Poland briefs

Traffic advisory for ongoing construction

Resurfacing of state Route 170 from Lee Run to the northern Poland corporation will have various lane restrictions in either direction or both directions between 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The work is part of a $400,000 project of the Ohio Department of Transportation and is set to be completed by June.

2010 recycling Regatta

Valley residents can participate in the “Build and Race a Recycled Boat” race June 12 at Lake Milton State Park.

All boats must be made of at least 70 percent recycled product and they must be able to be broken down and recycled after the event.

No nails, 55 gallon drums or containers that held household hazardous waste are allowed. Old boogie boards or surfboards or motors are prohibited. Boats may be pre-made prior to the event.

For recycled products to use, call the Green Team, ReCreate, Youngstown Litter Control and Recycling or a local school.

For information or entry forms, contact Mahoning Soil and Water Conservation District at 330-740-7995.

To enter the Regatta, each crew or captain must complete an entry form and release form and return it by June 8 to Recycle Regatta, Mahoning SWCD, 850 Industrial Road, Youngstown, OH 44509.

No children under 12 can ride on the boat, but they can help build. The Regatta is being held to coincide with the Mahoning River Consortium’s River Wide Picnic Day.

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 that school families and prospective families can obtain information and forms. The site was designed by Christine Boniface.

Explore careers at summer camp

Students in grades seven through nine can test out new careers during the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center’s Summer Camp June 21 through June 25 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Courses during the camp will include aviation, auto body, engineering, forensics, medical occupations, cosmetology and culinary cuisine.

Registration fees are $90 and application deadline is June 1. Snacks are provided daily and a luncheon will be held at the end of the week.

For information or to sign up, contact Career Development Supervisor Jacqueline Kuffel at 330-729-4120.

PHS graduate finds success in Indiana

Meredith Reffner, a 2008 graduate of Poland Seminary High School, has been named a “Founders Scholar” with a 4.0 GPA by Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind.

Meredith is a sophomore in the Hutton Honors College and is majoring in journalism with a second concentration in Spanish and minoring in West European Studies.

She is a staff writer and copy editor for the campus newspaper, a copy editor for the newspaper’s special publications and a volunteer with IU Relay For Life. This summer she will be an intern with Pittsburgh Magazine.

Meredith is the daughter of Terry and Susan Reffner.

Dinner and auction to benefit soccer team

The Ursuline High School boys soccer team will host a spaghetti dinner and Chinese auction Sunday at Lucianno’s Caf and Banquet Center, 1739 S. Raccoon Road in Austintown, at 12:30 p.m.

The auction will begin at 4:15 p.m. Take out is available.

Brothers receive high honors at university

Tyler Vallinger, a second-year junior at John Carroll University and 2008 graduate of Poland Seminary, has made the dean’s list for Spring 2010. He was also chosen as a recipient of the Sound Mind/Balanced Man award in the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and membership into the Eta Sigma Phi Honor Society, all for his high academic achievements as well as personal conduct.

Trent Vallinger, a freshmen at Lake Erie College and 2009 graduate of Poland Seminary, was also awarded to the dean’s list for Spring 2010. He is a member of the Lake Erie College Baseball team and a Physical Therapy major.

Both are the sons of John and Melanie Vallinger of Poland.

Playhouse presents award-winning show

The Youngstown Playhouse will present musical comedy murder mystery “Curtains,” today and Sunday

Performance times are 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

Ticket prices for “Curtains” are $15 for adults and $12 for seniors and students.

For reservations and information, call the box office at 330-788-8739.

Support Arc of Ohio at the Salon at Macy’s

The Salon at Macy’s in the Southern Park Mall will host a Benefit Style and Cut-A-Thon Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The cost is $12 for haircut or style and $5 for eyebrow waxing.

Pastries and goodies will be available for purchase. All proceeds benefit the Arc of Ohio Northeast Branch which serves children and adults with developmental disabilities in Mahoning, Trumbull, and Columbiana counties.

Call the Salon at Macy’s at 330-758-9105 to schedule an appointment.

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.

Buy spring plants from students of MCCTC

The Horticulture program at the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center has begun its spring plant sale.

Students of the school have prepared assorted annuals, hanging baskets, tomatoes, peppers and flats of flowers and will sell them until the supply runs out.

The Horticulture Gift Shop is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Take T’ai Chi at the gardens Wednesdays

Ease stress, improve health and increase vitality with T’ai Chi classes at Fellows Riverside Gardens each Wednesday in May from noon to 1 p.m. Marie Lew will demonstrate warmups, breathing exercises and selected movements from a classic Chen T’ai Chi form. The fee for each class is $10. For information, call Fellows Riverside Gardens at 330-740-7116.

Become a Hospice of the Valley Volunteer

The Hospice of the Valley’s is looking for new volunteers and will offer a volunteer training class Tuesday in the Hospice House conference room. The classes are from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. every Tuesday for six weeks.

Volunteers will learn what the team of doctors, nurses, social workers and chaplains do for the patients and their family and how volunteers fit into that team.

The Hospice House is located at 9803 Sharrott Road, Poland, on the campus of The Assumption Village. For information and to register, call 330-788-1992.

Health and wellness walk scheduled Wednesday

A health and wellness walk is planned for 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Golf Course overflow parking lot. Trim a tree for May

Decorate an ornament for an all-season tree at the Poland branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County during regular library hours throughout May.

Free blood pressure screening available

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

Enter the Celebrate Poland poetry contest

The Poland branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County are accepting poetry submissions until Friday for the Celebrate Poland event planned for June 25-26.

Teens grades seven through 12 can express their praise for Poland in poetry form and long-time Poland residents will select winners.

Winners will receive prizes and have their names printed on bookmarks for distribution at the library. All entries will be displayed at the Poland library during the weekend celebration.

Library will be closed All branches of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County will be closed May 31 in observance of Memorial Day.

Beware of solicitors using Goodwill Industry’s name

Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries has been notified that solicitors are calling people offering to pick up their old computers and charging them a pickup fee, while using Goodwill’s name.

While Goodwill does accept old computers and computer equipment as part of the Reconnect computer recycling partnership with Dell, Goodwill does not solicit or charge people for their computers.

Those wishing to get rid of old computers and equipment can drop them off at any one of Goodwill’s eight donation centers in Austintown, Boardman, Liberty, Calcutta, Salem, Warren, Hermitage or New Castle.

Businesses, schools or organizations with large quantities can call Goodwill at 330-759-7921 to make arrangements for a pickup.

If you are contacted by someone offering to pick up your computers for a fee and using Goodwill’s name, contact Goodwill.

Health and wellness walk scheduled Wednesday

A health and wellness walk is planned for 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Golf Course overflow parking lot.

Take T’ai Chi at the gardens Wednesdays

Ease stress, improve health and increase vitality with T’ai Chi classes at Fellows Riverside Gardens each Wednesday in May from noon to 1 p.m. Marie Lew will demonstrate warmups, breathing exercises and selected movements from a classic Chen T’ai Chi form. The fee for each class is $10. For information, call Fellows Riverside Gardens at 330-740-7116.

Park preps for summer

Mill Creek Park is reopening many attractions soon in preparation for summer. Lanterman’s Mill is back to its summer hours. Glacier and Newport Boathouses reopen today, weekends only. Full schedule for the Boathouses resumes Memorial Day weekend.

Help Neighbors showcase your summer

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 so we can share them with your neighbors.

during regular library hours in April.

Clinic extends hours for required Dtap vaccine

The Ohio Department of Health has issued a new immunization requirement for schoolchildren beginning with the 2010-11 school year.

All in-coming seventh graders will be required to have a Dtap (Tetanus, diphtherial and pertussis) vaccination prior to starting school.

To assist parents, the Mahoning County District Board of Health, 50 Westchester Dr., Austintown, will offer vaccination clinics Thursday from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. and June 24 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The cost of the vaccination is $14.95.

To make an appointment for any of the clinics, call the health district’s Nursing Division at 330-27-2855, ext. 125.

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 the park office at 330-726-8107.

Buy baby items at Boardman Park today

Boardman Park will host another Baby Bargain Boutique today at the Masters Pavilion from 9 a.m. until noon. This is a great opportunity to buy or sell good usable maternity clothes, baby and children’s clothing, toys, books and furniture for children under the age of 5.

Admission to the sale is free.

For information, call Karen at 330-965-0482 or visit www.boardmanpark.com.

Summer Festival of the Arts seeks volunteers

The 12th annual Summer Festival of the Arts, scheduled for July 10 and 11 on YSU’s campus, is seeking volunteers for the event.

Volunteers are needed for artist registration; information booths; in the children’s hands-on art tent; for technical assistance at performance sites and at the Festival of Nations international area, among others.

Various shifts are available for the two-day event. Each volunteer receives a festival T-shirt, cold water and reserved free parking.

Those needing service hours logged, such as that for National Honor Society, sorority or fraternity service, may also participate. Service verification forms will be completed.

Interested individuals or teachers advising service organizations may obtain an application by calling 330-941-2307, by email at lafactor@ysu.edu or logging on to www.ysu.edu/sfa for a downloadable form.

SOAR 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 July 21 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 $65 before June 1 and $80 after June 1.

The cost 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.

Open stage applications available for festival

The Summer Festival of the Arts is seeking performers for the Open Stage during the 12th annual Summer Festival of the Arts to be held on the YSU campus July 10 and 11.

Bands and/or individual musicians can apply for one of the eight available slots for performances at the Open Stage located at the DeBartolo Hall outdoor courtyard.

Interested applicants will perform one 45-minute set gratis in exchange for inclusion in the overall Summer Festival of Arts print and web performance schedule.

Music must be suitable for an outdoor event where children and families will be close by, although music need not be geared toward those audiences.

Performers will be permitted to sell CDs.

Applications are available at www.ysu/sfe. Performers must submit the application, press photo with bio and CDs of work by June 4 at 5 p.m. No late applications will be considered.

Conference offers girls a unique experience

Sunshine Spirit Girl’s Conference, S.O.A.R. (Shine in your Own Amazing Rays), is giving girls a day of discovery, inspiration and seeds to grow on July 21 at Millcreek MetroParks Fellows Riverside Gardens.

The event is for girls ages 8 to 12.. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. The cost is $65 per girl before June 1 and $80 per girl after June 1.

A few scholarships are available. For information, call 330-509-9642.