Regional news digest

Blessing of animals Sunday at St. James

BOARDMAN — St. James Episcopal Church, 7640 Glenwood Ave., will have its annual blessing of animals at 4 p.m. Sunday, on the church’s front lawn. The day is known as Rogation Sunday, the sixth Sunday after Easter, which is a traditional time to give thanks for God’s creation. In a time more focused on rural life, Rogation Sunday was a day to bless the fields as the year’s crops were being planted and to bless the farm animals on which the community’s life depended. St. James Church, which celebrates its 200th anniversary this year, retains aspects of this old custom by blessing the animals whose presence enriches our lives.

All animals are welcome. For the safety of all, dogs must be on leashes, cats in carriers, etc. Photos of animals who are unable to travel are also welcome. Treats for people and animals will be served after the blessing.

Gypsy Lane BMV office reopens

YOUNGSTOWN — The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles Deputy Registrar Agency at 667 Gypsy Lane is again open for business.

The location was temporarily closed April 20. The hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday.

Warren woman pleads innocent to cop assault

WARREN — Dana N. Brown, 23, of Southwest Boulevard, pleaded innocent in Warren Municipal Court on Wednesday to assault, a felony, after she was charged with punching a Warren police officer in the eye in a bar parking lot. Brown was among five to 10 women who were fighting in the parking lot of the Powerhouse Bar, 999 Mahoning Ave. N.W., when Sgt. Michael Merritt tried to pull the women apart around 1:45 a.m. Merritt was holding two young women at arm’s length when Brown threw the punch, a police report says.

If convicted, Brown could get up to 18 months in prison. She returns to court at 3 p.m. June 18. A 23-year-old Peace Street Northwest woman also reported she was hit in the eye with a bottle during the fight.

Habitat tool shed opens

STRUTHERS — The Neighborhood Improvement Corps is celebrating the grand opening of its tool shed at the Habitat for Humanity Restore, 480 Youngstown-Poland Road, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday. Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams and Municipal Court Judge Robert Milich will officiate.

The NIC Tool Shed is a lending library of tools and equipment available to assist low-to-moderate income Youngstown residents in improving their homes and neighborhoods. The tool shed offers the use of lawn mowers, power drills, trimmers, saws and other tools. NIC also offers its Paint the Town Program as a resource which individuals and community groups can use to improve their own homes and neighborhoods.