VALLEY FOUNDATIONS & LOCAL NONPROFITS
TNP, County Land Bank lauch ‘Paint Plus’ program
n Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership is announcing Paint Plus, a matching-grant program where the Trumbull County Land Bank will provide assistance in exterior improvements to owner-occupied homes in Trumbull County. TNP launched the pilot program in late March. TNP, a nonprofit community-development corporation based in Trumbull County, created the program with $50,000 from their general fund. The program will be ongoing and continues until funding is exhausted. Ten properties will be eligible for up to $5,000 to match eligible improvements which include exterior painting, siding, doors, lighting, cleaning and re-pointing brick, removing or repairing awnings, gutters and downspouts, shutters, and porches. Landscaping, roofs, windows and interior repairs are not eligible. The program is aimed at making aesthetic exterior improvements to owner-occupied housing in target areas. Applicants must be current on property taxes and must live in an owner-occupied residential home. “After a decade of a heavy emphasis on remediating blight and vacancy, this program underscores our commitment to preserving long-term owner occupancy as a strategy to build strong communities,” said Matt Martin, TNP executive director. Interested homeowners should contact Shawn Carvin at 330-469-6828, ext. 7, or email shawn@tnpwarren.org.
Mario Koch, 17, named ‘Young Marine of the Year’
n Mario Koch, 17, of North Olmsted, has been named Young Marine of the Year for Division 5, which includes 10 states in the Midwest. As Young Marine of the Year, Koch will escort World War II veterans to Guam and Iwo Jima in the fall. The island of Iwo Jima KOCH is open only one day each year for this special reunion of Japanese and American veterans. Sgt. Maj. Koch is a member of the Greater Cleveland Young Marines from Fairview Park, under the command of Dan Dotson. Koch is a junior at North Olmsted High School. Over the course of the year, he will travel to other units throughout the division to lead, motivate, and serve as a role model for other Young Marines. “I am honored to earn the title of Division Young Marine of the Year, and I am excited to motivate and inspire other Young Marines throughout my division,” said Koch. He joined the Young Marines at age nine and is in his eighth year
McDonough seeking art for ‘World Collage Day’
n Youngstown State University’s John J. McDonough Museum of Art is inviting the Mahoning Valley to tap into their imagination and get creative for #WorldCollageDay. Initiated by Kolaj Magazine in 2018, this international celebration of collage takes place on the second Saturday in May (May 8, 2021). Ric Kasini Kadour, editor of Kolaj Magazine, writes, “We created World Collage Day because we wanted to honor this community of artists and to remind the world what a spirit of cooperation, mutual support, and creativity can look like.” The McDonough will provide free starter packs for anyone interested in participating. To reserve a packet, email mcdonoughmuseumofart@ysu.edu by March 31. Collage packets will be ready for pick up at the McDonough from April 12-April 30 during regular museum hours, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. , Monday-Saturday. The museum is located at 525 Wick Ave., Youngstown. Participants can also use everyday objects from around the home to create a collage and give it a more personal touch. Collages must be completed on or before May 8. Participants can e-mail photos of completed collages to mcdonoughmuseumofart@ysu.edu with the subject listed as #WorldCollageDay.
Mercy Health, Dana bring music to hospital patients
IMAGE COURTESY OF THE YOUNGSTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CORP
n ‘The Place That Makes Us,’ a new documentary film on the attempts to rebuild Youngstown, will premiere Tuesday, March 30 on the World Channel and worldchannel.org. The film is described as ‘an intimate and inspiring portrait of Youngstown, Ohio, a quintessential post-industrial American city, seen through the efforts of a new generation of residents who have chosen not to abandon their hometown.’ The film will also stream on amdoc.org, LinkTV.org , PBS.org and the PBS app and later on Link TV (DirecTV 375 and Dish Network 9410). in the program. He said he joined because he wanted to make friends and learn to be a leader. As a Young Marine, Koch has earned the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) device, been named Top Ten at the Advanced Leadership School, received ribbons for attendance for six consecutive years, and earned 43 ribbons for additional accomplishments. Outside of the Young Marines, he plays varsity basketball and football for his high school. After graduating, he plans on attending college to study sports medicine to become a sports medicine physician. Koch is the son of Juanita Koch-Kovach, who was an adult volunteer with the Young Marines for six years, and his stepfather John Kovach, who served 21 years
in the Army. In the spring, Koch will represent his division in competition with five other division winners for the title of National Young Marine of the Year. (Koch’s division includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin). The Young Marines is a national non-profit 501 (c)(3) youth education and service program for boys and girls, age eight through the completion of high school. The organization promotes the mental, moral, and physical development of its members and focuses on teaching the values of leadership, teamwork, and self-discipline, so members can live and promote a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. For more information, visit https:// www.YoungMarines.com.
n Youngstown State University’s Dana School of Music is partnering with the Mercy Health Foundation to bring music to patients at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital. “The healing power of music has been very well received by patients, families and staff,” said Paul Homick, president of Mercy Health Foundation. “Music is very powerful in addressing the wellbeing of the whole person. It calms the mind and lifts the spirit, so the body can heal. That is especially important right now, when many of our patients can’t be with their families. We know this will be a tremendous benefit to them, and we are so very grateful to YSU, the Dana School of Music and the students and faculty who made this possible.” The project is called “Just What the Doctor Ordered” and includes broadcasting four prerecorded video performances by Dana students to patient rooms at St. Elizabeth Youngstown. “Sharing our music with the patients and staff at Mercy Health is one small way we can give back to the community of health professionals who have done so much for the Valley this year,” said Randall Goldberg, Dana director. Originally the brainchild of Dana faculty member Caroline Oltmanns, the concerts were intended to be a series of six live performances at St. Elizabeth Youngstown beginning this past fall semester. When the Covid pandemic emerged, the idea was put on hold. At the same time, Dana
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was producing videos incorporating student and faculty content, including a new series of Honors Recitals hosted by the McDonough Museum of Art. With available video content, the conversation continued, and the new project was presented. Three of the four videos in the project are part of the McDonough Museum Honors Recital Series, while the fourth is a Dana School of Music brass ensemble. The videos previously premiered on the Cliffe College YouTube channel.
Rosicrucian meetings pause, but work continues
n The Youngstown Pronaos has been in the Youngstown area for over 65 years and is an affiliated body in the Ohio-Indiana Region of the Rosicrucian Order AMORC. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Youngstown Pronaos members have not been able to meet at the IOOF Hall in Canfield, but continue to reach out to those in the community with donations of food and financial aid to help ease their path in this ever-changing world. When the group can meet again, all are invited at 2 p.m. on the fourth Sunday of each month (except December) for an open discussion on Rosicrucian-related topics. There is no cost to attend the meetings and more information can be found at https://sites. google.com/amorc.rosicrucian.org/ohio.
Kindergarten Readiness Station-To-Go-Kits n The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County is inviting parents and families to stop by any branch to pick up a Kindergarten Readiness Station To Go Kit. These kits include fun activities and information that you can use at home to help your preschooler get ready for kindergarten. In March, the focus was on social and emotional development – learning how to manage feelings, manage friendships, and solve problems. Working on these skills now will help your child be successful in their interactions with teachers and classmates when they get to school. The kits are available while supplies last. Appropriate for ages 3-5 years.
‘Basket Stroll’ to benefit Akron Children’s n The Alliance will host a “Basket Stroll,” from 11 a.m-2 p.m. on Friday, April 16, with proceeds benefiting Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley emergency room expansion and The Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley. The event includes a light lunch/ cash bar/basket and grand raffle and vendor shopping in COVID-safe environment. RSVP by April 16 to 330533-4880 or scberny@gmail.com. Compiled from local reports.
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