Mill Creek MetroParks presents Painted Memories showcasing work from local artist Beth Basista. This exhibit will feature more than 40 colorful paintings in oils, acrylics and watercolors most capturing the essence of landscapes found throughout Mill Creek Parks’ 2,658 acres. “I hope my works inspire others to enjoy this gem of a park, nestled within the city of Youngstown, and to appreciate those who have preserved its natural beauty for us, like founder Volney Rogers, and all who have followed his mission to protect this incredible space,” said Basista.

This free exhibit will be on display Sept. 1 through Oct. 16 within the Weller Gallery inside the Davis Center at Fellows Riverside Gardens, during normal operating hours of 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Tuesday through Sunday, closed Mondays.

Shell Art florals and shell art paintings will be displayed in the entranceway to The Weller Gallery. Basista’s unique shell art paintings start with an acrylics or watercolor painting of under-the-sea, beach, or sunset painted on a canvas board.

Next, she makes figures like fish, turtles, dogs, seahorses or “Beach gals” out of shells and attaches them to her painting, followed by an occasional epoxy finish. Save the date for a Meet the Artist session from noon – 2 p.m. Sept. 15 in the Weller Gallery at Fellows Riverside Gardens. In addition to over 50 originals available for sale, prints will be available for purchase at the Shop in the Gardens inside the Davis Center at Fellows Riverside Gardens.

For more information on this exhibit, visit Mill Creek Metroparks’ website or call Fellows Riverside Gardens at (330) 740-7116.

ABOUT ARTIST BETH BASISTA

Artist Beth Basista was born in Youngstown and resides in Boardman with her husband George. She studied art at Youngstown State University. Basista developed and used her skills as an illustrator, designer, and photographer in her advertising agency Techni-Graphics, Inc., before devoting her time to painting.

Basista is an active member of the Mahoning Valley Watercolor Society (MVWS) and hosts paint outs throughout the area. Beth’s award-winning paintings have been juried in a variety of shows, including the Butler Institute of American Arts Area Artists shows, YWCA Women’s Art shows, the Canfield Fair, the YMCA Artist shows, the Salem Gallery of Arts Exhibit, and several MVWS exhibits. Her paintings have sold at The Source Gallery in Lisbon, through social media, by commission, and through direct contact in Youngstown, Ohio and Ft. Myers, Florida. To learn more and connect, visit BethBasistaPaintings.com, follow Beth Basista Paintings on Facebook and Instagram, Pinterest and LinkedIn. To commission a painting or shell art, email Beth at beth@BethBasistaPaintings.com or send a message through Facebook.

 

Read the original article at Mahoning Matters.

Mill Creek MetroParks visitors now have a new way to access information on the entire park system including facilities, points of interest, trails and more from their mobile devices.

Using the OuterSpatial platform, the new mobile application is free and available for both iPhone and Android devices. The app includes offline mapping and navigation, allowing users continued access even without a cell phone signal.

Visitors can use the app to:

– Plan a visit and make the most of it.

– Navigate while on trails.

– Discover new places.

– Locate parking, restrooms, picnic areas and other park amenities.

– Access information about ecological, geological and historical points of interest.

– Receive notifications about hazards, closures and other timely information.

– Receive special event information.

– Share experiences and photos and connect with others who love the outdoors.

– Report conditions, hazards and incidents at visited locations.

“The new mobile app provides users with the ability to easily access park information and navigation at their fingertips. The app is another resource for visitors to use in helping to guide them with planning and improving their visit,” said Jaime Yohman, Mill Creek MetroParks Community Engagement Director. “It’s a tool users can also rely on while in the park for accurate, up-to-date information on trails, closures, and recreation information throughout the MetroParks.”

To download the free app, visit www.millcreekmetroparks.org/mobile-app/.

 

 

Read the original article at the Morning Journal.

Mill Creek MetroParks visitors now have a new way to access information on the entire park system including facilities, points of interest, trails and more from their mobile devices. Using the OuterSpatial platform, the new mobile application is free and available for both iPhone and Android devices. The app includes offline mapping and navigation allowing users continued access even without a cell phone signal. Visitors can use the app to: * plan a visit and make the most of the visit * navigate while on trails * discover new places * locate parking, restrooms, picnic areas, and other park amenities * access information about ecological, geological, and historical points of interest * receive notifications about hazards, closures, and other timely information * special event information * share experiences and photos and connect with others who love the outdoors * report conditions, hazards, and incidents at visited locations.

Watch the original interview at Mahoning Matters.

A gift to Mill Creek MetroParks from a Boardman car dealership will result in the planting of 3,000 trees.

A check presentation was held Friday at the Mill Creek MetroParks Farm in Canfield.

Boardman Subaru owner Rob Fellman presented the $5,000 donation to Mill Creek MetroParks as part of its “Subaru Loves Earth” initiative to plant a tree. For every vehicle sold during April, $25 was donated up to $5,000. In turn, Metroparks’ “Keep Mill Creek Green” program plants a tree for every $25 donated.

Boardman Subaru gifted the same amount last year toward planting trees in the Collier Nature Preserve, but the trees will be planted in a new area this year.

“This year we are transitioning over to the Wildlife Sanctuary Expansion property,” said Nick Derico, natural resources manager at Mill Creek MetroParks. “So these funds will bolster that project and allow us to plant even more trees. Right now we are moving into a 10-acre site which was a former agricultural field. These funds will supply probably around 3,000 trees.”

This is the third year of the partnership between Mill Creek MetroParks and Boardman
Subaru, bringing the total donation to $13,500.

 

Read the original article at WKBN.