Community news
PAINT-N-SIP: Lepper Public Library will welcome local high school art teacher, Heather Connor, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday for a paint-n-sip event. Attendees will paint a winter scene while sipping on a nonalcoholic beverage. This is a limited class so sign up quickly at the circulation desk. A supply fee of $8 is due at sign-up. No refunds once supplies have been ordered.
OPEN HOUSE: Ursuline High School will host an open house 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday. Academic groups and school organizations will prepare booths. The administration and faculty will be available. Visit www.ursuline.com/rsvp.
BEADS, BAGS AND BINGO: The Junior League of The Mahoning Valley will present Beads, Bags and Bingo, a Mardi Gras-themed purse bingo fundraiser beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday at Waypoint 4180, 4180 Waypoint Place, Canfield. Doors open at 5 p.m.
Beads, Bags and Bingo promises a night in the spirit of Mardi Gras. Featured purses include Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Tory Burch and more. Admission is $50, which includes a card for 10 rounds of bingo, 50 door prizes and heavy appetizers. A cash bar also will be available. Attendees will be able to purchase additional bingo cards, raffle tickets for gift basket auction and 50/50 tickets.
SPORT FAN POTLUCK: The Girard Multi-Generational Center will host a sports fan potluck luncheon noon to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the center on Trumbull Avenue. Those attending can wear their favorite sports attire and represent their favorite team or player. There will be signups for the Super Bowl block pool. Those attending can bring a dish to share.
McDONALD CENTER: The McDonald Community Center, 500 Ohio Ave., offers various recreational activities. The center provides a place for seniors to socialize and connect with others. The center offers games, educational speakers, exercise, movies and various classes. For information, contact Tia at 330-979-8842.
SAUCE AND SONG: St. Patrick Church, 1420 Oak Hill Ave., Youngstown, will host Sauce and Song noon to 3 p.m. Sunday. There will be a concert from 1:15 to 2 p.m. with a free-will offering accepted. There also be a special dinner from noon to 3 p.m. with adults $10 and children under 8 $5.
LEARN TO GROW SEMINAR: The Ohio Valley Giant Pumpkin Growers is once again offering its annual free seminar “Learn to Grow Giant Pumpkins & Great Vegetables,” 9:30 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Parks Garden Center, 9010 Youngstown Salem Road, Canfield.
This fun, educational class covers the art and science of growing pretty much anything. This information-packed session, taught by Tim Parks, will include site selection, soil health and biology, patch layout, soil fertility / availability, fungus, pest and weed management, irrigation, mulching and vine pruning. Many of these same cultural practices also can be employed to grow your very best veggie garden ever. Call Parks Garden Center to register at 330-533-7278, or online at Ohiovalleypumpkingrowers.com.
LEAGUE TO MEET: Marine Corps League of Boardman has 85 Sparkle Market gift certificates of $40 each for veterans with identifications or DD-214. The drawing will be at 11 a.m. Sunday at Sparkle Market, 3623 S. Meridian Road, Cornersburg. The drawing is for the first 85 veterans.
ISRAEL-HAMAS PROGRAM: The Jewish Community Relations Council of the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation will present “ELEM: How a nonprofit organization responded to the Israel-Hamas War” at noon Tuesday via Zoom.
When Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, ELEM’s staff was at work in both southern and northern Israel. Participants will hear first-hand how ELEM’s work was affected by the war, how its is continuing its work in the north and south, the people ELEM lost and what the organization believes will be the continuing needs when the war ends.
Contact Nancy Sentelik at nsentelik@
jewishyoungstown.org or 330-746-3250, Ext. 108 to register and receive the Zoom link.
ELEM is Israel’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to the treatment and rehabilitation of troubled youth.
Community news
HOLOCAUST ART CONTEST: The Jewish Community Relations Council of the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation is inviting students in grades 7-12 in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties, and western Pennsylvania, to enter its annual Holocaust Writing, Art and Multimedia contest.
The annual contest is held in conjunction with Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Memorial Day), an internationally recognized day set aside for remembering victims of the Holocaust. This year, it will be commemorated on May 6.
The theme for the 2024 contest is “Righteous Among the Nations,” an official title awarded by Yad Vashem, the world Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem, Israel, to courageous non-Jews who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust.
Contest submissions must relate to those who rescued Jews in Nazi Germany and Europe, focusing on the years 1933 to 1941.
Contest guidelines are available on the Federation’s website, jewishyoungstown.org. The entry deadline is April 12. Submit submissions via email to Nancy Sentelik at nsentelik@jewishyoungstown.org.
Presentation of contest awards will be made during the Yom Hashoah Community Commemoration at noon on May 7 at the Mahoning County Courthouse.
CORNED BEEF CHALLENGE: The Mahoning Valley Irish Festival will host the second annual Corned Beef Challenge allowing the public to vote for those who craft the best corned beef in the Mahoning Valley. The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 2 at Penguin City Brewing, 46 E. Federal St., Youngstown. The event is open to both amateurs and professionals. There will be cash prizes. Cost is $25 per participant. Participants need to provide 200 samples of their corned beef creations. Contact info@mvirishfestival.com. A limited number of presale tickets are available at $10 per person at mvrish festival.com
AAUW HEAR COBB SPEAK: The American Association of University Women will welcome Christine Cobb, professor emerita from Youngstown State University, at the club’s 10 a.m. meeting Feb. 3, at the Boardman Library.
Cobb administered and coordinated the dance major and minor in the Department of Theater and Dance and also served as the artistic director of the YSU Dance Ensemble. She will be speaking on “All That Jazz,” a presentation exploring jazz dance with particular emphasis on authentic vernacular jazz from the 1920’s to 1940’s. There will be participatory dancing and viewing dance footage from the period. Wear comfortable shoes. No previous dance experience is needed.
Community news
CIVIL WAR DISCUSSION: Columbiana County & the Civil War by Timothy R. Brookes will take place 5:30 p.m. Thursday in the Children’s Department of the Lepper Library. Brookes will share research and stories he has collected about the Civil War in our area.
MRTA OFFERS SCHOLARSHIP: Mahoning Retired Teachers’ Association is offering a scholarship to a full-time student at Youngstown State University who is currently a junior or senior in the teacher education certification program. The student must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and be a graduate of a secondary school in Mahoning County.
Scholarship applications are available on the YSU website. More information can be found by calling the YSU Foundation at 330-841-3211.
Community news
SOCIETY TO MEET: Audubon Society of the Mahoning Valley will hold its monthly meeting 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Austintown Senior Center. The program, open to everyone, starts at 7 p.m. and will be presented by Larry Richardson, Sabrewing Nature Tours guide. His topic is “Better Birding in Northeast Ohio.”
ROADS CLOSED FOR RECREATION: The following roads in Mill Creek Park are closed to vehicular traffic for the winter season:
• High Drive, between Chestnut Hill Drive and West Cohasset Drive
• Chestnut Hill Drive, between Canfield Road and High Drive
• Calvary Run Drive, between Belle Vista Avenue and Milton Avenue
When closed to vehicular traffic, these roads are available for recreational use for hiking, cross-country skiing and sledding.
HELPING HANDS: Helping Hands Closet at Western Reserve United Methodist Church, 4580 Canfield Road, Canfield, has new and gently used clothing for the entire family. It is open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays.
Community news
JA FUNDRAISER: Junior Achievement of Eastern Ohio is having a fundraiser to benefit its financial literacy, entrepreneurship and career-readiness programs in Ashtabula, Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties. Partnering with James Massacci, a Florida-based artist and designer from Warren, JA is raffling an original painting with a retail value of $7,000 to $8,000, titled “Freedom,” which features birds in flight. Tickets, which cost $10 each or $45 for five, will be sold through Saturday. A winner will be announced Monday. Delivery of art will be arranged once a winner is drawn. Tickets can be purchased at www.easternohio.ja.org/events/boundless-freedom. For additional information, contact kristen.taylor@ja.org.
BYTE-SIZED BASICS: The Girard Free Library will offer Byte-Sized Basics in 2024. Residents of Girard and surrounding areas can meet with a trained professional one-on-one for help with a variety of computer-related tasks.
The sessions will cover a wide range of topics, including using the Microsoft suite and Google Docs, installing and using apps, troubleshooting internet and email, and accessing library resources. In addition, the program will offer homework and career assistance through the library’s online learning resource, Brainfuse.
Appointments are available Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Sessions will last for about 45 minutes. To schedule an appointment, call the library at 330-545-2508, Ext. 105, or go to www.girardfreelibrary.org.
Community news
SOCIETY TO MEET: The Poland Historical Society will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday with a program on “Cemetery Restoration and Find a Grave” with Christine Novicky of Vienna. The program will be at the Little Red Schoolhouse, 4515 Center Road, Poland.
MONDAY NIGHT WRITERS: Monday Night Writers will meet at 5 p.m. today at Leana’s Books and More, 4317 Kirk Road, Austintown. Area writers, both published and unpublished, are invited to attend. Author Nancy Christie will lead the group.
LEPPER LIBRARY: Toddler Storytime (ages 3 and under) is being offered at Lepper Library at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays. Every week will be a new story, song and coloring sheet.
Preschool Storytime will be offered at 11:30 on Wednesdays.
HEART ASSOCIATION: The Libraries with Heart campaign will kick off at 10 a.m. Tuesday. The American Heart Association is opening blood pressure hubs in all Mahoning County libraries. Patrons will have access to a blood pressure monitor, American Heart Association guided materials on how to properly measure blood pressure, an explanation of what blood pressure numbers mean, and a contact list of providers for anyone who needs follow-up. Libraries with Heart aims to improve the health of local communities.
SCHOLASTIC ART AWARDS: Scholastic Art Awards will host an art award ceremony at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Ford Theater at Youngstown State University. There is free admission. All gold key, silver key and honorable mentions are welcome.
CAMPUS TOUR: Mahoning County Career and Technical Center, Palmyra Road, Canfield, will host an open house at 6 p.m. Wednesday. The event will showcase technical training programs including welding, automotive technology, medical assisting, medical office specialist, firefighting and EMT. To register for the event, call 330-729-4100.
STEM INNOVATION DAY: Valley STEM +ME2 Academy will host a STEM Innovation Day, a hands-on event designed to inspire and engage students in grades 6-8 in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The event will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 27 at the academy, 7300 N. Palmyra Road, Canfield. To register for the event, contact Jessica Cene at jessica.cene@mahoningctc.com.
RAILROADERS MEETING: All railroaders invited to a breakfast meeting at 11 a.m. Thursday at EJ’s Restaurant, Chester, West Virginia. Any questions, contact Rocco at 330-853-3045.
TQGIBT TO MEET: That Quilt Group I Belong To (TQGIBT) invites everyone to attend its next meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Rotary Building at Fair Park on Oak Street in Canfield.
The guild meets on the third Tuesday of each month and welcomes quilters of varied skill levels, from beginner to experienced. Members are quick to offer help, if asked, and share their quilting projects and experiences. Group members also make regular donations of quilts, pillow cases, etc. to Hospice of the Valley, Akron Childrens Hospital, Beatitude House, Sleep In Heavenly Peace and more.
This month, members will begin a new, personal round robin quilt. This is an opportunity to incorporate an orphan block or an interesting fabric or panel to use as a central theme. Members are reminded to bring their selections to show.
The first border block will be announced at the January meeting. The door will be opened at 6:30 p.m., with the regular meeting beginning at 7 p.m.
For more information, call Jeanne 330-507-4672.
JA FUNDRAISER: Junior Achievement of Eastern Ohio announces a fundraiser to benefit its financial literacy, entrepreneurship and career-readiness programs in Ashtabula, Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties. Partnering with artist James Massacci — a world-renowned, Florida-based artist and designer from Warren — they are raffling an original painting with a retail value between $7,000 and $8,000 titled “Freedom,” which features birds in flight.Cost is $10 per ticket or five tickets for $45. Tickets will be sold through Friday. A winner will be announced on Jan. 22. Delivery of art will be arranged once a winner is drawn. Tickets can be purchased at www.easternohio.ja.org/events/boundless-freedom. For additional information,contact Kristen.Taylor@ja.org.
POETRY WORKSHOP: A Blackout Poetry Workshop is scheduled 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the McKinley Birthplace Home in Niles. Create poems without putting pen to paper. Utilizing existing text, the poet will black out unwanted words with a permanent marker and arrange the rest of the words to create a poem. All supplies will be provided. Registration is required at 330-652-1704 ext. 3.
STRUTHERS CLASS: Struthers High School Class of 1956 will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday at TJ’s inside the Holiday Inn in Boardman. All classmates are welcome.
Community news
YOUNGSTOWN DAY: Gather with fellow Youngstown area natives for the 39th annual Youngstown Day in Sarasota, Florida, on Feb. 4.
To fulfill individual sizing requests, T-shirt orders will be accepted until today. The T-shirt is available to attendees only. Due to advanced ordering, refunds and exchanges will not be possible. T-shirt sizes are small to 3XL.
Reservations will be accepted on a first-come basis until Jan. 25. Paid reservations are nonrefundable.
A canceled check or credit card email receipt will serve as reservation confirmation. For more information, contact Shannon Tirone at 330-941-3732 or stirone@ysu.edu.
GAME CHANGERS MENTORSHIP: Join Game Changers from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday at the Niles Wellness Center, 213 Sharkey Drive, as they host a day of mentorship and fun for the sixth- through eighth-grade community for National Mentoring Month.
Topics that will be discussed include hygiene, self-advocacy / anti-bullying, teamwork and service and mental fitness. The event will end with some team builders and a field day.
The cost is $20 per student, which includes a camp T-shirt, food, drink and activities.
Game Changers is a Mahoning Valley-based organization with the goal to assist in the retention and graduation of high school athletes.
Contact Michael Engram at 330-529-9808 with questions.
PETITION DRIVE: Members of a group working to keep Coalburg Dam and Lake from being removed will hold a petition drive 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Tylee Park in Hubbard.
Community news
FRIENDS TO MEET: Friends of the Mahoning River will meet from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Oak Hill Collaborative, 507 Oak Hill, in Youngstown. Parking is at the rear of the building. The group advocates improving the quality of the Mahoning River and welcomes the public to attend. This month’s meeting will be on strategic planning to increase the group’s impact and effectiveness as a watershed group. Stuart Smith is the contact for the meeting. He can be reached at 330-531-1267.
LIBRARY CRAFT: Lepper Public Library is offering an adult craft class at 5 or 6 p.m. on Thursday at the library. All craft supplies will be provided. The craft will be turning paint stirrers into a fun snow measurer that the whole family can watch as snow grows.
Community news
GIRARD FRIENDS EVENT: The Friends of the Girard Free Library will host a calendar party at 6 p.m. Thursday at the library’s conference room. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. The event ticket includes food, prize entry and centerpiece table entry. Basket raffle tickets also will be available for purchase. Cost is $19. For information, call 330-545-2508.
VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED: The Oakhill Cemetery Research Team is in need of volunteers to assist with recording data at the cemetery. The team needs a computer team leader to record data the team members gather from the headstones at Oak Hill Cemetery. For information call Steffon at 330-301-7365.
FOOD GIVEAWAY: Bethel Church of God in Christ, 3147 Glenwood Ave., Youngstown, will host a food giveaway at noon Wednesday while supplies last.
KNITTING GUILD: The Western Reserve Knitting Guild meets at 6 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at Fair Park (Rotary building: 82-84 Fair St., Canfield). A business meeting and an educational program are included.
The guild has been collecting knitted hats for local children for the past decade. The hats are donated by guild members and nonmembers with the specification that they must be machine washable. Marilyn Dunn has been the longstanding organizer for hat collections and deliveries.
For additional information, visit https://wrkg.weebly.com/ or email wrkg.ohio@gmail.com.
Community news
OFFICE CLOSED: The Mahoning County Veterans Service Commission Office will be closed to the public today, due to a funeral service for James Dill, Mahoning County Veterans Service Commissioner. Questions may be addressed to Susan Krawchyk, Executive Director at 330-740-2450.
OPEN HOUSE: The Jewish Community Center School of Performing Arts will hold an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the center, 505 Gypsy Lane, Youngstown. Those attending will be able to tour the dance and music studios, meet the teachers and preview the winter and spring schedule. Those who register at the event will receive a $10 gift certificate towards a performing arts program of their choice.
BUSINESS WOMEN: The Mill Creek Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association will have its meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at A La Cart Catering in Canfield. Networking will begin at 6 p.m. with dinner following at 6:30 p.m. Dinner is $18. Reservations may be made by calling Darlene at 330-755-9089 or Marilyn at 330-726-2527. The speaker for the evening will be Shirley Millereile, who will speak about dementia. The public is welcome.