Tire shop volunteers get on a roll to clean up West Side
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YOUNGSTOWN -- About two dozen people gave up their Saturday morning to beautify the West Side of Youngstown as part of a Mahoning Avenue cleanup, sponsored by Legacy Tire and Auto Repair.
Owner Rich Rogenski said Legacy has been operating for just 18 months but has existed since 1978 under a different name. It has been a family affair, including his wife, son, daughter-in-law, and employees they consider part of the family.
"My son Brian grew up in the service department," Rogenski said.
He is now the shop manager.
His wife, Mary, does the bookkeeping and clerical work and makes sure the customers are treated right.
"I worry enough for everyone," she said.
She said she grew up in the city, and the family is "deeply involved in the community." She wants to "keep our part of the city looking as good as it can."
Daughter Stephanie Dubbs lives in St. Louis, but came home to help organize the event.
According to service manager Wayne Thomas, "Brian and I met with Mayor Derrick McDowell. Instead of asking what the city could do for us, we asked what we could do for the city. Mayor McDowell suggested a neighborhood cleanup."
Volunteers met at Legacy's store at 2408 Mahoning Ave. at 8:30 a.m. and were treated to apple fritters. Then Ana Sumner and Kalysta Zembower of the Youngstown City Health Department passed out trash bags, gloves, grabbers and reflective vests.
The items came out of a trailer known as R.U.B.Y., for Revitalization and Urban Beautification of Youngstown. The trailer was funded by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. It can be reserved at no cost at www.YoungstownOhio.gov/green.
The group spread out and picked up trash on both sides of Mahoning Avenue from the Circle K at Belle Vista Avenue to the Michael Kusalaba Library at Schenley Avenue.
Officer Craig Whitfield of the Youngstown Police Department did not know about the cleanup. He was there because a stranded motorist had a flat tire. He said the YPD "tries to be as helpful as possible."
Rogenski said this has happened before and when officers try to pay him, he refuses. "There are more important things than money," Rogenski said. "This area has been very good to us, and we want to give back to the community."