Austintown Rotary features guest speakers

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Carlton A. Sears, director of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County

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Moore

AUSTINTOWN — Two speakers recently enlightened members of the Austintown Rotary Club at their past two meetings, on June 8 and 15.

The June 8 meeting of the club was at the Austintown Branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County.

Carlton Sears, executive director of the library system, presented a power point show about the system, which was founded 130 years ago with fewer than 800 books.

He noted that more than a million people visited the library last year, and that though population is declining, library usage is increasing as more use job search and self improvement sources.

The library has more than a million newspaper, magazine, book, DVD and computer files available and has links to more than 10 million books and files through Search Ohio.

Sears said funding has been cut the past year, causing the library system to adjust hours and collections to end the year debt free.

At the June 15 meeting, Matt Moore of 1st Metropolitan Mortgage answered questions about reverse mortgages. He said they are unique loans that enable senior home owners to convert part of the equity in their homes into tax-tree income without having to sell the home, give up title or take on a new monthly payment. Under a reverse mortgage, the lender makes payments to the homeowner.

Homeowners must meet with a counselor before a reverse mortgage is processed. A list of approved counseling agencies is posted online by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or an appointment with an AARP-approved telephone counselor can be made at (800) 209-8085. The counseler’s job is to educate the homeowner and assist in determining what best fits his needs.