Mahoning Valley has a gem in Easy Street Productions

Mahoning Valley has a gemin Easy Street Productions
EDITOR:
People like Todd Hancock and Maureen Collins have put our town on the map.
Did you catch "Annie" playing last weekend at beautiful Powers Auditorium? If you did, you'll know what I mean by value.
Easy Street Productions brought this musical to you, complete with an all-star cast, professional sets, the outstanding Easy Street Little Big Band, spectacular dancing (thanks to Renee Rogers), and of course great singing. Katy Collins brings Annie to life, and nobody does The Rooster and Miss Hannigan scene better than Todd, Maureen and newcomer, Katie Malys. People fell out of their seats laughing at Jimmy McClellan and his wacky misfits in the Bert Healy segment, and Eric McClellan is the best Warbucks we've seen. Franklin Roosevelt was never so funny until David Jendre came along.
Yes, I'm a transplant (having made Youngstown my home by choice 31 years ago), and just one of some 6,000 or so, who experienced the musical this past weekend, that will say we've got the best right here at home in Youngstown. Thanks Todd and Maureen and Easy Street Productions, for a job extremely well done.
JOHN BURGAN
Youngstown
Story stirred memoriesof a forgotten WWII hero
EDITOR:
Your Oct. 15 article entitled, "Still time to remember forgotten heroes," was read with a personal interest. It stated that every war has its forgotten heroes. How very true. The article told of airmen who were interned in Switzerland during World War II -- 1,516 in total. These men never received POW status. This was a wrong that was never made right.
Steel Valley Chapter 12, American Ex-Prisoners of War, had one such person in our chapter. We treated Mike as one of our own although he could not get the recognition he deserved through the Veterans Administration. He was turned down for POW status on many occasions or attempts. Mike died. He was a very sick man for an extended period of time. How sad that we treat people in distant lands, who are our enemies, while we ignore some of our own.
It must be stated here and now that the VA on Belmont Avenue does an excellent job. Their dedication and expertise is not and should not be in question. It is some of the policies that are made in Washington that should be questioned by all. Especially all veteran groups.
ROBERT THORNTON
Austintown
Better background checksare needed in foster care
EDITOR:
In recent weeks I have read in The Vindicator several accounts of child abuse and neglect in foster homes. How can this be allowed? The children in foster care have been removed from their homes and parents due to situations beyond their control. The children are to be placed in homes that are safe and that remove them from a dangerous or abusive situation.
I wonder how well of a background check is done on the people and homes that the children are placed into. Reports have indicated that some of the children were not in the best of hands. Recently in the paper, the death of Auntavia Atkins, 3-year-old, was reported. The person who is charged with her death is the foster mother who was supposed to provide a safe place for her. Did the officials not do a good background check or were they just in a hurry to get this child into a home?
My feelings are that Children Services should do a complete background check on the foster parents and also on any people who live in the home. They should also do unannounced and unexpected checks to the home to make sure that the children who are place into care are OK and enjoy being there.
COLLEEN BUNDY
Struthers