CHRIS PUGH: Mahoning Valley Scrappers Sensory Suite is big help to special needs families
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As a father of two children with autism, it can sometimes be really hard to take them out to a public event.
It’s encouraging when your entertainment options offer options for special needs families.
The Mahoning Valley Scrappers and The Rich Center for Autism are offering a Sensory Safe Suite this year at Eastwood Field.
The suite will offer interactive play displays, sensory kits, lighting options and shades on windows and sliding doors to control the environment for those with autism.
“We are extremely excited to be expanding our partnership with the [Mahoning Valley] Scrappers to include the sensory suite,” The Rich Center for Autism Executive Director Mike Latessa said. “This will be an amazing asset not only for our students and families at The Rich Center for Autism, but the greater autism community of the Mahoning Valley as well.”
“We have built our partnership with The Rich Center for Autism over the past five years and to be able to work together to create a safe and comfortable space at Eastwood Field is something we are extremely proud of,” Mahoning Valley Scrappers General Manager Heather Sahli said. “We are pleased to offer this new inclusive space to our fans this summer and beyond.”
The Sensory Safe Suite includes twelve game tickets and three parking passes for each Scrappers game and the application to request tickets is available at mvscrappers.com.
It’s encouraging to see Youngstown State continue what was working with Ethan Faulkner
Jerrod Calhoun built an impressive resume through his work over the last seven seasons with the Youngstown State men’s basketball team.
After Calhoun left to take an offer with Utah State, it’s encouraging to see the Penguins stay in-house with Calhoun’s staff in picking long-time assistant Ethan Faulkner as the team’s new leader.
Faulkner promises hard work to continue to grow the tea,
“I give you my word that we’re going to work as hard as we possibly can every day to make sure that we continue to build upon the success that we’ve had here over the last seven years,” Faulkner told reporters at a press conference this week.
Let’s see what happens, but Faulkner represents a safe choice to recognize Calhoun’s work and how to continue to grow the team.
Petra continues to rock Christian music fans after over 50 years
As the son of a Baptist preacher, my rock and roll growing up wasn’t Metallica, Guns N’ Roses or Nirvana, but it was bands with a church flavor.
The Rolling Stones of Christian rock music was a band called Petra, which has maintained a dedicated following for over 50 years.
I attended a farewell concert from the band in 2005 in Youngstown, but the band continues to tour in the U.S. and through South America and Europe.
I was able to catch their “Best for Last” tour last month in Brunswick, Ohio, which featured fellow rockers Whitecross.
And the band still rocked with long-time lead singer John Schlitt and guitarist Bob Hartman, both 74 years old.
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This story was originally published April 14, 2024 at 6:00 AM.
