news: 12 march 2008

Akron-Canton airport to launch $110 million expansion
in The Cleveland Plain Dealer

"The Akron-Canton Airport will make room for international flights, three more gates and a new airline over the next decade as part of its $110 million plan announced this afternoon.

That means bigger parking lots, a new ticket counter, a 25-percent-bigger passenger screening area and a runway long enough to send planes anywhere in North America."

Helpers Sought to Beautify City
in the Youngstown Vindicator

"Youngstown CityScape is looking for volunteers to help with its Streetscape beautification program.

Among the focus areas for the June 7 event are Wick Park, East Federal Street, the John Young Memorial, the Police Memorial, near the Choffin Career Center and near city hall."

more info here.

$500,000 pledged for YSU Business School
in the Youngstown Vindicator

"Youngstown State University graduate Jocelyne Kollay Linsalata has pledged $500,000 to help in the construction of a new building for YSU’s Williamson College of Business Administration.

In recognition of the gift, YSU will name the Gallery in the new business building in Linsalata’s honor."

Consultant to Study Scholarship Plan
in the Youngstown Vindicator

"The board approved a contract Tuesday with Hodge Cramer and Associates Inc. of Dublin, Ohio, a national philanthropic consulting company, to determine if the Youngstown Promise will work. The cost will be covered with grant funds.

The plan is to model the scholarship program after the Kalamazoo Promise in Michigan, which has proved to be beneficial to public education partnerships with higher education by providing college scholarships for Kalamazoo high school graduates to attend any state college or university in Michigan."

North Side to Get $3.4 Million Rec Center
in the Youngstown Vindicator

"Plans for the 15,800-square-foot Arlington Heights Park and Fitness Center include an all-purpose gym, workout equipment and weights, a patio, conference rooms and a cafe. The facility is to be surrounded by an 11.5-acre park complete with basketball courts, two playgrounds, a tennis court and a picnic shelter."

People in this town still have a lot of money
in the Youngstown Vindicator

"The event was expected to raise $100,000 for U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., who won last week’s Ohio primary by 10 percentage points over U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.

Though Zoldan didn’t count the cash, he said the amount raised surpassed the $100,000 goal.

Harry Meshel of Youngstown, Mahoning County coordinator of Clinton’s presidential campaign and a former Ohio Senate president, said the candidate’s husband did “a terrific job explaining why Hillary should be president."

a terrific job.

can't keep up with the burgh

look.

here is the math:

aggressive blogging by Jim + work week travels + eating/sleeping in the margins = needing to play major catch-up with the Burgh Diaspora blog.

Here are some of the ones (among many) that received by attention over the past four weeks:

On Top of the Political World

"Hillary Clinton appeals to Pittsburgh's old guard and Barack Obama is the voice of Pittsburgh's ongoing transformation. The same scenario played out in nearby Youngstown during the Ohio primary. Clinton used Youngstown as a backdrop to highlight the failures of NAFTA. What she ignored, apparently to considerable political gain, are the agents of change infusing the region with energy and hope.

While I appreciate the more nuanced perspective of the region, Newsweek incorrectly identifies Mayor Luke Ravenstahl as the face of "newer Pittsburgh." Ravenstahl represents business-as-usual, quite different from the situation in Youngstown with Mayor Jay Williams."

Pittsburgh's Near-Abroad

"Regardless, the national and international impression must be one of the entire Rust Belt as depressed, backwards, and pissed off. While shrinking cities share many of the same problems, there still exists quite a bit economic geographic variation within the region."

Cleveburgh Globalization Project

"I propose a Yo Cleveburgh pilot, making good use of the Youngstown urban laboratory to develop a set of best practices for addressing the inherent instabilities of globalization. The goal is to develop the Cleveburgh Corridor into a world city on par with Chicago. One of the solutions that Longworth puts on the table is educational reform, though doing so is notoriously difficult.

My hunch is that Youngstown would be more open to innovative approaches in education than just about any other Rust Belt city."

Jim is setting the table for you Youngstown, read more here.

Rust Belt High Skill Immigration Zone Update

"Renowned Law Professor/Author William Hing, UC Davis School of Law, member of Senator Obama's Immigration Policy Group, has picked up on the "High Skill Immigration Zone" proposal and is spreading the word!"

a request from the fly YNG blog

From the Fly Youngstown blog:

"Once again I would request everyone to join me in a grassroots effort to attract Skybus Airlines to the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport. Below is a link that is a Contact Form that allows passengers and airport supporters like myself to voice support for our local airport."

more here.

new stories, new responses, new blogs

Elections bring the national media to Youngstown

On the Ground in Youngstown 5 minute video from the New York Times
The Politics of Trade in Ohio in the New York Times
Rust Belt Clamors for Fix, hears Rhetoric in the Chicago Tribune
Ohioans Hear Populist Pleas By Democrats in the New York Times
Democrats Appeal to Working Class Voters in Ohio in the Kansas City Star

Local blogs react

a MUST-READ post in the Defend Youngstownblog
Rust Belt Blues in the Five Husbands blog
Making the News in Meditations in an Emergency
YBI Scores in Connected Youngstown+
NY Times in Youngstown in Meditations in an Emergency

New local blogs to notice

5th Ward Councilman - Paul Drennen
www.councilmanpauldrennen.blogspot.com
the 5 husbands blog
http://fivehusbands.wordpress.com/

note: this post is cross-posted at Shout Youngstown

Youngstown Art is really churning

The Youngstown Art blog three posts this week worth reading:

The first reviews the opening of the Frederic Molden collection now at the Star Gallery at the Oakland Theater.

"A Youngstown based artist with a substantial resume', his work has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show, and is in the collections of such personalities as Michael Jordan and Jerome Bettis."

"The skill level is amazing as is the use of color and composition. Much of the work is heavy with history and nostalgia, which some people may feel is a negative in certain artistic circumstances. However, Molden's rich technique and insight take this genre to a new and pleasing level. In many ways I am reminded of the great African American painter from Cleveland, Huey Lee Smith, although Molden certainly has his own unique style."

"The Star Gallery is open during regular performance hours and one does not have to attend the performance to visit the gallery."

The second post is a request:

"In fact, if I wrote a blog every single day of the year, I would not adequately cover all the events , artists and the issues surrounding them. Currently this blog barely scratches the surface. I am writing only on the things that affect me directly.

I am requesting that others get involved. It would be so nice to have the Butler Institute and the McDonough Museum offer blogs on their shows and events. Other art organizations such as TAG and the Art Outreach Gallery (Eastwood Mall) need bloggers as well.

I often hear art supporters and artists complaining about various issues but I don't often see them actually doing anything to change the situations. Blogging is an excellent way to make a difference. One of the problems that afflict our art community is lack of communication. Many people are working to dispel the misconceptions and wrong assumptions that have arisen.

Blogging is effective cure for the diseases of miscommunication and lack of communication. Besides, blogging is fun, easy, and definitely creates immediate change. Don't hesitate!"

The third post reviews the Art Youngstown Inc. Wine Tasting Event at the Youngstown Club downtown:

"Congratulations again to Art Youngstown for yet another successful, well attended art event. Thanks to Emerine Estates and the Youngstown Club for the Wine, the use of the hall and the staff.

These pics were shot well before most of the guests arrived and the place was full by mid evening, but not uncomfortably so.

To say this event was a "wine tasting" is an understatement as the wine flowed freely and abundantly all night."

new press release from GLUEspace

This press release just posted at the Great Lakes Urban Exchange.

‘Rustbelt’ Cities Coalition Thanks Presidential Frontrunners for Supporting Great Lakes Compact,
Calls for Regional Urban Agenda in Three Upcoming Great Lakes Primaries

GLUE operates on four guiding principles:

Urbanism: Cities are our world’s economic drivers. Decision makers cannot afford to underestimate their value nor overlook their needs.

Regionalism: Great Lakes urban centers need to overcome outlooks of despair and isolation by forging a shared perspective and developing strength in numbers.

Storytelling: White papers alone cannot propel an agenda, particularly for the emerging generation of leadership. No need is expressed more powerfully than via human narrative.

Building Networks: Connecting people and institutions who share challenges and objectives will foster regional collaboration and transfer examples of success throughout the basin.

30 blogs in 30 days

Steel Valley Outdoors writes about the future:

"In order to accomplish this, I’ve promised myself a blog entry a day for 30 days, so you should see more new items posted. Not all are going to be features: I like YouTube videos and they’re still the easiest to do. But there’s going to be regular news items for the next month or so.

Also I’m Asking for help from regular visitors. If you want a soapbox, now’s your chance. We’ve always been about supporting regional events and activities, so if you see something you want covered, drop me a line. Write an article. get involved.

So I hope you stick around to see what this two prong attack brings to Steel Valley Outdoors. I think You’ll like it."

more on this here.

the midwest against the rest

On Milwaukee reviews the GLUE conference in Buffalo:

"We quickly came to realize that this feeling of isolation was unjustified. After an extensive bus tour of Buffalo, which revealed the dramatic rise and tragic fall of that great city, none of us were shocked. Saddened, but not shocked. After all, each of our cities has been similarly hollowed from the inside out.

From that point forward, the focus of the weekend was on what we share, not on what we don't. Poverty, crime, segregation, crumbling streets and population loss is a reality for each of our Great Lakes counterparts."

"But perhaps more important, from what I witnessed at this weekend's conference, is that the cities of the Great Lakes are bursting with cadres of young, hyper-motivated individuals, who are both discouraged with what they see in their respective cities and determined do something about it. That's the funny thing about "depressed cities" -- their tough problems give rise to some of the most engaged and creative citizenry in our country."

check out more here.

2 new local blogs

Reason and Connected Youngstown+

"I came home and what I found in this, my old hometown, was surprising. There is a lively and engaging arts scene, new industries born out of emerging technologies' use of existing infrastructure, great restaurants, good people, and good times. Check back often for my reports as I explore the history and re-creation of this rust belt city."

a new home for jim

The creator of Blog Diaspora is now writing at Pittsburgh Quarterly:

"I call this community "Globalburgh" and it is larger than the scattered fans of Steelers Nation, though sports bars often serve as a hub where the Diaspora can gather. I've obsessed how Pittsburgh and its urban hinterland might benefit from the energy and experience of Rust Belt refugees. I've determined that engaging prospective boomerang migrants is the best way to encourage more economic development."

Read more here

from city hall: a new concept

Defend Youngstown reporting from the inside to the outside:

"Welcome to a new concept that we will be experimenting with here at Defend Youngstown. It will be known as "FROM CITY HALL" which will report relevant information from City Hall in a journal style format. As a new city employee who still also wears the hat of a community activist through Defend Youngstown, it is becoming increasingly obvious to me how the lack of communication between the city and the citizens (and vice versa) can and, in some instances, does limit our ability to move forward on some important issues here in Youngstown."

read more here.

this should be a good one

hoo-hoo-hooray.

Lincoln Avenue is back for another season, since it kicked ass during sweeps.

For the upcoming show Wednesday at 7:30pm streaming at www.wysu.org:

"This week on Lincoln Avenue, I’m talking with the Wean Foundation’s still-fairly-new President, Joel Ratner, about the Foundation’s new directions, including a series of programs aimed at helping area non-profits work better and work together. Starting with a community summit last fall and continuing with a very well-attended set of workshops on strategic planning in January, Wean is providing training, opportunities for networking, and grants to support capacity building, all aimed at helping organizations serve the local community better.

The other half of Wean’s new strategy is a focus on neighborhoods through small grants of $500 to $5000 to small local groups, especially neighborhood organizations that want to pursue concrete projects to improve their community. This project is still getting organized; the Foundation is establishing two community review boards, one for Youngstown and one for Warren, who will evaluate applications for these small grants. This approach goes hand-in-hand with the neighborhood focus of Youngstown 2010, putting resources in the hands of ordinary people. It also works as another form of capacity building, helping people develop the skills and experience to become community leaders."

read more on how YOU can get YOUR IDEAS funded here.

if anyone has monday or tuesday off

Another GLUE event blogged about by Burgh Diaspora

go here to read more.

How do us working schlubs get to participate?

news: 17 Jan 2008

Will they get to 14,000?
from the Youngstown Vindicator

"The university has experienced enrollment growth in all but one of the last seven years, and Sweet has said that an enrollment of 14,000 is the goal for this fall as YSU marks its centennial anniversary.

That mark “is within reach,” Maraffa said."

read more here.

Getting Back on Track
from the Warren Tribune-Chronicle

"The councilwoman who sponsored a resolution supporting a rail cargo hub says her ultimate goal is to bring Amtrak passenger service back to the city.

Councilwoman Carol Rimedio-Righetti, D-4th Ward, said bringing back the service, which was cut because of lack of riders in 2005, is essential because the area does not have a full-time airport.

The resolution council passed urges the state’s congressional delegation to support a study for a hub to take advantage of proposed rail system from Illinois to Washington, D.C., said T. Sharon Woodberry, the city’s Economic Development Director.

Woodberry said Youngstown is perfectly suited to handle freight that would come in through a rail hub because of its proximity to major cities not just in Pittsburgh and Cleveland but also New York and Chicago."