MAHONING PLAZA West Side merchants, organizations seek sales, security

The area will host a sidewalk sale Saturday.
YOUNGSTOWN -- Councilwoman Carol Rimedio-Righetti, D-4th, wants to encourage people to shop on the city's West Side, particularly those who live there.
She also wants West Side residents to feel safe in their neighborhoods and be active in achieving that goal.
With all of that in mind, Rimedio-Righetti is organizing a Mahoning Plaza sidewalk sale from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The stores in the plaza will merchandise outside during the two hours. Also, other stores on Mahoning Avenue will hold sidewalk sales, she said.
Watching the block
Also, there will be tables for people to join the West Side Citizens' Coalition and 4th Ward block watch organizations. National Cash Advance will sponsor a fund-raising event for the American Diabetes Association.
"We're trying to encourage sound economic development on the West Side," Rimedio-Righetti said. "We want people to be aware of the businesses on the West Side, and take pride in them."
The event will include prizes given by the Hot 101 radio station.
West Side Citizens' Coalition members will attend to get residents to join the organization.
"We want residents to get involved with the coalition and block watches for better neighborhoods," Rimedio-Righetti said.
Helping her and the plaza merchants organize the event are Geri DeLuca, Linda Modarelli and Ann Marie Nameth of the coalition's special events committee, as well as the following block watch organizations: South Portland, We See You, Westside Nosey Neighbors, Upper Westside, and Wesley Block Watchers.