Our town briefs

College honors students

Jason Greenawalt and Brian Carbone 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.

Cardinal Mooney opens doors to public

Cardinal Mooney High School will host an open house Feb. 7 from noon to 3 p.m.

The open house will conclude Mooney’s Catholic School Week celebration and is designed to give the public an opportunity to visit the school and learn more about it and its curriculum.

Members of the faculty and administration will be available to explain the school’s curriculum, detail new course offerings for the 2010-2011 school year and to discuss financial aid opportunities.

In addition, students will be featured in various demonstrations and projects.

Visitors will be invited to take guided tours of the building.

Information concerning registration procedures will be available and new student registrations will be accepted.

The school’s Alumni Association will sponsor a tuition drawing featuring four $500 scholarship prizes.

A Super Bowl tailgate party will be hosted by the Cardinal Mooney Home and School Association in the school cafeteria from noon to 4 p.m.

It will feature meatballs and sauce made by LaRiccia’s, peppers and sausage from the MVR and homemade bread and rolls from Cafe Capri, along with salads and homemade desserts. Food will be served for dining or can be taken out.

The open house is open to all Cardinal Mooney parents, friends, alumni and to prospective students and their parents.

Wine, beer & 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 Center from 5 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.

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.

Annual spaghetti dinner

The Poland Homerun Club is having its annual spaghetti dinner tomorrow from noon to 5 p.m. at the Poland Seminary High School cafeteria.

The cost for dinner will be $6 and tickets can be purchased from any high school baseball player or at the door. Take out will be available.

All proceeds will benefit the Poland High School baseball team.

Father and Daughter night at Poland Union

Poland Union Elementary school is hosting a father/daughter night at the school Thursday at 6 p.m.

All daughters in the school are welcome to bring their dads or other adult male.

Lenten retreat offered

The Ursuline Center on Shields Road is offering a Lenten retreat from March to April. The opening session for all participants will be March 2 at 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Beginning March 9, participants will meet with a facilitator once a week for 45 minutes on a day and time of their choice.

The cost of the retreat is $75 and includes materials. Scholarships are available on request. For information, call Eileen Novotny at 330-533-3831 Pre-registration is requested.

Women’s book group to meet at Poland Library

Join the Women’s Book Discussion Group Feb. 9 at 6:30 p.m. at the Poland Library Friends Bookstore to discuss “Life in the Balance: A Physicians Memoir of Life, Love and Loss with Parkinson’s Disease and Dementia” by Dr. Thomas Graboys.

Poland Rotary sponsors Chili Open and auction

The Poland Rotary is presenting the 24th Annual Chili Open Golf Classic at Bedford Trails Golf Course Feb. 27.

Admission to the event will be $25 per person or $100 a foursome and includes nine holes of golf, food, beverages, prizes and more. Tee times will begin at 9 a.m.

There will be a Chili Open Auction Jan. 29 at the Georgetown on South Avenue. Admission will be $50 per person and $370 for a table of eight and will include a five station dinner buffet and music and dancing with Steve Fazzini.

A block pool will be available for $100 per ticket and a silent and chance raffle auction will take place.

Doors open at 6 p.m. For more information or to register, contact the Poland Rotary at 330-540-1647 or e-mail to www.polandrotary.org.

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.

Lenten prayer luncheon

A prayer luncheon will be offered Mar. 13 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Prato Meeting Hall at Ursuline Center with presentations by Ginger Kubala and Eileen Novotny.

The cost will be $16 and includes lunch. Arrive at 9:30 a.m. for registration.

For information, call Janet Frantz at 330-799-4941 or e-mail theursulinecenter@yahoo.org. Pre-registration is required. Poland High School freshman orientation

There will be an orientation meeting for all eighth graders and their parents who reside in the Poland school district Thursday at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium.

Poland administration and counselors will provide information to assist incoming freshman on selecting courses. The process for enrolling in courses will continue to be individual as it has proven to be successful.

Some curriculum changes and increased graduation requirements will be in effect, so attending this orientation is important for students and parents.Topics will include an explanation of the registration process, review of new graduation requirements, explanation of course levels, college entrance requirements, athletic participation guidelines and the high school graduation test. For information, call the Poland High School guidance office at 330-757-7036.

Decorate a Valentine tree

Come decorate an ornament for the Poland branch of the Public Library or Youngstown and Mahoning County during library hours in February.

Library is hosting a magical book club

The Poland branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County is hosting a celebration of the book “Magician’s Elephant” by Kate DiCamillo Feb. 6 at 11 a.m. for kids in grades two through five.

There will be games, crafts and more. You can participate even if you haven’t read the book.

Beginner Tai Chi classes on Thursdays

Instructor Sandra Vidis will teach the foundation in the eight-step Yang Family Style Form of Tai Chi on Thursdays from Feb. 11 to March 15 at Ursuline Center.

The cost to attend is $75. Participants should wear loose clothing and soft low-heeled shoes.

For information or to register, call 330-799-4941 or e-mail theursulinecenter@yahoo.org.

Blood pressure screening offered at library

The Mahoning Chapter of the American Red Cross will offer blood pressure screenings at the Poland branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County Feb. 23 from 1 to 4 p.m.

New York trip planned for Poland art students

In February, the advanced art classes from Poland Seminary High School will travel to New York City for a weekend of art, sight-seeing and a Broadway show.

Activities include attending the Broadway performance of “The Lion King,” spending a day at The Metropolitan Museum of Art and checking out the Art Deco Architecture of the Empire State Building.

They will also have the opportunity to see the murals in the NBC building as well as the sculpture in Rockefeller Center.