Demolition requested

Demolition requested

YOUNGSTOWN — A request for emergency demolition for a vacant house at 113 E. Lucius Ave. has been submitted by firefighters who were at the South Side structure Wednesday morning and determined that the fire there had been intentionally set.

The house was engulfed in flames and smoke was coming from a ventilation opening in the roof, reports show. Firefighters reported that it was the fifth fire at the house since September 2004. Damage was set at $2,500.

Hugger seeks record

BOARDMAN — Cancer survivor Jeff Ondash of Canfield is determined to break the Guinness Book world record for most hugs in an hour. His first attempt last month was unsuccessful because of low turnout, but Ondash said he will become the new record holder at the Boardman Relay For Life.

Ondash will be ready for hundreds of hugs at 7:30 p.m. May 16 in the Boardman Center Middle School Stadium. The current record of 765 is held by Jordan Price of Utah. With 2,000 people expected at Boardman’s Relay, Ondash said he could out-hug Price by almost double.

Opening ceremonies and a survivor lap for the Boardman Relay For Life begin at 6 p.m. on Friday the 16th and end with a closing ceremony at 5 p.m. May 17. For more information, call Ondash at (330) 881-0593 or email him at jeffondash@aol.com.

DVD shows school

WARREN — The Warren High School’s Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame board of directors is taking orders for a special DVD featuring a virtual tour of the school, which is going to be demolished.

The DVD was produced by the Warren Student Communication Network and costs $25 each, including shipping. All proceeds will benefit the Alumni Hall of Fame Scholarship Fund. Order forms are available on the city school district’s Web site, www.warrenschools.k12.oh.us. Click on “Alumni Hall of Fame” link found on the home page. Make checks payable to the Alumni Hall of Fame.

Spring plant sale

CANFIELD — The annual spring plant sale by the horticulture program at Mahoning County Career Technical Center, 7300 N. Palmyra Road, now in progress, continues from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. each school day until all items are sold.

Annual bedding plants, geraniums, hanging baskets of fuchsia, ivy geraniums and assorted indoor house plants in pots and hanging baskets will be available as well as nonstop begonias. Herbs such as basil, parsley, cilantro and oregano will be sold in 4-inch pots and four-packs. Tomato plants may be purchased in one-gallon patio-sized containers. Also available this year are Canadian hemlocks and white spruce in one-gallon containers.

Community cleanup

NORTH JACKSON — Residents are being asked to take their spring cleaning outdoors for this year’s community cleanup. On May 17, people will gather, brooms and rakes in hand, to spruce up Mahoning Avenue and state Route 45. Helpers will clean brush, sweep, hedge and edge the landscape between North Jackson Cemetery and Jackson-Milton high school in preparation for the Memorial Day parade May 26. The event is in its 12th year, according to Chuck Booth, cleanup chairman of the Business Association, the event’s annual sponsor. Volunteers are asked to meet at the fire department at 9 a.m.; the cleanup is expected to last until noon.

‘Plant the Bridges Day’

POLAND — Town One Streetscapes of Poland plans a community “Plant the Bridges Day” May 24. Volunteers from the community are needed to help plant 18 flower boxes on the U.S. Route 224 bridge and 10 boxes on the state Route 170 bridge. The group will meet at 9 a.m. at the Yellow Creek Theater, next to the library parking lot.

Flowers and soil will be provided, but individuals are asked to bring trowels and watering cans. Volunteers or groups will also be asked to commit to watering the boxes for periods of a week or longer during the growing season. “We want to be ready for the Memorial Day Parade,” said Barb Delisio, Streetscapes’ landscaping chairwoman. Those interested may call (330) 707-1866 to sign up in advance or show up May 24.