The exhibition, which is open to alumni artists of any graduating year and working in any medium, features works by Stephanie Dorsch, Emily Eyler, Josh Glaser, Kandice Hartner, Sarah (Lohr) McMullen, Deanna Moose, Mary Ann (Prokop) Richards, Heather (Grindle) Roper, Debra Shingledecker, Linda (Stephenson) Thompson, Glenn Thompson, Steve Totin and Alexa Tovarnak. 

A gallery reception will take place from 11 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 3, during Westminster’s homecoming weekend. 

The exhibition and reception are free and open to the public. The Foster Art Gallery, located in Patterson Hall on Westminster’s campus, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

‘Mauthausen 7’ Author to Sign Book

BOARDMAN, Ohio – J.E. Ballantyne Jr., author of “The Mauthausen 7” and other books and plays, will sign and sell copies of his book at the  Barnes & Noble bookstore on U.S. Route 224 from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3.

“The Mauthausen 7” tells the story of a little-known incident that took place at the Mauthausen Concentration Camp, a Nazi prisoner of war facility, in 1943. Seven Jewish prisoners are the only occupants of

Block #5 in the camp, although the other blocks are filled to overflowing. The seven are perplexed as to why they are the only ones housed in #5 and why it is them specifically.

A captured British naval officer is then brought into the block, which raises questions among the seven inhabitants. Is he who he says he is? Is he a Nazi spy? The secrets come into play as the story unfolds.

Ballantyne originally wrote about this incident in 2005 as a play, “Block 5,” which he produced at the Oakland Center for the Arts, and later at Victorian Players in 2010.

He adapted the script into a short novel to better preserve it and make it more widely available. 

The book includes an epilogue with historical

information about the Nazi concentration camp network, high-level Nazi officers and their involvement in the Holocaust, a list of well known people of the time that were incarcerated in Nazi camps and their fates, photos of major camps and a list of Holocaust books for further research.

“The Mauthausen 7” is also available at JebBooks.com.

Site Offers Guide to Fall Foliage in Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Spotting the first glimpse of fall color – seeing the leaves changing to strong reds, vivid yellows and bold oranges – is a favorite activity for Ohioans.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources will help people find the best places to view the changing colors throughout the season with weekly updates starting Oct. 1.

Fall colors occur due to trees slowing the production of chlorophyll, a green pigment, as they begin to go dormant for the winter. Without chlorophyll in the leaves, other yellow, orange, and red pigments can be seen. Sunny days and cool nights also promote the production of pigments that produce red and purple hues in the leaves. Several variables, such as length of days, sunlight, temperature, wind and rainfall, affect the intensity and longevity of leaf color.

This fall, the ODNR Division of Forestry is expecting color to peak in the far north of Ohio in mid-October, in central and northern Ohio in mid- to late October and in southern Ohio at the end of October and beginning of November.
Those interested in finding the most eye-catching leaves throughout the season should check out ODNR’s Fall Color | Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the official guide to the changing colors. The website includes:

  • Weekly color updates and information to help plan a fall color adventure.
  • Overnight accommodations at Ohio state parks.
  • Family-friendly events happening around the state.

Books Crawl to Include Local Shops

BOARDMAN, Ohio – POP! Art Books Culture, 6949 Market St., will participate in the fall books crawl on Saturday, Oct. 3, along with five other regional bookstores. 

Participants will receive a stamp card at any of the participating bookstores and use that card to collect stamps from the other participating bookstores.

Once participants visit the final bookstore, they will receive a reward. Each store will have their own sales, surprises and/or giveaways.

All stores will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The other participating stores are:

  • Bob’s Bookstore, 657 E. State St., Salem.
  • Paperback Shack, 6058 Youngstown-Warren Road, Niles.
  • Once Upon a Bookstore, 351 Youngstown-Kingsville Road, Vienna.
  • The Book Nook, 222 E. Market St., Warren.
  • The Literary Escape, 436 W. Carolina Ave., Chester, W.Va.

American Made Songwriter Series at YSU

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Bob DiPiero, a Nashville-based country music songwriting great and a Liberty native who graduated from Youngstown State University, will return to his hometown Oct. 9 to lead the American Made Songwriter Series at Ford Theater, inside Bliss Hall, at YSU.

Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. performance are available online.

He will be joined onstage by J.T. Harding and Blessing Offor, who appeared on “The Voice.”

Each will take turns sharing the stories behind their songs and performing their original pieces live.

Sponsored by Compass Family and Community Services and the YSU Cliffe College of Creative Arts, proceeds from the event will support Sojourner House.

Warren Philharmonic Offers Free Lessons

WARREN, Ohio – The Warren Philharmonic Orchestra will offer free string lessons to Trumbull County students through its Frank R. Bodor Strings of Joy program.

Students are selected through an application process, and each participant receives a loaned violin or cello for use throughout the program. The Strings of Joy reflects the WPO’s commitment to nurturing young musicians and expanding access to high‑quality music education throughout the Mahoning Valley.
This year’s free violin lessons will take place each Sunday afternoon from Oct. 18 to May 30. New and returning violin students in grades three through seven will study with violinist Natalie Machala at Christ Episcopal Church, 2627 Atlantic St. NE.

Program materials, including the application, student/parent agreement and parent guide, are available at the WPO’s website.

The WPO will present its fall concert at 7 p.m. Oct. 17 at Christ Episcopal Church.

Lit Youngstown to Spotlight Poets

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Lit Youngstown’s First Wednesday Reader Series will feature poets Diane Kendig of Canton and Erica Manto Paulson of Cincinnati on Oct. 7 in the Trophy Room of Westside Bowl, 2627 Mahoning Ave. (accessible only by stairs), with an open mic to follow. 

The First Wednesday reading in November will feature multigenre Cleveland writers William Breeze and E.F. Schraeder.

Lit Youngstown is a literary arts nonprofit with programs for writers, readers and those who love a good story. 

Eye Ball Registration and Tickets

NILES, Ohio – Sight for All United’s annual Eye Ball of the Mahoning Valley will take place Oct. 24 at Eastwood Event Centre. The formal event will begin at 5:30 p.m. with raffle prizes, a silent auction and a “spirit” pull. The program will begin at 7 p.m. with a live auction and paddle raise.

Afterward, there will be live music by RDNA and other activities.

Event registration and sponsorship opportunities will close Oct. 3.

For ticket information and event details, contact the SFAU office at  330 750 1867 or info@sfau.org.

Pictured at top: Alexa Tovarnak’s “Untitled (City Without Men),” a 2026 ink painting, will be part of the alumni exhibition at Westminster College.