NPR gets onboard

NPR's Morning Edition finally ran the piece this morning which they have been sitting on for two weeks. It was retooled a bit to also highlight today's John Edwards visit.

The tagline: Youngstown, Ohio, a former steel town an hour west of Pittsburgh, is getting ready to spend millions of tax dollars to shrink. It's a fairly radical plan, but one that Youngstown's mayor says is the best way to bring his struggling city back to economic health.

The audio is available here.

I guarantee you will see a lot of hope in Youngstown residents by listening to the story. There are excited people out there who really want to see the redevelopment of Youngstown through the 2010 plan. NPR is the latest in a string of media who are just helping us promote it. Last week was the AP story which ran, according to my count, in at least 78 papers or online editions. The possible audience within cities just like Youngstown is huge. I am excited to finally see Youngstown as part of progressive development, even if it means scaling back. Bigger doesn't always mean better and I think people outside the politicians and urban planners are starting to see that.

Miltonia Ave. on Youngstown's East Side, one focus of the story. Notice the lack of homes? Another case of planned development which never happened.

Question of the day

Why is Bertram de Souza's blog entitled "Stirfry"?

Wanted: Single male in his 20's with similar interests

That might just be what the Youngstown Business Incubator is looking for. According to it's page on Myspace.com, YBI is a 21 year-old female, looking for serious relationships, and an Aquarius. Toledo's WTOL has a small story on how YBI is using Myspace here.

I love how they are using Myspace and Facebook. This is another great way that YBI is thinking outside the box in the development and promotion of tech companies in Youngstown.

(Apparently this was a Vindy story picked up by the AP. Sorry I missed the original piece here.)

Another funny headline

This was the headline of a Vindy article today regarding an apartment complex on Hillman Way, one block into Boardman at the Boardman-Youngstown border: "Boardman historic district fears possibility of blight." The article just conjures up images of Boardman residents cowering in the corner hiding from Blight.

Reading this article, it is apparent these Boardman-tonian's don't cross Midlothian and head down Hillman Avenue very often.

The article is here.

I don't blame them at all, truthfully. No one likes blighted homes in their neighborhood and they should do all they can to stop it. That said, with all the recent complaining from suburbanites in Vindy editorials about having to contribute to the redevelopment of Downtown, I thought this was just a little comeuppance.

(Triple word score for using comeuppance in a blog post!)

Vindicator headline

I don't know why, but I found this headline funny: "Foreign kids in town." The article is not as funny but it is nice to see people from other countries getting a Youngstown experience.

Happy Birthday, America!

I just want to wish everyone a safe and patriotic 4th of July!

This photo isn't mine. I found it using The Google. Can anyone name the location? Hint: It IS in Youngstown.

Out and about

There are a ton of great events in downtown both tomorrow and this weekend. Youngstown's July 4th fireworks display will be at 10 p.m. by the B&O Station on Mahoning Avenue sponsored by the city and Anthony's On The River. Frankie and the Sensations will perform at Anthony's from 7-11 p.m. Wednesday.

Also this weekend is the Annual Festival of the Arts up and down Wick Avenue and on the campus of YSU. They have a ton of events planned. A few things of interest:

• Four of YSU’s many published authors will be available for book sales and signings. Donna DeBlasio and Martha Pallante, authors of Youngstown State University: From YoCo to YSU, will sign copies both days from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. Sherry Lee Linkon and John Russo, authors of Steeltown USA: Work and Memory in Youngstown and New Working-Class Studies, will sign copies of their books both days from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Center for Working Class Studies will also have free copies of the pamphlet, "Worker Portraits: Faces of Strength," about work in the Mahoning Valley today, and part of the exhibit of the same name, plus other materials.
• Wick Neighbors, Inc. will illustrate their plans for building a creative neighborhood in the Wick District-Smoky Hollow Development. Stop by Saturday from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m. to meet their volunteers and staff and get the results of the annual Smoky Hollow 5K Run held earlier in the day.
• The Mahoning Valley Historical Society at the Arms Museum will offer a free open house on Saturday, July 7 from 10:00 a.m. to 5pm during the festival. They'll be open regular hours on Sunday, 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. and offer BOGO admission. (BOGO Admission?)
• On Friday, July 6 at 7:00 p.m. the newly formed Youngstown Film will screen the classic movie To Kill A Mockingbird in McKay auditorium, Beeghly Hall on Rayen Avenue. Check the website for more information. (They have a nice website at http://www.youngstownfilm.com/)
• On Friday, July 6 & Saturday, July 7 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., a rummage sale and church tours will be held on the grounds of St. John’s Episcopal Church, 323 Wick Avenue. Also on Saturday, vote for and buy your favorite cookies, baked by the St. John’s bakers celebrating the 100th year of the Hershey Chocolate Company. If you haven't seen the inside of St. John's, now is the time! It's a beautiful church with a lot of local history.
• Children’s artwork will be exhibited in the Bliss Hall Gallery both days as a part of the Tri-County Youth Art Expo. Here in Youngstown, a 24-foot mural depicting the history of Youngstown from when John Young first settled here to recent history, will be unveiled Saturday, July 7 at 12:00 noon in the Bliss Hall Gallery. The mural will be available both days. Stop by to see how much you know about Youngstown history!
• On Saturday from 3:15 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. the Youngstown Historical Center will host a free Introduction to Genealogy Resources. The Center will be open Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday, Noon to 5:00 p.m.

Check out more here: http://www.ysu.edu/sfa/

Remember when this was called "Walk on Wick?" Ohh the fun we had...

My Letter to the Editor from today's Vindy

It seems the bloggers have been writing to the Vindy in great numbers recently. I too wrote in last week and saw that my letter appeared in today's Vindy. It isn't about Youngstown, but about my other passion: Firefighting. Besides being a Youngstownphile, I am an active firefighter/EMT in Virginia.

Firefighters earn flags as protectors of the homeland
Tuesday, July 3, 2007

EDITOR: I was disappointed to read a June 27 letter in The Vindicator expressing a belief that firefighters who die in the line of duty should not be eligible to receive an American flag on their casket. I must wholeheartedly disagree with him.

Day in and day out, America's 1.5 million firefighters respond to emergencies around this country. They are now trained not just to respond to fires and medical emergencies, but incidents relating to hazardous materials, technical rescues and terrorism. They are in fact the protectors of the homeland and hundreds of them have given their lives doing that in the face of a known enemy.

On Dec. 7, 1941, three Honolulu firefighters were killed in the line of duty defending our soil against the Japanese. On Sept. 11, 2001, 343 of New York City's bravest were lost in the War on Terrorism. Do they not deserve a flag?

It is true that firefighters are not trained kill. In fact, it is the exact opposite; Firefighters are trained to save lives. Much like the medic on the battlefield who risks his live to save others, firefighters and EMTs respond to thousands of emergency calls per days around this country willing to risk their lives to save others.

The American flag isn't just a symbol of this country; it is a symbol of honor, loyalty and commitment. Firefighters live by those virtues every time they are asked to respond. They understand the dangerous environments in which they must operate, and understand that at any time they may be called upon to lay down their lives to save another. All firefighters give some, some give all. Those who do have earned the right to have an American flag on their casket.

JOSEPH LOWRY
Arlington, Va.

The writer is a former Youngstown resident and a firefighter with the Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Department.

The Youngstown River Walk

Imagine a lazy flowing river with great shops and restaurants with crowds that show this place to be a true destination. I happened to be in San Antonio a few weeks ago for work and was amazed by the River Walk. For those who have never been to San Antonio before or heard of the River Walk, the San Antonio River winds it way through downtown San Antonio and along its banks are a string of restaurants, small shops and tourist attractions, all within blocks of the Alamo. Youngstown doesn't have the Alamo (although several of our residents have made last stands against the YPD) but we do have a great river winding its way along several major roads near downtown.

There was some talk of a Youngstown River Walk a few years ago if I recall, tied in with the Mahoning Commons development (What is up with that project, by the way?). If it wasn't specific talk, there were examples where an attempt was made at starting in that direction. The B&O Restaurant and Anthony's-on-the-River had a good thing going for a while. The missing component to tie them together was the actual river walk. There is no easy way for people to walk along the banks of the Mahoning River.

Imagine having dinner at Anthony's and then taking a nice stroll on a summer's night heading towards the Chevy Centre and taking in a show. It sounds like a great idea to me, and I'm sure some of the other bloggers would agree. I'm not sure what influence I can have on such a project other than writing about it, since I am in fact 300 miles away, but this is certainly worthy of discussion once downtown gets the attention it needs.

I'm curious to see what others thing about this. It would be a great way to continue development of downtown and push it to the "Mahoning Commons" area.




Other cities, large and small, are trying River Walks as a way to expand their arts and entertainment districts. Check out these sites for more info:

• Panel OKs plans for river walk (Watertown, Wisconsin)
• Riverwalk Design Plans (Oshkosh, Wisconsin)
• Naperville River Walk (Naperville, Illinois)

“Until we're educating every kid in a fantastic way, until every inner city is cleaned up, there is no shortage of things to do.”

CINCINNATI (AP) - The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will provide more than seven million dollars to improve educational performance in some of Ohio's urban high schools.

The investment by the foundation set up by the Microsoft Corporation chairman and his wife will help continue funding for the next phase of the statewide Ohio High School Transformation Initiative.

KnowledgeWorks, the Gates foundation and the stat Department of Education will provide up to $20 million in resources for schools and districts involved in the initiative through June 2009.

Districts receiving the 3-year grants include Canton, Columbus, Cleveland Heights-University Heights, East Cleveland, Lima, Lorain, Toledo, and Youngstown. The Cleveland Municipal School District will receive a 1-year grant.

"Look, you don't understand. There was shrinkage."

Another "shrinking city" article is out across the AP wire. This one takes the standard approach that shrinking your footprint can be effective means of "damage control" and revitalization for former industrial cities. The article doesn't really say anything new that hasn't been put out by similar articles in the past, but I felt that I would share it for those who might be interested.

The Chronicle-Telegram (Elyria): In Youngstown, acceptance is first battle

I chose that paper because their link came up first, but a Google News count shows 73 different papers, including Kiplinger and Forbes. Whether this story made it into the print editions is a different story...

Yet another new Youngstown blog...

Nathan Pavalko, a new North Sider, has started a new blog called "Tales from the North Side". Check it out at: http://talesfromnorthside.blogspot.com/

On the Soap Box

If you've got nothing to do this weekend, head down to Fifth Avenue to catch the 8th annual Greater Youngstown Area Soap Box Derby. Starting at 8:30 a.m., racers will roll down the hill in front of YSU stadium in a double elimination tournament. The winner gets a trip to Derby Downs in Akron for a chance at the national title.

If you know nothing about soapbox derbys (which I don't), this is something interesting to take with you:

Each heat begins with what is called a "two for four wheel draw". Four balls that have been labeled to match the wheels of the cars are placed in a bucket and each driver picks two. They then must switch the corresponding wheels with each other. For example if driver A picks the balls that say "front right wheel" and "back left wheel" those wheels from drive A's car must be given to driver B and put on his car. Then they race down 900 feet of track, drag the cars back up by themselves, switch all four wheels and race again. The competition is double elimination so that every driver is guaranteed four trips down the track.

More information: Greater Youngstown Area Soapbox Derby

Source: Drivers are ready to roll for 8th annual soap box derby

Noise hell?

I have no idea how come people find out about Youngstown, including Noise Free America, an advocacy group trying to keep things library-quiet. According to an article in The Hill (A newspaper covering Congress), Youngstown is "noise hell." Noise Free America claims that "Youngstown's citizens are still inundated with bass booming cars, blaring music, incessant barking dogs, junky cars without mufflers, thunderous backyard fireworks shows, rumbling motorcycles, and loud gunshots. In short, noise levels in Youngstown are completely out of control."

The Hill article, published today, relates Youngstown's Noisy Dozen award to that of Washington, D.C. Youngstown has claimed the award twice, first in February 2002 and again in July 2006. Washington is the most recent winner. Warren, Ohio claimed the title in May 2007.

Youngstown has since strengthened its noise ordinance. I'm curious to know what Noise Free America would think now.

Related:

• Washington wins Noisy Dozen award! (The Hill)
• Youngstown, Ohio: Noise Hell Revisited (Noise Free America)
• Warren, Ohio: One Giant Colony of Noise (Noise Free America)
• Remember the sound of silence? (Christian Science Monitor)

New blog

This is a new one to the rolls: Youngstown Renaissance

Tyler Clark is a North Sider and has some pretty good stuff already on his page. It is worth checking out.

Resistance is futile...

Phil Kidd, local hero, had a great editorial in yesterday's Vindicator. Check it out here: Those who resist change lessen potential of Valley

Mismanagement breeds mismanagement

In case you haven't read today's Youngstown Vindicator, Forum Health has backed out of a deal to merge its pediatric services (the most comprehensive in the Valley) with those of Humility of Mary Health Partners and Akron Children's Hospital. The deal would have preserved the pediatric services of Tod's Children Hospital while the rest of Forum circled the drain. Unfortunately, it was not to be. According to Dr. Elana Rossi of St. Elizabeth's, "The breakdown was not on our end." Forum's management seemed unable to deliver their portion of the plan, just as they have in the past two years of trying to restructure the hospital and provide a stable platform to deliver medical services to the community.

Of course, Forum will be closed within the year. The silver lining to all of this is that HMHP and Akron Children's end of the deal will continue, with expanded services at St. Elizabeth's and at the new hospital in Boardman.

Commencements blow the roof off the place!

Both Cardinal Mooney and Ursuline High Schools graduated this past weekend. Hundreds of students dressed in maroon and gold as well as green and gold walked across the stage of Stambaugh Auditorium to receive their diplomas on Saturday. A mere three hours after the UHS ceremoney, a large storm came through and literally blew the roof off the of place. The Youngstown Fire Department was toned out at 6:17 p.m. because the building had been struck by lightening. A large portion of the roof had actually been blown into Fifth Avenue. YFD placed that portion of the roof back into the front yard where it sat for the next twelve hours.

My sweet Jenny I'm sinking down...

West Federal Street may soon see even more redevelopment. Sweet Jenny Land Co. plans to invest $332,000 in renovating the John R. Davis building, next to the Draught House. The building has been vacant for more than 20 years. It plans to headquarter Ronald C. Faniro Architect Inc. on the building's second floor, renovating the third floor into a living-working quarters for one architect. The first floor may serve as retail space.

I love to see this type of creative use for space but my biggest question is whether Bruce Springsteen is working for this company...

Another movie

because I like them...

Lack of qualified baristas hurts Youngstown

The results are in and Youngstown is looking better than it did a few years ago. "Cities Ranked & Rated" is a periodic publication by a by Wiley Publishing Inc. It ranks metropolitan areas based on variables related to economy, cost of living, climate, education, health and health care, crime, transportation, leisure and arts and culture. Youngstown's score wasn't that impressive, as 269th best place to live out of 373 areas, but it is an improvement from 2004 when we were 291st.

The survey doesn't really tell us anything we didn't already know. We have a great cost of living, decent transportation but a crappy economy. The two interesting things to come out of this survey include that Youngstown lost points in the leisure section because there are only three Starbucks Coffee locations in the area compared with the national average of 13 for a region. Was this survey done by Howard Schultz? Nevermind our impressive array of parks and minor league sports teams, we need our Half-caf Double Mochachinos with extra foam!

Secondly, and to my delight, Boardman was quoted as "an unremarkable middle-class suburb." I've been saying that for years.

Source: Valley climbs 22 spots on list of best metro areas

Review: The Golden Dawn

You are missing out if you don't know the difference between a Jumbo and a schooner. The latter being cold and frothy, the former a piping hot sirloin steak burger between two slices of Schwebel's finest white. These are two staple items at one of Youngstown's staple restaurants - The Golden Dawn.

A North Side tradition almost since the inception of the North Side, the Golden Dawn opened in 1934. It has long been the place to go after those Ursuline football games or before a Steelhound's game to enjoy great food at a price which will blow you away.

• Pizza: $5.25


• Beer: $1.10


• Fries: $1.20

If you go, try the pizza (although, if you are reading this, you have probably already been there). The pie is a different take, slim on the sauce with slices of provolone on top, but truly delicious. You also can't go wrong with the aforementioned Jumbo or the cavatelli, made with homemade sauce.

As for the schooner's, expect nothing less than Genesee Lager on tap, and nothing else. Want a Bud Light? No problem; it comes in a bottle. Want a Coors Light? Too bad. As one innocent young lady was once sternly told, "We don't serve non-union beer here." (For those not in the know, a schooner is a 15 fl.oz. beer. You order simply by stating, "I'll have a schooner". Beer appears 3 minutes later.)

Brothers Ralph and Carmen Naples have run the place since 1960, and at 87 and 86 respectively, they show no sign of slowing down. They are always there for a friendly hello or a goodbye after the check's been paid.

Importantly for a Youngstowner, a family of four can eat here for under a Jackson. There is even a bonus for those kids with small hands. When mom or dad goes to pay the bill, Junior can put his hand in the bubble gum box, keeping as much Bazooka Joe as he can pull out. My hand hasn't fit since I was 8, but I still love that crazy Bazooka Joe.

Thinking outside the Big Box

Not actually living in Youngstown anymore, I miss a lot, including this story by Janko over on his blog about the reuse of the abandoned big box grocery store at the corner of Market and Midlothian. After Phar-Mor died, several stores, including a Giant Eagle, all tried to make it. They all failed. This idea has promise. Read for more details...

I don't believe you

The Eastwood Mall Complex is being challenged... for the title of "Biggest Indoor Mall in the Country." Being challenged? That would imply that it already holds that title! Apparently, it does. The famous Mall of America in Bloomington, MN was the largest mall when it opened in 1992, but the recent additions to Eastwood Mall and King of Prussia Mall outside Philadelphia have dropped it to third. Now, Mall of America plans to add 1.1 million square feet.

I propose that Eastwood Mall add 1.2 million square feet just to keep pace. The entire city of Niles should be "annexed" by Eastwood Mall to ensure that our beloved mall retains that top title. We can't let those Minnesotan's have the title, can we, eh?

Source: Mall of America wants biggest mall title

Youngstown by rail

I have always been a closet railfan and taking a trip on Amtrak's Acela Express got me thinking about the impact of rail in Youngstown's development. In my narrow and short search, I came across a few pictures from the last twenty years which highlight the role the rails played in Youngstown's steel industry. These images capture trains rolling through what are now brown fields, abandoned tracts, and dilapidated building.

Conrail and Chessie trains work in the shadow of the steel mill. Photo taken August 1979 by R.A. Durfee.

A P&LE Switch Job rolls through the Center St. interlocking; in the distance an eastbound Conrail freight waits for it's turn to cross. Photo taken June 26, 1983 by Doug Kroll.

Two Conrail locomotives switch tracks at the old Brier Hill Works. Photo taken September 1979 by R.A. Durfee.

A trio of Chessie GP-40-2's pull east through Center St in a view that has seen much change since this photo was taken. Photo taken September 1979 by R.A. Durfee.

Empty "hot bottle" train arrives at Center St junction with the Republic Steel ore pile and blast furnace in the background. The entire mill has been torn down. That's the Chessie System main curving off to the right. Photo taken August 1979 by R.A. Durfee.

It's 3 years since the festivities, and "76" could use a cleaning. Photo taken March 1979 by R.A. Durfee.

Heading west, 734 passes by a relic of Youngstown's steel making past. Photo taken August 27, 1995 by Wade H. Massie.

These photos were all captured by searching "Youngstown" at http://www.railpictures.net/. There are plenty more where these came from, but this offers the best view of trains at work in Youngstown. I will try and do some research on the history of passenger trains in Youngstown

Theater appeals to public

By Bill Rodgers
Tribune Chronicle

YOUNGSTOWN — It was Christmas Eve when Corey Maizel and Jaime Hughes first saw the 92-year-old State Theater sitting unnoticed along Federal Plaza.

‘‘We were driving around downtown, and I saw this building outside ... It left me in awe. I couldn’t believe that there was this beautiful building there,’’ Hughes said.

Hughes, 18, said she fell in love with the theater after seeing pictures of the massive interior.

She and Maizel, 20 began their own campaign to restore the former charm to the theater’s facade, and the two hope to use fundraising campaigns to donate money to local art and theater groups. They created the group Patrons of the Youngstown Arts and are working on getting nonprofit organization status.

Hughes said the theater was an example of one of the city’s beautiful buildings that fell into a state of neglect and obscurity. The property is owned by the Youngstown Central Area Community Improvement Corporation (YCACIC) which stated to other community groups such as StreetScape, that the organization would try to preserve the facade if possible as it paves the way for a mixed commercial and technology district.

‘‘There’s a lot of history on that block ... Why that appeals to a generation who never got to see the theater when it was open ... I couldn’t say. But I respect that,’’ said acting YCACIC President Reid Dulberger.

Hughes and Maizel want to make everyone else see the building the same way they do. As she stood in front of the theater, excitedly pointing out the building’s features, someone walking past stopped and commented that he never really noticed the building before. But once, it was a stopping point for national rock bands, orchestras and plays.

‘‘A lot of people know us for the steel mills, or they see downtown, but there’s definitely an arts and theatrical aspect to Youngstown that we want to bring out,’’ Hughes said, adding that the State Theater was one of about 12 original theaters in the city.

When Maizel, a business student at Youngstown State University, and Hughes, a Cardinal Mooney High School senior with designs on a YSU English degree, learned the historic theater occupies the same block as the soon-to-come Taft Technology Center, the duo decided to launch their own campaign to preserve the building.

That campaign has called people of all ages to meet under the roof of Cedar’s Lounge downtown. Hughes said people wanted to see the facade of the theater adorned with its original marquee, and a historical marker.

But Hughes and Maizel also want to turn Patrons of the Youngstown Arts into an organization that holds art festivals and concerts to raise money for theaters such as The Oakland and Easy Street.

‘‘We want to commemorate the State Theater, but we also want to support the theater groups that are up and running now. We give them a lot of credit for staying active that long,’’ Maizel said.

Hughes said their original idea was to see the theater restored, but Dulberger said the theater is in such a state of ‘‘advanced decay’’ that the most anyone can hope to salvage is the building’s columnated facade.

Work to demolish the building could begin next year.

Dulberger recalls looking inside the theater and seeing a disaster area. The walls, he said, were slipping under the weight of the building, the plaster was falling in chunks from the bowed-in ceiling, and the floor too dangerous to walk on.

‘‘It’s a dangerous environment,’’ he said. ‘‘There’s a curtain stretched across the back of the stage with the word ‘Asbestos’ written in big letters. We got an ironic chuckle out of that.’’

First, an engineer would need to be brought in and assess the facade, Dulberger said. The plan would require crews to rest the facade against a metal frame and cut it away from the building. Dulberger said the engineer would see how much this could cost, if the facade could be moved, or if the facade would simply turn to rubble when cut away from the building.

‘‘It’s our hope and intent to save the facade,’’ Dulberger said.

Cost is a factor in the preservation efforts, Dulberger said. But he declined to give a figure that the YCACIC would consider too pricey to preserve the facade. He said those questions could be answered as early as this year when the facade is inspected.

Meanwhile, Hughes’ and Maizel’s Myspace.com site for the State Theater collects friends from across the city, with groups such as Defend Youngstown and The Pro-Yo Party of Youngstown. The support the two are seeing for the city makes Hughes and Maizel proud.

‘‘It seems like more people are starting to care about Youngstown ... They want to keep more of the population in the city rather than see people run from it. People aren’t ashamed to say that they’re from Youngstown anymore,’’ Maizel said.

brodgers@tribune-chronicle.com

Hot off the presses

The Wall Street Journal did a cover story in today's edition in Youngstown. I haven't even read it yet and will probably feature more on this article tomorrow. Check it out while it is still free for the next seven days at WSJ.com

Photo Montage of the Week

This week's photo collection comes from local photographer, and elementary school classmate, Angela Gethung. Angela is a grad student at YSU and like myself, a Roser (St. Rose Elementary, class of '96). Enjoy!

YPD doesn't want to walk to work?

The Youngstown Police Association, the union which represents 117 of Youngstown's finest, recenly brought a lawsuit against the city for taking away some of their parking spaces behind the police station and subbing them for ones a few blocks away. This meant that that the PO's had to walk several blocks when coming to work or ending their shift.

Their argument against losing the spaces: YPA President Ed Colon said about 30 percent of patrol officers are older than 50, and many have unhealthy diets and health problems.

Than what are they doing as police officers anyway? While I never doubted that fat, unhealthy police existed, even in Youngstown, I would never expect that to be used as an argument as to why these guys can't walk three blocks. Hell, the walk might even do them a little good. I have a lot of respect for Youngstown cops, especially considering the crap they get from some of Youngstown citizens, but don't make stupid arguments in stupid fights with the city.

The Story.

Through the backdoor

I was downtown a few weeks ago and walked past the rear of the Paramount Theater. Work was supposed to have progressed on this project but I haven't heard anything recently. The back gate was unlocked, but I suggest no one enter as it looked very unstable with the ceiling collapsed over the outside stairs. Just some interesting pictures. If anyone has any information on this project, please let me know. Thanks!

Where have I been?

Sorry for going a few weeks without posts. I have been very busy traveling for work and with a few other things so this was placed on the back burner for a bit. I will have some good photo posts up in the next few days. Also, I know I promised YoungstownPride.com. Well, I own the domain and have the hosting servive but I need to transfer the domain. This will take a few days after I do it, which won't happen today. Be patient. Good things are to come.

I was able to get out and take some pictures of the new East High School which I thought I would share. These were taken on Friday, April 6 so I'm sure they have even shown improvement since then.

Happy Birthday, Youngstown!

It was on this date in 1868 that Youngstown became a city. If you see her today, be sure to wish Youngstown a happy 139th birthday!

Paramount: Revisted

A UA student recently contacted me asking for information on the Paramount. She made the daunting trip inside and was able to snap these pictures. The level of decay is incredible and makes me wonder if the place can truly be saved. I suppose with a lot of money, anything is possible.





Check out the entire set at Flickr.

Attorney General to Open Office In Youngstown’s 20 Federal Place

From the Business Journal

By George Nelson
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The irony wasn’t lost on Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann.

The first Trumbull County resident elected to statewide office was holding a news conference on the ground floor of 20 Federal Place – the building formerly named for Phar-Mor Inc., the drugstore chain whose bankruptcy 15 years ago followed what was then the largest corporate fraud in history. A space that came to symbolize corporate crime locally would soon house more than three dozen law enforcement officers, Dann announced.

The former state senator from Liberty said that he would move the state Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation’s 22-person staff for Boardman to the downtown building and add 16.

“Mickey Monus’ old offices, ironically,” remarked Jeffery L. Chagnot, city economic development director, referring to Phar-Mor’s founder.

“We’re trying to build a new future here,” Dann said, “and what better place to start than here?”

In addition to the BCI staff, the third-floor space at 20 Federal will house members of Dann’s newly formed predatory-lending task force, his office’s consumer protection staff and other positions being transferred from Columbus. The 38 positions will bring an additional $1.8 million in annual payroll to the city, he said.

The attorney general had invited Youngstown and Warren officials to submit proposals, with a preference for downtown sites, and the state Department of Administrative Services reviewed them. Dann wanted sites convenient to highways for law enforcement agencies transporting evidence to BCI and close to courthouses.

Price and proximity drove the decision in Youngstown’s favor. The state will pay $7,488 per month, including utilities, for 10,000 square feet, with another 12,000-square-feet available for expansion. The 22 BCI employees were “overstuffed” in the 4,000-square-foot offices in Boardman, and rent was scheduled to rise to $10 per foot, Dann said. In Columbus, the cheapest space would have been $15 per foot, he noted.

The attorney general admitted to being “a little heartbroken” that a site in Warren was not selected – his former district includes Trumbull County ¬ and he acknowledged the efforts of Warren Mayor Michael O’Brien and the Trumbull County commissioners.

“In the end, Youngstown was the best fit,” Dann said. However, he he is also looking for additional chances to move jobs to the region; and Warren could benefit later.

The new state lease will bring occupancy at 20 Federal to nearly 70%, Chagnot reported. The offices are to move downtown by July 1.

In his remarks, Mayor Jay Williams offered that Dann had quickly debunked two myths – one about the lofty promises politicians make when campaigning yet fail to keep once elected, the other about attorneys being talkers, not doers.

Dann said he is working to debunk one more myth – that the Mahoning Valley does not have a bright and vibrant future, a perception he is trying to change around the state and the country.

“This is a community on the rebound,” he declared. “We’re going to take advantage of that on behalf of the taxpayers of the state of Ohio.”

Copyright 2007 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.

Talk about a busy day...

So, pretend you are Billy Jack Fitzmorris. You wake up not feeling well so you have some friends take you to the hospital. The difference between you and Billy Fitzmorris is that you can walk out your front door and Fitzmorris requires his cell opened and an armed escort to the hospital.

Unless you live in a cage, you know what is going on right now. If not, turn on your favorite network news. I prefer CNN but feel free to turn on MSNBC or *gulp* FOX News.

I can't even imagine how Fitzsimmons found time to overpower a guard and hold a few people hostage, drive from Youngstown to Hillaird, rob at least two banks and lock himself up in a house. ALL BEFORE LUNCH! Youngstown to Hilliard is about three hours. Assuming it takes a few minutes to rob these banks, he got moving pretty early this morning.

While I don't condone his violent streak, including armed robbery, home invasion, and kidnapping, I do applaud him for getting up early this morning and really working hard today. We need to see more go-getters and hardworking Americans like this (just not committing crimes, that's all!).

Seriously, storm the house and get the guy already!

By the numbers

When George Murry is installed today as bishop of the Diocese of Youngstown, he'll be the fifth person to occupy that post since the diocese was founded in 1943. The number of people to hold other key jobs during that time:

• President of Youngstown State University: Six
• Mayor of Youngstown: 13
• Head Coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers: 11
• President of the United States: 12
  
  Source: Vindicator, Wednesday, March 28, 2007

NEW Youngstown

NEW Youngstown
by T.L. Mayle © 2005

No more dwelling on the past
That kind of mindset won’t last
They may have been the Glory Days
But now it’s time for a change

And I think you would agree
We’ve had our fill of apathy
Listen up, young and old
We have a future to behold

If you don’t see the potential
In the place you’re residential
You might have the blues and bummers
Listen, natives and newcomers:

There’s the Youngstown Symphony
And Funny Farm Comedy
The Monday Musical Club
The Youngstown Playhouse and pubs

We’re the home of Warner Brothers
(No, they didn’t come from Struthers)
We got Stambaugh, we got Powers
And long summer daylight hours

Gloomy winters we may curse,
But eleven states have got it worse!
We have affordable houses
And the schools aren’t overcrowded

There’s so much we take for granted
In the places that we’re planted
Spend the day at Mill Creek Park
The Butler Institute of Art

And if you happen to get lost
You can always play golf!
If you’re into thrills and speed
There’s Cedar Point in Sandusky

And just one hour away
The Rock n Roll Hall of Fame
Or if your love is football
Check out Canton’s famous Hall

The country’s most affordable?
Youngstown – Warren - Boardman
The Top 100 places to live was just revealed
Number 82 on the list? Canfield!

No one can hold a candle
To the ice cream from Handels
And the fireworks we see
Are even better than DC’s

Phil Keaggy, Ray Mancini
Musicians, actors, athletes
Jim Tressel, Bernie Kosar
Ed O’Neill – our hometown stars

Seen the Penguins on the street?
YSU’s great football team?
And the Dana School of Music
No musician can refuse it

Been downtown for ‘First Night?’
Seen Federal Plaza’s tree lights?
Have you seen the gems and treasures
Of the business architecture?

And new buildings, even better
Like the Convocation Center
We might call ourselves progressive,
Optimistic and impressive!

We’ve got family, traditions,
Opportunity and vision
There’s still a little ways to go
And new leadership will show

That our bright future’s even nearer
So let go of the rear view mirror
Respect our history, but live here now
Let’s make our home a
New Youngstown!

Tracy Mayle wrote the poem several years ago when she was volunteering for Youngstown 2010. She read it at the Festival of the Arts downtown in July 2005 and it won 2nd place. I share with all...

Here comes YoungstownPride.com!

Who knew that a silly internet bid on www.youngstownpride.com would make me the owner of said domain? Three weeks later, it is all mine. In the next few days, you should be able to type that URL directly into your browser and be directed there (I hope!). I need to work out a few things, but look for this site to migrate there soon!

The people that keep us going

While I haven't seen it yet, what sounds like a great exhibit opens today at the Youngstown Historical Center of Industry & Labor entitled "Working Ohio/Working Youngstown" and features the photos and words of firefighers, steelworkers, lab technicians, and janitors, the working men and women of Northeast Ohio. The exhibit is sponsored by Center for Working-Class Studies and the journalism program at Youngstown State University.

The exhibit started as a journalism project in Assistant Professor Alyssa Lenhoff's advanced journalism class, where students were tasked with capturing the experience and perspective of workers. According to Dr. Sherry Linkon, Co-Director of the Center for Working-Class Studies, the exhibit is exciting because it brings students into the process of redevelopment within Northeast Ohio. Projects like this "engage our students in the community, and for journalism students, it helps them learn that "news" is not only about the most visible, important members of the community but about everyone," said Linkon.

Linkon hopes that the project can help all of us get a sense of how work is shaping the Mahoning Valley today. "After the mills closed and as the auto industry declines, our shared identity as a community of industrial workers has faded, and we don't know what to replace that with. People ask me all the time, "what do people do there now?""

Here's what we do: we teach school, we run medical tests, we staff retail stores, we make high-tech materials and dance clothes, we work in offices, and much more. We work, largely in the service industry, many in locally or regionally-owned small and mid-sized businesses. Many of us work multiple part-time jobs, while some are building careers in fields that go almost unnoticed."

In addition to student photos, the exhibit features the work of Cleveland-area photographer Steve Cagan. If you are interested, the show runs through May 4 and admission is free. If you can catch it, a reception and gallery talk will be held at 7 p.m. tonight.

View Steve's online gallery of images from the show here.

Oddfellows Local 151

In Pittsburgh, a divorce court withheld decision last week in the case of Gladys Johnson, who protested that when Lewis J. Johnson, U. S. marine, came home in his uniform and asked her to elope with him to Youngstown, Ohio, she had done so without recognizing Mr. Johnson as her father's brother.

Time magazine Monday, May. 16, 1927

(I like the comments that I receive from people who don't check out the year on some of these posts.)

Happy Birthday, Streetscape!

Streetscape, the beautification program working to improve Downtown, is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Often these programs go unnoticed and whither on the vine but Streetscape has received a lot of public support and appears to be thriving. Working with Cityscape and a number of public and private entities, they plant flowers throughout downtown, remove trash, and work to improve the general aesthetics of the Federal Street corridor. If you like to garden and want to help beautify Youngstown, I highly recommend getting involved with this group.



Some of the work done by Streetscape volunteers in 2003 before Federal Plaza was reopened. Photo by Melissa Jenoff, American Institute of Architects Eastern Ohio Chapter.

Vote early, vote often

I am not the one who generally does this but I can't help but support a fellow firefighter. I don't personally know Jamie Goodlet, but I know people who have said he is the nicest guy, so I can't help but support him. He is a Youngstown firefighter at Station 6 on the east side. He and his fiancee Carissa are now one of four finalists in the WFMJ Today wedding contest. They could win a $65,000 all expenses paid wedding and honeymoon.

Votes are being accepted at the WFMJ Today website here.

Votes are only being accepted untill 11pm DST on Saturday, March 24th. Please take 30 seconds and put a vote in for them. They are couple #1 Carissa Smith and Jamie Goodlet. More details about their story can be found on YoungstownFire.com.

If you would like to wish the newly engaged couple congratulations or good luck please feel free to post it in our comments section BUT ONLY AFTER YOU HAVE VOTED FOR THEM!!!! Vote First, Congratulate Second! Thanks to everyone and let's get Carissa and Jamie a wedding they will never forget!

Speedy Recovery

Youngstown Pride wishes a speedy recovery to Officer Jerry Stanley of the Youngstown Police Department. Officer Stanley was patrolling Wick Park when he was assaulted with a metal rod by Bienvenido Carmona. Stanley was forced to shoot Carmona, who survived with a gunshot wound to the hand, but not before Stanley received internal injuries. Stanley is the only YPD officer assigned to the Parks and Recreation Department, primarily patrolling Wick Park. He is currently in St. Elizabeth's Hospital in guarded condition.

Mayor to Herb: Pay us back or expect a Youngstown tune-up

Mayor Jay Williams is calling in the big loan. The city sent a letter to Key Bank last week asking that a $2 million loan taken out by Herb Washington, owner of the Steelhounds, be repaid. It was not unexpected, however. The term limit on the 18-month loan was up. According to Washington, the check is in the mail. There is no word from William's office if he will follow up on this blogger's fake threat of a Youngstown tune-up should the obligations of the loan not be met.

Source: The Vindicator

Jeannette furnace resumes production

Washington Post - May 17, 1936
Youngstown, Ohio, May 16 (AP) -- The Jeannette Blast Furnace of the Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. today resumed production after being idle for five years.

Some history of Jennie:

Built in 1917-1918 at a cost of $3 million, it was one of three blast furnaces in operation at the plant, then owned by the Brier Hill Steel Company. It was "blown in" or lighted on September 20, 1918 by its namesake, Mary Jeanette Thomas, daughter of W.A. Thomas, who was the President of Brier Hill Steel. The furnace was 90 feet tall and weighed 500 tons. It produced more than 11 million tons of steel in its lifetime, and is said to have produced 34,356 tons of pig iron in one month during the early years of iron production. Brier Hill Steel was purchased by YS&T in 1923. The Jeanette furnace went out of blast in September of 1977 when the Brier Hill Plant was shut down. It was one of the oldest blast furnaces in the United States, and the last of its kind in Youngstown.

The Jeanette furnace was torn down at 11:37 a.m. on Wednesday, January 29, 1997 to clear the 62-acre brownfield for use as an industrial park. Musician Bruce Springsteen refers to the Jeanette in the lyrics of his song "Youngstown," a melancholy musical tribute to the steelworkers of the Mahoning Valley.

Source: Youngstown Public Library

Moving to Youngstown? What an idea

A post on the DowntownYoungstown.com forums arose yesterday from someone who goes by the user name tenshoes asking something that few people do.

"I'm considering moving to Youngstown. Can you comment on Youngstown as a place for a family?"

Some of the replies are striking, and make me proud to be from Youngstown. A fine summary:

• ..."I've never worried about my safety while driving through the worst parts"...
• ..."Youngstown does have a lot to offer that the “big cities” have to offer...
• ..."[Some people] slam the area that they live in saying its terrible and such, but yet they are still there. If it was really that bad, don't you think they would have moved out?...
• ..."Downtown and YSU campus are amazing and has alot going for it"...
• ..."Youngstown has a lot to offer, you NEED to go look for it. It is there..."

The best reply: In the last three days there has been downtown the Blue Man Group, 6 shows at community theaters, hockey, a lecture by a world-famous author, mystery dinner theater, a cd release party under the stars at the planetarium, jazz, a gallery opening, and number other music shows and pieces of nightlife. I will be en route to an operatic performance at a church downtown in 15 minutes.But I look at Youngstown as an exciting canvas for making one's mark. Teachers, administrators, and public officials are all very approachable. And we would welcome any individual who wants to get a great education and flourish in this town.

It is great to see people taking pride in where they live. So often you talk to people who are from Youngstown and they simply repeat the negative stereotypes which have existed for thirty years. They contribute nothing to our redevelopment but laugh at the attempt, because all they can think of is the way it used to be, not the way it is or will be. I feel bad for those people, because like the reply stated, Youngstown is an exciting canvas. You just have to bring the paint.

By the numbers

• 3, 525 - The average attendance for the Youngstown Steelhounds during the 2006-2007 season
• 4, 067 - The average attendance during the 2005-2006 season.
• $3,000 - $6,000 - The average amount the Chevy Center makes off of one Steelhounds game.
• $5,000 - $25,000 - What the center expects to make from the Mahoning Valley Thunder per game.
• $88, 424 - The Chevy Centre's anticipated loss for April to June 2007.
• $96,632 - The anticipated loss for July to September.
  
  Source: Vindicator, Sunday, March 11, 2007

Youngstown had decades of warning, Toffler says

Friday, March 9, 2007
Youngstown needs to be home to new technologies and ideas, an author says.

By SEAN BARRON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

YOUNGSTOWN — It's easy but foolish and shortsighted to blame the Mahoning Valley's losing thousands of manufacturing jobs between 1995 and 2005 solely on outsourcing and globalization.

If Youngstown is going to continue to make an economic comeback, it needs to understand its challenges in a broader context.

These are a few of the opinions Alvin Toffler offered in a lecture he gave Thursday at Stambaugh Auditorium. His appearance was sponsored by Youngstown State University.

Toffler wrote several best-selling books such as "Future Shock." He spoke about the numerous significant economic and societal changes that have their roots going back at least 50 years. His latest book, written with his wife, Heidi, is "Revolutionary Wealth."

"The usual explanations [regarding job losses] are simple-minded at best and wrong at worst," Toffler told his audience of a few hundred.

The decline in U.S. manufacturing jobs got under way in the 1950s, and in 1956, such jobs fell below 50 percent of the nation's work force for the first time, he noted.

Time of change

Contrary to popular opinion, the '50s was anything but a docile decade. It was a time of huge government investment in science, and when drugs became more prevalent in society; in addition, movies were starting to extol various negative values, Toffler pointed out.

The loss of jobs in the manufacturing sector didn't develop suddenly; Youngstown and other similar cities had "decades of warning" about economic changes that would occur, but many city leaders failed to see or comprehend their importance, he continued.

With today's economy, which Toffler referred to as the "third wave," Youngstown needs to be home to new technologies and ideas while embracing and adapting to changes brought about by an economy that's increasingly knowledge-based, he noted. Toffler praised the Youngstown 2010 plan and other local initiatives, saying they're steps in the right direction.

Becoming obsolete

Factors that are becoming less common are 9-to-5 jobs, work in offices and factories, and the structure of the nuclear family, Toffler said. More positions have variable schedules, and more people are working from their homes, he added.

You're only big time if Craig says so

And it looks like he finally has. For those who have lived in bigger cities, you are familair with Craigslist, the clearing house for selling that old couch, finding a roommate or reading the ever popular "rants and raves". Well, the creation of Craigslist Youngstown came and went without any notice on my part and I felt I would put it out there for the rest of the world to see (or at the two people that read my blog. Thanks mom and dad!). To check it out, navigate over to http://youngstown.craigslist.org/.

"And now you know…the rest of the story."

"Hello, Americans, this Is Paul Harvey!"... A few other blogs have posted a story which radio personality Paul Harvey did a few weeks ago on Youngstown. It is definitely worth a read. Phil Kidd posted the entire thing at DefendYoungstown.com

Youngstown is under appreciated only by its own citizens who are as yet unaware that running scared from the blast furnace flameout they've run on ahead of most of the rest of us.

It is positive stuff like that from nationally known people which will help Youngstown redefine itself. Check it out...

"Tell your neighbors it came from Haber's"

East Federal Street, 1960's. This will be part of an upcoming DVD on downtown Youngstown in the 1960s. Write to info@metromonthly.net for more information.


Music: "Afro-Harping" by Detroit jazz harpist Dorothy Ashby

More from Time

Fish were found in the Mahoning River in Youngstown last week. It was the first time in 25 years. Chemicals discharged into the Mahoning by the steel mills that line its banks for miles & miles normally kill all living things. Hot from steel mill sewage, the river has not frozen in many a puddler's memory, until this winter.

Source: Time Magazine, Monday, Jan. 09, 1933, link here

Youngstown boy shot in chest, remove bullet from the leg

In Youngstown last week a playmate accidentally shot Harry Besharre, 13. in the chest, directly over the heart. When Harry reached the hospital he complained less of the pain in his chest than of a gripe in his left groin. X-rays showed a strange accident. The 22-calibre bullet which struck the boy's heart was in the main artery of his left leg. It had traveled there, surmised surgeons, by piercing the heart and entering the left auricle. Contraction of the heart pushed the small lead pellet into the left ventricle, whence further pulsation drove it into the aorta, main feeder of the arterial system.

There is where the boy, having survived the puncture of his heart, ran his second greatest risk. One branch of the aorta goes to the head and brain. The other branch goes to the trunk and limbs. Had the bullet been carried by the flowing blood and pulsing artery up toward the brain, it would quickly have plugged some small bore artery, caused quick death. Instead, the pellet turned downward, worked into the left iliac artery, then the left femoral. Surgeons last week left it there, hoping it would work further down the leg where its removal would be less risky to Harry Besharre's life.

Source: Time Magazine, Monday, Jan. 11, 1932, link here

Lazy days of summer at the pool farther off than hoped

To steal the lead from a Vindy article from last week, those wanting to swim at a new North Pool are going to have to wait until August. That's the planned opening for the NEW northside pool, assuming about 1,000 things which need to be done in advance of that date are accomplished. First and foremost, a contractor needs to signed on to the project. Thus far, the city has put the project out to bid three times. The first two times, no bids were submitted. This time the city wised up and changed the plans which should make it easier for the project to be completed by the target date. For a million dollar investment, lets hope something good comes back from some contractors.

The original pool, built in 1939, was torn down last summer and the pool house has already undergone a number of renovations including a new roof and shower facilities. Without the North Pool, the only public swimming pool in Youngstown is Borts Pool on Belle Vista Avenue on the West Side.

The picture, by the way, was taken by Pat Lowry before the new roof was put on the bathhouse.

Reprint from the Tribune-Chronicle

Residents’ tax burden gets painful

When Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams ran as an independent candidate, many Democrats speculated that he was a Republican in disguise.

Williams’ recent comments about raising taxes should sufficiently debunk that pre-election myth.

Williams recently told Mahoning County commissioners they should not seek a half-percent sales tax renewal. A true Republican would have added that the commissioners should work with what they have and take the tax off the books. But Williams instead told commissioners they should increase it to 1 percent and make it permanent.

‘‘It’s painfully obvious that the county cannot run on less than 1 percent,’’ Williams said.

The only thing painfully obvious is local residents’ tax burden.

County Commissioner Anthony Traficanti had said the board was considering three options: request renewing the half-percent sales tax for another five-year term, request a 10-year renewal or request a permanent levy. Hopefully Traficanti and his colleagues will ignore Williams’ suggestion.

Williams wants more help from the county to follow through on his recent zero-tolerance criminal position. After a quadruple homicide further highlighted Youngstown’s violent reputation, Williams ordered a 30-day police blitz to capture every undesirable no matter how insignificant the offense.

Youngstown police are now flooding the county court system with all those undesirables. Their efforts will be thwarted if the county has trouble prosecuting the cases quickly or if the county runs out of jail space.

But Williams found a way to target crime without increasing Youngstown’s taxes. So, too, must county commissioners find a way to handle the criminal influx without increasing taxes.

It is a matter of priority.

Quote of the Day

How reliable is the Vindicator? The better question is how reliable are its trucks! At 2:00 a.m. this morning, a Vindy delivery driver and his trainee were shot at while delivering newspaper bundles on the South Side near the Youngstown Playhouse. Two men approached the pair of Vindicator employees who retreated to the truck while one of the men took dead aim at the driver's chest. Luckily, the raised dashboard stopped one bullet while the vehicle's radiator stopped the other. Neither was hurt and the suspect's fled.

The full story is available here. As for the driver, he believes the Mayor's new zero tolerance policy "is a bunch of crap — it ain't working as far as I'm concerned." In a move to show what a great employer they are, the Vindy gave him the rest of the day off. No word on whether the trainee will show up for her second day of work.

Winter Wonderland

I would like to say that I can take credit for these photos, but I found them at DowntownYoungstown.com who took them from The Vindicator. The State Theatre, the Paramount Theatre and today's Draught House (the Singer Sewing Machine shop) are all visible.

More manpower

YOUNGSTOWN — The Ohio State Highway Patrol has allocated several troopers to patrol within the city limits with a goal of reducing urban fatalities, said Mayor Jay Williams. The goal, he said, is consistent with the city's proactive efforts to help create a safer community. Troopers will focus on U.S. and state routes within the city. This will allow city officers to focus more sharply on the residential neighborhoods and businesses within the city. The joint effort will last until early March and serve as a trial period to evaluate the collaboration, the mayor said. He expects future joint efforts will occur this year.

Statistics Lesson

According to The Vindicator, from Feb. 2 to 2 p.m. February 11, there have been:

• 28 felony and 110 misdemeanor arrests.
  
• 12 firearms and $6,598 in cash recovered.
  
• 25 minor misdemeanor citations issued.
  
• 547 traffic stops and 124 stops of pedestrians.
  
• 261 traffic citations issued, and 39 parking tickets.

New! Newsfeeds

If you want to know when a new post has been made to Youngstown Pride, all you have to do is subscribe to one of our new newsfeeds located on the right hand control panelbottom at the bottom. If you use a newsfeed program not located on this page, let me know I can add a link to it.

Learning from Youngstown

A few weeks ago a stir was created by articles in USA Today and The New York Times on the redevelopment of Youngstown. Bloggers in Youngstown weren't the only ones to comment. Follow this link to go to Pittsblog and an article entitled "Learning from Youngstown".

Probation for Arson? Only in Youngstown

This should tick you off. Four people were involved in setting their Rhoda Avenue house in Youngstown on fire FOUR TIMES for insurance money. Because the Mahoning County Prosecutor's Office and the Mahoning County Common Pleas Court didn't communicate properly, the four ended up with probation only - FOR ARSON. According to Alvin Ware, captain of the Youngstown Fire Department's Arson Bureau, many personal belongings were removed from the house and placed in storage before the four separate fires were set.

Youngstown has a long history of arson fires, including those set last winter when almost thirty arson fires were occurred on North Side. If this is the type of prosecution we can expect for such crimes, where is the deterrence for the criminals? Arson fires put lives at risk, especially those of the firefighters whose job it is to extinguish these blazes. Countless days of lost time have been reported in the last year by firefighters injured in Youngstown arson's, including by several firefighters who have fallen through rotted or burned out floors. Probation for those who commit such crimes, especially when they are committed for personal gain, because of a mix up by the prosecutor's office is sad and shouldn't be tolerated.

Check out the full article at YoungstownFire.com.

New links

I added three new links to the Links section on the right.

1. The Rayen School, Class of 1955 - They have a great website with a lot of local school history.
2. Whatever Happened to Idora Park? - This site has excellent photos of the old park, including several I had never seen before. Even though I was five when the park closed, I have a few memories of the park. My dad was also the manager of the famous French Fry Stand for a few years.
3. The Center for Working-Class Studies - The CWCS at YSU was the first center of its kind in the United States devoted to the study of working-class life and culture.

All are worth checking out if you have the time.

A few new photos

A postcard I have never seen before, Federal Street at night. I am guessing this is from the early 1920's.

I found this picture on the website of the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. It lists this building as the Thomas Lambros Federal Courthouse. First, I thought this building was built as the Post Office and remained as such until Mahoning County purchased it as an annex space. Second, this isn't the current courthouse, which is across the street from where this building still stands. If anyone has any further history on this building, let me know.

A packed downtown

Last week was a good week by all standards for Downtown Youngstown. According to the nearly official source DowntownYoungstown.com, last Saturday night there were 9,000 people downtown enjoying a variety of events.

• Chevy Center, 5,000, motocross rally
  
• Beeghly Center, 3,700, YSU vs. UIC
  
• B&O Station Banquet Hall, several hundred, Murder mystery theatre
  

YSU went on to defeat the UIC Flames for the first time in school history and the bars looked like they were busy. Never mind the cold, it was a great night to be downtown enjoying a wide variety of events which Youngstown has to offer. More nights like these can definitely be expected into the summer!