Austintown briefs

Curves offers free memberships

Free Healthway Silver Sneakers and American Specialty Health (ASH) Silver and Fit Memberships are offered at Curves Austintown, now at 4330 New Road. Eligible women can workout for free based on their participating Medicare supplemental insurance. Call 330-793-9802 for more information.

Benefit wine tasting April 20

The Youngstown Country Club will host a wine tasting on April 20 from 7 to 9 p.m. The gala event will pair complimentary hors d’oeuvres with the exquisite wines that have been selected for tasting, including some premier local winemakers. The event will benefit the Mahoning County DD Special Olympics Program.

Tickets are $50 per person, which includes a charitable tax deduction of $25. To reserve tickets, call the Youngstown Country Club at 330 759 1040, ext. 151.

White House hosts weekend event

White House Fruit Farm will host White House Weekend today from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and tomorrow from noon to 4 p.m. The annual event will feature a unique blend of fun and food for the entire family. A number of Ohio food vendors will offer tasting samples. A large selection of fresh fruits and vegetables, deli and bakery items and locally-produced maple syrup will be featured in the 10,000-square-foot farm market, located 10 minutes south of Canfield on Route 62.

Audubon Society meeting set

Audubon Society/Mahoning Valley invites the public to “Wildlife of the Mahoning Valley” on March 26 at 7 p.m. at Mill Creek MetroParks Farm. Jim Kerr, curator of the Beaver Creek Wildlife Education Center, will talk about local species of mammals, birds and reptiles.

The Mill Creek MetroParks Farm is on Route 46 in Canfield. For more information, call 888-846-8851.

VTI Travel launches new website

Boardman-based travel agency VTI American Express Travel has launched its new website, allowing leisure and business customers a less stressful means of making travel arrangements.

Customers can explore a variety of travel options and packages and when they are ready to book they can do so by calling or doing it through the site. The new web address is www.VacationVTI.com.

MCCTC accepting applications

Registration is now open for 2013-2014 academic year at the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center. Applications for enrollment are available online at www.mahoningctc.com or by calling the high school office at 330-729-4000.

Learn to spot severe storms

Mahoning County Skywarn, a volunteer organization of weather spotters, will host a training session on how to recognize approaching storms and tornadoes. Gary Garnet, Warning Coordinator Meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Cleveland, will conduct the training Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Austintown Fitch High School auditorium, 4560 Falcon Dr. Training is free and open to the public. Sign-in begins at 5:30 p.m.

Bounce with the Easter Bunny

The Easter Bunny is coming early this year — but only at Austintown Bounce.

The play center will host Lunch with the Easter Bunny today from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Admission is $7 and includes unlimited play, a hot dog, a fountain drink and a visit with the Easter Bunny. There will also be games and prizes.

While the kids play, parents can hang out in the lounge area and enjoy the big-screen television, free wireless Internet or socialize.

Bring your cameras to take some photos.

The facility is located at 4317 Kirk Road in Austintown. Call 330-793-JUMP, email info@austintownbounce.com or Like them on Facebook.

Registration open for Women’s Heart Day

Registration for the 10th annual Woman’s Heart Day, a free health and wellness extravaganza provided by Humility of Mary Health Partners, opens April 1.

Provided as a service to the community, Woman’s Heart Day will take place on May 9 from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Covelli Centre. This annual event features free health screenings, fitness demonstrations, educational presentations on a variety of women’s health issues, cooking demonstrations, spa services, refreshments and giveaways.

Among the health screenings offered this year are bone density, lipid panel (cholesterol) and A1c testing, blood pressure readings, vision screenings, stroke risk and skin cancer risk assessments.

Registration is required and appointments for bone density, lipid panel and A1c testing are limited.

Call the HMHP Healthline at 330-480-3151 or 877-700-4647.

Church hosts spaghetti dinner

St. Joseph Parish will host a spaghetti dinner on March 24 from noon until 5 p.m. The cost is $7 for adults, $4 for children ages 6-12 and children under 6 eat free. The cost includes meatballs, spaghetti, salad, bread and butter, cake, coffee or tea. Beer or pop is available at a nominal charger. Take-out is available.

The church is located at 4565 New Road, Austintown.

Writers meeting set

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

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.’

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

Camera Club hosts meetings

The Youngstown Camera Club hosts its club meetings the first and third Mondays of every month at 7:30 p.m. The meetings are at Christ’s Church, 7155 Glenwood Ave. Anyone interest in digital photography is welcome. For more information, visit http://ycc.photoforge.org.

Pink Ribbon Golf Classic set

The annual Pink Ribbon Golf Classic will be at Squaw Creek at Avalon Golf and Country Club on July 15. All proceeds from this event will go directly to the American Cancer Society. The 18-hole scramble will be followed by lunch and a Chinese auction and raffle. For further details, contact Donna Mowrey at 330-207-9630 or Nancy Felton at 330-533-2712.

Special Olympics fundraiser set

A Special Olympics fundraiser will be on April 6 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Bev Road MASCO Workshop, 825 Bev Road, Boardman. More than 800 items will be available for purchase at the Shop-Till-You-Drop sale benefitting the Mahoning County DD Special Olympics. The sale will feature YSU, Steelers, Browns and Cleveland Indians sports items along with jewelry, purses, toys, books and home d cor.

The event will also include 100 gift baskets with items such as a Colt McCoy autographed football, overnight stay at Mountaineer Resort and Casino, Kindle, cameras, and a year of skating at the Skate Zone. There will also be a gift card raffle valued at $500. One person will win gift cards to local restaurants, bakeries, retail stores, golf items, salons and more.

A bake sale and concessions will be available. For more information on the event, call Cathy Duck at 330-750-0423.

Eat with the Easter bunny

Tickets are now on sale for Dinner with the Easter Bunny on March 27 and 28 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Lariccia Family Community Center in Boardman Park. Tickets can be purchased at the park office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Tickets are $6 for Boardman residents and $7 for non-residents. Children under 18 months are admitted free. Cost includes dinner, arts and crafts, and a family photo with the Easter Bunny.

Easter egg hunt March 23

The free Easter Egg and Goodie Bag Hunt at Boardman Park will be March 23. The event will be for children 8 and under. Bring your baskets and arrive early. Dress for the weather. Times are:

10 a.m. — for ages 2 and under at the Bocce Court

10:15 a.m. — for ages 3-4 at the Masters Pavilion

10:30 a.m. — for ages 5-8 at the Baseball field

For more information, visit www.boardmanpark.com and “like” us on Facebook, or call the park office at 330-726-8105.

Friends of the library meeting set

The Friends of the Austintown Library will host their meeting on Monday 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 today 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 Wednesday

The Austintown library will host Page Turner: Mystery in March on Wednesday 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.

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.

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.

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

The Austintown library will host family story time on Tuesday 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.

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.

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.

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 today 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.

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.