Poland briefs

Join a loose knit group

All hands helping to “Warm Up America” are welcome on Sept. 6 and 20 from 10 a.m. until noon. Both experienced and anyone wanting to learn to knit or crochet can join. Donations of yarn and needles are appreciated. Registration is not necessary. Call Fellows Riverside Gardens for information.

Children’s nature hour set

Children’s Nature Hour: Busy Beavers will be Sept. 6 at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. and Sept. 7 at 10 a.m. Children ages 3-6 are invited to join us to learn about the world’s largest and busiest rodent — the beaver.

Participants to meet on Smythe Island in Newport Wetlands for a story, craft and to look for beaver. Pre-registration/payment required at Ford Nature Center. Cost is $2 for residents and $3 for non-residents.

Hear tales for toddlers

Tales for Toddlers: Skunks will be Sept. 5 at 10 a.m. Toddlers will learn about nature’s little stinkers—the skunk. Join Mill Creek Park for fun activities and storytelling. Pre-registration/payment required at Ford Nature Center. HThe event will be at FNC. Cost is $2 for residents and $3 for non-residents.

Farm tours available

Take a tractor-wagon ride through the MetroParks Farm every Sunday in September. Children can make a craft to take home. Visit the gift shop for closeout values. Suggested donations is $2/person or $5/family.

Take a family tour

The Metro Parks will offer a few more family tours Sept. 5 and 12 from 10-11:30 a.m. Tour includes a wagon ride, a visit with the animals, and playroom time. Limited seating, reservations are suggested.

Business workshop set

The library will partner with SCORE, Counselors to America’s Small Business, in presenting this seminar Sept. 14 at 10 a.m.. Are you thinking about starting a business in the near future or further down the road?

Members of SCORE will address key topics for those considering beginning a business: start-up considerations, marketing, finances and technology for business. The Business and Investment Center librarian will discuss the library’s sources and services for business start-up and beyond. For adults.

Libraries close for holiday

All libraries in the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County system will be closed Sept. 1 and 2.

Create a business plan

The Poland library will host a business plan workshop on Sept. 28 at 10 a.m. given by the Business and Investment Center and SCORE, Counselors to America’s Small Business. Members of SCORE will address key topics for beginning a business and Stuart Gibbs, the Business and Investment Center librarian, will discuss the library’s sources and services for business start-up and beyond. For adults.

Learn how to make a vegan dinner

The Poland library will host a one-hour demonstration on Sept. 14 at 3 p.m. Certified raw chef Sam Anderson will demonstrate how to prepare a vegan dinner that is easy to make and serve. Dinner will include an appetizer, main dish and dessert. Recipes and samples will be provided. For adults.

Audubon Society to host Judy Semroc

Audubon Society/Mahoning Valley has invited the public to “Birds, Bugs and Botany” Sept. 24 at 7 p.m. Judy Semroc, from the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, will speak about where to look for birds based on their food preferences. The event will be at the Mill Creek MetroParks Farm on Route 46 in Canfield. All are welcome. For more information, call 1-888-846-8851.

MCCTC to have demonstrations

The Mahoning County Career and Technical Center will once again host a series of hands-on demonstrations at this year’s Canfield Fair offering fair goers the chance to learn new skills and meet with MCCTC instructors.

New to the schedule this year, the Adult Career Center at MCCTC will host two evening sessions from 7-8 p.m. to teach those in attendance about storing data on a cloud, connecting to WiFi, apps and much more. In addition, visitors will receive a voucher to take a free iPad training course at the MCCTC.

Fair goers are invited to stop by the Education Building each day of the fair. All demonstrations are hosted in the Education Building from 1-3 p.m., unless otherwise noted.

The schedule for the fair is:

Cosmetology (Aug. 31) and Engineering (Sept. 1).

For more information, contact Jacqueline Kuffel, Career Development Supervisor, at 330-729-4120. To learn more about MCCTC, visit online at www.mahoningctc.com.

Historical society hosts open house

The Mahoning Valley Historical Society is hosting a free Founders Day open house at the Arms Family Museum on Sept. 15 from 1-5 p.m., in celebration of the Society’s 138th anniversary. The museum will be open for tours, the education staff will have indoor and outdoor games and activities for all ages and executive director Bill Lawson will lead a historic walking tour of Wick Avenue at 1:30 p.m.

Refreshments, including Good Humor ice cream bars, will be available. For more information, call the Society at 330-743-2589 or visit www.mahoninghistory.org.

Screen your blood pressure

The Poland library will host a blood pressure screening Sept. 24 from 1-4 p.m. This event is sponsored by the Mahoning Chapter of American Red Cross.

Give blood at the library

The Mahoning Chapter of the American Red Cross will sponsor a blood drive at the Poland library Sept. 19 from 12:30-6:30 p.m.

Adults learn about apps

The Poland library will host Appy Hour Sept. 9 from 6-7 p.m. for adults. Learn about popular apps for smart phones and mobile devices, see a variety of apps that will help you find a good place to eat, keep you entertained in a long grocery line, find a great new recipe, or find great music to listen to on your walk. Registration recommended. Call 330-744-8636 and ask for Poland Library.

Teens connect with your eReader

Bring your eReader to the Poland library Sept 23 from 6-7 p.m. The librarians will show you how to download eBooks from the library’s digital catalog on the website. This event is for teens. Space is limited. Call 330-744-8636 and ask for the branch by name to register.

Enter contest to have dinner with author

Want to have dinner with New York Times bestselling young adult author Jay Asher? Give the library some reasons - 13 reasons, to be exact. Present your arguments in any format you wish - three winners will be selected to meet Jay, have dinner with him at the Poland library and receive an autographed copy of his award-winning novel, “Thirteen Reasons Why.” The contest runs from Sept. 1-30 and is open to teens in grades 7-12. Visit www.libraryvisit.org/13reasons or any library branch for complete contest rules and instructions.

Pajama jam set

The Poland library will host Pajama Jam: Sleepy-Time Fun for the Family Sept. 30 at 6:30 p.m. Put on your pajamas and bring out the whole family for stories and fun.

Lego my library on Tuesday

Children, age 6 and up, can create Lego designs at the Poland library Sept. 24 from 6-7 p.m. Legos will be provided.

Library hosts Fun for 4s and 5s

Join the Poland library for developmentally-appropriate books, songs, rhymes, finger plays and other activities that will help your child (ages 4-5) become a successful reader every Tuesday in September at 1 p.m. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Tales for toddlers set for Thursday

Join the Poland library for developmentally-appropriate books, songs, rhymes, finger plays and other activities that will help your child (ages 2-3) become a successful reader every Thursday in September at 10 and 11 a.m. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Babies and books set at library

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

Adults connect with your eReader

Bring your eReader to the Poland library Sept. 14 at 10 a.m. and Sept. 16 at 6 p.m. The librarians will show you how to download eBooks from the library’s digital catalog on the website. This event is for adults. Space is limited. Call 330-744-8636 and ask for the branch by name to register.

Fall festival set

Poland-Boardman Child Care Center, located at 1940 Boardman Poland Road, is hosting the second annual fall festival Sept. 21 from 1-5 p.m.

The festival will include food, games, a bounce-around, crafts, fire trucks and the MedEvac helicopter.

First Night Youngstown seeks event staffers

First Night Youngstown is seeking event staffers to handle duties at venues on Dec. 31. Event staff will receive a small monetary stipend. A mandatory training will be in November. Shift start times will vary depending on the venue, but none will end later than 10 p.m., giving staff an opportunity to enjoy the remaining festivities and the fireworks.

If you are interested in being considered for an event staff position, email infofirstnightyoungstown@netzero.net or call 330-744-9966 to request an application. Applications are due by Aug. 31.

Library committee reviewed proposals

The Building and Sites Committee of the Board of Trustees, Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, met Aug. 8 to review proposals from 10 architectural firms for the new Canfield Library project.

No vote was taken today and the process will continue with a Building and Sites Committee meeting at 1 p.m. on Aug. 13 at the Austintown Library.

After the Building and Sites Committee has made a selection, this committee will submit its recommendation to the full Board of Trustees, which will make the final selection.

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.

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.

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.

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 in September 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 September 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 September 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 in September 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 session; or use your Scenic Fitness Card.