Business notes

Huntoon joins Brookline Bank

Brookline Bank announces that Lynn M. Huntoon has joined the bank as the director of training and development. Huntoon will be responsible to implement the bank's training initiatives and strategies.

She has 22 years of retail banking experience and most recently served as a training specialist with Fleet Bank. Her additional banking experience includes teller and customer service positions with Southeastern Bank & Trust Company, Bank of Boston and Fleet Bank. Huntoon and her husband, Keith, live in Lakeville.

Huntoon received a bachelor of science degree in computer science from Bridgewater State College. She is currently enrolled in a certified graphics and Web development program at Bridgewater State College's Design Principles Institute.

Finagle holiday bagel baskets

Finagle A Bagel announces that shoppers may now select a Hanukkah or Christmas basket with a dozen assorted Finagle bagels.

Baskets are available for pre-order only by calling 617-213-8423 and picking up at any of the 20 Finagle A Bagel locations between Dec. 15 and Jan. 2, including the Beacon Street, Coolidge Corner store.

Wrapped for freshness, baskets are priced at $12.99, and include one dozen assorted bagels and a 7-ounce container of cream cheese.

For a listing of Finagle locations, visit www.finagleabagel.com.

Imprint PR opens doors in Brookline

Darren Horwitz, a veteran public relations practitioner, recently founded Imprint PR in Brookline. The company was formed to create comprehensive and compelling public relations campaigns for companies in the technology, financial services, health care, biotech, pharmaceutical, media and entertainment, and consumer fields.

Horwitz headed up corporate communications for Sony Computer Entertainment America, where he set direction for the video game industry's leading PlayStationn and Playstation 2 platforms. He also ran public relations for United States operations of the publicly-traded customer relationship management software vendor, PrimeResponse. He began his career at the innovative high-tech public relations agency, FitzGerald Communications.

What are people saying about mortgages today:

Rates on 30-year mortgages edged down last week to a seven-month low. Mortgage-giant Freddie Mac reported Thursday that 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages fell to 6.3 percent, down slightly from 6.31 percent two weeks ago. It put rates at the lowest level since they were at 6.24 percent the first week of March.

Bank of Hawaii, Central Pacific Bank, Territorial Savings Bank and Wells Fargo Home Mortgages all cut their 30-year mortgage rates to 5.75 percent this week.

Most people think of a mortgage as a means to an end. After all, you buy a house, not a home loan. But a mortgage is much more than the path to homeownership. It is a financial instrument that must be managed, just like any other financial investment.