Applications taken for apprenticeships

Applications taken for apprenticeships

warren

The Valley Trades Coalition is accepting applications for a Pre-Apprenticeship program Thursday at the Trumbull Career & Technical Center, 528 Educational Highway, from 9 to 11 a.m. and from 1 to 3 p.m.

Those selected for the program will receive training in the building trades as well as practical experience building a house for Habitat for Humanity. Upon successful completion of the training, participants will be given help making applications for registered construction apprenticeship programs.

The coalition is a collaborative effort of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 573, the Trumbull County One-Stop, the Trumbull Career & Technical Center, the city of Warren and the Mahoning and Columbiana Training Association.

Applicants must be 18 or older, live in Trumbull or Mahoning counties, have a high school diploma or GED, a valid driver’s license and have reliable transportation.

Summer gas prices should be steady

Gasoline pump prices should stay in a fairly narrow range the rest of the summer, putting less strain on family budgets for driving trips and commutes to work.

The national average for a gallon of unleaded regular was $2.715 Monday, according to AAA, Wright Express and Oil Price Information Service. That’s down almost a penny from a week ago and 17.8 cents higher than a year ago.

Analysts don’t expect a big change in pump prices in the next four to six weeks unless something unexpected happens, such as a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico that could crimp supplies or a big jump in oil prices.

Avon buys Silpada for $650 million

new york

Avon Products Inc., a direct seller of beauty products, agreed to buy Silpada Designs for at least $650 million in an effort to expand its jewelry business, the company said Monday.

Silpada, based in Lenexa, Kan., is a direct seller of sterling silver jewelry in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. Avon said Silpada will continue to operate as a standalone business with its 32,000 independent sales representatives.

Silpada co-founders Bonnie Kelly and Teresa Walsh, CEO and co-founder Jerry Kelly and the entire Silpada management team will stay with the company.

Alcoa Inc. posts 2nd-quarter profit

denver

Alcoa Inc. said Monday it posted a second-quarter profit as it sold more aluminum in the commercial vehicles, packaging and construction markets.

The Pittsburgh manufacturing giant reported net income of $136 million, or 13 cents share, for the quarter ending June 30. That compared with a loss of $454 million, or 47 cents a share, a year ago.

Vindicator staff/wire reports

Selected local stocks

STOCK, DIVIDENDCLOSECHANGE

Aqua America, .58, 18.58 —.18

Avalon Holdings,2.56.02

Clear Channel, 1.75 48.18 —.20

Cortland Bancorp, 4.600.00

Delphi Automotive, .0211 0.00

Farmers Nat., .12, 3.75 0.00

First Energy, $2.20, 37.26.25

FirstMerit Corp., .64,18.01 —.06

First Niles Financial,7.500.00

First Place Fin., 2.900.00

FNB Corp., .48,8.41—.09

General Electric, .40,14.93—.02

Motors Liquidation, .4110—.0130

Huntington Bank, .04, 5.93.02

JP Morgan Chase, .20,39.19.34

Key Corp, .04,8.23—.12

LaFarge, 13.24 .15

Macy’s, .20, 17.98—.55

Parker Hannifin, 1.04, 56.44—.88

PNC, .40,61.49—.30

RTI Intl. Metals,25.01—.92

Rural/Metro, 9.13 .03

Simon Prop. Grp.,$2.40,82.96.30

Stoneridge 8.10 —.21

Torent Inc., 2.00 0.00

United Community Fin. 1.78—.01

Selected prices at 4 p.m. Monday. Provided by Stifel Nicolaus. Not to be construed as an offer or recommendation to buy or sell any security.