Your Morning Matters: What’s up, Doc?

Good morning and welcome to your Morning Matters — with reporter Jess Hardin.

It's Tuesday, July 27, 2021, and on this day 81 years ago, one of the most popular cartoon characters of all time was born.

On July 27, 1940, Warner Brothers released the Looney Tunes animated short "A Wild Hare," in which Bugs Bunny makes his first official appearance.

"A Wild Hare" features Bugs' signature pose, leaning against a tree rapidly eating a carrot — a nod to Clark Gable's character in "It Happened One Night." Not thinking much of it, director Tex Avery also added Bugs' catchphrase, "What's up, Doc?" It allegedly "caused complete pandemonium in the audience, bringing down the house in every theater." Animator Chuck Jones explained why it's funny:

You come home late one night from work, you walk up to the gate in the yard, you walk through the gate and up into the front room, the door is partly open and there's some guy shooting under your living room. So what do you do? You run if you have any sense. The least you can do is call the cops. But what if you come up and tap him on the shoulder and look over and say, "What's up Doc?" You're interested in what he's doing. That's ridiculous. That's not what you say at a time like that.

While Bugs first came to life at the Warners' Hollywood studio he would later symbolize, the brothers themselves began their prolific film careers here in Youngstown.

The Warner family, including brothers Harry, Albert, Sam and Jack, immigrated from Poland and settled on the North Side of Youngstown in 1896. While working as a projectionist at Idora Park, 15-year-old Sam convinced his family to purchase a Model B Kinetoscope. He and Albert traversed Ohio and Pennsylvania to display showings of "The Great Train Robbery." After opening multiple theaters in the area, the duo moved to California to open a production studio in 1918.

Despite their massive success, they remained connected to film contemporaries back home, even wiring Joe Shagrin to congratulate him on the opening of the Foster Theatre on Youngstown's South Side in 1938.

Let's remember our roots and make today count.

Here's what you need to know about the Mahoning Valley today:

The Ohio Department of Health is expected to release its guidance for mitigating COVID-19 in schools today. During a news conference Monday, ODH Chief Medical Officer Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff explained the state is making three recommendations: that eligible people get vaccinated, unvaccinated people mask up and schools implement additional safety measures.

Notably absent from Vanderhoff's outline of the guidance were mandates. School districts will have to make these calls. They'll also bear the burden of enforcing them and managing any ire they cause.

Pandemic facts

• In the U.S.: 34,531,694 confirmed cases; 610,947 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University & Medicine at 10 p.m. July 26.
• In Ohio: 1,122,647 confirmed or suspected cases; 20,464 deaths.
• In Pennsylvania: 1,220,671 confirmed or suspected cases; 27,827 deaths.
• In the Mahoning Valley: 22,685 confirmed or suspected cases in Mahoning County; 16,786 in Trumbull; and 9,196 in Columbiana.
• Dow Jones Industrial Average: Closed at 35,144.31, up 82.76 points, or 0.24%.

Other matters

The Austintown Township Fire Department has received $50,000 in discretionary funding from Mahoning County to repair the aged pavement outside one of its station garages. Mahoning County commissioners presented a ceremonial check to township officials during the trustees' Monday evening meeting. Mahoning Matters

Youngstown City Council will vote Wednesday on whether the Youngstown Police Department should move forward with plans for all officers to have body cameras. Mahoning Matters

The Youngstown State University Excellence Training Center opened Monday to help bring workforce development to the Mahoning Valley. "We're just one part of an ecosystem here in Youngstown, but this is a chance for this Excellence Training Center to be a shining star and another jewel in the crown of the Mahoning Valley," David Sipusic, the center's executive director, said. Mahoning Matters

The Melina Michelle Edenfield Foundation, formed in honor of a 4-year-old Canfield girl who died from a brain tumor in June 2020, has set this year's Choose Joy for Melina fundraiser for 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 7 on the Canfield Village Green. The Business Journal [May require registration.]

To work at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Warren native Tori Piper had to be vaccinated, tested, quarantined and tracked with an app she uses to check in wherever she goes. Despite jumping as many hurdles as any track star, there's nowhere else the 2005 Warren G. Harding High School graduate would rather be. The Vindicator [May encounter paywall.]

Newton Falls City Manager David Lynch revealed an idea Monday for a covered bridge with an estimated price tag of $2.5 million. Lynch presented mock-ups of how he would like the West Branch Bridge to look if the idea gets traction. WFMJ

The Pavlansky name is no stranger to Poland. It sits proudly on top of the scoreboard, with the field being named after longtime Bulldogs coach Dave Pavlansky. Now, another Pavlansky is heading the program as his son Tom takes over after 22 years at Lakeview. WKBN

In case you missed it

Mahoning Paddle and Pedal, a bike, canoe and kayak rental service, started in June with hopes of filling a need in the community for outdoor recreational equipment rentals and encouraging Mahoning Valley residents to get active at any age. Mahoning Matters

This story was made possible by Farmers National Bank.

Your comments matter

"Using a website paid for with taxpayer money is not the place to state your personal views. He needs to be fired. I'm sure they have policies against this sort of thing."

— Teresa Marr Boyce, on an Ohio sheriff who is drawing ire and support after speaking out against the upcoming name change for the Cleveland Indians, which he described as an attack on America's culture.

Registered readers can comment on a selection of our stories, and all readers can comment on stories on our Facebook page. Opinions published here do not reflect the views of Mahoning Matters.

Event of the day

It's Game Night at Noble Creature Cask House, 126 E. Rayen Ave., Youngstown, from 6 to 10 p.m. Seasoned gamers and those new to board games are welcome to join in. Instructors will be available to help anyone learn a new game or answer any questions. Noble Creature will offer $1 off drafts for anyone attending to play games. Click here to register.

To see what else is going on around the Mahoning Valley, check out Mahoning Matters' event calendar here, or click the Events tab on the top menu at mahoningmatters.com.

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This story was originally published July 27, 2021 at 6:55 AM with the headline "Your Morning Matters: What’s up, Doc?."