Poland Community Briefs

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.

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.

Local businesses to host St. Claus Saturday

The Poland Village Business Association presents St. Claus Saturday on Dec. 6 from 2-5 p.m. Participating Poland Village Businesses will be offering treats, discounts and coupons. Many businesses will be giving special Santa Surprise gifts to the first 100 families to visit business locations. Saint Claus Saturday is an effort by the Poland Village Business Association to encourage people to get to shop the businesses that are located in the Village, and use professional services located nearby. Saint Claus Saturday gives both local and people from other areas a chance to reconnect with the Village Businesses while having fun with the whole family. Participating businesses include Friends of the Library (Poland Library, 311 South Main Street), Aebischer Jewelry (68 S Main Street), Allstate Insurance (60 S Main Street), Cocca’s Pizza (18 E McKinley Way), Consign and Design (11 W McKinley Way), Frameworks (1 North Main Street), Homes Savings and Loan (202 South Main Street, visit them at 15 East McKinley Way), Kravitz Delicatessen (inside the Poland library), LaFrance Cleaners (90 South Main Street), Mahoning Valley Medical (15 East McKinley Way), Martial Arts Training Center (15 West McKinley Way), Northwood Realty (5 West McKinley Way), Pathways of Ohio Counseling Center (84 South Main Street, visit them at 12 South Main Street), Precision Orthodontics (101 South Main Street), Special Touch Salon (12 South Main Street), Talmer Bank and Trust (2 South Main Street), Town One Station (57 North Main Street), Village Pantry (221 South Main Street), Volpini Real Estate (1975 East Western Reserve Road), Walgreen’s (30 West McKinley Way), Arlante Salon (101 South Main Street, Wither’s Plaza), Farmer’s National Bank (106 W McKinley Way) and S&T Engraving (80 South Main Street).

Friends of the Poland Library will meet

The Friends of the Poland Library will meet on Dec. 2. The speaker will be Thomas Welsh, who will speak on Classic Restaurants of Youngstown. Hostesses will be June Deeley, Louise Martinko, Mary Jane Pavelko and Peg Shirey. Coffee hour is at 9:30 a.m. Meetings are open to the public and new members are welcome. Donations of books, magazines, CD’s and DVD’s are accepted at all meetings for the book cart.

Holiday open house

Join the staff of Poland Veterinary Centre on Dec. 6 from 2-4 p.m. for a holiday open house. Holidays remind us to cherish our families - human and furry members alike. This year, the Poland Veterinary Centre lost a wonderful little girl who deeply touched the hearts of our staff and many others. Help them honor Dr. Wolfe and her family by donating to Easter Seals in Claire’s memory. When you give to Easter Seals, 100 percent of your monetary donation is used to provide services to children and adults with disabilities in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties. In addition, Easter Seals requests donations of new craft supplies for children and adults as well as other new items - just ask an employee or visit www.polandvet.com for a complete list. For your donation, receive a free picture of your dog or cat with Santa. Photos will be available to download and order prints on Dec. 8. After your pet’s photo, you can enjoy snacks and refreshments, tour the hospital, create a special paw imprint ornament, holiday bandana and pet toys, and learn about preventative care from the technicians. Friends and relatives are also invited to bring their well-socialized pets. Be sure to keep your pet on a leash or in a carrier for its safety.

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.

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.

Carlozzi Financial Services hosts annual funds and food drive

Carlozzi Financial Services is again helping local families in need this holiday season. The public is invited to join Carlozzi Financial Services and their clients and give a monetary donation or a non-perishable food item to Second Harvest Food Bank. Monetary donations or non-perishable food items can be dropped off at Carlozzi Financial Services, located at 831 Southwestern Run, Suite 1, in Poland. For more information, visit www.CarlozziFinancialServices.com. Second Harvest Food Bank distributed more than 9.2 million pounds of food in 2013 in the tri-county area. Last year, Carlozzi Financial Services collected over 190 pounds of food and $960.00 in monetary donations.

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.

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.

Totally tie dye

Join the Poland library for a fun-filled time as you tie dye in the afternoon on Nov. 29 at 3 p.m. Want to do your own shirt? Bring one with you. Otherwise, a bag or hat will be provided. Space is limited and registration is required. Register by stopping in the Poland Library or calling 330-744-8636 and asking for the Poland library. This event is for teens in grades 7-12.

Trim a tree for November

Decorate an ornament for the Poland library’s all-seasons tree during regular library hours throughout November. This event is for children of all ages.

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 Wednesday in November at 10 a.m. at the library at MetroParks Farm. 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.

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.