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55th annual Turtle Derby fundraiser in Lowellville
By Sean Barron
LOWELLVILLE
Turtle Derby
Video
The 55thannual Turtle Derby sponsored by the Youngstown Lions club was held in Lowellville today.
If you combined names such as “Leaking Faucet,” “Mindless Mayhem,” “Out of Time,” “Kiss Me Goodbye” and “Off to Work,” it might sound like a recipe for and the inevitable results of trying desperately to get out of addressing a vital home repair.
In reality, though, no such dramatic narrative lies behind the seemingly arbitrary combination of phrases. Instead, they are the names of five turtles.
“We’ve helped out a lot of kids over the years,” said Adam Costello, past president of the Youngstown Lions Club, referring to the organization’s charitable events.
The club chalked up another such effort, because it hosted Monday’s 55th annual Turtle Derby fundraiser near a gazebo on East Water Street.
The fun-filled, family-friendly races generate between $25,000 and $30,000 yearly, money that assists the Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley, Beatitude House, the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley and other local agencies, explained Costello, derby chairman.
Funds also go toward the Lion Club’s annual Christmas party, which gives inner-city children with various challenges an opportunity to select their own gifts while providing added holiday cheer for them, he continued.
Costello also noted that the event is the organization’s only annual fundraiser.
The derby featured 10 races in which the turtles, with names such as “Tookie,” “Filly Hellacious” and “The Beast,” were placed in narrow, 15-foot lanes separated by plastic partitions on two long tables. Many youngsters who attended the annual Cruising on the River car show on and near East Water Street also found themselves cheering on the sluggish animals.
The Turtle Derby was in conjunction with and during the same time as the popular car show, which also generated additional interest and brought in more people of all ages to the derby, Costello continued.
Among them were Christopher Solvesky, 6, and his 8-year-old sister, Audrey, of Boardman, each of whom was pleasantly surprised to take home a turtle after the races.
“Our grandpa has a pond and I’m going to put him in it,” said Audrey, who was contemplating naming her new family member “Speedy.”
“I think I’m going to name it “Speedy,” Christopher added before changing his mind and coming up with another name for his pet.
Both children came to the car show and Turtle Derby with their mother, Kate Solvesky, who said this was the first time the family had attended the derby.
Acting as announcer for each turtle race was Parker McHenry, a longtime Lions Club member who has been part of the derby for about 40 years.
“We usually net about $25,000 [annually] for charities in the area,” he said proudly.
McHenry also took enjoyment from seeing the number of children who found themselves caught up in the revelry and friendly competition.
“I love it,” he said. “They’re jumping around and want to win,” he said of the youngsters, many of whom stood at the starting points and cheered.