Poland briefs

Poland resident earns honors

Sigma Alpha Lambda is proud to announce that Kenzie Ellise Black of Poland has recently become recognized as a member of Sigma Alpha Lambda, National Leadership and Honors Organization at the Youngstown State University. Sigma Alpha Lambda is a national leadership and honors organization dedicated to promoting and rewarding academic achievement and providing members with opportunities for community service, personal development and lifelong professional fulfillment.

Rindy named to Dean’s List

Luke Rindy has been named to the Fall 2011 Deans List at Slippery Rock University. He is a freshman majoring in Biology and plans to attend the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. He is the son of Wendy and John Rindy of Poland and a 2011 graduate of Poland Seminary High School.

Donate blood April 11

The Poland library will host a blood drive provided by the Mahoning Chapter of the American Red Cross. The drive will be on April 11 from 12:30 to 6:30 p.m. The blood will serve the needs of St. Elizabeth Hospital.

Bonding with Babies and Books

The Poland library will host “Baby Brilliant: Bonding with Babies and Books” for babies 6-23 months on Wednesday and April 11, 18 and 25 at 10 a.m. The program will include developmentally-appropriate books, songs, rhymes, finger plays and other activities that will help your child become a successful reader. Children must be accompanies by an adult.

Tales and Talk for 2s and 3s

The Poland library will hosts Baby Brilliant: Tales and Talk for 2s and 3s on Thursday and April 12, 19 and 26 at 10:30 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.

Fun Time for 4s and 5s

The Poland library will host Fun Time for 4s and 5s on Thursday and April 12, 19 and 26 at 1 p.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.

Buy strudels to help orphanages

The St. Peter and Paul Orthodox Center are selling strudels to benefit their parish orphanage missionary. A large apple or cherry strudel can be ordered for $8 and a large cherry with cheese strudel can be ordered for $9. To place an order, call 330-792-6699 or 330-799-7911. Orders are due by Friday and can be picked up on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon at the St. Peter and Paul Orthodox Center, 1025 N. Belle Vista.

Eat dinner with the Easter Bunny

The Boardman Park is hosting dinner with the Easter Bunny on Wednesday and Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Family Community Center. Tickets can be purchased at the Park Office from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Tickets are $6 for residents and $7 for non-residents. Children under 18 months are free. Tickets include dinner, arts and crafts and a family photo with the bunny.

Hear tales for twos at Ford nature Center

Two-year-olds are invited to discover many of the mammals that live in parks and backyards on April 5 at 10 or 10:45 p.m. Pre-registration/payment required 24 hours in advance at Ford Nature Center. The cost is $2 for residents and $3 for non-residents. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Pet expo comes to Eastwood Expo Center

The Northeast Ohio Pet Expo Show and Sale will be at the Eastwood Expo Center in Niles today from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This pet expo is the largest between Pittsburgh and Cleveland and is for all pet-lovers of all kinds.

The event will offer trainers, retailers, groomers, pet food manufacturers, pet resorts and lodges, pet service specialists, pet apparel, pet photographers, animal charities, pet physics, an exotic petting zoo, as well as two authors and a pet portrait artist to draw your pets/yourself on the spot.

New this year will be the “Look Like Your Pet” Contest on Saturday at 2 p.m. and the Pet Fashion Show Sunday at 1 p.m. These are open to anyone wishing to enter.

Admission is $5 for adults and children under 12 and pets are admitted free. Pets are encouraged to attend as long as they are pet-friendly and owners are responsible for them at all times.

For more information, call 330-518-7794.

Partake in Preschool Nature Hour

The MetroParks will host Preschool Nature Hour: Wonderful White-tail on April 6 at 10 a.m. or 12:30 p.m. or April 7 at 10 a.m. Preschoolers ages 3 - 5 will “put on their deer ears” to listen to a special story, explore outdoors for tracks, and enjoy other fun activities while learning about the white-tailed deer. Preregistration/payment required 24 hours in advance at Ford Nature Center. Cost is $2 for residents and $3 for non-residents. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Garden club hosts garage sale

La Fleur Garden Club is sponsoring a community non-profit garage sale on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The garage salad will be held at Ursuline Center, 4250 Shields Road.

For more information call 330-758-0401.

Boardman Park hosts maple festival, pancake dinner

Boardman Park will host its annual Maple Syrup Festival, today and tomorrow from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The park staff will demonstrate how Maple Trees are tapped, sap collected and how the sap is boiled to make syrup. Real maple syrup will be for sale.

The event also includes a Civil War re-enactment, the Western Reserve Woodcarvers and the Boardman Historical Society. The Mahoning Valley Watercolor Society will have paintings for sale. Boy Scout Troop 60 will be demonstrating its old-fashioned camping skills. There will also be a hayride through the trails.

The Boardman Rotary Club will be holding its annual Pancake Breakfast at the Lariccia Family Community Center during these same dates and times. The cost of breakfast is $6 for adults and children 7 or older. Children 6 and under eat free.

For more information, visit www.boardmanpark.com. or call 330-726-8107.

Join a loose knit group

Team up with other crafters on April 6 and 20 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 more information.

Partake in sky dancers hike

The MetroParks will be taking a hike on April 5 at 7:30 p.m. At dusk and dawn, male woodcocks sing “peent” and then perform a spectacular mating flight. Traipse with us to the singing and flying grounds of these odd birds. Meet at MetroParks Bikeway Trailhead at MetroParks Farm. Wear boots. Moderate difficulty, one and a half miles.

Look for golden daffodils

Join our hike around Lake Newport on April 8 at 2 p.m. and keep your fingers crossed that Daffodil Meadow is in bloom. Meet at Newport Wetlands parking lot. Difficult rating, five miles.

Mahoning Valley Pizza Cook-Off raises money

On March 18 the Mahoning Valley’s finest pizza establishments donated their time and talent to present more than 1,100 attendees with the best pizzas. This year’s Mahoning Valley Pizza Cook-Off raised more than $38,000 for the Potential Development Program’s School of Autism.

Local pizzerias participating in The 2012 Mahoning Valley Pizza Cook Off included: Bella Napoli, Brier Hill Pizza and Wings, Bruno Bros. Pizza, Cassese’s MVR, Cocca’s Pizza, Gia’s Pizzeria, La Rocca’s Pizza and Pasta Ristorante, Southgate Pizza, Sunrise Inn, Strikers and Wedgewood Fernando’s Pizza.

The Potential Development Program, Inc. is a private, non-profit organization that offers special education services to children with developmental delays, behavioral concerns and a diagnosis within the autism spectrum.

Lego My Library

The Poland library invites children 6 and older to create Lego designs on April 17 from 6 to 7 p.m. Legos will be provided.

Create a sky craft

The Poland library invites school-aged children to make art on a string to swing from the sky above the librarian’s desk. The crafts will be available to make during library hours through the month of April.

Jam in your pajamas

The Poland library will host Celebrity Pajama Jam: Sleepy-Time Fun for the Family on April 23 from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Join us with our special guest, meteorologist Mark Monstrola from WFMJ TV 21. The whole family is invited to put on pajamas and come to the library for wacky weather stories and more fun.

Trim a tree at the library

The Poland library invites children of all ages to decorate an ornament for the all-season tree during library hours through the month of April.

Screen your blood pressure

The Poland library will host a blood pressure screening provided by the Mahoning Chapter of the American Red Cross. The screening will be on April 24 from 1 to 4 p.m.

Connect with your eReader

Bring your e-Reader to the Poland library on Monday and April 16 and 30 from 6 to 7 p.m. or April 21 from 10 to 11 p.m. You’ll learn how to download eBooks from library’s digital catalog on the website. Limited availability, sign-up required.

To sign up, call 330-744-8636 and ask for the Poland library.

Attend federal contracting workshop

The Poland library is hosting a federal contracting workshop on April 25 at 10 a.m. Sonya Wagasky of the Small Business Administration’s Cleveland regional office will be giving the informative workshop on the requirements and regulations of expanding your business opportunity to include becoming a federal contractor.

Library meeting set

The Friends of the Poland Library will meet on Tuesday at 10 a.m. at the Poland library.

Compete in Crossword Puzzle Tournament

The Poland library is hosting a Crossword Puzzle Tournament on April 21 at 9 a.m. The tournament is for children, teens and adults. The registration fee is $10 per adult and $5 per child under 18. Proceeds from the tournament benefit the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County. For information about this fundraising event and entry fee, contact the library’s the development office at 330-740-6086.

Kosko named to President’s List

Steven Kosko was recently named to the Presidents List and received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Scholarship for his achievement of 4.0 for the fall semester. The Presidents List is for students earning a 4.0 on a 4.0 scale. Kosko is a freshman engineering student at West Virginia University. He is double majoring in aerospace and mechanical engineering. He is a graduate of Poland Seminary class of 2011 and is the son of John and Tammy Kosko of Poland.

Appugliese named to Dean’s List

Devyn Appugliese, a sophomore in the McAnulty College of Liberal Arts, has been named to the Fall 2011 Dean’s List at Duquesne University. She is the daughter of Marcia A. Greening of Poland and a 2010 Cardinal Mooney graduate.

The Dean’s List recognizes full-time students who have maintained at least a 3.5 grade-point-average on a 4.0 scale, with no grade lower than a “C.”

Take a trip to Wheeling Downs Racetrack

The 2012 Pink Ribbon Classic committee is sponsoring a bus trip to Wheeling Downs Racetrack and Casino on May 19. The bus will leave from Fab Limo on Connecticut Ave. in Austintown at 9 a.m. and will depart from Wheeling Downs at 5 p.m. The cost is $30 per person and each player will be give $25 in free play.

All proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society. Send registration and checks to: Pink Ribbon Golf Classic, c/o Nancy Felton, American Cancer Society, 525 N. Broad Street, Canfield, OH 44406.

Welcome baby animals at MetroParks Farm

The MetroParks will host an animal baby shower tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the MetroParks Farm. Families are invited to see the arrival of lambs, goats, sheep, pigs, rabbits and more. There will be cake a punch while supplies last.

MetroParks presents Children’s Book Festival

The Children’s Book Festival: Plant the Seed to Read will be held on April 28 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Fellows Riverside Gardens. The event will be a day of fun for children and their families together enjoying authors, illustrators, book characters, storytellers and many activities for children.

Bring your camera to be photographed with Curious George or the animals from the Akron Zoo. Admission is free.

Enjoy an Easter buffet

Fellows Riverside Gardens will host an Easter Buffet on April 8 at 12, 2 and 4 p.m. catered by Georgetown. Afterward take a springtime walk in the Gardens. For reservations and prices call the Garden Caf at 330-740-7074.

Poland raffle raises equipment funds

The Poland concert bands and Jazz Ensemble are in need of updated equipment and sound system. To defray the cost, the band is sponsoring raffle fundraiser.

Each band member in grades seven through 12 will sell at least five raffle tickets. The proceeds will be used to purchase updated equipment for the bands. The cost of each ticket is $20 and will be entered into a weekly drawing. Weekly drawings for $100 will be held, with a $200 drawing on May 2 and a $500 drawing on May 16. Anyone interested in purchasing a raffle ticket can e-mail terriwindsor@gmail.com or contact Mr. Olesko, or a band member. YMCA hosts annual Good Friday breakfast

The YMCA of Youngstown will host its annual Good Friday Breakfast and Service on Friday at the Central YMCA. A gourmet breakfast buffet prepared by Jorgine’s Deli will be served at 7:15 a.m. with the service delivered by Pastor Gary Koerth of Tabernacle Evangelical Presbyterian Church, beginning promptly at 8 a.m. in the community gym. The event will conclude at 8:45 a.m.

Individual tickets at $10 and reservations for tables of eight at $75 may be purchased by contacting Patty Tchoryk at 330-742-4781.

Due to large attendance in previous years, early registration is suggested. For more information, visit www.YoungstownYMCA.org.

The Central YMCA is located in downtown Youngstown on the corner of Commerce and Champion Streets.

Salon at MCCTC offers afternoon appointments

The Cosmetology students at Mahoning County Career and Technical Center are currently offering afternoon hours to the public at their salon. Afternoon appointments are available starting at noon.

All services are performed by students under the supervision of their instructor and prices start at just $6. Services include haircuts, hairstyles, perms, relaxers, facials, hair removal, hair color and manicures. The salon will be open now until May by appointment only.

To make an appointment, call Linda Tomko at 330-729-4000, ext. 1309.

Bonding with Babies and Books

The Poland library will host Baby Brilliant: Bonding with Babies and Books for babies 6-23 months on Wednesday at 10 a.m. The program will include developmentally appropriate books, songs, rhymes, finger plays and other activities that will help your child become a successful reader. Children must be accompanies by an adult.

Create spring bouquets

Fellows Riverside Gardens invites preschoolers ages 3-5 to welcome spring tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Participants will enjoy a story and snack before decorating a vase and arranging fresh flowers to take home. Call Fellows Riverside Gardens to register.

The cost is $6 for residents and $8 for non-residents.

Support the Seidita family

The Seidita Family Benefit will be on May 6 from 12 to 4 p.m. at St. Matthias Church, 2800 Shady Run Road.

The cost is $10 and includes chicken, pasta and more. The event will include a 50/50 drawing, a chance auction and a bake sale. Prizes include a 50” television, $300 and $100.

Come support Carl and Lucy Seidita of Boardman who are both battling cancer and have been unable to work. The Seidita family is facing an enormous burden and need the help of their friends, family and community.

For tickets, donations and more information call Gary Frank at 330-651-8778 or Jim Higham at 330-942-6647.

Search for Easter eggs at the park

The MetroParks is hosting an Easter extravaganza today at 11:30 a.m. at the Wick Recreation Area. The event will include an egg hunt and an appearance by the Easter bunny. Children 2-10 can join the scramble for candy and prizes and adults can compete in the Raw Egg Toss. Be sure to arrive early enough to find the age group area for your child before the start time.

Search for Spring Salamanders

The MetroParks will be searching for large spotted salamanders during a walk today at 8 p.m. During late winter or early spring, large spotted salamanders briefly leave their underground haunts and gather in woodland pools to mate. Hikers will look to see if they can catch them in the act. Boots and flashlights are recommended.

Meet at the end of Laurel Hill Drive, located off Herbert Road west of MetroParks Bikeway crossing. Difficulty rating, one and a half miles.

Call Ford Nature Center to register by March 31, 5 p.m.