Austintown briefs

Monday Night Writers meeting set

Area writers, both published and unpublished, are invited to attend the next meeting of Monday Night Writers, Aug. 19 from 6-8 p.m. at Peaberry’s Caf , located at 4350 Boardman-Canfield Road Canfield.

Led by author and professional writer Nancy Christie, the two-hour sessions include a mix of writing exercises, information on the creative and business aspects of writing and group feedback on ‘works-in-progress.’

The fee is $10 per class and registration is preferred. For more information, contact Nancy Christie at 330-793-3675 or atnancy@nancychristie.com.

Support group meeting to be Sept. 18

The Mahoning Valley Fibromyalgia Support Group will resume its monthly meetings on Sept. 18 by welcoming Dr Noah Erikson, Chiropractor. Dr Erikson believes in integrating traditional medical models to include complementary and alternative medicines and to treat each case individually. The meeting is from 7-8:30 p.m. at Bethel Lutheran Church, located at 425 Crestview Drive in Boardman. All are welcome.

ABWA meeting set

The Mill Creek Chapter of ABWA (American Business Women’s Association) will have their education/scholarship meeting Aug. 13 at A La Cart Catering in Canfield.

At 6 p.m. the scholarship recipients will be met and following will be a dinner buffet. The buffet will include swiss chicken and swiss steak, mashed potatoes, corn, tossed salad, cole slaw, tomato and pepper salad, dessert and beverage for $16.50.

The Chapter is also co-hosting ABW Day with Network Council of the Valley Sept. 29 from 1:30-4:00 p.m. at A La Cart in Canfield. Guest speaker will be Lisa Montross from Port Huron, Michigan, who is running for District V Vice President of the National ABWA organization. The event is open to the public. Tickets are $20, which includes a luncheon, and you can obtain a ticket by calling Mary Brown at 330-286-5337.

Comedy show set

Raise the Woof, a stand up comedy show, will be Sept. 7 at 7 p.m. at Magic Tree Pub and Eatery. Tickets are $20 and proceeds benefit For the Dogs, a non-profit organization. The event will include an appetizer buffet, basket raffle and a 50/50.

For tickets call 330-310-2802. For more information visit www.woofraise.com.

Child support awareness day set

The Mahoning County CSEA will host a child support awareness day Aug. 21 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Mahoning County Job and Family Services.

Staff will be available to assist you and get you registered to utilize the Child Support Web Portal at jfs.ohio.gov/ocs. Mahoning County Job and Family Services is located at 345 Oak Hill in Youngstown, conference room “A”. For more information, call Mahoning County CSEA at 330-740-2073.

Class reunion set

The Austintown Fitch class of 1993 reunion will be Aug. 31 at Barry Dyngles Pub in Austintown. A night of dinner, drinks, dancing and fun will begin at 7 p.m. The cost is $45 per person. Tickets are available at www.barrydyngles.com/events or by contacting April (Griffee) Cheney at 330-728-3470 or april.cheney@yahoo.com. No formal invites will be issued.

Salon offers free military haircuts

The Hour Spa and Salon, located at 5517 Mahoning Ave. in Austintown, will is sponsoring Cuts for Military Kids program. From Aug. 10 - Sept. 30, school age children of the troops will receive a haircut free of charge. Any child up to and including seniors in high school will be eligible. Bring current military ID. Children under the age of 16 years old must bring a parent or legal guardian. For appointments, call 330-509-5033.

Board of education to meet

The Austintown Board of Education will meet Aug. 13 for a retreat work session and Aug. 20 for a work session. Both meetings will begin at 8 a.m. at the central office located at 700 S. Raccoon Road. On Aug. 20, a regular session will begin at 1 p.m. at Austintown Middle School, located at 800 S. Raccoon Road.

Benedict named best employee

Michelle Benedict was recently named employee of the quarter for Shepherd of the Valley’s corporate office and At Home with Shepherd Home Health Services. Benedict is the Human Resource Assistant and has been employed with Shepherd of the Valley since July 2003. She resides in Austintown with her husband, Brian, and son, Marty.

Give blood at the library

The Mahoning Chapter of the American Red Cross will sponsor a blood drive at the Austintown library on Aug. 20 from 12:30-6:30 p.m. For appointments, call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Arms Museum plans Christmas program

Plans for this year’s Memories of Christmas Past are underway at the Arms Family Museum. The Mahoning Valley Historical Society is looking to the Valley community for some help with this year’s display.

Highlights this year will be on local Valley traditions and will include family heirlooms, nativity collections, handmade cigar box doll houses and a large collection from John Garver, inventor of the locally produced Plakie twirler ornaments.

The society is looking for Christmas items related to downtown department stores. McKelveys, McCrorys, Higbees, Strouss-Hirshberg or any other downtown establishment are desirable. Items will be displayed on a short-term loan basis and will be returned to the owner after the exhibit closes in January.

Please email a description and picture of items to events@mahoninghistory.org or contact the Historical Society with any questions at 330-743-2589. Memories of Christmas Past opens on November 23 and runs through January 5, 2014.

Visit www.mahoninghistory.org for more details.

Hospice offers grief program

Grief 101, a program presented by Hospice of the Valley bereavement facilitators, will be offered on Aug. 15 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Austintown Seniors Center, located at 112 Westchester Drive in Austintown.

The program will explain the grieving process and its impact on people and families. Support materials will be distributed. It is open to the public; no charge and no registration.

For more information, call 330-549-5900.

Local church to host senior fair

Emmanual Community Church, located at 6512 Kirk Road in Austintown, will host a senior fair Aug. 10 from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. The event is free and will include live entertainment, free food and drinks, bingo, dancing, veterans information, information on Medicare, Hospice of the Valley and more. The Mobile Medical Unit will be available to check blood pressure. There will be basket raffles and a flat screen television giveaway.

Buzz about books

The Austintown library will host Page turners: Book Buzz on Aug. 21 from 6-7 p.m. Hear what others are reading and share your favorite read, or just come in and join the fun.

Locate your customers

The Austintown library will host Locate Your Customers: Exploring the Library’s Business Databases Aug. 19 at 6:30 p.m. Join Stuart Gibbs, the Business and Investment Center librarian, to learn about how to target potential customers. The featured databases, D&B Million Dollar Database and ReferenceUSA (Business, HealthCare, New Business, and Residential modules), bring timely and authoritative information to develop strategic marketing.

Class features Nook for newbies

Adults can bring your Nook to the Austintown library and the librarians will show you how to download eBooks from the Library’s Digital Catalog on their website on Aug. 13 at 6 p.m.

Bring Adobe ID and email information. Space is limited. Call 330-744-8636 and ask for the branch by name to register.

Kindle class set in August

Bring your Kindle to the library and the librarians will show you how to download eBooks from the Library’s Digital Catalog on their website on Aug. 28 at 6 p.m.

Space is limited. Call 330-744-8636 and ask for specific library to register. Bring Amazon account and email information.

Participate in caption contest

The Austintown library will host Beneath the Surface Caption Contest during library hours through the month of August. Write the best caption or description and you could win a prize.

There will be different pictures for you to caption each month of summer break. For teens in grades 7-12.

Babies and books set at library

Babies ages 6 to 23 months can join the Austintown library for developmentally-appropriate books, songs, rhymes, finger plays and other activities that will help your child become a successful reader every Tuesday in August at 10 a.m. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Join end of summer reading celebration

The Austintown library will host an end-of-summer reading celebration on Aug. 15 at 6:30 p.m. The party will include karaoke, games, snacks and more. Bring the entire family. Fun for kids of all ages.

Tales for toddlers set for Wednesdays

Join the Austintown library for developmentally-appropriate books, songs, rhymes, finger plays and other activities that will help your child (ages 2-3) become a successful reader Aug. 14 at 10 a.m. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Library hosts Fun for 4s and 5s

Join the Austintown library for developmentally-appropriate books, songs, rhymes, finger plays and other activities that will help your child (ages 4-5) become a successful reader Aug. 14 at 11:30 a.m. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Play with an iPad

Children and parents have an opportunity to use the library’s iPad for a 20-minute session. Appointments are available Aug. 22 from 5:30-7 p.m. Call 330-744-8636 and ask for the librarian at the location you would like to visit. They will ask for the subject area you’d like to explore with your child. Registration and adult ID (valid license, state ID or library card) is required. For kids from age four to sixth grade. Child must be accompanied by an adult.

Ostomy group to meet Aug. 13

The Youngstown Area Ostomy Support Group, sponsored by Humility of Mary Health Partners, will meet from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Aug. 13 in the Cedar Room at St. Elizabeth Boardman Health Center, 8401 Market St., Boardman.

The Youngstown Area Ostomy Support Group meets monthly at alternating locations in Mahoning and Trumbull counties. It provides support, education and encouragement to individuals who have or will have ostomies. Families and friends of ostomy patients are welcome. Refreshments are provided and parking is free. For information, call 330-480-3440.

Have fun with bubbles

Have some good, clean fun with bubbles Aug. 20 and 22 from 2-4 p.m. at Oh Wow! Learn how to make your own bubble solution, plus another trick or two. Program is free, general admission applies to non-members. This event is for children in grades pre-k through fourth.

Family garden Fridays set

The Metro Parks will host Family Garden Fridays every Friday now through September from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Activities will be centered on gardening with children. Learn about vegetables with “Eat Your Colors” and see which insect is the “Bug of the Week.” Call Fellows Riverside Gardens for information.

Sculpt with Pilates

Pilates Sculpt will be offered every Wednesday from 6-7 p.m. Join trainer Angela Lubonovich in using light hand weights to tone the body with emphasis on core strength and control. Call Fellows Riverside Gardens for information. Bring a mat, water (and two number weights if you have them). Cost is $10 per session; or use your Scenic Fitness Card.

Practice Yoga at the park

Yoga will be offered every Tuesday and Thursday in August from 9:30-11 a.m. and from 5:30-7 p.m. at Fellows Riverside Gardens. Join Marina Perdos in the mornings and Karres Cvetkovich in the evenings for a blend of energizing yoga styles. Students at all levels are welcome. Bring a mat and small blanket. Classes are outdoors weather permitting. Call Fellows Riverside Gardens for information. Cost is $10 per class; or use your Scenic Fitness Card.

Take T’ai Chi

T’ai Chi Step One will be offered every Wednesday in August from noon to 1 p.m. Ease stress, improve health and increase vitality. 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; or use your Scenic Fitness Card.

Participate in Pilates

Pilates basics will be taught every Monday from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Work on toning, shaping, core strength, alignment and breathing with fitness trainer Angela Lubonovich. Bring a mat and water. Call Fellows Riverside Gardens for information. Cost $10 per sessio; or use your Scenic Fitness Card.

Free open houses set

Every Wednesday from 2-4 p.m. running through Aug. 14, the Mahoning Valley Historical Society will host free Hands-On-History Open Houses at the Arms Family Museum of Local History, located at 648 Wick Ave. in Youngstown. Each week will feature a different historical theme – “Celebrating the Fourth,” “My Town, Your Town, Youngstown,” and “The House that Olive Built,” to name a few. Hands-On activities will include arts and crafts, games, toys, artifacts, dress-up clothing and more.

Participants can spend as much or as little time engaging in the activities and each week will feature something for all ages and interests. The open houses are free and open to the public and all participants can take advantage of half-priced admission for a full Arms Family Museum tour.