Deck the Faneuil Hall

The managers of Faneuil Hall Marketplace are seeking city approval to build a large deck off the south side of the Quincy Market building for an outside "lounge" — one of a series of changes in the works to attract new visitors.

The year-round, 61-foot by 31-foot wooden platform, which would be placed over the cobblestones, would provide a level surface for musical performances and more interactive programming, including yoga classes and an authors' series, according to general manager Kristin Keefe. It also would include an outdoor reading room with books, magazines and newspapers, a piano, a chess table, and moveable chairs and tables.

"It will be stuff for visitors to do instead of just watch," Keefe said. "Currently most of our programming is 'watch a street performer perform.'"

New historic tours of the retail center and tourist mecca's Quincy Market, South Market and North Market buildings also will be launched from the deck.

"We're just acknowledging that ... we're surrounded by amazing historical sites, but often (they're) overlooked," Keefe said. "They will focus on the history of our three buildings."

New York-based Ashkenazy Acquisition Corp., which purchased the lease for the city-owned Faneuil Hall Marketplace in 2011, hired New York's Biederman Redevelopment Ventures last year to create outdoor programming for the center as part of larger revitalization plans to attract more locals. Those proposed changes are expected in the form of a master plan that Ashkenazy originally said it would release in the spring of 2012.

"We're continuing to work diligently on it and hope to have an unveiling soon," Keefe said. "We're trying to be extremely thoughtful on this process and make sure we come out with the best product."

A spokesman for the Boston Redevelopment Authority said it anticipates seeing a master plan this fall and looks forward to "working with the merchants of the marketplace and Ashkenazy on next steps."

Ashkenazy pitched plans last year to add a pair of two-story tenant additions encased in glass "sheds," along with two escalators, to the Quincy Market building, but the city's Landmark Commission panned the proposal. The real estate investment firm is not proceeding with the addition "in that form," according to Keefe, who declined further comment.

Ashkenazy also is seeking Landmarks Commission approval of the deck.

The Quincy Market building has historic landmark status, and the commission plans to study this year whether the South Market and North Market buildings also are worthy of the designation. The status affects proposed changes to buildings, plans for which are subject to the commission's review.

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Graduate to a Davis Square condo

This stylish three-unit condo complex has been carved out of a traditional triple decker just outside Somerville's Davis Square.

The three-bedroom duplex units range from $849,000 to $969,000, and all have red oak floors throughout, quartz and cherrywood kitchens and open living/dining areas.

The exterior of the building has been re-sided with blue HardiePlank with white trim, and has all new windows, roof and systems, including gas-fired heat and central air conditioning.

We took a look at staged model Unit 2, a 1,647-square-foot three-bedroom duplex selling for $969,000 on the second and third floor with two decks that overlook a park.

The unit has an open living/dining area with recessed lighting, 9-foot ceilings and lots of windows. Off this area is a half bathroom with porcelain tile floors.

The adjacent kitchen has white quartz countertops and glass mosaic tile backsplashes, with a breakfast bar that seats two and contemporary pendant lamps overhead. There are 15 cherrywood cabinets and top-of-the line Jenn Air refrigerator, dishwasher and six-burner gas stove with a fluted stainless steel hood.

Off the kitchen is a very tiny "third" bedroom, which is actually more of a home office.

The other two bedrooms are on the second floor. The master bedroom suite has oak floors and lots of front-facing windows. A leaded glass door leads out to a second private front deck overlooking a park. There's a large walk-in closet and an en-suite bathroom with porcelain tile floors, a dual sink vanity and a ceramic-tiled glass-doored walk-in shower.

The second bedroom has three windows and two closets. Across the hall, a second full bathroom features porcelain tile floors, and white subway tile surround for a tub/shower with a rainhead fixture. A closet inside the bathroom holds a washer/dryer hookup.

There's a stairway with a skylight opening onto the roof. The owner has roof rights, but will have to secure permission from the city to build a roof deck. But gas, electricity and water have already been brought up to the roof.

The unit comes with one deeded outdoor parking space behind the building.

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Jaguar Coupe’s 
a sexy sportster

To say that the 2015 Jaguar F-Type Coupe is a head-turner would be an understatement.

During our four-day trial, this sexy sportster was subjected to catcalls, oglers, hoots and hollers whether parked or rolling through town.

This coupe screams "look at me!" Sporting a gorgeous front grille, sleek profile, shapely sides and a well-rounded backside, this Jaguar is a tantalizing hot rod that fascinates anyone it passes.

Retractable door handles and a rear spoiler that automatically rises at speeds of over 70 mph add to its already aerodynamic body.

Beautiful 19-inch black centrifuge alloy wheels give the salsa red exterior a striking contrast that will get you noticed.

And if they don't see you coming, they'll hear you.

The roar of the F-Type's switchable active twin exhaust yowls with a loud throaty roar, which gives way to a barking burble when stepping off the accelerator.

If you prefer a bit more stealth, you can lower the volume of the exhaust with the flick of a switch. But seriously, who would want that?

Stimulating steering and a heart-pounding 340-horsepower 3.0-liter V6 engine make this two-seater exciting to drive. A punch of the gas pedal puts you well over the speed limit in a flash — the F-Type's speed combined with its bright red exterior will certainly attract law enforcement. Somewhere there are pin-up posters of this car in police departments.

This Jaguar's suspension keeps you glued to every bend in the road.

The F-Type's dynamic mode gives you all the thrills without having to manage the 8-speed Quickshift transmission. Manual override is also possible with both steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters and drive selector control. The dynamic mode does seem to use more gas, so don't expect to get 28 miles per gallon on the highway with a lead foot.

With an MSRP of $77,375 as tested, the F-Type has 14-way adjustable bucket seats that are both supportive and comfortable. Seating is very low to the ground with a great feel for the car's center of gravity. Visibility was surprisingly good in spite of a small rear view mirror and window. One puzzling omission is the lack of a back-up camera. With such a beautiful car, you would want every chance to keep its exterior scratchless.

The stitched leather interior is also pretty. It has a smart look and good ergonomics, but a clumsy GPS/entertainment interface that is a real let down. A Meridian sound system pumps 380 watts into the cockpit and sounded great doing it, but quite frankly the exhaust sound is more fun to hear.

The bottom line is that the F-Type is the red-hot roadster that will make your friends jealous. Of course, you can share the experience with them — one at a time. Just tell them to leave the luggage home as this coupe has virtually no room for bags.

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Market Basket deal could extend beyond today’s 5 p.m. deadline

The parties negotiating the sale of Market Basket — facing a self-imposed deadline of 5 p.m. today — are signaling talks may spill into the weekend, with sources on both sides saying they're close to an agreement, but are wading through a series of complex deal points.

Ousted former CEO Arthur T. Demoulas and his rival cousin Arthur S. Demoulas, Market Basket's controlling shareholder, maintained their weeklong silence yesterday, but sources briefed on the negotiations told the Herald that the passing of today's deadline won't necessarily mean talks are dead.

One source said the parties are still working toward today's deadline — agreed to after a five-hour session with Gov. Deval Patrick and New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan on Sunday — but that if the sides remain close, it's "very possible" talks would extend into the weekend.

Kevin Griffin, publisher of the Griffin Report of Food Marketing, said he continues to hear the sides are "trying to finalize the bid and work out the details.

"But again, this is just weeks and weeks on end," Griffin said. "I believe it's happening, that's what I understand. I think that the past week has been probably more movement than there's been in the past four."

Speaking to reports Wednesday, Patrick said the parties left Sunday's conversation "feeling hopeful that a resolution was within reach" and that he asked them to consider an internal deadline because "there are a number of issues that could be debated endlessly."

Griffin said there have been few indicators two read into this week "except for the fact that we don't have the board coming out and talking about shutting stores and firing people, which leads me to believe that all the indicators are in place that they're getting close."

Sources have told the Herald talks have focused partly on how much Arthur T. and his backers are willing to put down up front, and the schedule on which future payments would be made. The unknown backers, sources told the Herald, would want assurances store revenue can return to where it was prior to when protests began more than a month ago.

The 71-store Market Basket chain has been hemorrhaging millions a day since managers and workers walked out in protest of Arthur T.'s ouster more than a month ago. Some vendors have stopped doing business with the company and are saying they won't come back unless Arthur T. returns.

The nearly five-week impasse has raised questions about whether Arthur T. will be able to quickly generate enough revenue to satisfy creditors while keeping all stores open and their 25,000 employees on the payroll — all while maintaining the chain's signature low prices that drive customers' fierce loyalty.

"I don't know, but if I were a betting man, I'd say that there will be no layoffs," Griffin said. "My guess is he will forgo short-term profits ... because it would be instrumental to the momentum that he needs to get the place in order."

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MassBio: Seed-stage funds slow

The Massachusetts Biotechnology Council is sounding a warning over seed-stage funding — the earliest form of investment in startups — saying recent dips could hurt innovation in the long run, according to its latest report on the health of the state's biotech industry.

The Bay State leads in research and development jobs, in addition to federal research funding and venture capital invested per capita, but seed-stage funding needs to approach
$200 million this year to ensure a strong startup environment into the next decade, according to the 2014 MassBio Industry Snapshot.

"Massachusetts' strength in the life sciences depends on its vibrant startup and early-stage research activities, but funding for those activities — the fuel for industry growth here — is getting more difficult to come by," Robert K. Coughlin, MassBio's president and CEO, said in a statement. "We must find new avenues for companies seeking seed funding to ensure life-changing treatments make it ... into the hands of patients in need."

Seed-stage deals have grown from 20 deals totalling $52 million from 1999 to 2003 — when Massachusetts companies received 13.1 percent of all biotech seed funding in the U.S. — to 95 deals totalling 
$761.91 million from 2009 to 2013, when Bay State startups received 33.4 percent.

While that's good news, seed-stage funding has dropped since the 2008-to-2010 highs — when they totaled $275.89 million, $265.54 million and 
$177.92 million, respectively — to $148.10 million last year.

Still, other industry statistics look positive. Although research in the Impact 2020 report shows biotech venture investment overall is decreasing, last year Bay State venture investment increased to $984 million, with the state receiving more than 21 percent of all VC investment in biotechnology in the U.S.

The industry's economic impact as measured by Massachusetts-based payroll also topped $7.2 billion, with biopharma employment reaching 57,642 in 2013, an increase of almost 1,200 jobs over the previous year, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages.

Employment in the industry has grown nine to 10 times faster than state and national employment growth rates.

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Biotech $ barometer

Total Massachusetts seed-stage funding 
by year:

1999: $11,395,000

2000: $5,040,000

2001:$3,019,900

2002: $27,600,000

2003: $5,000,000

2004: $6,750,000

2005: $15,799,800

2006: $48,201,000

2007: $90,334,100

2008:$275,896,900

2009:$265,548,900

2010:$177,925,000

2011:$117,126,000

2012: $53,707,500

2013:$148,105,000

Source: PWC MoneyTree

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GE brings good things to Massachusetts

GE Healthcare Life Sciences' new $21 million headquarters for U.S. operations will open in Marlboro next year, the company said yesterday, bringing 220 new jobs in the fast-growing industry to the state.

"Our new facility in Massachusetts will position us for continued innovation and competition in such a fast-paced, innovative industry," said Kieran Murphy, president and CEO, in a statement. "We will be close to industry-leading talent, customers, and world-class academic and medical institutions across all the industry sectors we serve, from biotech and pharma, to diagnostics and medical devices."

The headquarters, scheduled to open in spring 2015, will establish a new site for more than 500 employees and create more than 220 new jobs, company officials said.

"Today, Massachusetts' life sciences sectors are the fastest-growing sectors of our economy. We look forward to welcoming the U.S. life sciences headquarters of GE Healthcare and are pleased that the company will create a substantial number of new, STEM-related job opportunities in central Massachusetts," Gov. Deval Patrick said in the statement.

A currently unoccupied space will be transformed into state-of-the-art labs, customer application facilities, and office space to complement the company's existing manufacturing capability in Westboro.

"This GE Healthcare Life Sciences investment ... is proof that innovation is thriving outside Route 128," said Marlboro Mayor Arthur Vigeant in the statement.

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Analysts see steep cost to Market Basket debt

A debt-financed acquisition of ailing Market Basket chain by ousted CEO Arthur T. Demoulas could end up driving up the revived chain's signature low prices — and drive off its loyal customers — according to experts who say the celebrated grocery titan will be newly beholden to creditors expecting immediate returns regardless of what it takes to nurse the company back to health.

"You spend cash on making­ sure that you get the ratios set and the loans repaid, and that's cash that is simply not available to be flexible enough to address the competition from Shaw's down the road, who will smell blood in the water," said Bob Reynolds, a former executive at the Safeway grocery chain and a consultant who advises companies on acquisitions.

"It hamstrings the flexibility of the operation to do those new and special things which are important not only to bringing an operation back, but to fighting off competition," Reynolds said.

The Herald reported yesterday that a key factor that has emerged in sales talks between Arthur T. and his rival cousin — majority shareholder Arthur S. Demoulas, who controls a 50.5 percent stake worth an estimated $1.5 billion — is how much the former CEO will pay up front, and how much his unknown backers would put up.

The backers, sources told the Herald, would want assurances Market Basket revenue can return to a point where the debt obligations can be paid.

Yet the 71-store chain has been hemorrhaging millions a day since managers and workers walked out in protest of Arthur T.'s ouster more than a month ago, and now several of its vendors have stopped doing business with the company. They have been joined by thousands of boycotting Market Basket customers who also de­manded Arthur T.'s return.

Reynolds said he's skeptical business will return to pre-walkout levels in short order, especially if cus­tomers are faced with higher prices. "If I were making an equity investment and my payback was dependent upon the operation returning to its former glory, whatever that was, I wouldn't be very optimistic about that," he said.

Kevin Griffin, editor of The Griffin Report of Food Marketing, said Arthur T. may not be constrained in a typical way by debt fi­nancing because he has a loyal, proven executive team ready to return to work the second he resumes control.

"Sure, they'd have a monumental task ahead of them, but nobody's better suited to do it," Griffin said. "The financial structure of the business will be different, and having to service a significant amount of debt is going to be something new, but I think that they are a com­pany that's very streamlined."

Both sides were mum yesterday on any developments, even as Gov. Deval Patrick — who met with them for five hours Sunday — said they seem to be at a "critical point." The parties have set a self-imposed deadline of tomorrow to make a deal.

"Frankly, it's taken longer than it should," Patrick told the Herald. "It's a very complicated transaction in which the employees are caught up. … What I want is to get a deal done because a deal seems to be a prerequisite for stabi­lizing the company."

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Experts downplay bid by Hannaford

A bid to buy Market Basket by the parent company of Hannaford Supermarkets is improbable given not only the current state of the Tewksbury chain's stores, but also the likely extended federal antitrust review it would require, according to grocery analysts.

Delhaize Group, the Belgian owner of the 180-store, Maine-based Hannaford, is purported to have bid for the 71-store Market Basket chain, but overlap in Massachusetts and New Hampshire likely would mean a six- to 12-month Federal Trade Commission review, said Kevin Griffin, publisher of the Griffin Report of Food Marketing. By the time a deal would be consum­mated, Market Basket stores — already bereft of customers and sales — would have to be closed to stave off losses.

"I can't see the Hannaford thing happening," Griffin said. "It's just unrealistic."

A Delhaize spokesman declined comment.

The FTC likely would force Hannaford to divest stores given the proximity of locations between the two chains, said supermarket consultant David Living­ston of DJL Research in Milwaukee. "It would be pretty messy," he said.

And despite Hannaford's opportunity to increase its market share — and non-union synergies — Market Basket is "not much of a going concern," said grocery analyst Andrew Wolf of BB&T Capital Markets.

Market Basket share­holders are believed to be focused on former CEO Arthur T. Demoulas' bid to buy the chain from rival cousin Arthur S. Demoulas' side of the family after the CEO's firing in June, which set off a worker protest that's decimated the chain.

Tom Gordon, a former grocery department district supervisor for Market Basket, is hopeful Arthur T. Demoulas will wrap up a deal by Friday. "Knowing (Arthur T. Demoulas) as well as I do, if he didn't think this was possible, he somehow would have let us know," Gordon said.

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Disney stock closes in on $100 after hitting $90 high

Disney enjoyed a magical day on Wall Street Tuesday with its stock trading at record levels of $90 a share -- the highest in more than 16 years.

The stock ended the day at $90.09, up 12 cents, a 52-week high. It nearly broke the $90 mark on Monday, closing at $89.97.

It was up another 16 cents in after-hours trading at $90.16.

Analysts currently recommend Disney's stock with a moderate buy, although Jeffries analyst John Janedis predicted in June that the company's shares will break $100. "We think Disney is still at the early stages of a multi-year run where all segments will post solid growth," he said at the time.

Others also were optimistic.

Argus raised its price target from $96 to $101 last week. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its price from $90 to $100, earlier in the month. And Nomura was more cautious with a price target of $97, up from $95.

The last time Disney's stock traded at this level was the 1990s, but stock splits brought it back down to the $34.50 range in 1998, after hitting $106.

Disney's third quarter, which wrapped June 30, marked the best three months in the company's history, with profits rising 22% to $2.2 billion on a 8% gain in revenue of $12.46 billion.

The gains came as the studio is firing on all cylinders with "Frozen" earning $1.3 billion at the box office, Marvel's "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" and "Guardians of the Galaxy" performing strongly this summer and "Maleficent" also scoring big worldwide.

During the period, all of the company's divisions -- cable, broadcast, theme parks, consumer products and interactive -- saw considerable gains. But analysts have their eye on what's coming next year: a slate of high-profile tentpoles like "The Avengers" sequel "Age of Ultron," the potential launch of the "Ant-Man" franchise, and a new "Star Wars."

In fact, Disney is planning on upping the presence of the sci-fi franchise at the company's theme parks; it has new animated series "Star Wars Rebels" launching in October.

A focus on franchises and tentpoles boosted revenue at the studio 14% to $1.8 billion during the company's third quarter that doubled profits to $411 million.

Overall, Disney's stock is up 18% since January.

(C) 2014 Variety Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

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Loan repayment is key to Market Basket sale

Talks to sell the beleaguered Market Basket grocery chain to Arthur T. Demoulas are not about sale price, but a key factor that has emerged is how much the ousted CEO would pay upfront for the family business, according to sources briefed on the negotiations.

The down payment is one of myriad complex deal points still to be hashed out by a self-imposed Friday deadline, but the final figure could affect many other factors, including the schedule on which future payments would be made, the sources said.

Arthur T. Demoulas has characterized his undisclosed offer last week as "pre-crisis," referring to a point about a month ago, before Market Basket employees walked off the job to protest his ouster and sales plunged due to mostly halted product shipments.

Market Basket generated about $4 billion in revenue last year, pegging the value of the 50.5 percent of shares owned by the other side of the Demoulas family — led by Arthur T.'s cousin and rival, board chairman Arthur S. Demoulas — at around $1.5 billion.

Demoulas' backers will likely want to see proof that the chain can generate revenue again before going all in on the deal, sources said. The risk for him is whether he could bring the 71-store chain back to its profitability so he can repay his backers.

While other potential suitors for the grocery chain have been discussed — chief among them the parent company of Hannaford Bros. Co. — Kevin Griffin, publisher of the Griffin Report of Food Marketing, said a deal with Arthur T. is the "only one that makes sense."

"(Market Basket) is a company that's at a virtual standstill," Griffin said. "I can't imagine anybody who has a fiduciary responsibility in making these decisions to make a purchase … could in good faith write a check for a company that's basically nonexistent today."

Independent Market Basket board member Ronald G. Weiner said he couldn't speak on sale negotiations, but offered, "It's in process, and hopefully it will be brought to a conclusion."

Gov. Deval Patrick and New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan convened the parties Sunday to hammer out a deal. State Sen. Eileen Donoghue (D-Lowell) said, "It's gotten very, very quiet as far as what's actually happening. Maybe that's a good sign. Maybe that means they are serious about resolving it. I remain hopeful that cooler heads will prevail, and that something will be salvaged here. If not, I think it could a big problem in these parts for a long time."

Also yesterday, several Market Basket vendors said they have stopped doing business with the company out of allegiance to Arthur T., putting further pressure on Arthur S. to cut a deal.

Yell-O-Glow, a banana processor and grocery distributor in Chelsea, laid off 30 people yesterday after deciding several weeks ago to cut ties after more than 60 years because it "lost all faith in this current regime," board member George J. Markos said.

"We're sort of appalled that this current regime has such utter disregard for the other stakeholders — the public, the customers, the vendors and the employees," Markos said. "And, if the current board was competent, they could recognize the … problem: the current management group can't get it done, and they could fix it in a moment by reinstating the old regime."

Paul Hatziiliades, owner of Watertown specialty food company Extra Virgin Foods, also stopped doing business with Market Basket. "I've temporarily cut ties with people in that building because I fully expect this to be over pretty soon and the proper management team to be back in business," Hatziiliades said.

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Next iPhone, first iWatch raises Apple stock to record highs

The anticipation of new products -- the iPhone 6 and an iWatch -- raised Apple's stock to record territory on Tuesday.

Shares in the company closed at $100.52, up $1.37, the highest price in the company's history since September 2012 -- before a seven-to-one stock split when shares traded at over $700. The company introduced the iPhone 5 at the time.

While investors worried last year that Apple had lost its momentum after sales of iPods and iPads started slowing, knocking shares down to $55 in April 2013, they've nearly doubled since.

That's largely because buzz is building for the iPhone 6, out later this year, that is expected to feature a larger screen, and a potential iWatch, which would get the company into the growing wearables market.

Analysts estimate that there are around 200 million iPhone owners around the world who may upgrade to the new iPhone 6.

Others believe Apple could sell 70 million to 80 million new iPhones by the end of the year, besting previous iPhone launches.

Tuesday's gains also follow a price target of $120 within the year from Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty, saying much of the gains will come after the next version of the iPhone, Apple's most profitable device is released.

Around 60 million iWatches could also be sold within the first year of release, Huberty said, with each priced at around $300.

"We see iWatch as an important barometer of the company's innovation capabilities under the leadership of Tim Cook," Huberty said.

Current iPhone sales already are taking off in newer markets for the company like China, India and Brazil.

The $3 billion acquisition of Beats Electronics and the Beats Music service also has only helped inject some more cool into the company, especially among younger consumers.

(C) 2014 Variety Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

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Roku's first streaming-video TVs ready to hit U.S. market

For years, Apple has been rumored to be developing an integrated, Internet-connected HDTV designed to make streaming video the first input on the biggest screen in the house.

But now Roku, maker of Internet-streaming video players that compete with Apple TV set-tops, is delivering on the concept with what it's claiming are the first TVs designed as streaming-first displays.

The initial crop of Roku smart TVs are from Chinese consumer-electronics companies Hisense and TCL, with models in a range of screen sizes slated to begin shipping in a few weeks. Roku announced the deals with the CE makers at the 2014 International CES trade show in January.

By default, when users turn on a Roku TV, they'll see options for streaming services like Netflix, Amazon, Hulu Plus and HBO Go -- not a cable box or TV antenna input (although that can be changed after setup). The smart TVs provide "a simple way to access endless entertainment whether (on) pay TV, over-the-air or streamed," said Jim Funk, VP of product management at Roku.

In addition, the remote controls for the TVs from both TCL include Hisense include one-click buttons for accessing Netflix, Amazon Video, Walmart's Vudu and streaming-music service Rdio, through deals with each of those content providers. All told, the Roku TVs -- as with its existing media players -- offer a lineup of more than 1,500 streaming channels.

TCL is selling four Roku TV models with full-HD (1080p) resolution, in varying screen sizes: a 32-inch version with an expected street price of $229; a 40-inch model at $329, a 48-inch model for $499 and a 55-inch unit for $649. The TCL TVs, which each have three HDMI inputs, are available for pre-order from Amazon.com and are expected to be on the shelves of retailers nationwide by late August or early September, the company said.

Hisense's Roku TV H4 line, set to ship beginning in late September, will be available in 40-, 48-, 50- and 55-inch models via major national retailers. The company is not announcing suggested pricing, because it's letting retail partners set pricing as they see fit, according to Peter Erdman, VP of consumer electronics for Hisense USA.

The Roku TVs' specially designed remote controls exclude number keypads and have half the buttons of traditional TV remotes, with setup and navigation functions handled through on-screen menus. The TVs also can be controlled by Roku apps for iOS, Android or Windows, which also let users send personal video, photos and music directly from a mobile device to the TV.

M-Go, the joint venture of DreamWorks Animation and Technicolor, is the default "movie store" partner for the Roku TVs, as it is for the Roku streaming players and the HDMI-based streaming stick.

(C) 2014 Variety Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

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The Ticker

Third of Americans have no retirement savings

More than a third of American adults have no retirement savings, including 14 percent of those 65 years of age or older, according to a new study released yesterday. The low savings rate for people at or approaching retirement age is alarming, said Greg McBride, chief financial analyst for Bankrate.com, which conducted the survey.

About a quarter — 26 percent — of those age 50 to 64 haven't started saving for retirement, the survey said; the figure was 33 percent of people who are 30- to 49-years-old. Some 36 percent of adults have no retirement funds saved. Overall, 36 percent of those 18 years or older have not started saving for retirement, according to the survey of 1,003 adults.

Harbor Towers hires prof to look at Chiofaro Co.'s waterfront plan

Harbor Towers, the 43-year-old pair of Boston waterfront buildings with more than 1,100 residents, has engaged George Thrush, professor and director of the school of architecture at Northeastern University, for advice on proposed redevelopment plans for the Harbor Garage, owned by Hub developer Don Chiofaro and his partner, Prudential Real Estate Investments.

Thrush and a team of architects and urban planners will assess the recent proposal by the Chiofaro Co. to replace the garage with a mixed-use complex made up of two towers, 660 feet and 550 feet high, and totaling 1.3 million square feet.

Temazcal opening Lynnfield eatery

Temazcal Tequila Cantina, an upscale Mexican food restaurant, will open a new eatery in the MarketStreet development in Lynnfield this fall, and is now hiring 100 workers, including managers, bartenders, kitchen staff, hostesses and servers.

Today

 Commerce Department releases housing starts for July.

 Labor Department releases Consumer Price Index for July.

TOMORROW

 Federal Reserve releases minutes from its July interest rate meeting.

THE SHUFFLE

Ray LaPorte and Ted Desrosiers are joining Martha's Vineyard Financial Group, the wealth management division of Martha's Vineyard Savings Bank. LaPorte and Desrosiers, both affiliated with LPL Financial Services, bring more than 50 combined years of financial services experience. The new relationship will create the largest wealth management group on the island with $300 million in assets under management.

 Smarterer announced that Larry Israelite, an established learning and development executive, is joining its executive team as senior vice president of learning and assessments. Israelite brings over 30 years of enterprise experience to the team, and will play an instrumental role in shaping Smarterer's employee capability platform. Prior to Smarterer, Israelite served as the vice president of corporate learning and development for Liberty Mutual Insurance.

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Bowman: Arthur-ian legend created

Grocery-chain cult hero Arthur T. Demoulas has demonstrated that when you give people respect, you earn respect and loyalty. Lots of loyalty.

The ousted former Market Basket CEO has treated his employees like family, and in so doing has helped build an estimated $4 billion business with 71 locations throughout New England.

The chain has 25,000 employees and countless devoted customers. But that's all at risk now due to a devastating family feud that seems to have no end in sight.

But Arthur T. has emerged as the quintessential King Arthur of produce. In indulging his court with simple acts of kindness, he created not only a business model but an enviable model business — one with a heart and soul.

Employee — and customer — loyalty is scarce today and virtually extinct for companies.

The Market Basket story fortifies the notion that loyalty breeds loyalty. The story is both seductive and instructive and showcases a moral awakening.

Simply stated, when you hug others — sometimes even literally — people hug back. Employees who were treated like family and felt like family, responded like family to a crisis situation and put their jobs on the line to support a leader they loved.

Arthur T. inspired a business culture by practicing timeless, people-oriented principles.

The business plan was pure. There was nothing magical or mystical about it. Arthur T. simply cared about his employees and their families and they cared back.

Here's how he showed it:

• He knew, used and remembered his employees' names.

• He always asked about loved ones who were ill, and remembered them in conversation the next time.

•  He paid higher wages.

• He provided significant advancement opportunities. People felt valued and had a sense of job security at Market Basket.

Arthur T. may have lost his seat at the boardroom table and may not have controlling interest in Market Basket, but he has earned a special place in history as one who built a successful "people-
oriented" business at a time when business is all about the bottom line. He has a legacy. A rare feat these days.

He's made us believe in the good guy again and that "Might for Right" (the call of the Knights of the Round Table) prevails.

Judith Bowman is president of her own business consulting company.

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Now, where did I put that thing?

Nokia Treasure Tag (various retailers, $29.99 and up)

Who among us doesn't occasionally leave behind keys, a wallet or a purse? The Nokia Treasure Tag is a little proximity sensor designed to warn you when you're about to leave something behind by accident. It syncs to your device via Near Field Communication or Bluetooth.

The good: Although it's manufactured by Nokia, this app-enabled sensor works with iOS and Android. The accompanying app can keep track of up to four tags at once — stuff like a remote control that constantly goes missing, car keys, a bike.

The bad: The device can be a little moody about reconnecting once it's gotten out of range.

The bottom line: This devices arrives just in time to help those incoming college freshmen remember their dorm keys. It's well worth the reasonable pricetag for the absent-minded among us.

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Program out to make legal representation affordable

A University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Law School program aims to match new lawyers in need of work with people who need legal help but can't pay the steep rate that most firms charge.

"Around 85 percent of the people who appear in court for custody, foreclosures, evictions, can't afford a lawyer," said Mary Lu Bilek, dean of the UMass Law School, citing a study. "At the same time, people are saying there are too many lawyers ... There's a mismatch between who needs lawyers and who has lawyers. We have to get serious about solving the problem."

That's where Justice Bridge on Franklin Street in downtown Boston comes in.

"Some of our clients may have lost hope and believe that justice is beyond their reach or legal representation is beyond their reach," said Len Zandrow, executive director of the program. "So, we're among other things providing justice for people and also restoring hope."

Without such a service, because of the cost of hiring a lawyer, people often take on child-custody disputes or mortgage foreclosures by themselves, unaware of their legal rights or the possible consequences, Zandrow said.

Justice Bridge will work to keep costs down by using technology such as discounted research tools, a database of 1,100 legal forms and what Zandrow called a "limited-representation model."

"It's a way to divide the work. Clients who can't afford a lawyer for all aspects of their case, they may take on some of the responsibility themselves and the lawyers will identify and work the most critical aspects of the case," he said. "The clients will probably be doing some of their own legal work under the guidance of the lawyers."

Such programs are crucial to the practical application of the law, Bilek said.

"The law doesn't operate because it's written in a book. When you're threatened with a legal problem, just because you should win because that's what the law says, doesn't mean you're going to," she said.

And the program offers key benefits for new lawyers — who often spend more than half their time looking for clients, Zandrow said. According to the American Bar Association, there is a 56 percent unemployment rate among 2012 law school graduates.

The program, Bilek said, is designed to jump-start careers of those new lawyers, not threaten smaller firms.

"Lawyers in practice turn away clients every day because they can't afford to pay the fees the lawyer needs to pay her bills," she said.

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Market Basket: ‘Real progress’ in late-night Patrick, Hassan negotiations

Bay State Gov. Deval Patrick and New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan last night personally joined the negotiations over the long-drawn-out Market Basket dispute that has put a multibillion-dollar company and tens of thousands of jobs at risk in both states.

"Governor Hassan and Governor Patrick met at length on Sunday evening with interested parties in the Market Basket situation," said Patrick spokeswoman Heather Nichols in a statement. "The parties have made real progress on the terms of the sale and operating control of the company, and the governors are encouraged that a resolution may be within reach."

The move came as hundreds of Market Basket workers approach a new work-or-be-fired deadline today and as thousands of part-time workers already have seen their hours cut to zero.

The nearly monthlong battle between new management and employees and customers of the multibillion-dollar supermarket chain started when the board controlled by Arthur S. Demoulas ousted his cousin Arthur T. Demoulas in June. That has prompted job walkouts and protests by many of the chain's 30,000 workers as well as customers.

Last week, Market Basket co-CEOs Felicia Thornton and James Gooch sent letters to protesting employees telling them that they have until today to return to work.

"We are writing one final time, to invite you to return to work and perform your job obligations," the letter, which was posted on the "My Demoulas" Twitter page, reads. "Should you choose to ignore either of these directives, the company will consider you to have abandoned your job, thereby ending your employment with the company."

Patrick's office became involved in the dispute earlier this month, as he urged workers to return to their jobs on Wednesday "to stabilize" the crippled company.

His family ties to the downtown law firm representing Market Basket's independent board members — which he disclosed in an ethics filing after he was questioned about a possible conflict — has raised questions about his transparency with the public.

The governor's wife, Diane Patrick, is a co-managing partner, specializing in advising employers on labor relations, with the law firm Ropes & Gray.

That firm represents the independent directors on Market Basket's board.

The PR firm representing the independent directors said in a statement last week: "Diane Patrick has not in any manner been involved in Ropes & Gray's representation of the independent directors of the Board nor of the Committees of the Board."

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Tax holiday lures Massachusetts shoppers

Shoppers packed stores as the state's sales tax holiday kicked off yesterday, with retailers anticipating a blockbuster weekend at the registers in the doldrums of summer.

"We are expecting to see a pretty big weekend," said Bill Rennie, vice president of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts. "We're expecting big crowds this weekend, a lot of traffic in the stores."

A spokesman for the Northshore Mall in Peabody said stores were busy yesterday, and so were the parking lots.

"You can definitely see the influx of traffic compared to a typical Saturday in August," said Rich Balest. "Northshore is looking pretty good right now."

The big box stores and electronics retailers were seeing the most traffic, he said.

Rennie said the association's members expect to rack up close to $500,000 in sales this weekend.

"Interest is as high as it's been in years past," Rennie said.

The state department of revenue estimated the state missed out on roughly $24.6 million in uncollected sales tax last year. That was the fourth straight increase over the year before.

Many stores doubled their staffing levels and across the state malls rolled out the promotions and gimmicks. The Simon Malls, which include the Northshore Mall, Square One Mall and South Shore Plaza, had extended hours, and the Northshore Mall had puppies on hand so people could take a break from sales tax-free shopping and play with the dogs.

Antonio Duarte said his freezer broke a week ago and he waited for the tax holiday to take a trip to the Northshore Mall to replace it.

"It comes at the right time," Duarte said. "I saved a few bucks."

Stacey Stanley is building a new house, and needed some supplies from the plumbing supply store, she said.

"It just so happened to fall on the tax-free holiday, so we said might as well," she said. "I think it's great, maybe they should do it twice a year."

Still, not everyone was buying into the sales tax holiday, which suspends the sales tax for items up to $2,500 — a $150 savings on the maximum amount.

"If Macy's decided to have a storewide sale for 6.25 percent, no one would show up for that," said Edgar Dworsky, founder of Consumer World. "It's very big hype."

Still, he said the holiday can help people save on specific items.

"People are going to save the most on big-ticket items, stuff for which normally it hurts if you have to pay sales tax on it," he said. "Just because it's 6.25 percent less expensive, that's no reason to buy it if you don't need it."

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Site lets job seekers ‘upskill’

When Iba Masood and Syed Ahmed graduated from college in 2010 and 2011, respectively, they initially had trouble finding jobs.

Like many of their classmates, they had the education, but not the specific skill sets that some companies were looking for.

So in 2012, they created Gradberry, a website that allows students and graduates to "upskill" through interactive, online courses and find jobs and internships, and allows employers to find new talent.

"Industries are currently in flux and constantly changing, and universities haven't been able to keep up with the new tools of the trade that graduating students need," said Masood, co-founder and CEO of Gradberry, now a finalist in the MassChallenge startup accelerator and competition.

Many business schools don't teach students how to use the software tool Salesforce, for example, a skill that many employers require for sales and customer relationship management positions.

"Gradberry aims to fill that gap," Masood said.

The website offers both free and paid courses taught by experts in areas such as technology entrepreneurship, social-media marketing, HTML5 and digital photography. Prices for paid courses generally range from $49 to $99. And once you've completed all the lessons in a course, you earn a certificate that you can add to your Gradberry talent profile.

You can also search for internships, freelancing opportunities and full-time jobs on the website, and employers can search for job candidates by browsing through their talent profiles.

Viveka Mishra, a fellow MassChallenge finalist, used Gradberry to post a job last week for a full-time marketing position at her company, PegaSense.

"The site was incredibly simple to use, and the posting itself was nestled in between Amazon job postings," Mishra said. "When I posted the job, Gradberry tweeted an energetic, 'PegaSense is looking for a marketing rockstar,' with a link to the posting to their massive amount (11,100) of Twitter followers."

"Using Gradberry has been great marketing for PegaSense," she said, "and we've since been in contact with high-caliber candidates from across the globe."

Worldwide, Gradberry has 38,000 users and will never charge people applying for jobs, Masood said, but the company will begin charging employers by next year for premium services such as training for 
employees or advanced filtering that will allow companies to search for prospective job applicants by their universities and majors.

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Malibu fault code affected by which engine powers it

Code P0172 came up in my 2010 Chevy Malibu. The dealer charged me $100 to troubleshoot the code. I was told that all the sensors were good and to run the gas tank low and fill up with high-octane gas. Does going to high-octane gas make any sense to you? The "Check engine" light is still on and I'm concerned that if another code comes up I'll never know. What do you think?

If the engine in your vehicle is the 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder, the P0172 indicates a rich fuel/air mixture. The long-term fuel trim is beyond the range of adjustment based on the oxygen sensor feedback to the PCM. Look for a leaking fuel pressure regulator or fuel injector, or a restriction in the induction system like a clogged air cleaner or collapsed induction hose. Other possibilities include fuel contamination in the crankcase, a faulty PCV or evaporative emissions system, or contaminated fuel. If it is a fuel issue such as an excess amount of alcohol, the dealer's advice might help.

All bets are off if it's a V-6 engine because the P0172 code would indicate a rich mixture on cylinder bank 1 only. If this is the case, look for a mechanical issue with an injector or fuel pressure regulator.

By the way, you may be able to avoid the diagnostic charge in the future. A number of auto parts stores will plug a scanner into the diagnostic link on your vehicle and read any stored fault codes — at no charge. Taking advantage of this service not only can save you money, but arm you with accurate diagnostic information when you take the vehicle to the dealership or service agency.

I am having a problem with my 2000 Chrysler minivan that I bought new. It had 175K on it the first time it stalled on me. Since no one could figure it out I just let it go until now. The problem is after driving the car for at least 40 minutes in very hot weather with the A/C on, the car starts to lose power as if it is running out of gas. The accelerator doesn't respond and as I put my foot on it, the car sputters worse and worse and eventually dies. When I try to restart it and it starts it runs really rough and eventually dies. The first few times I had it towed, and of course by the time it got there [service agency], it fired right up. There were no error codes and no one could figure out what was wrong. I learned that if I just let the car cool down for about 45 minutes it would start and run fine for a long period.

In the rest of your letter you mentioned having the crankshaft and camshaft position sensors replaced, but I doubt this fixed the issue. From your description, the engine is suffering from a loss of fuel pressure. If it is heat-related — high underhood temperatures — it would be labeled "vapor lock," where the fuel boils in the fuel rail, generating air bubbles that disrupt fuel delivery. Try carrying a spray bottle of water with you, and when this happens again open the hood and cool the underhood components of the fuel system with water. If the car restarts and runs cleanly, it's vapor lock. Servicing the cooling system and ensuring good airflow through the A/C condenser and radiator can help lower underhood temperatures.

If the water doesn't help, it's possible that it's a failing fuel pump or that debris in the fuel tank is slowly clogging the fuel strainer surrounding the fuel pickup as you drive. This would also cause a loss of fuel pressure, but after sitting the debris can fall away from the strainer, allowing the car to run fine again — for a while.

Paul Brand, author of "How to Repair Your Car," is an automotive troubleshooter, driving instructor and former race-car driver. Readers may write to him at: Star Tribune, 425 Portland Ave. S., Minneapolis, Minn., 55488 or via email at paul brand@startribune.com. Please explain the problem in detail and include a daytime phone number. Because of the volume of mail, we cannot provide personal replies.

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