WARREN, Ohio – Folks can explore the townships of Trumbull County in a fun way through “This Is Trumbull: A Local History Adventure.” 

It’s a free, self‑guided program created by the Trumbull County Tourism Bureau and local historical societies.

Participants will visit historic sites at their own pace. The sites have no admission costs or set open hours.

Booklets are available that present a question for each of the 34 stops. Everyone who completes the challenge will be entered into a raffle for a prize, and the winner will be drawn in December.

For online instructions and site histories, click HERE.

The booklets are available at the Trumbull County Tourism Bureau, 321 Mahoning Ave. NW; and the Local History & Genealogy Center at the Warren-Trumbull County Public Library.

Completed answer sheets can be mailed to the Trumbull County Historical Society (P.O. Box 1907, Warren, OH 44482), dropped off at the Tourism Bureau or emailed to info@trumbullcountyhistory.org.

Designer Purse Bingo Fundraiser

WARREN, Ohio – Inspiring Minds will present a designer purse bingo fundraiser May 29 at its headquarters, 837 Woodland St. NE.

Doors will open at 5:30 p.m., with the first round of bingo at 6:30 p.m.

Designer bags by Coach, Marc Jacobs, Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Louis Vuitton and more,  donated by individuals and businesses in the community, will be available as prizes.

General admission tickets, VIP tickets, reserved tables and various sponsorship opportunities are available HERE.

The event, presented by Mercury Plastics, will feature designer purses and accessories, basket raffles, door prizes and more – all supporting Inspiring Minds’ mission to engage, inspire and empower local youths through education and exposure.

“We hosted our first designer purse bingo last fall and had such an amazing evening of fun, fashion and philanthropy that we couldn’t wait to do it again,” said Jalaya Provitt, Inspiring Minds program director. “Every purse, every raffle and every ticket sold directly impacts our students, helping us continue providing meaningful programs that open doors for their futures.”

All proceeds benefit Inspiring Minds, a nonprofit organization that has served thousands of local students over the past 20 years through free after-school and summer programs that focus on education, college and career readiness, exposure to new experiences, health and wellness and personal development.

Tickets on Sale for ‘The Yo’ Film

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Tickets are now on sale for “The Yo,” a new film that celebrates Stuck In Ohio’s 20-year history of extreme sports in the Youngstown area.

The film will be screened at 5 p.m. Aug. 30 at Stambaugh Auditorium. Tickets are $6. To purchase in advance, click HERE.

Stuck In Ohio is an adventure sports media brand based in the Mahoning Valley. It was founded by Ken Mizicko and specializes in filming skateboarding, snowboarding, snowmobiling and other sports.

The Joy of Smarts Art Sale

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – More than 300 unique works of art – ranging from watercolor paintings and mixed media sculptures to textiles, photographs, jewelry, a hand-made pasta dinner, ceramic pieces and even terrariums – will be up for bid at The Joy of Smarts.

The annual celebration will take place this evening at Smarts headquarters, 25 E. Boardman St., downtown. 

VIP and artist reception will begin at 5:30 p.m., offering early bidding access. General admission entry will start at 6:30 p.m.

Silent auctions will close every half hour. The event will conclude at 9:30 p.m.

General admission tickets are $30, with VIP access available for $60. Tickets, donations and sponsorship opportunities can be secured HERE.

Hoss and the Juggernauts will perform, and there will be live painting by artists Mia Mondora and Daniel Rauschenbach – both Smarts teachers.

This is an adult event. A cash bar will serve wine donated by Marty White, beer from Modern Methods Brewing and craft cocktails by Bar Tempo, along with complimentary light appetizers and treats by Nutmeg Style. 

Smarts is a nonprofit organization that offers  free arts education to youths across the region. 

Film on Charles Grodin at the JCC

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Youngstown Area Jewish Film Series will present “Charles Grodin: Rebel with a Cause” at 6 p.m. May 14 at the Jewish Community Center, 505 Gypsy Lane.

Raised in a Jewish household in Pittsburgh, Grodin’s life embodied the concept of Tikkun Olam, or “repairing the world.” The film not only celebrates his acting career but also his decades-long fight to get wrongly convicted people out of prison.

The event is free, but donations will be accepted at the door. To register, click HERE.

Monday Night Writers Group to Meet

AUSTINTOWN, Ohio – The next meeting of Monday Night Writers will take place from 5-6:30 p.m. Monday, May 18, at Leana’s Books and 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.

Trumbull Special Olympics on Saturday

GIRARD, Ohio – The 15th annual Trumbull County Special Olympics Invitational, held in memory of Randy Suchanek, will take place Saturday, May 9, at Girard Arrowhead Stadium.

This year’s event will bring together 167 athletes representing five schools: Ashtabula Lakers, Geauga Blue Streaks, Columbiana, Kent-Portage and Trumbull Fairhaven. Athletes from across the region will compete in a day focused on inclusion, achievement and sportsmanship.

Opening ceremonies will begin at 9:30 a.m., followed by the start of competition at 9:45 a.m.

How Electronic Media Entered the Home

NEW CASTLE, Pa. – Today, music and news are instantly accessible on our phones. But just over a century ago, obtaining sound, information or images on demand was considered astonishing.

As part of its ongoing celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary, Arts & Education at the Hoyt invites visitors to explore the second in a series of four gallery talks offering visitors a deeper understanding of how technology reshaped life at home.

Presented by collections director Robert Presnar at 6 p.m. May 23, this informal presentation on broadcast media and entertainment will introduce the rise of television and radio and their impact on home entertainment and national identity.

This program is part of the Hoyt’s ongoing American Innovations Tour, a unique walk through time in the rooms of the Alex Crawford Hoyt Period Home. Reservations are requested. Walk-ins are welcome. This event is ideal for history enthusiasts, preservationists and anyone curious about the surprising side effects of America’s march toward modern living.

For information, click HERE.

Student Art Show at MCCTC

CANFIELD, Ohio – The Educational Service Center of Eastern Ohio will present its annual student art show from 3-7 p.m. May 13 in the Joyce Brooks Center at the Mahoning County Career & Technical Center, 7300 N. Palmyra Road

The event will showcase more than 250 pieces of artwork created by students from across the region. Admission is free to the public.

Pictured at top: A copy of the “This is Trumbull” history adventure booklet.