Poland Community Briefs

Boardman Poland Junior Women’s League to meet Dec. 7

The annual Christmas Social of the Boardman Poland Junior Women’s League will be on Dec. 7 at 6 p.m. at Nicolinni’s Restaurant, located at 1247 Boardman Poland Road in Boardman. Officers for the 2016 year will be installed at a candlelight ceremony. Members are to bring their wrapped and tagged donations for a selected family in need. The Boardman Poland Junior Women’s League is open to all women 18 and up, residing in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties who are interested in friendship, fun and community involvement. The group’s 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 Membership Chairwomen Nina Lowery at 330-506-9473 or Sperry Rongone at 330-770-3880.

Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue

The Ohio Naturopathic Wellness Center in Boardman will be hosting a free natural health seminar titled, “Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue: Putting the Pieces Back Together” on Dec. 10 at 6:30 p.m. In this seminar, you will learn about the causes and therapeutic options to recover from these chronic and debilitating health issues. Dr. Ted Suzelis, ND, and Valentina Khoury Dubasik, ND, LAc will parse the truth from the hype to help you find a road map to recovery. The seminar will take place at the Ohio Naturopathic Wellness Center, located at at 755 Boardman-Canfield Road, Suite D3 (Southbridge West Complex). For more information or to reserve your seat call, 330-729-1350 or go to OhioND.com. The seminar is free, but RSVP is required.

Friendly Squares to host monthly dance

Niles Friendly Squares monthly dance will take place on Dec. 12 from 7:30-10 p.m., at Niles Senior SCOPE Center, located at 14 E. State St. in Niles. For additional information, call Gene Hammond at 330-534-4426 or 330-506-3370.

Tales and talk for 2s and 3s

Join the Poland library for developmentally appropriate books, songs, rhymes, finger plays and other activities that will help your child (ages 2-3) become a successful reader. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Tales and Talk for 2s and 3s will take place on Dec. 10 and 17 at 10:30 a.m.

Area chapter receives national 4-Star Level of Excellence Award

The Mahoning and Shenango Valleys Chapter (MSVC) of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) received a 4-Star Level of Excellence (LOE) Award on Oct. 31 at the MOAA National General Meeting in Orlando, Fla. by General Tony Robertson, USAF, Ret., MOAA’s chairman of the board. Receiving the LOE Award was Colonel Dick Calta, USAF, MSVC board member. MSVC, one of seven MOAA chapters in Ohio Council of Chapters and one of over 400 chapters of MOAA nationwide. Four-star streamers were given out to 114 chapters or councils. Five-star streamers were given to 165 chapters or councils. The criteria for award of LOE was based on maintain active chapter programs, tracking legislative issues and supporting military and veteran activities. This is the second straight year that the chapter has won the award after receiving their charter in 2012. The Mahoning and Shenango Valleys Chapter are made up of active, reserve/guard, retired and former military officers in Mahoning, Columbiana and Trumbull Counties in Ohio, and Lawrence and Mercer County in Pennsylvania. Their next activity will be the chapter Christmas Party where donated wrapped gifts are auction to benefit the aid assistance program administered by the Youngstown Air Reserve Base Community Council.

Bonding with babies and books

Bonding with Babies and Books is for caregivers and their little ones who are 6-23 months. The Poland library will host 20 minutes of language enrichment including rhymes, songs, and stories, followed by time to play and socialize. Children must be accompanied by an adult. This event will take place Dec. 9, 16, 23 and 30 at 10 a.m.

Get Connected with your eReader at the library

Bring your eReader to the Poland library at 10 a.m. on Dec. 5 and they’ll show you how to download eBooks from the Library’s Digital Catalog on our website. Space is limited. Call 330-744-8636 and ask for the branch by name to register.

Color your world

Join the Poland library for a relaxing evening of adult coloring from 7-8:30 p.m. on Dec. 9. Coloring sheets and materials will be provided, or you’re welcome to bring your own. Colorful light refreshments will be served. Color Your World is for teens and adults.

Recycled reads - Christmas crafting

Join the Poland library for an upcycle craft program as they work to turn something old into something new. Learn how to cleverly repurpose a neglected book into a Christmas tree on Dec. 7 at 6 p.m. Registration is recommended, and materials will be provided. This event is for teens and adults.

Read, rap and snack

Join the Poland library teen book club at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 15. For the December meeting, we will discuss a book chosen at the November meeting. Look for postings with the book title after the November meeting. They will also leave time to discuss any of your favorite books/music/movies/TV shows so feel free to attend even if you haven’t read the chosen book. Snacks will be provided. This event is for grades 7-12.

Unwrap the gift of reading

Santa dropped in and left some presents at the Poland library. Stop by the library during regular hours in December to grab a gift. On the gift tags are a synopsis of what’s behind the wrapping to give you a hint. Sometimes it’s just fun to be surprised! This event is for tweens, teens and adults.

Holiday painting party

Create your own Christmas painting during this paint along program at the Poland library at 6 p.m. on Dec. 14. Snacks will be provided, and this event is for tweens and teens, grades 4-12. Space is limited and sign up is required. Register by calling 330-744-8636 and ask for the Poland library.

Listen and Lego

Listen to a story and then have fun building with Legos at the Poland library on Dec. 10 at 1 p.m. Legos will be provided. This event is for ages 4-7.

Gingerbread house holiday program

Sip hot chocolate and listen to Christmas music while you build and decorate a miniature gingerbread house using graham crackers, icing, gumdrops and more at the Poland library on Dec. 22 at 6:30 p.m. This even is for children of all ages, children under 7 must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is required. Stop in the Poland library or call 330-744-8636 and ask for the Poland library to register.

Children’s book drive at the Friends Bookstore

Bring in three once-read children’s books to the Friends Bookstore, located in the Poland library on Dec. 5 from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. and receive a voucher to Disney on Ice.

Lighting of the Village

Stop by the Poland library as you’re taking part in the Lighting of the Village on Dec. 5. from 5:30-7 p.m. for Christmas crafts and 6:15-6:45 p.m. for Christmas songs and stories. Kravitz Delicatessen will be open during the event with sandwich specials $1 off (no coupons) and will be giving away hot cider and cookies for the kids while supplies last. The Friends Bookstore is featuring a half-price book sale. Lighting of the Village is fun for the whole family.

Carlozzi Financial Services hosts sixth Annual Funds and Food Drive

Carlozzi Financial Services is helping local families in need this holiday season. The public is invited to join Carlozzi Financial Services and their clients to 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.

Library closings for the holiday season

All libraries in the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County system will be closed on the following dates for the holidays: Dec. 24 and 25, Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.

Doctor Who and Sherlock Program – WhoLock

Calling all Whovians and Sherlockians: come celebrate Christmas like a “Doctor” at the Poland library at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 17 - make sure your holidays are “Sherlocked.” This program is for anyone who has ever wanted to visit 221B Baker Street or take a ride in the TARDIS. There will be themed crafts, activities, games and prizes. This event is for teens and adults only.

Playaway Launchpad learning tablets for children

The Library is now offering Playaway Launchpad learning tablets for children. They are currently available for checkout by checkout on Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County adult full-service library cards at Main library and the Austintown, Boardman, Newport and Poland branches. Playaway Launchpads are designed just for children and are pre-loaded with high-quality, ad-free apps that are both fun and educational. For more information, visit www.libraryvisit.org.

Downloadable magazines and newspapers

Magazines and newspapers are now available on the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County website through the Digital Catalog and Download Center powered by Overdrive. The magazines and newspapers are available for digital checkout and can be read on a Nook or Nook app on smartphones and tablets. Magazines from Zinio are no longer available through the library. For more information, visit www.libraryvisit.org.

YWCA of Youngstown receives grant from Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley

YWCA of Youngstown received a $6,500 Ohio Benefit Bank Tax Assistance Capacity Building Grant from Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley. The grant will allow the YWCA to continue assisting members of the community with free filing of income tax returns and other benefits. In 2015, the YWCA has assisted 146 clients through the Ohio Benefit Bank.

The Bistro at Mahoning County Career and Technical Center open to the public

Student-operated restaurant, The Bistro at Mahoning County Career Technical Center, is open for lunch hours to the public. The Bistro will be open Tuesdays-Thursdays from 10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. for dine-in or carry out through the winter. The Bistro is run by students enrolled in the Culinary Arts Program at the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center. This gives students the chance to gain experience in all facets of working in the restaurant industry, from working as kitchen staff, line cooks and the Sous Chef to waiting tables and hosting. The Bistro schedule is as follows: Dec. 1-3, 8-10; Jan. 5-7, 13, 14, 20, 21. The restaurant will also be open in February and March with dates being announced soon. Call the restaurant for more information or to make a reservation.

Giant Eagle Foundation awards grant to Second Harvest Food Bank

The Giant Eagle Foundation awarded Second Harvest Food Bank $10,000 to be used to help feed families in Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties.

Summer Kent State graduates

Kent State University awarded nearly 1,700 degrees, with more than 350 accompanying institutional honors, and including 833 bachelor’s degrees, 414 master’s degrees, 65 doctoral degrees, 344 associate degrees and 16 educational specialist degrees during during the 2015 Summer Commencement ceremony. Local graduates include Gina Burns with an Associate of Arts; Joseph Diorio with a Master of Public Health from the College of Public Health; Sarah Dwinnells with a Master of Arts from the College of Education, Health and Human Services; John Hoffman with a Doctor of Philosophy from the College of Arts and Sciences; and Maeson Latsko with a Master of Arts from the College of Arts and Sciences.

Trim a tree for November

Stop in during regular library hours in November to decorate an ornament for the Poland library’s all-seasons tree.

Gamblers Anonymous meetings

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 Gamblers Anonymous meeting takes place every Friday at Westminster Church, located at 119 Stadium Drive in Boardman, and another takes place every Sunday at Christ Church Presbyterian, located at 3425 Hopkins Road in Cornersburg. Both meetings begin promptly at 7:30 p.m. and last about one and a half hours. Those who believe gambling has affected any part of their lives are urged to attend.

14th International Exhibition of Botanical Art and Illustration

The Hunt Institute of Pittsburgh brings the work of 35 botanical documentation artists from around the world to the Weller Gallery at Fellows Riverside Garden. The exhibit will run through Jan. 10 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Bits and Pieces of Our History

Through December, the Melnick Museum at Fellows Riverside Gardens will showcase the Bits and Pieces of Our History exhibit, which takes a look at the very early years of Mill Creek Park. The exhibit is open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Bits and pieces of Mill Creek Park

Now though December 2015, visit the exhibit at Fellows Riverside Gardens-Melnick Museum that takes a look at the very early years of Mill Creek Park. The exhibit is open every day from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.