Rotary International asks us to Serve to Change Lives through its Focus Areas
This month Rotary International asks us to Serve to Change Lives by promoting peace in our community. Explore the possibilities with us at our meeting Wednesday at noon at Wick Park or virtually via Zoom.
Elieen Gilmartin, AKA Casey Malone of The Casey Malone Show, will discuss growing up Irish in Youngstown during our annual St. Patrick’s Day program Wednesday at Wick Park. Wear green and prepare for a taste of corned beef and cabbage, as prepared by Chef Chris Bonacci.
Casey earned a degree in journalism from Ohio University. Whether she was managing restaurants or working as an on-air radio personality, her interest in food, wine, and local culture were her favorite topics. The Casey Malone Show, which is independently produced, focuses on local social culture. It airs at 7 p.m. Saturdays at 7pm on WFMJ and 7 a.m. Sundays on WBCB.
Also, we need at least 90 lbs of film plastic to conclude our 2024-25 recycling campaign on a high note. If we reach our goal, then we will have earned our fourth park bench from NexTrex.
Rotary Last Week
Ohio needs the Lead Service Line Replacement Initiative, says Annalisa Rocco, drinking water manager of the statewide policy organization Ohio Environmental Council. The initiative aspires to accelerate the replacement of lead water service lines and reduce lead exposure in children. Ohio is third in the nation in terms of the amount of lead water lines in service; Cleveland and Youngstown are the second and 25th worst among U.S. cities. Lead exposure can reduce children’s IQs and is associated with anemia, depression, infant mortality, and more. City workers have replaced water lines along a section of Mahoning Avenue and are preparing to do the same in the Buckeye Plat neighborhood. Here is a WKBN-TV story about the initiative: Ohio lawmakers prioritize lead water line replacement
Many upcoming club activities were announced after Rocca’s presentation. Samatha Turner said March 28 is the date to clean walking paths to three city schools. Volunteers, to include students and representatives of the Kool Boiz Foundation, will meet at 10 that morning at Rayen Early College and be assigned to a building. Look for signup sheets at an upcoming meeting.
Boardman Rotary’s annual :Pancake Breakfast will be from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 22-23 and 29-30 in the Lariccia building at Boardman Township Park. This is a great opportunity to support a club that helped us during Beerfest.
Bob DiBiasio will return to Youngstown on May 8 to discuss Cleveland Guardians baseball with the downtown service clubs – Rotary, Lions and Kiwanis. The gathering will be at noon in the Manchester Room at the YMCA. Cost of lunch is $10. President George Nelson needs to know which Rotarians will attend by March 25.
A Rotary Mixer for members of many neighboring clubs will be from 6 to 8 p.m. April 2 at Pastimes Pinball & Video Arcade in Girard. Cost is $15 for adults, $10 for children ages 15 and under, including game play. Bring a guest!
Rotary Next Week
Shamrocks, the color green, leprechauns, parades, corned beef and cabbage, green beer, and the harp are symbols of Irish culture. Look for some of these as components of our annual St. Patrick’s Day program on March 12 at Wick Park.
Also, we aspire to collect at least 90 lbs of film plastic to bring our 2024-25 recycling campaign to a successful conclusion. If we reach our goal, then we will have earned our fourth park bench from NexTrex.
SAVE THE DATE
Boardman Rotary Annual Pancake Breakfast, 8-1 March 22-23 and 29-30, Lariccia Community Center at Boardman Township Park; $7 per breakfast, children 10 and under eat free.
Youngstown City Schools Outdoor Cleanup with students and the Kool Boiz Foundation, meet at 10 a.m. March 28 at Rayen Early College; sign up sheets available at weekly meetings.
Rotary Mixer with Niles, Waren, Austintown, Boardman, Canfield and Girard-Liberty clubs, 6-8 p.m. April 2, Pastimes Pinball & Video Arcade, 419 N. State St., Girard; $15 per adult ages 16+, $10 for children ages 15 and younger (includes games); guests welcome.
Citywide Cleanup, focused on highway on-off ramps, April 12; more details to follow.
Downtown Service Clubs Annual Spring Meeting with Bob DiBiasio of the Cleveland Guardians, noon-1:30 May 8, YMCA Manchester Room; lunch $10; need head count by March 25.
LET'S PARK THOSE BENCHES
RCY’s Board of Directors seeks ideas for placing the three (soon to be four) NexTrex park benches. Please share your suggestions with President George Nelson by March 14.
Build a Bee Condo
Create homes for native bees!
Many of the wild bees you may encounter in your backyard garden make their burrow homes in the soil. Some bees create hives in snags (a dead or dying standing tree, often with its branches broken off), or in holes in trees. You can also encourage bee-residents by providing man-made nesting blocks or “Bee Condos.”
It’s easy to build a “Bee Condo” for your native bees.
Materials:
4”x6” or 6”x6” dried pine or fir post (or you can try a weathered fence post or other scrap wood) Drill and drill bits, a variety of diameters, ranging from 1/4 in. to 3/8 in. Paper straws – not plastic (available at some hardware stores, or through a scientific supply store), or small hollow sticks, with one end sealed A warm location protected from rain and predators.
How to do it:
1. Cut the wooden posts into blocks 8-12 in. long. 2. Drill holes into the wood blocks using a variety of hole diameters from 1/4 in. to 3/8 in. Drill holes 3-5 in. deep, and at least 3/4 in. apart. Smooth out ragged edges of holes. 3. Alternatively, a bundle of paper straws or hollow sticks, with one end sealed, will make an attractive bee home. 4. Bees prefer dark colored homes, so consider charring the front of your “Bee Condo” lightly with a torch. 5. Mount your “Bee Condo” on a post or attach to the side of a building. Place nesting blocks so that tunnels are horizontal. Make sure they are in a warm location with southern exposure and protected from rain. A good place could be under the eaves of a garage or shed. 6. If you don’t want to build your own “Bee Condo,” consider these commercial sources: www.knoxcellars.com, www.raintreenursery.com, www.entomologic.com, www.pollinatorparadise.com, http://www.superseeds.com
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