BRIEFLY IN BUSINESS

New senior care serving Newport-Mesa

Home Instead Senior Care announced Tuesday its new ownership of a franchise, which will serve Newport Beach and Costa Mesa, as well as other Orange County cities.

The nonmedical, in-home senior service provider is independently owned and operated by Trabuco resident Nayda Poblete. Employees assist senior clients with daily activities, such as meal preparation, laundry, transportation and companionship.

A registered nurse with more than 20 years of experience, Poblete becomes the newest franchisee for the company, which serves an international community.

Along with Newport-Mesa, Poblete’s franchise, at 1500 Adams Ave., will also serve Huntington Beach, Westminster, Fountain Valley and Santa Ana.

New boutique opens in South Coast Plaza

Tory Burch opened a free-standing boutique at South Coast Plaza on Thursday, the company’s fifth in the country.

The South Coast Plaza boutique is more than 2,000 square feet and will be similar to its Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta and Dallas stores.

Tory Burch was launched in February 2004, and the collection features women’s sportswear and accessories. Its fall 2006 collection was inspired by 1960s and ‘70s equestrian style. The company was awarded the Fashion Group International’s rising star award in 2005.

Electronics company posts record revenues

Costa Mesa-based Probe Manufacturing Inc., a low-to-medium volume Electronics Manufacturing Services company, announced Thursday it posted record revenues since the 2002 fiscal year.

Its second quarter results for the three-month period ending June 30 were $2,715,600. It also had its highest quarterly gross profit since 2002.

The 11-year-old company is a manufacturer and supply-chain manager and provides services to telecommunications, industrial, automotive, alternative fuel, hybrid and medical device companies around the world.

Newport-Mesa hotels still cater to travelers

In the wake of ramped up airport security, passengers can no longer bring some of their everyday toiletries on board. Particularly affected are business travelers, many of whom travel with only carry-on luggage.

Newport-Mesa hotels near John Wayne Airport reported there have been more requests for certain items lately and are carrying amenities for travelers missing a thing or two — something they had been doing already.

The Fairmont provides packages for men and women that include some of the restricted items, including mouth wash, hair gel and toothpaste.

Merck to pay $51 million in Vioxx suit

A Newport Beach lawyer secured a $51-million verdict in a lawsuit against pharmaceutical company Merck & Co. Inc. and the drug Vioxx.

Lead trial counsel Mark Robinson Jr. of Robinson, Calcagnie & Robinson represented South Carolina resident Gerald Barnett, a retired FBI agent.

Barnett had a heart attack in 2002, which led to a five-way bypass surgery, angioplasty and stent placements. Robinson argued his condition was a result of his use of Vioxx, a pain reliever used for osteoarthritis.

Vioxx was taken off the shelf in 2004 after a study conducted by Merck showed it caused an increase in cardiovascular events, including the progression of atherosclerosis, which can lead to heart attack.

UCI Extension offers new business course

UC Irvine Extension announced this month it will hold a new course called Six Sigma Lean Green Belt this fall.

The course will be held 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays from Sept. 15 through Nov. 4 at the UCI Learning Center in Orange. There will also be a separate seminar on the Web called Turbocharge Your Organization and Your Career from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sept. 7.

The courses seek to teach professionals about increased efficiency while managing projects.

For more, go to www.extension.uci.edu or call (949) 824-7774.