community college to begin in 16 months

Mahoning Valley Community College Becomes Certainty
in the Business-Journal

The Mahoning Valley will have a community college, the chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents announced Monday, and it will open its doors to students for the fall 2009 term.

In the Chevrolet Centre Monday, Chancellor Eric Fingerhut promised a room filled with Mahoning Valley education and political leaders that the two-year college will be ready for students in roughly 16 months with an undetermined number of classrooms and instructors prepared to begin teaching.

The college, however, will not have its own campus and be concentrated in one location. Instead it will likely use classrooms at Youngstown State University, in the Salem and Champion campuses of Kent State University, and the Mahoning County and Trumbull County technical and careers centers.

more here.

10,000 books and counting

The First Book of the Mahoning Valley blog discusses an important milestone:

"To date, First Book- Mahoning Valley has distributed over 10,000 books to children in the Mahoning Valley.

While we would love to stop and celebrate this wonderful achievement, there are countless children in our area who still do not have their own new books at home. Having these books at home to read at their disposal increases test scores, literacy skills, and often inspires children to look forward to futures that they may not see in their immediate environments.

Help us continue to get books into the hands of the children who need them. There are several events you can participate in:"

click here to find out more about upcoming event.

plus, the group has a few items for its wishlist.

can we as a community help them?

a voice from the inside

a student from East High School writes a letter to the paper:

"As an East High student, I must say that this district is by far the most complex, yet caring, system I have been a part of.

Teachers and staff find themselves taking on parental roles due to the lack of discipline at home. Students tend to attach themselves to the authoritative figures outside their home, due to a lack of parental support. We have nearly 1,000 students attending East High School and roughly 100 parents attended the parent-teacher conferences this year.

When I moved to Youngstown in 2005, I found students who lacked basic morals, self-respect, a need to strive for their very best and some who did not want to comply with our society. I was stunned at the value placed on education and the value of life."

- - -

"Bottom line, don’t give up on them, don’t you dare give up on these students. They are the immediate future of Youngstown. Children are considered to be miniature figures of their parents or guardians, and if you do not find our students to be appealing, we have learned our values from you"

read the whole passage here.

news: 1 Apr 2008

Mahoning Valley Comm. College to Open in 2010
in the Youngstown Vindicator

"YSU took the lead on the local community college issue two years ago when its board of trustees directed the university administration to begin looking at the process and to develop an implementation plan.

However, it now appears that the Ohio Board of Regents, which oversees public higher education in the state, will be in the driver’s seat.

Fingerhut said the board of regents has received a grant from the Raymond John Wean Foundation in Warren to hire state and national experts to help devise a local community college plan for the Mahoning Valley.

It will be accomplished in collaboration with YSU, Kent, Jefferson Community College and the adult work force centers, according to the 10-year plan."

- - -

"With the development of a local community college relieving some of the pressure YSU has been under to provide remedial courses for incoming students, the university will be freed to pursue a more focused mission in the field of economic research and development, the chancellor said.

That can change the face of a city like Youngstown, he said, noting that the University of Akron has done a similar thing for the Akron community.

The state will authorize and support undergraduate and graduate programs that focus on quality and have relevance to economic rebirth, he said."

more here.

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.

diggin' in the archives

on Lincoln Avenue this week:

"2008, as you may have heard, is YSU’s centennial. As part of the celebration, the University has opened an archive of materials documenting the institution’s history. This week on Lincoln Avenue, I’m talking with Maag Library Director Paul Kobulnicky about why the archive matters and how it works."

more here.

more on the promise

Burgh Diaspora is connecting the dots . . . following information about the Kalamazoo Promise. Should Youngstown follow this model?

"A blog post at Brewed Fresh Daily is the first crumb leading me to an article about the value of the Kalamazoo Promise (the model for the Pittsburgh Promise)"

read more here,

a local assessment of charter schools

Youngstown Moxie provides an in-depth look into the numbers used to support the local charter school movement:

"Anyone who has ever worked in the education field or dealt with Charter Schools first hand knows the charter school administration can influence, to a certain degree, who gets to attend their schools. First of all, students are selected through the use of a lottery, where their names are literally drawn out of a pool of hopefuls. This has a positive affect on the mentality of the students and their parents. If selected they feel chosen, as if they've won a prize. Where do the "losers" go? The same place most of us did, public school. In addition, at the first signs of trouble, a student can be expelled from a charter school and sent back to public school. Does the public school have that luxury? No, because public schools are where the buck stops.

And after all that- the best kids with the most involved parents competing in a lottery to get in, no pesky union or certified teachers to deal with or pay adequately, no special ed students and the luxury of kicking out problem kids at the first hint of trouble - they have yet to outperform public schools on standardized tests."

Do you arree with her assessment? Read more here.

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."

two manufacturing initiatives

Advanced Manufacturing Meeting Set for Feb. 5

The Winter Meeting of the Advanced Manufacturing Initiative is set for 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Feb. 5. The meeting is hosted by the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics at Youngstown State University.

Martin Abraham, dean of the college, will discuss how the new college can benefit local manufacturers.

The meeting will be in Room 2400 of Moser Hall on the YSU campus. Parking will be available in the parking deck at the corner of Lincoln and Fifth avenues. Reservations are required for parking purposes.

To register, contact Steve Katros at 330 941 3009."

Nortech, Magnet Announce Innovation Accelerator Program

"Called the Innovation Accelerator, the program seeks to engage manufacturers looking to grow their business by adding new products and services, leveraging ideas from employees, vendors, customers and competitors and exploring new technologies capable of making their products stronger and more effective."

for more information, go here.

more community college news

New college would be a feeder to universities in region
from the Youngstown Vindicator

"YSU has said it would like to . . . see the community college become an independent entity within 10 years. YSU has already been working on the concept for nearly two years and perceives it as a collaborative effort among regional educational institutions.

YSU and its president, Dr. David C. Sweet, are proven advocates of a community college here, said Sen. Capri Cafaro of Liberty, D-32nd. YSU trustees believe that starting a community college here could increase overall college enrollment in the region, as well as serve as a feeder system for more advanced degrees offered by the university."

read more here.

new program to teach students business and economics

JA Joins with City Schools
from the Business-Journal

"Junior Achievement of Mahoning Valley Inc. and Youngstown schools officials announced that Junior Achievement would conduct a business education program for city students in fourth and fifth grades. With financial support from area businesses, Junior Achievement will provide the curriculum and materials for the program; volunteers from the business community will lead the one-hour sessions.

The purpose of Junior Achievement is to inspire and prepare young people for the global economy, Merkel said. Volunteers will come to the classes once a week for five weeks. Her long-term goal is to offer Junior Achievement programs to city school students from kindergarten through grade 12.

Mayor Jay Williams, a former banker, remarked that too many adults lack a good understanding of economic fundamentals, which leads to frustration and sometimes poor decisions. “If you can get them at this [age] level, whether they end up in business or not, these are things that they’re going to need to know just to be good, productive citizens and contribute to their communities,” he said."

read more here.

YSU enters partnership with UARF

Youngstown State to gain tech transfer aid
from Crain's Cleveland Business

"The University of Akron Research Foundation has agreed to assist Youngstown State University in its efforts to commercialize technologies developed at Youngstown State.

The research foundation will help Youngstown State evaluate products for commercialization, negotiate contracts regarding intellectual property and identify opportunities to form partnerships with companies and other organizations. The foundation also will assist young companies formed to commercialize Youngstown State technology.

Cleveland State and Youngstown State stand to benefit not only because they will gain access to technology transfer expertise at the University of Akron, but also because the foundation, unlike public universities, is able to take equity in startup companies."

penguin video invitation

The Experience Evangelist blog writes about some new outreach efforts by YSU.

"I’ve been to Youngstown State University a few times and it always exceeds my expectations. The campus is very well-groomed and their admission office one of the best decorated I’ve come across during my travels.

Recently Assistant Director Todd Pilipovich sent me a link to their President’s Day Open House Video Invitation. I love it. Narrated by Pete the Penguin (YSU’s mascot) this video is funny, informative, and engaging."

You can read more here.

Northeast Ohio Universities Collaboration and Innovation Study

Ed Morrison provides links at Brewed Fresh Daily to the new report.

"The Northeast Ohio Universities Collaboration and Innovation Study Commission, established by the General Assembly as part of House Bill 699, issued its final report after a year of examining ways to improve the quality of public higher education in Northeast Ohio.

Its key recommendations urge adoption of strategies to increase the number of college graduates in the region, and expansion of collaborations among the schools to strengthen the region’s research momentum and focus university programs on critical regional economic needs and opportunities."

news: 6 Jan 2008

Opportunites Emerge at Youngstown Business Incubator
the Youngstown Vindicator

"Two new tenants already are [newly] signed. Eris Medical Technologies, a Canfield-based hospital software developer, and Visual Impact Imaging, an Akron-based landscape design software company, are scheduled to move into the incubator this spring.

The incubator also will be part of collaboration to develop the Center of Excellence in Industrial Metrology & 3D Imaging Research. Involved are Youngstown State University, M-7 Technologies, which is a Youngstown precision management company, and the Columbus-based Ohio Supercomputer Center.

The process [of selecting client companies] involves making sure the company’s concept is feasible, testing its product, then asking some of the companies in the incubator’s network to examine it and make sure there’s a market for it. If the product passes these tests, the company will be put under consideration by the incubator’s board."

College Coaching is a Youngstown Thing
the Kansas City Star

"So what does boxing’s most inspirational bout of last year have to do with Monday’s BCS National Championship Game between LSU and Ohio State?

Youngstown, Ohio.

That’s the home of Pavlik and college football coaches spread across the land.

By native-son status or a relationship with Youngstown State, coaches from this Rust Belt city halfway between Cleveland and Pittsburgh are defining college football with a blue-collar toughness, and Youngstown will stand and cheer no matter who wins in the Superdome."

Valley Needs Community College, says Report

"The results of the Northeast Ohio Universities Collaboration and Innovation Study are in, and they call for a community college in the Mahoning Valley.

The report, released Friday, came after a year of research by officials from Youngstown State University, the University of Akron, Cleveland and Kent State universities and the Northeast Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy.

The result was 18 recommendations aimed at increasing college enrollment and reducing tuition costs.

YSU already has taken the lead, without state sanction, in developing plans for a local community college, after a directive from its board of trustees to come up with a plan."

Review of the Mayor's State of the City Address
the Youngstown Vindicator

"He focused his discussion of the year to come on detailing plans for a new crime-prevention program, known as Operation Ceasefire.

The strategy calls for aggressive law enforcement and prosecution — gunshot detection systems and video surveillance and gang suppression through grass-roots community initiatives. It was shown to be effective in curtailing lawlessness in Boston.

Williams encouraged members of the community to keep their heads held high in spite of adversity."

“There is nothing wrong with Youngstown that cannot be fixed by what is right with Youngstown,” he said. “When faith is not enough, we must still believe.”

news: 5 Jan 2008

Report Suggests NEOUCOM Stays Independent

[the report] "recommends that NEOUCOM expand its BS/MD degree program (which already has Youngstown, Kent and Akron as partners) to include Cleveland State, albeit with sufficient funding being provided by the state or private resources to make it happen.

The study also calls for expanded medical and health science-related research in the region."

Stavich Family Gives $2.7 million to YSU

"The trust is designed to provide scholarships for Campbell students at Memorial High School who plan to attend YSU. The fund is projected to provide between 20 and 25 scholarships each year that will offset tuition and other expenses not covered by other financial aid programs.

Students are selected for the scholarship based on their financial need, academic performance and service to the community. More than 10% of the Campbell Memorial class of 2007 attends YSU tuition-free because of the Stavich scholarships.

During the 1980s, the family donated a large sum of money toward create a scenic 10-mile bicycle path that stretches along the Mahoning River from New Castle, Pa., through Lowellville and Struthers."

news: 20 Dec 2007

Scuffles might derail the Pittsburgh Promise

It seems the devil is in the details - and those details are upsetting Pittsburgh's City Council and potential for free college tuition for city school students. Read more here and here.

Regional and Grassroots Projects Split $1 million

In anticipation of Pittsburgh's 250th anniversary. Read more here.

YSU Looks to Link Town and Gown

Hunter Morrison speaks to the CIC Board and says the intent behind the new College of Business Building is create not just a building, but a district that will draw downtown to campus and students to the downtown.

news: 18 Dec 2007

Venture Capital Funds Look at Valley

“That’s one of the reasons we like what the Youngstown Business Incubator is doing with their focus, because they’re delivering products that have a clear customer demand and they’re able to get what we call the ‘voice of the customer’ involved early in the process,” he continued. “You’re not just developing a technology for technology’s sake. You’re really developing technology for the market that’s out there.”

You can read more about early stage funding in Youngstown here.


First Night Youngstown gets some much needed $

locals step up to fully fund the annual event after one of the past key sponsors pulled out.

Study Recommends NEOUCOM Expansion

"The final recommendation coming out of the North East Ohio Universities Collaboration and Study Commission calls for NEOUCOM to remain a free-standing medical school, albeit with expanded collaborative efforts with other institutions."

Lemon Grove Gets Grant

The Youngstown City Board of Control approved a $5,000 grant for the Lemon Grove LLC, a restaurant/lounge at 122 West Federal St.

news: 13 Dec 2007

YSU gets additional $1.5 million from student body growth

Fall enrollment up to 13,500.

Read this story to see what the board of trustees did with the funds.

Landmark bowling alley set to re-open on west side

New owners Shane Nesbitt and Alfred Eusanio invested about $300,000 of extensive renovations into the place.

“We’d like to help restore the West Side,” Nesbitt says. “We were born and raised here, and we wanted to revitalize a Youngstown landmark that’s been around for 50 years.”

Mahoning Valley Lanes will have electronic scoring, new seating, a new kitchen with two new chefs, new carpeting and upgraded lane equipment certified by Brunswick.