EagleTribune.com, North Andover, MA--Business

Banking on green: North Andover start-up moving beyond solar panels to broader range of alternative energies

Tue, 13 May 2008 08:40:00 EDT

NORTH ANDOVER — A local company appears poised to ride the growing wave of interest in all things "green" to lots of greenbacks.
"The sky's the limit," proclaimed Henri-Claude Bailly, the new chief executive officer and chairman of the board at Nexamp, an alternative energy company with offices in a turn-of -the-century mill at 21 High St.

Tell us: How is the economy affecting you?

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 09:58:00 EST

As bad economic news continues to mount, some experts say we are either in a recession or hurtling toward one. For many people, it's a technical question, since they are cutting back on their budgets already due to high gasoline and home heating oil prices, crippling credit card debt, high mortgages and car payments, and the rising cost of all kinds of food and other necessities.

BizNorth Planner

Tue, 13 May 2008 08:40:00 EDT

EDITOR'S NOTE: The BizNorth Planner is a calendar of business-related workshops, seminars, fairs and other events. To be included, send a brief notice with basic information about the event and whom to contact. The service is free, but it is not an advertisement. We reserve the right to edit the copy so it complies with our newspaper's guidelines. Send news by mail to BizNorth, 100 Turnpike St., North Andover, MA 01845; by fax, 978-687-6045.

Is it net worth or equity? The answer is both!

Sun, 11 May 2008 08:08:00 EDT

When I say "equity" what words come to mind? Most people think, "home," or "home equity," or some even "home equity loan." Equity is the value difference between what you owe on something, and what that something is worth. A home, or a car, or a business.

AUTO SCANNER: Look at antifreeze to diagnose engine problem

Sun, 11 May 2008 05:39:00 EDT

Q: I was wondering if you could solve a problem that has baffled myself as well as a half-dozen mechanics. I own a 1997 Buick Century Custom Edition in which the "service engine" light comes on frequently. It may come on at any time — on the highway, low speed, or parked. It also appears during any temperature. I've brought it to a number of mechanics who have run diagnostics and tune-ups and have tried everything and seem to think it may be a computer glitch. The car runs well whether the light is on or off. Any guess as to what it may be?

Motor Mouth: Youthful Volvo C30 starts slowly

Sun, 11 May 2008 05:39:00 EDT

I like small cars because they're sassy and expressive. They exhibit daring and disregard for conventional values. They also make driving fun. Compact and lightweight, little cars maneuver with verve. They respond so readily to pedal taps that you maintain a more intimate level of control.

BizNorth Planner

Sun, 11 May 2008 02:29:00 EDT

Auto Scene: Fuel prices march higher

Sun, 11 May 2008 02:22:00 EDT

Regional pump prices increased for the sixth consecutive week last week, with statewide averages remaining firmly above $3.50 per gallon in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire. But a glimmer of encouragement came from the U.S. national average. It remained stable last week, with the coast-to-coast average compiled by AAA showing a negligible, one-hundredth of a cent increase over seven days.

Business briefcase, Sunday, May 11, 2008

Sun, 11 May 2008 02:07:00 EDT

Arthur Cloutier, Lisa Paley and Chris Malvers recently opened of their new, full-service flooring store under the banner of Carpet One Floor & Home, located at 32 Lowell Road in Salem, N.H. The 3,000-square-foot store boasts state-of-the-art new display fixtures and features in their showroom that make it easier for a customer to find the perfect flooring for their home and to visualize the impact a particular style or pattern will have in a room.

Ford doubling use of 6-speeds to boost fuel efficiency

Sun, 11 May 2008 02:04:00 EDT

STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. (AP) — Ford Motor Co. said last week it plans to double the number of six-speed automatic transmissions in its models by the end of next year, increasing fuel efficiency to the point where it's equal to or better than manual gearboxes.

Massachusetts property deeds, May 10

Sat, 10 May 2008 08:15:00 EDT

AMESBURY
52 Cedar St.: John J. McPartland and Mark E. Wojcicki to Jason and Jason Shane Brissey, $412,500
52 Cedar St.: Cynthia and Mark E. Wojcicki to Mark E. Wojcicki, $125,000
30 Congress St.: John J. McNulty and Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank to Vincent W. Burke, $245,000

Housing aid bill faces presidential veto

Sat, 10 May 2008 08:14:00 EDT

WASHINGTON — Democrats' plans to help hundreds of thousands of homeowners struggling with rising subprime mortgage rates and plummeting house values could be sidetracked by President Bush's threatened veto and the opposition of many congressional Republicans.

AIG problems help send Wall Street tumbling

Sat, 10 May 2008 08:11:00 EDT

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street ended the week with a big decline as investors grappled with two of the biggest threats to the economy: fallout from turmoil in the credit market and surging energy prices. All three major indexes suffered losses for the week.

Oil prices top $126 a barrel, gas hits $3.67 a gallon

Sat, 10 May 2008 08:10:00 EDT

NEW YORK (AP) — Oil rose above $126 a barrel for the first time yesterday, bringing its advance this week to nearly $10, as investors questioned whether a possible confrontation between the U.S. and Venezuela could cut exports from the OPEC member.

Business Briefs, May 6

Tue, 06 May 2008 04:04:00 EDT

Stroller Strides, the nation's largest fitness program for new moms, has arrived in North Andover.
"Stroller Strides is a great way to get back in shape, as well as stay in shape," said Robin Beardsley, owner of Stroller Strides of North Andover. "We present a fun opportunity for the moms of the North Andover community to turn their strollers into a workout."

BizNorth Planner

Tue, 06 May 2008 04:00:00 EDT

Motor Mouth: Toyota Camry wins with history

Sun, 04 May 2008 04:31:00 EDT

Working as an engineer or designer on the Toyota Camry must simultaneously seem like both the world's most difficult job and the earth's easiest assignment.
It's the toughest job because Camry reigns as the most popular passenger car in all of America. Through 2007, the midsize sedan has remained the top-selling car for six consecutive years, and for 10 of the last 11 years. Imagine the personal pressure you'd feel to keep that streak alive. Imagine the shame to come from the end of the Camry's long run.

Auto Scene: New Hampshire dealer wins top honor

Sun, 04 May 2008 04:01:00 EDT

BMW of North America granted its highest award for dealer achievement to BMW of Stratham. The prize puts the Stratham, N.H., dealership in the upper echelon of BMW outlets across America. This year, BMW awarded its Center of Excellence Award to 31 of its 338 U.S. dealers.

Auto Scanner: Brake fluid heating up in Camry

Sun, 04 May 2008 03:45:00 EDT

Q: The other day I was stopped in traffic when the brake pedal of my 2003 Toyota Camry went to the floor and I accelerated forward. Are there any recalls or bulletins on this particular Camry? Do you know any reason why this could have happened? Since then the brakes are working properly.

Entrepreneur uses Internet to sell antiques

Sun, 04 May 2008 02:03:00 EDT

WATERBURY, Conn. — Mark Albino stumbled on his true calling at an early age.
As a preteen, Albino would earn spending money by cleaning out basements, attics and garages in his neighborhood. And in every attic or basement, interspersed among all the legitimate garbage, he'd find one or two hidden little treasures.

Transition from worker to business owner can be hard

Sun, 04 May 2008 02:00:00 EDT

NEW YORK (AP) — With employers cutting thousands of jobs each month amid a slowing economy, many downsized workers decide to start their own small businesses. The transition can be daunting as these new entrepreneurs contend with challenges that many never faced before.

Self-Employed Women Differ From Their Wage and Salary Earning Counterparts

Sun, 04 May 2008 01:59:00 EDT

WASHINGTON — Self-employed women differ from their wage and salary earning counterparts in several human capital areas. Most notably, self-employed women tend to be older, are better educated, and have more managerial experience than wage and salary earners. These findings are contained in a report, Human Capital and Women's Business Ownership, released today by the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Small businesses find variety of ways to get relief from rising costs of mailing and shipping

Sun, 04 May 2008 01:59:00 EDT

NEW YORK — Although the price of a first-class postage stamp is going up a penny on May 12, small businesses will get a break for the first time on Express Mail and Priority Mail costs. That will help many companies, but business owners who do a lot of mailing and shipping say there are plenty of additional ways to cut expenses if you shop and ask around.

GM looks beyond electric cars

Sun, 04 May 2008 01:54:00 EDT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ General Motors Corp. Chief Executive Richard Wagoner says global warming is not going to be solved with $100,000 electric cars, and his company is focusing on a vehicle more consumers can afford.

BizNorth Planner

Sun, 04 May 2008 01:53:00 EDT

Innovative prescription service delivers meds to more people

Sun, 04 May 2008 01:50:00 EDT

LAWRENCE — Every time Rafael Valerio picks up a prescription at the Greater Lawrence Family Health Center at 700 Essex St., he stands in front of a black telephone with a small video screen attached to it so he can talk to a pharmacist located across town on Haverhill Street.

Consumer spending up but much of gain reflects higher prices

Thu, 01 May 2008 12:02:00 EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Soaring prices for food, gas and other everyday needs pushed consumer spending to a faster pace than expected in March.
The Commerce Department reported today that consumer spending was up 0.4 percent, double the increase that economists had forecast.

GM forms another partnership with an ethanol startup company

Thu, 01 May 2008 12:00:00 EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — General Motors Corp. said today it had taken an ownership stake and formed a partnership with Mascoma Corp., a renewable energy company that is working to develop cellulosic ethanol from wood chips, waste paper sludge and switch grass.

Levis Paper building sold to Yepez brothers for $1.16M One family firm bows out; another moves in

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 03:54:00 EDT

LAWRENCE — The Levis Paper Co., which has had a presence in the city since the 1940s, has moved out of its mill building at the corner of Union and Canal streets.
Company president Joe Levis said yesterday his family sold the 52,000-square-foot mill and nearby parking lot to Luis and Juan Yepez, who already own the former Plymouth Mill building at 25 Marston St.

BizNorth Planner

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:41:00 EDT

Cheating pumps: Common glitch adds even more to gas costs and also cheats stations

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 04:28:00 EDT

Angry about the price of gas? Just imagine paying for gas you don't get.
Some alert consumers have noticed it over the years: A pump that seems to hesitate a second when the lever is squeezed. Anywhere from 2 to 6 cents tick off before the rush of gasoline starts. That's what happens with a common, hard to diagnose and mostly ignored problem with the "check valve," which is supposed to make sure gas flows at the same time the price meter starts.

Auto Scanner: Use smoke to test fuel pipe

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 04:00:00 EDT

Q: I drive a 2002 Subaru Forester. Last October, I had the local dealership perform the 60,000 mile service. A few days afterward, the check-engine light came on, and I returned to the dealership to have it analyzed. Service told me that the light was on because of a vapor fume leak around the (fuel) filler. He said that sometimes bugs or dirt can get in there and cause a false reading. Apparently, the usual cause is rust and deterioration around the filler cap. A visual inspection revealed no apparent breach nor debris. He took the tire off and air blasted from underneath. The check-engine light came back on after a couple of days. He tells me the car won't pass inspection with this light on and that it will cost upward of $250 to replace the filler cap assembly. In the meantime, he assures me that this problem won't compromise car performance. What are my options, if any? Where do I go from here?

Motor Mouth: New Town & Country keeps kids in line

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 04:00:00 EDT

If ever you find that you absolutely must have about three hours of uninterrupted solitude, but you're stuck with the kids, dash out and buy a 2008 Town & Country minivan. The model delivered for my evaluation last week occupied 3-year-old John and 7-year-old Madeleine for at least that long. They might be playing in it still, if the Town & Country was still parked in my driveway.

Auto Scene: Honda North blood drive nets 99 units

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 03:45:00 EDT

The March Madness blood drive sponsored and staffed by Honda North last month brought in enough donations to treat up to 400 recipients. The one-day event at the North Shore Donor Center of the American Red Cross brought in 99 units of blood. That's more than 50 percent above the donations received on a typical collection day, according to the Donor Center, located in Danvers.

Six keys to successful investing

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 03:00:00 EDT

A successful investor maximizes gains and minimizes losses. Sounds simple, but how does one do it? Here are some basic practices to keep in mind in good markets and bad.
r Compounding. Compounding pays earnings on your reinvested earnings. It's the "snowball effect." The longer you keep your money working for you, with dividends and capital gains reinvested, the better. And more, if your investments are growing in a tax-deferred retirement account, you are paying no taxes on those earnings. Let time work in your favor, and worry less about figuring out when to jump in and out of the market.

Massachusetts Real Estate Transfers

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 03:03:00 EDT

AMESBURY
20 3rd St., 20 3rd Street RT and Clifton R. Mcintire to John Freeman, $319,150
64 Clinton St., Denise L. and Walter C. Slevoski to Peter A. and Shannon Dannible, $299,900
39 Millyard Unit 101, Andrea M. Blake to Catherine Joyce, $149,836

Bush says rebates going out Monday will boost economy

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 22:48:00 EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Bush said tax rebates will start going out Monday, earlier than previously announced, and should help Americans cope with rising gasoline and food prices, as well as aid a slumping economy.

Microsoft in quandary over Yahoo bid as key deadline looms

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 22:45:00 EDT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Microsoft Corp. is no closer to buying Yahoo Inc. than when it made its $44.6 billion bid nearly three months ago, leaving the software maker in a quandary over whether the deal is still worth pursuing.

Stocks mostly up as investors overcome economic worries

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 22:45:00 EDT

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street ended its second straight winning week with a moderate advance Friday, overcoming concerns about consumer confidence and inflation.
After slumping early in the session in response to weak consumer confidence and a spike in oil prices, investors seemed to turn their attention to broader signs, including the week's generally satisfactory earnings reports, that suggested that government efforts to steady the economy appear to be working. That shift in focus sent stocks up late in the day.

Bush says rebates going out Monday should help economy

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 10:28:00 EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Bush says the economic-stimulus tax rebates will begin going out Monday and will help people cope with lofty energy and food prices, as well as giving the economy a jolt.

Apple 2Q profit jumps 36 percent

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 08:45:00 EDT

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Apple Inc.'s fiscal second-quarter profit jumped 36 percent on blistering sales of Macintosh computers, but the company forecast lower-than-expected earnings and its stock price tumbled as much as 5 percent.

Yahoo 1Q profit rises, but it might not thwart Microsoft

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 08:19:00 EDT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Yahoo Inc. delivered first-quarter results that surpassed analysts' modest expectations, but the performance might not be enough to fortify the Internet pioneer's defense against Microsoft Corp.'s takeover bid.

Hannaford details upgrades prompted by security breach

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 12:00:00 EDT

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Hannaford Bros. Co. said it is spending millions of dollars to enhance the security of its data network following a massive breach that compromised up to 4.2 million credit and debit card numbers.

Business briefs, April 22, 2008

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 08:23:00 EDT

The Windham Endowment for Community Advancement has received a generous gift, which will be used as a starting point for the Nesmith Library Renovation and Expansion campaign. The very generous offering, made by library trustee and vice chair, Mary Lee Underhill, was presented to the Board of Directors of the Windham Endowment during a recent Board meeting.

BizNorth Planner

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 08:23:00 EDT

In quest for fuel efficient cars, size matters

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 15:37:00 EDT

Worried about soaring gas prices and looking for something with a little better fuel economy? How about a nice Toyota Avensis? Or a Ford Mondeo? Or a turbodiesel anything?
If the Toyota and Ford model names seem a little strange to you, there's a reason. You can't buy them here. And the supply of turbodiesels in the U.S. market is very limited. But they are all big sellers in Europe and other parts of the world.

Develop your own plan to find success

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 04:43:00 EDT

Which way do I go to find success?
It's amazing how many e-mails I get from people telling me that I can be a success if I just do it their way and pay them a bunch of money. The reason these people succeed with "do it my way" ideas is that most unsuccessful people don't have the confidence to do it on their own, or they have no game plan to do it on their own, and figure, "Well, if that guy did it, maybe I can do it."

Motor Mouth: Hyundai Santa Fe mimics pricier models

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 04:31:00 EDT

At the risk of sounding like a hopeless rube, I'll confess that I mistook a Hyundai for a BMW last week. The error was fleeting, but still surprising. BMW makes premium-class vehicles designed to pamper, flatter and entertain people who enjoy active driving. By contrast, many people still consider Hyundai an economy brand.

Auto Scanner: High mileage could require rebuilt transmission

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 04:20:00 EDT

Q: I recently purchased a 1992 Caprice Wagon with a 5.0 liter engine and 180,000 miles. This is the third I have owned and I really like this car. About six weeks after purchasing this car, the transmission started to slip in both second and third gear. I have asked about repairing this problem from a few local shops and don't feel comfortable with the answers or the cost. Can you help?

Auto Scene: Dealers reach out to students, Red Cross

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 04:00:00 EDT

Student programs at Stoneham Middle School received a boost in March when Ira Nissan of Woburn gave $4,150 to support after-school activities. The contribution makes 2008 the fourth year in which Ira Nissan has partnered with the school. The dealership's contributions total nearly $20,000.