Boardman Community Briefs

Neighbors features adoptable pets

Check out the newest feature of Neighbors, the Adoptable Pets of the Week column! Each week, we will feature two adoptable pets from West Side Cats or Pawz 2 Adopt with pictures and information on page 2. Sponsorship for the column is available on a week-to-week basis for local businesses that love animals. If you are interested in being a sponsor for this column, call Kathy Smith at 330-747-1471, ext. 1214. All of the members of the Neighbors team love animals and we hope that we can help West Side Cats and Pawz 2 Adopt find forever homes for these adorable dogs and cats. More information on these organizations can be found on Facebook or by calling 330-792-4228 for West Side Cats and 330-779-1862 for Pawz 2 Adopt. Thank you for your continued support of this and all of our endeavors!

Motor On for RJM benefit to be May 22

Former chef Robert Melone worked at various restaurants throughout the area for 17 years before a terrible motorcycle accident paralyzed him from the chest down in September 2012. He is in need of assistance in affording a handicapped converted van to help him have transportation to and from his doctor’s appointments and rehabilitation training in Cleveland. To further this cause, the second annual Motor On for RJM (Robert John Melone) Benefit Dinner will take place on May 22 at Boardman High School from 1-5 p.m. Tickets are still available and can be aqcuired by contacting Roslyn Schmidt at 330-360-1904 or Scarsella’s Restaurant at 330-788-0806. The event will be catered by Scarsella’s and Mama Vickie Scarsella, and carry out will be available. Tickets are $15 for ages 12 and older, $8 for those 5-11 years-old and those 4-years and younger eat free. The event includes live entertainment, a Chinese auction, 50/50 raffle, bake sale and Gorantz Kidz Kandy Korner.

Summer Discovery begins June 1

Join the fun during Summer Discovery, the program for summer reading and fun, which runs from June 1 through Aug. 13 at the Austintown, Boardman, Canfield and Poland branches of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County. Learn about science from the experts at COSI and Mad Science. Watch “The Monsters of Baseball” come to life with the Madcap Puppets. Learn how astronauts prepare for flight from specialists at the Air and Space Museum, and enjoy many other great entertainers. For a complete list of library programs, visit your local library or LibraryVisit.org. There’s something for everyone during Summer Discovery.

Fundraiser for “The Veteran’s Program”

Methodist Community Center recently announced that on May 26 (all day) there will be a Fundraiser for “The Veterans Program” offered by Applebee’s Restaurant. Both in Boardman and Niles, Applebee’s will donate 10 percent of your food bill to the MCC Veterans Program. You must have a flyer to give to your server (these cannot be passed out at the Applebee’s Restaurants). These flyers can be obtained from the United Methodist Community Center at 330-743-5149.

Houston named to Dean’s High Honors

Marietta College’s Mitchell Houston of Boardman has been named to the Spring 2016 Dean’s High Honors List. Any full-time Marietta College student completing at least 15 credit hours with a grade point average of 3.75 or better in a given semester is recognized as a Dean’s High Honors List student for that semester.

Host families needed

The Mahoning Valley Ulster project is a summer exchange program that brings together teen leaders from Northern Ireland and the United States. Founded in 1975, the program offers spiritual, social and service opportunities to help the students discover the common ground they share despite religious differences. Each year, Valley families play host to more than a dozen Northern Irish teens for this enriching experience. The group is searching for host families for two boys from Northern Ireland. Teens will arrive on June 27 and will depart on July 27. The host family should have a male teen between the ages of 14 and 17. This life-changing experience includes six service projects (Purple Cat, Potential Development, Mill Creek Children’s Center, Habitat for Humanity, Jubilee Gardens and Zion Lutheran Food Bank) as well as many fun events, such as a Scrappers Game, a road rally and a trip to Cedar Point to name a few. If you are interested in hosting a teen, contact Greg at 330-770-1440. For more information, visit ulsterprojectmv.com.

First Night Youngstown announces competition

First Night Youngstown is calling for local and regional artists to participate in the annual design competition of its New Year’s Eve events admission button. The winning artist will be promoted at all press events. The artist will also be a celebrity guest in the Downtown Christmas holiday parade and tree-lighting event. The button series is traditionally intended to celebrate downtown Youngstown’s unique historic buildings and architecture. Buttons may be designed using any medium and then digitally saved as a .jpeg. Artists should depict Youngstown in a manner that highlights New Year’s Eve, no champagne glasses or images of drinking alcohol; First Night events are family-friendly. The design must include the phrase “First Night Youngstown 2017.” Interested artists should call 330-744-9966 or email firstnightyoungstown@gamil.com. Submission deadline is Aug. 31. Each year, admission buttons provide entry to all First Night events on New Year’s Eve in downtown Youngstown, sold at $5 and $10 each. Proceeds from the sale help compensate performers.

Literacy fundraiser

Join the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County for a Literary Society fundraising event at the Lake Club, located at 1140 Paulin Road in Poland at 6 p.m. on June 9. Tickets are $35 each and include heavy appetizers. There will be a cash bar. Guests are asked to wear their favorite little black dress and bring a copy of a book by their favorite author to swap with other attendees. Guests can also donate gently used and brand new children’s books. The following boutiques will be selling accessories: E. J. Hannah, Suzanne’s Tennis and Golf and Ivory & Birch. The event benefits the Literary Society Fund for the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County. A portion of proceeds from the participating boutiques will also benefit this fund. For more information, contact the Development Office at 330-740-6086. Make check made payable to Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County and mail to the Library attention: Sue Merriman, Fiscal Officer, 305 Wick Ave., Youngstown, OH 44503.

Puzzle Swap

Swap six of your once done jigsaw puzzles with others. This is hosted every second Wednesday of the month. Meet at the Boardman library on June 8 at 4 p.m.

Fitness support group

Join the library’s meetings to support each other in weight loss, fitness or any other health goals you have. The group will be using a free fitness app to supplement the meetings. Each month a different topic will be discussed. This event is for adults at the Boardman library on June 7 at 6 p.m. The topic will be “counting calories.”

Garden Adventure Day at Fellows Riverside Gardens

In conjunction with the Garden Adventure Days at Mill Creek MetroParks-Fellows Riverside Gardens come and learn about the many exciting services the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County can offer you and your family. There will be a craft for children to make. Join Fellows Riverside Gardens on June 4 at 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. for this event.

Blood pressure screening

The American Red Cross will host this event at the Boardman library on June 6 from 12:30-2:30 p.m.

Blood Drive by the Mahoning Chapter of the American Red Cross

There will be a blood drive to serve the needs of St. Elizabeth Hospital. For appointments, call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Boardman library’s event will be hosted on June 27 from 1:30-6:30 p.m.

Reader’s Choice book club

The club will discuss “Everything I Never Told You,” by Celeste Ng. Share your favorite books and find out what new ones are being published. After, preview July’s book, “The All-Girl Filling Station’s Last Reunion,” by Fannie Flagg. This event is for adults at the Boardman library on June 6 at 7 p.m.

I Read YA! book club

This event is for adult fans of Young Adult Literature from ages 18 and up. Talk about why you like YA. Read and discuss. This month the club will be discussing “Dumplin’” by Julie Murphy. This event is for adults at the Boardman library on June 20 at 6:30 p.m.

Resources and strategies for finding foreign records

If foreign travel for family research is not part of your summer plans, then attend this program and preserve your frequent flyer miles. We will examine resources that help the genealogist find and acquire records that reside overseas. 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 June 23 at 6:30 p.m.

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 teens and adults at the Boardman library on June 27 at 11 a.m.

TAB meeting

Check out the monthly TAB (Teen Advisory Board) meeting. The board meets the first Wednesday of the month at the Boardman library. Help plan and support teen activities at the Library. Meet new people and have fun. Newcomers are always welcome. This event is for teens in grades 7-12 on June 1 at 6:30 p.m.

Get in the game

Teens entering grades 7-12 are welcome to join the Boardman library outside for a variety of outdoor games to compete in. Program will take place indoors if raining. Come out June 14 at 6 p.m.

Lego my library

Meet and enjoy creating Lego designs. Legos will be provided. This event is for children ages 6 and up at the Boardman library on June 4 at 10 a.m.. and June 16 at 6 p.m.

Gold Medal crafts

Grab and Go events at the library are open for children of all ages to create a craft and take it home. Open during library hours during the month of June.

Fitness fun story time

Join the library for stories and activities selected from the Eat, Play, Grow program. Good fun and good nutrition. Prizes and snacks will be given. Sponsored by the Mahoning Valley Kids Coalition, this event is for toddlers and preschoolers at the Boardman library on June 8 at 10 a.m.

Family story time

Bring the whole family for stories, games, crafts and fun for all ages. Children under age 7 must be accompanied by an adult. This event is hosted by the Boardman library on June 1, 22 and 29 at 10 a.m.

Family story time for Father’s Day

Join the Boardman library on June 15 at 10 a.m. for stories and fun for children of all ages. Parents are invited to join their children in this 30-minute program. Holiday stories and gift for dad are included.

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. Children must be accompanied by an adult. This event is hosted by the Boardman library Tuesdays in June at 10 a.m.

Recycle everyday

Join Peg Flynn and Kim Lewis of the Mahoning County Green Team as they present Nancy Elizabeth Wallace’s “Recycle Every Day” during the Summer Reading Program. This tale is about a young bunny named Minna who is assigned with the task of creating a winning poster for the Recycling Community Calendar Contest. After reading the story, program participants will create bouquets using recovered materials. At the conclusion of the program, children will receive an environmental action activity book and information to share with their parents. This program is recommended for children in grades Pre-K through 3, and will be hosted by the Boardman library on June 17 at 10 a.m.

Animal magic with Mark Rosenthal

Join exotic animal rescuer and Nickelodeon’s one-time Entertainer of the Year, Mark Rosenthal, for Animal Magic. Rosenthal will bring some of his animal friends and share stories from his books. This event is for children of all ages at the Boardman library on June 30 at 11 a.m.

Stevens Puppets present “The Wizard of Oz”

Watch as a Kansas cyclone whisks Dorothy off to Oz. World leaders in the puppetry arts for more than 80 years, Stevens Puppets bring this tale to life with hand-carved wooden marionettes and a musical score you are sure to be humming all the way home. This event is for children of all ages at the Boardman library on June 24 at 2 p.m.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.”

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.