Boardman briefs

Career center launches mobile app

The Mahoning County Career and Technical Center is connecting with students, parents, staff and the community in a new way through its mobile app.

The app features information on the career center’s 22 high school programs and its Adult Education courses as well as photos, videos, news, events, resources and more. Now students and parents can check grades, receive snow day alerts and stay up to date on the latest news at MCCTC all on their smart phone or tablet computer.

The mobile app allows for users to comment on sections, post photos from events and share the app’s content with friends via Twitter, Facebook, email and text message. The mobile app was developed in partnership with MCCTC’s marketing provider The Prodigal Company. The MCCTC app is available for free download on both the Apple and Android markets.

For more information, contact Jacqueline Kuffel at 330-729-4120 or Adrienne Sabo at 330-707-2088.

Cardinal Mooney open house scheduled

Cardinal Mooney High School, 2545 Erie St., will host an open house on Feb. 5 from noon to 3 p.m.

The open house, which will conclude Mooney’s “Catholic Schools Week” celebration, is designed to give the public an opportunity to visit the school and learn more about the school and its curriculum. Members of the faculty and administration will be available to explain the school’s curriculum, detailed new course offerings for the 2012-2013 school year and to discuss financial aid opportunities.

In addition, students will be featured in various demonstrations and projects. Visitors will be invited to take guided tours of the building. New student applications will be accepted.

The school’s Alumni Association will sponsor a “Tuition Drawing” featuring four $500 scholarship prizes. In addition, the Cardinal Mooney Home and School Association will host a Chinese auction in the cafeteria. The open house is open to all Cardinal Mooney parents, friends, alumni and prospective students and their parents.

Valentine’s Day dinner

The St. Vincent DePaul Society of Mahoning County and The Knights of Columbus Bishop Fenwick Council No. 13586 are sponsoring their 2012 St. Valentine’s Day Benefit Gala Fundraiser Feb. 11 at Mr. Anthony’s in Boardman. Doors open at 6 p.m. and dinner is at 7 p.m.

This year’s theme is “Open Your Hearts for the Less Fortunate.” This annual event is a fundraiser.

Tickets are $50 per person and include hors d’oeuvres, filet mignon buffet dinner, dessert and a chance to win part of $3,500 in cash prizes. A live auction will also be held, along with a silent and Chinese auction and 50/50 Raffle. Music will be provided by a DJ all evening.

Tickets can be obtained by calling Brian Antal at 330-690-8435.

Friendly’s offers cones

Poland Friendly’s is kicking of its annual “Cones for Kid” campaign. The Valentine’s Day fundraiser will benefit 30 Easter Seals Camp Friendly’s programs. For a $1 donations, Friendly’s will provide restaurant guests with five Valentine’s Day cards, redeemable for free Friendly’s Kid’s Cones. The campaign runs through Feb. 13. Funds raised will support Easter Seals Camp Friendly’sSRTmprograms.

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.

Knights host dinner

The Knights of Columbus Fr. Venglaric Council 11915 will host a spaghetti dinner Jan. 29 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Church Hall at St. Charles in Boardman. The event will benefit St. Charles School. The spaghetti dinner will feature spaghetti and meatballs for $7 and a chicken parmesan dinner for $8.

The proceeds will also benefit the charitable endeavors of the Knights of Columbus.

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.

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.

Boardman-Poland Junior’s Women’s League elects officers

Accepting responsibility for league offices, at Caf Capri during the Dec. 5 social, for Boardman-Poland Junior Women’s League of 2012 were president Sperry Rongone, first vice president and membership chairwoman Yvonne Ford, second vice president Monica Baker, treasurer Andrea Stamp, assistant treasurer Margaret Cherol, recording secretary Nina Lowry and corresponding secretary Linda Crish.

New members were installed by a candlelight ceremony by Lisa Hedrick, junior director of GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women’s Clubs. The new members include Shannon Green, Jacky Thompson and Sue Mikitaw. Linda Crish was nominated Club Woman of the Year for exemplifying the spirit and dedication of a junior club member.

The Boardman-Poland Junior Women’s League is open to all women over 18, residing in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties who are interested in friendship, fun and community involvement.

Women interested in joining or receiving more information can contact our membership chairperson Yvonne Ford at 330-755-6828.

Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Ukraine

The Orthodox Center, 1025 N. Belle Vista Ave., will present “Malanka - New Year’s Eve in Ukraine!” on Saturday at 5 p.m. A dinner buffet will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. with a dance featuring the Del Sinchak Band following.

Tickets are available by calling 330-799-7911 or 330-538-3447. Advance tickets are $20 per adult, $5 per young adult. The cost at the door is $25 per adult, $10 for young adults.

Practice yoga at the gardens

The MetroParks presents Yoga at Fellows Riverside Gardens every Tuesday and Thursday from 9:30 to 11 a.m. and 5:30 to 7 p.m. through the end of January.

A blend of energizing yoga styles will help you keep a healthy outlook in 2012. Students at all levels are welcome. Bring a mat and small blanket. Call Fellows Riverside Gardens for information. The cost is $10 per class.

Sign language classes offered

American Sign Language (ASL) classes are offered by the Community for the Deaf at Youngstown Hearing and Speech Center on Southern Boulevard in Boardman. This class will help you develop expressive and receptive skills by learning spelling, language, grammar/structure and deaf culture.

ASL I will be held on Tuesdays from Jan. 24 to March 27 from 6 to 8 p.m. The cost is $115 and includes workbook.

ASL II will be Tuesdays from Jan. 24 to March 27 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The cost is $90.

ASL III will be Mondays from Jan. 23 to March 26 from 6 to 8 p.m. The cost is $90.

ASL IV will be Thursdays from Jan. 19 to March 22 from 6 to 8 p.m. The cost is $85.

Gardens display artwork in January

The Fellows Riverside Gardens will display new exhibits this January. All exhibits will be displayed at the Davis Education and Visitor Center every Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through January.

The exhibits include Fellows Riverside Gardens: Intimate and Inspirational, which is the photography of Scott Lanz and demonstrates that beauty in nature can be found not only in our national parks, but also in our own backyard.

Another exhibit is Wild Land: Thomas Cole and the Birth of American Landscape Painting. Thomas Cole painted a new vision of the American wilderness promoting the concept of valuing and preserving the environment and living in balance with nature.

MetroParks presents MetroMutts Jan. on Saturday

The MetroParks will be hosting MetroMutts: Pet First Aid on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Birch Hill Cabin. Keep your pets healthy and safe by learning how to recognize, respond to and prevent life-threatening conditions.

Leave your pet at home while you attend this comprehensive workshop. You will receive pet first aid certification and a manual. Bring a bag lunch if you wish.

Registration and payment are needed by Jan. 25. Cost is $35 for MetroMutts members and $45 for nonmembers. Extra manuals are $20.

Mindfulness 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.

T’ai Chi Step One in the Gardens

Ease stress, improve health, and increase vitality every Wednesday from noon to 1 p.m. through January.

Join Marie Lew in warm-ups, breathing exercises and selected movements from a classic Chen T’ai Chi form. Call Fellows Riverside Gardens for information. The cost is $10 per class.

Learn about eBooks at the library

Learn about eReaders during a two-hour program at the Boardman library on Wednesday at 6 p.m. and Jan. 28 at 10 a.m.

Part one of the program will describe various eReaders and give participants some hands-on experience with the devices. Part two will focus on demonstrating how to download library eBooks.

Registration is required; register online or call 330-744-8636.

Enjoy Fun Times at the library

The Boardman library will host “Fun Time for 4s and 5s” on Tuesday and Jan. 31 at 10 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.

Give blood at the library

The Boardman library will have a blood drive by the Mahoning Chapter of the American Red Cross on Monday from 1:30 to 6:30 p.m. Blood donations will be taken to help our community.

Library hosts Tales and Talk for 2s and 3s

The Boardman library will host “Baby Brilliant: Tales and Talk for 2s and 3s on Wednesday 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.

Science night at library

The Boardman library will have a night of science on Thursday at 7 p.m. School-aged children are invited to have a good time learning science and experimenting.