Youngstown hopes to sparkle when NBC films after dark

By ELISE FRANCO

Camera crews will be downtown after dusk, and Youngstown aims to shine a positive light.

YOUNGSTOWN — Don’t turn off the lights!

That’s what a Smucker’s production crew is asking of downtown-area businesses, office workers and government officials beginning just after dusk today.

The crew will film downtown, as well as parts of the Youngstown State University campus, as a part of Smucker’s Hot Ice, Cool Sounds ice skating performance at the Chevrolet Centre at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

The clips will be featured during the performance’s televised broadcast Christmas Day.

It was a suggestion of sponsors — The Frangos Group, YSU and the Skating Club of Greater Youngstown — to light up offices and buildings during the evening videotaping of downtown as a way to step back from perceived negatives, which may include crime and blight, and focus more on positives — such as the university and popular downtown businesses.

According to the sponsors, the lighting is an opportunity to take advantage of the national spotlight and emphasize that Youngstown is a strong and vibrant community that has much to offer and is a place that people are proud to call home.

Dee Semethy, executive assistant to Lou Frangos, who owns USA Parking Systems and is a major property developer in Youngstown, said the suggestion to light up downtown was a way to show how beautiful the city can be.

“We thought it would make the city look a little extra special,” she said. “This way, it looks better to the outside people who never travel here.”

Semethy said Frangos wasn’t looking to be spotlighted because of this event; he simply wanted to do something for Youngstown, a city he loves.

Phil Kidd, director of downtown events and special projects, said along with downtown’s show of lights, the crews will have several interesting things to film, such as the dedication of the renovated Spring Common Bridge and the long-standing rivalry football game between Cardinal Mooney and Ursuline high schools.

“I think that from a national audience’s perspective we’re going to have a unique opportunity to showcase the city on a fall evening,” he said. “Keeping in that central district [we will] completely illuminate the downtown and showcase the capabilities that exist here as far as giving it an aesthetic value.”

Kidd isn’t the only city official excited about the event. Mayor Jay Williams said the national attention is Youngstown’s opportunity to show millions of people what the city is really made of.

“Our central business district has livened up over [the] past few years, and the city is moving in the right direction,” he said. “It’s time people are reintroduced to Youngstown.

“Cities our size don’t often get this kind of opportunity ... move over New York and Chicago skylines — it’s our time.”

Frangos was instrumental in helping to bring the ice-skating show to Youngstown through George Veras, president of Veras Communications.

“We are very excited to be able to host the Smucker’s Hot Ice, Cool Sounds ice-skating show,” Frangos said. “By keeping our lights on we welcome them to Youngstown and show our appreciation for selecting [the city] as a performance venue.”

The “Hot Ice” portion of the Smucker’s program will feature Olympic and world skating champions. Skating will be Sasha Cohen, Brian Boitano, Todd Eldredge, Jamie Sale, David Pelletier, Michael Weiss, Shae-Lynn Bourne, Marie-France Dubrevil, Patrice Lauzon, and Yuka Sato.

The “Cool Sounds” will be played by The Cleveland Pops Orchestra, along with Peter Cetera, former lead singer of Chicago.

The broadcast will premiere at 3 p.m. Christmas Day on NBC.

Tickets for Saturday’s performance are still available and can be purchased by calling the Chevrolet Centre box office at (330) 746-5600 or by visiting www.ChevroletCentre.com or ticketmaster.com.