Poland briefs

High school hosts financial aid workshop

Poland High School will host a Financial Aid Workshop Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria.

The workshop is geared to parents of graduating seniors and is intended to answer questions regarding the financial aid process.

Speakers at the workshop will include Gina McHenry from YSU’s Office of Financial Aid and Scholarship and Poland High School’s guidance counselors Rob Sainato and Judy Volosin.

Tales from the Graveyard

Poland resident Dave Smith will present a free program titled “Tales from the Graveyard: Stories of Pioneer Families Buried in the Graveyard Adjoining Poland Presbyterian Church” Monday at 7 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of Poland Presbyterian Church.

The presentation will feature such early Poland names as Kirtland, Fowler, Morse, Arrel, Truesdale, Lee and others. This event is open to the public.

Bond with babies and books at library

Join the Poland library for developmentally-appropriate books, songs, rhymes, finger play and other activities for babies 6-23 months Wednesdays in January at 10 a.m.

The program is designed to make children successful readers. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

The library will host a similar program for children ages 2 and 3 Thursdays in January at 10:30 a.m. and a program for children ages 4 and 5 Thursdays in January at 1 p.m.

Blood pressure check offered

The Mahoning Chapter of the American Red Cross will host a blood pressure screening at the Poland library Jan. 25 at 1 p.m.

Steel Valley K-9’s 4-H members wanted

Membership in 4-H closes the end of February and anyone interested in joining should do so by early February. For information, call 330-531-6700, extension 62034.

Lose weight with Dr. Ted’s help

Naturopathic doctor Ted Suzelis will present “How to Achieve Your Ideal Weight” Thursday 6:30 p.m. at his Boardman office in the Southbridge Executive Park at 725 Boardman-Canfield Road, Suite K-4, Boardman.

Make this year the year you keep your New Year’s resolution and get serious about weight loss. Suzelis will lay out a plan for healthy weight loss, including a discussion on foods that aid in weight loss, portion control, motivation, health problems and metabolic problems that could be hindering your weight loss.

For information or to register for the event, call 330-729-1350 or visit www.ohiond.com. Admission is free.

Easter Seals sponsors wine tasting event

Easter Seals “Flavor of the Wine” wine tasting event will be Jan. 29 at 4 p.m. at Vintage Estate Wine & Beer, 7317 South Avenue in Boardman.

Phil Reda, owner and operator of Vintage Estates Wine & Beer, will help visitors become familiar with different types of wines and discover personal preferences. Tickets are $20 person. Call Jodi Harmon at 330-599-5522 for reservations or email your RSVP to jharmon@mtc.easterseals.com by Jan. 17.

Become the next Miss Bodyworks

Bodyworks Women’s Health and Fitness Center is presenting the 30th anniversary Health & Fitness show and the 2011 Miss Bodyworks and Ms. Bodyworks Contest, including seminars and presentations Jan. 29 from noon to 5 p.m. at Bodyworks Women’s Health and Fitness Center in Austintown.

Bodyworks Women’s Health and Fitness Center welcomes local companies, businesses, institutions for vendors, participation, sponsorship and donation of prizes. To register for the competition, call 330-505-1111 by Jan. 22.

Nature photography exhibit at Riverside

The annual Nature Photography Exhibit will be displayed at Mill Creek MetroParks Fellows Riverside Gardens in Weller Gallery Feb. 13 through March 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Deadline for entries is Jan. 23. Applications will be available for download at www.millcreekmetroparks.org in January. Call Ford Nature Center at 330-740-7107 for information.

Bounce a round for a cause Jan. 15

The Mahoning County Court Appointed Special Advocate Program will host a fundraising event Jan. 15 from 9:30 a.m. to noon at The Bounce-A-Round, 6961 Southern Blvd. in Boardman.

Preschool to preteen-aged children may attend. The cost is $5 and includes all inflatable slides and bounces for the entire two and half hours. Pizza, pop and water will be available for sale. Free cupcakes will be available while supplies last. Parents must stay with their children during the event.

The profits from the event will benefit the Mahoning County CASA program, which is a program whose volunteers are a voice for abused and neglected children in Mahoning County. For information, call 330-740–2239.

Come see a concert of hope Wednesday

Watoto Children’s Choir of Uganda will perform a free Concert of Hope Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Highway Tabernacle Church, 300. S. Raccoon Road in Austintown.

The choir travels internationally as ambassadors for the orphaned children of Uganda and perform a fusion of gospel and contemporary African-style while dressed in colorful costume. For information, contact Wickliffe Presbyterian Church Pastor Elmarie Parker at 330-277-6886.

Ohio author to sign books at Barnes and Noble

Barnes and Noble in Boardman will host a program and book signing by Ashtabula author Dick Houston Jan. 21 at 7 p.m. Houston will sign copies of his latest book “BULU: African Wonder Dog.” The book is the true story of a courageous Jack Russell terrier-mix dog, who demonstrated an amazing ability to bond with and act as “foster” parent to orphaned baby elephants, warthogs, monkeys and other wildlife brought to the Chipembele Wildlife Education Center in Zambia.

Houston spent over 20 years in Africa leading safaris and teaching school and is President of Elefence International, a wildlife conservation organization focusing on elephants in Africa.

A program will precede the book signing and a portion from the sale of the book will be donated back to the Wildlife Center operated by BULU’s parents, Steve and Anna Tolan.

Unity classes offered in Girard

A new class, Metaphysics II, will begin Tuesday at the Unity Centre for Spiritual Living at 1226 Naylor-Lloyd Road in Girard.

The five-week class, every Tuesday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., will be taught be Cay Tomerlin and will be offered for credit. The book required for the course is “Heart Centered Metaphysics,” by Rev. Paul Hasselbeck, dean of Unity School. A book study will begin Wednesday and will continue through May from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. with Cay Tomerlin, facilitator. The first book will be “Spiritual Economics” by Rev. Eric Butterworth.

All books are available at the center. There is no cost for sessions besides the book. For information, call 330-539-0122 or visit www.unitycentre.org.

Join a celebration of family, friends and life

Help support Karen Rohan in her fight against breast cancer Jan. 16 from noon to 5 p.m. at St. Maron’s Church Antioch Hall, 1555 S. Meridian Road, Youngstown. She was diagnosed with large globular differential carcinoma in June 2010.

The benefit includes a spaghetti dinner, Chinese auction and 50/50 raffle. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children under 10. Carry-out is available and tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door.

To donate for the Chinese auction, call Bill Rohan at 330-398-3232 or Nikki Martin at 330-652-6630.

View the wldlife art of John A. Ruthven

Wildlife artist John Ruthven paints what he knows and loves. Often called the modern day Audubon, Ruthven thoroughly studies his animal subjects and paints them in their habitats with technical detail. His work will be on display at Mill Creek MetroParks Davis Education and Visitor Center daily through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Scholarship opportunity for Catholic women

The Catholic Collegiate Association is offering a $1,000 scholarship to be used in the academic year 2011/2012 at any college or university.

All applicants must be Catholic women in good standing with their university and they must provide a recent transcript showing a 3.0 GPA. Applicants must also have successfully completed one year of college and submit a letter of recommendation from their pastor and an adviser or professor.

A short essay describing the reasons why the applicant should be awarded the scholarship will also be required.

To obtain an application or additional information, call 330-726-8063 before Wednesday or call the YSU financial aid and scholarship office at 330-941-3504. The deadline for the scholarship application is March 23.

Public library closed Jan. 17

All public libraries in Mahoning County will be closed Jan. 17 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Join in a Kulig winter celebration

Join Polish Youngstown and Mill Creek Metroparks for a sleigh-ride around Lake Glacier Thursday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Fellows Riverside Gardens.

Traditional Polish food, a bonfire, music and more will be available.

For information, call 330-740-7118.

Metroparks looking for seasonal workers

Learn about seasonal and part-time employments opportunities at the Metroparks Jan. 26 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Davis Center in Fellows Riverside Gardens.

Representatives from several departments will be available to answer questions and provide information about jobs for the 2011 season.

Feed the chickadees at Ford Nature Center

Meet at Ford Nature Center today at 9 a.m. and feed Black-capped chickadees with certified volunteer Naturalist Nancy Brundage. Feed will be provided.

Learn about the park

Kristen Peetz, environmental land manager for Mill Creek Metroparks, will discuss the park district’s undeveloped areas Jan. 25 at 7 p.m. at MetroParks Farm.

A social time will begin at 6:30 p.m. For information, call 888-846-8851.

Share a few soup recipes

David Armstrong will share recipes and culinary techniques as he demonstrates how to prepare and serve a vegetarian, a beef and a seafood soup Jan. 19 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The cost for the event is $28 for garden members and $35 for nonmembers.

To register, call Fellows Riverside Garden at 330-740-7116.

Remember Edward Galaida during walk

Join Bill Whitehouse for a two-mile, moderately-difficult hike that will visit many of the places Edward Galaida wrote about in his book, “Mill Creek Park,” Sunday.

Meet at the Ford Nature Center at 2 p.m.

Learn about animal tracking

Meet at Bear’s Den Cabin Jan. 16 at 2 p.m. for a short presentation on animal tracking. Afterward, look for tracks of Mill Creek’s winter wildlife on a two-mile, moderately-difficult hike and make a cast of them to take home.

Hike for winter skeletons

Meet at MetroParks Bikeway Jan. 23 at 2 p.m. for a two-mile, moderately-difficult hike to look for the remaining subtle beauty of wildflowers.

Harvest ice the old-fashioned way

Learn how the Youngstown Ice Company harvested ice for commercial use from Mill Creek and the Mahoning River in the early 1900s during a º-mile hike around Lake Glacier Jan. 30 at 1:30 p.m.

A three-mile hike to see what’s left of the ice company will be offered immediately afterward. The hike contains hills and steps.

Walk for health and wellness

Mill Creek Metroparks is offering health and wellness walks throughout January.

For easy-rated walks, meet at the Main Golf Course overflow parking lot for a one to three-mile walk Wednesday at 9 a.m. or at the Metropark’s bikeway trail at Metroparks Farm Jan. 19 at 6 p.m. for a full moon two-mile walk.

A moderately-difficult two or four-mile walk is available Jan. 26 at 9 a.m. Meet at the Metroparks’ Bikeway Trailhead at Kirk Road.

Gardens offers botany and breakfast

Start Jan. 21 with a brisk garden walk and then return to the Garden Caf for a light breakfast and lesson on spruce, pine and fir.

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

Do yoga at the gardens

Bring a mat and small blanket to learn a blend of energizing yoga styles from Heidi Suraci at Fellows Riverside Gardens on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout January.

Tuesdays will feature beginners’ classes from 9:30 to 11 a.m. and intermediate classes from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Thursday classes will be from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. and are open to all levels.

The fee is $10 per class. For information, call the gardens at 330-740-7116.

T’ai Chi in the garden

Ease stress, improve health and increase vitality with breathing exercises and selected movements from a classic Chen T’ai Chi form taught by Marie Lew Wednesdays from noon to 1 p.m. during January at Fellows Riverside Gardens.

The costs is $10 per class. For information, call the gardens at 330-740-7116.