Community calendar for Feb. 7

Young professionals sought for the Spark Board The Elyria Community Partnership is seeking young professionals for the Spark Board. The first round review begins Feb. 11. Apply online at ElyriaTogether.org/spark. Lorain Public Library System is hosting a food drive The Lorain Public Library System is hosting a food drive to stock the pantry shelf of the Freedge, free outdoor refrigerator, at the South Lorain Branch. The donation drive is specifically for nonperishable items for the panty shelf above the Freedge. Specifically canned vegetables, soup, Chef Boyardee and SpaghettiO products, pasta and pasta sauce, tuna, ready rice, fruit cups, peanut butter, dried fruits, nuts, oatmeal and trail mix. Donations will be accepted at all Lorain Public Library System branches from Monday through March 31. If donating to the South Lorain Branch specifically, please bring the donations inside as the Freedge itself is a pickup location only, not a donation site. The Freedge is part of the global movement to place refrigerators in places in the community where anyone can access free food. It was installed in 2023 in partnership with El Centro de Servicios Sociales and Lorain County Public Health. Freedges can be found in Africa, Asia, Europe and South America in addition to many here in the United States. Today - Coffee and Doughnuts with the Columbia Township trustees from 10 a.m. to noon at the Columbia Library branch. Coffee and doughnuts will be served. - The Grafton-Midview Library is having a take your child to the library day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be activities, rabbits from local 4-H families, meet the children's librarians, and other fun. - An icicle hike will be 2-2:45 p.m. at the Lorain County Metro Parks Vermilion River Reservation. Meet at the Carriage Barn, 51211 North Ridge Road, Vermilion. No registration required. - Lorain County family recipes from 3-4:30 p.m. at the Lorain Main Library. Kelly Boyer Sagert, author of "Lorain County Family Recipes: History and Tradition From Pierogis to Plum Dumplings" will share stories of how the Russian Jewish community immigrated to Lorain County while staff present a special recipe from the book. Sunday -Women in History: Sojourner Truth and Ida B. Wells-Barnett from 3-4 p.m. at the North Ridgeville Library branch. Robin Echols Cooper portrays African-American abolitionist, Civil War nurse and suffragette Sojourner Truth and Jeannine Gaskin portrays African-American educator, newspaperwoman, anti-lynching campaigner and founder of NAACP Ida. B. Wells-Barnett, sponsored by The Friend of the North Ridgeville Library. Monday - Amherst's Workshop Players is holding auditions for the comedy "Harvey" by Mary Chase. Auditions will be at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 9 and 10, with callbacks Feb. 11 at the Workshop Players Theatre, 44820 Middle Ridge Road. For information, visit workshopplayers.org. - The Lorain County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society will meet virtually at 7 p.m. with Stephen Wendt presenting "Explore Scottish History and Geography and Online Sites in the Pursuit of Scottish Records." This free Zoom program is open to the public, and guests are welcome. To receive the Zoom link, email meetings@loraincoogs.org. - Learn about how the Aging and Disability Resource Center provides information, assistance and referral to help older adults and persons with disabilities maintain their independence from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Columbia Library branch. - The Lorain County Rural Democrats will meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Historic Grafton School, 1111 Elm St., Grafton. The first half-hour of the meeting is set aside for socializing and the formal meeting begins at 7 p.m. Speakers will be Drs. Valerie Fouts-Fowler and Laura Beene, leaders of Concerned UH Physicians, and who are spearheading a physicians' unionizing effort at University Hospitals. - Amherst Public Library Board of Trustees will meet at 5:45 p.m. at the library. The meeting is open to the public. - Take a look back at the many medical issues faced by former presidents and the effects on their presidencies in this talk with Tom Strong at 6 p.m. at the Grafton-Midview Library. Tuesday - The Oberlin Heritage Center will feature Saladin Allah for a virtual Black History Month program at 7 p.m. about the value of local heritage and preserving the stories of everyday people doing extraordinary things. Through highlighting the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center, and sharing his personal story as a descendant of famed Underground Railroad freedom seeker Josiah Henson, Saladin Allah discusses the importance of everyday people finding a sense of agency in their legacy as modern-day freedom seekers. Preregistration is required at oerlinheritagecenter.org. - The Garden Club of North Ridgeville meets at 6 p.m. at Sandy Ridge Reservation with a program, "Natural Ohio," presented by Naturalist Josh Michalski. For more information, call (440) 371-1775 or email Terrilmar@hotmail.com. - Stop in to the Avon Library branch's Create Space to make a Valentine's Day card using the Cricut machine from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. While supplies last. - Memory Cafe, a relaxing and comfortable gathering for people with memory loss and their caregivers to connect, socialize and build new support networks, will be from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Domonkas Library branch or again from 10:30 a.m. to noon Feb. 13. - Use sponges and paint to design tote bags from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the South Lorain Library branch. Dress for a mess. Wednesday - Schedule a free appointment with an Ohio Means Jobs career counselor from 1-4:15 p.m. at the Lorain Main Library to assist you with resumes, cover letters, creating an effective job search strategy and interviewing tips. Call (440) 244-1192 for more information - RomCom Trivia from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Lorain Main Library. Bring your best trivia team and prove your knowledge of romantic comedy films for bragging rights and a prize. Refreshments will be served. - Valentine family fun night from 6-7 p.m. at the Domonkas Library branch. For children of all ages. - Couples will compete in this hilarious program for the coveted title of "Oldweds" by answering intriguing questions about their relationship from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the North Ridgeville Library branch. Preregistration required at LorainPublicLibrary.org/programs. Thursday - Tickets are being sold for the Valentine's Designer Purse Raffle from 7-9 p.m. Feb. 12 at the Vermilion-on-the-Lake Clubhouse, 3780 Edgewater Drive, Vermilion. Admission is $40 and includes wine tasting, appetizers and one designer raffle ticket. Extra raffle tickets are available for $20 each. More than 30 designer purses and wallets, earrings and other luxury accessories will be raffled. The event is for adults ages 21 and older and is BYOB-friendly. Guests are welcome to bring along their own wine or favorite cocktails. The event benefits Vermilion High School Prom to Dawn. Tickets may be purchased at Venmo @Erica-Kuhns. - The Oberlin Public Library trustees will meet at 5 p.m. at the library. The meeting is open to the public. - The city and the Avon Lake Tree Commission are sponsoring a free fruit tree pruning class conducted by Bartlett Tree Experts from 10 a.m. to noon at the Old Firehouse Community Center, 100 Avon Belden Road, Avon Lake. The class will begin with an indoor instructional session, followed by a hands-on outdoor demonstration. Certified arborists will prune the apple and peach trees located at the Old Firehouse. - The Avon-Avon Lake Republican Club will meet at 5 p.m. in Ragan Hall, 1783 Moore Road, Avon, and present "The State of the Sheriff's Office" by Lorain County Sheriff Jack Hall. Ninth District Court of Appeals Judge Jill Flagg Lanzinger, a conservative who is a candidate for the Ohio Supreme Court, also will speak. Guests pay $5. - Visions Concerns Support Group will meet at 11 a.m. at the Avon Lake Old Firehouse, 100 Avon Belden Road, Avon Lake. The manager of Westlake Lens Crafters will discuss new eye glass frames that help people with vision problems. Call Gary at (440) 935-5906 for questions. -- The Avon Democratic Club will meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Avon Library branch, 37485 Harvest Drive, Avon, with guest speaker Bryan Hambley, Democratic candidate for Ohio secretary of state. All are welcome. -- Family STEAM Night: Game On for families of school-age children from 6 to 7 p.m. at the North Ridgeville Library branch. Preregistration required at LorainPublicLibrary.org/programs. - Learn how to best use basic Google applications and features to organize your emails, documents, photos and more from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the South Lorain Library branch. Friday - Puyo Puyo Tetris Tournament from 3:30-5:30 p.m. at the Lorain Main Library. All skill levels welcome. Saturday, Feb. 14 - Winners in each age-category of the annual Toni Morrison Poster Contest will be announced from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Lorain Main Library. Their framed works will be displayed in the Toni Morrison Reading Room for a year. - Drop in to celebrate Ice Cream for Breakfast Day from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Columbia Library branch. While you're at it, make a Valentine's Day card while supplies last. For families with children of all ages. - Mercy Health's Community Outreach team will be at the Lorain Main Library from 3-4:30 p.m. to offer free health screenings including blood pressure screenings, point-of-care testing for glucose and cholesterol, body mass index and referrals to primary care physicians.