Business briefs

LONG ISLAND

Firm expands to Syracuse

A Bohemia environmental engineering firm has expanded to upstate New York with a branch office in Syracuse. P.W. Grosser Consulting has announced, "This strategic location will allow PWGC to better serve its expanding clientele throughout New York State." Martin Meriwether, a professional geologist with 12 years' experience in environmental consulting, will run the office. "His expertise lies in environmental risk identification, quantification and management," the company said. P.W. Grosser also has offices in Manhattan and in Seattle. -- JOSEPH MALLIA

County to honor 6 women

Six female manufacturers will be honored today by Nassau County as part of Women's History Month. They are Roberta Perry of Scrubz, a Bethpage-based skin-care products company; Noreen Caro of LMN Printing in Valley Stream; Susan Axelrod of Love and Quiches in Freeport; Dilcia Granville of Dip and See in Elmont; Vicki Mate of The Crispery in Roslyn, and Stacey Rose of Cartridge World in Mineola and Garden City. The ceremony will be at the county executive and legislative building on Franklin Avenue, Mineola, in the ceremonial chambers. -- JOSEPH MALLIA

Motorcycle shop's fundraiser

Chaos Cycle, a Mastic custom motorcycle shop, is sponsoring a benefit fundraiser for the Burn Center at Stony Brook University Medical Center. The event, Chaos on the Hill Motorcycle and Hot Rod Festival, is set for May 7 at the Bald Hill Cultural Center in Selden. In addition to helping raise money for the Stony Brook burn center, Chaos Cycle's publicity posters say, those who attend are eligible for "large cash prizes" in the following categories: radical, custom, antique, bagger and best in show. Rain date is May 14. For more information and vending opportunities at the festival, call Dee at 631-566-6988. -- JOSEPH MALLIA

NATION

Harry & David seeks Chapter 11

Fruit basket and gift seller Harry & David filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Monday, brought down by a weak economy and a proliferation of competitors. The Medford, Ore., company agreed with a majority of its senior creditors on a reorganization plan that will eliminate "substantial" debt and provide financing to restructure its balance sheet, according to court documents in Delaware. Harry & David Holdings Inc., which grew out of an orchard business about a century ago, has been struggling as businesses slashed corporate gift budgets and consumers cut spending in the weak economy. In addition, online competitors have grown significantly. -- AP

EBay to buy GSI Commerce

>Online marketplace operator eBay said Monday that it will pay $2.4 billion for GSI Commerce, which operates websites for retailers like Toys R Us and Bath & Body Works. EBay Inc., which runs its namesake site where users buy and sell items through auctions and fixed-price "Buy it Now" formats, hopes the acquisition will bolster its ability to connect buyers and sellers around the world. It could also help it become more of a threat to Amazon.com Inc. GSI runs websites, packs and ships products and offers interactive marketing services to a variety of retailers. -- AP

Oil prices drop after skirmish

Oil prices slipped below $104 per barrel Monday after Libyan rebels recaptured some key oil ports and promised to resume exports. Prices, however, remain 22 percent above what they were in mid-February, when fighting in Libya squeezed off shipments that had supplied nearly 2 percent of the world's oil. Energy analysts said oil prices should fall as Libya gets closer to a resolution of its six-week-old crisis. Yet, it's unlikely the rebels will bring much oil back to the world market soon. -- AP