Poland Community Briefs

Quilt group meeting

That Quilt Group I Belong To will have its January meeting Jan. 21 at Fair Park in Canfield. Doors will be open from 1-5 p.m. for those who wish to work on charity quilts.

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. The speaker for January is Julie Kerner from With Needle in Hand Needlework Shop in Boardman. The project is a small Valentine cat made from felt, and embroidered and beaded. Members who didn’t sign up for the class at the December meeting and would like a kit, call Ginger at 330-702-0532. The basic kit price is $9. Members will need to bring a basic sewing kit (pins, scissors, paper scissors). Needles are included in the kit. Bring a task light if you need one.

That Quilt Group I Belong To is open to all quilters in the Mahoning Valley, including all skill levels. For membership information, call president Ginger Mangie at 330-702-0532.

Valentine’s Day walk-in weddings

The Chapel of the Friendly Bells at Trinity United Methodist Church (UMC) in downtown Youngstown once again will be the site for walk-in weddings on Valentine’s Day Feb. 14 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. Clergy couple Rev. Jerry Krueger of Trinity UMC and Rev. Susan Brown of Canfield UMC will offer a simple, Christian wedding service including traditional wedding vows, exchange of rings, scripture and a blessing of the couple. Wedding vow renewal services will also be offered.

The fee for each wedding is $50, which will be donated to the Good Shepherd Kitchen in Youngstown and Operation Blessing in Canfield. Weddings will be performed in the order couples arrive. Attendants and guests are welcome to come.

Couples must bring their wedding license, identification and the $50 fee in cash. Weddings will not be performed for participants who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Chapel of the Bells at Trinity UMC is located at 30 W. Front St., next to the courthouse.

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 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 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.

Information on MCCTC

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.

Hospice of the Valley’s volunteer classes scheduled for February

Hospice of the Valley’s new volunteer class will be from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Saturdays, Feb. 1 and 8 at Hospice House, located at 9803 Sharrott Road in Poland, and Feb. 3 through March 3 at McGonigle Funeral Home, located at 1090 E. State Street in Sharon, Pa.

Volunteers will learn what Hospice of the Valley’s team of doctors, nurses, social workers and chaplains do for patients and their families and how volunteers fit into that team.

Hospice volunteers serve in a variety of ways including companions for hospice patients at home or in nursing homes as well as helping at the Hospice House inpatient facility. They also provide respite services to family members.

New volunteers are needed for all areas of Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties and western Pennsylvania. Volunteer assignments are made close to the volunteer’s home.

For more information or to register, call 330-788-1992.

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.

Bonding with babies and books

Caregivers and their little ones who are 6-23 months are invited to the Poland library every Wednesday 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.

Tales and talk for 2s and 3s

Join the Poland library every Thursday in February at 10 or 11 a.m. for developmentally-appropriate books, songs, rhymes, finger plays and other activities that will help your children ages 2-3 become successful readers. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Fun for 4s and 5s

Join the Poland library every Tuesday in February at 1 p.m. for developmentally-appropriate books, songs, rhymes, finger plays and other activities that will help your children ages 4-5 become successful readers. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Lego my library

Join the Poland library Feb. 18 from 6-7 p.m. to create Lego designs. Legos will be provided. For children ages 6 and up.

Pajama jam

Put on your pajamas and bring the whole family for stories at the Poland library Feb. 24 from 6:30-7 p.m.

Trim a tree

Children of all ages are invited to the Poland library throughout February to decorate an ornament for the all-seasons tree.

Get connected with digital media

Come to the Poland library Feb. 15 at 10 a.m. to learn how to download free ebooks, audiobooks, movies, tv shows, music, complete issues of magazines and more to your computer and mobile devices. Call 330-744-8636 and ask for the Poland branch to register.

Blood drive

The Mahoning Chapter of the American Red Cross will be taking blood donations at the Poland library Feb. 5 from 12:30-6:30 p.m. to help the community.

For appointments call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Blood pressure screening

The Mahoning Chapter of the American Red Cross will be having a blood pressure screening at the Poland library on Tuesday, Feb. 25, from 1-4 p.m.

Seed swap

Bring your saved seeds and your gardening knowledge to the Poland library Feb. 3 from 6-7 p.m. to exchange with other enthusiasts.

Friends of the Poland library program and meeting

The public is invited to attend the meeting and presentation “Modern Slovakia” by presenter Loretta Ekoniak at the Poland library Feb. 4 at 10 a.m.

Valentine love book sale

Visit the Friends of PLYMC bookstore in the Poland library during open hours Feb. 12-15 for the Valentine Love Book Sale. All fiction, romance, and love stories will be 1/2 off. On Feb. 14 the books and gifts throughout the entire store are 1/2 off.

Book discussion

There will be an open book discussion facilitated by Greg Smith with “Sometimes You Win Sometimes You Learn” author John Maxwell every Tuesday in February at 8 a.m. in the Poland library meeting room. All are welcome to attend. Sponsored by the Friends of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County.

Free tax preparation and electronic filing for qualifying individuals

The Poland library will again provide locations for free tax preparation and electronic filing for seniors and those (at any age) with low to moderate income beginning the week of Feb. 11 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. 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). To make an appointment call 330-726-2492.

Jan. 20 program cancelled

The program following the Jan. 20 meeting of the Poland Historical Society has been canceled. The regular meeting will still be offered at the Little Red Schoolhouse, located at 4515 Center Road, in Poland Township at 6:30 p.m.

Winter appreciation hike set for Jan. 20

The Friends of the Poland Forest winter appreciation hike will take place Jan. 20 at 10 a.m. Meet at the College Street entrance to the Poland Municipal Forest. The hike will last approximately one hour and will be at a slow to moderate pace. All are welcome.

Shepherd of the Valley Poland is perfect

According to the State of Ohio, Shepherd of the Valley Poland is perfect, passing its annual state survey with no deficiencies. Ohio has nearly 600 assisted living communities which must meet 324 regulations to achieve a perfect survey. Each year, less than 50 percent achieve that goal.

Card enthusiasts to meet

It’s time to start the monthly card games at Shepherd of the Valley - Poland, located at 301 W. Western Reserve Road. Card players of all kinds are invited to play on Jan. 29 from 12-4 p.m. This year, a buffet lunch will be available for each date. The cost for lunch is $6.50. Reservations are needed by Jan. 21. Lunch will be served at noon. For those who just want to play cards, decks will be shuffled starting at 1 p.m. For more information, call 330-726-7110, ext. 0.

Bonding with babies and books

Caregivers and their babies who are 6-23 months are invited to the Poland library Jan. 8, 15, 22 or 29 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.

Fun Time for 4s and 5s

Join the Poland library every Tuesday in January at 1 p.m. for developmentally-appropriate books,songs, rhymes, finger play 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 Poland library every Thursday in January at 11 a.m. for developmentally-appropriate books, songs, rhymes, finger play and other activities that will help children ages 2-3 become successful readers. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Pajama jam

Families are invited to wear pajamas and join the Poland library Jan. 27 from 6:30-7 p.m. for stories.

Blood pressure screening

The Mahoning Chapter of the American Red Cross will be having a blood pressure screening at the Poland library Jan. 28 from 1-4 p.m.