"Accent On Youngstown" Episode 5

Hey Friends, Here is our next webcast of "Accent On Youngstown". This episode we talk to Mayor Jay Williams, Chief of Staff and Interim Parks and Recreation Director, Jason T. Whitehead, about activities this summer, the new Arlington Park project, and a full season at the new Northside Pool. We also have the new working owners of The Music Center in Niles Ohio, Cindy and Kathy, and they talk about the shop and a little about the transition for them as owners after their father sadly passed away from cancer earlier this year. Our food and drink section this webcast has Gordy from Super Suppers, and if you havent heard about all the exciting events she has planned this summer, you gotta stop in and see for yourself. Enjoy friends.........Scott

New Intern for Accent Media

Hello everyone! My name is Jessica Palmer and I am the new summer intern for Accent Media. I am a senior at Youngstown State University majoring in Marketing Management and, Advertising and Public Relations. Upon graduation, I would love to start my career in the Youngstown area to be near my family.

We will have a new webcast posted on Friday. The most recent webcast features Junior Achievement, Jump Stretch, and the Rosetta Stone Cafe. Also, starting this Friday there will be a new webcast every 2 weeks.

Accent Media has started the planning of "Stacking the Odds." The event is being presented by Oreo and Susan G. Komen for the Cure on Saturday, October 18, 2008. The Oreo stacking contest will be held in the lobby of 20 W. Federal Plaza (the old Phar-Mor building). Participants will stack Oreos in timed rounds. Single elimination competition will determine the Stacking the Odds Champion. Individual and team prizes will be awarded. There will also be a Chinese auction during the event. Last year $18,000 was raised for Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Interns Will Save The Day Again, Busy Busy, The Map

So I have some very good prospects for our next Intern. What does that mean for you?? Well, you might actually get updates on our blog more than once in a blue moon. Also, our new Intern will be in charge of the bi-weekly webcast, "Accent On Youngstown", as we get ready to branch out into the Mahoning Valley further besides the City of Youngstown. We had to delay broadcast a week of our 3rd webcast due to huge shooting and editing demands the last two weeks. Our next webcast will be up and running on Friday April 11th, by 5pm. Of course, we have also had trouble getting our web-link for the last episode working on the website. Luckily, it has been up and running on the blog, Youtube, and the Myspace page.


As I said, we have been really busy lately, (thank you Gods of business,) and it has been a lot of fun. We shot some excellent footage for Sheely's, worked on Doc's Team Extreme Big Game Show for the new season, put together the beginnings of a very touching video for an upcoming fundraiser, put together a new commercial for Advanced Chiropractic, and a whole lot more. The reason I am writing on a Sunday, is that we are on a 12 hour shoot next door at the Rosetta Stone Cafe for a set of four upcoming commercials. While the guys are doing all the heavy and hard work next door, I am upstairs watching the fort and working on stuff for the office, while they are coming and going for the shoot. This week we have shoots set up for Shine! in Columbiana, a couple shoots for the webisodes, and a bunch or our edits from the previous shoots.


There's too much that has gone on since my last blog entry, but I do want to point out one thing that was posted over at Shout Youngstown the other day. Janko and his friends have taken the time to create, "The Map", "Gems of Youngstown." It has started with about 50 places of interest, including food places, historic places, drink places, outdoor places, etc. You are also able to submit some of your own ideas, which will be reviewed extensively by the Peer Review Group, LOL, kidding. Go ahead and take this link over to his blog and check it out. Talk to you soon blogger friends............Scott

Rosetta Stone Cafe Revisited, Dog See's God, Dinner and a Show

It's Friday blogger friends, and that means a new "Accent On Youngstown" will be up by 5pm this evening. This weeks guests are; Randall Craig Fleischer, conductor of the Youngstown Symphony, George Mager, of Cafe Cimmento here in Youngstown, and our very own Danny Mizicko, and some footage from his own Extreme Sports production company, "Stuck In Ohio". Tell your friends and be sure to call me if you want to be a future segment on our webcast.


Last night I was able to see our friend Brooke Slanina and her Oakland Theatre Gang perform their latest play, "Dog Sees God". More on that in a sec, but I started the evening with dinner at Rosetta Stone Cafe, and had a nice chat with the owners and found out that they are a little disappointed that my mixed review of their restaurant is still showing up close to their website when you google them. That's definitely understandable, and even though I thought my two-part review was very fair and acurate, as I said in them both, I am always rooting for Downtown Youngstown businesses, and have always been rooting for the Rosetta Stone. In fact, I am actually a regular enough that one of the waiters knows my favorites already, and the manager recognizes me and is very cordial each time I come in. Let's hope that this follow-up piece goes above my last review in google, because the owners really have made some great strides in the short time they have been open, and are learning more and more each day.

I am very pleased they have expanded the dinner menu, and although it is not updated on their website yet, I am sure it soon will be. The nightly specials are a treat as well. I also don't see the hostess that I thought was not a good hire around, and the rest of the staff is as courteous as always and have really been getting into a groove themselves. I have tried more options on the menu and I am still a great believer in their food as I always was. I still disagree with some of their presentations, but at least presentation doesn't take away from food quality.

The stage in the back of the restaurant has been put to good use the last few times I have been in as well. I have enjoyed a couple great trio's bringing jazz and blues and some soft fusion, and they have a Friday night regular that has a great rapport and sound. They are adding more musicians nightly it seems by the board out front, and I think that should be a big draw as word gets out. Their still does not seem to be enough diners coming in yet to make me feel entirely comfortable as an owner, but they have had to turn people away for some of the more popular shows at the DeYor Centre, and I find that very encouraging. As the first few weeks of my initial reviews turn in the first few months of the restaurant being open, I do think they have what it takes to make it work, and are improving daily. I still think their dinner menu without sandwiches and lighter fare make it a bit steeper climb than it needs to be, but I am much more confident that they will see it through.

It was good to talk with the owners last night. They showed they are open to criticism, but really believe in themselves and have a vision for the future. I found they are not just leasing the storefront, but have the entire building available to them and have plans for the basement up to the rooftop, four floor above. As I said, my first two reviews I don't feel were overly negative, nor do I want this one to be totally positive as if I am sucking up to the owners. They have made some great strides since opening, but they still have some challenges on the table and ahead. However, after seeing the improvement first hand over the last 5 or so weeks and getting a better feel of the direction from the owners themselves, I continue to wish them well and make the Rosetta Stone Cafe a major force in the revitalization of Downtown Youngstown.





"Dog See's God, Cofessions of a Teenage Blockhead", is the latest production of the Oakland Theatre in Downtown Youngstown. A parody based on the Peanuts comic strip, the names have been changed to protect the animated, and they are about 10 years later, all facing their teenage years with the angst, turmoil, and new use of the english language, (the F-bomb drops like the rain in April), that haunts all of our lives around that time. I have lot's of experience in restaurants, so I don't mind reviewing them, but I will leave theater reviews to the experts, lets just say I really enjoyed this production. I was expecting a lot of humor, and there was definitely a liberal amount thrown in, but it definitely had it's somber moments, and the ending, though extremely gratifying, did NOT leave you laughing.

The casting was excellent with each cast member with maybe the exception of "matt" (ie: pigpen), having some shining moments. The actor who played Matt was fine, just no great scene written for him. My two personal favorite scenes were the dramatic interpretation by "CB's Sister", and the scene with CB and "Vans Sister" (ie: lucy). The writing wove familiar memories of the peanuts gang throughout the show, exhorting chuckles and full our guffaws from my audience with each glimpse of recognition. Stand out actor has to be "CB" (ie: Charlie Brown) portrayed by Gary Shackleford, but fine performances was given by the entire cast with special recognition to Greg Mocker as "Beethoven" (ie: Shroeder) and Amato D'Apolito as "Van" (ie: Linus turned hilarious stoner). Brooke Slanina shows she is capable on either side of the fence, performer and soon to be President of the Executive Board of the Oakland. Brooks portrays "Tricia" (ie: Peppermint Patty) as definitely a Tomboy no more. As I said my two favorite scenes were by Alecia Sarkis as "CB's Sister" and Suzzane Shorrab as "Van's Sister) As I said although Ric Panning as "Matt" has a critical plot set-up, he and Denise Glinatsis as "Marcie" (ie Peppermint Patties friend Marcy) give fine performances, but really have no stand-out scenes, (well okay, Marcies soliloqui? on the spork was hilarious,) which if you think about it, fits the play well because their characters were not stand-outs in the comic strip especially either.

So I recommend seeing "Dog See's God" in this last weekend of performances very highly. Performances will be Friday and Saturday, March 21/22 at 8pm, and a Sunday matinee at 2pm. The Oakland theatre is located at 220 W. Boardman Street in Downtown Youngstown. Tickets for the show are only $15 dollars and it is worth your money so head on down there this weekend. You will enjoy it....I did.........Scott

New Webcast Up Friday Eve, Chevy Centre, "Stacking The Odds"

So I really have things I want to blog about almost every day, and how often do I post?? Seems like weekly if I am lucky! So episode 2 of "Accent On Youngstown" will be posted this Friday evening by 5pm, so be sure to check back or subscribe to our YouTube Channel. Three more guests this week and a lot of great guests lined up for the future. We are even in talks to make it expand and be more often and more content soon. Be sure to check this blog, our MySpace, our Website, here, and Youtube to check out Accent on Youngstown,episode 2, Friday evening.


Next, I want to take a little issue with Bertram De Souza's commentary in the Vindicator this past Sunday about the Chevrolet Centre. Most of the time, I find I actually agree with what "Bertie" (okay, I dont know him, but Bertie just seems to fit him,) has to say, at least in bits and pieces of his commentary. However, as was noted in a Vindy piece earlier, if the city did NOT ask for the money to satisfy the loan from the 3 front-runners, wouldn't it have been foolish if the companies had no problems with that in exchange for certain concessions. I do agree that the city should have had some carrots on the stick for the company who would be willing to meet the debt demand, but it's not the worst idea in the world to ask for what you want, and let the companies make counter offers of what they would need in order for them to make that commitment.

Agree or Disagree that the Chevy Centre was needed or a smart use of money, the fact is, it's done and built and we have to rally around and support it and make it succeed. To that extent, I whole-heartedly agree with the proviso the city put out to retain Eric Ryan as Executive Manager of the Centre. This is a hometown event center and needs someone from the hometown to run it. If Cleveland felt it was a deal breaker and had to back out, oh well, 2 others did not, and they says great things about them and our city for trying to keep their interests protected this time around. I hope we find a company that can be a strong marketing arm and procurement arm for future events, but I love the fact that it will be a hometown boy running the show. I wish Eric, Brandon, Bridget, and Jennifer the best, and look forward to attending many more events at my local arena.


Last, but probably most important, we had our first meeting last night for this years "Stacking The Odds", a fund raiser that was started last year that we participated in and have decided to become a major sponsor for this year. The event is to raise money for the Susan G. Komen For The Cure, Breast Cancer Foundation. There are offices in Cleveland and Pittsburgh and the organization is widely known around the country and even the world. "Stacking The Odds", is a contest to see who can stack the most Oreo Cookies in timed heats against other competitors who have friends and family pledge money for how high they can get their Oreo's stacked. Of course Nabisco, maker of Oreo's was a big corporate sponsor last year, and will be on board again this year. Last year they donated 10,000 Oreos for the event and have pledged even more this year. The event took place outside of Pittsburgh last year, and with Accent Media as a major sponsor, we have asked them to hold the event in Downtown Youngstown this year. We are in negotiations on where to hold the event, but are hoping for maybe here in the first floor of the PharMor building if it's big enough. Besides the stacking event, there is a huge silent auction, vendors selling food and products, and a place for kids to build Oreo castles and pictures. I will be asking all of our Youngstown and Mahoning Valley neighbors and friends for help as things get closer. We will need donations and volunteers and stacker participants. Below is a video we made of last years event. Enjoy and talk to you soon blogger friends........Scott

Good Response to Webcast and The Blizzard of '08

Thanx for all of the kind calls and emails on our webcast. It was a lot of fun to do, and we are looking forward to the next one already. Since we are slamming a bit at work, we will be doing them every OTHER week for now. So did you all survive the blizzard of '08?? I hope everyone was able to get home safely Friday and spend the weekend indoors. Sunday was a fantastic day............to shovel snow...UGH!





One of our lead camaramen and rough-cut editors, Frank, was scheduled for a shoot Saturday night at Leo's Banquet Hall in Howland and the show will/did go on. Bel Duetto, a fantastic singing team consisting of former Miss Ohio Amanda Beagle and her husband Craig Raymaley, who are a fantastic client asked Accent Media a while back to create a new demo for them. They are awesome to work with and the demo came out real well. Saturday, they were booked at Leo's to put on their show and asked us to shoot and edit the event and add clips to their demo. What started out as a simple one camera shoot, later turned into the care being stuck in the snow in the middle of the road until 5 good samaratins pushed him out, an unexpected overnight stay at the Fairfield Inn, and a good show with a good crowd of over 200 that braved the weather to hear Amanda and Craig. Frank wont be forgetting this shoot anytime soon.

First Webcast Launches Tomorrow Afternoon!!

Well, tomorrow is it!! The launch of our very first self-produced webcast. This is a chance to use our new studio and shooting space, to meet people we really want to meet and respect and are curious about, and give a little sumthin, sumthin, back to the community who has welcomed us to Downtown Youngstown. The Webcast should be up tomorrow afternoon. The earlier the better, but there is still work to be done. I promise to have it up by closing time tomorrow latest.


We are definitely still in the development stage, and will be ironing out the concept over the next few weeks. We are starting with no host and just letting our guests talk, but that may change. We are not sure of timing yet, too long, too short, not sure, please give us some feedback. The eventual goal is a possible half hour weekly tv series dedicated to people and events around Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley. A HUGE Thank You to our inaugural guests; Phil Kidd, Director of Downtown Events and Community Outreach and founder of Defend Youngstown, Brooke Slanina, Board Member and Performing Artist at the Oakland Theater in Downtown Youngstown, and Charlie Staples, Owner and Operator of Charlie Staples BBQ Restaurant.


The webcast is titled, "Accent On Youngstown", but will soon feature other people and places all over the Mahoning Valley. If you have a segment idea, or would like to be featured yourself, drop me a note at Sfullerton(at)Accentmediaonline(dot)com. The webcast will also be put up on YouTube, so feel free to share it with your family and friends. Thanx for the support.........Scott

A COUPLE COOL QUICK THINGS.................

Jeeeeesh I cant wait to get an Intern in here to help me with this blog, the entries are coming just to far and in between with me doing it solo. Hope all our blogger friends have been well. I want to announce 2 exciting things here at the blog (main blog only and MySpace homepage, you wont see it on the MySpace blog page. If you look over to your right ----------> I have installed a new "Call Me" button!! Blogger has introduced this great new compatible software that is available in Beta over at Grand Central dot Com. All you have to do is click on the button, type in your name and phone number and click on Call. The computer will then dial your own phone and connect you to our voicemail. TA DA!! When we have a message I get a notice in my email. How kewl is that?? So there you go, simple as that! I hope whenever you have a question, or want to comment, or even just say HI, that you will use this spiffy new feature.


My next big announcement, is our new Accent Media webcast called, "Accent on Youngstown". We have been thinking about putting together a :30 minute television show or infomercial for a couple of months, and have decided to test the waters with a :10 minute webcast on our website, blog and MySpace pages. We will be starting out with at least a bi-weekly pre-recorded webcast, and possibly weekly depending on our workload. We will playing around with the format the first few weeks to see how it best works for us. The plan is to get into a groove to tape segments at our studio on Wednesdays, and have the webcast up by Thursday evening or Friday morning.

We are planning on bringing all sorts of relevant topics and information for and about Downtown Youngstown and the surrounding Mahoning Valley. I am happy to announce our first webcast will have as our inaugural guests, Phil Kidd, founder of Defend Youngstown blog and newly appointed Director of Downtown Events by City Council. We will also have Brooke from the Oakland Theatre coming by to talk about upcoming events there. Also don't be surprised to find a restaurant review in the first webcast of one of our wonderful downtown establishments. You have ideas of things you want to see? Use that fancy new phone message system above, lol. We are looking forward to covering lots of segments and events. Extreme Sports, Natural Medicine, Entertainment, Bands, Food, Festivals, Bloggers, all sorts of interesting things. We are excited and are looking forward to this new venture. Stay tuned for more updates about this as it becomes available.......Cya.....Scott