Authors to discuss Slovak heritage book

Authors to discuss Slovak heritage book

YOUNGSTOWN

Loretta Ekoniak and Susan Summers will discuss their book, “Slovaks of the Greater Mahoning Valley,” at 10:30 a.m. April 24 in the Park Vista Gathering Room.

The book chronicles the history of the Slovak community in the Mahoning Valley from the first immigrants in the 1870s to the present. Photos and stories depict the lives of Slovak immigrants who fled poverty in Europe for the prosperity of the Valley’s steel mills.

Ekoniak, a grandchild of Slovak immigrants, grew up in Youngstown. She is president of the American Slovak Cultural Association of the Mahoning Valley and dedicated to keeping Slovak heritage alive.

Summers grew up in Campbell. Working at the Arms Museum and the Campbell Historic Society sparked her interest in her Slovak heritage and desire to preserve Slovak memories.

Lunch will follow the program. To make a reservation, call 330-746-2944, ext. 1555. The cost is $6 for Park Vista residents and $12 for nonresidents. Advance payment is requested, and no refunds will be issued.

Book-discussion group changes location, time

POLAND

A book-discussion group sponsored by the Friends of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County and facilitated by Greg Smith has changed its time and location to Poland Library from 8 to 9 a.m. Tuesdays April 17 to May 15.

The group originally was scheduled to meet at Boardman Library at 5:30 p.m. on those dates.

This discussion features author John C. Maxwell’s book “Everyone Communicates, Few Connect.” The author takes readers through Five Connecting Principles and Five Connecting Practices of top-notch achievers.

For information and reservations, contact the library development office at 330-740-6086.

Writer will tell about his life with autism

GREENVILLE, PA.

Community Conversations at the Greenville Area Public Library, 330 Main St., will feature Sean Barron in its program at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

Barron, author of three books about autism and a freelance writer for The Vindicator, will present a view from inside the mind of autism and explain the effects of autism on him and his family.

Howland author tackles the subject of autism

WARREN

Victoria Ferrante is announcing the release of her first book, “Hope: A Novel.” The story is about a mother who must cope with her daughter’s autism, a scenario close to Ferrante’s heart because her own daughter has autism and her son has Asperger’s syndrome.

Ferrante, married for 20 years to her husband, Tim, lives in Howland with her family. She taught high school before the birth of Hope, but after the diagnosis when her daughter was 2, autism became her focus.

She has investigated every theory and treatment for autism that has come to her attention in the past 15 years. The ones that work, she believes, are those that include patience, love and acceptance.

Ferrante has been writing poetry, plays and stories since she was a child. Contact her at vicferrante@embarqmail.com, or visit her website at www.hopethenovel.com. The book is available on her website, from Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com and other online retailers.