METRO DIGEST

Public forum at YSU to focus on Mideast

YOUNGSTOWN — A free public forum on the Apartheid Wall in Palestine, considered in light of the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, will be at 7 tonight in Room 2068 of Youngstown State’s University’s Kilcawley Center.

The forum will feature a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Gabriel Palmer Fernandez of YSU’s philosophy and religious studies department.

Panelists will include the Rev. Dr. Werner Lange of Edinboro University of Pennsylvania; the Rev. James Ray, former YSU campus minister; Ray Nakley of the Coalition for Peace in the Middle East; and Courtney Day Nasser, an actress and activist who has recently returned from the Palestinian territories, where she was doing human-rights work.

Nasser, originally from Hermitage, now lives in Pittsburgh, where she has often interpreted and performed the one-woman play “My Name is Rachel Corrie.”

Free wedding gowns for military brides

WARREN — Evaline’s Bridal, 211 East Market St., again has been chosen to participate in the Brides Across America charity designed to provide free wedding gowns to military brides.

Evaline’s will be one of two stores in Ohio giving away designer gowns from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday. The other is in Cincinnati. There is no Pennsylvania location.

It is the third year for the event, which is for soldiers on active duty in the military or brides of a soldier on active duty in either Iraq or Afghanistan.

All brides must show identification, copy of deployment papers, orders or other qualifying proof. Brides do not have to reside in the area where the giveaway is taking place.

Call (330) 392-6569 or visit www.bridesacrossamerica.com.

Warren leaves pickup

WARREN — The city’s Environmental Services Department will pick up leaves now through Nov. 27 according to the following schedule: northwest, Mondays; northeast, Tuesdays; southeast, Wednesdays; and southwest, Fridays.

Leaves should be placed at the curb in paper yard-waste bags, not closed using tape or twist ties. No plastic bags should be used, and no garbage should be included in the bags, which should be left out the previous night.

Residents also may bring leaves to the Environmental Services Department on South Park Avenue from 5:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. through the end of the year.