COLUMBIANA, Ohio – A third screening of the new film “Brier Hill” will take place at 5 p.m. Dec. 21 at Columbiana Arts Theater. 

Tickets are $20. To purchase, click HERE.

The film, written and directed by Jimmy Taaffe of Struthers, premiered last weekend at the theater.

It is a fictional tale of a young couple that runs afoul of the mob and is forced to make a decision that will change their lives. The film was shot in the Mahoning Valley and is set in 1977 in the Brier Hill neighborhood of Youngstown.

The cast includes Johnny D’Andrea, Adriana Vennetti, Peter Stephen Lucic, John Yuhas and Marcanthony Gabriele.

Playhouse Hires Stouffer as Managing Director

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Tyler Stouffer has been hired as the managing director of the Youngstown Playhouse, filling a position that has been vacant since the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Stouffer is working two days a week now, splitting time with his other job, and will become full-time in the spring, said John Cox, president of the Playhouse’s board of directors.

“We are excited to have him,” Cox said. “He will be able to do the work I need for us to continue to grow.”

In a Facebook post, Stouffer said he is honored to join the Playhouse staff. “I can’t wait to really dig in and discover new ways to grow and create memorable experiences for our community,” he wrote.

His responsibilities will include development, marketing and coordinating facility rentals.

Stouffer, who is involved in the local theater scene, directed “Oklahoma!” and “Singin’ in the Rain” at the Playhouse this year.

Event to Benefit Blue Coats, Animal Group  

AUSTINTOWN, Ohio – The 12th annual Holiday Small Biz Pop-Up benefiting the Youngstown Blue Coats and All About the Pawz will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 13 at St. Joseph Catholic Church social hall, 4545 New Road.

More than 40 vendors and small businesses will be represented.

The Youngstown Blue Coats provides clothing to veterans and others, bridging the gap between shelters and homelessness. The group will collect sleeping bags, coats, dry boots, warm gloves, blankets, tents, new socks and other winter items at the event. 

There will also be a giant basket raffle to benefit All About The Pawz dog shelter and rescue.

A free hot chocolate bar will be provided by sponsor State Farm agent Jamie Ciccone and  Austintown Trustee Monica Deavers. Charly’s Family Restaurant is also a sponsor. 

Burchfield Society Offers Fine Art Calendar 

SALEM, Ohio – In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, the Burchfield Homestead Society has created a 2026 fine art calendar  featuring works by 12 local artists.

The frameworthy giclée prints were created by  

Keith Berger, Maggie Berthold Fearn, Kristina Danklef, Anissa A. DiLeo, Shari Fry, Katherine Gray Farthing, Chris Leeper, Grant Menough, Bob McElroy, Ron Roberts, Barbara Yonkers and Craig Wetzel.

The limited edition calendars are $100 each.

To order one, mail a check to the Burchfield Homestead Society, 867 E. Fourth St., Salem, OH 44460 or call Sara Baer at 330 277 3061. 

Pictured at top: Adriana Vennetti and John D’Andrea in a scene from the film “Brier Hill.”