Archive for April, 2009
[ April 25, 2009; ]
Y-Town’s area teenagers plan to make a difference this April 25, 2009, known as Global Youth Service Day. The United Way has partnered with Hands On Volunteer Network of the Valley this year to provide an opportunity for area youth groups to put their communities first. The United Way Youth Service Day of Caring sponsored by Farmers National Bank is an annual community service project where groups of area high school students, scout troops, church youth groups and the like take on tasks, odd jobs and anything else that might need taken care of to help area nonprofit agencies.
If it needs done, these kids are willing to take on the task be it cleaning, painting, weeding, and everything in between including stuffing envelopes in an office setting to making and serving meals to the needy at area shelters. The registration form is written so groups can volunteer for areas they feel most comfortable with including – Fix-Up (indoor or outdoor cleaning or painting, landscaping, moving and window washing); Administrative (bulk mailings, computer help or assembly of printed material); Food/Clothing (meal prep and serving, food packaging and storing or clothing sorting and organizing) and Person-to-Person (arts and crafts or activities for children, teens or the elderly). The non-profit agencies these groups help get their services from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. meaning much can be accomplished.
The United Way established this program in an effort to expose the youth of the Mahoning Valley to the importance of volunteering. In doing…
[ April 7, 2009 12:00 pm to June 28, 2009 12:00 pm. ]
On the Road Again The National Road Comes to Y-Town
Our nations’ first federally funded highway is celebrating its bicentennial, and you’re invited to the party. The National Road: Helping Build America is a traveling exhibit whose next stop is the Youngstown Historical Center of Labor & Industry where it sill be on display April 7 through June 28, 2009.
Put together by the Ohio Historical Society and partially funded by a grant from the Ohio Humanities Council, this exhibit honors Congress’ authorizing the construction of the National Road also known as the Cumberland Road, the National Pike, “The Main Street of America” and U.S. 40. The National Road was the first compact gravel road to cross the Appalachian Mountains making it so travel through this area was more doable. With the construction of The National Road, settling the frontier became a reality.
Though Congress gave the okay to begin the construction of the road in 1806, and contracts with private builders were in place by 1811, the War of 1812 held the project in limbo until 1815. At this time, work on the road began in Cumberland, Maryland with the first portion to Wheeling, Virginia (now West Virginia) being completed in 1817. The road eventually extended to St. Louis, Missouri. It is interesting to note that the Ohio portion of the 620-mile National Road is more than 225 miles long…
Tired of being cooped up for the past four months, mug of hot coffee in hand, waiting for that first sign of Spring? Wait no more! April is here and with it comes fair weather, warm temps and the opportunity to brush off those sneakers and get moving.
The Mahoning Valley offers plenty of opportunities to get our and get going. Bike, walking and running trails a-wait. Nature walks, hiking excursions, group sports – all are available to people ready to enjoy the spring-time weather and get ready for an action-packed summer.
Enjoy!
It’s hard to beat the jewel of the area – Mill Creek Metroparks – and what they have to offer. Visit their website at www.millcreekmetroparks.com and sign up for their monthly email detailing everything from bird-watching events to kayaking trips. If a person just took advantage of the opportunities this one park offers throughout the year, there would be no need for a costly health club membership.
While Mill Creek has a great deal to offer, don’t miss out on the other parks and nature areas in the Mahoning Valley region. There are numerous small community parks where biking, walking and running venues await. The Austintown Township Park (6000 Kirk Rd., Austintown – 330-799-6989) is a wonderful smaller park that offers everything from a metered walking trail and nature trails to the unique Braille trail; a guided trail for the visually impaired.
After a long day of yard work, why not grab a fishing pole…
