Austintown Community Briefs

Austintown Bounce hosts Lunch with Santa

Austintown Bounce will host Lunch with Santa Saturday, Dec. 22 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The facility is located at 4317 Kirk Road in Austintown.

Admission is $7 and includes unlimited play, hot dog, small fountain drink, a free snow globe, contests and prizes.

Bring your camera for pictures with Santa.

Call 330-793-JUMP or visit www.austintownbounce.com for more information.

Boardman church hosts live nativity today

Disciples Christian Church, located at 565 Boardman-Canfield Road in Boardman, will again lead the community on The Journey To Bethlehem, a walk-through drama that recreates the sights and sounds of the village of Bethlehem at the time of Christ’s birth.

The live nativity will be presented today from 1-4 p.m. inside and outside the church. Visitors will encounter King Herod, angels, wise men with their camels and shepherds during their search for baby Jesus.

The event also includes cookies, cocoa and crafts for each family in the Fellowship Hall.

Admission is free, however this year, the church is partnering with Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley and Channel 21 WFMJ to bring much-needed food to those in the Valley.

Visitors are asked to bring non-perishable food Items, such as peanut butter, cereal, tuna fish, macaroni-n-cheese, dry pasta, canned soup and canned vegetables. These donations will go to WFMJ’s Project Feed Our Valley.

The day following The Journey, the church is hosting a special performance from the Boardman High School Chorale at 10:30 a.m. Food items will also be collected at this event.

For more information on The Journey or donating food, call the church office at 330-758-8189.

AMS hosts charity concert Sunday

Austintown Middle School will be hosting Jingle Bell Jam, a charity concert event to benefit Darcy Fletcher, an Austintown school’s crossing guard who was injured in an accident, tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. The concert will feature Sugarland tribute band and Every Day America. There will be a $5 minimum donation to enter the event, as well as a bake sale, 50/50 raffle and Chinese auction.

Synchronized holiday light display

Boardman Park is hosting its holiday light display again this year. The lights were turned on Dec. 2 and will be on every night until Jan. 2 from 5-10 p.m. The event is free. Enjoy synchronized holiday music with the lights by tuning your radio to FM 88.9 when entering the park. Enjoy holiday songs like “We Wish You A Merry Christmas,” “Joy To The World” and other holiday songs while watching the Lights at Maag Theatre. For more information, visit www.boardmanpark.com or “Like” them on Facebook.

Career center hosts holiday open house

Students in the Horticulture Program at the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center have opened the school’s floral shop to the public for its annual Holiday Open House.

The event features a large assortment of silk wreaths, swags and arrangements, fresh mixed pine and spruce wreaths, fresh table centerpieces, pine roping and poinsettias all prepared by students in the program.

The floral shop will be open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday through Dec. 17.

To place an order or for more information, contact Mary June Emerson, Horticulture Instructor, at 330-729-4000 extension 1672.

Clothing store seeks candy donations

The Pretty and Plus Shop in Struthers will participate in the community’s Children’s Community Christmas party today at St. Nick’s Great Hall.

The store is seeking donations of individually-wrapped candies for children with special diet needs. Sugar-free candies, nut-free and gluten-free candies are needed. Even small trinkets or toys, books, toothbrushes or wrap bands would be accepted. Items must be at the Pretty and Plus Store by Dec. 12 in order to be included.

The store is also collecting non-perishable food items for the Youngstown Food Bank. Anyone bringing $5 worth of food items will receive a gift certificate worth $5 off any $10 purchase in the month of January.

The Pretty and Plus Store is the only plus-sized consignment store beteen the Valley and Columbus. The store offers clothing in sizes 14 and up. Hours are Wednesday through Friday, 1 to 7 p.m. and Saturdays 10-7 in December.

Auxiliary taking reservations for Christmas luncheon

St. Anthony’s Auxiliary of Struthers will have its Christmas Luncheon Thursday at 11:30 a.m. at Johnny’s Restaurant, Market Street in Boardman. Call 330-726-8019 for information.

Making Kids Count Christmas tree

Making Kids Count, along with other local businesses, decorated a Christmas tree at Fellows Riverside Gardens in Mill Creek Park. Fellows Riverside Gardens is a winter wonderland through Dec. 31. Visit and enjoy the decorated trees and other holiday decorations throughout the Davis Center. On Dec. 16, and 23, families can come for Winter Nights through the gardens, which will be illuminated with lights and luminaries, then warm up in the Davis center with music, hot cocoa, and sugar cookies. Share the joy of the holiday season by bringing a nonperishable food item to donate to Second Harvest Food Bank.

Holiday puppet show at library

The Austintown library will be putting on a holiday puppet show titled “Forgetful Santa” on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. There will be a puppet show, craft and a treat and children of all ages will be welcome.

Bonding with babies and books

Caregivers and their little ones who are 6 to 23 months can go to the Austintown library on Tuesday at 10 a.m. for 20 minutes of language enrichment, including rhymes, songs and stories, followed by time to play and socialize. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Creation station at library

Check out the winter basket at the Austintown library: it’s full of penguins. Each individual bag contains all the pieces needed for a penguin stick puppet, including a little glitter. Children of all ages are welcome to participate in this project throughout December during regular hours.

Gotta move storytime at library

If your child has trouble sitting still for storytime, this fun and interactive story time on Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the Austintown library where they can dance and wiggle all that energy out is perfect. An active story time for the young and restless. For ages 2-5. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Friends of the Austintown library meeting

The December meeting on Monday at 10 a.m. will be the Austintown Friend’s annual Christmas luncheon and invitation for new members. Reservations are required and will be taken by the officers. A wonderful Christmas program will be presented to get the Friends and guest into the Holiday Spirit. YSU’s Dana Vocal Society (DVS) will present “Songs of the Season.” The Dana Vocal Society is comprised of YSU students who are music majors and those who are not music majors, with a goal of gathering students who love to sing and giving them opportunities to perform. DVS supports the arts in the area and also the YSU Opera Program.

Holiday closing for libraries

All libraries in the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County system will be closed for the holidays on Dec. 23-25 and Dec. 30-31, Jan. 1.