The deadline to reserve tickets is Friday

Staff report

AUSTINTOWN

Friday is the deadline to reserve tickets for the United Veterans Council of Greater Youngstown’s annual Recognition and Awards Banquet on March 24 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Center, 4500 Norquest Blvd.

The general public is invited to attend, but no tickets will be sold at the door. For ticket information, call Rod Hosler at 330-788-3270. The social gathering is at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 6:30. The keynote speaker is Air Force Reserve Lt. Col. John Boccieri, Democrat 59th District state representative and a pilot with the 910th Airlift Wing.

The highlight of the banquet is recognition of the 2016 veteran, citizen and youth of the year for their patriotic and civic contributions to the community.

The honorees are: Ken Jakubec, Veteran of the Year, who graduated in 1964 from Austintown Fitch High School and served in the Marine Corps from 1964-68; Rosemary Antonucci, Citizen of the Year, a licensed social work consultant who worked at several health care facilities and was manager of Volunteer Services for Hospice of the Valley; and Jeffrey Vrabel Jr., Youth of the Year, a member of the Sons of American Legion Mahoning Valley Squadron 15, a 2016 American Legion Buckeye Boys State delegate and a member of the Mahoning and Columbiana County Young Republicans who also was chairman of Mahoning County Students for Trump.