Niles schools’ art event

Niles schools’ art event

NILES

The Art Outreach Gallery at Eastwood Mall will host the Niles School District Creative Arts Reception and Weekend Arts event Friday and Saturday.

This event features artwork by local students in kindergarten through 12th grade, music performances, an open poetry slam and a high school fundraiser.

Eighth-grade band students, the high school jazz ensemble and high school student soloists will perform from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday.

The gallery will host a high school student open poetry slam at 3 p.m. Saturday. The poetry slam is open to all high school students in the Mahoning Valley. Registration will begin at 2:30 p.m., and the poetry slam will start at 3.

The gallery is located across from Kitchen Collection, along the concourse between Macy’s and Sear’s.

Green Team honors

YOUNGSTOWN

The Mahoning County Recycling Division, known as the Green Team, will receive the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s honorable mention for gold-achievement award at the EPA’s Waste Wise annual meeting Monday in Arlington, Va.

The Green Team will be recognized for its 2008 organic waste-reduction program, in which it collected and composted 27,056 pounds of leaves and other organic materials; collected and submerged 25,230 pounds of recycled Christmas trees in local lakes as fish habitat; and conducted composting education sessions for more than 3,000 local students.

Good Friday message

YOUNGSTOWN

Pastor David Thomas of Victory Christian Center in Lowellville will deliver the Good Friday message at the annual breakfast and service sponsored by Youngstown YMCA’s spiritual life committee. The event is April 2 in the downtown Central Branch, 17 N. Champion St., with the breakfast buffet at 7:15 a.m. followed by the program at 8.

Music will be provided by Timothy Welsh, a Boardman High School student.

Individual tickets are $9. Contact Judy Neyman at the YMCA’s Metro office at (330) 744-8411. Tables will be reserved as payments are received. Reservations should be made by March 26.

Trumbull Co. hearing

WARREN

The Trumbull County Planning Commission will have a public hearing at noon Monday at the Trumbull County commissioners’ hearing room on the fifth floor of the county administration building, 160 High St. N.W., regarding the county’s application for Community Development Block Grant money.

The county is eligible for $250,000 in Community Housing Improvement Program funding and proposes to use the money to rehabilitate three homes in the Church Hill area of Liberty Township, conduct a home-repair assistance program across the county to serve about 11 homeowners and assist with foreclosure and eviction.

Birdseed available

YOUNGSTOWN

Mahoning Soil & Water Conservation District, 850 Industrial Road, will have locally grown wild birdseed available from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Mixed birdseed will cost $8.50 for 25 pounds of 40 percent oil sunflower, 20 percent cracked corn, 20 percent wheat and 20 percent millet.

Black-oil sunflower seed will be available for $11 for 25 pounds, and thistle seed will be $11 for 10 pounds.

Call to place your order at (330) 740-7995.

Financial education

YOUNGSTOWN

The Ohio Legislative Black Caucus, the Congress of Racial Equality and Checksmart Financial Company are sponsoring a free public financial-education program Saturday at Team Center, 101 E. Federal St.

“You’re in Control of Your Money” will begin at 10 a.m. and will present basic personal finance concepts such as budgeting, savings, understanding financial disclosures and understanding credit and credit reports.

No reservation is needed, and the program is free.