Austintown briefs

Friends of the library meeting set

The Friends of the Austintown Library will host their meeting on March 18 at 10 a.m. In honor of American Woman’s Month, the Austintown Friends present Carol Starre-Kmiecik’s one-woman performance as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Carol’s performances are original scripts, educational and entertaining, sometimes humorous and sometimes sad, telling the life stories of courageous women that overcame such obstacles as poverty, abuse, prejudice and widowhood to make significant contributions to our country.

Carol is returning to Youngstown and has performed in our area several times. Bring your friends and visit with one of America’s outstanding ladies, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.

Investment research seminar set

The Austintown library will host Investment Research 24/7 on March 16 at 10 a.m. Join Stuart Gibbs, Business and Investment Center librarian, to learn about databases to assist you in making your personal finance choices.

Featured databases are Business Insights: Global, Morningstar Investment Research Center, and Standard and Poor’s NetAdvantage. Wi-Fi access allows you to bring your device to research these powerful sources of reference.

Make and take crafts at the library

Children of all ages are invited to create a leprechaun craft at the Austintown library through March.

Join book discussion March 20

The Austintown library will host Page Turner: Mystery in March on March 20 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Bring in a mystery for our March book discussion. Hear what others are reading and share your favorite read, or just come in and join the fun.

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 March 11 at 6 p.m.

Space is limited. Call 330-744-8636 and ask for Austintown library to register.

Kindle class set in March

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 March 19 and 27 at 6 p.m. Space is limited. Call 330-744-8636 and ask for specific library to register.

Buzz about books at library

The Austintown library will host Page turners: Book Buzz on Thursday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Hear what others are reading and share your favorite read, or just come in and join the fun.

Give blood at the library

The Austintown library will host a blood drive sponsored by The Mahoning Chapter of the American Red Cross on March 25 from 12:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Give blood at the library March 25

The Austintown library will host a blood drive on March 25 from 12:30 to 6:30 p.m. for the Mahoning Chapter of the American Red Cross. Donations will serve the needs of St. Elizabeth Hospital.

Adults connect with eReader at library

Bring your eReader to the Austintown library and the librarians will show you how to download eBooks from the Library’s Digital Catalog on their website from 10 to 11 a.m. on March 9. Space is limited. Call 330-744-8636 and ask for the branch by name to register.

Babies and books set at library

Babies aged 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 Monday in March at 10 a.m. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Teens ready for PS2sday

Play video games in the meeting room of the Austintown library after school on March 5 and 12 at 2:30 p.m. This event is for teens in grades 7-12.

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

The Austintown library will host family story time on March 12 at 6:30 p.m. Join us for stories, games and crafts as we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. For children 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 every Wednesday in March at 10 a.m. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Gotta move storytime set

Children ages 2-5 who are accompanied by a caregiver can join the Austintown library for a variety of musical and movement activities that appeal to the “young and restless,” stimulate brain development, and motivate language learning every Thursday in March at 10 a.m. Adults and kids, get ready to act out stories and rhymes, sing and dance, and talk and play.

Woman of the Year celebration set

The Mill Creek Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association will hold its Woman of the Year celebration on March 12 at Cafe Capri at 6:30 p.m. The celebration will include a dinner of mixed green salad, roast beef au jus, chicken francaise, penne pasta, garlic buttered potatoes, tuscan bread, beverages and dessert. The cost is $19.

The newly-crowned Woman of the Year will represent the chapter at Fall Convention in Little Rock. The guest speaker for the event will the director of the Mahoning Library, Heide M. Daniels. Reservations must be made by March 5 by calling Kathy Anderson at 330-533-6675 after 4 p.m.

Take boating safety course

Mosquito Lake Power Squadron is offering America’s Boating Course, considered to be part of America’s premier boating education.

This United States Power Squadrons boating course includes essential information on all types of water sports. Completion of this course meets a

ll federal requirements and exceeds all Ohio mandatory and age requirements. Instruction is free, with a nominal $30 fee for course materials.

The six-session course begins on March 5 at 6 p.m. at Gander Mountain in Niles. The remaining schedule is March 7, 12, 14, 19 and 21.

For additional information, call Jim Orsine at 330-652-3859, or Tom Petrilla at 330-372-2988.

Rivers Casino bus trip set

The Relay for Life Team sponsored by the Mill Creek ABWA will host a bus trip to River’s Casino on March 10. The bus will pick up passengers at Fab Limo in Austintown at 1 p.m. and at K-Mart on Route 224 at 1:15 p.m. Return time will be between 8:30 and 9 p.m.

For reservations, call Shirley 330-270-9779 or Joyce 330-799-4507.

The cost is $35 and includes $20 for the slots and a $5 food voucher. Refreshments and games will be provided on the bus to the casino.

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 every Wednesday in March at 11:30 a.m.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Library closed March 30-31

All branches of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County will be closed on March 30 and 31 for Easter.

Church hosts spaghetti dinner

Bethel Lutheran Church, 425 Crestview Dr. will host its semi-annual Mickey Schuster Scholarship Spaghetti Dinner on March 16 from 4 to 7 p.m. The cost is $7 for adults and $3 for children under 12. Carry outs will be available. Tickets are available at the door or by calling the church office at 330-758-5745. Dinners include pasta with meatballs, salad, bread, dessert and drink.

All proceeds go to the Mickey Shuster Scholarship Fund and are distributed each year to the college students at Bethel.

Church hosts food program

Smith Corners United Methodist Church will host a smart choice food program. Each month, special value boxes of just meats, pasta or kid’s meals will be offered.

As well, there are “On the Go” meals for those who have no time or patience to cook full meals. These meals are diabetic-friendly. The food can be ordered online until today at www.smartchoicefoods.com where a credit card may be used, or by calling the church at 330-799-9390 where cash or money orders may be used for payment.

Delivery to the church will be today with pick-up from 10-11 a.m. The church is located at 3000 S. Canfield-Niles Road in Austintown and is handicapped accessible.

Gift card program in effect

Smith Corners United Methodist Church is also offering gift cards that you can order for Walmart, Giant Eagle, Sam’s Club, Speedway, AutoZone, iTunes, Amazon, sit-down restaurants, fast-food restaurants, online sites, etc., almost 1,000 cards to pick from. Pick up an order form or call the church at 330-799-9390 for more details. Orders will be placed on the fifth and 20th of each month.

St. Patrick’s Day celebration

The Boardman-Poland Junior Women’s League will host its fourth annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration on Saturday from 6:30 to 11 p.m. at St. Nicholas Social Hall. The cost is $27.50 per person and will include traditional Irish fare, a cash bar, Chinese auction, 50/50 raffle and music from the band “Sound Around Town.” For tickets, donations, or more information, contact Sperry Rongone at 330-770-3880, Nina Lowery at 330-506-9437 or Denise Statler at 330-540-7966.

PTA looks for presidents

The Austintown Council of PTAs is looking for past presidents of all PTA units in Austintown. Past presidents who haven’t been contacted by the council in the last few0 years should contact Kelly Phillips at kjhowdy@zoominternet.net or 330-270-2669.

Neighbors wants your news tips

Teachers, parents, event organizers — we know you are hard at work making fun and interesting events or lessons for the community to enjoy and we want to know about it. If you would like a story to be written about your event in Austintown, Boardman, Canfield or Poland, send an email to nscott@vindy.com or call 330-747-1471 extension 1511 to tell our reporter all about it.

Grant writing workshop offered

The Ohio Environmental Education Fund is offering a free grant writing workshop on Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Mill Creek Metro-Park Farm in Canfield. The first part of the workshop will give the attendees prospecting tips to help them identify foundations, corporations, and government grant programs, and how to approach different kinds of grant makers. The second part will focus on OEEF grants offered by the state of Ohio. If you would like to increase environmental awareness at your school or organization and help get some funds to do this, send a representative to this workshop.

For more information or a flyer about this workshop, contact the Recycling Division of Mahoning County at 330-740-2060 or Dennis Clement at dennis.clement@epa.state.oh.us.

MCCTC cosmetology students open salon

Cosmetology students at the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center have opened The Salon at MCCTC for afternoon hours to the public. Salon hours are Wednesdays and Thursdays 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. and now noon to 2 p.m.

The junior and senior cosmetology students will offer haircuts, styling, perms, hair color, manicures and hair removal. All services are performed by students under the supervision of their instructor and prices start at just $5. To make an appointment, call Cosmetology Instructor Lisa Argiro at 330-729-4000, extension 1309.

Making Kids Count benefit dinner

On March 15, Making Kids Count will host its first benefit dinner at Avion on the Water in Canfield. Proceeds from the event will go to the various programs Making Kids Count sponsors. This event will include dinner, dessert, a cash bar, chance auction and entertainment. Invitations will be mailed in February. For more information on this event, send an email with mailing and email addresses to mkc@makingkidscount.org or call the office at 330-758-3434.

Austintown Curves offering free workouts

Curves in Austintown, located at 4330 New Road, is offering free Healthways Silver Sneakers memberships.

Eligible women can workout for free based on their participating Medicare Supplemental insurance. Call 330-793-9802 for information.

Fitch alumni cruise planned

An Austintown Fitch Class of 1973 group cruise is booking now. Anyone who graduated from Fitch in the proximity of that year, or went to school with the class, can book a room. The cruise sets sail on March 1, 2014. The Celebrity Constellation will set sail for five days, from Monday to Friday, from Ft. Lauderdale to Cozumel and Key West.

Jill Hildebrand Burstein is the cruise organizer and can be reached at jyllyhylly@gmail.com, via the class website www.Fitch1973.com contact form, or by calling 248-909-1120. For booking and ship particulars, call travel agent Marilyn DeLisio at 586-948-1251 or email her at mdeliso0712@att.net. Visit www.Fitch1973.com for updates and the cruise flyer.