Home-buyer workshop

Home-buyer workshop
YOUNGSTOWN -- Family Financial Education Services, a program of Family Service Agency, will sponsor a first-time home-buyer workshop from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at the agency, 535 Marmion Ave. The workshop will cover basic home-buying information, budgeting, credit problems and loan application process. Participants will receive a certificate of attendance to satisfy the education requirements for some mortgage programs. The workshop is free but reservations are required by calling (330) 782-5664.
Food bank given check
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Youngstown Foundation presented Second Harvest Food Bank with a check for $20,000 that is earmarked for pavement of the parking lot at 2805 Salt Springs Road. Michael Iberis, executive director, said that the foundation has contributed $70,000 for capital improvements at the food bank. Second Harvest Food Bank provides food to 212 hunger relief organizations in Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties.
Red Cross blanket fund
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- The American Red Cross will collect money Jan. 14 for its second annual blanket drive. Red Cross volunteers will be at Giant Eagle on Wilmington Road, Kmart in Shenango Township and Wal-Mart in Union Township from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to collect money. A $5 donation buys a 54-by-72-inch embroidered American Red Cross blanket that will be given to victims of fire and other disasters.
Donors can remain anonymous or their names can be attached to the blankets. The Lawrence County American Red Cross has responded to 20 situations since July and aided 38 families.
First band rehearsal
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- The Buhl Park Concert Band will have its first rehearsal Wednesday in the park activities building. The adult band will practice the first and third Wednesday of each month. Additional musicians are still needed. For more details, call Judy Mindicino at (724) 962-4280.
Historical society meets
FOWLER -- Fowler Township Historical Society will meet at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Fowler Community Church. A program will be presented by Dick Webb of the Kinsman Historical Society.
Business owners speak
YOUNGSTOWN -- Owners of six businesses in the city's downtown district will discuss how they started their ventures at the Youngstown Arts & amp; Entertainment District Association meeting at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 11 in the second-floor auditorium of the Ohio One Building, East Boardman and Champion streets.
The invitees are DeMayne Earvin of Maynstream; George Lenahan of Rosetta Stone Cafe; Tracy Gordon of Secret Garden Salon; George Case of Geo's Music; Bernard Marinelli of Core nightclub; and Jason Logero of Bean Counter coffee shop. Writers of business plans and grants also will attend the meeting to offer expertise. Refreshments will be served before the meeting begins at 6 p.m.
Face-lift for tunnels
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The downtown side of the Liberty Tunnels will get a $20 million face-lift when the state Department of Transportation removes the rusted steel fa & ccedil;ade that has been in place since the mid-1970s. PennDOT will begin dismantling the fa & ccedil;ade Tuesday, not only because of advanced rust but to allow engineers to look at the concrete tunnel shell underneath, since officials said there are indications that the shell under the northern portal is crumbling.