COLUMBIANA CORNER Springing into winter

A bout of spring fever struck Columbiana County last week as temperatures climbed into the 70s under sunny skies. Teen-agers socialized on village streets in T-shirts and shorts. Homeowners were seen on hands and knees working in flower beds where crocuses and daffodils were sprouting.
At Leetonia Police Department, maintenance workers and police were moving furniture and office equipment and tossing unwanted items. "Come on in and don't mind the mess," Chief John Soldano told a reporter who stopped by his office. "We're just doing a little spring cleaning."
Soldano, however, noted that the warm weather hasn't quashed the community's giving spirit. Residents have personally handed him about $300 in cash for the department's Christmas drive for the needy.
Splitting hairs: Do real men go to beauty parlors for hair cuts?
Believe it or not, the subject came up in lighthearted fashion at a recent Salem City Council meeting.
During the session, council took the opportunity to thank longtime barber Joe Armeni for his service in the city. Armeni, uncle of city Auditor Jim Armeni, is closing up shop and retiring.
Councilman Steve Andres, D-2nd, noted that he was a regular patron of Armeni's barber shop. Andres also contended that too many men these days go to beauty salons for haircuts, which Andres jokingly suggested just isn't natural.
During council's good-byes to Armeni, it also was noted that decades ago there were more than 20 barbers working in Salem. Today there are about five.
XCONTRIBUTORS: Nancy Tullis and Norman Leigh of the Vindicator Salem Bureau.