Our town briefs

Senior Focus upcoming schedule

Senior Focus on Armstrong Cable Austintown TV channel 19 has announced its upcoming broadcasts.

Dr. Daniel Van Dussen discusses Youngstown State’s new gerontology program today and tomorrow at 5 p.m.

Kay Lavelle talks about the Mahoning County Sheriff Office’s senior citizen’s unit Friday, Feb. 6 and Feb 7 at 5 p.m.

Senior Focus is a 30-minute program geared to adults over the age of 50 and focuses on broadcasting information from various organizations that will improve the health, finances and general well being of viewers. The show airs each weekend at 5 p.m.

College honors students

Neivana Ballard, Megan Wislon, Laurie Amendolara, Meghan Claypoole, Dennis Fink, Shereese Hickson, Kelly James and Clara Makar were placed on the National College Dean’s List for achieving a minimum grade point average of 3.5 out of a possible 4.0 in the fall semester.

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. For information, visit www.austintownfitch1990.com.

Curves launches fitness campaign

Curves in Austintown is joining other Curves facilities throughout the world for a companywide campaign to promote fitness and to prevent disease by focusing on sharing success stories with others.

The Stronger Plus Together movement can be joined by visiting www.curves.com/strongertogether. By enrolling, women will receive a “join now and get 30 days free” promotion. For information, call 330-793-9802.

Free bluegrass gospel concert at local church

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

Limited Edition is an established band from Warren that 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 information, contact Brad Bloomster, Director of Ministries at 330-799-4214.

Fibromyalgia meeting

The Mahoning Valley Fibromyalgia Group will meet on Feb. 17 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Bethel Lutheran Church in Boardman. Anyone with fibromyalgia is welcome to attend.

The meeting will feature Dr. Gregory Fagert speaking on Dry Eyes No More. For information, contact 330-758-8413 or 330-565-7187.

Wine, beer and cheese fest

The Junior Women’s League of Canfield is hosting its fifth annual wine, beer and cheese fest Feb. 27 at Antone’s Banquet Centre from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Entertainment will be provided by Jim Golen. Proceeds will be donated to Kids Grieve Too.

The cost for the event is $30 or two people for $50.

For information, call Rhonda Rance at 330-565-1959.

Free tax help at Austintown library

The Austintown branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County will offer tax preparation and electronic filing help to seniors and those with low to moderate income Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. starting the first week of February until April 15.

An appointment is required.

For a list of things to bring or to make an appointment, call 330-793-0579.

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.

Parks open for cross-country skiing

Cross country skiing is 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.

Can goods sought 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 Mahoning County Career and Technical Center on Palmyra Road in Canfield, Wedgewood Pizza on South Avenue in Boardman, Austintown Surgery Center on North Canfield-Niles Road in Austintown and Walgreen’s Pharmacy on Mahoning Avenue in Austintown.

Womens’ league looking for new members

The Boardman Poland Junior Womens’ League is looking for new members to attend its Feb. 10 meeting entitled New Year, New Friends, New Stuff. The meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. at Glenellen Assisted Living on Market Street.

The league is open to all women over 18, residing in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties who are interested in friendship, fun and community involvement.

At December’s meeting, Monica Baker and Joann Offil were installed as new members. Alexis Steven was installed at the January meeting.

Denise Statler will be this year’s president; Patty Reese is president-elect, Nina Lowery is vice president.

Also accepting responsibility for league offices for 2010 are Dianne Phillips, second vice president, Margaret Cherol, assistant treasurer; Paula Geidner, recording secretary; and Andrea Stamp, corresponding secretary.

For information or to join, contact Nina Lowery by sending your name, address and phone number to Membership Chairwoman, BPJWL, P.O. Box 3412, Boardman, Ohio 44515.

Mystery dinner fundraising event

The Byzantine Center at the Grove on Shady Run Road will host an adults-only mystery dinner theatre fundraiser Feb. 6 at 6 p.m.

Local actors will perform “A Wedding to Die For” as guests dine and participate in a clue hunt to solve the crime. A silent auction, 50/50 raffle and cash bar will be available.

The cost is $45 and proceeds will benefit Montessori School.

YMCA to host annual Spin-a-thon

The Central YMCA will host a Spin-a-thon Saturday in support of the 2010 Strong Kids Campaign.

During the annual event, spinners secure $50 donations for each hour they ride, with some riders even committing to ride the entire seven hours to raise funds for the campaign.

Money raised through this event will benefit the Strong Kids Campaign, which provides financial assistance to underprivileged youth and families for membership and/or program fees, assistance to special needs populations and agencies with usage of the YMCA’s pools and gyms.

For information contact Maureen Horvath at 330-744-8411.

Church is site for food program

Smith Corners United Methodist Church on South Canfield-Niles Road will be taking grocery orders for the great food for all program for Feb. 20 pickup.

order times are Tuesday from 10 a.m. to noon, and Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Groceries can be ordered each month by interested individuals regardless of income. Each “Big Box” costs $30 and the menu changes each month. Cash, money order or cashier’s checks are accepted at the time the order is placed. Credit cards are also accepted at the church or www.greatfoodforall.com Web site. A $1 convenience fee will be charged.

The Feb. 20 orders can be picked up from 9 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. at the church.

For information, call 330-799-9390.

Mahoning SWCD attends annual meeting

Gary Ruggles Jr. and Chad Less, supervisors for the Mahoning County Soil and Water Conservation District, attended the Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation District’s 67th Annual Meeting in January.

They were joined by leaders from Ohio’s 88 counties, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Ohio State University Extension, the National Association of Conservation Districts and various conservation partners in Columbus.

The two-day event featured leadership training activities, workshops focusing on a diverse array of conservation topics, a live taping of the Farm Bureau Federation, swearing in ceremony conducted by Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer of the Ohio Supreme Court and a delegate session in the Ohio House of Representative Chamber.

The meeting participants also donated 421 pounds of food and $520 to benefit the Mid Ohio Foodbank.

For information on programs offered by the Mahoning County Soil and Water Conservation District or the annual meeting, visit www.mahoningswcd.org.

Nominations being accepted for Athena Award

The Regional Chamber and The Vindicator/vindy.com are seeking nominations for the 2010 Athena Award until Mar. 1.

The award is presented annually to recognize area business and professional women who demonstrate significant achievements in their business that produced exceptional organizational impact. The recipient should provide valuable leadership service to the community and exhibit support for and involvement in the goals of professional women.

Past Athena recipients include Patricia Brozik, Karen Cohen, Molly Seals, Dr. Sheryl Figliano, Sister Patricia McNicholas, Dr. Cynthia Anderson, Eugenia Atkinson, Dr. Gwendolyn Hughes, Lynn Cavalier, Dee Crawford, Diane Sauer, Nancy Jastatt-Juerguns, Carolyn Anderson, Helen Paes, Marie Izzo Cartwright, Trudy Bayman and Elaine Wilson.

Nominees are not required to be a member of the Regional Chamber or employed by a Chamber-member firm. Candidates may self-nominate and past Athena nominees are eligible.

To obtain a nomination or sponsorship form or for information, contact Kim Gonda at 330-744-2131 ext. 35 or visit www.regionalchamber.com.

Athena scholarship applications available

The Regional Chamber is seeking applications until Apr. 1 for the 2010-2011 Athena Scholarship, which will be awarded at the 18th annual Athena award dinner May 20.

The $1,500 scholarship has been established to further the goals of the Athena mission to advance women’s leadership and promote education.

Scholarship applicants must be a resident of the Mahoning Valley and either a current full or part time student, or high school senior planning to attend or already enrolled at Youngstown State University or Kent State University’s Regional Campuses,

Recipients of the scholarship should have demonstrated initiative and excellence in her educational or work pursuits, a proven record of community involvement and service and commitment, and experience mentoring others.

The recipient will be notified by a representative of the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley by May 5.

For an application or information, contact Kim Gonda at 330-744-2131 ext. 35, or visit www.regionalchamber.com.

Swiss steak dinner

West United Methodist Church on Mahoning Avenue is sponsoring a swiss steak dinner Mar. 6 at 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.

The menu for the dinner will include swiss steak, mashed potatoes and gravy, glazed carrots, specialty salad, rolls, beverages and dessert.

The cost is $9 for adults and $5 for children 12 & under. Advanced ticket sales only.

For tickets, call 330-770-8679.

Yoga at the gardens

Fellows Riverside Gardens is hosting yoga classes taught by Heidi Suraci Tuesdays and Thursdays in February for students of all levels.

Tuesday’s will feature a beginner class from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. and an intermediate class from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday classes will be for all level students from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The cost for the lesson is $10 per class. Bring a mat and small blanket.

For information, call Fellows Riverside Gardens at 330-740-7116.

Silver sneakers program

The MetroParks Farm is hosting an free exercise program on Tuesdays and Thursdays in February from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

The program is designed to increase muscular strength and range of movement through a variety of exercise.

For information, call MetroParks Farm at 330-533-7572.

Health and wellness walk

A moderately difficult health and wellness walk is scheduled Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the MetroPark Farm.

This hike will be two- to four-miles long and fast paced for the recreational hiker.

Meet at the MetroParks Bikeway Trailhead at MetroParks Farm.

For information, call MetroParks Farm at 330-533-7572.

T’ai Chi Step One class in Fellows Riverside Garden

Fellows Riverside Gardens will host T’ai Chi classes taught by Marie Lew Wednesdays in February from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

The class is designed to ease stress, improve heath and increase vitality with warm-ups, breathing exercises and T’ai Chi movements.

The fee is $10 per class.

For information, call Fellows Riverside Gardens at 330-740-7116.

Loose knit group to meet

Fellows Riverside Gardens is hosting the loose knit group meeting on Friday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m..

All helping hands are welcome to “Warm up America” with other crafters by making afghans and other projects that will be donated locally. Donations of yarn and needles are appreciated at any time.

For information, call Fellows Riverside Gardens at 330-740-7116.

Interpretive Hike

Join Bill Whitehouse for a two-mile, moderately difficult hike Feb. 7 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Ford Nature Center.

The walk will be slow-paced as Whitehouse reminisces about Lindley Vickers. Vickers was a Mill Creek Park naturalist for four decades and was born 110 years ago this month.

For information, call Ford Nature Center at 330-740-7107.

On the winter terrace at 5

Fellows Riverside Gardens will host the live music of FireSign Feb. 10 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The fee is $15 and includes hors d’oeuvres and sweet treats accompanied by a glass or two of wine or beer.

For information, call Fellows Riverside Gardens at 330-740-7116.

Two-day ODNR boating safety class offered

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources is offering an eight-hour boating safety class Feb. 10 and Feb. 17 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Birch Hill Cabin in Mill Creek Park.

The class will be offered in two sessions and participants must attend both to receive full training and to complete the exam.

Ohio law requires that anyone born after Jan. 1, 1982 who wishes to operate or supervise operation of a watercraft over 10 horsepower must successfully complete an approved boating course or proficiency exam.

To register, call 330-740-7126.