Poland briefs

Summer Day Camp offers new events

Summer Day Camp at the D.D. & Velma Davis Family YMCA continues with a jam-packed schedule of activities, classes and events to keep campers entertained and active all summer long.

Remaining trips include trips to the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame, Labor and Industry Museum, Idlewild and Soakzone, the Vienna Air Force Base, Camp Fitch, Mahoning Valley Scrappers game and Pittsburgh Pirates game.

Parents can still sign their kids up for Day Camp, which runs through Aug. 27.

Camp is open to children 6 through 13 and is held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with extended hours available from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

A one-time registration fee of $25 per child applies. A second child discount for weekly participants is available, as well as daily rates for parents who may not need camp each day for an entire week.

An additional fee on trip days may apply.

Visit youngstownymca.org for a camp brochure. For information, contact Jordan Shaver at 330-480-5656.

Take a stand and help ban dog auctions

Angels for Animals will host a noon meeting to ban dog auctions in Ohio July 28 in Andrews Hall, 4750 state Route 165 in Canfield.

Ohio State Senator Joseph Schiavoni will address the coalition. The public is invited to attend and to sign the petitions that will be available. For information, call 330-549-1111.

Visit the family garden on sunny Fridays

Bring the kids for a drop-in visit to the Family Garden at Fellows Riverside Gardens on sunny Fridays to plant and water flowers or to read a book.

The Family Garden Greeter at the discovery cart will tell visitors about the plants. Children can participate in hands-on activities.

For information, call the gardens at 330-740-7116.

American girls performs

First Unitarian Universalist Church, at the corner of Elm and Illinois just north of YSU, will host “Sandy Van Such Love, Ludmilla” July 19 at 6:30 p.m.

The evening will consist of songs, dances and humorous monologues based on a character channeled by Alexandra (Sandy) Vansuch.

Ludmilla, a middle-aged Russian diva, is the center of the show, taking the audience on a slightly skewed tour of popular and traditional music as interpreted by one who grew up in the former Soviet Union, but “alvays vanted to be an American girl.’

The cost is $3 at the door and light refreshments will be available.

Angels for Angels offers pancake breakfast

Angels for Animals is hosting an “all-you-can-eat” pancake breakfast at Angels’ Andrews Hall, 4750 state Route 165 in Canfield, July 18 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Menu includes pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs, hash browns, coffee, orange juice and milk with unlimited refills.

Cost for adults is $7 and children under 6 eat free. All proceeds benefit Angels’ Operation Litter Control event providing free and low-cost cat spays to people with financial needs.

Watch out for lane restrictions

U.S. Route 224 in Boardman and Canfield townships will have various lane restrictions in either or both directions until further notice from just east of North Hillside Road to just west of Pinewood Drive for resurfacing work.

State Route 625 will have various lane restrictions in either or both directions from Route 224 to Midlothian Boulevard for resurfacing work.

The work is part of a $2.3 million project to resurface Route 224 from just east of North Hillside to just west of Pinewood, Route 625 from Route 224 to Midlothian and state Route 46 in Trumbull County from U.S. Route 422 to state Route 5. The project is scheduled to be completed by August.

Tour MetroParks farm

Bring the family for a tractor-wagon tour of MetroParks Farm Thursdays in July at 10 a.m. The one-hour tour is free and reservations are suggested. To register, call the farm at 330-533-7572.

Make ice cream in a bag

MetroParks Farm will show how to make ice cream in a small Ziploc bag Sunday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. For information, call the farm at 330-533-7572.

Watch a movie under the stars tonight

MetroParks Farm will host one of the favorite farm movies of all times under the stars tonight from 9:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Moviegoers should bring a chair, blanket and refreshments. For information, call the farm at 330-533-7572.

Join a book discussion

Read wildlife journalist William Stolzenburg’s “Where the Wildlife Things Where: Life, Death and Ecological Wreckage in a Land of Vanishing Predators” and then join a discussion at the Ford Nature Center July 24 at 10 a.m.

Brisk walk, botany and breakfast offered

Start Friday with a brisk walk through Fellows Riverside Gardens at 8:30 a.m. and then have breakfast at the Garden Cafe while learning about the plant family Armeria.

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

Return to Lincoln Park for tough hike

Hike for the health of it and explore some of the 200 additional acres of this City of Youngstown park Sunday at 10 a.m. Wear old shoes to hike along and in Dry Run, the lake that fills McKelvey Lake. Hikers should meet at the Lincoln Park Pavilion for this difficult 4-mile hike. To register, call 330-740-7101.

Get your blood pressure screened

The Mahoning Chapter of the American Red Cross will be performing blood pressure screenings July 27 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Poland branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County.

Rhyme and win all month at the library

Answer rhymes correctly at the Poland branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County during regular library hours in July and win a prize.

Make a splash with trash

The Green Team and Youngstown Litter Control and Recycling present a special program based on the book “One Less Fish” by Kim Michelle Toft July 29 at 2 p.m.

This book is a perfect illustration of how marine life is affected by carelessness and measures that can be taken to help.

Participants can make a decorative fish from used CDs and scrap paper and receive a “Don’t Teach Your Trash to Swim” coloring book. For children in grades pre-K through five.

Library hosts beach party

Ride the waves and join the Poland branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County for beach stories, games, songs and crafts Thursday at 2 p.m. Fun for all ages.

New website for Holy Family School

Holy Family School has launched its new website at www.hfspoland.org. Many hours were spent to organize and complete the new site so school families and prospective families can obtain information and forms.

The site was designed by Christine Boniface.

Baby brilliant program

Babies 6 months to 23 months can enjoy developmentally-appropriate books, songs, rhymes, finger plays and other activities at the Poland branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County Wednesdays in July and August at 10 a.m. This program is also available for children ages 2 and 3 Aug. 5 at 10:30 a.m.

Nominate an outstanding senior or senior advocate

Nominations are being accepted for the 2010 Valley Legacy Awards. The awards will be presented to an outstanding senior and outstanding advocate for seniors Oct. 14 at the Sixth Annual Legacy Awards, where all nominees will be recognized for their good works.

Candidates should be recognized for a lifetime of working to improve the Mahoning Valley or who have provided exceptional support of older Americans through their professional, volunteer or civic roles.

Nominees must have left a legacy for the community and inspired others through their work ethic, concern for others and enthusiasm for the betterment of our community.

Nomination forms are available online at www.shepherdofthevalley.com, at all Shepherd of the Valley locations and WKBN and ClearChannel web sites. All nominations must be postmarked by July 30.

Trim a tree for summer

Throughout the months of July and August, kids of all ages can decorate an ornament at the Poland branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County for their all-season tree.

Summer Cruise Nites

The Mahoning Valley Olde Car Club will host Cruise Nites every Tuesday from June through August from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Chick-fil-a on state Route 224 near South Avenue in Boardman, weather permitting. Registration will be $2. Plaques or $15 gas cards will be awarded and 50/50 raffles prizes will be given away nightly. All proceeds benefit Hospice of the Valley.

Boardman Park offers new online reservations

Boardman Township Park’s is offering a new and improved online reservation system on its Web site.

Residents can see available rentals, rates, rental times and payment options. The payment system will accept all major credit cards.

Reservations can still be made in person at the rental office, but only payments in cash, money order or check can be accepted.

Visit the Web site at www.boardmanpark.com.

For information, call 330-726-8107.

Curves offers Silver Sneakers classes

Free Silver Sneakers classes are offered daily to eligible women over 65 at Curves in Poland.

The classes are designed to improve strength, flexibility and overall health. For information, call 330-757-8800.

Spring clean and donate items to Goodwill

Get an early start on spring cleaning and donate to the Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries.

Items needed include clothing, housewares, small kitchen appliances, glasses, dishes and home decor.

Goodwill will take computers and computer equipment as part of the Dell Reconnect recycle program.

Donation location centers can be found in the Boardman Plaza, Hermitage Hills Plaza, Warren Plaza, Shenango Towne Center and at 2747 Belmont Ave. in Liberty.

S.O.A.R. to new heights with girls program

Conference No. 1 for the S.O.A.R. program will take place at Mill Creek MetroPark’s Fellows Riverside Gardens Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This program targets girls ages 8 to 12. Its purpose is to energize girls’ self-esteem and become aware of all types of negative media influences and how to manage negative emotions.

S.O.A.R. stands for Shine in their Own Amazing Way.

The conference will include a combination of yoga, art, dance, hair and skin care, and a variety of other activities. Cost is $80 and includes all classes, lunch snacks, T-shirt and any art projects.

One dollar from each fee will be contributed to Fellows Riverside Garden’s Family Garden.

For information, call Mariellen at 330-509-9642.

Share your summer fun in Neighbors

Summer is fast approaching and Neighbors would love to hear about your organization’s plans for spring and summer festivals, Vacation Bible School programs, community events and sports camps and outings.

Just let us know who, what, when, where and why and we’ll get the word out for you.

Then, don’t forget to send us pictures of all the fun after the event, so we can share them with your neighbors.