SOCIETY DIGEST

‘Gourmet Gardening’ talk

YOUNGSTOWN— As part of a contributing Garden Author Lecture Series, on April 16, Fellows Riverside Gardens-Mill Creek MetroParks will welcome Renee Shepherd, well-known cookbook author, seeds expert, and food writer. Speaking on the topic “Gourmet Gardening,” she will introduce vegetables and herbs from world cuisines and ways to enjoy them.

The evening will begin with a wine and hors d’oeuvres reception at 5:30 p.m. and lecture at 7 p.m.

The cost for the Wine Reception and Lecture is $25. ($20 for Friends of Fellows Riverside Gardens). The fee to attend the lecture only is $15. ( $10 for Friends of Fellows Riverside Gardens). Lecture registration will begin at 6:30 p.m. For more information or to register, contact the gardens at (330) 740-7116.

Music teachers celebration

YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown Music Teachers’ Association will celebrate with a 75th birthday party on April 19. The event will take place at the Ursuline Education Center, 4250 Shields Road. Featuring the Edelweiss Ensemble, the recital will begin at 4:15 p.m. and a social will follow.

All past and present members of this music teachers organization and music lovers are all invited. Admission is free. For further information, contact Cynthia Evans, (330) 824-3893.

Annual autism benefit

YOUNGSTOWN — April is Autism Awareness Month, and Big’s Sports Bar, 1597 Mahoning Ave., will have its third annual Take Aim at Autism Benefit at 1 p.m. April 18.

There is a $10 entry fee for a teams of two Baggo Tournament. Proceeds will benefit the Potential Development Program, a United Way agency that provides educational services for children with autism and others.

Features of the benefit include a cash prize, a 50-50 raffle, and a Chinese auction. Sign up at the bar, and donations are gladly accepted. Tickets for the 50-50 raffle are on sale. For more information, call Big’s Sports Bar at (330) 270-9308 or Chuck Merkich at (330) 502-7363.

Dahlias to be sold

YOUNGSTOWN — Mahoning Valley Dahlia Society will have an annual Tuber sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 19 at the Davis Center in Fellows Riverside Gardens, Mill Creek MetroParks. Growers will sell tubers from pompom to dinner plate varieties in a wide range of colors. Members will be on hand to answer questions. The public is welcome at the society’s 2 p.m. meeting during the sale.

Rotary Partners Program helps out Fisher House

EAST PALESTINE — Five Ohio Districts of Rotary International met in Columbus March 13-14 for Presidents-Elect Training Seminar.

The Partners Program, led by Vicki Hoffman, member of District 6650, Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana Counties, created a project for all Rotary Clubs of Ohio to participate in. The committee of six professional women decided to help out Fisher House at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton. Fisher House provides housing for military families when loved ones are hospitalized far from home.

The committee asked each club to fill one large storage container with paper products, household supplies, snacks and toiletries. Each president-elect was to take his club’s bin to PETS. Nearly 300 bins, boxes and bags were packed into two moving vans for the trip to Dayton.

Faith Court conducts installation ceremony

SALEM — Faith Court, Order of Amaranth, installed a slate of officers on March 21 at the Salem Masonic building.

Inducted were: Kate Ronshausen, royal matron; Steve Ronshausen, royal patron; Kathleen Ronshausen, associate matron; Gary Ronshausen associate patron; Brenda Klien, conductress; Rebecca Ronshausen, Eric Forney and Hazel Tibbal, trustees; Cyndee Mackall, marshal in the West; Jean Howell, marshal in the East; Evelyn Phillips, musician; Debbie Rourke, charity; Beryldene Wilcox, wisdom; Donna Forney secretary; James Forney, treasurer; and Gary Ronshausen Jr., prelate.

Installing officers were Gary Ronshausen Jr., Debbie Clark, Jerry Douce, Charles Freed, Margie Freed, and Annette Lower.

A donation was made to the Ohio Amaranth Scholarship Fund.

Wine taste and auction to benefit Beatitude House

BOARDMAN — Beatitude House will have its 10th annual Wine Taste and Auction at 6 p.m. May 1 at The Embassy in Boardman. The evening, hosted by Jeff Kelly from WBBG Fm 106.1, will include a dinner buffet, representatives from area wine distributors offering an array of premium wines, a live auction and a silent and Chinese auction.

A variety of items will be available for bidding including round-trip airline tickets to Orlando, Fla., and passes to Walt Disney World.

Tickets are $75. A table of eight is $600. To buy tickets, call Beatitude House at (330) 744-3147.

Attendees must be at least 21 years old.

Great American Meatout to feature vegan lunch

BOARDMAN — The Great American Meatout has been planned for April 26 at Evergreen Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 7669 Glenwood Ave. Featured will be a vegan lunch from 2 to 4:30 p.m.

Junior Rosa will speak on the benefits of a plant-based diet. There will be free blood pressure screenings, heart rate checks, and door prizes. Day care will be available.

The cost is $8 for adults ($10 at the door) and $5 for children under 12. Registrations will be accepted until April 20 at (330) 568-0600. Checks, payable to the church, should be mailed to Meatout, c/o Sandy, 2600 Tibbett’s-Wick Road, Hubbard, Ohio 44425.

Tai Chi to be taught at awareness day event

WARREN — World Chinese Tai-Chi Day, an international awareness day for whole body health, will begin at 10 a.m. April 25 at Central Christian Church, 2051 E. Market St.

The free event is open to those from 10 to 110 and will include two hours of Tai Chi, Qi Gong instruction, and exercise. Tai Chi is a slow-motion self-defense exercise that will lower blood pressure, increase muscle strength, improve balance and increase left brain activity. The host will be Si-Fu Mark Lee Pringle. For more information contact (330) 545-2720 or e-mail Limake@aol.com.