WRITERS MEETING: The 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 Area writers, both published and unpublished, are invited. The meetings are led by Nancy Christie. For information, visit nancy@nancychristie.com

FOOD PANTRY: The Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Austintown, will host its monthly food pantry 1 to 4 p.m. Friday for anyone needing assistance.

BBB ON DRUG TESTS: Better Business Bureau Youngstown is hosting a Lunch and Learn on Thursday about the future of drug testing, with a focus on oral fluid testing and the impact of marijuana legislation. The session will be led by Ruth Bowdish, managing director of On Demand Occupation Medicine.

BBB Accredited Businesses can attend for a complimentary networking lunch to learn more about a trending topic.

The lunch will be noon to 1 p.m. Thursday at the Courtyard by Marriott Youngstown-Canfield Westford Meeting Room, 4173 Westford Place, Canfield.

There is no cost to attend, but an RSVP is required by calling 330-744-3111 ext. 111 or info@youngstown.bbb.org.

SPEAKER SERIES: Youngstown State University’s History Across the Humanities conference presents the inaugural Grace Ruth Memorial Speaker Series with John Scalzi as keynote speaker at 7 p.m. Thursday in DeBartolo Hall Auditorium, Room 132.

Scalzi, multiple Hugo Award winner and New York Times best-selling author, will talk about the state of the science fiction genre. After the talk, he will answer questions and sign books.

Scalzi is former president of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.

As part of the History Across the Humanities conference, the inaugural Grace Ruth Memorial Speakers Series is free and open to the public. There will be 100 free parking passes available on a first-come, first-served basis. A parking pass for the event can be requested at the gate of the Wick Avenue M-30 parking deck.

For information, visit ysu.edu/history-across-the-humanities.

RECREATION IN GIRARD The Girard Recreation Department will offer walking exercises 9 to 11 a.m. Monday to Thursday in the Girard city gym, 100 W. Main St., starting Tuesday. Participants should be residents of Girard.

HA HA GALA: Cadence Care Network’s inaugural “Ha Ha Gala” brings three comedians from across the country to the Mahoning Valley at 7 p.m. Saturday at Penguin City Beer in Youngstown, all to benefit the agency’s work throughout Northern Ohio.

Headliner Jason Lawhead from San Diego, a Lorain native, will lead the lineup. He appeared on Season 9 of NBC’s “Last Comic Standing.”

Host and performer Bill Squire is heard daily as co-host of The Alan Cox Show on the Buzzard, 100.7 WMMS in Cleveland. He also hosts his podcast The Bill Squire Show on the iHeartRadio network.

John Armstrong is one of the fastest rising comedians in Cleveland.

Tickets are $55 and include heavy appetizers. Penguin City will provide a cash bar. Doors open at 6 p.m.

To purchase tickets and learn how to become a sponsor, visit www.cadencecare.org/comedy.

STUDENT PRESS FREEDOM DAY EVENT: Journalism students will present a program, “The Student Press Freedom Day,” 1 to 2 p.m. Friday at Youngstown State University, in the Schwebel Lounge at the university’s Kilcawley Center, 1 Tressel Way.

The gathering is part of a national observance designed to celebrate the contributions of student journalists and support their independence without censorship or threats to their advisers. The event slogan is “Bold journalism; brave advocacy.”

The presentation is free and open to the public. The first 50 people at the gathering will receive a Student Press Law Center button.

OAKHILL CEMETERY: The Oakhill Cemetery Volunteer Team needs computer assistance to take information from the research and survey teams and input data into the computer, Plans are to train an Oak Hill historian to become familiar with the cemetery. To help, contact Steffon Jones at 330-301-7365.

HUBBARD LIBRARY GARDEN: The Hubbard Public Library’s sensory garden located outside the children’s room needs refurbishing. The water feature, landscape and other areas of the garden are in need of repairs and updates for safety and aesthetics. The garden allows patrons of all ages to experience their surroundings through sensory awareness and interaction. The Friends of the Hubbard Library and other community organizations are planning fundraising events Private donations also are welcome.