WORTH A LOOK
AUCTIONS
XThe ninth annual community auction, sponsored by Heartland Christian School, 28 Pittsburgh St., Columbiana, will start at 10 a.m. March 19 in the school gymnasium (the former Columbiana High School building). Antiques, tools, trip certificates, curios, signed sports collectibles, restaurant and service gift certificates, furniture and hand-made items will be offered for sale. Proceeds will be used to repair and maintain the school building and will benefit the school's general operating fund.
XSt. Lucy Infant of Prague Guild will host a Chinese auction Sunday in the church banquet center, 394 Tenney Ave., Campbell. Doors open at 1 p.m. and drawings begin at 2:30. A fee of $4 provides one sheet of tickets, cake and coffee. Tickets will be available at the door. Baked goods, pasta and pop will be sold.
DINNERS
XFemale spies will be the focus of the 19th annual Women's History Dinner, sponsored by the Trumbull County Women's History Committee, March 22 at Leo's Ristorante, 7024 E. Market St., Warren. The event will focus on Union spies Elizabeth Van Lew, known as "Crazy Bet," who adopted the persona of a crazy person so she could make her way in and out of Libby Prison where Union soldiers were being held, and Mary Elizabeth Bowser, a slave owned by the Van Lew family who spied in the home of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, where she worked as a maid. Social hour starts at 5:30 p.m.; dinner follows at 6. Tickets are $20, and may be purchased from any committee member or at the YWCA of Warren, 375 N. Park Ave. For more information, call Eileen Catanzaro at (330) 373-1010, Ext. 12.
FUND-RAISERS
XThe second annual O'Donold's, Rose & amp; Thistle St. Patrick's Day 5K Run will take place Saturday at 1 p.m., and a 1.5-mile fun run-walk will start at 1:30 p.m. All proceeds will go to the Children's Rehabilitation Center. Sign-in will begin at 11 a.m. Entry fee is $12 if received by today, and $15 after that. Runners will receive a T-shirt for entering the race. Chairman is Mike Quinlan.
XFredonia Lion's Club's Pro-Rodeo is set for March 19 at Sundance Arena, Fredonia, Pa. Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance at Oakes & amp; McClelland Co. or Custom Corner Sports, Greenville, Pa., Campbell's Camp Perry, Mercer Hardware, Hermitage Agway, Boot Box in Meadville and Grove City, Fredonia Diner and McKean's Packing Co. of Sandy Lake. Advance tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for seniors and kids 12 and younger; tickets at the door will be $12 for adults and $10 for seniors and kids. Proceeds benefit the club's charity projects. For more information, call (724) 588-1667.
LECTURES
XYoung Leaders Advisory Board of the Mahoning Valley Historical Society and Youngstown CityScape is co-hosting a free winter speaker series. Local historian Vince Shivers will discuss the life and career of P. Ross Berry at 7 p.m. Thursday at Helen Chapel behind First Presbyterian Church, 201 Wick Ave., Youngstown. Berry was an influential black architect whose legacy includes important local buildings such as the former Rayen School, now home to the Youngstown Board of Education, and Helen Chapel. Admission is free. Reservations are appreciated; call the historical society at (330) 743-2589 or e-mail mvhs@mahoninghistory.org.
SPECIAL EVENTS
XTrumbull County Herb Society will host a luncheon from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. April 17 at Butler Institute of American Art, Trumbull Gallery, 9350 E. Market St., Warren. The event, "Magic, Medicine and Mystery: Herbs Through Human History," will feature Susan Wittig Albert speaking about herbs and signing her latest edition to the China Bayles mystery series, "Dead Man's Bones." Reservations are on a first-paid basis, and seating is limited. Cost is $18. Seating begins at 12:30 p.m., with lunch served at 1. For ticket information contact chairman Pat Fuller at patfuller@neo.rr.com or (330) 372-3889. The society will have some books available for sale. Indicate if you are interested in purchasing one so the society will be sure to have enough on hand.
XYoungstown American-Hungarian Federation of Churches and Societies is planning a commemorative event of the 1848 Hungarian war of independence for 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Youngstown American Hungarian Club, 2219 Donald Ave., Youngstown. The program will feature Kalman Molnar, who will discuss Hungarian culture and the war; William Peyko, who will give a presentation on his recent trip to Europe; and Andrew Check II, performing selections on the cimbalom. Refreshments will follow.
TOURNAMENTS
XSt. Joseph Men's Club is sponsoring a Texas Hold 'em Tournament April 16 at St. Joseph Church, 4565 New Road, Austintown. Registration will be from 5 to 6 p.m. Tournament play begins at 6. Entry fee is $65. At least the top seven places will receive winnings; all prize money will be determined by the tournament committee. The event will include free food and beverages. Proceeds will benefit Men's Club projects. For more information or to preregister, call Tom Halko at (330) 792-1547 after 4 p.m. or Chuck Housteau at (330) 565-4810.
TRIPS
XMahoning County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) is sponsoring a bus trip to Casino Niagara April 2. The bus will leave at 7 a.m. from the Boardman Giant Eagle on Doral Drive. Cost is $40 per person, with cash back. Reservations are due by March 15; make checks payable to Mahoning County CASA and mail to 300 E. Scott St., Youngstown. Proceeds will benefit the nonprofit CASA program, which helps abused and neglected children. For more information, call (330) 740-2239 or e-mail Mahctycasa@aol.com.
XA calendar of activities to which the public is invited is published Mondays. Please submit information to the Society Department by 5 p.m. Thursday.