What's your favorite part about living here?

A thousand thank-yous for the great feedback after my “Ode to Yo” column last week where I celebrated the great things about living here.

From personal emails, to Facebook posts, to favorited Tweets, it was fun to watch the column spiral viral.

As fun as it was to write, it was fun to read the responses. I wanted to share some this week:

Steve:

“My wife is from Detroit and she states the same thing you wrote. I work in Pittsburgh and commute from Poland daily, she doesn’t want to move even though my company gave us a great relocation package, for all the reasons you illustrated.

“As a kid raised in Youngstown but have traveled extensively and lived elsewhere, you hit the nail on the head. Too many in our community take the glass-half-empty approach and take what we have for granted in the Valley.”

Phyllis:

“What is the best about this area are the people; good, solid values to raise a family. I do believe the people who speak so negatively are those who have never had the opportunity to visit elsewhere.”

Gary:

“I am a lifelong resident of the area. I grew up in Austintown and have 2 degrees from YSU. Those degrees have served me well and I have enjoyed a successful career. I have simply refused to leave the area as it is a truly wonderful place to live and be a part of. I have made some sacrifices to stay here and have passed up more than one opportunity in my career because it would have required relocation, but I honestly have never regretted it.”

Meg:

“Thank you for the wonderful article about our area. Living through the ebb and flow of the Valley, one can get tainted by the attitude that is often exhibited. I agree wholeheartedly that we are seeing significant growth from the university and other businesses that are willing to set up shop in this town.”

Don:

“You hit a home run. Youngstown, Ohio. A great place to live. Sometimes we want to look at the not-so-good things about our town. Stop and smell the roses. There are more roses than sour apples in our town.”

Joe:

“Like many of us lifers, I preach much the same, and even throw in that we have the best year-around weather (I am sober) because we have zero hurricanes, forest fires, floods, earthquakes, a tornado every 30 years, and will never have a water shortage.”

Vic:

“Your editorial this morning was one of the finest and most encouraging and optimistic I’ve ever read. I had to read it twice. I just hope everyone in this community has the opportunity to read and appreciate the sincerity and consequence of your thoughts. You made me proud. I could go on forever… that’s how excited I am. Thank you, Todd, on behalf of everyone who understands the meaning of ‘quality of life’ and how it relates to our community.”

Rob:

“I just wanted to personally thank you for writing your latest article about the Valley. I have been saying this for years and most recently while on the campaign trail. I love this Valley, it has great amenities, and the cost of living allows most individuals to live and have things they wouldn’t normally have in other cities.

I’m really sensing a change in this area, and I want to keep the ball rolling. Your article is part of that process. Please keep it up and stress to others at the paper and other media outlets that we can “blow our horn!”

Every chance I get to put good news out about the area I do it without hesitation and without apologizing about it.”

Jim:

“I too lived elsewhere, and our area is as great as you describe it. Your article was just terrific and very much needed.”

Joe:

“Outstanding piece. I too feel the Valley is as good a place to live as anywhere. Just adding to your list we can fly from four different airports, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Akron-Canton, and Youngstown. How great is that.”

Joe’s comment above wasn’t the only time someone offered their own favorite part of the Valley. Some others:

The weather. I didn’t hear you brag about the weather. (Seriously — someone offered that. But I agree with them.)

Some of the best Italian food.

Low cost of living.

So with that, I ask more of you:

What are some of your favorite things about the Valley that you boast of when you describe this place to others? Email me, please!

Todd Franko is editor of The Vindicator. He likes emails about stories and our newspaper. Email him at tfranko@vindy.com. He blogs, too, on vindy.com. Tweet him, too, at @tfranko.