Panel interviews candidates

Panel interviews candidates

COLUMBUS

A five-member screening committee of the Ohio House Democratic Caucus interviewed the three candidates vying for the vacant 59th House District seat Wednesday.

The three are: John Boccieri, a former congressman, Ohio representative and senator; former Boardman Trustee Robyn Gallitto, an attorney; and John Landers, a Boardman school-board member. Boccieri is seen as the frontrunner.

The committee is likely to make a recommendation to the party’s leadership shortly, with the full 33-member caucus selecting one of the three as early as Tuesday. The House would then confirm the caucus’ choice as a formality.

The term runs through Dec. 31, 2016. The seat was vacated when Ronald V. Gerberry, an Austintown Democrat, resigned Aug. 21, the same day he was convicted of unlawful compensation of a public official.

Fall open house

CANFIELD

The student-run Flower Shop at the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center, 7300 N. Palmyra Road, will open for its fall open house beginning Friday and running throughout the month of October.

A variety of fall silk floral arrangements and wreaths will be available. Fall mums also are available for sale. The shop will be decorated and open to the public Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. during this time. Extended hours are available upon request.

Shoppers can choose from the selection of pre-made items or purchase materials elsewhere, and the students can create a piece.

For information, call 330-729-4000, ext. 1672 or ext. 1671.

Yes Fest planned

BOARDMAN

Boardman High School will host its third annual “Yes Fest” Friday.

Yes Fest is an event that challenges students not only to say “no” to drugs, but to say “yes” to positive influences.

Featured speakers will be Youngstown State University President Jim Tressel and Judge John M. Durkin of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

Students can earn a Yes Fest T-shirt by bringing in donations that will go to the Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley and the Paw Platoon, an animal-rescue group. Donations can be nonperishable food items, nonperishable dog food or money.

Presidential debate

COLUMBUS

Ohio will host the first of three presidential debates next year, the Commission on Presidential Debates announced Wednesday.

The event is set for Sept. 26, 2016, at Wright State University in Dayton, one of 16 sites across the country and the lone Ohio location that applied for the event.

A second presidential debate is scheduled for Oct. 9, 2016, at Washington University in St. Louis, with a third is set for Oct. 19 at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas.

Special meeting

MINERAL RIDGE

The Weathersfield Township trustees will have a special meeting at 7 a.m. today at the administration building, 1451 Prospect St., to consider adoption of a contract.

Boil alert issued

BROOKFIELD

Trumbull County Sanitary Engineer’s Office says water customers east of Yankee Run Golf Course starting at 7808 Warren-Sharon Road and heading east are advised to boil their water until further notice. Also included are residents of Yankee Run Road, Lincoln and Brookfield avenues.

More Digest on A6