Community News

Seeing Eye

Seeing Eye

HO HO HO: Children and their families will be able to safely meet with Santa Claus beginning Friday through Dec. 24 at the Southern Park Mall in the JC Penney concourse. Children will have the opportunity to have a socially distanced conversation with and safely pose for a photo with Santa Claus. Advanced registration is recommended in order promote social distancing and contactless photo payment. For information visit https://southernparkmall.com.

BAKERS TO THE RESCUE: The second annual "Bakers to the Rescue" apple pie contest will be held virtually Tuesday at the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley. Portions of the event and announcement of winners will be streamed through the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley's Facebook page beginning at 10:30 a.m. the day of the event.

Four Divisions will be judged to determine the best apple pie baker: Kids (K-4th Grade); Youth (5th-12th Grade); Amateur Adults (Ages 18 & Older); and Professional / Corporate.

Entry form deadline is noon Monday. First-place winner of each division will receive a Hartford Orchards gift certificate. After judging, all pies will be served to clients at the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley for dessert.

Location and drop off times for pie entries: noon to 5 p.m. today at Hartford Orchards, 6953 Wilson Sharpsville Road, Fowler; anytime, and before 10 a.m. Tuesday, at the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley, 962 MLK Jr. Blvd., Youngstown. For information, call 330-744-5485 or email JMuckridge@Rescuemission mv.org.

Judging will take place at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, at the Rescue Mission.

Full contest rules and entry forms are available at www.RescueMissionMV.org/pie

FOOD DRIVE: The Griffith Agency in Girard is hosting its "Lend a Helping Hand to Help Those in Need" food drive for Thanksgiving. Items can be dropped at a box at the side office. Food items will be given to the Emmanuel Care Center in Girard.

STUFF THE BUS: Local teens will host Stuff-the-Bus for the Youngstown Blue Coats. The theme is "In America Nobody Should Freeze To Death."

Donations may be dropped off in the back parking lot at Corner House Christian Church, 6954 Chestnut Ridge Road, Hubbard. Donations needed are new or clean used sleeping bags, coats, hoodies, boots, gloves, winter hats, foot warmers, blankets, tents, tarps, gym / duffel bags and socks. To make a monetary donation, call the Youngstown Blue Coats 330-531-1762 or visit its website at Ytownbluecoats.org

Community News

Seeing Eye

Seeing Eye

DIRECTOR SHARES EFFORTS: Mill Creek MetroParks' Planning and Operations Director Justin Rogers will share his efforts to preserve the heritage and ensure the future of Mahoning Valley's "Green Cathedral" 10 a.m. today at Kravitz's Deli Meeting Room, 3135 Belmont Ave., Liberty, for the William Holmes McGuffey Historical Society.

All programs are open to the public. Member admission is $5. Nonmember admission is $6. Refreshments will be served and a 50/50 raffle will be held to benefit the society's education mission. Reservations are suggested. Walk-ins admitted, based upon seat availability. Seating is limited due to social distancing.

For reservations or more information, call 330-726-8277.

SAFETY FORCES DRIVE: The Liberty police and Fraternal Order of Police Local 65 will hold a food drive 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today at Giant Eagle, 4700 Belmont Ave., Liberty, to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank. This is the 11th annual Fill-A-Cruiser food drive.

TODAY

• Parent Support Group -- 11 a.m., Heart Reach Ministries, 211 Redondo Road, Youngstown. 330-330-2916.

Community News

Seeing Eye

Seeing Eye

RAFFLE SET: The Healthy Hearts and Paws Project's 300 Reverse Raffle will be held Saturday at Tiffany's Banquet Center in Brookfield. Tickets are $100 each for the event. All of the money raised will help the organization, which helps dogs.

Tickets can be purchased online at Healthy Hearts and Paws Project. People don't have to be present to win.

SESSION OFFERED FOR CAREGIVERS: The Alzheimer's Association Greater East Ohio Area Chapter is offering a "Caring for the Caregiver" session about the impact of caregiver stress and the importance of self-care.

The free webinar is 6 to 7 p.m. today. To register, call 800-272-3900.

The Association regularly offers free educational webinars about Alzheimer's. To find classes that fit your schedule, go to alz.org/crf. For around-the-clock caregiving help, call the Association's 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900. For more information on the Association's support groups, go to www.alz.org/eastohio/helping--you/caregiver--support--groups.

FOOD DISTRIBUTION: The Mahoning County Veterans Service Commission, in partnership with Gleaners Food Bank and on behalf of the Mahoning County Board of Commissioners, will host a food distribution 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Canfield Fairgrounds, 7265 Canfield Columbiana Road, Canfield. Patrons will enter through Gate 8 on state Route 45, and volunteers will enter through Gate 5.

This food distribution is funded in part by CARES Act funds provided by the United States government to Mahoning County and shall abide by all public health directives regarding mandatory masks and social distancing for volunteers.

Patrons will remain in their vehicles and drive through the distribution line and are requested to wear masks. Patrons are also asked to ensure their trunk or cargo area is cleared out.

For more information, contact Mahoning County Veterans Service Commission Executive Director Susan Krawchyk at 330-740-2450.

Community News

Seeing Eye

Seeing Eye

UNDERSTANDING: The Mahoning Valley YWCA will hold a racial justice online virtual workshop as part of the Lunch and Learn series "Understanding Race in America" noon today. The event will feature Margaret Mitchell, president and CEO of the YWCA of Greater Cleveland. Mitchell was instrumental in presenting "40 Years of Inequality: A Call to Action" in November 2018. The summit led to Cleveland declaring racism a public health crisis in 2020. Registration is required. To sign up, visit ywcamahoning valley.org

SIGNUPS FOR HOLIDAYS: Emmanuel Care Center in Girard is seeking donations and signups for Christmas. Signups will be taking place through Nov. 30 for families who are registered a the center at 330-545-4301. Children from birth to age 12 can be registered at the center. Gift cards will be given for children instead of gifts. Families will receive a call from the center to let them know when the gift cards are ready. Anyone wishing to donate to the center with monetary donations or gift cards to Target and Walmart can do so by Dec. 4 at the center, 2 N. State St., Girard.

TODAY

• Youngstown Toastmasters Executive 408 -- 6:40 p.m., Adamas Square, 8131 Market St., Boardman.

• Monday Night Miracles -- 7 p.m., Fellowship Hall, 2555 Rush Blvd., Youngstown.

• Ostomy Support Group -- 6 to 7 p.m. Salem Regional Medical Center's private dining room. Pre-registration requested. Call nurse Tashia Watkins, 330-332-7607.

• Alzheimer's caregiver support groups -- available free of charge, 2 p.m., at the Antonine Sisters Adult Day Center, 2675 North Lipkey Road, North Jackson. 1-800-272-3900.

Community News

Seeing Eye

Seeing Eye

SHOWING GRATITUDE: Veterans Appreciation Day will be 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday hosted by the Salem Historical Society. The event will be a day to show gratitude to a select group. Veterans Appreciation Day has been scheduled in Salem and around the county. There will be a variety of events for veterans, starting with a free drive-thru breakfast at the city lot by Euro Gyro. The Salem Historical Society invites all veterans and the public to the Freedom Hall building on the corner of East Pershing and Shaffer Way. On display are military items, including uniforms, photographs, scrapbooks and other related items. An opportunity will be given to veterans to share their military experience for a recording done by the museum volunteers. Persons attending this Appreciation Day are asked to wear face masks. Cotton gloves will be provided. Contact the Salem Historical Society if there are questions at 330-332-3514.

JCC OFFERS SENIOR SCAMS FORUM: The Jewish Community Center of Youngtown is offering "Senior Scams: Protecting Older Adults from Fraud and Elder Financial Abuse" from 6 to 7:30 p.m. today via Zoom.

Older adults can be attractive targets for financial predators both known and unknown to them. Losing money or possessions to scams, fraud, and exploitation can be especially devastating to older adults, who may not be able to earn back what they've lost. The best defense against scams and such exploitation is knowledge of the threat and what steps can be taken to avoid it.

This forum is designed to help older adults, family caregivers, and others to prevent, recognize and properly report financial exploitation to authorities. Sylvia Pla-Raith has more than 30 years of experience working in the interest of older victims. She is the lead staff member of the Ohio Attorney General's Elder Abuse Commission and the director of the Elder Justice Initiative. Prior to joining the Attorney General's Office, she served as the chief supervisor for Adult Protective Services in Cuyahoga County.

The Zoom link for the workshop is jewishyoungstown.zoom.us/j/93864476946. Visit jccyoungstown.org to click on the link directly.

Community News

Seeing Eye

Seeing Eye

FOOD GIVEAWAY: East Side Crime Watch is hosting a food giveaway 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday at the old fire station on the corner of Oak and Fruit streets. Those receiving food should bring identification and a bag. For more information, call Annie at 330-742-4880.

DRIVE-THRU "THANK YOU" TO VETS: The West Branch Local School District is honoring veterans by having a "Thank-You" drive-thru for those in the community. The event will be 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday at West Branch High School.

Veterans are invited to drive through West Branch High School's south parking lot for a small gift as a token of appreciation for service on Veterans Day. Veterans can drive up to the Fieldhouse lobby doors to receive the gift without ever leaving their car.

The event is being held in lieu of having a Veterans Day assembly. In addition, a video honoring veterans will be posted on the district website (https://www.westbranch.k12.oh.us/) Wednesday morning.

PICKLEBALL LEAGUE AT JCC: The Jewish Community Center of Youngstown is offering a Pickleball Ladder League and a Pickleball Shootout at the JCC, 505 Gypsy Lane.

The Ladder League offers participants the chance for competitive indoor play during the fall months. Players will be in groups of four and will compete to move up the ladder. The league plays 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 10, 17, 24 and Dec. 1. The cost is $15 for JCC members and $20 for nonmembers.

The 2020 JCC Fall Pickleball Shootout will be at 9 a.m. Nov. 14. The shootout includes any doubles combination (men's, women's, mixed combined) with skill levels of 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0+. Medals will be awarded for first-, second- and third-place winners. The tournament coordinator may limit or combine skill levels based upon registration numbers. Maximum six teams per skill level. The cost is $30 per JCC member or $45 per JCC member team and $40 per nonmember and $60 per nonmember team. Participants must register by today.

Organized indoor open play is offered from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and 9 a.m. to noon Sundays. Open play is free for JCC members. Nonmember pickleball passes are available. One session is $10, 10 sessions $70.

Visit jccyoungstown.org/fit ness/pickleball to register for pickleball events.

CEMETERY CLEANUP: The caretaker at St. Stephen Cemetery, Niles, is requesting that all flowers and decorations be removed by Nov. 15 to facilitate the fall leaf cleanup. Fall and winter decorations may be replaced on the graves the following week.

EAT'N PARK SHOWS APPRECIATION TO VETS: Eat'n Park Restaurants (www.eatnpark.com) is showing its appreciation for all active and former United States military personnel and their families by offering a 10 percent discount on their check during the entire month of November.

The discount applies to all meals on the active or former military personnel's check. The discount runs now through Nov. 30, at all Eat'n Park locations in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia.

The veterans' discount is valid for dine-in only, not for takeout or online orders and cannot be combined with any other discounts. Proof of military service is required. For more information, visit www.eatnpark.com.

TODAY

• Glimmer of Hope -- 8:30 p.m., Fellowship Hall, 2555 Rush Blvd., Youngstown.

• Gamblers Anonymous -- closed meeting, 7:30 p.m., Westminster Church, 119 Stadium Drive, Boardman. 330-505-5060.

• Nar-anon, support group for families of addiction, 7 p.m., Howland Community Church, Warren. Call Bill at 330-856-3822.

• Kiwanis Club of Youngstown -- noon, Downtown YMCA, 17 Champion St.

Community News

Seeing eye

Seeing eye

PAJAMA COLLECTION: Akiva Academy and Jewish Family Services are partnering to collect new pajamas, sizes infant to adult, for children in foster care in Mahoning County. The pajama drive runs through Dec. 10. Drop off boxes will be located at the Jewish Community Center, 505 Gypsy Lane, and Jewish Family Services, 517 Gypsy Lane.

APPRECIATING VETS: Eat'n Park Restaurants is showing its appreciation for military personnel by offering a 10 percent discount on their check during November. The discount applies to all meals on the active or former military personnel's check. Proof of service is required. For information, visit www.eatnpark.com.

ODE CONFERENCE VIRTUAL: The Ohio Department of Education will host Ohio's Trauma-Informed Schools Conference virtually 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. on Saturday. A recording of the event will be available for one week after the conference for all registered participants.

This conference offers an opportunity to better understand the impact of trauma and how to apply trauma-informed practices at the district, building and classroom. Virtual sessions will be led by educators, school support staff, practitioners, and community partners and will provide tools and resources to implement trauma-informed practices in schools and classrooms. Free continuing education credits will be available for educators, mental health providers, and school nurses.

Visit WholeChild@education.ohio.gov or call 614-466-2945.

Anyone with items for Seeing Eye should call 330-841-1738; email Society@tribtoday.com; mail or drop off information at the Tribune Chronicle.