Dec 11, 2014 3 min read

The Observer-Reporter launched a new initiative to create added value for its subscribers as well as the local business community.

O-R+ is a membership program that will provide numerous events and promotions throughout the year with the goal of rewarding subscribers while involving the community and local businesses.

“We’ve identified events we can have in our market that maybe haven’t been done or can benefit from a fresh approach,” said Matt Miller, director of sales and marketing for the newspaper. “It’s a way to provide additional value to our subscribers, and it also gets local businesses involved in promotions of their work.”

Observer-Reporter Publisher Thomas Northrop said the initiative is a way to reward the newspaper’s subscribers.

“It’s a loyalty program, especially for the core of longtime subscribers that we have, of which there are many,” Northrop said.

In addition to special events that will bring together subscribers, local businesses and the community, members will receive coupons and other incentives throughout the year.

To date, three events have been planned:

• The Biggest Winner – Jan. 12 to Feb. 20 at the Wilfred R. Cameron Wellness Center

As host of the competition at the Wilfred R. Cameron Wellness Center, the Observer-Reporter will feature local residents and local businesses. Contestants will compete for six weeks and the event will receive weekly coverage in the O-R and on its website. An O-R team consisting of two employees and four other candidates from the community will compete against 10 other Wellness Center teams. The goal of the contest is to teach nutritional eating, proper exercise and overall better health.

• Washington County Auto Show – April 17 and 18 at Washington County Fairgrounds

This first-ever Auto Show will display new cars of every make and model and even a few antiques. There will be interactive demonstrations for car enthusiasts and businesses including insurers and banks, as well as those representing car safety, maintenance and many others.

• Craft Beer and Wine Festival – May 29 at The Meadows Racetrack & Casino

The event will provide a sampling of the most unique craft beer and local wineries in the region along with food trucks from local restaurants, with food pairings to compliment the beer and wine selections. Participants will see demonstrations by breweries and local wineries on how they produce their products. The festival also will feature several local artisans and bands, as well as the casino’s gaming offerings.

In conjunction with the launch of O-R+, the O-R has hired Carole DeAngelo, a 20-year veteran in commercial real estate and retail management, marketing and event coordination, as its event marketing manager.

DeAngelo was most recently general manager at The Waterfront in Homestead, where she directed management, operations, capital projects, accounting and marketing functions for the 1.3 million-square-foot regional shopping center.

Earlier, she was general manager for four years at The Galleria of Mt. Lebanon.

She began her retail career as marketing director at Washington Crown Center in 1998, a position she held for six years before being promoted to general manager in October 2004.

She attended West Virginia University and Wheeling Jesuit University, where she studied marketing, business and organizational management.