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LOCAL
Development constructionbegins off South Raccoon
CANFIELD -- Ground was broken Thursday for Canfield's first single-family planned unit development, Lakewood Villas.
Located off South Raccoon Road, the homes are being built by Russo Builders and marketed by Howard Hanna Real Estate.
The first phase of development will include 34 lots. Legacy Boulevard will include a pond with a fountain.
The homes will each be 1,700 square feet and start at $179,900 for two bedrooms. Plans are available with or without basements.
Snow removal, grass cutting and garbage removal will be provided with a maintenance fee.
Tax revenue from the development will remain in the Canfield community.
A furnished model will be available in fall 2005.
For more information, call (330) 702-8400.
F.N.B. Corp. to represent region at bank conference
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- F.N.B. Corp. will participate as a presenter at the sixth annual Community Bank Investor Conference, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday in New York City. The conference, sponsored by Keefe, Bruyette & amp; Woods Inc., is focused on community-based financial institutions.
F.N.B. will be one of 84 public community and regional banking companies, representing all areas of the country, invited to present at the conference.
Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani will deliver the keynote address on Tuesday.
Stephen Gurgovits, president and chief executive officer of F.N.B. Corp., and Brian Lilly, chief financial officer, will make a presentation at 4 p.m. Wednesday about the overall business strategy and financial performance of the $5.7 billion diversified financial services company.
The conference will be Webcast live on the KBW Web site located at http://www.kbw.com.
Holding company reports19.8 percent net increase
NILES -- First Niles Financial, a holding company for Home Federal Savings and Loan Association of Niles, reported net income of $604,000 for the first six months of 2005 represented a 19.8 percent increase over 2004's six-month total.
The statement attributed the increase to non-interest income resulting from a gain on sale of investments.
An increase in non-interest expenses offset some of the positive gains, the report said.
Noninterest expenses for the six-month period of 2005's first half increased $46,000 compared to the 2004 first-half total. The report did not cite complete expense totals.
It said expenses increased over a one-year period because of higher legal, operating and audit expenses.
Pet resort to cut ribbon
CANFIELD -- Wags 'N Wiggles Resort, 7910 Akron-Canfield Road, will have a ribbon-cutting opening at 1:30 p.m. today.
The full-service pet grooming facility and kennel is owned by Jennifer Kutsch. The business also provides training services. For more information, call (330) 702-9247.
Handel's Ice Cream opensits first stand in Virginia
YOUNGSTOWN -- Handel's Homemade Ice Cream and Yogurt opened its newest store Thursday in Virginia Beach, Va. It's the first Handel's store in Virginia, according to a company news release.
Handel's, owned and operated by Leonard Fisher of Youngstown, has seven company-owned stores and 28 franchises located throughout Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, California and now Virginia.