‘A Garden of Buttons’ coming to area

SUGARCREEK — Area residents are invited to help celebrate spring by enjoying a display of thousands of “amazing, colorful buttons,” during the Buckeye State Button Society’s annual “A Garden of Buttons” show. The event will be held April 5-6 at the Carlisle Inn, located at 1357 Old Route 39 in Sugarcreek.

Hosted by the Zane Trace Button Club, the show will feature displays containing hundreds of garment buttons entered into the competition and for educational purposes. A variety of subjects are depicted, according to organizers, who noted the buttons are dated from the 18th century through the present.

Some of the contemporary buttons showcase the talents of artisans and artists who created unusual buttons for collectors, officials commented, adding that those who attend the event will have the opportunity to “experience the international hobby that unites fashion, art, history, materials science and craftsmanship.”

The showroom will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 5, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 6. Admission will be $5 for adults and free for children under 18. In addition to the displays of buttons, there will be buttons of all types and ages available for sale by dealers throughout Ohio and other states.

Susan Everett, a retired professor of horticulture and agribusiness at Clark State College in Springfield, will present the program, “The Language of Flowers,” at 7 p.m. April 5.

For information, visit ohiobuttons.org/spring-show-2025 or contact Pam Fouts at (330) 340-3227 or rdfouts@roadrunner.com.

Tax assistance to be offered

STEUBENVILLE — Accounting students at Franciscan University of Steubenville will step up and provide free tax services, including preparation and e-filing assistance for residents throughout the Ohio Valley.

This is the 37th year the university has held the Internal Revenue Service’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance outreach program. The program supports low- to moderate-income taxpayers, according to officials.

Beginning Monday, trained and certified student volunteers will assist residents inside the Fort Steuben Mall. Students will be set up near the center court near Claire’s Boutique. Assistance will be available on a limited basis through April 12.

Hours of operation will be 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays; 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesdays; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays; and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. The site will be closed between March 8-16. All participating students have completed training, including a course in individual income tax and a series of IRS exams. Students are qualified to prepare federal Form 1040, along with Schedules 1, 2, 3, A, B and D.

Assistance can be given in the areas of child tax credits, childcare credits, education credits and earned income credits. The free service is open to those filing Ohio state tax returns as full-year residents.

Certain taxpayers are ineligible for assistance, including those who have more than $70,000 in income, those who must complete Form 1095-A for health insurance marketplace subsidies or those filing a 1099-MISC form or 1099-NEC form. Local tax preparation is not available.

This year’s location and schedule reflect the program’s continued growth and accessibility to Ohio Valley residents, officials exclaimed.

“Franciscan University’s VITA program is a hallmark of its commitment to forming students not just for professional success, but for lives of service,” officials commented. “Ohio Valley residents are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity for free, professional tax assistance.”

History center to hold symposium

PITTSBURGH — Washington and Jefferson College has partnered with the Sen. John Heinz History Center for the 2025 Symposium on Democracy, an annual program that explores the meaning of democracy and the role of civic engagement. The event will take place Wednesday at the center. The keynote speaker will be Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Jon Meacham. A VIP reception will begin at 5 p.m., followed by a lecture by Meacham at 7 p.m.

The Symposium on Democracy is a private function for Washington and Jefferson College students, faculty, alumni and invited guests. The event will not be open to the public. Meacham’s keynote is entitled, “Being an Informed, Involved and Impactful Citizen.” It will explore the responsibilities of citizenship in modern democracy and draws from his acclaimed works, including “Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power” and “The Soul of America: The Battle for Our Better Angels.” Meacham will provide historical insights into the forces shaping American democracy and the role individuals play in upholding its principles.

This will be the eighth year the college has hosted the symposium, reinforcing its commitment to fostering dialogue on civic leadership, history and public service. This year’s partnership with the history center strengthens that mission, officials commented.

“Democracy transcends a system of government; it thrives through education and engagement,” said Elizabeth MacLeod Walls, president of Washington and Jefferson College. “As an institution steeped in history and reflective of the ideals embodied by George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, W&J is committed to bringing thought-provoking discussions to a broader audience at the Heinz History Center, which builds upon history to guide conversations about the future.”

The center will provide a venue linking the event’s themes to the narrative of Western Pennsylvania and the nation, officials stated.

The program aligns with the center’s America 101 initiative, encouraging Western Pennsylvanians to explore history and civics and inspiring them to write the next chapter of our democracy.