Austintown Community Briefs

Holiday closings

All libraries in the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County system will be closed on Jan. 1 for New Year’s Day and on Jan. 19 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Senior-Cise healthy fitness program

The Friends of PLYMC are introducing a new program called Senior-Cise, an hour-long fitness program primarily for those age 65 and older featuring teacher is Ericka Williams, a certified group fitness instructor through The American College of Sports Medicine. This low-impact program is designed to get seniors moving towards better health with a goal of improving range of motion, strength and balance. Registration and introduction will be from 9:30-10:30 a.m. on Jan. 5 and 12. Classes begin Jan. 26 and will take place every Monday from 9:30-10:30 a.m. The fee is $5 per class. For more information, contact the development office at 330-740-6086.

Friends of the Austintown Library

The next Friends of the Austintown Library meeting and program will be Jan. 26 at 10 a.m. and will feature Traci Manning from the Arms Museum. Manning will review and detail the ladies of the Mahoning Valley. This event is for adults.

Blind date with a book

The Austintown library will host a blind date with a book event throughout regular library hours. Books will be packaged in brown paper, so the title you get will be a surprise. This event is for adults.

Coupon swap

Do you have coupons you don’t need or need coupons you don’t have? Drop in at the Austintown library during regular library hours throughout January to stretch your shopping dollars by swapping coupons. This event is for adults.

Blood drive

There will be a blood drive by the Mahoning Chapter of the American Red Cross at the Austintown library on Jan. 3 from 10:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. and on Jan. 20 from 1-6 p.m. to serve the needs of St. Elizabeth Hospital. For appointments call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Cookbook club

Join the Austintown library on Jan. 29 at 6 p.m. to share your favorite slow cooker recipes. Bring a dish to share with friends. A food waiver must be signed. This event is for adults

History book club

Have you read a sizzling, red-hot history book lately? The And The Rest Is History book club would love to hear all the juicy details on Jan. 8 at 6 p.m. Join in for informal discussions covering all areas of history, including historic eras, people, places and things. This event is for adults.

Page Turners book club

Do you love books and are looking for a good read? Hear what others are reading and share your favorite read at the Austintown library on Jan. 21 from 6-7 p.m., or just come in and join the fun. This event is for adults.

Saving memories: downloading digital pictures

Keep your memories safe by learning how to transfer pictures from a digital camera or phone onto a computer and flash drive at the Austintown library on Jan. 6 at 6 p.m. This event is for adults.

Scrapbooking club

Scrapbook a page and share your scrapbooking ideas at the next meeting of the Scrapbooking club on Jan. 22 at 6 p.m. at the Austintown library. Pre-register by calling 330-744-8636. This event is for adults.

Kindle class

Bring your Kindle to the Austintown library on Jan. 15 at 6 p.m. and the librarians show you how to download eBooks from the Library’s Digital Catalog on the library website. Don’t forget your Amazon account and email information. Space is limited. Call 330-744-8636 and ask for the branch by name to register. This event is for teens and adults.

Basic computer class: email

Learn how easy it is to set up your own email account at the Austintown library on Jan. 14 at 6:30 p.m.

This is a beginner’s class that will cover setting up an internet based email account and how to use it. Some knowledge of computers and internet is required. Space is limited to three.

Call to register 330-744-8636 and specify “basic computer class at Austintown: email.” This event is for adults.

Stamping with Cindy

Learn to create your own handmade cards using stamps, punches and other fun tools at 10 a.m. on Jan. 23 and 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 27 at the Austintown library. Each participant will create a greeting card with a matching envelope, plus a cute 3-item. Class size is limited, registration required. This event is for adults.

Sit ‘n stitch

Join the Austintown library for a morning to knit, crochet, embroider, sew or other lap needlework on Jan. 9 from 9:30-10:30 a.m.

Bring in your current project, make new friends and learn from one another. This event is facilitated by a librarian and is only for adults.

What will you read next?

Let the Austintown library’s fortune tellers (cootie catchers) predict what you will read next throughout regular library hours in the month of January. Will it be “The Monstrumologist,” “Grasshopper Jungle,” or some other great read? Look into your future reading at the library. This event is for grades 7-12.

Teen Advisory Board

Check out the Teen Advisory Board at the monthly TAB meeting on Jan. 3 at 3 p.m. Help plan and support teen activities at the library. Meet new people and have fun. Newcomers are always welcome. This event is for teens in grades 7-12. Snacks will be provided.

Read-A-Long for tweens and teens

Come in from the cold and join the Austintown library for an hour of short stories on Jan. 5 at 6 p.m. They will take turns reading out loud while enjoying some junk food. If you stay and read for the full hour, you will get a small prize. Snacks and reading materials will be provided. This event is for grades 4-12.

Family story time

Start celebrating the Super Bowl early at the Austintown library on Jan. 28 at 6 p.m. Join in for sports stories, games, craft, snacks and drinks. Wear your favorite team’s football jersey. This event is for children of all ages.

Movie matinee

Join the Austintown library for a Movie Matinee on Jan. 17 at 2:30 p.m. Bring your own snacks and drinks to enjoy during the movie. Children age 7-years and younger must be with an adult. The movie will be a newly released DVD rated PG-13 to G.

Pre-Kindergarten story time

The Austintown library will offer a pre-Kindergarten story time for 4- and 5-year-olds to help develop pre-literacy and kindergarten readiness skills every Wednesday in January at 11:30 a.m. They will use books, stories, rhymes, music, movement and crafts to help your child get ready for kindergarten.

DQ locations to have customer appreciation

The Austintown Dairy Queen, located at 146 N. Canfield Niles Road, and Cornersburg Dairy Queen, located at 3555 S. Meridian Road, will be starting off the new year with a customer appreciation day of Jan. 1 from 12-8 p.m. Everything on the Dairy Queen menu will be 1/2 off.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.