Men to address violence

Men to address violence

YOUNGSTOWN — “A Call to Men” community workshop is planned from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Arlington Heights Recreation Center, 801 Park Ave. Speaker will be Tony Porter, a national advocate, community organizer and co-founder of A Call to Men, a national men’s organization addressing men’s violence against women and the eradication of sexism. It maintains strong coalitions with women’s organizations. Also participating will be Youngstown Detective Sgt. Dave Lomax, a local Call to Men leader who works with Sojourner House.

5 beat, rob Masury man

SHARON, Pa. — A Masury man was beaten and robbed, city police reported.

The man, 19, told police he was walking in the 600 block of South Irvine Avenue at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday when a car pulled beside him.

Five men got out of the car and demanded money, he said.

He told them he didn’t have any. They punched him and knocked him to the ground, police said. The men stole his cell phone and debit card, police said.

Bruce Street blaze

YOUNGSTOWN — A fire destroyed a vacant East Side house Thursday evening.

City firefighters responded to a call at 7:40 p.m. to 138 South Bruce St., where a two-story house was engulfed in flames. Responders battled the blaze for more than an hour, but it was deemed a total loss by the fire department. The cause of the fire is undetermined and under investigation, but it is thought to be intentional. The fire started on the front porch area of the structure and spread into the attic.

One firefighter injured his elbow but was treated at the scene. The injury was not serious.

Food/shelter funds

Money from the federal economic stimulus package is coming to the Mahoning Valley to provide emergency food and shelter to the homeless, those who are hungry and/or people experiencing major economic troubles. Mahoning County will receive $96,838; Trumbull County, $91,918; and Columbiana County, $43,562.

The funds can be used for a variety of services, including mass shelter, mass feeding, food distribution through food pantries and food banks, one-month assistance with rent, mortgage and utility payments to prevent evictions, and transition assistance from shelters to stable living conditions.

The program aims to allocate funds to the neediest areas, ensure fast response and local decision-making, foster public-private sector partnership and maintain minimal but accountable reporting.

The money will be distributed through a national board of representatives of the American Red Cross; Catholic Charities, USA; United Jewish Communities; The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.; Salvation Army; and United Way of America.

New-waterline test

LEETONIA — The Leetonia Water Department will be flushing and testing the new library waterline at about 10 a.m. Tuesday. The flushing and testing will take about one hour. Water customers may experience discolored water for a couple of days due to the extra water flow required to do the testing. Customers should use caution when using water where staining might occur.