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.
It’s time for our Scholastic Awards program! Meet the high school students who will receive club-sponsored scholarships to YSU, as well as the WFMJ Regional Spelling Bee winner. Join in congratulating them on their academic successes. Your hard work and contributions made these awards possible; your presence will make the event memorable for these young people.See you Wednesday at Wick Park!
This week’s menu: Manicotti; meatballs; salad; bread.
RSVP by Thursday to President George Nelson to attend the Downtown Service Clubs Annual Spring Meeting with Bob DiBiasio of the Cleveland Guardians from noon to 1:30 May 8 in the YMCA Manchester Room. Lunch fee is $10. Clubs will be billed for no-shows.
Rotary Last Week
House Bill 15 is one of the better pieces of energy legislation that Nolan Rutschilling of Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) said he has seen in the last 12 years. During his virtual presentation on April 9, Rutschilling said both chambers have passed their versions and must align goals now for a possible vote by month’s end.
The legislation “doesn’t allow energy companies to drive the policy,” he said, noting that its approval would, among other things, repeal costly coal subsidies in the controversial House Bill 6 of 2019.
OEC fears that skyrocketing demand – largely because of the energy needs of Google and Amazon data centers that are under construction in central Ohio – will result in creation of more natural-gas power generation instead of solar power.
Also last week, and led by President George Nelson, Rotarians supported the Kick Butter Youngstown Community Clean-Up Day on April 12 by collecting trash along the Interstate 680 ramp to Market Street and at Marshall and Edwards streets in the Mahoning Commons area.
SUPPORT OUR SYMPHONY
The Youngstown Symphony will perform a concert, “Symphonic Superheroes,” at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 2, at Stambaugh Auditorium. The program will feature classics such as Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries” and Rossini’s “William Tell Overture” in addition to recent themes from more superhero films.
Dani Dier at Stambaugh is offering our club an opportunity to purchase 10 tickets or more at a rate of $20.50 per ticket (for 10 tickets or more) plus only charge a $20 flat service fee for the bulk order rather than $7 per ticket. Also, tickets for children/students will be free as part of Rotary’s package. President-Elect Gerri Jenkins is the club’s point of contact. Reach out to her by Friday to order tickets and arrange payment.
Rotary also has the opportunity to set up a display table in the lobby before the concert. Please let Gerri know if you can help at the table. Stambaugh is assembling gift bags for kids, to which RCY can contribute. The deadline to deliver items to Stambaugh is Wednesday.
ATHENA AWARD NOMINEE
Congratulations to Dionne Dowdy Lacey, executive director of United Returning Citizens, for being nominated for the 34th Annual ATHENA Award. This recognition is for women “who excel in their chosen field, have devoted time and energy to their community in a meaningful way and also open doors so that others may follow in their path,” the Youngstown Warren Regional Chamber states in its announcement. All nominees will be recognized, and the 2025 recipient will be announced, at an award dinner on May 15 at Waypoint 4180 in Canfield.
Rotary Next Week
Mahoning County Dog Warden Dianne Fry will be our speaker on April 23. The dog warden’s Facebook page is full of photos of various breeds of dogs who are awaiting adoption. The shelter, at 1230 N. Meridian Road, Youngstown, is in constant need of food, treats, and toys. Of all dogs taken to the shelter, it’s the large breeds that end up staying for months, if not longer.
IN MEMORIAM
Services were Feb. 22 in St. Edward Church for Jeanne Foley, who died at age 95. She was the mother of longtime Rotarian Don Foley, to whom we extend condolences. She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald E. Foley. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Edward Parish and the Don & Jeanne Foley Scholarship Fund at Ursuline High School.
SAVE THE DATE
Eastgate Regional Council of Governments Director Jim Kinnick, April 30, Wick Park Pavilion.
Annual Law Day Program with Mahoning County Bar Association and Downtown Lions and Kiwanis clubs, May 1; more details to follow.
Great Rotary Bake Off/Peace Pole fundraiser, noon May 7, Wick Park Pavilion.
Pollinator Palooza Plants
Cup Plant, a relative and lookalike of the Sunflower, is a native plant that grows from eastern central Canada to the southeastern U.S. It’s a tall one, topping out from 4 to 8 feet, and welcomes full sun. It can be planted in medium to wet and/or clay soil. The unique arrangement of its leaves along stems enables it to collect water that birds, butterflies and animals drink.
Mahoning County Land Bank is cultivating Cup Plants at the Cityscape at Briel’s greenhouse. Look for Cup Plants on sale at the first Pollinator Palooza Festival from 9 a.m. to noon May 10 at Mahoning Soil & Water Conservation District, 850 Industrial Road, Youngstown, 44509. Co-sponsors are Operation Pollination, the County Land Bank, and OSU Extension Mahoning County. Admission is free. Join vendors and community partners as they celebrate planting for pollinators.
.png)
