Vindicator has been more than just a newspaper

Vindicator has been more than just a newspaper

There can be no doubt the 150 years The Vindicator has been in business proves they have “passed the test of time.”

When The Vindicator announced their closing, the shock, sadness and feeling of being emotionally crippled set in. How could such a great, important and much needed business close?

I have and will always believe The Vindicator could have challenged any newspaper for greatness in our country.

As a lifelong writer going to Holy Trinity grade school in Struthers, the nuns would write on my English paper, “Mary Lou, you should go into the field of journalism sometime. God gave you a gift, don’t waste it.” And they would tell me “Good writing is born in the soul, embraced by the heart, and added to paper.”

That’s what The Vindicator had. I’ve heard it said when something moves a person to tears, the soul, the heart, and the mind are hurt and bruised. As I reach for a tissue, I’m looking at the suitcase full of letters that were put there, published in The Vindicator. With a heart breaking, I thank you for more things than I can write. You were more than a newspaper. You were a teacher, a friend, and an informer to make us think. Since it’s too hard to say good-bye, I loved you and “Thanks for the memory.”

Mary Lou Jurina, Youngstown

Private, public sources should help save paper

I was shocked and deeply saddened to hear The Vindicator is closing down. I enjoy the paper seven days a week. I like to read the paper with my morning coffee. This reminds me of Idora Park.

Where are the rich people of this area, notably the DeBartolo and Cafaro families and others? The city should try to subsidize the newspaper. Also the state should help.

I realize in this modern world where they call stores brick and mortar, Jeff Bezos wants to own the world.

My sister recently ended her subscription because of its obvious liberal views. To the liberal Democrats who now want to be called progressives, just remember. Progress is not always better. Like power windows in my car, they don’t work in the winter.

Maybe the paper is paying the price for having way more liberal national writers than conservatives, its very liberal editorial section and columnist Bertram de Souza’s classless criticism of Jim Traficant right after he died.

Traficant brought minor league baseball and the Covelli Centre here. Tim Ryan brought nothing but his liberal agenda and whining.

Mike Cholensky, Youngstown

Vindicator provided much needed scrutiny of officials

As an elected offi- cial for 16 years, it is extremely upsetting that The Vindicator is closing its publication.

For the past 16 years, I have known many different and excellent reporters who have served to provide accurate reporting for Liberty Township. The Vindicator reported our business at all of our meetings.

It is so very important for a public entity to be scrutinized by the media and our residents. Residents who don’t attend meetings were always at least able to refer to the paper for updates as to what was being voted on or not in our township business meetings.

It is a huge loss that The Vindicator is closing, and there will be no reporter coming to our meetings anymore. We still have a competing newspaper, but it was always interesting to read both insights from the two papers.

Please know that this paper and its great reporters will be truly missed by this elected official.

Thank you for all your years of excellence. I hope that your staff will all be able to find new employment soon.

Jodi K. Stoyak, Liberty

Jodi K. Stoyak is a Liberty Township trustee.

Rockwell exhibition eyed for Howland art museum

The Butler INSTITUTE of American Art had an opportunity to display the Boy Scouts of America’s Norman Rockwell collection at its Howland and Youngstown museums. Initially Butler officials accepted this opportunity; then, for whatever reason, the Butler board of directors decided to delay a decision until 2020. This was a shame.

It was heartening to see that the Foundation Medici, the owner of the Howland Butler facility, has given notice that it wants to separate from the Butler. The Foundation will attempt to bring the Boy Scouts’ Norman Rockwell collection to be its first exhibit as it opens a new museum in the near future.

The Butler assumed control of the Howland museum several years ago and our community was hopeful it would become a vibrant hub of activity. There have been some great exhibits over the years, but unfortunately, after opening night there are few visitors. I travel by the Butler every day and it saddens me to see such a jewel not be promoted to its fullest potential.

The Boy Scouts of America is a great organization and is not to be trashed by the comments of some members of the Butler board and its administration.

The folks in Trumbull County are not ashamed to promote the leadership skills of the Boy Scouts. We are not ashamed to share the thrill of a young person proudly putting on the Boy Scouts uniform for the first time. We are not ashamed to share the news of a young person’s Eagle Scout project. The Norman Rockwell Boy Scouts exhibit will showcase all the great Boy Scouts experiences many of us have enjoyed over the years.

I urge the Foundation Medici to do all in its power to get the Boy Scouts collection here, bring the new museum to life and then continue with other great exhibits. I am certain Beth Kotwis Carmichael and the Trumbull County Tourism Bureau will be happy to make the new museum another great Trumbull County destination for visitors.

Finally, a big thank you to the Foundation Medici trustees, especially John Anderson who is leading this effort. In addition, thanks to Ron Klingle, owner of The Avalon Inn’s parent company, for his pledge to support and market the Boy Scouts collection and the new museum.

Trumbull County will be proud to exhibit the works of a great American artist, Norman Rockwell.

John B. Taylor, Warren

GOP seeks to destroy US labor movement

Since the 1970s, work- ers have increased their production, but their wages have stayed well behind as corporate owners hogged all the profits.

At the same time, the Republicans did the bidding of their campaign donors by enacting a tax policy that gave them obscene wealth and helped them keep their workers from enjoying a decent life.

Tens of millions of workers struggle week to week to make ends meet. They are taxed at a higher rate than the wealthy. President Donald Trump, the Republicans and corporate America are at war to try to destroy the American labor movement.

Instead of using past tactics like blunt-force trauma on strikers, hiring scabs and sometimes murder, Republicans use a less messy route of lobbying and litigating.

President Ronald Reagan broke the air-traffic controllers union, and unionism declined dramatically in the USA. In 2017, union membership was at 11.9 percent. Corporations picked up on what Reagan did and started to let unions go on strike instead of bargaining in good faith.

I hope people begin to speak up and say they’ve had enough.They are told that things are better, but in reality they’re not.

The stock market soaring has nothing to do with their lives, but it sure makes the rich even richer. That’s why they have to keep workers from getting raises and good benefits.

Do we want a plutocracy type of government where the wealthy control everything? I’m pretty sure the American people will not let that happen. So remember when you go to vote that plutocrats like Trump and the Republicans are not on your side.

Bud McKelvey, Hermitage, Pa.