METRO DIGEST || Volleyball Rust Belt Challenge

Rust Belt Challenge

YOUNGSTOWN

Linda Macala, director of the Mahoning County Convention and Visitors’ Bureau, told county commissioners Thursday the Sirenia Beach Volleyball Club LLC of Holmes Beach, Fla., will bring at least 65 teams here for an April youth tournament in Youngstown State University’s Watson-Tressel Training Site, titled the 2017 Rust Belt Challenge.

The commissioners reappointed three people to a second two-year term on the visitors’ bureau board: Sarah Lown, public finance manager for the Western Reserve Port Authority; Lori Factor, community engagement director for Youngstown State University’s College of Creative Arts and Communication; and Lynne Biery, Sebring Mansion Inn and Spa owner and innkeeper.

Naturalized citizens

YOUNGSTOWN

These people became U.S. citizens in a Thursday naturalization ceremony before Judge Anthony M. D’Apolito of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. Their names, countries of origin, and hometowns are: Thamer Minwer Abu Alganam, Jordan, Boardman; Ghadeer Mohammed Hussein Al Qtaishat, Jordan, Poland; Afzal Bibi, Pakistan, Struthers; Maria Del Rosario Chaidez De Blount, Mexico, Boardman; Ismael Jamil Mohamed, Syria, Boardman; Fe Fernandez McIntosh, Philippines, Youngstown; and Emel Tung, Pakistan, Buffalo, N.Y.

ODOT to trim trees

LOWELLVILLE

Ohio Department of Transportation crews will be trimming trees, weather permitting, in the village all week beginning Monday for two weeks.

During the two-week trimming, state Route 289 from Lowellville High School east to Hubbard Road will be closed from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The village street department will be participating in the cleanup, weather permitting. The east end of Route 289 also may be included in the trimming, time permitting, village officials said.

Tressel to host meetings

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown State University President Jim Tressel will host a series of “Town Hall” meetings to allow faculty and staff in each college to discuss concerns and ask questions. The meetings are as follows: Graduate Studies, 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Coffelt Hall; College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, 2:30 p.m. Feb. 8, DeBartolo Hall Room 132; STEM, 8:30 a.m. Feb. 21, location to be determined, College of Creative Arts, and Communications, 9 a.m. Feb. 22, Spotlight Theater; Williamson College of Business Administration, 4 p.m. Feb. 23, Williamson Room 3423; and locations to be determined for Bitonte Health and Human Services, 9 a.m. March 17; and Beeghly College of Education, 9 a.m. April 14.

Brown Bag Lunch Series

YOUNGSTOWN

Martin Abraham, Youngstown State University provost, invites faculty and staff to a Brown Bag Lunch Series to ask questions and share concerns. Coffee and punch will be provided.

The lunches will take place at noon Monday, March 2 and April 25 in the Ohio Room in Kilcawley Center; and noon March 29 in the Board of Trustees Meeting Room in Tod Hall.

Mock trial team event

STRUTHERS

The Struthers High School Mock Trial team will advance to regional competition in Akron next month due to the team’s success at a district-level competition.

Last year, the Struthers team made it to state-level competition in Columbus.