The Update | Checefsky Films at YSU Museum; Israel Terror Attack Survivors at JCC

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – “Lost and Unmade: The Films of Bruce Checefsky” will be screened at 5:30 p.m. March 20 at the McDonough Museum of Art, on the Youngstown State University campus. Admission is free.

Checefsky is a filmmaker, photographer and writer whose independent films have been shown around the world. He works from films that were lost, destroyed or conceived but never made, and recreates them as abstract and avant-garde shorts. He focuses on pre-1920s and post-1935s films, with special interest in those made by Jewish filmmakers that were destroyed during World War II.

The screening at the McDonough will include some of Checefsky’s most recent films from the 1940s and 1960s. These include a remake of Maya Deren’s lost film “Witch’s Cradle,” a collaboration between Deren and Marcel Duchamp; and Andy Warhol’s confiscated film from 1963 titled “Andy Warhol Films Jack Smith Filming Normal Love.”

Five other short films will also be screened: “Doctor Hypnison,” “Ulysses Part 1,” “Bela,” “A Woman and Circles” and “Pharmacy.”

“My short films require extensive, almost obsessive research to uncover the facts and materials surrounding the original lost film. I carefully unravel a filmmaker’s life story,” Checefsky said. “I am especially interested in their social and political and economic conditions under which the lost film was originally made. Several of my films were made in the country of their origin, to influence the cultural and contextual grain, which plays a decisive role in the film’s ability to move beyond a stick-figure view of history.”

Israel Terror Attack Survivors Coming to JCC

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Survivors of the deadly Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel will give a presentation on their experiences at 6 p.m. March 18 at the Jewish Community Center of Youngstown, 505 Gypsy Lane, and also via Zoom.

The four survivors are Zohar Lahav-Shefe, who was in Kibbutz Gevim; Klil Valiano, who was at the Nova Festival; Eitan Frankl, in Kibbutz Nirim; and Gitit Botera in Sderot. Each spent hours hiding from terrorists before finding their way to safety, and each witnessed the aftermath of the atrocities perpetrated by Hamas.

The in-person cost is $5 per person. Appetizers are included. The program will begin at 6:30 p.m. Registration is required by March 15 if attending in person and by March 17 for Zoom. 

RSVP to Nancy at [email protected] or 330 746 3250, ext. 108, for in-person attendance. Visit jewishyoungstown.org to register for Zoom.

Ballet Western Reserve Presents Building Art

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Ballet Western Reserve’s Building Art student showcase event will take place Saturday, March 9.

The annual fundraiser at BWR features company dancers performing their own choreography. The evening will include live music, refreshments, a wine pull and DJ for after the show.

This year’s event will feature a guest artist, Maria Hamer. A native of Pittsburgh, Hamer is a longtime belly dancer/Middle Eastern performer.

Doors will open at 6 p.m. Building Art will start at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $35 ($15 for students) and can be purchased at the door or in advance by calling the office at 330 744 1934.

The Ballet Western Reserve building is at 218 W. Boardman St., downtown.

Lawrence Tourism Agency Launches Sauce Trail

NEW CASTLE, Pa. – The Lawrence County tourism bureau has launched the Sunday Sauce Trail, which pays homage to the Italian tradition of families gathering on Sundays for pasta.

To download a digital passport, go to visitlawrencecounty.com.

Eleven local Italian restaurants and businesses are represented; Four Pizzeria Bar & Grille, Gallo’s Italian Villa, Ladies of the Dukes, Mangino’s Pizzeria – Mahoningtown, Mangino’s Pizzeria – Neshannock, Nico Luciano’s, Pagley’s Pasta & More, Soni’s Italian Restaurant, Valentino Cheese & Dairy Company, VentiSei Wine Bar & Pizzeria and Vinny’s Pizza and Restaurant.

Liberty School Staff to Play Student Teams

LIBERTY TOWNSHIP, Ohio – The Liberty Local Schools’ second annual Staff vs. Students basketball game will take place at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 7, in the school’s gymnasium.

The fifth- and sixth-grade girls and boys basketball teams will play Liberty staff.

All proceeds will help pay for the recent medical expenses incurred by first-grade teacher Darnelle Clark. Attendees are encouraged to wear yellow, Clark’s favorite color, to show support.

Tickets are $5 (or $10 per family).

Monday Night Writers to Meet

AUSTINTOWN, Ohio – The next meeting of Monday Night Writers will be Monday, March 18, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Leana’s Books & More, 4317 Kirk Road.

Area writers, both published and unpublished, are invited to attend.

Led by author Nancy Christie, the meetings offer an opportunity for members to get group feedback on works-in-progress.

For information, contact Nancy Christie at [email protected].

Kravitz Deli Launches Corned Beef Fest

LIBERTY TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Kravitz Delicatessen, 3135 Belmont Ave., will present its annual corned beef fest March 8-17.

For information about daily specials, click HERE.

Beatles Tribute Band Coming to Robins Theatre

WARREN, Ohio – Beatles tribute band Hard Day’s Night will return to the Robins Theatre on Saturday, May 4, at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $25 (plus applicable fees) and will go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, March 8, at the box office and robinstheatre.com.

Pictured at top: A scene from the film “Bela,” part of a special screening event at the McDonough Museum of Art.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.