Correspondent photos / John Patrick Gatta The Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber hosted “Good Evening, Howland!” Thursday at Salvatore’s Italian Grill. Angela Kerns, COO of Southwoods Health, discusses the inroads made in Trumbull County by the health care system.

HOWLAND — Encouraging local leaders in business and politics to connect and learn about the ongoing developments — economic, traffic and school — in the Howland community, the Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber hosted “Good Evening, Howland!” Thursday at Salvatore’s Italian Grill.

The event is one of about a dozen that the chamber hosts across both Trumbull and Mahoning counties.

“We’ve had Good Morning and Good Evening programs for probably 25-plus years,” said Kim Calvert, executive vice president of membership, events and marketing / communication for the chamber, “and we try to have these in as many communities as we can across our Valley to get updates on what’s going on, whether it’s a mayor or the trustees, and what’s happening at the schools.

“Then, we try to bring in additional business aspects to get updates from the businesses that are either growing in that community, expanding or have something unique or interesting going on. It’s a way to be able to bring a lot of good updates to our business community.”

The evening featured presentations from Angela Kerns, COO of the Surgical Hospital at Southwoods Health, Howland trustee Frank Dillon and Howland Schools Superintendent Kevin Spicher, plus a special performance by the Howland School District Chamber Choir.

Representing Southwoods Health, Kerns spoke of the growing presence of the health care facility in Trumbull County.

She pointed out that since its inception in 1996, it has grown to become an inpatient facility with 24 beds, 17 operating rooms, endoscopy suites and four pain intervention suites in Mahoning County.

“Then, we started to see people come from Trumbull County. They asked us to expand,” she said.

The hospital started with an imaging center in 2014, and expanded to include primary care, specialty providers, outpatient services and a surgical hospital.

Southwoods Howland Specialty Care, 8740 E. Market St., officially opened Oct. 27 and brings together seven specialty services — cardiology, adult and pediatric gastroenterology, general surgery, orthopedics, pain management and advanced spine. “There’s a lot packed in that little building. We’ve really been supportive in the outcry for more access to care in Trumbull County,” Kerns said.

According to Kerns, Southwoods Health now has more than 50 locations between Trumbull, Mahoning, Columbiana and Mercer counties.

Dillon focused on collaborations. “The best projects, the ones that last, and the ones that truly serve the public, are not built on isolation.”

With that he discussed the Kimberly-Clark Project that will bring economic development in the future, the diverging diamond interchange at state Routes 46 and 82 and proposed traffic developments, plus renovations to Richard E. Orwig Park.

He pointed out that Kimberly-Clark bought property in Howland and Warren townships, and will get water from Warren city, which resulted in the three areas working together. “We’re having infrastructure work done on the roadways to make better access for truck traffic and for them to bring things in and out of that center. They’re going to use the railways that were formerly part of Republic Steel to move products.

“We look forward to more development in that area, simply because any companies that have to work to help whatever they’re making there and, maybe, distributing there, will want to be close to them so that they can all work together to get things done.”

In regard to the diverging diamond, he said that, while opinions are mixed, working with the Ohio Department of Transportation enabled it to happen.

“From the beginning, this project was about more than traffic flow. It was about safety for drivers, for emergency responders, for businesses and for the residents who rely on these corridors every day. The collaboration continues as the project moves into its next phase,” Dillon said.

The planned improvements include increased capacity on Route 46, a new traffic signal on Route 46 at Howland Springs Road and changes to the Howland Wilson Road intersection at Route 82.

“Once again, safety remains a driving force and continued coordination will ensure these improvements serve both local and regional needs,” Dillon said.

Finally, by partnering with the Howland Local School District and Howland Park District, the Richard Orwig Park received enhancements that “allow for enhanced year-round use that serve residents of all ages.”

Spicher thanked the chamber, as well as those in attendance that are on the Howland Board of Education and Howland High School principal Joseph Simko. Then, since he was requested to bring entertainment to the event, Spicher introduced Howland Choir Director Mark Semrau, who brought up the 13 members of the Howland School District Chamber Choir. They performed the spiritual “Plenty Good Room” and the Howland Alma Mater.

“It’s a great opportunity for the students to showcase,” said Semrau, Howland Choir Director of grades seven through 12. “They work so hard and a lot of times students or community members in this realm don’t see the students that work like this. So, it’s an opportunity for them to have another chance to get out and perform some of the music they work so hard on, not just for a competition, but to get it out and perform it so people can enjoy it.”