When Dean's Stove & Spa in Southington held a sale on heating units this summer, general manager Mark Tiso said the store was flooded with customers seeking alternatives to fuel oil. Sales began to spike, and Tiso said business continues to be strong across the heating industry.

Thousands of Aetna insurance subscribers recently received notices that the insurer has not reached an agreement with Hartford Healthcare and they must find other providers for non-emergency care before Jan. 1, 2010.

Bruce Andrews, chief executive officer of AGC Inc., a manufacturing company in South Meriden, said 99 percent of his employees subscribe to Aetna. He is incensed, and said his employees are being used in a tug-of-war between Hartford Healthcare and Aetna.