NILES, Ohio – Beau Brungard, the quarterback of the Youngstown State University football team, will come to Eastwood Mall’s Center Court from 4-6 p.m. Jan. 30 for a meet-and-greet event with the public. Admission is free.

Fans can bring their favorite Penguins gear, footballs or other personal memorabilia for Brungard to sign.

Brungard, of New Middletown, gained national attention for his outstanding performance during the 2025 season.

He helped lead the Penguins to a Football Championship Series playoff appearance.

Earlier this month, he became the first Penguins player to win the Walter Payton Award, recognizing him as the top offensive player in the FCS.

His list of honors from this past season also includes the Walter Camp FCS Offensive Player of the Year Award, the NACDA Offensive Player of the Year Award and the Phil Steele FCS Offensive Player of the Year Award. He was also voted a unanimous First-Team All-American.

Brungard, a graduate of Springfield Local High School, recently confirmed he will return to YSU for his senior campaign in 2026.

A DJ will provide entertainment during Brungard’s appearance at the mall. The event will also include raffles, prize giveaways and an appearance by Pete the Penguin, the team mascot, from 4-5 p.m., to take photos with fans.

Vineyards at Pine Lake Wins Prestigious Awards

GENEVA, Ohio – The Vineyards at Pine Lake in Columbiana, and 17 other Ohio wineries, brought home top awards – including Best of Class, Double Gold, Gold, Silver and Bronze – at the prestigious San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

That is a record number of awards for Ohio winemakers at the competition, according to Donniella Winchell of the Ohio Wine Producers Association.

The Ohio wineries earned medals for sparkling wines, reds, whites and rose viniferas in a range of hybrids and traditional native grapes.

These results are exceptionally gratifying, Winchell said. Few Ohio wines are distributed out of state, so many tasters are not familiar with their quality, she explained.

The state’s silver and bronze winners for vinifera and hybrid reds were judged in the same categories as some famous labels, she noted.

To see the complete list, click HERE.

The Vineyards at Pine Lake was the only winery in the Mahoning Valley to win awards at the San Francisco event. Here is a list of its awards:

  • 2024 Moscato-American: Best of Class.
  • Nonvintage, Columbiana Red-Ohio: Best of Class.
  • 2020 Syrah-American: Double Gold.
  • 2024 Medium Sweet Riesling-American: Gold.
  • 2024 Vignoles-Ohio: Gold.
  • 2024 Chardonnay-American: Silver.
  • 2024 White Blends, Vineyard White-Ohio: Silver

Special Programs at Motorcycle Exhibition

WARREN, Ohio – Two special programs will take place at the National Packard Museum in conjunction with the annual motorcycle exhibition.

At 12:30 p.m. Feb. 7, Tom Banks and Sean Jackson of North Versailles, Pa., partners in Competition Distributing, will bring their 1920 J Harley Davidson and share their experiences competing in the 2025 Trans American motorcycle race. This program is free with paid admission to the museum.

The Motorcycle TransAm is an endurance race featuring antique motorcycles that are at least a century old, traveling 4,000 miles from Nags Head, N.C., to Heceta Heat lighthouse on the Oregon coast.

Banks has amassed an impressive collection of motorcycles. His restored 1926 Harley-Davidson Pea Shooter factory racer is currently on display in this year’s exhibition.

From 6-9 p.m. Feb. 10, the Pirate Motorcycle Club will present its annual movie night at the museum.  This year’s program is titled “Rabbit’s Tales: A Tribute to Larry ‘Rabbit’ Smith.” Admission is $10 and includes admission to the museum’s annual motorcycle exhibit. All proceeds will benefit the museum.

Smith was born and raised in Youngstown and has been a motorcycle rider for most of his life. He helped reform the Pirate Motorcycle Club in 1964 and has been an active member since then.

He founded Cheap Shots, a photography and journalistic business, in 1982 and provided photos and stories to national publications.

In 1982, Smith started Northeast Motorcycle News and helped organize Competition Riders of America. 

After an accident ended his publishing career, Smith worked for Youngstown Harley-Davidson as assistant manager/service manager. In 2018, he published the autobiographical “Rabbit’s Tales.” 

The National Packard Museum is open from noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $10 ($8 for seniors, $5 for children ages 7-12).

Pictured at top: Beau Brungard, quarterback for the YSU Penguins football team.