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WARREN -- It may be easy to initially chuckle at the large inflatable frog outfit Luana Andamasaris wore, but she likely would prefer you refrain from leaping to the conclusion that it's all about fun and humor.
"This is devastating to me as a consumer, and it is devastating to me as a nurse," Andamasaris, of Cortland, said.
The source of her devastation was the tragic results she feels were brought on largely by the closing of the former Insight Medical Center at Trumbull, previously known as Trumbull Regional Medical Center. Specifically, Andamasaris' husband, Bill Andamasaris, became ill in March and was scheduled for a series of medical appointments through early this month, but died July 3 primarily because of a lack of access to healthcare, she recalled.
In remembrance of her late husband -- and to call further attention to what Andamasaris sees as a "healthcare desert" in the Warren area and beyond -- she donned the outfit and joined a few dozen others for a Million Frog March Saturday morning on Courthouse Square.
Hosting the two-hour peaceful rally, with touches of humor added for good measure, was Good Trouble Trumbull, a social-activism organization that takes its name from the late Georgia congressman and civil rights icon John Lewis, who urged people to "get into good trouble, necessary trouble" to nonviolently fight against injustices and social ills.
The frog was selected largely because, for many, it's a powerful symbol of peaceful community activism as well as environmental protection, Eric Vargo, a Good Trouble Trumbull committee member, said.
Saturday's rally also was in solidarity with a nationwide International Day of Action aimed at bringing together communities to support democracy, the environment and civic engagement, he noted.
Part of the problem regarding healthcare access has been long waits, too few diagnostic testing opportunities and not enough facilities in the area, said Andamasaris, who worked 47 years at the former Warren hospital with those who had cancer.
A pink-and-purple inflatable unicorn was the choice of showing solidarity for Amy Fetchko of Howland, who noted that it also became symbolic of peace that, in a significant way, mirrors the added colorful, inflatable attire many protesters wore outside of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in South Portland, Oregon.
On Sept. 27, 2025, President Donald Trump threatened to send National Guard troops to that city to enforce his immigration policies and crack down on what he termed "domestic terrorists," which has led to a drumbeat of growing protests outside of the ICE facility. Over time, the number of protesters wearing inflatable chicken, frog and other outfits grew to where that section of Portland became a colorful menagerie of inflatable animal characters.
"Inflatable animals became a thing in Portland," Fetchko said.
With early voting starting in fewer than 10 days, and the midterm elections a handful of weeks away, it's vital that people are registered to vote to make their voices heard, Fetchko said Saturday, adding that her concerns also center around environmental degradation brought about from hydraulic fracturing, widely known as "fracking," and oil drilling in national parks.
The rising gasoline prices are a chief worry and hardship for C.J. Adkins of Leavittsburg.
"I travel for work, and I have a special-needs child and have five appointments a week. I travel to Akron, Liberty and Boardman five times per week," she said.
Not long ago, Adkins was able to fill the tank to her 2009 Chevrolet HHR vehicle for about $40. Today, it costs her closer to $60, even using grocery store reward points, she added.
Even though her car can travel 400 miles on a tank of gas, she has to fill it twice weekly, she said.
Laura Liberman of Warren, who is a retired doctor, urged people to not only vote early in the Nov. 3 election, but for them to encourage at least three friends to follow suit. She was among those at Saturday's rally who manned a table that contained voter registration and information update forms.
It's important for registered voters to exercise their right and not be stopped by fears that ICE agents could be at polling places to harass, threaten or intimidate them, she stressed.
In addition, it is critical that people check and recheck their voting status because they can be mistakenly removed from the rolls, Liberman said, adding that a flawed federal database has erroneously flagged up to 20% of those assumed to be noncitizens, only to discover they are U.S. residents.
She also urged people to visit www.voteohio.gov, where they can register to vote, verify registration status, learn about absentee voting, request absentee and/or mail-in ballots and find their Election Day polling places.
The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 5. Early voting begins Oct. 6 and runs through Nov. 1.
Mail-in ballots must be received at county board of elections offices by 7:30 p.m. Election Day.