9/6/2012 - West Side Leader
     

Awards to spotlight historic property restorations, leaders in preservation

WEST AKRON — The Summit County Historical Society of Akron (SCHS) and the Preservation Alliance of Greater Akron (PAGA) will host the Architectural Heritage Awards ceremony Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. at Akrona Galleries, 1765 W. Market St.

The evening will showcase historic property renovations and restorations in Greater Akron, as well as celebrate people influential in preservation efforts in Summit County, according to SCHS representatives. Award winners were selected by a jury of leading professionals chosen by representatives of SCHS and PAGA.

Attendees will be able to mingle with award winners, community leaders, architects, designers and past award recipients during the hors d’oeuvres and wine reception, which will begin at 7 p.m. The evening’s ceremony will begin at 7:45 p.m. Attendance at this event is by reservation only and is open to the public. Tickets to the awards ceremony are $20 per person and may be purchased at www.preservationakron.org by credit card or by check, made payable to SCHS and mailed to The Summit County Historical Society of Akron, 550 Copley Road, Akron, OH 44320.

Free insurance apps available

OHIO — The Ohio Department of Insurance (ODI) officials recently announced that free smartphone insurance applications are now available.

The myHome Inventory and WreckCheck apps help consumers more easily and accurately maintain inventory of their possessions and exchange information after an auto accident without compromising identities, according to ODI officials. The iPhone and Android apps were developed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), which the ODI is a member of, according to Ohio Lt. Governor and Insurance Director Mary Taylor.

“Documenting possessions with a home inventory is the most important step homeowners and renters can take to make sure they have enough coverage to fully protect and replace their valuables if something happens,” Taylor said. “For those involved in an automobile accident, drivers should only share names and vehicle insurance information. Sharing additional personal information, such as driver’s license numbers and home addresses, can put consumers, their property and their safety at risk.”

The average claim payment for damage to or loss of home contents in Ohio was $6,417 in 2010, according to ODI officials.

The myHOME Scr.APP.book app allows users to quickly photograph and capture images, descriptions, bar codes and serial numbers, and then stores them electronically for safekeeping. The app organizes information room by room and creates a backup file for email sharing.

The WreckCheck mobile app can help eliminate the risk of sharing too much personal information. It outlines what to do immediately after an auto accident and helps users create their own report. The app makes it easy to capture photos and document the necessary information to file an insurance claim, and lets users email a completed report directly to themselves and their insurance agents.

Ohioans with insurance questions or concerns can call the ODI consumer hotline at 800-686-1526 or visit www.insurance.ohio.gov for free information.

Ariel Hakim and Maria Lindsay contributed to these reports.

• West Side Real Estate News & Notes