Canfield Community Briefs

December 12, 2014 at 12:00a.m.

Local theater to host Nutcracker-themed party

Celebrate the season, Nutcracker-style. The Dublin Grange Theatre will present the Nutcracker Sweets Party, an afternoon of goodies, crafts and more on Dec. 13 from 2-4 p.m. Special characters from the Nutcracker will be present as well as a visit from Santa Claus himself. Admission is $5 per child and adults are free. Tickets are available at the door, by calling 330-518-4064 or online at www.dublingrangetheatre.com.

Holiday open house

Blackburn Home will be hosting a holiday open house Dec. 15-19 from 2-4 p.m. each day. Visitors from the community are invited to tour the historic home, which will feature traditional decorations for the holiday season. For more information, call 330-757-2240.

Arms Family Museum to have holiday display

Memories of Christmas Past, the annual holiday spectacular, will run through Jan. 4 at the Arms Family Museum. The seven period rooms of the Arms Family home are filled to the brim with rare, one-of-a-kind, vintage decorations that include ornaments, lighting, trees and toys. This display features many pieces from the Historical Society’s collection as well as items on loan from private collectors. Hours for the museum are Tuesday-Sunday from 1-5:00 p.m. and Thursdays from 1-8 p.m. The Museum is closed on Mondays, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Years Day. Admission for the exhibit is $7 for adults, $6 for senior citizens; and $5 for children ages 3-18 (under 3 are free). Proceeds from the event help fund the educational and exhibit programs sponsored by the Mahoning Valley Historical Society. Visit www.memoriesofchristmaspast.com or call 330-743-2589 for additional information.

International Torch Clubs to meet

Dr. Lowell Satre, YSU Professor Emeritus of History, and his wife, Ellen, will be speakers at the Youngstown Chapter of International Torch Clubs dinner-discussion meeting at 6 p.m. on Dec. 15. They will discuss a recent bicycle tour of their ancestral homeland in Scandinavia. The meeting will be in Kilcawley Center, Bresnahan Rooms I and II, on the campus of Youngstown State University. The public is invited to attend. Social hour begins at 5:30 p.m., with dinner at 6 p.m. and the lecture at 7 p.m. Attending only the lecture is free of charge. Dinner for nonmembers is $20. Call 330-757-4148 for reservations, and for club information, call 330-792-7351.

Free blood pressure check

There will be a free blood pressure check by the Salem Area Visiting Nurse Association for adults on Dec. 16 at 1 p.m. at the MetroParks Farm library.

Toy collection for children at hospital

“Brighten Up for the Kids” is a holiday fundraiser that collects toys, gifts, games and raises money for the children who need to stay in the hospital over the holiday. All proceeds, gifts, toys and monetary donations go to Akron Children’s Hospital of the Mahoning Valley. Items needed this year include coloring books, crayons, craft sets, games, books, infant toys, mobiles and onsies. The collection runs from Nov. 24 until Jan. 7. The last day for drop off for toys will be Dec. 23. They also started a Christmas light competition on Market Street to help make the area surrounding the hospital bright and cheery so that families and employees at the hospital can feel the holiday spirit.

Gotta Move story time

This event is for children ages 2-5 who are accompanied by a caregiver. Join the MetroParks Farm library for a variety of musical and movement activities that appeal to the “young and restless,” stimulate brain development and motivate language learning on Dec. 23 at 10 a.m. Adults and children, get ready to act out stories and rhymes, sing and dance, and talk and play.

Holiday closings

All libraries in the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County system will be closed on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24; Christmas Day, Dec. 25; New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31; and New Year’s Day, Jan. 1.

No December meeting for Monday Night Writers

The Monday Night Writers group will not be hosting its regular monthly meeting in December. Instead, group members and those interested in fiction are invited to attend the “Celebrate Short Fiction” Day event at Barnes and Noble Booksellers in Boardman on Dec. 21 from 1-4 p.m. For more information, contact Nancy Christie at 330-793-3675 or by email at nancy@nancychristie.com. The next meeting of Monday Night Writers will be Jan. 19 from 6-8 p.m. at Peaberry’s Caf , located at 4350 Boardman-Canfield Road in Canfield. Area writers, both published and unpublished, are invited to attend. Led by professional writer Nancy Christie, author of “Traveling Left of Center and Other Stories,” 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 Christie.

Gamblers Annonymous to meet

Gamblers Anonymous, a 12-Step fellowship of compulsive gamblers who want to recover from their gambling addictions, will meet twice this week in the Youngstown-Warren area. A GA meeting is offered every Friday at Westminster Church, located at 119 Stadium Drive in Boardman, and another is offered every Sunday at Christ Church Presbyterian, located at 3425 Hopkins Road in Youngstown (Cornersburg). Both meetings begin promptly at 7:30 p.m. and last about 1-1/2 hours. Those who believe gambling has affected any part of their lives are urged to attend. For more information, call 330-505-5060.

Wine taste fundraiser to be Feb. 6

The ninth annual St. Michael Parish Wine Taste will take place on Feb. 6 inside the church Family Life Center. Proceeds from the event benefit the Center. For more information, contact the Parish Office at 330-533-6839.

Quilt group to have holiday party

That Quilt Group I Belong To will host its December meeting and Holiday Dinner Party on Dec. 16 at the Fair Park Rotary Building in Canfield. Doors will open at 6 p.m. and dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. Catering will be provided by the Broad Street Diner, and entertainment will be provided by Mr. Eddie Durkin. Contact Mary Durkin for reservations at 330-533-2375. Those who wish to participate in the gift exchange are asked to bring a $15 sewing-related gift. The annual quilt raffle drawing will take place, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Silver Lining Fund. Guests are asked to bring coloring books and crayons to donate to Akron Children’s Hospital. That Quilt Group I Belong To Is open to all quilters in the Mahoning Valley, including all skill levels. For membership information, call president Ginger Mangie at 330-702-0532.

CUMC to have three Christmas Eve services

In order to accommodate work and family schedules, Canfield United Methodist Church, located on the Green in Canfield, will offer three Christmas Eve services this year. The 1:30 p.m. service will be a traditional one and will focus on the story of Mary and the “song” she “sings” of the coming Messiah. Communion and special music round out this afternoon worship. Reverend Susan Brown will offer the message of hope. The 6 p.m. service will be a perfect service for families with special moments for children including the Joyful Praise music ministry, children’s message, communion and candles (or glow sticks). Brown will tell the story of the singing angels. The 9 p.m. service will express the joy of Christmas with multiple music offerings, communion and candle lighting. Brown and her husband Reverend Jerry Krueger, of Trinity United Methodist Church Youngstown, will preach together, sharing the songs of the Christmas story. Canfield United Methodist Church is a church for all ages and life stages. Visit www.canfieldumc.org for more information, or call the office at 330-533-9801.

Canfield High teacher to speak at TEDx Youngstown

Canfield High School teacher, Chis Jennings, has been selected to speak at the upcoming TEDx Youngstown Conference. Jennings, whose talk is called “High School Journalism Can Save Cities,” will address the conference’s theme “Breaking Boundaries” by discussing the potential for high school journalism programs, particularly in suburban communities, to be drivers of new business into struggling cities like Youngstown. Jennings will reference the work his journalism classes and news staff have done over the last few years and will be including information about what he has experienced since coming to Canfield. Jennings is in his eighth year of teaching and his third year at Canfield High School, where he teaches tenth- and eleventh-grade English, as well as Journalism. Along with the courses he teaches, Jennings advises the school’s newspaper, TV news show and Student Council. The conference is on Jan. 23 from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. at Youngstown State University. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED–like experience. Tickets are available at tedxyoungstown.com.

First Night Youngstown is seeking event staff

First Night Youngstown, a family-friendly, alcohol-free, celebration of the arts, is looking for event staff to assist in its downtown New Year’s Eve event on Dec. 31. Event Staff must be at least 16-years of age (with parental approval) or older. Staff is needed to sell admission buttons at each of the indoor First Night Youngstown venues. Event staff will work in pairs and each staff member will be awarded a $25 stipend at the end of the evening. The 4-hour shifts will vary depending on the venue. Event Staff will not be scheduled after 10 p.m. An event staff training session is scheduled for Dec. 18 at 5 p.m. in the second floor auditorium of the Ohio One Building. The Ohio One Building is located in downtown Youngstown at the intersection of E. Boardman and Champion Streets. For more information and an application, visit the www.firstnightyoungstownoh.com, call the FNY Office at 330-744-9966 or email at infofirstnightyoungstown@netzero.net.

Student art on display

The Davis Family YMCA is hosting its annual Student Art Show from Dec. 1-21 at the McClurg Road facility. Students who learned or honed their skills at the Y during 2014 were invited to participate. More than 30 students will show 60 pieces of art. While many are beginners, others have become so accomplished that they’ve been accepted into some of the most prestigious art shows in the area, often winning awards and selling their work. The event is free and open to the community. For more information, call the Y at 330-480-5656 or email sgray@youngstownymca.org.

Holiday closings

All libraries in the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County system will be closed on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24; Christmas Day, Dec. 25; New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31; and New Year’s Day, Jan. 1.

Friends of PLYMC’s Canfield Committee sets fundraiser

Support the new Canfield Library by purchasing Stone Fruit Coffee special blend for the holidays. The cost is $15 per bag. Coffee can be purchased from one of the Friends of the Library or at Stone Fruit Coffee in Canfield. Proceeds benefit the Canfield Library Capital Campaign.

Cheers to the new Canfield library

Pick up a flyer at the library and bring it to the Canfield Ruby Tuesday fundraiser on Dec. 30, all day, and 20 percent of the net sales will return to support the Canfield Library Capital Campaign. Flyers will be available in PLYMC libraries.

Gotta Move story time

Fun time for 4s and 5s

Join the MetroParks Farm library for developmentally appropriate books, songs, rhymes and finger plays, and other activities that will help your child become a successful reader on Dec. 16 and 30 at 10 a.m. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Tales and talk for 2s and 3s

Join the MetroParks Farm library for developmentally appropriate book, songs, rhymes, finger plays and other activities that will help your child (ages 2-3) become a successful reader on Dec. 17 at 10 a.m. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Bonding with babies and books

This event is for caregivers and their little ones who are 6-23 months. The MetroParks Farm library will host twenty minutes of language enrichment including rhymes, songs, and stories, followed by time to play and socialize at 10 a.m. on Dec. 15. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Holiday clothing now half off

Helping Hands Closet, located in Western Reserve United Methodist Church (4580 Canfield Road in Canfield), has new and gently used clothes for entire family, including winter clothing. Holiday clothing is now marked at 50 percent off. Also available are items for gift giving. Sign up at Helping Hands for your chance to win a door prize. Helping Hands Closet is open each Tuesday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.

DQ date deals

On Dec. 13, the Dairy Queen locations in Austintown, located at 146 N. Canfield Niles Road, and Cornersburg, located at 3555 Meridian Road, will have a special event in honor or the date, beginning at 12:13 p.m. Special pricing on Julius drinks, DQ cones, chili dogs, Buster Bars, Blizzards, cakes and more will be available when you name 13 things that you love about the Dairy Queen locations. There offers are available while supplies last and some restrictions may apply.

The Ursuline Center offers mini retreats

Looking for a way to renew your spirit and keep your perspective amidst the hustle and bustle of the holiday season? The Ursuline Center is offering four mini retreats for Advent and Christmas by scripture scholar Sister Lisa Marie Belz. Belz, an Ursuline Sister of Cleveland, will present “What’s The Good News? Gospels of Advent & Christmas,” on Nov. 22 from 1-4 p.m. at the Motherhouse. Attendees are encouraged to bring their Bibles, questions and desire for spiritual time away. The cost is a donation of $15. Sister Lisa Marie is also offering a series of Advent mini-retreats at The Ursuline Center in December. The public is invited to one or all sessions, with donations for each just $15. Other mini retreats include on Dec. 4 from 6:30–8:30 p.m. - “The Joys, Surprises, and Challenges of Matthew’s Good News,” Dec. 11 from 6:30–8:30 p.m. - “Advent & Christmas with the Gospel of Luke” and Dec. 18 from 6:30–8:30 p.m. - “The Prolog of John’s Gospel.” The public is asked to preregister by calling The Ursuline Center at 330-799-4941.

MCCTC’s Horticulture Club poinsettia fundraiser

The Horticulture FFA Club at the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center is taking orders for red poinsettias for the upcoming holiday season. The plants are single, pinched (multiple bloom) in a 6.5 inch pot. You have your choice of green, red or gold foil for around the pot and you can also add a white, green or a red satin bow. The poinsettias will be ready for pick-up starting Nov. 20 and the sale will go until Dec. 17. The cost of the plants is $8.50. To order a poinsettia plant, call 330-729-4015, ext. 1671, or stop in at the Horticulture Program at 7300 North Palmyra Road in Canfield.