Heard on the Street

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|bold_on|LAY OFF!|ret||ret||tab|

There were 751 mass layoff actions by U.S. employers in August, as measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the month, according to data released Oct. 4 from the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. Each layoff involved at least 50 workers from a single establishment, and the number of workers involved totaled 97,215. Manufacturers accounted for 34 percent of all mass layoffs. The highest number of initial unemployment claimants was in transportation equipment, primarily in motor vehicles, car bodies and motor vehicle parts and accessories, the BLS reported. Services accounted for 24 percent of all layoffs, retail accounted for 13 percent in department stores and furniture stores. Eight percent of all August layoffs were from layoffs in the transportation and public utilities industries and 7 percent were from layoffs in the heavy construction, with the exception of building, the BLS reported. The number of unemployment claims due to mass layoffs was higher in the western region of the United States than in any other region, with 46 percent of its unemployment claims deriving from layoffs in the business services, motion picture and food products industries. The fewest number of mass-layoff unemployment claims were reported in the Midwest, the BLS reported. |ret||ret||tab|

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|bold_on|EGG-STRA EGG-STRA|ret||ret||tab|

A new Springfield dot-com, |bold_on|www.fabergeonline.com, which sells online the famed Faberg eggs as well as Faberg china, silver and other accessories, is now among the top five retail distributors for Faberg, according to a fabergeonline.com release. The dot-com is a division of A Gallery of Sources LLC, owned by Janet Eckman and Courtney McCurdy. McCurdy secured the rights to the Faberg collection earlier this year. She and her mother, Eckman, decided to form a separate division of A Gallery of Sources, to sell the Faberg collection. Fabergeonline.com receives about 130,000 hits a month, the release said. "The advantage we have over retail stores is selection and convenience," McCurdy said. "Anyone can access the Faberg line 24 hours a day, see the entire collection and select the right piece for them. They can call us to get more information on individual products. My mom and I research each piece so we can offer details about Faberg and the work that goes into each piece." Eckman said she and McCurdy enjoy educating people about the intricacies and history of the Faberg products. "There are a lot of products on the market made in the Faberg style," she said. "We want people to know how to tell a fake from the real thing."|ret||ret||tab|

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Change-Makin' Chili|ret||ret||tab|

The Kitchen Foundation is about to begin a new business venture to raise funds for its programs. The organization will begin selling Peggy's White Chili, created by Peggy Pinckley, at area businesses. A special event, Chili & Change Southwest Buffet, will be held 5-8 p.m. Oct. 22 at the Mid-America Cancer Center, 2055 S. Fremont, to kick-off the new small business. Pinckley will serve samples of the chili. Sister Lorraine Biebel, founder and chief executive officer of the organization, will be "held captive by the homeless and disadvantaged,"and will collect "bail money" for her release. Biebel, a.k.a. "Sister Chili the Kid," is asking the community to come to the event with change jars, piggy banks, silver, gold and checkbooks so changes can continue to be made in the lives of those served by The Kitchen's programs. The cost to attend the event is $15, and a cash bar will be available. Reservations are necessary. To make reservations, or for more information, call 881-4195.|ret||ret||tab|

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