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CLEANUP IN SEPTEMBER: Legacy Tire & Auto Repair will host its inaugural Legacy Mahoning Avenue Cleanup on Saturday, Sept. 19, bringing residents, businesses, students, families and community organizations together to clean designated sections of the Mahoning Avenue corridor in support of World Cleanup Day 2026.
Volunteer check-in will begin at 8:30 a.m. at Legacy Tire & Auto Repair, located at 2408 Mahoning Ave., Youngstown. The cleanup will take place from 9 a.m. to noon. In the event of inclement weather, a backup date is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 26, at the same time.
The event is designed to give the community a simple, hands-on way to help improve one of Youngstown's important business corridors. Volunteers will pick up trash, clean designated areas, and help create a more welcoming environment for residents, visitors, customers, and the businesses that call Mahoning Avenue home.
Every eligible registered participant who checks in and volunteers will receive one entry into a drawing for a $150 Legacy Tire & Auto Repair gift certificate. No purchase is necessary, and official rules will be available before the event.
Advance registration is requested at https://legacy-tire.com/mahoning-ave-cleanup/. Walk-ups are welcome.
RETAILER HONORED: Levin Furniture & Mattress and John V. Schultz Furniture have been named Furniture Retailer of the Year for 2026 by the International Home Furnishings Representatives Association, recognizing the combined organization's history, community impact and continued growth across the region.
The company features stores in Niles and Boardman.
Levin traces its roots to 1920, when Sam and Jessie Levin founded the Sam Levin Furniture Company in a single storefront in Mount Pleasant, Pa. Twenty years later, John V. Schultz opened his namesake furniture store in Erie, Pa.
Though the two companies grew independently for nearly a century, both were built on the same foundation: quality products, exceptional customer service, and a lasting commitment to the communities they served. Levin remained family-owned for generations, most recently under third-generation owner Robert Levin, who retired in 2017, while the Schultz family expanded John V. Schultz Furniture and opened several Ashley stores of its own.
Today, under the leadership of Matt and John Schultz, the combined Levin and JVS organization operates more than 30 locations, including six Ashley stores, serving customers across western and central Pennsylvania, northeastern Ohio and surrounding markets. The privately owned company employs more than 1,000 associates.
PROJECT CALL WINNERS: America Makes and the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining, headquartered in Youngstown, recently announced the 25 winners of a recent $10.5 million project call funded by the U.S. Department of War.
The request for proposals focuses on unified requirements and training in specified programs. This project builds on the original effort to strengthen manufacturing readiness and expand defense industrial bases capabilities by standardizing AM training and audits, aligning suppliers with acquisition requirements, accelerating the onboarding of nontraditional vendors and ensuring consistent, qualified production.
The training curriculum will be developed in partnership with Wichita State University - National Institute for Aviation Research. Specifically designed for production and engineering operations managers, this training will teach leaders how to implement process control documents and qualification principles effectively.
Once suppliers have completed training and integrated the guidance, an audit will be conducted to verify their ability to operate as qualified AM manufacturers for the Department of War.
TWO HIRINGS: Farmers Trust Company, based in Canfield, has recently hired Stephen Groves, Vice president, personal trust administrator and Tracey Wilson, vice president, retirement plan services relationship manager.
Based in Farmers' Dublin location, Groves will serve the greater Columbus area. He brings nearly 20 years of experience to the growing Farmers Trust Company team in Central Ohio.
Groves is a graduate of Miami University where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Business. He then continued his education at Kent State University to obtain his MBA and DePaul University for his Master of Science in Accountancy. He has obtained his certified public accountant license and is a member of CCIM Institute.
Based at Farmers Trust Company's Howland location, Wilson will serve the Mahoning Valley and brings more than 30 years of financial services experience, most recently as a relationship adviser.
Wilson graduated from Clarion University and has obtained the following certifications: Charter Retirement Planning Counselor and Certified Plan Fiduciary Adviser.
"We are very excited to add two highly experienced and credentialed professionals to our team, as we continue to enhance our Retirement Plan Services Group and bring trust services to our Central Ohio Market," said David A. Dastoli, president of Farmers Trust Company.