METRO DIGEST || First-pitch pointers

First-pitch pointers

NILES

Marine James Skok will be at the Mahoning Valley Scrappers Media Day today getting tips on his first pitch for Tuesday’s opening game. Skok is a veteran, and Habitat for Humanity is building a home for him in Austintown. He will be getting tips from the Scrappers from 1 to 2 p.m. at their stadium, Eastwood Mall Complex, in Niles. The NECA-IBEW Electricians gave their first-pitch opportunity to Skok and his family. They are sponsoring Tuesday night’s firework show.

Animal fundraiser

HUBBARD

The Learning Dog Training and Enrichment Center, 757 N. Main St., is planning an open-house fundraiser from noon to 4 p.m. June 22 to benefit local rescues. There will be door prizes, gifts, food and refreshments, and a basket auction.

Help Hotline director

YOUNGSTOWN

The Help Hotline Crisis Center hopes to have a new executive director by the end of the week.

The agency’s board of directors Tuesday offered a contract to the person recommended from two finalists by its personnel committee, which met Monday, said Atty. Theresa Taylor-Tolson, board chairwoman.

Tolson said the board gave the candidate, whose name she would not reveal, until today to respond to the board’s contract proposal. A dozen people applied for the position to replace former director Duane Piccirilli, who became executive director of the Mahoning County Mental Health Department at the end of May.

Help Hotline, with an annual budget of about $2 million, provides services in Mahoning, Columbiana and Trumbull counties; after-hours support for Lake and Ashtabula counties; and clinical back up for five states through a federal Lifeline Grant.

Building to be named

WARREN

Trumbull County commissioners today are expected to approve the naming of the new Veterans Service Commission office to be built on High Street near Pine Avenue the Samuel E. Lanza Veteran’s Resource Center. Lanza, a World War II veteran who was wounded at Okinawa, served as a veteran service commissioner for 18 years. Commissioners are expected to award Phillips/Sekanick of Warren a $46,900 architectural services contract to design the building. They hope to have the facility ready to occupy by year’s end.

Head Start enrollment

YOUNGSTOWN

Enrollment for the 2014-15 Mahoning-Youngstown Community Action Program’s Head Start/Early Head Start Partnership is underway for classes scheduled to begin Sept. 8. MYCAP has nine Head Start locations in Mahoning County — five in Youngstown and one each in Austintown, Boardman, Campbell and Sebring.

MYCAP open enrollment and re-enrollment is on the following dates: today, 10 a.m.to 3 p.m., MYCAP Youngstown office, 1325 Fifth Ave.; Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Renaissance Learning Center, 345 Oak Hill Ave.; July 17, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., MYCAP, 1325 Fifth Ave. Head Start is a federal program that promotes the school readiness of children age 6 weeks to 5 years. For information about document and income requirements, call 330-747-7921 in Youngstown or 330-938-6166 at the Western Mahoning County office in Sebring.