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Sgt. McDonnell gets hero's proclamation

Bob Mastriana runs in
first Boston Marathon

Boardman Rotarian Bill Gambrel (left) points out that fellow Rotarian Bob Mastriana was competing in the Boston Marathon as a Boardman Rotarian running for the Salvation Army Bob is also wearing a medal awarded to the finishers. Photo By Mike Varveris.

An appreciative Oreste Fata (standing left) thanks Sgt. Ed McDonnell in front of a packed house at the Boardman government center for saving his life one wintry night at St. Luke's Church. Between them is Police Chief  Pat Berarducci. Seated in the back are from left: Fire Chief Jim Dorman, Fiscal officer Bill Leicht and township trustees Kathy Miller, Larry Moliterno and Robyn Gallitto who honored Sgt. McDonnell with a hero's proclamation. Photo courtesy of Boardman PD.

By Mike Varveris

Poland's Bob Mastriana completed the 26 miles of the recent Boston Marathon in 4:58 hours and raised $14,500 for the local Salvation Army as a result of his effort.
A local architect and secretary of the Boardman Rotary Club, the 58-year-old Mastriana also thanked his fellow Boardman Rotarians for the club's financial assistance to the Salvation Army.
Bob was one of 21,963 of 25,300 runners who completed this year's 112th annual run of the most noted Marathon in the world. It was a very pleasant day this year as compared to the 2007 when it took place in a blustery rainy day, he said. 
While this was his first Boston Marathon, he has run in 11 other marathons over the years.
"Around 3,500 didn't complete the race," he said. "I felt good that I finished ahead of 1,500 others who finished the marathon. We raced past eight historic communities and we were cheered by co-eds of Wellesley College as we passed them. Some of us wondered if Hillary Clinton, a 1969 graduate was among them."
Mastriana said the last half of the marathon was a little rougher as it took them over hilly terrain. Wearing number 24092, he was one of 11 who ran to benefit the. Salvation Army."
It was a phenomenal race with Robert Cheruiyot of Kenya winning the race for the 4^th time in 2:07:45, he said. The number two and three finishers were from Morocco. The next five were from Kenya. Nicholas Archianaga, the top American, finished in 10th place with a run of 2:16:13.

hugged the officer and said, "Ed, I wouldn't be here tonight without you.
What follows is the rest of the story of what happened that night.
Sgt. McDonnell, a 12-year veteran of the Boardman Police Department, was off-duty and was working security at St Luke's School during Bingo that February evening.
Because it was a wintry night, Sgt. McDonnell was escorting Oreste Fata with the Bingo receipts to the church's rectory in his cruiser when Fata suddenly collapsed and stopped breathing.
Using his police radio, the officer sent an SOS to the police communication center for assistance and checked Fata for a pulse. He advised the police dispatcher that Fata had no pulse and was not breathing. He then pulled Fata out of the cruiser and began CPR.
Remembering his training, McDonnell did continuous chest compressions until the ambulance crew and firefighters arrived to the scene within three minutes and were able to stabilize Fata with the AED (Automatic Defibrillator) devise to shock Fata's heart into rhythm and take him to the hospital for further treatment. O'Donnell starting CPR immediately coupled with the firefighters arriving quickly and applying AED are credited for saving Fata's life..
"It was the longest three minutes of my life,"  recalled McDonnell. "I knew help was on the way as I heard fire sirens screaming, and then the firefighters took over."
Police Chief Patrick Berarducci said firefighters and police work as a team. "We are the safety net for the people of our community," he continued. "This was another case of police and fire working together quickly to save a man's life."                       

"Vampire" at Boardman
Rotary "vanting blood"

Boardman to spend
$332,000 on roads

Boardman trustees okayed an expenditure of $332,000  at their last meeting to resurface portions of 15 township roads this summer.
Road Superintendent Larry Wilson said streets include portions of Mill Creek Blvd., Homestead Dr., Oak Knoll, Stratford Rd., Centervale Ave., Glendale Ave., Traymore Dr., Dover Rd., Sheridan Rd., Alverne Dr., Meadowbrook Ave., Leland Ave., Holm Way and Applecrest Ct.
Bidders have until May 12 to submit their bids. Trustees expect to award the contract on their May 21 meeting if they meet township specifications.
The money will come from the township's permissive motor vehicle tax, said Wilson.

Jamieson appointed to
Boardman Park Bd.

John Jamieson of Zimmer's Duplicating Products in Youngstown and a long time Boardman Rotarian was appointed recently  by Boardman trustees to the Boardman Park Board replacing Mark Luke. Trustees also named  Gary West, a former FBI agent to the Civil Service Commission replacing John Ridel who has served on the Commission since 1982 when it was formed.

A "vampire" paid a surprise visit to Boardman Rotary last week "vanting blood." Actually it was Pastor Ash Welch of Boardman First Methodist Church promoting  the blood drive which the club is sponsoring on May 19 at Westminster Presbyterian Church from 1 to 7 p.m.  Not only was he seeking blood donors, he was asking members to also bring baked goods. He said the need for blood is greater than ever. Photo by Mike Varveris.