Poland 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.

Poland church hosts Christmas Eve service

Prince of Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2985 Center Road, Poland will hold a Candlelight Christmas Eve worship service with Holy Communion Dec. 24 at 7 p.m. The church’s Sunday worship services are held at 10 a.m. For information, call 330-757-3272.

Poland hosts financial aid workshop

Poland High School will host a financial aid workshop Jan. 7 at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria. This workshop is geared toward parents of graduating seniors and is intended to answer the many questions concerning the financial aid process.

Specific topics to be addressed are types of financial aid, how the financial aid process works, completing the FAFSA and alternative funding sources for higher education. Speakers at the workshop will be Gina McHenry from YSU’s Office of Financial Aid and Scholarship, along with Poland High School’s Guidance Counselors Rob Sainato and Judy Volosin.

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.

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 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.

Get free pancakes on 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.

Hot dog shop offers full breakfast menu

Rick’s Hot Dog Shoppe in Austintown is now offering a full breakfast menu.

In addition to hot dogs, burgers and sandwiches, the restaurant serves a full breakfast menu, including specialty omelets like Philly cheesesteak and Gyro omelets, sausage and gravy and traditional breakfast foods.

The shop is located on the corner of Mahoning Avenue and Idaho Road, near Fitch High School. The building is the former Red Barn and Jay’s Hot Dogs.

Rick’s is open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The location features a dining room with big screen televisions and offers carryout orders. For more information or to order, call Rick’s at 330-953-3441.

Tales and talk for 2s and 3s

The Poland library will host developmentally-appropriate books, songs, rhymes, finger plays and other activities that will help your child (ages 2-3) become a successful reader on Thursday at 10 a.m. and again at 11 a.m. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Trim a tree at library

Decorate an ornament for the Poland library’s all-seasons tree during regular hours for the month of December.

Album graffiti contest

There will be a contest at the Poland library to see if you can pick out which music album covers are the real ones. If you aren’t fooled by the graffiti versions, you could win a prize. This event is for teens in grades 7-12 during library hours throughout the month of December.

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.