Goodwill Industries thanks all who contribute throughout year

Goodwill Industries thanks all who contribute throughout year

Goodwill Industries had humble beginnings in downtown Youngstown. In 1893 Goodwill served immigrants coming into our area for work.

For over 120 years, Goodwill has helped countless individuals overcome obstacles to achieve success.

Today, Goodwill employs nearly 200 people in our five-county territory. We provide vocational services, employment, Radio Reading service, vision screening and other social services to thousands of people each year.

The general support of our community in the form of clothing, household goods, furniture and cash has allowed us to operate eight retail stores that provide the funds necessary to meet our mission. Shoppers have continued to use our stores to meet their needs.

Businesses use our janitorial services, purchase our wiping cloths and offer their support in many ways.

During this holiday season I would like to offer my thanks to our generous community for their giving.

On behalf of our board, staff, employees and those we serve, I wish you a safe and happy holiday!

Michael W. McBride Executive Director, Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries, Inc.

Leader of Trumbull Democrats thanks supporters for victories

I want to take this opportu- nity to thank our Trumbull County Democratic voters for their continued support for our party’s community leadership. While Democrats in Mahoning County, Ashtabula and other areas throughout Ohio suffered major defeats in this month’s elections, our party remained one of the strongest and most viable in America.

And one of the reasons for this strength is that we truly seek to represent all of our county’s families, whether Republican, Independent, Democrat or otherwise.

We are Democrats to the core; however, our doors continue and will always be open to every person and every family in Trumbull County. Once in office, our service, our sensitivities and commitment belong to every individual and family not just favored Democrats as it is in many other counties.

And there was another significant victory for our party and Trumbull County families.

We all owe a debt of thanks to the thousands who supported our fight against the chairmen of the Ohio Democratic Party and the Mahoning County Democratic Party when they demanded our precinct committee men and women surrender their right to a secret ballot. We won this battle thanks to incredible public support, nearly unanimous precinct leadership support, our legal team, Goodman and Blair, our community relations consultants, Rubenstein Associates. as well as balanced reporting particularly by The Vindicator and other media. We fought the good fight and the right fight, and we’ll continue to access the right to a secret ballot. Our mission is simple: Trumbull County families first, party second!

Daniel Polivka, Warren

Polivka is chairman of the Trumbull County Democratic Party.

Mother sends thanks to 1,000 who supported benefit for son

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! I can never say those words enough to express my appreciation to everyone who worked so hard to make my son Robert Truslow’s cancer/liver transplant benefit a tremendous success.

On Nov. 2, about 1,000 people came for a spaghetti dinner at St. Maron’s Church hall. Food was cooked by the men of the church, and it was absolutely delicious. Everyone says they had never seen such a crowd and felt such positive attitudes in their life, and everyone was smiling. There were no frowns anywhere!

People complain about Youngstown and say such negative things but personally, I think everyone is wonderful. Rob’s wife, Justine, angel that she is, teaches in Campbell City Schools, and Rob is technology director there, but he is now on permanent disability. The outpouring from that school system was unbelievable.

My church, Wickliffe Presbyterian in Austintown, came out in droves and gave so much. I could go on forever about the businesses and individuals that gave, gave, gave. We had 215 prizes to raffle in the Chinese auction and sold many raffle tickets. This was mind blowing. I can’t begin to name all the people who gave of their time, labor, gifts, money, etc., but I have to thank Jackie Giuriceo and husband Jake for spearheading this benefit.

What a tremendous job they did, especially Jackie, organizing and planning this. We felt the love of so many people, and it humbles me that so many people care so much and want to help. It makes me want to hug the world and pay it forward.

It made Rob, Justine and their two little girls so happy. Let’s pray for a liver transplant to come very, very soon. God bless you all.

Nancy Truslow, Youngstown

Volunteer firefighters in Poland thank community for levy passage

On behalf of firefighters and the administration and board of trustees of the Western Reserve Joint Fire District, we would like to thank all residents of Poland Township and village who supported the .80-mill renewal levy on the ballot Nov. 4 — especially in these difficult economic times.

We will continue to do everything we can to reaffirm your trust in our department. Past support and our efforts resulted in an improvement in the community’s insurance rating, saving all business and residential property owners money on their insurance premiums.

With the passage of the levy, the district will continue to deliver excellent emergency medical and fire service to our residents; and the district’s board of trustees will continue to require fiscal responsibility to assure that all Poland residents receive the most for their tax dollars.

Again, Poland’s volunteer firefighters thank you for your support and look forward to serving you as we have for the past 91 years.

David C. Comstock Jr., Poland

Comstock is chief of the Western Reserve Joint Fire District.

Looking for an angel? You’re sure to find one at St. Elizabeth Hospital

St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital has a secret. They found all the living angels on this Earth, and employed them here. From the ER department to the eighth floor, there is an angel. The surgeons, doctors, nurses/aides, dietary and housekeeping all have a positive vibrant personality, even on the 12th hour of work.

I cannot forget one particular surgeon because of his smile. He was deemed “Smiley” by another surgeon and the room was filled with laughter. I have never in my life been so happy, but in so much pain.

Each employee was compassionate; they made my roommate and I feel like queens. We did not need to wait for help, it was readily available. At one point my roommate stated, “we must be the only two patients on this floor.” There was humor in the air. This type of atmosphere definitely speeds up the process of healing.

I am more than impressed with their knowledge and thorough examinations before operating. The doctors are specialists, and it would be no surprise to be visited by a team of them surrounding your bed.

The RNs/LPNs were doing vitals often. They would inform us of our progress and answered a lot of questions. The medical assistants were just truly amazing.

Keep up the excellent work, all of you from St. Elizabeth’s. It may be your job, but you touch lives like no others can.

Terese Mohn, Girard