The Home Instead Senior Care office serving Erie, Huron and Ottawa counties announced that it expects to add 50 CAREGivers to its existing staff in 2013.

The local company’s anticipated growth is a key indicator of the increasing demand for home care professionals and the strength of the industry. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of personal care aides is expected to grow by 70 percent from 2010 to 2020, much faster than the average for all occupations.

Grande Maison Construction LLC, located in Norwalk, is the Grand Prize winner in the 14th annual Exterior Excellence Awards, presented by Norandex Building Materials Distribution Inc., a leading national distributor of exterior siding, windows, roofing, and doors.

Grande Maison, which has been servicing the Norwalk, Sandusky, Huron, Port Clinton, Marblehead and other areas of Northern Ohio for nearly four decades, earned the award for its renovation of a house in Marblehead.

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on March 29 for Fine Art Creations for Community Causes at 136 W. Water Street in downtown Oak Harbor. Fine Art Creations is owned and operated by Jackie Bodnar. The gallery is currently open Tuesday and Wednesday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Thursday-Sunday from 11a.m. to 4 p.m. Fine Art Creations houses original watercolor, oil and photography and they also accept art on consignment. Meeting/vendor space is available for $20 per hour for luncheons, presentations, demonstrations, seminars, etc. The gallery’s work can be viewed at www.jackie-burns.fineartamerica.com, and Jackie can be reached at 419-559-9081.

Twenty area charities will be big winners, and one individual winner will drive away a new vehicle. 

The Baumann Auto Group dealerships and the twenty charities will be selling $5 raffle tickets for a chance to win a new 2013 vehicle. 100% of every ticket sold will go to the charities.

Dr. Joseph Darr of Port Clinton, was among a select group of doctors of chiropractic from around the world invited to participate in the 21st Annual Symposium on Natural Fitness held February 28–March 2 in Columbus. Held annually in conjunction with the Arnold Schwarzenegger Sports Festival, this event welcomed hundreds of doctors of chiropractic, students and friends from around the world. Sponsored by the Council on Fitness and Sports Health Science of the International Chiropractors Association, this event celebrated its 21st Anniversary this year.