AUSTINTOWN, Ohio – Anna’s Cookin’ will close its location in Austintown and reopen it in another city, according to a Tuesday social media post by the takeout restaurant.

The eatery opened in 2021 at 4750 Mahoning Ave. by Anna Rodriguez and specializes in Puerto Rican food. Its final day will be July 29.

Rodriguez will announce the new location in the near future.

“After five incredible years, we are taking a huge leap and relocating our business to a new state,” the post reads. “We want to pause and say a huge thank you to everyone in Austintown. You welcomed us with open arms, and serving you during this time has been the greatest privilege.”

Rock ’n’ Hop Concert Fundraiser at Up a Creek

WARREN, Ohio – Ten years ago, a group of friends united by a desire to help families facing cancer turned compassion into action. Today, that effort has grown into Rock4Reason, a nonprofit organization that has raised thousands of dollars to provide financial and therapeutic support through the power of music.

On Saturday, July 18, Rock4Reason will celebrate its 10th anniversary at its annual Rock ’n’ Hop fundraiser at Up a Creek, 4793 E. Market St. The concert will feature the Huckin Fillbillies, Matt Skeen, Brian Angelo and Amanda Beagle Studios. 

The event will also feature basket raffles and 50/50 drawings. Proceeds will benefit Rock4Reason’s mission of assisting families impacted by cancer and supporting community agencies that care for cancer and terminally ill patients.

Since its founding in 2016, Rock4Reason has raised more than $175,000 and helped approximately 550 families throughout the region. In 2025 alone, the organization raised $22,000 and provided assistance to 70 families. As it marks its 10-year milestone, Rock4Reason hopes to surpass $200,000 in total funds raised.

“We couldn’t have done this without the incredible support of our community,” said Rock4Reason co-founder Frank Lindsay. “Every person who has attended an event, donated, volunteered or shared our mission has helped make a difference in the lives of families facing some of their toughest moments.”
To learn more, click HERE.

Comedy Dinner Show with Talia Reese at JCC

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Talia Reese will bring her standup comedy show to the Jewish Community Center of Youngstown, 505 Gypsy Lane.

The evening will start at 5:30 p.m. and will include dinner. Admission is free, but registration is required. Click HERE to register.

Reese performs regularly at Rodney’s and The World Famous Comic Strip comedy clubs in New York City, the Borgata Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, N.J., and on Sirius XM Radio.

Program on the Monkey’s Nest Neighborhood

LIBERTY, Ohio – Jacob Harver, a Kent State University PhD candidate and co-owner of The Knox Building in downtown Youngstown, will present a program on Youngstown’s Monkey’s Nest neighborhood at 10 a.m. July 18 in the meeting room of Denny’s restaurant, 4020 Belmont Ave.

The lecture is part of the William Holmes McGuffey Historical Society’s Memories of a Lifetime series.

Monkey’s Nest was in what is now an industrial park in a bend of the Mahoning River just west of downtown. Throngs of immigrants settled in the multi-ethnic working-class enclave.

Harver is a local historian and preservationist. 

Admission is $15 ($10 for historical society members). For reservations or information, call 330 726 8277.

Spoken Word competition at Penguin City

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – A spoken word contest will take place at 7 p.m. July 22 at Penguin City Brewing.

Presented by the SPG Foundation, the event will showcase local poets and storytellers while raising funds to expand access to suicide prevention education and free mental health support in the Valley.

Tickets are $25 or five for $100, and sponsorships are available. To learn more or purchase a ticket, click HERE. To register as a competitor, click HERE. Participants must be at least 18 years old.

More than a poetry competition, the event is designed to bring people together through the power of storytelling, encourage open conversations about mental health and remind individuals that hope and help are always within reach.

Competitors will vie for a $300 grand prize, with performances judged by community leaders, including DJ Chip Banks, Hanna Ferguson and others.

The SPG Foundation is a nonprofit organization composed of mental health professionals.

Pictured at top: Anna Rodriguez at her Austintown restaurant, Anna’s Cookin’.