Business News & Notes
By Maria Lindsay
Lighthouse Bar and Grill refurbished
NEW FRANKIN — The recently refurbished Lighthouse Bar and Grill opened at the Olde Harbor Inn on Portage Lakes Sept. 14.
“We wanted a casual bar and grill atmosphere to complement our existing upscale dining room,” said new Harbor Inn owner Steve Burroughs. “While our dining room at the Harbor Inn is known for fine dining, we hope that the Lighthouse Bar and Grill is known for fun dining.”
Changes to the bar include bright paint, a nautical décor and warm oak flooring, as well as booths and bistro tables. Customers can view the lake or watch sports on television.
The existing kitchen servicing the Marina deck will provide a casual menu for the bar and grill. Executive Chef Clayton Cundiff will oversee the implementation of an updated menu and promises to keep the most popular Marina grill items available.
Burroughs also said the bar and grill will offer “island music” in the evenings and dance bands on weekend nights.
Lighthouse Bar and Grill photos and menus are available at www.theoldeharborinn.com.
New fishing store opening
in Coventry
COVENTRY — LandBigFish will open its first fishing tackle store in the area in the Coventry Plaza, 3333 Manchester Road, Sept. 22. A grand-opening celebration will take place from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. LandBigFish is a fishing tackle store filled with brand name tackle for bass, walleye and other game fishing anglers. The 8,000-square-foot store, including an 800-foot club area, features more than 100 feet of Zoom products and 60 feet of Berkley products and houses complete product lines of most fishing tackle manufacturers.
FLW Touring professionals Scott Suggs (2007 FLW Championship Winner) and Dave LeFebre (FLW Touring Pro), among other touring professionals, will participate in the event, signing autographs and posing for photos throughout the day.
Also, Ohio Division of Wildlife personnel and representatives from major fishing tackle manufacturers will attend to help promote conservation awareness, as well as showcase the latest products and trends in tackle.
The grand opening will present a carnival-like atmosphere with free food, drinks, grab bags and door prizes given away every 20 minutes, according to organizers. A children’s casting contest also is planned.
Outstanding employees honored
at luncheon
AKRON — The sixth annual Summit County Employee of Distinction Luncheon, hosted by Goodwill Industries of Akron (GIA), took place Sept. 5 at Guy’s Party Centre. Five individuals were selected from 34 employees nominated by area businesses and organizations.
A vintage fashion show, 20th Century Work Clothes, rounded out the event.
The 2007 Summit County Employee of Distinction award winners are:
• Onah Britenbucher, state-tested nurses’ aide, Cambridge Home Health Care;
• Rebecca Milhoan, office manger, Scanco;
• Erin Rodabaugh, volunteer coordinator, ACCESS Inc.;
• Alvin Salzman, produce supervisor, West Point Market; and
• Angie Stricker, recruiting specialist, Hattie Larlham.
“Our region has a strong work force and some extraordinary individuals,” said Nan McClenaghan, chief executive officer and president of GIA. “It’s Goodwill’s privilege to offer area businesses and organizations a way to honor their best. All the winners are stellar employees from diverse companies, with even more diverse responsibilities. What they have in common are the exceptional standards they set for themselves and their work.”
The fashion show included vintage work clothes from 1899 to the 1970s. The clothing is a part of GIA’s vintage fashion collection. The agency, with help from a grant, has been developing the collection.
In November, GIA will host Taste of Vintage, a gala event showcasing an extended fashion show and area restaurants.
For more information about GIA, visit www.goodwillakron .org or call (800) 989-8428.
— By Stephanie Kist
ReStore taking shape for
Habitat
SUMMIT COUNTY — Habitat for Humanity of Summit County, in an effort to overcome rising costs, will join more than 500 other Habitat affiliates across the United States and Canada to create a retail enterprise that will support more homes to be built for local income-qualified families.
The Habitat ReStore is a retail store open to the public that sells donated new and used building materials and home items.
The ReStore will include items such as insulation, drywall, lumber, sinks, shower doors, cabinets and appliances. In preparation for a yet-to-be-determined store opening in Summit County, material donations are sought to generate inventory.
Habitat is working with local homebuilders and contractors to educate them about the amount of construction waste that is turned over in landfills.
Additionally, Habitat is working with local Lowe’s and Home Depot stores to acquire items that can be donated to the ReStore. Items will be sold at anywhere from 50 percent to 80 percent below retail value.
“Individuals can also donate items to the ReStore. Habitat will provide a tax letter for all donors to the store.
Habitat staff and the Board of Directors have approved a beta test of the ReStore concept for Summit County and are currently in the process of selecting a location.
All ReStore profits will become unrestricted funds used to finance the construction of more homes in Summit County.
Individuals or organizations that have something they would like to donate may contact Rick Thoerig at (330) 785-2700. Arrangements can be made to pick up items for those unable to drop them off.
Habitat for Humanity of Summit County also is looking for volunteers to help build homes as well as supporters to donate supplies, land and funds for the completion of the homes.
For information, call (330) 785-2700 or visit www.hfhsummitcounty.org.
— By Stephanie Kist
FirstEnergy contributes $105,000
to local Habitat
WEST AKRON — FirstEnergy Corp. is joining Habitat for Humanity of Summit County to sponsor and help build three homes.
The three-bedroom, 1-1/2-bathroom homes will be for the Morris, Carter and Tsolakis families. Construction on the homes began in the late spring and will be dedicated near the end of this year.
In addition to FirstEnergy employees helping to build, employees from Bristol, Meyers, Squibb; Winking Lizard; Cisco Systems; Lockheed Martin; Starbucks; and several area churches, including Montrose Zion, Copley United Methodist and Fairlawn Lutheran, have spent many workdays on the three home sites.
Also, students in the construction technology program from the Akron Urban League spent weeks of their field experience working on these homes and learning the construction trade.
The homes are part of FirstEnergy’s statewide effort to support Habitat for Humanity with its goal of providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for people in need.
FirstEnergy is contributing $1.22 million to sponsor the construction of approximately 27 homes in 2007. Since 2002, the Akron-based utility company has contributed more than $10.5 million to the effort, supporting more than 200 homes. Each of the Habitat for Humanity homes are built and certified to EnergyStar(tm) energy-efficiency standards.
“FirstEnergy and their employees have been a wonderful partner for our affiliate,” said Rochelle Fisher, executive director of the Summit County affiliate. “They are enthusiastic volunteers and really spend time in the beginning of the home project doing hard work like digging trenches, framing, siding and insulation.”
The 2007 funds were committed under FirstEnergy’s Ohio Rate Stabilization Plan and are not a donation from the FirstEnergy Foundation, according to company officials.
Local builder designs homes
for women
UNIONTOWN — Woman-Centric Matterssm, a division of Design Basics, the nation’s largest home plan design service to the building industry, announced today Reflection Homes, a new homebuilder headquartered in Uniontown, has been licensed as the area’s exclusive Woman-Centric Matterssm home builder for nine counties in Northeast Ohio.
Linda Reimer, president of Design Basics, explained that Woman-Centric homes intuitively appeal to women. After conducting numerous focus groups with women of all ages and backgrounds from across the country, Design Basics discovered there are four primary aspects that are important to women when selecting a home plan: flexible living spaces, entertaining, storage and destressing areas. “Because of the livability of woman-centric homes, the homes are popular with men, too,” she said.
Bunny Dennison and Dave Beachy co-founded Reflection Homes and have almost a half-century of experience in construction, business management, real estate sales and customer service. They have been responsible for the construction and sale of more than 1,400 new homes throughout Northeast Ohio and Central Florida.
To learn more about Reflection Homes, visit www.HerReflectionHomes.com.
— By Maria Lindsay
Weaver Industries introduces
document destruction
division
AKRON — Weaver Industries, a nonprofit organization providing individuals with developmental disabilities vocational training and employment opportunities, has created a new business division, Weaver-SecurShred.
Weaver-SecurShred performs all shredding services in a secure facility with 24/7 video surveillance and extensive security to ensure the customer’s protection of materials, according to Weaver Industries’ officials. Weaver-SecurShred offers a shredding level of 5/16-inch and co-mingles documents from multiple companies to ensure maximum security.
Certificates of destruction are provided at the completion of each shred.
“Weaver-SecurShred was established to provide individuals with developmental disabilities employment opportunities while providing a needed service to the community,” said General Manager Jack Skinner.
Weaver-SecurShred is a member of the National Association for Information destruction and Secure Document Alliance.
Weaver-SecurShred is located at 2337 Romig Road, Suite 2. For more information, call (330) 745-2400, visit www.weaversecurshred.org or send an e-mail to jskinner@weaversecurshred.org
— By Stephanie Kist
HPCPO supports Shop
for a Cause
GREATER AKRON — Visiting Nurse Association’s (VNA) Hospice and Palliative Care Partners of Ohio (HPCPO) is participating in Shop for a Cause, a one-day shopping event at Macy’s department stores. The community-wide fund-raising event will take place Oct. 13 at all Macy’s stores nationwide.
Shop for a Cause takes place to give back to the community through the support of nonprofit organizations. Each participating organization has been asked to sell a minimum of 100 tickets.
Macy’s stores will be open to the general public the day of the event, but only those who purchase discount tickets will receive special savings.
Discount tickets are $5 each and are available through HPCPO as well as all Macy’s stores on the day of the event. All day discounts on apparel, jewelry, kitchenware, electronics and furniture range from 10 percent to 20 percent for those who purchased tickets. To receive discounts, the shopping pass must be presented at the point of purchase.
All proceeds from shopping passes sold at HPCPO will go directly back into the organization, according to VNA officials. Those passes sold in-store will profit Macy’s designated national charities.
Shopping passes will be available through HPCPO until Oct. 12.
For more information or to purchase
discount tickets, contact Mackenzie Peters at (216)
694-6236 or mpeters@vnacleveland.org.
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