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 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’ 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.
The Recipes of Youngstown cookbook is now available for sale at the following facilities in Mill Creek MetroParks:
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 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 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, 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.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), under the supervision of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), conducted goose management this morning in Mill Creek Park. Utilizing methods recommended by the American Veterinary Medical Association, Canada geese were humanely euthanized by USDA.
For years, Mill Creek MetroParks has been addressing goose management issues. We have taken steps utilizing various methods to address these issues, including harassment (flare guns, predator decoys, and dogs), egg addling (treatment of eggs to prevent development/hatching; performed under ODNR permit), habitat modification, and educating the public about not feeding wildlife. These methods have proven unsuccessful; therefore, with a permit from ODNR, the roundup is the next step to reduce the population to a more manageable level. Mill Creek MetroParks is not authorized by ODNR to relocate the geese.
Mill Creek MetroParks has observed and received numerous complaints from visitors whose MetroParks experience has been negatively impacted by geese due to their droppings and aggressive behavior. Goose droppings contain E.coli and other potential pathogens, and the excessive goose droppings in Mill Creek Park can be a disease concern for both people and pets. The large volume of droppings in public areas has created a safety hazard for people. Geese in Mill Creek Park have lost their fear of humans and become aggressive. MetroParks staff has observed incidents where children and adults were in danger of being bitten or attacked by geese while enjoying the MetroParks. The large goose population has also impacted the habitats in Mill Creek Park through overgrazing of grass and landscape plantings, trampling of vegetation, and erosion of shorelines.
“It’s unfortunate that it has come to this point,” said Dennis Miller, executive director of Mill Creek MetroParks. “After consulting with ODNR, this was determined to be the next step and should give us more success for nonlethal management in the future. Management of natural resources, trees, and wildlife is something we take very seriously at the MetroParks and all options are explored prior to making decisions.”
Due to concerns about the possibility of heavy metals and contamination in wild resident geese, MetroParks policy is to not donate the meat.
The public can help Mill Creek MetroParks manage the goose population by not feeding the waterfowl/wildlife. Although it can be entertaining to feed the animals, the food normally given is not appropriate for them and contributes to contamination, overpopulation, and aggressive conflicts.
For more information about Canada goose management, visit our Goose Management page, or contact ODNR or USDA.
For more information about our “Do Not Feed the Wildlife” campaign, visit our “Do Not Feed the Wildlife” page.
Mahoning Valley Historical Society’s Young Leaders Advisory Board presents the Travel Idora Neighborhood bus tour, the first installment of its HISTORY-TO-GO series which focuses on local history events. The tour will be held Saturday, June 21 from 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. Buses will depart and return at the Youngstown Playhouse (free parking available). Boarding will begin at 1:30 p.m. Seating is limited and is available on a first come, first serve basis. The tour is free and open to the public.
This tour will take a comprehensive look at one of Youngstown’s most unique neighborhoods. Participants will gain insight into its 100+ years of history and learn about current developments and plans to revitalize this area as well. Stops along the tour include Mill Creek MetroParks’ Ford Nature Center, YNDC’s Urban Roots Farm, and a historic home under renovation by YNDC. Tour guides will discuss the role Idora Park played in the development of the area, and a short walking tour of Ottawa Avenue will profile the architectural history of three to four houses.
For more information, call Mahoning Valley Historical Society at 330.743.2589 or email mvhs@mahoninghistory.org.
The public and media are invited to a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, May 30 at 10 a.m. at the James L. Wick Jr. Recreation Area to celebrate the grand opening of Mill Creek MetroParks’ new Julianna Kurinka Children’s Play Area.
MetroParks officials will present information about this project, recognize donors, and be available for interviews and photographs. The project, a complete site redesign, consisted of numerous components including: demolition of existing infrastructure; adding and upgrading utilities; construction of new play areas, a perimeter concrete walk/curbing, and new sand volleyball courts; installation of new site lighting and furnishings, and rehabilitation of the Thomas J. Bresko Pavilion. The new Children’s Play Area consists of three areas: An Adventure Play Area, Sand Play Area, and Tot Play Area. The proposed wet playground area will be constructed when the fundraising goal is met. Light refreshments and tours of the new Adventure, Sand, and Tot Play Areas will follow the ceremony.
Donors/funders to the project include the Julianna Kurinka Trust, Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley, J. Ford Crandall Memorial Foundation, Frank & Pearl Gelbman Foundation, Rotary Club of Youngstown, Thomases Family Endowment, and W. E. Bliss Foundation. Proceeds from the Fitness Together 5K, Mill Creek Maple Syrup sales, and MetroParks’ Green Cathedral Half Marathon/5K were designated to support this project as well.