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

Our nations’ first federally funded highway is celebrating its bicentennial, and you’re invited to the party. The National Road: Helping Build America is a traveling exhibit whose next stop is the Youngstown Historical Center of Labor & Industry where it sill be on display April 7 through June 28, 2009.

Put together by the Ohio Historical Society and partially funded by a grant from the Ohio Humanities Council, this exhibit honors Congress’ authorizing the construction of the National Road also known as the Cumberland Road, the National Pike, “The Main Street of America” and U.S. 40. The National Road was the first compact gravel road to cross the Appalachian Mountains making it so travel through this area was more doable. With the construction of The National Road, settling the frontier became a reality.

Though Congress gave the okay to begin the construction of the road in 1806, and contracts with private builders were in place by 1811, the War of 1812 held the project in limbo until 1815. At this time, work on the road began in Cumberland, Maryland with the first portion to Wheeling, Virginia (now West Virginia) being completed in 1817. The road eventually extended to St. Louis, Missouri. It is interesting to note that the Ohio portion of the 620-mile National Road is more than 225 miles long and traverses through 10 different Ohio counties.

The history of The National Road shows Ohio was to become a state in 1803 and congress promised in 1802 to build a road connecting areas east of the Appalachian Mountains to the land that was to become Ohio. Up until this time, the Nemacolin’s Path, a Native American trail named after the Delaware Indian chief, Neamcolin was the “road” used to help people in the Northwest Territory to cross the Appalachian Mountains. With the National Road in place, the ability to settle this Ohio frontier was made easier, as was communication between this area and those on the East Coast.

The National Road: Helping Build America relies on wonderful graphics to tell the story of this landmark road through the eyes of a traveler of this era. Those visiting the exhibit will not only learn how this road came to be, but how it helped with westward expansion, and how it continues today as a travel destination. Such is its importance to the development of the United States during the 19th and early 20th centuries; in 2002 the United States Department of Transportation designated this byway an “All-American Road” in the “National Scenic Byway System.”

The exhibit has been on display appearing at venues along Route 40 since 2007 and is now making its way to other Ohio Historical Society stops in 2009 so more may learn about this important Ohio landmark.

The Youngstown Historical Center of Labor & Industry is open Wednesday through Friday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday (as well as Memorial Day and Labor Day)- noon to 4:00 p.m.  Admission is $7 for adults; $3 for children 6-12 and children under 5 are free. Call 1-800-262-6137 for more information.

The Youngstown Historical Center is located at 151 W. Wood Street in Youngstown, Mahoning County. Wood Street is located between Wick Avenue and Fifth Avenue. It is one block north of downtown and two blocks south of Youngstown State University.

On the Road Again is a post from: Youngstown Blog

Lanterman’s Mill is considered one of Mahoning County’s most historic landmarks. The present mill (and all mills that came before it) built in 1845-1846 by German Lanterman and Samuel Kimberly is located at Lanterman’s Falls.  The Mill was restored from 1982 to 1985 through a gift from the Ward and Florence Beecher Foundation. However, there were a few mills at this location prior to the one standing today.

John Young, the founder of Youngstown, once owned the land surrounding Lanterman’s Falls. He sold 300 acres that included the falls to Phineas Hill at the end of the 18th century with the stipulation a saw and grist mill be built at the site of the Falls within 18 months of purchase. This mill which operated from 1799 to 1822 was built from logs found on-site and millstones were cut from granite in the area.

In 1823, Eli Baldwin built a mill to replace this original, with this gristmill operating up until 1843 when a flood destroyed the structure. It is interesting to note a grinding stone from this 1823 mill can still be seen in the creek bed 500 feet down stream from the Falls.

The current mill was built two years after the flood and though quite success for many years, it closed in 1888. The Mill then stood dormant and deteriorating until 1892 when Mill Creek Park bought the structure.
The Park used Lanterman’s Mill as a ballroom and bath house for those who came to swim in the Pool of Shadows by the Mill. Then in 1933 the lower floor of the Mill was turned into a nature museum and later in 1972 it became the Park’s historical museum. Lanterman’s Mill earned it place on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

Once funding was secure and the research was done, the work began to restore Lanterman’s Mill to its present state – a fantastic reminder of our area’s pioneer ingenuity. The Mill operates today as it did in the 1800s – grinding corn, wheat and buckwheat.

With so much history and such a loyal following of those who appreciate what Lanterman’s Mill represents, during the last weekend in November, the Mill welcomes all to come for a visit and take a walk back in time. Whether one has a hankering for real roasted chestnuts or simply wants to witness the majesty of this working mill, Lanterman’s Mill is the place to be Saturday, November 29 and Sunday, November 30.
Come take a trip back in time and witness what Mill Creek Park has to offer and why so many in the Mahoning Valley love to call the area “home.”

For more information about Olde Fashioned Christmas at the Mill contact the Ford Nature Center of Mill Creek Park at 330-740-7107. Lanterman’s Mill is located at 980 Canfield Road, Youngstown, OH 44511-2368

Saturday, November 29,  2008

• 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.–Victorian Christmas Display
• 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.–Tytely Wounde Stryng Band, Folk Music
• 11 a.m. -12:30 p.m.–Kirk Kupensky, Harpist
• Noon – 2 p.m.–Bob Spisak, Juggler
• 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.–Mark Pringle, Bagpiper
• 1 – 3:30 p.m.–Jon Mosey, Folk Music
• 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.–Joe Sullivan, Balloon Art

Sunday, November 30, 2008

• 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.–Victorian Christmas Display
• 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.–Tytely Wounde Stryng Band, Folk Music
• 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.–Crossties Duo, Folk Music
• Noon – 2 p.m.–Bob Spisak, Juggler
• 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.–Mark Pringle, Bagpiper
• 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.–Joe Sullivan, Balloon Art
• 3 – 4:30 p.m.–Kirk Kupensky, Harpist

Olde Fashioned Christmas at The Mill is a post from: Youngstown Blog

Dedicated in 1919, the Butler, as it is called by the locals is a wonderful architectural masterpiece in and of itself. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this Wick Avenue structure is the work of architectural geniuses McKim, Mead and White. Known worldwide as “America’s Museum,” the Butler not only houses extensive individual works by American artists (more than 20,000 now), it is a living museum – meaning the community doesn’t just visit every once in awhile. The Butler is an active venue – one weekend hosting a wedding, another offering art classes to children, and always its door are open to the public where anyone can peruse the exhibits on display – free of charge.

Arguably its most well-known masterpiece would be 1872 Winslow Homer work “Snap the Whip” depicting school age children playing this game. The recent acquisition of preeminent American illustrator Norman Rockwell’s “Lincoln the Railsplitter” has recently draw the most attention to the Butler. According to Butler Director Dr. Louis Zona, “If ever a painting belonged in the collection of the Butler Institute, this is the one. Painted by America’s most beloved artist, Norman Rockwell, this work depicts our country’s most beloved president, Abraham Lincoln. Given the fact that the Butler is our country’s first museum of American art, this masterpiece by one of the greatest of American artists is a most perfect addition.”

How fortunate people of the Mahoning Valley are to have such a facility in their backyards! Besides affording the opportunity to view such magnificent works of art, the Butler offers area residents a chance to stretch their artistic talent as well. The Butler Institute of American Art has offered art classes for many years, but space to host such classes was limited. In a continued effort to preserve Youngstown’s historic structures, the Butler recently acquired the First Christian Church located right next to the museum on Wick Ave. Now know as Butler North, this Youngstown landmark houses the Dennison Center, home to the Butler’s education department. Here art classes for children, adults, home-schoolers and high school scholars keep the Center busy most weeknights and weekends.

In another effort to bring the community in the Butler offers a variety of opportunities. Area teachers are encouraged to bring their students to visit and experience fine American art first-hand through programs specifically for this purpose. The Butler has instituted the “Adopt-A-Painting” program where anyone can donate money in order to help preserve and conserve the paintings in the Butler’s collection. It is interesting to note the museum receives no revenues from the city, state or county, but relies on contributions from the community and the nation to meet its cultural mission.

A holiday tradition, the 38th Annual American Holiday Fine Arts & Crafts Show will take place December 5 through the 7th. A juried show, artists are invited to submit an application to participate in this juried event where all work exhibited must be hand-created representing the best in ingenuity, artistry and craftsmanship.

Since the Butler is a non-profit institution, the facility can not be used for fund-raising events for other organizations; however, it is available for receptions, retirement dinners or like private occasions.

Often Youngstown gets a bad rap as being a depressed former steel town. And while the area still has issues, The Butler Institute of American Art continues to shine as a thriving part of this Mahoning Valley community as it showcases the best in American fine art.

www.butlerart.com

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The Butler Institute of American Art is a post from: Youngstown Blog

The Arms Family Museum of Local History is one such place. Situated in “Greystone,” the early 20th century Arts & Crafts-style home built by the prominent Arms family, this un-heralded little museum houses a wealth of local history.

The first floor of the museum features Greystone’s original rooms, dressed in period furnishings so it feels one has just stepped back in time. The Arms family loved medieval architecture and design, as well as the natural environment.

The lower level and second floor of the home are filled with historical exhibits featuring the lives and times of past residents of the Mahoning Valley. While the first floor stays constant, the exhibits on these other levels change regularly helping visitors enjoy and understand the way of life here for different people at different times. Native Americans, Welsh coal miners, African-American freeman – all have been featured at one time.

And this would have made Greystone’s designer so very happy. It was in the first part of the 20th century when Olivia F. A. Arms (wife of Wilford P. Arms) went about building her dream house; Greystone. Detailed in her essay The Story of My House, Olivia discusses the importance of a woman’s place in the home and goes one step further in discussing how to work with surveyors, architects and brick-layers so the end result is really the home the owner envisioned and not that of the hired hands. Greystone, therefore is truly an Olivia Arms original. A renaissance woman in every sense of the word, Olivia envisioned a home filled with warmth and laughter; a house, she wrote, where the windows would be the “finest landscape paintings.” And the gardens were “an actual part of this house.” Visitors today can not only experience Olivia’s vision, they can learn a bit about the Mahoning Valley in the process.

Located at 684 Wick Ave., Youngstown, Ohio, The Arms Family Museum of Local History is open Tuesday through Saturday 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Admission is $4 (or less depending on one’s age).  Though the museum is wonderful, historians will be glad to know the Museum also permits access to their archives including a library and business and media archives.

Part of the Mahoning Valley Historical Society, The Arms Family Museum of Local History presently has on display “On Air, 80 Years of Commercial Broadcasting in the Mahoning Valley” which explores the broadcast market in the Valley from its humble beginnings in 1920 to today’s unlimited multi-media opportunities. “The Boys and Girls of Summer” details the history of baseball in the area from the Rayen High School team of 1901 to the General Electric Softball team of 1976.

For more information, contact The Arms Family Museum of Local History at (330) 743-2589

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The Arms Family Museum of Local History is a post from: Youngstown Blog