Firefighters host fundraiser

Firefighters host fundraiser

The Poland Firemen’s Association is sponsoring “Christmas at Our House” and is seeking cash donations to help local families during the holidays.

All proceeds collected will be used to create gift baskets with nonperishable food, gift coupons for perishable food and toy baskets for Poland families.

All basket items will be purchased at local businesses.

Donations can be made by checks payable to The Poland Firemen’s Association, Inc and mailed to 111 S. Main St. Poland, OH 44514.

Holiday concert at Holy Family

PSHS Wind Ensemble will perform a holiday concert at Holy Family on Sunday at 6 p.m.

Carols by candlelight service

Poland Village Baptist Church will be hosting a Carols by Candlelight service on Christmas Eve at 6 p.m.

Christmas Eve candlelit services

Poland Presbyterian Church will be hosting Christmas Eve Candlelit Services at 4 p.m., 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Traditional candlelight service

Poland United Methodist Church will be hosting a traditional candlelight service on Christmas Eve at 7:30 p.m.

Blood pressure screening

The Mahoning Chapter of the Red Cross will offer blood pressure screenings at the Poland Local Library on Tuesday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Trim a Tree for December

Throughout December decorate an ornament for the all-seasons tree at the Poland Local Library. It’s for children of all ages during regular library hours.

Bonding with Babies and Books

The Poland Public Library will host Baby Brilliant: Bonding With Babies and Books on Wednesday and Dec. 30 at 10 a.m. The program features developmentally appropriate books, songs, rhymes, finger plays and other activities that will help your child become a successful reader. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Last chance to donate

Operation Santa Paws, a drive by Shepherd of the Valley facility here, 301 W. Western Reserve Road, to collect items for dogs, cats, and other animals cared for by Animal Charity, is under way.

The public is invited to participate. The deadline to drop off items at the Poland-SOV deadline is Dec. 21. On Dec. 22, Poland-SOV staff will deliver the donations to Animal Charity, 3722 South Ave., Youngstown, at 10 a.m.

Suggested items are pet food (wet or dry), cat and dog treats and toys, rabbit food, apples, carrots, broccoli, celery, and greens, unsalted peanuts, bird seed, rawhides, pig ears, cat beds, fleece bedding and blankets, newspapers, kitty litter, heating pads, trash bags and cleaning supplies, towels and sheets, paper towels, and plastic containers and totes with lids.

For more information, call Paula Blakeman, activity director at SOV-Poland, at 330-726-7110, ext. 2314.

New Years Eve Concert at Village Baptist

Poland Village Baptist Church will be hosting a New Years Eve concert on Dec. 31 at 7:00 p.m. with music from Dave and Darlene Murdoch. Seating is limited and tickets are $10. To purchase tickets in advance, call 330-757-9258.

Poland students work displayed in art shows

Poland High School students are participating in several art shows. Currently students have art work on display at the SMARTS Center in downtown Youngstown. Art will be on display through Jan. 3. Students participating in this show are: Brennan Munroe, TC DeMartino, Alexis Gargasz, Ally Karam, and Gabby Pignanelli. Other shows that the students will be participating in are: The Mahoning County Art Show and Poland Seminary High School Art Show.

Life is a weaving

Linda Anne Marie Bertanzetti will be at the Weller Gallery at Fellowship Riverside Garden’s in Mill Creek Park to demonstrate hand weaving from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday and Dec. 27 and Jan. 3.

Candle sales help AIDS foundation

Macy’s department store is teaming up with the Elton John AIDS Foundation for a holiday fundraiser.

Limited edition holiday-scented candles will be sold for $25 at Macy’s nationwide and through macys.com. Proceeds will benefit EJAF’s grant-making initiatives and help bring effective HIV prevention programing to people who are the most at-risk and vulnerable to HIV infection.

Book drive benefits children’s hospital

Barnes and Noble Booksellers, in the Shops at Boardman Park, is sponsoring a holiday book drive to benefit Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley. Customers may purchase children’s books now through Jan. 1.

The books will be donated to local children through the hospital’s Reach Out and Read and in-patient book cart programs. The store will have a bin for the donated books located near its check-out counter. The book drive targets children up to age 6.

Additionally, volunteers from Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley will be providing free gift wrapping at Barnes and Noble.

Although the service is free, donations are welcome and all proceeds will benefit Akron Children’s Hospital’s Mahoning Valley services. Volunteers will be at Barnes and Noble on Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

DSAV creates holiday fun at Mill Creek Park

The Down Syndrome Association of the Valley will once again decorate a holiday tree as part of the Winter Celebration 2009, “Home for the Holidays,” at Fellows Riverside Gardens. DSAV tree is one of the 40 decorated tress on display in the gardens.

Last year, more than 28,000 people attended the Winter Celebration. Visitors can view the holiday decorations at Riverside Gardens from through Jan. 3.

Gardens by Candlelight

Fellows Riverside Gardens will host a wintry walk in celebration of the holiday season Wednesday from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The scene will include lights and luminarias as well as music, cocoa, and sugar cookies at the Davis Center. Bring a nonperishable food item to donate to the housing programs at the YWCA of Youngstown.

Bring your sleds and snowboards

The Metroparks Sled Hill is now open. Facilities include a lighted sledding area, a hobbit hill for children 48 inches and under, outdoor warming fire with seating and wind shield, snow-making machine, and a warming house with indoor seating, fireplace, snack bar, and vending machines. Sled Hill is located at Wick Recreation Area McCollum Road Youngstown, Ohio 44509. It’s open from December to February, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. The warming house is open Monday through Friday 3-9:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday hours for the hill and warming house are from noon to 9:30 p.m. For more information, call 330-740-7114.

Make-A-Wish event at the mall

The Make-A-Wish Foundation will sponsor a children’s holiday activity event today 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the mall concourse area near Sears. Children may decorate Wish Star ornaments and write letters to Santa.

Deer tracks in Bear Swamp

Look for signs of wildlife coping with nature’s transition from autumn to winter on a two-mile hike through Bear Swamp on Sunday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Hikers should meet for this slow paced hike at Deerpath Drive off Hitchcock Road. The hike will be moderately difficult.

On Dec. 27, join Bill Whitehouse for a similar walk on an easy rated 1.5 mile hike along West and East Golf Drive. The walk is from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Hikers should meet at the Golf Course overflow parking lot on West Golf Drive.

Winter solstice candlelight walk

Ford Nature Center is celebrating the arrival of winter with a candlelight walk through time on Monday from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The hike is easy rated and a half-mile long. Participants must register by Sunday by calling the Ford Nature Center 330-740-7116.

Bird walk

Jeff Harvey of Wild Birds Unlimited will lead a walk on the Mindy Henning Memorial Trail in Mill Creek Park from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 2. Hikers will search for winter residents and migrating birds. Anyone interested should meet at the MetroParks Bikeway Trailhead at the MetroParks Farm.

Yoga in the gardens

A beginner level yoga class will be taught by Heidi Suraci at Fellows Riverside Garden from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Dec. 29. Students should bring a mat and small blanket. The cost for the class is $10. For more information, call 330-740-7116.

Cross country skiing offered at MetroParks areas

Skiing is permitted during daylight hours and is dependent on natural snowfall. Skiing is offered at these areas, Mill Creek Golf Course (on marked course), par 3 golf course, East golf hike/bike trail, East Cohasset hike/bike trail, Chestnut Hill Drive, Calvary Run Drive, MetroParks Bikeway.

Boardman Park spaces up for grabs

Starting Jan. 4, Boardman Township Park will be accepting reservations for its indoor meeting room, open-air pavilions, and Boardman’s most prominent historical landmark, St. James Meeting House, which is one of the area’s most popular facilities for Weddings. The park accepts reservations one year in advance, therefore, starting Jan. 4, reservations will be accepted for dates still available/open in the year 2010, and for any date in the year 2011. However, the first two weeks of January are set aside for Boardman residents only. Boardman residents also receive a discount on the reservation fees for the facilities. Because of the popularity of the park, it is important to make a reservation as soon as possible. Over the past 60 years, “The Green Oasis” has been home to many weddings, graduation parties, baby showers, as well as business meetings and family picnics. Reservations can be made by calling the park office at 330-726-8105, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Reservation requests may also be submitted via the park’s Web site at www.boardmanpark.com.

Closed for the season

BOARDMAN — Mill Creek Golf Course officially closed for the season Dec. 7. The course is on West Golf Drive, just off U.S. Route 224. It will reopen next spring when weather permits.