Deadline extended to accommodate last minute rush for advertising Westside News is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its Hometown Community Directory. The Directory will be delivered to the nearly 33,000 homes served by Westside News Inc. on the weekend of April 29 and 30. Once again, it will contain local maps and listings for all local government officials. The Hometown Community Directory is the only such guide to provide important contact information for state and federal representatives at their offices in Albany and Washington. “We may be the only directory to carry local phone numbers for our post offices, as a courtesy to our readers,” commented Westside News Inc. president Keith Ryan. “Also listings for our local school districts are found in one place, not scattered throughout, as with other directories,” Ryan said. Westside News also provides free listings to local community organizations and places of worship, unlike other such directories. “We strive to make the Hometown Community Directory relevant to our readers, which gives them a good reason to keep and use the directory,” Ryan said. It has been an important tool for many local businesses to communicate with their customers and potential customers. Lou Borelli, owner of GVS Appliance Service, said, “It’s been an anchor for me in the local business community -- it does a great job for me. I’ve always been in it and will again next year.” Mark Wolck, a painting contractor, said, “My ad pays for itself 10 times over and more … I like my business being exposed to a wide area. I can’t believe the calls I get in the spring when people want to schedule an early job and, believe me, it continues all year.” As has been the experience with past years, many customers wait until the deadline, forcing the sales staff of Westside News to request more time to give their customers an opportunity to get their ad together so they can be in the directory. “The directory continues to be one of the most popular products we publish,” said Ryan. “If we can, we want to give everyone an opportunity to have their message in the directory,” he added. Another popular aspect of the Hometown Community Directory has been the year-long contest which uses the book as a resource to answer questions printed each week in the Suburban News and Hamlin-Clarkson Herald. The drawing for the winner of this year’s contest will receive a $600 Fun Package courtesy of Bodine Unlimited Tours Inc. The winner can select from a number of options including baseball excursions to Yankees, Red Sox or Blue Jays games; Toronto theater trips; shopping trips to New York City or Toronto; Syracuse basketball or football games; NFL football in Buffalo and other events. Bodine will also be the provider of the Grand Prize to mark the publication’s 10th anniversary. “We have saved our advertisers hundreds, if not thousands, in comparison to the higher-priced Rochester book, and the number of repeat advertisers who choose to be included in the book year after year proves the effectiveness of the publication, Ryan said. Area businesses are invited to inquire about this year’s Hometown Community Directory while there is still time. Call Westside News Inc. at 585-352-3411 for information. February 26, 2006 |
