Austintown Community Briefs

Tackle stress this holiday season

There will be a discussion on tackling stress and depression on Dec. 4 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Columbiana Public Library, located at 332 N. Middle St. in Columbiana, presented by Brookdale Senior Living, Clare Bride Austintown, Sterling House Salem and Youngstown and The Behavioral Medicine and Wellness Center/Salem Regional Medical Center. The event is free and open to the public, but RSVP is required. For more information, contact the Columbiana Public Library at 330-482-5509 or Nickie Keagy at 330-270-1448, 330-651-6065 or nkeagy@brookdaleliving.com.

YWCA will host a job skills workshop

As part of its monthly Lunch and Learn series, the YWCA of Youngstown will host a job skills workshop from 12-1 p.m. on Dec. 4. Experts from the Public Workforce System will discuss what employers are looking for, both in an interview and after a candidate gets the job. A question and answer session will be part of the workshop. The cost is $10 per person, which includes lunch. Registration is required by Dec. 2. Email eskolnick@ywcaofyoungstown.org or call Elise at 330-746-6361, ext. 109 to register.

Pet food giveaway to be Nov. 29

Through a grant from Baltimore Life and a match from community funds, Legacy Dog Rescue will be having a Holiday Dog and Cat Food Giveaway on Nov. 29 from 12-4 p.m. at the Girard Family Video, located at 801 North State Street. The giveaway is intended to help families who are having trouble feeding their pets while going through a hardship. The food will be given on a first-come, first-serve basis. We are trying to have straw there as well. You must qualify for this giveaway. To qualify for this distribution, the family must be receiving government assistance such as Medicaid, Food Stamps, SSI, etc. If the family is not receiving assistance, they must show proof of being on unemployment insurance or a paystub showing that they are 150% below the federal poverty guideline. A government issued-photo identification card is required as well.

Women’s league to meet Dec. 1

The annual Christmas Social of the Boardman Poland Junior Women’s League will take place on Dec. 1 at Michael Alberini’s Restaurant on Rt. 224 in Boardman. Cocktails will begin at 6:30 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m. Members are to bring items from Animal Charity’s wish list and/or a monetary donation. The Boardman Poland Junior Women’s League is open to all women age 18 and up, residing in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties who are interested in friendship, fun and community involvement. Their mission is to provide a creative outlet for women interested in providing community service in areas of arts, conservation, education, home life, international affairs and public affairs. Women interested in joining or receiving more information can contact Linda Fabian at 330-782-8208.

Lunch with Santa to be Dec. 7

Austintown Bounce, located at 4317 Kirk Road in Austintown, will host a Lunch with Santa event on Dec. 7 from 1-3 p.m. Admission of $7, which includes popcorn, a small drink, a snow globe, unlimited play on the inflatables, games, prizes and more. Bring your camera for pictures with Santa. For more information, call 330-793-JUMP (5867) or visit austintownbounce.com.

Fitch High School to host choir concert on Pearl Harbor anniversary

The Austintown Fitch High School concert choir will be hosting their annual winter concert on Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. The concert choir will open the show with a medley from the hit animated movie, “Frozen.” In remembrance of Pearl Harbor, the choir will sing “Land of the Free,” a patriotic song by Michael and Angela Souders. The concert will also feature the men’s chorus and women’s chorus I and II. The Fitch vocal department is more than 150 voices strong. The event is open to the public and tickets can be purchased at the door. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students and senior citizens.

DQ locations to have Christmas events

The Austintown and Cornersburg locations of Dairy Queen will be hosting special Christmas events for the community. The events will take place on Dec. 5 at the Cornersburg Dairy Gueen, located at 3555 S. Meridian Road, and on Dec. 6 at the Austintown Dairy Queen, located at 146 N. Canfield Niles Road, from 5-8 p.m. The events will feature music, a photo with Santa, “live” reindeer, roasting chestnuts on an open fire, hot dogs, marshmellows, hot chocolate, Christmas carols and more.

DQ date deals

On Dec. 13, the Dairy Queen locations in Austintown, located at 146 N. Canfield Niles Road, and Cornersburg, located at 3555 Meridian Road, will have a special event in honor or the date, beginning at 12:13 p.m. Special pricing on Julius drinks, DQ cones, chili dogs, Buster Bars, Blizzards, cakes and more will be available when you name 13 things that you love about the Dairy Queen locations. There offers are available while supplies last and some restrictions may apply.

Natural chemical imbalance relief seminar

Dr. Ted Suzelis, N.D. will be presenting a free seminar titled, “Feeling Anxious, Depressed or Stressed? Natural Chemical Imbalance Relief” on Dec. 11 starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Ohio Naturopathic Wellness Center in Boardman (SouthBridge West Complex at 755 Boardman-Canfield Road, Suite D-3). Learn about a new testing procedure that can measure neurotransmitter levels to accurately assess chemical imbalances in the brain. This seminar will also discuss natural therapies that specifically target these chemical imbalances to relieve anxiousness, depressed mood, sleep disturbances and other related health issues. For more information or to register, call 330-729-1350 or online at OhioND.com. There is free admission, but RSVP is required.

Toys for Tots at Austintown Elementary School

Austintown Elementary School and the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve are working together to help children in the Austintown community have a Merry Christmas. AES is a collection location for the Toys for Tots program, which collects new, unwrapped toys from now until Dec. 19. The collection box is located at the main entrance of AES. The toys are distributed as Christmas gifts to children in need during the holidays.

HMHP name changes to Mercy Health

In November, Humility of Mary Health Partners will change its name to Mercy Health. The change will more accurately reflect a partnership with the network of healthcare providers that comprise Mercy Health, the largest health system in Ohio. This transition began in July when Catholic Health Partners (CHP), HMHP’s parent, changed its name to Mercy Health. At that time, it was determined that all CHP markets would eventually mirror that name change. These changes are in name only. All services, locations, modes of operation, care providers, administrators and employees will remain the same. As part of the system name change, HMHP Physician Associates, HMHP’s employed physician group, will become Mercy Health Physicians. The names of HMHP’s three health centers – St. Elizabeth, St. Joseph and St. Elizabeth Boardman -- will change to St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital, St. Joseph Warren Hospital and St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital. During this transition, the Mercy Health name will be added to many materials, but new signage reflecting this name change will not be installed on buildings until a definitive time frame has been established for the full migration to the Mercy Health brand across all markets.

YWCA offers free preschool to eligible families

The YWCA of Youngstown has received a grant from the Ohio Department of Education to provide free preschool to eligible families. Families below 100 percent of the federal poverty line will qualify for free preschool. Families between 100 percent and 200 percent of the FPL will qualify on a sliding scale fee basis.

The child must not have ever received any local, state or federal childcare funding and must be age 3 or 4 or not yet age eligible for Kindergarten.

The ODE preschool hours at the YWCA are 9-11:30 a.m., Monday through Friday. Breakfast and lunch are not included. The YWCA is also now enrolling for CDI Headstart. CDI Headstart hours are 8:30 a.m. until noon, Monday through Thursday. CDI Headstart provides free preschool for 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds who are income eligible. Extended care is available for those who need it. For more information, contact Jennie at jandrews@ywcaofyoungstown.org or 330-746-6361, ext. 125.

MCCTC’s Horticulture Club poinsettia fundraiser

The Horticulture FFA Club at the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center is taking orders for red poinsettias for the upcoming holiday season. The plants are single, pinched (multiple bloom) in a 6.5 inch pot. You have your choice of green, red or gold foil for around the pot and you can also add a white, green or a red satin bow. The poinsettias will be ready for pick-up starting Nov. 20 and the sale will go until Dec. 17. The cost of the plants is $8.50. To order a poinsettia plant, call 330-729-4015, ext. 1671, or stop in at the Horticulture Program at 7300 North Palmyra Road in Canfield.

Coupon swap

Do you have coupons you don’t need or need coupons you don’t have? Drop in during Austintown library hours throughout November to stretch your shopping dollars by swapping coupons. This event is for adults.

Olde Fashioned Christmas at Lanterman’s Mill

Lanterman’s Mill will be festively decorated for this traditional event on the last open weekend of 2014. Enjoy fine entertainment, taste chestnuts roasted over an open fire, give Santa your wish list, watch artisans demonstrate crafts and purchase unique gifts on Nov. 29 and 30 from 11-5 p.m. If you wish to share the holiday spirit with others, bring a hat, scarf, or pair of mittens to decorate a “Giving Tree.” Donated items will warm up children in need this winter. Call Ford Nature Center for details. This event is sponsored by WFMJ/WBCB

Santa’s winter barn

Welcome Santa and some of his unusual animal friends from around the world such as a camel or yak on Nov. 30 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the MetroParks Farm. Sit in Santa’s sleigh for that special holiday picture. Event is staged in barn, but it is not heated so dress appropriately. The craft fee is $1.

Grab and go craft

Make a craft to take home during regular hours at the Austintown library throughout November. This event is for children of all ages.

Tales and Talk for 2s and 3s

Join the Austintown library for developmentally appropriate books, songs, rhymes, finger plays and other activities that will help your child (ages 2-3) become a successful reader every Wednesday in November at 10 a.m. Nov. 26 is a holiday program. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Pre-kindergarten story time

This program is for 4- and 5-year-olds to help develop pre-literacy and kindergarten readiness skills. You will use books, stories, rhymes, music, movement and crafts to help your child get ready for kindergarten every Wednesday in November at 11:30 a.m. at the Austintown library. Nov. 26 is a holiday program.

Bonding with Babies and Books

This event is for caregivers and their little ones who are 6-23 months. There will be twenty minutes of language enrichment including rhymes, songs, and stories, followed by time to play and socialize every Tuesday in November at the Austintown library. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Yoga basics

Feel comfortable in a class meant for everybody while you learn yoga basics taught by Karres Cvetkovich every Sunday in November from 9-10:30 a.m. at Fellows Riverside Gardens. Experience the release of mental and physical tensions that act as powerful barriers to enjoying life. Bring a mat and small blanket. This is a drop-in class. The cost is $10 per class.

Yoga in the Gardens

Join Marina Perdos in the mornings and Karres Cvetkovich in the evenings for a blend of energizing yoga styles that will help you keep a healthy outlook Nov. 25 at 9:30-11 a.m. and 5:30-7 p.m. at Fellows Riverside Gardens. All levels are welcome. Bring a mat and small blanket. This is a drop-in class and the cost is $10 per class.

T’ai Chi Step One in the gardens

Ease stress, improve health and increase vitality with T’ai Chi Step One on every Wednesday in November from 12-1 p.m. at Fellows Riverside Gardens. Join Marie Lew in warm-ups, breathing exercises and selected movements from a classic Chen T’ai Chi form. This is a drop-in class and the cost is $10 per class.

Pilates basics

Work on toning, shaping, core strength, alignment and breathingin pilates basics with Angela Lubonovich every Wednesday in November from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Bring a mat and water. This is a drop-in class and the cost is $10 per class.