Clubs to plant flowers

Clubs to plant flowers
WARREN -- The Kiwanis and Rotary clubs of Warren will kick off their first joint community service project Saturday by planting flowers along the Mahoning River.
Club members will meet at Packard Park Shelter House at 9 a.m. to plant Ohio wildflowers along portions of the Riverwalk trail. Their efforts will conclude at noon.
Perennial seeds and bulbs, as well as soil preparation tips, have been recommended by the Master Gardener program at The Ohio State Extension Service office. Mayor Hank Angelo, a member of both service organizations, said the project will be completed, rain or shine, unless it is thundering. In that case, the alternative date is May 5.
Overdue library items
GIRARD -- The Girard Free Library is using a collection agency to help encourage patrons to return overdue materials.
Library director Rose Ann Lubert said materials not returned have to be replaced at the library's expense in most cases. The money could better be used to buy new items for patron use, she said.
Unique Management Services of Jefferson, Ind., has been hired to retrieve the materials or money that is owed.
Patrons will still be notified by the library that their materials are overdue and will have ample time to respond before being turned over for collection, Lubert said.
Most library items can be renewed either by bringing them to the library with the patron's library card or by phoning the library. There is a book depository outside.
Ryan speaks at rally
COLUMBUS -- State Sen. Timothy Ryan of Niles, D-32nd, spoke at a rally of about 400 people Thursday afternoon, highlighting the need for increased funding for higher education.
Ryan and Democratic colleagues spoke at the Statehouse before a crowd that included educators, lawmakers and students from The Ohio State University, Central State University and Ohio University.
Ryan has been touring Ohio colleges and universities, encouraging students to take part in government and educating them about budget cuts faced by such institutions.
Ryan has spoken at the University of Akron and Miami University. He plans to visit other institutions in coming weeks.
Working on chapel
SOUTHINGTON -- Township trustees consulted an architect Wednesday in preparation for building a chapel in Graham Cemetery.
Architect Phillip Davis of Southington worked with trustees in deciding on windows, doors and an octagon-shaped building. They will meet again soon, and Davis will bring sketches and suggestions.
Cable-needs hearing
WARREN -- The city's community cable task force will have public hearings at 6:30 p.m. May 7 and May 21 in city council chambers to invite citizen input about future cable needs.
The hearings are a follow-up to a community survey mailed to residents in March and April. Those who wish to speak will be allotted three minutes.
The task force is trying to ascertain the community's response to current service with Time Warner Cable.
The company's franchise agreement with the city expires in 2003. For more information, call chairman Phillip Butto at (330) 675-2800, ext. 169; vice chairman Thomas Klingeman at (330) 399-6823; or secretary Jan Vaughn at (330) 399-8807, ext. 128.
Ward meeting set
WARREN -- City councilman Ron E. White Sr., D-4th, will have a ward meeting at 5 p.m. Friday at East Middle School on South Street. The meeting has been called to discuss the proposed 0.5-percent income tax increase on the May 8 ballot.