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City skyline shown on button for First Night Youngstown
Photo
The 2011 First Night Youngstown button design takes center stage as it is unveiled by Elayne Bozick, who heads marketing and promotions for First Night Youngstown, and Kolt Codner, who created the design inspired by the city’s downtown building landscape.
By LINDA M. LINONIS
YOUNGSTOWN
Kolt Codner, who designed the 2011 First Night Youngstown button, said he wanted to capture the “vibrancy of downtown” by using a building skyline illuminated with fireworks as the event’s symbol.
The First Night Youngstown committee unveiled the 2011 button design Thursday at its headquarters in City Centre One, 100 Federal Plaza.
The button, which is used as the admission ticket for the New Year’s Eve event, features buildings on Woodland Avenue with fireworks. Codner, who works on capital- improvement projects in the city Public Works Department, said he has done various graphic designs.
Codner said the design shows the cityscape in a favorable way. That’s in harmony with Codner’s view of how “the city is transforming itself.”
He said he took a photo of the streetscape and went from there. Codner, who is studying for a master of business administration degree at Youngstown State University, said the collaboration of city and university is another positive element and drawing card for downtown events.
John R. Swierz, First Night Youngstown president and 7th Ward councilman, said the family-friendly New Year’s Eve event is just 99 days away. The 2011 button also includes the message “The Place to Be on New Year’s Eve.”
Swierz said two events preceding the Dec. 31 activities will serve to generate anticipation for First Night.
A Gobbler’s Run, the second annual walk-and-run event, is scheduled Nov. 13. The fun walk starts at 8:30 a.m. and is about 2.5 miles; a five-mile run will loop around downtown and include uphill challenges.
Swierz said 47 people participated last year, and he predicted a bigger turnout this year.
Lyndsey Hughes, First Night board member, said a holiday parade is planned Dec. 4. The parade, which was revived last year after about a 20-year absence, involved 57 entries and attracted a crowd of about 1,000. She said she foresees the parade getting bigger. The downtown tree will be lighted on the day of the parade.
Brenda Mack, fund- raising chairwoman for First Night, said there is a fund-raising opportunity for nonprofit organizations. They can sell First Night buttons and reap a profit depending on how many buttons the group sells.
For applications for Gobbler’s Run and button sales, call the First Night office at 330-744-9966 or visit the Web site at www.firstnightyoungstown.org.
First Night Youngstown, a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization, operates on a budget of about $40,000. Sixty percent of expenses are for fees of entertainers at First Night events, office operation and fireworks.
The organization, which revolves around activities on one night, operates year-round, Swierz said. He noted this year the “action plan” is ahead of schedule, and the First Night committee hopes to have all entertainment and venues in place by Oct. 31.
Last year, First Night had 20 venues. This year’s venues are still being finalized but include music, dance, children’s interactive projects and family skating at the Covelli Centre. Early fireworks at 9 p.m. behind the Covelli Centre are underwritten by the Kiwanis Club of Youngstown. At midnight, there will be a ball drop at city hall to welcome the new year and a fireworks display
Last year, 4,300 people attended First Night Youngstown. Swierz said the committee hopes more will take advantage of the family-friendly celebration.
John R. Swierz, First Night Youngstown president and Seventh Ward councilman, described the New Year’s Eve event as a family-friendly, nonalcoholic celebration of the arts.
When: 5 p.m. Dec. 31.
Where: Downtown Youngstown venues including the Steel Museum, Masonic Temple, Choffin’s, St. Columba Cathedral, SMARTS Center, Trinity United Methodist Church, Oakland Center for the Arts, Covelli Centre and First Presbyterian Church.
Admission: First Night buttons are $10 for adults and $5 for seniors 62 years and older, 13-year-olds to college-age with identification and active and reserve military personnel with identification. Those 12 and younger are admitted free. WRTA buses take First Night patrons to venues; there is free parking downtown.
Volunteers: It takes about 100 volunteers to make First Night Youngstown possible. Volunteers, who work in 21/2-hour shifts, must be 16 and older. Volunteers sell buttons and work as greeters at the venues and on WRTA buses that patrons can use to get around town. Those interesting in volunteering should call First Night office.
Contact information: First Night Youngstown office is at City Centre One, 100 Federal Plaza. Phone is 330-744-9966; website is www.firstnightyoungstown.org, and e-mail is infofirstnight-youngstown@netzero.net.