Austintown briefs

Duzzny receives award

Austintown resident Walter Duzzny was awarded a 10-year service award pin from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve State Chairman John Hopper during the annual Department of Defense sponsored meeting and awards dinner in Columbus.

Duzzny is a retired Army Reserve Colonel and former emergency management director. He serves as the public affairs officer for the East Region.

Science Fair winners correction

A group of St. Joseph and Immaculate Heart of Mary students competed in the Ohio state science fair on the weekend of May 7. Four students who competed in the event were given superior ratings for their projects, including eighth-graders Erin Styka and Alyssa Armstrong, and sixth-graders Brendan Faloon and Joe Koewacich.

This is a correction from information printed in our June 4 edition, where these students were listed as rated “satisfactory,” and not “superior.” We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

LaFrance Cleaners offers free flag cleaning

LaFrance Cleaners wants to help local residents honor America, its soldiers and veterans by providing free dry cleaning services of American flags.

The company’s “True Colors” program allows customers to bring in flags to any LaFrance location and have them cleaned at no charge.

LaFrance Cleaners has been providing dry cleaning services to the Youngstown community for more than 65 years with locations in Boardman, Canfield, Poland, Liberty and Youngstown, as well as free pick-up and delivery service to homes and offices throughout the Mahoning Valley.

Additional information on LaFrance is available at www.LaFranceCleaners.com.

New store at Shops at Boardman Park

Five Below will join the tenant lineup at The Shops at Boardman Park, opening in August.

Five Below is a leading retailer of trend-right, extreme-value merchandise to the teen and preteen market, all for $1 to $5.

Five Below’s merchandise includes everything from sporting goods, games, fashion accessories and jewelry, to hobbies and collectibles, bath and body, candy and snacks, room d cor and storage, stationery and school supplies, video game accessories, books, DVDs, iPhone accessories, novelty and “gag,” and seasonal items.

Find treasures and crafts today

Shepherd Self Storage, 7469 South Ave., will host its craft show/flea market today from 9 a.m. 3 p.m.

Cruise in a kayak

All skill levels are invited to join kayak-escorted trips throughout June at East Newport Boat Launch.

Enjoy an afternoon on the water June 18 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. or glide, look with binoculars and listen for wildlife June 25 from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

Single and tandem kayaks are available; age restrictions apply. Reservations are necessary and must be made 36 hours prior to program. The fee is $12 a per person for residents and $15 for nonresidents. Second person in tandem kayak is half price.

Experienced kayakers can bring their kayaks and a safety light June 24 for a dusk to dark paddle from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Participants must register by Thursday.

For information, call the Ford Nature center at 330-740-7107.

Class of 1991 will meet

The Austintown Fitch High School Class of 1991 will host its 20-year reunion Sept. 3 at Luciano’s Banquet Hall from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

There will also be an informal gathering at Mojo’s Pub and Grill on Mahoning Avenue Sept. 2. For information or to register, visit www.austintownfitch1991.com or call 330-718-0298.

Free summer fitness program offered

Ted Suzelis will start a free summer fitness program to help motivate people to get in shape. The program is appropriate for people of all fitness levels, as long as they are physically able to walk.

The summer fitness program will be a weekly walk/run on Saturday mornings at 7:30 a.m. and ending Aug. 20. The group will meet at the Mill Creek MetroParks Bikeway at Kirk Road between state Route 46 and Taylor Road.

For information or to register, call Stephanie at 330-729-1350 or visit www.OhioND.com.

Go around the world

The Austintown library will host Around the World on a Shoestring: A Smart Money Program with games for the intrepid traveler June 30 at 11 a.m. for school-aged children.

Meet friends at library

The Austintown Friends of the Library will meet in the Austintown library meeting room Monday at 10 a.m. Attorney Robert Rusu of Lane and Rusu Law Firm in Canfield will discuss elder care and probate law, wills, trusts and estates.

See Three Little Pigs

The Youngstown Playhouse Youth Theater will perform the True Story of the Three Little Pigs June 28 at 10 a.m. at the Austintown branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County.

Explore Mill Creek Park

Children entering grades four through six can explore the many different sides of Mill Creek Park during the Park Explorers summer camp June 29-30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Participants will learn about plants and animals that live in the park and the history of the park through hikes, games, crafts and more.

The cost for camp is $30 for residents and $35 for nonresidents. Registration and fee are due at the Ford Nature Center by Monday.

Free tennis camp for kids

Children 6 to 12 can learn the fundamentals of tennis during a free tennis camp July 11-12 from 10 a.m. to noon at Yellow Creek Park. To register, call 330-740-7100.

Be park pals at Mill Creek

Children entering grades first through third can become Park Pals as they learn about Mill Creek Park and the animals and plants that call it home July 13-14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Activities include hikes, crafts games and more. The cost for the camp is $30 for residents and $35 for nonresidents. Registration and fee are due at Ford Nature Center by July 5.

Camp for Kinder Kritters

Fun activities are planned for indoor and outdoor during the Kinder Kritters summer camp July 20-21 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Campers will go on short walks to learn about nature, have story time and make crafts. The cost for the camp is $25 for residents and $30 for nonresidents. Registration and fee are due at Ford Nature Center by July 11.

Space available for trunk sale

Spaces are available for the Ursuline Center Car Trunk and Treasure Sale July 23 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot of the center on Shields Road.

The cost for the space is $20. For information, call Eileen Novotny at 330-533-3831.

Austintown Curves offers Zumba classes

Curves Austintown is featuring The Curves Circuit With Zumba Classes Mondays at 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., Thursdays at 6 p.m. and Saturdays at 11 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

Silver Sneakers and nonmembers are invited. For information and prices, call 330-793-9802.

Italian Fest scheduled for July

The Italian Fest is set for July 29-31 in downtown Youngstown.

Festivities will begin July 29 at 5 p.m. with opening ceremonies, followed by the Miss Italian Youngstown Pageant at 7 p.m. The Miss Italian Youngstown beauty and talent pageant has become a tradition at the Greater Youngstown Italian Fest. The pageant includes modeling, speaking about Italian heritage and performing a talent. There will be continuous entertainment and fun activities, including Morra and a pasta eating contest. A little King and Queen will also be crowned.

For information, contact pageant chairman Anthony Julian at 330-799-8184 or 330-207-0515.

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.

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.

Austintown Curves offers Zumba classes

Curves Austintown is featuring The Curves Circuit With Zumba Classes Mondays at 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., Thursdays at 6 p.m. and Saturdays at 11 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

Silver Sneakers and nonmembers are invited. For information and prices, call 330-793-9802.

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 June.

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. throughout June at Fellows Riverside Gardens. The cost is $10 per class. For information, call 330-740-7116.

Grieve with friends

Honor and remember children who have passed away at Bereaved Parent of the USA-Mahoning County Chapter’s monthly meetings the third Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at Park Vista of Youngstown, 1216 Fifth Ave.

For information, call Diane Hunter-Copeland at 330-770-2686.

Find out what’s in a name

Tour Fellows Riverside Gardens to look at the connections between plants and their names during What’s in a Name: Part Two tody from 10 a.m. to noon. Participants do not need to have attended part one to attend this class.

The fee is $15 for residents and $20 for nonresidents. To register, call the gardens at 330-740-7116.

Take home a prairie plant

Robert Kehres of the Ohio Prairie Plant Nursery will describe how to use prairie plants in home landscape and talk about the history of prairies as seen in the current exhibit “The Bison” June 29 at Fellows Riverside Gardens from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Each participant will be given a plant to take home. The fee is $10. To register, call the gardens at 330-740-7116.

Walk for health and wellness

Health and wellness walks are scheduled Tuesdays at 6 p.m. and Wednesdays at 9 a.m. throughout June.

Meet June 28 at the Main Golf Course overflow parking lot on West Golf Drive for a 1 or 3-mile walk and June 29 at the Ford Nature Center for a moderately-difficult, 3-mile walk.

Travel to Ohio gardens

On July 21, travel to garden author Tracy DiSabato-Aust’s private garden “Hiddenhaven” in Sunbury, Ohio, when perennials are at their peak and then travel to Columbus for lunch and to visit the Ohio Heritage Garden at the Governor’s Residence. Tour the Dawes Arboretum before enjoying a dinner at the Buxton Inn in Granville.

The cost for the tour is $105 for garden members and $145 for nonmembers. For information, call the gardens at 330-740-7116.

Saunter on the summer solstice

See lightning bugs and views of the Mahoning River during a summer solstice 4-mile, moderately-difficult walk Tuesday at 9 p.m.

Meet at the Stavich Bicycle Trail at the eastern end of East Liberty Street in Lowellville.

Go to the park with pop

Learn about local wildlife fathers during a moderately-difficult, 2-mile Father’s Day hike Sunday at 2 p.m. Meet at Lanterman’s Mill.

Take the low and the high road

Join Naturalist Emeritus Bill Whitehouse June 26 for an easy rated, 1 Ω- mile exploration of the Lily Pond from both the low road (path along the shore) and the high road (One-Way Drive) from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Meet at the Lily Pond.

Come to the park with an appetite

Chef David Armstrong will fire up the grill with swordfish and tuna Tuesday or Wednesday from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Fellows Riverside Gardens. The cooking demonstration includes additional dishes that will complement the meal. The cost is $28 for garden members and $35 for nonmembers. To register, call the gardens at 330-740-7116.

\Work on your writing skills

Join Karen Schubert Wednesday for a writing workshop at Fellows Riverside Gardens from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The fee for the class is $10 and participants may register before the beginning of class.

Be prepared with dog first aid

Learn basic first aid from Director of Health and Safety Operations for the American Red Cross Guido Jannetti, Jr. during a Dog First Aid 101 workshop today from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at MetroParks Farm in Canfield.

MetroMutts members will receive a basic first aid kit for their dog. Do not bring pets.

The fee is $8 for MetroMutts members and $12 for nonmembers. To register, call the MetroParks office at 330-702-3000.

Have family garden fun

Visit the Family Garden on fair weather Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays to dig, plant, water or read a book. The Friendly Garden Greeter at the Discovery Cart will tell about plants and will offer many free hands-on activities.

For information, call the gardens at 330-740-7116.

Family tours are back at the farm

Every Thursday at 10 a.m. throughout summer families can join MetroParks Farm for a 60-70 minute guided tractor-wagon tour of the facility.

The playroom will be open. Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy after the tour. Reservations are suggested. For information, call the farm at 330-533-7572.

Let dads shine Sunday

Find out what the male of each species of farm animals are called during MetroParks tractor-wagon tour Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Children can make a gift to take home for dad.

Bring your best flowers

The public can enter flower shows at Fellows Riverside Gardens throughout June. Entries must be received the Saturday of the show by 10:30 a.m. and show hours are Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Today and Sunday the Garden Forum of Greater Youngstown will host a show.

For details, call the gardens at 330-740-7116.

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