Canfield 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.

Friends of PLYMC Canfield committee

The Canfield Committee will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 14at the Boardman library in the meeting room. This event is for adults.

The Gathering Place to host senior event

The Gathering Place will host its next event at Lord of Life Church, located at 550 N. Broad Street in Canfield, on Jan. 12 at 11 a.m. The program will include lunch for an additional donation and a speaker on local history. Attendees are asked to bring old tools, fashion, photos or any other items for sharing and discussion. This is a free community outreach social program offered to all senior citizens that takes place on the second Monday of the month each month. Different games and activities are offered each month. For more information on this event, contact Lord of Life Church at 330-533-3531.

Republican women’s club installs officers

The Canfield Republican Women’s Club installed their new officers for the 2015-2017 terms. Holly Baker from North Lima will be President. Monica Robb from Columbiana will be the Vice President. Suzanne Trigg from Canfield will be the Treasurer and Jackie Stewart from Canfield will be the Secretary. In addition to supporting qualified Republican candidates, the club supports Caring for America by donating money to various organizations including The Fisher House, The American Legion, YSU Veteran’s Center and more. They meet on the first Wednesdays of most months. Visit them on Facebook or email crwcmail@gmail.com for more information. This club is open to all Republican women living in or around the Mahoning Valley.

MCCTC’s adult education students give back

Students in the Medical Assistant Career Development Program at the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center are getting in the spirit this holiday season by working with the Sojourner House to make Christmas a little brighter for those less fortunate. Each student was given two people for whom to purchase gifts. Some of them are buying clothes and toys for the children, while the others are purchasing items for mothers. Sojourner House offers protective shelter to woman and their children whom are fleeing an abusive environment and who cannot safely remain in their current residence. The shelter is kept as confidential as possible to ensure the safety of the residents and staff.

MCCTC Students Team Up With Making Kids Count

Students in Key Club at the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center are giving back this holiday season by teaming up with local charity, Making Kids Count. The students are making fleece blankets to put in “comfort kits” that will be given to foster children. The charity puts together these kits to give to the children entering the system. Included in these kits are everyday necessities, as well as toys, games and books. They believe that the kits give the children a sense of ownership and comforts them in time of change. This is the second year the club has joined forces with Making Kids Count. They hosted fundraisers to help raise the funds for the fleece to make the blankets. They raised close to $500 which will make approximately 30 blankets. Boardman junior, Lauryn Ellis, who attends the MCCTC, took this project one step further. She has been working very hard at school and on her own time, making stocking hats for the newborn comfort kits. English teachers, Alissa Kolar and Anthony Cycyk are in charge of the Key Club at the MCCTC. The purpose of the club is to get the students involved in the community and volunteering.

Diefenderfer receives master’s degree

On Dec. 12, Canfield resident Eric Diefenderfer graduated with a Master of Arts in Teaching in the Biological Sciences from Miami University through Project Dragonfly and Cleveland Metroparks Zoo’s Advanced Inquiry Program (AIP). Advanced Inquiry Program.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 30 at 10 a.m. 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.