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The Valley’s Business Matters ISSN 1047-8582

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Vol. 26 No. 5

MidSEPTEMBER 2009

$2.50

Commercial Tenants Becoming Buyers Recession has brought unexpected sales, real estate agents report. By George Nelson

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Ken Richards and Rodney Benedict service the cooling tower on the roof of City Centre One in Youngstown. The workers are employees of Ohio One Corp., which owns and operates commerical buildings downtown. See Page 57 for related story on property management services.

A Vineyard Grows In Youngstown. Yes, Youngstown. By Dan O’Brien

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s he walks the rows of ripened concord grapes on a sunsplashed day in September, you’d think Robert Naples was taking a stroll through a vineyard tucked away in California’s Napa Valley. The Cortland physician has devoted a good part of the last three years to his avocation – and a potential business endeavor – in the most

unlikely of places. His vineyard is no more than 500 yards from the asphalt and exhaust fumes emitted by the cars and trucks that travel Belmont Avenue in Youngstown. Here, Naples has grown a hearty vineyard in the inner city that will ultimately yield what he believes will be great-tasting, quality wine. “I do everything they do in California,” Naples laughs. “Only at a fraction of the cost.” Naples started planting his small vineyard – it’s no larger than an acre – three years ago when his cousin, See VINEYARD, page 35 Robert Naples knew how to make wine but had to learn how to grow a vineyard.

ommercial leasing activity might be ﬂat, even down, but sales of commercial properties in the Mahoning Valley are seeing a deﬁnite uptick, real estate agents report. Scott Lewis, broker and vice president of Edward J. Lewis Inc.’s Warren office, reports his firm is seeing a “plethora of sales we didn’t expect would happen this year,” including the former Sharp Lumber in Girard, being used as a warehouse, the vacant Cornersburg Giant Eagle, undergoing conversion to a Dollar Store, and a medical ofﬁce building in Niles. MMTK Family Ltd. paid $250,000 for the Sharp Lumber property where a 34,500 square-foot structure stands, Lewis says, and Cocca Development Ltd. paid $550,000 for the Giant

Eagle, a building with some 25,500 feet. DIFA MV Inc. bought the Alloush Cardiology building with 2,400 square feet in Niles for $250,000 and is converting it to an obstetrics/gynecology clinic. In addition, one of the largest deals so far this year is the sale of the Ridge Road cargo building near Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport to a company in the packaging industry. That company, Pillar Partners Two LLC, is using the 24,750 square feet there plus the former Delphi training center nearby to conduct research and development. “Sales are really where the market has been this year,” Lewis remarks, as buyers with high percentages of cash available or “excellent relationships with their lender” have taken advantage of the market. “We’re thriving in a challenging economy,” he declares. He also points to the sale of the Berk Enterprises property in Warren for which Lee Richard Hartman, a supplier of mainframe computer parts, paid $165,000 in late June. The buildSee BUYERS, page 56

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9 Made in the Valley at Ghossain’s Martha Stewart and André the Giant are among the fans of Ghossain’s Mid-East Bakery. Reporter Maraline Kubik and photographer Tony Mancino take us to the Boardman bakery in this edition’s “Made in the Valley.” Rufus Hudson, John Getchey, Ken Carano and Eric Czetli cut the ribbon marking completion of one of the biggest and most challenging projects in ODOT’s history, reconstruction of two bridges over Meander Reservoir.

Meander Bridge Reconstruction Challenged Engineers, Tradesmen 12-14 Job Expo 2009 Some 5,000 job seekers converged on the Covelli Centre, hopeful of landing one of more than 1,000 jobs offered by area employers. Learn if companies found qualiﬁed candidates and how job seekers fared in our special report.

The project cost $91 million and incorporates the state’s ﬁrst spillcontainment system. By Dan O’Brien

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ne of the biggest and most challenging projects in the history of the Ohio Department of Transportation’s District 4 is nearly ﬁnished and should be open to trafﬁc Sept. 15. The reconstruction of two bridges along Interstate 80 that span Meander Reservoir and widening the highway from state Route 11 to the Ohio Turn-

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From low-fat, low-carb and vegetarian meals to step-by-step Internet broadcasts on how to cook at home, area restaurants cater to customers’ special requests. Sample some of their offerings here.

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pike cost nearly $91 million, said District 4’s deputy director, Eric Czetli. “There were a lot of challenges to overcome,” Czetli said. “But we did it within budget and a month ahead of schedule.” The westbound lanes and bridge are set to open ﬁrst. Czetli joined other state and local ofﬁcials Sept. 9 for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate completion of the westbound lanes. The bridge project is the ﬁrst of its kind in the state equipped with a spill-containment system designed to keep hazardous materials from seeping into Meander, Czetli said. The Mahoning Valley gets most of its drinking water from the reservoir. See RECONSTRUCTION, page 4

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21 Building Wealth 41 BBB Report 23 Stacia’s Media

50 Legal Listings

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Reconstruction: From Page 3 Czetli said the bridges crest midway over Meander and allow any material spilled from trucks to drain into pipes, inlets and roadside ditches away from the bridges. The spillage then runs into two containment basins located at low points on opposite sides of the reservoir. Each basin is equipped with shut-off valves that prevent contaminated materials from seeping into Meander. Should a truck overturn and cause a hazardous material to spill, emergency crews have about 30 minutes to respond and shut off the valves, Czetli said. “This gives them plenty of time to respond in case of an emergency,” he said. More than 55,000 vehicles travel across this stretch of I-80 every day, Czetli noted. “About onethird of them are trucks.” Replacing the two bridges was ﬁrst proposed in the early 1990s, noted John Getchey, executive director of Eastgate Regional Council of Governments. “The original plan was to build a causeway,” he said. “As it stands, things worked out real well. This is a great project.” Joe Alfano, ODOT’s project engineer, said about 120 tradesmen were working at the site during the height of construction. Most of the subcontractors were from the Cleveland area, but those contractors used tradesmen supplied through local unions. “We used ironworkers, carpenters and operators” from the Mahoning Valley, he noted. Jeremy Levenson, a supervisor for Great Lakes Construction Co., Cleveland, said the project was unlike any other he’s worked on. “The ﬁrst day was deﬁnitely nerve-wracking,” he noted. To cause as little disruption to trafﬁc as possible, workers used ﬂoating barges to demolish the two older bridges and to build the new structures, he said. “We’d never used barges in our work before. This was a whole new undertaking,” he said. By using barges, the crews were able to keep two lanes of trafﬁc open on I-80 at all times. Construction began in 2006 and work was performed on the two eastbound lanes and bridge ﬁrst. Once that was under way, work began on the westbound lanes. Each bridge is 2,500 feet long. The segment of I-80 was widened from four lanes to six to help alleviate trafﬁc clogs between Route 11 and the Ohio Turnpike exit, Levenson said. “Capacity was the biggest driver in this project,” he noted.

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Fuel Cell Industry Powers New Opportunity Global commercial market expected to reach $1.9 billion by 2013, $5.1 billion by 2018. By Dan O’Brien

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uel cells aren’t a thing of the future. The technology is here, and today that technology is integrated in a host of commercial products that can be used extensively in businesses and homes. Moreover, manufacturers in northeastern Ohio produce many of the components needed to make these systems work and are in the ideal position to capitalize on a market expected to hit nearly $2 billion in sales within four years. “That’s huge,” says Bruce Bille, president of Technical Stafﬁng Professionals LLC in Howland. “Fuel cells have been around since the 1850s.” It was the drive for green energy and efﬁciency over the last decade that gave new life to the developing technology that could make fuel cells a part of everyday life. Bille was among the 75 or so guests who attended a symposium on fuel cell technology hosted by the Advanced Manufacturing Initiative and The Youngstown Business Incubator at Youngstown State University Sept 1. The program, part of the group’s Innovation Series, focused on how companies in northeastern Ohio and the Mahoning Valley could have a role in capturing a business that’s drawing more interest every year. “There’s already fuel cells out there in products that are commercially available,” Bille says. These products range from home heating units to power packs that have the capability of producing enough energy to run an entire utility plant. Fuel cells are sources of alternative energy that generate power through an electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen. The only byproduct of this reaction is water; thus there are no hazardous or environmentally damaging emissions. Bille’s company is a management-recruiting ﬁrm that specializes in going after professionals – usually mid-level chemical, electrical and project engineers – for companies that do business in the alternativeenergy market. Demand for such experience has skyrocketed 500% since he founded the company in 2001. “What a lot of people don’t understand is that the fuel cell is just a portion of the system,” Bille says. While the cells require catalysts such as platinum to operate, there is also the need for other components such as pumps, various electronics parts and blowers. “All are industries we have in Ohio,” he says. “Everyone is able to contribute something to a market that’s going to explode over the next few years.” According to The Freedonia Group, a market research ﬁrm in Cleveland, the global commercial market for fuel cells is expected to reach $1.9 billion by 2013. By 2018, it’s projected that business should hit $5.1 billion.

Demand most likely will be driven by smaller, portable fuel cells, not heavy-duty components such as those now being tested in some automobiles. Instead, backup generation systems, home heating and electrical power units, as well as smaller engines for lift trucks and other small motorized vehicles, should command much of the market, relates Patrick Valente, director of the Ohio Fuel Cell Coalition.

The organization has 75 members and acts as an informational and networking resource for companies looking to move into the fuel-cell market, he says. Crown, a major manufacturer of forklifts, has developed a lift truck that operates on hydrogen fuel cells. Standard electric-powered lifts have a tendency to lose their juice after an eight-hour shift and rechargSee FUEL CELL INDUSTRY, page 8

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Dr. Jim Maloney exhibits a membrane used in fuel-cell technology that converts hydrogen and oxygen to energy.

Fuel Cell Industry: Powers New Opportunity From Page 6 ing the batteries takes a long time. “Fuel cells can be recharged in ﬁve minutes,” he relates. “Fuel cells are cleaner, and much more efﬁcient to use.” Widespread use of fuel cells in the automobile industry, though, is probably a long time coming, Valente says. First, the country lacks the infrastructure to provide hydrogen-fueling stations. Second, there just aren’t enough fuel-cell vehicles on the road or in the pipeline to justify construction of these stations. Regardless, he says the state of Ohio is in a strong position to grab a large chunk of this emerging market because of its diverse manufacturing base, generous economic-development incentives programs and a chain of potential suppliers. Thus far, Ohio has pumped about $70 million into educational programs and technology initiatives that promote the use and development of fuel cells. Among those companies seeing the beneﬁts of these programs is Catacel, a company in Garrettsville recently awarded a $450,000 grant to speed up the research and production of fuel-cell components, reports its sales manager, Sam Mawlawi. The company employs 23 and specializes in designing and manufacturing heat exchange components as well as stackable fuel-cell units, or SSRs. One of the company’s projects involved a station that powers a hydrogen-production plant in Turkey, Mawlawi says. The company expects “one or two” plants in the United States will soon introduce fuel-cell technology to their operations.

Catacel is among a cluster of some 100 companies in Ohio already doing business in the fuel-cell ﬁeld. Dick Wilk, president of Refractory Specialists Inc., says he took his company from its traditional HVAC – heating ventilating and air conditioning – and hearth business and added research toward developing products used in the fuel-cell business. “We found out that the same-old, same-old doesn’t work today,” he relates. “We’ve proven that a small company can act like a big company.” Wilk says Refractory Specialists has formed informal partnerships with companies such as Siemens AG to produce insulation and coating that could be used on components in fuel-cell systems. “We don’t make the fuel cells, but we make the components that go into fuel cells,” he explains. Since it entered this market during the late 1980s, the company has expanded and increased its client base. It employs 150. What makes the fuel-cell alternative so appealing is that the cells are fairly easy to understand and develop, adds Dr. Jim Maloney of Stark State College of Technology. “A fuel cell is simple to put together,” he says. “We have high-school students making them.” Stark State has sponsored programs and courses that have helped students engage in working on advancing fuel-cell technology with some of the world’s top companies, Maloney says. The North American headquarters of RollsRoyce, for example, uses fuel-cell technology to heat and light its building in North Canton. “We’ve seen 60% efﬁciency,” Maloney says. “And, they may reach 70% efﬁciency out of the system.”

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MidSEPTEMBER 2009

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American Dream Inspires Ghossain’s Success The bakery’s breads are served in restaurants throughout the country. By Maraline Kubik

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red Ghossain’s father came to the United States in search of the American Dream. He found it by taking a chance on a family recipe and a community hungry for the tastes of home. “We took a chance on something that was completely unknown,” Fred Ghossain says. He and his father, Joseph, and brother, Nick, began baking pita bread and ﬂatbread in 1970 in the garage of their home at the corner of Market Street and Philadelphia Avenue on Youngstown’s south side. Ghossain, whose family immigrated from Lebanon, says the specialty breads so common there were impossible to ﬁnd in Youngstown. Ghossain’s grandmother, Raya, baked wonderful breads at home and her son and grandsons decided to use her recipes to make and market them. “Customers were mainly mid-Eastern people,” her grandson recalls. Word spread throughout Youngstown’s Middle Eastern community and demand for Ghossain’s ﬂatbreads and pitas grew. Satisfying that growing demand wasn’t an easy task. “When you bake ﬁve dozen pitas at home, it’s a lot of bread,” Fred Ghossain says. “When you try to expand that to 1,000 dozen, there’s a lot of trial and error.” At the time, Joseph Ghossain, who came to America in 1954, was also running Humble’s Restaurant on Market Street. When Joseph Ghossain came to the United States, his son explains, he got a job in the kitchen of a hotel restaurant in Springﬁeld, Mass. He was so proﬁcient in preparing meals, the owner of that restaurant sent him to culinary school. Then, in 1958 or ’59, Fred Ghossain says, his father spent three weeks in Youngstown visiting friends. Harry Humble, the owner of Humble’s Restaurant, had just put his restaurant up for sale and a friend suggested Joseph Ghossain buy it. He did. Then, a few years later, he bought the Hub in Hubbard. “He was a very good businessman,” Ghossain says of his father. Both restaurants were “allpurpose restaurants,” Ghossain says. They opened early and stayed open late, serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and coffee – strictly American fare, no ethinic specialties. Ghossain vividly remembers working in the restaurant kitchens as a boy. His father sold The Hub in the mid-1960s, a few years before venturing into the bakery business. By the time a ﬁre in the kitchen at Humble’s closed that restaurant in 1975, demand for Ghossain’s ﬂatbreads and pitas had grown substantially – all by word of mouth, “we never did any advertising,” Ghossain says. So, his father decided to focus his energies on

Joe Ghossain oversees operations at the Boardman bakery. His father, grandfather and uncle started the business in a garage.

building business at Ghossain’s Mid-East Bakery. The family built four additions around their garage, bought a conveyor oven capable of baking more bread and started selling it wholesale to retailers. Joseph’s Market in Waterville, Maine, was among the ﬁrst grocery stores to sell Ghossain’s pitas and ﬂatbreads, Fred Ghossain recalls. The grocery store, founded in 1925 by owner Kevin Joseph’s grandfather, a Lebanese immigrant, once catered to mill workers. Today, it specializes in fresh-cut meats and some Middle Eastern foods. “We found Ghossain’s through a priest at a Lebanese parish who came from Ohio,” Joseph says. Because many immigrants came to Waterville from Lebanon to work in the mills, there used to be a heavy concentration of Lebanese bakeries in the area. That’s not so anymore, Joseph says, and none of those that remain have the ability to bake the large quantities groceries stores require. So, he says, once Joseph’s learned about Ghossain’s, the store began buying marook bread, which he describes as a “ﬂat Syrian bread about 14 inches round that Middle Eastern people use to scoop up food like baked kibbee, raw kibbee or tabouli.” Joseph says the response from his customers “is phenomenal. Some people travel for miles just to get it. It reminds them of their situ.” Situ, Joseph explains, is the Lebanese word for grandmother. Joseph’s Market also sells Ghossain’s spinach pies. Joseph’s Market Place in New Castle, Pa., is also among the bakery’s wholesale customers. Founded in 1915 as a general grocer, the retailer has since evolved into a specialty ethnic foods store. “Fred used to bring the bread in himself,” says Dennis Joseph, who operates the specialty-foods store with his brother, George Joseph, and nephew, Bill Bresnar.

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“We started with the pitas. Now we sell spinach pies, spices, hummus and pita chips. The amount of stuff we buy from Ghossain’s has grown from Day One,” Joseph says. “They are good quality. Ghossain’s delivers every Wednesday and we have people who wait for the product to get here. We sell out in a few days.” A truck driver who delivers Syrian bread from another area bakery, he adds, is among the regulars who wait for Ghossain’s pita bread to be delivered. Ghossain’s delivers its breads to several area retailers – grocery stores and delis such as Giant Eagle, Sparkle and IGA – as well as local restuarants including the MVR, Grecian Gourmet, Nicolini’s and Aladdin’s. The Middle Eastern bakery also has a loyal following – and long list of customers – throughout the United States. Martha Stewart uses Ghossain’s ﬂatbread in some of her recipes and has recommended it to her fans, citing it in her book, Quick Cook Menus, Joe Ghossain says. Joe Ghossain is Fred’s son and a co-owner of the business. Oscar de la Renta, Ethel Kennedy and André the Giant are among the bakery’s most famous customers, he adds. But the bulk of business comes from individuals from all walks of life who live throughout the country, Fred Ghossain says. The morning The Business Journal visited, Ghossain’s had received phone-in orders from customers in Florida, Michigan, West Virginia, South Carolina, Illinois and Ohio – all before 9 a.m. “People started telling other people,” Ghossain says. As word spread throughout Middle Eastern communities in cities across the country, demand continued to build. Today, Ghossain’s breads are served in homes and restuarants across the country. “We sell to the restaurants in almost every country club in Florida,” Ghossain boasts, along with the restaurants at Disney World, the restaurants and dining rooms at the Excalibur Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas and a See AMERICAN DREAM, page 10

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American Dream: Inspires Ghossain’s Success From Page 9 slew of others. Individuals order the breads in small quantities that are shipped from the bakery in Boardman every day using overnight delivery services, Ghossain continues. Restaurants order the breads several cases at a time, with some breads baked to order per customer speciﬁcations. Some restaurants want larger sizes of ﬂatbread for wrap sandwiches, he explains, while other wholesale customers want breads packaged under their private labels. The Back Burner Restaurant & Bar in Hockessin, Del., is among Ghossain’s regulars. “We buy a lot,” says Kristin McGuigan, executive chef at The Back Burner Restaurant and its Gourmet To Go take-out store. “We buy 10 cases at a time and we’re a very small restaurant in an extremely small town.” The Back Burner, McGuigan says, dusts Ghossain’s ﬂatbread with a special blend of seasonings, bakes it and serves it in baskets to every table. Customers love it, the chef says. “Some come into this restaurant just for that.” There are only 80 seats in the ﬁne-dining restaurant, she notes, so the per-person consumption of Ghossain’s bread is substantial. Packages of Ghossain’s bread sold in Gourmet To Go, she adds, “ﬂy off the shelf.” The Back Burner began serving Ghossain’s ﬂatbread, McGuigan says, after a customer suggested it. “We used to serve something similar,” she explains. After a customer recommended Ghossain’s, “We got a sample and just loved it.” The Excalibur found Ghossain’s in a similar manner. “We were looking for a pita bread. There are no true pita breads in Vegas – there are round breads but no pocket,” says Matt Hosier, a specialty room chef at the Excalibur. One of the other chefs at the hotel/casino said that he knew of a bakery that made good pita bread, Hosier says. “He brought in samples. We did a tasting and we liked it.” Since then, Hosier says, he’s been serving Ghossain’s pita breads with hummus and tabouli at the Excalibur’s Round Table Buffet and Ghossain’s ﬂat breads in the employee dining room where they are used to make fresh tomato pizzas and wrap sandwiches. John Khoury, the Excalibur chef who recommended Ghossain’s says, “I know this bakery for a long time. It’s good bread. The bread that’s available here is too doughy. Ghossain’s bread is very light. It’s very healthy.” He ordered 120 cases of ﬂatbread and pita from Ghossain’s when he placed his last order and expects it to cover what the hotel restaurants will need for the month. Khoury moved to Las Vegas from Youngstown 27 years ago and, being Lebanese, says he bought bread from the Ghossain family when he lived here. “People started telling other people [about our bread] and it’s a ripple effect,” Fred Ghossain says, describing how business has grown. “We have a lot of repeat customers and a lot of new customers.” Flatbreads and pita bread are the bakery’s top sellers, but the popularity of Ghossain’s growing line of products continues to increase. Spinach and spinach-and-feta pita pies, once available only in Ghossain’s retail stores, are now available fresh at

a few specialty food stores and in the frozen food departments of select grocery stores. Ghossain’s began packaging and freezing the spinach pies for large-scale distribution under its new brand name – Virdowni – last year. Virdowni, Fred Ghossain explains, refers to a river in his hometown in Lebanon that is lined with outdoor cafés that reportedly serve “the best food you’ll ever have in your life.” Pita pies ﬁlled with pepperoni, ham and cheese, peppers and egg, potatoes and cheese with tomatoes, onions, parsley, olive oil and spices and pita pies ﬁlled with a variety of fruits were introduced in Ghossain’s retail stores this year “to see how they go,” Fred Ghossain says. Another new product, open-face pita pockets topped with spicy feta “are really, really, really good,” he adds. The bakery’s newest product, he continues, is its thin-bread chips. They are available in seven ﬂavors that range from garlic to hot salsa to cinnamon sugar. Adding new products and packaging existing products for mass distribution are not the only means Ghossain’s is employing to expand its business. The bakery opened a second retail store this summer in Niles. Before that, Ghossain’s only retail store was at its Boardman bakery. The company moved to Boardman in 2002 because its Market Street location could not accommodate expansion. Eventually, Ghossain’s owners plan to open additional retail stores, most likely in western Pennsylvania and then branch into the Cleveland and Akron areas, says Anthony Khoury, vice president of marketing and co-owner with his uncle Fred and cousin Joe. “We want to focus on doing things right [in the Niles location] before opening any more stores.” Ghossain’s also bakes a full line of Middle Eastern pastries that are sold in its retail stores and to local restaurants. Deli items such as tabouli, hummus and stuffed grape leaves are made onsite and sold in both retail stores, along with a complete line of imported Mediterranean groceries, spices and nuts.

Made in the Valley at Ghossain’s Mid-East Bakery Products: Flatbreads, pita breads, spinach and spinach-and-feta pita pies, pastries, Mediterranean deli items, Virdowni frozen foods, thin bread chips, miscellaneous baked goods. Founders: Joseph, Fred and Nick Ghossain Year Founded: 1970 Headquarters/Manufacturing: Boardman, Ohio. Number of Employees: 16 Retailers: Ghossain’s retail stores in Boardman and Niles, Giant Eagle, IGA, Sparkle, Joseph’s Market Place, The Pennsylvania Macaroni Co., among many others. Restaurants: Aladdin’s, Disney World in Orlando, Fla., Excalibur Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Grecian Gourmet, MVR, Nicolini’s and many others. Geographic Area Served: United States Source: Ghossain’s Mid-East Bakery

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Job Seekers: Expo ‘Encouraging’ Some 5,000 job seekers turned out hoping to land one of 1,000 jobs offered by employers. By Maraline Kubik

R

ick Spahlinger expected to retire from OAO Severstal after working 38 years for the steelmaker – Severstal bought the former WCI Steel 18 months ago. Instead, the former coordinator of purchased services was terminated in April, six months after Severstal idled operations at its Warren mill. Without a vested pension and having taken a heavy hit in his 401(k), Spahlinger can’t afford to retire and was among thousands of job seekers who turned out Wednesday at the 2009 Job Expo at the Covelli Centre in downtown Youngstown. Spahlinger was looking for an opening in quality Michael S. Garvey, president of M-7 Technologies, reviews job assurance with another manufacturer. “Most of my requirements with Rick Spahlinger. experience is in heavy manufacturing – customer relations,” he explains. from about a dozen applicants qualiﬁed for the posiThe closest he came to ﬁnding a heavy manutions it is looking to ﬁll. facturer exhibiting at the Job Expo was M-7 TechThe engineering and environmental consulting nologies. Based in Youngstown, M-7 Technologies ﬁrm needs mid-level GIS specialists, environmental provides precision measurement services for manuscientists, civil engineers and a project manager. facturers in a wide range of industries to improve Requirements for entry-level positions are a baccalproduct quality and reduce the time required to ureate or master’s degree in environmental science, manufacture or repair heavy industrial products. It biology or geology and a love of the outdoors, said John E. Burglund, assistant department manager. was M-7’s ﬁrst time at the Job Expo. “There are a lot of qualiﬁed candidates here,” obTo be considered for senior-level positions, he said, served Michael S. Garvey, president of M-7 Technoloapplicants must also have more than 10 years’ exgies. “I’m amazed. We had an undergraduate from perience. Carnegie-Mellon – that The Hermitage, Pa.tells you the quality of based company is looking candidates that are here,” “We never expected this much of a turnout. to hire six to eight new We brought 250 applications with us and by employees, at least some he said. M-7 Technologies isn’t 1:30 p.m. we were out,” said Peggy Ange- of whom would be willing looking to hire anyone lucci of Berner International. She had also to relocate. The company immediately, Garvey said. serves clients throughout His company, however, is collected a pile of resumes. Ohio, Pennsylvania and growing and he anticipates West Virginia and needs hiring several people over the next year. “We’re to staff an ofﬁce in Waynesburg, Pa., Burglund said. at about 20 [employees] right now and we may His company is also considering opening an ofﬁce double that, or more than double that in the next in southwestern Pennsylvania. 12 months,” he said. Janeen Weisman, a recruiter for Humility of Mary Berner International Corp., New Castle, Pa., didn’t Health Partners, which operates hospitals in Mahonhave any open positions either, but was looking to ing and Trumbull counties, found several qualiﬁed build its bank of applicants because several employapplicants for the state tested nurse assistant and ees have more than 30 years with the company and social worker positions she was looking to ﬁll. are thinking about retiring, explained Peggy Ange“We also had a lot of people looking for positions lucci. Angelucci works in purchasing but volunteered we don’t have open,” Weisman added. “We had a lot to help Berner’s director of human resources, Bobbi of people looking for maintenance and clerical posiLump, screen applicants at the expo. tions and we have no openings in either of those.” “We’ve had some very qualiﬁed people apply,” At best, 20% of the estimated 5,000 job seekers Angelucci said. “We’ve also had some that are not so who turned out for the event will secure employqualiﬁed,” she added. “We never expected this much ment through the 1,000 job openings exhibitors of a turnout. We brought 250 applications with us were looking to ﬁll. But that doesn’t mean those who and by 1:30 p.m. we were out.” Angelucci and her won’t secure employment were discouraged. colleague had also collected a pile of resumes. “I thought it would be good to come out and Berner makes air curtains – the devices that blow see what opportunities are available – to see what a steady stream of air from ﬂoor to ceiling at the companies are expanding,” said Dean Stebner. entrances of commercial and industrial buildings Stebner owned and operated Electric Device Corp. to keep insects and pollutants outside and help in Canﬁeld for 20 years. maintain comfortable temperatures inside. Electric Device provides engineering and manuSee JOB SEEKERS, page 14 Wallace & Pancher Inc. also received resumes

The Business Journal

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MidSEPTEMBER 2009

Job seekers converge on the Covelli Centre in downtown Youngstown during the region’s ﬁrst interstate job expo. Employers participating were from throughout the ﬁve-county region.

Award-winning services* for today’s environment. ��

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The Business Journal

Job Seekers: Find Expo ‘Encouraging’ From Page 12 facturing test equipment to industrial customers to ensure their product quality. Now that he no longer owns the company and having recently earned his MBA, Stebner said he’s looking to start a new business but isn’t sure if he should stay in the Mahoning Valley. Knowing what businesses are expanding may help him decide whether to stay put or relocate, he explained. Jim Athya of Warren, who designed ﬁre protection systems the last 11 years – before being downsized out of a job this past March – is also looking to take charge of his future. He was one of about 40 job-fair visitors who attended the Start your Own Business Workshop. About half of the attendees who turned out for the workshop left after learning that there are loans but no grants available to entrepreneurs. Like Athya,

those who remained were eager to learn about developing their business plans. “I was encouraged,” Athya said. He’d like to continue in the same line of work, designing ﬁre protection systems for buildings at the request of architects and building designers, but wants to do it on his own, not as the employee of a large company that trims costs by eliminating workers. The workshop enlightened him about the preparation that goes into establishing a startup company. “I’ve got a lot of work to do,” Athya observed. “You don’t just pull it out of your back pocket and put a shingle out.” Thanks to information provided in the workshop, Athya said he knows where to begin and where to look for help. Workshops on how to dress for success, search for jobs online and succeed in the workplace were also offered during the expo.

Barbara Slavin, marketing director at New Castle School of Trades, explains programs available at the trade school

Ann Cowell tells Alvin Jenkins about job openings at Home Savings and Loan Co.

Job seekers crowd the ﬂoor of the Covelli Centre as they visit employers and training providers from throughout ﬁve counties.

The Business Journal

15

MidSEPTEMBER 2009

Our health connects us.

SM

When one of your employees does something healthy, others will too. We all influence the health of those around us, especially in the workplace. At Anthem, we’re committed to encouraging this. That’s why we offer health and wellness programs, a wide range of affordable plans and one of the largest networks of doctors and hospitals. It’s good for your employees. It’s good for your bottom line. Want to see how your employees’ overall health can inﬂuence your bottom line? Go to anthem.com/connects2 and calculate your company’s potential savings.

10745OHEEN (6/09) Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Community Insurance Company. Independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ® ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

16

MidSEPTEMBER 2009

The Valley’s Business

The Business Journal

Matters

25 East Boardman Street, Suite 306 P.O. Box 714, Youngstown, Ohio 44501-0714 Telephone 330 744 5023 Fax 330 744 5838 • 330 744 0634 Email: [email protected] Web site: BusinessJournalDaily.com Publisher Andrea Wood Assistant Publisher Eileen Lovell Copy Editor Dennis LaRue Page Editor Maraline Kubik Online Video Anchor Stacia Erdos Video Editor Jeremy Lydic Senior Reporters Dan O’Brien George Nelson Jeremy Lydic Columnists

Monnie Ryan Lou Zona Gail S. White Stacia Erdos

Photographer Tony Mancino Rate Comparisons Cara J. McClure Sales Manager Janet O’Malley Account Executive Gail S. White Circulation Manager Diane Delpine Art Director/ Fred Sipe Webmaster

T he Business Journal is published semimonthly (twice a month) in Youngstown, Ohio. Copyright 2009 by Youngstown Publishing Co. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use, without written permission, of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited. Average Issue Readership: 45,000 Mail Subscription Rates: $42 for 12 months; $77 for 24 months; $96 for 36 months. Back Issues: If available, $4.75 apiece prepaid (mailed); $3.25 apiece prepaid (picked up at our ofﬁce). Submission Policy: News articles and photographs may be submitted but cannot be returned. We reserve the right to select and edit all articles and letters. All submissions become the editorial property of The Business Journal. Submissions may be edited and may be published or re-used in any medium including Business Journal television and radio reports and the Daily Business Journal Online.

Locally owned by the Youngstown Publishing Co.

Journal Opinion Our Fragile Sense of Community Again this year, the Youngstown/Mahoning Valley United Way kicked off its annual campaign with a Day of Caring, a communitywide effort that unites volunteers from business and labor in behalf of a cause greater than themselves. They work side-byside on community service projects throughout the region. The date chosen the past couple of years holds great signiﬁcance – Sept. 11 – one Americans will long associate with one of the most horriﬁc events that took place on our soil. Some of the pain of that day has faded but the vivid memories of what happened eight years earlier – the twin strikes on the World Trade Center in New York City and on the Pentagon in Washington, as well as a third attack, thwarted – remain. In the days and weeks that followed, we joined together as Americans to reach out to those directly affected by the attacks, donating food and other goods, money and time. Many of us were left with a lingering desire to do more in and for our communities. It took a disappointingly brief period for that day of infamy to be exploited by some who saw it as a tool to further their political agendas. They impugned patriotism of those who questioned the rationales behind the invasion of Iraq and the ease with which victory was promised but still not delivered. Most recently we have witnessed angry personal attacks become routine political discourse in the

debate over health insurance reform. The patriotism of the president has been questioned, as well as his allegiance to the U.S. Constitution even his legal right to be elected president. Some zealots warn of armed insurrection; others predict another civil war. Whether you are a Republican, a Democrat or an independent, you know this must stop. The Day of Caring seeks to recapture the sense of community manifested Sept. 11, 2001, when we came together as a nation. Last Friday some 400 volunteers spent their day at places such as Sojourner House, Beatitude House, the American Red Cross, Easter Seals Society and Ursuline Sisters Ministries. There they cleaned, painted, landscaped, served meals and helped these agencies reach out to the people they serve. The chief professional ofﬁcer of the United Way, Bob Hannon, calls the need “incredible.” While all those needs will never be met, the Day of Caring has drawn awareness and, we hope, inspired appreciably more volunteerism. This year, a joint resolution of Congress and a proclamation of President Obama designated Sept. 11 a “National Day of Service and Remembrance” to be observed annually. The Day of Caring here makes a difference in the volunteers’ lives as they make a difference in the lives of those they help. And they pay tribute to the memory of their fellow Americans who lost their lives eight years ago.

The Business Journal

MidSEPTEMBER 2009

BY LOUIS A. ZONA

Impressions WD-40, Duct Tape Are No Longer the Answer Another wish that we could go back in time.

messed up and spit something at you. Can’t you hear a voice coming from your manifold yelling, “Stand away wise man (or was he a wise from the motor, you moron, and call guy?) observed that you only Mr. Goodwrench, now.” need two tools in life, WD-40 Have you ever tried to repair a miand duct tape. If it doesn’t move and nor problem in your computer? Once should, apply WDyou’ve read the 40. If it shouldn’t It seems that every facet of our manual, called the move and does, use lives has been made more com- 800 number and the duct tape. spoken to someI prefer the sim- plicated than it need be. body in Banglaple, less complidesh – even uncated approach to solving problems plugged the cord and plugged it back and wish that the complexities of in – your only recourse is to throw it life today could be remedied with a into your back yard. I have found that touch of Elmer’s Glue. The other day both IBMs and Macs make very good I thought I’d add some oil treatment to planters after you’ve taken a sledgethe motor in my Chevy Malibu. After hammer to them. examining the engine for ﬁve minutes, On the other hand, before you prudence dictated that I return the follow my lead and convert your STP to the auto-parts store. computer into a decoration in your Remember when you could reach yard, you could ask your 10-year-old under the hood of your Chevy and neighbor to look at it. Don’t be fooled replace even the spark plugs without by that innocent face; these kids were risking life or limb? If you tried that raised on this stuff (where my generatoday, the car’s computer would be See ZONA, page 18

A

BY GAIL WHITE

Commentary America Seen Through The Eyes of a Parent

I

’m always telling the publisher that I’m going to “grow up” and quit writing about my kids, but it seems once you become a parent you look at the world through the eyes of your children and the ﬁltered lens of a family. Quite frankly, I think we would all be better off if our government were run like a family household. When the budget is tight in our family, we skip going to out to dinner and put our wants on hold. Explaining the concept of bills to one of my sons, I was running through the various

payments each month. “That’s like inﬁnity dollars!” he exclaimed, with a new appreciation for why he couldn’t get the new toy he wanted. If the government had employed such practices, we would not be over $11 trillion dollars in debt right now. Now that’s really like inﬁnity dollars. When my son didn’t pay attention to his cell phone minutes and ran up a bill two months in a row, I didn’t give him money and hope that he would try harder. I took the phone away. He See WHITE, page 18

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Zona: WD-40, Duct Tape No Longer the Answer From Page 17 tion was raised on Ovaltine). The reality is that we are a society that is always looking for the quick ﬁx. It certainly is my M.O., but safe to say that the days are over when a hammer and screwdriver were all that you needed in the tool drawer. We live in a complicated and complex world and the tools that we need today require more than brute strength to operate. Here I go again, wishing that I could go back to a simpler time. Once again I’d like to crawl into a time machine and return to the 1950s and my home at 118 Center St. I see myself sitting in our living room gazing at our 10-inch Silvertone television watching Betty Furness point out the ﬁner points of the new Westinghouse self-defrosting refrigerator. I certainly romanticize the 1950s, but it was indeed a much less complicated time in America. Imagine a

world when the Slinky, a simple toy that “walked” down the stairs, kept us amused for hours. In a world of video games and mobile browsers, a slinky would be as popular today as knickers. And to think that my brother and I spent hours on our living room ﬂoor playing with tiny metal soldiers, using only our imaginations. Kids today don’t need to imagine anything and so they don’t; some software engineer somewhere has already imagined for them in some video game. Do you remember when playing ball meant, “See the ball. Hit or catch the ball”? Well, it’s no longer that simple. Major League teams have computer gurus on their payrolls whose sole purpose is to quantify players’ talent and rate of success. It’s all about metrics or “Sabermetrics” and “Pythagorean projections.” It all goes back to the 1980s when Bill James began using Sabermetrics

to predict baseball teams’ wins and losses by computing “runs scored” against “runs allowed” and other variables he found had more bearing than commonly accepted statistics. Today it has gotten so complicated that Sabermetrics applies mathematical values to a player’s defensive abilities with its RZR (revised zone ratings) and OOZ (out of zone ratings). They count whether a player catches balls hit his way or catches balls not hit directly to him. What gets even more complicated is what baseball calls its UZR (ultimate zone rating) that slices a baseball ﬁeld into sectors that radiate from home plate and counts plays made in each zone. Back when I played baseball, there was no such thing. There were only two considerations: Are you a good player or a lousy player? I always fell into the latter, which in today’s Sabermetrics lingo would be termed

VLP (very lousy player). Things as seemingly simple as voting on Election Day have become a big deal. I remember paper ballots, and ever so fondly. Today the voting machine runs you back through your choices and nudges you to vote for candidates or issues you chose to leave blank. It seems that every facet of our lives has been made more complicated than it need be. Can you imagine what it would be like if we could send that time machine back and have our great-grandparents visit 2009? You might hand them a cell phone. “You say that I can take video clips with it and text message and download information from the Internet?” my great-grandfather might ask. “You lost me at video clip.” Never mind, Grandpa. Just hand me that roll of duct tape, would you?

White: America Seen Through the Eyes of a Parent From Page 15 mismanaged funds so he was now welcome to get his own plan and pay his own bill. When AIG mismanaged funds, the government gave its executives more funds so they could “try harder.” Since receiving public funds, and after celebrating their losses with lavish parties, AIG executives have been selling off the company holdings in ﬁre sales – the latest of which were sold to companies in Hong Kong and China. How do you say, “No more American dollars” in Chinese? Once, my children set up a stand by the road to sell mud balls and bird feathers. I tried to tell them that if they shaped the mud balls into bowls or animal ﬁgures they might have better luck. But, being boys, they were convinced that balls were what everyone would want.

Their business lasted one long, boring day. Yet, when American car manufacturers watched the demise of their product for more than a decade and were slow to change, it is the American people left holding the bill for their misfeasance. It is an invoice that they are now admiting will likely never be repaid. But, like a parent who welcomes home a prodigal child who has gone astray and ﬁnds his way back on the straight and narrow path, the American public will react in the same manner toward the auto industry. Slow to trust completely, but forever hopeful in their future. Now, health care is a whole different breed of a problem child. This industry is simply a completely abhorrent, disobedient, dastardly adolescent. Spawned by pedal-push-

ing medical research and pharmaceutical companies, fed by doctors and hospitals concerned with the bottom line and pulled at both ends from insurance companies, the health-care business needs more than a trip to the woodshed with dad. My youngest son came home from the neighbors disgusted one afternoon. They had a lemonade stand and were charging $1.25 a cup. “And it wasn’t even a big cup!” he exclaimed. It was the same reaction I had after my last visit to the hospital. My insurance company was charged $6 for a Tylenol. Not a bottle of Tylenol – one pill. One side of the industry feeds off the other creating a cycle of pure dysfunction. Don’t get me wrong, America has the greatest medical innovators in

the world. The accomplishments and technology developed in this country are the absolute best. Let us not forget, all this has been accomplished in a free market. Yet, at the rate that the cost of health care coverage is rising combined with the number of uninsured or underinsured, who is going to beneﬁt from these incredible innovations? Like parents considering reform school for their child, our nation is faced with the need to take drastic measures to ﬁx health care. But do you really want an entity $11 trillion in debt to be in charge of making sure a doctor is available when you need surgery – or that the electricity has been paid so the life support system continues to run? Of course, at $6 a pill, it could be a great way for the country to be out of debt for the next generation.

The Business Journal

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MidSEPTEMBER 2009

YOUNGSTOWN - WARREN

Regional Chamber Report

Members: Get Involved, Increase Your Business By Kim Gonda Regional Chamber Vice President, Marketing & Business Services Regional Chamber members tend to realize the tangible beneﬁts of membership – discounts on health care, workers’ compensation and office supplies, as well as access to a variety of tools such as use of our database. But they don’t always consider the intangibles, which may just be key to their growth: referrals, networking and member loyalty. Consider just a few examples of each:

but for businesses!) has increased its clientele to include a local insurance company, hometown bank, pizza chain and dry cleaning business by meeting them at these fun, networking gatherings. • An insurance agent increased his book of business to include a tire company and ﬁre protection equipment company because as a “chamber ambassador,” he called to welcome them as new members and offer his assistance if ever needed. • A photographer who set up a marketing consultation with a chamber staffer to brainstorm ideas on how to expand his business not only garnered an offer to shoot some of the chamber’s photos but also received additional work from those he photographed.

Referrals

Member Loyalty

• Through the Regional Chamber’s Web site, RegionalChamber.com, each member has its own listing within the online Membership Directory; businesses and organizations receive additional local and national exposure when people are searching for that business or even that category of business through a search engine. Did you know that our online Membership Directory receives 250 to 500 page views each day? • Many members participate in our Lead Groups or are active on committees that allow them opportunities for more one-on-one time with fellow members so that they are comfortable in giving referrals to them.

Doing business with Regional Chamber members: It’s not just a philosophy that we, as an organization, follow, but one that, as individuals, we pursue for our own personal needs as well. And, we have heard from several members that when they are shopping for a product or service, they ﬁrst look to ﬁnd them among our member companies. Such loyalty shows support of community initiatives, economic development and business growth. We could go on, as the stories we hear like those above are endless. Chamber membership is truly what each member determines to make of it; after all, membership is an investment. Keep in mind that more than 90% of our member companies have fewer than 10 employees, and most of those businesses and organizations pay $295 to belong to the chamber (the lowest of any metro chamber in Ohio, if not the nation). If they’re actively promoting themselves and their companies and taking advantage of all that we have to offer, they’re going to make back that $295 – and then some – in no time at all. Quite a return on their investment!

Networking Members like to do business with other members. • An attorney who sponsors and presents at some of our human resources roundtables that focus on topics like employee discipline and attendance policies gained four new clients. All had attended these small, interactive events. • A marketing and promotional products company whose employees have attended many of our Business Marketplace events (like speed dating,

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The Business Journal

Interest Rates CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT PASSBOOK

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION

TERM

ANNUAL PERCENTAGE YIELD, 2-Week Trend

STATEMENT SAVINGS APY*

CF BANK (formerly Central Federal S&L) Wellsville

1 Year 24 Mos.

1.50  1.75 

.10/ N.A.

CHARTER ONE BANK

12 Mos. 5 Year

.75 — 2.25 —

N.A./ .25

CONSUMERS NATIONAL BANK Salem

12 Mos. 4 Year

.85  2.50 —

.18/ .18

CORTLAND BANKS Cortland

1 Year 5 Year

.75 — 2.50 —

.50/ .50

E.S.B. BANK Ellwood City, Pa.

1 Year 4 Year

1.00 — 2.30 —

.30/ .30

FARMERS NATIONAL BANK Canﬁeld

1 Year 4 Year

1.00 — 2.00 —

N.A./ .20

FIRST MERIT BANK New Castle, Pa.

1 Year 2 Year

.50 — 1.10 —

N.A./ .05

FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF PA. Hermitage, Pa.

1 Year 5 Year

.50 — 2.25 —

N.A./ .10

1ST NATIONAL COMMUNITY BANK East Liverpool

1 Year 4 Year

1.00 — 2.43 —

.20/ .40

FIRST PLACE BANK Boardman

6 Mos. 12 Mos.

.60 — 1.25 —

.25/ .25

HOME FEDERAL Niles

1 Year 3 Year

1.51  2.12 

.60/ .75

HOME SAVINGS Youngstown

12 Mos. 5 Year

1.60 — 2.80 —

.35/ .35

Minimum $500 Minimum $500

HUNTINGTON BANK Youngstown

1 Year 4 Year

1.50 — 2.42 

N.A./ N.A.

KEYBANK Youngstown

1 Year 3 Year 5 Year

.15 — 1.35 — 2.35 —

N.A./ .45

MIDDLEFIELD BANKING COMPANY Cortland

1 Year 13 Mos. 2 Year

1.66  1.86 — 2.02 

.50/ .75

PNC BANK Youngstown

1 Year 43 Mos.

.70 — 1.25 —

N.A./ N.A.

PNC BANK Conneaut Lake, Pa.

1 Year 5 Year

.85  1.55 —

N.A./ .05

US BANK (formerly Firstar Bank) Boardman

1 Year 59 Mos.

.50 — 3.00 —

N.A./ .10

*Annual Percentage Yield

Arrows tell whether rates rose or fell since last issue. Dashes indicate “unchanged.”

Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of The Business Journal compilations. Rates are subject to change without notice and should be conﬁrmed with the individual ﬁnancial institution before entering into transactions. ©2009 Youngstown Publishing Co. All rights reserved.

The Business Journal

21

MidSEPTEMBER 2009

BuildingWealth

SPONSORED BY

Your Responsibilities as an Investor

To help ensure the success of your investments, you will want to take a number of important steps. Inform and Educate Yourself •Read thoroughly all sales literature, prospectuses and/or other offering documents before making any investment. •Consider all investment risks, fees and/or other factors explained in these documents. •Understand the relationship between your investment objectives and the risks and returns on particular investments. Also understand the relationship between your particular investments and your investment objectives. Talk with Your Financial Adviser •Provide accurate information about your ﬁnancial status, investment goals and risk tolerance when seeking advice so that your investment ﬁrm can provide you with appropriate recommendations. •Seek out information you need or want from your ﬁnancial adviser by asking any questions you

have about your account, a transaction, risk exposures, potential conﬂicts of interest, and, of course, commissions, sales charges and other fees. •Notify your ﬁnancial adviser whenever there is a signiﬁcant change in your investment objectives, risk tolerance, income, net worth or liquidity needs. •Review your portfolio holdings on a regular basis, and whenever your ﬁnancial circumstances change. You may want to make changes. •If you have any investment holdings at other institutions or brokerages, tell your ﬁnancial adviser so that your ﬁnancial adviser can make sure all your holdings work together. Keep Your Accounts Current •Have cash or available margin-buying power in your investment account, or transfer funds into that account, to ensure payment for securities purchases by the settlement date. If you are paying by check or funds transfer, you should always make payments directly to your investment ﬁrm.

•Review all transaction conﬁrmations and account statements or reports carefully and promptly. Report any errors or questions you have to your ﬁnancial adviser or branch manager immediately. Use the Right Resources – Carefully •Consult an attorney or tax adviser for speciﬁc tax or legal advice. •You are fully responsible for your investment decisions if you choose automated channels (Internet or telephone) for your trading needs. •Consider carefully the validity and reliability of investment information obtained from all sources, especially unsolicited information obtained over the Internet. •Understand that the opinions of securities analysts should never be interpreted as a guarantee of future performance or rate of return. Source: Securities Industry and Financial Marketing Association. This article provided by Mike Paterchak, Branch Manger, Stifel, Nicolaus & Co. Inc., Member SIPC and NYSE

You know where you want to be ﬁnancially— ten, 20, 30 years from now. And you have a vision for achieving your goals. Your Stifel Nicolaus Butler Wick Division Financial Advisor can help you stay in step with the changing times.

in step.

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We have a diversiﬁed network of industry-accredited professionals at your disposal—ranging from CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERS™ and portfolio managers to insurance, retirement and estate planning specialists. As your family needs change and investment markets ﬂuctuate, your advisor will provide you with guidance that truly ﬁts your personal situation.

For more information and the location nearest you, visit us on the web at www.stifel.com.

22

MidSEPTEMBER 2009

September 11, 2009

The Business Journal

Credit Union Rates

CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION

Term

ASSOCIATED SCHOOL EMPLOYEES

1 Year 2 Year

1.75 — 2.05 —

FIRST CHOICE COMMUNITY (formerly RMI CO. EMPLOYEES)

1 Year 2 Year

OHIO EDISON/ PENN POWER

MORTGAGE LOANS

AUTO LOANS

Down Payment

Fees

Term

Rate

Type

$1,000 $1,000

Up to 48 Mos. Up to 60 Mos.

5.70 6.20

Fixed Fixed

20% 20%

15 Year 20 Year

4.87 — 5.25 —

2+200 2+200

1.85 — 2.01 

$500 $500

Up to 48 Mos. Up to 60 Mos.

5.65 5.65

Fixed

20%

15 Year

5.50 

0+costs

1 Year 2 Year

1.75 — 1.99 —

$1,000 $1,000

Up to 48 Mos. Up to 60 Mos.

5.70 5.99

Fixed Fixed

5% 5%

15 Year 30 Year

4.625  5.50 

0+costs 0+costs

SEVEN SEVENTEEN

1 Year 2 Year

1.50  1.80 

$1,000 $1,000

Up to 48 Mos. Up to 60 Mos.

5.99 5.99

Fixed Fixed

5% 5%

15 Year 30 Year

4.50  5.125 —

0+costs 0+costs

STRUTHERS FEDERAL

1 Year 2 Year

1.00 — 1.50 —

$1,000 $1,000

Up to 48 Mos. Up to 66 Mos.

6.00 6.00

N.A.

N.A.

N.A.

N.A.

YOUNGSTOWN CITY EMPLOYEES FEDERAL

1 Year 2 Year

1.65 — 1.65 —

$2,000 $2,000

Up to 60 Mos. Up to 72 Mos.

5.99 7.25

N.A.

N.A.

N.A.

N.A.

APY

Minimum

Term

Rate, 2-Wk Trend

Arrows tell whether rates rose or fell since last issue. Dashes indicate “unchanged.” Rates are subject to change without notice and should be conﬁrmed before entering into transactions. ©2009 Youngstown Publishing Co. All rights reserved.

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MidSEPTEMBER 2009

BY STACIA ERDOS

Media Scope Attack of the ‘Concerned’ A fender bender crams my mailbox with solicitations.

therapy and treatment for as long as I needed it. How had they learned about my accident so fast? The next day more phone calls and then came the nonstop mail – letters here was no ambulance, but I from attorneys in Youngstown, Aksure feel like I was being chased. ron, Cleveland, even Columbus. One Excuse the slight detour from included a DVD. the usual Media Scope column, but There were mailings from chiromy other potential topics are buried practors saying, “Call now to schedule under a pile of solicitations or, should a no-cost, no-obligation consultation I say “letters of and a 10-point c o n c e r n ” t h a t It was obvious they’d gotten spinal screening cover my desk. copies of my police report. Much examination.” You see it all Some appealed started on a recent to my chagrin, I found it myself to my fears – “39% Tuesday. of whiplash paonline. I was on my tients report disc way home from work and was stopped degeneration within 5 to 10 years for a red light at South Avenue and after the accident.” “Don’t be fooled, Midlothian Boulevard. Suddenly I felt see a doctor ﬁrst.” Some attorneys a bang. My car (and head) lurched warned me about chiropractors. forward. More annoyed than anyOther attorneys blatantly appealed thing, I got out of the car to ﬁnd a to my monetary desires. They urged, van had rear-ended my car. Its license “Call 1-800 HURT NOW.” “Get a plate and some lovely blue paint were cash advance!” “Find out how much imprinted on my bumper along with money you could get!” several dents. It was obvious they’d gotten copThe driver began apologizing and ies of my police report. Much to my taking full blame saying she wasn’t chagrin, I found it myself online. But paying attention. We exchanged insome had the information even faster, formation and I called my insurance within hours of the accident. I’ve since agent (and friend) who insisted I get discovered some law ﬁrms actually a police report. send people to police departments to The police ofﬁcer who responded comb through the accident reports to tried his best to dissuade me from ﬁnd the names of victims and potenﬁling the report – something about tial clients. It almost made me wish I it meant more paper work for him, hadn’t called the police. No wonder he’d have to cite the other driver and everyone is suing each other and we’re there really wasn’t any point. But at in the midst of a health-care crisis. my insistence, we proceeded. Without While personal-injury attorneys ever stepping out of his cruiser, he are allowed to send mailings as long took down my name and address then as they’re clearly marked “advertisesaid I could go. ment,” the Ohio Supreme Court’s “Don’t you want some sort of stateCode of Professional Responsibility ment?” I asked. He replied, “You were includes acknowledgement that “the stopped at the red light and she hit situation is fraught with the possibility you, anything else?” I thanked the of undue inﬂuence and intimidation” ofﬁcer for his professional, courteous for an accident victim who feels overmanner and I headed home. whelmed. And lawyers are subject to I did have a mild headache and the “Do Not Call” provisions. a sore neck so I took some Motrin My neck is still aching so I am goand started running the kids to their ing to get X-rays, but frankly, I’m so activities. turned off by the barrage of calls and After returning home that evening, mailings, I’ve decided to work it out I had no fewer than six messages with the insurance company myself. blinking on my phone from chiropracSo, if you are an attorney or chiropractors and personal injury attorneys telltor reading this column and feel the ing me to call them right away because need to express your concern, how I was entitled to free consultations and about a fruit basket?

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BY MONNIE RYAN

Local Dot Com Out of Sight, Out of Column Columnist tells how she selects sites to feature.

I really got rolling in the kitchen section, where I smell a challenge: One of these days, I’ll be there to try ften I’m asked how I pick local the newest “Holy Cowza Yowza,” Web sites to write about in ﬂatbread topped with peppers so hot this column each month. Well, they’ll give a gift certiﬁcate to the perI make it a point to jot down Web son who can eat the most. Hey, guys, addresses of local businesses I see no contest: Might as well go ahead and in newspapers, on TV and even on give me the prize right now. billboards, adding them to a running Freelancers like me are always on list that I keep at the ready. the lookout for job prospects (although Often, I choose a category to feature I have no plans to change my semi-re– say, law ﬁrms or government agentired status). Still, I’ve signed up at cies – and then LinkedIn.com as search my list and I do a test run to determine well as checked local phone books that the addresses are accurate; into The Valley to find sites to Lead Group, Valmatch those savvy you’d be surprised how many are leyLeadGroup. enough to include not. (I found two while compil- com. Members of their Web address ing this column.) this local associain their ads. Then, tion, which meets I do a test run to determine that the Wednesday mornings in Cornersburg, addresses are accurate; you’d be surexchange “qualiﬁed” business leads. prised how many are not. (I found two Once someone has been approved while compiling this column.) for membership in a particular ﬁeld, Sometimes, I ﬁnd sites in strange such as real estate, no one else from places. As I was out running errands that ﬁeld is allowed to join. recently, I spotted a stretch limo. Cool On another note, possibly as early vehicle, yes, but more cool to me beas this Christmas, we plan to treat cause stretched across the back was ourselves to a larger ﬂat-screen TV. the Web site of Fab Limousines Inc., Doing that means we’ll have to replace FabLimo.com. At the site, I was surthe large storage cabinet we’ve had for prised to learn about all the available years – we’ve reached our limit on the services. I know folks who’ve hired size of the TV it will accommodate. a limo to take them to concerts and While we’re at it, we’ll look into reballgames, but I didn’t know about placing our ampliﬁer and speakers. the party buses, shuttle buses and Returning to my list, I found The motor coaches that make daily runs Speaker Shop in North Lima, Theto casinos and New York City. SpeakerShop.com. Here, I saw some Even though they’re only estimates, to-die-for cabinets (custom-built at it’s nice to get some idea of the cost of the company’s shop) and learned that booking a vehicle here. Other links should I buy something, they’ll handle provide company background, phoinstallation. I also like that privacy tos of vehicles and another division, and return policies are spelled out. Chauffeurs4hire.com. Since I was ﬁnishing up this colMost readers, I’d guess, are aware umn just after uploading a photo that my husband and I are wine lovers. of an Amish quilt to one of my onMost afternoons when the weather is line galleries, my thoughts were on reasonably warm, it’s likely you’ll ﬁnd needlework. Figuring I might ﬁnd us sitting in our front-porch rocking something among the unique shops in chairs toasting the after-school bus Cortland, I went to the city’s Web site, drivers as they chauffeur Niles Middle CityOfCortland.org, and checked the School students back to their homes. business directory. So when I learned about Vintage I hit pay dirt at Quilter’s Fancy, Estate Wine and Beer in Boardman, I QuiltersFancy.com, ﬁnding items for made a beeline for the Web site, Vinsale that include darning needles, buttage-Estate.com. To start, I checked tons and books by shop owner Cindy out the on-tap beers (more suited to Oravecz and others. It’s a fun place to my husband’s tastes) and wine (ah yes, browse – and next time I’m in Corta Reisling). land, I plan to peek in the shop.

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7/21/09 2:03:54 PM

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CREATED IN ITALY. BELOVED IN AMERICA. At Carrabba’s Italian Grill, our menu features authentic, handmade recipes passed down for more than four generations. From our ﬂavorful dishes like Linguine Pescatore and Chicken Bryan, to our warm Italian hospitality, we’re committed to making every meal memorable. Join us at Carrabba’s tonight and experience for yourself why it’s just that good.

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MidSEPTEMBER 2009

What’sForDinner?

Restaurants Cater to Special Dietary Needs Food-conscious consumers want low-carb, low-fat and vegetarian options. By Maraline Kubik

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he Springﬁeld Grille may be best known for it steaks and crab cakes, but many diners opt for more healthful, meat-free entrees. “We get ﬁve to eight special requests a day from vegans, not counting special requests because of allergies,” says B.J. Sulka, general manager of the Springﬁeld Grille in Boardman. Vegans are strict vegetarians who, in addition to abstaining from meat, poultry and ﬁsh, also do not eat dairy products such as eggs, cheese, milk and butter. “Vegetarianism is not becoming more popular,” Sulka continues. “It’s more about the carbs and fat. People are a lot more health-conscious.” As a result, they opt for more healthful alternatives to meals based on red meat and other animal products. About half of the Springﬁeld Grille’s vegetarian offerings are on the menu, the others are suggestions servers offer when diners express an interest in meat-free meals or meals that meet other special dietary requirements, Sulka continues. “We take food allergies very seriously here and our servers are all trained to offer alternatives that aren’t on the menu. We have such a large [and varied] menu that we can do anything.” Many of Springﬁeld Grille’s pasta dishes are vegetarian, Sulka says. The restaurant even offers what he calls “pasta/no pasta,” a dish that resembles angel hair but that is made from a variety of vegetables sliced into slivers. A marinated portabella mushroom sandwich is also a popular meat-free option that he mentions. Vegetarian dishes have been available at the Springﬁeld Grille since it opened 13 years ago, Sulka notes. At the Blue Iris on Courthouse Square in Warren, half of the menu is vegetarian, reports Melissa YohmanMurphy, head chef and co-owner of the ﬁne-dining establishment. The restaurant’s menu, which features American tapas, or “small plates that come out a little at a time”

Chef Melissa Yohman-Murphy and her husband and sous chef, Stephen Murphy, say half of the items on Blue Iris’ menu are vegetarian.

offers “From the Earth” vegetarian dishes on page one that can be ordered separately or paired with offerings from “Land and Sea” on page two, she explains. Some of those Land-and-Sea

offerings, such as Tuscan greens and beans with spicy sausage, can be made without meat. Fresh, natural, organic ingredients, locally grown fruits and vegetables,

Cookin’ with Vernon Makes Debut on Web By Jeremy Lydic

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rom the restaurant via the Web to your kitchen and dinner table, Vernon Cesta’s latest venture offers a chance to enjoy the taste of Vernon’s Café at home. To promote the restaurant in Niles and drive more traffic to its Web site, www.vernonscafe.com, Cesta launched an online cooking program late last month. The program features a dish on the restaurant’s menu and wine pairing by its sommelier, Dennis Huston, who’s been recognized with six Wine Spectator awards. With the help of 2 Ticks & The Dog Promotions Inc., the ﬁrst episode of “Cookin’ with Vernon” was posted in August with Cesta preparing capellini pomidoro. “Right now, I’m getting a lot of

things out of the garden,” Cesta says. “Fresh tomatoes, fresh basil. So, we did a pasta dish that’s very simple.” Cesta, who uses in the restaurant vegetables and herbs that he grows in his garden at home, says dishes will be seasonal, such as char-grilled rib steak for October’s episode to complement tailgating during football season. Cooking in front of the camera is nothing new to Cesta, who has done cooking segments with WKBN-TV. It’s no different than the fast-paced nature of the kitchen, he says. The list of featured dishes was compiled before the ﬁrst shoot. Once the ingredients are gathered, Cesta cooks “just like I was cooking for a customer,” he says. Each dish is presented so viewers can follow. See COOKIN’, page 29

and Ohio-raised meats are used whenever possible, Yohman-Murphy adds. “Even people who are not vegetarian are more inclined to want fresh vegetables,” she says. “Our motto is ‘Celebrate life and eat good food.’ ” Among the offerings listed on the From the Earth menu are sauteed spinach with pine nuts and golden raisins, crispy potatoes baked with fresh herbs, wild mushrooms sautéed in garlic butter over crostini and the Blue Iris salad, which combines organic ﬁeld greens with pears, boursin cheese and carmelized nuts. Land-and-Sea offerings include medjool dates wrapped in bacon, Caribbean crab cakes, beef ﬁlet mignon skewers with red wine jelly, Mediterranean chicken with feta cheese, red onion, sun-dried tomatoes and kalamata olives, and eggs in purgatory, which Yohman-Murphy describes as “a fresh organic egg slow poached in tomato sauce and served on toasted Italian bread with shaved pecorino romano cheese and hot peppers on the side.” Every dish on the menu, she explains, “has a pronounced ﬂavor of its own but also complements whaterver you pair it with.” See RESTAURANTS, page 28

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Restaurants: Cater to Dietary Needs

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From Page 27 Tapas dining, she continues, “is progressive.” Diners may order one dish and then another, or they may order several at once but they don’t necessarily come out at the same time. “It’s more relaxed,” YohmanMurphy says, “and very popular in larger cities.” Sometimes, diners will order dishes from the From the Earth menu and not even realize that they haven’t ordered meat – even if they aren’t vegetarians, she says. Other times diners who prefer vegetarian meals but who aren’t what Yohman-Murphy describes as “radical vegetarians” will order ﬁsh or egg dishes along with vegetarian plates, she says. When she opened the Blue Iris with her husband and sous chef, Stephen Murphy, with help from her father and co-owner Michael Yoman, YomanMurphy says she wanted to offer fresh food year round and dishes that would provide something for everybody. “Local farmers make it easy for me to do my job,” she says, by providing fresh-from-the-farm produce most of the year including a mystery basket that she says “keeps me on my toes.” Because she never knows what the mystery basket will contain, YohmanMurphy says she must be quick to come up with an appealing recipe that will showcase the produce while it is at its peak. “Before people were eating all this fancy food, they were eating simple food from the garden,” she notes. The Blue Iris also offers desserts, which Yohman-Murphy proclaims “are good for the soul.” Among the offerings is Chocolate Euphoria, which has “a fudgy brownie bottom, chocolate pastry cream, cookie crumble, whipped cream and milk chocolate pour-over. It’s all organic,” she adds, and a Key lime pie that was named “Best Pie on the Island” three years in a row when Yohman-Murphy worked as a pastry chef at the Pier House Resort & Carribean Spa in Key West. At Golden Hunan in Liberty, tofu tops the list of vegetarian offerings, says Gary Yang, who’s worked in the kitchen 15 years. “We sell a lot of tofu,” he says, especially General Tso’s tofu, a hot and spicy dish. “General Tso’s tofu is very, very popular.” Other restaurants may list General Tso’s tofu on their menus, he adds, but Golden Hunan’s “recipe is very, very good.” In addition to several tofu dishes listed on the menu, Golden Hunan will substitue tofu for meat in any beef or chicken dish to meet the requirements of vegetarians.

Golden Hunan also offers a variety of tofu-free vegetarian options, Yang says. Among those he mentions are vegetable delux, which blends Chinese and American vegetables in a white sauce, and Hunan-style green beans, a spicy dish flavored with garlic. “There are a lot of Italians in Youngstown and they like garlic,” Yang says, explaining why he believes the dish is so popular. Overall, Yang attributes 10% of Golden Hunan’s business to the sale of vegetarian cuisine. Vegetarian dishes account for as much as 20 or 25% of sales at AngeNetta’s Café & Bakery in Canﬁeld, and health-conscious items account for a full 50%, says Angela Briceland, who manages the family-owned restaurant. Since her parents opened the restaurant seven years ago, Briceland says the menu has included vegetarian and other items for the health-conscious, most of which include Weight Watchers point values. “My mom has been into Weight Watchers for years,” Briceland explains. Daily specials always feature at least one item Briceland describes as “health-conscious,” such as tilapia with grilled sugar snap peas, mango chunks, red peppers, asparagus and sweet onions served with a salad. A vegetarian item is also often included among the daily specials, she adds, and some menu items can be served vegetarian style, such as the eggplant parmesan, which is served with either a traditional meat or marinara sauce. Italian greens, the restaurant’s bestselling appetizer, is always served without meat, unlike some restaurants that add sausage, Briceland notes. Women are the biggest consumers of the health-conscious offerings, she continues. Men order them too, she says, but more often than not the men opt for bugers or pizza. Among the vegetarian and healthconscious items on the menu, Briceland lists, are penne and greens, chicken Italiano, vegetable burgers and salads. AngeNetta’s is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Golden Hunan is open from 11:15 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 11:15 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Blue Iris is open 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. (Reservations are suggested for groups of six or more.) The Springﬁeld Grille is open 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

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MidSEPTEMBER 2009

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Cookin’ with Vernon: Debuts on Web

Vernon Cesta, owner of Vernon’s Café, displays a dish featured in “Cookin’ with Vernon.”

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From Page 27 “The whole idea was to keep it simple for everybody,” Cesta says. Because 2 Ticks & The Dog has done advertising for Vernon’s Café, the agency decided it was time to design a Web site for the restaurant, says its creative director, Jim Fogarty. When Cesta approached Fogarty with the idea of putting together a cookbook, he thought that an online cooking show would be a good way to advertise it because it gives customers a reason to return to the Web site. Because some people can’t follow a cookbook recipe, the concept of an online cooking segment gives viewers a visual guide, Fogarty says. The video offers the beneﬁt of being able to pause or replay a segment as well as the ability to watch it on a computer or portable media player. “When you’re making a commercial, you’re always wanting to lead somebody back to the Web site,” Fogarty says. “So, you’re ﬁnding a lot more companies putting more accessible video and more media on the Web sites to try and bolster their business or to give more information.” Each episode runs about ﬁve minutes, and 12 episodes are ready to

post, Fogarty says. During the ﬁrst two days the ﬁrst episode aired on YouTube, more than 300 watched, and feedback from restaurant customers has been positive. If that continues and episodes attract enough Web trafﬁc, the show will continue, he says. “We’re looking to build the Web presence the way Vernon has built a clientele,” Fogarty says. “It’s up to customers and the people who visit the Web site to decide how it goes.” The biggest challenge was scheduling, Fogarty says. Each episode was put together from at least 25 minutes of raw footage, filmed in the restaurant’s kitchen after hours. Because the restaurant is sometimes open until midnight, “some of the episodes were shot until 2, 3 in the morning,” he says. And just as Cesta chose the recipes, he also had a hand in the ﬁnal editing, Fogarty says. “Vernon approves everything just like his restaurant,” Fogarty says. “Cookin’ with Vernon,” which features a theme song written and performed by local musician Frank Castellano, is available online as well as on Time Warner Cable’s Find It on Demand and Comcast’s Searchlight on Demand.

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31

Creative Menu Offerings Draw Diners Summer is always a slow season for restaurants, sales usually pick up in the fall. By Dan O’Brien

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very restaurant wants to be different. But not that different. It’s clear that tastes in the Mahoning Valley extend well beyond the menu of meat and potatoes as more restaurants here have introduced their own distinctive cuisines to attract folks with a broad array of tastes. “We like to take the risk and offer meals and dishes not well-known in the Valley,” says Jim Mook, executive chef at The Fifth Season Restaurant in Austintown. “We love variety.” Seafood dishes such as mangrove snapper, a ﬁsh common off the Florida Keys, or wild game such as alligator and kangaroo are popular among customers, Mook says. “I think the level of sophistication among diners in the Mahoning Valley is pretty high,” he adds. Each Thursday, The Fifth Season offers some type of wild game as its menu special. Besides kangaroo and alligator, patrons have ordered their share of bison, wild boar, ostrich, duck or frogs’ legs. “A lot of wild game is very lean and rich in protein,” Mook notes. The restaurant makes sure it has enough entrees on the menu to satisfy the less adventurous diner. “Parmesan Romano chicken is one of our trademarks here,” Mook says. And, the restaurant does a large business in traditional fare such as steak and pork chops. Mook says even the most exotic dishes aren’t enough to drum up business by themselves. Ultimately, customers are very concerned about the tab, and with the economy still in the doldrums, diners are more conscious than ever about price. “A lot of people think that we’re way outside their price range,” Mook says. “Not so.” Between 4 and 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, The Fifth Season touts its $10 menu – offering 10 entrees at $10 each. “It’s worked out real well for us,” Mook relates. “We’ve seen a lot more walk-in business as a result.”

Jim Mook, executive chef at The Fifth Season in Austintown, says the restaurant’s $10 menu has “worked out real well for us.”

The summer months are normally among the toughest in the restaurant industry, and sometimes it’s hard to compete with busy vacation schedules, festivals, graduation parties or weddings. “Business has been slow, but we’re not too far off from last year,” reports Nick Stevenson, manager at Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Boardman. “We’re moving into the months where we start to see things shift.” Through the summer, Carrabba’s promoted its “Summer in Italy” special – the restaurant’s Tuscan tomato salad and chicken arugula. “We always do something like this every quarter,” he says. However, he relates, what patrons really crave is “anything off the grill, especially steaks and chicken.” Chicken marsala – chicken prepared with mushrooms, prosciutto and Lombardo Marsala wine sauce – is among the top sellers off the grill, he says. Other favorites are grilled Norwegian salmon and sirloin Marsala. Stevenson says that Carrabba’s, while a franchise, bases its menu on family recipes, and all the dishes

are made in-house: “Nothing is frozen. Everything is fresh.” The one-two punch of an already slow season and a harsh recession has taken a toll on the restaurant industry. A survey conducted by Data Development Worldwide found a large number of customers dine out less often and are likely be tighter with their cash even as the economy rebounds. The survey showed that when patrons do dine out, they’re apt to spend less – either selecting lowerend items on the menu or redeeming gift cards or coupons. Those restaurants that cater to upscale customers were more likely to be hit the hardest, the study showed. “This summer was terrible,” relates George Mager, owner of Café Cimmento, Youngstown. The downtown restaurant is known for its Italian pasta dishes – some of which are original creations. “It’s slow anyway for restaurants during this period, but I also think the economy had an impact.” See MENU, page 32

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Menu: Draws Diners From Page 31

George Mager, owner of Café Cimmento, and his daughter, Mary Ceci, expect business to pick up as fall approaches.

Among the new entrees for Rosetta Stone is a New Zealand rack of lamb, Sop adds. “We also do a sushi and Ahi tuna,” he says. Rosetta Stone’s seafood, such as baramundi Australian, mako shark and ono – a lean whiteﬁsh – are ﬂown in daily from Hawaii. “We’ve trimmed back our specials, but put some more rare dishes on the regular menu. Business for us doubles in September. We try to keep a balance of comfort foods and foods outside the norm,” he says. Rosetta Stone also grabs extra business when Youngstown State University is in session, Sop says.

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“We have a lot of university professors and students that eat here.” YSU students, he relates, receive a 10% discount if they produce their student identiﬁcation cards. “We’ve also started a V.I.P. club” that enables patrons to receive text messages with a prompt number. The number will then direct the customer to a coupon worth 10% on a purchase the following month. He also notes that prices at the restaurant have come down since Sop renegotiated deals with some of its vendors. “We want to appeal to a variety of customers,” he says.

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A good chunk of the restaurant’s business comes on evenings when shows are booked at the nearby Covelli Centre and the DeYor Performing Arts Center. Since there are fewer bookings during the summer at indoor venues, it means less trafﬁc downtown and fewer patrons in the restaurant. That should change over the next several months, Mager says. “There are a lot of things picking up at the Covelli Centre,” he relates. “There are a lot of good shows coming and a new hockey team is set to play in October. I expect we’ll do well.” While the Cimmento menu consists of traditional pasta dishes, meats and chicken, Mager says it also includes dishes concocted at the restaurant. “I know no one else sells our cavatappi niotti,” he relates, “It was created here.” Half of all the dinners the restaurant sells are pasta dishes, Mager reports, while chicken outsells Café Cimmento’s beef and pork dishes by a 2-to-1 margin. “The key to remaining successful is consistency,” Mager relates. Concert nights are especially busy and the restaurant has several wine tastings scheduled for the fall. Café Cimmento’s wine list includes bottles that range in price from $12 to $90 each. “We serve high-end wines such as Camus or Silver Oak – we don’t sell a lot of those,” he laughs. Greg Sop, co-owner of The Rosetta Stone, Youngstown, is also expecting bigger crowds over the fall season: “We’ve just come out with a new dinner and lunch menu, so we’re excited about that.”

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f ancestral heritage has anything to do with it, our favorite foods should be bangers and mash, Wiener schnitzel and steamed leek pudding. It’s always been a puzzlement as the king of Siam told Anna, then, as to why we’re so fond of the tastes of Italy. Most often, we hanker for the common red sauce – whether it’s marinara or ﬁlled with meat or ﬁsh, it’s one of the ﬁrst things we look for on the menu when we go out to eat. Luckily, it’s found in abundance locally. Our favorite haunts include Sunrise Inn in Warren, Alberini’s in Niles, Caffé Capri in Boardman, Armando’s in Liberty Township – our mouths start to water just thinking about them. And, we have no doubt that if we asked our readers for suggestions, we’d get a list longer than the Great Wall of China. Every once in a while, though, we crave pasta with attitude. Hold the spaghetti with meatballs – thank you very much – we want to savor the ﬂavor of something a bit more uncommon. We found some special dishes that ﬁll the bill – and our stomachs – quite nicely, and every single one comes through the microwave for a second meal quite nicely once we’re back home.

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e don’t remember how long ago it was that Salvatore’s Italian Grill opened in Howland, but since then, we’ve sampled the pasta here way too many times to count. And, it’s a rare occasion when we order something other than chicken cacciatore (ofﬁcially named pollo alla cacciatore), penne alla vodka or the penne alla arrabiata, the latter composed of penne pasta with prosciutto in spicy marinara sauce. More recently, Salvatore’s opened a restaurant in Austintown at what used to be The Lodge, thus giving us two opportunities to chow down on our favorites depending on where we’re coming from. It was at this location, in fact, that we sat down to enjoy the meals for our search. For our search visit, we passed on the spicy one, although we heartily recommend it to anyone who likes his pasta with a bit of punch. But once again, we couldn’t resist chicken cacciatore ($12.95) and penne alla vodka ($13.95). All the entrees here are substantial in size – we’ve always taken home at least half to keep in our refrigerator until we’re ready to dig in again. Entrees are served with a small salad and a basket ﬁlled with freshly baked rolls and small squares of pizza. It is, we caution, quite easy to ﬁll up on these goodies even before the entrees arrive. There’s a full bar at both locations as well as daily specials. The cacciatore consists of a boneless chicken breast sautéed in marinara sauce together with mushrooms, green peppers and tomatoes to meld all the ﬂavors – then the whole thing is dumped on top of a pile of spaghetti. No skimping on the sauce here, by the way; there’s way more than enough to ensure that every bite of pasta is saturated. The penne alla vodka is in a tomato cream sauce with prosciutto, shallots and vodka, making the sauce closer to pink than red. Some like it hot, including us, so we add some crushed red peppers for extra zing, but the ﬂavor of this dish easily stands on its own.

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Pastabilities: Our choices suited us just ﬁne, but each of the restaurants we visited has plenty of other wonderful options. We’re especially fond of the stuffed banana peppers appetizer here. For an entrée, don’t miss the linguini anacapri – shrimp, calamari, mussels and clams sautéed in white wine sauce.

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ne of the newer entries in the local Italian restaurant market is Rotelli, a chain based in Boca Raton, Fla., that operates in six states. In this area, restaurants are in Austintown, Boardman and Liberty. It’s become our custom to stop for lunch at the Austintown restaurant on our way home from a photography outing at Mill Creek Park. As at Salvatore’s, we end up ordering the same things just about every time. For one of us, that usually means eggplant parmigiana ($9.99) – delicious, but not exotic enough to qualify for our search. The standout here is the penne chicken and broccoli ($11.99). It’s a good-sized bowl of grilled chicken, sautéed broccoli, garlic and fresh tomatoes in a light white wine sauce – a taste that’s simply out of this world. The broccoli is tender but not mushy, and the cookedto-perfection chicken adds a distinctive ﬂavor.

In Search of:

Pasta with Personality By Monnie Ryan

Another standout here is angel hair alla rotelli; $13.99 buys a large platter of mushrooms, artichokes, peas and sun-dried tomatoes in basil garlic white wine sauce. Yum! Pastabilities: If you’re among the some who like it hot, try the ziti diavolo; garlic, onions, green peppers, sautéed sausage and chicken breast chunks tossed in hot Sicilian sauce. For lunch, great options are a freshly made pizza, available in traditional or “gourmet” versions, or a calzone, stromboli or sub sandwich.

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nother long-time favorite of ours is Enzo’s Restaurant and Lounge in Warren. When one of us worked in that city, it was a frequent lunch destination. The food was delicious and relatively inexpensive, and, unlike the fast-food places, the atmosphere was warm and relaxing. Later, our daughter and son-in-law held their wedding reception here (yes, more wonderful food). Among the special touches guests are afforded is ice water, delivered to the tables soon after they are seated. Still another comes at the end of the meal; instead of making guests scrape their leftovers into those hard-to-manipulate containers, servers take the plates back to the kitchen and wrap everything neatly.

Besides all that, we learned on our search visit that the restaurant offers WiFi access – a real plus for on-the-go business people. The real draw, though, is the food; we love the fettuccini primavera ($12.95). It’s made with homemade noodles and fresh vegetables topped with Alfredo sauce. If you prefer tortellini, there’s a wonderful Alfredo version in which the tortellini is stuffed with veal and topped with the sauce (also $12.95). The fettuccini noodles were fresh and cut relatively thick; the veggies included cauliﬂower, carrots, zucchini, broccoli ﬂorets and sliced black olives, all cooked just to the point of tender. The sauce is thick and creamy, and we think we detected a hint of sweetness. It’s not a huge portion – someone with a giant appetite most likely could eat the entire bowl without blinking – but we left satisﬁed and still brought about half of ours home. Pastabilities: The wedding soup here is to die for, with a ﬂavor-ﬁlled broth, plenty of tasty meatballs and greens that are quite sufﬁcient but don’t obliterate everything else. Also delicious are the gnocci, or potato dumplings with red sauce and a meatball ($11.95).

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or many years, we’ve bragged about the quality of food in our little part of the world, telling friends, family and even the occasional stranger that it just doesn’t get any better than here (well, with the possible exception of seafood that was plucked from the ocean minutes before it landed on our table). Once in a while, we get the chance to prove it. When it’s Italian food we’re looking for, there’s one place we’ve recommended for years: Nicolinni’s Ristorante. Just recently, in fact, an old high-school buddy and his wife ﬂew in from Dallas for a 50th class reunion, and this was our stop-of-choice for dinner. For reasons of distance, we visited the original location in Austintown instead of the newer one in Boardman. And yes, like everyone else we’ve ever taken there, they left raving about the food. Our search visit, though, was for a late lunch. Neither of us was extremely hungry, but knowing we’d have leftovers (and remembering how extraordinary the dish was when we’d ordered it with our Dallas friends), we chose linguine Nicolinni. The white clam sauce contains broccoli ﬂorets, Italian seasoning, imported cheeses and a hint of crushed red pepper ($15.95). We’re not sure what makes this so mouthwatering – our money’s on those crushed red peppers, which impart a barely detectable zing, and a slightly thicker-than-expected sauce. The broccoli ﬂorets are bite-size and cooked to just-tender, and there’s no skimping on the chopped clams that top the whole thing. And if it matters, here, too, the server gift-wraps leftovers for you in no-muss, no-fuss fashion. Pastabilities: Consider the crème di pomadoro ($13.95), a ﬂavorful combination of pancetta and sweet peas in tomato cream sauce over penne. If you want to heat things up, don’t miss the hot peppers in oil appetizer at $4.95.

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Vineyard: Growing in Youngstown. Yes, Youngstown. From Page 1 Arlene Rosemond, acquired eight vacant parcels alongside the house where their grandparents once lived in Brier Hill. Rosemond acquired the land through Lien Forward Ohio, a program funded by Mahoning County that works to return tax-delinquent land to productive use. Brier Hill was once home to a large concentration of Italian immigrants, and Naples thought of re-establishing the winemaking tradition that’s long since disappeared from the city. Rosemond and her son, Nutchie, live at the house at the corner of Raymond and Burlington avenues on the city’s North Side and help tend the vineyard by weeding, trimming and cutting the grass. “I lived here during my third year in medical school and residencies,” Naples relates, emphasizing the sentimental attachment he still holds for the land. “We still have a lot of family functions here,” Naples says as he inspects a bunch of grapes that should be ready for picking this month. “I’ve been making wine for 20 years, and when the opportunity came I thought this would be a great idea.” This year will be the ﬁrst harvest for Brier Hill Winery and Vineyard LLC, a name Naples developed out of respect for the storied neighborhood. “It takes about three years” before grapes can be successfully grown for winemaking, he explains. The first harvest is expected to be small – enough to make roughly 10 gallons of wine. “That should make about 50 bottles,” Naples says. He planted the ﬁrst six rows – about 50 vines – the ﬁrst year, and added 100 more the second. This year, he’s planted another 50 for a total of 200 vines. One vine yields a gallon of wine, so the vineyard could produce up to 200 gallons in a couple of years once all the vines mature. Winemaking is becoming a popular pastime here in the Mahoning Valley, says Robert Kuzenko, owner of Wine Makers Headquarters, Warren. “I’ve been making wine for a long time, and I’d have to drive to Cleveland or Pittsburgh for supplies,” he says. That encouraged him to start his own wine and beer-making supply business three years ago. “I’ve seen 40% growth each year,” Kuzenko reports. “There are a lot of people who make wine. It’s a fun, relaxing hobby for a lot of people,” he says. Although a skilled winemaker, Naples admits he knew little about growing his own vineyard. “I read everything I could on the subject, purchased DVDs, and called just about everyone in the wine business,” he says. Specialists who operate wineries in Ashtabula, Presque Isle, Pa., and upstate New York were extremely helpful, he notes. The most important aspect of starting a vineyard, Naples cautions, is to “grow what you can, not what you like.” Conditions in northeastern Ohio aren’t conducive to growing the Merlot or Cabernet varieties of grapes so plentiful in the Napa Valley. However, Naples found that his concord and French-American hybrid grapes take to this climate very well. “Grapes need sun,” he says. “The Napa Valley has on average between 190 and 210 days of sun throughout the year. We’re lucky if we get 140 to 150. The California grapes could never survive the winter.” He has vines shipped to him from the Finger Lakes area in New York and then plants them. To ensure the vines grow vertically, Naples devised a simple trestle system made of metal posts he

bought at Lowe’s for about $5 apiece. The posts stand roughly ﬁve feet apart and are tethered together with cords that stretch across the entire row to guide the growth of the vines. Aside from concord, the vineyard should yield French-American hybrids such as Noriet, Corot Noir, Chambourcin, Marechal Foch, Marqueta and LaCrescent. “Out of the 200 I’ve planted, I’ve only lost eight vines,” he says. The growing season begins in May, after the last frost. As for now, Naples considers the effort a labor of love and spends about two evenings a week tend-

ing the vineyard. He also credits friends and family members who helped plant some of the vines and says he doesn’t have any intentions to take his wine commercial – yet. “I’d like to buy some more property behind us,” he says, gesturing to a line of trees along the south side of the vineyard. Some of that land, he notes, is owned by St. Anthony Parish, which turned him down when he offered to purchase the property. “I wouldn’t mind expanding,” he says, hinting that someday he might try to market his wine. “But right now, I’m still an amateur.”

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ColumbianaCounty

Ambitious Goals Set for Development Director Duties would include compiling a list of available sites along with needed infrastructure, zoning. By Jeremy Lydic

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ith unemployment levels nearing those of the early 1980s, Columbiana County ofﬁcials eagerly await news of stimulus funding so they can create the position of county economic development director, but time is running out. When the Community Action Agency of Columbiana County got news that it would receive $445,661 in Community Services Block Grant funds through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, its executive director, Carol Bretz, says the ﬁrst thing that crossed her mind was hiring an economic development director. Columbiana County has lacked one since 2001 when funds ran out. At press time, the agency had yet to receive the funds so it could proceed in its search, Bretz says. Thus, the 18 months the agency budgeted for will likely be cut to 12, maybe less. “This isn’t the situation I had hoped for when we submitted our application in June,” Bretz says. “Unfortunately, it’s taken the state longer to process these applications than they originally expected. I am concerned that we’ve lost time.” The grant is being held up because the Ohio Department of Development’s Ofﬁce of Community Services – through which funding is dispensed – wants the agency to address special conditions before funds are released, Bretz says. Such conditions include clarifying the use of funds budgeted for the county engineer’s ofﬁce, providing a list with dates of conferences and events the development director will attend, and incorporating the more speciﬁc language Development provided in the memorandum of understanding between the action agency, county commissioners and the county engineer. Bretz had hoped to advertise the position for two weeks beginning July 1 and start reviewing the applications the third week of July. Now, she says, the county will be fortunate to have someone in place by Oct. 1. The deadline to exhaust the funds is Sept. 30, 2010, a deadline that Bretz hopes Congress will extend. From the stimulus-package dollars, the economic development director position would be allocated $311,229, with the agency spending another $100,901 for a full-time planner/grant writer, and $30,096 for its Senior Farmers’ Market Program. After the stimulus dollars are spent, it will be the director’s responsibility to seek funds and keep the position self-sustaining. An 18-member board will choose the director,

Any growth during a recession is good growth, and Compco Industries at 400 W. Railroad St. in Columbiana is creating jobs while adding customers, says its president and CEO, Rick Fryda, left. Since Jan. 1, the metal-stamping company has enjoyed the business of 97 new customers while calling back ﬁve workers who were furloughed and hiring four new employees. “We see growth in 2010,” Fryda says. Such growth will be ideal if it comes in monthly bursts of up to 10%, says Compco’s CFO, Douglas Hagy.

oversee his activities and set goals, Bretz says. The ideal candidate is someone from northeastern Ohio who knows the area well and has at least 20 years of experience in economic development. “We want to be able to see successful projects,” Bretz says. “They’ve got to have a track record. This is too great of an opportunity to hire the wrong person.” Among the director’s duties are working with the county engineer, Bert Dawson, county commissioners, the Community Action Agency and Columbiana County Port Authority to identify potential projects and apply for grants and funds. The director would also be responsible for compiling an inventory of the commercial and industrial sites in the county available for development and posting them on a Web site, complete with existing and needed infrastructure, acreage and zoning issues. The Web site would be a central point of information for companies interested in locating in Columbiana County. The county has capitalized on some opportunities, such as the federal prison in Elkton and Heritage-WTI Inc. in East Liverpool, but other opportunities have fallen through, Dawson says. Speaking as both county and sanitary engineer, Dawson says Columbiana County has the infrastructure to make

it attractive to business and “is in a pretty strategic location” because of how close it is to metropolitan areas such as Youngstown, Steubenville and Canton. Companies are looking at the county, he says, and an economic development director would follow up on their inquiries so the county can better compete with nearby counties in Pennsylvania and West Virginia as well as Ohio. “I hope we’re successful in ﬁnding someone that has somewhat of a track record and has people skills to open doors and market Columbiana County,” Dawson says. “I think we’ll get someone good.” Job creation is the development director’s primary charge, with goals of bringing in at least eight new businesses in the technology, manufacturing and health care sectors, those businesses creating or bringing in at least 125 jobs that pay at least $15 per hour plus beneﬁts. The director is also expected to help ﬁve businesses in the county expand, so that at least 75 more jobs are created, these jobs paying at least $12 per hour with beneﬁts. Minimum pay rates are based on an annual household income of $30,000 for a family with two parents and two children, the minimum needed to be self-sufﬁcient in Columbiana County, Bretz notes. See GOALS, page 39

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Pharmaceutical business at Morgan’s Drugstore and Gift Shop at 118 E. Lincoln Way in Lisbon “is stable at this point,” but gift purchases are down 25% from last year, says its owner and pharmacist, Kevin Snyder, behind counter. Clerks Amy Humphrey, left, and Paula Stoffel help customers ﬁnd what they’re looking for and offer suggestions.

All Sports Sporting Goods moved into the Mezzanine Town Mall at 129 E. State St. in East Liverpool on June 1, but has served the area since 1977, says its business manager, Tom Pease. Like any other small businesses, the trophy and athletic clothing supplier has taken a hit during the recession, but its custom print services have kept things steady, Pease says. Prints on clothing, such as jerseys, sweatshirts and hats, make up 75% of All Sports’ business, and the shop ﬁlls up to 40 orders a week. “T-shirts is where it’s at,” Pease says. “That’s our bread and butter.” In an effort to expand its customer base, All Sports is adding sign and decal printing this year.

A change in the times calls for a change in direction, and Kolby’s department store at 440 E. State St. in Salem has adjusted by combining a focus on accessories with an online presence, say co-owners Gary and B.J. Abrams. The shop launched its ﬁrst Web site, www.tennilles-kolbysofsalemllc.com, two months ago but still caters to walk-in customers such as Melissa Costa, right.

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Goals: Set for Development Director From Page 37 Achieving these goals would be a huge step forward in a county where poverty rates exceeded the state rate of 14.1% in 2005. In its 2008 State of Poverty in Ohio report, the Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies show that the Buckeye State’s East Central economic development region, which includes Columbiana County, lost 8,492 manufacturing jobs, a 16.9% decrease from 2007. The East Central region ranks third highest in eligibility for Medicaid at 17.2% as well as households receiving energy assistance at 18.4%. It also has the second-highest percentage of adults without a high school diploma at 21.1%. Bretz, with the Community Action Agency 33 years, has witnessed the precipitous drop in the number of jobs in heavy industry that paid their workers well “and the impact on families and businesses in Columbiana County has been signiﬁcant and terrible,” she says. As the number of such jobs has fallen, the demand for social services has risen, and Bretz says demand for her agency’s Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) has never been higher. Between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31, 2008, the agency spent $647,084 for that program – 43.25% of its annual allocation. “People were just expecting that we would be able to help them,” Bretz says. “We’re seeing a signiﬁcant uptick in denial for requests for services.” In what Bretz calls a “real-time statistic” of the

poverty level in the county, 7,867 – 48.5% – of county public school students were receiving free and reduced-price lunches last October. Household income must be at or below 130% of the federal poverty level to qualify for the free-lunch program and less than 185% of the federal poverty level to qualify for reduced-price lunches. “I think that’s an appalling statistic,” Bretz comments. “And every year since I began tracking that data, probably 15 years or so ago, it increases.” Because such funding comes with no guarantee of renewal, using it to expand such services would

be temporary, forcing the agency to cancel those services when the well dries up, Bretz says. An economic development director would give the county a chance to bring in new jobs, thus reducing the need for the services the agency provides. In 2006, manufacturing jobs comprised 14.6% of all jobs in Columbiana County, down from 50.2% in 1970. Unemployment stood at 14.7% in July, up from 13% in April and inching closer to the 20.2% in January 1983, Bretz says. Columbiana County’s unemployment rate ranks 28th among the 88 counties in Ohio.

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�� As the holidays near, The Ginger Jar at 240 E. State St. in Salem will likely see an increase in its ceramic painting classes, says owner Marsha DeJane. “Summer’s kind of slow for that,” DeJane says. “When fall activities start, it’ll probably pick back up.” The shop opened in 1985 and added a gift shop in 2002 to attract passers-by, but a decrease in foot trafﬁc has mirrored the loss of some storefronts downtown, DeJane says.

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BuildingBetterBusiness 12 Initiatives to Revitalize the Valley Retired Castlo exec charts roadmap for growth at chamber Salute to Business.

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ill DeCicco was named Business Advocate of the Year by the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber at its Salute to Business Breakfast Sept. 3. In accepting his award, DeCicco listed 12 initiatives that he believes must be implemented to revitalize the Mahoning Valley. Here is some of what he said: 1. Improve Our Image. There is considerable evidence that outsiders now have a better opinion of us than in the past. To ensure a continued favorable image, we must demand accountability from our elected ofﬁcials. It is imperative that we elect leaders who work diligently to improve the region rather than those who are self-serving or beholden to special interest. 2. Think Regionally. Considerable progress has been made in recent years. I believe it began with the Eastgate Regional Council of Governments and continued when three chambers from Youngstown, Warren and Niles merged to form the Regional Chamber. I am encouraged by the recent formation of additional regional organizations, including the Mahoning River Corridor Initiative. 3. Continue Good Labor/Government/Management Relations. Labor, government and management collaboration is a major reason why General Motors made the decision to build the Cruze at Lordstown and why the Youngstown Air Reserve Station remains as a major employer. Blue or white collar, Democrat, Republican or independent: We all are in this together. Our diversity gives us strength. 4. Complete the Regional Highway Network. Projects such as the Hubbard Expressway, relocating U.S. 62 from Route 11 to Alliance and the missing Route 422 link from Warren to Cleveland were all planned over 50 years ago. What’s taking so long? 5. Education, Education, Education. A good education means a good job. A good job means less social disorganization. Emphasis must be given to ﬁnding better ways to assist our inner city schools and help those children most vulnerable. 6. Encourage Brownﬁeld Redevelopment. Although the Valley lost 50,000 steelmaking jobs, we now have thousands of acres available of developable sites that can be occupied by new environmentally friendly businesses. Continued support of brownﬁeld developments must remain a priority. 7. Restore the Mahoning River. Nearly a century of making steel rendered our Mahoning River an environmental disaster. Although it will be costly to remediate environmental problems with the river, a cost-beneﬁt study prepared by the U.S. Army Corps

of Engineers concludes the resultant development will far exceed the cost. 8. Implement Youngstown 2010 and Warren’s Comprehensive Plan. Without strong central cities, the entire region will be at risk. 9. Forge a Link with Western Pennsylvania. Our economic region is composed of three counties in Ohio and two in Pennsylvania. The Mahoning and Shenango valleys enjoy a strategic location between Cleveland and Pittsburgh, two great cities. 10. Promote Tourism. Millions traverse the region annually on our highway network and nearly 10 million people reside within a 100-mile radius. We need to attract these people as visitors to our entertainment venues, cultural institutions and museums, golf courses and lakes. 11. Place the Mahoning Valley on the National

High-Speed Rail Corridor. With all due respect to the Ohio Rail Development Commission, the shortest distance between New York and the Eastern Seaboard, and Chicago and the Midwest is through Ohio’s most populated corridor, which traverses Pittsburgh, Youngstown, Warren, Akron, Cleveland, Lorain-Elyria, Sandusky and Toledo. 12. Promote the Mahoning Valley’s Location to Prospective Employers. We are located at the midpoint between Cleveland and Pittsburgh, New York and Chicago, and also Cincinnati and Toronto. We remain at the center of the American Manufacturing Belt, and half of the population of the United States and Canada is within a 500-mile radius. We have a skilled and dedicated work force, a low cost of living and a vast array of cultural, educational and recreational amenities.

Breakfast with Our Champions

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was privileged to have breakfast (along with over 600 other people) with some of our region’s best examples of why the Mahoning Valley is on the upswing. At this year’s Regional Chamber’s Salute to Business breakfast, four outstanding people were honored. Ed Muransky, named Business Professional of By Pat Rose the Year, taught us all to BBB President be entrepreneurial and a futurist. He loved a unique pretzel that he tasted at a trade show and took a chance that others would love it too. Auntie Anne’s is now in malls all over the country. He also understood that doctors needed facilities designed just for them. So Ed met that challenge with The Surgical Center at Southwoods. He made the point that you can be successful in our area. You just need to work hard and smart and surround yourself with good people. Germaine Bennett was honored as the Nonproﬁt Professional of the Year. Everyone at the head table literally gushed about her hard work, not only as a teacher and principal, but also in retirement as an member of nonproﬁt boards and committees. But Germaine wanted only to leave one thought with us. It wasn’t about working together, although she truly believes in that. It wasn’t about supporting the nonproﬁt community, although she leads by example in that category. Her one thought and it is

crucial to our success: “It’s all about the children!” The chamber’s Salute to Labor Achievement was awarded to Larry Fauver, vice president of the Mahoning Trumbull AFL-CIO. Through the years, he has been the voice of reason. He understands that neither labor nor management can exist successfully alone. It takes cooperation from both sides to create a successful atmosphere in which industry can prosper. Larry understood what needed to be done to increase jobs and worked closely with management to improve the conditions and safety of labor. Bill DeCicco, recently retired executive director of Castlo Community Improvement Corp., rightfully was honored as the chamber’s Business Advocate of the Year. If you are not familiar with the name, Castlo stands for Campbell, Struthers and Lowellville – towns severely affected by the steel closings of the 1970s. What were the sites where men and women made a decent living became the brownﬁelds, where mills were torn down for scrap and the soil and water were polluted with the waste. Bill understood you had to play the hand you were dealt. He turned those brownﬁelds into an industrial park where new businesses could locate and put good men and women back to work. What he has created here in the Mahoning Valley is used as a template for other cities that have suffered similar losses to their industrial bases. Bill outlined 12 economic development initiatives at the breakfast and we all walked out of the meeting with the same thought; Bill gave us a map to rebuild the Mahoning and Shenango valleys. You can read his 12 initiatives at the top of this page. I urge you to do your part to become a part of our rebirth.

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YMCA To Begin $6M Expansion

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hen the D.D. & Velma Davis Family YMCA was constructed six years ago, Youngstown YMCA President and CEO Ken Rudge thought that the branch would hover around 12,000 members – more than enough to sustain its new operations. He was both right and wrong. Rudge was right when he thought that number would sustain the Davis Branch. However, instead of 12,000 members, the branch at one point last year hit 16,500. Add in the demand for its community programs, which attract about 10,000 nonmembers a year, and an average of 40,000 people pass through the doors every month. “That’s a half-million people a year. We needed to make it larger,” Rudge said as he and other dignitaries gathered Sept. 10 for a groundbreaking ceremony to usher in a new $6 million expansion of the Davis Branch. “This addition wasn’t in the cards originally.” The Davis YMCA opened Sept. 10, 2003. The addition will consist of mostly youth ﬁtness and recreation programs, expanding the Y’s ability to build a healthier community based on family, faith and love, Rudge said, “It’s a place that families can enjoy together.” The expansion will add 30,000 square feet to the 75,000-square-foot building. The new space will house a recreation center for youth as well as a ﬁtness center and a multi-purpose gym on the ﬁrst

Turning shovels during a groundbreaking ceremony Sept. 10 are project architects Greg Strollo and Robert Buchanan, CEO Ken Rudge, board President Jay Yerian and Tony Lariccia. The Davis YMCA opened Sept. 10, 2003.

ﬂoor, both for youth. The second level will consist of an expanded ﬁtness center, an aerobics studio, a staff lounge, a new community room and new restrooms.

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The project also includes adding a children’s art studio and an enhanced children’s center near the main entrance. And, the existing preschool center and family adventure center will be remodeled.

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TIPS FOR CLIMBING THE CAREER LADDER, COMPILED BY MONNIE RYAN

Getting Ahead

Working Your Way Up Prove your worth and gain advancement.

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f you think that simply showing up on time and doing your job proficiently will get you a promotion, think again. These days, employees have to prove their worth to gain advancement as employers ask workers to do more with less and keep operating costs low. Experts from Snelling Stafﬁng Services offer these tips to help you make the most of career opportunities: • Keep up with trends and technology. Employers are all looking for top-caliber performers who possess speciﬁc skills and know-how, so it’s crucial that you stay up with what’s happening in your ﬁeld. • Stay marketable. Attend classes and seminars, especially if the company is willing to pay the registration fees. Volunteer for projects that will enhance your abilities. Being involved shows initiative, an attribute your boss will respect. Keep an up-to-date resume on hand; you never know when an opportunity will come along. • Be active. Sometimes, that simply means sitting down with your supervisor and asking, “What do I have to do to be on track toward a promotion?” If there are areas your employer would like you to improve, ask for speciﬁc feedback and chart a timeline with goals. • Adopt a mentor. One of the best ways to advance your career is to learn more about the career of someone in a leadership position. Ask a person in your ofﬁce or a peer within a trade association whom you respect to meet with you regularly. Avoid the ofﬁce rumor mill. When you see Gossipy Gail and Loose-Lips Louie at the water cooler, keep right on going. Nothing will hurt your credibility more than perpetuating negative or sensitive ofﬁce buzz. • Keep current. Stay up on the latest movers and shakers in your industry and read materials that will make you think like a leader. • Dress for the position. Don’t go into debt for a designer suit or pair of shoes, but do take a little time to dress yourself as you would if you were working in the position above

your own. • Join and volunteer in industry associations. Nothing can make you more visible than joining industry associations. Meetings, mixers and events provide priceless networking opportunities and can expose you to key players and industry leaders.

Cover Bases in Cover Letter The cover letter usually is the ﬁrst thing the hiring manager sees, and is one of the best tools to make a positive ﬁrst impression. To help ensure that yours conveys the right messages, consider this advice from Robert Half International: • Research the ﬁrm and industry through the Internet, trade publications and the library. Demonstrate your knowledge of the ﬁeld and requirements of the position and company. Explain why your background meets the organization’s needs. • Don’t rehash your resume. Focus on key aspects of your background that relate to the job opportunity. • Address the letter to the person hiring for the position, not “Dear Sir or Madam.” If necessary, call the company to verify the name and title, and double-check the spelling of both. •Run your cover letter through your spell-checker, and proofread it yourself. Then, ﬁnd friends or relatives (or your former English teacher) to proofread it again.

Who’s Reading Your E-mail? Fully 32% of companies with 1,000 or more employees have hired personnel speciﬁcally to read employees’ email messages, and nearly 28% have terminated employees for violating e-mail policies, according to data loss prevention company Proofpoint Inc. One of the primary reasons for checking e-mail is that it is a primary source of information leakage, which can result in a host of regulatory violations and legal problems. Employee use of social networking sites such as MySpace, FaceBook and Twitter increase the chance that sensitive company information may become public. Bottom line? If you don’t want the boss to see your e-mail message, don’t hit the “send” button.

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Court OKs New Vision Reorganization Plan WKBN/WYFX/WYTV operator ﬁled Chapter 11 in July. New Vision Television, the owner of television stations WKBN/WYFX and operator of WYTV, announced Sept. 11 that its plan of reorganization has been approved by U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. The court’s decision signals an imminent end to New Vision’s restructuring process, the company said. New Vision entered Chapter 11 July 13 with the support of the company’s ﬁrst- and second-lien debt holders, who unanimously supported the reorganization plan. New Vision owns or provides services to 14 major network-afﬁliated television stations across the United States. Under the plan, as approved by the court, all of New Vision’s debt and guaranteed obligations of more than $400 million will be eliminated. New Vision will be provided with sufﬁcient capital to ensure the company’s uninterrupted business operations, and New Vision’s existing management and employees will remain in place, the company said. “New Vision has reached an important milestone,” said Jason Elkin, New Vision’s founder and CEO, in a prepared statement. “As we began this restructuring process, we promised our employees, our viewers and our advertisers that New Vision wouldn’t miss a beat, and we haven’t. Our daily business hasn’t been impacted at all: Jobs and beneﬁts for our employees are intact; advertisers have continued to receive top customer service; and our stations have continued to invest in best-of-class news coverage and other programming.” New Vision’s restructuring is subject to the earlier consent of the Federal Communications Commission. New Vision has sought such consent and expects approval shortly, the company said.

Salary Hikes Lowest in 25 Years NEW YORK, Sept. 3 – The increase in company salary budgets for 2010 is the lowest since The Conference Board’s sur vey was launched 25 years ago. This year, the median increase is 3% in all employee categories, down 0.5% from the previous year. Salary increase budgets refer to the pool of money that an organization dedicates to salary increases for the coming year. Generally, it is represented as a percentage of current payroll. Across industry categories, the insurance sector reports the highest 2010 forecasts for salary increase budgets in all employee categories, 3.5%, while the communications sector reports the lowest in all employee categories -- 2.5%. A median forecast of 2.5% also is reported for the salar y increase budgets for executives in the energy and agriculture industries. While the median forecast salary increase budget is low, the typical employer still is budgeting for salary increases ahead of inﬂation in 2010. Suppressed, in part, by the slack in production capacity, Board projections show the inﬂation rate to be 2% this coming year.

“New Vision’s tremendous progress in just 60 days is a tribute to everyone who has been involved,” Elkin’s statement continued. “We are grateful for the tremendous faith our debt holders have shown in New Vision’s business model and future prospects, and we are thankful for the dedication and loyalty of our employees, advertisers and viewers.” New Vision Television is the third station ownership group led by Elkin and his management team. It was formed in July 2006.

With corporate ofﬁces in Atlanta and Los Angeles, New Vision Television and its predecessor companies have owned and operated more than 30 television stations across the country since 1993. This story was ﬁrst published by BusinessJournalDaily.com and sent via e-mail to subscribers of our Daily Headlines service. To get local business news every business day on your desktop, sign up at BusinessJournalDaily.com or call 330 744 5023.

The Business Journal

45

MidSEPTEMBER 2009

PEOPLE, COMPANIES, MAKING NEWS

For the Record Nominees for the 2009 Valley Legacy Awards, which honor civic-minded seniors for their contributions to the Mahoning Valley, include Business Journal columnist Monnie Ryan and her husband, Jack Ryan of Niles. Other nominees are Bill Byard of Warren, Rand Becker of Youngstown, Germaine Bennett of Youngstown, Joanne Collier of Poland, Thomas P. Gilmartin Sr. of Youngstown, Joyce Hoover of Boardman, Audrey John of Niles, George H. John of Niles, June Johnson of Austintown, Louis and Maria LaCava of Austintown, Kay Lavelle of Youngstown, Nancy J. Malone of Niles, John Masternick Sr. of Girard, Patrick C. Pinney of Youngstown, Louise Selaro of Youngstown, Anne Schweinfur th of Warren, James E. Tallman of Niles, W. Lawrence Weeks of Cortland and William Zavarello of Boardman. Nominees for Outstanding Advocate for Seniors are Maggie Lorenzi and Mary Ann O’Neil of Youngstown and Bob Tucker of Warren. Nick Demetrios has been promoted to manager at Hill, Barth & King LLC, Boardman. Caren Renz has joined First National Bank, Hermitage, Pa., as vice president of private banking. A 24-page adver tising feature on Mike Coates Construction Co., Niles, was published in August by Properties Magazine. The feature celebrates the company’s 50 years in business.

The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber 2009 Business Showcase After Hours Mixer will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 17 at the Covelli Centre, Youngstown. John Kasich, GOP candidate for governor of Ohio will serve as featured speaker during a chamber breakfast Sept. 25 at Ciminero’s Banquet Centre, Niles. A small-business summit, “Organizing Your Business & Life,” will take place from 7:15 a.m. to noon Sept. 30 at Holiday Inn-Boardman. For information about these events, call 330 744 2131. Professional Research Consultants Inc. has awarded St. Elizabeth Health Center, Youngstown, a ﬁve-star award, and St. Joseph Health Center, Warren, a four-star award, based on a survey assessing the medical staff’s perceptions of the hospital’s medical records. The Youngstown Business & Professional Women’s Club’s ninth annual champagne luncheon and fashion show will take place at 11 a.m. Oct. 3 at Antone’s Banquet Centre, Boardman. For information, call 330 726 2267.

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Prospective entrepreneurs over the age of 50 can learn about starting a home-based business at a workshop Oct. 14 at the Boardman branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County. The workshop is sponsored by the Ohio Department of Development. Call 800 848 1300.

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John Agnew, CEO of Agnew Farm Equipment, Boardman, says his company has occupied the same spot at the Canﬁeld Fair for 143 years. Sales of Agnew’s power equipment double in September as a result of the display and special Canﬁeld Fair pricing, he says.

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46

MidSEPTEMBER 2009

Dayton Named Innovation Hub

The Business Journal

Sharon Health System To Open Hubbard Satellite

www.BusinessJournalDaily.com

DAYTON, Sept. 9 – The state has created its ﬁrst Ohio Hub of Innovation and Opportunity, Gov. Ted Strickland announced here during a press event. The ﬁrst hub to be created since the program was unveiled, the Dayton hub is designed to catalyze the region’s aerospace and technology assets and drive sustainable economic growth, the governor said. “To accelerate Ohio job growth and economic recovery, we must work in strategic partnerships toward a common vision,” Strickland said. “The designation of Dayton as Ohio’s aerospace hub positions the region for growth by building on its historic strengths in aerospace and technology innovation.” The goal of the Ohio Hub strategy is for a region to leverage its resources to attract clusters of connected businesses, encourage new investments and an inﬂux of talented workers, and create opportunities to increase jobs and develop key industries. Dayton’s Ohio Aerospace Hub of Innovation will build upon the area’s strengths in aerospace, sensor technologies and advanced materials and will tap the resources of The University of Dayton and WrightPatterson Air Force Base, Strickland said. “Ever since the Wright Brothers cemented Dayton’s place in aerospace history by inventing the airplane here, we have been creating an economic base built around invention, creativity and originality,” said the mayor of Dayton, Rhine McLin. “The Hub designation solidiﬁes the strong relationships we have forged between the University of Dayton Research Institute, Tech Town and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.”

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SHARON, Pa., Sept. 9 – Sharon Regional Health System plans to establish a $1.7 million satellite medical center in Hubbard. Construction on the new Hubbard Diagnostic and Specialty Center is expected to begin in October, with completion scheduled for January. The center will occupy 11,500 square feet in the former Nemenz/IGA store on West Liberty Street. The diagnostic and specialty center will bring specialty physicians to Hubbard in cardiology, general surgery, sports medicine and orthopedic surgery, along with a full complement of diagnostic tests, physical therapy and a specialized heart center for advanced cardiac testing. The center will accept all physician requests for diagnostic tests and therapies regardless of hospital afﬁliation, according to a press release. The specialized heart center is a satellite of Sharon Regional’s Heart and Vascular Institute, and will offer cardiac stress tests, cardiac nuclear medicine, cardiac echocardiography and general ofﬁce cardiology through Sharon Cardiology Specialists. The practice group opened an interim ofﬁce in Hubbard Sept. 1 on West Liberty Street. The new Hubbard Diagnostic and Specialty Center will also serve as a satellite for Sharon Regional Sports Medicine Services. As such, it will offer appointments with sports medicine specialists and a large sports medicine therapy and rehabilitation center, the hospital system says.

Area Jobless Rate 2nd Highest YOUNGSTOWN, Sept. 1 – The Mahoning Valley avoided having the highest jobless rate in the state of Ohio in July, but not by much, reports the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Youngstown-Warren-Boardman Metropolitan Statistical Area’s 14.2% jobless rate in July represented a slight drop from the 14.4% rate reported for June, but still was the second-highest among Ohio’s 13 MSAs. The Mansﬁeld MSA edged out Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, with a 14.3% jobless rate in July. In July, 40,100 were out of work in the local MSA among the total civilian labor force of 281,500. The July jobless rate compares to 7.7% a year earlier. Jobless rates were higher in all of the nation’s 372 metropolitan areas in July than in July 2008, with 19 metro areas reporting rates of at least 15% and 139 posting jobless rates of at least 10%.

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The Business Journal

47

MidSEPTEMBER 2009

BY JEFFREY GITOMER

Sales Savvy Sometimes You Make A Decision That Hurts When you offer a discount, make sure you can afford it.

without reimbursement from their bosses. And many did. Maybe I did go against my teaching, but I did not go against my customer. I also stated that this discount was for gave a discount. It’s not the ﬁrst a limited time – one week. time I’ve ever done it; it probably Keep in mind, this was not an “I won’t be the last. But I teach against have to do this” discount. This was it. And I preach against it. an “I want to do this” discount. Yeah, If your price is $1,000, and you maybe I’m justifying it. But I didn’t discount down to $900, $100 comes do it to stay in business. Rather I did out of proﬁt. And in these times, proﬁt it to promote goodwill and give more is the only saving grace of business. people an opportunity to attend a sales My public semseminar that just inar tickets sell for Many companies are discount- might help them $99 each. If you ing out of desperation. succeed through buy 10 or more, this economic they are $89 apiece, and it’s been that mess. way for the past 10 years. How are your prices holding up? Last week we decided that for one Thinking of offering a discount? week only we would offer our customThinking of having a sale? ers a $20 per ticket discount. Never Many companies are discounting did it before, and even though we sold out of desperation. Companies that a lot of tickets, I took a lot of ﬂak. sell cars, houses and furniture are People wrote to me, e-mailed me, examples of businesses in trouble that and called me out on the fact that I was are forced to discount. I was not. I was giving a discount and going against creating my own stimulus package for my teachings. Not many people, but my customers. enough to rufﬂe my feathers. It should If (for whatever reason) you are be said that 10 times as many people going to offer your customers a lower thanked me – and 50 times as many price, the following guidelines will people bought tickets. help ensure success, and ensure cusBack to the discount. I agonized tomer loyalty: over whether I should offer it, know• Make certain that you can afford ing that people were going to yank my to discount. chain. But this is how I made the ﬁnal • Make certain there is some proﬁt decision: The amount of money that for you after the discount. we would lose would not be make-it• Have a start and end date. Do not or-break-it dollars. By comparison to go beyond the stated end date. the rest of our income, it was a very • Have the promotion in the hands low percentage. of all your customers electronically. With many companies canceling • Make certain that accounting is as their sales meetings, and not supinvolved as sales and marketing. porting their salespeople the way In this economy, people have come they used to by paying for one of my to expect discounts as a part of the tickets, I decided to make this offer downturn and (slow) recovery. If you directly to salespeople. choose to offer one, make certain that My e-mail magazine reaches thouyour customer feels valued, that you sands of people. Most readers are can back it up with service, and that traditional salesmen and saleswomen when the discount period is over, you who pound the pavement and use the have your goodwill intact. phone lines to earn a living. Jeffrey Gitomer, author of The Sales Bible, I decided to take money out of conducts seminars, sales meetings and my pocket, and allow it to stay in training programs. Reach him at 704 333 their pockets so they might have an 1112 or at [email protected]. incentive to buy a ticket on their own,

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MidSEPTEMBER 2009

The Business Journal

Day of Caring Begins United Way Campaign Youngstown/Mahoning Valley chapter sets $2.5M goal. By Dan O’Brien YOUNGSTOWN, Sept. 11 – As he looked across the large banquet hall, Mayor Jay Williams remarked that as companies and families cope with a tough economy, logic dictates that the room “should be half-full.” Instead, more than 400 volunteers representing 46 companies and organizations packed the reception hall of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church to participate in the United Way’s Day of Caring, which ofﬁcially kicks off the agency’s fund-raising campaign for 2009. “This is where the Mahoning Valley shines the most,” Williams said as he addressed the breakfast. “It’s a reﬂection of how special we are.” Volunteers organized by their respective companies were to spend the day performing service projects at 34 local nonproﬁt organizations funded by the United Way Youngstown/Mahoning Valley. Among them were painting, landscaping, construction, cleaning, home repairs, serving meals and conducting ﬁeld trips. “The need out there is incredible,” said Bob Hannon, president and chief professional ofﬁcer of the United Way. “To get more than 400 volunteers is absolutely huge for us.” The United Way seeks to raise $2.5 million in its campaign this year and reaching that goal looks promising, Hannon said. The Pacesetter campaign and leadership gifts have generated $568,814, or 23% of the goal. “We’re up by $200,000 compared to last year,” he reported. Hannon added that individual employee contributions are on the rise. Hill Barth & King LLC, a public accounting ﬁrm based in Boardman, reported its donations are up 20% so far, the Canﬁeld School District said its contributions are 40% greater than in 2008, and Altronic Inc., Girard, reported its donations are up 10%. “All of these volunteers are working extremely hard,” Hannon remarked. What is special about the United Way campaign, the chief professional ofﬁcer said, is that all the money raised remains in the Mahoning Valley, supporting nonproﬁt community organizations such as Beatitude House, the Valley chapter of American Red Cross, Sojourner House, the Easter Seals Society and the Ursuline Sisters HIV/AIDS Ministries. The organization funds 27 nonproﬁts in the Mahoning Valley and supports another 70 community programs. Don Terpak, chairman of Humility of Mary Health Partners’ corporate campaign, said he believes contributions from HMHP employees could increase as much as 15% this year compared to 2008. “We have 18 volunteers out here today,” he said. Volunteers from HMHP were to wash walls, paint and clean at Beatitude House Potters Wheel. Potters Wheel helps disadvantaged women with job training, job preparation and education toward earning a GED. “It’s important to us as a health-care organiza-

tion to get involved,” Terpak said. “It’s our way to help make a difference in people’s lives and in our community.” It’s important to lead by example, he added, because HMHP and other companies involved have a vast network of clients and customers who could attract more donations. The United Way campaign runs until Dec. 31. “We believe there’s a lot of untapped potential,” Han-

non said of residents of the Mahoning Valley who could become donors. Among them are employees of physicians’ ofﬁces, attorneys, small businesses and school districts. Never has the need been greater, Hannon emphasized, citing the profound economic stress and the struggles families go through just to make ends meet. “One in four people in the Mahoning Valley beneﬁted from United Way programs last year,” he noted.

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The Business Journal

Legal Listings Business Bankruptcies CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 11

09-443199 7661 South Avenue LLC dba Ride Powersports, 7661 South Ave., Boardman 44512. Nature of Business: Retail sales of ATVs and motorcycles. Total Assets: $7,047.37. Total Liabilities: $556,844.71.

09-42981 Vinyl Proﬁles Acquisition LLC, 11675 Mahoning Ave., Nor th Jackson 44451. Total Assets: $1,637,776.15. Total Liabilities: $3,932,051.29.

Ohio Fictitious Names EDITOR’S NOTE: A ﬁctitious business name is the name under which a company conducts business but which is not the legal name of the owner or of the corporation as indicated in its articles of incorporation.

Evans Expert Rooﬁng, Ronald J. Evans Jr., 4892 Westchester Drive, Apt. 1, Austintown 44515.

Price’s Lawncare & More, James R. Price, 747 Oakridge Drive, Boardman 44512.

Inspection Ready Cleaning Service, Anton Garzanich and Timothy Garzanich, 149 Hawkins Lane, Columbiana 44408.

Shades of Light Photography, Melissa Shade, 1504 Bancroft Ave., Youngstown 44514.

New USA Gas Mart, M&M Global Trading Inc., 317 Pine Ave., Warren 44485.

Winners Palace, Gino A. Maurizio, 1698 S. Racoon Road, Youngstown 44515.

Craig’s Flooring, Craig Swartzlander, 1909 Harvey Ave., East Liverpool 43920.

Star Nails, Angelina Nguyen Le, 3219 Elm Road NE, Unit 5, Warren 44483.

A Rainbow of Miracles, Mark Anthony Simini, 912 Cynthia Court, Niles 44446.

The Filling Station, Premium Note Trading Co. Inc., 164 Churchill-Hubbard Road, Youngstown 44505.

Utimate Food Mart, Juspunjabi Inc., 1426 Niles Road SE, Warren 44484.

Austintown Ambulatory Surgery Center, Austintown Surgery Center LLC, 45 N. CanﬁeldNiles Road, Austintown 44515. East Palestine Happy Youth, 2070 Inc., 825 W. North Ave., East Palestine 44413. Mahoning Valley Produce, Ronald A. Brown, 1135 Taylor Lane, Mineral Ridge 44440. The Pressure Band, Scott Zelasko, 1062 Parkside Drive, Alliance 44601.

North Jackson Convenient Mart & Drive Thru, Sobhi C. Rady, 4715 Market St., Youngstown 44512. Custom Restraint Services, Brian Mauere, 74 Willow Bend Drive, Canﬁeld 44406. Deray Towing, Debra A. Easterbrook, 418 Manchester Ave., Youngstown 44509. Big Dude’s Guess Who Lounge, Felder Finley Par tnership, 1804-1810 Wilson Ave., Youngstown 44501.

Pa. Incorporations/Fictitious Names Center Stage Academy of Dance Inc., 111 W. Northview Ave., New Castle 16105, school. DeSantsi Home Care Inc., 108 Valhalla Drive, New Castle 16105, home care. Premier Strategy Inc., 3142 state Route 956, New Castle 16105, real estate. Terralinks Inc., 373 Old River Road, West Pittsburg 16160, golf course soil business.

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AMK Financial Services Inc., 1266 E. State St., Sharon 16146, ﬁnancial services. Aspen Storage Inc., 6222 Saddlebrook Drive, Hermitage 16148, rental storage units. Birch Proper ties Inc., 6222 Saddlebrook Drive, Hermitage 16148, real estate development and leasing. Shaffer Services Inc., 137 Babcock Road, Mercer 16137, home improvement. Anchor Custom Framing & Vintage Collectibles, 4466 Mitchell Road, New Castle 16105, framing and selling collectibles. Fictitious Name Owner: Elaine S. Dawson. Crater Cakes, 6304 N. Edinburg Road, Edinburg 16116, food brokerage company. Fictitious Name Owners: Byrnes and Kiefer Co., Keystone Ingredients Inc.

Dynamic Multimedia, 828 Park Ave., Ellwood City 16117, install multimedia systems in churches. Fictitious Name Owner: Melvin R. Hormel. Face Palm Vending, 1 Early St., Suite A, Ellwood City 16117, vending services. Fictitious Name Owner: Ryan Venezie. Fetch! Pet Care Services of SW Mercer/NW Lawrence Counties, 145 Thornhill Drive, Pulaski 16143, pet care (dog walking, smallanimal care, pet taxi, in-home pet sitting, pet day care). Fictitious Name Owners: Baron Pet Care Services Inc., Jeannie Baron-Yenerall. New Castle Wine Co., 36 N. Jefferson St., New Castle 16101, winery. Fictitious Name Owner: Gary F. Lynch. Precise Heating and Air Conditioning, 1777 Shaw Road, Volant 16156, sales/ser vice of heating and air conditioning equipment. Fictitious Name Owners: Richard Reed, William Reed. The Disability Legal Clinic, 40 N. Jefferson St., New Castle 16101, law practice. Fictitious Name Owner: Carlson Lynch Ltd. The MAD Unit, 54 Links Drive, New Castle 16101, mobile auto detailing. Fictitious Name Owner: Michael A. Saad.

The Business Journal

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MidSEPTEMBER 2009

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MidSEPTEMBER 2009

The Business Journal

Dunkin’ Donuts Fills Holes in Market By George Nelson

T

he upcoming opening of the region’s newest Dunkin’ Donuts store in Austintown will bring to 16 the number of locations the national chain operates in ﬁve counties in northeastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania. Expected to open in the next few weeks, the new store – at the prime location of the Interstate 80/Route 46 interchange – will be the eighth to open or relocate since 2005. That includes a new store on Market Street in Boardman, which opened earlier this year, just 1½ miles south of its ﬁrst store in Boardman, and another on Route 46 in Niles across from the Eastwood Mall. “It’s a good market,” says Lynne Schroeder, regional marketing manager for Dunkin’ Brands Inc. Bryan Stolte, co-owner of six of the area stores, attributes the brand’s strength in this market in part to the operators as well as a “strong marketing presence” on television and radio. Stolte previously was director of operations for 440 stores stretching from Pennsylvania to Chicago. A few years ago, when the corporation was downsizing, local operator Ted Rogers approached him about forming a partnership. Franchisees in this area have always been “really good, solid operators [who are] operationally focused,” Stolte says. “They engage with the guests. They protect the brand from a quality perspective. “We really positioned ourselves well,” he continues. “We cover almost every corner of the area, so there is a convenience there.” Dunkin’ enjoys great name recognition, says longtime operator Joe White, who with his son, owns six stores, including the stores in Girard and Hermitage, Pa., and two in Salem. In the doughnut business more than 30 years, White operated stores under the Mister Donut name when Dunkin’ acquired that chain in 1990. As he saw his choices at the time, he could convert his stores to operate as Dunkin’ or “die on the vine. So I decided to convert to Dunkin’,” he says. The chain, White notes, long “a big brand on the East Coast,” decided it should become stronger in other areas of the country. “So they went to other markets where they had a presence,” he explains. White opened a store in Salem in 2005 and the store in Girard in 2007. Like Stolte, Jim Braga, who owns the store in Austintown and is opening another in the township, credits Dunkin’s success here in part to local operators. “We’re one of the few markets where we do have strong average weekly sales,” he says, something he attributes to good products and service. Braga has been in the business 27 years. Born in Rhode Island, he came to Ohio in 1982 and worked for his brother and sister-in-law, who had purchased a shop in Cleveland. About a year later, he bought his ﬁrst store in Wilkes Barre, Pa. There, Braga met a local woman who became his wife. He bought the Austintown store in 1994 and in 2002 relocated that store to its present spot on Mahoning Avenue. The new store on Route 46 has 4,000 square feet and the space devoted to retail is roughly two-thirds of that, Braga says, with the rest to ofﬁces. He has four franchises in the Youngstown market and al-

though he’s had the opportunity build more stores, he wanted to own the land they were built on. “I’m better off having two stores,” he says, “rather than having four or ﬁve stores and paying tremendous rent. That’s how I look at it.” Dunkin’ diversiﬁed its offerings about 10 years ago, adding bagels and bagel sandwiches and expanding its array of beverages. “Coffee is probably our biggest signature item,” with that beverage line

today representing about 60% of Dunkin’s business, Stolte says. Although he acknowledges business is a bit slower because of the recession, Dunkin’ is “somewhat recession-proof,” Stolte suggests. “We’re not a high-ticket-item business. You can get a cup of coffee for $1.29 – people aren’t cutting back to that extent,” he says. In fact, several stores increased sales and saw more customers than last year.

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MidSEPTEMBER 2009

The Business Journal

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The Business Journal

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MidSEPTEMBER 2009

RealEstateMarket

Compiled by Mark Heschmeyer

Trumbull County’s Largest Transactions Address

Buyer

23 Warner Road, Hubbard

Michael F. Broderick

$675,000

Madelyn R. Cousin-Johnson & Thomas A. Johnson

7/9/2009

1001 W. Market St., Warren

Midwest Restaurant Group LLC

$496,296

Spirit Master Funding IV LLC

7/9/2009

6881 Mines Road, Howland

Isaac & Rosemarie Torem

$435,000

Kekti R. & Raxit Shah

8/11/2009

2354 Keystone Trail North, Bazetta

Travis C. & Heidi D. Gullett

$340,000

Robert A. & Nelia E. George

7/22/2009

520 Amber Drive, Warren

Eugene A. & Sandra L. Rossi

$330,000

Josephine E. Byers & Randy Kelly

8/18/2009

435 Amber Drive, Warren

John L. & Janet T. Biro

$301,500

Steven L. & Jennifer R. Sauer

8/7/2009

9355 Hunt Club Trail NE, Warren

Nicholas R. & Thelma J. Trafan

$300,000

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56

MidSEPTEMBER 2009

The Business Journal

Buyers: Commercial Tenants Taking Advantage of Lower Building Prices From Page 1 ing has some 21,300 square feet. That’s not to say there hasn’t been some success on the leasing side, Lewis says, citing what he describes as “reasonable activity” in CTW Development Corp.’s Westford Lifestyle Community as well as an agreement with The Cleveland Clinic. Rates for commercial space run across the board, he says, with some of the better spaces going for $14 per square foot. In Trumbull County, his ﬁrm has completed leases on some older properties, such as the North Mar buildings in Warren, rented for $10 per square foot, and the former Akron Children’s Hospital space on Route 46 near North River Road, which went for $11.25 per foot. “I think the activity is pretty reasonable given the current economy,” says Steve Platz, owner of Steve Platz Realty, Poland. People are out looking at what they might buy or lease, he explains, although he ﬁnds they are taking more time to consider where to locate. “Overall I think the activity is pretty solid right now,” he says. While activity is comparable to last year at this time, “if you compare it to the end of last year, I think it’s stronger,” Platz continues. “I really didn’t notice a drop off until more like October of last year.” Platz’s business, he reports, is nearly evenly split between sales and leasing. “My sense is that because people think they can get some pretty reasonable deals, that’s why they are considering buying rather than leasing,” he says. “My gut tells me it’s more the economy than not.

“But some people just want to lease, so they’re content to lease,” he adds. They don’t want the added responsibilities of owning property, such as maintenance. Still, they are at least considering whether their costs would be the same, even a little bit less. Some tenants are driven entirely by location, Platz explains, while others seek sites that will charge rent. In some cases, they are considering locations they once wouldn’t have if they can drive a better rent deal. “They’re considering things that are good locations but not the prime, prime locations,” he says. “Tenants are going to be tenants for the most part,” says John Horvath, broker associate with Coldwell Banker First Place Real Estate, Poland. “Leasing is as steady as it was last year, but we’re seeing an uptick in purchasing of retail properties,” he conﬁrms. That includes pending sales on a couple of larger retail buildings and the recent sale of the former Wafﬂe House in Austintown to a local restaurateur. “The community is really going to be excited,” he predicts. Price is the driving factor in many of the sales, Horvath notes. The Wafﬂe House was a bank-owned property as is another large property set to close within the next 30 days. “They came on the market and they were priced right and sold,” he says. “It’s an unusual market right now but we’re seeing activity. And that’s always a good indicator for the year,” he remarks. On the leasing side, Horvath says rates are holding steady, but landlords are offering inducements

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such as build-out allowances and giving renters rent-free time to retroﬁt properties to their speciﬁcations. “I don’t see people giving away retail or ofﬁce space along the corridors of Boardman or Howland or Canﬁeld,” he says. “Overall, Horvath says, he looks to end the year on an uptick “and that’s what we’re seeing.”

City OKs Clean-up Studies On Parcels for V&M Star YOUNGSTOWN, Sept. 11 – Contracts for Phase II environmental studies on two parcels of land the city acquired for V&M Star Steel’s proposed $970 million expansion were approved by the Board of Control as discussions continue between Youngstown and Girard on a border adjustment that ofﬁcials say is necessary for the project. The city will pay MS Consultants Inc. of Youngstown $70,609 to conduct a study of the former Shelly & Sands Inc./McCourt Construction Co. property and $172,235 for the former Dempsey Steel site. The two parcels are among ﬁve sites for which the city expects to spend up to $5 million on environmental upgrades. The other three properties are portions of the former Brier Hill Slag property, land owned by the state of Ohio that V&M occupies and that the city will acquire, and the Norfolk Southern parcel.

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The Business Journal

Tenants Happy to Hand Maintenance Headaches To Their Landlords By George Nelson

P

roperty management services, says Joe Sylvester Jr., allow tenant companies to concentrate on what they do best. They needn’t concern themselves with what happens should a storm fell a tree or there be a heavy snowfall. Joseph Sylvester Construction Co., Boardman, which provides services for its own commercial and industrial properties, has a division that handles the condominium association it manages. “With both of them we basically do all the outdoor maintenance such as landscaping” as well as painting, shingling and sidewalk repairs, says CEO Sylvester. On some leases – chieﬂy government tenants – the company also provides interior cleaning and supplies. “Otherwise that’s normally the tenant’s responsibility,” he says. In other cases, the ﬁrm also handles interior heating and cooling maintenance. In the case of more extensive repairs, “usually we share the cost with them,” he says. With the condo association, owners pay a set fee for maintaining the common areas, Sylvester explains. With tenants of Sylvester’s properties, depending on terms of the lease, services might be provided or paid separately with a common area maintenance – or CAM – fee. “It’s sometimes fairer for both parties based on the type of winter seasons you have,” Sylvester remarks. “The CAM charge adjusts up and down each year, so that works in everyone’s favor.” Tenants also beneﬁt from having a fee they can budget for, knowing that there is a set amount to be paid. “The other big advantage is they’re using our buying power,” Sylvester continues. To place a trash dumpster in an ofﬁce is very expensive, “but with all the large contracts we have, we get a much better price,” he says. He also gets better prices on snow removal. For Ohio One Corp., which owns and operates six buildings in downtown Youngstown (and provides maintenance services for four others), property management services include cleaning, security and maintenance, says its president, Richard Mills. “Generally all of our leases are a full-service lease,” he says, meaning

57

MidSEPTEMBER 2009

they include utilities, taxes, insurance and common area maintenance. That includes a full-time, ﬁve-person maintenance staff with a federally licensed heating, ventilation and cooling technician “so we don’t have to call a contractor and wait for him to show up,” he says. And there are always miscellaneous items to be addressed, from door closers to light bulbs, and the tenant might not be qualiﬁed – or have supplies – to perform repairs. “They can write one check for the rent and it covers everything. It’s a worry-free approach,” Mills remarks. The downside for Ohio One is that it must absorb any increases in costs, although, he says, that’s usually handled through an annual escalator clause tied to the Consumer Price Index. John Phillips, owner of John Phillips Real Estate and Property Management LLC in Warren, manages a small ofﬁce building and a strip plaza in Howland on behalf of their owners as well as 15 condo associations. For the commercial tenants, Phillips also handles some of the leasing. He collects rents and pays related bills, contracting for maintenance and repairs as necessary. “I try to look ahead and see what major capital improvements or replacements may be done on the property in the future,” he says. While his company might handle minor exterior cleaning, “inside the portion they’ve leased is their responsibility,” he says. “Sometimes we get involved with power washing and painting, depending on the exterior of the building.” The company also handles sidewalk maintenance as well as seal coating and painting stripes on the parking lots. Some property owners lack the computer services and other programs needed to collect and report income, says Lou DeVicchio, president of DeVicchio & Associates, Youngstown. “It’s a lot cheaper just to get a management company to handle it all.” As property manager at the cityowned 20 Federal Place, DeVicchio says his responsibilities include everything from collecting rents, to paying bills and maintaining the building. Cleaning services are among those paid for through a separate CAM fee. Some services such as security are also negotiated separately.

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September 11, 2009

The Business Journal

Auto Loan Rates

CONSUMERS NATIONAL BANK – Salem Up to 60 Mos. 5.75 - 16.50 Rate varies based on applicant’s credit rating

FIRST PLACE BANK – Boardman Up to 60 Mos. 10% Down

8.00

7.74 8.24

CORTLAND BANKS – Cortland Up to 60 Mos. Up to 72 Mos.

6.75 6.75

HOME SAVINGS – Youngstown Up to 60 Mos. Up to 66 Mos. 10% Down

E.S.B. BANK – Ellwood City Up to 60 Mos. Up to 72 Mos.

7.65 8.65

HUNTINGTON BANK – Youngstown Up to 60 Mos.

FARMERS NATIONAL BANK – Canﬁeld Up to 60 Mos. Up to 72 Mos.

6.55 7.09

KEYBANK – Youngstown Up to 66 Mos. Down: Varies

Rate varies based on applicant’s credit rating

FIRST MERIT BANK – New Castle Up to 48 Mos. 5.50-12.50 10% Down FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF PA. – Hermitage Up to 60 Mos. 7.85 Up to 66 Mos. 7.85 1ST NATIONAL COMMUNITY – East Liverpool Up to 60 Mos. 6.00 - 11.75

6.99

PNC BANK – Sharon Up to 66 Mos. PNC BANK – Youngstown Up to 66 Mos.

6.99

7.24

7.00 - 13.00

Rate varies based on applicant’s credit rating

US BANK (formerly Firstar Bank) – Boardman Up to 48 Mos. 5.49

Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of The Business Journal compilations. The rates are subject to change without notice. All rate information should be conﬁrmed with the individual ﬁnancial institution before entering into transactions. © 2009 Youngstown Publishing Co.

Chamber Touts Positive Notice Mahoning Valley Is Getting Points to publications that recognize economic development efforts.

T

he Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber is touting the national notice the Mahoning Valley has received this year that describes the area as “quickly becoming an all-around economic development attraction” in the United States. “From business startups to attraction, expansion and retention, the Mahoning Valley is gaining quite a reputation nationally as a place that is welcoming and advantageous to operate a business,” said Tom Humphries, CEO of the chamber. “This recognition plus many other positives that have emerged for our Valley recently means this area is really poised for success after many years of decline.” The chamber issued a press release Sept. 9 that cited the August edition of Entrepreneur Magazine, which ranked Youngstown among its Top 10 cities to start a business. The article tells of the accomplishments of Turning Technologies and the Youngstown Business Incubator, along with new leaders such as U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-17 Ohio, and Mayor Jay Williams, and local and regional development initiatives. The chamber also noted that the YoungstownWarren metropolitan area was ranked by Site Selec-

tion magazine in the top 10 for economic development attraction and expansion projects in 2008. “Recognition like this demonstrates that our region is a great place for companies to be positioned,” said Walter Good, the chamber’s vice president for economic development. In June, the Regional Chamber received the top award in the business attraction category at the 2009 Economic Development Impact Awards, presented by Team Northeast Ohio and Inside Business magazine. The chamber was recognized for its efforts to attract Republic Special Metals to the Mahoning Valley. Republic is building a $64 million, state-of-the-art specialty steel production plant in North Jackson. “Receiving this award is a real honor because it takes into account major business attraction projects from all of Northeast Ohio’s 16 counties and its economic development groups,” Good said. Humphries noted that with the addition of former international banker Eric Planey to the chamber staff as vice president for national and international business attraction, the chamber is poised to spread the word around the world about the advantages of locating a business in the Mahoning Valley. EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was ﬁrst published by BusinessJournalDaily.com and was sent via e-mail to subscribers of our Daily Headlines. Go to BusinessJournalDaily.com to sign up for this free daily service.

The Business Journal

September 11, 2009

59

MidSEPTEMBER 2009

Mortgage Rates

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION AMERISTATE BANCORP INC. Boardman

TYPE

TERM

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RATE, 2-Wk Trend

5.00  5.00 

FHA/VA Fixed

0% Down 3% Down

30 Yr. 30 Yr.

BANK OF AMERICA HOME LOANS Warren

Fixed Fixed

5% Down 5% Down

15 Yr. 30 Yr.

4.375  5.125 

CHARTER ONE BANK Boardman

Fixed Fixed

5% Down 5% Down

15 Yr. 30 Yr.

4.625 — 5.25 —

0+costs 0+costs

CONSUMERS NATIONAL BANK Salem

Fixed Fixed

5% Down 5% Down

15 Yr. 30 Yr.

4.625 — 5.25 —

0+costs 0+costs

CORTLAND BANKS Cortland

Fixed Fixed

5% Down 5% Down

15 Yr. 30 Yr.

DOLLAR BANK MORTGAGE CENTER Cleveland

ARM Fixed

5% Down 5% Down

5 Yr. 30 Yr.

E.S.B. BANK Ellwood City, Pa.

Fixed Fixed

5% Down 5% Down

15 Yr. 30 Yr.

4.50  5.125 

4.25  5.125 —

4.75  5.375 

0+costs 0+costs 0+costs 0+costs

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N/A N/A 0+costs 0+costs

Fixed Fixed

20% Down 20% Down

15 Yr. 20 Yr.

5.50 — 5.75 —

0+costs 0+costs

FIRST MERIT BANK New Castle/Boardman

Fixed Fixed

5% Down 5% Down

15 Yr. 30 Yr.

4.50 — 5.125 

0+costs 0+costs

FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF PA Youngstown, Ohio

Fixed Fixed

5% Down 5% Down

15 Yr. 30 Yr.

0+costs 0+costs

Arrows tell whether rates rose or fell since last issue. Dashes indicate “unchanged.”

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0+costs 0+costs

FARMERS NATIONAL BANK Canﬁeld

4.875  5.25 —

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60

MidSEPTEMBER 2009

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September 11, 2009

The Business Journal

Mortgage Rates

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION

TYPE

TERM

RATE, 2-Wk Trend

FEES

1ST NATIONAL COMMUNITY East Liverpool

FHA Fixed

5% Down 5% Down

30 Yr. 30 Yr.

5.375 — 5.625 

0+costs 0+costs

FIRST PLACE BANK Boardman

Fixed Fixed

5% Down 5% Down

15 Yr. 30 Yr.

4.625 — 5.25 —

0+costs 0+costs

FLAGSTAR BANK Beechwood

Fixed Fixed

0% Down 0% Down

15 Yr. 30 Yr.

5.00 — 5.25 —

0+costs 0+costs

HOME FEDERAL Niles

Fixed

20% Down

15 Yr.

6.00 —

0+costs

HOME SAVINGS Youngstown

Fixed Fixed

5% Down 5% Down

15 Yr. 30 Yr.

4.75 — 5.25 —

0+costs 0+costs

HOWARD HANNA FINANCIAL Pittsburgh

Fixed Fixed

5% Down 5% Down

15 Yr. 30 Yr.

4.625  5.125 

0+costs 0+costs

HUNTINGTON BANK Youngstown

Fixed Fixed

3% Down 5% Down

15 Yr. 30 Yr.

4.875  5.25 

0+costs 0+costs

KEYBANK Youngstown

Fixed Fixed

20% Down 20% Down

15 Yr. 30 Yr.

5.00 — 5.25 —

0+costs 0+costs

PNC BANK Youngstown

FHA Fixed

3% Down 5% Down

30 Yr. 30 Yr.

5.25 — 5.125 —

1+costs 0+costs

WELLS FARGO HOME MORTGAGE Boardman (Formerly Norwest Mortgage)

FHA Fixed

3% Down 5% Down

30 Yr. 30 Yr.

5.25 — 5.25 —

0+costs 0+costs

US BANK Boardman (Formerly Firstar Bank)

Fixed Fixed

5% Down 5% Down

15 Yr. 30 Yr.

© 2009 Youngstown Publishing Co.

All rights reserved.

5.03  5.60 —

0+costs 1+costs

*Private Mortgage Insurance because less than 20% down.

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The Business Journal

61

MidSEPTEMBER 2009

ED MURANSKY

GERMAINE BENNETT

BILL DeCICCO

LARRY FAUVER

is a franchisee. “Those three things have to work together,” he said. “The opportunity is here,” he continued. “We have wonderful people. We have wonderful surroundings. Go down to Fellows Riverside Gardens. If there’s a prettier place in the world, I want to see it. We have all the elements.” Bill DeCicco, recently retired as executive director of the Castlo Community Improvement Corp., was recognized as Business Advocate of the Year. His family’s roots in this country extend to the 1880s in Girard. His forefathers, like those of many others in attendance, were attracted to the opportunities the area offered, and he witnessed the area’s prosperity until those “glory days” came to an abrupt halt on the September day in 1977 known as Black Monday, when the Valley’s steel mills “started falling like dominoes.” Because his children had to move out of town to ﬁnd opportunities, “I have come to realize that [eventually] my family will no longer have a presence in the Valley,” DeCicco lamented, although conditions have

been improving in recent years. DeCicco listed a dozen initiatives to improve the Mahoning Valley, including several under way. Among them are improving the image of the Valley, offering Youngstown’s recent listing in Entrepreneur Magazine as proof that it already is better; thinking regionally, an approach more widespread of late; continued improved labor-management relations, completing the regional highway system, encouraging brownﬁeld development, emphasizing education, and forging stronger links with western Pennsylvania, the last a priority recognized by Gov. Ted Strickland, the morning’s keynote speaker, and his counterpart, Ed Rendell, and U.S. Reps. Tim Ryan, D-17 Ohio, and Jason Altmire, D-4 Pa. Germaine Bennett, the honoree as Nonproﬁt Professional of the Year, is an educational human resources consultant for ONTASC and a retired 35-year employee of the Youngstown City Schools. She, too, lamented that her children, who attended the city schools, had to leave the area to pursue the careers they wanted. “We’re working on trying to make

this a place kids can return,” she said. Robert Shroder, president of Humility of Mary Health Partners, credited the Salute to Labor Achievement honoree, Larry Fauver, vice president of the Mahoning/Trumbull Labor Council, AFL-CIO, with doing more to improve labor-management relations in the area than any other individual. “His legacy, of course, will be felt for many, many years,” Shroder said. Fauver credited improved communications between labor and management for the better relations. “That’s the big thing,” he remarked. As did others, Fauver told how he misses having his grandchildren in the area, another reminder that many young people have had to leave to ﬁnd jobs over the years. “Maybe some day they’ll come back,” he said wistfully.

Honorees Seek Valley Where Young Stay By George Nelson

T

he four business and community leaders honored Sept. 3 at the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber’s annual Salute to Business breakfast come from different backgrounds and were recognized for different achievements, but they voiced a common theme: create opportunities in the Mahoning Valley so its young people don’t leave to seek employment elsewhere. Recognized as Business Professional of the Year, Ed Muransky, CEO and founder of the Muransky Companies, grew up on Youngstown’s south side and moved back here seven years ago. Having lived in Atherton, Calif., which had fenced-in lots so he never met his neighbors, and Tampa, Fla., he remarked, “There’s no place like the Mahoning Valley for people.” Muransky, who played on the 1984 Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Raiders, described three elements of succeeding in business: understanding customers, focusing on employees and having relationships with people such as Anne Beiler of the Auntie Anne’s Inc. pretzel chain, of which Muransky

EDITOR’S NOTE: This stor y was ﬁrst published by BusinessJournalDaily.com and was sent via e-mail to subscribers of our Daily Headlines. Go to BusinessJournalDaily.com to sign up for this free daily service.

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MidSEPTEMBER 2009

The Business Journal

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s a Blue-Dog Democrat, Congressman Charlie Wilson is in favor of health-care reform. Ensuring that there was no vote before the August recess, he says, provided more time for discussion and for people to understand the proposed program.

Health Care Plan: We’re going to have to have health care for as many people as possible. But, the real plan here is to drive down the cost of health care and then also make sure that more people have choices as to what health care they get. And then thirdly, to make sure that it’s a comprehensive plan. We can’t just ﬁx one part and not ﬁx the other. I think Medicare is going to be a big part of that.

Favor Medicare as a Buy-in?

G

ov. Ted Strickland is conﬁdent that the economic downturn is at or near its nadir. He’s also optimistic that V&M Star Steel’s proposed $970 million expansion will play a role in the Mahoning Valley’s recovery. The governor helped direct $20 million in federal stimulus money for transportation infrastructure improvements at the proposed project site, which includes acreage in Youngstown and Girard.

Communication with V&M? I have had conversations – direct conversations – with the leadership of V&M Star. I do believe that it will happen. Can I tell you for sure that it will? No. But I believe that the intentions are there. The planning is under way and things are falling into place in a way that will lead to a very positive outcome: Jobs being created and this company making this major investment here.

Fresh and Silk Flowers, Blooming Plants, Bountiful Fruit and Gourmet Baskets, Balloon Bouquets.

As one of the options – if people had a choice to buy from their regular insurance company. If they had a choice of that and then a fundamental coverage of Medicare, I think that would be a way to start moving.

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I have had AARP Town Hall Meetings. I haven’t had the one where they’ve been turned into a circus. I refuse to do those. … I’ve held 18 roundtable meetings with stakeholders, have visited seven of the hospitals. … I did a telephone town hall meeting and had over 4,000 people on the line.

Access to credit is a huge issue for nearly any company or entity that is interested in expanding. Here again, there seems to be some loosening of the credit markets. It’s not where it needs to be, certainly. And I think that is, quite frankly, the biggest hinderance to a more robust recovery.

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Other Sites Considered? I have not talked to the leadership about any other speciﬁc locations.

Visit BusinessJournalDaily.com to view video interviews with the Mahoning Valley’s most inﬂuential business and community leaders. Topics are always timely and pertinent.

The Business Journal

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63

MidSEPTEMBER 2009

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