Community news
PRESIDENTS’ DAY CELEBRATION: McKinley Memorial Library will present a Presidents’ Day Celebration 1 to 4:30 p.m. Monday at the McKinley Birthplace Home in Niles. At 2:30 p.m., a speaker from the Niles Historical Society will discuss what Niles was like in the 1840s when the McKinley Family lived there. The Birthplace Home will be open for self-guided tours.
BIRD COUNT: The Great Backyard Bird count will be 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Sunday at the George L. Fordyce Park nature preserve at Mill Creek MetroParks in Beaver Township. The event is free and will involve people identifying and recording birds they see at the nature preserve as part of the count, which is a global citizen science event. For ages 8 and older. Registration, including the number of people attending, can call 330-740-7107 ext. 129 to register.
JUVENILE COURT: It has been 12 years since the Mahoning County Juvenile Court was one of only four juvenile courts nationally to receive a grant from the U. S Department of Justice focused on innovative programs to” Keep Kids in School and Out of the Justice System.” Mahoning County Juvenile Court’s proposed program focused on partnering with local school districts to mitigate many of the barriers identified by the court and school districts that negatively impact a student’s ability to attend and successfully complete their education. At 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, the court and partner school districts will meet at the Juvenile Justice Center to share changes to the Early Warning Program, and the direct impact the program has had on school attendance and student success. It will feature Struthers Superintendent Pete Pirone and Boardman Superintendent Chris Neifer. Featured speakers will include Mahoning County Juvenile Court Judge Theresa Dellick, EWS Director Mike Masucci and Juvenile Court Magistrate Gina DeGenova.
ADOPTION EVENT: A Be Mine Adoption event for pets will be 2 to 6 p.m. today and noon to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Eastwood Mall center concourse in Niles. The Animal Welfare League will be bringing adoptable pets for people to meet and potentially adopt for Valentine’s Day.
Community news
WWII INVASION PRESENTATION: Lt. Col. U.S. Army (Ret.) Dr. Joe Alessi will present a program about the invasion of Sicily to the World War II Heritage Society at 6:15 p.m. Monday at A La Cart Catering in Canfield. The presentation will be preceded by a buffet dinner at 6:15 p.m.
Reservations are required to David Frank at 330-757-0515.
RESCUE MISSION BENEFIT: The Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley will host its annual benefit dinner Feb. 20 at Waypoint 4180 in Canfield.
This year’s fundraising event will feature two seating options, a breakfast and an evening dinner. Both seatings will include a meal, live jazz and opportunities for fellowship with supporters of the Rescue Mission.
Breakfast tickets are $50 with an open seating format. Doors open at 9 a.m. and the program begins at 9:30 a.m. Dinner tickets are $75 with a reserved seating format. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the program begins at 6:30 p.m.
For more information, visit www.RescueMissionMV.org/banquet or call 330-744-5485, ext. 506.
SELF-HELP RECOVERY: Recovery International, a community self-help mental health group, will meet at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 24 at Michael Kusalaba Public Library, 2815 Mahoning Ave., Youngstown. For more information, call 330-747-1176.
Community news
FRIENDS OF FIDO: The Friends of Fido is hosting its annual Valentine’s Day card event “For the Love of Dogs.” To participate, mail a $1 or more donation along with a valentine for the dogs at the Mahoning County Dog Warden’s office. The goal of the fundraiser is to fill the walls of the facility with as many valentines as possible. All money raised will be used to provide veterinary care to the dogs. Cards can be mailed to Friends of Fido, P.O. Box 2963, Youngstown, 44511, or dropped off at the Mahoning County Dog Warden, 1230 N. Meridian Road.
MARDI GRAS POTLUCK: The Girard Multi-Generational Center, 443 Trumbull Ave., will host a Mardi Gras potluck luncheon 12 to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. Festive dress is welcome. Bring a dish to the event to share. Call 330-545-6596 to sign up.
VALENTINE’S PROGRAM: The Girard Free Library will host a Valentine ‘s Day program at 6 p.m. Wednesday. There will be Valentine’s activities with materials provided. Registration is required at 330-545-2408.
K9s FOR COMPASSION: The Girard Free Library will host a K9s For Compassion program at 6 p.m. today where children up to age 12 can have time to read a story to one of the organization’s trained therapy dogs. Registration is required.
GATHERING PLACE: Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 550 N. Broad St., Canfield, will host a Gathering Place event at 11 a.m. today. The program is “Don’t Go Down the Rabbit Hole: Sharing information on downsizing and spring cleaning.” The free community outreach social program is offered to all senior citizens on the second Monday of each month. For information, call Wendy at 330-360-0419.
Community news
YMCA ART SHOW: The Davis Family YMCA will host the second annual Postscripts Art Show with an opening reception and awards ceremony from from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the YMCA lobby/ The event will include light refreshments and awards for all participating artists. Guests are invited to talk to artists and see their artwork. All proceeds from the event benefit the YMCA ARTreach program.
FREE KIDS CAREER FAIR: The fifth annual Kids Career Fair presented by the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center, Valley STEM Academy and City Machine Technologies INc . will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the career center, 7300 M. Palmyra Road, Canfield. The event is free and open to the public. Businesses will be providing table activities for children.
TOASTMASTERS SPEECH CONTEST: Toastmasters Executive Club #408 has rescheduled its speech competition to 6:45 p.m. Monday at 8381 Market St., Boardman. Club members will sharer their talents in two categories. Members present a prepared speech on a topic of their choices and where members are given a topic just before being asked to speak with minimal prep time. At intermission light refreshments will be provided.
Community news
UNDER THE STARS: PJ Library of the Jewish Community Center of Youngstown and Ohev Beth Sholom will present “Under the Stars,” a community Havdalah program 5:15 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Youngstown State University Ward Beecher Planetarium Havdalah (separation) is Shabbat’s closing ritual to end the old week and begin the new with blessings. This interactive Havdalah ceremony will start with the planetarium program, Sky Talk, showing the night sky. When three stars appear in the sky, guests will pause for the Havdalah prayers and singing of Eliyahu Hanaviv. Once Havdalah is over, guests will enter the night sky as they learn about our universe. The program will conclude with a meeting with the moon, which plays an important part in the Jewish calendar.
ABWA TO MEET: The Mill Creek Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday at A La Cart Catering in Canfield. The cost is $19. Reservations may be made by calling Marilyn at 330-726-2527 or Darlene at 330- 755-9089. Austintown native and attorney Brad Gessner will speak about his televised appearance as a competitor on “The Great American Baking Show.”
SELF HELP: Recovery International, a community self-help mental health group, will meet at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Michael Kusalaba Public Library, 2815 Mahoning Ave.,Youngstown, Ohio. For information, call 330 -747-1176.
Community news
KIDS CAREER FAIR: A Kids Career Fair will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Mahoning County Career & Technical Center in Canfield. The event is hosted by MCCTC, Valley STEM and City Machine Technologies Inc. The free event will include a hands-on day of exploration. Children can try activities for a variety of careers and meet different career professionals.
DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS: The Girard Free Library will host a Dungeons and Dragons group at 6 p.m. today. The program will guide you through your first steps. Beginners are welcome. Registration is required at 330-545-2508.
THE GATHERING PLACE: The Gathering Place Senior Center is hosting Jill Herock from Burgan Realty at 11 a.m. Feb. 9, at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 550 N. Broad St., Canfield.
Herock will help you with downsizing, spring cleaning or simply getting rid of junk. Bring one of your junk items wrapped for a fun exchange. This is a free community outreach social program offered to all senior citizens on the second Monday of each month. Reservations are not required.
For questions regarding this event, call Woody Gingery at 330-360-0419 or the church at 330-533-3531.
WALK WITH A DOC: Youngstown State University’s Bitonte College of Health and Human Services continues its commitment to public health through the Walk with a Doc program, a free community wellness initiative at the Southern Park Mall.
The program takes place 10 to 11 a.m. on the first Thursday of each month and is led by YSU physical therapy faculty and students. Each session begins with a brief health talk before participants join in a walk around the mall.
The Thursday session’s focus is American Heart Month / Diet. The walks are free and open to the public. All ages and fitness levels are welcome, and no registration is required.
SOCIETY MEETING: The next meeting of the Mahoning County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogy Society will meet 7 p.m. Wednesday in the ministry building of St. Charles Church in Boardman. The program will be an annual “show and tell” by bringing a family artifact to show and to tell the significance of the item to your ancestors and family history. Everyone is welcome and visitors are encouraged to bring something. Light refreshments will be served.
SUPPORT GROUP MEETS: Alzheimer Network support groups meet monthly. Due to winter weather, dangerous road conditions and a recently announced flu variant, the group is initiating a “call-in reservation policy” for those who wish to attend one of the regularly announced support groups. The alternative method to reach the Alzheimer Network is to call 330-788-9755 anytime to speak about concerns.
The group will meet Saturday at The Church of the Rock, 7025 Lutern Lane, Poland. Call 330-788-9755 for time.