Boccieri backs HB 226

Boccieri backs HB 226

COLUMBUS

State Rep. John Boccieri of Poland, D-59th, on Wednesday joined a majority of members of the Ohio House in voting for House Bill 226, which would legalize the sale and use of consumer fireworks starting in 2020.

The bill also establishes a legislative study committee tasked with making recommendations on storage, licensing and manufacturing facilities by the end of 2019, in time for the legalization to take effect.

“By making fireworks legal, we are allowing the Legislature to establish best practices for their use to ensure that we prioritize safety and minimize accidents,” Boccieri said.

Forty-four other states already allow for the purchase and use of fireworks, including states adjacent to Ohio, except Pennsylvania.

HB 226 also makes setting off a firework while intoxicated illegal, and requires private property owners to grant permission for fireworks to be used on their property.

Official discusses fair housing rules

STRUTHERS

Anna DeAscentis, chairwoman of special projects for the Mahoning County commissioners, attended the city council meeting Wednesday night to discuss fair housing and anti-discrimination rules with the audience.

The federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 – part of the Civil Rights Act – prohibits landlords from discriminating against potential renters based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, familial status, disability, handicap or sex.

DeAscentis said if those seeking housing feel they’ve been discriminated against, they should keep note of the situation in question and, ideally, have a witness to testify the discrimination happened. Complaints can be directed to the Mahoning County Fair Housing Office.

Coffee and conversation

YOUNGSTOWN

Councilwoman Anita Davis, D-6th, invites the public to sit down and share what is going on in their neighborhoods during a Coffee and Conversation at 10 a.m. Saturday at Flambeau’s Dinner Club, 2308 Market St., at the corner of St. Louis Avenue.

Davis will provide complimentary coffee and doughnuts as she provides an overview of major happenings in the city and answers questions. The topic will be the upcoming 2018 city budget.

Leetonia brush pickup

LEETONIA

The village starts its 2017 fall brush pickup Monday, which continues through Oct. 27.

Residents are asked to stack all cut brush only in the curb lawn area, and not on sidewalks, in ditches or on the street. Brush must be stacked all in the same direction.

The village will not haul away entire trees that are cut down from private property; trimmings only. Do not mix leaves and other debris in the brush piles or the village will not pick them up.

The village’s annual leaf pickup begins the week of Oct. 30.

Seminar on coyotes

BOARDMAN

Boardman Park, 375 Boardman Poland Road, will host a seminar about the lives of coyotes from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday in the Stambaugh Room at the Lariccia Family Community Center.

To reserve a seat, call the park at 330-726-8105. For information on coyotes and other native wildlife, visit www.wild-ohio.gov.