The Harrisburg Regional Chamber and Capital Regional Economic Development Corp. (CREDC) announced today the appointment of chairmen to the boards of directors.

A Cumberland County financial firm has a new president.

Katie Smarilli has retired from her position as Wachovia Bank's regional president for Central Pennsylvania, and Jan S. Heller has taken over those duties, the bank announced.

Mennonite Financial Federal Credit Union has grown quickly in recent years, serving its niche in the financial-services industry: members of the Anabaptist faith communities, including the Amish and Mennonite communities.

Dear Mr. Berko: I am writing this because of Dad, who is in a New York City hospital recovering from serious cancer surgery.

Rite Aid Corp. today announced a cash dividend of 87.5 cents per share on its series-E preferred stock and 34.4 cents per share on its series-I preferred stock, according to the Cumberland County company.

Harrisburg Mayor Stephen R. Reed last month dedicated the city offices of insurance-brokerage firm Riggs, Counselman, Michael & Downes on the 10th floor of the Wachovia building at 30 N. Third St.

PREVIOUS QUESTION: Should the Federal Reserve System once again cut its federal-funds rate to keep the economy from slipping into a prolonged slump?

What a year it was. We had wild swings in economic growth, the rise of subprime foreclosures and credit crunches.

Dear Mr. Berko: What do you know about the housing market in England?

Bankruptcies, Mortgages, Incorporations, Liens

What do you think of the Federal Reserve's response to the subprime fallout and the credit crunch? E-mail your responses here.

Rite Aid Corp. today reported that December same-store sales, or sales at stores that have been open for at least one year, decreased 0.5 percent when compared to the year-ago period.

The state collected $2.2 billion in General Fund revenue in December, according to a statement from the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue.

Are lenders solely to blame for the subprime-mortgage crisis? Why or why not?