Youngstown students show talent

Youngstown students show talent

The students attending Youngstown Chaney and East High School were part of an art show at the Art Outreach Gallery at the Eastwood Mall recently. Under the guidance of Ms. Cortez, Mrs. Rosati and Ms. Santisi the students showed just how much talent they have. These students should be very proud of their work.

Chaney and East are magnet high schools. This allows students to take classes that develop talent and get a head start on career choices. All the necessary classes to graduate must be taken.

There are two more shows that will be held at Chaney this school year. May 9th will feature dance and orchestra. May 24th is the production of the musical “Fame.” If you attend, I believe you will be pleasantly surprised.

Cathy Desimone, Poland

Trumbull has chance to do better

I read your article about the need to consolidate Mahoning County’s courts and I was taken aback by the idea that this has been kicking around for three decades. This should be a cautionary tale for your Trumbull County readers about wasting opportunities.

A similar proposal has been made to consolidate Trumbull County’s Eastern and Central District courts, which has been well received by the local bar, local law enforcement agencies and the Ohio Supreme Court.

Like Mahoning County, Trumbull County is one of only a few counties in this state which has full-time municipal courts and part-time county courts. Unlike Mahoning County, one of Trumbull County’s two part-time judges will be leaving that position at the end of this year. This should make consolidation of these courts much more likely, as no judge would have to be removed.

Unfortunately, the Trumbull County commissioners can’t seem to decide if they support consolidation, despite its overwhelming financial advantages. Consolidation of these courts would save Trumbull County $1 million in the next five to seven years.

The Trumbull County Commissioners have been quoted in The Vindicator and other papers as saying that consolidation “would make sense financially.” But, they have done nothing to move the proposal forward. It seems the commissioners are stalling, hoping to kill the idea by inaction without admitting it.

The Trumbull County Bar Association supported the proposal by a margin of 4-to-1. A majority of the local law enforcement agencies (like mine) also support it. On March 1, after the Ohio Supreme Court informed the commissioners that it too supports consolidation, the commissioners claimed that they now need to have public hearings to decide what they should think.

What more do the commissioners want?

Lynn Manes, Hartford

The writer is Hartford Township police chief.

One-party rule still hurts Valley

I lived and practiced law in Mahoning County for approximately 38 years before retiring to Ft. Myers, Fla. I get the written news from The Vindicator received from friends. Reading about the “same old, same old,” is enough to make me sick.

It is too bad that 95 percent of the Valley citizens don’t know that there is another political party in existence other than the Democratic Party. I was city prosecutor for seven years under Jack Hunter, a Republican, who became mayor, perhaps, by default. Probably the best, most honest mayor that Youngstown ever had.

I remember encouraging a young police officer to persevere and stay in law school when he was put on probation after his first semester. Paul took my advice and now he is the unopposed — albeit somewhat autocratic — county prosecutor.

All the lawyers, including me, who did DWI defense work knew Jim Philomena’s policy about his order that his assistant county prosecutors in the county courts had to comply with regarding DWIs. That is, they had no authority; everything had to go through Jim. Some lawyers, including me, would not play that game. But some lawyers even incorporated Philomena’s $500 “surcharge” into their fees.

If you were not a Democrat, doors were closed to you. Try to get an adjunct position at Youngstown State University or an opportunity to speak to General Motors employees. When I was a candidate for common pleas judge I was precluded by the head of the union because I was a Republican candidate.

Edward Sowinski Jr., Fort Myers

One woman did a lot for animals

I would like to recognize the end of great community agency, Community Helping Animals In Need (C.H.A.I.N). After 18 years its president, Sheryl Goodrich of Poland, has retired from community service.

To her credit, the organization operated for 18 years working in and with the community to provided spay/neuter services to residents who were unable to afford full cost services. The organization worked with numerous veterinarians and partnering agencies to provide low or no cost spay/neuter services.

Through the leadership and dedication of Ms. Goodrich, the organization has provided spaying and neutering for more than 12,000 animals in our community. Ms. Goodrich is working with other community agencies to take over the services C.H.A.I.N has provided. The Valley has been lucky to have Ms. Goodrich’s service and dedication for the last 18 years.

Mary Louk, Youngstown

Longer to fix than build

Just a question. Has the Belmont Avenue-I-80 project been going on for nearly three years? I believe it has, with no end in sight. I was there in the ’60s and I don’t recall it taking much longer than that to build that entire stretch of highway.

The curb lanes of Belmont Avenue in both directions being closed cause extreme traffic jams, especially at peak hours. I pass through there four times a day on business, and I would be curious to know collectively how much time and fuel have been wasted by the people caught in this mess.

Maybe this is just the way things are done in the Mahoning Valley.

Fred Roth, Hubbard

In praise of good care

I was recently hospitalized at the St. Elizabeth Hospital in Boardman for one week.

I cannot say enough about the quality of care and the compassion shown to me by everyone who came in contact with me while there, from doctors, nurses and all the support staff. There was not one person who did not stop in the doorway upon leaving my room without asking if there was yet one more thing they could do to enhance my stay.

These wonderful people will always have a special place in my heart.

Debra Frost, North Jackson

Look past differences

In our time here on earth, during which we are to enjoy, love and laugh, we also need to truly look at people as people. We need to look within each of our hearts and ask our Heavenly Father to help us see people the world over as fellow human beings.

Don’t let their strange languages, strange customs, strange dress, diet or beliefs keep us from seeing them as a real person. They hurt like we hurt and laugh like we laugh. They have dreams and plans, hopes and ambitions, just as we do. And they need love, just as we do. Their friends and loved ones mean as much to them as ours do to us.

On this day and always, let the love of our Lord make our bond with all people deeper and more real.

Willie James Richards, Youngstown