Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009

Business Notes

New in Garner

The following new businesses have opened in Garner:

LA Signs and Screening is at 104 E. Main St. Salon on Main, offering styling and hair-care products, has opened down the street at 104 W. Main.

The Grand Marquis Ballroom, a venue for special events, is at 225 New Fidelity Court near Garner TV & Appliance.

Another special-events space, the Bryan-Rand House, has opened at 2518 Benson Road.

On the health-care front, Raleigh Orthopedic is open at 1325 Timber Drive East at White Oak, and Wake Surgical Associates has opened at Health Park near White Oak.

Finally, a Sears Outlet Center has opened in Kmart on U.S. 401.

Auto parts store opens

Walker Auto Stores has purchased eight independent Napa Auto Parts Stores in central North Carolina, including a store in Garner.

Through consolidation, Walker owns and operates 18 stores, offering auto and truck parts, paint and body supplies and automotive tools and equipment. The Garner store is at 123 Yeargan Road. For more details, call Manager Chad Brooks at 861-8602.

Conference presenter

Arianna M. Aguilar has been named a presenter at the annual conference of the American Translators Association. She is president of Latino Outreach Consulting of North Carolina, a translation, interpreting and consulting agency in Smithfield.

The conference will be held Oct. 28-31 in New York City. Aguilar's presentation is titled "Mental Health Interpreting: Unique Challenges and Practical Solutions." It explores the medical, legal and ethical challenges that interpreters face and presents case studies and solutions.

"Mental-health interpreting is a much-needed subset of study in both the interpreting and medical fields," Aguilar said. "But surprisingly, there has not been much academic or clinical research done the subject."

Aguilar has 10 years of experience in translating and interpreting.

A top adviser

Smithfield native Kerry Davis has been named a top financial adviser by Tarkenton Financial. Davis' parents were McDonald and Emma Lee Davis. His father operated Hood's Drugstore for many years.

Davis owns and operates Monroe Insurance Agency in Monroe. Tarkenton Financial focuses on investing seniors' retirement money in risk-free investments.

Fran Tarkenton, the Hall of Fame quarterback, is chief executive of the company.

"Kerry Davis is dedicated to helping his clients meet their long-term goals and improve their quality of life without risk," Tarkenton said. "I can say that he differentiates himself in his no-pressure, non-sales approach to helping seniors with retirement planning."

New in gift shop

The Ava Gardner Museum gift shop has added shot classes, drink insulators and bumper stickers.

The museum is at 325 E. Market St. in downtown Smithfield. It's open from 9 a.m. till 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 2 till 5 p.m. Sundays.