Center honors 3 at dinner

The teen and his mother joined a new mayor as this year's honorees.
BOARDMAN -- Thirteen-year-old Anthony Cutrone is the Youngstown Hearing and Speech Center's May Vetterle Award recipient for 2006.
The award is given to an individual or family living with a speech or hearing loss and serving as a role model to others, according to Crissi Jenkins, the center's instructor of development.
Anthony and his mother, Cindy Cutrone, who also was honored for her son's accomplishments, joined Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams as award winners Tuesday night at the center's 14th annual Great Communicators Dinner at Mr. Anthony's Banquet Center.
The mayor was named the 2006 Great Communicator. Jenkins said recipients for the award are judged on how much they give back to the community and serve as a community voice.
Alfred J. Pasini, center executive director, who presented the awards, said Williams "has strong leadership abilities. ... He is humble, charismatic, honest and has integrity."
Youth's struggle
Anthony's mother said her son was diagnosed with apraxia when he was 18 months old, which made it difficult for him to communicate. Every day is a struggle, and Anthony gets frustrated from time to time, Cutrone said.
"Anthony is someone everyone can look up to, especially if you have a communication disorder," Jenkins said.
The Great Communicators Dinner began as a fund-raising effort but has evolved into an event to recognize great communication, Jenkins said.
Timothy E. Smith, owner of Smith and Co. Jewelers, donated a one-carat round diamond that was raffled-off as part of the event. Vince Bevacqua, WYTV News Channel 33 anchor, served as the master of ceremonies.
The evening's entertainment was provided by The Youngstown Connection, a select singing and dancing group from Youngstown city schools.