Austintown briefs

Meditation seminar set

Cultivate the Garden of Your Mind to bloom with positive and compassionate thoughts and reduce negative thinking which blocks daily happiness. Karres Cvetkovich CYT (30 years experience) will lead this practical seminar based on meditation methods supported by current research. Register by calling Cvetkovich at 330-799-0323. Cost is $45 and $35 for FFRG members.

Enjoy PS2 day in February

The Austintown library will host video gaming for teens in grades 7-12 on Tuesday at 2:30 p.m.

Men’s Garden Club seminar set

The Men’s Garden Club of Youngstown will host its annual winter seminar on Feb. 18 at Fellows Riverside Gardens from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. This year’s theme is “Gardening on the Shady Side.”

Four garden experts will share their suggestions for making shade gardening a rewarding experience. The program includes lunch and door prizes.

Contact John Kolar at 330-545-2266 for further details. Seating is limited.

Men’s Garden Club sponsors scholarship

The Men’s Garden Club of Youngstown is sponsoring it’s 21st annual horticulture scholarship for high school seniors and college students pursuing a degree in horticulture, landscape design or allied subjects. The scholarship ranges from $500-$1500. Application deadline is March 1.

Contact Keith Kaiser at 330-740-7116 or visit www.mgcy.org for additional information.

MetroMutts walk set for tomorrow

The MetroMutts will be taking a half-mile walk tomorrow at 11 a.m. The hike will go by the new driving range and Learning Center area that are under construction. Hot cocoa and treats will be served afterward, weather permitting. Meet on the patio at Mill Creek Golf Course.

Mahoning Valley Pizza Cook-Off tickets on sale

Tickets are now on sale for the The Potential Development Program’s 2012 Mahoning Valley Pizza Cook-Off, sponsored by BeautiStone.

The event will be held at Mr. Anthony’s Banquet Center, 7440 South Ave., on March 18 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets to the event are $12.50 per person or $150 for a reserved table of 10.

They can be purchased by visiting www.mvpizzacookoff.com or by calling Shellie Duchek, Development Officer for the Potential Development Program, at 330-746-7641.

Join a loose knit group

Team up with other crafters on Friday to make afghans and other projects to donate locally. The group meets from 10 a.m. to noon in the Antonucci Library. Donations of yarn and needles are appreciated at any time. Call Fellows Riverside Gardens for information.

Enjoy Yellow Creek Park Winter Concert

The Yellow Creek Park Winter Concert will be Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. in Yellow Creek Lodge. The Erie Heights Brass Ensemble, Dixieland will perform.

Breakfast Botany: Monkey Puzzle Family set

View highlights of the Gardens in winter on a brisk outdoor walk on Feb. 24 from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Return to the Garden Caf for a light breakfast and learn more about members of the monkey puzzle family.

The cost is $7 for residents and $9 for nonresidents. Call Fellows Riverside Gardens to register.

Twice-Loved Book Sale

Shop at the used book sale in the lobby of the Davis Education and Visitor Center from Feb. 18 to Feb. 26 for gardening books, cookbooks and horticulture magazines. The sale benefits the Antonucci Library at Fellows Riverside Gardens. Donations of used gardening books are always appreciated.

Enjoy the amazing world of Orchids

Demetria Marsh, an instructor at Phipps Conservatory, will lead a walk through the orchid display at Fellows Riverside Gardens on Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. Marsh will give an overview of the history and basics of growing orchids. Each participant will receive an orchid plant to take home. Call Fellows Riverside Gardens to register.

The cost is $32 and $25 for members.

Visit the Jewels of Winter: Orchids

Visit the orchid display at Fellows Riverside Gardens to feel transported to the tropics from Feb. 1 to March 18. View the many colorful varieties of orchids, like exquisite jewels, to lift your spirits during the heart of winter.

Photo walk set Feb. 19

Bring your camera and join Bob Coggeshall as we explore the always-scenic Lake Cohasset on Feb. 19 at 2 p.m. This walk is free, but register by calling Ford Nature Center by Feb. 18.

Meet at Ford Nature Center. Moderate difficulty, three miles

Wintertime Tea: For Love of a Book

Join Friends of Fellows Riverside Gardens for an elegant and entertaining afternoon tea on Feb. 26 from 2 to 4 p.m. Eat tea sandwiches and sweets. Be entertained by the harp music of Darlene MacBenn and the humor of Herbal Theatrics. The cost is $25 or $20 for members.

The cost includes a donation to our Antonucci Horticulture Library. Call Fellows Riverside Gardens to register.

Remembering Lindley Vickers

Lindley Vickers, Mill Creek Park naturalist for 40 years, has now been gone for 30. On the day after Lindley’s birthday, join Bill Whitehouse as he reminisces about their 17 years as coworkers.

This event will take place tomorrow at 2 p.m.

Meet at Lanterman’s Mill parking lot. Moderate difficulty, two miles.

Area writers group to meet in Canfield

Area writers are invited to attend Monday Night Writers on Feb. 20 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Peaberry’s Caf . Led by author and professional writer Nancy Christie, the two-hour sessions will include both writing exercises and discussions on the creative and business aspects of writing.

Those with ‘works-in-progress’ are welcome to bring copies of their projects for comments and critiques from the group.

The fee is $10 per class and registration is preferred. For more information, email Nancy Christie at nancy@nancychristie.com.

Health and wellness walks set

The Mill Creek MetroParks is sponsoring health and wellness walks. Join for the health of it and experience the many benefits of walking. The walks will be:

• Wednesday at 9 a.m., meet at MetroParks Bikeway Trailhead at MetroParks Farm. Moderate difficulty, two or four miles.

• Feb. 29 at 6 p.m., meet at Ford Nature Center. Moderate difficulty, four miles.

PTA Council searches for past presidents

The Austintown Council of PTAs is looking for past presidents of all PTA units in Austintown. If you are a past president or know someone who is and have not been contacted by the council in the last couple of years, contact Kelly Phillips at kjhowdy@zoominternet.net or 330-518-3686.

Ostomy support group to meet on Tuesday

Youngstown Area Ostomy Support Group will meet on Tuesday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Cedar Room at St. Elizabeth Boardman Health Center.

The Ostomy Support Group provides information and encouragement to individuals who have or will have ostomies. Families and friends are welcome. Refreshments are provided and parking is free. For information, interested individuals should call 330-480-3440.

Wine charity event set

The Hope Foundation of the Mahoning Valley presents its second annual Wine for Hope, featuring dining stations and gourmet dessert station complete with fine wines, entertainment, memorabilia silent auction and raffles. The event will take place on Feb. 25 at 7:30 p.m. inside Antone’s Banquet Centre.

Tickets are on sale now for $50 per person and a cash bar.

For further information regarding donations and tickets, visit www.hopemv.org.

The Hope Foundation of the Mahoning Valley is a non-profit organization whose mission is the furtherance of charitable and financial support, and volunteer services to and for chronically and/or terminally-ill children on a local and regional level.

Ursuline Center hosts Valentine’s Day dinner

Delicious food and delightful music are on the menu for The Ursuline Center’s annual Valentine’s Day Dinner.

The educational center, a ministry of the Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown, is sponsoring the event on Feb. 14 at 6:30 p.m. in the center’s auditorium, 4280 Shields Road. in Canfield.

The Broad Street Diner will cater dinner and dessert and thre Canfield High School Music Trio will perform. Tickets are $20 and include wine/beverages. For tickets or more information, call Peggy Eicher at 330-533-7681 or email her at peggyeicher@gmail.com.

All proceeds will help fund the many ministries offered at the educational center.

Fun Time for 4s and 5s

The Austintown library will host Fun Time for 4s and 5s on Feb. 15, 22 and 29 at 11 a.m. The program will include developmentally-appropriate books, songs, rhymes, finger plays and other activities that will help children, ages 4-5, become successful readers.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Wine and beer tasting scheduled

Team Schein is hosting a Wine and Beet Tasting at Vintage Estate Wine and Beer in Boardman on Feb. 26 from 3 to 5 p.m.

The cost is $20 per person and includes six tastings. Choose from six wine selections or 12 beers on tap from the Diamond bar, Hors D’Oeuvres and musical entertainment by Ryan Ross.

You must be 21 to purchase a ticket and attend the event. To purchase tickets, contact Tina Prestas at 330-559-6918 or tprestas@gmail.com. All proceeds to benefit the Boardman Relay for Life.

Tales and Talk for 2s and 3s

The Austintown library will hosts Baby Brilliant: Tales and Talk for 2s and 3s on Feb. 15, 22 and 29 at 10 a.m. The program will include developmentally-appropriate books, songs, rhymes, finger plays and other activities that will help children, ages 2-3, become successful readers.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Dream a little dream with Dr. King

In 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. made his “ I Have a Dream” speech. The Austintown library invites school-aged children to write and/or illustrate one of your dreams on the paper provided, share it with a librarian and get a sticker.

The event will be going on during library hours in the month of February.

Bonding with babies and books

The Austintown library will host its two Baby Brilliant programs, Bonding with Babies and Books for Lapsitters and Bonding with Babies and Books for Walkers on Feb. 16 and 23.

Bonding with Babies and Books for Lapsitters will begin at 9:30 a.m. and is for children who are not walking independently. Bonding with Babies and Books for Walkers will begin at 11 a.m. and is for children who are walking independently.

Both programs will feature 20 minutes of language enrichment including rhymes, songs and stories, followed by time to play and socialize.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.