Austintown Community Briefs

GA 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, and another is offered every Sunday at Christ Church Presbyterian, located at 3425 Hopkins Road in 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.

Boardman Poland Juniorettes to meet

The Boardman Poland Juniorettes will meet Feb. 22 at 2 p.m. in the Meeting Room of the Boardman library.

The Juniorettes are a group of girls, aged 12-18, who do volunteer work in the community. They can attend any school in the Mahoning Valley. The group is sponsored and mentored by ladies from the Boardman Poland Junior Women’s League. Membership in the Juniorettes provides an opportunity for the girls to select projects and programs that they are interested in, have elected offices and complete volunteer hours, which are often required by school or church.

They will be cutting and sorting coupons to be donated to Military families living abroad on Military bases. Interested girls can come to the meeting or call Debbie Weaver at 330-720-6510 for more information.

Craft and Vender show to be April 26

The annual Craft and Vendor show to benefit The Rich Center for Autism in Austintown will be April 26 at Tabernacle Evangelical Presbyterian Church on Raccoon Road!. The event will be offered from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and is open to the public free of admission. There will be a large Chinese auction and 50/50 drawing, along with 40 local vendors and crafters. All money raised will go to The Rich Center for Autism.

Austintown Fitch Souper Supper event

The Austintown Council of PTAs and the Fitch Art Department will present the sixth annual Souper Supper event March 1 from 5-7 p.m. in the high school cafeteria. All proceeds of this event will go to benefit needy families of students of the Austintown Local School District. A $7 donation will include a light meal of soup, a roll, dessert and a beverage, along with a handmade ceramic bowl made by Fitch students and alumni that you get to keep. A $5 donation gets you either the handmade ceramic bowl or the meal. RSVP quickly, as soup is limited. RSVPs can be made by mailing a completed form with payment in the form of a check or money order. Mail all checks to Charisse Smith, 1912 Old Farm Trail, Austintown, OH, 44515. You will get a confirmation by email and/or phone, so list both. When you come to the dinner, your name will be listed on the reservation check list at the check in table. Make all checks and money orders out to Austintown Council of PTAs. There will also be musical entertainment from the Fitch choir and band, a 50/50 raffle and a basket raffle.

Chelsea Posterli to Perform in Mount Union Play

Chelsea Posterli of Austintown is a cast member in the University of Mount Union Theatre Department’s production of “The Dining Room”, opening Feb. 20 in Presser Recital Hall. Posterli is a freshman Communication Studies and Theatre major. The play will be directed by Kevin P. Kern, assistant professor of theatre. Show times are 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 20, 21 and 22 and 2 p.m. on Feb. 23. Presser Recital Hall is located within Cope Music Hall on the corner of Union Avenue and Simpson Street on Mount Union’s campus. Due to ongoing construction at the site of the new Performing Arts Complex, no on-site parking is available behind the building. Alternate parking is available on Simpson and Vincent Streets and in the Eells Art Center parking lot, as well as in other campus parking lots.

Shameka Burnett graduated from The University of Akron

Shameka Burnett of Austintown graduated as a member of the 210th class from The University of Akron. Burnett successfully completed the program requirements earning the Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education.

Spaghetti dinner benefit to be March 9

A spaghetti dinner benefit will be offered on March 9 for Mark Sorrentino at Immaculate Heart of Mary Hall, located at 4500 Norquest Blvd. in Austintown from noon until 5 p.m. There will be a 50/50 and

Pasta dinner fundraiser

Come to Austintown Middle School Feb. 23 from 12-4 p.m. to help raise money for Larry Ortz’s double lung transplant surgery. There will be a basket raffle. Tickets are available for a donation of $10. Children ages six and under are free. For more information, contact Mark Cole at 330-720-0381 or Angie Mix at 330-4020683.

Austintown Council of PTAs seeking past presidents

The Austintown Council of PTAs is looking for past presidents of all PTA units in Austintown. Past presidents who have not been contacted by the council in the last couple of years should contact Kelly Phillips at 330-270-2669.

Spring craft show May 17

TOPS 2191 in Austintown will be hosting a spring craft show on May 17 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Wickliffe Presbyterian Church, located at 45 Idlewood Ave. They are taking requests for vendors. Tables run $20 each and space is limited. Call 330-774-1803 for details.

Gamblers Anonymous 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, and another is offered every Sunday at Christ Church Presbyterian, located at 3425 Hopkins Road in 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, please call 330-505-5060.

Twice loved book sale

Peruse the tables in the Antonucci Horticulture Library at Fellows Riverside Gardens throughout February from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. (closed Mondays) for books on gardening, cooking, and nature. There will also be garden magazines for sale. Donations of related used books are appreciated at any time. All proceeds benefit the Antonucci Horticulture Library.

Wintertime tea

Come to Fellows Riverside Gardens Feb. 23 from 2-4 p.m. for an afternoon of tea. There will be fruit-laced treats, savories, sounds of the tropics, and of course tea. All proceeds benefit the Antonucci Horticulture Library. Registration is required. $30 fee.

Pilates basics

Come to Fellows Riverside Gardens Feb. 3, 10, 17, and 24 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. to work on toning, shaping, core strength, alignment, and breathing with Angela Lubonovich. Bring a mat and water. The fee is $10 per class.

Yoga in the gardens

Join Marina Perdos every Tuesday and Thursday in February from 9:30-11 a.m. and Karres Cvetkovich every Tuesday and Thursday in February from 5:30-7 p.m. for a blend of yoga styles. All levels are welcome. Bring a mat and small blanket. The fee is $10 per class.

T’ai Chi in the gardens

Join Marie Lew every Wednesday in February from 12-1 p.m. in warm-ups, breathing exercises and selected movements from a classic Chen T’ai Chi form. The fee is $10 per class.

Pilates sculpt

Join Angela Lubonovich every Wednesday in February from 6:30-7:30 p.m. to be guided in using hand weights to tone the body with an emphasis on core strength and control. Bring a mat, water and two-pound weights if you have them. The fee is $10 per class.

Introduction to essential oils

Join Marina Perdos Feb. 28 at Fellows Riverside Gardens from 2-3:30 p.m. to learn how to easily incorporate the healing properties of essential oils into your daily life. You will have the opportunity to experiment and will be able to take your custom blends home. Registration required. Fee: $39; FFRG member $30.

A sign of spring?

Meet at Scholl Recreation Area Feb. 23 from 2-4 p.m. for a hike to find the first wildflower of 2014. Moderate rating with some hills, approximately two miles.

Audubon Society of Mahoning Valley

Come to MetroParks Farm Feb. 25 from 7-8 p.m. to learn about the bugs you find in your yard and the ones the birds love to eat. Presented by Dr. Bill Snyder of The Ohio State University’s Extension Service. Social time begins at 6:30 p.m.; program begins at 7 p.m. Everyone is welcome.

March in to the sky

The Mahoning Valley Astronomical Society and MetroParks’ Recreation Department invite you to a star party at MetroParks Farm March 1 from 7-10 p.m. View the night sky through high powered telescopes. Galaxies, star clusters, double stars, nebulae and Jupiter will be in sight during this observation session. The star viewing will be followed be a brief presentation at McMahon Hall to discuss and learn about the objects viewed through the telescopes. A celestial children’s craft and refreshments will be provided. Sky viewing is weather-dependent.

Light, shadow and a jukebox

Come to the Weller Gallery Jan. 17 - March 23 to experience the watercolor work of local artist Don Wright whose botanical work plays on light and shadow. The exhibit will have a jukebox.

Jewels of winter

Join the Davis Center Tuesdays Feb. 1 - March 16 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. to observe orchids on display. Bring your camera, there will be plenty of flowers around the lobby to photograph.

Nature photography exhibit

Come to Ford Nature Center Tuesdays through Sundays Feb. 22-March 9 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the annual nature photography exhibit. Entries will be accepted from Feb. 1-9. Applications will be available to download at http://www.millcreekmetroparks.org/visit/things-to-do/nature-photography-exhibit/.

Through the lens

Come see at the evolution of photography during the Melnick Museum’s 2014 exhibit Through the Lens. The exhibit will display a rare collection of glass negatives and acetate film negatives produced by two local photographers, which chronicle scenes of Mill Creek Park from 1907 through 1926. In addition to park scenes, several portrait negatives of the period will also be on display. The photographs be on display until Dec. of 2014.

Informational sessions at the Adult Career Center

Adults interested in enrolling in career certification programs this year at the Adult Career Center Mahoning County Career and Technical Center are invited to attend one of several free informational sessions offered this winter at MCCTC. Informational sessions are free to attend and include career investigation as well as reading, math and language assessments. There will be a chance to tour the building, meet instructors and learn about financial aid opportunities. Upcoming informational sessions will be offered Feb. 20 at 6 p.m. and March 11 at 6 p.m. All sessions will take place at the Adult Career Center MCCTC, located at 7300 North Palmyra Road in Canfield. For more information or to register to attend, call the Adult Career Center at 330-729-4100.

Torch Club to offer essay contest

The Youngstown Torch Club, a local dinner/discussion/debate organization, which meets monthly on the campus of YSU, is offering a $1,000 essay scholarship competition, open to any current YSU student.

Students may submit a paper previously written for any college course, or an original work, on any subject or topic of interest. Papers are requested to be 800-1000 words and deadline for submission is March 1.

Remit paper to: tcopeland@neo.rr.com or send to Dr. Tom Copeland, 313 N. Belle Vista Ave. Youngstown 44509.

For more information, visit Youngstown TORCH Club on Facebook.

Free tax preparation and electronic filing for qualifying individuals

The Austintown library will again provide locations for free tax preparation and electronic filing for seniors and those (at any age) with low to moderate income on Wednesdays from 9-2:30 p.m. beginning the week of Feb. 11.

The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) and the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs offer free tax help for taxpayers who qualify. All sites are staffed by volunteers who have been trained and certified by the IRS. TCE sites staffed by AARP volunteers.

Volunteers will provide counseling on eligibility for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Find out if you qualify at www.irs.gov/eitc or call 1-800-TAX-1040. Call 330-793-0579 to make an appointment.

How to buy and sell on eBay

Join the Austintown library Feb. 22 at 10 a.m. to learn how to set up an eBay account, use PayPal for transactions, and buy or sell items on eBay. Register by calling 330-744-8636 and asking for the branch by name.

Friends of the Austintown library program and meeting

Join the Austintown library Feb. 24 at 10 a.m. to hear guest speaker Jessica Borza, Executive Director of the Mahoning Valley Manufacturers Coalition, an industry-led group formed recently to address manufacturing skills shortages, provide an overview of the organization, explain why the shortages exist, and discuss careers with current demand and forecasted growth. Borza will describe efforts to increase awareness about these career opportunities within the region and how they are working with education and training providers to create program alignment along manufacturing career pathways. There will be a brief meeting following the presentation.

Nook for beginners

Bring your Nook to the library Feb. 25 at 6 p.m. and learn how to download eBooks from the library’s digital catalog on the website. Don’t forget your Adobe ID and email information. Space is limited. Call 330-744-8636 and ask for the branch by name to register.

Would you rather

Come to the Austintown library throughout February to answer some “would you rather” questions and make up your own. Come back each month to see if the library used your questions to stump other people. This event is for teens in grades 7-12.

Winter Olympics trivia

Join the Austintown library throughout February and correctly answer three questions about the winter Olympics to receive a small prize. A librarian can help you navigate the Encyclopedia of the Winter Olympics to help you find the answers. For school-age children.

Snow and symmetry

Join the Austintown library Feb. 27 at 6:30 p.m. to learn how snow crystals form. Explore symmetry by observing snowflake photographs captured by Wilson “Snowflake” Bentley in the 1890s and by participating in games and other hands on activities. For children in grades 1-6.

Gotta move storytime

Join the Austintown library every Thursday in February at 10 a.m. for a variety of musical and movement activities that stimulate brain development and motivate language learning. Act out stories and rhymes, sing and dance and talk and play. For children ages 2-5 who are accompanied by a caregiver.

Fun time for 4s and 5s

Join the Austintown library every Wednesday in February at 11:30 a.m. for developmentally-appropriate books, songs, rhymes, finger plays and other activities that will help children ages 4-5 become successful readers. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Tales and talk for 2s and 3s

Join the Austintown library every Wednesday in February at 10 a.m. for developmentally-appropriate books, songs, rhymes, finger plays and other activities that will help children ages 2-3 become successful readers. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Bonding with babies and books

Caregivers and their little ones who are 6 to 23 months are invited to join the Austintown library every Tuesday in February at 10 a.m. for 20 minutes of language enrichment, including rhymes, songs and stories followed by time to play and socialize. Children must be accompanied by an adult.