John Vano goes the extra miles

John Vano isn't your average league secretary -- by a mile.
The Youngstown native, who moved to Garfield Heights when he got married 13 years ago, has been a long-distance secretary of the Downtowners League at West Side Lanes.
Despite moving 56 miles away, he kept the position he's had for 20 seasons and it didn't disrupt his bowling night.
After getting married and before retiring from the Austintown Plaza Post Office in March, 2003, Vano went from work to the West Side for his Tuesday evening recreation.
"I was driving down there anyway, so why not make a night of it?" Vano said of his reasoning.
With it, however, came less sleep because he usually went out with the guys, got home at midnight, then had to awaken for work the next morning at 4:30.
"Needless to say, I'd go to bed early on Wednesday nights," Vano said.
Actually, the hardship wasn't as bad as it sounds because, before, Vano would stay overnight at his parents' home on the South Side.
Now, he has to drive the 56 miles immediately after bowling.
"It's easier now, being retired, because I don't have to get up in the morning."
Whatever the routine, bowling isn't getting shortchanged.
"I still see the guys once a week," said Vano, a 1965 Cardinal Mooney High graduate who left the post office after 37 years.
The Downtowners started as a postal employees league and, Vano says, is still 60-70 percent postal employees. He started with the U.S. Postal Service as a sub in 1966, but was drafted and spent two years in Germany. When he was discharged in 1969, Vano got his job back and started bowling.
"Our mailman on Boston Ave. was Emery Domanik and he asked if I wanted to join the league. The first time I picked up a ball was age 22."
In 1985, Vano become an officer.
"There was a motion on the floor and they voted me in and here I am until today," he said. "Every year they vote me back in. It must mean they like the job I do and don't care where I live."
Vano, who turned 57 on Oct. 16, met his wife, Nancy, at the Pymatuning trailer park campgrounds where he spent his weekends.
"It was my second home and continues to be," Vano said of his other recreation. "I'm not a traveling man, so to me, going out there and relaxing is a vacation," he said of the campground season that runs from April to October.
As a one-nighter with league duties, Vano's average hovers around 185. "It's been better, but, being secretary, it's tough to maintain a good average. I've only had three balls in my time bowling."
Vano continues to mail his Downtowners scores from Cleveland.
Does he get free postage?
"No," the former letter carrier said. "It doesn't work that way."
Harper has 811
Steve Harper Jr. had 811 in Max Belchyk Classic on Oct. 14.
Kenny Signor had 300 followed by games of 214 and 171 for 685 in Tuesday Senior Men at Wedgewood on Oct. 12.
Rick Havrilla's games went from 186 to 275 to 300 for 761 in Kernan Insurance Classic at West Side Lanes on Oct. 25
Donna Hess had 289-739 in G.E. Mixed at Wedgewood on Oct. 4.
Paula Pecorelli's 707 paced Lucianno's Restaurant Mixed at Wedgewood on Oct. 9.
Two Wedgewood teens had their first 700 sets on Oct. 9 when Tony Sciarra hit 741 and Kevin Grischow had 723 in Jrs./Majors. In between was Andrea Lucente with 725 and the day's best single with 279.
Clothes collection
Following the example of New Hope Community Church of Boardman, A-Plus is holding a coat drive to benefit needy children in the Youngstown elementary school system. Coats, hats, gloves and knitted scarves -- clean and in good condition -- will be collected through Nov. 4 at the alleys, 2617 Mahoning Ave. from 1 to 9 p.m. daily. Call 792-2173.
bassetti@vindy.com