Firm acquisition

Firm acquisition

HERMITAGE, Pa.

WallacePancher Group of Hermitage recently acquired Hays LAS of St. Clairsville, Ohio.

Hays LAS provides professional landscape architecture and planning services in Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

Hays LAS adds a new service to WallacePancher Group’s engineering and environmental services and further expands the company’s geographic footprint in Ohio and West Virginia, according to a news release.

For more than 15 years, WallacePancher Group has provided engineering and environmental services to clients in the private and public sectors.

Swizzle Stick Sunday

FARRELL, PA.

Daffin’s Candies, 7 Spearman Ave., will celebrate its Annual Open House and “Swizzle Stick Sunday” from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. The free tour is at Daffin’s chocolate factory.

This annual event draws thousands of candy lovers who get a free tour of the chocolate factory, free samples of Daffin’s handcrafted chocolate and free bunny ears.

There is a free shuttle service from Sharon City Centre in downtown Sharon to the factory.

Entrepreneurs fair

PITTSBURGH

The Three Rivers Venture Fair for entrepreneurs presented April 5-6 by Pittsburgh Venture Capital Association will take place at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

The 10-year-old event matches companies searching for investment capital with investment firms seeking to expand their portfolios.

Individuals interested in attending can register at www.3RVF.com.

Investors who are interested in attending are asked to call 412-228-5885.

Apple launch event

SAN FRANCISCO

Apple will have its spring product launch March 21, one day before it squares off with federal prosecutors over the government’s demand for help unlocking an encrypted iPhone.

Analysts and tech blogs are expecting Apple will announce a new, 4-inch iPhone, a smaller iPad Pro and new bands for the Apple Watch. But the company provided no details with its announcement of the event, in keeping with its usual effort to build anticipation for its new products.

Jobless filings fall

WASHINGTON

The number of people seeking U.S. unemployment aid fell last week to the lowest level since October, evidence that employers are confident enough in the economy to hold onto their staffs.

The Labor Department says weekly jobless-benefit applications fell 18,000 to a seasonally adjusted 259,000. The four-week average, a less-volatile measure, dropped 2,500 to 267,500, the lowest reading since the week of Oct. 31.

Applications are a proxy for layoffs, so the figures indicate that employers are cutting few jobs. Any reading below 300,000 is historically low. When unemployment claims are this low, it typically means businesses also are hiring at a steady pace.

Staff/wire reports