Chamber program

Chamber program

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber’s BusinessSFlbRoundtable Series will feature a program titled “Growing Your Business Through Social Media” on April 26.

Dan Pecchia of Pecchia Communications, Rob Palowitz of Palo Creative and Alexis Marina of McConnell Marketing will discuss the best practices and strategies to avoid when using Facebook, Twitter and Linked- In to promote businesses.

The event will take place at the Covelli Centre’s YSU Community Room, 229 E. Front St. Registration and breakfast begins at 7:30 a.m., with the program from 8 to 9 a.m. Cost is $10 for Chamber members and $15 for nonmembers. For more information, email Jennifer Mascardine at jennifer@-regionalchamber.com.

Bottom Dollar drive

YOUNGSTOWN

Bottom Dollar Food has launched its “Hunger Has a Cure” campaign to support Feeding America and its network of local food banks. The campaign, which allows customers to donate in $1 or $3 increments at the register, ends Tuesday.

Customers can support the “Hunger Has a Cure” campaign by adding a monetary donation of their choice to their total grocery bill at the register. These funds will then be donated to Feeding America, which is able to help provide eight meals for every $1 donated. Funds will support food-bank summer programs in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Ohio, in communities where Bottom Dollar Food stores operate.

Business showcase

east palestine

The Columbiana and East Palestine Chambers of Commerce have partnered to host the Spring Business Showcase at The Meadows at Covington on April 25.

The Meadows is at 200 Covington Drive, East Palestine. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. with free refreshments provided by Covington Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation. Presentations from Christian Counseling Solutions, Town and Country Garden Center, The Charles Nelson Schmick House, SJP Computerized Accounting/H&R Block, Endia Wisser Photography and CSI Environmental will be given. The event is free.

Takeover has risks

PITTSBURGH

Two consultants say Highmark Inc.’s $475 million takeover of the financially struggling West Penn Allegheny Health System would benefit consumers, but has financial risks.

The Pennsylvania InsuranceSFlbDepartment released reports by Chicago consultant Margaret Guerin-Calvert and the Blackstone Group of New York.

Among the concerns is whether Highmark can shift enough patients from the competing University of Pittsburgh Medical Center to turn around West Penn Allegheny’s fortunes.

Highmark is the state’s largest health insurer and is aiming to compete with UPMC. The deal also requires Highmark to pay West Penn bondholders $635 million, making its investment $1.1 billion.

Vindicator staff reports

Selected local stocks

STOCK, DIVIDENDCLOSECHANGE

Aqua America, .70, 32.825 .08

Avalon Holdings,3.74.00

Clear Channel, .33 31.75 —.10

Cortland Bancorp, 10.25.00

Farmers Nat., .126.46 —.04

First Energy, 2.20, 45.72.25

FirstMerit Corp., .64,16.68 .07

First Niles Financial, .32,7.25.00

First Place Fin., .0023.00

FNB Corp., .48,11.62—.08

General Motors,29.63—.09

General Electric, .76,23.46—.13

Motors Liquidation, .0422.00

Huntington Bank, .16, 7.39—.08

JP Morgan Chase, 1.52,49.01—.30

Key Corp, .20,9.84—.19

LaFarge, 16.027 —.28

Macy’s, .80, 44.43.12

Parker Hannifin, 1.72, 89.04—.92

PNC, 1.60,65.81—1.06

RTI Intl. Metals,29.28.88

Simon Prop. Grp.,4.60,173.66—.61

Stoneridge 7.31 —.07

United Community Fin. 4.26—.01

Selected prices at 4 p.m. Friday. Provided by Stifel Nicolaus. Not to be construed as an offer or recommendation to buy or sell any security.