Boardman Community Briefs

Boardman Envirothon team heads to state competition

The Envirothon Team at Boardman High School has qualified for the state tournament, after coming in third place out of 46 teams in the area. They will now face the top 20 teams from across the state next month. The Envirothon is a competition among high school students, designed to enhance interest in the environment and natural resources. Throughout the competition, students are tested in the subject areas of soils, forestry, wildlife, aquatic ecology and current environmental issues. Ohio has five different qualifying competitions and the top four teams go on to the state competition. The Boardman High School A team - consisting of Rita Sulebi, Mari Sulebi, Pranav Padmanabhan, David Suarez and Justin Olsen - will compete for the state title at Bowling Green University June 12-14.

Torch Club to meet on May 16

Club member Marian L. Wilson will deliver the talk at the Youngstown Chapter of International Torch Clubs dinner-discussion meeting at 7 p.m. on May 16. Her topic will be “1963: Reflections Through the Eyes of a Ten-Year Old African-American Girl.” The meeting will be in Kilcawley Center, Bresnahan Rooms I and II, on the campus of Youngstown State University. The public is invited to attend. Social hour begins at 5:30 p.m. with dinner at 6 p.m. and the lecture at 7 p.m. Attending only the lecture is free of charge. Dinner for nonmembers is $20. Call 330-757-4148 for reservations. For club information, call 330-792-7351.

Live acupuncture demo and informational seminar

The Ohio Naturopathic Wellness Center in Boardman will be hosting a free natural health demo and seminar titled “Live Acupuncture Demo” on May 12 at 6:30 p.m. Join Valentina Khoury Dubasic, ND, LAc, who will discuss acupuncture, including what is acupuncture and what types of health issues can benefit by acupuncture. She will also do a live demonstration of what it looks like to receive acupuncture. If you’ve ever been curious about acupuncture and whether it could benefit you, this is a must attend seminar. The seminar will take place at the center, located at 755 Boardman-Canfield Road, Suite D3, in Boardman (Southbridge West Complex). For more information or to reserve your seat, call 330-729-1350 or go to OhioND.com. Free, RSVP is required.

Friendly Squares to host monthly dance

The Niles Friendly Squares will host its monthly square dance on May 14 from 7:30-10 p.m. at the 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.

Local church hosts rummage sale

There will be a rummage sale, food fair and bake sale on May 21 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Trinity Fellowship Church, located at 4749 South Ave. in Youngstown.

Pink Ribbon Golf Classic

The annual Pink Ribbon Golf Classic will be hosted at the Avalon Lakes Golf and Country Club on July 18. The cost is $110 per golfer. All proceeds from this event will go directly to the American Cancer Society. The 18 hole four-person scramble will be followed by lunch and a Chinese auction and raffle. Registration and continental breakfast begin at 8 a.m. with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. For further details, contact Donna Mowrey at 330-207-9630 or Ginny Johnston at 330-219-9092.

Mercy Health offers free workshop

Mercy Health Youngstown will offer a one-hour workshop, “Health at Home,” May 19 in the Woodland Room at St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital, located at 8401 Market St. The morning session runs from 11 a.m. until noon and an evening session goes from 5:30-6:30 p.m. The workshop and all materials are free, but reservations are required. Call 330-480-3070. The workshop includes an easy-to-use reference guide that provides information about more than 200 common health problems as well as tips on caring for yourself and your family, preventing illness and injury and advice on when to seek medical attention. Health at Home workshops will also be offered at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital on June 16.

Italian Fest scholarship available

Applications for the 2016 Youngstown State University Scholarship from The Greater Youngstown Italian Fest are now available by contacting Deborah Mottle at mottlesmurals@gmail.com or applications may be retrieved from http://www.youngstownitalianfest.org/. Applicants must attend Youngstown State University and be of Italian descent in order to be eligible. Deadline for applicants is June 7.

Meridian HealthCare mental health talk

Meridian HealthCare presents “Now you know: Understanding those who Struggle with mental health and addiction.” Learn about the problems people struggling with mental health and addiction face. Hear about levels of care, integrated treatment methods and resources in the community that can help. The event is presented in partnership with Meridian HealthCare with presenter Tina Goynes, LPCC. No reservations are needed. This event is for adults at the Boardman library on May 26 at 6 p.m.

First annual West Side Cats Father’s Day raffle

West Side cats will be hosting a Father’s Day raffle featuring a 48 inch Insignia LED TV. The drawing will be on June 18, and proceeds will be used for the group’s spay and neuter program. Tickets are $1 each or six for $5. You can purchase your tickets beginning next week through any volunteer or at the shelter. West Side Cats is located at 2217 Mahoning Avenue in Youngstown. Call 330-792-4228 for details.

Library closings

All libraries in the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County system will be closed on May 29 and May 30.

Boardman Park’s Community Garden

While it may still be too early for digging and planting it’s not too early to join the Community Garden and start planning what fresh vegetables will be on your dinner table this summer. Whether you have a green thumb and are an experienced gardener or whether you are a beginner, community gardens allow you to experience the joys of gardening, promote healthy eating habits and build new relationships with others in the community. The garden is located at the Historic Southern Stables on Washington Boulevard. Registration for the 10 foot by 20 foot garden plots began on April 11 at the Boardman Park Office located at 375 Boardman-Poland Road, and are available for a fee of $25. Your fee includes the garden plot, water and periodic classes/instructions on gardening. Due to the limited number of plots available, registration is limited to Boardman residents only and only one plot per gardener/family. Garden season begins May 1 and runs through Nov. 15. For more information, visit the park office or call 330-726-8105.

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.

MCCTC opens Summer Camp registration

The Mahoning County Career and Technical Center is giving students the chance to explore new careers this summer with its annual Summer Camp on June 20-22. This year’s camp offers students the opportunity to learn more about exciting career fields through fun, hands-on projects. Programs offered this year are Exercise Science, Culinary, Cosmetology, Mechanical Engineering, Truck and Diesel Mechanics and Welding and Auto Technology. MCCTC Summer Camp takes place every summer and is open to students in grades 6-8. For more information or to register a child, visit www.mahoningctc.com.

Playtime at your library

Prepare for Kindergarten through play. The librarian will read a story and have fun with developmentally appropriate games and activities that parents can do with your child to help them get ready for Kindergarten. This event is for 2-6 year-olds. All children must be accompanied by an adult to this one hour program. Join the Boardman library on May 18 at 10 a.m.

Bonding with babies and books

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

Night owl story time

Each child must be accompanied by an adult in this 30-minute program featuring finger plays, stories and a craft activity. This event is for children ages 3-5 at the Boardman library May 17, 24 and 31 at 6 p.m.

YA book superlatives

The school year is ending and it’s time for yearbooks. Come to Boardman library’s teen area and vote for your favorite characters from YA (teen) books that you have read. Who’s your favorite book boyfriend or girlfriend? Who was the funniest? The library will tally your votes and post the results in June for this year’s YA yearbook. This event is for teens in grades 7-12 during open hours in May.

Color your world

Join the Boardman library on May 19 at 7 p.m. for a relaxing evening of adult coloring. Coloring sheets and materials will be provided or you’re welcome to bring your own. Colorful light refreshments will be served. This event is for teens and adults.

It’s all about yarn

Bring in your crochet, knitting, plastic canvas, or “anything with yarn” project and learn from one another. Participants are encouraged to bring all yarn UFOs (unfinished objects). This event is for adults at the Boardman library on May 23 at 11 a.m.

Leave no soldier behind: finding our family members in uniform

Explore the records of our armed forces. Learn how to pursue personnel files and unit histories in order to understand your ancestor’s role in defending our nation’s heritage. This event is for adults and teens. Registration is required by phoning 330-744-8636 or online via the Boardman library’s events calendar. This event will be hosted on May 24 at 10 a.m.

I Read YA! book club

Adult fans of Young Adult Literature that are ages 18-118 - this book club is for you. Talk about why you like YA. Read and discuss. Proudly say, “I read YA!” This month the club will be discussing “Everything, Everything” by Nicola Yoon. This event is for adults at the Boardman library on May 16 at 6:30 p.m.

Get “golf ready”

Learn everything you’ll need to play golf in just a few lessons. PGA pros will show you ways to play by combining fun, friends and fitness. Each session will focus on various golf skills. Mix and match clinics available. One day clinic - $25, any two clinics - $45, any three clinics - $60 and any seven clinics - $100. Dates for the program vary through Aug. 17.

In the forest

The work of realist painter Jason Floyd Lewis relishes the natural beauty of uninhabited places. The Wellers Gallery at Fellows Riverside Gardens will feature this artwork until June 12.

Mahoning Valley walk benefiting JDRF

Take steps to help the Junvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) progressively remove the impact of type 1 diabetes from people’s lives. By joining a team or making a donation to JDRF, you’ll raise money to help fund critical research. The walk will be on May 21 at the Watts Center of Youngstown State University. Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m. and the walk begins at 10 a.m. Register at http://www2.jdrf.org/mahoningvalleywalk. For more information, contact Timothy Styranec at 330-533-5306 or by email at tmstyranec@zoominternet.net.

Have your pet featured in a calendar

West Side Cats is having a pet photography contest. For each $1 you pay, you can submit one photo of your favorite pet. Each vote will be an additional $1 fee which can be paid through PayPal at: Westsidecats@yahoo.com or dropped off at the shelter, located at 2217 Mahoning Ave. The top 12 winners will have their pets photo featured on a month of the new calendar and receive a calendar of their own. There will also be a grand prize for the pet with the most votes. Calendars will be sold after the contest ends. The photography contest will end on May 30 (Memorial Day). For more information, visit the Facebook page “West Side Cats Photography Contest.”

Join the Sprout Club at Fellows Riverside Gardens this spring to learn about the amazing world of plants with topics that include: pizza plants, moss pets and herbs. Each class will include an activity and snack. Attend all three classes and receive a plant-related prize. Class will be from 1-2 p.m. on May 19. Registration has passed.

Advanced Master Gardener series

This series, led by Ellen Speicher, will focus on pruning, plant names and fall gardening. The event will be hosted by Fellows Riverside Gardens on June 11 and Aug. 13 from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. The deadline for registration has passed.

America’s Schoolmaster exhibit

The Early Days of William Holmes McGuffey will be on display in the Melnick Museum at Fellows Riverside Gardens from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Learn more about the early days of McGuffey and his boyhood homestead, located in Coitsville and now known as the McGuffey Wildlife Preserve. The exhibit will be open though January 2017.