Free health fair

Free health fair

YOUNGSTOWN

Organizacion Civica y Cultural Hispana Americana will conduct a free community health fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday in its social hall, 3660 Shirley Road.

The event will feature free, confidential early detection and preventive health screenings and education.

Blood pressure, body mass index, blood sugar and cholesterol tests will be conducted.

Schools get grant

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown Foundation has awarded a $60,000 grant to the Youngstown City Schools to expand the work of the Quaglia Institute for Student Aspirations.

Since September 2012, the school district and Quaglia have worked with students, parents, teachers and staff to change school culture as part of a comprehensive plan to improve student academic performance.

Founded by Dr. Russell J. Quaglia, the institute is an independent, nonprofit Portland, Maine-based organization whose staff of educators conducts research and develops educational initiatives, nationally and internationally.

Book festival set

YOUNGSTOWN

The eighth-annual Plant the Seed to Read children’s book festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Mill Creek Park’s Fellows Riverside Gardens.

The free event at the D.D. and Velma Davis Education & Visitor Center brings together authors, illustrators, book characters, storytellers and hands-on activities for children to promote literacy. This year’s theme is “Reading Road Trip.”

Special guests include Tim Hartman, storyteller and actor, and authors Nancy Roe Pimm, Nancy K. Wallace and Paul Orshocki.

Children may pose at the Western Reserve PBS booth for photos with Daniel Tiger and Princess Presto. Parents should bring cameras and smartphones to take photos.

Sign-language interpretation will be available.

The event is sponsored by Western Reserve Public Media, the park district, the Altrusa Club of Youngstown and the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County.