BUTLER TWP - The Butler County Manufacturing Consortium will host the seminar, "Cutting Your Health Care Costs," at 9 a.m. March 30 at Butler County Community College's Succop Theater.

The consortium is a "local initiative to provide manufacturers the opportunity to network and share resources to strengthen the manufacturing cluster" in the county, according to a news release.

The seminar is co-sponsored by the Tri-County Workforce Investment Board, BC3, the Community Development Corporation of Butler County, the Butler County Chamber of Commerce and Butler County CareerLink.

Those who want to attend this event are asked to register by March 21 by calling Michelle at 724-282-9341.

CALLERY - The Herr-Voss Stamco Corp. plant will have an open house April 20 and 21.A slitting and leveling seminar will start each day's festivities. Plant tours will be conducted at the Herr-Voss Stamco Roll facility, Conway Division and the Valley Roll facility.The day will include a buffet lunch and plant tour of the Herr-Voss Stamco headquarters in Callery.The company makes and installs heavy industrial equipment, primarily for the metals industry.For information, call 724-538-3180.

Edward Bloom of Bortmas, The Butler Florist is celebrating his 25th anniversary as owner of the business.Charles Bortmas opened Bortmas Florist in 1926. Bloom bought the business on Jan. 2, 1980, from Leeland Bortmas.On June 13, 1988, Bortmas, The Butler Florist was destroyed by fire, and it closed for two weeks. A temporary shop then was opened in the carriage house behind where the business was until a new facility could be found.On Feb. 18, 1989, the new Bortmas, The Butler Florist shop opened on East Wayne Street in Butler.It has full florist services from the simplest designs to up-to-date fresh and silk designs.Bortmas, The Butler Florist employs 20 full- and part time employees.

The Butler County Chamber of Commerce will have its 11th annual Employee Appreciation Luncheon April 21 at The Atrium on Route 422 west of Butler.This Hawaiian-themed lunch is being co-sponsored by the chamber and Butler County Community College, and will feature food, entertainment, door prizes and a mini-business expo from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.Cost is $20 per person and businesses may reserve tables for eight. Call the chamber at 724-283-2222 for reservations.

CRANBERRY TWP - TRACO recently announced the addition of a new security line that includes TRACO Blast Products and the Impact Resistant line of windows and doors.The blast products were primarily develop for the government and defense sectors because of the need for additional protection of civilian structures and public gathering places.The thermal impact products have been designed to meet building codes in coastal areas that are subject to hurricane force winds.

Butler Memorial Hospital has hired a medical staff office manager and added another doctor to its medical staff.George Pokrant, as medical staff office manager, is responsible for directing and managing physicians credentials, ensuring medical staff compliance with medical staff bylaws, rules and regulations and supervising medical staff office personnel.Most recently Pokrant served as the regional behavioral health administrator for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Presbyterian Shadyside Hospital's Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic. Before that he worked for the Sharon Regional Health System in Sharon, and the Psychiatric Center at Tallahassee Memorial Medical Center in Tallahassee, Fla.He has a registered nurse's license and is a certified as a psychiatric mental health nurse. Pokrant is the president of the Grove City Borough Council and chairman of the Grove City Revitalization board of directors.He received his master's degree in business administration from Youngstown (Ohio) State University and a bachelor's in nursing from Penn State University.He lives in Grove City with his wife and their four children.Dr. Wasim Ahmed,a nephrologist, has been appointed to the medical staff. He was a consultant in New Castle, Ellwood City and Pittsburgh and was medical director at three dialysis facilities in those areas.He specializes in diseases of the kidneys,Ahmed continues to operate an independent nephrology practice and consult with patients in this region.He served a fellowship in nephrology and completed a residency in internal medicine at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University at Harlem Hospital Center in New York. He also completed residencies at the Institute of Urology and Transportation and the Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, both in Karachi, Pakistan.He completed his internship in medicine and surgery at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center in Karachi and received his medical degree from Sind Medical College, also in Karachi.He is board certified in internal medicine and nephrology and is a member of the American College of Physicians.

Scott Harperof Pittsburgh's South Hills has been appointed to the board of directors of Glade Run Lutheran Services in Zelienople.---Ed Nusser,a Butler County native with a summer home in East Brady, has sold his Sunshine Dental Centers business in Fort Meyers, Fla., to Great Expressions Dental Centers of Michigan.