I've heard from multiple people that the guys and gals behind the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in Niles Ohio, the A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians, are really quality people.
We must take care to differentiate between good people and bad decisions.
But thanks to the promotional efforts of the team's management, the ghost of political, ethical, and representative destruction is being picked up by the national media.
Again, there are probably (hopefully) good people in the MV Scrappers organization, but I think it's time to say:
it's time to cancel Jim Traficant night at the ballpark.
it's time to move on.
what do you think?
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update: to the Scrappers' credit, Jim Traficant night has been canceled. (link)
advanced manufacturing today really is an artform.
There was an interesting story in a recent Youngstown Vindicator article about fusing the artistic talents of the Butler Art Museum with the manufacturing expertise of Exal, both of Youngstown.
But looking around Exal's website, they have an amazing three-part video on their production methods from melting aluminum slugs to printing colors on the finished bottle product.
You can find the video here, but you need to click on "plant tour" then "manufacturing process video" to watch it.
This operation looks like a finalist for the Science Channel's show How It's Made.
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Speaking of wonderful art, tomorrow August 9th is the last day of the amazing kinetic sculptures of Bob Potts at the Butler. Here is one example of the amazing things you may see there:
noon to 4pm on Sundays
pro bono publico (for the public good - always free)
In an announcement by the Fund For Our Economic Future (FFEF can be described as a mega-regional northeast ohio foundation aggregator), two projects from the Mahoning Valley came in the top three in vote getting - enabling cash to be awarded for local projects.
"After 31 days of voting and strong “get-out-the-vote” campaigns by the nine finalists, the residents of Northeast Ohio have made their choice and determined the three EfficientGovNow collaboration projects that will receive grants from the Fund for Our Economic Future.
A total of 13,483 qualified votes were cast during July. Individuals could vote for up to three projects, with point values assigned for each first, second and third place vote."
11,760 votes - Mahoning River Corridor Redevelopment Project 10,197 votes - Regional Fire District Project – Cuyahoga/Lorain 9,143 votes - Mahoning-Ytown Regional Information System (MYRIS) 5,379 votes - Storm Water Conveyance System in Stark County 5,013 votes - Rittman & Orrville Schools Administrative Compact etc....
from a story in today's Business-Journal:
"That two area projects were among the nine finalists was “a significant achievement all by itself,” Mamula said. “I guess we’re doing something right.”
“They kicked butt. I don’t know any other way to put it,” remarked Chris Thompson, spokesman for the Fund for Our Economic Future."
the story continues...
"The competition “has helped move our area in the right direction,” Tony Paglia, vice president of governmental affairs at the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, said in a statement. “We’re a more united Valley than we’ve been before and this collaboration experience will affect the region for a long time to come.”
Paglia noted that a network of chamber members, nonprofit groups, local governments, educational institutions, bloggers and individuals promoted the concerted get-out-the-vote campaign for the local projects."
best of luck to those implementing these projects, and thanks to the Fund for engaging the Mahoning Valley.
Tucked right next to the Home Savings building on Federal Street is the Semple Building, which has had a really interesting history as a structure over the years. (more on that history later)
Its current renovation will enable the Semple to become the 3rd structure of the Youngstown Business Incubator complex, with all three buildings connected for the employees of various technology companies to walk back and forth and interact.
Here's a shot of the exterior:
but what's the current status of the construction on the inside?
let's take a look...
Simply put, the Semple Building is a 17,357 sq ft four-story filled with a melange of different types of wood and varied brickwork. In the many nooks and crannies of the building, one can see how the structure has developed over the years.
For example, large cut stones fill in the area in the basement.
Also in the basement, one can see the access tunnels that lead to underneath Federal Street. At some point, these access tunnels were bricked over.
As bricks were added over the years, many locations have multiple layers of the material.
Here's a bricked-in archway...
Here's a section with four different types of brick in one view...
Going up to higher floors, the new steps meet the old bricks...
the view from the 2nd floor of the Warner Theater and the Ford Theater...
and on the top floor, the original skylights will illuminate the space of a future downtown company...
finally, here is the finished product, with one quadrant of the building already inhabited...
it's shaping up to be a nice project.
can you envision your technology company in these kind of spaces?
then come to downtown youngstown and set up shop. the doors are open for the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Made the walk to my grocery store in the city on Sunday and strolled leisurely down the beverage isle.
Here is what I saw:
refrigerated, 22-ouncers from the Rust Belt Brewery Company.
check out the condensation:
and looking at the label on the side: "Product of the USA. Youngstown, Ohio"
"U.S. Steel. Youngstown Sheet and Tube. Republic Steel. These are some of the industries that built the Mahoning Valley...
We brew each batch with the exact precision and dedication of the men and women who made these industries thrive. This beer is a tribute to their hard work and sacrifices that have stained our river a rusted red."
from their website:
We are always looking for additional distributors to deliver our product. Interested patrons, please contact us at: rustybrew (at) gmail (dot) com
for distinct projects [ specifically, the Mahoning River Corridor Initiative a.k.a. "Rollin on the River" AND the Mahoning / Youngstown Regional Information System (MYRIS) ] that may bring hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Mahoning Valley. all because of your vote.
how? go here and read about the projects, then vote.
"Why is it so important that the two Mahoning County projects win?
There is the money, of course, but more importantly, there is the Mahoning Valley’s reputation.
For too long this region has been viewed with a certain amount of disdain by the rest of the state not only because of local governments’ negative reputation brought on by corrupt officeholders, but because of the time it has taken us to recover economically from the collapse of the steel industry more than 30 years ago.
That should be the rallying cry for the residents of the Mahoning Valley. It would be a shame, indeed, if the two projects that have led the competition thus far lost in the end because of apathy."
So if you haven't yet, it takes like 60 seconds to vote.
any fan of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley can vote.
and vote for another inventive idea. The one in Oberlin looks good. Same with the one in Ashland. and there is a joint economic development planning one for parts of Summit county that's interesting too.
farmers markets and fresh vegetables are taking root in Youngstown.
For the second straight year, the weekly downtown farmers market is joining the weekly northside farmers market - providing two opportunities in the city for local folks to buy local produce and baked goods.
so here is the schedule:
EVERY TUESDAY - July 21th to Sept 22th 1:30pm to 5:00pm Downtown - Federal Plaza at Market St.
EVERY SATURDAY - July 18th to Sept 26th 9:00am to 1:00pm NorthSide - 1105 Elm Street, eastern side of Wick Park
from a story in last week's Business-Journal, one part highlighted making local produce accessible by all locals:
To help more residents take advantage what the market offers, vendors accept the Ohio Direction Card for payment.
The Alliance for Congregational Transformation Influencing our Neighborhoods organization helped to bring the Ohio Electronic Benefits Transfer Farmers' Market Demonstration Project to the Northside Farmers’ Market, one of 26 participating farmers’ markets in the state, said Action’s health and wellness committee chairwoman, Sheila Klasovsky.
Although the group couldn’t bring the system to the downtown market, “we have the ability to fill out a slip and do it later, so people can use it here,” Klasovsky said.
Work downtown? Take a coffee break and go buy some veggies...
Work elsewhere? Come down and support local entrepreneurs...
Just in case you missed one of the cooler events (out of many) that took place downtown, here are some additional photos and video of the 2009 Tour of the Valley event.
multiple races were held throughout the day, with one of the early morning ones below:
During the last stage of the race, the many many bikers on the Fallen Officers Run just about crossed paths with the cyclists' course. This is a great clip.
The awards for the Tour of the Valley. Very Youngstownesque.
in front of Turning Technologies:
zooming past the YBI:
beautiful video...beautiful setting. you've GOT to love those tree-lined medians.
the new trailer for September's Steel Valley movie makes one realize that in the hands of a very good artist or photo/videographer, downtown youngstown is a very stunning place.
We need to get some quality contemporary photographers to do some quality skyline shots that can be used over and over again in advertising materials.
I have set to see any downtown photos from the last three years that just really zings - with good lighting, good perspective, and good technique.
Because there are so many personal photos to go through and videos to upload, to see some great photos right away check out Tony Nicholas' blog at Downforce Imaging.
this weekend there will be an uber-abundance of activities going on: SlovenFest XVIII with its multi-stage polka blast in Lawrence County PA, GreekFest in downtown Youngstown with its pastries and dancing along Walnut Street, SummerFest of the Arts with its performances and ethnic food on the YSU campus, Forte on the Fifty with its music and fireworks at Stambaugh Stadium, the Smoky Hollow 5K with its perspiration and breakfast near the MVR...
but one new event in particular is tying together the region - both physically and cooperatively - in exciting ways.
The next four days will see the first ever "Tour of the Valley", a multi-day, four-stage bicycle race that is sanctioned by the U.S. Cycling Federation.
In its first year, the event is already the largest multi-stage bicycle race in the state of Ohio.
AND the event is being presented as the first certified “carbon neutral” bike race in the Midwest, reducing energy usage at this event by advising athletes to carpool, recycle, package materials with reusable materials, instituting a litter control program and tire recycling, etc.
with many different levels of competition (you can still sign up for some of the $12,500 in prize money), the race will be jumping all around Mahoning and Columbiana counties and there are multiple places to watch the various components of the race.
The stages/events include:
Thursday July 9th, 5-8pm: meet the racers dinner and wine tasting at Mastropietro Winery in Berlin.
Friday, July 10th, 8am-12pm: a 5.6 mile course over country roads in Berlin Township.
Friday, July 10th, 1pm-6pm: a repeated 1 mile course through Canfield for the timed criterium.
Saturday, July 11th, 8am-3pm: a 66 mile course starting and ending in downtown Columbiana.
Sunday, July 12th, 8am-2:30pm: a repeated 1 mile course through the historical architecture of downtown Youngstown, with restaurants open for breakfast and lunch to watch the cyclists zoom through the city streets at 30mph. Awards ceremonies to follow.
kudos to the folks at Carbon Racing, Energy Detectives, the Mahoning County Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the other sponsors for the effort it takes to bring together an event like this.
