Snowfall, silence, and a slower start

Sometime overnight, while most of us were asleep—or still awake finishing one last conversation—the snow arrived. Soft. Quiet. Unannounced. Streets that were loud just hours ago are now muted, wrapped in white, as if the city itself decided to start the year gently.

New Year’s Day always feels different here. Fewer cars. Later mornings. Coffee tastes better when there’s nowhere you have to be. It’s the one day of the year that doesn’t rush us, even if the rest of the calendar is already tapping its foot.

If you’re reading this from bed, from the couch, or with a warm mug in hand—good. This day is meant to be slow. Let the snow set the tone: clean slate, fresh page, no urgency required.

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

You don’t really think about your plumbing or heating until something is off, smells weird, or suddenly stops working when you need it most. 

That’s usually how winter mornings or busy weeks in the Mahoning Valley like to humble us. 

When that moment strikes, it helps to have a number saved for someone who actually shows up, explains what’s going on without the runaround, and gets your house back to normal fast. 

That’s why locals quietly keep 1-800-Plumber + Air in their contacts. (The local number is 330-234-9402, call or save this one to your phone now)

1800plumber.com/youngstown-oh

💸 Mention YoTownScoop and get $200 off any water heater

My name is Leann Tallman. I was born in Youngstown, and live here now with my husband, JT, our 2 sons, Christian and Lincoln & our tortoise, Tito. 

I grew up in Girard, and studied Vocal Music Performance at YSU. For the last 15 years, I’ve worked as a cosmetologist, building a career rooted in service, care, and connection.

My turning point came in the salon.

Cancellations. No-shows. Empty hours I couldn’t control. When clients didn’t show up, I didn’t get paid. Time slipped away, and I realized effort alone wasn’t enough. I needed systems that protected my time and supported my family.

So I taught myself.

Late nights. Tutorials. Podcasts. Courses. Trial and error. I learned how the internet actually works. I built e-commerce sites, digital products, and dropshipping stores. I experimented with affiliate marketing through Amazon and ClickFunnels. I ran and grew social media accounts across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest.

What I discovered was simple and frustrating: great businesses don’t fail because they’re bad. They fail because the right people never find them.

Our area is full of strong local businesses and people who genuinely want to support them. The gap was visibility. Connection. A clear bridge between those building something and those looking for what’s already here.

That’s why this exists.

To bring attention where it’s deserved. To help ideas become real. To make it easier for our community to find, support, and show up for each other.

My goal is straightforward. Help this area thrive. Quietly. Intentionally. And in a way that actually works.

I’m Jacqueline Nash — a Canadian transplant, a registered nurse, entrepreneur, wife, and proud dog-mom — living and building a business in the Greater Youngstown & Mahoning Valley area.

Over the years, I’ve worn a lot of hats: cardiac and covid nurse, wine maker, e-commerce programmer, business owner, marketing & event planning, graphic designer, blogger and brand-builder. But no matter what I was working on, one thing kept standing out to me — it’s difficult to find out about the great stuff happening around town.

Incredible small businesses, events, creative people, and everyday wins were being buried by algorithms, negativity, and noise. And honestly? People are craving something more connected, more human, and more local.

That’s where the YoTown Scoop comes in.

I wanted to create a resource that made it easy to know what’s happening around town, to discover businesses you’d actually want to support, and to feel a little more plugged into the community you live in. YoTown Scoop isn’t about hype or clickbait — it’s about highlighting the energy, effort, and heart that already exists here.

At the end of the day, I believe when people feel like they’re in the loop, communities grow stronger. YoTown Scoop is my small way of helping that happen — one story, one business, one event, one local win at a time.

They don’t.

They start on Christmas Day and keep going through Epiphany.

Which makes it the perfect metaphor for Dean Bofenkamp at VTF Landscape.

While most people slow down, Dean showed up to BNI and literally sang his own 12 Days of Christmas — and every “day” was real work his crew actually does:

🎄 A patio in the backyard
🎄 Two guys weed-eating
🎄 Three lilac bushes
🎄 Four hours of leaf removal
🎄 Five yards of mulch
🎄 Six tons of stone laid
🎄 Seven trees a-pruning
🎄 Eight lawns a-mowing
🎄 Ninety feet of fencing
🎄 Ten quartz retaining wall
🎄 Eleven plants planted
🎄 Twelve stringing trees

That’s not holiday cheer. That’s consistency.

If you’re thinking about landscaping “sometime this year,” this is your sign not to wait. The people who move early get it done right.

So let’s make it simple.

Which project are you finally ready to stop talking about and actually do?

Call Dean at 330-883-8803 and let him know! 

Putting us all on the same starting line…

Here’s the quiet magic of today: January 1 is the great equalizer.

No one is ahead of you. Not really. No matter what social media says, no matter what it looks like on the surface—today, we are all starting a new chapter at the exact same time. No one has lived more of this year than you have. No one has a head start.

Some people ended last year on a high. Some barely made it through. Some are grieving. Some are hopeful. Some are exhausted. And yet here we are—together—on page one.

If you feel behind, you’re not. If you feel uncertain, you’re not alone. This moment belongs to everyone equally. Same date. Same blank page. Same chance to begin again in whatever way feels right.before the new year begins.

What new chapter will you write?

The goals we don’t post about

Most of us aren’t wishing for dramatic transformations. We’re wishing for subtler things.

More energy when we wake up.
Confidence that doesn’t feel forced.
A body that feels like an ally, not a project.
Moments of calm in the middle of busy days.
To feel like ourselves again—maybe even better than before.

These hopes don’t need announcements. They live quietly, beneath the surface, shaping the choices we make throughout the year.

If any of that resonates, you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be today. January isn’t asking you to become someone new overnight. It’s inviting you to take better care of the person you already are.

And one lucky person will snag a $500 gift card on January 2nd. It could be YOU! Enter below…

We’re starting 2026 by celebrating women in the Greater Youngstown & Mahoning Valley area, including Boardman, Canfield, and Poland, who are ready to prioritize themselves.

One lucky winner will receive a $500 Glow-Up Gift Card to use toward services or wellness experiences designed to support feeling refreshed, confident, and cared for.

✨ No purchase required
✨ Limited-time giveaway
✨ Winner contacted directly

Feel free to share with someone who wants their own glow up in 2026! Winner announced on Facebook on January 2nd and contacted directly.

Book a ride for your next vacation or business trip with Seth »

Want more of The Scoop? Join our Facebook group where we post often…plus you can chat with us there!

Crazy work schedule? Don’t want to worry about your pets? 🐾 Let Pet Sitting 4 Paws take care of them like family.

From evening walks and potty breaks to feeding schedules, fresh water, playtime, and even medications—your pets stay comfy at home while you celebrate. No stress, no rushing back early, just peace of mind knowing someone who truly cares is there.

Go about your day worry-free ✨
Your pets will be loved, cared for, and tucked in—just the way you’d want.

Whether you’re traveling or just have a hectic schedule and need an extra set of loving hands, Pet Sitting 4 Paws, owned by a trusted local animal lover Karen, has you covered.

She treats every pet like her own—with reliable visits, walks, feeding/meds, and plenty of cuddles. So you can relax knowing your furry family is safe, happy, and cared for.

A gentler way to move forward

Think of January in phases—not demands.

Week One: Reset. Sleep. Hydrate. Clear a little mental space.
Week Two: Refresh. Move your body. Care for your skin. Reclaim routines that feel good.
Week Three: Rebuild. Add structure only where it supports you.

You don’t need to do everything at once. Progress built slowly lasts longer. Confidence grows when it’s supported, not rushed.

If last year took more out of you than you expected, let January give some back.

Make it intentional

January doesn’t need a long list—just one meaningful choice.

One appointment you’ve been putting off.
One habit that makes your days feel lighter.
One decision that prioritizes how you feel, not just how you look.

Small, intentional actions compound quickly. And future-you will remember the moment you decided to start showing up differently.

Winter Reading Kickoff
⏰ 9 AM – 5 PM
📍 6420 Church St, Kinsman, OH

Groovy Beans Gatherings
⏰ 10 AM – 11 AM
📍 320 W State St, Alliance, OH

Disney On Ice: Mickey’s Search Party
⏰ 11:30 AM
📍 Covelli Centre

Holiday Lights Drive-Thru at Boardman Park
⏰ 5 PM
📍 375 Boardman-Poland Rd, Boardman, OH
📝 Display runs nightly (5 PM-10 PM) through Jan 6

Age of Sigmar Open Play
⏰ 6 PM
📍 900 North State St, Girard, OH

Bingo Night at LB
⏰ 6 PM
📍 6597 Center Rd, Lowellville, OH

Winter Family-Friendly Special Event: Snow Tubing
⏰ 6 PM
📍 12175 State St NE, Alliance, OH

Youth Lock-In
📅 Fri, Jan 2 – Sat, Jan 3, 2026
📍 256 Mahoning Ave NW, Warren, OH

First Time in 2026 at Hartford Hill Winery
⏰ 6:30 PM
📍 Hartford Hill Winery

Disney On Ice: Mickey’s Search Party
⏰ 6:30 PM
📍 Covelli Centre

YANALounge New Years Show
⏰ 7 PM
📍 Westside Bowl

Country Line Dancing: Every Friday
⏰ 9PM
📍460 E. Federal Street

Disney On Ice: Mickey’s Search Party
⏰ 10:30 AM
📍 Covelli Centre

Full Moon Slow Flow
⏰ 9 AM
📍 8828 E Market St, Warren, OH

Reading Buddies (Read to Therapy Dogs)
⏰ 9:30 AM
📍 415 Lawrence Ave, Ellwood City, PA

New Year 2026 Bootcamp Is Back!! (Saturdays)
⏰ 9:30 AM
📍 Your Best Self

FROZEN CAMP
⏰ 12 PM
📍 7954 Kinsman Orangeville Rd, Kinsman, OH

Give You & Your Puppy/Dog a Fresh Start in 2026
⏰ 12:30 PM
📍 Tails of Togetherness Society

Create with Kari – Clay Bead Verse Bracelets
⏰ 1 PM
📍 8273 Main Street, Kinsman, OH

Veteran’s Appreciation Day: Free Food for Vets
⏰ 1PM
📍4237 VFW - Austintown, OH

Game Night at Paladin Brewing
⏰ 6 PM
📍 Paladin Brewing

Old Skool is Back at Hollywood Gaming Mahoning
⏰ 8 PM
📍 Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course

3-Piece Chicken Dinner! LIVE MUSIC 🎵
⏰ 8 PM
📍 16736 Milton Ave, Lake Milton, OH

Food Collection for The Way Station
⏰ 9:30 AM
📍 Midway Mennonite Church

Model Railroad Flea Market & Toy Train Show
⏰ 10 AM
📍 4490 Norquest Blvd, Youngstown, OH

Disney On Ice: Mickey’s Search Party (Final Day)
⏰ 2:30 PM
📍 Covelli Centre

New Year’s Day Hike at Mosquito Lake State Park
⏰ 1 PM
📍 Eastlake Metropark Sled Riding Hill

Bridal Resale
⏰ 1 PM
📍 14101 Market St, Columbiana, OH

Steelers Pre-Game Party
⏰ 1PM
📍 Keg Bar & Grille | Sharon, PA

Join our Facebook group  to stay in the loop with what’s happening around Youngstown every week.

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Low-Key Community Night
📍 Various local bars & restaurants
📝 Trivia nights, open mics & casual gatherings

Local Meetups & Entertainment
📍 Around the Mahoning Valley
📝 Community classes, fitness sessions & crafting or beer tasting

January, curated

January doesn’t have to be quiet forever—but it can be intentional. Over the next few weeks, there are opportunities to reconnect, refresh, and feel more like yourself again—locally, thoughtfully, and without pressure.

We’ll be sharing what’s actually worth your time, energy, and attention this month—no clutter, no noise, just the good stuff.

For now, enjoy the snow. Enjoy the stillness. And remember: you are not behind. You are exactly on time.