Hundreds of volunteers made the Day of Caring a rousing, singular success

Hundreds of volunteers made the Day of Caring a rousing, singular success

Our mission at the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley is to be the catalyst and driving force for collaborative, sustainable community impact. On Sept. 4, I believe we fulfilled our mission at our 18th Annual Day of Caring. We want to sincerely thank the hundreds of people who helped make it all possible.

When we first started planning the volunteer event, we were worried because it fell on Labor Day weekend. But that did not stop the nearly 700 volunteers from coming out in full force to make a positive impact in our community.

Our staff spent months planning for this day. We worked closely with the city of Youngstown, Green Youngstown, the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp., the American Red Cross, and Lowe’s. We got great support from two title sponsors: Huntington Bank and Hometown Pharmacy.

But what really makes this day special is seeing the men, women, students and children from 54 companies, organizations, nonprofits and unions come together to serve their neighbors in need.

More than 400 people went to the Cottage Grove neighborhood on Youngstown’s South Side. They cleaned and boarded up 75 abandoned homes.

Even though dirt and sweat covered the volunteers orange Day of Caring T-shirts, they still beamed with pride as they looked up and down the streets that they helped transform. The smiles and feelings of accomplishment could be seen on the faces of a few hundred more volunteers who went to 16 of our partner agencies.

The United Way of Youngs-town and the Mahoning Valley cannot do this work alone. We have a small staff with big hearts, but we also have hundreds of people who believe in what we are trying to accomplish.

Bob Hannon, Youngstown

Bob Hannon is president of the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley.

Black Lives Matter group sets back race relations

For several years, I have heard a large number of my fellow citizens complain that the moderate peace- loving “good” Muslims don’t speak out against the terrorist radicals. I tend to agree with that, but I haven’t heard the same thing said about the vile “Black Lives Matter” group.

The only blacks who condemn them is a handful of conservative blacks usually called “Uncle Toms”. Where are the black leaders and clergy who are mostly silent?

If this movement continues, I expect race relations to be set back 100 years.

Robert Husted, New Middletown

Unregulated injection wells disrupt lives of many in area

Consider this: A young mother has been walking and rocking and caring for her newborn baby who has had colic for more than 18 hours. The mother is thoroughly exhausted from her efforts to soothe her child. Finally, the child falls into a much needed sleep. The mother lays the child in its bassinet finally relieved.

As she is about to leave the room, the house shudders and a large roar from an out-of-state brine truck, using its engine brake illegally to slow itself, turns into a road in a residential neighborhood. The truck is delivering its cargo to an adjacent injection-well operation site. The baby that the mother had finally gotten to sleep woke up with a terrified scream and the mother, still exhausted, began to cry herself.

This is what occurs 24/7 when an injection-well operation site is set up adjacent to a residential neighborhood. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Oil and Gas has failed Ohio residents in allowing injection-well operation sites to be placed anywhere, even in residential neighborhoods. Counties, cities and townships have no say under the law as to where these industrial injection wells may be placed.

Our zoning rules and regulations, which were put in place to protect our citizens, have been overridden by legislators in Columbus. The ODNR has steadfastly followed the directions as written in its law. This is just one example of what is occurring in our community. Children of all ages and adults’ lives are being disrupted by the unregulated hours of the injection wells in or adjacent to residential areas.

Phil Pegg, Vienna

Phil Pegg is a Vienna Township trustee.

Insensitive action kept vet out of Canfield Fair event

During the open ing ceremonies at the 2015 Canfield Fair, an announcement was made that the Color Guard presenting the American flag was made up of all local veterans organizations. That announcement was incorrect. The Marine Corps League Detachment 494 of Youngstown was not permitted to participate in the presentation of our National Colors. Why? Because our member was wearing his dress-blue uniform, which was different than the uniforms of other veterans organizations. This in itself is not unusual. Each veterans organization has its own uniforms.

I question who gave anyone on the Fair Board the authorization to dictate to our veterans what uniforms they are permitted to wear under any conditions, let alone while participating in a Color Guard honoring our American Flag. This decision made by some Fair Board members was inconsiderate, insensitive, and asinine.

Can you imagine the thoughts and the humiliation this Marine Corps veteran felt as he walked to the other end of the fairgrounds to the Veterans tent, while carrying our Marine Corps flag? I guess it was just fine for this Marine to wear our Marine uniforms while defending this same American flag, which incidentally, allows stupid people to make stupid decisions.

Will there be a new banner at the main entrance to the fairgrounds stating: No dogs or Marines in Blues allowed.

Thank you, Fair Board; you have given us Marines “Something to Crow About.”

Semper Fidelis

MSgt. Frank A. Sokol USMC (Ret.) , Youngstown