Mason on bicycle to boost Special Olympics games

June 1, 2009 at 12:25a.m.

WARREN — A Mason will be bicycling through the Mahoning Valley to promote the first “Masonry in Motion” program for the Masons’ support for the Ohio Special Olympics Summer Games.

The Free & Accepted Masons of Ohio already has raised more than $2.7 million for the games over the past 30 years.

Free Mason James “Spudd” Sasak of Grand River, Ohio, will ride his bicycle clockwise through 37 Ohio counties. He will cover 1,250 miles over the trip that will begin today.

Sasak is to be in Warren at 6 p.m. Tuesday; noon in Youngstown and at 6 p.m. in Lisbon, both Wednesday. Locations were not announced

Sasak plans to arrive in Columbus for the state event that will take place June 26-28.

Super Kids Classic

CAMPBELL — A Soap Box Derby race for special-needs children, the Tri-State Super Kids Classic, will be June 13 at St. Joseph the Provider Church, 633 Porter Ave.

Registration will be at 11 a.m., and the race starts at noon. The race is for physically and mentally challenged children from age 8 to 17.

Each child will have the opportunity to race in a Soap Box Derby-style car. The challenged children are co-pilots; a trained derby driver will drive the car.

Each participant will receive an assortment of gifts and a trophy. The winner will represent the local race in the National Super Kids Race in Akron.

Community support is being sought for the race. Individuals and organizations are needed as volunteers. Applications also are available. Contacts are the Rev. Mike Swierz, John Walczak or Cheryl Jablonski at St. Joseph, (330) 755-0266; Pam Dorfi, (724) 347-6009; or Ralph Lepley, (330) 716-5133.

Howland bird walk

HOWLAND TOWNSHIP — There will be a walk in Howland Township Park at 8:30 a.m. June 13 to help document breeding birds for the Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas.

Interested people should meet at the entrance to the boardwalk. The walk should take about one hour.

The Mosquito Creek Corridor is designated as an Important Bird Area.

Criteria for the atlas will be reviewed as each bird is documented. The atlas is important in assessing fluctuating bird populations.

Participants should bring binoculars and wear sturdy shoes.

Summer program

YOUNGSTOWN — West Side Community Center, formerly West Side Baptist Church, 304 Matta Ave., will sponsor a Summer Feeding and Activity Program for 3- to 18-year-olds.

Registration will be from 4 to 6 p.m. June 12 at the center. There is no charge for the program, but a parent or guardian must sign release forms for the field trips and complete the necessary paperwork for their child to attend.

The program is planned from June 15-Aug. 21. Sessions will be from 10 a.m. to noon Mondays through Thursdays.

The program includes games, crafts, field trips, music, a nutritional lunch and a prayer and devotion time. Children from other neighborhoods are welcome. West Side Community Center is an outreach ministry of Calvary Baptist Church, 1463 Shields Road in Boardman and West Side Baptist Church. For more information, call (330) 792-7873.

Swimming classes

WARREN — The American Red Cross of Trumbull and Mercer counties will have Learn to Swim classes at the Warren YMCA June 15-26, Niles Waddell Pool, July 6-17 and 20-31, and Burghill Badger Pool Aug. 3-14.

Cost is $20 for one child, $35 for two, $50 for three and $60 for four.

GM retirees to meet

AUSTINTOWN — The GM Lordstown Salaried Retirees Club will have a dinner meeting June 10 at Luciano’s Restaurant in the Wedgewood Plaza. A social welcome will begin at 6 p.m. followed by a buffet dinner at 6:30 p.m. The cost is $16 per person, and a cash bar will be available. To make a reservation, call (330) 544-3301 by June 8. All salaried retirees are welcome.