The Update | Mahoning Valley Warrior Returns; Cascade Galleria Launches Weekly Market

CANFIELD, Ohio – The Autism Society of Mahoning Valley’s third annual Mahoning Valley Warrior competition will take place Saturday, June 4, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Canfield Fairgrounds.

Spectators must enter through Gate 2. Events will take place in the grandstand area. For details or to register, go to autismwarriormv.org.

 The event is a competition for runners, CrossFit athletes, business and community organizations, as well as weekend athletes throughout the Mahoning Valley.

The expanded Strongman events, including the Mahoning Valley Warrior Competition, are  attracting CrossFit athletes from around the tri-state region. Athletes, runners, walkers and groups of any combination of those can participate in a singular event or choose from the menu of events, including:

• The group People-Powered Tractor Pull.
• Kids 400-yard Fun Run.
• Autism 1 Mile Support Walk. 
• Valley Autism 5K.

In addition, elite competitors choosing to go for the title of Mahoning Valley Warrior, both male and female, will compete in a quadrathlon consisting of a 5K, Individual People-Powered Tractor Pull, and two Strongman events. Winners will take home a custom winner’s belt and a $250 cash prize.

Also going on at the same time at Mahoning Valley Warrior is the regional Strongman competition Throwdown in the Rust Belts. This is a separate fundraiser that will also benefit the ASMV.

Mahoning Valley Warrior is also the ASMV’s annual celebration of Mahoning Valley autism families.

Presented with the support of the Knapp Center for Childhood Development, free activities include:

• Family Fun Carnival with inflatables, games, food trucks, a petting zoo.
• The 1-mile Autism Support Walk for community supporters, Family Fundraising Teams, and all families affected by autism,.
• The region’s largest Special Needs Resource Fair to bring together information and contacts for families affected by autism and other special needs.

Weekly Growers and Makers Market to Begin

NEW CASTLE, Pa. – Hometown Growers & Makers Market, a pop-up market, will take place every Saturday morning from June 25 to Oct. 29 at the Cascade Galleria parking lot, downtown.

The market will offer regular Saturday morning shopping, dining and family-friendly interactive activities from 8 a.m. to noon, with more than 35 growers, makers, vendors and entrepreneurs from across the region.

It will offer fresh produce, crafts, baked goods, Amish-made items, jewelry, home goods, and more.  All items will be hand-made, grown, or baked.

For a list of family activities, go to FeolaEntertainment.com.

 “I really enjoyed coordinating the pop-up markets [at the Galleria] during both the Christmas and spring seasons, so when a group of entrepreneurs approached me about helping them create this opportunity, I was happy to assist,” says Jeff Feola, owner of Feola Entertainment. 

The Guess Who Is Coming to The Robins

WARREN, Ohio – The Guess Who is coming to the Robins Theatre on Jan. 17, 2023, at 8 p.m. Doors will open at 7 p.m.

Tickets range from $20 to $65 and go on sale on Friday, June 3, at 10 a.m. at robinstheatre.com and at the box office, 160 E. Market St., weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

A presale will begin at 10 a.m. Thursday Friends of the Robins Theatre; to join, go to the website or box office.

The Guess Who produced a flurry of hits in the 1970s, including “These Eyes,” “Clap for the Wolfman,” “Hand Me Down World,” “No Time,” “No Sugar Tonight,” “Laughing,” “Undun,” “American Woman” and “Share the Land.”

Doo Wop Project Coming to Theater

WARREN, Ohio – The Doo Wop Project is coming to the Robins Theatre Aug. 19. Tickets range from $20 to $45 and go on sale Friday, June 3, at 10 a.m. at robinstheatre.com and the box office, 160 E. Market St. A presale for Friends of the Robins Theatre will begin at 10 a.m. Thursday; to join, go to the website or the box office.

Love the classic sounds of Frankie Valli, The Drifters, The Del Vikings? Ever wonder what Maroon 5 would sound like if they had lived in the Doo Wop era? The Doo Wop Project has the answer.

Summer Festival of the Arts Seeks Volunteers

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The 24th annual Youngstown State University Summer Festival of the Arts, scheduled for July 9 and 10 at Wean Park, is seeking volunteers for artist registration, information booths, the children’s hands-on art tent, and for technical assistance at performance sites, among other areas. Various shifts are available for the two-day event. Each volunteer receives a newly designed festival T-shirt, cold water and free parking.

Lori A. Factor, festival coordinator, said, “Our volunteers are crucial to the festival, and offer a personal touch to make this event successful. The volunteer team works hard to create a hospitable environment for artists, performers, and patrons and adds to the success of this annual event.”

Those needing service hours logged, such as that for National Honor Society, sorority or fraternity service, may also participate. Service verification forms will be completed. 

Interested individuals or advisers can obtain an application by calling 330 941 2307, emailing lafactor@ysu.edu  or logging on to www.ysu.edu/sfa to apply online or print a form.

JCC to Present Chalk Over Hate

YOUNGSTOWN – The Jewish Community Center of Youngstown, 505 Gypsy Lane, is participating in Chalk Over Hate from noon to 4 p.m. Friday, June 3.

Chalk Over Hate: Fighting Antisemitism Through Public Art is a campaign by Artists 4 Israel to empower everyone to use their creativity in support of battling antisemitism and all forms of hate.

Students in the JCC Early Learning Center program, Youngstown Area Jewish Federation staff, and local synagogues and other faith groups will participate by creating chalk art in front of the JCC pavilion. Members of the community are welcome to chalk their own message of peace and love. Chalk will be provided.

Renee George, a Paul and Yetta Gluck School of Visual Arts instructor, will be the resident artist and provide ideas and inspiration to participants as well as create chalk art with the themes of peace and love.

Chalk Over Hate creators are hoping for at least 900 participants nationwide – 47 more than the number of hate acts counted by the ADL last year.

For information, visit jccyoungstown.org.

Chalk the Walk Seeks Artists

WARREN – Artists and artisans can sell their work at The Fine Arts Council of Trumbull County’s annual Chalk the Walk event June 25 on Courthouse Square.

The cost to participate is $10. All art and goods must be personally made by the vendor.

For information, email Jessicabrocious@gestiglianogmail-com-com

Lit Youngstown to Host Readings by Poets

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Lit Youngstown’s First Wednesday Readers Series will present poets Pauletta Hansel of Cincinnati and Marjorie Maddox of Lock Haven, Pa., at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 1, at Soap Gallery, 117 S. Champion St., downtown.

 Erica Putro will co-host the free reading, which starts at 7 p.m. The featured readers will be followed by an open mic.

Before the reading, Hansel will offer a poetry writing workshop titled Finding the Poem in Family Stories. In this generative workshop, she will provide several examples of poems that use story to do their lyrical work and provide some prompts to get participants started in writing their own poem. All experience levels are welcome. The workshop registration fee is $20.

‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ Screening at Mauthe Park

 STRUTHERS, Ohio – Joe Danyi owner of Youngstown Studio along with Major Cat Miller of Struthers will present a free family movie, with the film “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” at 7 p.m. Friday, June 3, at Mauthe Park.

The Hot Diggity Dog Eatery food truck will sell food, and the Struthers cheerleaders will sell popcorn.

Pictured at top: The 2021 winners of the Mahoning Valley Warrior competition are Morgan Quimby of New Middletown and Bernie Gorvet of Youngstown.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.