Group sets date to award Realtist of the Year

Group sets date to award Realtist of the Year

GIRARD — The Youngstown Warren Realtist Association will hold its Realtist of the Year Awards and scholarship luncheon from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at Mahoning Country Club. This year’s honoree is Annie Hall, a neighborhood block watch activist. Sonja Williams, the wife of Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams and upward bound coordinator at Youngstown State University, will be the keynote speaker. For tickets, call Vivian Martin at (330) 743-4560.

Foundation awards funds to HIV/AIDS Ministry

YOUNGSTOWN — Two component funds of the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley have issued awards to the Ursuline Center HIV/AIDS Ministry. The first grant of $9,300 came from a fund that wants to remain anonymous and was for the purchase of a van. Also, the Young Philanthropist Fund provided $2,500 to provide summer intervention activities for low-income children affected by HIV/AIDS.

The Young Philanthropist Fund was established in 2006 with the goal of introducing the Valley’s younger generation to the role of philanthropy.

Deadline is June 2 for homestead exemption

COLUMBUS — Eligible Ohioans – senior citizens and permanently and adults who are totally disabled – who did not apply for the expanded Homestead Property Tax Exemption credit in 2007 have until June 2 to do so for this year. The 2008 application includes a box, “Late application for prior year,” that taxpayers may check to claim the exemption for the 2007 tax year as well.

Last year, nearly 97 percent of those believed eligible for applied for and received the credit on their 2007 tax bill. Those people do not need to reapply to receive the credit in 2008.

Expansion of the homestead exemption was a key component of the two-year state budget bill passed last year. It allows all Ohio citizens age 65 and older, and permanently and totally disabled Ohioans, regardless of income, to exempt $25,000 of the market value of the home they owned and lived in on Jan. 1 from property taxes.

WBE to provide initial certification training

BOARDMAN — The Ohio Women’s Business Enterprise Council will provide initial WBE certification training at a Regional Chamber luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday at the Holiday Inn.

WBE is a marketing tool for expanding a company’s visibility and gaining access to decision makers in supplier diversity and procurement offices. Many corporations require WBE certification before providing access to their supplier diversity programs.

The cost is $20 for chamber members and $25 for others. Call Jennifer at (330) 744-2131, ext. 12, to register.

Phantom Fireworks in Fla. gets award from NAACP

YOUNGSTOWN — At its Freedom Fund and Awards Banquet in Daytona Beach, Fla., the NAACP recently honored Phantom Fireworks of Daytona Beach with the Corporate Service Award. Phantom Fireworks is a unit of the B.J. Alan Co., which is based in Youngstown.

Cynthia Slater, president of the NAACP Volusia County and Daytona Beach branch, presented Phantom Fireworks the award for “going beyond the call of duty for incorporating the philosophy of strong community involvement by supporting a variety of community organizations and promoting a campaign of consumer fireworks safety for Daytona Beach residents.”

Vindicator staff reports