5/31/2012 - West Side Leader
     

United Way, Tri-County Regional Labor Council host awards event

FAIRLAWN — The Tri-County Regional Labor Council AFL-CIO and United Way of Summit County (UWSC) will serve as co-hosts for the annual Community Service Awards Dinner June 7 at the Hilton Akron/Fairlawn, 3180 W. Market St.

The event will begin with a cash bar at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7, introductions at 8 and the award presentation at 8:30.

This year, the dinner will honor Tim Heitic, vice president of Branch No. 148 National Association of Letter Carriers, who will receive the Leo Dugan award, and Summit County Executive Russell Pry, who will receive the Peter Bommarito Award.

According to event officials, the awards were established in remembrance of two of Akron’s most respected labor leaders: Peter Bommarito, president emeritus of the United Rubber Workers of America, and Leo Dugan, past secretary-treasurer of the Tri-County Regional Labor Council AFL-CIO, and a former Ohio state senator.

In addition to the presentation of the awards, the dinner will include recognition of past recipients as well as remarks from keynote speaker Christopher Teodosio, president of the Andrea Rose Teodosio Memorial Foundation.

Tickets for the event cost $50 and are available by contacting the Tri-County Regional Labor Council at 330-253-2111.

Hill Insurance Agency opens in Highland Square

Nicholas Hill opened Hill Insurance Agency, which is partnered with Farmers Insurance, at 572 W. Market St. in Highland Square.

Photo courtesy of Hill Insurance Agency

Akron native and agency owner Nicholas Hill said he plans to provide quality insurance products and financial services to area residents.

“I chose the site because I was raised here and want to make roots here,” Hill said. “I want to provide the best services to my neighbors. They’re my friends and family.”

Hill said he earned a degree in corporate finance and financial services, with a minor in entrepreneurship in 2003 from The University of Akron. He also said he has nine years of experience in financial advising and joined Farmers Insurance in May 2011.

Hill added he has received four professional recognitions from Farmers Insurance for his superior performance, and he is one of only three agents in Ohio to receive the Farmers Insurance Silver Star for excellence in financial products sales.

Hill Insurance Agency will host a grand-opening event June 10 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Old Park Walker Shelter in the Portage Lakes State Park, 5031 Manchester Road. Space is limited, and registration by phone is requested at 330-247-2181 or via email at nhill@farmersagent.com.

Hill Insurance Agency is partnered with Farmers Insurance, specializing in home, auto, commercial and umbrella insurance products, as well as life insurance and retirement services, according to agency officials.

Countryside Conservancy offering course for aspiring farmers

PENINSULA — With more farmers’ markets sprouting up during the past several years, there is an increasing need for more farmers to help meet the rising consumer demand for fresh, local food, according to Countryside Conservancy officials. With this in mind, the Countryside Conservancy is offering “Exploring the Small Farm Dream,” a four-week course to be held at Church in the Valley, 2241 Everett Road.

The course, which will begin June 11 from 6 to 9 p.m. and continue for the next three Mondays at the same time, will take participants through the process of setting personal and farming goals, assessing available resources, determining if farming as a business is right for them and developing an action plan to guide the next steps.

According to organizers, the course is not a farm business planning course, but a precursor to farm business planning and is for anyone who has ever wondered about starting a farm or other agricultural business.

Instructors will include Katie Myers-Griffith, Farmland program manager at Countryside Conservancy and a small-scale farmer in Wayne County; Tim Knorr, a longtime community-supported agriculture farm manager in Summit County; and Allison Preiss, a professional marketing coordinator and owner of Apolloson Acres, a fruit orchard in Medina County.

The course fee is $100 for one participant and $150 for two people working on the same business idea. The fee includes a workbook and additional handout materials.

For details on the program or to request registration forms, contact Julie Gabelman at 330-657-2542, ext. 227 or jgabelman@cvcountryside.org or visit www.cvcountryside.org.

— By Ariel Hakim

• SouthPaw Pet Sitting cares for pets
• Don Nacho’s serving Mexican food, drinks in family-run business
• South Side Business News & Notes