Good morning, Youngstown.

Youngstown correspondent Susan Wojnar was awarded a $2,500 grant from the Ohio Arts Council’s Artists with Disabilities Access Program to fund a recording and video project with her band Feral Company, supporting her ongoing artistic development.

The 34th Annual Brier Hill Italian Fest kicks off today on the North Side at Calvin and Victoria Streets and runs through Sunday with local food vendors, live music and contests available free of charge.

Community members have varied start times each day for a full local experience.

Eastwood Mall earned national recognition after Chain Store Age named it one of the Top 10 Retail Center Experiences in a recent ranking — the Cafaro Company said its 3 million sqft, 200-business complex in Niles and Howland continues to drive local economic growth.

Authorities seized 113 animals from a farm in Columbiana County on Aug.

12.

On Tuesday, 45 volunteers from Huntington Bank and Great Clips stuffed 480 backpacks with school supplies at the United Way Volunteer Resource Center in Boardman for students in local schools — Cocca’s Pizza provided lunch and both companies will raise funds during August for additional supplies.

YSU Steubenville hosted Penguin Kickoff Tuesday afternoon in the campus parking lot along Sunset Boulevard to help new students and families complete enrollment steps and explore campus resources; fall classes begin Monday for police academy students and Aug.

24 for others.

Potential Development (a PK-12 school for students with autism) submitted the only proposal to repurpose the long-vacant Bottom Dollar building on Glenwood Avenue for new K-2/K-3 classrooms.

CEO Paul Garchar said the plan will ease crowding at their current school.

Howland trustees approved a resolution to back an application for extending the Mahoning River Water Trail along Mosquito Creek near Lowellville, joining efforts with nearby communities to boost tourism and outdoor learning.

The resolution supports plans to connect parks and enhance local recreation.

A $700,000 EPA grant may let 43 Weathersfield property owners get new waterlines at little to no cost if estimates hold, with installation set to start later this year and complete early 2027 near Crane and Stillwagon roads.

The Mahoning Valley People’s Action Alliance will host a town hall on working class issues and senior affordability at 2 p.m. Friday at Local UAW 1112 Union Hall in Lordstown, with doors opening at 1 p.m. for the free event, which coincides with the Social Security Administration's founding anniversary.

Trumbull County commissioners met Tuesday in Warren to review residents’ complaints that fiber optic installations damaged lines and left yards unrestored.

Industry representatives (from Lumos/T-Fiber, OmniFiber, Brightspeed, Charter/Spectrum and OhioTT) said the mandated work will improve communication and safety and finish in three to five years.

OSU Extension is guiding Trumbull County gardeners on preserving harvests as produce starts arriving.

The educator explains proper blanching and freezing techniques to maintain food quality — and advises canning where refrigeration is not needed.