Halloween Trick-or-Treating will take place in Boardman on Tuesday, October 31 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Please keep in mind these safety precautions:

• Make sure kids’ costumes are loose-fitting and flame-resistant.
• Avoid masks that obscure vision.
• Young children should always be accompanied by an adult or older sibling.
• Carry a flashlight and put reflective tape on costumes so children can be seen.
• Examine all treats for choking hazards and tampering before eating them.
• Accept only factory-wrapped treats. Avoid eating homemade treats made by strangers.

The Boardman Township Trustees will be conducting their annual Leaf Pick-Up Program beginning Monday October 23 and ending Friday November 17. The 2017 Program will follow the same schedule for leaf pick-up as it has in the past. Please check here for a complete list of pick-up days for each road. Leaves are to be placed in recyclable brown paper bags and brought to the curb for pick-up by the Township Road Department. The paper bags are available for purchase at local retail stores.

Be advised that due to the Veterans Day Holiday on Friday, November 10, leaves scheduled for pick-up on that day will be picked up on the following Monday. If you have any questions, please contact the Boardman Township Road Department at 330-726-4190.

The newest member of the Boardman Fire Department, Firefighter Erin Gilmour, was sworn into the Fire Department prior to the Battle of the Badges charity softball game on September 11^th by Trustee Tom Costello.

Ms. Gilmour previously worked as a Probation Officer and Detention Officer at the Mahoning County Juvenile Justice Center. She was a member of the Mahoning Valley Violent Crimes Task force for two years and a Supreme Court of Ohio Instructor for three years.

She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Science-Criminal Justice from Youngstown State University, where she made the Dean’s List as a scholar-athlete in 2011.

Ms. Gilmour holds several Certifications and Trainings, including Firefighter Level I and II; Scuba Diver Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver; CPR, First Aid, AED, Lifeguard; and CrossFit Level 1 Certified.

In a back-and-forth match, the Boardman Police Department ultimately won the 4th Annual Battle of the Badges charity softball game played at Field of Dreams on Monday, September 11.

A walk-off hit in the bottom of the 7th inning proved to be the difference in the department’s 13-12 victory over the Boardman Fire Department, who had won the previous three contests.

The date of the game was significant, as it was timed to honor the first responders who lost their lives or were injured in the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York City.

Check out this article in the Youngstown Vindicator for full coverage of the game and the events surrounding it.

Congratulations to the Police Department, and grateful thanks to all who attended and donated over $300 to support the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the Special Olympics.

Boardman Township, in conjunction with BUILTBYWHIT Sports & Fitness Instruction, is inviting area residents to participate in a unique event to honor the 343 firefighters, 60 police officers and 10 EMS personnel who lost their lives in the September 11, 2001 attack in New York City.

The first annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb will take place Sunday, September 10 at the new Boardman Stadium. This will be a family-friendly event, with participants of all ages invited to simulate the climbing of the 110 stories of the World Trade Center undertaken by the hundreds of New York City first responders.

All fitness levels are welcome. Participants may choose to wear firefighting gear, weighted vests or sandbags for an added and more realistic challenge. All who take part should wear weather-appropriate workout clothes, and shoes are mandatory.

Warm-up begins at 7:30 Sunday morning, with the climb starting at 8:00 a.m. This event is not restricted to Boardman residents; all are welcome.

Field of Dreams on McClurg Rd. will be the site of the 4th annual Battle of the Badges charity softball game on Monday, September 11 at 6:00 pm. This annual fundraising event pits The Boardman Fire Department against the Boardman Police Department in a friendly but competitive rivalry. Both teams have been eagerly anticipating this year’s game.

State Senator Joe Schiavoni (D-33) will throw out the first pitch. Admission is free, but donations to the Muscular Dystrophy Association and Special Olympics will be accepted.

Atty. Mark Huberman, who recently retired after a 30-year career as a Magistrate in the Mahoning County Court System, was honored with a proclamation from the Boardman Township Trustees at a recent meeting.

As a Magistrate, Mr. Huberman served in both the Mahoning County Juvenile Court and the Domestic Relations Court. He also served on the Ohio Supreme Court’s commission on the rules of practices and procedure and authored an important rules change that impacted defendants appearing before the juvenile court.

Mr. Huberman was a member and past president of the Boardman Local Board of Education for 20 years, and also served on the boards of the Youngstown Playhouse and Help Network of Northeast Ohio (then known as the Help Hotline Crisis Center, Inc.).

He will remain active in retirement as administrator of the Ohio Association of Magistrates, a statewide organization with more than 700 members representing all Ohio county courts. He will also serve as president of the National Health Association.

The Boardman Township Zoning Department announces the appointment of Tricia D’Avignon to the position of Assistant Director of Zoning and Development.

Ms. D’Avignon holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Youngstown State University and earned a Master’s Degree in Urban Planning, Design and Development from Cleveland State University in December 2016. She most recently served as Housing Stabilization Coordinator for the Westown Community Development Corporation.

In her new position, Ms. D’Avignon will be responsible for:

• Administering and enforcing zoning regulations and Home Rule regulations governing property maintenance
• Developing and implementing neighborhood and community plans
• Developing and processing case files as the Clerk for the Board of Zoning Appeals, Zoning Commission, and Site Plan Review Board

Ms. D’Avignon says she looks forward to working to advance her hometown and the greater Youngstown region, which initially inspired her interest in planning and community development.

Krista Beniston, Boardman Township Director of Zoning and Development, says “We are very excited to have someone with Tricia’s level of experience and education in Urban Planning. She will be a great asset to Boardman Township, adding additional capacity and experience to the Planning and Zoning Department.”

The Boardman Township Fire Department will be able to purchase 18 much-needed new SCBAs (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus) thanks to their share of a regional FEMA AFG (Assistance to Firefighters Grant) recently awarded to six area fire departments.

An SCBA, commonly referred to as an airpack, is worn on a firefighter’s back when he or she enters a smokey environment. Its consists of a large air tank that supplies the firefighter with air, which they breathe through a mask. The tanks have a maximum service life of 15 years and then must be taken out of service. The SCBAs themselves have a service life of no more than two service standard updates, and all of the BFD’s had surpassed that.

The six area fire departments originally applied for a regional FEMA AFG in 2016 but were denied the grant. Persistence paid off, however, as they reapplied in 2017 and were awarded a total grant of $977,600. The grant pays 90% of the cost of the equipment, contingent upon a 10% match from each department. BFD’s share of the grant was $110,000, with the department contributing roughly $11,000 toward the total cost of the units.

According to Boardman Fire Chief Mark Pitzer, “The need in our department for the SCBAs was acute, so we’re very grateful to FEMA for making it possible for us to replace our old units and ensure the safety of our dedicated firefighters.”

Albert Kakascik, a 27-year veteran of the Boardman Police Department, has been promoted to the position of Captain.

He had previously served as a lieutenant, sergeant and patrol officer. His assignments have included patrol supervisor, detective supervisor, support services manager and 911 Manager. Currently, he is assigned as the supervisor for the detective, records and communication divisions.

Kakasckik holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and a Master’s in Criminal Justice from Youngstown State University. He is also a graduate of the Police Executive Leadership College in Columbus, and completed the Certified Law Enforcement Executive program in 2006. Kakasckik successfully attended the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia and has attended numerous in-service training courses. He has served as a Computer Voice Stress Examiner since 1997 and recently completed Critical Incident Team training at YSU.

PHOTO: Boardman Police Chief Jack Nichols congratulates Albert Kakascik upon his promotion to the position of Captain in the department.