Regional Business Digest

REGION
Scholarships offeredfor young entrepreneurs
YOUNGSTOWN -- The National Federation of Independent Businesses is holding its fifth annual scholarship program for high school seniors who are small-business owners. Award recipients will receive 1,000, with regional winners receiving 5,000. The Young Entrepreneur of the Year will receive an additional 5,000. More information is available at www.nfib.com/YEF.
Soft Touch to represent2 leading manufacturers
GIRARD -- Soft Touch, a 30-year-old furniture restoration, repair and upholstery firm, has been selected to represent two of the leading drapery and bedding manufacturers in the nation. Kasmir Fabrics and Carole Fabrics have selected Soft Touch as an independent dealer in the area to carry their lines of quality draperies and bedding products.
Gift House opens shopin Eastwood Mall
NILES -- The Gift House has opened in the Eastwood Mall. It is a consignment shop which offers items that are provided by crafters from western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio. Included are hand-crafted items, holiday wreaths, ceramic items and sports memorabilia.
Ankle & amp; Foot Care siteopens on Mahoning Ave.
CHAMPION -- Ankle & amp; Foot Care Centers has opened an office at 4696 Mahoning Ave. The center's physicians and surgeons offer diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitation services. The company has 19 offices in the region.
NATION
Waiting in line? Here'swhere you'd rather be
NEW YORK -- The holiday shopping season undoubtedly means overstuffed carts in long, winding checkout lines. Where would you rather be?
According to a survey from Visa USA, 42 percent of customers would eagerly swap cleaning their bathroom for standing in line, and one in five would rather wait in traffic than wait in line. Eighteen percent prefer going to the dentist, whereas 12 percent would choose to be stuck in an elevator.
To make time tick by while waiting, 45 percent watched people pass by, while 44 percent read or listened to music. Nearly three in 10 made new friends, and 19 percent made a date. Nearly one-quarter added more items to their shopping cart, but 32 percent left without buying a thing.
Visa polled 1,000 consumers waiting in lines in New York City.
Opportunities open upfor identity thieves
NEW YORK -- 'Tis the season for identity theft. As the holiday shopping season gets into full swing, identity thieves have more opportunities to scam consumers.
Kirk Herath, chief privacy officer at Nationwide, offers the following tips:
Look over your shoulder: Thieves often grab credit card numbers or personal information while customers wait in long checkout lines. Shield your wallet from wandering eyes and watch for techie thieves using camera phones to snap pictures of your credit cards.
Check out the checkout clerk: Thieves behind the register can run a card through an unauthorized, second machine to scan personal information, a practice called "skimming." Try to pay with cash whenever you can. If you're using a card, watch the clerk closely and double-check your statements for counterfeit charges.
Online vigilance: Don't give out your Social Security number to any Internet retailer. No legitimate business would ask for the information. Also, don't trust e-mails asking you to update billing information via a link.
Vindicator staff and wire reports