![Jim Snyder and Colleen Hendel, volunteers, hang onto a bow of an 18-foot-tall blue spruce tree as its anchored in a tree holder on the altar area of St. Patrick Church on Oak Hill Avenue in Youngstown. The tree is a focal point of Christmas decor at the church.](https://vindy.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2010/12/23/12242010a1treeb_r320x256.jpg?18f1409051e150192aac35062bbe596a12e9cfad)
Jim Snyder and Colleen Hendel, volunteers, hang onto a bow …
Jim Snyder and Colleen Hendel, volunteers, hang onto a bow of an 18-foot-tall blue spruce tree as its anchored in a tree holder on the altar area of St. Patrick Church on Oak Hill Avenue …
![Katie Ann Guarino of Warren prepares for a class surgical procedure. She is a student in the surgical-technology program.](https://vindy.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2010/12/23/12242010a3choffinb_r320x256.jpg?18f1409051e150192aac35062bbe596a12e9cfad)
Katie Ann Guarino of Warren prepares for a class surgical …
Katie Ann Guarino of Warren prepares for a class surgical procedure. She is a student in the surgical-technology program.
![Carole DuBose, program coordinator of surgical technology at Choffin Career and Technical Center, explains the program that recently earned national accreditation through 2020 by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.](https://vindy.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2010/12/23/12242010a3choffina_r320x256.jpg?18f1409051e150192aac35062bbe596a12e9cfad)
Carole DuBose, program coordinator of surgical technology at Choffin Career …
Carole DuBose, program coordinator of surgical technology at Choffin Career and Technical Center, explains the program that recently earned national accreditation through 2020 by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.
![Yasmin Flor, manager of the Villa Shoppe in Villa Maria Community Center, holds a bowl made in Vietnam. The shop sells Fair Trade handcrafted items from Peru, Haiti, Bolivia, Mexico, El Salvador, Bangladesh, Philippines, India, Guatemala and Africa, as well as the United States.](https://vindy.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2010/12/23/12242010a3fairtrade_r320x256.jpg?18f1409051e150192aac35062bbe596a12e9cfad)
Yasmin Flor, manager of the Villa Shoppe in Villa Maria …
Yasmin Flor, manager of the Villa Shoppe in Villa Maria Community Center, holds a bowl made in Vietnam. The shop sells Fair Trade handcrafted items from Peru, Haiti, Bolivia, Mexico, El Salvador, Bangladesh, Philippines, India, …
![Volunteers at the Youngstown church work on steadying the blue spruce that will decorate the sanctuary for Christmas. The tree will be arrayed with some 9,600 white lights. It had been targeted for uprooting in the city’s Operation Redemption program to clean up the South Side neighborhood near St. Dominic Church.](https://vindy.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2010/12/23/12242010a1treec_r320x256.jpg?18f1409051e150192aac35062bbe596a12e9cfad)
Volunteers at the Youngstown church work on steadying the blue …
Volunteers at the Youngstown church work on steadying the blue spruce that will decorate the sanctuary for Christmas. The tree will be arrayed with some 9,600 white lights. It had been targeted for uprooting in …
![An 18-foot blue spruce is hoisted by Mashburn Tree Service after it was cut down at Southern Boulevard and Lucius Avenue in Youngstown. The tree was on property given to St. Dominic Church, which gave the tree to St. Patrick Church.](https://vindy.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2010/12/23/12242010a1treea_r320x256.jpg?18f1409051e150192aac35062bbe596a12e9cfad)
An 18-foot blue spruce is hoisted by Mashburn Tree Service …
An 18-foot blue spruce is hoisted by Mashburn Tree Service after it was cut down at Southern Boulevard and Lucius Avenue in Youngstown. The tree was on property given to St. Dominic Church, which gave …
![Bazaar for Girard: Roberta Lawrentz, Martha Altier, Laura Sobnosky and Kathie Rossell of Girard Junior Women serve refreshments at the annual GJW Bazaar. The next meeting will be Jan. 13 at Amen Corner with Liz McGarry as speaker. Altier will be the hostess for the evening with Kitty Diamond assisting. GJW is a nonprofit group that serves the Girard community. Anyone interested in joining should contact Lawrentz.](https://vindy.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2010/12/23/girardjr.womenbazaar_r320x256.jpg?18f1409051e150192aac35062bbe596a12e9cfad)
Bazaar for Girard: Roberta Lawrentz, Martha Altier, Laura Sobnosky and …
Bazaar for Girard: Roberta Lawrentz, Martha Altier, Laura Sobnosky and Kathie Rossell of Girard Junior Women serve refreshments at the annual GJW Bazaar. The next meeting will be Jan. 13 at Amen Corner with Liz …
![A lighthearted holiday song: Backed up by students from the eighth-grade class at St. Patrick School in Hubbard, who provided their own version of the holiday classics, this group of kindergarten students entertained family and friends on Dec. 16 with their lively rendition of the holiday song “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.” The song was one of those featured as students from various classes took part in an annual program, “A Christmas Spelling Bee,” written and directed by Mrs. Joan Deramo, music teacher, who was presented with a Christmas arrangement in recognition of her hard work.](https://vindy.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2010/12/23/christmasprogramjpg_r320x256.jpg?18f1409051e150192aac35062bbe596a12e9cfad)
A lighthearted holiday song: Backed up by students from the …
A lighthearted holiday song: Backed up by students from the eighth-grade class at St. Patrick School in Hubbard, who provided their own version of the holiday classics, this group of kindergarten students entertained family and …
![Dangerous Curvez ahead: The women’s motorcycle club Dangerous Curvez Inc. made financial awards to three organizations at the annual Christmas Party on Dec. 11 at O’Charley’s in Boardman. Zina Hill accepted a check for Dress For Success in the absence of its CEO, Felicia Davis; Patricia Rudolph represented My Best Tea Party Club; and Crystal Wells accepted for Listen Up Ladies.](https://vindy.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2010/12/23/dangerouscurvez_r320x256.jpg?18f1409051e150192aac35062bbe596a12e9cfad)
Dangerous Curvez ahead: The women’s motorcycle club Dangerous Curvez Inc. …
Dangerous Curvez ahead: The women’s motorcycle club Dangerous Curvez Inc. made financial awards to three organizations at the annual Christmas Party on Dec. 11 at O’Charley’s in Boardman. Zina Hill accepted a check for Dress …
![Lake Milton Browns Backers collected and distributed over a ton of food to 36 families and toys to 60 children for the holidays. The giving was made possible following an annual food and toy drive conducted by the group Dec. 18 at the Dutch House in Lake Milton. During the drive Santa Claus arrived on the Lake Milton Fire Department firetruck, and he and Mrs. Claus provided the children with coloring books, cookies and beverages. Each family received a turkey, food basket and presents for the children. With help from area residents and businesses, the Backers raised and donated nearly $10,000 to local families, charities and goodwill events during the past year. Recognized as one of the top five clubs in the country in 2009, the Backers received August Club of the Month awards and are being considered for recognition as the Club of the Year.](https://vindy.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2010/12/23/brownsbackers_r320x256.jpg?18f1409051e150192aac35062bbe596a12e9cfad)
Lake Milton Browns Backers collected and distributed over a ton …
Lake Milton Browns Backers collected and distributed over a ton of food to 36 families and toys to 60 children for the holidays. The giving was made possible following an annual food and toy drive …
![Volunteering pays off: The Best Buy Tag Team Award program recognizes the volunteer efforts of Best Buy employees by making a financial contribution to nonprofit organizations where the employees offer leadership, expertise and time. This year Best Buy employees organized and/or participated in a Golf for a Buddy golf outing, a car show, bake sales and a charity softball event, and took part in the annual Buddy Walk of the Valley. As a result of their volunteer efforts, the Down Syndrome Association of the Valley received $4,000 in Best Buy Tag Team Awards. Making sure everyone knows how big the contribution was, a giant-size check is displayed by, from left, Michele Jones, DSAV co-founder/president; Jody Esposito, assistant manager at Boardman Best Buy; 5-year-old Christian Trella, who is sponsored by Best Buy, and Jack Trella. For more information on DSAV visit www.dsav.org, e-mail info@dsav.org or call 330-726-DSAV.](https://vindy.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2010/12/23/dsavdonation_r320x256.jpg?18f1409051e150192aac35062bbe596a12e9cfad)
Volunteering pays off: The Best Buy Tag Team Award program …
Volunteering pays off: The Best Buy Tag Team Award program recognizes the volunteer efforts of Best Buy employees by making a financial contribution to nonprofit organizations where the employees offer leadership, expertise and time. This …
![Luck of the draw: Hubbard Historical Society recently conducted a raffle for two watercolor winter farms scenes painted by local artists. One of the pictures was painted by Linda Cooper Brightwell in the late ’70s while she was a high school student. The other was created by her art teacher. Following the drawing it was determined that Rodd Coonce was the holder of the winning ticket that was drawn by Santa Claus (aka Howard Huffman). Among those joining Santa for the raffle drawing are, from left, Bob Gibson, Joan Gibson, Lucille Wilson, Jackie Orlando and Cecilia Cooper.](https://vindy.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2010/12/23/hubbardhistoricalsociety_r320x256.jpg?18f1409051e150192aac35062bbe596a12e9cfad)
Luck of the draw: Hubbard Historical Society recently conducted a …
Luck of the draw: Hubbard Historical Society recently conducted a raffle for two watercolor winter farms scenes painted by local artists. One of the pictures was painted by Linda Cooper Brightwell in the late ’70s …
![If you wish upon a star: The YWCA’s Wish Upon a Star gift-giving project, in partnership with community groups and individuals, collected new toys, books and games that were distributed to more than 80 homeless and low-income children in the YWCA housing program. Holding an armful of gifts she received for her five children is, at left, Lillian Peoples, who has a disability that prevents her from working. Residents in the Transitional Housing Program at the YWCA, her family is one of the 41 families helped through the Wish Upon a Star project. Carrying some of the gifts for Peoples is Vicki Winphrie, YWCA living skills educator.](https://vindy.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2010/12/23/wishuponastar_r320x256.jpg?18f1409051e150192aac35062bbe596a12e9cfad)
If you wish upon a star: The YWCA’s Wish Upon …
If you wish upon a star: The YWCA’s Wish Upon a Star gift-giving project, in partnership with community groups and individuals, collected new toys, books and games that were distributed to more than 80 homeless …