Bridge replacement

Bridge replacement

COLUMBIANA — The Ohio Department of Transportation District 11 will begin work Monday to replace the state Route 14 bridge over Bull Run.

The bridge is located about a half-mile east of state Route 7. Two-way traffic will be maintained with temporary traffic signals.

The lane will be reduced to 11 feet wide. Becky McCarty, an ODOT spokeswoman, said vehicles and loads that are wider require a state permit, at which time drivers are notified of other routes to take to avoid the construction.

ODOT’s contractor for the $554,755 project is Jet Excavating Co. of New Middletown. The completion date is Aug. 30.

Welcome weekend set

YOUNGSTOWN — Eastwood Village Apartments, an affordable housing community sponsored by Humility of Mary Housing and Youngstown Catholic Charities, will host a welcome weekend from 1 to 4 p.m. April 19 and 20.

There will be tours of the parklike property that includes 14 two-story apartment buildings, a furnished model suite, a community room building and playgrounds. Refreshments will be available.

Located on Eastway Drive, just off McGuffey Road, Eastwood Village offers one- and two-bedroom apartments for individuals and families. Section 8 vouchers are accepted. For more information, call (330) 743-0411.

Acquitted in rape trial

YOUNGSTOWN — After five hours of deliberations, a six-man, six-woman jury acquitted a 21-year-old Madison, Ohio, man of two counts of rape.

The jury rendered its verdict Thursday in the case of Blake A. Moskowitz, who was charged with raping a 25-year-old female co-worker Dec. 6, 2006, in the rented North Side house where he lived while he was a Youngstown State University student.

Moskowitz’s trial began Monday before Judge John M. Durkin of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

“Justice was truly served here,” said Moskowitz’s lawyer, John W. Greven of Akron, after the verdicts were read. Greven said his client always had maintained this was a consensual sexual encounter. “That was our defense, and the jury believed it,” Greven said.

Economy Inn reopens after passing inspection

AUSTINTOWN — The Economy Inn, a hotel at state Route 46 and Interstate 80 that closed last week after its power was turned off, reopened Thursday.

Lt. Richard Milliron, inspector for the township fire department, said the department cleared the hotel to resume operations after it brought its fire alarm system back into compliance and got its backup generator working again.

Milliron said Ohio Edison, which said it turned the hotel’s power off April 3 because of nonpayment, restored the power April 4.

That allowed the strip club that is attached to the hotel — the Go Go Girls Cabaret — to resume operations that day.

Milliron said an inspector from the Mahoning County Building Inspection Department and one from the State Fire Marshal’s Office toured the hotel earlier this week.

They were aware that Milliron was planning to allow the building to reopen, “and they seemed fine with that,” Milliron said.

Week of the Young Child

YOUNGSTOWN — The Jewish Community Center, 505 Gypsy Lane, celebrates the Week of the Young Child from from Monday through April 20.

The National Association for the Education of Young Children spearheaded the week to focus on community events that celebrate children and raise awareness of their special needs.

The center has a full week of activities that both promote learning and improve the lives of children.

Call the center at (330) 746-3251 Ext. 187 and speak with Geniene Pernotto, director of marketing, sales and public relations, or visit the center’s Web site, www.jccyoungstown.org for a complete rundown of scheduled activities.