Poland Community Briefs

Lighting of the village celebration

Today from 5:30-7:30 p.m., the Poland Junior Women’s Club and community organizations of Poland will host an old-fashioned holiday gathering in beautiful historic Poland Village. Scheduled of events include the lighting of Peterson park, crafts, performance and Christmas story read by Mrs. Claus at the Poland Library, decorating sugar cookies with elves at The Cafe at Wittenauer’s Carols, refreshments, horse-drawn carriage rides, Santa Claus and tree lighting at Town Hall Gazebo. Seating for carriage rides is limited. Tickets for the carriage rides are $3 for adults, $2 for children 12 and under and free for children 2 and under.

Lighting of the village

Celebrate with the Poland library during the Poland Lighting of the Village event today from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The event includes Christmas crafts from 5:30-7 p.m., a performance at 6:30 p.m., and a Christmas story read by Mrs. Claus at 7:15 p.m.

Church taking donations for Project Feed Our Valley

Disciples Christian Church, located at 565 Boardman-Canfield Road in Boardman, is teaming up with WFMJ to feed the Valley’s hungry. The church is currently taking food donations Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and by appointment. It is located on Route 224 across from the Giant Eagle Get-Go.

As part of its Journey to Bethlehem and live nativity on Saturday, Dec. 15 (from 1-4 pm), the church is encouraging attendees to bring non-perishable food items for admission to the event. Goods collected will go toward WFMJ’s Project Feed Our Valley. For a list of the most needed items, go to www.mahoningvalleysecondharvest.org.

Members will also collect donations on Sunday, Dec. 16 during worship, which will feature a special performance by the Boardman High School Choral group. The service is at 10:30 a.m.

For more information on dropping off donations or The Journey to Bethlehem, call the church at 330-758-8189.

Adopt an Angel charity

Adopt an Angel has been helping families and animal shelters in the Valley since 2008. They are currently accepting donations of all sorts — anything from clothing, canned goods and newspapers to toiletries. You can arrange for special pick-up (for those with special circumstances only) or donations can be dropped off at any time at the North Lima Business Complex, located at 11836 South Avenue, North Lima.

Donations can be made at any Huntington Bank with all proceeds to benefit 10 local families and six local animal rescues. For more information, call Jaime Hughes at 330-531-1705 or email AdoptanAngelCharity@yahoo.com.

P.A.R. food drive

The Professional Alliance of ReSalers (P.A.R.) are sponsoring a holiday food drive now to Dec. 14 to benefit those in need in Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties during the holidays. Customers are asked to donate non-perishable items such as pasta, canned goods, peanut butter, cereal and canned tuna. Drop off items at one of the following shops: D j Vu D cor (4742 Mahoning Ave, Austintown), Educational Consignment Plus (4950 Mahoning Ave, Austintown), Second Time Around Consignment (4954 Mahoning Ave, Austintown), Penny Pinchers (6826 Market St, Boardman), and Hannah’s Closet (47 W. McKinley Way, Poland).

Sky craft in December

School-age kids can make art on a string to swing above the librarian’s desk during regular hours for the month of December at the Poland library.

Edward Jones host open houses

Lori A. Ferreri, a local financial advisor for the financial services firm Edward Jones, has invited the community to attend a holiday open house from 3-6 p.m. on Tuesday at 3649 Canfield Road, Suite 5, Cornersburg (Coal Creek Plaza).

Holiday tales and talk for 2s and 3s

The Poland library will host developmentally-appropriate books, songs, rhymes, finger plays and other activities that will help your child (ages 2-3) become a successful reader on Dec. 20 at 10 a.m. and again at 11 a.m. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Holiday fun time for 4s and 5s

The Poland library will host developmentally-appropriate books, songs, rhymes, finger plays and other activities that will help your child (ages 4-5) become a successful reader on Dec. 18 at 1 p.m. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Holiday pajama jam

Put on your pajamas because the Poland library will host Pajama Jam on Dec. 17 from 6:30-7 p.m. The whole family can come for stories and more fun.

Tales and talk for 2s and 3s

The Poland library will host developmentally-appropriate books, songs, rhymes, finger plays and other activities that will help your child (ages 2-3) become a successful reader on Thursday, as well as Dec. 13, and 27 at 10 a.m. and again at 11 a.m. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Fun time for 4s and 5s

The Poland library will host developmentally-appropriate books, songs, rhymes, finger plays and other activities that will help your child (ages 4-5) become a successful reader on Tuesday, as well as Dec. 11 at 1 p.m. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Lego my library

Kids, ages 6 and up, will meet at the Poland library on Dec. 18 from 6-7 p.m. to enjoy creating Lego designs. Legos will be provided.

Trim a tree at library

Decorate an ornament for the Poland library’s all-seasons tree during regular hours for the month of December.

Hobbit party is Dec. 14

Get into the spirit of the Shire to celebrate the long-awaited release of the Hobbit movie at the Poland Library on Dec. 14 at 6:30 p.m.. Don your favorite Middle Earth garb and enjoy crafts and games, eat and drink your fill in true Hobbit fashion, and more. Space is limited — register starting Dec. 1 by calling 330-744-8636 or online at www.libraryvisit.org/hobbit. For teens in grades 7-12.

Album graffiti contest

There will be a contest at the Poland library to see if you can pick out which music album covers are the real ones. If you aren’t fooled by the graffiti versions, you could win a prize. This event is for teens in grades 7-12 during library hours throughout the month of December.

eReaders at the library

The Poland library will be hosting an informational event from 6-7 p.m. on Monday, as well as Dec. 10, and from 10-11 a.m. on Dec. 15 where they will show you how to download eBooks from the library’s digital catalog on their website. Space is limited so call 330-744-8636 and ask for Poland Library to register.

Blood drive at library

The Poland library will be hosting the Mahoning Chapter of the American Red Cross on Dec. 12 from 12:30-6:30 p.m. to serve the needs of St. Elizabeth Hospital by taking blood donations to help the community.

Friends of the Poland library meeting

There will be a Friends of the Poland library meeting and presentation on some of Poland’s oldest homes by David Smith on Tuesday at 10 a.m.

Holiday book sale

The Poland library will be having a half-price book sale at the Friends of the Public library of Youngstown and Mahoning County bookstore, located in the lower level of the Poland Library, from Dec. 1-8 at noon.

Free job help 101

The Poland library will be offering a free workshop featuring workplace skills today at 9:30 a.m. This class will highlight the workplace skills training available through the library’s databases and websites.

Free job help 102

The Poland library will continue its free workshops on job help on Monday at 6:30 p.m. This class will highlight the resume writing templates and programs available through the library’s databases, programs and websites. Also included are instructions for using Microsoft Word 2007 to create a resume without using a template.

Free job help 103

The Poland library’s final free job help workshop will feature job search skills on Dec. 17 at 6:30 p.m. This class will highlight the job search sites available through the Library’s websites. Learn to create your own free accounts on some of the sites and try sample job searches.

Meet local artists

This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County and is free and open to the public. The Poland library will be hosting a meet-and-greet for local authors, musicians or artists on Thursday at 6 p.m. They will have their books, music and art available for purchase. The participants will be glad to sign items for you. For more information, contact the Development Office at 330-740-6086.

Polar Express fundraiser and gift wrap

Get your holiday presents gift wrapped at Barnes and Noble on Friday and support the library. The East Friends of the Library will wrap from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the TeenXTreme Teen Advisory Board will gift wrap from 5 to 9 p.m. Pick up a voucher at any public library in Mahoning County to use when you purchase books at Barnes & Noble. The library will receive a percentage of the net sales when vouchers are presented on Friday.

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.