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Peninsula Daily News
Sunday, December 19, 2010
D7
$ Briefly . . . Continued from D1 For more information, phone Henery’s at 360-6836969 or McComb at 360683-2827.
Gas prices rise PORT ANGELES — At a time when many are trying to watch their wallets in the holiday season, gasoline prices have shot upward. The state’s average price of gasoline is $3.14 per gallon for regular — up 12 cents from last month, according to the AAA auto club. The North Olympic Peninsula also saw a doubledigit increase at the pump over the past month. The average price of regular gasoline in Jefferson and Clallam counties was $3.15 a gallon Saturday, an increase of 11 cents over the previous month. The national average price of $2.98 is up by 12 cents, which is 38 cents more than the national price on Dec. 18 last year, when it was $2.60. AAA blames the increase to how investors are reacting to the price of crude oil and the weak dollar, An additional influence on prices has been how investors are interpreting economic data, according to an agency announcement about the higher gasoline prices. “As the past 25 years have shown us, crude oil and gasoline prices are tremendously tidal,” the auto club said. “Throughout 2010, those prices have ebbed and flowed with the financial tides, and that is certainly the case so far in December.” Benchmark oil for January delivery rose 34 cents Friday to settle at $88.02 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. In London, Brent crude rose 7 cents to settle at $91.67 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange.
portation and more. For more information, e-mail bridgebuilders@ olypen.com.
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Do you have a business expansion planned, staffing change, new product line or something newsworthy? Are you starting a new business? The Peninsula Daily News is happy to mention news of your business in our daily Business Briefly column. Simply send in the information — including a phone number for us to get additional information, if necessary — to the PDN in any of the following methods: ■ Fax it to 360-417-3521. ■ Mail it to PDN news, P.O. Box 1330, Port Angeles, WA 98362. ■ Bring it to any of our news offices at 305 W. First St., Port Angeles; 1939 E. Sims Way, Port Townsend; or 150 S. Fifth Ave., Suite 2, Sequim. ■ E-mail it to news@peninsuladailynews.com. Photos are always welcome. If you’re e-mailing a photo, be sure it is at least 150 dots per inch resolution. For questions, or to get a Business Briefly form faxed or mailed to you, please call 360-417-3527 weekdays.
Peninsula Daily News Blue Sky Real Estate is located at 190 Priest Road in Sequim. For more information, phone Sumpter at 360-6833900 or visit www. gailsumpter.com.
Calif gets tough on greenhouse gases
KONP talk guests
PORT TOWNSEND — Attorney Paul Richmond recently completed several specialized training courses on representing those faced with foreclosures or pursued by debt collectors. According to the trainers at the National Consumer Law Center, Northwest Justice Project and Richmond Columbia Legal Services, foreclosures and debt collections can be filled with abuses. Catching these abuses can often result in diminishing or even extinguishing the amounts owed, Richmond said. Richmond has practiced for four years in Jefferson County and has an office at 210 Polk St., Suite 3 in Port Townsend. For more information, visit www.olympicpeninsulalaw.com, e-mail paulrichmond_attorney@yahoo.com or phone 360-379-5575.
makers are staking their claims through a growing stack of patent lawsuits over all aspects of basic phone use, from the way a user swipes a touch screen to perform an action to the method a phone uses to extend battery life. Nokia is suing Apple, Apple is suing HTC, Microsoft is suing Motorola and more.
Nation/World
Picower, a businessman who drowned after suffering a heart attack in the swimming pool of his Palm Beach, Fla., mansion in October 2009. Picower was the single biggest beneficiary of Madoff’s fraud. U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara called the forfeiture the largest in Justice Department history and a “game changer” for those swindled by Madoff.
Canadian bank buy
Indicators up NEW YORK — A gauge of future economic activity rose in November, at the fastest pace since March, suggesting the economy will strengthen early next year. The Conference Board said its index of leading economic indicators rose 1.1 percent last month the biggest increase since March, when the index jumped 1.4 percent. The leading indicators rose 0.4 percent in October and 0.6 percent in November. The index has risen for five straight months. Deutsche Bank economist Joseph LaVorgna said the index’s recent leap suggested that economic growth picked up significantly, to above 3 percent, in the October-December quarter and would continue to accelerate in the first three months of next year. Faster economic growth would help lower the 9.8 percent unemployment rate. The economy grew at a 2.5 percent pace from July through September.
Billions recovered NEW YORK — Many of Bernard Madoff’s victims who thought they lost everything could get at least half their money back after the widow of a Florida philanthropist agreed Friday to return a staggering $7.2 billion that her husband reaped from the giant Ponzi scheme. Federal prosecutors reached the settlement with the estate of Jeffry
TORONTO — The Bank of Montreal is buying a Milwaukee-based bank, the latest example of Canadian banks using their muscle to snap up U.S. financial institutions battered by the financial crisis. Canada’s fourth-largest bank announced Friday that it was acquiring Marshall & Ilsley Corp. for $4.1 billion in stock, doubling its presence in the U.S. from 321 branches to 695. Canadian banks, ranked the soundest in the world by the World Economic Forum, weathered the economic crisis far better than their counterparts in other countries. In a concentrated banking system dominated by five major players, Canadian banks have been looking across the border to find growth opportunities, casting an eye toward distressed U.S. banks.
Nonferrous metals NEW YORK — Spot nonferrous metal prices Friday. Aluminum - $1.0409 per lb., London Metal Exch. Copper - $4.1046 Cathode full plate, LME. Copper - $4.1530 N.Y. Merc spot Fri. Lead - $2379.00 metric ton, London Metal Exch. Zinc - $1.0014 per lb., London Metal Exch. Gold - $1368.50 Handy & Harman (only daily quote). Gold - $1378.60 troy oz., NY Merc spot Fri. Silver - $29.020 Handy & Harman (only daily quote). Silver - $29.113 troy oz., N.Y. Merc spot Fri. Platinum - $1700.00 troy oz., N.Y. (contract). Platinum - $1698.50 troy oz., N.Y. Merc spot Fri.
Peninsula Daily News and The Associated Press
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PORT ANGELES — Pike Place crash Here is this week’s schedSEATTLE — A man ule for the 1:05 p.m. to 2 whose car injured three p.m. local talk show segpedestrians at the Pike ment on KONP radio at Place Market had smoked 1450 AM, 102.1 FM and on a synthetic form of mariwww.konp.com on the juana before the crash, New courses Internet outside the Port police said. PORT ANGELES — Angeles area. On Friday, Travis LipThe Peninsula College Station ski, 39, appeared before a Entrepreneur Institute general King County District Court provides education and judge and was ordered held manager training to help people for investigation of vehicuTodd Ortloff develop a new business or lar assault on $75,000 bail. hosts the grow an existing one. A police report said LipA new class for the win- Monday ski told investigators that through ter quarter is “Entreprehe had smoked synthetic neur Jump Start: Creating Thursday marijuana known as “K2” Success.” segments, Ehling before driving on Thursday. The class will be taught and Karen Authorities say such by Cath Mich and Jim Wil- Hanan hosts “Art Beat” on substances can be legal liams and focuses on help- Fridays. depending on the ingrediing current entrepreneurs This week’s scheduled ents. recharge their momentum. lineup: Harborview Medical Another course, “Market ■ Monday: Julie Hatch Center spokeswoman Pre-Test,” taught by CaroVest certifies from KeyBank discussing Susan Gregg-Hanson said lyn Cooper, will help stuthe banks’ “Giving Tree” for a 57-year-old man hit by PORT ANGELES — dents test the waters prior residents of Crestwood Mary Vest of Olympic Med- to launching a business. the car was in serious conCare Center. ical Center recently passed dition. Limited scholarships In another segment, her computerized tomograShe said a 25-year-old are available. the executive director of phy certification exam woman was listed in satisWinter classes begin the Economic Development factory condition while a through the American RegCouncil, Linda Rotmark, 54-year-old woman was istry of Registered Technol- Jan. 3. For more information on guests. treated and released on ogists. classes and ■ Tuesday: Don CorThursday. CT techscholarships,visit www.pce- son of Camaraderie Cellars nologists institute.com or phone Sha- discusses wine issues. are radioClosed for repairs ron Wallace at 360-565In another segment logic techPASCO — The giant 2078 or Linty Hopie at Charmaigne Dunscomb nologists navigation lock at Lower talks about her recent 360-417-6504. who specialMonumental Dam 40 miles brain surgery. ize in tak■ Wednesday: Olympic northeast of Pasco in Easting crossNew cookware ern Washington is nearly Medical Center Assistant sectional Vest SEQUIM — Olympic empty of water, its concrete Administrator Rhonda x-ray Restaurant Equipment walls dry. Curry and Olympic Mediimages of the bones and Inc., 51 Dryke Road, is now cal Cancer Center Director The lock will stay that soft tissues of the body. carrying a full line of Lodge way for the next 14 weeks, Tara Lock guest. “This is a major accomas long-needed repairs will ■ Thursday: To be plishment in Mary’s career cookware. “We are excited about bring cargo shipping to a announced. and rewarding to see that the new product line and standstill. she’s taken the time and ■ Friday: Dewey are having a sale on all It is the longest shuteffort to achieve this,” said Ehling discussing this smallwares and kitchen down in the history of the Deby King, OMC diagnosyear’s “Sing Along MesColumbia and Snake river gadgets to promote it,” said siah” in Sequim. tic imaging director. system, as lock gates on Sales Manager Ann “As imaging technoloAlso: Christmas music three different dams are L embcke. gies become more and more from around the world. replaced between Dec. 10 The business also has complex, our staff must selection of gift baskets continue to learn and Blanchard honored and March 13, 2011. “The gates have develavailable for sale, or staffexpand their expertise. SEATTLE — Mindi oped cracks and corrosion,” “Mary’s achievement ers can tailor gift baskets Blanchard of Sequim’s said Steve Hartman of the truly reflects her dedicaupon customer request. Bridge Builders, Ltd., has U.S. Army Corps of Engition to enhancing her skills The store is open Monbeen nominated for a Seat- neers, which is managing for the benefit of our day through Friday from 9 tle District U.S. Small the work. patients.” a.m. to 5 p.m. and SaturBusiness Association Small The lock at Lower MonTo become certified, an day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Business of the Year applicant must first meet umental Dam, built in Award. experience requirements 1969, is 700 feet long, 84 Gase at training She and other nominees feet wide and 100 feet and successfully complete a will be honored at the PORT ANGELES — variety of clinical procedeep. upcoming Small Business Dan Gase, managing brodures in addition to demIt takes 43 million galAssociation Awards Gala, ker and consultant with onstrating comprehensive lons of water to lift or drop “A Big Night for Small knowledge of the skills cov- Coldwell Banker Uptown barges to the other side of ered in the certification Realty, recently attended a Business.” the massive hydroelectric The evening celebration dam. examination. training class on the U.S. honoring small business For more information, Treasury’s new Home owners and advocates will visit www.olympicmedical. Affordable Foreclosure Smart phone foes be held at the Museum of org and click on “Services” Alternatives program. SEATTLE — CompetiFlight in Seattle on April to learn more about OMC’s The protion among smart phone 21. diagnostic imaging sergram facilimakers is heating up at Winners will move forvices. tates home retail, in advertising and, ward to compete for loans that increasingly, in the courtregional and national honDesignated broker were purroom as handset and softors. chased by SEQUIM — Ed ware makers wield patent Bridge Builders, Ltd. Sumpter, owner of Blue Fannie Mae provides personal assistant lawsuits to protect their Sky Real Estate, has and Freddie turf and slow down their services to its clients, attained a managing brorivals. Mac. It took Gase including bill-paying, ker’s license from the state effect Aug. 1 Handset and software appointment-setting, transDepartment of Licensing The program allows and is now the designated short sale terms to be prebroker at Blue Sky Real approved before finding a Estate. purchaser; foreclosure proA manceedings are suspended aging browhile in the program; ker’s license Over 300 New & mortgage payments are requires Used Vehicles To reduced to an affordable completion level or not required; the Choose From! of 90 hours seller receives $3,000 in of preCliff erickson relocation expenses at close scribed Your Internet Connection! of escrow. courses. Sumpter www.wilderauto.com There For more information, email: cliff_erickson@wilderauto.com are also experience and phone Gase at 360-417(360) 565-2372 testing requirements. 2804.
Hoping other states will follow suit, California regulators overwhelmingly approved the nation’s most extensive system giving owners of power plants, refineries and other major polluters financial incentives to emit fewer greenhouse gases. The Air Resources Board voted 9-1 Thursday to pass the key piece of California’s 2006 climate law — called AB32. Under the law, a company that produces pollution, such as a utility or a refinery, buys a permit from the state that allows it to send a specified amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the air each year. Those permits could then be bought and sold by the polluters in a marketplace. The Associated Press
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