Boardman briefs

Relay for life names committee members

Chairman Tod Crowe and co-chairman Samuel Morocco announced the 2011 Youngstown Relay for Life committee members.

The committee is comprised of local business people, YSU employees and city employees and includes Artis Gillam, Sr., Brandon Davis, Brenda Scarborough, Francesca Kostek, Gordon Zeiler, Grant Springer, Joe Fanto, Mary Yacavone, Michelle Sidoti, Ray DeCarlo, Samantha Aldish, Sharon Schroeder, Sonya Hennessy and Todd Pilipovich.

Anyone interested in joining a committee can contact Crow at 330-727-1775.

The 2011 ninth annual Relay for Life will take place on Youngstown State University’s campus.

Library closed for holiday

All public libraries in the Mahoning County system will be closed for the holidays today, Friday and Jan. 1.

Scholarship opportunity for Catholic women

The Catholic Collegiate Association is offering a $1,000 scholarship to be used in the academic year 2011/2012 at any college or university.

All applicants must be Catholic women in good standing with their university and they must provide a recent transcript showing a 3.0 GPA. Applicants must also have successfully completed one year of college and submit a letter of recommendation from their pastor and an adviser or professor.

A short essay describing the reasons why the applicant should be awarded the scholarship will also be required.

To obtain an application or additional information, call 330-726-8063 before Jan. 12 or call the YSU financial aid and scholarship office at 330-941-3504. The deadline for the scholarship application is March 23.

Light display continues in Columbiana

The Joy of Christmas Light display in Columbiana’s Firestone Park will continue through Jan. 2 from 5 to 10 p.m., nightly. Cost is a $5 donation per car. Net proceeds will rebuild the park’s Funland for children and benefit Toys for Tots. Swim and Tennis Club offers winter special

A winter membership drive is being conducted by the Applewood Swim and Tennis Club, located in Applewood Acres, Boardman.

Initiation and application fees have been waived, so for $699, new members can join the private club with shaded landscaping, two pavilions, a fenced-in baby pool, volleyball and basketball court.

The membership also provides members with water aerobics, swim and tennis lessons, and the opportunity to join competitive swim and tennis teams.

This membership offer is good until Friday. A deposit of $175 will secure a spot and the balance is due by May 15. Some restrictions apply, so contact Judy DeJoseph for details at 330-758-2446 or e-mail jbd828@yahoo.com.

Make a recycled gift bow

Youth in grades four through six can make economically and environmentally-friendly holiday bows throughout December at the Boardman library during regular hours.

Trim a tree for December

Children of all ages can decorate an ornament for the Boardman library’s all-season tree through December during regular library hours.

Dinner with Santa to feed the community

The Youngstown Communtiy Food Center, Inc. and Gleaners Food Bank will host its 18th annual Christmas dinner with Santa today from noon to 1 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Church Hall, 1420 Oak Hill Ave.

The meal is prepared to serve at least 450 people.

Toys, flowers clothing and fruit baskets will be passed out to the guests.

To make a donation, make checks payable to Yo. Comm. Food Center & Gleaners Food Bank at P.O. Box 3587 Boardman, OH 44512.

Put on a red scarf and run

The Nick Dubos Red Scarf Invitational 2.2-mile fun run and 1.1-mile run/walk is scheduled for Sunday at Roosevelt Park, 351 Tenney Ave. in Campbell.

The entry fee is six to 12 cookies or a handful of leftover Christmas cookies or fruitcake. Canned goods to be donated to the Mahoning Valley Food Bank will also be accepted.

Lunch, coffee, cookies and drinks will follow after the race.

To make a reservation, e-mail marke919@msn.com or call Mark at 216-392-8935.

Railroad layout at local museum

The Western Reserve Modular Railroad Club is featuring its large modular layout at the National Packard Museum in Warren through Wednesday.

Nature photography exhibit at Riverside

The annual Nature Photography Exhibit will be displayed at Mill Creek MetroParks Fellows Riverside Gardens in Weller Gallery Feb. 13 through March 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Deadline for entries is Jan. 23. Applications will be available for download at www.millcreekmetroparks.org in January. Call Ford Nature Center at 330-740-7107 for information.

Join a celebration of family, friends and life

Help support Karen Rohan in her fight against breast cancer Jan. 16 from noon to 5 p.m. at St. Maron’s Church Antioch Hall, 1555 S. Meridian Road, Youngstown.

She was diagnosed with large globular differential carcinoma in June 2010.

The benefit includes a spaghetti dinner, Chinese auction and 50/50 raffle.

The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children under 10. Carry-out is available and tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door.

To donate for the Chinese auction, call Bill Rohan at 330-398-3232 or Nikki Martin at 330-652-6630.

Take the best drive in the park

Original drawings, vintage photos and equipment of Mill Creek Golf Course will be on display in the Melnik Museum at Fellows Riverside Gardens through December.

Winter Celebration: Holiday Scent-sation

Visit Fellows Riverside Gardens at Mill Creek MetroParks for the holidays and be greeted by the scent of cedar, fir and cinnamon through Jan. 2, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The decorated trees and seasonal flowers throughout the Davis Center will display the “Holiday Scent-sation” theme. Make sure to see the Rainforest Room, stop by the Shop in the Gardens for unique holiday gift ideas and catch the view of Lake Glacier while dining in the Garden Caf .

Explore the winter woods

Need a respite from the holiday rush? Join Bill Whitehouse on an exploration of the peaceful Hitchcock Woods at Mill Creek MetroParks Sunday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Parking is available on Deerpath Drive. This 2-mile hike is moderately difficult.

Health and wellness walks offered

Join Mill Creek MetroParks for several walks throughout December. All walks start at 9 a.m.

Meet at the Golf Course overflow parking lot on West Golf Drive Wednesday for an easy 1 or 3-mile walk.

Do yoga in the gardens

Join yoga instructor Heidi Suraci at Mill Creek Parks Fellows Riverside Garden Tuesdays in December from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. for beginner classes and from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. for intermediate classes. All level classes are Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Bring a mat and small blanket. Call Fellows Riverside Gardens at 330-740-7116 for information. The cost is $10 per class.

T’ai Chi step one in the gardens

Ease stress, improve health and increase vitality at Mill Creek Parks Fellows Riverside Garden with Marie Lew in warm-ups, breathing exercises and selected movements from a classic Chen T’ai Chi form Wednesdays in December from noon to 1 p.m. Call Fellows Riverside Gardens at 330-740-7116 for information.

The cost is $10 per class.

View the wldlife art of John A. Ruthven

Wildlife artist John Ruthven paints what he knows and loves. Often called the modern day Audubon, Ruthven thoroughly studies his animal subjects and paints them in their habitats with technical detail. His work will be on display at Mill Creek MetroParks Davis Education and Visitor Center daily through Jan. 9 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Enjoy yoga every Tuesday

Get a rigorous workout and experience peace in the hectic world doing ashtanga yoga with Kirk every Tuesday from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Unity Centre for Spiritual Living, 1226 Naylor-Lloyd Road in Liberty.

The class is not for beginners; intermediate to advanced yoga practitioners only.

For information, call 330-539-0122 or visit www.unitycentre.org.

Public library closed Jan. 17

All public libraries in Mahoning County will be closed Jan. 17 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Bond with babies and books at library

Join the Boardman library for developmentally-appropriate books, songs, rhymes, finger play and other activities for babies 6-23 months Jan. 6 at 10 a.m.

The program is designed to make children successful readers. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

The library will host a similar program for children ages 2 and 3 Wednesdays in January at 10 a.m. and a program for children ages 4 and 5 Tuesdays in January at 10 a.m.

Yoga before bedtime

Wear comfy clothes and bend, stretch and reach for the stars during stories and yoga in the Boardman library Jan. 13 at 7 p.m.

Children must be accompnanied by an adult. Bring a towel or yoga mate. Program lasts 45 minutes and is open to children of all ages.

Blood pressure check offered

The Mahoning Chapter of the American Red Cross will host a blood pressure screening at the Boardman library Jan. 3 from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Swap puzzles Jan. 12

Bring a new or once-completed puzzle to the Boardman library and swap it with another Jan. 12 at 4:30 p.m. The swaps are sponsored by the Friends of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County.

Join in a Kulig winter celebration

Join Polish Youngstown and Mill Creek Metroparks for a sleigh-ride around Lake Glacier Jan. 13 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Fellows Riverside Gardens.

Traditional Polish food, a bonfire, music and more will be available.

For information, call 330-740-7118.

Metroparks looking for seasonal workers

Learn about seasonal and part-time employments opportunities at the Metroparks Jan. 26 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Davis Center in Fellows Riverside Gardens.

Representatives from several departments will be available to answer questions and provide information about jobs for the 2011 season.

Feed the chickadees at Ford Nature Center

Meet at Ford Nature Center Jan. 8 at 9 a.m. and feed Black-capped chickadees with certified volunteer Naturalist Nancy Brundage. Feed will be provided.

Learn about the park

Kristen Peetz, environmental land manager for Mill Creek Metroparks, will discuss the park district’s undeveloped areas Jan. 25 at 7 p.m. at MetroParks Farm.

A social time will begin at 6:30 p.m. For information, call 888-846-8851.

Share a few soup recipes

David Armstrong will share recipes and culinary techniques as he demonstrates how to prepare and serve a vegetarian, a beef and a seafood soup Jan. 19 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The cost for the event is $28 for garden members and $35 for nonmembers.

To register, call Fellows Riverside Garden at 330-740-7116.

Look for icicles at Mill Creek

Grab a camera and enjoy a two-mile, moderately-difficult, slow-paced exploration of the Mill Creek gorge Jan. 2.

Meet at the Lanterman’s Mill parking lot at 2 p.m.

Remember Edward Galaida during walk

Join Bill Whitehouse for a two-mile, moderately-difficult hike that will visit many of the places Edward Galaida wrote about in his book, “Mill Creek Park,” Jan. 9.

Meet at the Ford Nature Center at 2 p.m.

Learn about animal tracking

Meet at Bear’s Den Cabin Jan. 16 at 2 p.m. for a short presentation on animal tracking. Afterward, look for tracks of Mill Creek’s winter wildlife on a two-mile, moderately-difficult hike and make a cast of them to take home.

Hike for winter skeletons

Meet at MetroParks Bikeway Jan. 23 at 2 p.m. for a two-mile, moderately-difficult hike to look for the remaining subtle beauty of wildflowers.

Harvest ice the old-fashioned way

Learn how the Youngstown Ice Company harvested ice for commercial use from Mill Creek and the Mahoning River in the early 1900s during a º-mile hike around Lake Glacier Jan. 30 at 1:30 p.m.

A three-mile hike to see what’s left of the ice company will be offered immediately afterward. The hike contains hills and steps.

Walk for health and wellness

Mill Creek Metroparks is offering health and wellness walks throughout January.

For easy-rated walks, meet at the Main Golf Course overflow parking lot for a one to three-mile walk Jan. 12 at 9 a.m. or at the Metropark’s bikeway trail at Metroparks Farm Jan. 19 at 6 p.m. for a full moon two-mile walk.

A moderately-difficult two or four-mile walk is available Jan. 26 at 9 a.m. Meet at the Metroparks’ Bikeway Trailhead at Kirk Road.

Gardens offers botany and breakfast

Start Jan. 21 with a brisk garden walk and then return to the Garden Caf for a light breakfast and lesson on spruce, pine and fir.

The cost is $7 for garden members and $9 for nonmembers. To register, call the gardens at 330-740-7116.

Do yoga at the gardens

Bring a mat and small blanket to learn a blend of energizing yoga styles from Heidi Suraci at Fellows Riverside Gardens on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout January.

Tuesdays will feature beginners’ classes from 9:30 to 11 a.m. and intermediate classes from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Thursday classes will be from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. and are open to all levels.

The fee is $10 per class. For information, call the gardens at 330-740-7116.

T’ai Chi in the garden

Ease stress, improve health and increase vitality with breathing exercises and selected movements from a classic Chen T’ai Chi form taught by Marie Lew Wednesdays from noon to 1 p.m. during January at Fellows Riverside Gardens.

The costs is $10 per class. For information, call the gardens at 330-740-7116.

Have fun with feathered friends

The Ford Nature Center will host a “Winter Snow, Blue Feather” program for 2-year-old children Jan. 6 at 10 a.m., 10:45 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

During the program, children can listen to stories about birds and make edible crafts for their feathered friends. Children must be accompanied by a parent. The costs is $2. To register, call the nature center at 330-740-7107.