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CANFIELD – It was a packed house Thursday for the 2026 Youngtown/Warren Regional Chamber's Good Evening Canfield event at Waypoint 4180, where updates were given by local government and school district officials, and two special awards were presented.
The first award was the Business Pride Award, given to Chuck Whitman of CTW Development. Whitman had the vision for the Westford Lifestyle Community and Waypoint 4180. Whitman's son, Brad Whitman, presented future projects for the Westford area, including a big project slated to begin in the spring known as "The Street."
"We are going to create the most unique work space (environment) between Cleveland and Pittsburgh," Brad said.
The Street will feature five themed rooms available for private rental. Among the rooms are the 1776 Colonial Room with a timber beam ceiling and brick hearth, the Executive Suite, The Garden Terrace Room, and the White Room with its elegant chandeliers. Brad also mentioned CTW purchased 12 acres across U.S. Route 224 from Westford. He is unsure of what the final design would be, but said higher end apartments are being considered.
The second award for the night was presented by Canfield Township Trustee and Regional Chamber member Marie Cartwright. She gave the Spirit of Canfield award to Cardinal Joint Fire District Chief Don Hutchison.
"He has always been of the mindset of community first," Cartwright said. "He started the heart saver community program long before AED's were popular. He came through the ranks of the fire department and he is Canfield."
"I am doing my job, but it is more like a calling," Hutchison said. "I love doing it and making it the best it can be."
Later at the event, Mahoning County Emergency Management Agency Director Conner O'Halloran gave a presentation on his department and the response to the July tornado and winds in Canfield Township.
"The storm cost $3,274,415.66," he said. "(For the cleanup), we coordinated a blitz in Austintown, Boardman and Canfield. Agencies who came together included road crews from Austintown, Boardman and Canfield, the Mahoning County Engineer, ODOT, Canfield dispatch, Amateur Radio Emergency Service, the EMA, Ohio State Highway Patrol, and the Mahoning County Sheriff's Office.”
He said the blitz cleanup yielded 1,719 loads of bulk debris and 40 loads of wood chips. It was determined that more than 1,000 trees were downed from the storm.
O'Halloran also said he likes to be organized for any situation. One thing he pointed out was in the case of a major structure fire with multiple departments responding. He said there are seven Engine 1s in the county, making communication difficult. Having different numbers help during multiple agency responses.
Under government updates, Canfield trustee Joe Paloski presented a video he and wife Angie put together. The video showcased the key points for 2026, including an update to the township zoning regulations, new pickleball courts at Township Park and the garage addition for the Public Works Department.
"We have also purchased four speed radar cameras," Angie said on the video. "They are not Flock cameras."
The last comment elicited a round of applause.
She said the cameras will be solar powered and would record speed, time of day and location.
One future highlight for 2027 is the joint paving program with the county. On the list for paving in 2027 are Mercedes Place, Stutz Drive, Seville Drive, Victory Lane, Paddock Circle and Winners Circle. Total cost of the paving program was estimated at $475,000. Another $300,000 paving project is Joyce Ann Drive, which will be done through an Ohio Public Works Commission grant.
Representing the city during the chamber event was Mayor Don Dragish. He presented the city's 2026 paving program that included Winona Avenue, Neff Court, Callahan Road, Verdant Lane, Gennaro Place and Montridge Drive.
Under major projects to be completed this year are the C.H. Campbell Water Service improvement project and the Glenview Culvert project that should be completed soon. For 2027, he said the city will host a special event.
"The city of Canfield has been a Tree City since 1981," Dragish said. "Next year, on April 13, 2027, the city will host the annual Arbor Day Foundation Tree City Awards ceremony."
Representing Canfield Schools was Superintendent Joe Knoll, who focused on some of the events the schools hosted this year. He also pointed out some facts that led the school board to placing a 5.9-mill levy before voters next month.
Knoll said the last levy passed by voters was in 2013. The upcoming levy will bring in an additional $5.7 million per year and will cost homeowners $207 a year per $100,000 of valuation. He said the district saved more than $4 million through cuts and attrition.