Boardman Community Briefs

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.

On Sunday, 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.

Center honor roll additions

The Boardman Center Middle School honor roll published in a previous edition was missing several names not included in the information sent to us by the school.

Kelly Casto, James Vaughn III and Jenna Vivo all made the Honor Roll for the first nine weeks. Noah Veauthier made the High Honor Roll.

Christmas Eve cantata set in Boardman

Disciples Christian Church, located at 565 Boardman-Canfield Road in Boardman, will be hosting the Cantata “Leading Me Back to Bethlehem” on Christmas Eve at 7 p.m. The Cantata depicts Joseph and Mary’s journey that concludes at the stable. Call 330-758-8189 for more information.

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.

Synchronized 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.

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.

Get free pancakes Feb. 5

IHOP is giving away free pancakes on Feb. 5 to celebrate National Pancake Day. The fundraiser aims to raise $3 million to kick off Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals’ 30th anniversary. Visit any IHOP location to participate.

Dairy Queen Christmas events set

The Austintown Dairy Queen (Dec. 16) and the Cornersburg Dairy Queen (Dec. 21) will offer free sleigh rides pulled by live draft horses from 5-8 p.m. Santa will arrive by fire truck at 5 p.m., and there will be an outdoor fire for roasting hot dogs and marshmallows, plus hot chocolate, live Christmas music, and free pictures with Santa and “Curly” the Cone.

Holiday fun time for 4s and 5s

The Boardman library will host developmentally-appropriate books, songs, rhymes, finger plays and other activities that will help your child (ages 4-5) become a successful reader on Tuesday at 10 a.m. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Trim a tree for tweens

Decorate an edible ornament for your tree at the Boardman library on Dec. 23 at 7 p.m. The program will last one hour for tweens in grades 4-6. Call 330-744-8636 and ask for the Boardman library to register.

Blood drive set at library

The Boardman library will be hosting the Mahoning Chapter of the American Red Cross on Dec. 28 from 11:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. to serve the needs of St. Elizabeth Hospital by taking blood donations to help the community.