[naviga:h3]Foundation aids Miracle-Ear patients[/naviga:h3]

Miracle-Ear of Butler, part of the nationwide hearing services franchise, partnered with the Miracle-Ear Foundation to help Dennis Dorr and Charlene Richey.

Both had difficulty hearing people talking to them in social situations.

Hearing specialist Marleen Hoffmann tested Dorr and Richey, both of Butler, and confirmed their need for hearing aids but determined the cost was out of their reach.

Hoffmann suggested that both patients apply for assistance from the Miracle-Ear Foundation. They did, and both were approved and fitted with donated hearing aids as well as lifetime after care.

[naviga:h3]Mars bank opens new branch office [/naviga:h3]

RICHLAND TWP, Allegheny County — Mars National Bank has opened a branch office on Route 8 in Richland Township.

The office at 5552 William Flinn Highway opened Monday next to its former Richland office.

The new office has no teller line — customers are greeted and guided to a service area. The area includes “pods” for transactions, meeting rooms for privacy and also self-serve convenience boxes, a new concept that lets customers access boxes with biometric security.

Any of the bankers staffing the office can help any customer.

Jennifer Gohn, assistant vice president of retail banking at the Richland office, said, “We expect our customers to enjoy the new facility, but also the new, efficient way to deal with any type of banking need.”

[naviga:h3]Brake lights spur Hyundai recall[/naviga:h3]

DETROIT — Hyundai is recalling nearly 305,000 Sonatas because the brake lights can stay on when the driver isn’t stopping.

The recall covers the 2011 and 2012 model years.

The company says the stopper pad between the brake pedal and the plunger that turns the lights on can deteriorate. That can make the plunger stick and cause the brake lights to stay on. Also, the transmission could be shifted out of park without the brake on, and the system that lets the brakes override the gas pedal may not work.

Hyundai says no crashes or injuries have been reported. The company plans to tell owners to take their cars to dealers to have the stopper pad replaced. No date has been set for the recall to start.

From staff and wire reports