Poland Community Briefs

Night at the Races to be Jan. 29

The Poland Rotary Night at the Races will take place on Jan. 29 beginning at 6 p.m. at Holy Family Parish Center. Tickets are $30 per person and there will be an open bar and food. Raffle prizes include golf clubs, a Michael Kors purse, a Michael Kors watch, iPad, drone and a $1,000 gift certificate to Aebischer’s Jewelry. Raffle tickets will be one for $5, five for $20 or 15 for $50. The door prize is an Apple Watch. There will also be a Super Bowl block pool and 10 horse races (minimum $2 bet). You can register online at https://polandrotaryracenight.eventbrite.com. Also, mark your calendars for the Chili Open Golf Classic on March 5 at Bedford Trails with live music and more.

Kravitz celebrates history and heritage with food fest

Kravitz Deli will celebrate Rose Kravitz’s 100th Birthday and Jewish Food Fest Jan. 25-29 at both Kravitz locations (on Belmont Ave. and inside the Poland library). Rose opened her deli in 1939, then known as the Elm Street Delicatessen, and through hard work and business savvy, she and her husband, Herbert, made the deli a local success. Learn more about Rose and sample her legacy in food at the festival celebration.

Celebrate Poland pancake breakfast

The committee that plans Celebrate Poland is sponsoring a Pancake Breakfast on Jan. 23 from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. The event will take place at the Poland Seminary High School cafeteria. Pancakes, sausage and beverages will be sold by donation. In addition to breakfast, patrons will be able to bid on a selection of gift baskets. Proceeds will help defray the costs of the many activities offered during Celebrate Poland, which will take place on June 24 and 25 this year. This will be the tenth anniversary of Celebrate Poland.

Kent State Salem announces President’s, Dean’s Lists

Dr. Steve Nameth, dean of Kent State University at Salem, announced the students named to the fall 2015 President’s and Dean’s lists. To qualify for the President’s List, students must have a 4.0 grade point average and must have completed 15 hours during the semester. To qualify for the Dean’s List, students must earn a 3.40 or greater grade point average and must have completed 12 or more credit hours for the semester, the majority at the Salem Campus. Students from Poland to achieve this distinction are Anna Detoro - Dean’s List, Jaclynn Lendi - Dean’s List and Denise Raub - Dean’s List.

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.

Listen and Lego

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

Basket raffle to help local dogs

Legacy Dog Rescue and Never Muzzled are hosting a basket raffle on Jan. 25 from 4-8 p.m. at Quaker Steak & Lube, located at 2191 Millennium Blvd. in Cortland. Have dinner and a drink with friends who are working together to help the dogs of Trumbull and Mahoning counties. Check out either group’s Facebook page for the flier, or stop by their table that evening. For more information, contact Jenn at 330-719-5569 or follow the organizations on Facebook.

Younstown Shrine Club to host annual fundraiser

On Jan. 30, the Youngstown Shrine Club will be hosting its annual Beer Taste. The event will include sampling of a variety of unique local and national brews, along with food, entertainment and fellowship. Wine and other beverages will also be served. Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door. The public is welcome to attend and proceeds, in part, go to the Shriners Hospitals for Children. Business and individual sponsorship opportunities available for the event. In 2015 the Youngstown Shrine Club donated more than $33,000 to support the Shriners Hospitals for Children from its events throughout the year. Tickets can be purchased in advance at Chalet Premier or Autograph Network or by contacting John Jones at 330-792-8892, Howard Merritt, Jr. at 330-360-3436 or Troy Stenger at 330-565-2500, or call the Youngstown Shrine Club at 330-549-3857 ext. 0.

Youth free throw contest

The second annual Youth Free Throw contest is set for Jan. 31 at the Holy Family Gym. The competition, which is sponsored by the Holy Family Knights of Columbus, is open to all boys and girls between the ages of 9 and 14. Registration will open at 1 p.m. and competition begins ar 1:30 p.m. A parent must accompany each entrant because a release form must be signed. Sonny Rodriguez will return to defend his title. Rodriguez set the bar last year by making all 15 of his allotted competition free throws and advanced all the way to the state finals.

Youngstown Soup event to fund community projects

Jan. 30 marks the date Youngstown Soup will be hosting a community micro-granting dinner celebrating and supporting creative projects in Mahoning County. With a donation of $5 attendees receive soup, salad, bread and a vote on some of the most innovative project proposals in Youngstown. There will be four presenters who will have four minutes to share their idea on their project proposal, which will help the community in some way. Attendees will have the chance to vote on their favorite soup, enjoy a 50/50 raffle and participate in a silent auction of donated goodies from the Valley’s finest businesses. At the end of the night the ballots are counted and the winner takes home the proceeds raised from the dinner to carry out their project. During the next event they will present to the community how they carried out their project. The event takes place at the Calvin Center, located at 755 Mahoning Avenue in Youngstown, on Jan. 30 from 6-9 p.m.

Victorian Players show rescheduled

The Victorian Players have announced the postponement of its scheduled January show, “Same Time Next Year.” The production is rescheduled for June 17-26. The Vic apologizes to its season ticket holders for any inconvenience this may cause. In the January slot, the Vic has contracted for a one-woman show performed by Carol Weakland, actress, author and storyteller. “A Date with the Bront ´ Sisters,” two one-woman shows based on “Jane Eyre” and “Wuthering Heights,” will be performed Jan. 23, 29 and 30 at 7:30 p.m. and Jan. 24 and 31 at 2 p.m. at the Victorian Players Theatre, located at 702 Mahoning Ave. in Youngstown. The Victorian Players may be contacted at 330-746-5455.

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.

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.

Frozen February Valentine’s party

Join the Poland library as they celebrate Valentine’s Day, frozen-style, on Feb. 13 at 2:30 p.m. Make a valentine, enjoy activities and have snacks. 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 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.

MCCTC launches new website

Then Mahoning County Career and Technical Center has announced the launch of their newly, redesigned and updated website, www.mahoningctc.com. This new website is going to better provide parents, students, staff and community members more relevant and easy to find information about what MCCTC has to offer. The website features a new high school page, as well as a new adult education page with enhanced features, including easier navigation, updated information and more search options. Mike Tarintino at ImageMarketing, a graduate of MCCTC, designed the website.

Trim a tree for January

Decorate an ornament for the Poland library’s all-season tree. Stop by during regular library hours to decorate your ornament. This event is for children of all ages.

Gotta Move story time

Children ages 2-5 who are accompanied by a caregiver can join the Poland library at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 25 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, get ready to act out stories and rhymes, sing and dance, and talk and play.

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. Baby Brilliant will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 28. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Bonding with babies and books

Caregivers and their little ones who are 6-23 months can come to the Poland library at 10 a.m. on Jan. 27 for 20 minutes of language enrichment including rhymes, songs and stories, followed by time to play and socialize. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Book sale

The Friends of PLYMC Bookstore in the lower level of the Poland library will have a month-long book sale in January with all cookbooks, medical and self-help books at half-off. Additionally, all young adult and teen books will be $1 for a brown bag full. The bookstore will run special sales throughout 2016, so check the library’s Happenings newsletter for details of upcoming sales.

Appy hour

Come to the Poland library at 6 p.m. on Jan. 28 to learn about apps. Learn all about popular apps for smartphones and mobile devices. See a variety of apps that will help you connect to your library, find a good place to eat, keep you entertained in a long grocery line, find a great new recipe or find great music to listen to on your walk. Registration is recommended and can be made by calling 330-744-8636 and ask for Poland.

Tie-dye pillowcase party

Transform a white pillowcase into a colorful tie-dye creation at the Poland library at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 27. Pillowcases and snacks will be provided. Space is limited and registration is required. Register by calling 330-744-8636 and ask for the Poland library. This event is for tweens and teens in grades 4-12.

Snow-who?

Snowmen have come to the Poland library dressed as their favorite book characters. Match each snowman character with the name on the literary character list for chance to win a prize during regular hours in January. Snow-Who? is for tweens in grades 4-6 and teens in grades 7-12.

National kazoo day

Join the Poland library from 2:30-4 p.m. on Jan. 28 as they celebrate the kazoo. Children will learn about the kazoo and play in their very own kazoo band. This is for school-age children, tweens and teens.

Take flight - paper airplanes and more

Investigate the basic principles of flight, make and test a variety of paper airplanes and try on a real flight suit at the Poland library at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 26. Registration is required. Call 330-744-8636 or visit the Poland librarians’ desk. This event is for children grades 3-8.

The Art of Ballroom Dancing

Join Joe Sepesy, retired injured veteran, and Linda McPhail, the dance instructor who helped Sepesy overcome physical and emotional challenges through ballroom dancing, at the Poland library at 10 a.m. on Jan. 29. Sepesy is the author of “Word Dances: A Collection of Verses and Thoughts About Ballroom Dancing.” Books will be available for purchase. Reservations are needed.