P.E.R.I. of Mahoning County to meet Aug. 4

The Public Employee Retirees (P.E.R.I.) of Mahoning County Chapter 18 will meet at noon Aug. 4 at Avion on the Water Banquet Center, 2177 Western Reserve Road for a cost of $20. Reservations are due by July 28 by contacting: Janice, 330-259-8756; Carol, 330-758-5239; or Diane, 330-547-9612. Anyone with dietary restrictions, advise the person taking the reservation. Guest speaker will be Traci Manning, curator of education at The Mahoning Valley Historical Society in celebration of America 250. She will present historical facts about the area. P.E.R.I. welcomes OPERS retirees and current employees to attend. Information about Chapter 18 membership can be obtained by calling Marilyn at 330-565-6913.

30th May Family Reuncion to be held Aug. 8

The 30th May Family Reunion will be held Aug. 8 at the Summitville Fire Hall, with eating beginning at 1 p.m. Bring a covered dish and an item for the white elephant sale. Meats and drinks will be provided, and there will be games. For information contact Lillie Moats at 330-223-2321.

Veteran’s Apprection Picnic set July 18 in Calcutta

All veterans and those in active duty along with a guest are invited to the Veterans’ Appreciation Picnic from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 18 at Calcutta Square in Calcutta. The free picnic lunch will include ice cream, give aways and live music.

Mount Union receives 2026 Innovation Grant from the I’m Still Here Foundation

ALLIANCE – The University of Mount Union has been awarded a 2026 Innovation Grant from the I’m Still Here Foundation (ISHF) to launch Campus Connections, an intergenerational program designed to engage people living with dementia through social connection, movement, creativity, and sensory engagement.

The University of Mount Union is one of seven organizations selected nationwide for ISHF’s 2026-2027 Innovation Grant cycle, chosen from a competitive national pool of applicants. Each grantee receives seed funding and mentorship to bring their project to life, incorporating the “I’m Still Here” philosophy–the conviction that people can live well with dementia–into their program.

Campus Connections will bring people living with dementia and their care partners into the heart of university life to participate in monthly, themed experiences led by staff, faculty and students across campus. From the nature center and athletics to the arts, sciences and student life, this program will enable participants to experience connection, dignity and the opportunity to remain active, creative, and engaged.

“This grant allows us to meet people exactly where they are and remind them, and their families, of everything they can still do,” said Andrea Williams, director of academic coordination for Mount Union’s Doctor of Physical Therapy Program. “We are honored to be part of the I’m Still Here Foundation’s work and to bring this program to our campus community.”

In addition to providing seed funding, ISHF partners with grantees by providing mentorship, guidance, and sharing research-backed best practices. By helping innovative ideas grow and disseminating successful approaches to the community, ISHF works to ensure that all people living with dementia can experience connection, purpose, dignity, and hope.

“Hope in Action is more than a slogan–it is the guiding principle behind everything we do,” said Sharon Johnson, Executive Director of the I’m Still Here Foundation. “Organizations like the University of Mount Union demonstrate what is possible when we focus on strengths, abilities and opportunities rather than limitations. Their work reminds us that people living with dementia can continue to experience purpose, connection, growth and joy throughout their dementia journey.”

Campus Connections will meet one time per month July 2026 through June 2027. People living with dementia and their care partners are invited to learn more and sign up by contacting Andrea Williams at 330-829-8192 or williaal@mountunion.edu.

Local college students’ work showcased at the Baldwin Wallace University Ovation 2026 Day of Excellence

BEREA – Baldwin Wallace caps off the spring semester each year with the Ovation Festival, an annual event since 2007 that celebrates student achievement in research, scholarship and the arts. Students from the area were among over 220 students whose exceptional academic work was showcased. The following local students presented their work:

Alexa Gossett of Beloit, a graduate of West Branch High School, majoring in psychology and neuroscience, presented “An Analysis of the Near-Win Effect in College Students,” “C. elegans with Mitochondrial Dysfunction Targeting Complexes I and II Exhibit Variations in Habituation Behavior” and “Fear Learning and Relapse: Virtual Reality vs. Flat Panel Displays.”

Michael Dorris of Alliance, a graduate of West Branch High School, majoring in engineering, presented “Systems of Equation solve: 2 Equations 2 Unknowns.”