Community Stars

Proudly presented by

April 19, 2023

Proving ordinary people make extraordinary things happen in Trumbull County every day.

Justin Meade

Madelyn Fonagy

James Sweet

Kenneth David

Linda Morton Cowin

Charles Potashnik

Sherri Bercheni

Jeffrey Ford

Melinda Mock

Christine Novicky

Dennis Rossi

The Trumbull 100

The Trumbull 100 is proud to be a sponsor of the 2023 Community Star Award

I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the community, and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can.

- George Bernard Shaw

Mission Statement

The Trumbull 100 is a local non-profit organization whose mission is to embrace and facilitate opportunities by providing resources and leadership to projects that enhance the quality of life for the citizens of Trumbull County.

Providing Leadership and Resources to these projects:

• Trumbull County Veterans’ Memorial

• Downtown Warren Flower baskets and Holiday wreaths

• Ohio Chautauqua (7 seasons)

• Packard Music Hall balcony hand railing project

• Burbank Park renovation

• Eastern Ohio Military Affairs Council

• Kay Fisher Neighborhood Revitalization Mini-Grant program

• Warren Women’s Park

• Historic Perkins Neighborhood Assoc. Rose Garden & Pagoda restoration

• Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport

• Trumbull County Community Star sponsor

• Medici Museum of Art and Soulages mural

Upcoming Projects include:

• A collaboration with the Warren-Trumbull County Public Library

• A project in Courthouse Square

Founded in 1994, Trumbull 100 is celebrating 29 years of service to Trumbull County communities. To find out more about Trumbull 100 and membership opportunities, email Administrator@Trumbull100.org.

Trumbull 100 members or former members who have previously won a Community Star Award:

• Robert Berk

• Dr. Robert Brodell

• William Casey

• Paul Clouser

• Martin L. Cohen

• Elizabeth Cole-Clark

• James Economos

• Kay Fisher

• Atty. Ned C. Gold, Jr.

• Lance Grahn

• David Hamilton

• Bill Horton

• David Kostolansky

• Rocco Maiorca

• Franklin R. Manios

• John Payiavlas

• Diane Sauer

• Dr. Jim Snelson

• John Taylor

• Shelley Taylor

Community Stars shine again

After you’ve had a chance to read the stories and photos outlining this year’s 11 Trumbull County Community Stars in this booklet, we believe you’ll understand exactly why the selection committee chose this group of amazing people. These folks now join an elite group of more than 200 people honored since 2002 for their amazing works of kindness, philanthropy and volunteerism.

The Tribune Chronicle began hon oring Community Stars in 2002. Through the years, the newspaper and its longtime co-sponsor Trumbull 100 have honored these residents by telling their stories in print and also honoring them with a beautiful award and a lovely banquet in which we salute the significant im pact each has had on the lives of others without ever expecting anything in return.

Each year we get dozens of nominations, many often come from previous Community Star recipients, giving credence to the adage that “kindness begets kindness” and fueling the “pay it forward” movement.

A selection committee faced significant challenges in paring down the dozens of nominations from our community. Perhaps as you read this magazine you will be inspired to do some volunteering of your own. Or perhaps you will be moved to nominate someone you know for next year’s award.

Congratulations to the 2023 Community Star recipients. Your good will and volunteerism is felt on many, many levels and in so many places around Trumbull County. Thank you sincerely for all that you do.

Sherri Bercheni

By RAYMOND L. SMITH Staff writer

WARREN — Giving young people a glimpse of how to empower their financial futures is the goal of Inspiring Minds volunteer Sherri Bercheni.

Bercheni, a vice president of Remote Delivery Experience at 7/17 Credit Union in Warren, works tirelessly to share with public school age students and young adults the financial knowl edge she has learned in the more than 22 years she has been with the credit union.

“Helping people understand the benefits of savings, how to positively use credit and avoid things that would set them back in achieving their financial goals is important,” Bercheni said. “We primarily work with young people — age 12 to 24 — but sometimes, also work to answer questions posed by older adults needing information.”

Bercheni attempts to impart knowledge of how people can increase their credit score so they can purchase a car, a house or pay for their post high school educations. She has been working with the non-profit, Inspiring Minds, for more than 10 years in getting financial literacy information to young people. For these efforts, Bercheni was

named a Community Star. The program, co-sponsored by the Tribume Chronicle and Trumbull 100, recognizes the brightest examples of community service and the people who do those good deeds.

Deryck Toles, founder and executive director of Inspiring Minds — himself a former star — said Bercheni’s ability to connect with young people was evident from the very first time she volunteered to speak to a group of the non-profit’s teenagers.

“Even in that first interaction, she was willing to give students who expressed interest and needed help ways to contact her,” Toles said. “And some did. She was willing to go the extra mile.”

our kids reminds her her own experiences growing up in Warren,” Toles said. “She had opportunities to leave, but says this is the community in which she was raised, still has family and friends and has opportunities to give back.”

Since beginning as a volunteer with the organization a decade ago, Bercheni has become a member of the Inspiring Minds board.

“Her experience in financial literacy allows her to bring an unique perspective,” Toles said. “However, in whatever she does she works to build people up and develop them by providing what they need to succeed.

“It is important we reach back to our communities to offer support and mentorship to our young people.”

— Sherri Bercheni

In addition to working with Inspiring Minds, Bercheni also is a member of the Kent State University at Trumbull Advisory Board and, through her job at 7/17 Credit Union, works with Youngstown City School students. She also is one of the founders of a diversity, equity and inclusion com mittee at 7/17.

A Warren G. Harding and a Youngstown State University graduate, Bercheni’s path was long and often difficult.

Bercheni married while in college, had four children and then was divorced. She was left to raise her children with out a husband and without a college degree.

“I was fortunate I began working at 7/17 while I was in school,” she said. “It has been supportive of me as I raised my children and worked to finish my degree.”

Because she had to take periodic breaks from school in order to provide for her young family, Bercheni said her college education took about a decade to complete. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in finance.

She said volunteering in the community is part of her DNA.

“It is important we reach back to our communities to offer support and mentorship to our young people. That’s what Inspiring Minds does.”

rsmith@tribtoday.com

Linda Morton Cowin

By CHRIS MCBRIDE Staff writer

Leavittsburg native Linda Morton Cowin, now a Cortland resident, fell in love with the idea of becoming a steward for the history of Leavittsburg and has spent countless hours working toward making her hometown better.

For her efforts, Morton Cowin was named one of this year’s Community Stars. The program, co-sponsored by the Tribune Chronicle and Trumbull 100, recognizes the brightest examples of community service and the people who do those good deeds.

Morton Cowin connects her fascination with history with an experience she had 14 years ago when looking through artifacts she saw during an open house for a local museum put on by the former Leavittsburg Improvement Association, now called the Leavittsburg Heritage Association. Today,

Morton Cowin serves as a volunteer for the LHA, where she curates and maintains artifacts, coordinates community events and manages the organization’s Facebook page.

“I went to it and I was hooked from all of the memorabilia from the schools and pictures of old Leavittsburg,” Morton Cowin said.

To help raise funds for the Heritage Museum, Morton Cowin co-chairs the annual Leavittsburg Heritage Trunk sale, which gives residents a place to set up a one-day garage sale in the

parking lot of the old high school. Her charitable efforts for the musuem led her to organzing a clothing shed that generates $800 in annual revenue.

If you’re ever paying a visit to the Trumbull County Fair, Morton Cowin can be seen at the Leavittsburg display, where she spends eight hours or more each day of the week selling candy and sharing local history to those that stop by.

Her generosity and love for history extends to neighboring communities as well, as she teamed with the Vienna Historical Society president — also a 2023 Community Star — to help reopen a historical church.

While she may not be one for the spotlight, Morton Cowin’s leadership has placed her at the forefront of several community intiatives.

In 2000, Morton Cowin was the first community member to be elected to the Greater Warren Community Credit Union, a

“Her service is never a one-off but rather, it’s underscored by a lasting commitment and pursuit of excellence.”

—

LaBrae Superintendent Anthony Calderone, who nominated Morton Cowin

community chartered credit union that supports residents and local organizations. During her time with the credit union, Morton Cowin helped establish a children’s program that taught the importance of savings and the banking process.

Her nominator, LaBrae Superintendent Anthony Calderone, called her an “example of what it means to be a Community Star.”

Calderone added: “Her service is never a one-off but rather, it’s underscored by a lasting commitment and pursuit of excellence. The communities that she serves are truly blessed to have her as a passionate and engaged commu nity member.”

Cowin was also a part of a team that helped secure a grant for the Ohio Historical Maker that com memorated the P&O Canal that ran through Leavittsburg. A dedica tion maker was put up in 2016.

Morton Cowin is also ac tive at North-Mar Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, where she serves on the Fellowship Committee. She also can be heard on Sundays in the church choir and in the sing ing group, Singers Together, who

performed with the Youngstown Symphony in 2018. Morton Cowin is now working with a group to have a barn quilt placed in Leavittsburg. The quilt will be a 6-foot x 6-inch painted quilt that will be displayed on a local building. The group is hoping to incorporate aspects of Leavittsburg’s history by including the P&O canal, railroad, Meadowbrook Farm and the Leavittsburg dam.

cmcbride@tribtoday.com

Kenneth David

By BURTON COLE Staff writer

GIRARD — Highly decorated combat veteran Kenneth J. David has a mission: “To help as many veterans as I can before I pass away.”

That can mean campaigning before legislative bodies, visiting schools and civic groups, serving on the rifle team for parades and funerals, collecting food and other items or just having a cup of coffee with another veteran who needs an ear.

The 73-year-old Girard man volunteers 120-plus hours a month through Disabled American Veterans, Trumbull County Chapter 11, in Warren.

It’s for these efforts and many others that David — who already holds the Distinguished Service Cross, a Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster and two Bronze Stars — was chosen as a 2023 Community Star.

The Community Stars program, co-sponsored by the Tribune Chronicle and Trumbull 100, recognizes the brightest examples of community service and the people who do those good deeds.

David was nominated by his two sons, Kevin David

of Fort Wayne, Ind., and Brian David of Matlacha, Fla., and by friend Jean Parke.

“My dad has the drive and desire to help others,” Kevin said. “My dad is someone I admire and look up to as a family provider and a strong community leader. I work toward modeling those traits for my children and my community.”

Brian said, “I don’t know of anyone more dedicated to the DAV, veterans and the community than my dad — a hero and a leader.”

Parke noted that David, the adjutant

/ treasurer of DAV Chapter 11, has chaired or co-chaired committees to rename roads and bridges to honor veterans, to create scholarships, and to deliver lap quilts to veterans in nursing homes or food to veterans in need.

“We have a lot of problems with veterans not having enough. A lot of veterans are very proud,” David said. “They have to really be down on their luck to ask for help.”

“Veterans shed blood for their country and they should be taken care of for defending their country.”

— Kenneth David

The Girard High School graduate was drafted into the Army in August 1969 and was sent to the Republic of South Vietnam in January 1970. He was a radio telephone operator with the 1/506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division.

“Fifty-three years ago, I got shot up,” David said. “I came home from Vietnam on a hospital plane.”

But not before, while already wounded, he “carried a wounded comrade to a sheltered position and returned to engage the enemy until they broke contact and fled,” according to a military news release.

“Seven guys got killed,” David said of the combat on May 7, 1970. “Another guy took his life in 1990 from the horrors of what he went through in losing his leg. These names and faces I still see today. ... These are my brothers who never came home to get old and gray like the rest of us.”

David spent five months in Valley Forge General Hospital in Pennsylvania. After released, he said he was shocked at all the vitriol he saw unleashed on returning soldiers.

“It wasn’t right and I tried to figure out what to do,” he said. “(I) promised myself I would make it easier for the next group of veterans for when they come home.”

He has retired as a heating cooling tech nician with Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 396 in Youngstown, but remains active in his mission.

“Veterans shed blood for their country and they should be taken care of for defending their country,” he said.

bcole@tribtoday.com

Congratulations Ken David! Disabled American Veterans Chapter #11

Madelyn Fonagy

By ANDY GRAY Staff writer

Madelyn Fonagy saw a need and wanted to take care it.

“When COVID-19 hit, me and my grandma knew things would be tough,”

she said. “Not having any food or any (access to) stores would be very hard for people.”

The fact that she was only 13 years old at the time didn’t stop her from working solution.

She created Blessing Boxes, one at her grandfather’s business at 7159 Warren-Sharon Road, Brookfield, and a second at her church, St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Vienna. The boxes were stocked with non-perishable items, and anyone in need can get food from the boxes at any time.

Nearly three years later, Fonagy, now 16, checks the boxes daily and hopes to expand the program. For her devotion to her charitable efforts, Fonagy was selected as a 2023 Tribune Chronicle Community Star. The program, co-sponsored by the Tribune Chronicle and Trumbull 100, recognizes the brightest examples of community service and the people who do those good deeds.

Madelyn gave a simple explanation for why she is driven to projects like the Blessing Boxes.

“I don’t like to see people suffer,” she said.

The use of the Blessing Boxes was slow initially, but she saw an uptick as word spread about the project. Families have thanked her in person when she’s been there restocking the boxes, and she occasionally finds thank you

notes inside them. She has been able to collect donations money and gift cards cover the cost of keepboxes stocked, and her commitment to the project only has increased over time.

“I want to start two more boxes, one for clothes and one for school supplies,” she said.

Madelyn is no stranger to honors. She already received a Thoughtful Acts of Kindness Award from the United Way of Trumbull County, a Knights of Columbus Award, Hometown Hero recognition, Hubbard Excellence and Hubbard Pride awards and an orchid from the Tribune Chronicle

In the Community Star nomination letter, her grandmother, Susan Fonagy wrote, “Madelyn goes above and beyond for her community, whether it be home, church or school.”

Madelyn is a sophomore at Hubbard High School, where she is in the marching band and wind ensemble, and plays softball.

She’s combined her musical talents and charitable efforts by playing the piano to entertain the residents at the nursing home where her great-grandmother lived.

“Many of those people are very lonely and have no family,” Madelyn said. “Being able to spread my love of music to other people

“Madelyn goes above and beyond for her community, whether it be home, church or school.”

— Susan Fonagy,

and have them say, ‘Wow, great job,’ and other things makes me feel really good.”

Madelyn pays just as much attention to those younger than she, teach ing children to be an al tar server at St. Thomas the Apostle like she is and helping teach confirmation classes.

“Seeing the kids grow in the face of God and watching them do acts of service, I hope one day they grow up and do what I do for the community.”

agray@tribtoday.com

Jeffrey Ford & Christine Novicky

By BOB COUPLAND Staff writer

VIENNA — A Vienna couple has found time to give back in many different ways, not only to Vienna, but Trumbull County as well.

Jeffrey Ford, 47, and Christine Novicky, 44, were named 2023 Community Stars. The program, co-sponsored by the Tribume Chronicle

and Trumbull 100, recognizes the brightest examples of community service and the people who do those good deeds.

The two were nominated by Vienna resident Pam Clower.

Ford, who is an acting supervisor/ dispatcher for Trumbull County

911, said one thing they both take

part in is the Historical Village at the Trumbull County fairgrounds starting in 2017.

“We wanted to keep the history alive and bring new buildings to the fairgoers so they can see how history was back in the day. I enjoy this because I get to build and construct things and let everyone see what we have done. We are working on a coal mine experience,” said Ford, who has portrayed a marshal and a saloon owner for the jail and saloon exhibits.

Ford said he looks at the future and the importance of

“It’s nice to be able to speak with people in the community and engage with them in a positive way.”

— Jeffrey Ford

passing on history to the next generation and would like to one day have his grandkids say “Grandpa did this.”

Ford said he likes recording information at the Vienna cemeteries as well as repair ing the broken and dirty headstones.

“It is nice to be able to fix the markers for the person who is buried there. It is a way to honor them,” he said.

Novicky, president of the Vienna Historical Society, said the historical society is like a year-round, second fulltime job.

“We get donations all the time and try to identify people in photos. It’s nice to be able to speak with people in the community and engage with them in a positive way. People will email me if we have any photos of their relatives,” she said.

Novicky, who is a pharmacist at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital, said she and Ford spend time doing research on those who are buried at the cemeteries for a database on the history of each cemetery.

She said they take part in the annual summer Vienna

Home Day showcasing the history of the township with the society’s collection.

“The Copper Penny Lodge soon will be a place where we can bring everyone together to see the historical society’s collection. I am an organizer so I really enjoy giving back,” Novicky said

She said if she has a vision for an event, Ford follows through to make the vision come to life.

“We are a really good team when it comes to getting something done,” Novicky said.

bcoupland@tribtoday.com

Justin Meade

By SEAN BARRON Correspondent

HUBBARD — When Justin Meade’s son, Jacen, was 2, he noticed something was amiss with his child.

Jacen first reached a plateau regarding certain developmental milestones, then began to regress in dramatic ways. He lost strides he had made verbally, became aggressive, began losing interest in his toys and other normal activities, and cried incessantly.

Around the same time, Jacen also developed seizures.

“He needs one-on-one support 24 hours a day for his safety. He has little danger awareness,” Meade said about Jacen, now 7, who was diagnosed with autism and epilepsy at age 3.

The combination of Meade’s work as a Hubbard police officer, his desire to better educate others about autism and other conditions, and his overall commitment toward helping others has resulted in Meade having started the Autism Awareness Training and Acceptance Program (AATAP).

All such outreach efforts also have made Meade one of this year’s Community Stars. The program, co-spon sored by the Tribune

Chronicle and Trumbull 100, recognizes the brightest examples of community service and the people who do those good deeds.

Nominating Meade for the honor was his wife, Ashley.

Meade now serves as program director and chief instructor for the nonprofit AATAP, which is designed to train and educate first responders and others about autism and other special-needs diagnoses. AATAP also seeks to train the public on effective ways to interact with those who have such conditions.

“We have the training aspect to not only train first responders and teachers and hospital staff and whoever how to interact and learn about these individuals and their particular health conditions, but also to work with individuals in general,” Meade explained.

AATAP, founded in October 2019, also offers free training to police officers, firefighters, hospital personnel, churches and other groups. Part of it entails developing greater awareness about autism and special needs, as well as “how to de-escalate (situations) the safest way,” Meade noted.

Along those lines, Meade has worked with Potential Development in Youngstown and the Autism Society of the Mahoning Valley. Specifically, he gave a training session at Potential Development for

“I see the passion he has with autism and helping people, and he’s always trying to help people in this community.”

— Ashley Meade, Justin’s wife and nominator

first responders to educate them about better understanding a person’s individual differences when responding to an incident or other situation.

To date, he has helped train more than 850 first responders, most of whom are in northeast Ohio, Meade continued.

“I see the passion he has with autism and helping people, and he’s always trying to help people in this community,” Ashley said about the primary reasons she cited for having nominated her husband for the Community Star award. “I thought this would be the perfect award for him for all the time he’s put in since our son was diagnosed.”

The couple also is helping to raise an 8-year-old relative who was diagnosed on the autism spectrum, she added. news@tribtoday.com

Melinda Mock

By EMILY SCOTT Staff writer

As a founding member of the Friends of the Howland Library, Melinda Mock has given 32 years to the organization, of which she has been president for 25.

Growing up, Mock said she was always in the library and has had a lifelong love of reading, so the Howland Library was a natural choice to spend so many years.

“My group is wonderful,” Mock said. “I have loyal members that started with us years ago who are still coming back and everyone pitches in. It’s a small but active group.”

Mock is one of this year’s Community Stars. The pro gram, co-sponsored by the Tribune Chronicle and Trumbull 100, recognizes the brightest examples of community service and the people who do those good deeds.

The Friends of the Howland Library is responsible for sup porting the library. Mock has been involved in setting yearly goals for the group, organizing and conducting meetings, writing the newsletter, planning fundraisers, organizing special events several times a year and decorating for the holidays, among other things. Since the group’s founding, the Friends of the Library have appropriated more than $100,000.

Throughout the years she has been involved, Mock has seen libraries evolve with technology. She said it’s been wonderful to see.

“I’m drawn to the kids. I’m drawn to enjoying and sharing and making it special for the children. That’s what keeps me here,” Mock said.

Mock was a fulltime substitute teacher for Howland schools for many years and still works for the district part time. She moved to Warren in 1977 and started volunteering immediately.

Since moving to Warren, Mock has been involved with a multitude of organizations, including Warren Women’s

“To me, sometimes the biggest hero is the unsung hero...not the one with the microphone in her hand and spotlight on her face, but the one who works tirelessly and quietly. That is my mother.”

— Andrea Mock, Melinda’s daughter and nominator

Panhellenic Association, Warren Junior Crafts, Howland Schools

PTO and Blessed Sacrament Church.

“To me, sometimes the biggest hero is the unsung hero,” said Andrea Mock, Melinda Mock’s daughter, who nominated her mother for the honor. “Not the one with the microphone in her hand and spotlight on her face, but the one who works tirelessly and quietly. That is my mother.”

Mock also works to support the American Cancer Society after being diagnosed with melanoma in 2007. She has tak en part in Relay for Life at least 10 times combined, both in Warren and South Carolina, where Andrea lives.

Mock and her husband, David, have two daughters, Andrea and Amanda, and three grandchildren. Mock said their lives have greatly enhanced her own.

escott@tribtoday.com

Charles Potashnik

By SEAN BARRON Correspondent

HOWLAND — Charles Potashnik may have only one head, but on it he proudly wears a variety of hats.

“A lot of people have contributed over the years to my well-being in many respects,” he said. “It’s like giving back. It makes me feel good as an individual if I help someone.”

In many respects, Potashnik, 80, has followed — and continues to follow that trajectory. He retired in 2009 after having taught social studies, economics, psychology, government and advanced-placement history for more than 46 years at Howland High School.

In addition, Potashnik was instrumental in starting the Howland Achievement Hall of Fame in 2014 and has

conducted research to locate former students to honor for their accomplishments. He also served many years as a Howland Athletic Hall of Fame member, volunteers as a hypnotherapist to help students relax so they can better prepare for academic, music and sports competitions, as well as improve their grades. Along those lines, Potashnik has met with students before important events in their lives to give them encouragement to believe in themselves and aim for their full potential.

For such efforts, he has been nominated as one of this year’s Community Stars. The program, co-sponsored by the Tribume Chronicle and Trumbull 100, recognizes the brightest examples of community service and the people who do those good deeds.

On various occasions, Potashnik added layers of reality to what he taught in his classroom to enrich the learning experience for his students. He welcomed Holocaust survivors to his classes, and on one occasion, Potashnik brought former heavyweight champion boxer Mike Tyson to his psychology class, where the boxer discussed the value of education

“I don’t want to be an old person and look back and say, ‘I wish I had done this or I wish I had done that.’”

— Charles Potashnik

and family, as well as taking care of one’s body.

He also sweetened things a bit for his economics students by allowing them to create “little companies,” in which the students competed with one an other. Those who “lost” money had to buy do nuts for those who “won,” he fondly recalled.

Other achievements include working on be half of Warren Civic Music projects and driving neighbors to doctor’s appointments. In 1969, Potashnik co-founded Contact Trumbull, a 24-hour all-volunteer ecumenical organiza tion that three Warren-area churches had launched.

Potashnik displayed a taste of modesty when asked about his continued efforts to reach beyond himself and to leave his mark on many hearts and lives.

“I don’t want to be an old person and look back and say, ‘I wish I had done this or I wish I had done that.’ People I’ve helped are inspiring in so many ways.”

Nevertheless, the longtime educator plans to continue literally giving part of himself in another, potentially life-saving way: He has a goal of donating 25 gallons of blood on behalf of the Red Cross and has one gallon to go.

“Basically, he eats and sleeps Trumbull County,” said Linda Aggarwal, who’s known Potashnik about 37 years and nominated him as a Community Star. “All four of my sons had him (as a teacher) and they loved him. He’s touched so many lives.”

Aggarwal praised her longtime neighbor for other charitable and selfless acts, such as his penchant for handwriting recommendation letters for anyone who asks for one. Before Potashnik and his wife left on a six-week vacation to Florida this year, he gave a neighbor Potashnik’s snow blower, with instructions to clear other neighbors’ driveways in the event of a heavy snow, Aggarwal explained.

Potashnik also enjoyed giving some students rides to school, though with a humorous string attached: Whenever such students saw someone’s empty garbage can on the curb, they were required to take it to the person’s garage.

“My kids still talk about that,” Aggarwal said, adding that she selected her beloved neighbor as a Community Star because of his care, compassion and kindness toward his students and many others.

Dennis Rossi

By MARLY REICHERT Staff writer

WARREN — Dennis Rossi is a Warren native through and through.

He attended Blessed Sacrament grade school and graduated from Warren JFK High School in 1972. After graduating from the University of Dayton, he returned to the city and entered the family business, Rossi Insurance Agency, which was founded nearly a century ago in 1924.

And because the community has supported the business for nearly 100 years, Rossi gives back to the community through his involvement in various nonprofit organizations.

It is because of this involvement that Rossi was named one of this year’s Community Stars. The program, co-sponsored by the Tribume Chronicle and Trumbull 100, recognizes the brightest examples of community service and the people who do those good deeds.

“I love helping people. I was born and raised in Warren, and the city and Trumbull County have been good to the Rossi family, so it is fitting for me to give back,” Rossi said. “My dad was involved in community service, so

I guess the apple does not fall far from the tree.”

Rossi has been an executive board member of Trumbull Family Fitness, formerly the YMCA in downtown Warren, for 15 years.

“My uncle bought me my first membership when I was in fifth grade, so I owe a lot to that organization,” Rossi said.

He has been a trustee for the Warren Sports Hall of Fame for more than 20 years. He and his father also were inductees.

“I was always involved in sports, and my dad and I supported the sports programs at all three high schools (JFK, Western Reserve and Warren G. Harding). I know how much it means to be an inductee, and for me to be able to have a part in inducting someone else is priceless,” he said.

Rossi also is president of the W.D. Packard Board of Trustees and has been on the board since 2016. He also is the liaison between the board of trustees and the W.D. Packard Foundation Board, which he said is a “very young and energetic board.”

Six months ago, he was named chairman of the advisory board for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul-Northeast Ohio District Council. “When I leave the soup kitchen or the thrift store, it makes my day knowing I have helped those less fortunate,” Rossi said.

He said he was surprised he was chosen as a Community Star, but was not surprised he was nominated by his son, Marc. “He has been volunteering his time for what seems like my entire life,” Marc Rossi said.

“I was born and raised in Warren, and the city and Trumbull County have been good to the Rossi family, so it is fitting for me to give back.”

— Dennis Rossi

“But he has always been siting in the background because he doesn’t like the limelight, so I thought it was important for him to get the recognition so the community sees how much he does.”

He said his father always says how good the community has been to the family, so he shows his appreciation by giving back.

“He finds great fulfillment doing all this volunteer work. He sees all walks of life and it makes him feel good to give back,” Marc said.

And true to form, Dennis Rossi said he was humbled by the nomination and being chosen.

“I don’t know that I am deserving, but I appreci ate the honor,” he said.

mreichert@tribtoday.com

James Sweet

By GUY VOGRIN Staff writer

In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus talks about the people who will be in the Kingdom with him.

“When you were hungry, you gave me something to eat,” the Lord said about his people. James Sweet of Warren, an active member of SS. Mary and Joseph Church in downtown Warren and president of the parish’s conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, is one of those who help feed the hungry in the Warren community.

“He is a quiet, dedicated man who

has taken care of thou sands of people... We be lieve (Jim’s) greatest con tribution to the community is his tireless work operating the St. Mary and Joseph’s St. Vincent de Paul food pantry on a daily basis,” wrote Sandy Pavlic of Cortland and Joanne Siembieda-Barran of Warren, who nominated Sweet for a 2023 Community Star award.

The program, co-sponsored by the Tribune Chronicle and Trumbull 100, recognizes the brightest examples of community service and the people who do those good deeds.

“We believe he is an unsung hero to the people he has served,” the women continued.

An Army veteran, Sweet retired as a mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service after 47 years in 2012. The next year, he began volunteering at the food pantry and five years later, he took over the operation of the food service, becoming its fulltime volunteer.

“I don’t feel like I am worthy of it and I am appreciative of the ladies who felt that I deserved

the honor,” Sweet said. “I just do what I can to help people.”

The pantry, located inside Warren’s first Catholic parish at the corner of Seneca and High Streets NE, is open five days per week mostly during late morning to early afternoon hours.

Both women who nominated Sweet said he is there every day helping the patrons whom he refers to as “our neighbors.”

The pantry is stocked through the donations of parishioners and the community, who have donated items through food drives, including the large spring one sponsored by the Post Office, and through dropoff boxes.

Sweet’s work involves picking up donations, sorting and stocking the pantry and keeping the required records.

“He is there before and after we leave. He takes care of buying gift cards, keeping impeccable records and making appointments for people to come in to receive assistance,” Sweet’s nominators said.

Sweet’s relatives remember him being active in the Sweet Family tent during the annual Relay for Life that raised money for the fight against cancer through the years in downtown Warren and at Mollenkopf Stadium. They remember him walking on the track every spring.

“He is a quiet, dedicated man who has taken care of thousands of people.”

— Sandy Pavlic and Joanne Siembieda-Barran, who nominated Sweet

“He would be out on the track with a sales pitch, getting people to come to our tent to buy raffle tickets for our baskets,” said his niece, Mary Beth Wyko.

In addition to these good deeds, both Pavlic and Siembieda-Barran remember Sweet meeting people in need at a drug store to help them get their prescriptions filled or buy them other supplies. He also has helped those down and out by obtaining furniture, household goods and clothing from the St. Vincent de Paul thrift store on Niles Road.

“The need is even great er today as many new neighbors find themselves struggling with higher rent, utility and gasoline costs and medication pric es. The need is great so Jim keeps on working,” the women said.

gvogrin@tribtoday.com

James Sweet On his Community Star Award

Previous winners

2022

Toussaint Blake, Warren

Allen Briggs, Leavittsburg

William H. Dennis, Jr., Warren

Jacob & John Fowler, Warren

Kathy Lepro, Warren

Jessica Licata, Vienna

Chuck & Donna Mackey, Howland

Cindee & Mark Mines, Champion

Meghan Reed, Warren

Dan Roscoe, Vienna

2020

Cindy Angelo, Warren

Beverly Gartland, Warren

Basil and Mary Lou Jarrett, Cortland

Pastor George Johnson, Warren

Virginia Logan, Kinsman

Terry Mascioli, Cortland

Ellie Monchak and Jean Potashnik, both, Warren

John Payiavlas, Warren

John Streitferdt, Warren

Carole Wiley, Cortland

2019

Linda Aggarwal, Warren

Robert Berk, Howland

Mike Bollas, Howland

Donna Fowler, Warren

Lance Grahn, Cortland

Miles “Jay” Johnson, Warren

Dave Luther, Howland

Lisa Ramsey, Warren

Janet Schweitzer, Howland

Barbara Vingle, Warren

2018

Andrew Bednar, Warren

Sam Covelli, Warren

Debbie Hayes, Warren

Katylu Herriman, Warren

Joyce Jones, Kinsman

Bonnie Loomis, Warren

Mary Lou and Sal Mormando, Warren

Joyce Polenick and Jennifer Economos

Sudzina, Warren

Teresa Webb, Bristol

Jay Wonders, Warren

2017

D’Andre Bowers, Warren

William E. Casey, Hubbard

Amanda Colbert, Warren

Shirley Frazier, Southington

William H. Gore, Cortland

Elliott Heckman, Warren

Lou Lepro, Warren

James McFarland, Warren

Dr. Farid Naffah, Cortland

James Shuttic, Warren

2016

Betty Jean Bahmer, Howland and

Anna Mae Cuchna, Niles

Paul Clouser, Warren

Shirley Cross, Warren

George Davis Jr., Niles

David Denovchek, Niles

Will and Kiisha Sanders, Warren

Diane Sauer, Howland

Anne Schweinfurth, Howland

Lori Ann Tichenor, Warren

Leigh Ann Zigler, Brookfield

2015

Kenneth Conklin, Warren

Martha Ellers, Warren

Anna Marie Holt, Champion

Todd Johnson, Warren

Robert Orr, Hubbard

Mary Jeanine Pipino, Warren

Beth Ann Vanek, Southington

Julia Wike, Warren

Jim Whetstone, Howland

Barbara Wright, Howland

2014

Selena Rockenfelder, Howland

E. Carol Maxwell, Warren

Lisa Booze, Leavittsburg

Barney Macali, Niles

Pierson “Butch” Butcher,Warren

Mary Ann Franklin, Warren

Kay Fisher, Warren

Frank Glenn, Cortland

Gary L. Gutelius, Warren

Heather Wells, Howland

2013

Carolyn Andrews, Warren

Rhonda Bennett, Warren

Cathy Carney, Niles

Caryn Covelli, Warren

Roberta Cykon, Fowler

Doug Herlinger, Newton Falls

Florence Hutton, Cortland

Robert Sauer, Warren

Steve Zerefos, Warren

2012

Martin L. Cohen, Warren

Michele Jones, Howland

Helen Ruth McKenzie, Vienna

James J. Mariano, Warren

David Moore, Bazetta

Geneva Reid, Warren

Ricky Pasco, Hubbard

Mackenzie Pasco Hubbard

Carol Olson, Howland

Nancy Olds, Bazetta

Ali Bashir, Warren

2011

Elizabeth Cole-Clark, Warren

Marjorie Dangaran, Warren

Hannah Emerson, Lordstown

Ruth Jean Hawkins, West Farmington

Harry & Debbie King, Cortland

Frank Manios, Warren

Gretchen Reed, Liberty

Aruthenia Simmons, Warren

Betty Strawderman, Howland

James Young, Cortland

2010

Barb & Mary Busko, Warren

Terrill Harvey, Warren

David Kostolansky, Howland

James Noyes, Hubbard

Earl Parthemer, Bazetta

Ben Rhoads, Howland

Don Strock, Champion

Jim & Anne Townley, Niles

Julie Vugrinovich, Howland

Katie Watson, Cortland

2009

James Barbe, Bristol

Lucille Bickel, Champion

Bill & Cordie Davis, Southington

Jim Economos, Warren

Vickie Harkelrode, West Farmington

Melanie Jones, Warren

Roderick Lewis Jr., Warren

Loretta J. Pernice, Warren

John & Marian

Scott, Cortland

Marjorie Sudimack, Warren

2008

Nancy & Gary Grusha, Mineral Ridge

Charles L. Jaros, Leavittsburg

Brian Kovach, Cortland

Debbie Meeker, Southington

Cindy Michael, Warren

Fred Palmer & Dennis

Nickle, Warren

Gussie Reed, Warren

Carmen Santone, Warren

Deryck Toles, Warren

John Taylor, Warren

2007

Ashley Angelotti, Howland

Nick Bellas, Warren

Jean Bolinger, Cortland

Bob Brothers, Niles

David Hamilton, Warren

The Rev. David Herron Sr., Warren

Lillie F. Johnson, Warren

David Lewis, Warren

Barbara Rosenblum, Kinsman

Eric Thompson, Newton Falls

2006

Edward Bellin, Cortland

Kathleen Bowen, Mineral Ridge

Paul Dieter, Howland

Dorothy French, Mesopotamia

Crystal Gunter, Sam Lanza, Warren

Wendell Lauth, Bristol

Rocco & Renee Maiorca, Cortland

James Potjunas, Vienna

Dr. James Snelson, Howland

2005

Dr. Robert Brodell, Warren

Robert Brown, Warren

Shawn Bryant, Howland

Ronald Froats, Howland

Roger Gardner, Warren

William Marteney, Newton Falls

Thomas Namola, Warren

Vincent Peterson, Howland

Dawn Rhodes, Southington

Shelley Taylor, Warren

2004

Veronica Caruso, Niles

Jessie Dann & Vinny

Gutierrez, Liberty

Ned Gold, Howland

Wil Harris Jr., Warren

LaRue Harshman, Southington

Don Hazel, Cortland

John Makosky, Champion

Pete Perich, Warren

Jeannette Sanders, Warren George Sparacino, Warren

2003

Larry Beardsley, Leavittsburg

Theresa Bungard, Warren Marli Conner, Cortland

William C. Horton, Southington

Freda Jackson, Warren

Dorothy Klein, Cortland

Thomas Klingeman, Warren

Kathy Lazor, Vienna

Dr. Franklin Rizer, Warren

Brittany Tennant, Southington

2002

Earnest Brown, Warren

Katy Chaney, Cortland

Leah Hubbard, Bristolville

Judy Kellogg, Niles

Louann Kenyon, Warren

Beverly MacPherson, Warren

Michael K. Overton, Warren

Ray & Betty Powers, Leavittsburg

John Stewart, Warren

Joan White, Southington

Sherri leads 7 17’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee as chair and also serves the community as an Inspiring Minds board member and the leader of Inspiring Minds’ Diversity Equity and Inclusion Council.

Sherri embodies the idea that stars are closer than you think, helping 7 17 members achieve their dreams and embodying the mutual respect we have for our communities. Sherri, you are a shining example of the Tribune Community Star by making an impact to better lives each day through passionate caring.

We applaud you … and congrats to all of the honorees making a difference in our community.

— Your 7 17 Credit Union family

Respectfully. Yours.

A warm congratulations to 7 17’s very own “Star” Sherri Bercheni, Vice President, Remote Delivery Experience.