Austintown briefs

Pasta dinner planned for Jan. 30

The Knights of Columbus, Council No. 3930, are hosting a spaghetti dinner Jan. 30 from noon to 5 p.m. at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Center, 4500 Norquest Blvd.

The cost is $6.50 for adults, $3.50 for children 6-9 and free for children under 6. The dinner includes spaghetti, meatballs, tossed salad, bread, dessert and beverage.

A 50/50 raffle will be available.

Grab dinner at St. Nicholas Parish Center

The St. Nicholas Moms’ and Dads’ Club will host a roasted chicken dinner Jan. 29 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the St. Nicholas Parish Center, 764 Fifth St. in Struthers.

The cost for the dinner is $7 for adults, $5 for students and children 4 and under eat free. The dinner includes roasted chicken, potato, veggies and roll. Hot dogs and fries can be purchased for $3.50. Drinks and dessert will be available.

Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Parish office for $6.50.

Be entertained on Valentine’s Day

Tickets are available for the Feb. 14 Valentine’s Day Dinner and Entertainment Benefit for the Ursuline Center in Canfield.

The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Ursuline Center, 4280 Shields Road. The cost is $22 per person or $200 for 10 people and includes a Valentine-theme gourmet meal provided by Broad Street Diner and a chocolate fountain dessert.

Featured entertainment will include pianist Thomas Solich who will provide dinner music and the Ursuline High School Chorus who will entertain after dinner with a selection of popular music.

For tickets and information, contact the Ursuline Center at 330-799-4941 or visit www.theursulinecenter.org.

Informational meetings for China trip planned

The Regional Chamber is hosting two free informational sessions in February to discuss details of a vacation trip to China planned for Nov. 2-11.

The sessions will be 5:30 p.m. Feb. 1 at Holiday Inn Boardman, 7410 South Ave. and Feb. 23 at Ciminero’s Banquet Centre, 123 Main St. in Niles.

The trip’s cost is $2,099 per person and includes seven nights in a five-star hotel in Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou, 20 meals, round trip airfare from New York, air taxes, fees, baggage handling, professional tour manager, comprehensive sightseeing, local guide service and admissions per itinerary.

The trip is open to residents of the Mahoning and Shenango valleys and their guests and is hosted by the Regional Chamber and Chamber Explorations.

For information and itinerary, visit www.regionalchamber.com.

Reservations for the informational meeting are preferred, as a light refreshment will be provided. To reserve, call Jennifer at 330-744-2131, extension 12.

Learn about the natural areas

The Audubon Society/Mahoning Valley will host Mill Creek MetroParks: Natural Areas Jan. 25 at 7 p.m. at the Mill Creek MetroParks Farm on state Route 46 in Canfield.

Kirsten Peetz, environmental land manager for Mill Creek MetroParks, will discuss some of the natural areas of the MetroParks, including properties that are only open for special programs.

For information, call 888-846-8851.

Take-out pork-kraut

The Saxon Club in Youngstown will host its first Pork-Kraut dinner of the year Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The cost for the meal is $8.50 for adults and $5 for children and includes dessert, coffee, tea or pop.

Take-out will be available.

Take off pounds sensibly with TOPS

TOPS (Take off pounds sensibly) is a weight loss support group and is hosting an open house Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Wickliffe Presbyterian Church, 45 Idlewood Road.

Admission is free and healthy refreshments will be served.

For information, contact Kerry Price at 330-799-2894.

Bond with babies and books at library

Join the Austintown library for developmentally-appropriate books, songs, rhymes, finger play and other activities for babies 6-23 months Thursdays 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 Wednesdays in January at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. and a program for children ages 4 and 5 Jan. 25 at 10 a.m.

Get moving with a story

Tire out the young and restless with an active story time at the Austintown library Thursdays in January at 11 a.m.

The program is developmentally-appropriate for children 2 to 5. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Participate in a pajamarama

Put on PJs and bring the family to the Austintown library Jan. 31 at 6:30 p.m. for stories, songs, holiday cheer and more. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Find baby new year

Children of all ages can try to find Baby New Year during regular library hours.

Each week in January, Baby New Year will be in a new location around the Austintown library. Do not touch or move him, but whisper his location to the librarian and receive a bookmark stamp.

Blood pressure check offered

The Mahoning Chapter of the American Red Cross will host a blood pressure screening at the Austintown library Wednesday 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.

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 Monday.

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.

Bounce a round for a cause today

The Mahoning County Court Appointed Special Advocate Program will host a fundraising event today 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.

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 Friday 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.

Curves offers Silver Sneakers classes

Free Silver Sneakers classes are offered Monday through Saturday for eligible women over 65 at Curves in Austintown. The 30-minute classes are designed to improve strength, flexibility and overall health. For information, call 330-793-9802.

Walk for health and wellness

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

Meet at MetroParks Farm Wednesday 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.

Great food program offers affordable meals

Smith Corners United Methodist Church, 3000 S. Canfield-Niles Road, Austintown, is the local site for the Great Food For All program.

Each big value box costs $30 and comes complete and ready for pick-up.

The family variety box is available for $36. Cash, money order or cashier’s checks are accepted at the time the order is placed. No checks are accepted.

Credit cards are accepted with a $1 convenience fee.

Go to www.greatfoodforall.com, type in zip code 44515, and scroll down until Smith Corners UMC pops up. Then pick up the ordered food boxes at Smith Corners UMC.

For information, contact the church office at 330-799-9390.

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.

Join a celebration of family, friends and life

Help support Karen Rohan in her fight against breast cancer Sunday 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.

Meet friends at the library

The Austintown Friends of the Library will meet Jan. 24 at 10 a.m. at the Austintown library,

The program will feature Donald Alan on Tara: The Aftermath.

Public library closed Monday

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

Metroparks looking for seasonal workers

Learn about seasonal and part-time employments opportunities at the Metroparks Jan. 26 from 2 p.m. to 5 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.

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 Wednesday 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.

Learn about animal tracking

Meet at Bear’s Den Cabin Sunday 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.

Gardens offers botany and breakfast

Start Friday 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.