Austintown Community Briefs

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.

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.

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 Area writers, both published and unpublished, are invited to attend.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.

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.

Austintown Local School District survey

The Austintown Local School District Strategic Planning Committee needs the help of Austintown residents and parents. The committee is conducting a survey about the school district. The survey results will be used by the committee to set future goals for the schools. Go to www.austintownschools.org and click “District Survey” on the top of the home page to complete the survey. It will be open until Dec. 18.

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 opening reception will take place on Dec. 7 from 1-2:30 p.m. 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.

Bonding with babies and books

This event is for caregivers and their little ones who are 6-23 months. The Austintown library will host twenty minutes of language enrichment including rhymes, songs, and stories, followed by time to play and socialize every Tuesday in December. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Blood pressure check

There will be a free blood pressure check by the Salem Area Visiting Nurse Association for adults on Dec. 23 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Austintown library.

Holiday movie matinee

No school? Nothing to do? Come to the Austintown library to watch a holiday movie on Dec. 20 at 2:30 p.m. The library will supply the movie and a treat.

You can bring a pillow and blanket if you like. Children under 7 must be accompanied by an adult. The holiday movie will be rated G or PG. This event is for children of all ages.

Make your own cards

Learn to create your own handmade cards using stamps, punches and other fun tools at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 22 at the Austintown library. Each participant will create a greeting card with a matching envelope. Class size is limited, registration required. This event is for adults.

Trim a tree for December

Decorate an ornament for the Austintown library’s all-season tree during regular library hours in the month of December. This event is for children of all ages.

Guess ‘n’ go

Guess how many candies are in the jar throughout regular hours in the month of December at the Austintown library. The closest guess wins the candy. This event is for children of all ages.