Austintown Community Briefs

Fitch alumni cruise planned

An Austintown Fitch Class of 1973 group cruise is booking now. Anyone who graduated from Fitch in the proximity of that year, or went to school with the class, can book a room. The cruise sets sail on March 1, 2014. The Celebrity Constellation will set sail for five days, from Monday to Friday, from Ft. Lauderdale to Cozumel and Key West.

Jill Hildebrand Burstein is the cruise organizer and can be reached at jyllyhylly@gmail.com, via the class website www.Fitch1973.com contact form, or by calling 248-909-1120. For booking and ship particulars, call travel agent Marilyn DeLisio at 586-948-1251 or email her at mdeliso0712@att.net. Visit www.Fitch1973.com for updates and the cruise flyer.

Weight loss group to host open house

TOPS Chapter No. 2191, a weight-loss support group, is hosting an open house Jan. 17 at 6 p.m. at Wickliffe Presbyterian Church, 45 Idlewood Road in Austintown.

TOPS is a weight loss support group for men, women and children ages 7 and up. The chapter meets at the church on Thursdays from 5:45-7 p.m.

For more information, contact Kerry Price at 330-799-2894.

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.

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.

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.