Eastern Gateway serves a variety of students – those fresh out of high school who can’t afford the full college experience and older students looking to make a career change. Students enrolled full-time at other colleges are also taking Eastern Gateway Community College summer courses to pick up undergraduate credits during their summer break. Eastern Gateway academic programs include those in business, engineering, health, the humanities and social sciences.

And the best part? All classes taken at Eastern Gateway are transferable to many four year universities. Another plus – and this is a big one – the cost per credit hour at Eastern Gateway is approximately $100. According to the school’s website at www.egcc.edu

“Without the state of Ohio’s support, EGCC’s tuition and fees would be almost twice the current per credit hour rate. The state of Ohio provides 41 percent of the college’s operating revenue through two state subsidies — the State Share of Instruction and Access Challenge. The rest of the college’s operating revenue comes primarily from student tuition and fees as well as federal grants.”

Such an affordable price tag comes from the fact Eastern Gateway has no main campus, but instead classes are offered at satellite locations found in Mahoning , Trumbull and Columbiana counties. The Eastern Gateway Community College partnerships within the Mahoning Valley include the Trumbull Career and Technical Center in Warren, the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center in Canfield, the Choffin Career Center in Youngstown, the Columbiana County Career and Technical Center in Lisbon, Youngstown State University, and Kent State University. Many classes are also available on-line utilizing the learning system Blackboard 9 with classes in the sciences requiring lab work be done at the satellite locations.

In a statement made in August 2009 when the college’s first classes began, Governor Ted Strickland stated, “Eastern Gateway will make it easier for Ohioans in the Mahoning Valley to obtain a quality education and develop the skills they need for jobs in the modern economy.” He added, “Educating students in growing industries and new technologies will help position Ohio for growth and progress. I congratulate all the partners in this effort, and commend them on their visionary leadership and commitment to higher education.”

For more information about Eastern Gateway Community College, visit their website at www.egcc.edu or call 800-68-COLLEGE. Registration for summer classes begins March 1, 2010.

Eastern Gateway – the Valley’s First Community College is a post from: Youngstown Blog

Mill Creek MetroParks pulls out all the stops in celebration of autumn, and you’re invited. Winters can be tough in Y-town and the MetroParks make the most of the fabulous fall weather that precedes the first snow fall.

The changing fall foliage might be a tourist attraction in New England, but Mill Creek Park can be just as impressive. Put on your walking shoes and take advantage of the wonderful seasonal show Mother Nature presents. The MetroParks offers numerous interpretive walks during the month of October. These walks are slow-paced so time can be taken to not only gain information about the walk’s topic but so everyone can enjoy the scenery.

Two bird walks will take place this month with both being lead by Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist Nancy Brundage. Early fall migrating birds will be the topic with the October 3 adventure following the MetroParks Bikeway. Everyone is to meet at the Bikeway’s Trailhead at the MetroPark Farm at 9 a.m. Those attending the October 10 walk will also meet at 9 a.m. at the Newport Wetlands parking lot, where exploring the Wetlands will take place. Both jaunts are rated easy and are less than one mile long. And each walk is BYOB – bring your own binoculars.

Want to spend the day really getting to know Mill Creek Park? Then set aside Sunday, October 11 to do so. Naturalist Emeritus Bill Whitehouse will lead this leisurely ramble of the Park’s northern section. Walkers can opt to spend the morning, afternoon or the whole day. Participants are asked to bring a brown bag lunch which will be enjoyed at the historic Log Cabin. Those wishing to join this hike must be 16 years of age or older, be in shape enough to walk at least 10 miles, and must call the Ford Nature Center by October 10 to register. Everyone is to meet at Fellows Riverside Gardens with the hike beginning at 10 a.m. and lasting until 4 p.m.

Though the trees are in full splendor this time of year, several interestingly eerie plants are also known to appear. Come learn about some of the plants native to Ohio that have a “dark side” by participating in the Sunday, October 25 walk through Poland Woods beginning at 2 p.m. With Halloween just around the corner, this walk seems very relevant. Call Ford Nature Center for directions to Poland Woods.

Speaking of Halloween, the MetroParks will become very spooky the weekend of October 17 and 18. Halloween at the Judge Morley Pavilion runs from 6 to 8 p.m. and will include a mummy wrapping contest for the whole family and a pie-eating contest for adults. A costume contest for children of all ages plus a pet costume contest will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday night a Pumpkin Walk at Twilight will take place from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Fellows Riverside Gardens. Take a stroll through the garden’s Jack-O-Lantern and autumn-decorated lined paths. Be sure to stop in at the Davis Center afterwards for refreshments and music.

For Information Contact:

• MetroParks Office – 330.702.3000
• Fellows Riverside Gardens – 330.740.7116
• Ford Nature Center – 330.740.7107

Fall’s Final Hurrah is a post from: Youngstown Blog

Community service is always in style. How to go about doing it is limited only by one’s imagination. Take Scott Finamore, for example. About a year ago this 23 year old Poland, Ohio native tossed an idea at his buddy 19 year old Sam Malaska of Youngstown. Finamore was in need of an adventure, (“I’m an outdoors kind of guy,” he states), so he proposed a bike trip. But not just any bike trip. “I thought it would be neat to ride out to California to visit people I know there and in the process really see America.” Malaska thought Finamore was nuts – at first; but once he kicked the idea around, Malaska was on-board.

In the process of talking to friends and family about their road trip, someone made a suggestion. Bike ride across the country = cool idea. Bike ride across the country to help out a worthy cause = excellent idea. Now pedaling with a purpose, Finamore and Malaska are a little more than a week away from their San Francisco destination as they raise money for Akron Children’s Hospital of the Mahoning Valley.

The duo left May 9 at 5:00 a.m. from the Cycle Sales of Boardman parking lot. Armed with two bicycles and a bicycle trailer to haul needed supplies, Finamore and Malaska headed west embarking on the ride of a lifetime. Naming their trip Cali For Kids, the guys have already traversed Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, and are presently biking through Utah. Interested parties can follow the pair via their website www.califorkids.com. Click on the link “Track Our Progress, to read the blog entry reports written whenever they get a chance.

To date, the trip has remained pretty trouble free except for a few spills, broken wheel spokes and a broken brake. The pair reports their most memorable moments revolve around, yes the weather that dictates their days, but more importantly the people they meet. “The people are absolutely incredible,” Finamore states. Reading through their blog, it’s easy to see just how giving and caring Americans really are.

While many have helped the Cali For Kids riders along the way, the guys report their fund-raising efforts have fallen short. Their goal was to raise $15,000 for Akron Children’s Hospital of the Mahoning Valley’s charity program that provides medical care for children whose families can’t afford it. To date, their total raised is about $6,000. Finamore hopes they can link up with a charitable group who will match the funds they raise during the trip.

According to an article that ran in the June 15 issue of the Youngstown Vindicator, “They’ve made it easier for people to show financial support, adding a Paypal connection to their Web site. The site provides an opportunity for people to sponsor the ride — by the mile or by the day. Corporate sponsorships are also available. Donations will be accepted until July 1. All donations should be made out to “Cali for Kids” and mailed to P.O. Box 14098, Poland, OH 44514.

Keep track of the adventures of Finamore and Malaska as they finish up their 3,000 mile excursion at www.califorkids.com. The pair hopes to ride into San Francisco June 29 marking the end of a wonderful experience, and the beginning of, quite assuredly, many speaking engagements back home in Y-Town.

Pedaling with a Purpose is a post from: Youngstown Blog

Staycations are all the rage as many buckle down on excessive spending by forgoing the big, expensive out-of-town summer get-away. But does staying close to home mean the next three months will be boring. Not a chance. For music lovers, there’s no place like home in the Mahoning Valley. The number of free concerts taking place will keep many a toe tapping.

The W.D. Packard Concert Band, the Pride of Warren since 1955, will be busy through August keeping big band buffs happy. All concerts are free and open to the public courtesy of the W.D. Packard Trust. The following is the schedule for the W.D. Packard Concert Band with all concerts taking place at the South Lawn band shell unless noted.

Sunday, June 14 Summer Band Concert 7:00 p.m.
(A Salute to Flag Day – Flags and Music Around the World)

Sunday, June 28 Summer Band Concert 7:00 p.m.
(Music for a Summer Evening)

Saturday, July 4 Concert & Fireworks 8:00 p.m. – Music Hall
(Fireworks display by Zambelli Fireworks)

Friday, July 24 Packard Dixieland Band 3:00 p.m. – Music Hall
Saturday, July 25 Big Band Sound of Packard Noon – Music Hall
Saturday, July 25 Dancing Under the Stars 8:00 to 10:00 p.m.
Sunday, July 26 Summer Band Concert 7:00 p.m. (TBA)

Sunday, August 9 Summer Band Concert 7:00 p.m. (TBA)

Sunday, August 23 Summer Band Concert 7:00 p.m(TBA).

The 42-acre Packard Park is home to the W.D. Packard Music Hall. When stage events take place, the Hall can seat more than 2,400. When the Hall is used for banquets, it can seat at least 500 people.

Those who frequent the Packard Music Hall know how hard the staffs, Board of Trustees, the Foundation Board and the numerous volunteers work to make this Warren, Ohio facility such a landmark in the community, which in turn would make founder and industrialist William Doud Packard (1861-1923) very proud.

Packard was known to love a good military march; so much so he specifically included a provision in his will stating his desire that music be a part of Warren’s culture long after his death. William’s wealth from the Packard Automotive Company and the Packard Motor Car Company, businesses he founded in the 1890s along with his brother James Ward Packard, helped make this a reality. Through a trust fund established for this purpose, the Music Hall was built with the remaining money to be used to maintain a band to perform there. World War II slowed the plan a bit, but in October of 1955 the Music Hall was finished and ready to go.

The W.D. Packard Music Hall is located at

1703 Mahoning Ave Nw
Warren, OH 44483-2008

For more information, visit their website at www.packardmusichall.com or call 330-841-2619.

Free Music in Y-Town Abundant this Summer is a post from: Youngstown Blog

June 24 Youngstown Area Community Concert Band
July 1 Colin Dussault’s Blues Project
July 8 Rudy and the Professionals (a taste of the Caribbean)
July 15 Del Sinchak/Eddie Vallus II (Polka)
July 19 Bid Bad Voodoo Daddy
July 22 The Eldorado Band (Country)
July 26 Aftermath (Experience the 60s) at both 5:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
July 29 Teddy Pantelas Quartet (Jazz)
August 5 Jones For Revival (Youngtown’s jam band)
August 12 Don Burns Orchestra (Big Band)
August 19 Conjunto Riquena (Latin)
August 26 Youngtown’s Total Package Band (high energy R&B)
Sept. 2 No Xcuse (Rock, 80s, 90s, and today)
Sept 9 Easy Street Productions (favorites)

For more information concerning the Mill Creek MetroParks Summerfest Spectacular for 2009 call 330-702-3000.
With the free concert line-up offered by Packard Music Hall and Mill Creek MetroParks, (note – no dates conflict), it is a sure bet the people of the Mahoning Valley will be humming a happy tune all summer long.

Mill Creek MetroParks Summerfest Spectacular is a post from: Youngstown Blog

Rumors had flown the city had turned down a better deal offered by Bruce Zoldan, owner of the B.J. Alan fireworks company and the Mahoning Valley Phantoms hockey team. It had been reported Zoldan had offered $140,000 annually for five years for the Centre’s naming rights. Upon closer inspection, however, it appears this was not the case.

The Centre’s executive director, Eric Ryan, explained the Zoldan offer was also for $120,000 annually. However, like the deal the Centre had just concluded with GM, with the Zoldan offer, money would have been deducted for suites, tickets and other requests. The Covelli offer was for naming rights only, making it the better bet for the Centre.

And with the Covelli offer comes another added bonus – the additional marketing that will become available. Covelli owns 145 Panera Bread franchises and four O’Charley’s restaurants, many within 100 miles of Youngstown. The fact more than 80,000 people visit these restaurants each year – and the cross marketing opportunities are many. Covelli assured Youngstown Mayor Jay Williamson Covelli Enterprises would make promoting the Centre a top priority.

Sam Covelli has always been heavily involved in the Mahoning Valley. This year marks Covelli Enterprises’ 50th anniversary in the area with the company’s headquarters being located in Warren, Ohio. Community involvement is big with Covelli, so supporting the Centre by paying for the naming rights is a natural fit.

So what’s coming to the Covelli Centre? Not surprising, the Youngstown Phantom hockey team – owned by Bruce Zoldan (yes, the same guy who lost out on the right to name the Centre) – has agreed in principle to play its 30 regular home games this season at the Covelli Centre. The Phantoms are now part of the United States Hockey League, the top amateur hockey league in the country.

Other events on tap for the upcoming months at the Covelli Centre include -

May 15 – Willie Nelson and Family

June 6 – Annual Tri-State Auto Classic, a custom auto and bike show

June 12 – Celtic Women – Isle of Hope

June 13 – Gus Macker, Three on Three Basketball Tournament

Various Mahoning Valley Thunder arena football home games throughout May and June

For more information on upcoming Covelli Centre events, for now, go to www.chevroletcentre.com

Chevy Centre to Get New Name is a post from: Youngstown Blog