METRO DIGEST || Crandall Park assoc. organizes help day for new neighbor

Crandall work day

YOUNGSTOWN

Crandall Park South Neighborhood Association has organized a work day at 404 Lora Ave., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today, rain or shine. Volunteers are asked to bring work gloves, heavy-duty trash bags and tools such as hammers, screwdrivers and pliers. A contractor, Connie Lauderdale, who is part of the association and one of the event’s organizers, has said many supplies have been donated and recommended anyone looking to donate an item today bring water for volunteers to stay hydrated.

Rik Blake, 49, formerly of Hermosa Beach, Calif., had purchased the home at 404 Lora Ave. sight-unseen on the city’s North Side and arrived last week to find it gutted by vandals.

Boardman St. closing

Youngstown

Boardman Street between South Hazel Street and South Phelps Street downtown will be closed to traffic effective Saturday for fascia removal of the Youngstown Metropolitan Housing Authority building, 131 W. Boardman St. Detours will be posted.

Canfield flooding plan

Canfield

Canfield Village Council will meet Wednesday to discuss a new plan to deal with the city’s flooding issues. City Manager Joe Warino said he will present the plan at 7 p.m. after council’s regular meeting at 104 Libson St. Warino said a major storm in May 2011 brought at least 2 inches of rain and a number of basement and backyard storm- water issues. Some were corrected; others need more work.

Mortgage workshops

YOUNGSTOWN

Catholic Charities Regional Agency will present two free workshops on mortgage modification and awareness of mortgage scams from 5 to 7 p.m. March 28 and from 10 a.m. to noon March 31 at the agency office, 2401 Belmont Ave. The sessions will cover how modification can prevent foreclosure and how homeowners can avoid being victimized by scams. Space is limited; registration is required by calling Diane Eggleston at 330-744-3320.

Tours of 1883 house

HUBBARD

Hubbard Historical Society’s McBride House, 27 Hager St., will host an open house from 2 to 5 p.m. March 11. Society members will offer guided tours of the 1883 house built on land originally owned by Samuel Tylee, the first settler. Donations are accepted.

Volunteers needed

YOUNGSTOWN

Community Legal Aid, a non-profit law firm serving the civil legal needs of the low-income community, seeks volunteers for the Volunteer Advocacy Legal Unit Program in Mahoning County. Volunteers assist victims of domestic violence through the court process of obtaining a Civil Protection Order. Training will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 11. Volunteers work out of the VALU office in Mahoning County Courthouse. Those interested in learning more about the program or registering for training should contact Legal Aid at 330-744-3196 ext. 2599. Low-income individuals with a legal problem should call the Community Legal Aid Services HelpLine at 800-998-9454 or visit www./www.communitylegalaid.org.

Circus food drive

YOUNGSTOWN

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey is having a food drive from 10 a.m. to noon today at the Covelli Centre, 229 E.Front St., to help stock the shelves of Second Harvest Food Bank of Mahoning Valley. Anyone who brings 10 cans of non-perishable food will receive one free ticket voucher for any of the nine performances of DRAGONSSM show March 30-April 2. There is a limit of two ticket vouchers per family and a limit of 400 total vouchers to be given. Second Harvest provides food to 153 hunger-relief organizations in Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties.