YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – “Making an Impact: Highlighting Youngstown’s African American Community” has opened at the Arms Family Museum. The exhibit is on the second floor of the museum at 648 Wick Ave.

African Americans were present in Youngstown long before the Civil War. According to the 1850 U.S. Census, there were 90 free Blacks living in the Mahoning Valley, including 37 in Youngstown. By 1890, 648 African Americans called Youngstown home. 

Though driven by the hope of a better life, African Americans faced many challenges in the city. They found strength through the work of several individuals and organizations, and the Arms Family Museum exhibit covers some of their stories.

Throughout Black History Month, the Mahoning Valley Historical Society will highlight stories about the Valley’s African American community on its social media platforms. The exhibit was curated by Brooke Bobovynik, MVHS curatorial assistant. 

Arms Family Museum is open from noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

Sharon Sets Date for St. Patrick’s Day Parade

SHARON, Pa. – The third annual Sláinte Sharon St. Patrick’s Day Parade will start at 4 p.m. Saturday, March 15, in the downtown. 

It will start at Penn State Shenango and end in Quaker Steak & Lube’s parking lot. The event will be followed by a St. Patrick’s Day Marketplace under the tent at Quaker Steak, a Blessing of the Pets and award announcements, followed by the band Five Deep from 6 to 9 p.m. on the tented outdoor stage, along with other festivities.

PHN Charitable Foundation’s annual Sham Rock N Run will kick off at 9 a.m. on parade day in the parking lot of Laurel Technical Institute’s Sharon satellite campus at 200 Sterling Ave. 

More information is available HERE.

The parade is being presented by the Original Quaker Steak & Lube in partnership with the city of Sharon. Quaker Steak’s annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration will take place from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 17. It will feature three stages with live music and entertainment.

Boardman Schools Reverse Raffle Event

BOARDMAN, Ohio – The Boardman Schools Fund For Educational Excellence’s annual reverse raffle event will take place March 7 at Mr. Anthony’s Banquet Center. Twenty-four grant recipients representing 11 wish list projects will be honored.

The Reverse Raffle is the main fundraiser for BSFEE, a component fund of the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley. The event raises tens of thousands of dollars to help provide Boardman educator grants that have been creative and innovative additions to Boardman classrooms for more than a decade.   

Doors will open at 6 p.m. The event will feature many prize-winning activities and a series of cash prizes. The final ticket drawn at the end of the night will be worth $2,000.

Tickets are $70 and can be purchased at BoardmanSchoolsFund.com, by calling the superintendent’s office at 330 726 3404 and by emailing bdmnschoolsfund@gmail.com. The deadline to make reservations is Feb. 19. 

Stage Combat Course for Young Actors

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Jewish Community Center of Youngstown is offering the theater class “Stage Combat: Swashbucklers & Swords” for ages 8 to 13 at 6:30 p.m. Mondays from March 3 to 24 at the JCC, 505 Gypsy Lane. Registration is required by Feb. 24.

The course is designed to provide a safe and fun environment for participants to learn the fundamentals of stage combat. Under the guidance of an experienced instructor, students will explore basic techniques, sword handling and choreography to bring thrilling, realistic fights to the stage.

The class will prepare students for the upcoming Camp JCC Theater Camp original production “A Pirate’s Life for JCC.” All experience levels are welcome. There will be a parent presentation at the end of class the final week.

Register HERE.

Auditions for ‘Oklahoma!’ at Playhouse

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Auditions for singers for the Youngstown Playhouse’s production of “Oklahoma!” will take place from noon to 3 p.m. March 1 and 6 to 9 p.m. March 3.

Auditions for dancers will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. March 4.

Information and character breakdowns are available HERE.

Director Tyler Stouffer is seeking a large, energetic cast of ages 13 and up. There are plenty of opportunities in the show for performers of various skills across the acting, dance and singing disciplines. Performers attending the singer audition should come prepared to sing 32 bars, or one minute, of a Golden Age musical theater song with sheet music in the correct key. An accompanist will be provided.

Those attending the dance audition should be prepared to move in standard musical theater and ballet styles. Callbacks for singers will be at 6 p.m. March 5. Rehearsals for dancers will start March 10. Full company rehearsals will start March 18.

Rehearsals will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday and noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays.

The role of Aunt Eller has already been cast.

For anyone in need of special accommodations to support their audition and/or involvement in the production, email stage manager Caitlyn Santiago at caitlynnicole2019@gmail.com. 

Monday Night Writers to Meet

AUSTINTOWN, Ohio – The next meeting of Monday Night Writers will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 17, at Leana’s Books & More, 4317 Kirk Road.

Area writers, both published and unpublished, are invited to attend.

Led by author Nancy Christie, the meetings offer an opportunity for members to get group feedback on works-in-progress. 

For information, contact Christie at nancy@nancychristie.com.

Pictured at top: Part of the African American history exhibition at the Arms Family Museum.