left, so they ended up skipping town to (Musgokee) Oklahoma and changed their name to York.
      “My mother was a great mom and homemaker, but also vice president of her father’s corporation. Her family is Italian from Naples and the Abruzzi region. We keep the Italian tradition of getting together over meals often and there is a lot of ‘over-feeding’ people.”
      Jed says “It was unique for me, growing up in Youngstown, with the family’s sports team in San Francisco. My parents’ rule was that we could go to any game, but we had to go to school the next day. We would go to the away games in Washington, New York, New Orleans or Atlanta. We knew that we were fortunate to be able to do that, but we also knew there was a work ethic required in order to prepare for school the next day.
      “We would probably go to 20 Pittsburgh Penguins games a year. As an owner and president of the team, my mom was one of the first and only women to have her name engraved on the Stanley Cup.
      “For my mom, hard work wasn’t just going to the office and putting in a full workday, it was putting in work with her family too. She was an unbelievable mother, getting us out the door for school, going to work, gathering us back up, and cooking five nights a week, at least, for her family and for her father. She did so much on both ends of the spectrum.
      “And I think the biggest thing that I have learned from my mom is that you can work very hard in your day job, but you can work very hard at home too. And I try to bring that sort of reality to my life.”
      On The Family Legacy at Notre Dame
      And Building the 49ers
      “My grandfather, Edward DeBartolo Sr., grew up in Youngstown. He was a smart kid but didn’t really enjoy school, so he would help his stepfather with a lot of construction jobs. His mother came to him one day and called him the Italian word “chooch,” meaning idiot, for not wanting to go to college.
      “So he packed up his stuff, and they sent him on a train to South Bend, Indiana. Turns out, Notre Dame doesn’t just accept you because you show up at their doorstep. So he ended up attending community college in South Bend while working construction, until he made his way into Notre Dame. He finished college at the top of his class.
      :That experience got him to see the world beyond Youngstown, Ohio. I was honored when my grandfather gave me his graduation ring when I made my First Communion.
      “His son, Eddie Jr., went to Notre Dame too, and his daughter, my mother, went to Saint Mary’s [College], the all-girls school. She met my father at a blind-date party at Notre Dame and they went on to get married. I was the first person of the next generation to go to Notre Dame.
      “My uncle, Eddie Jr., is in the NFL’s Hall of Fame, and he is an icon in the game. I think he really changed what it meant to be an owner.
      “He just had such passion. He took care of people. He ran the 49ers from ’77 to ’99, and his hallmark was making a family culture out of the team. I’ve tried to live up to that legacy that he started. This means really taking care of the folks that work for you and making it more than just a transactional partnership. I want to make sure people feel like they’re at home and they have a family at the 49ers.
      Football is a Reflection of American Life
      “Football is a very complicated sport. There are so many things that revolve around success, and it’s not related to one specific person. Even if you have the best player in the league, that doesn’t mean you have the best team. The more that you understand the nuances of football, you can see how special it is.
      “In American sports stadiums, people from all walks of life come together for a few hours to share in the drama and excitement of live sporting events.
      “It is the daily grind of it — the ‘three yards and a cloud of dust.’ The grind of the offensive linemen---they’re so very important, but the joke is, ‘You don’t know an offensive lineman’s name, until they make a mistake and somebody sacks the quarterback.’ They are the day-to-day workers that you see in America.
      “You have the quarterback with everything on his shoulders. When you win, it’s the quarterback; when you lose, it’s the quarterback. And that is like your titans of industry, your senators, your presidents---the people who get all of the credit or all of the blame, even though there are so many other people that helped. And then you have receivers and running backs; they are sort of in the middle class.
      “So the football field has everything. All different walks of life come together, and I think that’s powerful for people.
      “There’s never a perfect game in football. There’s always a mistake somewhere. But what do you do with it? How do you get better from the mistakes that you made in the first quarter? What is so beautiful about the game of football is that you can call the right play, and everything can seem to be working out, but somebody can drop the ball. I think that’s life in general.”
      Football Team Pennant
      Fans purchase a wide range of pennants, souvenirs, jerseys, and other products to proclaim their allegiance to their favorite teams.
      “I look at the stadium today as sort of the last bastion of that town square, where you don’t know who you’re sitting with; you don’t know who else is there, but we’re all here together for a common purpose, Jed said/
      “When we built Levi Stadium, we wanted it to be a dedication to what makes the Bay Area great. We wanted it to be an outdoor experience and a forward-thinking stadium. It is a software-driven stadium. We built a green roof on our suite tower, which highlights our commitment to sustainability. We are the only stadium in the northern hemisphere that’s net neutral to the grid for all of our home games.
      “We also wanted to convey a historical feel for the team because we’ve been one of the most prominent teams in sports, and we want to celebrate it. We have our heroes front and center. We’ve built life-size statues of them. You can actually go take a picture next to Bill Walsh’s statue or Joe Montana’s statue or Ronnie Lott. We also have the “Star Wars” wall, where anybody that’s played for the 49ers, even for just one game, is highlighted on the wall. You want to preserve the history of the 49ers. These are all the people that have suited up and have contributed to the 49ers.”
      Football as a Platform for Conversation
      And Social Justice Awareness
      “We want to use our platform as a sports team to do more than just win games. We want to help the community. I’m proud of our STEAM [Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics] education program, which inspires young kids to learn. We want it to be an accessible program for all of the area’s youth so we cover the cost of transportation and make sure that they have a good meal during their visit.
      “Some of our efforts in the community aren’t always well-received by everybody. We have players right now that have been taking a knee during the anthem and protesting. I wouldn’t take a knee during the anthem; that’s not my stance.
      “But we live in America, where the First Amendment is very, very important to me, and I think it’s important to back our players when they’re trying to gain awareness for social justice causes. We are trying to help our guys bring that message front and center and actually make progress in social justice awareness.
      “It certainly isn’t popular with everybody. But sports is a platform that can help make our country a better place. I will fight for that. I’ll fight with our players for that. We have so much impact as a professional football team that we actually can help shift people’s views on diversity, on race, on social issues in America — topics that we don’t talk about. And I think we can help America become a better place by raising awareness to those issues.
      Mooney’s 30th Hall of Fame Class
      In addition to York, other inductees into Mooney’s 30th Hall of Fame Class are four-time state champ head football coach P.J. Fecko, former pro golfer Jon Hamarik and former NLF player and Kent State graduate Ismaa’lly Kitchen are among 14 persons who will be inducted during ceremonies set for Sat., Feb. 18 at the Lake Club. Allso set for induction are Ray Allen, football; Sean Finnerty, cross country; Jonathan Italiano, football; Melissa (Larose) Austin, softball; Alicia (Hehr) Stefanski, volleyball; David Ciccone, baseball; Derrell Johnson Koulianous, football; Michael Philibin, football; Christo Frangopoulos, soccer and Marissa (Simon) Howell, soccer. The event begins at 6:00 p.m. with induction ceremonies set to begin at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are available at CardinalMooney.com/events; or call Sue Brandenstein at 330-788-5007.
     

     Last week, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced that more than 900 schools will receive state funding support for physical safety and security upgrades as part of the latest round of Ohio’s K-12 School Safety Grant Program.
      Among the schools receiving the funding is the Mahoning County High School, 940 Bryn Mawr Ave., in Youngstown, Oh., that received a $100,000 grant for the safety and security upgrades. According to the school’s website, 77 students attend classes at the Mahoning County High School, that employs three, full time teachers.
      By comparison, Campbell Memorial High School, that has an enrollment of 377 students, received the same grant award, for $50,000.
      According to Gov. DeWine’s office, Boardman Local Schools, with an enrollment of 3800 students, has received $279,014 in K-12 School Safety Grant Program monies; and Cardinal Mooney High School, with an enrollment of some 400 students, received $98,071 from the same program.

     BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      Boardman police believe they have solved a 50-year-old murder case, the death of 12-year-old Brad Bellino, son of the late Joseph and Elissa Bellino-Pascarella, of 61 McClurg Rd., whose body was found in a dumpster behind an Isaly’s Dairy store in the Boardman Plaza on Apr. 4, 1972.
      A coroner’s report said the boy had been strangled and sexually assaulted.
      According to police reports from 1972, Bellino was at the home of a friend on Teakwood Dr. in Applewood Acres on Fri., Mar 31 when he supposedly left the home in the evening to walk to his house on McClurg Rd.
      He never showed-up and the following day, and not until 3:30 p.m., Bellino was reported missing to police.
      Then, sometime around 8:00 p.m. on Tues., Apr. 4, the boy’s lifeless body was found in a dumpster behind the Isaly Dairy store in the plaza. A belt (from JCPenney) was found strapped around his neck. The strap bore teeth marks; and body fluid, not Bellino’s, was later discovered on the boy’s pants.
      The body was taken to South Side Hospital in Youngstown, and a post mortem exam was conducted by Mahoning County Coroner Dr. David A. Belinky. His report listed Brad’s time of death at 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 1, more than 24 hours after he was last confirmed to be seen.
      Also, the day the boy’s body was found, it was the first day on the job of newly-named Police Chief Dave Hartsock. Not only did his department have to deal with the boy’s death, but on the same day an organized crime figure, Randall Good, 24, was killed when his car was blown-up at an apartment building on Shields Rd.; also resulting in injuries to his 18-year-old wife, Debra, and a 22-year-old man named Salvatore Pizzulo.
      Spanning through police chief’s Hartsock, Grant L. Hess, Roy Fink, James McBride, Bill Walters and Glenn Bowers (who served until 2000), local police continued their investigation into the Bellino murder, following hundreds of tips and traveling around the United States to check on leads, to no avail.
      In 2000, Jeffrey Patterson was named chief upon Bowers’ retirement and he renewed the investigation into the Bellino murder, when the boy’s body was exhumed at Green Haven Memorial Park in Austintown in 2001. His clothes were sent to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s forensic laboratory, and a DNA profile was obtained.
      “Over the years, numerous, potential suspects were checked against the DNA sample, and also through the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) database, with negative results,” current Police Chief Todd Werth told The Boardman News.
      In Dec., 2018, Capt. Albert Kakascik approached Chief Werth, expressing an interest in continuing the DNA investigation into Bellino’s death.
      Then, in Jan., 2019, at Chief Werth’s recommendation, Boardman Trustees approved $3,500 to conduct snapshot genetic genealogy analysis of DNA evidence, body fluids, that had been obtained from the crime scene, in conjunction with Parabon Nanolabs, of Reston, Va.
      Capt. Kakascik was assigned to revisit the case and began work to facilitate the use of familial DNA testing and genetic genealogy related to the DNA sample (body fluids) found on the Bellino boy.
      “Capt. Kakascik took the initiative in this case, and overcame many obstacles in bringing this case to a conclusion,” Chief Werth said.
      Over the next four years, DNA samples of persons identified by Parabon as potential suspects were checked by Boardman police, again without a positive results---until in December, 2022, when a sample resulted in a positive identification of a man whose DNA was found on Bellino, and who is now considered as the boy’s killer.
      He has been identified as Joseph Norman Hill, who resided at 151 Shadyside Dr. in Boardman at the time of the murder. According to police, he was 32-years-old when Bellino was murdered.
      “We believe there is sufficient evidence to present to a grand jury if Hill was alive, and that it would lead to his indictment,” Chief Werth said.
      According to Capt. Kakascik, Hill moved to California about six years after the Bellino murder and died there on July 3, 2019 in Yusiapa, (San Bernadino County), California. Reportedly, Hill was arrested on a charge of solicitation of a lewd act in 1986 in Los Angeles, Calif., while living in San Bernadino County, Calif., however details of that case are not currently available, or have been purged from police records. Hill reportedly worked as a truck driver while living in California.
      Records obtained by The Boardman News show that Hill filed a marriage license application when he was 19-years-old, listing his address as 336 Grant St., Youngstown, Oh. His future wife is listed as Bonita Powell, 21, of 1130 Wick Ave., Youngstown, Oh. She died on Oct. 31, 1993, in Anaheim, Calif.
      At the time of his marriage license application, he listed his occupation as a “bottle washer,” and was his future wife was employed as a “secretary.”
      The marriage license application says his father was deceased at the time of his marriage, and his mother’s maiden name was Mildred Ridel. Another document obtained by The Boardman News says that Hill’s mother died in Youngstown on Aug. 22, 1973, and her name was then Mildred Minehart.
      Sources indicate the Hills had at least one son.
      “The was a significant amount of work done on this case by the Boardman Police Department and other agencies in the area,” Chief Werth said. “Investigators (including Det. Robert Rupp) followed-up on several hundreds of leads, not only at the start of the investigation, but as information and potential tips came in over the years.
      “The work in 2001 to obtain the DNA sample was a key aspect of the investigation that led to identifying Hill as the subject in the death of Bradley Bellino over 50 years ago,” Chief Werth said.
      Cost of the DNA work, according to Chief Werth, was $29,000.
      “We have notified the family and our hope is that after 50 years, knowing who is responsible for Bradley’s death can bring some sort of closure to his family and friends,” Chief Werth said.
      Anyone who may have information about Hill while he resided in Boardman can contact the Boardman Police Department (Chief Werth or Capt. Kakascik) at 330-726-4144.
      The Death 1975 Of David Evans
      As Hill has been named in the death of Bradley Bellino, interest in Hill could re-ignite efforts to determine who killed 12-year-old David Evans.
      Evans’ lifeless and frozen body was found on the night of Jan. 23, 1975 in the rear yard of a home on Crestline Place.
      An autopsy revealed there was a three-inch hole in his back and he had several broken bones that were determined to be wounds suffered after his death (suggesting a killer had dumped the body there after the boy died).
      At the time of the discovery of the lad’s body, Coroner’s Investigator Mike Yarosh speculated that an animal, possibly a squirrel, caused the hole in the boy’s back, and Evans death was ruled the result of a diabetic emergency, as the boy was a diabetic.
      At the crime scene on Jan. 23, 1975, Boardman Police Officer Steve Balog, sharply disagreed with Yarosh’s conclusions (there was a heated argument), at one point noting that Evans couldn’t have broken his own bones after he died.
      To this day, former and current Boardman police officers agree with Balog’s conclusion and suggest that Evans’ death should be investigated as a murder, not the result of a diabetic emergency.
      Hill still lived in Boardman at the time of Evans death.
      Evans’ father steadfastly maintained that his son had been kidnapped and murdered.

     The Mahoning Valley Irish Festival announces the inaugural Best Corned Beef in the Valley contest, just in time to make plans on where to spend your St. Patrick’s Day. The event will be held at the B&O Station Banquet Hall (530 Mahoning Ave., Youngstown, Oh.) on Sunday, February 19 from noon to 4:00 p.m. Two awards will be given for the best corned beef in the Valley---Judge’s Choice (chosen by a panel of judges) and People’s Choice (chosen by ballot/popular vote). Only 150 tickets will be sold to the public. Ticket cost is $15. A children’s soda bread contest will also be held. Contact the Mahoning Valley Irish Festival at mvirishfestival@gmail.com for more information. All proceeds to benefit the 2023 Mahoning Valley Irish Festival.

     An 18-year-old Youngstown male has been charged with making false alarms when he claimed he had been assaulted when his car ran out of gas on Boardman-Poland Rd. near Hot Head Burritos on Jan. 6 shortly after 2:30 a.m.
      Levi Williams, of 551 Mistletoe Ave., Youngstown, was found by police in the waiting room of Akron Children’s Hospital on Market St., where four police officers answered a call of a teenager who claimed he had been assault.
      “Williams had a torn t-shirt and was in the waiting room with his mother and father,” Ptl. Brian Moss said. Williams told police he is employed at Wendy’s, 433 Boardman-Poland Rd. and finished his work day at 2:30 a.m. As he was leaving the business, he told police his car ran out of gas, so he walked to Sheetz (at Boardman-Poland Rd. and Southern Blvd.) in a t-shirt and no jacket, with a gas can.
      He told police once he got gas, he walked back to his car and while putting gasoline into his car a black male in a 2003 Lincoln Aviator yelled, ‘hey.’
      “Williams said he didn’t pay much attention to it because he was not sure where the voice came from. The male (from the Aviator) then approached him and grabbed onto his t-shirt, ripping it halfway down his chest,” Officer Moss said.
      Williams said he then ran on foot behind the old Golden Corral building and stayed there for about 90 minutes, before returning to his car and then going to Akron Children’s.
      While interviewing Williams, he became uncooperative...and stated he did not want to talk any longer,” Ptl. Moss said, noting “Williams was completely dry when it had been raining and snowing the entire time he was outside when the temperature was 35-degrees.”
      Williams told police his phone was ‘dead,’ but told his mother that he left his phone in his vehicle. When asked why he didn’t go home, or contact the police, Williams stated that he went to the hospital “because he was scared and thought police would be inside.”
      On Jan. 9, police asked Williams to explain the assault and the teenager replied that he as “at a girl’s house” and was afraid to tell his parents, so he made up the whole thing.”
      Williams showed-up at the Boardman Police Department near 1:45 p.m. on Jan. 11 where he was booked on a warrant for making false alarms. He was released pending his arraignment in Boardman Court.
     

     John Landers President Of The School Board
      At their annual reorganizational meeting held in January, the five-member Boardman Local School Board elected John Landers as president for 2023.
      Landers, 41, of Red Tail Hawk Dr., a Democrat, is the longest serving member of the school board, elected in November of 2009, he took his seat in January, 2010.
      Landers is employed as the director for IT Service Management at Case Western Reserve University. He is a 2000 graduate of Boardman High School and earned a degree in Computer Science from Case Western Reserve University 2004, as well as a masters in Engineering and Management in 2005.
      In 2009, Landers was named by the Ohio Young Democrats as Young Democrat of the Year.
      “As a BHS Class of 2000 graduate, I care deeply about our community and our schools.
      “In addition to striving to improve and maintain the Boardman school system, as a school board member, I’ve had the opportunity to work with Boardman Township to improve our community with the creation of the Forest Lawn Stormwater Park (that will be located on the site of the former Market St. Elementary School) and the fire station (at Stadium Dr. and Market St.) and school bus garage land trade
      “We will continue to make impactful decisions to advance the district and strongly advocate for fair school funding. We work hard to maintain excellence across our programs,” Landers said during his most recent re-election campaign.
      John Fryda was elected vice-president of the school board.
     
      Tom Costello Chairman Of Board Of Trustees
      Thomas Costello, 73, of Hitchock Rd., a Republican, was elected chairman of the Boardman Board of Trustees for 2023 at their annual January reogranization meeting.
      Costello was elected to the Board of Trustees on Nov. 3, 2009, and previously served as a Boardman Township Trustee from Dec., 1999-2005.
      Costello has been active in the community for many years. His involvement includes Kiwanis, Boardman Civic Association, Hope House Visitation, Friends of Boardman Park, Steel Valley Homes for Youth and is a member and past president of the Mahoning County Township Association. He is a 2005 recipient of the Boardman Civic Association’s Community Service Award.
      The current vice-chair of the Mahoning County Republican Party, Costello served as co-chairman of Auditorium 2000 Committee that raised more than $1.4 million for the construction of the Boardman Performing Arts Center at Boardman High School.
      He is a longtime member of the executive committee of the Coalition of Large Urban Townships (CLOUT).
      He recently retired after a 40 year career at James and Sons Insurance, a local independent insurance agency, including 20-plus years as president of the company.
      Tom and his wife, Janet, have a daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer and Michael Wolfe; a son and daughter-in-law, Adam and Danielle Costello; and grandchildren, Mallory and Cameron Wolfe and Brielle Costello.
      Elected to serve as vice-chairman of the Boardman Board of Trustees for 2023 was Brad Calhoun.
     

     BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      Legendary former Boardman High School girls basketball coach, Ron Moschella, 72, of West Glen Dr., died Wed., Jan. 4.
      Coach Moschella joined the Lady Spartans basketball program in 1978 and serving first as an assistant coach and then becoming head coach for the 1980-81 season, serving in that capacity held that position for 31 years where he compiled a record of 569-155.
      During the current season, he returned to the Lady Spartans bench where he served as an assistant coach.
      Coach Moschella elevated the Lady Spartans to new heights with 19 Steel Valley Conference titles and two Federal League crowns.
      The 2002 United Press International and Associated Press “Coach of the Year,” he was a 21-time recipient of the Mahoning Valley Coaches Association “Coach of the Year” award, a four-time recipient (1986, 1992, 1995 and 2002) of NEO “Coach of the Year” laurels and the 2001 Ohio High School Basketball Association “Coach of the Year” honor as well.
      Selected to coach in the 1987 Ohio State All Star game, his Boardman teams advanced to district play in 21 seasons, winning 14 district titles and finishing as runners-up on seven other occasions.
      The Lady Spartans were regional finalists in 1986, 1996, 2001 and 2005, and won the regional title in 2005 and 2008 and were regional semifinalists on ten separate occasions. Under Coach Moschella, Boardman teams advanced to the Ohio ‘Final Four’ twice, in 2005 and 2008.
      He was also honored by the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association for his 500th victory in 2007 and again 2013 for his 600th win.
      Following his career at Boardman, Moschella led Columbiana High School Lady Clippers basketball for six seasons where he compiled a 130-21 record.
      During his tenure at Columbiana, in Dec., 2017, he won his 700th game as a basketball coach, when Columbiana defeated Mineral Ridge, 70-32.
      His 2015-16 Lady Clippers team went undefeated in the regular season, before losing to Ursuline in the district finals.
      Coach Moschella was inducted into the Curbstone Coaches Hall of Fame in 2010 and the Boardman High School Hall of Fame in 2013.
      In Apr. 2016, he was inducted into the Ohio Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, joining former Spartan head boys basketball coach, Al Burns, as the only Boardman coaches to receive the honor.
      Many of his players went on to play in college, including at Ohio State, Michigan State, Indiana State, Akron, Penn State and Youngstown State. At one time, four of his former players were on the court for the Penguins---including two of his daughters, Christine and Nadine, as well as Liz Hauger and Mary Valley.
      He was often seen ‘coming off the bench’ and exhorting his players, most if not all of whom would tell you his bark was bigger than his bite.
      Coach Moschella sounded a common chord to all his players---“Time, plus hard work, plus discipline, plus pride, equals champions.”
      He was known for his demand of excellence from his players, not only on the court, but also in the classroom. In 2000, he was named the Boardman High School Teacher of the Year.
      A 1968 graduate of Ursuline High School, where he was a member of the basketball team, he was a 1972 graduate of Kent State University where he earned his bachelor of science degree in business and physical education. He earned his masters degree from Youngstown State University in 1980.
      He began his teaching/coaching career in the Howland Local Schools where he taught marketing education and served as Tigers golf coach for seven years, baseball coach for three years and tennis coach for two years.
      He moved to Boardman High School in 1978 where he taught marketing education, business law and physical education. In addition to his duties as head girls basketball coach, he also served a girls golf coach for several years.
      Coach Moschella and his high school sweetheart and wife, Judy, raised three daughters: Christine (Brian Terlesky), Nadine (Nick Colla) and Jolene (Don Ross), who all played for their father at Boardman where each was inducted into the Boardman High School Hall of Fame. They have ten grandchildren---Brian, Tyler, Emma, Jimmy, Jenna, Nicholas, Lia, Tessa, Gianna and Lena.
      Ron was born March 2, 1950 in Youngstown, the son of Joseph and Harriet Moschella
     
      PICTURE: RON MOSCHELLA, WHO SERVED AS head girls basketball coach at Boardman High School for 31 years, died Wed., Jan. 4 at the age of 72. His teams won 19 Steel Valley Conference titles and two Federal League crowns. Following his retirement as Lady Spartan head coach, Boardman Township Trustees issued a proclamation designating Feb. 27, 2012 as Ron Moschella Day.

     BY GREG GULAS
      Boardman News Sports
      bnews@zoominternet.net
      If you were fortunate enough to see former Boardman and Columbiana high school girls’ basketball coach Ron Moschella in action, you saw a man without a filter, a coach who was passionate about the game and a person who cared to a fault about the players that he coached and students he taught in his classroom.
      Moschella passed away Jan. 4 at the age of 72 and up until the time of his death was still coaching, serving as an assistant on current Boardman girl’s head coach Jeff Hammerton’s staff, happily imparting his knowledge of the game and the wisdom he accrued over the years to this new group of players, those selected to represent the maroon and white and the program that he put on the map beginning in 1980-81, his first season at the helm.
      He was a coach and teacher who never compromised his principles and if there was ever anyone cutting edge, ‘Mosch’ was that person.
      Hired in time for the 1980-81 season, he went 4-16 that first season and no one took a loss harder than the first-year coach.
      Thirty years later, his last at the BHS helm, he suffered through his second losing campaign, going 8-13.
      In between, he guided his teams to 21 conference championships – he won 19 Steel Valley Conference titles and two Federal League crowns – 13 district championships, two regional crowns and two state Final Four appearances (2005 and 2008).
      He demanded excellence from his players but no more so than the demand for excellence from him and his staff.
      During his tenure he authored 29 winning seasons, guiding his Spartan teams to a 569-155 (.786) overall mark.
      Current Boardman girls’ basketball coach, Jeff Hammerton, called Moschella a mentor and friend.
      “I was so lucky to have had the opportunity to have Coach Moschella in my life for as long as I did,” Hammerton said. “He had such an impact on me from the time I was in high school and he was both a teacher and coach. When I chose Kent State University as my college, he was so happy and proud because that is where he went to school. While pursuing my degree in sports broadcasting, he would often check in because he wanted me to be on ESPN so bad.
      “When I went back to school to become a teacher and coach, he was one of my mentors, both in education and coaching. He taught me so much about coaching and life that I could never repay him. As a coach, he was Boardman Spartans girls’ basketball. For over 30 years he poured his heart and soul into every girl who played for him and for all the successes on the court that his teams enjoyed, he was prouder of what each of his players later became in life.
      “When I was hired back this year to coach the girl’s team, he was the first person I wanted on my staff because of what he means to the program. In the short amount of time that he worked with our team, he left a lasting impression on each of our girls. I could not have been luckier to coach, teach and be his friend and I am going to miss him so much.”
      Former Boardman athletic director, Jim Fox, said the Ron Moschella you saw on the court was not the man others witnessed away from the gymnasium.
      “Working with Mosch at Boardman was memorable, to say the least,” Fox added. “The image some may have after watching games in which he coached is not the same ‘24-7’ man that I worked with for over 20 years. He had a heart that cared immensely for the kids he coached. It is because he genuinely cared about his players that there is no doubt about the positive impact he had in the development and success of one of the truly great girls’ basketball programs in the state of Ohio.”
      Current Spartan athletic director, Marco Marinucci, said Moschella’s passing leaves a void that will be hard to fill.
      “Coach Moschella holds a place in Boardman High School history that can never be filled,” Marinucci stated. “He has given his talents, skills, guidance, support and love to his players, students and colleagues throughout his whole tenure and he will truly be missed by our staff and students.”
      Moschella took over the reins of the Spartans’ program from Denise Gorski, also a former athletic director and the longtime Boardman track and field coach while her husband, Dan, coached the Boardman boys’ hoopsters when Moschella coached the girls team.
      “My association with Mosch goes back to my first and only year as head coach of the Spartans girls’ basketball team in 1980,” Denise noted. “Many people do not know that he was my assistant that year and I vividly remember having to pull him down on the bench at times by his suit jacket. We began a lifelong friendship and I knew that he had a tremendous desire to want to take the girls’ program to new heights, which he certainly did.
      “I wanted to focus on coaching our indoor-outdoor track teams and we were both incredibly supportive of each other’s programs, always encouraging our girls to do both sports. We had many of the same athletes and I know many of them are just devastated right now. I also taught physical education with Mosch for many years and saw the interaction that he had with students as well, not just athletes. They loved him for his personality but also because he cared about what was going on in their lives.”
      Dan Gorski said Moschella forged relationships with everyone with whom he came in contact.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
      “Mosch touched countless lives of the girls he coached,” he said. “He treated them like competitors on the floor and women off the floor. We can all appreciate his intensity at game time but it’s the relationships he forged with his athletes that was so impactful.”
      Current Boardman Schools Superintendent Tim Saxton said Moschella’s teams were always well-prepared.
      “A Coach Moschella team always played hard and intense,” Saxton added. “The secret to his success was how much he cared for those that he coached. Girls played hard for him and he could push them hard in games and practices because at the end of the day, his players knew he truly cared about them. He will be missed.”
      Dave Smercansky was another BHS athletic director who witnessed his drive and intensity, first as an assistant for three years then for 12 more years at the helm of the school’s athletic department.
      “If you didn’t know Mosch, you would probably roll your eyes and raise your eyebrows,” Smercansky added. “If you were fortunate enough to know him, however, you would quickly realize that he loved his players and had a passion for coaching. He would cry with the girls on senior night because of the relationship he had with each of them, knowing he would soon lose them as players when the season ended. He cared about everything and everybody, even when opposing players were injured.”
      Former players revered their coach.
      “He made us all a part of his family,” stated Tanja Simione, a Spartan three-year letterwinner who went on to earn four more letters while starring at nearby Youngstown State University. “His three daughters were at most practices and his oldest, Christine, could handle the ball as good, if not better, than most of us. His wife, Judy, took care of us with her warm smile, letting us know how proud she was of us. I thank you, coach, because you helped make me a better person. He instilled strength, confidence and leadership in his players and those are life lessons that stay with you forever.
      “For that, I will be forever grateful. Knowing that you are now reunited with your daughter, Christine, brings us all some peace. I know when we meet again you will probably remind me of that over and back violation my senior year. He simply loved all of us.”
      Dr. Ashlee [Russo] Rohan, who was a three-year letterwinner for Moschella from 1999-2002, is currently a noted pulmonary and critical care doctor locally.
      “It is hard to summarize a 25-year relationship with Mosh,” she noted. “He would best be known as my high school basketball coach but was much more than that to me. He was a mentor during my most impressionable years, always encouraging to me to have dreams and to chase them. He didn’t believe in meeting potential, he believed in exceeding it. As he transcends to his new journey, I hope he feels how loved he is by so many. I would especially like to extend my prayers and condolences to the Moschella family and to all of those he impacted.”
      After a year away from the game, Moschella was hired by former Spartans’ and YSU football standout, Dr. Don Mook, Columbiana Exempted Village superintendent, to guide the Clippers girls’ basketball team.
      In six seasons at the helm – he also coached the boy’s team in 2014-15, going 14-10 – Moschella went 130-21 (.861) with five league titles and six sectional championships.
      “How do you not enjoy a guy who brings an unmatched passion to whatever he does,” Mook said. “I had two daughters play for him and one of his former players, Courtney Schiffauer, served as his assistant for us. He was a heck of a coach but an even better person. He surrounded himself with quality people and Courtney is now a pre-K physical education teacher at our Joshua Dixon Elementary School.”
      Schiffauer played for Moschella from 2004-08, was a McDonald’s H.S. All-American nominee, the OHBCA Division I ‘Player of the Year’ as a senior, scored 2,000 points during her career and went on to earn a scholarship to Michigan State University.
      “Coach Moschella was not only my coach and mentor, but he was also my best friend,” Schiffauer added. “It wasn’t always about basketball for him because he truly wanted me to be the best human being I could be. No one saw behind the scenes when he pushed me in the classroom, got me tutors if I needed one, fed me dinners after practices, consoled and counseled me when college basketball was mentally draining or when he called just to say hello and check on me.
      “Our relationship didn’t end after high school. He continued to care and love me until the moment he left us. He changed my life by pushing me to my limits, mentally and physically, and I would not have had the success I had, then or now as an adult if it were not for him. As a coach, he pushed for women’s basketball to be treated with respect. We weren’t just girls playing a game in his eyes, we were people who deserved the recognition and accolades that we earned. He would put his teams up against boys, not only to make us better but to show people we could do it.
      “Coach Moschella is the definition of high school girls’ basketball. He will not only be remembered for that and his accomplishments but also for his ever giving heart, his laugh, his hugs, his cologne and the passion he had for his players. I’m just glad he will be reunited with his beloved daughter, Christine, who I know he loved so much. I will forever cherish my time with coach and may his legacy live on forever.”
      With his time at Boardman and stint at Columbiana, Moschella finished his head coaching career as a member of the 700-win club, posting a combined 713-186 (.793) overall ledger – including his time as boys head coach for the Clippers – in 899 total games coached.
      Current McDonald girls’ basketball coach Tony Matisi, who earned his 500th career coaching victory back on November 23, said Moschella taught him to be passionate about everything that he does in life, including coaching.
      “I met Mosch my first year as head coach of Ursuline High School in 1992,” Matisi stated. “He taught me that if you are going to do something, do it with passion and give it 100 percent. I had the pleasure of knowing him for over 30 years and underneath that tough exterior he was always so helpful when I would call and just want to talk basketball. He put Northeast Ohio on the girls’ basketball map and will be sadly missed.”
      Allison [Dougherty] Brien also played for Moschella, graduating in 2006. She is currently an assistant on Hammerton’s staff, handling the lower grades and feeder system for the program.
      “Coach Mosch had five very important values that he wanted us to implement if you were a part of his program,” O’Brien noted. “It was God, family, school, basketball, social life and in that order. He taught us how hard work can pay off. Most days, our practices were four hours long, which may have felt long in the moment but I would do anything to go back to those days with the greatest teammates of all.
      “We weren’t projected to be a state qualifying team my junior year but you better believe we kept pushing and made a dream reality by making our way to the state ‘Final Four,’ his first appearance. We had the time of our lives and I will never forget it. He was more than a basketball coach, he was a family man who loved his children and grandchildren more than anything. I was fortunate enough to have played for him in high school and be able to coach alongside him for a couple of months this season.”
      Former Spartan all-state wrestler and 1973 BHS graduate, Greg Cooper, who served as the athletic director at arch-rival Canfield High School until his retirement, always kept up with the local news during his time in the Navy.
      “First and foremost, my sincerest, most heartfelt condolences and sympathy go out to the Moschella family for their loss, Cooper said.
      “While I was in the Navy, I kept up with the hometown news by subscribing to The Boardman News and that was when I first heard about coach Moschella. I remember reading with pride about his Lady Spartans’ basketball teams and how good they always were. He was the architect of some of Boardman’s best and most successful squads. Even from afar, it was obvious that he was a fiery competitor who demanded the best from everyone associated with his program.
      “I first came face to face with him when I returned home and became Canfield’s athletic director when we played basketball games between the two schools. He lived up to his advance billing and watching him on the sidelines was often as entertaining as the game itself. What really shone through everything was that he was a ferocious competitor and demanding coach on the court, truly caring for each and every one associated with his program.
      “Off the court, he was always a friendly, even gregarious man. You could tell how proud he was of his family and his extended family of players. The local athletic scene is diminished with his passing and he will be sadly missed.”
      Dana Balash, the dean of area sportscasters, appreciated Moschella’s passion for the game and for life.
      “I covered Coach Moschella’s teams in my early days while serving as a stringer with The Vindicator in the mid-1980’s,” Balash added. “He was professional and always wanted to promote his players and program. When I started in the sports department at WFMJ-TV in 1991, he remembered those days from the ‘80s and always said I knew you back then.
      “Ron was passionate on the court and at practice but always credited his players and staff. At times, he would have his assistant coaches do pre or post-game interviews. Even during the tough times, he always returned my calls or consent to an interview where he was never short on words. His on court antics was ‘him’ and no other coach would get away with what he did, but that was Ron Moschella. He simply is girls’ basketball in Boardman.”
      Rob Luklan is an Atlantic Coast Conference football official who was selected to work this year’s Alamo Bowl between No. 12 Washington and No. 20 Texas.
      He has also officiated local boys and girls’ basketball games for over three decades, noting Moschella expected the best from everyone at game time.
      “Ron expected great things from his players and also from the officials,” Luklan stated. “I have had several conversations outside basketball with him and soon realized that he not only cared about the players he coached but boasted of their successes in everyday life.
      “We would talk about the North Canton Hoover-Boardman girls’ games because there was no harder game than that one to officiate. It was fun listening to coach and his many conversations during a game. I am deeply saddened by his passing.”
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
      Jean Armstrong is the longtime secretary in the BHS athletics department, spending the past 32 years working with the many colorful coaches and characters who have walked through their doors.
      “Ron was a great coach, a person who cared about everyone and everything and was a lot of fun to work with,” she noted. “I will miss him.”
      Former Spartans boys’ soccer coach, Eric Simione, has been courtside for many of Moschella’s games where he serves as the school’s public address announcer.
      “Announcing games that Mosch coached was always entertaining, yet a challenge,” Simione said. “There were plenty of times when I had to turn off the microphone so no one would hear me chuckle over something he said or did from the bench. He was a great motivator for his players but you could learn a lot from him as a coach, too, if you were inclined to pay attention. I realized his players would do anything he demanded in a game or practice because they knew how much he cared about them away from the game.
      “Ron was simply a great guy with a heart of gold, a wonderful wife, three amazing daughters, fantastic grandchildren and my thoughts are with all of them during this trying time.”
      He gave the media multiple storylines and they appreciated his candor.
      “You just had to love the guy, quite simply, because he was a news and sports person’s delight,” area freelance sportswriter and noted humorist John Butera added. “He was a delight to work with and his quotes were classic. His coaching style was really something to watch and there was never a dull moment when you covered one of his games.”
      Son-in-law Brian Terlesky coached basketball for his father-in-law with both serving as golf coaches – Terlesky the boys and Moschella the girl’s – for the Spartans.
      “Ron Moschella was the ultimate family man, loving his family more than anything,” Terlesky stated. “He had a passion for teaching and coaching because he genuinely loved people. His intensity for life and his willingness to push others to make the most of themselves was what made him a legend.
      “Boardman students, especially the girls that played for him in basketball, were blessed with his love. Once he became part of your life, if you could handle it, he never let you go and you became a part of his extended family. His life will be known for his unique ability to see the best in people and the potential they possessed. He was the best father, grandfather, teacher, coach and husband.
      ”The love he had for his wife, daughters, and grandchildren was immeasurable. His generosity through his constant wishes to take care of people, feed them, make people laugh and have fun made him such a special person. There will never be a high school coach that was as successful as he was and this success is measured by the love that he has received from the many lives that he has influenced.
      “A second father to so many as a teacher and coach, he was most proud of his 10 grandchildren, pushing each one of them with high expectations but most importantly, his love. He won over 700 games, went to three state championships with his golf teams and two state finals with his basketball teams. The loss of his eldest daughter and fellow coach, Christine, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2013, devastated him over the past two years. He missed her more than words could describe.
      “He was so proud of people for their successes. There will never be another person quite like Mosch.
      “He was emotional, gave the best hugs, wore his heart on his sleeve, wore the best cologne, made the best jokes and made you want to be the best version of yourself that you could be. He will be loved and missed greatly while the world lost a true father.”
     

     LEGAL NOTICE
      The Boardman Township Zoning Commission will conduct a Public Hearing on the following amendments to the Boardman Township Zoning Resolution and Township Zoning Map on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at 5:30 PM. Go to https://www.boardmantwp.com/zoning/zoning-commission/ for further information.
      Following the recommendation of the Zoning Commission, the proposed amendment will be referred to the Board of Trustees for final determination.
      AMENDMENT A-2022-13
      Pete Schwiegeraht on behalf of Daniel Tokich & Victor Kuchmaner, property owners, requests a zone change for 8048 South Ave. Boardman, Ohio 44512 & 4 surrounding vacant parcels, from the terms of the Boardman Township Zoning Resolution, effective January 1, 2021, in order to change the property from General Business to Multi-Family Residential District (R-3) zoning district. The property is further known as GL 27 DIV 4, Parcels 29-046-0-008.01-0, 29-046-0-008.00-0, 29-046-0-008.03-0, 29-046-0-008.02-0, & 29-045-0-005.00-0. Said property is currently zoned General Business, located in Boardman Township, Mahoning County, State of Ohio.
      To view a hard copy of the texts and maps at the Boardman Township Zoning Office, 8299 Market Street, Boardman, Ohio 44512 Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM, until time of hearing, please call 330-726-4181 or email requests to jmacomber@boardmantwp.com.
      Peter W. Lymber, Chairman
      Boardman Township Zoning Commission
      Joe Macomber,
      Interim Assistant Director of Planning & Zoning

     The Boardman Local School District is projecting increases in the costs of personal services and employees’ retirement and insurance benefits to increase by nearly $3 million dollars, for the five year period, between fiscal year 2023 and fiscal year 2027, according to a five-year forecast presented to the Boardman Board of Education on Monday night.
      The forecast, prepared by Treasurer Arthur Ginnetti, shows that expenditures for personnal services in fiscal year 2023 is set at $26.924 million, and that is forecasted to increase to $28.385 million in fiscal year 2027.
      For fiscal year 2023, the forecast shows expenditures for retirement and insurance benefits are $10.62 million, and that will increase to $11.712 million in fiscal year 2027.
      “This five-year forecast is being filed during a two-year economic recovery following the COVID-19 Pandemic, which began in early 2020. The effects of the pandemic have lessened, but several supply chain concerns and high inflation continues to impact our state, country, and broader globalized economy.
      “Inflation in June 2022 hit a 40-year high of 9.1% before falling to 8.3% in August (2022). Costs in fiscal year 2022 were notably impacted in areas such as diesel fuel for buses, electric and natural gas, and building materials for facility maintenance and repair.
      “Increased inflation affecting district costs is expected to continue in fiscal year 2023. It remains to be seen if these costs are transitory or will last over the next few years, which could significantly impact our forecast and adversely affect state and local funding,” Ginnetti said.
      The treasurer noted that “An overall inflation of 3 per cent is being estimated for the category of expenses which are characterized by textbooks, educational supplies, testing supplies, copy paper, maintenance and custodial supplies, materials, and bus fuel. We will buy the technology updates for students from these federal stimulus dollars to help our general fund.”
      Ginnetti said “In fiscal year 2022 we have added staff for an operations manager, speech pathology position, school psychologist and an auditorium manager. In addition we have added costs for classroom and independent aides, bus driver and bus driver aides and added costs for existing staff for additional coverage.”
      He added “A five-year financial forecast has risks and uncertainty not only due to economic uncertainties, but also due to state legislative changes.”

     Following worship services held on Sun., Nov. 6, Boardman United Methodist Church, 6809 Market St., observed its 200th anniversary.
      The church was first known as the Methodist Episcopal Church and in its early days, services were presided over by ‘circuit’ preachers, who would travel (by horseback) to communities of the Western Reserve, where they most often gave their services in homes of members of the church.
      According to a history of Boardman Township, one of the earliest members of the church was Thomas Agnew, whose family founded Agnew Farm Equipment in 1826,
      The congregation’s first church building was erected in 1844 (at a cost of $803), about a quarter mile south of Boardman Centre, along Market St., just across the street from St. James Episcopal Church.
      Almost a century later, Boardman Methodist moved to its present location on Market St., at Buena Vista Ave. on land donated by noted philanthropist Leon A. Beeghly. (Mr. Beeghly resided on a large plot of land in Boardman that is now the site of Akron Childrens Hospital).
      At that time, Frank Agnew contacted Beeghly, hoping to buy three lots from him on which to build the new church. Although, it is said, Beeghly adamantly refused to ‘sell,’ he quickly offered to ‘exchange’ his property with the church for three gallons of maple syrup, that Agnew had to provide from his own farms. At the suggestion of Mrs. Beeghly, a gift of $5,000 soon followed to spearhead the church building campaign toward its goal of $40,000.
      The first service at that location was held on May 17, 1940.
      Since that time, two additions have been constructed to augment the original construction--an educational building in 1957, and in 1967, the present sanctuary was constructed under the leadership of Rev. Norman Crewson and lay leader Clarence R. Smith.
      Current pastor at Boardman Methodist is Rev. Jerry Krueger. Membership is 400 persons.
      Members of the 200th anniversary committee are Rev. Krueger, Bonnie Babyak, Paula Barrett, Edie Davidson, Kathy Longmuir, Lee Monit and Bill Russell.
     

     BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      Meeting on Monday night, Boardman Township Trustees Larry Moliterno, Tom Costello and Brad Calhoun unanimously approved payments of retention and hiring bonuses for the 61-member Boardman Police Department and its dispatchers.
      Funding for the retention and hiring bonuses will be provided from a $628,358 grant from the Ohio Violent Crime Reduction Program that was awarded to the township in August.
      According to the grant application, some $435,200 is set aside for “retention bonuses” for Boardman Police Department officers and the staff of 15 persons who work in the township’s dispatching department. The bonuses will be paid of over a two-year period and range from a $3,500 yearly bonus for senior members of the department to $2,000 for lesser-serving officers. The township’s dispatchers will receive yearly bonuses between $2,400 annually to $1,500 annually depending on their term of service.
      Earlier this year, Trustees Brad Calhound, Larry Moliterno and Tom Costello approved bonues of $1,250 for all township employees, using funds provided by the American Rescue Act.
      “The intent of the grant award is to assist in recruiting and retaining employees in critical law enforcement positions, so as to maintain staffing to address violent crime enforcement initiatives in the community,” Police Chief Todd Werth said.
      According to the grant application, violence in the Boardman community has increased since the pandemic began.
      “Boardman Township has not been immune to the effects of the national increases in violent crime.
      “During the COVID-19 pandemic, our jurisdiction experienced an increase in violent crimes similar to what has occurred nationally.
      “Specifically in Boardman Township, felonious assaults have increased 33% from 2019 to 2020; rape was up 28% from 2019 to 2021; robberies increased 17% from 2019 to 2020; and aggravated burglaries increased 85% from 2019 to 2021,” says the grant application.
      Additionally, the application notes “Boardman, like so many other communities, has had its share of difficulties during the pandemic.
      “From 2019 to 2021, there was a nearly 200% increase in the amount of drug overdoses and a nearly 400% increase in overdose deaths in
      Boardman Township.”
      The bonuses for new hires could offset Boardman Township’s relatively low, hourly wage for new police officers, currently at $19.35.
      By comparison, new police officers in Austintown Township receive an hourly wage of $23.07, and in Canfield, the hourly wage for new hires in that police department is $26.36. New hires in the Youngstown Police Department earn $21 an hour.
      Chief Werth said the retention and hiring bonuses are “a step towards keeping us competitive.”
      In another police-related matter, Trustees approved a purchase order for $167,431 for four utility vehicles, Ford Explorers. Cost of the vehicles was some $30,000 more that had been previously approved for the vehicles, Chief Werth said.
      He explained the price increase noting the Ford Motor Co. cancelled “2002 build-outs, requiring the purchase to be resubmitted...with the increase in the purchase price.”

     Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) Director Dr. Jack Marchbanks have announced details on $121 million in new traffic safety projects planned for Ohio, including the installation of approximately two dozen roundabouts in numerous counties across the state.
      Among the projects is a $1.4 million roundabout at Wildwood Dr. and Glenwood Ave., where construction is scheduled to fiscal year 2027.
      “A top priority of my administration has been making travel in our state safer - particularly at Ohio intersections that are known to be dangerous,” said Gov. DeWine. “Studies show that roundabouts significantly reduce the likelihood of serious or deadly intersection crashes, so we’re investing in these projects to save lives in the future.”
      According to ODOT, there were only six traffic deaths at Ohio roundabouts from 2017-2021 compared to 1,126 deaths at a signalized or stop-controlled intersection.
      “Roundabouts save lives. They reduce severe crashes, move traffic more efficiently, and are cheaper to maintain than signalized intersections,” said ODOT Director Marchbanks.
      Funding for these projects will be awarded through ODOT’s Highway Safety Improvement Program which, under the DeWine-Husted Administration, has grown to become one of the largest traffic safety programs in the country.

     BY GREG GULAS
      Boardman News Sports
      bnews@zoominternet.net
      If head coach Pat Birch’s Boardman Spartans’ basketball team wins a fifth straight All-American Conference championship, they will do so with just three returning letterwinners and a squad that was all but depleted after the graduation of ten senior leaders.
      Birch (123-110 overall, .528) returns for his 11th season at the helm, having guided the program to a 110-40 (.733) mark the past six seasons and a most impressive 35-1 (.972) mark during their last four league title campaigns.
      The Spartans were sectional champions a year ago, losing to Lyndhurst Brush (82-78) in the district semi-finals so if they expect to make a deep post-season run, then Birch must find a way to replace 10 seniors from last year’s team that were lost to graduation.
      Seniors lost include Trey DePietro (13.8 ppg., 9.6 rpg, both tops on the team), Anthony Hightower (7.0 ppg, 2.2 rpg), Ben Alvarico (3.4 ppg), Seth Cervello (5.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg), Luke Ryan (8.7 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.4 assists, 1.4 steals), Danny Zahran, Max Rassega, Ryder Kreps, Carter Mraz and Courtney Love.
      “We graduated a large and talented senior class, 10 seniors in all and a group that was led by all-Ohio player Trey DePietro,” Birch said.
      “Other big losses were All-American Conference first-team selection Luke Ryan, and AAC second team picks Seth Cervello and Anthony Hightower.
      “Coming off four consecutive AAC championships, we will look to reload and defend our title. Losing DePietro, who was also the conference ‘Player of the Year,’ along with nine other senior players will be a big challenge, however, we have some talented players who will get an opportunity to leave their mark on our program.”
      Those three returning letterwinners include Brady DePietro, a 6’ 2” senior guard, Nico Holzschuh, a 6’ 3” junior forward and David D’Altorio, a 6’ 2” sophomore guard who played well for the varsity the last half of last season as a freshman.
      DePietro played in all 24 games a year ago, finished fifth on the team with 104 points (4.2 ppg) while hauling in 1.5 caroms per fray, Holzschuh also played in all 24 games, averaging 1.9 points and 0.9 rebounds while D’Altorio’s freshman year resulted in averaging 2.6 points – he was 13 of 33 from downtown – and 0.7 rebounds over 18 games played.
      Coach Birch on his three returning letterwinners---
      “Brady started a good portion of last season for us, is two years removed from a knee injury and has worked extremely hard this off-season so he can have a successful senior year. We will need scoring, play-making and leadership from him this season.”
      “Nico also gained valuable experience for us last year, getting the start for a big part of the season. He provides toughness on both ends of the court as well as the ability to score.”
      “David earned playing time as a freshman, showing an ability to make shots and run the offense. He will be looked at to do more of both this season.”
      The cupboard is anything but bare for Birch and his staff.
      “Expectations are high within our program,” the head coach added. “Our goal is to maintain the high level of play that we have established as we expect to defend our conference championship and compete for a district title. Both of those will in no way be easy, however, we are challenging our players to set high expectations.
      “Despite losing ten seniors to graduation, we return a nice nucleus of talent along with some up and coming players eager for their opportunity. We will rely on our seniors to provide much needed leadership and our young, inexperienced guys to mature quickly into varsity caliber players.”
      Players to keep an eye on this season include Demarr Clark, a 6’ 5” senior wing man, Antoine White, a 5’ 7” senior guard and Grayson Eicher, a 6’ 3” sophomore forward.
      Clark played in three games while White played in one a season ago.
      Rounding out the roster and competing for playing time are seniors Prabh Singh, Alex Micco and A.J. Nigro, junior Jeff Markovitch, and sophomores Kaden Mayhew and Terrell McDowell.
      The Spartans play four of their first five games at home, opening the season November 29 when they play host to the Campbell Memorial Red Devils then following that up with a game versus arch-rival Cardinal Mooney on December 2.
      They then travel to Hickory (PA) High School on December 6, returning home to play host to both Louisville (December 9) and Canton GlenOak (December 13).
      2022-23 Boardman Boys

     BY GREG GULAS
      Boardman News Sports
      bnews@zoominternet.net
      With two consecutive district championships and a regional runner-up finish a year ago to their ever expanding resume, the Cardinal Mooney Cardinals boys’ basketball team is chomping at the bit to get underway with the hopes this year of making it a district championship trifecta.
      Head coach Carey Palermo enters his seventh season at the helm with a 73-70 overall ledger, the team going 18-10 last season – they were 3-3 in the Steel valley Conference – and 35-15 the past two campaigns.
      “It’s very special to be able to say that you are back-to-back district champions,” noted Palermo as he recapped last season’s run. “We advanced to the regional finals with a senior heavy team that just got better every week so that, too, was also very special.
      “We played our best basketball at the end of the year, beating NE8, All-American Conference, Steel Valley Conference, and MVAC Grey and Red Tier conference champions. That team was built on defense.”
      Palermo must find a way to replace six very special players off last year’s squad, players that were scorers, rebounders and leaders both on and off the court if he expects his team to make a run at another district title.
      Gone are leading scorer Mick Hergenrother, who averaged a team-best 13.4 points per game and a senior leader whose steady play also contributed 4.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 3.0 steals per outing.
      Also gone are Drew Pecchia (3.5 points, 3.3 rebounds), Jack Pepperney (5.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg), James Campbell, Jack Phillips (1.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg) and Jack Desmond (1.4 rpg).
      Players returning to the fold must jell early if they expect to enjoy the success that they have over the past two seasons.
      “We have a very talented group returning, an inexperienced yet hungry group,” Palermo said. “We return three starters but the next six players were junior varsity players, all moving up after leading our JVs to a 16-5 record last season.”
      The three starters returning to the fold include senior Jaxon Menough (3.9 points,1.9 rebounds, 1.4 steals), junior Rocco Turner (12.8 points, second on team, 2.9 rpg, 1.9 steals) and junior Ashton O’Brien (7.2 ppg, third on team, 2.7 rpg, 1.2 assists, 1.6 steals), who is the starting quarterback on the Cardinals’ football team and will undoubtedly need a few weeks before he works himself into basketball shape.
      Rounding out the roster and competing for playing time will be seniors Nolan Radinsky, also a football player and Aiden Kim, juniors Anthony Allen, Jibri Carter, Jr., Will Desmond, Dominic Graziano, Matt Kay, Eddie Nieves and Nick Pregibon, and sophomore Aiden Radinsky.
      “Jaxon [Menough] is our senior leader and best defender on the team,” added Palermo. “This will be his third year playing varsity, he is our most experienced player and has been a key player on our two regional squads. He brings a ton of energy every day.
      “Nolan [Radinsky] has great length at 6’ 3,” is a very good spot up shooter and member of our play-off football team as well. Rocco Turner is our returning scoring leader, is a state champion on our golf team and can really shoot the basketball.
      “Ashton O’Brien, quarterback on the football team, is our second leading scorer from last year, a player who is long and athletic and a great all-around player who shoots extremely well. Nick Pregibon is a very versatile player who can do many things including shoot, handle the ball and pass. He is a key player on our soccer team while Will Desmond is a scrappy, athletic post player who also plays on our play-off football team. He does a lot of the dirty work while Dom Graziano is a scrappy player, a good shooter, can handle it and is yet another key player on our play-off soccer team.
      “Matt Kay is a tough defender, knock down shooter and football guy while Eddie Nieves, who is 6’ 5” tall, is athletic and very long, can shoot and is very skilled.”
      The Cardinals open their season with two road games, the first at Liberty on November 29 then at Boardman on December 2.
      Their home lidlifter is set for December 6 when they play host to Academy for Urban Scholars, a team they defeated 62-28 a season ago.
     

     The Boardman-Youngstown Kiwanis Club and Boardman Police Department renewed their annual, decades-long Halloween trick-or-treating candy distribution on Monday. Its purpose is to serve trick or treating children and families along with the police department in a friendly and supportive manner in the community. Pictured, in front, from left, Kiwanis members Jerry Osborne, Michael Thomas and Tom Mumaw. In back row, from left, Kiwanis member Mark Luke, Ptl. Evan Beil, Capt. Ed McDonnell, Ptl. Erin Higgins and Ptl. Tom Zorzi.
     

     The Mahoning County Bar Association has issued its recommendations on judicial candidates who will be on the Nov. 8 general election ballot.
      “In keeping with their Code of Professional Responsibility, lawyers are charged with the duty to aid the public in the selection of those seeking a judicial position. Attorneys consider the qualities of Legal Knowledge, Professional Experience, Judicial Temperament, Integrity, Diligence and Professional Responsibility,” the bar association said in a press release.
      In the race for a seat on the Seventh District Court of Appeals, the bar association said that incumbent Judge Gene Donofrio is “highly recommended,” and his opponent, Mark Hanni, is “not recommended.”
      Running unopposed for re-election as a Mahoning County Common Pleas Judge is incumbent Anthony M. D’Apolito, The bar association said that Judge D’Apolito is “highly recommended.”
      Also unopposed for re-election on the November ballot are Juvenile Judge Theresa Dellick and County Court Judge Joe Schiavoni, The bar association said both candidates are “recommended.”
      The bar association said “survey results are not and shall not be characterized as an endorsement of any candidate.”

     Ashley Mariano, prevention coordinator/ family and community partnership liaison at the Educational Service Center of Eastern Ohio in Canfield, was recognized as the Support Staff of the Year by the Mahoning County Mental Health and Recovery Board for service to a local district, its students and community.
      After tragedy struck at Lowellville Local School District in May, the Educational Service Center of Eastern Ohio (ESCEO, formerly Mahoning County ESC) immediately became engaged to support the district, with Mariano coordinating the response.
      “Ashley was instrumental in responding to the crisis situation with a team of mental health professionals, including school and local agency personnel,” says Dr. Traci Hostetler, ESCEO superintendent. “Throughout the process, she connected students, family and staff to appropriate providers for additional support and resources.”
      Mariano worked with staff, law enforcement, and other key county agencies to develop a re-entry plan for students, families and staff, including developing a tiered counseling support plan based on individual needs.
      Mariano, of 224 Brainard Dr., was recognized for her service and support at the Mahoning County Mental Health Recovery Board’s annual Recognition Luncheon.
      “This award is such an honor,” says Mariano “I am fortunate to get to work my dream job, supporting educators and helping professionals to provide the best care for our students and our community. “
      “Ashley takes her role and responsibilities to heart and is dedicated to her vocation,” says Hostetler. “She is always willing to go above and beyond and is very passionate about wanting to help others.”
      The ESC of Eastern Ohio (then Mahoning County ESC) introduced the role of prevention coordinator when Mariano was hired in August, 2020 and her duties were expanded in December, 2020 with the addition of the duties as family and community partnership liaison. Her services provide mental health and wellness support and connections for educators, families, counselors and students, especially those most vulnerable.
     
      PICTURED: Ashley Mariano, prevention coordinator, received the Mahoning County Mental Health and Recovery Board’s Pillar Award as Support Staff of the Year for her service to a local school district, its students, families and staff.

     Meeting last week, Boardman Trustees Brad Calhoun, Tom Costello and Larry Moliterno learned a first step in applying for hazard mitigation assistance grant monies for storm water control have been accepted.
      Township Administrator Jason Loree said the ABC Water and Stormwater District, in partnership with Boardman Township and Mahoning County, is seeking a $16.965 million grant to separate storm lines from the Boardman Plaza, north to Cranberry Run. The project would also include the creation of a detention area for storm water.
      Loree said a second, pre-application for $10.12 million has been approved. That grant would also aid surface water issues at the Boardman Plaza and would include acquiring several parcels of land that could be used to create a water detention area.
      According to pre-application papers, the “most recent” flooding issues in Boardman Township was on Sept. 4 that caused over 300 homeowners property damage.
      “One such problem area is in the vicinity of the Boardman Plaza, where a grocery store (Save-A-Lot) has been....flooded multiple times, in addition to a five-lane highway, Rt. 224, becoming a ‘lake’ at the intersection of Locust Ave,” according to the pre-application papers.
      “This project proposes safety improvements and provides a new outlet and central storm relief conduit to off-load 105 acres from the headquarters of Cranberry Run to an open stream to re-route runoff,” says the pre-application, noting that Rockdale Ave. “suffers recurring flooding four to five times a year.”
      The grant concept would also include the construction of an underground detention system to manage storm water runoff from the plaza and its parking lot (near Locust Ave.), as well as a regrading of the parking lot.
      “The Stormwater District has submitted two pre-applications for Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grants through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The pre-application process is very competitive, and historically townships have a tougher time applying for these grants.
      “However utilizing a partnership with the ABC Water and Stormwater District might give the pre-applications better odds at passing the screening process. If we receive the go ahead to put into a formal application, the ABC District will reach out to the property owners and different area agencies for a more solid commitment on property acquisition.
      “These two proposed projects are going to be ‘long shots,’ but both the township and ABC District are committed to explore every option possible in leveraging funding help improve the stormwater system,” Loree told trustees.
      “Boardman Township was developed in the 1940s and 1950s with little to no (drainage) detention. As neighborhoods developed, roadways were widened, and commercial areas boomed.
      “Unfortunately, impervious areas were not mitigated with storm detention during or after construction. Today, rainfall patterns are trending to become more frequent and more intense. The township has suffered two, 1000-year events, and one 500-year event in the past five years. These rainfall events have devastated portions of the community,” says grant pre-application language.
      In other matters, Trustees approved a lighting district on Berklee Dr. for the installation of four street lights. A majority of the property owners voted in favor of the lights being installed by First Energy with an assessment for the first year to be approximately $756.61 per lot for the installation of the four lights, with an annual assessment of approximately $47.34 per lot for each year after that. In addition, each property owner, at their own expense, must trim any applicable trees on their property prior to installation.
      Trustees approved the sale of property at Lot 61 on Brandon Ave. to Shane Selman, 12921 Springfield Rd., at the fair market value of $3,300 based upon the recommendation of Marilyn Sferra Kenner, P.E., Road Superintendent/Land Bank Manager.

     “The table is set for a Middle-America comeback...
      This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for meaningful economic and cultural progress is knocking on our front door”
     
      by Joe Metzger
      Be inspired! Life is full of challenges – but that is exactly what makes it worth living. I am here as a builder of houses and rebuilder of dreams. A former Navy Seal and Yale University graduate, who served in the Navy’s Construction Engineering Battalions as a ‘Seabee.’
      Before all that, I was just an average ‘Joe’ from Youngstown, Ohio. A skinny kid with a higher purpose who wouldn’t give up. And like Youngstown – and so many other American communities – I had an undying desire to rise above any obstacle and be all I could be.
      So let me start with a story…
      It was a particularly cold Sunday morning during the early days of the Covid-19 lockdown. I was driving on Wick Ave. in Youngstown, Ohio – a former steel manufacturing mecca that had been left to die since World War II – when I saw something I will never forget.
      Standing in the rain outside a half-renovated building was a nicely-dressed man holding a set of blueprints. He was pointing and discussing what appeared to be a rebuilding project. At that time, the powers-that-be had deemed the construction industry essential to our national economy; and as he kept working, I realized I was witnessing a glimpse of Youngstown on its way to newfound glory.
      My hometown, and in fact many of America’s heartland cities who once lost their ‘best and brightest’ to greener pastures, now have a chance to reclaim lost prosperity. If we combine the unique upshot of the Covid lockdown with courageous vision and positive thinking, our economic renaissance can and will become reality.
      It is time to imagine Youngstown as a Zoom Town Boom Town.
      Remote working is here to stay. According to projections, 25% of all professional jobs in North America will be remote by the end of 2022, and remote opportunities will continue to increase through 2023…Remote opportunities leapt from under 4% of all high paying jobs before the pandemic to about 9% at the end of 2020, and to more than 15% today.
      “This change in working arrangements is impossible to overhype. As big as it is, it’s even bigger than people think,” said Ladders CEO Marc Cenedella, who says it’s the largest societal change in America since the end of World War II. “Hiring practices typically move at a glacial pace, but the pandemic turned up the heat so we’re seeing a rapid flood of change in this space. It’s really rather amazing.”
      Yes, doing business during the Covid lockdown fundamentally transformed the modern workplace. Communities who have experienced decades of the proverbial ‘brain drain’ need to take note. Zoom calls and home companions barking at a FedEx delivery are worthy tradeoffs for unreasonably high rent and big city dehumanization.
      The table is set for a Middle-America comeback.
      Let’s not forget, from the promise of Plymouth Rock to the Great Migration of the early 20th century, Americans have always sought a better life for themselves and their families—it’s in our Pilgrim DNA. Undoubtedly, the transient tendencies of our upwardly mobile population are as American as coming home for the holidays. And people always want a better deal.
      Here are the facts…most large cities are experiencing unprecedentedly high housing costs, unmanageable property taxes, terrible traffic, and horrific crime rates that are pushing people to recalculate where to live. According to a recent article at SBSun.com, Kenneth P. Miller asserts that in addition to median home value, other factors increase the desire to leave one place for another:
      A quick glance at the price of a gallon of gas, a utility bill, or a tax bill in California compared to Texas or other states makes one wonder if the premium is worth paying… Although California is a natural paradise, it also is plagued by various three forms of social disorder, including, in many places, crime, drug paraphernalia, vandalism and scandalous levels of homelessness.
      Fundamental change often starts with pain in the pocket book. The global pandemic exposed just how fragile the world’s supply chains are. Look to the local grocery store or car dealer and see the uncomfortable results. The “push” to find a better deal is real and relentless.
      Fortunately, with every push comes a pull. By dramatic contrast, smaller, often forgotten cities like Youngstown provide an affordable alternative to those feeling the squeeze of big-city insanity. Certainly the most attractive ‘pull’ factor of Middle America is the low cost of living. So let’s crunch some numbers. A $300,000 home in northeast Ohio can be valued at well over $1 million with identical specs elsewhere. Taxes of all kinds, utility bills, gasoline, parking, and everyday amenities are much cheaper in the Midwest. According to Bestplaces.net, the calculated difference of the overall cost of living between Los Angeles, California and Youngstown, Ohio is approximately 65%. In Youngstown, housing costs are nearly 80% less and property taxes are close to 75% less. These numbers reflect the answer…pay less, get more.
      In short, our country is poised for a major reset. As a result, many less densely populated regions of America have a golden opportunity to experience an economic equalization of epic proportions.
      My old hometown is suddenly in the sweet spot.
      But the allure of a better life is about more than bank statements and recovering from the Covid lockdown. In fact, there are many intangible factors playing into the places to which we are drawn. Let’s dive deeper. The aging baby-boomer population and the projected shortage of health care professionals will also cause the younger generation to rethink where to call home.
      A 2022 study by Duquesne University suggested the number of health care workers needs to increase dramatically to meet the demands in coming years…by 2025 projections indicate a shortage of more than 400, 000 home health aides and 29,400 nurse practitioners. Furthermore, the over-65 demographic will increase by 48% by 2032.
      Being connected to something larger and more meaningful than ourselves plays a vital role in our overall emotional and mental wellbeing. Communities like Youngstown embody a noteworthy depth of family relationships and collective relevance. It is about more than caring for your aging loved ones. These are the “Legacy Cities” that formed the foundation that America was built upon. Their contributions have been enormous, and it is time to give back.
      The history, cultures, traditions, and natural beauty are just a few of the factors that draw people together in a smaller town.
      In The Celebration Chronicles, sociologist Andrew Moss tells the story of a fantasy town the Disney corporation built near Orlando, Florida. It was intended to reflect the characteristics of a tight-knit community, with all the charm and convenience of a smaller town—like a reincarnated Mayberry. Builders even erected a statue of a fake founder in the town center.
      Oddly enough, it was the shoddy construction caused by unrealistic deadlines that brought the residents of this town together. The collective discomfort brought on by leaky roofs and broken air conditioners created an esprit de corps—a call to arms. Selfless and meaningful bonds developed in similar fashion to the strong connections and mutual respect forged between military veterans when fighting a common enemy as one cohesive unit. But we don’t need corporate America to create fake Mayberry. Mid-sized cities all across America already embody the perfect imperfection we desire— the battlefields are plentiful and the call for troops is already real.
      Youngstown itself does not need a fake statue in Town Square and newly-minted antique homes to create a sense of community. We already have it. We simply need to recognize the good bones of the spaces that surround us, shake off the rust, and reveal the shiny steel still lying beneath the surface.
      “If you build it, he will come”—famous words spoken by that mystical voice to Kevin Costner in the movie Field of Dreams as he walked through that idyllic Iowa cornfield. Much to the dismay of family and friends, Costner’s character listens to the unseen voice to plow under his corn crop to construct a baseball field and create a place where past failures can be made right.
      For him it provides a way to reconcile with his late father. His father’s spirit comes back in physical form within the confines of this faith-filled space to play catch with his son one more time. It allows forgiveness and closure to their regrets—and we all can relate.
      “Field of Dreams amends generational gaps and unresolved tensions so that life can progress while still having respect for the past, said Jordan Williams, ScreenRant.com
      This invaluable notion that sacred ground provides a place to reconcile the work of previous generations with the work yet to be done not only prevents small-townliving from becoming a relic of the past -- it also provides an opportunity to become our future’s shining city on the hill. And we do not have to rely on blind faith to walk the path to prosperity, because the new workplace environment has already shown us the way. Remote work for companies that improve their own bottom line by allowing us to live in places where we will be happier - this is the win-win.
      This is the essence of the Zoom Town Boom Town---We are creating a space for generational reconciliation, a deeper connection to what matters, a higher standard of living, a new reality for communities like Youngstown and others across America.
      This time, we will re-build it, and they will come back.
      But what does all this have to do with me? I am here as an agent of optimism and action. I believe the resilient, industrious nature of the average Midwesterner is anything but average. If we can hear and heed the pull of the opportunity provided, listen to the voices speaking to us now, trust in the future and summon the strength to lead the way, we can be part of the change we wish to see.
      Enter 1978 Wakefield Avenue in Youngstown’s Brownlee Woods Neighborhood. This is the field I have been charged to plow. When you look at the big picture, property values in cities like Youngstown have been grossly undervalued for too long. My cold Sunday-morning moment inspired me to resurrect a historic home near where I live. Here is an excerpt from its recent listing:
       •Pretty Much Perfection---Come home to Brownlee Woods and be part of something special! Nestled away in one of northeast Ohio’s most charming neighborhoods lies the million-dollar home you’ve always dreamed of but for a fraction of the cost! Take advantage of America’s beauty and ditch the traffic with a short country drive to numerous farm-fresh markets, world-class healthcare, major universities, and cheap golf with some of the best courses in the country. Chestnut trees line the boulevard as numerous amenities are a short walk away. Get plugged-in to the acting studio, Neighborhood Association, Fall Festivals, Christmas Dinners and Fourth of July Parades. Feel safe with a nearby fire station and dedicated community police officer. Your new home is in America’s heartland where the birds sing proudly, people safely walk their dogs, and baby strollers rule the sidewalks. Welcome home!
      1978 Wakefield is a microcosm of America’s heartland. Its description is comprised of more than impersonal facts and statistics—more than square footage, number of rooms, age of the roof, and the laundry room on the first floor. The intangible characteristics are what give the space its powerful impact.
      The home’s relationship with the natural environment is what sets it apart from others. Because of its southern orientation with 35 oversized windows, each sun-drenched room creates a warm emotional reaction you immediately feel. From sunrise to sunset, as the sunbeams slowly wrap around the exterior of the home and highlight every interior space in its own unique way, a curious sense of tranquility envelopes you and creates a sense of sanctuary you will treasure.
      The promise of the care we put into this home - along with our desire to rebuild this hidden gem of Youngstown - is echoed in the 1985 poetry of Louis Zlotkin:
      I Still Believe in Youngstown
      And all the good folks there.
      Though mills are gone
      The show goes on
      Because of those who care.
     
      I Still Believe in Youngstown
      They’re shopping everywhere.
      Some stores are out
      But there’s no doubt
      Most stores still get their share.
     
      They’re Giving It A Face Lift
      With hopes and dreams anew,
      Cause all around
      They’re breaking ground
      For other buildings too.
     
      I Still Believe in Youngstown
      With all its faults, I swear.
      There’s much to do
      But we’ll pull through
      Because of those who care.
      I am not the only one who still believes in Youngstown.
      Courage and vision are what I saw on that cold, wet Sunday morning as it dawned on me the individual holding the blueprints was local builder Dominic Marchionda. What makes his standing more noteworthy is his belief in Youngstown prior to the opportunities provided by the freedom to work remotely. Marchionda believed in Youngstown before it was cool to believe in Youngstown. And despite risking life and limb navigating through political tripwires and minefields, he has become the most influential property developer Youngstown has experienced in a generation.
      Others possess that same warrior spirit.
      Julius Oliver recently built a 4,000- square-foot home on the lower end of Youngstown’s First Ward near the Mahoning River to motivate others to invest in at-risk neighborhoods.
      Jim Tressel helped transform Youngstown State University (YSU) into a place to live and not just learn.
      Others include Ian Beniston and his merry band of neighborhood crusaders who have raised more boats with their tidal-wave intensity more than any other.
      Meshel, McNally, Mcarty, Mcarthy, Swierz, Smith, Carter, Raymond, Brown, Palumbo, Danyi, the Stone Fruit Coffee company, Wendy P. and her team of Aces, Voltage Valley champs like Rivers and Verb.
      Barack Obama helped facilitate a federally-funded additive manufacturing lab that is promising to transform Youngstown from a steel town to a 21st century tech-hub. The list of action-oriented believers includes everyday people who, despite facing daunting odds and the onslaught of constant negativity, often possess the power to affect change on the grandest scales. They are the unlikely heroes who seek neither glory nor gold.
      As a SEAL, I had the rare privilege to work alongside some of the best warriors. Yet it was a ten-year-old Iraqi boy who gave me the greatest inspiration during my darkest time. I watched him run through machine gun fire on numerous occasions to help protect his family and help our coalition forces—all while carrying his soccer ball he wanted to protect. In addition to being a sweet young boy, he was one of the most courageous individuals I ever met.
      “The basic difference between an ordinary man and a warrior is that a warrior takes everything as a challenge while an ordinary man takes everything either as a blessing or a curse,” said Don Jun in Tales of Power.
      The lifeblood of America flows through the heartland and thanks to the not-so-average Midwesterner and the freedom to work remotely, cities like Youngstown, Ohio are now poised for a new economic reality. Like the ingredients for making steel, our new normal is a confluence of three core components. Our essential ingredient—the iron ore—is the new freedom to work from where we choose. Our catalyst—the coal that fuels change—is the conviction that drives us to new economic growth. Our purifying agent—the limestone flux -- like our common goal of a better life for us and our children—is the inspiration that is passed to others who will continue rebuilding for generations to come.
      This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for meaningful economic and cultural progress is knocking on our front door as we can now attract nicely paid professionals to a new and better existence. Let the steel shine brightly and build on, for our work here is not done.
      We shall not cease from exploration
      And the end of all our exploring
      Will be to arrive where we started
      And know the place for the first time.
      –T.S. Eliot, “Little Gidding”
      Joe Metzger graduated from Boardman High School. in 1988. He graduated from Yale University with a BA in American Studies with an emphasis in politics and American communities. He joined the Navy as a construction engineer (SeaBee), became a SEAL and graduated (cross trained) Army Ranger training and became Ranger qualified. He has extensive experience in the contracting and construction management field. He served as Youngstown’s Brownlee Woods President, vice president and is a current member of Youngstown’s 7th Ward association. He currently works at 70E Solutions that helps facilitate numerous ongoing contracts with the Department of Defense and other government agencies. Metzger can be reached at joseph.metzger@gmail.com

     One of the more colorful characters in Boardman Township history, Jefferson ‘Bear’ Heaver, 73, died Fri., Oct. 7, of a heart attack. At the time of his sudden death, he was helping an elderly person at Marcs get merchandise off a display shelf.
      Bear was a 1967 graduate of Boardman High School, growing up on Tanglewood Dr., a son of the late Dr. and Mrs. Robert Heaver.
      He leaves his wife of eleven years, Sharon Moran. He had a brother, Bob (Trush), of Georgia; and three sisters, Cathy (Dan) Hunt, and Laurie Heaver, of Florida; and Nancy Heaver, of Columbus, Oh.
      At Boardman High School, Bear was a standout member of the Spartans football team, where he served as a co-captain and earned first-team All Steel Valley Conference laurels as a senior. He was also a three-year letterman with the Spartans wrestling team.
      After attending Heidelberg College, he was employed for two years with the Boardman Township Road Department.
      In 1973, he joined the Boardman Police Department, where he was a member of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #43, serving a term as president. He retired on Dec, 2, 2002, as Chief of the Detective Division.
      “He was particularly adept and remembering dates, times and names,” his former Police Chief Glenn Bowers once said.
      Heaver’s term of service at the Boardman Police Department was recognized many times for his professionalism.
      When promoted to the rank of detective in 1981, Chief James McBride said that Heaver “served with great devotion to duty and has displayed good investigative ability. He has shown soundness of decision, promptness of action, and application of good investigative procedures.”
      In May, 1991, Chief Bowers commended Officer Heaver for his work in an investigation into a hit-skip accident that killed a 13-year-oldboy on Glenwood Ave.
      “The police department received an anonymous tip that an individual made a statement in a bar in Austintown about striking a youth. Your experience and expertise as an investigator, along with your diligence led to the arrest and conviction of the individual who was responsile,” Chief Bowers said of Heaver’s efforts.
      As a member of the FOP, he was known for his ability to negotiate contracts for members of his union, without petty squabbles.
      While a member of the police department, the Bear decided to take up the sport of golf, first learning the game at Tippecanoe Country Club.
      In retirement, he golfed all the time. He had a reputation as an excellent putter, especially from distance. In his later years, any putt he had from 4-ft. or closer, was a ‘gimme!’
      He was a member and past president of the Sigma Club, a member and treasurer of the Sigma-60 Investment Club, and a member of the board of the Springfield Ridge Association.
      He and his outgoing, sometimes gruff character will be sadly missed by all those who knew him.
      The Bear could spin a yarn better than most, and often would tell his tales with unmatched repetition.
      He loved the community, and the police department that he served.
      Calling hours are set for Mon., Oct. 24, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a memorial service to follow at the Rossi-Santucci Funeral Home.
      Shortly before his death, the Bear sent the following to his friends---
      THE LAST QUARTER
      Most of us, not all, are now in the last quarter of our life and should read this interesting piece of advice. This is one of the nicest and most gentle articles I’ve read in a while: no politics, no religion and no racial issues - just food for thought.
      You know …… time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years.
      It seems just yesterday that I was young and embarking on my new life. Yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went.
      I know that I lived them all.
      I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams.
      However, here it is …… the last quarter of my life and it catches me by surprise.
      How did I get here so fast? Where did the years go and where did my youth go?
      I remember well seeing older people through the years and thinking that those older people were years away from me and that I was only on the first quarter and that the fourth quarter was so far off that I could not visualize it or imagine fully what it would be like.
      Yet, here it is …… my friends are retired and getting grey - they move slower and I see an older person now. Some are in better and some worse shape than me but I see the great change.
      They’re not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant …… but like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and never thought we’d become.
      Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day and taking a nap is not a treat anymore. It’s mandatory because if I don’t of my own free will, I fall asleep where I sit.
      And so, now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things that I wish I had done but never did. But at least I know that, though I’m on the last quarter and I’m not sure how long it will last, that when it’s over on this earth, it’s over. A new adventure will begin!
      Yes, I have regrets. There are things I wish I hadn’t done; things I should have done but truly there are many things I’m happy to have been done. It’s all in a lifetime.
      So, if you’re not on the last quarter yet, let me remind you that it will be here faster than you think. So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your life do it quickly.
      Don’t put things off too long. Life goes by so quickly. So, do what you can today, as you can never be sure whether you’re on the last quarter or not.
      You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of life. So, live for today and say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember - and hope that they appreciate and love you for all the things that you have done for them in all the past years.
      ‘Life’ is a gift to you. Be Happy! Have a great day!
      Remember, it is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.
      You may think:
      Going out is good - but coming home is better! You forget names - but it’s okay because some people forgot they even knew you! You realize you’re never going to be really good at anything like golf - but you like the outdoors!
      The things you used to care to do, you aren’t as interested in anymore - but you really don’t care that you aren’t as interested.
      You sleep better on a lounge chair with the TV on than in bed – you call it ‘pre-sleep’!
      You miss the days when everything worked with just an ‘On’ and ‘Off’ switch!
      You tend to use more four-letter words – ‘what’ and ‘when’
      You have lots of clothes in your wardrobe, more than half of which you will never wear – but just in case!
      So, stay well, ‘Old friend!’ Have a fantastic day! Have an awesome quarter – whichever one you’re in!
      Take care,
      The Bear

     By Donald K. Allen, MS, DVM
      Lt. Col., USAF/USAFR (Retired)
      Former Military Public Health Officer
      To know of an effective treatment for a disease, and not use it to cure a patient, is malpractice. Government (USDA, AMA, VMA, etc.) cannot override your commitment to effective treatment.
      Ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine have been shown to be very effective in combating Covid, yet because “there have not been enough studies,” government banned their use.
      Meanwhile, vaccines for Covid that have been PROVEN to be dangerous to your health, and not effective in preventing infection, are promoted by government, without ANY long-term studies. AND, vaccine manufacturers have been given protection from litigation due to adverse effects!
      Insanity; to do the same thing (vaccination) over and over again and expecting different results.
      “Following orders” was not a legitimate defense during the Nuremberg Trials of Nazis after WWII, and it will not be accepted as a defense this time. Discouraging the use of ivermectin or hydroxychloroquine is criminal, and those who have done this should be held accountable.
      Read the article, “Ivermectin and the Price of Life,” by Justus R. Hope, MD, and see what money has bought that hindered the conquest of the Covid pandemic, and cost countless lives. You should be mad as hell.
      But this is just the first of three issues I have with “modern medicine.”
      As a veterinarian, I have been using a product named, “Azodyl,” for over nine years in cats and dogs. It consists of three bacteria (essentially a probiotic) that destroy urea, a waste product of protein metabolism that builds up in the body when the kidneys are failing. The acid-resistant capsule releases the bacteria in the small intestine, and they begin work immediately to reduce the toxic effects of uremia, which poisons the body.
      Recently this product was approved for use in humans (we’re all animals, you know) and is marketed as, “Renadyl.” During early research, Azodyl was tested in nearly all domestic animals, as well as humans, and was found to be equally effective, since kidney function is basic the same in
      mammals. I have seen Azodyl cut blood urea nitr gen (BUN) and creatinine numbers in half, along with a reduced protein diet. But I doubt your urologist would recommend it, since dialysis is a huge, multi-billion-dollar business, and this product may keep you out of, or delay your need for it.
      Here’s the third issue. I developed prostate cancer in 2015 and had my prostate robotically removed. Then I needed 33 radiation treatments to ensure the cancer was controlled. A friend told
      me about maitake mushrooms tripling (300%) your T-lymphocytes, which are your hunter-killer white cells that scavenge dead and foreign cells. Since radiation destroys cells, I thought this would be helpful in healing. I take a mushroom supplement every day. You can find studies to confirm this from the National Institute of Health (NIH). My oncologist just blew it off; not interested. So, if it doesn’t come down from above, i.e. the American Medical Association (AMA), or read about in the Journal of Oncology, forget about it.
      So, our “government” continues to downplay ivermectin, and the citizens who totally obey their directives will ridicule you for using, “horse wormer.” Well, just disregard the 2015 Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine, given to the Japanese discoverer of ivermectin. Also disregard the millions of humans in Africa who have been taking ivermectin for decades to prevent river blindness and elephantiasis. That’s all nonsense, right?
      I know, I’m a veterinarian, and you know we’re not “real doctors.”
      Dr. Allen’s Office is located at
      4501 Market St., Boardman, Oh., 44512

     Center Intermediate School is planning something new for its more than 800 students, teachers and staff. Plans to convert a second floor auditorium into a new Social Emotional Learning Center are in the works and community partnerships are already helping to pave the way. “Students need to know how to manage negative behaviors, be calm and focused, follow directions, and establish and maintain positive relationships with peers,” said principal Michael Masucci. “Individuals with strong social-emotional skills are better able to cope with everyday challenges. They also benefit academically, professionally, and socially. This SEL Center will be a place to gather and foster these skills.” Decades ago, attendance issues and bullying were at the heart of most conversations about students’ social and emotional learning and mental health. Today’s students, educators, counselors and caregivers face additional issues such as anxiety, cyberbullying, depression, self-harm and even suicide. Creative ways must be developed to address current and future needs, the Boardan Local School District said.

     Boardman Park Executive Director and Clerk Dan Slagle, Boardman Park executive director and clerk, has decided to retire after 50 years of service with the local park district.
      Meeting in September, the park board accepted his resignation and named Gabe Manginelli as the park’s new superintendent, and Angela Davis will serve as clerk.
      During Slagle’s tenure, Boardman Park has grown from a small plot of land for the use of the community into the “Green Oasis,” one of the most unique and popular recreational facilities in the Mahoning Valley. Boardman Park has become a multi-facility recreational greenspace---a place where residents can find nature ‘right next door.’
      Slagle started his career in 1972 as a groundskeeper and was promoted to assistant superintendent in 1988. In 1992 he was appointed to superintendent/clerk.
      “It has truly been a privilege and an honor to serve the community for all these years, especially with so many wonderful and dedicated people, for that I am most grateful.” said Slagle. “I am proud of what we’ve accomplished over the years. Boardman Park is truly a community-built park and is definitely a treasure that we should all be proud of and cherish. It has been the generosity of the community that is responsible for making Boardman Park what it is today.”
      Angela Davis/Gabe Manginelli Promoted
      The Park Board decided to split Slagle’s duties and promote two employees to carry on what Slagle has guided for so long. Park Board Chair Joyce Mistovich announced the promotions saying, “On behalf of my fellow board members, Trent Cailor and Ken Goldsboro, we are pleased to announce that Angela Davis and Gabe Manginelli have been promoted. Angela has been promoted to Clerk and Gabe has been promoted to Superintendent.
      Prior to their new positions, Angela was the Office Manager/Assistant Clerk and Gabe served as Grounds Maintenance Supervisor.”
      “In their previous positions with the Park,” Mistovich continued, “They have proven to be dedicated and hardworking employees. Angela has been with the park for 12 years and Gabe has been with the park for 21 years. Over their tenures, they have played instrumental roles in making the Green Oasis what it is today.”
      Slagle says that he is comfortable with the succession plan,
      “I know that I am leaving The Green Oasis in very capable hands.” he said. “Gabe and Angela understand and believe in the mission of Boardman Park. They are dedicated to serving our community. Based on their experience, dedication to the park and readiness to assume their new roles, we expect a smooth and seamless transition.” added Mistovich.
      Family Support
      While reflecting on his 50 years of service, Slagle thanked his family.
      “My family has always supported and understood my overwhelming dedication to Boardman Park. For their support and understanding, I am so ever thankful. My retirement is long overdue, and I am very much looking forward to enjoying retirement with my precious family, my wife Marilou and our boys, Dewey and Tom.”
     
      PICTURED: NEW LEADERSHIP AT BOARDMAN PARK, following the retirement of Executive Director Dan Slagle, will be two longtime employees of the district. At left is Angela Davis, who will become clerk; and at right is the new superintendent, Gabe Manginelli. They will assume their new positions on Oct. 31.

     BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      Permanent improvement tax levies could be used in the future to construct a new public school building; an incumbent office-holder and her challenger both said they ‘go to work everyday;’ and a Republican incumbent state senator failed to appear last week at a candidates’ night held at the Lariccia Family Community Center at Boardman Park.
      Boardman Local School Supt. Tim Saxton said, among two renewal issues on the ballot will be a 1.6-mil permanent improvement levy---
      “There’s one, little tweak we’re looking for, asking to make this a continual levy,” the superintendent said, meaning the tax funds raised by approval of the issue would never be voted on again.
      The permanent improvement levy was first approved by the electorate in 1998 and raises about $1.4 million a year, Saxton said.
      “A continual levy…gives us a financial foundation for large capital improvement projects…we can do our own, creative financing and not pass new taxes on anybody,” Saxton said.
      For several years, Boardman Local School officials have discussed abandoning Center Middle School that sits on some 19 acres near the center of Boardman Township. At one point, some suggest that Mernard’s had looked at the property, valued at more than $5 million, but considered the site too small.
      As well, the school board now calls Glenwood Middle School, Boardman High School and Spartan Stadium a ‘campus,’ where a new intermediate school could be constructed.
      “There’s no doubt Center is an aging building…a long-standing tradition…We have to make some decisions about it and we can’t even have a conversation until we strengthen our financial picture,” Saxton said.
      “Going to a continuing levy will allow us to begin some great conversation with our community about what we can do with Center Intermediate School,” he said.
      Saxton added that the school system will also place a 5.8-mil renewal issue on the November ballot. The issue, first approved in 2003, raises about $5 million annually.
      Gino DeFabio, challenger for a seat on the Mahoning County Board of Commissioners, recalled his work history as a Teamster, decried some $27 million in county funds that were spent on at Oak Hill Center in Youngstown (where the Mahoning County Board of Elections is headquartered), and called for a ‘comprehensive audit’ if he was elected.
      “I wanna help you protect your tax dollars,” DiFabio said, claiming he “didn’t see the commissioners working for our county.”
      DiFabio, the Republican challenger, told those in attendance, “I won’t worry about the politics.”
      Incumbent Carol Rimedio-Righetti, a Democrat, has served as a county commissioner since 2011.
      “I go to work everyday. Experience is invaluable and I am proud to run on my record in overseeing this $350 million (county government) corporation,” the incumbent said. “We are prudent with our finances.”
      Rimedio-Righetti said among her priorities are public safety, creation of a justice fund for monies for the sheriff’s department, prosecutor and coroner’s office.
      Among many accomplishments of the board of commissioners while she has served, the commissioner cited creation of a facility to serve developmentally-disabled persons, partnering with the Western Reserve Port Authority to aid economic development in the county, approval of a special district to aid in redevelopment of the Southern Park Mall, distribution of American Relief Act funds to communities throughout the county, and support for infra-structure projects.
      For example, last November, the county board of commissioners approved $1 million in funding for creation of a stormwater park on the site of Market St. Elementary School, Rimedio-Righetti said, adding she has received endorsements from law enforcement and labor groups.
      Judge Eugene Donofrio is seeking re-election to a seat on the Seventh District Court of Appeals. He cited his record of judicial integrity and independence.
      He is opposed by Atty. Mark Hanni, who unsuccessfully ran for a seat on the appellate court a decade ago.
      Hanni said he is a ‘constitutionalist,’ who doesn’t believe the critical race theory or transgenders “should be shoved down our children’s throats.”
      Incumbent State Rep. Al Cutrona, a Republican, seeking reelection to the 58th district Ohio House of Representative seat, said he is able “to reach across the aisle,” noting he has supported funding for law enforcement, schools, nurses and combating the opioid epidemic.
      Cutrona will be opposed by Bruce Neff, a Democrat and a member of Canfield City Council.
      “The dysfunction in our state government makes our state legislature incredibly important, and that’s why I am running,” Neff said. He called the state’s school funding “unconstitutional.”
      Boardman Township Administrator, Jason Loree, said the township will place two renewal issues on the ballot---a 2.2-mil police and fire issue; and a 2.9-mil issue for current expenses.
      He also said bids for the stormwater park at the site of Market St. Elementary School will be opened in October.
      The park will be able to provide some 1,000,000 gallons of water retention during peak storm periods and is designed to alleviate surface water issues for some 1,400 homes, Loree said.
      Once the stormwater park is completed (fall of 2023), Trustees will seek water flow improvements along a water course that extends from Forest Lawn Cemetery to Lake Newport in Mill Creek Park. To date, neither the cemetery or park district has demonstrated a willingness to work with township officials to make improvements along the water course.
      Also addressing the Civic Association forum was Democrat Bob Hagan. seeking a seat at an Ohio State Senator. He is opposing incumbent Republican Sen. Michael Rulli, who failed to show-up at the forum. Hagan spewed party politics, asking those in attendance if they were better off this year than last year, and then spewing a barrage of party politics blaming Republicans for ‘partisan politics.’
      Serving as moderator for the election forum was Mark Luke. The invocation was given by Lauren Johnson.
     

     Southwoods Health, headquartered in Boardman, has announced it will begin providing physical, occupational and speech therapy, skilled nursing and social work services in ‘in-home’ settings.
      “We are proud to announce that many of those services will now be conveniently available in your home,’ said Ed Muransky, CEO of Southwoods.
      “We all know the best place to recover from an illness, injury or procedure is in the comfort of your own home,” Muransky, said, adding “Our goal is to provide patients with expert care by offering compassionate support, encouragement and genuine peace of mind for patients and their families.
      “Home health services are so very important to the overall continuum of care for patients. We will provide a service that allows patients to safely remain at home, helping them recover faster, with fewer complications.”
      According to the Southwoods CEO, additional benefits of home health care include:
       •Improving or maintaining a patient’s current condition and/or level of function,
       •Helping manage medications,
       •Assessing current living environments for safety,
       •Recognizing signs and symptoms, which can reduce avoidable hospital re-admissions and expensive hospital bills,
       •Understanding how to appropriately manage chronic conditions,
       •Regaining independence (over time), and
       •Assistance following discharge instructions and/or physician orders.
      Southwoods Health: Southwoods Health is the region’s fastest growing healthcare system and is proud to be locally owned and operated by the Muransky family and area physicians. It includes The Surgical Hospital at Southwoods, an acute care hospital in Boardman; Southwoods Imaging, offering advanced diagnostic imaging services; Southwoods Pain & Spine Center, offering services to treat chronic pain, as well as an advanced spine surgery program; Southwoods Sleep Centers, diagnosing and treating sleep disorders; Southwoods Physician Services, a multi-specialty physician group; and Southwoods Express Care, providing same day, walk-in non-emergent services.

      The fountain area at the core of the Youngstown State University campus, where students and the community have gathered for decades to study, lunch and socialize, is being named for Daniel H. Becker, chief executive of Becker Funeral Homes, and his family.
      The naming is in recognition of Becker’s $1 million gift to YSU to establish the Daniel H. Becker Family Scholarship.
      “All of us at YSU thank Dan and his family for their ongoing support of the university and the entire Mahoning Valley community,” President Jim Tressel said. “His legacy will live on in perpetuity at this very special place on campus.”
      The annual scholarship will go to a full-time student with a minimum 2.5-grade point average, with a preference for students from Struthers, Becker’s hometown, and who volunteer in their communities.
      “We are proud to be so closely associated with a business and a family that is so well-regarded and respected as the Beckers, whose commitment to the Mahoning Valley dates back more than 100 years,” said Paul McFadden, president of the YSU Foundation.
      The Becker family has been in the funeral profession since 1896; the business now has four locations throughout the Mahoning Valley. Dan Becker, who was educated in the Struthers schools, Mercersburg Academy, YSU and the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, began working in the family business as a teenager with his father, Hazen. He joined the business full time in 1961, upon his return from the Army as a Paratrooper Sergeant with the 82nd Airborne Division.
      In 1967, Becker founded Gold Cross Ambulance and Medical Service, and ran the company for 28 years until selling it in 1995. While operating the ambulance company, he was a pioneer in working with the state legislature to establish standards for emergency medical technicians.
      He was president of the Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana Funeral Directors Association and a member of the Ohio and National Funeral Directors Associations. Becker is a longtime member and current president of the Ohio Embalmers Association. He also formerly served on the boards of Aqua Ohio and Western Reserve Bank.
      Becker has been an active member of the community. From 1974 to 1978, he was an adjunct faculty member at YSU, teaching first aid and personal safety. Becker also served on the Struthers City Board of Education, and he is a founding member of the Struthers School Foundation for Educational Excellence. He is a former Board member and served as Vice President of the Ohio American Heart Association. He served as a board member for many years for the Mahoning County and Youngstown Libraries, as well as the Better Business Bureau of Youngstown, the Struthers Fire Department and the Dyslexia Learning Center of the Youngstown Scottish Rite.
      Becker is a 33-degree Mason. He served as scout master of Troop 16, is a member of the Struthers Rotary, and is a graduate of Leadership Mahoning Valley. He is a member of the Struthers Parkside Church, formerly known as the Struthers Presbyterian Church, where he has served as a deacon, elder and chairman of the congregation.
      Dan and the former Margaret (Margy) Trucksis were married nearly 54 years before her death in July 2009. They have five children: Kim Horyn of Cape Cod, Mass.; Kandace Becker-Hagendorn and Kelly Becker, both of Poland, Ohio; Kate Becker of Rocky Point, Mass.; and Daniel H. D. Becker of St. Paul, Minn. They also have nine grandchildren. His daughters Kim Horyn, Kelly Becker and Kate Becker, and a grandson, Robert Rumberg, are all graduates of YSU. Becker’s partner of 11 years, Dottie Melody, is a 1962 graduate of Youngstown University with a degree in Education.
      A fountain has been part of the YSU campus since at least 1966, when the Kilcawley Center student union first opened, according to University Archives. The original fountain was in the same approximate location but had three spouts and a shallow pool.
      In 1973, the campus underwent a major expansion, with five new buildings under construction. At that time, the YSU Board of Trustees approved a master landscaping plan that was part of an overall strategy to remove vehicular traffic from the center of campus and create a pedestrian campus core. Construction of the new campus core, with the circles and mounds that still exist today, started in July 1974, and was completed in May 1976.

     Last Saturday was a special day for Kentucky football coach Mark Stoops and his family. Prior to a match-up against Youngstown State, Stoops’ family joined him on field as he was recognized for becoming the Wildcats’ all-time winningest coach. More than 59,000 fans (many wearing ‘Stoops Troops’ t-shirts) in the stands went wild as he and his family were introduced.
      With a victory over the Florida Gators two weeks ago, Stoops earned his 61st victory in Lexington, surpassing Hall of Fame coach Bear Bryant for the program lead.
      After a 31-0 shutout against Youngstown State, the coach addressed what it meant to him to share that moment with his mother, brothers, sisters and children.
      “I really appreciate that and the administration doing that acknowledgement and having my mother there and my brother Bob and all my sisters and brothers,” Stoops said.
      “It was really nice. So it was fun. I’m glad it’s all behind us now and we can concentrate and move on to the next games. But great weekend. Great day. So, that was fun.”
      Stoops took over for the Wildcats in 2013 and holds a 62-53 record since then following Saturday’s victory. Last season, in which the Wildcats finished with a 10-3 record, he became the first coach to lead UK to multiple 10-win seasons.
      Mark Stoops comes from a big football family from Cardinal Mooney High School where they all played on the gridiron under legendary Don Bucci. His brothers, Bob, Mike and Ron were also college football coaches. Bob retired in 2016 after 18 years as head coach Oklahoma (where he won a national championship and is the winningest grid coach in Sonners’ history), while Mike is in his first season working with Mark as the Kentucky linebackers coach. Ron spent several seasons at Youngstown State as an assistant coach. With the family all back together, Stoops said he was looking forward to spending some quality time with them Saturday evening.
      “I’ve got a lot of family and friends here,” Mark said. “We’ll enjoy the evening and spend some time with my family and friends. I’m really appreciative that my whole family got here and was here to share in that. It’s been a fun weekend.”
      Kentucky is currently ranked No. 8 in the AP poll, its highest mark since 2007.
      Pictured, from left, moments before kickoff with Youngstown State are, Mike Stoops, Ron Stoops, Will, Mark and Zach Stoops, Mitch Barnhart, Kentucky athletic director; Bob Stoops, Reenie (Stoops) Farragher and Kathy Stoops.

      On September 5, the Boardman Tennis and Swim Club honored Mrs. Judy Sommerlad for 59 years of membership in the facility. Judy is the last ‘original’ member who established the club. In 1963 the Boardman-Canfield Swim Club was established after much planning and discussion. The club was originally going to be built on farmland just north of West Boulevard School. The farmland asking price was a bit too high, so the club decided to purchase land where it presently is located on West Boulevard. The 400 original members each paid $350 to purchase stock and begin the construction process. The dues for members were originally $25/year. Judy and her husband, Jack, were the 56th member to buy stock in the new facility. Their stock is numbered and signed by the first president, Robert Froom, and the first secretary, Paul Zellers. The date of Judy’s stock acquisition is July 1, 1963. For 59 straight years, Judy has paid her yearly dues to maintain her membership. The now named Boardman Tennis and Swim Club knows of no other original stock certificates and interested parties may view the stock certificate hanging on the club’s office wall. Judy presented the stock to the club board and current membership at the annual end of the summer picnic on Labor Day. Judy and her husband worked for the government during the Korean War in the Counter Intelligence Bureau in Washington, DC.

     BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      80-year-old Mike Little, who taught earth science and biology classes at Boardman High School from 1972-1999, recently reached a milestone when he rode his bike along the Greenway Trail, from Leetonia to Lisbon, Oh. The end of that ride marked some 80,000 miles Little had ridden on his bicycle in the last 50 years.
      His travels on his bike took him everywhere in America, including a month-long trek in Alaska, from Anchorage to Fairbanks.
      A week ago, Little stopped by The Boardman News to tout his milestone achievement, leaving his phone number if this writer had any questions.
      So, last Friday, a call was made to Little. His wife answered, informing on Wed., Aug. 31, Little died doing what he liked, riding his bicycle on the Little Beaver Trail in Columbiana County.
      He apparently fell and struck his head and never recovered.
      Little had a unique passion, the wilderness, saying “Mother Nature can bring us together. It provides peace of mind, that’s why I like it. When you’re in the wilderness, you must listen to the ‘music’ of the woods. It soothes the soul”
      In addition to his exploits on his two-wheeler, Little also hiked all over America, including such gems as the Long Trail, Appalachain Trail and Pacific Crest Trail.
      Only days before his death, he and his wife, Karen, were set to embark upon a journey to Austria.
      While teaching at Boardman High School, Little organized camping trips for his students.
      “For some, it was a life-changing event,” he said.
      Little was a teacher for 34 years including four years on a Navajo Indian Reservation in Arizona, and 27 years at Boardman High School.
      Mike was also a National Park Ranger and worked at Wind Cave National Park, Colorado National Monument and Arches National Park.
      He also earned his pilot’s license and flew small airplanes in the 1990’s.
      He served in the Air Force Reserves and was a member of the Benjamin Firestone Post #290 American Legion. He was also active in many clubs including, Nature Conservancy, National Geographic Society, Sierra Club and the Sebring Model Railroad Club.
      Mr. Little is survived by his wife, the former Karen Conkle, whom he married on June 3, 1967; his daughter, Sarah (Glenn) Forney of Boise, Idaho and Molly (Dwight) Pavek of Albuquerque, New Mexico; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren and siblings David Little and Rosemary Deioma.
      He was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Leetonia.
      Mike was born on August 1, 1942 in Dover, the son of the late Charles and Irene Monti Little.
     
      PHOTO OF MIKE LITTLE along the Greenway Trail just after completing a 50-year journey of 80,000 miles riding his bicycle.
     

     BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      Boardman Park observed its 75th anniversary on Sat., Aug. 27 with a host of activities where more than 10,000 people flocked to Boardman Township’s ‘green oasis’ of more than 200 acres.
      Among the most unique features at Boardman Park is its executive director, Dan Slagle Jr., who tenure has stretched over four decades in serving as director of the park’s operations, and indeed, Boardman Park has prospered under his leadership
      Slagle, 71, has spent his entire life working at Boardman Park, some 50 years. He was first hired under Supt. Ivor Jenkins, and when John Holzbach retired in 1992, Slagle became superintendent, pledging to improve programming and open-up the park to more people.
      Today, more than 500,000 people go to Boardman Park every year---wether just to enjoy the solitude and green spaces, for weddings and class reunions, the Oktoberfest, annual Community Christmas and Holiday Light Display, summer concerts or annual Fourth of July events.
      “Remember, the park has only been able to grow because the community supports us, including the many donors who have helped us grow. It is truly special,” Slagle says.
      Boardman Park is still funded by a 1-mil levy, the same millage that created the park in 1948.
      “Of all the things I am most proud of, we have been able to build the park into what it is today on virtually the same funding we had when the park was created,” Slagle observed this week.
      He noted all the improvements could not have been made without strong community involvement.
      There were the hundreds of people who joined as volunteers to build Kids Town; the Tony Lariccia family provided major funding to build a grand community center.
      “There are so many people who have helped create the park,” Slagle said, mentioning William F. Maag, Martha Roepke, Tom Masters Sr., C.R. Smith Jr. and Joseph Sylvester Sr. and the Boardman Rotary Club as among the many who have provided support over the years.
      Slagle recalled the development of the Maag Outdoor Arts Theater with some amazement.
      “One day a community resident, Martha Roepke, walked into my office and said she wanted to do something in honor of William F. Maag (who donated the original acreage to form the park),” Slagle said. She provided the major funding to build the theater and Jose Sylvester Sr. donated much of the labor.
      “We were still short of funds and I began researching potential donors. One day, I called Clarence Smith, whom I had never met before, and told him of the situation.
      “Right on the spot he pulled out his checkbook and wrote a check that covered the final construction costs.
      “I love Boardman Park. The rewards I have received serving the community and developing the park district have filled my lifetime,” Slagle observed.
      Slagle is a life-long resident of Boardman Township, and a 1969 graduate of Boardman High School.
      Upon graduation, he worked at the Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. as a loader in the Butt Weld Shipping Department, which for a young suburbanite was a very enlightening experience.
      While working at Youngstown Sheet & Tube, he enrolled at Youngstown State University, pursuing a degree in Biology/Pre-Forestry.
      In 1972, he started his career at Boardman Township Park as a groundskeeper. While working at the park, he earned an associate’s degree in Natural Science from YSU and continued his academic career at YSU, earning a bachelor of science degree in Combined Science.
      Slagle was promoted to Assistant Superintendent of Boardman Park in 1988, with the primary responsibility of planning and overseeing the maintenance of the grounds and facilities. During his tenure as assistant superintendent he developed an extensive grounds maintenance and landscape programs, which included a comprehensive display of annual and perennial flowers, and a long-term tree planting and maintenance program, with emphasis on the preservation and re-establishment of native hardwoods. The realization of these programs has resulted in a widely acclaimed recognition as a Park that is beautifully landscaped and as the “Green Oasis” of the community.
      The Board of Park Commissioners appointed Slagle as the Superintendent/Clerk in June, 1992. His first project was to research and develop the first-ever master plan for the Park District.
      In the more than four decades since, more than 20 major improvements have evolved from the master plan, with a value of over $6.5 million.
      “The primary funding, 80 per cent, for these improvements has been donations of volunteer time, materials, and money, coupled with government grants,” Slagle notes.
      In 2000, Boardman Park was selected as the host site from a four-county area by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Office of Governor, when then Gov. Robert Taft awarded $560,000 in NatureWorks and Land and Water Conservation Fund grants to 13 public entities, with Boardman Park receiving a lions share of $131,122, for its West Quadrant Improvement project.
      Gov. Taft in his presentation remarked “Boardman Park is one of the finest small parks in the state.”
      That same year, Slagle was awarded the Boardman Civic Association’s Community Service Award.
      In 2014, Slagle was honored by The Ohio Parks & Recreation Association’s with its Harvey Woods Lifetime Achievement Award.
      Boardman Park’s executive director is a member of the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association and the National Recreation and Park Association. His civic involvement includes-Past President of the Boardman Civic Association, member of the Boardman Rotary Club, past president of the Kiwanis Club of Uptown Youngstown; a co-chair of the Boardman Township Bicentennial Committee; past vestry member and chairman of the properties committee, St. John’s Episcopal Church; past president and life member Men’s Garden Club of Youngstown; Mahoning Valley Landscaping and Nursery Association.
      In July, 1987, appropriately, he married his wife, the former Marilou Bonte, during ceremoies held in Olde St. James Meeting House in the park. They have two sons, Daniel, III (Dewey), and Tom.
      Boardman Park Under Slagle
       •Master Plan - Initiated, researched, designed, drafted, and successfully implemented the 1992 Master Plan for the park and the community it serves, which resulted in approximately $6.5 million in capital improvements, with the majority of the funds (approximately 80%) necessary for its success generated by the following revenue streams: local, state and federal grants; donations and sponsorships from individuals, businesses, and foundations; and the balance (approximately 20%) from the park’s capital budget. The completion of the Master Plan fostered the following recreational assets for the community:
       •Kids’ Town Creative Playground, Robert Leathers Community Built Concept constructed by more than 3000 volunteers.
       •Tot’s Town Playground, community built, initiated by local Realtor, John Burgan.
       •Maag Outdoor Arts Theatre.
       •Elton Beard Family Cabin, funded by an ODNR Nature Works Grant. Major contributor, Elton and Christina Beard.
       •Kenneth Hofmaster Pavilion, community built concept.
       •Hike & Bike Trail.
       •Main Septic system that eliminated an antiquated on-site Leech Bed system and the connection to a public sanitary system at the Shops at Boardman Park. Major contributors, David Handel and Chuck Bishara.
       •West Quadrant Improvements Project that included the Thomas C. Masters Pavilion w/restrooms, a 300-car lighted parking lot, and landscaping funded by a LWCF grant.
       •Two sand volleyball courts.
       •Practice tennis wall.
       •Acquisition of 35 acres of greenspace that increased the size of Boardman Park to 227 acres, with 40 acres of Open Space property located in seven areas of Boardman Township.
       •Renovation of Kids’ Town Playground with plastic lumber made from recycled materials, funded by a Green Team recycling grant.
       •Exterior renovation of St. James Meeting House.
       •Veterans Memorial project developed in conjunction with Boardman Trustee Elaine Mancini.
       •Historical Village Septic System that eliminated an on-site leech bed/holding tank system and the connection to a public sanitary system at the Shops at Boardman Park.
       •West Quadrant Phase II, including the Lariccia Family Bocce Pavilion, ADA accessible playground and the asphalt paving of the 300-car parking lot, funded by an ODNR NatureWorks Grant and ODNR Scrap Tire Grant for Paving of Parking Lot. Major contributor, Anthony Lariccia.
       •The Lariccia Family Community Center Phase I, the renovation and expansion of the 33-year old Community Center. Major contributors, Anthony Lariccia, Boardman Rotary Club, Kennedy Family Trust/SJK Trust, Helen Stambaugh.
       •Exterior renovation of the Oswald Detchon House, a local historic landmark.
       •North Trail project, an 8-foot wide paved ADA accessible walkway that travels parallel to the main drive in the park and connects all park facilities, as well as connecting to existing nature trail system, four miles of trails, funded by an ODNR Recreational Trail Grant
       •Renovation and expansion of the Georgeanna Parker Activity Center.
       •Marge Hartman’s Paws Town at Boardman Park, developed in conjunction with a non-profit committee, Friend of Paws Town, Inc., organized by Boardman Township Administrator Jason Loree and his wife, Abbey that led to the development of a 3.25-acre dog park, designed for dogs to exercise and play off-leash in a controlled environment under the supervision of their owners
       •Departmentalized maintenance operations, delineating daily duties and responsibilities; which resulted in more efficient and effective operations.
       •Web site and online reservations.
       •Military concerts and fireworks. Upon the completion of the Maag Outdoor Arts Theatre, initiated and established the annual Military Band Concerts and fireworks displays. He encouraged and eventually convinced the U.S. Army Field Band and Soldiers Chorus to perform at the park for the first time in 1996, and nurtured the relationship over the years to where the park is now part of their Summer schedule. Additionally, Slagle developed a relationship with the B.J. Alan Fireworks Co., headed by Boardman native Bruce Zoldan, where they are now one of the park’s annual sponsors.
       •Haunted Hay Rides and Family Night events.
       •Pepsi Vending and Donations. Under Slagle, Boardman Park initiated and implemented the placement of Pepsi vending machines within the park as a new revenue stream. As part of the Vending Machine agreement, Pepsi donated to Capital Projects (Maag Theatre, $6,000) and Kids’ Town awnings ($3,000) and a $1,000 annual sponsorship.
      “Most importantly, Boardman Park is about our community,” Slagle said this week. All of the improvements during his lengthy tenure have been the result of community involvement and gives the park a unique niche, where volunteerism and donations have played such a key role in the development of Boardman Park.
     
      PHOTO: BOARDMAN PARK’S Executive Director, Dan Slagle Jr., pictured, has worked his entire adult life at the Green Oasis.
     

     In response to the severe weather event that was responsible for flash flooding throughout various neighborhoods and a EF0 Tornado in Boardman Township, Mahoning County Ohio, Boardman Township is asking residents who experienced damage related to the storm to use the dedicated number of 330-716-0038 and leave your name, address, phone number and type of damage to property. We are collecting this information in conjunction with the Mahoning County Emergency Management Office to try and get a disaster declaration.
      Please keep any photo or video of storm damage. As this process develops further assessment teams may contact those who call-in for on-site visits.

     School Safety will be the topic of the first Boardman Local Schools
      Community Dialogue, whose purpose is to inform the community at large of the various issues and concerns facing us all. The forum will be held
      Thursday, September 15, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall at Boardman United Methodist Church, 6809 Market St. Presenting the School Safety topic will be Tim Saxton, Boardman Schools Superintendent; Mike Sweeney, School Resource Officer; and Chief Todd Werth, of the Boardman Police. After the presentation, there will be a question-and-answer time
      period. The Community Dialogue will return on November 3 and February 9 to discuss other topics of interest with professionals in the area. The forums are open to the public.

     BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      Boardman Park’s 75th anniversary celebration drew more than 10,000 persons last Saturday to Boardman Township’s ‘Green Oasis.’
      The park was founded in Nov., 1947, when voters approved its formation by a 4-1 vote; followed by a 1-mil tax levy in 1948. The levy to this day, still provides the bulk of funding for the park district’s estimated $1.3 million annual budget.
      Prior to its formation, the land on which the park sits was part of a 123-acre site of what the federal government called ‘surplus federal lands.’ Boardman Township purchased the property for $14,500 in 1946, and then turned around and sold the land to William F. Maag Jr. (WFMJ), who needed 51 acres to build a transmitter for his radio station. He then donated the rest of the property back to Boardman Township for the establishment of Boardman Park.
      Named as the first commissioners to Boardman Park were Ralph P. Smith, Lewis Barger and Atty. Hugh Manchester., who along with architect H. Walter Damon and architect/engineer Chet Long. surveyed the property and began to develop plans for a park, including the main drive that still serves the park today.
      A major addition to Boardman Park was completed in 1972, when St. James Church was moved from the center of the township to the front entrance of the park. The church, built in 1829, is among the oldest Episcopal church structures east of the Mississippi River.
      In its early years, there were two pavilions, a winter ice skating rink and a baseball field, that along with all its woods, were the main features of the park. The ‘big event’ each year was the annual Memorial Day ceremonies that were held around the flag pole.
      The park’s main ballfield, located near where the Maag Outdoor Arts Theater is today, served as home field for the Boardman Spartans baseball team. In the 1960s, famed NFL quarterback Joe Namath played baseball on that field as a member of the Beaver Falls High School diamond team.
      In 1949, Homer V. Holl Sr. was named as the first superintendent of Boardman Park. Chuck Wedekind served as superintendent from 1951 to 1956, when Ivor Jenkins took over the reigns. It was under Jenkins and park commissioners Phil Prosser, Frank Showalter and Frank Mastriana that St. James Church found its new home, gracing the entrance to Boardman Park and all who pass by on heavily-traveled Rt. 224.
      Jenkins served until 1975 when John Holzbach took over the superintendent’s duties.
      Under Holzbach, Boardman Park began to develop an historical village that today includes the Beardsley-Walter Diehm house, the Oswald Detch House and the Schiller-Chuey summer kitchen.
      In addition, the gazebo that stands in the park today, was constructed, and the Georgeanna Parker Activity Center that houses the park district’s offices was constructed in 1976, the same year the annual Music in the Park concerts were begun.
      Holzbach drew the ire of Township Trustees in the early 1990s, when concerns were aired about park funds being spent on a private collection of nature books. He was replaced by Daniel Slagle Jr., who has directed Boardman Park’s operations since 1992.
      Under Slagle, the park district has prospered and greatly expanded its programming. Use of the park today draws more than 500,000 visitors annually, including at its biggest annual event, the Boardman Rotary Oktoberfest.
      The Oktoberfest might never have been held, as when first proposed, park directors expressed concern that so many in people in the park at one time could damage its landscaping.
      However, in 1976, Boardman Township held its Bicentennial Celebration at Boardman Park and the event drew upwards of 15,000 people---paving the way the next year for the first Oktoberfest.
      When Slagle took over the duties of leading Boardman Park, he proposed a mission statement that was approved by the Board of Commissioners, providing guidance for the many improvements under his tenure.
      That mission statement called for the park district “to provide a diversity of recreational and educational opportunities in an environment that lends itself to pleasant family experiences.”
      For example, in 1993, Kids Town Playground was completed with the help of a large outpouring of community support, including hundreds of volunteers who built the playground.
      In 1994, a hike and bike trail was completed, and in 1996, the Maag Outdoor Arts Theater was built. A year later, the Elton Beard family cabin and Hofmaster Pavilion was built.
      Today, Boardman Park not only encompasses its original acreage, but also includes seven ‘open space’ lands scattered throughout Boardman Township, as well as the Southern Park Stables and the Clarence Smith Homestead (both located by Washington Blvd.).
      In 1972, when Slagle began his career at Boardman Park, serving as commissioners were Frank Mastriana, George Economus and Phil Prosser. Others who served on the park board during Slagle’s tenure are Tom Masters, Janie Jenkins, Mark Luke, Jack Russell, Gwen Smith, Dr. Robert Johnson and Josh Zarlenga; as well as current commissioners Joyce Mistovich, Trent Cailor and Ken Goldsboro.
      In remarks at last Saturday’s celebration, Joyce Mistovich, chairperson of the park’s board of commissioners noted “With support from the public and our visitors, Boardman Park has evolved into one of the most unique and popular recreation areas in the Mahoning Valley.
      “Boardman Park has grown tremendously over these 75 years [and] all of this has occurred as we have been operating on the equivalent of a one-mil levy for 74 years.”

     BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      The Boardman Police Department has received a $628,358.56 grant from the Ohio Violent Crime Reduction Grant Program, Gov. Mike DeWine announced last week.
      The bulk of the funding, some $435,200 is set aside for “retention bonuses” for the 61-member Boardman Police Department and the staff of 15 persons who work in the township’s dispatching department. The bonuses will be paid of over a two-year period and range from a $3,500 yearly bonus to senior members of the department to $2,000 for lesser-serving officers. The township’s dispatchers will receive yearly bonuses between $2,400 annually to $1,500 annually depending on their term of service.
      Earlier this year, Trustees Brad Calhound, Larry Moliterno and Tom Costello approved bonues of $1,250 for all township employee, using funds provided by the American Rescue Act.
      Additionally, $36,000 is designated for law enforcement hiring bonuses for 12 new police officers, according to the grant application provided to The Boardman News by the Ohio Department of Public Safety.
      Another $137,158 is ear-marked for two, new police officers, and $20,000 is directed for a video recording system that will update the department’s current system.
      Governor DeWine, in partnership with the Ohio General Assembly, created the Ohio Violent Crime Reduction Grant Program to give local law enforcement additional tools to address violence, including increases in crime associated with law enforcement retirements and resignations.
      The program is funded through both the state operating budget and with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds dedicated to first responders to counter various pressing issues exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, including violent crime. The grant announced last week is funded through ARPA.
      According to the grant application, violence in the Boardman community has increased since the pandemic began.
      “Boardman Township has not been immune to the effects of the national increases in violent crime.
      “During the COVID-19 pandemic, our jurisdiction experienced an increase in violent crimes similar to what has occurred nationally.
      “Specifically in Boardman Township, felonious assaults have increased 33% from 2019 to 2020; rape was up 28% from 2019 to 2021; robberies increased 17% from 2019 to 2020; and aggravated burglaries increased 85% from 2019 to 2021,” says the grant application.
      Additionally, the application notes “Boardman, like so many other communities, has had its share of difficulties during the pandemic.
      “From 2019 to 2021, there was a nearly 200% increase in the amount of drug overdoses and a nearly 400% increase in overdose deaths in
      Boardman Township.
      “The increase of illicit drug activity with the resulting increase in overdoses during the pandemic has had a direct impact on [the Boardman] community and safety services resources.”
      Lead author of the grant was longtime Boardman policeman, Lt. John Allsopp.
      Narrative
      A narrative provided within the grant application, says the following-----
      “As in many parts of the country, the coronavirus pandemic has had multiple adverse impacts on our local community in Boardman Township, Ohio. The Boardman Police Department’s ability to safely complete our stated mission and also keep our officers and employees safe and well has been made increasingly difficult. In addition to the daily requirements of responding to calls for service, conducting proactive enforcement operations, training and administrative tasks, we have had to put into place many measures to mitigate the risks that the pandemic posed. This has increased the level of stress on our employees and adversely impacted on our ability to adequately address violent crime in a proactive manner. To compound this problem, the nation has seen the rate of aggravated assaults increase nearly 12% between 2019 and 2020, with a stated increase in overall violent crime increasing in the country of over 5%. “As our crime statistics have shown, Boardman is certainly not immune to the effects of these national increases in violent crime. Boardman Township...is a suburb directly south of the city of Youngstown. The target population that will immediately benefit from this Violence Reduction (including the purchase of vital technology and equipment) and retention bonuses, incentives, and activities initiative are not just the 40,889 (2010 census data) residents of Boardman Township, that as the economic hub of Mahoning County, is estimated by traffic studies to have a daily service population of approximately 100,000 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.
      “The most recent data available for the demographics of Boardman Township reveal ...9.9% of Boardman Township residents live in
      poverty.
      “To the north and west of Boardman Township, is a direct boundary with Youngstown, which has approximately 66,500 residents...Some 38% of the population lives below the poverty line, the third highest poverty rate among U.S. cities.
      “Youngstown is also the only U.S. city where more than half of all households earn less than $25,000 a year. The low incomes are reflected in the city’s low property values. The typical home in Youngstown is worth just $43,300, less than a quarter of the national median home value of $205,000.
      “Like many poor cities, crime rates are high in Youngstown. There were 3,780 property crimes for every 100,000 city residents in 2016, well above the national property crime rate of 2,451 per 100,000.
      “Again, as the major retail and shopping hub of the area, many Youngstown residents travel to Boardman Township.
      “Proactively addressing violent crime is not only a focus and absolute necessity for Boardman Township, but also as it directly impacts the well-being of our surrounding communities as well.
      “The increase in overdoses and overdose deaths...is compounded as that activity is closely associated with other related conduct to include both crimes of violence and property crimes in [Boardman].
      One area of note which will be a focus using any resources obtained through this grant is the identifying, developing investigations, and disrupting instances of human trafficking (prostitution). Boardman has five motels and six hotels concentrated in two areas of the township.
      “To address the general instances of violent crime, to include specifically targeting human trafficking (prostitution), we will utilize this grant funding to expand a marked patrol presence, along with initiating an unmarked presence
      in identified problem areas.
      “In addition to increased enforcement, we will leverage existing relationships with non-governmental agencies to identify and link victims of human trafficking to services .
      “Some specific objectives [the Boardman Police Department] would like to achieve are overall, reduce the percentages of all violent crime in all listed areas where we had an increase from 2019. Specifically, reduce robberies and aggravated burglaries by 5% in 2022 and an additional 10% each in 2023---Achieved through additional targeted patrols, funded through this grant, in neighborhood and business districts identified as having high instances of these crimes. These patrols will also facilitate a quicker response to other instances of violent crime which will positively impact deterrence and the likelihood of initiating arrests at the scene of these occurrences.
      “[The Boardman Police Department] would want to proactively initiate seven new investigations into human trafficking (prostitution) instances in 2022, and an additional thirteen in 2023, with the objective of identifying and pursuing an investigation into instances focusing on tying them to individuals or groups perpetrating human trafficking (prostitution) operations in [Boardman] and surrounding communities.
      “Being freed from responding to calls for service, the additional targeted patrols will focus on officer interaction with the public in the affected areas. We will further work with community-based organizations to facilitate identifying and linking victims of violent crime to available services, including the Coalition for a Drug-Free Mahoning County, the Mahoning County Mental Health and Recovery Board, and Compass Family and Community Services that offers support for domestic abuse , sexual assault, and other victims of violent crime.
      “With the added focused patrols, we will have the ability and time to interact, respond, and meet with community block watch programs and business associations to foster relationships to better address and respond to violent crimes.
      “In May 2021, the U.S Treasury Department announced the State of Ohio would receive aid as part of President Biden’s coronavirus relief package. However, after issues arose about including Ohio townships in this funding, it was determined that Boardman would get just over $4 million over two years.
      “...To put it in further perspective, the city of Youngstown is set to receive approximately $82.7 million in funding through American Rescue Plan Funding.
      “That money obviously goes directly to issues within the city of Youngstown, while again a significant number of their residents work and visit Boardman on a daily basis. This grant gives Boardman the ability to proactively address and reduce violent crime for the residents of several area communities to include the citizens of the of Youngstown and other surrounding areas.”
      The grant application notes that “The population that is going to served will be both residents of Boardman and also the surrounding communities which rely heavily on [Boardman Township] for important services to include medical care, groceries, jobs, and other important necessities,
      “The planned initiative in the two hotel/motel districts [in Boardman] will be focused to identify and intercede with the most vulnerable victims from both the extended Youngstown metropolitan area and those traveling interstate.
      “One concentration of motels in Boardman is adjacent to Youngstown, with the hotels in another section being adjacent to and frequented by those traveling along an interstate highway cutting through [Boardman].
      Each area is prone to instances of human trafficking (prostitution), drug activity, and other violent crime that this grant provides an opportunity to specifically and consistently address, while still maintaining the ability to address calls for service and a proactive presence necessitated by the issues aggravated by the pandemic.
      “...The total target population including Boardman Township that could potentially benefit from this violence reduction initiative could very well impact an area up to 3,479 square miles and serves 909,522 residents (2010 census data).
      Bonus for Police and Dispatchers
      According to the grant application, “In setting goals and priorities to reduce violent crime in the community, which has been exasperated by the pandemic, we are additionally cognizant of the impact that reduced hiring and retention issues have and the challenges that they present in addressing violence in Boardman. The Boardman Police Department (BPD) has recently lost a multitude of police officers and other employees, who have left the agency for higher paying jobs.
      “A focus of the request for grant funding is to increase staffing presence that address specifically the victims of violent crime.
      ‘Retention incentives/bonuses can only be paid if there is a likelihood of the employees leaving without the incentives/bonuses.
      “Since January 2020, the BPD has lost at least 11 employees, with several more expected in the near future. These losses can be attributed to the increased stress of the job during the pandemic and the increasingly competitive job market in the country. The frequency of these losses has affected over 10% of our work force so far and is expected to continue and likely increase.
      “The high turnover of experienced trained law enforcement personnel directly impacts on our ability to both reactively and proactively respond to violent crime in our community. If unabated, it will result in increasing instances of crime, an inability to investigate and disrupt the most egregious repeat offenders, and an inability to focus on better assisting victims of crime. An incentive bonus program, as allowed for in this grant, has an immediate direct positive impact on our ability to retain valued personnel and immediately effects our ability to address violent crime issues.”
     

      ASSOCIATES AND STAFF AT Mayo and Associates Realtors, of Boardman, held a fundraising event to not only raise money for a great cause, but to also give a lucky winner (Nicole Haggerty), tickets to see Luke Bryan in concert. The staff raised $2500 for the Down Syndrome Association of the Valley (DSAV) and the lucky winner not only saw Luke Bryan in concert at Wean Park but also enjoyed a pre-show dinner at Bistro 1907. The staff was very excited to present DSAV with their check at their recent annual summer sales awards luncheon at Tippecanoe Country Club. Pictured, from left, Charley Althof, Rachel Liguore, Bob Roberts, John McCarthy, Dan Durkin, Michael Duponty, Emily Estok, Jack Fergus, Petrina Antonucci, Christina Pascarella, Carole McTigue, Amy Walp and Erin Zumbar.

     BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      A suspect in the theft of a catalytic converter avoided his arrest last week by walking out of Mercy Health/Youngstown where he was lodged under a ‘police hold.’
      Leslie James Tate, 35, of 107 North Belle Vista, Youngstown, had been taken to the hospital for treatment of a staff infection, after he was charged with theft of a catalytic converter, criminal damaging and possession of drug abuse instruments on June 30.
      When first charged, police transported Tate to the Mahoning County Jail.
      “Tate was declined lodging due to a leg infection and was taken to Mercy Health/Youngstown,” Ptl. William Woods said.
      At Mercy Health/Youngstown, the medical staff in the emergency department told police that Tate had a staff infection in his right calf, and advised he would need to be admitted to treat his injuries, Ptl. Troy Mackall said, adding that Mercy Health PD was advised a ‘police hold’ was placed on Tate.
      “I further advised Tate he was not to leave the hospital prior to being transported to the Mahoning County Jail, or he would face an additional charge of escape,” Officer Mackall said.
      Eight hours later, at 10:00 p.m., police were told Tate escaped from Mercy Health.
      “BPD dispatch advised that Mercy Health Main Campus PD called, stating that Tate ‘walked out’ of the hospital approximately an hour ago,” Ptl. Earl Neff said.
      Tate came to the attention of Boardman police following a call about 10:20 a.m. on June 30 that a catalytic converter was being stolen from a vehicle in the rear parking lot of the Little Greek restaurant, 220 Boardman-Canfield Rd.
      When police went to the call, they spoke with a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier who said he had seen a man “running between apartments” on nearby Locust Ave.
      During a canvass of the area, Sgt. Paul Grimes found a blue and white bag that contained a catalytic converter and a battery-powered saw. Police also located surveillance footage that showed a man crawling underneath a car.
      About two hours later, police received a tip that a man had been spotted ‘looking through car ports’ on Locust Ave., and the man was also going door-to-door, asking people if they had seen the blue and white bag.
      While checking the tip, Ptl. Patrick Klingensmith observed a car leaving an apartment building lot of Locust Ave. The vehicle was stopped and the driver was identified as Walter Colon. A front seat passenger was identified as Dessie Howell, 30, of 129 Jean St., Campbell, Oh. Police said in the rear seat was Tate.
      “When Howell was ordered out of the front passenger seat, he reached over his left side and was fidgeting with something between the seat and center console...A loaded firearm (9mm handgun) was...located between the seat and console,” Ptl. Mike Dado said.
      Colon told police he is a “private-type Uber driver” who had been contacted by Howell to pick him up on Louis St. in Youngstown, and then ‘pick-up some friends’ and take them to a motel in Trumbull County.
      “He advised that he picked Howell up...[and]...took him to a motel in Boardman where they picked-up Tate, whom he did not know; then took ‘them’ to an apartment on Locust Ave. where Tate got out and started looking in a dumpster.”
      A female told police she is Tate’s girlfriend and they had been staying at the Wagon Wheel Motel in Boardman.
      She told police she had ‘walked to the store and just got back’ to their motel room when Tate told her ‘he needed to go somewhere to get something off a guy.’
      Police said a witness to the theft of the catalytic converter “positively” identified Tate as a suspect in the theft.
      Police said a search of the vehicle that had been stopped coming out of a Locust Ave. parking lot turned-up a “hypodermic needle on the rear seat where Tate was seated.” Tate was additionally charged with possession of a drug abuse instrument.
      Police said Howell has a record as a convicted felon, and when placed under arrest, Ptl. Dado said the suspect was concealing something in his hand.
      “The white substance was field-tested positive as 10.3 grams of fentynal,” Ptl. Jamison Diglaw said.
      Howell was charged with having weapons under a disability, improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle and felony possession of drugs and taken to the county jail pending his appearance in court.
      Tate, as well as a woman identified Shayla Patrice Demar, 29, are facing charges for reportedly stealing the catalytic converter from a car parked in a hospital parking lot in New Castle, Pa. in March.

     Meeting last week, the Boardman Local School Board approved two resolutions indicating their intent to place two renewal tax levies on the Nov. 8 general election ballot---a 5.9 mil tax issue for current expenses, and a 1.6 mil issue for permanent improvements.
      The current expense 5.9 mil levy, first passed in 2003, generates approximately $4.97 million. The 1.6 mil levy, first passed in 1988, generates approximately $1.37 million
      The school board also approved an appropriations resolution report for fiscal year 2022 showing that total appropriations for the school district between July 2021 and June 2022 totaled $69.049 million.

     ‘I have had the opportunity to lead an extraordinary faculty and students who very much have earned this
      recognition right beside me’
     
      Nancy Landgraff, 62, of Ron Joy Place, Boardman, whose leadership has brought national and statewide accolades to Youngstown State University’s Department of Physical Therapy, is the second President James P. Tressel Endowed Chair in Leadership.
      “Dr. Landgraff’s hard work, expertise and her commitment to the physical therapy profession over the course of 25 years at YSU has transformed PT into one of the university’s most successful academic programs,” said Brien Smith, provost, who made the appointment. “We are fortunate to have someone of Nancy’s caliber and passion here at YSU.”
      The endowed chair was created in 2021 through a $1.6 million gift from a group of YSU Foundation trustees in recognition of Tressel’s leadership at YSU and across the region. The honor is bestowed annually on a YSU department chair with an established record of outstanding leadership. The award also comes with a stipend and expenses to support development and growth of the department. Nancy Wagner, chair of the YSU Centofanti School of Nursing, was the first recipient.
      “During her 25 years at Youngstown State University, Nancy has had numerous accomplishments across all academic realms, including in teaching, research and scholarship, and university, community and national service,” Jeffery Allen, dean of the YSU Bitonte College of Health and Human Services, said in his nomination letter.
      Landgraff, who holds a PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences from the University of Pittsburgh, said she was humbled by the appointment. “At YSU, I have had the opportunity to lead an extraordinary faculty and students who very much have earned this recognition right beside me,” she said. “For all of them, I am truly grateful.”
      Landgraff, who also holds a bachelor’s in Physical Therapy from the University of Pittsburgh and a master’s in Health Science from the University of Florida, worked nearly 15 years in the PT profession before joining the YSU faculty in 1997, becoming chair in 2012.
      Under Landgraff’s leadership, the YSU Doctor of Physical Therapy program has been named the statewide Program of the Year for two consecutive years (2020 and 2021) by the Ohio Physical Therapy Association, besting the state’s 10 other PT programs to receive the award.
      The YSU DPT, a 2.5-year full-time doctoral program started in 2008, has grown from annual cohorts of 19 students to annual cohorts of 45 students. The program has graduated 376 students, including 35 at Spring Commencement this past May.
      As chair, Landgraff also oversaw the renovation and expansion of PT training and academic spaces in Cushwa Hall, and she supported the development of a new PhD program in Health Sciences and a new master’s program in Health and Human Services, both of which continue to grow.
      Landgraff’s scholarly work is extensive, including nearly three dozen academic presentations across the world, from New Orleans to the Netherlands, San Diego to China. She has received more than two dozen research grants totaling nearly $100,000 and authored seven peer-reviewed scholarly articles and three abstracts. She also provides editorial/manuscript review for several scholarly journals related to neurological and cardiovascular disease as well as the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
      Landgraff’s community service is equally extensive, volunteering for Walk With a Doc, the Marquette Challenge (for PT research), Where There’s a Wheel There’s a Way (accessibility awareness), Women in Science and Relay for Life. She had held leadership positions with the Ohio Physical Therapy Association, the America Heart/America Stroke Association in Mahoning County and Ohio Living-Park Vista Retirement Center. She also has served as a PT consultant for Steward Health/Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital in Warren.
      Landgraff also has an extensive list of honors, including an Excellence Award for Department Chairperson in Teaching, Phi Kappa Phi Honorary Society, YSU Watson Merit Award for Academic Leadership, YSU Distinguished Professor Awards for Public Service and for Scholarship, the American Physical Therapy Association’s Dorothy Briggs Memorial Scientific Inquiry Award and Ohio Physical Therapy Association Research Committee’s Recognition for Contribution to Research

     NEW CENTURION---The family of James G. Nagle, of Pinetree Lane, honored him last Saturday at Boardman Park where he was feted on his 100th birthday. Mr. Nagle was born July 12, 1922 and is a retired school teacher at Lowellville High School where he taught science classes. His wife, the former Lenore McLaughlin Kerrigan Nagle, passed away on June 17, 2010. Pictured, from left, surrounding Mr. Nagle are Pat Kerrigan, Maureen Kerrigan, Betty Winland, Kitty King, Nancy Kerrigan and Tom Kerrigan.

      The Butler Institute of American Art is offering classes for new docents (volunteer tour guides). Docents are trained museum volunteers who offer teaching, understanding, and appreciation of art through guided tours of the permanent collection. Docents provide a valuable support to the operation of the museum and to the public through their understanding of the museum’s collection. “The docents are a dedicated group of well-trained volunteers who continue to be one of The Butler Institute of American Art’s most valuable resources,” says Joyce Mistovich, director of education. No previous museum experience is necessary, but a willingness to participate and commitment to study the masterpieces in the museum collection is required. Classes will begin in mid-September 2022 and run through mid-April 2023.
     
      For additional information call Joyce Mistovich, Director of Education, in The Butler Education Department. 330.743.1107 ext. 1101

     Meeting last week, the Boardman Local School Board named Nick Deniakis as the new Supervisor of Transportation for the district at an annual salary of $56,605. He replaces Interim Director Kathy Fait. Deniakis has more than a decade of mechanic, shop foreman and supervisory experience and has been a mechanic at Boardman Local Schools for the past year. He’s a Boardman HS graduate, Class of 2001, and says he’s looking forward to working with a great team of drivers and serving the families of Boardman. The school board also granted limited, one year contracts for the 2022-23 year for Gina Rohan, math teacher at Boardman HS, replacing Jeana Carpenter; Victoria White, district psychologist, replacing Cynthia Davenport; and Eleni Yargo, science teacher at Boardman HS, replacing Larry Davis.

     “This evening is a testament to Mr. DeBartolo’s belief that if we all continue to work together, we can provide opportunities to the young people in our valley.”
     
      BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      An elegant evening at the Covelli Center in downtown Youngstown last Friday, June 17, raised more than $200,000 for the Edward J. DeBartolo Memorial Scholarship Foundation. Guests enjoyed food stations from some of the area’s top restaurants and chefs, a live auction that included a trip to the next Super Bowl, and music featuring the sounds of Frank Sinatra presented by local crooner Angelo Babbaro and the Skatch Anderssen Orchestra. Some 350 people attended the event.
      And, the game of football spiced the evening with many grid celebrities, including coaches and players in attendance---Among them, former Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Fame running back Franco Harris, who was silent when asked about his ‘Immaculate Reception’ in 1972 that gave his team a 13-7 playoff win over the Oakland Raiders. The play is often heralded as the greatest play ever.
      On hand were many members of the San Francisco 49ers. (The team was purchased by the Boardman-based DeBartolo family in 1977 and under the leadership of Ed DeBartolo Jr. became the first franchise in NFL history to win five Super Bowl titles).
      As introduced by Dr. John York, co-chairman of the Niners, they included---
       •Azeez Al-Shaair, a fourth year undrafted free agent linebacker. Last year Azeez had 102 tackles, 2 sacks and 2 fumble recoveries.
       •Aaron Banks, who was a 2021 second round All American draft pick out of Notre Dame. He will be the Niners left guard in the upcoming season.
       •Samson Ebukam, who is in his sixth year in the NFL and second with the 49ers. He had 4.5 sacks as a defensive lineman last year.
       •Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, who is entering his fourth season as a linebacker for the 49ers. After spending his rookie year on the team’s practice squad, he has appeared in 28 games, including three starts, over the last two seasons.
       •Talanoa Hufanga, who is entering his second season as a safety for the 49ers. Hufanga came to San Francisco as a fifth-round draft pick out of University of Southern California in the 2021. He returned the blocked punt for a touchdown in the NFC divisional game against the Green Bay Packers, as the 49ers won, 13-10.
       •Drake Jackson, will be in his rookie season as a second round defensive lineman from USC. He was second team All-PAC-12 pick twice during his collegiate career.
      Also on hand were a pair of Forty-Niner Hall of Famers, Tom Rathman and Bryant Young.
      Rathman spent 23 years with San Francisco as both a player and coach. He was a member of two back-to-back Super Bowl championship teams (Super Bowl XXIII and XXIV). Following his playing career, he spent 15 years coaching San Francisco’s running backs, including Frank Gore, over a pair of stints (1996-2002 and 2009-16). Rathman finished his NFL career with 2,020 rushing yards, 320 receptions for 2,684 yards with a total of 34 touchdowns.
      Young is the Niners’ newest Hall of Famer. He will be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this August. He was the 49ers first round pick (7th overall) in the 1994 draft. He played his 14 seasons with the team and was a member of the Niners Super Bowl XXIX team. He was the NFL’s defensive Rookie of the Year in 1994, named All Pro four times. After a devastating leg injury in 1998, he was the Comeback Player of the Year in 1999.
      In addition to members of the Niners, several local football personalities were at the Memorial Scholarship Foundation event.
      They included Paul McFadden and Jim Tressel, out of Youngsown State football lore; and current Penguins Head Coach Doug Phillips; and former Cardinal Mooney standout Ed Muransky (current owner/operator of Southwoods Health).
      McFadden, who is currently president of the Youngstown State University Foundation, gained note for his barefoot kicking style. He made the Philadelphia Eagles roster as a 12th-round pick in 1984 and earned Rookie of the Year honors. McFadden played in the NFL with the Eagles, Atlanta Falcons and New York Giants for six seasons (1984-1989). McFadden was originally recruited at YSU as a soccer player, and moved onto the gridiron in 1981 as a placekicker for the Penguins under Head Coach Bill Narduzzi. The first field goal he ever attempted, he made, from 54 yards out, at Murray State.
      Tressel, current president of Youngstown State, led the Penguins to four national titles and six appearances in national championship games. After a stellar coaching career at YSU, he moved on to Ohio State where he won the national title in 2002 and his teams also dumped rival Michigan seven times during his tenure as head coach.
      Muransky played football for Cardinal Mooney High School under legendary Head Coach Don Bucci. He was selected in the fourth round of the 1982 NFL draft by the Oakland Raiders. He played in 24 games and was a member of the Raiders Super Bowl XXVIII championship team.
      Phillips came to YSU from the University of Cincinnati, where he was an assistant coach under Luke Fickell. Since Tressel’s tenure, only Bo Pelini, Phillips predecessor, has led the Pens to an appearance in the national title game.
      The grid game not withstanding, the accent of the evening was on the DeBartolo Memorial Scholarship Foundation.
      “This evening is a testament to Mr. DeBartolo’s belief that if we all continue to work together, we can provide opportunities to the young people in our valley,” Dr. York said.
      The Edward J. DeBartolo Memorial Scholarship Foundation has awarded more than $1.6 million in scholarships over the past 25 years and strives to provide advanced education for deserving valley students well into the future.
      Denise DeBartolo York and her husband, Dr. John York, San Francisco 49ers co-chairs and longtime education advocates, awarded 17 scholarships to graduating high school seniors from Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties during ceremonies held in May at the Lake Club.
      The scholarships, part of The Edward J. DeBartolo Memorial Scholarship Foundation, totaled $170,000 and were presented to the recipients at The Lake Club during a luncheon for the students and their families.
      The scholarship was first established by DeBartolo York’s father and several close friends, who worked to provide commendable youth the opportunity to continue their education.
      The scholarship foundation, run by the Yorks in Mr. DeBartolo’s honor, serves to provide the same platform for excellent area youth in need of financial assistance.
      Presenting sponsor for the event was Phantom Fireworks and the Zoldan family.
      Major sponsors included Brown & Brown, Bury Financial, the Cafaro Foundation, Compco Industries, Covelli Enterprises, Candy and Edward DeBartolo, Furrie Vitullo Group Sparkle Markets, Garry and Wanda Mrozek and family, Hill Barth & King, JJ Cafaro Investment Trust, Mercy Health, Mercy Health Foundation, Muransky Companies, PNC, Rick’s Boot Factory Outlet, RT Vernal Paving, Simon Property, Trumbull Supply, Wesley Family Foundation/FLICORE, and Woeber Mustard Company.

     Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has named Dr. Sergul A. Erzurum, a well-known local ophthalmologist and vice president of Eye Care Associates, to the Youngstown State University Board of Trustees.
      A YSU alumna and Boardman native, Dr. Erzurum, is a surgeon and owner of the Center for Advanced Eye Surgery in Poland. She will serve a term that starts June 27, 2022, and runs through April 30, 2031. She replaces Atty. James E. ‘Ted’ Roberts, whose term has expired.
      Co-founder of Sight for All United and the founder of Doctors for Sight, Dr. Erzurum earned a bachelor’s degree in Combined Science from YSU in 1984 and a doctorate in Medicine from Northeast Ohio Medical University in 1988. She did her ophthalmology residency at Northwestern University in Chicago and pediatric fellowship at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago. She is currently a full professor and master teacher at the Northeast Ohio Medical University and a clinical associate professor at the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine.
      She also served as chair of the Division of Ophthalmology at Northside Hospital in Youngstown until 2018 and as vice chair of the Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group, a national research group. She has a long list of research activities, more than 60 publications and presentations and extensive professional service, including a current member of the Ad Hoc Vision Advisory Board for the Ohio Department of Health.
      Among her recognitions and awards: National Philanthropy Day Award, Essilor Difference Maker Award, Advocate Award from Akron Children’s Hospital and the Dedicated Service Award from the United Way of the Mahoning Valley.

     On Saturday, June 18, the Most Rev. David J. Bonnar, Bishop of Youngstown, will ordain Rev. Mr. Connor Hetzel to the priesthood of Jesus Christ. The ordination liturgy will take place at the Cathedral of Saint Columba in Youngstown at 10:30 a.m.
      Upon ordination as a priest, Deacon Hetzel will be assigned to serve as a Parochial Vicar (Associate Pastor) at a parish in the Diocese of Youngstown. His assignment will be announced during the ordination Mass.
      Deacon Hetzel, 27, is the son of Brian and Kristen Hetzel, of Havenwood Dr. He was born in Rockford, Illinois, and attended Catholic schools in both Illinois and Wisconsin, before his family moved to Boardman in 2004 and became parishioners of St. Charles Borromeo Parish. He attended St. Charles School for two years, was homeschooled for four years, and then attended and graduated from Boardman High School.
      He is a graduate of Youngstown State University, with a bachelor’s degree in physics. While there, he was an active participant at the Newman Center. In May 2022, he received his Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Theology from Saint Mary Seminary and Graduate School of Theology in Wickliffe, Ohio (near Cleveland).
      As a transitional deacon, while he completed his seminary formation, Deacon Hetzel was assigned to Christ Our Savior Parish in Struthers followed by St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Canton.
     
      PICTURED: Connor Hetzel will be ordained into the priesthood on Sat., June 18. The soon to be Father Connor Hetzel will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving at 2:00 p.m. on Sun., June 19 at St. Charles.
     

     CHRISTOPHER J. ANDERSON, 33, OF 77 CLIFTON Dr., Boardman, was named chairman of the Mahoning County Democratic Party on June 4 during a confab held at St. Luke Church on South Ave. Anderson will succeed Joyce Kale-Pesta. Anderson says his goal is unity, modernizing communications through social media campaigns, protecting incumbents, building a strong list of democratic candidates, and running fully coordinated campaigns. “Job one will be uniting our party and getting us moving in the same direction,” Anderson said. In Nov., 2017, the Ohio Democratic Party selected Anderson as the state’s young Democrat of the Year. Other officers of the Mahoning County Dem Party include Kale-Pesta, first vice-chairman; Rick Calutti, treasurer; Katherine Miller, secretary; Jaladah Islam, vice-chair/labor relations; and Tito Brown, vice chair/minority affairs.

     George Hill, 46, who was convicted two years after the May, 2020 death of his girlfriend, Jennifer Mullen, 35, of Shields Rd., was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court last week by Judge Anthony D’Apolito.
      Mullen died May 31, 2020, at St. Elizabeth Health Center from injuries sustained at her Shields Road apartment that she shared with Hill.
      Hill was arrested by Boardman police in Feb., 2021, after he was indicted by a Mahoning County Grand Jury in Dec., 2020 on charges murder, felonious assault and domestic violence in connection with Ms. Mullen’s death.
      On May 31, 2020, near 6:40 a.m., Boardman police were called to Mullen’s residence at 49 Shields Rd. when Hill reported she had overdosed.
      Hill told Ptl. Jamison Diglaw he resided with Mullen, who had been his girlfriend for a year.
      “He stated he called for medical attention when brown foam was found coming out of Mullen’s mouth and he could not wake her up,” Officer Diglaw said.
      Hill told police he and Mullen had been drinking at the Steel City Bar in Youngstown and she became intoxicated after consuming six to seven Long Island ice teas; and also claimed she had an argument with a bartender, then they drove back to her residence about 2:00 a.m.
      Once at the residence, Hill claimed that he and Mullen began to argue, after which, according to police, Hill said Mullen went to bed when he noticed she was bleeding from a head wound so he placed a towel on her head to stop the bleeding.
      Hill told Ptl. Diglaw he then went to sleep “for an hour or two” and when he awakened, he saw a brownish foam coming from her mouth and he could not wake her up, “but she was breathing.”
      “He believed it may have been an hour or two before he called EMS, due to him having to charge her phone, as his phone does not make calls,” Officer Diglaw said.
      Mullen was transported by ambulance to a local hospital where she died.
      Det. Greg Stepuk, of the Boardman Police department, said an autopsy was conducted in Cuyahoga County “showed little or no alcohol,” adding a urine sample confirmed no alcohol or drugs were in her system.
      Det Stepuk said he spoke with a bartender at Steel City who said vodka and Sprite was Mullen’s drink of choice.
      According to Det. Stepuk, Mullen suffered a fractured skull and had injuries and bruises all over her body.
      “Due to the amount of injuries, we believed she was severely beaten,” Det. Stepuk said.
      Hill also came to the attention of Boardman police in late Aug., 2019 after allegations were made that a 65-year-old man who lived on Argyle Ave. had been bilked-out of some $30,000 by caregivers over a four-month period.
      Reportedly Hill had lived at the home for several months, until he was asked to leave the home.
      At the time of his arrest on the murder charge, Hill was on the most wanted list of the U.S. Marshal’s Office.
      Mullen was a graduate of Cardinal Mooney High School.

     BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      A proposed stormwater park, dubbed the Forest Lawn Stormwater Park, to be located on the property of the current Market St. Elementary School, 5555 Market St., received a boost last week with the announcement that the project has been awarded a $750,000 capital grant from the state of Ohio.
      When completed, the Forest Lawn Stormwater Park will be a 14.6-acre green space on the property of the former elementary school that will be designed to improve surface water flows impacting up to 1,400 homes.
      It will include the creation of a passive park where people can gather and walk along a lighted sidewalk, complete with security cameras, as well as the entire site will be re-forested with appropriate plantings.
      Once completed, during heavy rainfalls, the project will be able to hold up to the equivalent of 9-feet of water (an estimated one million gallons) spread over the surface the size of a football field.
      Already the stormwater park has received allocations totaling some $3 million, including a $1.2 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), $1 million from Mahoning County Commissioners Anthony Traficanti, David Ditzler and Carol Rimedio-Righetti, a $500,000 grant from the state of Ohio and a $320,000 grant from H-2 Ohio.
      The current grant award will be used for property acquisition, parking lot construction and construction of an environmental education pavilion, thanks to the lobbying efforts of State Rep. Al Cutrona and State Sen. Michael Rulli.
      The environmental education pavilion will maximize educational opportunities at the stormwater park.

     63 seniors received diplomas from Cardinal Mooney High School during commencement exercises held Sun., May 29 at Stambaugh Auditorium in Youngstown, Oh.
      Recognized as valedictorian of the Mooney Class of 2022 was James Campbell, and salutorian was Drew Pecchia.
      Cardinal Mooney High School Class of 2022
      Mohamed Attia, Asia Baker, Emoni Barnes, Shayla Berger, Silas Blackshear, James Campbell, Demetrius Chambers, Vito Colella, Olivia DeCesare, Jack Desmond, Bridget DiVencenzo, Michael DiVencenzo, Daqua Douglas, Edward Driscoll, Brandon Evans, Alexa Fecko, Natalie Femia, Alexandra Fernandez Sanchez, Emyrre Figueroa, Alaina Francis, Jenna Frommelt, Isiah Givens, Tyler Hayes, Mick Hergenrother, Millie Heschmeyer, Tyrin Howell, Zachary Hryb, Jenna Hughes, Elise Johnson, Andre Jones, Asia Jones, Lavella Jones, James Litman, Brandon Lott,
      Christina Maruca, Davontae Miller, Brian Moore, Matthew Morales, Joseph Morrison, Dalton Nickell, Drew Pecchia, Jackson Pepperney, Jack Phillips, Savvas Pizanias, Alyssa Rapp, Grace Raymer, Gianna Reali, Savanna Reali, Zy’ere Rogers, Angelina Rotunno. Domingo Ruiz, Nailah Salahuddin, Alaina Scavina, Trinity Spencer, Sharlie Stewart, Tionde’ Stewart, Isabella Thomas, Mitchell Tofil, Keelee Torma, Savanna VanSuch, Kevon Weaver, Leona Whatley, A’niya Williams.
     

     Commencement for the Spartan Class of 2022 will be held Sunday, June 5 at 2:00 p.m. Approximately 346 graduating seniors will walk from Boardman High School into Spartan Stadium and be seated on the field for the ceremony.
      Stadium gates will open at 12:45 for guests. Graduates may bring as many guests as they wish to Spartan Stadium. Tickets are not required for an outdoor event.
      In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved to the high school gymnasium.
      The Boardman High School Class of 2022 has earned and accepted more than $3.7 million in scholarships.
      There are 26 ‘First in Class’ students who earned a perfect 4.0 gpa during their high school career. They are Lainey Beichner, Brendan Butler, Carter Cailor, Stephen Conti, Alexander DePinto, Li Peng DiMuzio, Lilliana Donatelli, Myra Garzanich, Taylor Greenaway, Marrwa Kermagi, Madison Lester, Jenna McCollum, Jenna Olexa, Alyssa Olsen, Nina Pilolli, Adrianna Quinlan, Nadia Rawhneh, Karlynn Riccitelli, Gabriella Roller, Brynna Schobel, Brittany Sellers, Ava Valko, Kira Vasko, Aroonrassamee Wongkeaitaroon, Justin Yocum and Anna Zheng.
      84 students earned honors diplomas for rigorous coursework completed.
      149 students are honors graduates with a 3.5 GPA or above.
      45 seniors also earned the President’s Award for Educational Excellence for superior academic achievement in math and reading.
      Boardman High School Class of 2022
      Rahma Ababseh, Mohammad Abbadi, Tawfiq Abuenaaj, Moaath Abuoraq, Riley Adams, Jamil Albdour, Alyssa Alberti, Ayed Alemaishat, Tyler Allison, Devon Alm, Aseel Alsamameh, Benjamin Alvarico, Amari Anderson, Louis Andrews, Gerick Angel, Annmarie Anos, Khalid Aras, William Arcuri, William Armour, Justin Atwood, Rachel Baghurst, Kaitlynn Baker, Jason Balentine, Anthony Barber, Ethan Barrett, Rees Beckman, Lucas Beeman, Lainey Beichner, Jordan Bell, Megan Bendel, Mario Berardi, Hollis Bernacki, Rachael Bharat, Allen Biggart, Justin Bina, Connor Blasco, Jacob Blazina, Kevin Bonavia, Alec Bosnjak, Samantha Breen, Cassidy Bryan, Benjamin Bucci, Luca Buonamici, Brendan Butler, Anthony Butto, Carter Cailor, Kayla Campbell, Chase Caroline, Ashli Casanova, Timothy Case, Ella Catanzarite, Scarlett Cave, Taylor Cayson, Seth Cervello, Weixi Chen, Daniel Chiaberta, Aiden Chunn, Logan Ciavarella, Sanayah Clay, Kellie Coffer, Faith Colkitt, Victoria Colovos, Viviana Condoleon, Cole Congson, Stephen Conti, Corey Cook, Jac Cordon, Adriana Cordova Rivas, David Coss, Phillip Crawford, Emily Crump, Tatyanna Cruz-Banks, Andre Joshua Cubarrubia, Leah Cuttica, Angelina D’Apruzzo, Jack Dascenzo, Kennedy Davis, Theodore Davis, Harmony DeFrank, Eric DeLeon, Trey DePietro, Alexander DePinto, Connor Dettmer, Nikol Diaz Rosario, Makenzie Dietz, Li Peng DiMuzio, Jacob Dohar, Lilliana Donatelli, Patrick Dorazio, Aaryan Dorff, Xavior Dorff, Gabriel Dorn, Lucas Dray, Charles Duncan, Atticus Duster, Lydia Eicher, Bella Eliser, Dre’Ana Elliott, Gavin Fernandez, Alec Ferrebee, Daniel Fetty, Emmah Fishbeck, Malysea Flood, Braedynn Flynn, Danielle Flynn, Elijah Foster, Mary Frommelt, Jason Fuese, Mia Gagliano, Rhiannon Gallimore, Olivia Garland, Yazmine Garner, Myra Garzanich, Thomas George, Erin Giampietro, Emma Gigax, Kamryn Gilger, Jacqueline Gollings, Lynnz Gonzalez, Daniel Gordiejew, Michael Grace, Jack Graff, Vanessa Graham, Destini Gray-Scott, Taylor Greenaway, Alyssa Greenwalt, Raymond Griggy, Leslie Grimes, Emma Haase, Khadija Hadidan, Brianna Hall, Helena Haloulos, Noelle Hammar, Mia Hammerton, Shania Hancox, Ashley Harding, Nat Hardy, Nathan Hargrove, Jayden Harris, Dana Haus, David Haybarger, Destinee Hayes, Sierra Hernan, Shane Hetzel, Anthony Hightower, Sa’Riya Hildreth, Thomas Hite, Caroline Ho, Samantha Hoffman, Sofia Hoffman, Aidan Holt, Aaron Horton, Dylan Humphreys, Aaron Hura, Ella Huston, Tristen Hutchko, Kaylie Hutter, Ahmad Imeishat, Antonio Jacobson, Naiume Jairam, Patricia Jeffrey, Elizabeth Johnson, Todd Johnston, Allison Jones, Noah Jones, Evan Jornigan, Brayden Joseph-Robinson, Nikolaus Keil, Austin Kelly, Madison Kelso, Marrwa Kermagi, Guevara Sanad Khatib, Kaylee Khlem, Naji Khoury, Camden Kidd, Declan Klein, Zachary Knickerbocker, Ypatia Kolidakis, Ryder Kreps, Ashton LaBelle, Korynne Lamparty, Donte Lancaster, Raiden Lateef, Katelyn Laughlin, Keisha Laviena, Rocco LaVolpa, Lyna Le, Malcolm Leicht, Sarah Leipply-Caban, Ayden Lesko, Eden Lesnansky, Madison Lester, Daisy Li, Alex Lindeman, Andrew Lipinsky, Adam Lipka, Isabella Loccisano, Ryne Loftus, Brandon Lotz, Cortland Love, Jenna Madick, Arabella Malie, Mason Martin, Maximillian Martin, Tatyana Martinez, Carter Mascola, Hunter Mathie, Keaton Mayhew, Grace McCarty, Jenna McCollum, Joslyn McConnell, Riley McCurdy, Aiden McIntyre, Bresiah McMeans, Paige Mercer, Meekah Meuter, Aidan Miller, John Miller, Emma Mills, Elijah Mitchell, Adam Mohammad, Dominic Mordocco, Abdul Rahman Mousa, Carter Mraz, Joseph Mullarkey, Ibraheem Mustafa, Kaiden Nagel, Thomas Nawrocki, Cara Neuroh, Nicholas Niarhos, Steven Nock, Anthony Noday, Christian Odom, Sean O’Horo, Grace Oklota, Jenna Olexa, Elion Oliver, Alyssa Olsen, Katya Paige, William Parker, Roderica Patterson, Patrick Pavetic, Autumn Payne, Emma Pekar, Carlos Perez, Lukas Peters, Nina Pilolli, Benjamin Piper, Josephine Porter, Alexus Pratt, Adrianna Quinlan, Max Rassega, Nadia Rawhneh, Caitlyn Realty, Karlynn Riccitelli, Tyrel Richards, Gabriella Roller, Benjamin Rolston, Breigh Rougk, Jemma Rudolph, Miranda Russell, Luke Ryan, Lizette Salas, Zachary Saluga, Ryan Sam, Mariah Santistevan, Amelia Sapienza, Quentin Sawman, Kaytelynn Sayers, Anthony Scarano, Brynna Schobel, Bryce Sconyers, Dante Scott, Brittany Sellers, Kevin Serrino, Joseph Sferra, Alexis Sharp, Kalyssa Shoemaker, Alliyah Shorterage, Noah Shurell, Carsyn Sikora, Nicholas Simione, Isaac Sipus, Ethan Slick, Dylan Slipkovich, Jaylin Smith, Madalyn Smith, Vivien Smith, Nathan Smrek, Paige Snyder, Morgan Spearman, Joseph Steiner, Tierra Stevenson, Maurion Stigall, Haylie Stilson, Riley Storey, Bailey Strickland, Ethan Strickland, Blaie Strines, Isabella Strines, Keira Stringer, Lianna Sulebi, Cierra Sullivan, Brandon Swader, Kathryn Taghaboni, Jaden Taylor, Santino Testa, Colin Thomas, Terence Thomas, Cameron Thompson, Marcell Tomlin, Alejandro Torres, Chloe Treadway, Jason Triveri, Alayna Turillo, Ava Valko, Alayna Varley, Kira Vasko, Matthew Vasko, Alissa Vaughn, Logan Vega, Dominic Vennetti, Nicholas Vivacqua, Alexandria Vouvalis, Katherine Wamsley, Brynna Welsh, Aubriellen Wheatley, Mia Wichert, Griffin Widrig, Robert Williamson, Jessica Winsen, Aroonrassamee Wongkeaitaroon, Elena Woods, Josiah Worsencroft, Christopher Yambar, Justin Yocum, Guy Young, Daniel Zahran, Dylan Zets, Amy Zheng, Anna Zheng, Colin Ziak, Connor Zimmer.

     A HALF CENTURY AFTER RIDING A BICYCLE ACROSS AMERICA, 70-year-old Carl Foote, of Maple Dr., Boardman, is making the trek again, this time in an effort to raise $3 million for Alzheimers Disease research. His cross country adventure began on May 21 in Oakland, New Jersey and he hopes to complete his journey on July 9 at Crater Lake Oregon. “Upon retirement, I thought I might recreate my ‘once in a lifetime experience’ of crossing America on a bicycle while adding the component of fundraising for a charity. Having recently had a family member suffer from Alzheimers, I looked for a way to help fight this memory robbing disease,” Foote said, adding “This trip will be a bigger challenge that when I was 20-years-old. With each mile, each climb, each pedal stroke will be the thought and hope that we will eliminate this terrible disease.”

     Denise DeBartolo York and Dr. John York, San Francisco 49ers co-chairs and longtime education advocates, awarded 17 scholarships to graduating high school seniors from Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties during ceremonies held last week at the Lake Club.
      The scholarships, part of The Edward J. DeBartolo Memorial Scholarship Foundation, totaled $170,000.00 and were presented to the recipients at The Lake Club during a luncheon for the students and their families.
      The scholarship was first established by DeBartolo York’s father and several close friends, who worked to provide commendable youth the opportunity to continue their education.
      The scholarship foundation, run by the Yorks in Mr. DeBartolo’s honor, serves to provide the same platform for excellent area youth in need of financial assistance.
      “The objectives of the foundation are to reward those students who have proven themselves as role models and leaders in their community. My father believed that all students who have worked hard to achieve their goals while contributing to their community, should be afforded the opportunity to receive a college education, regardless of their financial situation”, said DeBartolo York.
      2022 scholarship recipients are Cassidy Claypoole, Austintown; Monica Cobbin, Columbiana; Sarah Cornelius, Austintown; Ryssa Coudriet, Niles McKinley; Jenna Croy, Youngstown Rayen Early College; Aiden Exline, Girard; Jazzlyn Flores, Campbell; Lauren Haynie, Champion; Catie Herberger, Hubbard; Samantha Joki, Austintown; Emily McKarns, United Local; Ashely Nicholas, Champion; Quentin Pew, South Range; Cadence Pounds, Austintown ; Evan Sahli, Austintown; Brynna Schobel, Boardman; and Peyton Shorthouse, Struthers.
      More than 375 applications were received by The Edward J. DeBartolo Memorial Scholarship Foundation, which included grade transcripts, student essays and recommendations from guidance counselors and principals. Scholarship award winners are determined by academic achievement, community involvement and financial need.
      The Edward J. DeBartolo Memorial Scholarship Foundation has awarded more than $1.6 million in scholarships over the past 25 years and strives to provide advanced education for deserving valley students well into the future.
     

     Boardman police are investigating a shooting incident that happened on May 19 about 9:30 p.m. at the London Square Apartments, 411 Rockdale Ave., unit 22.
      Nine police officers responded to the call, interviewing at least eight people about the incident.
      When police first arrived, they were met by Laneise Coggins, 58, of 1400 Springdale Ave., Youngstown, Oh., and James Jordan, 41, of 442 West Marion, Youngstown.
      “Jordan was holding Coggins’ chest, and she was asked if she was shot by gunfire,” police said, noting the woman replied she was “only experiencing chest pains that occurred as a result of the shooting.”
      According to police, unit 22 is rented by 53-year-old Ronetta Mitchell, and she was hosting a cookout.
      Mitchell said at the time of the shooting she was in her bedroom, talking to her son on the phone.
      Coggins told police that Rayvon Parker, 23, “came to the apartment to get his childrens’ mothers, Isis Taylor, 21, of 37 North Bon Air, Youngstown; and Ashma’Ray Lee, 24, of 37 North Bon Air, Youngstown, and his four, juvenile children.”
      Coggins told police when Jordan attempted to stop Parker from entering the apartment that Parker brandished a handgun and the two men began to struggle when the gun was fired outside of the residence.
      Coggins further stated she got in-between Parker and Jordan and as police were heard arriving, Parker fled with Ashma’Ray and their three children.
      “Coggins advised it appeared as if Ashma’Ray was not leaving with Parker under her own free will, and she suspected “Ashma’Ray and the children may be in danger,” police said.
      Taylor told police that when Parker arrived at the apartment he was “extremely agitated” and she went to a bathroom when Parker “came up to her with a gun is his hand,” telling Taylor that she needed to “come home with him.” Police were told the pair were arguing over the handgun when a bullet was discharged into a ceiling.
      Jordan told police he did not want to get involved and denied that Parker shot at him.
      Police recovered four spent rounds and one live, hollow point round.
      Det Greg Stepuk is investigating.
      In addition to Jordan, Coggins, Mitchell and Taylor, police said additional witnesses included Kelsey Iesha Mayris, 25, of 34 Hilton Ave., Youngstown; Darnise Rochelle Coggins, 39, of 2249 Jacobs Rd., Youngstown; and Odyessie Odessa Butler-Reed, 20, of 225 Ferndale, Youngstown.

     A lengthy issue over vehicles and other items on the property at 8057 Aquadale Dr. ended this week when a suit brought against the resident, Stanley Feret, was dismissed. The case was brought forward by the Boardman Township Planning/Zoning Office. Assistant Mahoning County Prosecutor Karen Gaglione said the property had been cleaned-up.
      Issues with property maintenance were given to Feret in May, 2021, when the county prosecutor’s office asked Feret to clean-up the property, citing ‘abandonment of euipment’ including barrels, buckets, wire shelving, windows, plastic cabinets, an indoor stationary bike, foot lockers, indoor furniture, desks, wooden chairs, garbage bags, portable toilets, tarps, appliances, vehicles and trailers on the property.
      “You were given time and the opportunity to correct the zoning violations, but as of the date of this letter, no work has been done on the property to correct the violations,” Atty. Gaglione told Feret.

     BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      Meeting last week, Mahoning County Commissioners Carol Rimedio-Righetti, Anthony Traficanti and David Ditzler received an appeal from Boardman Township officials seeking the development of a regional system top handle emergency medical calls.
      In a letter to the commissioners, Boardman Trustees Brad Calhoun, Thomas Costello and Larry Moliterno said the EMS network in Mahoning County is comprised of various local entities and private companies, all of whom seem to be struggling with staffing shortages and rapid response times to calls “largely because (EMS services] are a very substantial burden for any one community or company alone.
      “We believe the best approach is a regional one that would provide for cost sharing with all communities involved, better resource management and a stable EMS system that can provide support for our county,” Boardman Trustees said.
      The Trustees noted they are aware that Lanes Life Trans ambulance services has “pulled out of Struthers, Campbell, Lowellville and Coitsville; and that AMR ambulance services has asked the city of Youngstown to supplement their operations in order to be able to continue to provide coverage.
      “The Canfield Fire District is asking their voters for additional tax funding to hire personnel as they are currently jumping back and forth between their fire trucks and ambulances” and noted that “Austintown Township is buying ambulances but has limitations on when they can actually provide EMS services.”
      “Seeing all these issues, we believe that EMS services could best be addressed regionally. It is our hope that working together, we could reach out to other communities and private companies to discuss and develop a county-wide strategy that helps every community receive quality and cost effective EMS services,” the Boardman officials said, noting the issue impacts every Mahoning County resident.

     A 46-year-old man, George Hill, was found guilty of murder, felonious assault and domestic violence following a trial in a Mahoning County Common Pleas Court on Mon., May 2. Hill was charged in the May, 2020 death of Jennifer Mullen, 35, at her Shields Rd. apartment.
      Hill told police the night Mullen died that he and Mullen went to a Youngstown bar where Mullen became drunk after consuming Long Island Iced Tea drinks. Hill told police that Mullen hit her head in the bathroom of her apartment, after having six or seven drinks, and he could not wake her.
      Assistant county prosecutor Jennifer McLaughlin said that blood and urine tests performed on Mullen detected no alcohol and that Hill had lied about the kind of drinks he claimed Mullen drank.
      The case was tried before Judge Anthony D’Apolito. Lead investigator on the case was Det. Greg Stepuk, of the Boardman Police Department. Hill, who will be sentenced later, faces 15 years to life on the murder charge, and additional jail time on the domestic violence and assault charges.
      Hill was arrested by Boardman police in Feb., 2021, after he was indicted by a Mahoning County Grand Jury in Dec., 2020 on charges murder, felonious assault and domestic violence in connection with Ms. Mullen’s death.
      On May 31, 2020, near 6:40 a.m., Boardman police were called to Mullen’s residence at 49 Shields Rd. when Hill reported she had overdosed.
      Hill told Ptl. Jamison Diglaw he resided with Mullen, who had been his girlfriend for a year.
      “He stated he called for medical attention when brown foam was found coming out of Mullen’s mouth and he could not wake her up,” Officer Diglaw said.
      Hill told police he and Mullen had been drinking at the Steel City Bar in Youngstown and she became intoxicated after consuming six to seven Long Island ice teas; and also claimed she had an argument with a bartender, then they drove back to her residence about 2:00 a.m.
      Once at the residence, Hill claimed that he and Mullen began to argue, after which, according to police, Hill said Mullen went to bed when he noticed she was bleeding from a head wound so he placed a towel on her head to stop the bleeding.
      Hill told Ptl. Diglaw he then went to sleep “for an hour or two” and when he awakened, he saw a brownish foam coming from her mouth and he could not wake her up, “but she was breathing.”
      “He believed it may have been an hour or two before he called EMS, due to him having to charge her phone, as his phone does not make calls,” Officer Diglaw said.
      Mullen was transported by ambulance to a local hospital where she died.
      Det. Greg Stepuk, of the Boardman Police department, said an autopsy was conducted in Cuyahoga County “showed little or no alcohol,” adding a urine sample confirmed no alcohol or drugs were in her system.
      Det Stepuk said he spoke with a bartender at Steel City who said vodka and Sprite was Mullen’s drink of choice.
      According to Det. Stepuk, Mullen suffered a fractured skull and had injuries and bruises all over her body.
      “Due to the amount of injuries, we believe she was severely beaten,” Det. Stepuk said.
      Hill came to the attention of Boardman police in late Aug., 2019 after allegations were made that a 65-year-old man who lived on Argyle Ave. had been bilked-out of some $30,000 by caregivers over a four-month period.
      Reportedly Hill had lived at the home for several months, until he was asked to leave the home.
      At the time of his arrest on the murder charge, Hill was on the most wanted list of the U.S. Marshal’s Office.
      Mullen was a graduate of Cardinal Mooney High School.

     POWELL, OH.---Angelo John Iannucci, 89, passed away on Friday, April 22.
      Angelo was born on April 1, 1933, to Angelo M. and Mary Lou Caizzo Iannucci, in Youngstown. His sharp wit and keen sense of humor were second-to-none, and often attributed to his April Fool’s Day birth date.
      He loved all things Italian---the pasta, the culture and the sports cars. He was known for his sweet tooth and looked forward to all sweet treats. He was an avid reader of books, magazines and newspapers, and knew so much about so many things.
      Angelo loved all things football. He was a diehard fan of both The Ohio State Buckeyes and the Cleveland Browns. On Saturdays in the fall, he was all about college football, whether it was attending in-person or viewing endless games on television.
      Angelo was a 1951 graduate of Boardman High School, where in addition to starring at running back on the football field, he was a valued member of the Spartan track and field squad. He earned three letters in each sport. On the gridiron he earned All Tri-County League and All Mahoning County honors. He was inducted into the Boardman High School Athletics Hall of Fame in 1985 and to the Curbstone Coaches Hall of Fame in 2012.
      Angelo attended Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J., where he earned a B.A. degree in English in 1955.
      During his stellar collegiate football career as a Scarlet Knight, he earned three varsity letters. He was awarded the Homer Hazel Trophy as a junior in 1954. As the captain of the 1955 squad, he was an All-East selection as both a junior and senior, earning Honorable Mention All-American laurels his final season.
      Upon graduation, he spent one year in New York City employed by the nation’s seventh largest corporation at the time, Union Carbide. From 1956 to 1959, Angelo served in the United States Air Force, rising to the rank of captain.
      For 50 years, Angelo made a name for himself as the ‘go-to-guy’ in the beer, wine and soft drink industry.
      From 1959 to 1970, he served as sales manager for Superior Beverage in Youngstown. He later worked as the general manager for Western Reserve Distributing Company in Painesville, Oh., from 1970 to 1982. Angelo purchased the company in 1983, serving as the owner/CEO until 2002, when he sold it to Gil Schwartz Distributing Company. From 2003 to 2009, he was the brand manager for Heritage Beverage in Mentor.
      Throughout his 89 years, Angelo touched countless lives and is loved by many. He will be dearly missed by his family. Angelo is survived by his wife, Dolores; three children, Joen, Jon and Robert; three grandchildren, Michael Haring, and Anna and AJ Chadwick; sister, Katherine Iannucci; and nieces, Andrea Lepore and Christina Tanger.
      He was preceded in death by his parents; nephew, Michael Lepore; and numerous aunts and uncles.
      Angelo (‘Poppy’) will be missed by his friends and caregivers at the Ganzhorn Suites in Powell. A special thanks to Kelly, Zach, JJ and Rowe for serving as his special guardian angels, and to Ebony and Natalia for providing such compassionate care. Much heartfelt gratitude to Poppy’s favorite Ganzhorn visitors (also special guardian angels)---Tracy, John and Johnny Haring, and Morgan (Kuntupis) Koch---whose visits always made him smile and laugh.
      A private memorial service will be held at a later date.
      Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. To share a condolence with the family, please visit www.NewcomerColumbus.com.

     For the first time in its 15 year history, Boardman’s Rock Orchestra, Project Mayhem will hold an encore performance–this time outdoors in Spartan Stadium.
      Tickets are now available for an outdoor Mayhem Concert set for Friday, June 3 at 8:00 p.m.. There will be seating in the home stands and blanket-only lawn seats on the field.
      “Our March concert was sold out with more than 1,600 fans in the Boardman Performing Arts Center,” said Mayhem Music Director Bill Amendol. “This show will be a ‘Best Of Mayhem’ performance with more than 60 percent of the songs as new material from the indoor concert that we performed in March.”
      The two-hour event combines the talents of the Boardman Orchestra with vocals by Boardman students in a ‘Trans-Siberian’ style performance.
      “This electrically charged show will rock Spartan Stadium,” said Amendol.
      Tickets are $10 general admission. The public may purchase tickets at Boardman High School at the main front entrance on any school day between 8:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Rain date for Mayhem is Saturday, June 4 at 8:00 p.m.
     

     NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
      The Boardman Township Board of Appeals shall hold a Public Hearing on Tuesday, May 17, 2022 at 7:00 PM, go to https://www.boardmantwp.com/zoning/board-of-zoning-appeals/ for further information for consideration of the following cases:
      APPEAL CASE AC-2022-15
      Newton Murphy, on behalf of Kimberly Lucarell, property owner, 6745 Applewood Blvd, Boardman, Ohio 44512, requests a variance from the terms of the Boardman Township Zoning Resolution, effective January 1, 2021, Article 7.05 Fencing, Walls, Hedges, and Similar Structures (E) (3) (a) (i) to have a six foot (6’) fence (11) eleven feet from the property line on a corner lot. The property is further known as LOT 522 135 X 160 IRR APPLEWOOD ACRES PL 15, Parcel 29-017-0-038.01-0. Said property is zoned R-2-Residential, in Boardman Township, Mahoning County, State of Ohio.
      APPEAL CASE AC-2022-16
      Haider Ali, on behalf of Noureen Fatima, property owner, 428 438 E Western Reserve Rd., Boardman, Ohio 44512, requests a variance from the terms of the Boardman Township Zoning Resolution, effective January 1, 2021, Article 7.06 Stormwater Management, Site Drainage, and Compliance (B) for an exemption from stormwater management to add additional impervious surface to make up for property purchased for right-of-way expansion by the County Engineers on Western Reserve Rd. The property is further known as GL 31 DIV 4 & GL 31 DIV 4, Parcel 29-037-0-006.00-0 & 29-037-0-007.00-0. Said property is zoned GB-General Business, in Boardman Township, Mahoning County, State of Ohio.
      APPEAL CASE AC-2022-17
      Ward Martin, property owner, 1474 Walker Mill Rd, Boardman, Ohio 44512, requests a variance from the terms of the Boardman Township Zoning Resolution, effective January 1, 2021, Article 4.09 Area, Setback, and Other Site Development Standards Table 4.09-1 to reduce the front setback from 50’ to 16’ on Paulin Drive and the side yard setback from 9’ to 4’ on a corner lot. The property is further known as LOT 2 100 X 220 PAULIN PL, Parcel 29-051-0-033.00-0. Said property is zoned R-1A-Residential, in Boardman Township, Mahoning County, State of Ohio.
      APPEAL CASE AC-2022-18
      ECHO PARTNERS 2002, property owner, 478 Boardman Canfield Rd., Boardman, Ohio 44512, requests a variance from the terms of the Boardman Township Zoning Resolution, effective January 1, 2021, Article 12.11 Permanent Signs in Nonresidential Districts (C) (1) to have a pole sign with 13’ supports 10’ higher than the allowed 3’ high supports. The property is further known as LOT 2 263.57 X 800.52 IRR RP WARD PLAZA ASSOC PL 2 RP LT 2 WARD ASSOC 1, Parcel 29-067-0-062.02-0. Said property is currently zoned GB-General Business, located in Boardman Township, Mahoning County, State of Ohio.
      APPEAL CASE AC-2022-19
      Robert Baluch, property owner, 8415 Hickory Hill Dr., Boardman, Ohio 44514, requests a variance from the terms of the Boardman Township Zoning Resolution, effective January 1, 2021, Article 8.03 (B) (3) to eliminate the 25’ riparian setback. The property is further known as LOT 78 148.31 X 188.79 IRR FOREST HILLS PLAT 2 & LOT 79 157.05 X 188.79 IRR FOREST HILLS PL 2, Parcel 29-049-0-013.78-0 & 29-049-0-013.79-0. Said property is currently zoned R-1A Residential, located in Boardman Township, Mahoning County, State of Ohio.
      APPEAL CASE AC-2022-20
      Greenheart Companies on behalf of Aaron & Wendy Fishbeck, property owner, 605 Berklee Dr., Boardman, Ohio 44514, requests a variance from the terms of the Boardman Township Zoning Resolution, effective January 1, 2021, Article 4.09 Area, Setback, and Other Site Development Standards Table 4.09-1 to reduce the front, east, setback from 35’ to 28’ and the west side setback from 9’ to 6’. The property is further known as LOT 45 90 X 170 REPLAT OF LOT 23 IN THE REPLAT OF BRISTOL PARK ESTATES PLAT NO 1, Parcel 29-108-0-001.46-0. Said property is currently zoned R-1A Residential, located in Boardman Township, Mahoning County, State of Ohio.
      Text and maps of the request may be viewed at the Boardman Township Zoning Office, 8299 Market Street, Boardman, Ohio 44512 Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM, until time of hearing. Please call 330-726-4181 or email requests to tdavignon@boardmantwp.com.
      Atty. John F. Shultz, Chairman
      Boardman Township Board of Appeals
      Tricia D’Avignon, AICP
      Assistant Director of Zoning and Development
     

     NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
      The Boardman Township Board of Trustees will conduct a Public Hearing on the following amendment to the Boardman Township Zoning Resolution and Township Zoning Map on Monday, May 23, 2022 at 5:00 PM. Go to https://www.boardmantwp.com/zoning/zoning-commission/ for further information.
      AMENDMENT A-2022-02
      Baker, Bednar, Snyder & Assoc. on behalf of TOB KIA REAL ESTATE LLC, property owner, requests a zone change for 7870 Market St., Boardman, Ohio 44512, from the terms of the Boardman Township Zoning Resolution, effective January 1, 2021, in order to change the property in its’ entirety to GB-General Business zoning district. The property is further known as LOT 1 386.10 X 770.00 (IRR) TAYLOR KIA PLAT NO. 1, Parcel 29-093-0-033.00-0. Said property is currently zoned GB-General Business & R-1 Residential, located in Boardman Township, Mahoning County, State of Ohio.
      To view a hard copy of the texts and maps at the Boardman Township Zoning Office, 8299 Market Street, Boardman, Ohio 44512 Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM, until time of hearing, please call 330-726-4181 or email requests to tdavignon@boardmantwp.com.
      Peter W. Lymber, Chairman
      Boardman Township Zoning Commission
      Tricia D’Avignon, AICP,
      Assistant Director of Zoning and Development

     Mill Creek MetroParks presents “Art and Memory: Reflections of Ron Mistovich” showcasing the range of Mistovichs’ creative energy and talent as an artist. This free art exhibit will be displayed in the Weller Gallery at Fellows Riverside Gardens through July 24, during the normal operating hours of Tuesdays thru Sundays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
      Mistovich passed away at the age of 71 in Nov., 2019 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. He was a 1966 graduate of Cardinal Mooney High School. He received his bachelor of science degree in Art Education from Youngstown State University and his master’s degree in Studio Art from Kent State University. He was an art educator for Struthers City Schools for 35 years. He also served as an adjunct professor at Youngstown State University in the Art Department.
      He enjoyed creating art in various mediums, whether at his home studio or in the classroom. Not only was he respected for his abstract painting and being a master art educator, but his creativity also extended to printmaking, sculpture, enamel and jewelry.
      His artwork is exhibited in multiple permanent collections nationally, including The Butler Institute of American Art, as well as many private collections.
      Mistovich served as a Eucharistic Minister at St. Charles, where he designed the new church’s altar.
      Mistovich, who resided on Presidential Ct. in Boardman, was the recipient of the outstanding art educator award by The Steel Valley Art Teacher’s Association for his noteworthy contributions to the field of fine art and education.
      He continued painting throughout the last days of his life.

     BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      A 25-year-old Lisbon man was arrested by Boardman police on Sun., Apr. 24 after police indicated he had been at the Holiday Inn, 7410 South Ave., and Sheetz, 134 Boardman-Poland Rd., parading around as if he was a federal law enforcement officer.
      Logan Daniel Malik, of 39055 Harvey Rd., Lisbon, was charged with impersonating a police officer.
      An employee of the Holiday Inn told police that Malik came to the business about 6:00 p.m. and identified himself as a U.S. Marshal, stating he was looking for “skin heads” and the marshal’s service “had arrested five of them earlier at the Southern Park Mall.”
      The Holiday Inn employee said that Malik was “shaking so bad and she did not want to agitate him because he had a gun.”
      Shortly thereafter, police were told the same man was at Sheetz and the car he was driving was stopped by law enforcement.
      “Malik was wearing civilian clothes with a police tactical vest, a gun holstered on his right waist and a badge on his left waist. The badge on his waist was a Washingtonville police badge,” Ptl. Shannon Chaffee said, adding inside Malik’s wallet, he carried a Leetonia police badge.
      Malik told Boardman police Lt. Brian Habeger he was at the Holiday Inn “asking about people the U.S. Marshal’s service are looking for, because his dream is to be a U.S. Marshal, but he never told police he is a U.S. Marshal.”
      Malik told police “he never identified himself as a federal law enforcement officer while he was in Boardman, however he ‘jokingly’ told someone at Sheetz that he had a warrant for them, but quickly told them he was joking around,” Officer Chaffee said.
      Lt. Habeger contacted Chief Ken Faust of the Washingtonville PD, who confirmed Malik was a member of his department, and was not on a U.S. Marshal’s task force, “nor would he have any Washingtonville police business in Boardman.”
      Lt. Habeger also spoke with Chief Alan Haueter of the Leetonia PD, who said at one time Mailk served as a police officer there “but was let go a couple years ago and was supposed to turn his badge in.”
      After booking, Malik was released on a summons.
      Boardman police took possession of a 9mm handgun, a taser, a police vest, a baton, a pair of handcuffs and the police badges from Malik.

     Meeting on Monday night, Apr. 25, the Boardman Local School Board accepted the resignation of Ryan Dunn, 31, as the system’s transportation director.
      Dunn was pinned underneath a 3-ton tractor at the Boardman School Bus Garage, 8252 Raupp Ave., about 4:19 p.m. on Fri., Feb. 18, a day there were no classes scheduled. According to reports, the only, other person in the garage at the time was a 15-year-old boy who witnessed the accident and called 9-1-1.
      “I need help now,” the teenager yelled out in the 9-1-1 call, telling the dispatcher who handled the call “A tractor ran over the transportation director...Get here now, I can hear his bones breaking...Please help me. Hurry up.”
      A police report of the accident says that Dunn got off the tractor while it was “slightly moving forward. The tractor drove-up Dunn’s leg to the middle of his lower back, before coming to a stop, pinning Dunn to the ground.”
      A report completed by Boardman fireman Shawn Conroy said that Dunn’s left leg was pinned under the right, rear tractor tire.
      Conroy said emergency crews used a 10-ton jack to lift the tractor off Dunn, who was then transported by ambulance to a hospital.
      Ten Boardman Fire Department personnel responded to the scene.
      According to several sources, recently installed security cameras inside the school bus garage could have captured the incident, however a hard drive was removed from the system shortly after the mishap.

      Farmers National Bank has announced plans to combine its current Boardman branch at 102 W. Western Reserve Rd., with its North Lima branch at 9001 Market St., North Lima, a tenth of a mile away and across the street.
      The Boardman branch will close at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, April 22 and the ‘combined’ North Lima branch will open on Monday, April 25.
      The North Lima location is a newer built branch, with size that is more reflective of today’s banking model.
      The North Lima interior has been renovated to showcase Farmers’ new interior branding package.
      “We are excited by all the possibilities that will come with our new combined branch,” says Amber Wallace, chief retail and marketing officer. “This move will allow us to continue offering our comprehensive slate of financial services, while adapting to an ever-changing banking model.”

     BY GREG GULAS
      Boardman News Sports
      bnews@zoominternet.net
      The 53rd Curbstone Coaches Hall of Fame Banquet, sponsored by Briarfield Health Care Center and Ed and Diane Reese, is scheduled for Sunday, May 1 with a dozen new members set for enshrinement during ceremonies at Mr. Anthony’s Banquet Center, 7440 South Ave., Boardman.
      The class was originally set for installation May 3, 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic caused cancellation of induction ceremonies in both 2020 and 2021.
      Former Ohio State University and NFL quarterback, and current YSU assistant football coach, Mike Tomczak, will serve as guest speaker.
      This year’s class includes Phil Annarella (football, posthumous), Mike Banks (basketball), Dr. Andrew Bushey (baseball), Sandra DePizzo (bowling), Jim Evans (sports media), Tim Filipovich (basketball), Denise Gorski (contribution to sports), Tim Joyce (basketball), Joe McHenry (all-sports award), Rick Shepas (football), John Turco (football) and John Zebroski (golf).
      A standout receiver at both Cardinal Mooney High School and Youngstown State University, Shepas played for and learned the game from three local coaching icons in Don Bucci at CMHS, and both Bill Narduzzi and Jim Tressel at YSU, head mentors who would shape and mold him into the coach he would become on the scholastic and collegiate level years after his playing days concluded.
      A 1983 graduate of Cardinal Mooney High School, he played for Bucci from 1980-82 and as a receiver, wreaked havoc on opponent defenses to the tune of 45 career receptions – ranking second to his brother, Bob, who caught 50 passes from 1967-68 – where he remains third on the Cardinals’ all-time career list.
      He served as game captain during his senior season with his six touchdown receptions still tied for ninth all-time and his 20.4 yards per catch average, also tied for ninth all-time.
      As a senior he caught 32 passes, still fourth all-time for a season while his 596 receiving yards that same year is third in the all-time single season ledger.
      His 130 yards receiving against Howland in 1982 remains fourth all-time while his six receptions against Cleveland St. Joe’s, also during his senior year, is still tied for second in a single game.
      Inducted into the Cardinal Mooney High School Athletics Hall of Fame in 1998, a little known fact about this year’s inductee is that he is ambidextrous, someone equally adept at throwing a spiral at great length with both arms.
      Upon graduation he accepted a scholarship to Youngstown State University, playing his first three seasons under Narduzzi (1983-85) and his final collegiate campaign under former head coach and current YSU President Jim Tressel.
      During his years as a Penguins’ wide out, he earned four letters and served as team captain his senior year.
      A two-time All-Ohio Valley Conference first-team selection (1985-86), he earned third-team All-American laurels those same two seasons.
      He finished his career with 150 receptions – second all-time at the time of his graduation and currently tied for third overall – and compiled 2,263 career receiving yards, which remains third all-time on the Penguins’ career receiving list.
      He was inducted into the YSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1996.
      Upon completion of his collegiate career, he was with the Cleveland Browns (Mini-Camp; May-June, 1987) and Green Bay Packers (Training Camp, 1987), finishing his playing career as a wide receiver, defensive back and kick returner as a member of the Pittsburgh Gladiators of the Arena Football League (1988).
      He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from YSU in 1987, majoring in sports management and minoring in health and physical education, earned his teacher certification from Hiram College in 1989 and Master of Education in Sport Science from Ashland University in 1991.
      He began his successful coaching career at Poland Seminary High School (1990-96) with stops also at Seneca Valley (PA) High School (1996-98) and tradition-rich Massillon Washington High School (1998-2005) scholastically, then at Waynesburg University (2005-17) on the collegiate level.
      Success has followed this year’s inductee at every stop along the way, coaching teams to seven play-off appearances and four league titles while earning seven “Coach of the Year” honors during his high school years.
      He also served as a coach in the Big 33 Football Classic (1996).
      His 97-35 (.734 winning percentage) career record as a high school head coach includes a 12-win season while at Massillon, the first Tigers’ head coach to win that many games in a single season.
      While at Waynesburg he posted a 69-55 overall mark (his 69 wins is most all-time amongst all WU head coaches), going 47-38 in the PAC (President’s Athletic Conference) with one league championship (2012) and five ECAC post-season bowl appearances (2007, 2011-14).
      Most recently, his work with the Youngstown City Schools has been lauded as he helped restore athletic departments at East and Chaney High School while bringing back the Golden Bear at EHS.
      He was instrumental in reforming the Steel Valley Conference – he brought together Cardinal Mooney, Chaney, East and Ursuline as its first members – also serving as its first commissioner.
      He and his wife, the former Christine DiVincenzo, are the parents of three daughters, Maria, Katy and Gina. They reside in Boardman.
      Individual tickets are $60 each, tables of eight $480 and further information can be obtained by calling 330-506-6774, or by visiting the Curbstone Coaches website at www.thecurbstonecoaches.org.
     

     Did you know that Boardman Park, the Green Oasis, offers visitors the chance to see a living fossil? No, it isn’t a topiary of a dinosaur. The living fossil is the tree Dawn Redwood, or Metasequoia Glyptostroboides.
      From fossil data, the Dawn Redwood is known to have existed as many as 50 million years ago. It is the sole living member of the genus Metasequoia, which literally means ‘almost a sequoia.’
      The Dawn Redwood is closely related to the Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) and the Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum). All redwoods are cone-bearing trees and get their common name from their reddish-brown bark and heartwood.
      The Dawn Redwood is a large, fast-growing, deciduous (the tree loses its leaves in the fall), pyramidal evergreen tree that grows up to 100 feet tall with attractive, feathery foliage. It has spreading branches that droop with age. New growth is light green, maturing to a deep green in the summer, and eventually turning red-bronze and falling off in autumn. While the bark and foliage of the Dawn Redwoods are similar to the other redwoods, it is distinct in that it is deciduous and develops a widened trunk-base as it matures. It is the shortest of the Redwoods. The tree prefers moist, deep, well-drained soils that are slightly acidic. It is tolerant of wet soils and has minimal pest and disease problems.
      This tree was once one of the most widespread tree species in the northern hemisphere during the Tertiary period (from 66 million to 2.6 million years ago). The Dawn Redwood was first described in 1941 based only on fossil evidence. It was believed to have been extinct for millions of years.
      However, six years later in 1947, during an expedition to Southwest China, T. Kan, a Chinese forester of Beijing National Central University, found three strange deciduous trees he had never seen before. These trees were found to belong to the fossil species of Dawn Redwood. The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University made arrangements to collect seeds from the discovery site. The seedlings grown from these seeds were then distributed to universities and arboreta around the world in an attempt to preserve the species.
      In 2012 Boardman Park was very fortunate to be the proud recipient of ten Dawn Redwood trees that were most graciously donated by the late Clarence R. Smith Jr.
      Mr. Smith, who had a deep appreciation for the beauty of the natural world and was quite knowledgeable about plants and landscaping, sadly passed away in April of 2021, at the age of 93. It is definitely a tremendous benefit to have these beautiful and unusual specimens added to the landscape of the Boardman Park.
     
      This article, by Daniel Slagle,
      executive director of Boardman Park, is
      one of several stories The Boardman News will provide this year as the park observes its 75th anniversary.
     

     The Boardman Board of Education met on Thursday, April 7 in a special board meeting and unanimously approved hiring Arthur J. Ginnetti, 40, as the district’s new treasurer. Ginnetti officially begins on May 2, taking the reins from interim treasurer, Ryan Jones.
      Ginnetti will receive an annual salary of $105,000.
      Ginnetti joins Boardman Local Schools after serving as the chief financial officer/treasurer with the Youngstown City School District.
      Ginnetti began his career as treasurer in the Struthers City School District in 2011. He then served as assistant treasurer and then treasurer in Austintown Local Schools before taking the CFO position with Youngstown City Schools in 2018.
      “The school board is excited to welcome Mr. Ginnetti, and we look forward to working with him,” said Board President John Landers. “We believe his experience in similar-sized school districts, his reputation for detail, and his desire to make Boardman his home will serve the district well.”
      “I’ve enjoyed my time in every district where I’ve worked and I look forward now to being a Spartan,” said Ginnetti. “My goals will always be to continue the success of Boardman schools, to make sure our students thrive, and to keep a watchful eye on our fiscal responsibilities to the community of Boardman.”

     Boardman police are scheduled to interview at least one person in connection with a claim that an assault on an 81-year-old landlord may have led to his death.
      Luidi Farina, 81, of 3179 Chablis Lane, Poland, died on Sun., Mar 27.
      Two days before Farina’s death, his wife, Maria, 75, told police her husband was at 5751 Sheridan Rd. to collect rent money. She told police a “middle-eastern man confronted Luigi, and an argument took place...and the man struck Luigi in the right side (just below the rib cage) with a wide metal object that resembled a baby gate.”
      After being struck, Farina grabbed a baseball bat he had in his vehicle to defend himself as he and the man continued to argue.
      Later the same day, Farina was complaining of pain and soreness, and shortness of breath, his wife said and he went to the emergency department at Mercy Helath/Boardman where he received pain medication.
      The following day, Farina was transported by ambulance to Mercy Health/Youngstown, “still complaining about chest pain and shortness of breath,” his wife said, adding that her husband died while there.
      Farina’s cause of death is awaiting a coroner’s ruling.

     On Monday, May 30, Boardman Township observe its 118th annual Memorial Day remembrance, including a parade from Center Intermediate School to Boardman Park, where ceremonies will be held at the Maag Outdoor Arts Theater.
      ‘We are proud to honor those who have served, are serving, and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice while in military service to our country,” said mark Luke, of the Boardman Kiwanis Club that organizes the event.
      Groups participating in the parade assemble at the Boardman Center Intermediate School at 7410 Market St. at 9:00 a.m. and the parade will begin at 10:00 a.m.
      Prior to the Parade, and starting at 9:00 a.m. the Memorial Mile (a running road race) which follows the same route as the parade will get underway. Applications to run in the event are available at Walgreen’s, the YMCA and Second Sole.
      Following the parade, at 11:00 a.m., the Memorial Day Service will be held.
      Keynote speaker will be James Guterba, a United States Marine Corps and Vietnam Conflict veteran, and a retired educator with the Boardman Local Schools.
      Lauren Johnson will lead us in the invocation and LTC Bill Moss, USAF retired, will lead the Pledge of Allegiance and place a wreath in honor of deceased veterans
      The Boardman High School National Honor Society President will place a wreath in honor of currently serving military personnel. Luke will serve as master of ceremonies. The Boardman High School Wind Ensemble conducted by Mr. Tom Ruggieri will provide music for the service.
      In the event of inclement weather, the service will be held in the Center Intermediate School Auditorium at 10:00 a.m.
      All veterans and community members can join together to recognize, remember and express their solemn thankfulness for the historical sacrifices of military forces to preserve the American way of life.

     Southwoods Health announces The Surgical Hospital at Southwoods has been named a “Best Hospital for Patient Experience” as reported by Becker’s Hospital Review. Southwoods is one of only 10 hospitals in Ohio named to this list, and the only hospital in the tri-county area with a five-star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
      The ratings are based on figures using Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) scores from ten, topic-specific measures. The CMS summary star rating combines this information about different aspects of patient experience of care to make it easier to compare hospitals. The ratings come from the CMS Care Compare website and represents their most recent scores.
      “It is an honor to once again be named a top hospital for patient experience,” said Ed Muransky, Chief Executive Officer at Southwoods. “These types of awards are a direct reflection of the hard work and dedication of our physicians and staff. Their commitment to providing the best care possible to our patients is unmatched.”
      Southwoods Health is owned and operated by the Muransky family and area physicians. It includes The Surgical Hospital at Southwoods, an acute care hospital. The hospital continues to expand its scope of services, that includes inpatient, outpatient and robotic-assisted surgery, as well as endoscopy services.
      Southwoods Health also provides an expanding array of ancillary health services at locations throughout the Mahoning Valley. These locations include Southwoods Imaging, offering the most technologically advanced diagnostic imaging services in the area; Southwoods Pain & Spine Center, offering services to treat chronic pain and the region’s most advanced spine surgery program; Southwoods Sleep Centers, diagnosing and treating sleep disorders; Southwoods Physician Services, a multi-specialty physician group; and Southwoods Express Care, providing same day, walk-in non-emergent services.

     The following students were inducted into the Boardman High School National Honor Society during ceremonies held last week at the Performing Arts Center---
       Benjamin Ams, Caleb Austin, Julia Basista, Lauren Bero, William Bierlair, Ethan Blevins, Kay Budrovic, Jonah Bukovac, John Cagnina, Marley Cheff, Emily Choleva, Daniel Csernik, Natalie Davis, Madison Dravecky, Ethan DunLany, Kamryn Duritza, Carson Essad, Morganne Evans, Zoey Fick-Mills, Anna Fink, Leah Franke, Camille Goske, Jenna Greene, Konner Hines, Taylor Hurd, Katelynn Kershaw, Aliza Khan, Chloe Khoury, Jasmine Le, Luke Leonard, Elizabeth McCrea, Sara Merzic, Alex Micco, Alexis Mihok, Madison Murphy, Megan Murphy, Anthony Nigro, Kate Pendleton, Gabrielle Picino, Olivia Pickens, Gianna Pinciaro, Genevieve Quinlan, Caleb Satterfield, Alexander Schmitt, Reagan Smith, Lillian Snyder, Kathleen Sullivan, Jason Sweder, Gia Triveri, Devyn Tusinac, Emma Vondran, Owen Waller, Austin Ward, Aidan Wittman, Jacob Wolf, Syydney Yauger, Andrew Yocum, Ava Young, Rees Beckman Sandra Breen, Samantha Hoffman, Megan Bendel, Olivia Garland and Robert Williamson.
      A total of 58 juniors and six seniors were inducted based on their dedication to the four pillars of NHS---Scholarship, Service, Leadership and Character.
      To be eligible for consideration for NHS, a student must be a junior or senior and have a minimum 3.2 cumulative grade point average.

     On Mar. 16, the Boardman Local School Board held a special meeting, during which Kathy Fait was granted a one-year, limited contract as interim supervisor of transportation for the school district, effective Feb. 22.
      Her appointment to the post came after the system’s Director of Transportation, Ryan Dunn, 31, was involved in an accident at the system’s school bus garage at 8252 Raupp Ave.
      Police were called to the bus garage at 4:19 p.m. on Fri., Feb. 18. They were told that Dunn was trying to move a 3-ton International Harvester tractor.
      At some point, police were told, Dunn got off the tractor, while it was apparently still in gear and slowly moving forward.
      “The tractor drove-up Dunn’s leg to the middle of his lower back, before coming to a stop, pinning Dunn to the ground,” Ptl. Troy Mackall said.
      Dunn was eventually freed by Boardman Fire Department personnel and was transported to Mercy Health/Youngstown for further medical assistance.
      A witness to the accident was identified as 15-year-old Gregory Carbon, police said.

     Boardman, Ohio — Although the COVID-19 Pandemic caused many uncertainties, the
      Boardman Civic Association was thrilled to be able to hold all four of its events in-person in 2021, honoring both individuals and businesses that have helped create a strong community.
      BCA has set the dates for their 2022 events.
       • Scholarship Awards Dinner, Mon., May 16
       • Candidates/Issues Dinner, Mon., Sept. 19
       • Community Awards Dinner, Mon., Oct. 17
      For the third year in a row, BCA will maintain its current officers for the 2022 year. The reelected officers are as follows:
       • President – Tommy Testa
       • Vice President – Meg Harris
       • Secretary – Mark Luke
       • Treasurer – Jeff Barone
      BCA is also excited to announce that they have added a new member to the Board of Directors. Makenna Ozenghar, Vice President, Client Service of Farris Marketing, has joined the Board.
      The Boardman Civic Association is a group of local business, civic and community leaders that are invested in the growth and development of the Boardman area. The Boardman Civic Association welcomes any Boardman resident or business to join and participate in its events. Visit www.BoardmanCivic.com for more information or contact Meg Harris at MHarris1421@yahoo.com

     NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
      The Boardman Township Board of Appeals shall hold a Public Hearing on Tuesday, April 19, 2022 at 7:00 PM, go to https://www.boardmantwp.com/zoning/board-of-zoning-appeals/ for further information for consideration of the following cases:
      APPEAL CASE AC-2022-10
      ASTRO MCCLURG LLC, property owner, 415 McClurg Rd., Boardman, Ohio 44512, requests a variance from the terms of the Boardman Township Zoning Resolution, effective January 1, 2021, Article 6.01 Accessory and Temporary Use Regulations (C) (3) for a height increase from sixteen feet (16’) to eighteen and a half feet (18.5’). The property is further known as GL 31 DIV 4, Parcel 29-038-0-016.00-0. Said property is currently zoned I-Industrial, located in Boardman Township, Mahoning County, State of Ohio.
      APPEAL CASE AC-2022-11
      LAAD Sign on behalf of MEIJER STORES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, property owner, 1400 Boardman Canfield Rd., Boardman, Ohio 44512, requests a variance from the terms of the Boardman Township Zoning Resolution, effective January 1, 2021, Article 12.11 Permanent Signs in Nonresidential Zoning Districts Table 1: Maximum Building Sign Area Allowance per facade to increase sign allowance by an additional forty three (43) Square foot of signage & (7) (c) for a projecting sign 6.56 SF larger than allowed and internally illuminated. The property is further known as LOT 1 TOO LARGE FOR DIMENSIONS MEIJER STORES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP PLAT NO 1 Parcel 32-090-0-021.00-0. Said property is zoned GB-General Business, in Boardman Township, Mahoning County, State of Ohio.
      APPEAL CASE AC-2022-12
      Fast Signs on behalf of BDMN REAL ESTATE ASSOC, property owner, 1280 Boardman Canfield Rd. Boardman, Ohio 44512, requests a variance from the terms of the Boardman Township Zoning Resolution, effective January 1, 2021, Article 12.11 Permanent Signs in Nonresidential Zoning Districts Table 2 to reduce the required five foot (5’) front property line setback to zero (0’). The property is further known as LOT 3 150 X 300 ROYCE CIRCLE PLAT 2, Parcel 29-090-0-024.04-0. Said property is zoned GB-General Business, in Boardman Township, Mahoning County, State of Ohio.
      APPEAL CASE AC-2022-13
      CARNEGIE MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, property owner, 1500 Boardman Canfield Rd. Boardman, Ohio 44512, requests a variance from the terms of the Boardman Township Zoning Resolution, effective January 1, 2021, Article 4.07 Permitted Uses (3) Conditional Uses to operate a carwash. The property is further known as LOT 2 190.45 X 289.64 IRR MERCY HEALTH YOUNGSTOWN LLC PLAT NO 1, Parcel 32-090-0-021.02-0. Said property is zoned GB-General Business, in Boardman Township, Mahoning County, State of Ohio.
      APPEAL CASE AC-2022-14
      Janice Jones, property owner, 446 Tudor Lane, Boardman, Ohio 44512, requests a variance from the terms of the Boardman Township Zoning Resolution, effective January 1, 2021, Article 7.05 Fencing, Walls, Hedges, and Similar Structures (E) (3) (a) (i) to have a six foot (6’) fence up to (2) two feet from the property line on a corner lot. The property is further known as LOT 151 70 X 195 IRR N ENG LANES 4OT 38 101.7 X 163 IRR HITCHCOCK WOODS PL 1, Parcel 29-009-0-319.00-0. Said property is zoned R1-B-Residential, in Boardman Township, Mahoning County, State of Ohio.
      Text and maps of the request may be viewed at the Boardman Township Zoning Office, 8299 Market Street, Boardman, Ohio 44512 Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM, until time of hearing. Please call 330-726-4181 or email requests to tdavignon@boardmantwp.com.
      Atty. John F. Shultz, Chairman
      Boardman Township Board of Appeals
      Tricia D’Avignon, AICP
      Assistant Director of Zoning and Development

     LEGAL NOTICE
      The Boardman Township Zoning Commission will conduct a Public Hearing on the following amendment to the Boardman Township Zoning Resolution and Township Zoning Map on Tuesday, April 19, 2022 at 5:00 PM. Go to https://www.boardmantwp.com/zoning/zoning-commission/ for further information.
      Following the recommendation of the Zoning Commission, the proposed amendment will be referred to the Board of Trustees for final determination.
      AMENDMENT A-2022-02
      Baker, Bednar, Snyder & Assoc. on behalf of TOB KIA REAL ESTATE LLC, property owner, requests a zone change for 7870 Market St., Boardman, Ohio 44512, from the terms of the Boardman Township Zoning Resolution, effective January 1, 2021, in order to change the property in its’ entirety to GB-General Business zoning district. The property is further known as LOT 1 386.10 X 770.00 (IRR) TAYLOR KIA PLAT NO. 1, Parcel 29-093-0-033.00-0. Said property is currently zoned GB-General Business & R-1 Residential, located in Boardman Township, Mahoning County, State of Ohio.
      AMENDMENT A-2022-03
      Universal Development on behalf of C & D Interests LLC, property owner, requests a zone change for Tippecanoe Rd., Boardman, Ohio 44406, from the terms of the Boardman Township Zoning Resolution, effective January 1, 2021, in order to change the property to PUD-Planned Unit Development zoning district. The property is further known as GL 11 DIV 4, Parcel 29-117-0-004.00-0. Said property is currently zoned AG-Agricultural, located in Boardman Township, Mahoning County, State of Ohio.
      To view a hard copy of the texts and maps at the Boardman Township Zoning Office, 8299 Market Street, Boardman, Ohio 44512 Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM, until time of hearing, please call 330-726-4181 or email requests to tdavignon@boardmantwp.com.
      Peter W. Lymber, Chairman
      Boardman Township Zoning Commission
      Tricia D’Avignon, AICP
      Assistant Director of Zoning and Development

     BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      Meeting on Monday night, Boardman Township’s Board of Trustees, Larry Moliterno, Tom Costello and Brad Calhoun approved an operating budget of $22.659 million for 2022, an increase of $1.17 million over 2021.
      The budget includes $603,932 in funding from the American Relief Act.
      Some $9.507 million of the 2022 budget goes to the police department. $4.842 million is budgeted for the fire department, $3.617 million will go to the road department, and $436,863 for the office of planning/zoning. The police department’s budget reflects an increase of some $500,000 over its 2021 budget.
      Also included in the budget is $1.99 million for administration/fiscal, and $995,667 for Federal Emergency Management Agency projects in the Wildwood Dr.-Ewing Rd. area.
      Trustees formally swore-in Shawn Conroy as a captain in the Boardman Fire Department.
      Fire Chief Mark Pitzer said that Conroy is a nine year veteran of his department.
      “He is a good steward of the fire service, a good leader and a valuable asset to the fire department,” Pitzer said.
      Trustees approved liquor permits requests for the Fire Fox Cafe, 7393 California Ave.; Roxbury Pizza Co., 558 East Western Reserve Rd. and Combine Brothers Bar and Grille, 7412 Market St.
      Chris McFall addressed the board about the request by Fire Fox, saying he will be investing $250,000 into the business (where a hookah bar is now located) and has plans for a lunch and dinner menu, and will create a bar and patio area.
      McFall said he expects the business to have an annual payroll of between $400,000 and $500,000, and he expects the transition to be completed by October or November for the restaurant and bar.
      McFall said recently completed renovations at the Southern Park Mall were a factor in his decision to invest in the Fire Fox.
      Tom Guerrieri, of Daffodil Trail, made a plea to Trustees for road resurfacing in the Ivy Hills neighborhood.
      Guerrieri said there are about 100 residents of his neighborhood and noted the first four-tenths of a mile of roadway are in deplorable condition. Moliterno, chairman of the Board of Trustees, said a firm has been hired to study township roads and the results of the survey will determine what roadways will be resurfaced this year.
      “The survey is the right thing to do for the 40,000 residents of Boardman Township,” Moliterno said.
      Road Superintendent Marilyn Kenner said grant monies are used for the annual resurfacing program, and daily traffic volume is a requirement for obtaining grant funds.
      She added that sales tax monies can also be used for road resurfacing and they are not dependent on traffic counts.
      There are about 144 miles of township maintain road in Boardman and resurfacing costs are about $120,000 per mile, Moliterno noted.
      Mrs. George Turner, of 84 Mill Creek Dr., expressed concerns over the Western Reserve Transit Authority’s proposal to turn Market St. into a two-lane highway for cars (also with a turning lane).
      Moliterno replied WRTA’s proposal is “not necessarily the best plan,” adding “We have no control over this.”
      Mr. Turner told the board since the Ohio Department of Transportation has closed Brookwood Rd. (for a traffic study) “Brookwood is more hazardous than ever.”
      “We did not approve of that closing,” Chairman Moliterno responded.
     

     Boardman Park is fortunate to have several very large magnificent Northern Red Oaks grace its landscape. Four of these Oaks can be seen along the North Trail. These beauties are most likely a couple of hundred years old. The stately Oaks, along with all the other trees, are the foundation of the park’s beautiful landscape.
      “I can’t imagine the Green Oasis without trees,” says the park’s executive director, Dan Slagle.
      The Northern Red Oak trees have many uses, and they are quite beneficial to both humans and animals. The tree provides shelter for nesting for mammals and birds. Many birds, rabbits, deer, squirrels as well as insects feed on the leaves, seedlings, and acorns of the tree.
      Environmentally, these Oaks sequester carbon in their mass as they grow. The Oaks convert large quantities of carbon dioxide to various organic compounds that make up wood. Oak trees therefore provide a means for helping to offset the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels related to the use of fossil fuels.
      Oak canopies also mitigate the effects of global warming by reducing ground surface temperatures.
      “On a hot summer day at the Green Oasis you can find a nice cool spot to relax and picnic under of one our oaks Trees.” Slagle says, adding “ They also improve air quality by storing carbon dioxide and exhaling oxygen through the process of photosynthesis. The leaves of an oak tree absorb airborne pollutants. It has been observed that one tree can absorb up to 10 lbs. of air pollution in a single year.”
      Oaks reduce water pollution by absorbing fertilizer nutrients, pesticides and other trace contaminants in soil, allowing compounds to break down slowly and be taken up as nutrients. Just one of these large oak trees will intercept and mitigate 7,000 gallons of stormwater each year, which helps slow the eroding energy of rain by intercepting rainwater on leaves and stems surfaces during storms.
      Identifying Features
      Leaves of Red Oak are alternate, moderately shiny, broadly obovate, with seven to eleven lobes that have bristles terminating each tooth on the forward-pointing lobes. Red Oak often has impressive late fall color, ranging from brick red to scarlet, although some trees may have golden- yellow, yellow-brown, or chartreuse foliage in autumn.
      The Flower of Red Oak is monoecious (both male and female flowers on the same tree), having pendulous pollen-bearing catkins in mid-spring that are the ‘showy’ golden-brown flowers seen from a distance.
      Fruit of the Oak is an acorn, which results from the miniature female flowers that take two years to develop into mature acorns. As such, they are not obvious until the second year, when they fill out rapidly during the summer and ripen.
      The bark of the immature Red Oak is light gray, very reflective in the winter sun, and surprisingly smooth. As the bark matures, it develops shiny gray flattened ridges that have intervening darker fissures. Only on very aged specimens lowermost portion of the trunk will have deep furrows and tall ridges with a dark gray to near-black color.
      This article is one of several stories
      The Boardman News will provide this year
      as Boardman Park observes its
      75th anniversary.

     BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      The Boardman Police Department is continuing an investigation into the homicide 50 years ago of 12-year-old Bradley Bellino, whose body was found in a dumpster behind the Boardman Plaza on Apr. 4, 1972. Bellino was a fifth grade student in the Boardman Local Schools at the time of his murder.
      A belt (from JCPenney) was found strapped around his neck. The strap bore teeth marks; and body fluid, not Bellino’s, was later discovered on the boy’s pants.
      On Apr. 12, 1972, then Mahoning County Coroner Dr. David Belinky ruled Bellino’s death was the result of strangulation. Dr. Belinky said the interval between the onset of death and actual death was “sudden,” and suggested the lad may have been sexually molested.
      Three years ago, police contracted with Parabon Nanolabs, of Reston, Va. to conduct snapshot, genetic genealogy analysis of DNA evidence, including body fluids.
      “DNA testing has continued since that time and we have been collecting the DNA of potential suspects,” Capt. Albert Kakascik of the Boardman police Department told The Boardman News.
      After an intensive investigation following the discovery of the body, for years the investigation into the Bellino murder stood dormant, until 2001, when the Boardman Police Department revisited the case but could not develop any new leads. However, sources suggest a list of at least 20 possible suspects had been developed, and several search warrants were served on possible suspects, to no avail.
      “Only four or five of those people seemed to stand out,” Capt. Kakascik said.
      50 years ago, 12-year-old Bradley Bellino, of 61 McClurg Rd., left home at noon, apparently walking to the home of a friend, Donald Templeton, 733 Teakwood Dr., in Applewood Acres.
      A criminal complaint obtained by The Boardman News says about 7:30 p.m. on Mar. 31, the boy failed to return home, and the following day, Debbie Bellino notified police about 3:20 p.m. that Bradley was missing.
      Three days later, at 8:02 a.m. on Apr. 4, employees of Varie Bros. Trash Co. called police saying they found a body in a dumpster behind the Boardman Plaza.

     BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      After 13 visits to 8057 Aquadale Dr. since Jan. 7, 2021, Boardman Township’s Planning and Zoning has filed suit in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court seeking to have a 45-ft. long school removed from the property.
      The school bus that has been parked on the driveway of the property for more than a year.
      Named as defendants in the court action are Stanley Feret, 8057 Aquadale Dr.; Andrea Osiniak, 74 Forest Garden Dr.; Stasha Feret, (also known as Stasha Dyke), 3253 Hazelwood Ave., Downingtown, Pa.; and Luanna Feret-McNichol, 529 West Embargo St., Rome, New York.
      In addition to the school bus, parked and/or stored on the property are vehicles and trailers in the yard, as well as an oversized recreational vehicle.
      According to the lawsuit, using the property for storage is in violation of the zoning code, as it relates to residential areas.
      “Defendants were notified that they were in violation of the Boardman Township Zoning Resolution…[and] have failed to come into compliance,” says the suit filed by Mahoning County Assistant Prosecutor Karen Markulin Gaglione. Dating back to May, 2021, defendants in the matter have been notified at least three times by the county prosecutor’s office that using the property for storage of vehicles, including the school bus, is in violation of the Boardman Township zoning codes.
      “In order to avoid potential criminal and/or civil enforcement action, you must abate any and all outstanding zoning violations,” Gaglione said.
      “Since the vehicle bus exceeds the 24-foot allowable limit, it is not allowed to be parked on the property,” Beth Duzzny, Boardman Township property maintenance program coordinator said.
     
      PICTURE: BOARDMAN TOWNSHIP HAS FILED A COMPLAINT FOR A permanent injunction to prohibit storage of a 45-ft. school bus on the property at 8057 Aquadale Dr. Township zoning officials have visited the property 13 times since Jan. 7, 2021 In addition, the Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office has, at least on three occasions, notified the property owner the bus must be moved, in order to bring the property into compliance with township zoning regulations.

      Two sisters, Denise Gorant Gliwa and Connie Gorant Fisher, both in their mid-60s, and born and bred in Youngstown, recently launched the podcast, Bite Your Tongue — building healthy relationships with your adult children.
      The sisters, who both attended Boardman High School and worked weekends and holidays at their father’s well-known candy company - Gorant’s Chocolatiers, are excited about sharing this new venture.
      “It was kind of on a whim,” said Denise. “We hit a point in our lives where our kids were gone, we’d been working at the same craft of over 30-years and wanted something new to learn, she added.
      The two knew they wanted to launch a podcast, but picking the topic became tricky.
      The sisters, along with another dear friend, Dr. Ellen Braaten, a Harvard psychologist who specializes in younger children, began exploring subjects of interest.
      The three woman had raised their now adult children together and realized that although everyone was talking about the ins and outs of their relationships with their adult kids, grand-parenting and when to bite their tongues, there was not a podcast dedicated to the topic.
      “There were a few episodes we found that dealt with the topic,” said Ellen, “but nothing that explored it to the level that we wanted to do it.”
      So the idea was born.
      “This was always my sister’s idea, said Connie, adding “She’s been thinking about doing podcast for years and I came along for the ride.
      “Ellen and Denise became the hosts and I became the software engineer. It was learning curve for me because technology was never my thing, but learning something new at this stage of my life is a good way to keep my brain active and growing.”
      “We are having a lot of fun,” said Denise, but doing a podcast, even twice a month, is harder than we anticipated.
      “Ellen, who is also writing a book and spends half of her time in Prague, is not always able to join us, but we keep plugging away.”
      Each episode explores different areas of parenting adult children. They have 26 episodes under their belts and listenership is growing.
      One of the most popular episodes has been “When they are Grown: The Real Pain Begins,” with Williams College Professor Dr. Susan Engle who wrote a story with that same title in The New York Times.
      Other episodes cover topics such as:
       •Whose Wedding is it Anyway: Discussing the stress of wedding planning
       •After the Empty Nest: Building Our Own Lives
       •Talk the Talk: Strategies and Tools for Giving Advice
       •Talking to Your Adult Kids About Finance
       •When They are Grown: The Real Pain Begins
       •Mothering Difficult Adult Children
       •Legal Documents your Adult Children need Now
       •Mental Health Matters
       •When Grown Kids Disappoint Us
      The list goes on an on. They find top experts in the fields including authors, celebrities, speakers and the media.
      “The most difficult part is finding the very best guests with the best experience who can really address our topics.” says Denise.
      “It’s important”, she adds, “because these years when our children are adults is the longest relationship we will have with them. Let’s make it a good one.”
      Connie adds that some people have said,“parenting adult kids, we are done. But really it is not about parenting, but instead continuing a healthy and connected relationship.”
      Both sisters remember their time in Boardman so fondly and visit often.
      “There is no place like home,” says Connie. “And we hope our friends and family in the Mahoning Valley will enjoy connecting with us through this podcast.”
      You can listen to the podcast by visiting the website at biteyourtonguepodcast.com or it is also available on Apple Podcast, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts.
      Feel free to reach out to them with ideas or thoughts about the podcast or episodes you love. Email biteyourtonguepodcast@gmail.com

     BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      A principal technical specialist for a world-wide professional service firm suggested to Boardman Trustees on Monday night changing Market St., at least from Midlothian Blvd. as far south at Mercy Health (McClurg Rd.), into a two-lane highway with outside lanes on both sides of the road preserved (dedicated) for use by public busses and bicyclists. “There would be turning lanes,” said the technical specialist.
      Timothy Rosenberger, of WSP USA, said the proposal has been under development “and the next step is a design phase to determine precisely what to do.” WSP employs some 49,000 persons world-wide. According to its web site, the firm provides technical expertise and strategic advice to clients in many areas, including transportation and infrastructure, as well as property and buildings.
      In 2020, the Western Reserve Transit Authority (WRTA) received a $250,000 United States Department of Transportation grant to develop a comprehensive transit-oriented development – or TOD – plan for the Market Street corridor in Youngstown and Boardman.
      “It’s a way of trying to enhance transportation connections,” said Dean Harris, WRTA executive director said at the time.
      The WRTA says a “Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) is land development that makes it easier and safer for people to get around by walking, biking or using public transit. Most new development in the past half century has been oriented to driving, with the result that land uses (like retail, housing, and office space) are strictly separated and buildings are surrounded by a sea of parking. TOD attempts to put public transit, bicycling, and walking on an even playing field with driving.
      “Market Street in the city of Youngstown has many older buildings in a state of disrepair, and vacant parcels ripe for redevelopment. The intent of the TOD plan is to use upgraded transit and multimodal infrastructure improvements and connections to create new economic initiatives like redeveloping and repurposing buildings that are in disrepair, and constructing new development on available parcels.”
      According to the WRTA, “The Boardman portion of the corridor needs sidewalk and crosswalk improvements to benefit pedestrians, and also offers many opportunities for ‘in-fill’ development.”
      “In many ways, TOD is a return to the way that Youngstown and its neighborhoods were built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when most people traveled on foot or by streetcar. The ultimate goal of TOD is to create dense, walkable villages around key transit stations, in which most of the resident’s daily needs – groceries, coffee shops, health clubs, restaurants, schools, churches – are within a short (15 minute or less) walk, while jobs, educational and health care opportunities in other parts of the city are accessible by bus,” the transit authority says.
      Rosenberger said the quarter-million-dollar grant “opens the way for improvements at bus stops all along Market St.” He then suggested the “idea of putting special treatment bus lanes (including on Market St. in Boardman) so busses don’t compete with traffic…and bicycles and delivery vehicles” could also use those lanes.
      Boardman Trustee Larry Moliterno replied to that concept saying such a plan would likely increase congestion on Market St., adding Boardman Township does not have “auxiliary roads” to handle more traffic on Market St.
      Rosenberger suggested a TOD plan could be used to spur economic development along Market St. in Boardman, including with townhouse or apartment buildings on the site of the current Center Middle School, or at the Southern Park Mall.
      He said state and federal funding is being sought for “lighted shelters” at WRTA bus stops. Rosenberger said ridership on WRTA busses that service Boardman Township is “about 200 persons a day,” and the transit authority “needs to attract more riders.”
      Tabled until a later date was a motion to hire legal counsel for potential fire code enforcement at a building at 5600 Market St. Fire Chief Mark Pitzer said there were “concerns” over use of the second floor of the building for apartments that do not meet fire codes.
      “We could be in court unless they comply with the fire code,” the fire chief said.
      In other matters, Township Trustees awarded a bid of $581,188 to Boak and Sons for roof replacement at the Boardman Township Road Department garage; and authorized the purchase of eleven sets of body armor for the Police Department at a cost of $13,386. Police Chief Todd Werth said upwards of 75 per cent of the cost will come from grant money.

     Boardman High School senior Sean O’Horo took sixth place last weekend in Div. I in the 175-lb. bracket at the Ohio State wrestling championships held at the Schotenstein Center in Columbus. O’Horo ended his season with a 45-4 record.
      After winning his first two matches, O’Horo dropped a 9-0 decision to Chase Stein of LaSalle; and then was blanked by Kurt Thompson of Cincinnati Moeller, 11-0. During that match, O’Horo tweaked a ham string and forfeited his match for fifth place with Mitchell Broskie of Dublin Coffman.
      It was against Broskie that O’Horo earned a semifinal berth with a 4-3 decision over the #3-rated wrestler from Dublin Coffman. In the first period of the match, Broskie notched the first two points with a reversal, but O’Horo came back with two seconds left in the period for a reversal to knot things at 2-2. The second period saw Broskie riding strong on the top position, but again near the end of the period, O’Horo scored two more points with a reversal and a 4-2 lead going into the final period, where Broskie escaped for a point, but O’Horo held on to claim a 4-3 victory..
      O’Horo opened the state tournament against Jerrell Young, of Cleveland St. Ignatius. He was down 2-1 in the final minute of the third period, and secured a victory in the match with a final second pin over Young.
      “Sean was banged-up in his semifinal loss which made Sunday morning’s wrestle back match tough to get ready for. He couldn’t warm up the way he needed to and it showed, losing 11-0. After that we thought it wasn’t a good idea to try and wrestle for fifth place so he medically defaulted to finish sixth place.
      “The state championship is a tough tournament and so many factors come into play. Sean was on a roll and we had a shot to get into the finals, but it didn’t go that way,” Boardman Head Coach Dom Mancini said.
      Luke Geog of Lakewood St. Ed won the 175-lb state title with a major decision over Stein.
      South Range High School sent three wrestlers to the state meet, including Ray Cmil, in the Div. III 132-lb. class. Cmil wrestled his first, two prep seasons at Boardman High School.
      Cmil garnered a second place finish, dropping the championship match to Hunter Long, of Wayne Trace.
      In the 106-lb. bracket, the Raiders Hunter Newell placed seventh; and in the 165-lb. division, Lorgan Cormell claimed a seventh place.

     Meeting in February, the Boardman Board of Education approved a contract with the Alta Care Group, 7620 Market St., for mental health services for Boardman High School students and staff at a cost of $4,878.
      According to the contract, “Services to be provided for the benefit of Boardman Local School students and faculty include some or all of the following...in a manner consistent with the school system’s protocol for referrals to outside mental health providers, and determined to be appropriate by the Mental Health Individualized Treatment Plan, if one so exists:
       •Behavioral consultation services to students, teachers, and/or any Student Assistance Team members toward the goal of minimizing disruptive behaviors and decreasing classroom removals (i.e. suspensions, expulsions, etc.) so as to increase exposure to the learning environment.
       •Attendance at student specific school meetings as necessary and appropriate.
       •All necessary paperwork necessary for the fulfillment of job responsibilities.
       •...Any services described in this agreement that must be performed on the premises of Boardman Local Schools will be performed during hours that are determined by [Alta Care] (totaling six hours per day), but at a time that is mutually convenient to [Alta Care] and the Boardman Local Schools.
      The school board accepted the following resignations:
       •Betsy McCrate, high school math teacher, effective June 30; Rabia Ait El Madani, high school cleaning, effective March 16; Anita Burns, Stadium Drive Elementary School noontime monitor, effective February 22; and Joanne Gardner, Stadium Drive Elementary School noontime monitor, effective February 25.
      The school board approved the following appointments:
       •Daniel Dota, one-year limited contract for the 2022-2023 school year effective August 15. Dota earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Youngstown State University. He will be a health and physical education teacher at Boardman High School replacing Seth Antram. Dota replaced Antram as head football coach at Boardman.
       •Lauren Gerberry, one-year limited contract for the 2022-2023 school year effective August 15. Ms. Gerberry earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Youngstown State University. She will be a science teacher at Boardman High School replacing Mark J. D’Eramo
       •Suna Abukwaik, one-year limited contract as a Teacher Aide at Robinwood Elementary School for the 2021-2022 school year effective March 1. This is a new position.
       •Ryan Campana, one-year limited contract as a custodian at Center Intermediate School effective January 31. He is replacing Brian Huddleston.
       •James Higham, one-year limited contract as a bus driver for the 2021-2022 school year. He is replacing Lara Wanamaker.
       •Esther Plourde, one-year limited contract as a teacher aide at Robinwood Elementary School for the 2021-2022 school year. She is replacing Kyle Gray.
      Supplemental contracts were awarded to Rick Sypert, high school girls cross country head coach; Lindsay Bates, high school girls softball assistant coach; Fred Mootz, high school girls softball head coach; and Matt Pavone, high school girls lacrosse head coach.
     

     “I invite all to pray for the people of Ukraine...What is happening there
      right now is beyond words and is so unjust.”... We need to pray for the
      people of the Ukraine. We need to pray for an end to this unjust action.
      We need to pray for an end to evil,”
      Bishop David J. Bonnar, head of the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown
     
      “With the weight of the atrocities happening in the world, especially to the people of Ukraine, we feel it is important for our community to come together and stand in solidarity as people who are about peace and non-violence.”
      Pastor Erin Shank of Trinity Episcopal Church, New Castle, Pa.

     BOARDMAN TOWNSHIP ROAD DEPARTMENT Full Time Assistant Road Superintendent
      The Boardman Township Trustees are seeking to fill the position of Full Time Assistant Road Superintendent. Applicants are required to possess a valid Ohio Driver’s CDL A or B License, work experience in construction or road maintenance, working knowledge of Microsoft Office products, and pass a pre-employment physical and drug test. Full job description available at www.boardmantwp.com/road. Interested applicants may send a resume to bmetzger@boardmantwp.com or mail to Boardman Township Road Department, 8299 Market Street, Boardman, Ohio 44512. Deadline to apply is March 30, 2022. No walk-in or late resumes will be accepted. Boardman Township is an equal opportunity employer.
      William D. Leicht, Fiscal Officer
     

     Market St., from Roche Way to Southwoods Dr., will be the site of the 44th St. Patrick’s Day Parade that gets underway on Sun., Mar. 13 at 1:00 p.m. More than 120 units will march in the event that attracts upwards to 25,000 persons along the parade route. Special honorees at this year’s event will be H. William ‘Bill’ Lawson, executive director of the Mahoning Valley Historical Society; Mahoning County Court Judge Scott Hunter, Lord Mayor of Kilkenny; and Kurt Hilderbrand, Ockerman Award.
      Grand Marshal - Bill Lawson
      H. William ‘Bill’ Lawson is Executive Director of the Mahoning Valley Historical Society. Lawson has worked for the Historical Society for 33 years, and served as executive director since 1991.
      Lawson is a Mahoning Valley native, and received his primary and secondary education in the Boardman Local Schools. He earned Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts Degrees in History from YSU. He has researched, written and lectured extensively on the history of the Mahoning Valley.
      Lawson is a former board member of the Ohio Museums Association, and a past board member and President of the Ohio Local History Alliance. He is a 15-year member and Past President of the Rotary Club of Youngstown, the area’s first service club, and a board member of Youngstown CityScape, a development organization focusing on improvements in the central City.
      Lawson and his wife, Joan, a Religious Education Consultant for the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown, are active members of St. Patrick Church. Together they enjoy traveling, hunting for antiques and collectibles and maintaining a vintage camper trailer and paddling on Guilford Lake in Columbiana County. They are the parents of two children: Meghan E. Lawson, a licensed massage therapist at Spinal Care Chiropractic Center in Columbiana County, and Brian W. Lawson, an electroencephalography technician at University Hospitals in Cleveland.
      Lord Mayor of Kilkenny - Scott Hunter
      Judge Scott D. Hunter is a lifelong resident of Mahoning County and a graduate of Canfield High School, Youngstown State University, and the University of Cincinnati College of Law.
      He has served as mayor of the City of Canfield and also served as a member of Canfield City Council and as Council President.
      He began his service as a Mahoning County Area Court Judge with his appointment to the position in July of 1999. He was elected to a full six-year term in the fall of 2000 and reelected in 2006, 2012, and 2018, serving the Area Courts located in Austintown, Boardman, Sebring and Canfield. Currently Judge Hunter serves as the Administrative and Presiding Judge for the Area Courts. He presided over the Misdemeanor Drug Court from April 2001 until April 2014, where he worked to expand it into a successful rehabilitative Court alternative.
      For his work with the Drug Court, Judge Hunter received the Excellence in Service Award, Volunteer Category from the Mahoning County Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services Board as well as the Hope Has A Home Award from the Neil Kennedy Recovery Clinic.
      He has maintained a private law practice for nearly 32 years and has been one of the owners of Hunter-Stevens Land Title Agency, Ltd. for over 22 years. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Mahoning County Agricultural Society and the Canfield Fair Foundation. He previously served as a member of the Board of Directors of United Community Financial Corporation and Home Savings Bank. He is involved in numerous community, church and civic activities and is a member of the Association of Municipal/County Judges of Ohio, the Ohio State Bar Association and the Ohio Land Title Association. He currently serves as Trustee of the Mahoning County Bar Association Foundation.
      He is married to the former Michelle Marino, and father to three daughters, Ashley, Emily (Christopher) Hammond and Katie, his step-daughter, Jessica, step-son, Austin, and grandfather to Hunter Mary.
      Ockerman Award - Kurt Hilderbrand
      Kurt Hilderbrand is the son of Beverly O’Neill Hilderbrand and Robert Hilderbrand and has lived in the Mahoning Valley his entire life. He is a graduate of Poland Seminary High School and a graduate of The Youngstown State University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.
      He is married to Donna Slagle and together they have a son Kent, who is also involved as a Parade Marshal.
      Hilderbrand is a member of St. James Episcopal Church in Boardman where he served as Eucharistic Minister, Reader and served three terms on the Vestry.
      He has been involved in the Boy Scouts of America since 1985, he is an Eagle scout, and is currently serving as District Committee member and is Chair of the Stambaugh Properties Committee for the Great Trail Council. He previously served as Scoutmaster of Troop 80 North Lima, Oh. for 15 years, and was on the board of directors for the Greater Western Reserve Council, BSA. As a scouter he has been awarded the Order of the Arrow Vigil member, Silver Beaver Award, District Award of Merit, Wood Badge and Wood Badge Staffer.
      Hilderbrand is employed as Production Engineer with RWE Holding Company in New Castle, Pa. He has been a Parade Marshal since 2004.
      Casey Malone serves as president of the parade committee. Vice president is Mark Smith, and Robb Kale serves as treasurer, Sharon Sabatka, secretary; and Joe Illencik, head marshal. They are assisted by Tom Butler, Joe Calinger, Pat Chrystal, Marilyn Carroll, Julaine Gilmartin, Joyce Kale Pesta, John Sheridan, Mary Jane Venitti and Grant William.

     BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      Boardman Park is observing its 75th anniversary this year.
      It was during the November, 1947 general elections that Boardman Township voters approved the establishment of a ‘free township park.’ The measure created Boardman Park, but did not approve any funds to operate such a park. Creation of Boardman Park was also approved after William F. Maag Jr. donated 72 acres of land for use as a public park, then situated in between the home of Justice of the Peace Edgar G. Diehm and some 50 acres of land that was to be used as radio transmitters for WFMJ.
      Named to the first Board of Park Commissioners were Lewis Barger, Hugh Manchester and Ralph P. Smith, who the following year placed a 1-mil tax levy on the ballot to provide funding for the park; while Chet Long and Walter Damon drew-up plans for picnic areas, roadways, fireplaces and pathways.
      “We want to utilize natural beauty and avoid any ‘formal’ park,” Barger said at the time.
      In 1948 the park district’s first real property tax levy was approved, which was a 1-mill levy, and 75 years later, Boardman Park continues to operate maintain, preserve, and improve the park on the equivalent of that levy.
      The size of the park has more than quadrupled since 1947, where today the park provides 60 acres for active recreational purposes and preserves 234 acres as green space and natural habitat.
      Following approval of the tax levy, Homer V. Holl was named the first superintendent of Boardman Park. He served until 1952. During his tenure, the first open-air pavilion, Edgewood, was constructed; and the park purchased it first tractor for $1,596.
      In addition, a baseball field was constructed with support from the Boardman Athletic Association; as well as a playground for children with equipment purchased for the site provided by the Boardman Kiwanis Club. The first baseball diamond in Boardman Park served as home field for Boardman High School baseball games, and as well for Boardman Little League (that first played there in 1955. Among those who played on that diamond were former Major League pitcher Lamar Jacobs and former New York Jets quarterback Joe ‘Willie’ Namath).
      When Mr. Holl stepped down as superintendent, Chuck Wedekind was named as his replacement, serving just two years before becoming superintendent of Mill Creek Park.
      He was replaced by Ivor N. Jenkins, who served as superintendent until 1975. During his tenure, in 1972, Olde St. James Church, among the oldest Episcopal church buildings east of the Mississippi River, was moved to Boardman Park and now graces its entrance off Boardman-Poland Rd. At one time the lawn in front of the church featured thousands of daffodils that bloomed in the springtime.
      When Jenkins exited as park superintendent, John Holzbach was named as his replacment. He served until 1992. During his tenure, Boardman Township observed the nation’s bicentennial and held observances at the park, attended by more than 10,000 people. The bicentennial observance cleared the way for Boardman Rotary Club’s annual Oktoberfest. (Prior to the bicentennial, large gatherings at the park were often spurned, as former superintendents Jenkins, and Holzbach expressed concerns the landscaping would be damaged by large crowds).
      Also during Holzbach’s tenure, the first Maple Syrup Festival was held at Boardman Park, in 1981; and two historic township homes were relocated to the park.
      In June, 1992, the park’s current superintendent, Daniel N. Slagle Jr., was appointed to the post (now called executive director).
      Mr. Slagle’s pledge was to improve programming at the park and one of his first efforts was to develop a master plan that reflected the mission statement of the district --- “To provide a diversity of recreational and educational opportunities in an environment that lends itself to pleasant family experience, and to preserve areas of natural habitat.”
      Under his tenure, a many capital inprovement projects have been completed --- with the support and generosity of the community, including Kids’ Town and Tot’s Town playgrounds, the Maag Outdoor Arts Theatre, Marge Hartman’s Paws Town, Elton Beard Family Cabin, Kenneth Hofmaster Pavilion, Hike & Bike Trail, a Veterans Memorial and the Lariccia Family Community Center. The park has also served as home for the annual Easter Egg Hunt of the Boardman Kiwanis Club, and provides a variety of activities every Halloween and as well, a Community Christmas celebration.
      On June 11, 1993, Janie S. Jenkins donated her property, the former Southern Park Stables, to Boardman Park. The site is the last remnant of the Southern Park Race Track. Established in 1908, Southern Park was a sports landmark in the area and consisted of 55 acres with a half-mile race track, numerous barns, a grandstand, flower gardens, picnic areas and a baseball field. Located approximately a mile and one-half south of Boardman Center (bounded by Market St., Washington Blvd. Southern Blvd. and McClurg Rd.) it was the enterprise of Senator David Tod, David Tod Arrel and H.H. Stambaugh. The race track was a popular site for high school track meets and thoroughbred horse racing, drawing crowds of more than 15,000 people during its heyday. In the early 1920s, a blimp landed at the track, attracting thousands of spectators. In 1986 the Southern Stables was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, one of two such sites maintained by Boardman Park (the other is Olde St. James Church).
      “On behalf of the Board of Park Commissioners---Joyce Mistovich, Trent Cailor and Ken Goldsboro---and our staff, we would like to express our deepest gratitude for the community’s ongoing support and appreciation of the Green Oasis and its mission.
      “Our purpose is to create wholesome opportunities to live and interact with family, friends, neighbors, and communities.
      “The park offers a variety of recreational facilities and programs year-round that enhance the quality of life for the Community it so proudly serves. The Green Oasis also provides environmental benefits to our community such as mitigating stormwater run-off, preserving wildlife habitats and protecting wetlands,” Executive Director Slagle said.
      There is one, great mystery surrounding Boardman Park---a rock said to be engraved with the initials ‘EB.’ The rock was said to be placed at Boardman Centre (now Rt. 224 and Market St.) when the founder of Boardman Township, Sen. Elijah Boardman, came here in 1798 from Milford, Conneticut. It was last seen in Boardman Park when Ivor Jenkins was superintendent.
      75 years after it was formed, an estimated 500,000 people visit Boardman Park annually.
      “We believe that the continued increase in the number of visitors clearly demonstrates that Boardman Park is one of the most popular areas for family recreation in the Mahoning Valley. The popularity of the park can be attributed to our community’s positive response and enthusiastic participation in the diverse and multigenerational programs we offer year-round, as well as our unique footprint of recreational facilities. Visitors can enjoy reservable indoor rooms and outdoor pavilions, tennis, pickle ball, and sand volleyball, baseball fields, an 18-hole disc golf course, bocce courts, Marge Hartman’s Paws Town dog park and four miles of ADA accessible walking trails that transverse the natural areas of the park,” Slagle said.
      Boardman Park operates on an annual budget of about $1.3 million.
      Property tax collections (still on the equivalent of the original 1947 levy) account for $765,694 of the park district’s revenues; and an indication of the many facilities are rented each year for family and special events, $370,120 in revenue comes from ‘charges for services,’ according to the Ohio Auditor of State.

     BY ADRIANA TRAFFICANTE
      Boardman Bugle
      Nicholas Sainato was once roaming the halls of this very high school; and now he roams the streets of Nashville, Tenn. where he pursues his musical dreams.
      Boardman High School is indeed known for its fantastic performing arts program, but how could it bring somebody from the band room to the recording studio?
      I reached out to the 2006 graduate of Boardman High School---now drummer, producer, and songwriter for the band, Nightly, seeking an answer to this question.
      Sainato’s musical career began inside the walls of Boardman’s own Performing Arts Center. Performing in many music programs such as drumline in marching band, Jazz 1 and Symphonic Band, the experiences he became involved in at Boardman have really helped Sainato get to where he is now.
      “I think there were so many opportunities at Boardman; it gave you a lot of chances to try different things and see what you enjoy,” Sainato said.
      He explained how students he spent his high school years with inspired him to prosper in his music career and described “The talent pool at Boardman in music has always been ‘super great’ and inspiring, and pushes you to be a better musician.”
      Along with the students, he was also inspired by multiple teachers who led him along the path to his successful future in the music industry.
      In regard to BHS staff members, Sainato noted that “Mr. Tom Ruggieri (high school band director) and Mrs. Randy Nord (English teacher) were the two teachers that I felt inspired me and encouraged me to pursue music, or even just pursue a passion in general. They were always so supportive of in school accomplishments as well as outside accomplishments.”
      When asked what he would like to share with current high school students interested in pursuing a career in the arts, he advised, “Take advantage of all of the opportunities that Boardman has and be a part of as many ensembles, groups, and bands as possible. Also, take advantage of what your teachers have to offer. They are there to help you, and if you show interest and excitement in it, they are going to be way more willing to help.”
      Sainato was also involved in music outside of the school building during his high school years.
      He started a band with his friends to fill his time after hours.
      “My band that I had with my friends outside of school is what really pushed me into doing what I do now. We always did as many battle of the bands as we could, and ended up winning a bunch of money, gear, and recording time in studios which made me want to get into producing my own music.”
      His advice to current BHS students---“Be active in performing arts outside of school, whether it’s starting a band with your friends or joining a community ensemble/program, and spend as much time as possible into getting better while you’re in school.”
      Continuing in his passion for music, Sainato went to Youngstown State University where he
      studied and graduated with a music degree in Jazz Performance. He also attended Berklee College of
      Music in Boston along with Musicians Institute in Los Angeles.
      When asked how his college education assisted him in his career, Sainato responded, “School just helped me hone in my skills as a musician and gave me confidence in myself.”
      His years after high school and through college led him now to Nashville.
      Elaborating on his journey around the country, he stated that he lived in Los Angeles for a year before moving to Nashville in 2014, where professional career really began to take off.
      He commented about how once he moved to Nashville, he “started playing in a bunch of bands and also with different country artists.” He recalls that he met the lead singer of his band at church, where they became friends. He asked Sainato to join a band that he and his cousin were starting, and that is how he got into his current job.
      Traveling from Boardman to Los Angeles, he finally landed in Nashville, Tennessee, where he
      currently pursues a professional career in music. Sainato takes the role of the drummer in his band along with producing and songwriting.
      Sainato describes some of the most exciting opportunities and experiences he’s had since pursuing a professional career in music.
      He said that some of these had recently consisted of “touring with some awesome artists and friends like NF, the Band Camino, Lennon Stella, and Andy Grammer, as well as playing at music festivals like Bonnaroo, Austin City Limits and Hangout Fest.”
      Sainato was also asked about the future of his career, and while Covid 19 had a huge effect on the performing arts industry, he said “I’m just excited to continue to grow as an artist and songwriter and keep making music I enjoy, as well as finally being able to go back on tour.
      “I grew up listening to so many different bands and artists that I loved, and it’s the only thing I really wanted to do.
      “No matter what anyone tells you or how hard people may make it seem, anything is possible if it’s what you really want to do, and only you can make that happen. Just keep doing what you love, and everything will fall into place.”
     
      This article was written by Adriana Trafficante, reporter, of the Boardman High School newspaper, The Bugle. The Boardman News will periodically highlight stories from The Bugle, to highlight high school journalism.

     When the Covid 19 pandemic heightened urgent and emerging needs, United Way was uniquely positioned and built for this work by improving lives through direct service, collaboration, volunteerism and advocacy. Its role as a leader in the local non-profit community inspired donors to generously support its annual funding-raising campaign for 2021 that raised a record total of $3.476 million, the most money ever raised in a year in the 102 year history of the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley. It marked the sixth, consecutive year the annual campaign exceeded $3 million.
      Chris Sammartino serves on United Way’s Board of Directors and chairs the Marketing Committee. He played a significant role in the agency’s Centennial Campaign by helping plan the 100th Anniversary Gala. His wife, Lisa, is a member of Women United, that focuses on the children impacted by United Way initiatives. After a year of unprecedented challenges, Chris and Lisa stepped into the role of 2021 campaign co-chairs because they believe in the United Way’s mission and the community.
      “We both have seen firsthand the amazing work the United Way does in the community. We serve as Report Card Mentors, we volunteer for the Saturday of Caring, and we help with the Christmas Gift Drive for the Success After 6 programs every year,” said Chris and Lisa. “We were extremely honored to take on the role of co-chairs for the campaign. The community needs to know about the excellent work the United Way does for our neighbors in need. We want to bring that message to everyone and knew we could do it in this role.”
      “We may never be able to fully express our gratitude to all our donors, but we begin with thank you to all of you who made this possible. This funding will allow us two years into the pandemic to continue to stabilize the individuals and homes most impacted,” said Bob Hannon, president of the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley. “We are feeding hungry children and families, providing basic needs, helping nonprofit partners withstand drops in funding, and continue the impactful work that we were doing before we faced the Covid pandemic.”
      United Way will invest the money raised during the 2021 Rise United Campaign directly back into the Mahoning Valley. When the pandemic hit in 2020, the world changed but United Way’s mission remained the same.
      “We created new initiatives such as Satur-Day of Caring that delivers food directly to the homes of seniors, shut-ins, and families who cannot and should not be out during the pandemic,” Hannon said.
      Satur-Day of Caring began with 100 households and has quadrupled over the past 18 months thanks to the generosity of the Muransky family who started this initiative. In addition, Mahoning County Commissioners David Ditzler, Anthony Traficante and Carol Rimedio-Righetti gave American Recovery Funds back into the community.
      “These additional funds are critical as we face the rising cost of food and personal items that we take to more than 400 homes each month,” Hannon said.
      The Satur-Day of Caring initiative led to a dramatic increase in United Way’s volunteer base. Every third Saturday, 150 volunteers help pack food bags and deliver them to those in need. United Way was able to engage more than 500 new volunteers through 2020 and 2021, and we will continue to grow that number in 2022; especially through Early Education Initiatives.
      While students prepared to return to in-person learning for the 2021-2022 school year, United Way began transitioning its educational wraparound services for any changes within the partner districts caused by the pandemic. The Success By 6 staff worked tirelessly to welcome students and their families back over the summer months. 588 children across eighteen school districts took part in the Kindergarten Readiness initiative, showing improvement in math, literacy, and social-emotional development.
      Success After 6 staff brought students back for in-person, after-school programming while continuing to offer virtual tutoring opportunities through the Vello initiative. This program offers one-on-one reading sessions for students and tutors through a safe and secure digital setting. Vello has now grown from being in just one school to being in four schools.
      In 2014, United Way launched the Imagination Library in Mahoning County. This initiative promotes the love of reading at the earliest of ages. In 2019, Gov. Mike DeWine launched the Ohio Governor’s Imagination Library expanding the reach of the program. In 2021, over 6,000 children across Mahoning County, birth to age 5, received one free book a month.
      “We continue to work to increase our reach with this program by offering special programming with our partner schools,” Hannon said.
      As United Way-led initiatives continue to grow, so does the need for the services provided by the United Way’s 35 non-profit partner agencies. These agencies continue to receive funding through United Way, many also received additional pandemic relief funding to help maintain and provide services for the most vulnerable in the community. The Board’s Impact Committee is currently reviewing applications from non-profits across Mahoning County for 2022-2024.

     The Boardman High School Class of 1972 will hold their 50th anniversary reunion Sept. 1 and 2 at Waypoint Conference Center in Canfield. Classmates and guests are invited to both evening events. A golfing event is also being planned. Organizers of the reunion are looking for the following classmates---Elizabeth Allason, Luzette Anderson, Deborah Ankeny, Jennie Bateson, Deborah Brownlee, Theresa Cassidy, Mary Lou Cellio, Cheryl Devore, Thea Dravis, Debra Elms, Cinda Gillam, Wanda Granitto, John Grant, Diane Hasler, Daniel Herman, Diana Hilbon, Diane Hrifko, Beverly Hymes, JoEllen Johnston, Victoria Kaczowka (Rencenwicz), David King, Patricia Kranik, Peter Kraynik, Rowena Lebio, Debbie McCutchen (Taylor), Cynthia McNell, Kathy Medcraft, Michael Nathan, Tobi Nelson, Rhonda Parker, Gerald Pettit, Barbara Ragan Terri Sanderson (Brenner), Pamela Sandler, Richard Saulino, Christina Schrader, Janie Terwilliger, Althea Tobias and Linda Whetstone. Contact Reunion Committee Co-Chairs Jay Powell or Greg Krieger at boardmanclassof72@gmail.com

     Boardman resident Mark Luke, will present a program on Boardman Cemetery, Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery and Lake Park Cemetery, Saturday, March 5, at 10:00 a.m. at the Boardman Library, 7680 Glenwood Ave, for the Boardman Historical Society. This program begins the society’s annual membership campaign.
      Historic Boardman Cemetery is located on Tanglewood Drive and dates back to 1805, when the founder of Boardman Township, Connecticut Senator Elijah Boardman donated half an acre of land to be used for a cemetery. Prior to this, burials in the township were made on the farm of Adam Simon. The Boardman Cemetery Association was incorporated, under the laws of the State of Ohio in 1917. There are no lots available for purchase. Township Fiscal Officer William D. Leicht is the custodian of Boardman Cemetery.
      Lake Park Cemetery opened in 1914 and is located off of Midlothian Blvd., off the south side of Youngstown, Ohio. It is a traditional place of interment and operated by the Lake Park Cemetery Park Association.
      Forest Lawn Memorial Park, with entrances on Market St. and Glenwood Ave., was founded in 1930 when the Mill Creek Memorial Park Association obtained a state charter to form a nonprofit corporation and operate the park-like cemetery. Firms that developed the nearby Forest Glen Estates also planned the cemetery.
      Luke is a Boardman Kiwanis vice-president and known for his involvement in organizing Boardman Memorial Day parades. He is a deacon of Westminster Presbyterian Church, director of the Boardman Community Foundation and is the secretary of the Boardman Civic Association. He is also a trustee of the Lake Park Cemetery Association, former governing board member of the disbanded Mahoning County American Cancer Society, a volunteer for the Salvation Army, Boys Scouts and United Way, and former member of the Board of Commissioners of Boardman Park.
      The Boardman Historical Society preserves Boardman Township history. Artifacts, photographs and records are archived by the society at the Oswald Detchon House in Boardman Park.
      The Mar. 5 presentation is open to the public, at no charge. A question and answer period will be available, after the 45-minute program. Reservations are required, due to social distancing. For more information, about the program and the society, or to make reservations, contact Dona Hammond, at 330-726-0651.

     BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      Plans for a proposed stormwater park at the site of the now vacant Market St. Elementary School were boosted this week when Boardman Township was informed some $1.2 million in disaster mitigation grant monies could be used for the project, pending final approval from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
      Cost of the project has been estimated to be near $3 million, and if the FEMA grant gains final approval, almost all of the funding for the project could come from grant monies, Township Administrator Jason Loree said this week.
      Already Boardman Township has been notified it will receive $1 million for the project from the Mahoning County Commissioners, as well as an Ohio capital grant of $500,000, and an Ohio H2O grant for $300,000.
      “We have undertaken extensive studies for this project and after we complete asbestos surveys for the school building, if all goes well, we hope to raze the building this summer,” Loree said.
      Not connected to the razing of the school building, but a part of the township’s overall stormwater abatement plans is razing several houses north of Market St. School in an effort to improve water flows in the Cranberry Run watershed during peak water events.
      “Our road superintendent, Marilyn Kenner, has done an excellent job in procuring grants for these demolitions,” Loree said.
      When completed, the Forest Lawn Stormwater Park will be a 14.6-acre green space on the property of the former elementary school that will be designed to improve surface water flows impacting up to 1,400 homes.
      It will include the creation of a passive park where people can gather and walk along a lighted sidewalk, complete with security cameras, as well as the entire site will be re-forested with appropriate plantings.
      Once completed, during heavy rainfalls, the project will be able to hold up to the equivalent of 9-feet of water (an estimated one million gallons) spread over the surface the size of a football field.

     PAIGE SNYDER, at left, and Luke Ryan, on right, were named queen and king last weekend at Boardman High School’s annual Sweetheart Ball. Members of their court included Patti Jeffrey, Dana Haus, Roderica Patterson, Eden Lesnansky, Carter Cailor, Nathan Hargrove, Guy Young, Brendan Butler and Gavin Fernandez.

     PUBLIC NOTICE
      Boardman Township, Mahonig County, in conjunction with the Ohio Emergency Management Agency (Ohio EMA), has applied for Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for Cranberry Run Flood Plain Mitigation Project. The objective of HMA programs is to fund mitigation measures that reduce the risk of loss of life and property from future hazard events or disasters. Cranberry Run Flood Plain Mitigation Project is for the acquisition and demolition of four structures with in the flood plain of Cranberry Run. Project includes grading of site, removal of foot bridges and weir structures.
      Under the National Environmental Policy Act, EO 11988 and EO 11990, public notice is required of any federal actions that may affect floodplains or wetlands. Under the National Historic Preservation Act, public notice is also required for some projects which have the potential to affect historic properties. All necessary permits and approvals will be obtained prior to construction and completion of the project.
      Public participation is encouraged. Those interested are invited to comment within 30 days by e-mail to fema-r5-environmental@fema.dhs.gov or by mail to:
      Duane Castaldi, Regional Environmental Officer
      FEMA Region V
      536 South Clark Street, 6th Floor
      Chicago, IL 60605
     

     PUBLIC NOTICE
      Boardman Township, Mahoning County, in conjunction with the Ohio Emergency Management Agency (Ohio EMA), has applied for Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for Forest Lawn Stormwater Park. The objective of HMA programs is to fund mitigation measures that reduce the risk of loss of life and property from future hazard events or disasters. The Forest Lawn Stormwater Park Project will daylight a stream with overflow flood plain basins to mitigate flooding and increase water quality for the watershed. This 15-acre passive stormwater park will include public walking paths, trees, and pollinator meadows. The project will include removal of the existing underground stormwater system, site grading, and new plantings.
      Under the National Environmental Policy Act, EO 11988 and EO 11990, public notice is required of any federal actions that may affect floodplains or wetlands. Under the National Historic Preservation Act, public notice is also required for some projects which have the potential to affect historic properties. All necessary permits and approvals will be obtained prior to construction and completion of the project.
      Public participation is encouraged. Those interested are invited to comment within 30 days by e-mail to fema-r5-environmental@fema.dhs.gov or by mail to:
      Duane Castaldi, Regional Environmental Officer
      FEMA Region V
      536 South Clark Street, 6th Floor
      Chicago, IL 60605

     BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      Boardman Township’s Board of Trustees are hopeful they can expand their annual summer road resurfacing program, bolstered over the next five years with the addition of funding from a quarter per cent county sales tax approved by the electorate last November for the purpose funding Mahoning County and township roadway infrastructure for five years.
      Annually, Boardman Township appropriates some $400,00 to $600,000 for its annual resurfacing program, that covers between 2.5 and 3 miles of roadway, (generally ten to 15 roads).
      Boardman Administrator, Jason Loree, said that county road tax funds could add another $943,000 to the resurfacing program “every year for the next five years.”
      “This funding would generate…$4 million, with [the 14] townships in [Mahoning County] dividing their share among them,” Mahoning County Engineer Pat Ginnetti said on May 6, 2021 at a special Road Safety Infrastructure Plan meeting of the Mahoning County Township Association.
      Ginnetti was asked if the sales tax initiative would provide benefits to townships in outlying areas?
      “With the additional revenue for their road infrastructure funds, townships could obviously implement an increase in local paving projects,” Ginnetti said.
      Of the 14 townships in Mahoning County, Boardman maintains the most miles of roads---144.745 miles.
      Austintown maintains 117.033 miles, and under the plan proposed at the association meeting, will receive $772,368 annually from the quarter per cent sales tax. Poland Township, with 54.54 miles of roads would receive $387,348 a year; while Canfield would receive $280,997 a year.
      The annual disbursement schedule proposed at the association, also provides the following: Beaver (North Lima) $266,962; Springfield, $237.419; Green, $179,281; Goshen, $170,516; Milton, $167,770; Berlin, $132,093; Coitsville, $86,695; Jackson, $82,467; and Ellsworth, $60,961.
      In addition to township-maintained roads in Boardman, Mahoning County maintains 44.40 miles of road, and the state of Ohio maintains 19.71 miles of roads, including Market St. and Rt. 224 that was resurfaced last summer.

     The Boardman Local School District will hold its annual kindergarten registration for the 2022-23 school year on Thurs., March 10. Registration will take place in the morning, from 8:30 a.m. until noon. Afternoon and evening hours are also available on Thurs., March 10, from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
      Registration will take place in each of the district’s three elementary schools---Stadium Drive, Robinwood Lane and West Boulevard.Masks are required, and social distancing protocols will be followed.
      Registration packets will be made available at each elementary building (outside of the main doors) beginning March 1.
      Registration for a new student to the Boardman Local Schools requires parents or guardians to be residents in the Boardman Local School District. A child must reach age 5 on or before August 1, 2022 in order to register with the district. Children need not be with parents to be registered.
      Parents/guardians should bring a photo ID as well as the following items:
       •A completed registration form (found online at http://www.boardman.k12.oh.us/ or can be picked up in advance at the enrollment office or at each elementary building)
       •Proof of immunization. (proof of your child’s immunization is a physician’s statement or immunization card with dates entered)
       •The child’s official state birth certificate with a raised seal
       •At least two proofs of residency forms (i.e. homeowner’s tax statement, utility bill, purchase/rental agreement, bank or credit card statement, etc.)
       •Custody papers, if applicable
      Kindergarten at Boardman Local Schools is all day, every day. Parents may call the system’s Enrollment Office at 330-259-7189 with any questions.

     The Boardman Township Board of Appeals shall hold a Public Hearing on Tuesday, February 15, 2022 at 7:00 PM, go to https://www.boardmantwp.com/zoning/board-of-zoning-appeals/ for further information for consideration of the following cases:
      APPEAL CASE AC-2022-01
      Kyleigh Haynes on behalf of KODIAK PROPERTIES LLC, property owner, 875 Cook Ave., Boardman, Ohio 44514, requests a variance from the terms of the Boardman Township Zoning Resolution, effective January 1, 2021, Article 12.10 (B) (2) (b) to reduce to 10’ setback from rights-of-way to 0’. The property is further known as LOT 62 40 X 115 THE SUBURBAN HOMESITE CO & LOT 63 40 X 115 THE SUBURBAN HOMESITE CO, Parcel 29-015-0-269.00-0 & 29-015-0-268.00-0. Said property is zoned R-2 Residential, in Boardman Township, Mahoning County, State of Ohio.
      APPEAL CASE AC-2022-02
      Woolpert on behalf of RHINO HOLDINGS BOARDMAN LLC, property owner, 317 Boardman Poland Rd., Boardman, Ohio 44512, requests a variance from the terms of the Boardman Township Zoning Resolution, effective January 1, 2021, Article 4.09 Site Development Standards for Nonresidential Zoning Districts to reduce the side yard setbacks to 0’ to the east for a replat. The property is further known as LOT 1 449.67 X 567.33 IRR TOYS R US - OHIO PLAT NO 1, Parcel 29-042-0-005.00-0. Said property is zoned I-Industrial & GB-General Business, in Boardman Township, Mahoning County, State of Ohio.
      APPEAL CASE AC-2022-03
      Brilliant Signs on behalf of P A L 2 PROPERTIES LLC, property owner, 1247 Boardman Poland Rd., Boardman, Ohio 44512, requests a variance from the terms of the Boardman Township Zoning Resolution, effective January 1, 2021, Article 12.11 Permanent Signs in Nonresidential Zoning Districts (B) (3) & (6) (a) to increase the wall signage allowance. The property is further known as LOT 4 440 X 198 REPL 1 M SCHUMER PL 1, Parcel 30-054-0-014.00-0. Said property is zoned GB-General Business, in Boardman Township, Mahoning County, State of Ohio.
      APPEAL CASE AC-2022-04
      Mike Makes Signs on behalf of Boardman United Methodist Church, property owner, 6825 Market St., Boardman, Ohio 44512, requests a variance from the terms of the Boardman Township Zoning Resolution, effective January 1, 2021, Article 12.11 Permanent Signs in Nonresidential Zoning Districts (C) (7) (a) to reduce the sign setback from the front property line by 3’ to convert an existing sign to digital EMC. The property is further known as LOT 2 SEC 0 70 X 204.62 ROLAND HEIGHTS & LOT 3 SEC 0 70 X 204.11 ROLAND HEIGHTS, Parcel 29-005-0-249.00-0 & 29-005-0-250.00-0. Said property is zoned PI-Public & Institutional, in Boardman Township, Mahoning County, State of Ohio.
      APPEAL CASE AC-2022-05
      Golden Eye Developers on behalf of Michele M Miller Trustee, property owner, 6412 South Ave., Boardman, Ohio 44512, requests a variance from the terms of the Boardman Township Zoning Resolution, effective January 1, 2021, Article 8.03 (B) (3) to eliminate the 25’ riparian setback. The property is further known as LOT 3 214.01 X 1091.60 IRR GEORGE FARM REPLAT 3, Parcel 29-016-0-185.00-0. Said property is currently zoned RB-Regional Business & R-2 Residential, located in Boardman Township, Mahoning County, State of Ohio.
      APPEAL CASE AC-2022-06
      MVC Architecture on behalf of DCZ PROPERTY GROUP LLC, property owner, South Ave., Boardman, Ohio 44512, requests a variance from the terms of the Boardman Township Zoning Resolution, effective January 1, 2021, Article 4.09 Area, Setback, and Other Site Development Standards Table 4.09-1 to reduce the front setback from 50’ to 30’ and the rear setback from 40’ to 20’. The property is further known as LOT 22 100.00 X 195.98 IRR REPLAT OF LOTS 22-24 & 30 IN DUSTMAN CORNERS PLAT & LOT 24 100.00 X 162.16 IRR REPLAT OF LOTS 22-24 & 30 IN DUSTMAN CORNERS PLAT, Parcel 29-013-0-195.00-0 & 29-013-0-196.01-0. Said property is currently zoned R-2 Residential, located in Boardman Township, Mahoning County, State of Ohio.
      Text and maps of the request may be viewed at the Boardman Township Zoning Office, 8299 Market Street, Boardman, Ohio 44512 Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM, until time of hearing. Please call 330-726-4181 or email requests to tdavignon@boardmantwp.com.
      Atty. John F. Shultz, Chairman
      Boardman Township Board of Appeals
      Tricia D’Avignon, AICP,
      Assistant Director of Zoning and Development

     The Boardman Township Zoning Commission will conduct a Public Hearing on the following amendment to the Boardman Township Zoning Resolution and Township Zoning Map on Tuesday, February 15, 2022 at 5:30 PM. Go to https://www.boardmantwp.com/zoning/zoning-commission/ for further information.
      Following the recommendation of the Zoning Commission, the proposed amendment will be referred to the Board of Trustees for final determination.
      AMENDMENT A-2022-01
      Golden Eye Developers on behalf of Michele M Miller Trustee, property owner, requests a zone change for 6412 South Ave., Boardman, Ohio 44512, from the terms of the Boardman Township Zoning Resolution, effective January 1, 2021, in order to change the property to PUD-Planned Unit Development zoning district. The property is further known as LOT 3 214.01 X 1091.60 IRR GEORGE FARM REPLAT 3, Parcel 29-016-0-185.00-0. Said property is currently zoned RB-Regional Business & R-2 Residential, located in Boardman Township, Mahoning County, State of Ohio.
      To view a hard copy of the texts and maps at the Boardman Township Zoning Office, 8299 Market Street, Boardman, Ohio 44512 Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM, until time of hearing, please call 330-726-4181 or email requests to tdavignon@boardmantwp.com.
      Peter W. Lymber, Chairman
      Boardman Township Zoning Commission
      Tricia D’Avignon, AICP,
      Assistant Director of Zoning and Development

     Committed to pairing the best patient experience with the most advanced medical technology available, Southwoods Health in Boardman announces the arrival of the Vantage Galan 3T MRI at Southwoods Imaging, 7623 Market St.
      MRI uses a magnetic field without radiation to produce high-resolution 3D images of the organs and structures inside the body. The amount of information provided by the exam is directly related to the strength of the magnetic field. 3T MRI is the strongest magnet used in medicine today and produces the most detailed and accurate images with the highest degree of resolution. Southwoods Imaging is the only facility in the area with multiple 3T units in one location.
      “For physicians, the capabilities of the Vantage Galan 3T ensures the highest quality images with enhanced anatomical detail – helping lead to more accurate diagnoses. For our patients, this technology improves comfort by delivering faster, quieter exams,” explained Ed Muransky, Southwoods Chief Executive Officer. “Southwoods Imaging was the first to offer 3T MRI in Mahoning County in 2014, and remains the only provider in the county offering this level of technology. This investment underscores Southwoods’ ongoing commitment to providing quality clinical services and an exceptional patient experience.”
      Patient benefits include:
       •Reduced scan times. Scans are reduced by as much as 50% on most patients, and shorter scan times equal more patient comfort.
       •Less noise. Acoustic noise is reduced up to 99% with Pianissimo® quiet technology – making exams quieter, more comfortable and easier to complete.
       •Larger opening. The system boasts the industry’s widest opening (71cm), delivering a more open feeling and enabling patients of all sizes to feel comfortable.
       •Contrast free scans. Non-contrast MRA sequences minimize risk to patients with sensitivity to contrast while still producing exceptional images.
       •Metal reduction software. The presence of metal-related artifacts (in patients who have metallic orthopaedic implants, for example) can obscure relevant injuries and disease. This new system significantly reduces that issue.
       •Artificial intelligence (AI) applications along with deep learning reconstruction. These applications automate scan planning, offer increased resolution and produce exceptionally detailed images, helping streamline workflow.
      “In researching new systems, we knew we had to stay with the 3T,” said Muransky. “Over the years, we’ve seen such a difference in image quality and so have our doctors. We are always focused on providing the best service, technology and experience to our patients.”
      About Southwoods Health
      Southwoods Health is the region’s fastest growing healthcare system and is locally owned and operated by the Muransky family and area physicians. It includes The Surgical Hospital at Southwoods, an acute care hospital in Boardman, renowned for providing a superior patient experience and consistently ranking at the top of national patient satisfaction and quality of care surveys. The hospital continues to expand its scope of services, that includes inpatient, outpatient and robotic-assisted surgery, as well as endoscopy services. Southwoods Health also provides an expanding array of ancillary health services at locations throughout the Mahoning Valley. These include Southwoods Imaging, offering the most technologically advanced diagnostic imaging services in the area; Southwoods Pain & Spine Center, offering services to treat chronic pain and the region’s most advanced spine surgery program; Southwoods Sleep Centers, diagnosing and treating sleep disorders; Southwoods Physician Services, a multi-specialty physician group; and Southwoods Express Care, providing same day, walk-in non-emergent services.

     When the Boardman School Board held its annual reorganizational meeting in January, the board also voted unanimously naming John Landers as president and John Fryda as vice-president.
      Following the resignation of Treasurer Terry Armstrong, Ryan Jones was appointed as Interim Treasurer effective January 19, until a full-time treasurer is employed, or June 30, 2022.
      Resignations were accepted from Lara Wanamaker, bus driver; and Laura Wert, high school cafeteria server.
      Natalie Alm-Burgess was granted a one-year limited contract as cafeteria cook at Boardman High School; Dennis Thayer was granted a one-year limited contract as a noontime monitor at West Boulevard Elementary School; Marco Tito was granted a one-year limited contract as a Teacher Aide at Center Intermediate School; and Nicole Blumel was transferred from teacher aide at Center Intermediate School to 220 days General Office Administrative Assistant (Central Office) effective January 10, replacing Melissa D’Altorio.

     Jan. 19: At 10:52 p.m., Ptl. Anthony Ciccotelli was sent to Wal-Mart, 1300 Doral Dr. Police were told a person with whom loss prevention employees at the store were familiar with, may have been wanted on a theft warrant, and additionally, police were told “a new theft offense” happened when merchandise was intentionally not scanned during self check-out.” Officers Thomas Zorzi and Lt. Steve Riwniak and Brian Moss also responded. According to Ptl. Ciccotelli, Aaron MacKenzie Keffer, 34, of 2733 Mount Vernon Ave., Youngstown, Oh., “was observed intentionally skip-scanning two items and not paying for them during the checkout process.” The two items were valued at $6.35, the veteran policeman said. Keffer was arrested on the warrant and also charged with an alleged second theft offense stemming from the skip-scanning observed on the surveillance video. “During the arrest, Keffer was belligerent, told officers they could not touch him, and threatened to sue officer and Wal-Mart over being detained and arrested...Keffer was advised several times that he would be provided a copy of the warrant while being booked,” Ptl. Ciccotelli said.
      The warrant on Keffer is related to a Nov. 28, 2021 theft at Wal-Mart. At that time. loss prevention employee Nicole Mirto told police Keffer spent 24 minutes in the store and “selected frappuccino drink and drank it without paying for it [and] selected two packages of speaker wire and left the store without paying for them.” Mirto told police the incident had been captured on surveillance video.
      Note: In June, 2021, Keffer filed suit against Wal-Mart (noting incorrectly that he lives in “the city of Boardman’) seeking damages after he had been confronted by a man with a knife “around 3:00 a.m.” at Wal-Mart on Dec. 8, 2019. At that time, Keffer told police that he and his girlfriend were entering the store when a man with a toddler in a shopping cart pushed the cart out of the store, at which time his girlfriend noted the baby was cute, and the man pushing the shopping cart brandished a knife, telling the girlfriend, “If I were you, I’d shut my mouth and keep walking.” Six months later, Keffer filed suit against Wal-Mart, seeking damages in excess of $15,000, “exclusive of attorney fees.” The suit claims Wal-Mart “breached a duty of care by failing to keep the premises reasonably safe and free from Hazardous conditions.” The suit claims because of the Dec. 8, 2019 incident, Keffer “suffered pain and suffering, disability, inconvenience, mental anguish, loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life and/or permanent aggravation of a previously existing condition.” The suit further alleges “Wal-Mart’s decisions to take no action, to put pecuniary gain over the safety and well-being of its business invitees is so extreme and outrageous as to go beyond all possible bonds of decency and was such that it can be considered as utterly intolerable in a civilized community.” Wal-Mart answered, denying Keffer’s assertions, noting that Keffer has failed to state a claim upon which relief can be granted and his claims are barred by applicable statute of limitations. There has been no ruling on the suit and the case remains undisposed.

     BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      The Seventh District Court of Appeals has affirmed a guilty verdict on 12 counts of rape and one count of gross sexual imposition leveled against a Cleveland man who had been charged and convicted of repeatedly raping a 10-year-old girl who lived in an apartment building at 4890 Brookwood Rd. during a one-year period, between 2015 and 2016.
      Jeffrey Palmer, 34, was found guilty on the charges on Oct. 3, 2019 in the Mahoning County Common Pleas Court of Judge Maureen Sweeney.
      He was given a sentence of 40 years to life in jail on the charges.
      Judge Sweeney ruled the sentence was “necessary to protect the public from future crimes…and the danger Palmer poses to the public.”
      In Apr. 2018, the girl’s 31-year-old mother told police her daughter had been raped multiple times by her ex-boyfriend, whom she first met on-line.
      According to police, the victim’s mother said that Palmer lived with her for about a year and when she went to work, Palmer would watch the child.
      The girl told Det. Michael Sweeney “almost immediately” after her mother left her in Palmer’s custody, he began to rape her.
      “The child advised that Palmer would rape her almost daily and that he would rape her multiple times a day,” Det. Sweeney said, adding he was told that “Palmer would follow her into her bedroom after she took a shower and ‘would take my clothes off and put me on the bed.’”
      The girl detailed a variety of assaults to police; and also said she had been hesitant to tell anyone about the rapes because Palmer threatened to kill her mother if she told anyone.
      According to Assistant Mahoning County Prosecutor Ralph Rivera, the girl stated if she screamed during acts of sexual abuse, Palmer “would like put a blanket inside her mouth,” adding Palmer told her “If I could do this with you, I would never touch your mom again.”
      When her mother first learned of the allegations, she immediately took her daughter to Akron Childrens Hospital the same day.
      Since his conviction, Palmer has been incarcerated in Marion, Oh.
      An appeal of his convictions on a variety of assignments of error was filed before the Seventh District Court by Atty. John Juhasz, of West Blvd., Boardman, who was appointed at public cost. Among the claims of error, Juhasz said that Palmer had been denied due process, and his court-appointed counsel in Judge Sweeney’s court was “ineffective.” In each instance, the Seventh District Court said Juhasz’s assertions were meritless.
      The record of the court includes a document entitled “Introduction and Summary,” signed by Palmer, who says he was involved “in the legal equivalent of a greased pig contest,” additionally claiming he had erectile dysfunction and libido issues, perhaps documented by an extended stay at St. Vincent Hospital in Cleveland.
      Palmer also claimed in the document it was “evident” he stayed at the Brookwood apartment for only 60 days.
      Palmer claimed his trial counsel allowed him “to be depicted as a vile criminal, a sexual deviant even with a terrible disposition and respect for nothing or no one.”
      Palmer concluded the trial “was a true and literal public lynching in every sense where no real justice can be seen.”
      The young girl testified at his trial, and Palmer opined “the testimony constantly changed…then that means the evidence constantly changed, and no one can ever meaningfully defend themselves against ever changing evidence.”
      In its decision, the Seventh District Court, in an opinion authored by Judge Gene Donofrio, ruled there was adequate evidence of sexual conduct that was presented to sustain the rape charges. Judges Cheryl Waite and Carol Robb concurred.
      In claiming ineffectiveness of his trial lawyer, The Seventh District Court said that Palmer asserted his counsel “admitted he was unprepared for trail.”
      “The test for determining whether counsel was ineffective is: 1) Whether counsel’s performance was deficient; and 2) If so, whether the deficiency resulted in prejudice,” The Seventh District Court said, noting “In order to meet the prejudice prong, [Palmer and his counsel. Atty. Juhasz]…must show a reasonable probability that, but for (trial) counsel’s errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different.”
      The claims of ineffective counsel “lacks merit,” the Seventh District Court said.
      In other assertion of error, Atty. Juhasz took issue with testimony given in Judge Sweeney’s Court by a nurse practitioner from Akron Childrens Hospital, claiming their testimony “improperly bolstered (the young girl’s) testimony and its truthfulness.”
      “The [nurse practitioner] is an expert in this case, due to her specialized knowledge, training, education and experience in child abuse pediatrics,” The Seventh District Court said.
      It added, “We…find no error by the trail court in admitting [the nurse practitioner’s] testimony that the [victim’s] behavior in this case was consistent with behaviors she had observed in other sexually abused children….
      “She explained that children sometimes disclose only increments of the abuse because they are embarrassed or worried about how adults around them will respond.”
      Atty Juhasz also took issue with Atty. Rivera, as well as Boardman Police Sgt. Charles Hillman Jr., who referred to the child as a ‘victim.’
      “While the prosecution referred to the [child] as a victim once…and Sgt. Hillman referred to her in this capacity four times, it does not rise to the level of prejudice,” the Seventh District Court said.

     Boardman Local School’s Board of Education, by unanimous vote, hired Daniel J. Dota III, 50, of 124 Sugarcane Dr., as the system’s new head football coach, during a ‘meeting’ held in 17-degree temperatures on the 50 yard line at Spartan Stadium.
      Dota replaces Seth Anthram, who quit the job last month, to return to the Youngstown City Schools where he will be Chaney High School head football coach and also serve as dean of boys in the city school system.
      Antram served as Spartan head coach for just one season, as Boardman posted a 4-5 mark, and throughout the season was hit with costly unsportsmanlike penalties.
      “I’m really excited about being a head coach again,” said Dota, who had previous head coaching stops at West Branch for eight years and Warren G. Harding for four before serving in assistant roles the last few years. “Sometimes, when you’re doing something, you don’t realize how much you’re going to miss it. I think after about a year and a half, I got really itchy. … So I’m excited to have the opportunity, especially at a place like this with all the support.”
      More than 30 persons applied for the Boardman post.
      Dota said his first order of business, though, is to set program expectations.
      “It’s a great tradition here. I’m going to teach my vision and where I see us going — these are the expectations of our program, and these are the expectations we’ll live by,” he said. “Whether that’s in school, on the field, in the weight room or in the community, this is how we’ll act, and hopefully we demonstrate greatness in all those things we do.”
      Dota has previous head coaching experience, posting a record of 38-42 at West Branch, and was also the head coach at Warren Harding where he won 23 games in four years with the Raiders.
      Dota, a Liberty High School product (where he was a quarterback) and Youngstown State University graduate, earned a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Master’s Degree in Education.
      He began his coaching career as a volunteer assistant at his alma mater in 1991.
      Liberty hired him to be on staff the following season and he left after 1994 to become an assistant at Girard. Following a two-year stint, Dota was hired as a Harding assistant by former head coach Gary Barber in 1997.
      Dota spent seven years at Harding, including the final four (2000-03) as defensive coordinator under Thom McDaniels, Barber’s successor.
      Dota left Harding to become defensive coordinator and strength coach at Struthers in 2004. After two years, he returned to Harding and spent one more year as McDaniels’ defensive coordinator and secondary coach.
      In 2010, as head coach at Harding, Dota was named Trumbull County Coach of the Year.
      He comes to Boardman High School after serving two seasons as defensive coordinator for the Girard High School football program, and in 2019 spent a year as an assistant coach at Columbiana High School.
      In a resume provided to The Boardman News by the Boardman HS Athletic Department, Dota identified his objective as “to lead positive change in education for the benefit of all students.”

     Meeting on Monday night, Boardman Trustees hired a private company to conduct a survey of township roads.
      Tetra Tech, of Cincinnati, Oh., was hired at a cost not to exceed $15,400 to provide engineering services for pavement evaluation for township roads.
      “With this new rating system, we will be able to determine which roads are the worst,” newly-tabbed Chairman of the Boardman of Trustees, Larry Moliterno said.
      Trustee Brad Calhoun noted the road survey should be completed sometime in May.
      One person attended the meeting, Tom Guerrieri, who complained Ivy Hill Dr. had not been resurfaced in a quarter century.
      Guerrieri said residents of Ivy Hill Dr., including himself, pay upwards of $10,000 a year in property taxes and “have third world roads.”
      “We have to take care of all the roads in Boardman, not just places where residents pay high taxes,” Moliterno responded, adding that Guerrieri provided Trustees “a lot of good information, and we will do the study and go from there.”
      Township Road Superintendent, Marilyn Kenner, noted there are some 140-plus miles of roadway in Boardman and once the survey is completed, “all roads will have a permanent rating. The survey will determine which roads are worst.”
      Kenner also told Trustees the roof at the township Road Department building needs replaced and the cost could approach $715,000.
      In another matter, Trustees approved a payment of $75,000 to the Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office to serve as the township’s law director for 2022.

     SPELLING CHAMPS---The Boardman Center Intermediate Spelling Bee was held on Friday, January 7 with nearly 80 students in grades four, five and six, participating in the event. The contestants qualified for the annual spelling bee based on their performance on a written spelling test of 30 challenging words. Champion was sixth grader Evan Moorman, at left. The BCIS Bee was decided in round eight with Moorman correctly spelling his given word in that round and the championship word “contessa.” Fifth grader Mahib Ahmad was runner up. Glenwood Junior High also recently hosted a school-wide spelling bee and eighth grader Lily Vondran, at right, was the champion. Eighth grader Lilly Andrei was runner up. Vondran and Moorman will represent Boardman Local Schools at the Regional Bee on Sat., March 12 at Stambaugh Auditorium.

     LEGAL NOTICE
      The Boardman Township Trustees will conduct a Public Hearing on the following amendment to the Boardman Township Zoning Map on Monday, January 24, 2022 at 4:30 PM. Following the recommendation of the Zoning Commission, the proposed amendment is being referred to the Board of Trustees for final determination.
      AMENDMENT A-2021-04
      Golden Eye Developers on behalf of Michelle M Miller Trustee, property owner, requests a zone change for 6412 South Ave., Boardman, Ohio 44512, from the terms of the Boardman Township Zoning Resolution, effective January 1, 2021, in order to change the property to PUD-Planned Unit Development zoning district. The property is further known as LOT 3 214.01 X 1091.60 IRR GEORGE FARM REPLAT 3, Parcel 29-016-0-185.00-0. Said property is currently zoned RB-Regional Business & R-2 Residential, located in Boardman Township, Mahoning County, State of Ohio.
      To view a hard copy of the texts and maps at the Boardman Township Zoning Office, 8299 Market Street, Boardman, Ohio 44512 Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM, until time of hearing, please call 330-726-4181 or email requests to tdavignon@boardmantwp.com.
      Larry Moliterno, Chairman
      Boardman Township Trustees
      Tricia D’Avignon, AICP,
      Assistant Director of Zoning and Development
     

     BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      The Boardman Local School Board met on Mon., Dec. 20. Not on the agenda given to the public were three items---a lawsuit filed against a Washington, D.C. consulting firm, the resignation of the system’s treasurer, and the resignation of the high school’s head football coach.
      The lawsuit, filed Dec. 15 in the U.S. District Court/Northern District of Ohio, says a management consulting firm, McKinsey & Co., played a role in advising pharmaceutical companies of methods to market addictive drugs---and that led to an increase in the number of infants born with opioid withdrawal symptoms. The suit alleges students born to drug-addicted mothers may have developmental ‘delays,’ and that has caused increases in the costs of special education services provided to students.
      Atty. Marc Getz, who is representing Boardman Local Schools, said the lawsuit, “is a class action complaint filed on behalf of all independent public school districts in Ohio and alleges that McKinsey played a central role in the expansion of the opioid crisis by advising multiple opioid manufacturers in the sale and distribution of opioids.”
      McKinsey is a global management consulting firm, with over 30,000 employees and operations in more than 65 countries.
      The Boardman Local School District’s Treasurer, Terry Armstrong, has announced that he will take the same post with the Newton Falls School District, effective Jan. 24, 2022. Armstrong was hired as Boardman treasurer in late Aug., 2020.
      And, after serving as head football coach for only a year, Seth Antram will leave the post to return from where he came, Chaney High School, to lead that football program, and as well, become Dean of Boys for the Youngstown City Schools. Antram took over the reigns of a Spartan grid program whose 2022 freshman class posted an unbeaten season and as seniors, finished just 4-5.
      During their regular meeting on Dec. 20, the school board unanimously approved an appropriations resolution report for Fiscal Year 2022. Total appropriations listed in the report are $66.167 million.
      That includes a general fund of $46.628 million, as well as $6.853 million for employee benefits/self insurance, $3.255 in funding from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds (Covid-related funding); $2.182 million for permanent improvements; $1.538 million for food service; $1.152 million in certain grant monies; $1.214 million in Title I disadvantaged children funds.
      In his November financial report, outgoing Treasurer Armstrong noted a significant change in the system’s spending plan.
      “As the year progresses we will see a change...due to the implementation of the Fair School Funding Plan. Funding that was received based on average daily membership included foundation revenue for students who attended non-public, charter schools and open enrollment.
      “A major change will be that this will no longer show up in a district’s average daily membership, thus per pupil funding will not be shown as revenue as we will get funded (only) for students attending Boardman Local Schools.
      “This will be a net gain for Boardman as this will be off-set by lower expenditures for those students leaving the district that under the old school funding system resulted in costs that exceeded what we received for each student,” Armstrong said.
      The Lawsuit
      Boardman Local School System’s suit against McKinsey & Co. is just one of many filed against the company across the United State and Canada.
      For example, in early December, 2021, In a coordinated legal strategy, seven counties in east Tennessee and five counties plus one city in west Tennessee have filed separate lawsuits against consulting firm McKinsey & Co. over its involvement in the opioid crisis.
      A third federal lawsuit is expected shortly from a group of counties in middle Tennessee, according to Greeneville, Tenn. attorney Crystal Jessee, who is part of a team of attorneys representing Tennessee counties filing suit.
      The Tennessee counties are seeking an unspecific amount in damages from the giant global management consulting firm over its role as an advisor to Purdue Pharma, the maker of the opioid drug, oxycontin, whose use and abuse continues to exact a devastating toll on families and communities in Tennessee, and across the nation.
      The lawsuits were filed 10 months after Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery III announced the state of Tennessee had joined a multi-state settlement with McKinsey, involving 47 states, the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories for $573 million. Tennessee’s share of the settlement is $15.1 million.
      In Oct., 2021 a class action lawsuit was filed in Toronto, Canada by Sotos Class Actions and Goldblatt Partners LLP against McKinsey for its role in fuelling the opioid epidemic in Canada
      The representative of the class, Jordan Francis Charlie, a resident of northern Ontario, was first prescribed oxycontin in 2007 due to a back injury sustained while working in forestry. Mr. Charlie soon developed a devastating addiction to opioids, resulting in the loss of his job and the custody of his child.
      “Mr. Charlie’s tragic experience with highly addictive, ineffective, and unsafe prescription opioids is typical of thousands of Canadians,” the lawsuit says.
      Canada is the world’s second largest consumer of opioids, second only to the United States. In Canada, prescription use of opioids increased by 203% between 2000 and 2010, while sales of oxycontin soared during the same period. According to the Government of Canada, from January 2016 to December 2020, there were 21,174 apparent opioid-related deaths across Canada and 24,671 hospitalizations for opioid-related overdoses.
      In Dec. 2021, Virginia’s Opioid Abatement Authority generated it’s first funds from a lawsuit with McKinsey. Money from a settlement with the company will go toward mitigating the effects of the opioid crisis throughout the Commonwealth.
      The Abatement Authority was born out of legislation put forward by Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring. It aims to support opioid abuse prevention, treatment, and recovery programs.
      According to a press release from Herring’s office, the settlement is worth more than $11.3 million. Herring said that McKinsey & Co. played a role in “turbocharging the opioid crisis.”
      “No dollar amount will ever bring back the Virginians that we have lost to opioids or make their families whole again, but we can fund crucial prevention, treatment and recovery programs to truly help those who are suffering,” said Herring in a press release.
      In June, 2021, New York City filed a lawsuit against McKinsey, accusing the consulting firm of being a mastermind of the opioid epidemic.
      The lawsuit against McKinsey was filed by the city and more than 20 state counties in Suffolk County’s state Supreme Court, with plaintiffs claiming “the worst man-made epidemic in history” was due in part to the company’s “major role in crafting and implementing” deceptive marketing strategies to sell addictive prescription pills.
      In February, 2021, McKinsey agreed to pay nearly $600 million to most U.S. states, including New York, to settle allegations that it fueled the crisis by helping Perdue Pharma sell oxycontin. Months earlier, Perdue pleaded guilty to criminal charges in connection with the national epidemic.
      McKinsey claims its prior settlement shelters it from the lawsuit filed by the city and other local governments.
      The December School Board Meeting
      The school board accepted the following certificated staff resignations:
       •Michelle Minteer, Robinwood Lane Elementary School, intervention specialist, resignation effective December 15.
       •Sue Purfey, Boardman High School, intervention specialist, retirement effective March 1, 2022.
      Leaves of absence were approved for:
       •Cara Henley, Center Intermediate School sixth grade language arts teacher, first-year unpaid parental leave of absence from December 9 through February 28, 2022.
       •Alicia Orr, Center Intermediate School sixth-grade social studies teacher, second-year unpaid parental leave of absence from August 16 through June 30, 2022.
       •Becky Amadio, an unpaid leave of absence per the OAPSE contract Article XI Section E for Ms. Amadio from December 13 through January 7, 2022.
      A member of the system’s classified staff, Melissa D’Altorio, was transferred from 220 days general office to a 250 days as Principal’s Administrative Assistant. D’Altorio replaces Jean Rider.
      Kelly Black was granted a one-year limited contract as 2.5-hour cafeteria server at Boardman High School, replacing Amy Theodore.
      Maria Quintalti was granted a one-year limited contract as a half contract bus aide for the 2021-2022 school year effective November 17. Quintalti replaces Jerry Rosine.
      On-Staff supplemental contracts were granted to:
       •Jeana Carpenter, High School, Math 24; Glenwood Junior High School, Math Counts, and Glenwood Junior High School, Math Contest;
       •Eric Diefenderfer, Glenwood Junior High School, Robotics Team (grade 7 and 8 Maroon);
       •Lindsay Donadio - Center Intermediate School, Math 24 (grades 4,5,6);
       •Kristen Ebie, Glenwood Junior High School, Math 24; Glenwood Junior High School, Math Counts, and Glenwood Junior High School, Math Contest.
       •Tim Harker - Glenwood Junior High School, Robotics Team (grades 7 and 8 White); and
       •Maria Russo, Center Intermediate School, Math 24 (grades 4,5,6).
      Off Staff Supplemental contracts were granted to:
       •Scott Burns - High School Orchestra Assistant, work not to exceed his average of 29.5 hours/week;
       •John Gabriel - High School,Stage Crew Advisor;
       •Charles Hoover, High School Stage Crew Advisor; and
       •Nick Opritza - High School Dramatics Director.
       •Alannah Hetzel was approved as an off-staff volunteer high school Speech and Debate assistant coach
      Longevity Pay was approved for April Sanfilippo after the completion of 19 years of continuous service with the Boardman Local School District.
      Carmela Schuster was approved for long-term substitute wages after having substituted for 60 consecutive days in the same position. Schuster has been a social studies teacher at Center Intermediate School.
      Joseph Hollabaugh was granted a $1,250 stipend for additional hours of taping and editing of school productions.
      Kristin Huzyak was approved for a quarterly stipend as $1,250 as Covid coordinator at Center Intermediate School for the second, third, and fourth grading periods.
      Three persons were approved for $30 students each for time spent working at a choral music concert---ticket sellers Cheryl Dutko, Jody Marlin and Lori Neiman.
      Stipends were approved for time spent working on the production of Guys and Dolls for the following:
       •Bill Amendol, orchestra director, $1650; Cheryl Dutko, ticket seller, $112; Lori Neiman, ticket seller, $112.50; Anne Sopher, assistant costumer, $500; and Alyssa Titi, pianist, $800.
      The school board approved stipends for time spent coaching fall sports to Paul Butto, football, $1,500; Jesse Curry, football, $3,000; Tommy Fryda, boys soccer, $599; and Steve Stahura, football, $500.

     17-year-old Boardman High School senior Marrwa Kermagi had no idea when she woke up the morning of Dec. 20 that she would be offered a scholarship package that would cover the total cost of college for four years.
      Kermagi, who was recently accepted to the YSU-BaccMed program, was selected from a highly competitive applicant pool for the funding, that covers three to four years of pre-med undergraduate tuition, as well as room and board.
      “It was unexpected and I’m genuinely thankful for my parents, and the school and Boardman administration, and all the teachers who helped me,” said Kermagi.
      A surprise visit from YSU to present the scholarship award letter was arranged---and Marrwa’s parents kept the secret to surprise her.
      “The BaccMed Honors Scholar Program seeks the best and brightest students to become the next generation of family physicians in northeast Ohio,” said Johnny Ware, coordinator in the Honors College, adding “Marrwa was so enthusiastic in her application and we are excited to see what her future holds at YSU.”
      Kermagi is one of the youngest seniors at BHS, just turning 17-years-old in December. She has a 4.0 GPA with and is on track for first in class honors at Boardman.
      “My mom is really my inspiration,” said Kermagi. “She was a pediatrician overseas before our family moved here.”
      Kermagi says she loves all sciences but biology is her favorite. She couldn’t wait to share the news with her mentor, biology teacher Heather Moran.

     The Boardman Township Trustees will conduct a Public Hearing on the following amendment to the Boardman Township Zoning Map on Monday, January 10, 2022 at 4:30 PM. Following the recommendation of the Zoning Commission, the proposed amendment is being referred to the Board of Trustees for final determination.
      AMENDMENT A-2021-03
      Woda-Cooper Companies on behalf of Lawrence & Rose Liguore, property owners, requests a zone change for Andrea Lane., Boardman, Ohio 44512, from the terms of the Boardman Township Zoning Resolution, effective January 1, 2021, in order to change the property to R-3 residential zoning district. The property is further known as LOT 3 130.86 X 500.69 IRR REPLAT OF LOT NOS 2 & 3 L.R. LIQUORE PROFESSIONAL ALLOTMENT, Parcel 29-016-0-183.03-0. Said property is currently zoned RB-Regional Business & R-2 Residential, located in Boardman Township, Mahoning County, State of Ohio.
      AMENDMENT A-2021-04
      Golden Eye Developers on behalf of Michelle M Miller Trustee, property owner, requests a zone change for 6412 South Ave., Boardman, Ohio 44512, from the terms of the Boardman Township Zoning Resolution, effective January 1, 2021, in order to change the property to PUD-Planned Unit Development zoning district. The property is further known as LOT 3 214.01 X 1091.60 IRR GEORGE FARM REPLAT 3, Parcel 29-016-0-185.00-0. Said property is currently zoned RB-Regional Business & R-2 Residential, located in Boardman Township, Mahoning County, State of Ohio.
      To view a hard copy of the texts and maps at the Boardman Township Zoning Office, 8299 Market Street, Boardman, Ohio 44512 Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM, until time of hearing, please call 330-726-4181 or email requests to tdavignon@boardmantwp.com.
      Brad Calhoun, Chairman
      Boardman Township Trustees
      Tricia D’Avignon, AICP,
      Assistant Director of Zoning and Development

      Boardman Township residents are eligible for funding that is available to emergency home repairs through the American Rescue Plan (ARP).
      The Youngstown Neighborhood Development Program (YNDC) offer a Mahoning County home repair program to assist low-income home owners with emergency repairs and more.
      Applicants must be at or below 50% of the area median income, and meet other eligibility requirement. The program is funded by the Mahoning County Commissioners.
      For more information about the program, call the YNDC at 330-480-0423.

     Meeting in November, the Boardman Board of Education unanimously approved an agreement with Community Behavior Counsel to utilize the services of a ‘behavior technician’ in order to achieve ‘behavior stabilization’ with students in need of such services. Below is a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding provided by
      Community Behavior Counseling in regards to the role of a behavior technician.
      Memorandum of Understanding
      Community Behavior Consulting is excited to place a behavior technician in your school. The role of the behavior technician is to follow the plan outlined by the BCBA to produce socially significant behavior change with one or more of your students. This service is inherently temporary, as the goal is to achieve behavior stabilization so that the student(s) no longer needs the behavior intervention. Because this is a contracted position in your district, Community Behavior Consulting has the following policies:
       ● The behavior technician must work with the student(s) in which they are assigned. Because it is required to have a plan in place for behavior intervention, the behavior technician cannot observe, assess, or provide substitute coverage for other students or teachers without prior approval with the BCBA.
       ● Behavior intervention services must be focused on following the plan outlined by the BCBA. The behavior technician cannot be responsible for essential duties of the classroom. This may include arrival and dismissal of students, content area teaching, lunch coverage, toileting duties, providing accommodations or modification as outlined on the IEP, etc.
       ● The behavior technician is cleared to work with students and may work with one to three students alone. However, the behavior technician cannot be responsible for the classroom instruction nor be left alone with the whole class. Due to the nature of ABA certifications, there must be an ODE licensed responsible district staff member leading the classroom in addition to the behavior technician.
       ● Until properly certified, the behavior technician cannot participate in hands-on crisis intervention. Community Behavior Consulting offers this training,but may not have provided this training before placement in your school in order to expedite the placement. Therefore, there must be at least a district staff member certified in crisis intervention in the classroom with the behavior technician.
       ● The BCBA is the direct supervisor of the behavior technician. Any concerns or comments about the behavior technician should be directed to the BCBA immediately. Additionally, the behavior technician should immediately report any concerns to the BCBA.
       ● All communication with parents, administrators, and other service providers should go through the classroom teacher. The behavior technician should not be communicating questions or concerns to anyone but the classroom teacher or the BCBA. This is to ensure that communication is streamlined and focused on the effectiveness of the behavior intervention. Behavior technicians will be instructed not to give their phone number to parents.
       ● The behavior technician will be present at school for 7.5 hours unless otherwise approved. The behavior technician will receive a 30 minute lunch or break in the middle of the day at a time mutually agreed upon with the classroom teacher. This lunch or break is to occur without students.
       ● The behavior technician is responsible for documentation as required by the Behavior Analysis Certification Board (BACB). This documentation should be on approved data sheets or forms as determined by the BCBA. The behavior technician will be instructed not to take anecdotal notes. School incident reports may be completed by Community Behavior Consulting. A copy of the incident report should be emailed to the BCBA for Community Behavior Consulting record.
       ● Because of the documentation requirements, the behavior technician may need to spend a reasonable amount of time, not exceeding 5% of the session or day, to complete their notes. The documentation can be done in the moment or at a designated time in the day.
       ● Community Behavior Consulting is a very small business. As such, substitute staff is not guaranteed. When absences are planned, Community Behavior Consulting will make all efforts to cover for that day. Behavior technicians must maintain 95% attendance according to Community Behavior Consulting policies. Absences below that over two consecutive months will be addressed.
       ● There may be times, while infrequent, when behavior technicians cannot be present in order to complete mandatory training for Community Behavior Consulting. The district will be given ample notice. At this time, substitute staff is not possible.
       ● The behavior technician will be required to follow HIPPA guidelines to maintain confidentiality. The behavior technician will be instructed to not share any student information with anyone, including other district staff members, that are not on the student’s Individualized Educaional Plan (IEP) team.
       ● The behavior technician is required to maintain professional boundaries with school staff. This is to prevent misinterpretations of information pertaining to the duties of the behavior technician or the student(s).
       ● The behavior technician must follow Community Behavior Consulting policies. If school district policy and Community Behavior Consulting policies conflict, the BCBA will provide a resolution via written email or plan.
       ● The school district agrees not to solicit Community Behavior Consulting staff for district positions. If a district position opens and meets the professional desires of a Community Behavior Consulting staff member, they should approach their supervisor.
      Jennifer Gonda, Director
      Community Behavior Consulting
     

     photo/John A. Darnell jr.
       SANTA AND MRS. CLAUS ARRIVED AT BOARDMAN PARK on Sun., Dec. 5 where the annual Community Christmas was observed. Inside Olde St. James Church at the park, the Boardman Singers, directed by Linda Smrek, and the Boardman High School Wind Ensemble, directed by Tim Tuite, provided holiday music for all to enjoy. After their appearance at Boardman Park, Mr. and Mrs. Claus returned to New Castle, Pa. where they are known as Mr. and Mrs. Jim List.

     BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      To date, the Boardman Police Department has answered more than 260 calls of reported thefts at Wal-Mart, 1300 Doral Dr. Since Jan. 1, 2021, police have been called to the store 538 times.During a 16 day period in November alone, police were at the store no less than 20 times. Below is a listing of calls on which police were sent to the store between Nov. 9 and Nov. 27. During that span, police were sent to the
      store 27 times:
      Nov. 9: At 10:20 p.m., Nathan Wright, 27, of 929.5 North Market St., Lisbon, Oh., was placed under arrest and searched. Ptl. Brian Moss said a glass pipe was found in a jacket pocket, and a ‘tin’ that contained a cloudy, rock-type substance was found in another pocket. “Knight immediately stated that the rock was bath salts and he uses the glass pipe to smoke the salts,” Officer Moss said, adding another pocket contained a digital scale. Police recovered $69.59 worth of suspected stolen merchandise, including batteries and a hoody. According to Officer Moss, Knight admitted lying about his name and using his brother’s name because he was wanted on warrants. Knight was charged with obstruction, theft, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of drugs.
      Nov. 13: At 2:17 p.m., Ptl. Angelo Pasquale went to Wal-Mart on a call of a theft. Police were told a man wearing a New York baseball hat ‘selected’ about $300 worth of merchandise, including a Hoover carpet cleaner, tools and engine oil, then left the store without paying and entered a green Buick. A second man ‘selected’ a $426.86 television and then left the store without making payment, and got into the same Buick as the first suspect, police said, adding the vehicle fled north on South Ave. toward Youngstown.
      Nov. 13: At 4:35 p.m., two police officers went to Wal-Mart on a theft call, as the store’s loss prevention said a male and female had been detained as suspects. The pair were identified as Xavier Gilford, 33, of 25 Market St., #1003, Youngstown, Oh., and Lashaunda Estella Brown, 35, of 25359 Mt. Vernon Ave., Youngstown. Police were told after the pair ‘selected’ multiple items, they proceeded to a self checkout and they failed to scan $175.64 worth of merchandise. “After skip-scanning the merchandise, the pair loaded the items they failed to pay for into a shopping cart with the items they had already paid for,” Ptl. Angelo Pasquale said. Both suspects were charged with theft.
      Nov. 13: At 6:22 p.m., Ptl. Joseph Lamping was sent to Wal-Mart after a shoplifting suspect, Emma Gabryelle Chamberlain, 22, of 4255 Chester Dr. has been detained by loss prevention. Wal-Mart loss prevention employee Nicole Mirto told police that Chamberlain entered the store, ‘selected’ $205.76 worth of merchandise and “only scanned some of the merchandise, making “no attempt to scan 43 items.” Chamberlain was charged with theft.
      Nov. 14: Two police officers went to Wal-Mart at 11:00 a.m. because the business asked that a criminal trespass warning be issued to David Lawrence Brown Jr., 58, of Youngstown. Police were told that Brown is an ex-employee of Wal-Mart and had a reputation for harassing the store’s employees. “Brown was extremely cooperative and question why Wal-Mart did not give him the trespass warning when his employment was terminated on Mar., 2021. Brown said that he was terminated for harassing fellow employees,” Ptl. Mike Calautti said, adding that Brown acknowledged the trespass warning.
      Nov. 14: At 9:18 p.m., four police officers dealt with a shoplifting call at Wal-Mart. One suspect, identified as Jesse James Riffle, 30, of 603 Clearmont, Youngstown, was located in the parking lot of the nearby Storming Crab restaurant. Police said he fled on foot, then eventually stopped running and was placed into a cruiser. Wal-Mart loss prevention employee Troy Brabant positively identified Riffle as a suspect in the theft of a $2.54 can of spray cleaner, Ptl. Dave Jones said. Police were told that Riffle had entered the store with another man, identified as James Gadd, 34, of 4495 New Rd., Austintown, Oh. Police located Gadd inside the store and arrested him on a felony warrant issued out of Austintown for a violation of a court order. Riffle was charged with theft, obstruction and resisting arrest.
      Nov. 15: At 5:09 a.m., Wal-Mart employee Charles Morrison told police he was “conducting perimeter security checks” when he found a loaded, .40 caliber gun at the rear of the Wal-Mart building. The firearm was turned over to Boardman police.
      Nov. 15: At 10:41 p.m., nine police officer went to Wal-Mart after receiving a call a man attempted to leave the store with unpaid merchandise. Police were told the suspect fled northbound towards Youngstown in a pick-up truck that had a refrigerator in its bed. “The suspect attempted to remove a microwave and two Tasty cookers without paying for them,” Ptl. Brian Moss said, noting the merchandise had been recovered. The pick-up truck with the refrigerator in its bed was located northbound on Southern Blvd. by Ptl. Tony Ciccotelli. The truck was driven by Nicholas Gibson, 31, of 6982 Mistletoe, Youngstown. He was issued a citation for expired registration. Another man in the truck, told police his name was Howard Howell, 53, of Ridgelawn Ave., Youngstown. Police learned his identity was fake. Note: On Nov. 16, at 10:00 a.m., Elijah Junior Taylor, 42, of 346 Mistltoe, had been arrested by U.S. Marshals after Det. Doug Taylor identified Taylor as the man who had used Howell’s identity. Taylor was charged with identification fraud and multiple, other warrants on seven, different incidents. Taylor complained of chest pain and was taken to a hospital. Five hours later he was released and then lodged in the Mahoning County Jail.
      Nov. 18: At 3:01 p.m., Shawntai Marie Beiling, 32, of 1032 East South Range Rd., Springfield, Oh., was charged with theft at Wal-Mart. “Merchandise was retrieved from her jacket sleeves and purse,” Ptl. Mike Manis said. The merchandise included fleece gloves, various electronic items, mini notebooks and key chains valued at $151.54. Loss prevention employee Nicole Mirto said the incident had been captured on a surveillance camera.
      Nov. 18: At 5:22 p.m., Veronica Scott, 35, of 3431 Hudson Ave., Youngstown, Oh., was charged with theft of $184.34 worth of merchandise on Oct. 15 at 10:02 a.m. at Wal-Mart. Loss prevention employee Brittany Young told police that Scott entered the store with an infant and a teenaged boy and ‘selected’ the $184.34 worth of merchandise “and took it to the self-checkout counter where she paid for an 88-cent item.” Young said that Scott then left the store and got into a Pontiac registered to Clarence Spann, of 450 Almyra, Youngstown, Oh.
      Nov. 18: At 7:33 p.m., Wal-Mart loss prevention employee Nicole Mirto said she stopped a shoplifting suspect who attempted to leave the store with $111.01 worth of stolen merchandise. After obtaining the female suspect’s name, the suspect told Mirto “I have a gun in my purse.” Mirto, concerned with her safety, then told the woman to leave the store, Ptl. Nick Rusyn said. Note: Police learned the suspect does have a valid conceal carry permit.
      Nov. 18: At 10:13 p.m., police were told a female entered the store and placed a variety of merchandise into a shopping cart. “She went to the self-checkout where she scanned and paid for some of the items, then also bagged other items she purposely failed to scan,” Wal-Mart loss prevention employee Mirto said, adding the woman then went to a customer service area and attempted to obtain a refund for the items she did not pay for. Mirto said the female, identified as Sharnita Latisha Baker, 36, of 180 East Marion, Youngstown, Oh., was denied a refund (because she did not have identification) and she placed $79.56 worth of merchandise she did not pay for back into her shopping cart and attempted to leave. Mirto said the security cameras captured the incident. Baker was charged with theft.
      Nov. 19: Police went to Wal-Mart at 2:28 p.m. after being told a man and a woman were skip-scanning. “An employee from Wal-Mart approached both and advised them they were not scanning items correctly,” Ptl. Brian Cionni said, adding “Both suspects ignored the employee and continued to skips-can additional items, placing the unpaid items into a shopping cart.” They then left the store, and after being approached by loss prevention were escorted back into the store. Charged with theft were Bryasia Monique Walker, 25, of 1951 Tracy Lane, Youngstown; and Davon Tremayne London, 22, of 920 North Garland, Youngstown, Oh. “One of the items Walker is suspected of stealing was a $24.88 backpack. One of the items London is suspected of stealing was a pack of socks valued at $19.98,” Ptl. Cionni said.
      Nov. 20 at 3:02 p.m., Roger Joe Mercer, 49, of 408 Ridge Ave., New Cumberland, West Virginia, was charged with theft (failing to scan) 20 items of merchandise valued at $381.91 (including $3.27 worth of Red Bull). The merchandise was recovered.
      Nov. 20: At 8:06 p.m. six police officers were sent to Wal-Mart. Police were told a suspect removed tags from merchandise then concealed the goods in a backpack. “The state of Ohio then became the victim of possession of drug paraphernalia and obstruction when the suspect lied about his identity and had a crack pipe in his pocket. It was also discovered that the suspect had an active warrant out of the Ohio Department of Rehab and Correction/Adult Parole Authority,” police said. When confront by police, the suspect said he was Keith Brown. He was correctly identified as Lewis Dandre Brown, 32, of 1764 Market St., Youngstown, Oh. When asked by police if he knew was he was being handcuffed, Brown replied, “shoplifting,” Ptl. Dave Jones said.
      On Nov. 20, at 10:30 p.m., three police officers went to Wal-Mart after a suspect attempted to steal 36 pieces of merchandise valued at $1562.97, including a 63-inch television, a cordless vacuum, a gaming headset and assorted clothing items valued at $1,562.97. When confronted, a male suspect told two Wal-Mart loss prevention officers he was ‘high” and fled on foot, leaving the merchandise behind, and getting into an old truck with no working taillights. “The suspect then drove erratically through the parking lot at an extremely high rate of speed, initially without closing his driver’s side door,” Ptl. Evan Beil said.
      Nov. 21: At 2:30 p.m., Jason Patrick Smith, 34, of 60 Sciota Dr., was charged with theft at Wal-Mart, placing items into a shopping bag without scanning them and then exiting the store.
      Nov. 21: At 4:00 p.m., Gary Phillip Brainard Jr., 52, of 2480 Redgate Lane, Austintown, Oh., charged with theft. Police were told suspected stolen merchandise had been recovered. Police were told Brainard fled Wal-Mart and he was later located across the street at Gabriel’s. Police said Brainard fled on foot through a field and he was apprehended when police caught up with him in a front yard on Bristlewood Dr. Brainard was also charged with obstruction and resisting arrest.
      Nov. 21: At 7:46 p.m., Trinity Rana Edwards, 21, and Lameisha Monay Drayton, 21, both of 2664 Tyrell, Youngstown, Oh., charged with theft at Wal-Mart. Drayton ‘selected’ $104.51 worth of merchandise and Edwards ‘selected’ $155.20 worth of merchandise and failed to scan the items, concealing them underneath items they purchased, loss prevention employee Nicole Mirto said. The stolen items were recovered. Drayton was also found to be wanted on a failure to appear warrant issued by the Ohio State Highway Patrol and she was transferred to their custody.
      Nov. 22: At 3:54 p.m., Benedict Chance Santana, 22, and Kaleigh Patton, 22, both of 2009 Lynn Ave., Poland, Oh. turned themselves into Boardman police on a theft report at Wal-Mart on Nov. 3. On Nov. 3, loss prevention employee Mirto said she watched the pair place items they were not scanned into bags with scanned items. Mirto said the incident was captured on surveillance cameras.
      Nov. 23: At 7:57 p.m., police were advised of a suspected theft at Wal-Mart on Nov. 19 about 4:20 p.m. when a man entered the store, ‘selected’ a $178 power tool set, took the security wrapping off the merchandise, then walked out of the store. The theft was captured when surveillance videos were reviewed.
      Nov. 23: At 7:54 p.m., police made a theft report for an incident on Nov. 19 when police were told a man ‘selected’ three boxes of king crab legs, as well as men’s work pants, a rotisserie chick, men’s underwear (total value of $200) and walked out of the store. Surveillance footage of the incident was given to police as evidence.
      Nov. 24: At 3:50 p.m., two police officers went to Wal-Mart after being advised a female shoplifting suspect left the store’s parking lot in a black Kia bearing Pennsylvania license plates. Loss prevention employee Nicole Mirto said she observed a female concealing merchandise and when she attempted to leave the store, after passing all points of sale, Mirto attempted to stop the suspect, who told the security officer, “I lost my wallet in here, you can have all of this shit,” Ptl. Shannon Chaffee said, adding the suspect left the shopping cart full of unpaid merchandise in the entry way.
      Nov. 25: At 1:15 a.m., police were told a man appeared to be passed-out in a motor vehicle in the parking lot of Wal-Mart. Police located a vehicle with a man named Stuart Hull, 47, of 8303 Glenwood Ave,, inside the vehicle. Asked what was going on, Hull said he had been kicked-out of his girlfriend’s house. He admitted to Ptl. Thomas Zorzi he had been drinking in Austintown and then drove to Wal-Mart. Based upon alcohol indicators, Hull was placed under arrest for lack of physical control.
      Nov. 26: At 4:56 p.m., police were advised a male had taken merchandise and concealed it in a backpack inside Wal-Mart. When the man exited the store, walking passed all points of sale without paying, he was approached by police. A search of the backpack also turned-up several used needles. Raymond Scott Betts, 38, of 1270 South Turner Rd., Austintown, Oh., was charged with theft ($20.98 worth of moonshine, gloves valued at $15.47 and a $25.44 flashlight) and possession of drug paraphernalia. “Betts admitted that he use [the needles] for drug, but he did not currently have any drugs on him,” Ptl. Kevin Stratton said.
      Nov. 26: At 7:53 p.m., Ethan Alexander Hunt, 18, 870 East Auburndale, Youngstown, Oh., charged with theft of ten packs of mini Fireball whiskey valued at $29.94 at Wal-Mart. According to Ptl. Shannon Chaffee, when a loss prevention officer approached Hunt, he said he was “on probation and not going back to jail.” After booking, Hunt was released on a court summons.
      Nov. 27: At 4:14 p.m., Michael Phillips, 64, of 705 Cassius, Yougnstown, Oh. was charged with theft of $187 worth of merchandise, including a $100 air bed, at Wal-Mart. “Police observed Phillips in security cameras concealing merchandise and walking passed all points of sale without paying,” Ptl. Kevin Stratton said. After booking, Phillips was released on a summons.

     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.

     BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      After receiving a variety of stories, a Boardman-based businessman did not sell his limited edition, 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk that he had sought to sell on Facebook Marketplace for $95,000.
      Ray McClelland, 30, of Lisbon Rd., Salem, of FTK Diesel and Performance, 762 Bev Rd., told police he had received a message on Facebook from a man who identified himself as Wayne James Robert, of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, who in the message agreed to purchase the Jeep for $92,500.
      “Robert called McClelland on Oct. 21 by telephone and agreed to transfer the funds to A&S Federal Credit Union, as McClelland requested,” Ptl. Stephen Dubos said, adding that when asked to provide a copy of his driver’s license in order to make a bill of sale, Robert declined, and instead told McClelland he lived at ‘8501 Beverly Lane, Florida.’
      Six days later, police were told that Robert made another call to McClelland, advising his driver, “Mike,” was on his way to get the vehicle.
      During that conversation, McClelland told “Mr. Robert” that he still needed to see his driver’s license, a signed proof of sale and a temporary tag to put on the vehicle. Robert countered, asking to use McClelland’s Ohio license plates.
      Robert then sent McClelland a picture of a Florida driver’s license, listing an address of 8501 Beverly Lane, St. Augustine, Fla.. However, the name on the license was not Wayne James Robert, it was Robert James Wayne, Ptl. Dubos said.
      McClelland then contacted his bank to verify funds from the sale of the Jeep had been transferred into his account from a Wells Fargo bank. The bank advised ‘this was unusual behavior for the account holder.’
      Ptl. Dubos said that McClelland then contacted law enforcement in St. Augustine, and was told that Robert James Wayne is a middle-aged white male, while the man McClelland had been speaking with is black.
      The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office informed McClelland, they had received reports of scams, where funds would appear to be in an account for a couple of days, but then get declined.
      On Oct. 27, about 11:30 a.m., police learned a man identified as Walter L. Holmes III showed-up at FTK Diesel and Performance to pick-up the Jeep.
      Upon arrival, ‘Holmes’ spoke with two employees, telling them he couldn’t believe ‘his dad was ‘making him do this,’ because he had to drive all the way back to Florida, then go to work that morning, while bragging about how the logistics company he worked for ‘flies him all over the place,’ Officer Dubos said.
      When Det. Ben Switka spoke with Holmes, he learned the man told the employees he was from Jackson, Miss. and was doing a favor for a friend named ‘Bruce,’ [also known as ‘Junior, and whom he had known for a ‘half year’]; and that Bruce never told him what kind of ‘car’ it was, or ‘where to take the car in Florida’.
      Officer Dubos told the detective that Holmes had airline tickets in a backpack that showed him flying to the Pittsburgh Airport, then taking an uber ride to Boardman. Also in the backpack was a cell phone that contained several phone calls to and from ‘Bruce,’ indicating the man used a Uniontown, Ky. location. In addition, the phone contained several pictures of McClelland’s Jeep.
      “[Holmes] then changed his story, stating he looked the Jeep up on Marketplace,” police said.
      In addition, inside the backpack, police found seven, $100 bills (marked for ‘Motion Picture Purposes Only’).
      “The money appeared real at first glance. Holmes said that someone working in the airport took his wallet and must have put them inside,” Officer Dubos said.
      Upon the advice of the Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office, Holmes was released from custody, “gathered his belongings and left on foot.
      “He stated that he didn’t want the fake currency and left it behind,” Officer Dubos said.
      The deal for the Jeep was not finalized, as the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office said their agency had contacted the ‘real’ Robert James Wayne, who advised he had checked his bank account and found no fraudulent activity and was unaware anyone was using his personal identification, Officer Dubos said.
      Wayne also told the Florida sheriff’s office he had received a letter from a motorcycle dealership in Louisiana notifying him they couldn’t approve the purchase of a motorcycle,
      “Wayne didn’t think much of it at the time, so he never reported the incident,” Officer Dubos said.
     

     Boardman Township Trustee
      (Two to elect)
      Name........................Total Votes
      Brad Calhoun................4,290
      Tom Costello................3,858
      Tabitha Fitz-Patrick........1,672
      Jason Pavone................1,525
      Mahoning Education Service Center Board
      (Three to elect)
      Kathi McNabb Welsh.......14,781
      Richard Scarsella..........12,725
      Jeff Good..................11,139
      Boardman Board of Education
      (Three to elect)
      Vickie Davis................3,886
      John Landers................3,748
      John Fryda..................3,695
      Anthony Buchmann............2,225
      Boardman Township 3-mil renewal
      For.........................4,169
      Against.....................2,534
      Local Option Liquor Issues
      Peaberry’s Cafe (weekdays)
      For...........................230
      Against........................64
      Peaberry’s Cafe (Sundays)
      For...........................215
      Against........................79
      Combine Brothers (weekdays)
      For...........................234
      Against........................35
      Combine Brothers (Sundays)
      For...........................230
      Against........................39
      Mahoning County 1/4 Per Cent
      (Roads, Bridges, Infrastructure)
      For........................20,798
      Against....................19,039
      Mahoning County Developmental Disabilities
      (2-mil renewal)
      For........................28,917
      Against....................11,138
     

     Figures released to Boardman Township show the township’s population, according to the 2020 census, is 40,213 where residents have a annual median household income of $56,470; and married couples have a larger annual median income of $87,883
      The census figures were mentioned at the Oct. 25 meeting of Boardman Township Trustees.
      Additional Census Statistics
      Total Housing Units............................19,501
      Total Occupied Housing Units...........18,150
      Per Cent of Population Over 65............20.6%
      Population History
      1800....................893
      1930..................5,500
      1950.................13,606
      1970.................30,852
      1980.................39,161
      1990.................38,596
      2000.................42,518
      2010.................40,358
      2020.................40,213
     

     Mahoning County Municipal Court Judge Joe Schiavoni and United States Marine Corps Major Jeff Cisek will be the featured speakers at a Veterans Day Assembly at Glenwood Junior High on Thursday, November 11 at 9:00 a.m. Special video messages from both of Ohio’s U.S. Senators are also planned. Veterans interested in attending are asked to call the GJHS main office at 330-726-3414 and provide their name along with their branch of military service.
       “We are very excited that both Judge Schiavoni and Major Cisek will be here to share their experiences with the students and to help us honor our local military men and women,” said Glenwood teacher Vince Carnevale, who organized the program. “We look forward to this Glenwood tradition. We are happy to invite our veterans to share in some refreshments after the program, as well.”
      Masks are required for this indoor event.
     

     Federal and local law enforcement officials arrested a 25-year-old man on a variety of charges last week at a Days Inn, in Niles. The man originally came to the attention of Boardman and Poland police when he was seen exiting a stolen car in the parking lot of the Red Roof Inn on Tiffany Blvd., Boardman.
      The suspect, who was wanted in connection with stolen vehicles and a high-speed pursuit, was identified as Montrell Holmes, 25, of 171 Butler St., New Haven, Connecticut, was located at the Days Inn, 1300 Youngstown-Warren Rd., Niles, Oh. and taken into custody. Authorities said Holmes attempted to flee from police and fell from a 12-foot balcony at the inn. He landed on the ground, face down, with a U.S. Marshall on top of him, the Boardman News was told.
      Holmes came to the attention of Boardman police on Oct. 21 at the Red Roof Inn on Tiffany Blvd., when authorities were investigating a stolen car report. Ptl. Mike Salser said that Holmes was viewed on a security camera getting out of a stolen Toyota Rav at 3:43 a.m. in the parking lot of the inn. Police located Holmes at the inn at 8:30 a.m., and as Ptl. Pat Klingensmith was attempting to handcuff the man, he fled on foot.
      “Sgt Mike Hughes and Officer Klingensmith chased Holmes to the parking lot of the (nearby) Days Inn parking lot where he stole another vehicle and fled on South Ave.,” Officer Salser said.
      Police said that Holmes fled in a pick-up truck owned by Munawar Chaudry, who operates the Days Inn. “Chaudry stated that he had just parked his truck...when Holmes jumped inside, started the ignition and fled the lot,” Ptl. Mike Dado said.
      Holmes eluded police for some two hours until Sgt. Hughes located the truck, with Holmes inside, at a Shell gas station at 3200 Market St. in Youngstown. “As Sgt. Hughes approached the truck, Holmes put it in reverse and fled south on Market St.,” Officer Dado said. Hughes noted as Holmes sped away from him, “he gestured the middle finger at me.”
      Several police units took up the chase, and when the pursuit reached the intersection of Mathews Rd. and Sheridan Rd., Officer Newland said the truck “exited the roadway, almost striking two Mahoning County Engineer’s Office employees who were working on the roadway.”
      At one point during the pursuit, Officer Newland said the driver of the stolen truck “aggressively swerved in front of me, then suddenly spiked his brakes, resulting in a collision.” Despite the collision, Officer Newland continued the pursuit until smoke began to fill his cruiser and he ended his chase.
      Eventually, Officer Dado tracked the stolen truck to I-680 near East Midlothian Blvd. Police continued their pursuit at speeds in excess of 100-miles-per-hour on I-680, until the pursuit was called off. “Based upon the increasing speeds and erratic driving of the subject, the pursuit was terminated,” Boardman Police Chief Todd Werth said.
      About 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 21. Liberty Township police located the stolen truck in a driveway on Tibbetts-Wick Rd. There, the homeowner told police a black male exited the truck about 1:00 p.m. and left in an unknown direction.
      Holmes has been charged with Receiving Stolen Property (F-4) and Obstructing Official Business (M-2) based upon a stolen vehicle recovered at the Days Inn in Boardman. Holmes is also charged with Motor Vehicle Theft (F-4) and Failure to Comply (Flee and Elude) (F-3).
      He also faces federal charges.
       Note: On May 14, 2017, Holmes was arrested by the Clinton, Conn. police where he faced 152 different criminal charges including for burglary, theft of a firearm and motor vehicles that occurred over a two-day period, between Nov. 11, 2016 and Nov. 26, 2016.
      A source told The Boardman News that Holmes was in the Mahoning Valley to meet a female he had previously ‘met’ on social media.
     

     The Youngstown State University Foundation announces the creation of the Atty. Daniel L. Rossi Scholarship to benefit full-time students at the university.
      Atty. Rossi, of Stratford Rd., Boardman, established the scholarship with a $300,000 gift. In turn, the name of the Ohio Room in Kilcawley Center will be changed to the Attorney Daniel L. Rossi Room.
      “The scholarship for YSU students represents one of the core values of what we believe is so important: Education,” the Rossi family said. “Daniel is honored to contribute to the education of our future leaders.”
      Rossi, 94, is a lifelong resident of the Mahoning Valley and attended the former Madison Elementary School and East High School.
      At the age of 17, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served in World War II. After he was discharged, and with the assistance of the Serviceman Readjustment Act of 1944, the G.I. Bill, Rossi enrolled in Youngstown College (now YSU) and later studied at Ohio Northern University to pursue his law degree.
      Upon graduation, he returned to Youngstown to practice law. He met his wife, the former Mary Rossvanes, and they had five children, eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
      In 1952, he founded the Rossi law firm. He practiced law for over 60 years, and prior to retiring, successfully tried his final jury case at the age of 81. His son, Gregg, now operates the family law practice, Rossi & Rossi.
      Rossi always honored his parents, August Rossi and Augusta (née Mastrantonio), who both emigrated to the United States from Italy. After August became a U.S. citizen, he was drafted into the Army and served in World War I as part of the American Expeditionary Force that fought against the German Army in the Argonne Forest in France. Rossi says that he is grateful for his father, instilling a solid work ethic and unwavering American pride in him. He still has his father’s helmet.
     
      PICTURED: Atty. Daniel L. Rossi, left, and President Jim Tressel at the Attorney Daniel L. Rossi Seminar Room in Kilcawley Center on the campus of Youngstown State University.

     Over the past four years, Boardman Township’s three-member Board of Trustees has worked diligently to address drainage issues and maintain manpower in the police and fire departments.
      Efforts on drainage issues have been wide-ranging, including completion of over $3 million in stormwater projects, as well as obtaining some $1.5 million in grant monies for stormwater projects this year and into next year.
      Efforts at maintaining township services has been accomplished despite the loss of some $3 million in state subsidies.
      In addition, the Board of Trustees has collaborated with the Boardman Local School Board, Mahoning County Commissioners and the Western Reserve Port Authority to insure a $30 million capital improvement program at the Southern Park Mall was undertaken, thus preserving one of the biggest assets in terms of property taxes and employment opportunities in the township and Mahoning County.
      On Tues., Nov. 2, voters will go to the polls to vote on two seats on the Board of Trustees. Incumbents Tom Costello and Brad Calhoun are seeking re-election. They are opposed by Jason Pavone and Tabitha Fitz-Patrick.
      Mr. Pavone has stated his belief that Boardman Township should become a city; and says he does not support tax abatements.
      Mrs. Fitz-Patrick says she wants to build a sidewalk along Southern Blvd., from Western Reserve Rd. all the way down to Market St. in Youngstown; and she also calls for the installation of central air conditioning in Boardman Local School buildings.
      We staunchly believe township government is the closest form of government to the people it serves, and creating a city would cost more taxpayer dollars than is currently doled-out for government services, as well as add additional, needless layers of government for taxpayers to contend with.
      And, do we really want to spend millions of dollars so residents can take a walk down Southern Blvd. from Western Reserve Rd. into Youngstown?
      Further, there is a distinction between a school board member and a township trustee, who has no business placing a priority on the public school system’s HVAC system.
      Most important to the welfare of Boardman Township, in addition to preserving its tax base, is support for the Boardman Police Department, where manpower has been held at roughly 60 officers for the past quarter century.
      But there is a big distinction between now and 25 years ago, when police answered about 20,000 calls a year. According to Mr. Calhoun and Police Chief Todd Werth, the police department now responds to upwards of 70,000 calls per year. Those numbers alone seem to dictate Boardman Township needs more police officers, who are now with increasing frequency, forced to delay responding to some calls because of lack of manpower.
      Adding manpower at the Boardman Police Department suggests additional funding is needed, as well as changes in the salary of new hires at the BPD, and perhaps some restructuring in Civil Service rules.
      Acknowledging the diligent efforts of current Trustees Tom Costello, Brad Calhoun as well as Larry Moliterno in addressing drainage issues and their efforts at re-writing zoning codes in an effort to preserve neighborhoods in the township; campaigns by challengers for seats held by both incumbents fall way short of the mark.
      Mr. Costello and Mr. Calhoun stress their efforts to work as a team, and in harmony, to keep Boardman Township A Nice Place to Call Home.
      Both are best-suited to deal with improving manpower at the Boardman Police Department, we suggest, by working in harmony with the PD’s administration and labor unions.
      In the best interests of Boardman Township, incumbents Tom Costello and Brad Calhoun deserve re-election. They have worked hard to maintain current levels of service, keep our neighborhoods safe, maintain good roads, and serve residents and businesses.
      On Nov. 2, vote to return Tom Costello and Brad Calhoun to seats on the Boardman Township Board of Trustees.

     When voters go to the polls on Tues., Nov. 2, there will be four candidates, including three incumbents, seeking three seats on the Boardman Board of Education. Incumbents seeking re-election are John Fryda, Vickie Davis and John Landers. They are being challenged by Anthony Buchmann.
      When considering the field of candidates, the incumbents stand above their opponent as the best qualified to serve the Boardman Local School District.
      For example, when the League of Women voters asked each candidate about their qualifications for office, Mr. Fryda, who is seeking a second term on the board, said he has worked successfully with other board members, the administration, students and community, adding he has a knowledge of the fiscal responsibilities of the system.
      Ms. Davis, who has served on the local school board since 2014, points to her experience as a major qualification for returning her to a seat on the board.
      Mr. Landers also cites his service to the school district for the past twelve years, noting he is an advocate for fair school funding and is a member of the Boardman High School Class of 2000.
      Mr. Buchmann said as a tradesman, he would bring uniqueness to the school board, adding “I am an American citizen, a husband and a father of teenagers.”
      As for priorities, Mr. Fryda said he will serve all citizens, support a safe and positive learning enviroment, and maintain open communication and a working relationship with the community.
      Ms. Davis says she will “continue to stretch taxpayer dollars...while continuing to fight the unfairness of public school funding at the state level.”
      She adds “The role of a school board member is also to support the community around them.”
      Mr. Landers opines his priorities include advocating for fair school funding, “continue to evolve and improve communication to the community” and (provide) support for “individual pathways to learn.”
      Mr. Buchmann calls for increased transparency, accountability and in a seeming poor-mouth call he says “Bring all trades/military service to equal level with college to allow kids every option before making a decision that will effect (students) for the rest of their lives.”
      Mr. Buchmann has made efforts to bring his campaign into the public forum, including demonstrating in opposition to the school system’s mask policy (with about a dozen other people) at the intersection of Rt. 224 and Market St. one recent weekend, as well as having a family member parade around a school board meeting objecting to the district’s busing policy---to the point of intimidating a young girl who also wanted to address the board to thank fire-fighters for their service, out of doing so.
      Such antics don’t serve students and the district well, as the example of the frightened young girl demonstrates.
      Mr. Buchmann makes a call for zero tolerance for bullying (an apparent reference to a mother whose complaints last year forced a teacher’s aide, under pressure from the school board, to resign). So in fact, there is a zero tolerance for the teacher aide’s actions, and it cost the aide a job.
      Mr. Buchmann’s candidacy wreaks of smoke and mirrors, and if elected, his candidacy has displayed a lack willingness to work as a team for the overall benefit of the kids in the school district, as he alludes to the belief that as a tradesman, he is somehow a lesser person than someone with a college degree.
      To be certain, Ms. Davis and Mr. Landers need to be more open with their communication skills. It is a well-known fact if either of these two board members are asked about their opinions on school-related matters, they more often than not, defer questions to someone else.
      However, in the best interests of the Boardman Local School District and the students they serve, John Fryda, Vickie Davis and John Landers are the best candidates for election to the school board.
      We recall board members like Norm Purucker and Robert Ameduri, whose terms on the school board were divisive, and serving as one-man minorities on a five-member board, they accomplished little to benefit the students and school district they were elected to serve.
      Especially in that light, John Fryda, Vickie Davis and John Landers are the best candidates for election to the Boardman Local School Board on Tues., Nov. 2.

     BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      Meeting on Wed., Oct. 20, Mahoning County Commissioners awarded the ABC Water and Stormwater District $1 million towards the creation of a 14.6 acre stormwater park on the property of Market St. Elementary School. The project will take about two years to complete at a cost of some $3 million. When completed, the project will create an area able to hold up to 9-feet of water on an area the size of a football field, and is expected to alleviate storm water issues impacting upwards of 1,400 homes. The stormwater park will include natural habitat areas, a general reforestation of the overall site, a paved and a lighted walking trail (equipped with security cameras).
      County commissioner Anthony Traficanti said his board was “proud and happy to be able to help Boardman Township with flooding issues.
      “The project looks like it will be fantastic.”
      In accepting the funding, Boardman Township Trustee Tom Costello said the stormwater park “will create a beautiful, park-like setting for the neighborhood for years to come.”
      In response, Commissioner Traficanti lauded the township trustees for their “phenomenal collaboration” with the Boardman Local School Board.
      County commissioner David Ditzler said the stormwater park will provide “the biggest impact for the most people. We are proud to assist Boardman Township. You don’t ever get a chance to impact so many homes with so much land.”
      Added Commissioner Traficanti, “Trustees Costello, Calhoun and Moliterno should be commended for your aggressive efforts in attacking flooding in Boardman.”
      In addition to the $1 million grant from the county commissioners, funding for the stormwater park will also come from a $500,000 Ohio Capital Grant. In addition, applications for more funding have been made to the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and State Rep. Al Cutrona is expected to seek more funds from a capital grant.
      First step in the project is the demolition of Market St. Elementary School, and bids are now being sought for that effort.
     
      PICTURED: BOARDMAN TOWNSHIP TRUSTEES accepted a check for $1 million last week from the Mahoning County Commissioners for use in the creation of a stormwater park at Market St. Elementary School. Pictured, from left, Jason Loree, Boardman Township Administrator; Tom Costello, Boardman Township Trustee; Anthony Traficanti, Mahoning County Commissioner; Larry Moliterno, Boardman Township Trustee; David Ditzler and Carol Rimedio-Righetti, Mahoning County Commissioners; and Brad Calhoun, Boardman Township Trustee.