Boardman Community Briefs

Chili cook off

The Youngstown Shrine Club will be hosting its annual Ray Dudik Memorial Chili Cook-off on Nov. 28. This indoor event will be before and during the Ohio State against Michigan college football game. The public is invited to this event in the club’s indoor hall at 1735 W. South Range Road (Route #165) in North Lima. There will be door prizes, food (Chili recipes for the tasting and judging), refreshments, fun and of course the best football rivalry in the country - OSU vs. UM. You are encouraged to bring your favorite chili recipe for tasting and judging. Tickets are only $25 and can be purchased at the door or in advance from Jim Hazlett, 330-533-1847. Doors open two hours before kickoff.

Learn to improve water quality on Nov. 24

Audubon Society/Mahoning Valley invites the public to learn how to improve water quality. Stephanie Dyer, Environmental Program Manager with Eastgate Regional Council of Governments, will help you understand how to become responsible water quality stewards. This program will take place on Nov. 24 from 7–8 p.m. at the Mill Creek MetroParks Farm on Route 46 in Canfield. All are welcome. Call Wild Birds Unlimited at 330-629-2473 for details.

BMS celebrate the season with a little jazz

The Boardman Middle Schools proudly present two holiday band concerts on Dec. 10 and 11. The fifth- and seventh-grade bands holiday concert, featuring the combined Center and Glenwood seventh-grade jazz ensemble, is Dec. 10. The sixth- and eighth-grade bands holiday concert, featuring the combined Center and Glenwood seventh-grade jazz ensemble, is Dec. 11. Both concerts are at 7 p.m. in the Boardman High School Performing Arts Center. These concerts will showcase the combined efforts of Boardman Center and Glenwood Middle School band programs. Each concert will open with a performance by jazz ensembles. The eighth-grade jazz ensemble is directed by high school band director Thomas Ruggieri. Many students are featured on improvisation solos in various musical styles from both Center and Glenwood Middle Schools. Admission/donations are accepted at the door: adults $3, students $2, senior citizens and children under 10 receive free admission.

Local church to host turkey dinner fundraiser

The Western Reserve United Methodist Church will host a traditional turkey dinner fundraiser on Nov. 21 from 4-5:30 p.m. The cost is $10 for adults, $6 for children ages 5-12 and free for children younger than 5-years-old. For tickets, call 330-792-5805. Funds raised from this event will go toward getting a prosthetic leg for a 12-year-old child.

Gift wrapping fundraiser

The Friends of Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County will be doing gift wrapping at the Boardman Barnes and Noble throughout the day on Dec. 4. There will be a special “Polar Express” story time that evening. Purchases made at Barnes and Noble that day will benefit the Friends of the PLYMC. Be sure to mention that your purchase is for the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County at the cash register; you can pick up a flyer at your local PLYMC library.

Senior Fun Day

Seniors, come out to Boardman Park and enjoy some activities on Dec. 3 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Exercising, crafts, blood pressure screening, lunch and bingo will take place in the Lariccia Family Community Center. The cost is $1. To RSVP, call 330-965-0482. Senior Fun Day is sponsored by Shepherd of the Valley, Senior Independence and Boardman Park.

Dealing with stress through mindfulness

Learn what causes stress, what you can do to reduce it, how mindfulness plays into the equation and simple exercises to do at work or at home at the Boardman library at 6 p.m. on Dec. 17. Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor Julie Lenyk will demonstrate how mindfulness and simple techniques like breathing can start to reduce the stress and strain of the holiday season. This event is co-sponsored by Meridian Healthcare. Reservations are needed. This event is for adults.

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.

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.

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 receives grant from Second Harvest

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 Chelsea Billock, Magna Cum Laude, with a Bachelor of Arts from the College of Arts and Sciences; Ashley Haladay, Summa Cum Laude, with a Bachelor of Science from the College of Arts and Sciences; Katherine Hartman with a Master of Architecture from the College of Architecture and Environmental Design; April Hill with a Master of Education from the College of Education, Health and Human Services; Whitney Joy with a Master of Public Administration from the College of Arts and Sciences; William Klein with a Master of Music from the College of the Arts; Michael Kohuth with an Associate of Arts; Jennifer Leyko, Summa Cum Laude, with a Bachelor of Radiologic and Imaging Sciences Technology; Samantha McMahon with a Master of Education from the College of Education, Health and Human Services; Brianna Prusak with an Associate of Arts; Jacqueline Shaffer with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the College of Nursing; and Nancy Wolfgang with a Doctor of Philosophy from the College of the Arts.

Check into chess

Join the Boardman library as they play chess on Nov. 22 at 1:30 p.m. If you would like to learn to play, they’ll be happy to teach you.

Thanksgiving holiday closing Nov. 26

All libraries in the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County (PLYMC) system will be closed for Thanksgiving on Nov. 26.

Sensory story time

Join the Boardman library at 10 a.m. on Nov. 28 for a family story time for children of all ages with a sensory focus. This program is designed for children with different needs, including those with Autism, speech/language delays, cognitive impairments, AD/HD and other special needs and challenges. Enjoy books, music and sensory stations with a schedule board and double visuals. Children must attend with an adult. Registration is required. Call 330-744-8636 and ask for Boardman library. Sensory story time is for preschool and school-age children.

Night Owl story time

Join the Boardman library at 6 p.m. on Nov. 24 for an evening story time for children ages 3-5. Each child must be accompanied by an adult in this 30 minute program featuring finger plays, stories and a craft activity.

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 history

Take a look at Mill Creek Park throughout the early years at Fellows Riverside Gardens-Melnick Museum now through December 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 everyday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.