Austintown Community Briefs

Neighbors sponsors holiday photo contest

No doubt, your cameras are ready to work overtime in the next few weeks, as you capture family memories during the holidays.

You’ll click shots of the kids’ reactions on Christmas morning, photos of the dog in his reindeer antlers and family photos in town for the holidays.No matter what the photos are, Neighbors wants to see them! And we may even publish them in our pages.

Here’s the deal: We need readers to email us their best holiday pictures from this year. You can email your entries to neighbors@vindy.com with the subject line “Holiday Photos.” Send the photos as large as you can in JPG format to ensure quality. Please caption information, including names and ages. Deadline for submitting photos is Tuesday, Jan. 1.

The photos will be judged in three categories: Cutest, Funniest and Most Traditional. One winner will be selected in each category. There will be three overall winners — not three in EACH town. We look forward to sharing in your holiday fun, so get those cameras ready.

Austintown Bounce hosts Lunch with Santa

Austintown Bounce will host Lunch with Santa today from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The facility is located at 4317 Kirk Road.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.