Good morning, Youngstown.

YSU grad Mike D’Orio enlisted in the Army in 1966 and served in Vietnam with the 528th Engineer Battalion and the 173rd Airborne Brigade, earning a Bronze Star before returning to complete his degree in Youngstown.

Thousands gathered Sunday afternoon at 7 17 Credit Union Field at Eastwood for the 19th annual Buddy Walk to support individuals with Down syndrome; proceeds helped fund DSAV programs + community grants and therapies for families.

Autism Society of the Mahoning Valley’s Oktoberfest Youngstown is set for Saturday at Penguin City Brewing Co (460 E.

Federal St.) downtown; the event features vendor booths including Crafty Shop of Horrors and contests like bratwurst-eating and pretzel tosses to help reach a $50,000 fundraising goal.

Community groups plan a busy week — Monday Night Writers meet at Leana’s Books in Austintown, a Fall Fest runs in Girard Saturday and Sunday, and the YMCA will host its Gala honoring Warren Harrell on Thursday at the Maronite Center.

Two dozen volunteers gathered on Saturday morning at Legacy Tire + Auto Repair to clean up Mahoning Ave between the Circle K and Michael Kusalaba Library.

Owner Rich Rogenski said the effort highlighted his family’s deep community ties and was supported by local city officials supplying the cleanup tools.

Ashlin's Alliance hosted the Ladybug Run & Family Fun Day Saturday at Biker Brewhouse Taproom & Grill in Austintown, raising more than $7,000 for childhood cancer support.

Bikers rode nearly four hours while families enjoyed food, live music & activities that built community unity.

The LaBrae Local School District will host the Greater Western Reserve School Funding Forum at 6:30 p.m. Sept.

29 in the high school auditorium, where local taxpayers, property owners and community leaders will discuss Ohio school funding and tax reform.

In north Bloomfield, Bloomfield-Mespo Local School District raised its state report card rating to 4 stars in 2025-26 from 2.5 last year, with Bloomfield High and Mesopotamia Elementary increasing to 3.5 and 3 stars (gains noted in core measures) that reflect strong community support.

Last Saturday, YUMADAOP hosted its first Back In School RESET event at McGuffey Center for 6 to 12 grade students where music, food, games & mentorship helped them prepare for school.

The faith-based event offered guidance to address challenges like peer pressure, bullying, & substance use.

Families and community members gathered Saturday at 7 17 Credit Union Field at Eastwood for the 13th Recovery Rally hosted by the Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) that honored long-term sobriety and local lives lost while offering free food and activities from 40 vendors to promote hope and healing.

The Tri-State Marine Corps League held its second annual Celebrate Life walk at Boardman park on Sunday to support veterans with live music and mental health resources, and organizers stressed the need for more local outreach for services.

For 12 years, the Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention hosted a recovery rally that drew hundreds and over 40 agencies at 7/17 Credit Union Field at Eastwood in Niles on Saturday (local organizers stressed the event celebrated recovery and honored those lost).