Austintown church hosts free concert

January 9, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Austintown Community Church on S. Canfield-Niles Road will be hosting a free concert with Limited Edition Band of Warren Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary of the church.

Limited Edition blends progressive driving bluegrass gospel and traditional gospel into original music written by band leader Dan Garrett. There is no charge for admission but a freewill offering will be received during the concert. ACC is handicap accessible. For more information, contact Brad Bloomster, director of ministries at 330-799-4214.

Awesome-town 2010 meeting is Thursday

Come and participate in the next step in planning a communitywide festival for next fall on Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Stacey Pavilion at Austintown Township Park.

Businesses and organizations can learn how to become part of this celebration. The Awesome-town Fall Festival is scheduled for Oct. 9-10 in the township park. For more information, please contact Brad Bloomster at 330-799-4214 or e-mail at bbloomster@yourACC.org.

Fitch Class of 1990 to reunite in July

The high school Class of 1990 will hold a reunion the weekend of July 4 and is looking for members of the class to attend. Reservations will begin being taken in March. Anyone interested in more information about the gathering can contact Tom Lewis at 330-207-9007. There is also more details at www.austintownfitch1990.com.

Shopping on a budget

The Salvation Army Thrift Store on Mahoning Avenue is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. A variety of men’s, women’s and children’s clothing and bric-a-brac is available at bargain prices.

Can goods collection set for Rescue Mission

The Adult Education Medical Assistant Program at Mahoning County Career and Technical Center is having a community outreach drive for the Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley.

Items needed include canned foods, first-aid items and toiletries. Drop-off locations are MCCTC on Palmyra Road in Canfield, Wedgewood Pizza on South Avenue in Boardman, Austintown Surgery Center on North Canfield-Niles Road in Austintown and Walgreens Pharmacy on Mahoning Avenue in Austintown.

Redeemer hosts blood drive on Monday

Redeemer Lutheran Church will be hosting a blood drive at its facility on Canfield-Niles Road on Monday from 2-6 p.m. For information, call 330-799-7823.

Volunteers needed for Polar Bear Jump

The American Cancer Society is looking for volunteers to help plan and organize the Polar Bear Jump. The date and location for the event have not been confirmed. It will most likely take place on a Saturday afternoon between January and March at a frozen lake or pond.

The jump gives people of all ages the opportunity to jump into the water of a frozen lake or pond after the ice is cut away.

Participants are asked to raise $25 each to be used for the fight against cancer. To get involved, contact La Dawn Whitman, income development coordinator of the American Cancer Society at 888-227-6446 ext. 2204 or e-mail her at lawdawn.whitman@cancer.org

Library hosts Bonding With Babies and Books

The Austintown branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County will host Baby Brilliant: Bonding With Babies and Books on Thursday 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.

This program is for infants from 6 to 23 months. It’s also available for toddlers ages 2 and 3, but is titled Tales and Talks, and is on Wednesday at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. The library will host an active story time for the young and restless on Thursday and Jan. 28 at 11 a.m. for ages 2-5.

Historical society offers afghans for sale

The Austintown Historical Society has for immediate purchase the historic Austintown afghan. Colors are cranberry red and cream, Williamsburg blue and cream, and hunter’s green and cream.

Also available are the Cat’s Meow collectibles, which cost from $12 to $15 each. All proceeds benefit the Austintown Historical Society. For information call 330-792-1129.

It’s pajamarama time

Put on your PJs, bring out the whole family and listen to bedtime stories at the Austintown branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County on Jan. 25 at 6:30 p.m. The event is for children of all ages.

Friends of the library meeting on Monday

Bertram de Souza, editorial writer/columnist for The Vindicator, will visit the Austintown branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County on Monday at 10 a.m. to discuss the upcoming politics of 2010.

He will also discuss the importance of the 2010 census and how it may affect the Mahoning Valley.

Ready to go sledding?

The Mill Creek Metroparks sled hill is now open at Wick Recreation Area on McCollum Road.

The 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.

It’s open through 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.

Hours on Saturday and Sunday for the hill and warming house are from noon to 9:30 p.m.

For information, call 330-740-7114.

Parks open for cross country skiing

Cross country skiing offered at Mill Creek 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 and MetroParks Bikeway.

Boardman Park spaces up for grabs

Boardman Township Park is 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 now, 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