Democrat and Chronicle from Rochester, New York • Page 36

DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE Supreme Court intervenes Justices will consider a case involving confidential corporate records. Page 6D 10D 9D NASDAQ 8D NYSE 7D MUTUALS ROCHESTER, NEW YORK DemocratandChronicle.com TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2003 SINESS to lin The market At a glance DOW NASDAQ RGH with too cimic A heart-care partnership with Cleveland facility is expected. the hospital linked with Buffalo's Roswell Park Cancer Institute. Rochester General has said that the partnerships are not meant to divert patients outside Rochester. But Strong officials have said that Rochester General doctors already refer patients outside the area when the same services are offered at UR.

JDAVIAioDemocratandChronicle.com about 250 more than Strong Memorial Hospital. Officials consistently point to several reports that rank General ahead of Strong in the quality of heart services, including General's placement on the 2003 So-lucient 100 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals list. But Strong has challenged several reports, including a 2002 state study that ranked General sev enth and Strong 31st in coronary artery bypass surgery. Officials have been working on the Cleveland deal for about a year, which would make the hospital the Cleveland Clinic's Rochester division for car-diothoracic services. It would be Rochester General's second partnership with an outside specialty hospital.

In August, is generally considered one of the nation's top heart centers. Rochester General's cardiac surgeons would become staff members of the Cleveland Clinic. This would give them access to the latest technology and research. The partnership will en Wwa, a JOY DAVIA STAFF WRITER Rochester General Hospital will make an announcement Nov. 19 about a partnership with the Cleveland Clinic.

Such a move would link Rochester's largest heart surgery program with what Darcy Brenner of Geneseo, day. She says she's thrilled H1IHJ.U 11.. .1 it, jL. 1. 1 -Ml ril 0101 soltS3 The group's CEO discloses efforts for 3 unnamed companies.

Livingston County, checks out the Tuesday Morning store in the chain is opening here because she had been traveling to Upscale retailer opens Tuesday Morning sells gifts, home items at closeout prices. 9,756.53 1,941.64 Stocks of local interest, 9D At a glance LOCAL Bankruptcy filings increase Filings in the U.S. Bank ruptcy Court in Rochester jumped 9.8 percent in October compared with the same month last year. The court reported 525 filings compared with 478 a year earlier. It was the highest monthly total since March.

Of the 525 filings last month, 11 were business bankruptcies. Through October, there have been 4,432 filings this year, up from 4,319 for the same period a year ago. Constellation execs change Constellation Brands Inc. announced that Agus-tin Francisco Huneeus resigned the post of president and chief executive officer of the Franciscan Estates brand of wines effective Dec. 1 to work in his family business.

Jon Moramarco, currently president and chief executive officer of Canan-daigua Wine will take the role of president and CEO of Franciscan Estates, based in St. Helena, Calif. Jose Fernandez, currently president and chief executive officer of Pacific Wine Partners, will now also assume the role of president and CEO of Canandaigua Wine Co. Torvec boosts fuel economy Pittsford-based Torvec Inc. said Monday that tests on a Dodge Ram diesel pickup truck with its infinitely variable transmission boosted fuel economy 96 percent over similar gasoline models.

The company said the 96 percent figure was not adjusted to account for the fact that Torvec's test truck was nearly 2000 pounds heavier than the gasoline powered model. Wegmans rises on 'Forbes' list Wegmans Food Markets Inc. moved up three places to 48th in Forbes' 2003 ranking of the largest private companies in America. The Gates-based supermarket chain had revenue last year of $3.02 billion, up from $2.92 billion the year before. Cargill is America's largest privately held firm with nearly $60 billion in sales.

Staff reports Coming up Michelle Singletary In this open enrollment season, don't forget to sign up for disability insurance. In tomorrow's Democrat and Chronicle Key indicators T-note, 10-year yield, 4.45, unchanged. Dollar vs. yen, down .89 yen to 108.37. Gold, NY Merc, up $3.30 to $386.60.

hance care for Rochester General heart patients, said Dr. Ronald Kirshner, Rochester General's chief of cardiovascular services. "The region's best is getting together with the nation's best to enhance cardiac care for Rochester," he said, declining to give any details until Nov. 19. Rochester General performs about 1,000 open-heart surgeries a year, down for three to four weeks in January and July," said Jan Romanowski, the zone manager who oversees upstate New York operations.

"We have what we call green card sales, which is what we are going to have this week. We have 10 of those a year. In March, April, May, June and sometimes August, we will close the Sunday and Monday before the sale. Every other day, we're open except for Thanksgiving, Christmas and it depends on when Easter hits." Confused? You're not alone. Most stores will provide customers with pocket calendars that show what days they are open and what days they are closed, Romanowski said.

On those days when Tuesday Morning is open, $200 and $600, but if a company implements the suggestions, the state refunds that cost. The other state program, Industrial Effectiveness Program, provides grants of up to $50,000 for a company to hire outside consultants to help suggest and implement ways to improve production and efficiency. Officials said they will hand out materials on the programs at conferences and networking events, and may also begin an advertising campaign. "This is not about red tape," said Peter Smith, acting president of NYSER-DA. "This is about being ready to rock and roll." for NCR an ATM maker and imaging firm in Dayton, Ohio.

But results may be mixed for consumers. Deposits will be available sooner, but some check writers will be hit with more insufficient-funds fees because of the quicker turnaround time. And you will no longer get your original checks back. TODD GRADY STAFF WRITER Greater Rochester Enterprise's latest efforts have helped create more than 75 jobs in the area and retain more than 50, the group's chief executive said. Michael Finney, president and CEO of GRE, said Monday the group has identified three companies for retention, 11 for attraction and 11 for expansion.

On Friday, he told Monroe County lawmakers about three specific efforts for unnamed companies during a meeting of the Legislature's Planning and Economic Development Committee. "We're starting to, I think, make the kind of progress that you're going to be very pleased with," Finney told lawmakers on Friday. He declined again on Monday to disclose the names of the three companies but gave the following details of GRE's efforts: A New York City producer of video clips for movie theaters decided to stay here, retaining 55 area jobs. The company's decision to stay here also resulted in plans by the company to relocate 25 more jobs to Rochester. The deal did not require any local incentives.

dise ranges from fair to great depending on what the store has at a given time, similar to a TJ Maxx or Syms. However, TJ Maxx emphasizes apparel. Tuesday Morning emphasizes everything but. The advertisement included in Sunday's Democrat and Chronicle features high-end Mont Blanc pens at 50 percent off the suggested retail price. It also includes luggage, books, telescopes, lithographs and bed comforter sets but no apparel.

Also, Tuesday Morning is open every day most weeks, but not necessarily every month of the year. "We're generally shut Michael Finney Said the GRE has helped create more than 75 jobs. A local insurance company decided to consolidate its upstate New York operations here resulting in the creation of 50 jobs. GRE helped a business secure a $500,000 financing package to manufacture equipment that filters foul odors. The deal resulted in three new jobs.

In total, GRE staff members have met with 151 businesses. Twenty-five of those meetings generated leads that could lead to future job growth here, Finney said. GRE, a privately led economic group, was launched two years ago by a group of business and government leaders. GRE recently received a financial commitment from three additional investors to aid its economic development efforts. Finney declined to identify those investors.

He said GRE has 101 investors but is still short of its goal of raising $14 million over GRE, PAGE 6D later for all others. "After today, it's easier than ever to cut the cord," said FCC Chairman Michael Powell. "By firmly endorsing a customer's right to untether themselves from the wireline network and take their telephone number with them we act to eliminate impediments to competition between wireless and wireline services." Consumer advocates have long said that technological advances made it unnecessary for customers to have different home and cell numbers, and that they should be allowed to take their cell phone numbers with them when they change companies. "When we reduce the switching costs of going from one carrier to another, you're making the market more competitive," said Chris Murray, legislative counsel for Consumers Union, which publishes Consumer Reports. boost energy audits ANNETTE LEIN staff photographer Southtown Plaza on Sun' the one in Syracuse.

customers can expect to find prices anywhere be tween 50 percent and 80 percent below retail prices found in department stores, the company says, The store at Southtown puts the Dallas-based company's outlets at more than 550 in 42 states. It has three stores in Buffalo and one each in Syracuse and Albany. The company describes itself as "the leading close- out retailer" of upscale, decorative home accesso ries and famous-maker gifts. Hours for today's grand opening are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Normally, the store will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.

FBILOVDemcoratandChronicle.com. For more information On Energy Smart: www.nyserda.org On Industrial Effectiveness: www.nyloves biz.com Richard Rosenbloom, president of Ameritherm Inc. in Scottsville, said his company has taken advantage of both programs. Industrial Effectiveness shaved six weeks off Ame-ritherm's delivery times, Rosenbloom said. NYSER-DA's energy audit saved the company enough money to help it boost production, he said.

DTYLERffiDemocratandChronicle.com for banks The new law, known as "Check 21," revises decades-old standards that required an original paper check to be physically "presented" to banks on both ends of a transaction and returned if it can't be paid. In the past, that meant banks had to ship checks Phone numbers FRANK BIL0VSKY STAFF WRITER Shirley Mulligan of Wil mington, has a sug gestion for shoppers plan ning to attend today's Southtown Plaza grand opening of Tuesday Morn ing, the Rochester area's newest retail outlet: Get there early. "If you don't get in there the first day they have the sales, the stuff gets picked over very quickly," said Mulligan, based on her experiences shopping at the two Tuesday Mornings in the Wilmington area. "You don't have a lot of choice sometime. It's kind of like the luck of the draw when you go there." She said the merchan Groups DAVID TYLER STAFF WRITER A coalition of agencies wants to get the word out about ways small businesses can save money on their energy bills.

The New York State En ergy Research and Development Authority, the Empire State Development Corp. and the Rochester Business Alliance said Monday that they plan to send a letter to more than 2,000 area manufacturers, encouraging them to take advantage of existing state programs that can lower their energy costs. The programs aren't new, but officials want to make sure businesses know about their options. New rules JONATHAN D. EPSTEIN GANNETT NEWS SERVICE Under a new federal law, banks will be able to scan a check into a computer image and transmit it thousands of miles in seconds.

The image can be legally accepted for payment, or an acceptable replacement check can be printed. The change is expected to be a boon for banks and will be portable "We know that by working together and getting the word out, we can help save businesses money," said Jack Kinnicutt, head of Empire State Development's regional office, during a news conference Monday at the RBA's new headquarters. One state program, Erfer-gy Smart, will perform an audit for small businesses that spend less than $100,000 a year on utilities to see where savings might be possible. Suggestions might include installing new energy efficient lighting, programmable thermostats, or high efficiency motors, officials said. The audits cost between THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON Fed eral regulators gave the go-ahead Monday for consumers to switch their home phone numbers to their cell phones.

The Federal Communi cations Commission said people will be able to transfer their numbers as long as their wireless coverage area overlaps the location of their conventional phone. The FCC also said it wants to allow people to transfer cell numbers to conventional phones but needs to gather more information first. The new home-to-cell number rule takes effect Nov. 24, the same day wireless customers will be able to keep their numbers when they switch cell phone companies. The rules govern customers living in the 100 most populous metropolitan areas (that includes Rochester) and take effect six months could cut check costs businesses by lowering their costs.

Banks could save $3 billion a year. Experts say the change will cut down on how long it takes to process checks and allow banks to offer new services. "This is the biggest event in the banking industry in decades," said Joe Kniceley, vice president of payment solutions for the Americas Oil, light, sweet crude, for -tffe- Dec. delivery, up 3 cents to $30.88. News tips Call Business Editor Ellen Rosen at (585) 258-2320 or (800) 767-7539 from outside Monroe County.

t) CHECKS, PAGE 6D.