Austintown Community Briefs

Pigskin Classic to be Jan. 31

The Youngstown Shrine Club will host its 24th annual Pigskin Classic event featuring the Northeast Ohio Beer Taste on Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. This event will offer a group of select brewers displaying their brews for tasting in a casual environment. Ticket prices in advance are $30 and include beer tasting and refreshments, food, dancing, entertainment and prizes. Sponsorship opportunities are also available for companies or individuals. This event will take place at the Youngstown Shrine Club main hall, located at 1735 W. South Range Road (Route #165) in North Lima. Advance sale tickets can be purchased from Lou Garland (330-259-1216), John Jones (330-792-8892) or at Chalet Premier, Autograph Network or Shaker’s Bar & Grill. Kick off the Super Bowl weekend - the public is welcome and encouraged to come. Tickets at the door will be $35.

YWCA receives grant for resident programs

The YWCA of Youngstown has been awarded a grant for $20,000 from the Ohio Capital Impact Corporation. The award was made through the Huntington Wellness Initiative, a partnership between Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing (OCCH) and Huntington Bank. The funds will be used to increase the quality of life and wellness for the residents at the YWCA apartments by providing an increased awareness of healthy lifestyles. This will be accomplished by providing a series of health and wellness and social activities designed to engage residents mentally, intellectually and physically. The YWCA provides a home for homeless, low-income, single women with or without children, and a strong support system when they begin rebuilding their lives. The supportive services program eliminates barriers, provides education and offers friendly support to women and families. Huntington Bank appreciates the opportunity to provide assistance to YWCA of Youngstown. This grant is part of their commitment to the communities they serve.

Babysitting classes at Boardman Park

Boardman Park is sponsoring a Baby Sitting Class on Jan. 24 from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. at the Georgeanna Parker Activity Center in Boardman Park. Students, ages 11-15, will learn babysitting basic skills, first aid, rescue breathing and more. The fee for the class is $40 for Boardman Township residents and $50 for non-residents. Students need to provide their own lunch. Classes are limited. RSVP by Jan. 22 by calling Karen at 330-965-0482, by email at Karen@boardmanpark.com or call the park office at 330-726-8105. For more information on this and other events at Boardman Park, go to the park website at www.boardmanpark.com or “like” them on Facebook.

Heritage gardening seminar

Fellows Riverside Gardens will be hosting Garden Seminar: Heritage Gardening for the 21st Century on Feb. 22 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Discover some of the successful, sustainable, and simple plants from the 18th through early 20th centuries. These tough and adaptable plants represent the foundation of our gardens today. Speakers will look at historic gardening methods that can be applied to our current gardens. Explore the rich heritage of the garden and what it means. The speakers’ books will be available for purchase at the seminar. This event is presented by the Men’s Garden Club of Youngstown and Mill Creek MetroParks. For more information and to register, visit www.mgcy.org/Pages/WinterSeminar.aspx. The cost is $45 through Feb. 7 and $55 after that date.

New exhibit to begin Feb. 21

Ford Nature Center will be hosting a Nature Photography Exhibit Feb. 21 through March 15 during regular hours. View the talents of many amateur photographers.

Twice-Loved Book Sale

Fellows Riverside Gardens will host the Twice-Loved Books Sale Feb. 21 through March 1 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Peruse the tables in the Antonucci Horticulture Library for much loved books on gardening, cooking and nature. There will also be magazines for sale. Donations of related used books are appreciated at any time. All proceeds will benefit the Antonucci Horticulture Library.

Students make the Dean’s List at The University of Akron

More than 3,600 students who made the Dean’s List at the University of Akron in fall 2014. Students from Austintown to earn this achievement include Kyle Citino, Meghan Delaney, Michael Hafely and Taylor Marshall. To be eligible for the Dean’s List the students maintained a GPA of 3.5-3.99 and were enrolled in 12 or more credit hours.

Akron names fall 2014 President’s List recipients

Nearly 800 University of Akron students have been named to the President’s List. To qualify, students must be undergraduate, enrolled full-time and achieve a 4.0 grade point average for the semester. Students from Austintown to be names to this list include Courtney Dockry (majoring in Exer Sci-PrePhysical Therapy), Alexandra Hulick (majoring in Political Sci - Criminal Just) and Anny Carroll (majoring in Mechanical Engineering)

Eastern gateway announces fall academic honors

More than 370 full-time students at Eastern Gateway Community College were named to the dean’s list for the fall semester. These students attend full time and earned a grade point average of 3.5 or higher during the semester. Students from Austintown to earn this distinction include Stephanie Jade Streb, Alexis Lashay Miller, Justin Robert Vinkler, Robert Earl Venters, Simone Morris, Alexandria Christine Orosz, Olivia Noel Bundy, Mary Ann Tul, Jose Luis GonzalezCastillo, Christina Marie Bondi, Lori Ann Lucia, Dawn LaShalle Woodberry, L. Andrew Orr, Kimberlee Jean Speare and Nicole Ann Wolfkill.

Blood pressure screening

There will be a blood pressure screening by the Salem Area Visiting Nurse Association at the Austintown library on Jan. 27 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Trim a tree for January

Decorate an ornament for the Austintown library’s all-season tree during regular library hours throughout January. This event is for children of all ages.

Gotta Move story time

This event is for children ages 2-5 who are accompanied by a caregiver. Join the Austintown library Jan. 29 at 10 a.m. for a variety of musical and movement activities that appeal to the “young and restless,” stimulate brain development and motivate language learning. Adults and children should be ready to act out stories and rhymes, sing and dance, and talk and play.

Tales and Talk for 2s and 3s

Join the Austintown library every Wednesday in January at 10 a.m. 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.

Bonding with Babies and Books

There will be a Bonding with Babies and Books event for caregivers and their little ones who are 6-23 months every Tuesday in January at 10 a.m. at the Austintown library. The program will include twenty minutes of language enrichment including rhymes, songs and stories, followed by time to play and socialize. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Wood-working enthusiasts to meet

The Cutting Edge Wood Carvers, a new group that meets every Thursday from 9-11:30 a.m. at the Austintown Senior Center, is seeking new members. The group teaches for free and helps with tools and wood for those who would like to try this hobby.

The Bistro at MCCTC announces new winter and spring hours

Student-operated restaurant, The Bistro at MCCTC, has new winter and spring hours starting in January. The restaurant will be open for dine in or carryout from 10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Open dates are Feb. 10, 11, 12, 18, 19, 24, 25 and 26; March 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19 and 31; and April 1 and 2. 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 and the Sous Chef to waiting tables and hosting. To make a reservation or place an order for carryout, call 330-729-4000, ext. 1506.

Friends of the Austintown Library

The next Friends of the Austintown Library meeting and program will be Jan. 26 at 10 a.m. and will feature Traci Manning from the Arms Museum. Manning will review and detail the ladies of the Mahoning Valley. This event is for adults.

Blind date with a book

The Austintown library will host a blind date with a book event throughout regular library hours. Books will be packaged in brown paper, so the title you get will be a surprise. This event is for adults.

Holiday closings

All libraries in the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County system will be closed on Jan. 19 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Coupon swap

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

Cookbook club

Join the Austintown library on Jan. 29 at 6 p.m. to share your favorite slow cooker recipes. Bring a dish to share with friends. A food waiver must be signed. This event is for adults

What will you read next?

Let the Austintown library’s fortune tellers (cootie catchers) predict what you will read next throughout regular library hours in the month of January. Will it be “The Monstrumologist,” “Grasshopper Jungle,” or some other great read? Look into your future reading at the library. This event is for grades 7-12.

Family story time

Start celebrating the Super Bowl early at the Austintown library on Jan. 28 at 6 p.m. Join in for sports stories, games, craft, snacks and drinks. Wear your favorite team’s football jersey. This event is for children of all ages.

Pre-Kindergarten story time

The Austintown library will offer a pre-Kindergarten story time for 4- and 5-year-olds to help develop pre-literacy and kindergarten readiness skills every Wednesday in January at 11:30 a.m. They will use books, stories, rhymes, music, movement and crafts to help your child get ready for kindergarten.

Gamblers Annonymous to meet

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 GA meeting is offered every Friday at Westminster Church, located at 119 Stadium Drive in Boardman, and another is offered every Sunday at Christ Church Presbyterian, located at 3425 Hopkins Road in Youngstown (Cornersburg). Both meetings begin promptly at 7:30 p.m. and last about 1-1/2 hours. Those who believe gambling has affected any part of their lives are urged to attend. For more information, call 330-505-5060.

Wine taste fundraiser to be Feb. 6

The ninth annual St. Michael Parish Wine Taste will take place on Feb. 6 inside the church Family Life Center. Proceeds from the event benefit the Center. For more information, contact the Parish Office at 330-533-6839.

Friends of PLYMC’s Canfield Committee sets fundraiser

Support the new Canfield Library by purchasing Stone Fruit Coffee special blend for the holidays. The cost is $15 per bag. Coffee can be purchased from one of the Friends of the Library or at Stone Fruit Coffee in Canfield. Proceeds benefit the Canfield Library Capital Campaign.