REGION

REGION
First-quarter dividend
YOUNGSTOWN -- United Community Financial Corp., the holding company for Home Savings and Loan and Butler Wick Corp., declared a first-quarter dividend of 7.5 cents per share, payable March 22 for shareholders of record March 10.
Ryan-sponsored seminarsto target small businesses
LIBERTY -- Congressman Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, is co-sponsoring two seminars to help small businesses access some of the $235 billion the federal government spends each year on goods and services. The U.S. Small Business Administration and the U.S. Commercial Service are also sponsors.
The seminars, both scheduled March 8, will be from 8 to 11:30 a.m. at the Liberty Township Hall, 1315 Church Hill Hubbard Road, and from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at the Ellet Branch Library, 2470 E. Market St. in Akron.
Both events are free, but reservations are requested. For information, call (330) 373-0074, or write Diane.Davis@mail.house.gov.
Smokey Bones marksits opening in Boardman
BOARDMAN -- Smokey Bones, a casual dining restaurant, was to open today on South Avenue in front of Wal-Mart. The restaurant, resembling a rustic mountain lodge, serves lunch and dinner and features barbecue cooking. It employs about 140.
The restaurant is owned by Florida-based Darden Restaurants, which also runs the Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Bahama Breeze and Seasons 52 chains.
From Vindicator staff reports