A driver for the Youngstown bottling division of Pepsi Cola services accounts in Youngstown in this undated photo. Electronic image courtesy of Historic Images for Metro Monthly.

Baked macaroni and cheese with diced ham and peas. Electronic image by Ron Flaviano for Metro Monthly and Homeplate.

Recipe by MITCH LYNCH for HOMEPLATE HOMESTYLE

INGREDIENTS

1 16 ounce box of elbow macaroni

2 eggs

1 can of evaporated milk

3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

Hot pepper sauce

1 16 ounce bag of frozen peas

1 1/2″ slice of baked ham

Fresh ground nutmeg

2 tablespoons of Dijon mustard or  2 teaspoons of powdered mustard

Salt and black pepper

Bread crumbs

4 tablespoons butter

4 large basil leaves, finely chopped

PREPARATION

In plenty of salted, boiling water, prepare the elbow macaroni to al dente. Meanwhile, in a medium sized bowl whisk together the eggs, evaporated milk, mustard, 2 teaspoons of salt, 1 teaspoon of black pepper, pinch (or 2 grinds of fresh) nutmeg and 3 dashes of hot pepper sauce. Whisk until combined, set aside. Dice the ham into pea-sized pieces.

Once cooked to al dente, drain pasta completely. Do not rinse. Immediately transfer drained pasta to a large bowl, and add 3 tablespoons butter. The heat from the pasta will melt the butter, mix until combined. Add 2 1/2 cups of cheese, the egg mixture, the ham, basil and the peas to the pasta and mix to combine. Melt remaining butter and mix with 1 cup bread crumbs and the remaining cheese.

Transfer pasta mixture to portion sized oven safe baking dishes, top with some of the bread crumb mixture, and bake under the broiler until golden brown. (Another option is to tranfser the entire mixture into a large casserole dish, top with the bread crumb mixture and bake in a 350 degree oven for 25 minutes.) Serve, refrigerate any leftovers promptly.

Makes approximately 6-8 servings.

ABOUT MITCH LYNCH – New Jersey native Mitch Lynch comes to the “Homeplate” with impressive kitchen credentials. While earning a chef’s apprenticeship at the Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach, Fla., Mitch studied under classically trained European chefs. During this American Culinary Federation apprenticeship, he learned the cooking styles of many different countries.  Mitch and his wife, Patricia Tinkler, own Friends Roastery in downtown Salem, where he is chief baker and coffee roaster. He is also a certified fitness and diet coach.

© 2012 Metro Monthly, Add Moxie and Homeplate Media, LLC. All rights reserved.

Tickets are $6 at the door or can be purchased on the foundation’s Web site.

Teams are comprised of elected officials, community leaders and media from the region. The annual classic benefits the Hope Foundation of the Mahoning Valley, a non-profit organization that raises funds to benefit chronically/terminally ill children in the region.

The event is sponsored by WKBN 27 First News, Fox Youngstown, WYTV, MyYTV, 95.9 KISS, 93.3 “THE WOLF” and News Radio 570 WKBN. In addition, the event is being supported by UAW Locals 1112 & 1714, Refresh Dental, North Eastern Ohio Education Association, Time Warner Cable and Lamar Advertising.

The game will be televised via tape delay starting Sunday, Feb.  26 and over the next three months is expected to reach a viewing audience of nearly 1 million.  Consult the Hope Foundation Web site for channels and times.

The event also will honor the late Dom Rosselli, former YSU men’s basketball and baseball coach, and Ed DiGregorio, former YSU women’s basketball coach.

For more information on donations and tickets, visit http://www.hopemv.org/ .

Reporting for the search committee, Trustee Alex Benyo made the motion on Jan. 19 to extend the search.

“We did a very thorough search across the country and many candidates were interviewed. We are in 100 percent agreement that we need to continue the search,” Benyo said. “We want to attract just the right candidate.”

Bradbury Associates/Gossager Sager Associates will continue the search at no additional cost to the Library. The terms of their contract guaranteed a successful search. The Bradburys have set a tentative timetable for the national search, which includes advertising for the position in about a month and a cut-off for applications around the end of April. Interviewing is expected to take place in May. “We are hoping to have someone in place sometime in July,” said Jobeth Bradbury.

Sears and Library Trustees will work on a bridge for this transition, since the process of selecting a new director will now extend past his original March 30 date of departure. He will meet with the Board’s personnel committee to discuss. The Board will need to take formal action to put such an extension into place.

All candidates interested in the position will need to submit their interest, even if they had applied in the first round. The two candidates that visited Mahoning County this week, Juliet Machie and John Weedon, would again be considered if they choose to apply.

The first search yielded 25 applications and 18 of these were deemed fully qualified, according to Dan Bradbury. The list was pared down to a field of eight and then to three.

“The Search Committee and Library Trustees felt it was important to explore all options and not hurry the process,” said Janet Loew, Library communications and public relations director. “They are open to the possibility that other well-qualified candidates may yet emerge. Some time has elapsed since the Dec. 7 deadline for submitting applications and this opens the possibility that people not previously considering a job change may be motivated to apply at this time. Our trustees are taking great care with the process with a goal of finding a director who is a perfect fit for our library system and who will build on the fine work our current director has done.”

Members of the Library Board of Trustees Search Committee are: Dr. David Ritchie,Trustee president; Trustees Alex Benyo, Delores Crawford and Kathryn Bennett; Library Director Carlton Sears; Library Assistant Director Mary Pullin; Library Human Resource Director Ruth Bradshaw; and community member Joyce Brooks, who has actively participated in sessions of Library Strategic Planning, including the current Library 2011 plan.

For information: http://www.libraryvisit.org/directorsearch.aspx

In other action, the Board voted to re-elect the following officers: President, Dr. David Ritchie; Vice President, Delores Crawford; Fiscal Officer, Susan Merriman; Deputy Fiscal Officer/Secretary, Tin McBane; Library Director, Carlton Sears.

Additionally, the following trustees, whose terms were to expire this month, were re-elected to three year terms: Dr. David Ritchie, Alex Benyo, Millicent Counts, Thomas M. Frost and Judith Schmutz.

The Board also approved a motion authorizing the fiscal officer to place and open bids for the Jackson-Milton Branch Library project. Although the project is not ready to go for bids just yet, the Board was authorizing action when ready. Architect Ronald Cornell Faniro is preparing construction documents in anticipation of being ready to go for bids in late March.

“Wine for Hope” will feature dining stations, a gourmet dessert station with fine wines, entertainment, a silent auction and raffles. The evening also includes a cash bar. Tickets are  $50 per person.

The Hope Foundation of the Mahoning Valley is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide charitable and financial support and volunteer services to and for chronically and/or terminally ill children on a local and regional level.

For more information on donations and tickets, visit http://www.hopemv.org/.

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Springfield Grille managers Tamela Barnhart and Kena Perkins at their monthly wine dinner in January. Metro Monthly electronic image by John Webster.

By JOHN WEBSTER | METRO MONTHLY WINE COLUMNIST

The kickoff of the new year provided a number of fine wine events for inquisitive wine drinkers. Both Springfield Grille and Wine and Dine Ohio held events that showcased affordable fine wines, and a unique trade tasting took place in Cleveland to complement the many local store tastings.

Springfield Grille’s monthly dinner taste featured wines from Purple Feet distributors to go with their signature five-course dinners. We started the dinner with miso shrimp topped with papaya salsa. A 2009 Cantaluna Sauvignon Blanc from the Colchagua Valley of Chile was chosen for this lighter entrée. Crisp and refreshing tropical fruit flavors followed by a grass-tinged finish meshed nicely with the tangy shrimp. A 2010 Coquille D’oc Blanc from France’s Domaine de Sainte Rose was our next pouring. A delicious blend of Chardonnay (40 percent), Sauvignon Blanc (40 percent), Viognier (15 percent) and Muscat (5 percent), it delivers loads of citrus and peach-tinged flavors leading to a crisp clean finish. A grilled marinated long-stem artichoke set atop crusty bread was paired to the tasty French blend and it was a crowd favorite. At $12.99, this is a real bargain from France, and I plan on stocking up on it for this summer.

Roasted beef ragu (sauce) atop pasta was paired to a 2005 Noster Inicial from Priorat, Spain for our third course. Made from mostly Grenache (Garnacha) 70 percent with a dollop of Carignan (25 percent) and Cabernet Sauvignon (5 percent) added, this rich and juicy red was just the answer for the Grille’s beef ragu. At under $20 a bottle, this Priorat blend would be a great substitute for everyday Zinfandel for the more adventuresome among us.

A 2009 Robin K Pinot Noir from California’s Central Coast was our fourth wine. Lush plum and berry fruit flavors followed by soft finish tinged with spice went hand in hand with the Grille’s cranberry and cornbread-stuffed pork loin smothered in wild mushrooms. The fork-tender pork loin was a textbook match for the juicy lush Pinot Noir. A banana-filled chocolate crepe with vanilla bean ice cream was paired to a 2009 Mi Terruno (“My Land”) Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from Mendoza, Argentina for our final course. I’ve sampled a number of Mi Terruno’s other wines and have always been impressed with them, and their Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve was just plain fantastic with the chocolate crepe. As a heads-up, look for two tastings coming from Springfield next month. A chocolate and wine taste will be held on Feb. 14 and 21, so call the restaurant and get your reservations in, since seating will be limited.

Café Cimmento  in downtown Youngstown was chosen for Wine and Dine Ohio’s monthly dinner taste for January. Wines from the Pacific Northwest were chosen to go with specially prepared entrees to make a unique dinner experience for the 45 attendees. The first wine poured was the Eola Hills Pacific Blanc from Oregon ($11.99). Off-dry but crisp fruit flavors made this blend of Chardonnay, Riesling, and early Muscat a real hit with the people who ordered Cimmento’s Tuscan salad. Our next wine was Eola Hills 2009 Chardonnay. Awarded a Best Buy in 2008 by Wine Spectator, it won again this year. Smooth creamy citrus fruit flavors followed by a supple clean finish were just the answer for the featured New Zealand lamb lollipops. This inexpensive Chardonnay should be on your “must-buy” list for upcoming summer and outdoor dining.

Our next wine originates in the Columbia Valley of Washington’s Wahluke Slope. The 2010 Charles and Charles Rose is made from 100 percent Shiraz and exudes a stony minerality with upfront raspberry flavors. The “orecchiette con salsiccia” (pasta, sausage, escarole and cannellini beans in garlic sauce) was a fine match for this robust rose. A dinner featuring Pacific Northwest wines wouldn’t be complete without a great Oregon Pinot Noir included. We chose the 2009 Eola Hills Pinot Noir because it exemplifies textbook Oregon Pinot flavors (spicy notes of cherry and strawberries) followed by a supple spice-tinged finish that meshed wonderfully with the New Zealand rack of lamb that Cimmento’s prepared. This Wine Spectator “Best Buy” ($16.99) compares well with Oregon Pinots that are twice its asking price.

Moving back to the Columbia River Valley of Washington state, we chose the 2010 Charles and Charles Red ($15.99) to finish the tasting. This undervalued red is a blend of 51 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 49 percent Shiraz. It offers gobs of red fruit flavors tinged with coffee and cocoa followed by a silky smooth finish. This red wine needed a robust entrée to go with it, and the diners who chose the Fettuccine Carbonara simply raved about it. With all the award-winning wines poured at this event, I want to congratulate George Mager and his dedicated staff for a wonderful job and a great start to the new year.

Before I move along to our local store tastings, I’d like to share a few outstanding wines I sampled at Cutting Edge Distributors’ Jorge Ordonez Imports extravaganza at the outstanding Americano Restaurant in Bratenahl, Ohio. Jorge Ordonez is one of our finest sources of classic Spanish wine. If you see his name and logo on the back of a Spanish wine bottle, rest assured you are purchasing the best. Thirty-two wines were poured at this event, and all were textbook examples of their origins. (I’ll have my tasting notes handy for awhile, so if you see me out and about, feel free to ask about Spanish wines you may be interested in.)

Two wines under $20 a bottle really stood out. My first pick was the 2009 Avante Mencia ($17.99) from the Valdeorras region of Spain. If you like Cabernet Franc-style wines, give this one a try. The Mencia grape mimics Cabernet Franc’s taste profile to a T. Smooth dark berry flavors followed by a finish tinged with fallen leaves will have you asking for another glass. My next pick was the 2009 Emilio Moro Finca Resalo from the Ribera del Duero region of Spain. Supple dark fruit flavors lead to a rich spice-tinged finish that’s just short of amazing for a wine in this price range. I want to thank Cutting Edge Distributors and the Americano Restaurant for a memorable afternoon of wine and food.

Let’s start off our store visits with Wine Styles of Howland. They held an impromptu tasting on Jan. 17 with Hunter Voegel of Treasure Hunter Wines pouring some of his favorites and a few new wines coming into his stable. Hunter started us off with a glass of his 2009 Treasure Hunter Alexander Valley Chardonnay ($17.99). I sampled this wine in the past, and it is just plain delicious. Ripe citrus and pear flavors lead to a crisp supple finish that will make you think you are drinking a wine well above this wine’s asking price.

My next pick was the Treasure Hunter 2009 Stag’s Leap Cabernet Sauvignon ($27.99). With about 100 cases available, this bottling will always be in short supply. The Stag’s Leap area is one of my favorite wine-producing areas, and Hunter’s rendition is a textbook example of this region’s best. Ripe pinpoint dark fruit flavors followed by a bold structured finish make this a wine that will easily cellar for 10 or more years.  I’ve followed this winery for quite awhile, and I think their wine pricing is very consumer friendly. Hunter promised me a heads-up for his next visit so that I can get the word out to his many fans.

My first store taste took me to Vintage Estate Beer and Wine in Boardman for an all-sparkling wine tasting. My first pick was the Jorge Ordonez 2009 Spanish Kila Cava Sparkler ($12.99) from the Penedes region of Spain. Indigenous Macabeo, Xarel-lo and Parellada grapes are blended to make this ripe and juicy bubbly. It finishes bright and clean and would make a great summer sparkler for mimosas. My next pick was New York’s Chateau Frank Celebre Cremant ($20.99). Made from 100 percent Riesling, it shows apple and honey-tinged flavors on the palate, with a bracing crisp finish that is very enjoyable. This would be an interesting wine for holiday ham and fowl dishes.

My trip to Michael Charles Premier Wines on Elm Road featured two wines that were very intriguing. The 2009 Protocolo ($9.99) red from Spain is made from 100 percent Tempranillo. Medium bodied with juicy cherry flavors, it finishes crisp with textured berry and spice aromas. My next pick was the 2008 Fetish Playmates Shiraz ($19.99, originally $25.99) from Australia’s Barossa Valley. Smoothly crafted with dark red fruit flavors, it finishes clean and neat.

Charlie’s Premier Wines in Howland had a real treat for everyone at one of its “every Saturday” tastings. The crew from Ashtabula’s St. Joseph Vineyard came in with a wide selection of their estate wines for everyone to sample.  St. Joseph’s is one of Ohio’s best sources for outstanding Pinot Noir. Their regular bottling from the 2009 vintage ($19.99) is just plain delicious. Burgundian in style, it exudes lush cherry flavors and finishes long with just a hint of earth and spice.

My next pick was their estate-grown Shiraz ($24.99). Cool-climate in style, it resembles a fine Cote Rotie from the Rhone region of France. Vividly vibrant dark fruit flavors follow to a long, spicy pepper-tinged finish that will keep you coming back for more.

Upcoming events include Alberini’s in Niles, Friday, Feb. 3, a “Cab-In Fever” wine tasting featuring Cabernet Sauvignon; Springfield Grille chocolate and wine tasting Tuesday, Feb. 14 and 21; Vernon’s Ristorante in Niles, annual “Fat Tuesday” taste, 6:30 p.m., Feb, 21; Wine and Dine Ohio events – 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9 at Austin’s in Brecksville, Ohio (8121 Chippewa Road); 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11 at Rachel’s Westchester Restaurant in Austintown; and 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 27 and Thursday, March 29 at Selah in Struthers. To make a reservation or get on the email list for Wine and Dine Ohio event information, call 330-651-8676 and leave a message, or email jmwineguy@gmail.com to provide your contact information.

Other regular tastings include Charlie’s Premier Wines of Howland, every Saturday; Wine Styles, every other week on Thursday, Friday and Saturday; Vintage Estate, third Saturday tasting; and Michael Charles Premier Wines on Elm Road, second Saturday tasting. If your restaurant, shop or charity event is having an upcoming wine tasting, please email me a month in advance at jmwineguy@gmail.com. I wish all my readers a Happy Valentine’s Day, and I hope to see you at events around town.

© 2012 The Metro Monthly. All rights reserved.

“Fast paced, powerful, touching and hilarious, this kaleidoscope of constantly shifting scenes, mood and images recreates the world of a great American woman and artist,” notes the Playhouse. “Uniquely and boldly, the play dramatically weaves through her life experiences and the times that shaped her.”

Hansberry’s best known work, “A Raisin in the Sun,” (winner of The New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best Play) was the first play written by an African-American woman to be produced on Broadway.

Director Carla Gipson said she is very excited to be able to bring this show to The Playhouse in celebration of Black History Month. “The experiences that were inspirational in Lorraine Hansberry’s life and works, which came during the 50s and 60s, are also an American experience that we can all relate to. The messages and challenges are still relevant today,” said Gipson.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and students. The Moyer Room has limited seating and reservations are recommended. To reserve, call the box office at 330-788-8739 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Groups, various locations. The Alzheimer’s Association hosts caregiver support groups throughout the month. For more information, call the Alzheimer’s Association at 330-650-0552 or 1-800-272-3900.This month’s meetings include: 10 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 7 at Senior Center of Mahoning County, 1110 Fifth Ave., Youngstown; 7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 14 at the Howland United Methodist Church, 730 Howland-Wilson Road, Howland; 10 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 15 at Trumbull Memorial Hospital, 1350 E. Market St., Conference Room 1, 2, 3, Warren; 2 p.m., Monday, Feb. 20 at Antonine Sister’s Adult Day Center, 2691 North Lipkey Road, North Jackson; and  1:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 23 at the Alzheimer’s Association, Building B, Suite 301, 3695 Boardman-Canfield Road, Canfield.

BLOOD DRIVES/DONATIONS

Community Blood Drives: Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Boardman and Poland branches; 330-744-8636. The Mahoning Chapter of the American Red Cross will conduct the blood drives at two library branches of the Public Library this month. Drives include: Poland branch, 12:30-6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 8 and Boardman branch, 1:30-6:30 p.m., Monday., Feb. 20. Call for more information.

BLOOD-PRESSURE SCREENINGS

Blood Pressure Check by the Salem Area Visiting Nurse Association, Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Sebring branch; 330-744-3836. 12-2 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 7.

Blood Pressure Screenings, St. Joe’s at the Mall, Sears Concourse, Eastwood Mall, 5555 Youngstown-Warren Road, Niles; 330-652-7542.  9 a.m.-noon on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. 2-4 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday. Free.

Blood Pressure Screenings, various branches, Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County; 330-744-8636.  By the Mahoning Chapter of the American Red Cross. Boardman branch: 12:30-3 p.m., Monday, Feb. 6; Struthers branch: 1-4 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 21; Poland branch, 1-4 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 28.

CANCER

Breast Cancer Support Group (BEACON), St. Joseph Health Center, 667 Eastland Ave., Warren; 1-888-227-6446. BEACON (Better Emotional Awareness of Cancer and Our Needs) provides peer support and links breast-cancer survivors and other women who have had a similar diagnosis. No registration necessary. 6:30-8 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 2. Free.

HOPE Support Group, St. Elizabeth Health Center, 8401 Market St., Boardman; 330-629-7500. Support group for cancer patients, family and friends who are newly diagnosed,undergoing treatment or recently completing therapy. Call to register. 5:30-7:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 9. Free.

DIABETES

Diabetes Support Group, Mahoning County Senior Center, 1110 Fifth Ave., Youngstown; 480-2676, 330-744-5071. Support group for individuals with diabetes. Family members are welcome. 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 9. Free.

Know Your Numbers, St. Joe’s at the Mall, Sears Concourse, Eastwood Mall, 5555 Youngstown-Warren Road, Niles; 330-652-7542. Gloria Pozega, RN, educates participants on monitoring cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar. Call to register. 9-10:30 a.m., Friday, Feb.1o.

CARDIO-PULMONARY HEALTH

Carotid or AAA Screening, St. Joe’s at the Mall, Sears Concourse, Eastwood Mall, 5555 Youngstown-Warren Road, Niles; 330-652-7542. For those at risk and meeting criteria. By appointment. Call 330-652-7542. Wednesday, Feb. 1. 8:30 a.m.-noon. Free.

Heart Failure Support Group, St. Elizabeth Health Center, 1044 Belmont Ave., Youngstown; 330-480-3991. Support for patients and families dealing with heart failure. 3-4 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 1. Free.

Heart Failure Support Group, St. Joseph Health Center, 667 Eastland Ave., Warren; 330-841-4327. Support group for individuals and families dealing with heart failure. Call to register. 1-2 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 16. Free.

ICD (INTERNAL CARDIAC DEFRIBRILLATOR) Connection, St. Elizabeth Health Center, 8401 Market St., Boardman; 330-480-7648. Education and information for a participant and one guest. Participant must have an internal cardiac defibrillator (ICD). Features a guest speaker. Call for more information or to register. 6-7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 23. Free.

Mended Hearts Support Group,  St. Elizabeth Health Center, 8401 Market St., Boardman; 330-702-8859. Support for those dealing with heart disease and other cardiac problems. Includes discussion about lifestyle changes, depression, recovery and treatment. Call for more information. 7-9 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 22. Free.

Peripheral Vascular Disease Screening. St. Joe’s at the Mall, Sears Concourse, Eastwood Mall, 5555 Youngstown-Warren Road, Niles; 330-652-7542. A nurse will measure blood flow to the legs by doing Ankle-Brachial Index. By appointment only. 1-4 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 23.

Vitamin Supplements for Your Heart, St. Joe’s at the Mall, Sears Concourse, Eastwood Mall, 5555 Youngstown-Warren Road, Niles; 330-652-7542. Jim Sayers from the Vitamin Shoppe will speak. Call to register. 9-10 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 14. Free.

DEATH, DYING & GRIEVING

HEAL Support Group, St. Elizabeth Health Center, 1044 Belmont Ave., Youngstown; 480-3132. Support group for those who have lost a child due to miscarriage, stillbirth or the death of a newborn. Call for more information. 7-9 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 14. Free.

New Horizons Grief Series, Hospice House, 9803 Sharrott Road., Poland; 330-549-5901. Eight-week educational support sessions for adults who have had a loved one die. Register with Karen. 5:30-7 p.m., Monday, Feb. 13. Free.

Parents Together, Hospice House, 9803 Sharrott Road., Poland; 330-549-5901. Weekly support group for parents dealing with grief. Register with Karen. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Every Tuesday. Free.

Parents Together, Hospice of the Valley, 5000 E. Market St., Suite 19, Howland; 330-549-5901. Weekly support group for parents dealing with grief. Register with Karen. 10 a.m.-noon. Every Monday. Free.

Widow and Widowers Group, Canfield Christian Church, 123 S. Broad St., Canfield; 330-549-5900. Grief support group meets the first and third Wednesday of the month (Feb. 1, Feb. 15). Call Karen to register. 6-8 p.m.

Widow and Widowers Group, Hospice House, 9803 Sharrott Road., Poland; 330-549-5901. Grief support group meets the second and fourth Friday of the month (Feb. 10, Feb. 24). Call Karen to register. 10 a.m.-noon.

DIET & NUTRITION

Behavior Modification Group for Weight Management, St. Joe’s at the Mall, Sears Concourse, Eastwood Mall, 5555 Youngstown-Warren Road, Niles; 330-652-7542. Facilitated by Madelyn Martin, LSW. Call to register. 4:30-5:30 p.m., Monday, Feb.13.

Weight Management Through Strength Training, St. Joe’s at the Mall, Sears Concourse, Eastwood Mall, 5555 Youngstown-Warren Road, Niles; 330-652-7542. Includes monthly classes on diet, nutrition and behavior modification. Call to register. $20.

EXERCISE & FITNESS

Easy Yoga Class, St. Joe’s at the Mall, Sears Concourse, Eastwood Mall, 5555 Youngstown-Warren Road, Niles; 330-652-7542. 11 a.m.-noon on Mondays from Feb. 6-27. $20 for four classes or $6 each.

Tai Chi Chih Class, St. Joe’s at the Mall, Sears Concourse, Eastwood Mall, 5555 Youngstown-Warren Road, Niles; 330-727-4477. Lucinda Kutsko will teach. Call for fees and details. 5:30-6:30 p.m., Monday, Feb. 27.

HEALTH EDUCATION LECTURES

Talk with the Doc Program, St. Joe’s at the Mall, Sears Concourse, Eastwood Mall, 5555 Youngstown-Warren Road, Niles; 330-652-7542. Dr. Keith Black will speak. Topic: “A Healthy Heart Can’t be Beat.” Call to register. Noon-1 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 16. $2 (includes a light lunch).

Talk with the Pharmacist, St. Joe’s at the Mall, Sears Concourse, Eastwood Mall, 5555 Youngstown-Warren Road, Niles; 330-652-7542. Bring your questions and have a one-on-one Q&A with Dr. Susan Victor, a pharmacist at Target. Call for appointment. 9-11 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 28.

HEALTH SCREENINGS

Blood Pressure and Health Screenings by Easter Seals Private Duty; 330-744-8636. Easter Seals Private Duty will provide free health assessments at various branches of the Public Library. A nurse will be available for blood pressure screenings, pulse, oxygen saturation, and weight. Easter Seals Private Duty is offering this service through a grant to provide assessments to seniors in Mahoning County aged 60 plus, but participation will not be limited to seniors. Sessions include: West branch, 1-2 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 1; East branch, 1-2 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 7; Newport branch, 1-2 p.m., Wednedsay, Feb. 8; Main Library, 10 a.m.-noon, Thursday, Feb. 23. Call for more information.

LUPUS

Lupus Support Group Meeting, Oakhill Renaissance Center, 345 Oakhill Ave., Youngstown; for more information, call Patricia Phillips at the YWCA at 330-746-6361. Meets the first Tuesday of the month. Noon-2 p.m. Free,

OSTEOPOROSIS

Strong Bones, Strong People, St. Joe’s at the Mall, Sears Concourse, Eastwood Mall, 5555 Youngstown-Warren Road, Niles; 330-652-7542. A 12-week program of personalized strength training and nutritional education for those who have osteoporosis, low-bone density or at risk. Program seeks to improve muscle strength and nutrition. Call for an appointment. Free.

Bone Density Screening, St. Joe’s at the Mall, Sears Concourse, Eastwood Mall, 5555 Youngstown-Warren Road, Niles; 330-652-7542. Have an ultrasound of the heel bone to screen for osteoporosis. No appointment necessary. 9 a.m.-noon. Friday, Feb. 17. Free.

OSTOMY

Ostomy Support Group, St. Elizabeth Health Center, 8401 Market St., Boardman; 330-480-3440. Support, education and information for those who have undergone or will have ostomies. For individuals and their families. No registration necessary. 6:30-7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 14. Free.

SENIOR HEALTH & WELLNESS

Falling Prevention Class, St. Joe’s at the Mall, Sears Concourse, Eastwood Mall, 5555 Youngstown-Warren Road, Niles; 330-652-7542. Prevent yourself or a loved one from a fall by attending this class. Free balance testing by St. Joe’s physical therapy. Also beginning Tai Chi Chih instruction. Call to register. 12-1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 8.

Notary Public Services, Living Wills, and Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare, St. Joe’s at the Mall, Sears Concourse, Eastwood Mall, 5555 Youngstown-Warren Road, Niles; 330-652-7542. Facilitated with assistance of St. Joe’s palliative-care staff.  9 a.m.-noon, Wednesday, Feb. 8 and 1-4 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 23.

SPECIAL-NEEDS CHILDREN

Operation Search and Help Program, Easter Seals and Youngstown Hearing and Speech Center, Youngstown; 330-743-1168. Assists families of special-needs children (birth to age 21) with medications, medical equipment, medical supplies, specialized formulas and transportation assistance to out-of-town medical appointments. Call Mary Ann Schaper for information.

VACCINATIONS

Flu and Pneumonia Vaccines, St. Joe’s at the Mall, Sears Concourse, Eastwood Mall, 5555 Youngstown-Warren Road, Niles; 330-652-7542. By appointment. Medicare, Medicaid & Medicare HMO will be billed. $25  for flu and $48 for pneumonia vaccinations.

© 2012 The Metro Monthly. All rights reserved.

1010 Bryson St., an historic Youngstown home featured in the March 2012 issue of The Old House. Metro Monthly electronic image by Ron Flaviano.

By MARK C. PEYKO | METRO MONTHLY EDITOR

This Old House, one of the largest shelter magazines in the nation, is featuring an historic Youngstown property in its March 2012 issue.

The March 2012 cover of This Old House. Image courtesy of Time, Inc.

The Lyons House, a 1910 arts-and-crafts style home located at 1010 Bryson St. on Youngstown’s North Side, is profiled in the magazine’s “Save This Old House” feature, which typically spotlights a distressed, but architecturally significant, property. The home is listed for $15,000.

Copies of the magazine featuring the Youngstown home were mailed to subscribers earlier in the week and the issue will hit the newsstand in early February.

Frank F. and Elizabeth Lyons built the house and lived there from 1910 until 1920. Lyons was president of the Lyons/Laerie Medical Supply Co. in Youngstown. The home was later owned by Beecher P. Higby Sr., who had prominent Ford and Lincoln dealerships in town.

The Northside Citizens’ Coalition for Community Development, Inc. listed the property on preservationdirectory.com last July. A month later, Keith Pandolfi, associate editor at This Old House, contacted the Coalition for information on the property. Pandolfi writes the “Save This Old House” feature for the magazine.

“I’ve always known that Youngstown had incredible historical housing stock, but this one just seemed very unique to me,” Pandolfi said. “Here you have a Mediterranean-style house in an industrial town in the Midwest. It caught my eye.”

The Lyons House is a two-story Craftsman-style home and a contributing property in the Wick Park Historic District (National Register of Historic Places). The home is notable for two large parapet gables in a Spanish Mission style. The house is constructed with Tapestry Brick, an art brick manufactured by Fiske and Co., Inc. of New York.

The historic house is four blocks from Youngstown State University and one block east of Wick Park. Homes in the neighborhood date from between 1900 and 1915. Styles include Craftsman, Colonial Revival, English Revival, Tudor, Queen Anne and Neo-Classical.

“The North Side neighborhood has a concentration of historic architectural variety that rivals any community in the Midwest,” said Meg Slifcak, principal, MKS Consulting, who is advising the Northside Coalition on the divestment. “The neighborhood’s location adjacent to Wick Park and YSU and the Wick Park residents make this neighborhood ripe for the urban pioneer,” she said.

For the past five years, the Northside Coalition has sold its real-estate holdings so it can shift from community development to neighborhood advocacy. A Raymond John Wean Foundation grant funded the initiative. NSCC President Mark C. Peyko is leading the project with board members Atty. Leonard Schiavone, Herb Soss, Norma Stefanik and Mark Thompson. The late Linda Hoefert also assisted in the project.

To date, the non-profit organization has sold nine houses and scattered vacant lots in a neighborhood bounded by Madison, Wick, Elm and Broadway. Six of the previously vacant houses are now owner occupied and another serves as a student rental. Dominic Marchionda, who built the Flats at Wick apartment complex on Madison Avenue, also acquired two houses just north of YSU for a planned commercial development in the Elm Street corridor. Howard Hanna Realtor Linda Tobin Blough handled the real estate transactions.

Despite the recent house sales, many challenges remain – including the number of vacant properties and absentee owners in the neighborhood. “The residents need to create a vision and a plan to realize the dream of increasing vitality in the neighborhood,” Slifcak said.

For more information on the Lyons House, visit http://www.preservationdirectory.com/HistoricRealEstate/PropertyDetail.aspx?id=1629 or call 330-259-0435.

Editor’s note: Metro Monthly Publisher Mark C. Peyko is president of the North Side Citizens’ Coalition.

1010 Bryson St., a Youngstown home featured in the March 2012 issue of The Old House. This image depicts the home in 1927. Photograph courtesy of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County.

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