Tourism bureau picks three new trustees

WARREN — Three new trustees were elected during a meeting of the Trumbull County Tourism Bureau.

Among those elected to three-year terms was John Palasics, owner of the Lake Tavern in Mecca, who will replace Mary Ann Porinchak from the National Packard Museum in Warren. Porinchak is board president and holds the restaurant/entertainment/attraction/event seat.

Kim Zarick, manager of the America’s Best Value Inn in Warren, will take over the hotel/motel slot from Tawnee Patterson, sales manager for Quality Inn and Suites.

Jerry Usselman, a member of the Western Reserve Fish and Game Protective Association, will replace Patrick Finan from the McKinley Memorial Library and Museum for the at-large seat.

The new board will be installed in January, at which time the trustees will choose new officers.

The meeting was Thursday at the Air Reserve Station in Vienna. Members also approved an amendment to the bureau’s articles of incorporation so that the organization is exempt from paying federal income tax and allows contributions to the bureau to be tax-deductible.

Board Treasurer Jim Economos gave a financial statement showing that through Oct. 31, the bureau had $200,705.62 in liquid assets and has disbursed nearly $75,000 to local nonprofit organizations through its grant-funding program.

Stephanie L. Sferra, executive director, reported that nearly $50,000 has been spent this year on advertising. As a result of its marketing efforts, the tourism office has received more than 3,000 requests for visitor information, a 220 percent increase over last year, she said.

Hotel bed-tax revenue has jumped 4.5 percent since 2006, resulting in an additional $10,000 in revenue, she said.