HuB Studios Hits 1 Million YouTube Views

1. Congrats to HuB Studios for hitting the one million mark for combined YouTube views on its various channels.

, founded by Rich Swier Jr. in 2009, is a creative and collaborative space and community where entrepreneurs come together to develop ideas and contribute toward building a new economy and culture, and new businesses.

One of those businesses includes HuB Studios, a full service professional video production and editing studio. Hub Studios was created by former television news journalist Lucas Colavecchio and the stage actor Joey Panek. The duo saw an opportunity in the Internet as the new emerging videomedium and created a number of viral videos and YouTube channels including: HuB Studios (which has over 500,000 views and other popular channels including Saratopia, HowBoutJoey, Three Kitcheneers, Art Whisperer, Dealers United and Sarasota Day.

One of the more viral video series is . The Sh*t Nobody Says In Sarasota episode has more than 14,000 views alone, and other episodes are doing well, too. 

“When we started HuB Studios, we didn’t really know what to expect. We knew the future of distribution would be websites like Youtube, but it was a big risk to completely focus on how to build “viral” videos.” says Joey Panek, who kicked off his first web-based series called the Sarasota Elf. 

Co-Founder and Producer at HuB Studios, Lucas Colavecchio adds “The cool thing about having one million views is the confirmation from the audience that we are doing cool videos. Anybody can upload a video to YouTube, but very few can say that their channels have gotten over one million views.” 

A YouTube studio at the HuB building is planned to offer "young artists learn how to film, edit and distribute online video," according to a release.

2. As Tropical Storm Isaac has formed giving some folks concern here, it's a good time to Know Your Zone, as in evacuation zone. Visit this link and find out when you would be evacuated in case a hurricane hits Sarasota.

3. Sarasota County School Board Chairwoman Caroline Zucker has been appointed by Gov. Rick Scott to the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention State Advisory Group. The group, which is mandated by federal law, advises the state about compliance, requirements and funding related to the federal Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Act

“People who work in education and juvenile justice need to collaborate to help young people who may have made some poor choices early in their lives get back on the right track,” said Zucker in a release. “That’s why I’ve spent so much time on this issue and why I was glad to be appointed to this new advisory group. Together, I’m sure we can make a difference.

4. Lighting fans can now vote for the top players in Lightning franchise history is
now underway at www.20YearsofThunder.com. Fans are being asked through Sept. 10 to pick their "Best of the Bolts" that will be honored during the 2012-13 season in conjunction with the team's 20th season. That is, if there is a season. The NHL and the players union, the NHLPA, are negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement and the NHL has said it is willing to go through another lockout if an agreement isn't reached by Sept. 15. Most experts believe a lockout this time would be two or three months instead of a whole year. The last time the NHL had a lockout in 2004 it was the season following the Lightning's Stanley Cup win. Hang in there.

5. You might see future Hall of Famer and current Baltimore Oriole first baseman Jim Thome around Sarasota. He's due today to report to the Ed Smith Stadium complex for a rehab assignment, MLB.com reports. Thome has a herniated disc in his neck, MLB.com reports. Thome has 611 career home runs, good enough for the seventh most in MLB history.