43
Group seeks to beautify Liberty
The Vindicator (Youngstown)
Photo
Autumn weather may call for sweaters and coats but plans for spring planting are on the minds Liberty in Bloom supporters. They promote recycling as a way to fund the planting project. From left are Liberty Township Trustee Jodi Stoyak, Carol Cupan, Janet Yaniglos and Bessie Anderson.
Photo
Liberty Township Trustee Jodi Stoyak
By LINDA M. LINONIS
LIBERTY
Liberty in Bloom grew out of a “can-do” attitude about beautifying the township.
Recycling helps to fund the grass-roots effort.
The nonprofit volunteer organization follows the mantra of gardeners to reuse and recycle. A trailer at the township administration building parking lot, 1315 Churchill-Hubbard Road, is where community residents deposit aluminum cans.
Jodi Stoyak, township trustee, said the most recent recycling June 28 of 572 pounds at 45 cents per pound resulted in $257.40 for the Liberty in Bloom fund. Stoyak said the recycling is done through Niles Iron and Metal.
Stoyak said recycling takes place about twice a year when the trailer gets full. The $1,800 trailer was donated by Mahoning Lodge of B’nai B’rith. She said between 400 and 600 pounds of cans are collected. What that is worth depends on the going rate for aluminum, which fluctuates.
Stoyak also credited Walmart with contributing discarded cans to the effort. This year the retailer also gave Liberty in Bloom a $1,000 grant.
The planting project is sustained through the recycling and other funds. Stoyak said the organization also has received $500 from the Trumbull 100 organization. Community residents and Liberty Township Historical Society also have made monetary contributions.
Stoyak was a private citizen when she, along with Bessie Anderson, a master gardener, and June Smallwood, parks and special projects coordinator in the township, started Liberty in Bloom in 2001. Stoyak became a trustee in 2004.
The group’s first project was beautifying the school complex on Shady Road. Donations of trees and mulch set the tone for the organization that had some 50 volunteers. Stoyak said graffiti on the pillars beneath the bridge was cleaned up and replaced with paw prints, signifying the leopard mascot of Liberty sports.
Liberty in Bloom now has a core of about 30 volunteers, many of whom have green thumbs.
Anderson remains involved in the effort along with other gardeners, Carol Cupan, Marge Lardas, Laura Williams and Janet Yaniglos, who design the plantings.
The project plants annual flowers and perennials at the “Welcome to Liberty” signs. They are located on state Route 304 from Hubbard and Weathersfield, on Route 304 from Girard, on Fifth Avenue from Youngstown, Belmont Avenue from Vienna, Warner Road and Logan Way. Stoyak said plans are in the works for two more signs at state
Route 711 and Gypsy Lane and Tibbetts Wick and state Route 11. Liberty Business Association contributed toward the signs.
This year, the cost for planting was $1,500, all funded through recycling and donations.
The project, Stoyak noted, didn’t cost Liberty anything, but it reaps the benefit of positive comments made about the township’s appearance. She said Liberty in Bloom shows that the community cares and is a way to welcome people and businesses.