Tuesday, April 25, 2017
By Justin Wier
AUSTINTOWN
After recent reports of vandalism at Austintown’s 9/11 Memorial Park, the community has stepped in to lend support.
The support has not been limited to the boundaries of the township. Guardian Protection Services, which has an office in Youngstown, presented security cameras and the Vienna Fire Department presented a $750 check at Monday’s Austintown Township board of trustees meeting.
“There’s not a better cause I could think of,” said Kevin Santelli, general manager of Guardian Protection Services in Youngstown.
The chapel at the 9/11 Memorial Park at 1051 S. Raccoon Road has been repeatedly targeted over the last 10 months.
Pat Connolly, chairman of the Austintown Beautification Committee, said the door has been broken, and there was evidence that suspects were using candles in the chapel to cook crack and heroin.
Guardian provided two security cameras, one for outside the chapel and another for inside. A DVR system will capture images of anyone who enters the chapel.
“We’re very happy to do it,” Santelli said. “The community has been very supportive of us, and we want to be part of the community.”
Vienna Fire Chief Richard Brannon was also on hand at Monday’s meeting to present Connolly with a $750 check from his department.
“Our association thought we needed to jump in there and help them out,” Brannon said.
In exchange for the generosity, Connolly said he would provide the chief with dirt from the Flight 93 crash site in Shanksville, Pa., for Vienna’s memorial.
Brannon said Austintown, Vienna and Bazetta townships all have 9/11 memorials that include wreckage from the World Trade Center.
In addition, Trustee Jim Davis said Shawn Hannon, owner of Barry Dyngles, donated to the memorial as well. Last Wednesday, the restaurant donated the proceeds from a 50/50 raffle at Barry Dyngles to the 9/11 Memorial Park. The raffle raised $284.
“Shawn [didn’t] think that was enough money,” Davis said. “He [wanted] to make it an even $2,500.”
To that end, he donated an additional $2,216 to the 9/11 Memorial Park.
“The outpouring of support we’ve received has been overwhelming,” Davis said.
Connolly said Davis went to bat for the 9/11 Memorial Park after Connolly closed the chapel in response to the vandalism. His action also attracted media attention.
“This means a lot to us,” he said. “If I knew what was going to happen, I would’ve closed that chapel ages ago.”
For others wishing to donate, a mailbox in the parking lot has forms for people to purchase memorial bricks, and the Austintown Home Savings Bank will accept donations to the Austintown Beautification Committee.