GO RANGERS!!!! Awww, nuts! The retail store of Ellis Pecan Country Store is closing this year, though the warehouse, which services mail order, wholesale and corporate gift orders, still is shelling and shellacking the competition. Rhonda (wish we were as) Rich was feeling big & rich and didn't want to close without giving you a shot to come by and smell the walnuts, pecans and more. Two winners here, one getting a 2-pound fruit and nut sampler (walnuts, cranberries, almonds, etc.) and the other getting a 2-pound Texas basket of chocolate and white chocolate pecans. Treat no Trick: The prospective Ms. B and Mr. B were arguing about her halloween costume. She is a sales manager and wants to dress for success during their Oct. 31 sales meeting. Mr. B suggested she try Velvet Box and be the Wicked Witch. Not a good suggestion. She's thinking more Glenda the beautiful witch. She easily could pull that off. Is B back in good graces, sweetie? That's a scary thought, huh? But not as frightening as the good and bad witches' brew of Halloween costumes Velvet Box has just in time for Halloween. Mosey on over to see Marcelle and use the $100 gift card.

Picture of the Week     Now THERE's a sunset! But where's the pool, bar, shuffleboard and Private Benjamin? The USS Fort Worth is conducting sea trials and testing at the shipyard along the Menominee River. It's a Freedom class littoral combat ship of the United States Navy. She's the first ship to be named after Fort Worth and delivery to the U.S. Navy is scheduled for 2012. Thanks to Lockheed Martin and the USS Fort Worth Committee for this beautiful shot. Go here for updates and here to see more photos here.   Sponsored by

Jack-o-jealous: Misty Reznicek at Gordon Boswell Flowers is as sweet as they come, but she will be iPoding Play Misty for Me and have scary bouquets at her front door for Halloween. She has one for U2, a beautiful fall color bouquet set in a pumpkin with a witch peering out from the flowers. Get this and you'll scare the neighbors because yours is the porch witch all the kids will want to see.

Cha-ching: TCU Neeley School of Business Dean Homer Erekson is hosting a 2012 Economic Summit at 7 a.m. next Tuesday and Mr. B jumped at the opportunity to represent those making less than the poverty level and, of course, the free breakfast. Word came back from Homer's hired help: Well, thanks, but no thanks, Mr. B. This is the Tandy Executive Speaker Series and this panel will cover all economic topics wall-to-wall. There will be tables and chairs between those walls and peeps in the chairs to hear panelists Karen Kennedy of Impel Management, Gary Martin of Capital Southwest and John Arrow of Mutual Mobile. Mr. B settled for a table and has room for seven early birds.

Re-booted: When Mr. B first heard about the Zonta Club of Fort Worth Foundation from CPA Lynn Sudbury and Porsche boxster Cathy Brooks, he thought it was a club of former Texas Rangers drum bangers. But it is Zonta not Zonka and it's a group dedicated to advancing the legal, political, economic, health and educational status of women in the community and around the world. The foundation gala is Boots 'n Bling and it is Oct. 29 in the Fort Worth Stockyards. Honorees are Ladder Alliance and The Women's Center of Tarrant County, and Zonta Professional Woman of the Year, Channel 33 meteorologist Rebecca Miller. If you've weathered through all this, you could win two tickets.

The Kids Are Alright: Last holiday season, CBS 11 News ran a feature, Christmas Saved for Samaritan House by Jewish 12-year-old. That 12-year-old, Carter Haber, now 13, is the son of Merrill Lynch networking nebbish Tricia Haber. Carter will speak at Samaritan House's annual luncheon Nov. 16. For his Bar Mitzvah project, Carter had decided to interview four nonprofit execs. He was so taken by Samaritan House's loss of a Christmas gift sponsor that he decided to raise money for the children...42 of them. Going door-to-door-to-door-to-door...he raised $7,000. If you're going to the luncheon, bring your tissues AND wallets. He's going for more money this year.

Dribbles & daughters: Anthony Burks, founder of Vendigm Construction, was valedictorian and best-ever point guard on a state champion Dunbar High School basketball team (1992-93). Says he's feeling old, though, when he realizes he has a 17-year-old daughter.

Daddy-daughter tango: Mr. B was a candidate for the board of The Parenting Center until they spoke with daughter MisBehavin'.

Running lineage: Business banker Jennifer Grimes at Frost Bank is the granddaughter of former Green Bay Packers running back Billy Joe Grimes.

Running with scissors: Am-Bass-Adorables are lubed with excitement over the ribbon cutting Friday at MCR Oil Tools, an oilfield equipment provider at 7327 Business Place in Arlington. First though, they are runway-ing off tomorrow to Baker Aviation at Meacham. You can fly through and gush at Chamber event photos by clicking here.

Going big time: Frac Tech Services LLC, the IPO-bound, oil and natural gas stimulation services company, is now FTS International, LLC.  

Woohoos! Inside Public Accounting did a survey of 400 firms and Managing Partner Larry Autrey of Whitley Penn was voted fifth-most admired peer. And CE News named Freese and Nichols the “Best Civil Engineering Firm To Work For” in the large-firm category and ranked fifth among the overall Top 25 in the country.

Calling all coaches: Accuconference has signed a cool communications deal with the schools in the Lone Star Conference.

100 degrees was a cool breeze: Summer's torrid heat was a gold mine for Air-Rite. It is doubling the size of its warehouse operations.

We go where you go: Bell Helicopter has taken Suntera Security international with simultaneous jobs in Mexico and Canada.

Credit check: Getting a real education from Dane Young, the Credit Card Guy. Congress' mandate to cut interchange fees in credit/debit card transactions Oct. 1 affected banks, but the acquirer (middleman) isn't required to exercise a similar cut. Dane has cut his rates, so you might think about shopping your present rates.

Super salute: Tonight, the Fort Worth Business Press is hosting a reception during which it salutes businesses that made “Smart Moves” to or within North Texas. The Chamber is being honored as part of a group that helped with North Texas' first Super Bowl.

8in't he clever? Drew Pearson, the first to bring greatness to Dallas Cowboys jersey #88, wrote to a reporter after she profiled him before his Ring of Honor induction in November: “Gr88t job," Drew.

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Man up: Can't decide if Brook Snyder (center) looks more like Eli (left) or Peyton Manning. Brook is quarterbacking sales with ieSmartSystems.

Let the sun shine in: Dow Chemical and D.R. Horton last week rolled out a roof shingle that also is a solar power system. Now your roof can be worth more than your house.

Home on the range: Lots of businesses have to move because of their successes. Sterling Barnett Little architects, successful theirownselves, are moving because of the Texas Rangers' penchant for pennants. SBL is moving from the ground floor to the second floor in the centerfield office at the Ballpark in Arlington because the Rangers are expanding areas of entertainment for fans after this season.

The good ol' days: The Ridglea Theater renovation to its original 1950 appearance is a familiar sight and site for CMA senior project architect Sam Austin. He spent many boyhood Saturdays there watching movies run by his father, who was the theater's chief projectionist.