'Remembering Youngstown' Saturday at Brier Hill Cultural Center

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The Brier Hill Cultural Center will welcome Mark C. Peyko, local author, publisher and civic leader, to discuss his book “Remembering Youngstown: Tales of the Mahoning Valley” at 10 a.m. Saturday at the facility’s main hall, 145 Jefferson St.

Signed copies of the book will be available for purchase. The event is part of the BHCC’s monthly Brier Hill Breakfast Series.

“Remembering Youngs-town,” which Peyko developed and edited, features articles on topics such as the settlement of the Connecticut Western Reserve, the legacy of The Rayen School, the creation of Mill Creek Park and the development of the Butler Institute of American Art.

The book includes eight feature-length articles Peyko either wrote or co-authored. Published in 2009, “Remembering Youngstown” is in its third edition.

Along with his role as publisher of Metro Monthly, Peyko is the creator and co-producer of “Homeplate,” an independent television program that highlights local restaurants and businesses while also exploring aspects of local history and culture. He also is board president of the Northside Citizens Coalition for Community Development, a nonprofit organization that seeks to improve the quality of life on the North Side through organizing, networking and community outreach.

In recognition of his efforts in the area of historical preservation, Peyko will receive the BHCC’s first Preservation Achievement Award.

The program is open to the public. The cost is $5, including refreshments and secured parking at BHCC, the former St. Casimir Church.

For information, contact Sandra Cika, BHCC president and executive director, at 202-297-0362 or event chairman Richard Scarsella at 330-726-8277.

The Brier Hill Cultural Center was established to perpetuate the memory of the Polish immigrants who organized the former St. Casimir parish, to serve as a venue to celebrate the community’s diverse cultures and traditions and to play an integral role in the revitalization of the historic Brier Hill neighborhood and U.S. Route 422 corridor.