Canfield Fair board needs to treat 4-H youth fairly

Canfield Fair board needsto treat 4-H youth fairly
EDITOR:
It has come to my attention, and should be brought to the attention of others, that while the Canfield Fair is coming up, good girls and boys involved in the 4-H program will not be able to show their animals with other children in the same program.
The members of the Youngstown Tailwaggers and the Mahoning County Pampered Pups have worked hard all year. They start training their dogs in obedience and agility at the beginning of April. They have their judging in July, so that they might, if they win first place, go to the Ohio State Fair in August. There is a lot of time and effort that goes into training their dogs. There is even extra training for those who go to the state fair.
Six years ago the children had pens for their dogs and were able to spend the entire day at the Canfield Fair answering questions about their dogs and encouraging others to join the program. They were able to have their dogs spend the night with the other animals in the 4-H barn, just like the other 4-H projects (such as the horses and the cows).
People enjoyed seeing the dogs at the fair, because it was something that they were able to connect with while enjoying the many unusual sights at the fair.
However, five years ago, those pens were given to other animals (I believe that turkeys currently use them) in the 4-H barns, because the fair board said that they were running out of room. The fair board feels that the small area allotted to the 4-H program is big enough.
Why are the dogs no longer considered part of the 4-H program as a valid project? Is there no more room for all the 4-H projects in one of the biggest county fairs in the country? Why is there not enough room for the turkeys, cats, pigs, dogs and all animals?
The dog projects are now displayed in a tent, and the two clubs split the tent in shifts. People expect that the children have their dogs with them. There is no place for the dogs to be penned while the children are off shift, because the tent is shared. This situation forces their parents to make numerous runs throughout the day between home and the fair. The fair goes on for six days, and this situation puts incredible strain on the children, their families and their dogs, because there is no way that the children are treated the same as others.
These children work hard throughout the year. Why can't they and their projects be treated the same as the other projects? Why are we not promoting the good these children are all doing instead of having more french fry stands. There comes a point when we as fairgoers need to say that children come first instead of the money. People will spend money to see the children's animals.
SHARYN McCROBIE
Austintown
Don't count on successfor the downtown arena
EDITOR:
This letter is in regard to the pending opening of the new White Elephant, commonly called the convocation center, in downtown Youngstown. I won't be attending any functions there or any functions in the city. It bothers me to have to say this because I am a Mahoning County native having grown up in the shadows of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church.
Previously, I have enjoyed attending functions at Powers Auditorium and the Youngstown State football games. During the Jim Tressel era, I attended every home game and every championship game. However, the public parasites working in the useless law department have made a $90 mistake. I had to replace a perfectly good tire due to running into a large chuck hole on Cottage Grove Avenue.
If they can't maintain the streets, how can they maintain the White Elephant? Before the first shovel of dirt was turned, the clowns, acting as councilmen, went out of their way to obviate any other type of sporting activity such as football. Everybody in the area knows that the people of Northeastern Ohio do not like football, don't they? Maybe they could ask the voters to increase the already highest income tax in the state. They could do this because the majority of city taxpayers do not live in the city. The last time we had taxation without representation, there was a large tea party in Boston Harbor.
We in the Valley suffer from what I call the "jackass mentality" when it comes to voting. We march to the polls and place our vote next to the sign of the jackass. And, in most cases, that is exactly what we put in office.
The White Elephant won't make it 10 years without going up for sale. If they think it is going to pump new life into a dying city, I would suggest they check the surrounding neighborhoods. They would see that rigor mortis is setting in rapidly.
Now you have a term limited state senator, who did nothing in Columbus, trying to add to his public pension before rigor mortis totally sets in. Will the last one leaving town please turn out the lights -- the few who are still working, that is?
EDWARD DeROSEBoardman
Gathering of Irish Clansowes gratitude to woman
EDITOR:
I would like to thank The Vindicator and its reporter for the wonderful article published on Aug. 15, covering the Irish event last weekend. It is nice to see positive news on the front page, and this event brings so many people together for music, laughter and fellowship.
I would be remiss if we did not thank the person who is responsible for the Gathering of the Irish Clans, Sally Pallante. Sally's passion for her Irish heritage has been the driving force behind the creation of the Clans Gathering. For over 10 years, she has worked tirelessly to promote the education of our youth in the knowledge of our culture through this event.
She involved all the Irish organizations of the Mahoning Valley in the creation of the Clans Gathering, and through her hard work, the Gathering has become a two-day event with premier entertainment, traditional Irish food and family entertainment.
The Irish community owes a debt of gratitude to Sally and her committee for the Gathering of the Irish Clans Festival, and we look forward to our 10th anniversary in 2006.
JOYCE KALE-PESTAYoungstown