Austintown Community Briefs

Newcomers Club to meet Jan. 14

The January meeting of the Newcomers Club of Canfield will take place on Jan. 14. The evening’s event will be “White Elephant Bingo.”

Members and guests are asked to bring a wrapped gift that they have received but do not wish to keep. The gifts will serve as prizes for the Bingo game. Call Tamara at 330-702-1673 to RSVP and for time, location and directions.

The Newcomers Club of Canfield is open to all women in the Mahoning Valley. It provides an opportunity for members in the community to welcome newcomers, engage in recreational and social activities and to help support the civic, social and charitable life of the community. For information about meeting times and locations, contact NewcomersCanfield@gmail.com or Tina Holland at 330-533-1161.

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 will be offered Friday at Westminster Church, located at 119 Stadium Drive and another will be offered Sunday at Christ Church Presbyterian, located at 3425 Hopkins Road in Cornersburg.

Both meetings begin 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.

Junior Women’s League to meet

The Boardman Poland Junior Women’s League will meet Jan. 13 at 7 p.m. at Glenellen, located at 9661 Market St. in Boardman.

Members are asked to bring men and women’s socks and gloves to be distributed at St. John’s soup kitchen on Jan. 19. Plans for the club’s fundraiser will be finalized. Hostesses for January are Shannon Green and Sperry Rongone.

Women interested in joining or receiving more information can contact membership Chairperson Yvonne Ford at 330-718-2013 (cell) or 330-755-6828 (home).

Pancake, sausage and egg breakfast today

Join Smith Corners United Methodist Church, located at 3000 S. Canfield Niles Road today, Jan. 11, from 8:30 a.m. to noon, for an all you can eat pancake, sausage and egg breakfast. The cost is $6 for adult and $3 for children 10 and under. Proceeds will benefit World Service projects.

Torch Club dinner and discussion to be Jan. 20

The Youngstown Chapter of International Torch Clubs’ dinner-discussion meeting will be offered the evening of Jan. 20 at Pete’s Place, located within Kilcawley Center on the campus of Youngstown State University. The speaker will be Linda Porter. The title of her speech is “Talking Out of School” and it considers the motivations, dangers and consequences of whistle-blowing.

The public is invited to attend. Social hour begins at 5:30 p.m., dinner at 6 p.m. and lecture at 7 p.m. Dinner for non-members is $20.

Attending only the lecture is free of charge. Call 330-757-4148 for dinner reservations.

Monday Night Writers meeting scheduled for Jan. 20

Area writers, both published and unpublished, are invited to attend the next meeting of Monday Night Writers on Jan. 20 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Peaberry’s Caf , located at 4350 Boardman-Canfield Road in Canfield. The event is led by author and professional writer Nancy Christie and the two-hour sessions includes 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 Nancy Christie at 330-793-3675 or at nancy@nancychristie.com.

Supper at the corner

Join Smith Corners United Methodist Church, located at 3000 S. Canfield Niles Road, Jan. 16 from 4:30-6 p.m. for a free supper.

This is a community outreach of the church and open to all on the third Thursday of each month.

This month’s menu includes pulled pork, mashed potatoes, vegetables, dessert, bread and beverages.

ABWA to meet Jan. 14

The American Business Women’s Association, Mill Creek Chapter, will meet at 6 p.m. on Jan. 14 at Davidson’s Restaurant, located at 3636 Canfield Road in Canfield. Following dinner, guest speaker Erin Mellinger will present “Fitness and Nutrition Tips for a Healthier Lifestyle.” Mellinger is owner of Fitness Together in Canfield and Poland. Prospective members are invited to the chapter’s monthly meetings. Reservations for the next meeting are $17 per person and will be taken through Jan. 5 by calling Shirley Pappagallo at 330-270-9779 or Jackie Fischio at 330-788-6634.

Support group to meet

The Mahoning Valley Fibromyalgia Support Group will meet on Jan. 15 at 7:30 p.m. at Bethel Lutheran Church, located at 425 Crestview Drive in Boardman. Senior care will be the topic for discussion and anyone with an interest in coping with a chronic, invisible condition is welcome. For mote information, call Alice at 330-509-3333 or Nancy at 330-758-8413.

Library closings

All libraries in the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County system will be closed for Martin Luther King Day on Jan. 20.

Friends of the Austintown library

Dr. Donna DeBlasio, professor of history at YSU and director of the Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor, will bring to life the history of industry and labor of the Mahoning Valley Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor Jan. 27 at 10 a.m. The Historical Center, located at 115 West Wood Street in Youngstown, provides an overview of the impact of the iron and steel industry on Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley. The museum offers a look into lives and times of the men and women who labored in the steel industry. There will be a brief friends meeting following the program.

Learn basic computer skills

Join the Austintown library Jan. 23 at 6 p.m. to learn basic computer skills. Space limited to three. Call 330-744-8636 and ask for the branch by name.

Blood drive

The Mahoning Chapter of the American Red Cross will be taking blood donations Jan. 25 from 10 a.m until 3 p.m. to help the community.

Blood pressure check

The Salem Area Visiting Nurse Association will be having a free blood pressure check Jan. 28 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Page turners book club

Adults are invited to join the Austintown library Jan. 15 from 6-7 p.m. to hear what others have been reading and share what they have been reading.

Learn how to use the Nook

Teens and adults are invited to bring their Nooks to the Austintown library Jan. 29 at 6 p.m. and learn how to download eBooks from the library’s digital catalog on the website. Bring your Adobe ID and email information. Space is limited. Call 330-744-8636 and ask for the branch by name to register.

Smart phone scavenger hunt

Children in grades 5 and up are invited to the Austintown library during library hours throughout January to bring their smart phones for a QR code scavenger hunt. Find and answer questions around the library and turn in the answer sheet for a prize.

Learn how to crochet

Adults and teens are invited to join the Austintown library Jan. 13 at 7 p.m. to learn how to crochet. Sign up by calling 330-744-8636 and ask for the Austintown Library to register for the hour long lesson. Bring a size G crochet hook with you and a ball of cotton yarn to make a dish cloth or four-ply yarn to make a scarf.

Rainbow loom bracelets

Children in grades 4 and up are invited to the Austintown library’s rainbow loom craft program Jan. 18 at 11:30 a.m. Each session is limited to the first 12 tweens and teens who sign up. Beginners will be walked through the single pattern bracelet, but templates will be provided for loomers with more experience. To register, call 330-744-8636 or sign up online at www.libraryvisit.org/programs.aspx. Rainbow loom kits contain small rubber bands and sharp points.

Sensory story time

Children of all ages are invited to join the Austintown library Jan. 11 at 2 p.m. for family story time with a sensory focus. This program is designed for children with different needs, including those with Autism, speech and language delays, cognitive impairments, ADHD and other special needs and challenges. There will be books, music and sensory stations with a schedule board and double visuals. Children must attend with an adult. Registration is required. Call 330-744-8636 and ask for the specific library.

Year of the Horse event

Children of all ages are invited to the Austintown library during library hours throughout January to try the Chinese zodiac word search. Ask the librarian what animal equates to the year of your birth and receive a hand stamp.

Grab and go craft event

Children of all ages are invited to join the Austintown library during library hours throughout January to make a craft to take home.

Gotta move storytime

Children ages 2-5 who are accompanied by an adult are invited to join the Austintown library every Thursday in January 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, talk and play.

Tales and talk for 2s and 3s

Join the Austintown library Jan. 8, 15, 22 and 29 at 10 a.m. for developmentally-appropriate books, songs, rhymes, finger play and other activities that will help your children, ages 2-3, become successful readers. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Fun time for 4s and 5s

Join the Austintown library Jan. 8, 15, 22 and 29 at 11:30 a.m. for developmentally-appropriate books, songs, rhymes, finger play and other activities that will help your children, ages 4-5, become successful readers. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Baby brilliant

Caregivers and their little ones, ages 6-23 months, are invited to join the Austintown library Jan. 7, 14, 21 and 28 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.

Teens for Jeans

Austintown Fitch High School’s Life Literature class room 112 is participating in the national campaign, Teens for Jeans. The public may drop off jean donations Dec. 18 at Fitch High School, located at 4560 Falcon Drive, or at the school’s Creative Arts Night Jan. 15. The drop box will also be located at Fitch and Austintown Middle School at all times between now and Jan. 15. For more information, contact Steve Ward at sward@austintownschools.org.