Poland Community Briefs

Poland Vet Centre welcomes McMurray

Dr. Katie McMurray is returning home to Poland to join the Poland Veterinary Centre team in February. She is a Mooney High School graduate and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Zoology from Kent State University. After 2.5 years of veterinary school in St. Kitts, McMurray came back to the states with her rescued soulmate pup, Hope, and completed a year of clinical education at Purdue University. She earned her doctoral degree from Ross University in 2012. Since becoming a veterinarian, McMurray worked in a small animal practice in Berea and developed special interests in client education, preventive care, internal medicine and soft tissue surgery. She is a member of multiple state and national veterinary organizations, including the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association.

Saxon Club to have Pork-Kraut dinner

The Youngstown Saxon Club, located at 710 S. Meridian Road, will host its next Pork-Kraut dinner on Feb. 21 from 11:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. The price of $9.50 for adults or $5 for children includes dessert and coffee, team or pop. The public is welcome and take-outs are available.

Poland Players plan spring musical

Poland Players are preparing for a fun-filled spring musical this year, with a timeless story told in a timely way. Cyrano De BurgerShack is a pop musical by Jeremy Desmon. It is the modern retelling of Cyrano De Bergerac by Edmond Rostand with singing, dancing and even sword play. The songs are audience-pleasers, including “Firework,” “Call Me Maybe,” “Eternal Flame,” “We got the Beat” and “Crazy For You.” More than 80 Poland Seminary High School Students will be singing, acting, dancing and preparing the sets for this production. Performances will be April 14 and 15 at 7 p.m., and April 17 at 2 p.m. Show tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for children and seniors.

Friends of the Poland Library to meet in March

The Friends of the Poland Library will greet Spring on March 1 at the Poland library. Refreshments will be at 9:30 a.m. with the program and business meeting to follow at 10 a.m. The program will be the “Story of the Fellowship Gardens” by Lynn Zocolo. The hostesses will be Reka Desai, Carol McCoy, Philomena Mazzarino and Sue Perry. Donations of books, magazines, CD’s and DVD’s are accepted at each meeting for the Poland Friends Book Cart. The meeting is open to the public. New members are welcome. Membership dues are $10 per year.

Students named to Dean’s List at Grove City College

Students eligible for the Dean’s List have a GPA of 3.40-3.59. Amy Noll and Claire Schneider of Poland are two of those outstanding students.

Area high school seniors to be honored

The 22nd annual Young Women with Bright Futures awards will be at 10 a.m. on March 5 at the Holiday Inn in Boardman. Senior high school women selected by their teachers or administrators for their leadership qualities, academic excellence, creativity and volunteerism will be honored at the event. State Rep. Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) will be the keynote speaker. Major sponsors for the event are Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley, Compco, State Farm Insurance, Thomases Family Endowment of the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation and The Vindicator. For ticket information, visit ywca.org/youngstown or call 330-746-6361, ext. 112. This year’s honorees are Isabella Caruso, Austintown; Anna Saxton, Boardman; Alexandria Olek, Brookfield; Sherrial Swiney, Campbell Memorial; Mackenzie Elias, Canfield; Marie Emch, Cardinal Mooney; Taylor (Tate) Acierno, Chaney; Noor Khalayleh, Choffin CTC; Shakayla Poole, East; Gabriella Cario, Girard; Ellie Martin, Howland; Margaret Herberger, Hubbard; Samantha Metts, Jackson-Milton; Saidah Yusuf, Liberty; Courtney Conklin, Lowellville; Lydia Mashburn, MCCTC; Adrianna Nicholson, Mineral Ridge; Jaclyn Rowley, Niles McKinley; Katherine Landry, Poland Seminary; Sydney Smith, Sebring McKinley; Carly Chopp, South Range; Kahlea Barricella, Springfield; Kaeleigh Blough, Struthers; Christina Leone, Ursuline; Nicole Double, Valley Christian; Chantel Bahn, Victory Christian; Allyson Crays, Warren G. Harding; Lauren Stitle, West Branch; Heather Lude, Western Reserve and Shyann Green, Youngstown Early College.

Poland Lions to have “Treasures of the Trunk”

Save the date for the Poland Lions Club “Treasures of the Trunk” sale on June 11 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Poland Seminary High School stadium parking lot.

Auditions to be Feb. 20 and 21

The Victorian Players will host auditions for “Moonlight and Magnolias” on Feb. 20 and 21 at 2 p.m. at the theatre, located at 702 Mahoning Ave. in Youngstown. Casting requirements are as follows: three men ages 30-60 and one woman age 30-60. “Moonlight and Magnolias” is a semi-factual farce which takes place in 1939 and tells the story of the re-writing of the epic “Gone With the Wind.” Auditioners will be asked to read from the script and may be asked to perform some physical comedy maneuvers. “Moonlight and Magnolias” is being directed by Marlene Menaldi Strollo.

GA 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 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 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.

Two fundraiser to take place for American Cancer Society

The Pink Ribbon Golf Classic committee will be hosting two events in April benefiting the American Cancer Society. On April 13, a golf clinic will take place at Creekside Golf Dome in Girard from 6:30–8:30 p.m. Participants will receive instruction and practice in driving, chipping and putting. The cost is $25 per person. On April 24, “high tea” will be served at Piccadilly Parlor in Canfield at 11 a.m. A variety of teas and finger food will be served in a delightful Victorian atmosphere (wearing hats and gloves is optional). The cost is $25 per person. For further information and registration, contact Ginny at 330-219-9092 or Nancy at 330-272-5794.

Angels for Animals hosts Reverse Raffle Dinner

Angels for Animals is hosting it 11th annual Reverse Raffle Dinner on March 5 at 6 p.m. at Andrews Hall in Canfield. The event will feature a gourmet dinner prepared by Dr. Mark McMurray, basket raffles and 50/50 silent auctions. Various prizes will be won through out the evening. The grand prize is the final drawing of an estimated $2,000. All proceeds will benefit Angels for Animals. For tickets, call Diane Less at 330 502-5352 or online at angelsforanimlas.org. The cost is $75 per ticket or $25 for the dinner ticket only.

Host an international student

Each year, AFS Intercultural Programs welcomes more than 2,300 international high school students to the United States. These are outstanding young people who were selected in their home countries to study in US high schools and are eager to experience what it’s like to live in America. Sharing daily life with a teenager from another country and culture is a rich and rewarding experience, and is a wonderful way for you and your family to bring more understanding into the world. Local AFS volunteers will support you and your hosted student throughout your experience to help you both receive the most from your time together. You provide a bed and meals for your student, but most importantly, you should be eager and excited to share your life and activities while providing the same kind of care, support and comfort as you would to your own child or family members. AFS welcomes all kinds of families. Host an AFS Exchange Student and build bridges of intercultural understanding. Most families have no idea how much they’ll gain until they say yes. Start the process at www.afsusa.org/host, or call 1-800-AFS-INFO or email hosting@afsusa.org for more information.

Western Reserve Knitting Guild to have Knit-In

The Western Reserve Knitting Guild will host a Knit-In at the Rotary Community Building in Fair Park in Canfield on Feb. 20 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Members and their guests are encouraged to come sit, visit and stitch the cold weather away with the warmth of friendship and snacks. If you are looking for a knitting, crocheting or any fiber arts group to join, the knitting guild would love to meet you. To contact the group for more information or to donate yarn for its charity work, email wrkg.ohio@gmail.com.

Evening with the Easter Bunny

Put a little spring in your step and hop on over to Boardman Park on March 8 or March 9 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. and enjoy an evening with the Easter Bunny. Tickets will go on sale starting on Feb. 8 at the park office from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, by calling the park office 330-726-8105, or pay online at www.boardmanpark.com. Tickets are $7 for Boardman residents and $9 for non-residents. Children ages 2 and under are free. The evening includes dinner, arts and crafts, and a family photo with the Easter Bunny. For more information about Boardman Park events visit the park website at www.boardmanpark.com.

Adult 22+ diploma program now within reach for valley residents

There’s new hope for valley residents ages 22 and up who want to earn their high school diploma. The Ohio Department of Education just approved two Mahoning County sites to host the state’s Adult 22+ Diploma program: the Mahoning County High School on Bryn Mawr Avenue, and the Unlimited Classroom located at the Southern Park Mall. Both sites will be hosting adult learning programs after school hours until 5 p.m. Adult 22+ is free to adults age 22 and older who live in Ohio and do not have a diploma or GED. For more information on 22+ or to apply to the local programs, contact Jennifer Merritt at J.Merritt@mahoningesc.org.

Short-term host family opportunites available

Mahoning, Columbiana, Portage and Trumbull County families will have the opportunity to welcome a young person from Japan into their home for one month this year, as part of an international exchange program being offered by the County OSU Extension, 4-H. Statewide, host families are needed for 100 Japanese participants (aged 12-18) and their adult chaperones, who will visit Ohio from July 23 through Aug. 18. Host families provide the exchangees with room and board and a chance to experience daily life in America. The young Japanese visitors belong to the Labo Foundation, an organization which promotes the study of English culture and language in Japan. All types of families are welcome to apply to become hosts, including urban, rural, single-parent, childless and non-4-H families. Those interested should contact Gretchen Kalinay at 330-799-8407 or Gary Reel at 330-533-7712 for an application form or visit http://www.ohio4h.org/youth/international.

St. Brandan Parish to offer fish dinners

There will be fish dinners at St. Brandan Parish Maxwell Hall, located at 144 N. Schenley Ave., Feb. 12, 19 and 26, and March 4, 11 and 18 from 4-7 p.m. The cost is $10 for adults $5 for children under 10-years. The menu will include beer batter, fried, Cajun or baked fish, coleslaw or applesauce, bread and butter, cake and coffee, and your choice of macaroni and cheese, haluski, parsley potatoes or french fries for a side. For takeout orders, call 330-799-3683. There will also be a luncheon special that is takeout only from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. The cost is $6 for a sandwich and side or $10 for dinners.

MCCTC is now accepting applications for 2016-2017

Students interested in attending the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center for the 2016-2017 school year can now apply. The application is available for sophomore students on the school’s website. Current students do not need to reapply. The school offers 23 programs and has a limited number of seats per program. If you are interested in applying, visit the school website at www.mahoningctc.org.

East High class of 1966 reunion

The East High class of 1966 has begun making plans for their 50th reunion. They are looking for up-to-date addresses from all classmates who would like to attend. The event is planned for Sept. 2 from 6-10 p.m. at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Hall on the East Side. There will be a buffet dinner and music provided by a DJ. The cost to attend is $40 per person. For details and information or to provide a current address, call Janine Johnson (Ross) at 330-716-1543 or Marie Mamonis (Macchio) at 330-533-1633.

Historical Society to publish supplemental book

As part of Poland’s Sesquicentennial in 2016, the Poland Historical Society will publish a supplemental history book to the original Poland Historical Highlights which covered Poland’s History from 1866-1966. The new book will be available for sale at the June 2016 Celebrate Poland event. Proceeds will benefit the Historical Society. The Society is providing an opportunity for those who have memories of historical events in Poland from 1966-2016 to help record and preserve the history during this time period for future generations. Community organizations and businesses may also submit a history of their group or update existing histories. Articles should be limited to 500 words. You may also submit photographs, preferably a JPG file by email. You can mail your writings to the Poland Historical Society at P.O. Box 5052, Poland, OH 44514. However, they would prefer a digital Microsoft Word file for easy editing emailed to phs@polandtownship.com by March 1. Call 330-536-6877 for further information. The Poland Historical Society reserves the right to edit, publish or reject all writings submitted. It is not the intent to publish personal or family biographical sketches in this book. They will concentrate on documenting events that have occurred in Poland or influenced the lives of the community. They are also need volunteers to help with this project to write historical articles, edit articles and to solicit advertisers. Send an email to phs@polandtownship.com and indicate how you can help.

Local churches to offer Lenten luncheons

Beginning on Feb. 17, Poland area churches will again offer Lenten Luncheons each Wednesday during Lent, except Holy Week. All luncheons will take place at Holy Family Parish Center, located at 2729 Center Road in Poland. Participating congregations are Church of the Rock, Prince of Peace Lutheran, Holy Family, Poland Presbyterian, Poland United Methodist and Heritage Presbyterian. Each luncheon begins with a short devotional message at noon with the luncheon to follow. All are welcome to attend the devotions at no cost. The luncheon is available at a cost of $8 per ticket per week. Tickets can be purchased through participating congregations or by calling Holy Family at 330-757-1545. Tickets must be purchased by the Monday prior to each week’s luncheon. No extra meals will be available.

Trim a tree for February

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

Sit and stitch

Sit and stitch with others at the Poland library on Feb. 25 at 6 p.m. Share ideas and skills while making new friends. Bring your own quilting, appliqu , knit or crochet projects and supplies. This is not an instructor-led activity. This event is for teens and adults.

Half-Price Sales

There will be a special book sale for Valentine’s Day at the Friends of PLYMC bookstore, located in the lower level of the Poland library, from Feb. 1-14 with a half-price sale on all romance, fiction, softbounds, cookbooks, self-help and craft books. From Feb. 15-29, in honor of President’s Day, there will be a half-price sale on all history, presidents, government and political books.

Yoga class

Attend a yoga class at the Poland library every Wednesday in February at 5 p.m. The cost is $10 per session. This event is sponsored by the Friends of PLYMC and is for adults.

Poland Relay for life to by May 21 and 22

The 2016 Poland Relay for Life will take place May 21 and 22 from 2 p.m. until 10 a.m. at the Poland Seminary High School Stadium. This years’ events include the Kids’ Relay Party, starting at 2:30 p.m., with free activities, games, entertainment and a “Celebrating More Birthdays” cake. The second Miss Relay Pageant will begin at 4 p.m. for girls ages 0–18 years-old. New this year is a $500 scholarship for pageant contestants ages 16–18. The Buddy Marshall Memorial Scholarship will be awarded at the Poland Relay for Life event. At 6 p.m., the Survivor Ceremony begins with the crowning of the Survivor King and Queen. At 7 p.m., the complimentary Survivor Dinner will be served for all survivors and their care givers. The Luminaria ceremony takes place at 10 p.m., and games and contests will go on throughout the night. For more information about the 2016 Miss Relay Pageant and Scholarship, call 330-883-7541 after 5 p.m. or message the Poland Relay for Life Facebook page. The pageant entry deadline is March 1.

How many kisses?

Guess how many Hershey’s kisses are in the jar at the Poland library during regular library hours throughout February. If your guess is the closest, you can take them all home. This event is for children in grades 1-6.

Lego my library

Meet from 6-7 p.m. on Feb. 23 and enjoy creating Lego designs at the Poland library. Legos will be provided. This event is for children, age 6 and up.

Bonding with babies and books

This event is for caregivers and their little ones who are 6-23 months. There will be 20 minutes of language enrichment including rhymes, songs and stories, followed by time to play and socialize at the Poland library every Wednesday in February at 10 a.m. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Tales and talk for 2s and 3s

Join the Poland library every Thursday in February at 1:30 p.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. The Feb. 11 program will have a holiday theme.

Gotta Move story time

This event is for children ages 2-5 who are accompanied by a caregiver. Join the Poland library for a variety of musical and movement activities that appeal to the “young and restless,” stimulate brain development and motivate language learning on Feb. 29 at 6:30 p.m. Adults and children, get ready to act out stories and rhymes, sing and dance, and talk and play.