Fine-tuning plan

Fine-tuning plan

NEW CASTLE — The developer of a horse racing track and casino complex in Mahoning Township is planning to present its site plan to the township planning commission in either March or April, a spokesman for the developer said. Centaur Gaming Inc. is planning Valley View Downs at U.S. Route 422 between Baird Road and Pa. Route 551. It includes a 270,000-square-foot main building and a milelong harness racing track. Centaur already presented its site plan to the Lawrence County Planning Department on Feb. 12. It is addressing some issues that commission raised, and township planners said they expect to be able to give at least conditional approval before the plan is sent to township supervisors for a final vote.

Election dinner today

YOUNGSTOWN — St. Patrick Church, 1420 Oak Hill Ave., is hosting a spaghetti dinner today in honor of the upcoming election. The church is expecting many campaign representatives to speak at the dinner, to be held between liturgies, from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. During 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. services, professor and parishioner James Johnston will address the parish on the U.S. Catholic Bishops’ Conference statement of voting in America. The church will be the voting site for seven precincts during the primary election Tuesday.

Rally for volunteers

BUTLER, Pa. — A volunteer rally for the Moraine Park Summer Festival is being held at 7 p.m. Monday at Community Alliance Church, 800 Mercer Road. Volunteers are needed to sing in the choir, set up tents, help raise funds, help deliver materials to churches and pray. The festival will be held June 13-18 at Moraine State Park. The Steve Wingfield Evangelistic Association is leading the effort. For more information, call Adele Duffy at (724) 431-2397.

Big week at Woodside

AUSTINTOWN — Woodside Elementary School is one of several schools across the United States selected to participate in this year’s National Education Association Read Across America event through Friday. On Monday, the school will have a 104th birthday celebration for Dr. Seuss, a famous children’s book author. The NEA will give each child a book, stickers and a Dr. Seuss hat, and the school will receive $1,000. The week will culminate in an assembly Friday, when students will learn whether they achieved the goal set for them by their principal of reading 2,000 books that week.

Computer grant

NEW CASTLE — Contact E.A.R.S. Helpline has received a $2,300 grant from the May Emma Hoyt Foundation to purchase new computer equipment. The new equipment will enable the helpline to update its Information and Referral Database. The equipment also will allow crisis line specialists better and faster access to information they need to assist callers. Contact E.A.R.S. Helpline is a nonprofit organization that answers the calls of individuals 24 hours a day, seven days a week.