The Update | Former Newspaper Editor Publishes Book; Artists to Present Winter Market

BOARDMAN — Mark Sweetwood, who retired as editor of the digital news site Mahoning Matters at the end of 2021, has self-published his first book: “MARKISMS — Stuff I’ve said, thought, observed and have been inspired by in my 40 years in the newsroom.”

The short book features his favorite utterances during his long career.

“From 1982 until 2021, from Illinois to New York to Florida to Ohio, as I edited stories or mentored reporters — and even as I taught news reporting as an adjunct professor at Youngstown State University — I repeated the same lessons and examples innumerable times,” Sweetwood said.

“I decided to start documenting some of the phrases I had shared with newsroom staffers over the years — as well as my reasoning for the more esoteric ones,” he added. “I also wanted to document those things I learned along my journey, in the hopes my hard-earned lessons could inspire others.”

The book is available on Amazon for $6.99 in the e-published Kindle format; $11.99 as a paperback. To learn more, go to Markismsthebook.com.

Artists of the Rust Belt Winter Market

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Artists of the Rust Belt will present a winter market on Sunday, Feb. 6, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at B&O Station, 530 Mahoning Ave. Admission is $1 (free children 12 and under).

Local artists and artisans will be selling their art, handmade cards, jewelry, décor items, photos, crochet fshions, soaps, mandala designs, leatherwork, honey, confections and more.

Lit Youngstown Writing Camp

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Lit Youngstown’s Winter Writing Camp, a free, intergenerational day of writing activities, will take place Feb. 26 at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 323 Wick Ave. 

Writing sessions for kids, teens and adults led by regional teaching artists will include writing with sound, intro to comics, Afrofuturism, ending stories, poetry and the news, and writing a five-minute play. All experience levels are welcome. 

Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Registration and proof of vaccination are required for this free event which includes lunch and a cookie table. 

For information and to register, go to LitYoungstown.org. 

Black History Month Exhibit at Arms Museum

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Arms Family Museum will reopen to the public on Tuesday, Feb. 1, after a few weeks of being closed to change exhibits. Hours are Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.

Wearing of masks and social distancing will continue to be required for visitors. 

The museum will resume guided tours on the first and second floors. A new exhibit celebrating the Afro-American Bicentennial Committee and its compilation of Black history in the Mahoning Valley will open on Tuesday. The exhibit will feature images and the histories of the people who helped shape our region then and now. The exhibit will remain open through July 2022.

Tyler History Center will remain closed due to electrical power issues and will reopen once the issues are resolved. Admission to Arms Family Museum will be half price during the closure of the Tyler History Center.

Sip and Paint at Jewish Center

YOUNGSTOWN — The Paul and Yetta Gluck School of Visual Arts is offering a “Celebrating Love” sip and paint event for ages 18 and over from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 9 at the JCC, 505 Gypsy Lane.

Participants will create a heart-themed painting with a friend or partner. They will also enjoy cocktails, mocktails and charcuterie.

The cost is $20 for JCC members and $25 for nonmembers. Visit JCCYoungstown.org/visualarts to register by Feb. 4. 

Music at Noon Concerts at The Butler

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Dana School of Music’s Music at Noon concert series will continue in February. All concerts begin at 12:15 p.m. at The Butler Institute of American Art and are free and open to the public. Masks are required for entrance to the museum.

Here is the schedule:

Feb. 2, chamber music with voice and clarinet students

Feb. 9, piano recital with instructor Cicilia Yudha.

Feb. 16, flute studio.

Feb. 23, voice student recital.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.