YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The March edition of First Fridays Youngstown will take place this week from 5-8 p.m. at Students Motivated by the Arts, 25 E. Boardman St., and several other locations.
First Fridays Youngstown is a free, monthly community event designed to bring residents and visitors together to celebrate the vibrant culture of downtown. It is presented by Downtown Youngstown Partnership and Youngstown CityScape.
Friday’s event will feature hands-on arts activities for children and families, spanning visual art, music, dance, theater and creative writing.
There will also be a live performance by the band Larry Elefante.
The Live Music Initiative, funded by The Youngstown Foundation, will present live music at three other downtown spots: The Avalon, Penguin City Brewing and Twisted Roots.
Former Newsman Glenn Stevens to Speak
CANFIELD, Ohio – The Youngstown Torch Club will sponsor a presentation by former WFMJ newsman Glenn Stevens at 7 p.m. March 11 at Davidson’s Restaurant, 3636 Canfield Road. The award-winning journalist will discuss highlights of his almost 50-year career in the Mahoning Valley.
Stevens began as a radio journalist, working in Milwaukee and Houston. As a reporter with the Texas Radio Network, he covered Apollo missions from the Houston Space Center. In 1971, Stevens came to Youngstown and initially worked on the radio side of WFMJ.
In 1990, he shifted to the television side of WFMJ to anchor the 6 and 11 p.m. news. During his long tenure, he covered major news stories, including the collapse of the local steel industry and the rise of U.S. Rep. Jim Traficant.
He retired from WFMJ in 2020 after 49 years with the station.
Attendees planning to order a meal before the presentation should arrive by 6 p.m. Wednesday’s talk is free and open to the public. For information, contact club secretary Thomas Welsh at 330 389 1496.
Jenah Shank to Perform at The Maker’s Market
CORTLAND, Ohio – Singer-songwriter and recording artist Jenah Shank will perform from 6-8 p.m. Saturday, March 7, at The Maker’s Market Cafe, 201 W. Main St.
Shank’s musical style spans folk, pop, alternative and contemporary Christian. Her songwriting often focuses on storytelling, drawing from her faith and personal relationships.
She has released several albums and singles, including “Worth the Wait” (2025), featuring the musicianship of John Sferra and Phil Keaggy, “New Road 2000-2025” with David Granati and the single “These Friends” (2026) for the annual Pink Out Mahoning Valley Music Festival.
Shank and her husband, Ron, served as chaplains at the Truckers 4 Jesus Truck Stop Ministry in Girard, where she regularly provides the music for the Sunday morning worship services. Together, they established a scholarship program for Native American and disadvantaged youths. She is a co-founder of the nonprofit organization Pink Out Mahoning Valley/Pink Out America.
Bluegrass Festival at Trumbull Fairgrounds
CORTLAND, Ohio – Mitch and Cindy’s Bluegrass Festival will take place May 22-24 at the Trumbull County Fairgrounds.
The lineup will include Seldom Scene, Clay Hess Band, Kevin Prater Band, Lincoln Mash and Heather Alley Band, Ottawa County, Open Highway, Muddy Krick and Sons of Tradition.
There will be food trucks, a covered stage, restrooms with showers, camping hookups and a campfire. Dogs on a leash are allowed. Children under age 18 are admitted free.
Go to MitchAndCindysBluegrass.com.
Author to Present Free Writing Workshops
AUSTINTOWN, Ohio – Award-winning author Nancy Christie will present two free writing workshops in March.
At 1:30 p.m. March 14, Christie will teach her “Creating Memory Snapshots” 90-minute workshop at Books A Go Go, 220 W. Main St., Ravenna.
The workshop will provide tips and techniques to compile personal recollections to share with friends and family members or as the foundation for a personal memoir.
For information or to register, call Books A Go Go at 330 442 4226 or visit the store’s Events page.
At 7 p.m. March 17, Christie will hold her “Jump Start Your Creativity” workshop at Rocky River Public Library, 1600 Hampton Road, Rocky River.
Designed for new as well as seasoned writers, the workshop provides strategies to break out of creative ruts and find inspiration. Contact the library at 440 333 7610 for information.
Details about these events are available at NancyChristie.com.
Go Baby Go Event for Special-Needs Children
CANFIELD, Ohio – The 11th annual Go Baby Go Workshop will take place at the Mahoning County Career & Technical Center, 7300 N. Palmyra Road.
The event is designed for children with special needs and their families.
The workshop will kick off March 13 when volunteers come together to assemble the custom Jeeps that will bring joy and mobility to children. Families will come March 14, starting at 9 a.m.
Since its inception, the Go Baby Go Workshop has completed over 200 vehicles specially designed for children with special needs.
For information, contact Bev Lankitus at 330 881 2906.