7/12/2012 - South Side Leader
     

City, car dealers create Green Auto Mile

GREEN — The city of Green has officially named the stretch of South Arlington Road between Interstate 77 and state Route 619 the Green Auto Mile.

The announcement celebrates the completion of a $12 million infrastructure improvement project that included widening South Arlington Road, updating the intersection at state Route 619, rerouting Jarvis Road and adding sidewalks, curbs and more.

A three-day celebration will begin July 26 with a VIP event, followed by an evening of exclusive deals on new and used cars July 27 from 5 to 9 p.m. The celebration will culminate July 28 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with community events featuring family fun, including a baseball-themed extravaganza with food and fun at each dealership, chances to win prizes from local vendors and Ohio attractions, celebrity and mascot appearances and more.

The Arlington Road corridor was named the Green Auto Mile to mark the home of six car dealerships — Doug Chevrolet, Fred Martin Nissan, Lexus of Akron/Canton, Park Auto Group, Ron Marhofer Hyundai and Toth Buick GMC.

“The auto dealers and the city of Green are all very excited about this new collaboration,” said Mayor Dick Norton. “Each dealership is in walking distance of each other, as well as in close proximity to retail shopping centers, restaurants, hotels and a movie theater. I believe this will validate the Green Auto Mile as the place to shop for a new or used car in the Greater Akron/Canton area.”

To learn more about the Green Auto Mile dealerships or the commemoration weekend of events, including car specials and event parking, please visit www.greenautomile.com.

Goodwill accepting employee distinction award nominations

GREATER AKRON — Goodwill Industries is offering area employers an opportunity to recognize and appreciate their stellar employees by sponsoring the Employee of Distinction Award Luncheon Sept. 5. Employers in Summit, Medina, Portage, Ashland and Richland counties may nominate as many employees as they would like to publicly recognize, and there is no fee. Every nominee will be acknowledged at the event, listed in the commemorative program and placed in the running to be named one of the five 2012 Employees of Distinction. All nominees also will receive two free tickets to a performance at Akron’s Civic Theater. The deadline to submit nominations is July 30.

A panel of independent judges will select the top five employees. The winners will be announced at the event and be given a special gift from Shulan’s Jewelers in Fairlawn. Employers who submit a nomination by July 15 will receive a free business-card-sized advertisement in the commemorative program (limit one ad per company) and be entered into a drawing to win a membership to the Greater Akron Chamber (current members are not eligible).

The luncheon will be held at 11:30 a.m. Sept. 5 at Guy’s Party Centre, 500 E. Waterloo Road in Akron. This year’s keynote speaker at the Luncheon will be Ward “Tim” Timken, chairman of the Timken Co. Board of Directors. Co-chairing the event will be Randy Katz, of City Scrap and Salvage Co., and Jim Bunnell, of Austin Tape and Label.

Tickets to the event, including for nominees, are $25. Employers can download the nomination form, make a reservation for the luncheon and learn about sponsorship and advertising opportunities for the event at www.goodwillakron.org. Questions about the luncheon can be directed to Tracy Keenan at 330-786-2573 or tkeenan@goodwillakron.org.

— Ariel Hakim and Maria Lindsay contributed to these reports.

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