Brooklyn Lengyel

Local student being

published in anthology

CONNORVILLE — Buckeye Local High School junior Brooklyn Lengyel will see her words in print as the young author is being included in a national publication.

Lengyel, the daughter of Jeffrey and Jeannette Lengyel of Rayland, will have her original work, “A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing,” appear in “Collection of Voices: A JustWrite Anthology Volume II.” She said it was the first time she has been published and her story follows a detective trying to avenge his mother’s death.

Her story was selected after she and members of the high school’s creative writing team participated in a virtual JustWrite Ohio competition on Feb. 13. Lengyel placed 13th in the regional competition last year and received an individual award in Division I, where the top 15 writers are recognized. This year, she placed 17th in Division II during regionals among junior and senior scribes. Lengyel placed in the top quarter of students with that score and qualified for the state contest that will be held virtually on May 22.

“The judges of the competition chose which stories would be chosen for publication,” she said. “I’m very excited! Participating in the competition was a very fun experience. The anthology isn’t a very widespread publication, but I’m still very honored to have the opportunity extended to me.”

Lengyel said she has been writing nearly her entire life and recalls days when she put her imagination on paper in elementary school and would write a story in her notebook rather than pay attention to her teachers.

“I love how writing gives you a chance to express yourself while also giving you an opportunity to create entirely different worlds and characters,” she added.

Lengyel credited her creative writing coach, Stephanie Crust, and teammates Anne Takach, Carley Newton, Hester Lambright, Jacob Phillis and Jaina Demeter for inspiring her and acknowledged her team’s great work during the competition.

“Both my coach last year (Brianne Poilek) and my coach this year (Crust) helped me immensely in becoming a better writer. My parents also always encouraged my writing, which helped me develop the passion I have for it today.”

There’s a new way to pick up library books and materials

STEUBENVILLE — There’s a new way to pick up books and materials from the Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County without going inside the building, and it’s all done with an app.

Click & Collect is a new curbside service pickup feature on the SEO Libraries app, explained Jennifer Cesta, the library’s public relations coordinator.

“Choosing curbside service on the SEO Libraries app is easy to do, and the app lets you do everything from ordering the book to picking it up without entering the library,” Cesta noted, adding that the SEO Libraries app is not new.

“It is a free app that allows patrons to place holds on physical and digital items, manage their library account and renew items,” she said.

Here’s how the new Click & Collect curbside pickup feature works:

– Download the SEO Libraries app, then place a hold on a library book or other physical materials and verify your hold in “My Account.” You will be notified when the hold items are available.

– Once the hold items are ready, choose “Click & Collect.”

– Enter the information to help staff identify you when items are ready and select “I’m on My Way.”

– Tap “I’m Here” when you arrive in the library parking lot.

– When library staff delivers hold items to your vehicle, hit “Done” to complete the transaction.

Curbside service already is in place at library locations by calling the branch. Now, library users can go through the process of picking up their favorite items electronically. “With just a few steps you can schedule curbside service at any library location when the hold items are ready,” Cesta added.

Pysanky egg decorating

class offered March 20

STEUBENVILLE — A morning of traditional Pysanky egg decorating is being offered March 20 at Leonardo’s Coffeehouse, located at 159 N. Fourth St., Steubenville.

The class will begin at 9 a.m., and participants are advised to set aside two to four hours as the eggs can take a while to create.

It is open to those 15 and above. Cost to participate is $10, which covers supplies. All eggs and supplies will be provided with a few kits available for purchase for $20.

All payments will be accepted on the day of the class, but registration ahead of time is requested as there is a limit on space and available kits. For information, call (740) 632-8909 or e-mail Therese@nelsongifts.com.

A pysanka is a Ukrainian Easter egg, decorated with traditional Ukrainian folk designs using a wax-resist method. The word pysanka comes from the verb pysaty, “to write” or “to inscribe,” as the designs are not painted on, but written with beeswax, according to promotional information.

’30 Days of Hope’ concert

series continues until April 7

STEUBENVILLE — The Ohio Valley Youth Network/Sycamore Youth Center is continuing its second-annual “30 Days of Hope” online concert series featuring a number of talented area youth and adults pitching in to take part in a 15-minute Facebook “Live” concert each night from 7 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. on the Sycamore Youth Center Facebook Page.

Those watching will be given an opportunity to click a giving tab and contribute online to support the OVYN/Sycamore Youth Center that reaches 250 students each week through its 43 after-school programs, explained center Director Bobbyjon Bauman.

Those classes include cooking, art, hip hop, tumbling, sewing, music lessons and tutoring among others, according to Bauman.

Featured artists this year include Irish folk singer Ben David Warner; the 2020 Valley’s Got Talent Winner’s Faire May of Wheeling; and nationally known local rock group Spinning Jenny.

Those who wish to contribute to the Sycamore Center can do so by making a check out to “Ohio Valley Youth Network” and sending it to the Sycamore Youth Center at 301 N. Fourth St., Steubenville, OH 43952.

For information on the OVYN and the Sycamore Youth Center, visit www.ovyn.org or www.sycmorecenter.com or contact Bauman at (608) 556-3068.

The remaining concert series lineup includes:

Saturday, Ben Acors; Sunday, Kaly Shafer; March 15, Hymn’s Night with the Bauman Family; March 16, Virginia Miller (harpist); March 17, Ben David-Warner; March 18, Savannah Grant; March 19, Jennifer Harris; March 20, Cynthia and Wayne Lytle and Friends; March 21, Ally Tweedy; March 22, Nathan Bauman; March 23, Gracie Phillips; March 24, Derek Redd (saxophonist); March 25, Anthony Pearce; March 26, Emiliana McCalister; March 27, Bella Thompson; March 28, Thee Ambassadors Mime Team/Shimmer & Shine/Ariah Jones; March 29, Led By Mercy (Sandy & Aldo Pucci & Band); March 30, The commUNITY Youth Choir; March 31, Molly Baker; April 1, Olivia Huval; April 2, Amelia Collopy; April 3, Autumn Duckworth; April 4, Rachel DeLong; April 5, Jennifer Krause; April 6, Chelsea Householder; April 7, Spinning Jenny; and April 8, Crossroads Worship Team.

John ‘Wiz’ Fabian Memorial

Easter egg hunt is returning

MINGO JUNCTION — The John “Wiz” Fabian Memorial Easter egg hunt in Mingo Junction is making a return after a one-year hiatus.

Co-sponsored by Scott Fabian and the Mingo Knights of Columbus Council 4361, the event will be held April 3 at Aracoma Park in Mingo Junction, beginning at noon.

The 2020 was not held, an event casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is for children from ages 0 to 12 and will be limited to 70 children. “We are requiring pre-registration,” noted Shawn Zarych, grand knight.

COVID-19 safety restrictions will be in place.

“To register, we will need your name, the kids’ ages and how many are in your group,” noted Zarych.

The information can be provided to Scott Fabian at (740) 284-0751; to the council hall at (740) 535-8037; messenger the hall on Facebook; or send an e-mail to mingokofc4361@comcast.net.