Good morning and welcome to your Morning Matters.
It's Monday, March 29, 2021, and on this day one year ago, we lost beloved Mahoning Matters Business Executive Mark Eckert. And while it's impossible to comprehend that a year has gone by, the other reality is that he's never left our team.
I talk to Mark all the time. We launched in October 2019, and by February 2020, we really started to make progress with audience and recognition. I can remember early on Mark's frustration because we went from The Vindicator (which everyone knew) to this startup (that not everyone knew).
By late February, that all seemed to change: We were connecting with the audience in bigger numbers; our analytics were the strongest we had seen up until that point; he had several partnership contracts in hand. Then, everything seemed to fall apart as March began. Cancellations and shutdowns caused those contracts to fade. Our world descended into a new, terrible normal. Then Mark got sick.
I interviewed him about his trip to Cleveland to get tested. It took more than a week for those results to come back as positive. I talked with him during his trip to the Cleveland Clinic and after he was admitted. Then we texted. That final day, he did not respond to a text. Later I was awakened with the devastating news that he had died.
Yet, I didn't stop talking to him.
In the past year, thanks to all of you, we've made much progress despite the pandemic. We're a recognized brand in the Valley. We are the benefactors of generous private donations and foundations. Our future looks brighter.
As we all slowly emerge from the hellish isolation and trauma of the past year, we can't forget the people we've lost. We have to make sure that their loss means something. We can't leave their contributions — to our families, to our work, to our communities — behind. We have to carry them with us.
Which is why I still talk to Mark. I keep him updated. And today, I ask all of you to keep a kind thought for Mark, his friends and his family and for all we've lost in the past year.
In their memory, let’s work extra hard to make today count!
Here's what you need to know about the Mahoning Valley today:
Ohio's coronavirus cases have increased for the second week in a row after weeks of improvement. Last week, Ohio reported 7,835 new confirmed cases, up from 7,019 the week before and 6,770 three weeks ago.
As a result, the state's pandemic finish line — an average of 50 new cases per 100,000 people over two weeks — has gotten slightly more out of reach. Last week, the average rose from 143.8 to 146.9. Reporter Jess Hardin takes a look at the trends.
Other matters
This week, columnist Liz Dreier tells us that at the start of the pandemic a year ago, she vowed "there would be no time wasted binge-watching TV in my house!" As the year wore on, however, she eventually gave in to temptation. Uh-oh. Mahoning Matters
Youngstown City Council will vote to approve the $176 million 2021 budget during a virtual special meeting at 4 p.m. today. Mahoning Matters
There’s more sad Valley news as local writer and comic book artist Chris Yambar, 59, died Saturday. His wife and agent shared the news on Facebook. WKBN
21-WFMJ TV was allowed to take a camera inside St. Patrick's Church in Hubbard for the first time since a January fire left the parish with millions of dollars in damage.
We also have a peek inside the TJX HomeGoods Distribution Center courtesy of Joe Dickey Electric Co. and the NECA-IBEW website. The Business Journal [May require registration.]
Boardman Township officials have “very low” concern regarding the fate of Southern Park Mall, even though Washington Prime Group is in debt negotiations after not making a $23.2 million interest payment in February. The Vindicator [May encounter paywall.]
Movers and Makers
Cortland's Just Pizzelles is celebrating Easter with an in-store Easter egg hunt event Thursday through Saturday. Christina Benton said the idea for her business came from her aunt — who regularly ordered pizzelles from Italy and strongly encouraged her to start a cookie business selling “just pizzelles.” Mahoning Matters
This story was made possible by Farmers National Bank.
Your comments matter
“This location was very efficient and well run. I was in and out in 20 minutes. 15 of that is observation time to ensure you don't develop superpowers.”
— Tom Trautman, on the mass vaccination site planned for the former Dillard's store inside Southern Park Mall, which is set to open Thursday. Local officials conducted a dry run at the site Wednesday.
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.
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"colleague" - Google News
March 29, 2021 at 05:55PM
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Your Morning Matters: Remembering a colleague and a friend - Mahoning Matters
"colleague" - Google News
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