Metro digest || 3 Kings Day

Three Kings Day

YOUNGSTOWN

Three Kings Celebration will be from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday at Organizacion Civica y Cultural Hispana Americana Hall, 3660 Shirley Road. The Parranda (Spanish Christmas carolers), will arrive at 4 p.m., and the kings will arrive at 4:30 p.m. with gifts for children age 1 to 13.

Three Kings Day is a celebration that commemorates the biblical story of the three kings who followed the star of Bethlehem to bring gifts to baby Jesus.

For many Latinos, the Epiphany or El Dia de los Reyes is a holiday focusing on children when they receive gifts symbolizing those given to Jesus by the three kings. Other rituals children take part in include filling a decorated shoebox with grass for the camels and writing letters to the three kings, much like children who leave cookies and write letters to Santa Claus.

Dean to run

WARREN

Bob Dean, Warren councilman at-large since March 2004, has announced that he will run for council president in the upcoming year.

Dean said council president’s main job is to run the twice-monthly city council meetings and the caucus session that precedes every council meeting.

Dean said the council- president position would allow him to continue with the types of service projects he cares about. For six years, he has organized a coat drive. He also works on behalf of military veterans and organized a benefit on their behalf this year.

The deadline to file nominating petitions for council and council president is Feb. 2. Terms for both positions are two years. Bob Marchese is council president.

Online survey

WARREN

The Trumbull County Metropolitan Parks District asks county residents to fill out an online survey to gauge interest in the Mahoning River Water Trail project. The county has been working 30 years to create locations along the Mahoning River from Newton Falls to Warren where water enthusiasts can put canoes and kayaks into the water and remove them.

The online address for the survey is www.surveymonkey.com/s/watertrailsurvery. For more information, call 330-675-3072.

Watch celebration

VIENNA

The Vienna Township Neighborhood Watch will celebrate its eighth anniversary at 7 p.m. Monday at the Vienna Town Hall.

The group got its start Jan. 13, 2003, when concerned citizens came together as a result of a rash of break-ins in the community.

Over the last eight years, crime-watch signs were put up, emergency beacon lights were distributed, and many guest speakers have told the group how to avoid crime.

Financial-aid night

STRUTHERS

Struthers High School will host a financial-aid night at 6:30 p.m. next Thursday in the high school cafeteria. Gina McHenry, associate director of scholarships and financial aid at Youngstown State University, will be the presenter. She will review the Free Application for Student Financial Aid Form. Scholarship information also will be available. Parents of juniors and seniors are encouraged to attend.

Registration open

SHARON, PA.

Penn State Shenango in downtown Sharon will begin its spring semester Monday. Registration is still open. For more information, call 724-983-2803 or go online to www.shenango.psu.edu.