Mill Creek MetroParks Board Meeting Cancelled

Mill Creek MetroParks has received notice that there will not be the necessary quorum for the Board Meeting scheduled for tonight (Monday, September 8 at Birch Hill Cabin) therefore, the meeting has been cancelled. Notice will be provided as to the next meeting date when that information becomes available.

Mill Creek MetroParks to present the Farmer & the Chef event

Mill Creek MetroParks will present the Farmer & the Chef, sponsored by WFMJ/WBCB, on Saturday, September 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the MetroParks Farm (7574 Columbiana-Canfield Road, Canfield). Local chefs will create dishes from fresh, locally sourced ingredients from area farms/producers. Patrons can sample food, craft beer, and enjoy the music of Gail George and Donkey Engine. Proceeds from the Farmer & the Chef support Mill Creek MetroParks agriculture education programs which reach more than 10,000 children annually. Tickets are $50 each and are can be purchased by calling 330.702.3000 or visiting www.millcreekmetroparks.org.

Participating chefs are David Armstrong of Cater 2 U, Danny Catullo of Catullo Prime Meats, Gordy Jelic-Lettieri of Gordy’s Specialty Market, Melissa Poland of Ghossain’s Gourmet Mediterranean Foods, Rebecca Cranshaw of The Georgetown, and Michele Barratt of The Flaming Ice Cube. Participating farms/producers are Angiuli’s Farm Market, Badurik’s Butcher Block, Catalpa Grove Farm, Dandelion Lane Farm, G. Burbick Farms, Gia Russa, Haus Apple Orchards and Cider Mill, Iron Roots Urban Farm, Lucky Penny Farm & Creamery, Molnar Farms, The Lettuce People, and White House Fruit Farm. Desserts will be provided by Selah Restaurant and Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream and Yogurt. Coffee provided by Joe Maxx Coffee Company. Sampling and tasting of olive oils and vinaigrettes provided by Deer Creek Olive Grove.

Sponsors and special contributors are vital to the success of the Farmer & the Chef, and without them, this event would not be possible. This year’s sponsors are: Platinum Sponsor – WFMJ/WBCB; Gold Sponsors – Packer Thomas, Schwebel Baking Company, Superior Beverage, Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC, T. R. Party Centre, and Youngstown Orthopaedic Associates; Silver Sponsors – All Points Physical Therapy, Buckeye Lawn Service, Denise DeBartolo York, Do-Cut Sales & Service, Gina Cimmento Dancers, Huntington Bank, and WYSU-FM; Bronze Sponsors – 1820 House Candle Co., Fitness Together, Gardening Indoor, Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream and Yogurt, Mahoning County Farm Bureau, The Social Studio, and Something New Florist & Events.

Mill Creek MetroParks Preventative Maintenance Closures

Multiple parking lots and paved areas throughout Mill Creek Park will be temporarily closed for annual asphalt sealing and preventative maintenance. Work is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, September 3 and will continue for approximately one week. Lots will reopen for public use when work is completed.

Several prominent areas scheduled for maintenance include East Golf Hike/Bike (Rt. 224 entrance), Newport Wetlands, and trails at Yellow Creek Park and Wick Recreation Area. While the lots are closed, the facilities they support will remain open and accessible for public use. Private rentals of cabins and pavilions will not be affected by this project. Please use alternate parking lots to access these facilities when lots are closed.

In the event of inclement weather, the work schedule will be delayed and adjusted accordingly. For more information about this project or Mill Creek MetroParks, visit our website at www.millcreekmetroparks.org.

Mill Creek Golf Course closed Aug. 22 to host Greatest Golfer

Mill Creek Golf Course will be closed Friday, August 22, to host the Greatest Golfer of the Valley event. Both the North and South courses will be closed to the public and will reopen on Saturday, August 23.

Mill Creek MetroParks to present Movie Under the Stars

Mill Creek MetroParks will present Movie Under the Stars on Saturday, August 16 at the MetroParks Farm, 7574 Columbiana-Canfield Rd., Canfield, OH 44406. The event is free and family friendly.

This year’s movie, “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs,” will begin at dark and will be projected on the Barn Door. Bring a blanket or chair. Popcorn, drinks, and meatballs will be available for purchase, or bring your own snacks.  Facility opens at 8 p.m. for pre-movie activities, and barns will be open late to visit with the animals. In the event of inclement weather, movie will be shown indoors.

For more information, visit www.millcreekmetroparks.org.

Mill Creek MetroParks to present MetroMutts: Yappy Hour

Mill Creek MetroParks’ Lake Glacier Boathouse will be closed to the public on Thursday, August 14 from 4 p.m. until dark for the MetroMutts Yappy Hour event. The Boathouse will reopen on Friday, August 15 at 11 a.m.

Yappy Hour is a social event for dogs and their human companions. Canines and people will be able to take a ride around Lake Glacier in the MetroParks passenger boat, then go ashore for hors d’oeuvres and refreshments. Dogs will enjoy treats and a (non-alcoholic) dog-arita, while humans can sip a glass of wine or two. Water and lemonade will also be available.

Yappy Hour will be held from 5:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. The last boat ride will leave the shore at 7:30 p.m.  Cost for MetroMutts members is $10; non-members are $15. Reservations are recommended but not required.

For more information or to make a reservation, call the Ford Nature Center at 330.740.7107 or visit www.millcreekmetroparks.org.

Recipes of Youngstown cookbook now on sale at Mill Creek MetroParks

The Recipes of Youngstown cookbook is now available for sale at the following facilities in Mill Creek MetroParks:

  • Lanterman’s Mill, 980 Canfield Rd., Youngstown, OH
    • Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., 330.740.7115
  • Mill Creek MetroParks Administrative Office, 7574 Columbiana-Canfield Rd., Canfield, OH
    • Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., 330.702.3000
  • Lanterman’s Mill, 980 Canfield Rd., Youngstown, OH
    • Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., 330.740.7115
  • Ford Nature Center, 840 Old Furnace Road, Youngstown, OH
    • Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Sunday Noon to 5 p.m., 330.740.7107
  • Fellows Riverside Gardens Front Desk, 123 McKinley Ave., Youngstown, OH
    • Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., 330.740.7116

Cookbooks are $18 each plus tax. Customers who would like their books shipped can call Lanterman’s Mill at 330.740.7115 during regular business hours. To learn more about Mill Creek MetroParks, visit our website at www.millcreekmetroparks.org.

About Recipes of Youngstown

The Recipes of Youngstown cookbook was the brainchild of a group of west side Youngstowners who set up a Facebook page where members could share recipes, ideas, laughter and tears, as well as stories of their days in Youngstown. Many have moved away, but found the taste of Youngstown’s food keeps drawing them home. Offered in the cookbook are 550 of the most loved recipes from people who consider Lanterman’s Mill a part of their history. Each recipe brings a memory to light, and they are shared in the cookbook.

About Mill Creek MetroParks

Mill Creek Park was established in 1891 by Volney Rogers as the first park district in Ohio. In 1989, the diverse lands now known as Mill Creek MetroParks officially became a metropolitan park district, providing visitors of all ages the opportunity to relish “the gem” of Mahoning County. From the casual visitor to the local explorer, Mill Creek MetroParks offers a natural escape and recreational activities for the enjoyment of all ages.

The mission of Mill Creek MetroParks is to provide park, recreational and open space facilities of regional significance. In fulfilling this mission our objectives are to be responsive to community needs; to be environmentally sound; to be adaptable; and to be economically feasible.

To explore, experience and enjoy Mill Creek MetroParks, please visit www.millcreekmetroparks.org or call 330.702.3000. Like us on Facebook at (Mill Creek MetroParks) and follow us on Twitter (@MillCreekMetro) and Instagram (millcreekmetroparks).

Mill Creek MetroParks’ A Midsummer Night’s Dream rescheduled for Friday

Mill Creek MetroParks and the Mahoning Valley Players have rescheduled the August 2 performance of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which was canceled due to inclement weather, for Friday, August 8 at 6 p.m. at the Judge Morley Pavilion at the Wick Recreation Area (1861 McCollum Rd. Youngstown, OH 44509). This is free performance with lawn seating; bring a chair or blanket.

William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream portrays the events surrounding the marriage of the Duke of Athens, Theseus, and Hippolyta. These events include the adventures of four young Athenian lovers and a group of six amateur actors, who are controlled and manipulated by the fairies that inhabit the forest in which most of the play is set. The play is one of Shakespeare’s most popular works for the stage and is widely performed across the world. The performing cast is an assembly of talented Shakespearean actors from the tri-county area.

Mill Creek MetroParks to present Bug Day on Sunday

Mill Creek MetroParks will present Bug Day on Sunday, August 3, from Noon – 4 p.m. at the MetroParks Farm, 7574 Columbiana-Canfield Rd., Canfield, OH 44406. Free event.

Although bugs may seem creepy and yucky, they are more fun than you might think. Earn your “Master of Bugology” diploma by playing bug games, racing bugs, hunting for bugs, viewing them through microscopes, and learning about honeybees. See special displays of live and preserved bugs from around the world. Listen as staff from the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County read stories about these crawly creatures. For event details, call Ford Nature Center at 330.740.7107 or visit www.millcreekmetroparks.org.

Christina’s Garden Labyrinth to be dedicated Sunday at Fellows Riverside Gardens

Christina’s Garden Labyrinth, a new garden area in Mill Creek MetroParks’ Fellows Riverside Gardens, will be dedicated on Sunday, July 13 at 1 p.m. Created in memory of Christina Camardese Savage by her friends and family, Christina’s Garden Labyrinth will provide a place for visitors to engage with the beauty of the Gardens at a personal level.

Consisting of a contemplative walkway, sculpture, bench and interesting plants, this new feature connects to the existing healthy living opportunities at Fellows Riverside Gardens. Located in a very popular part of the Gardens, the labyrinth is next to the South Terrace with a view of the Rose Garden.

“Labyrinth users will experience a tranquil place that lifts the spirit,” said Horticulture Director Keith Kaiser. “This new area is a beautiful and welcome addition to Fellows Riverside Gardens.”

Open for individual as well as a program space, the Christina’s Garden Labyrinth is another exciting new feature in Mill Creek MetroParks. To learn more about Mill Creek MetroParks, visit our website at www.millcreekmetroparks.org.