Teams ask fans to donate blood

The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes and the Inland Empire 66ers are asking fans to donate blood for the I-10 Blood Challenge Battle.

Fans will be asked to pick a team that their donation will count toward. Donors from the winning team will be entered into an Aug. 27 drawing for Angels tickets.

Quakes fans will be able to donate blood at 24 Hour Fitness, at 11787 Foothill Blvd., from 3 to 9 p.m. Aug. 16 and at the Epicenter, at 8408 Rochester Ave., from 12:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 18.

Fans of the 66ers can donate at 24 Hour Fitness, at 295 E. Caroline St., in San Bernardino and the Arrowhead Credit Union Park, at 280 S. E St., in San Bernardino on Aug. 25.

For more information about the blood drive, call Adam Hensleigh at (909) 481-5000, Ext. 269.

-- Wendy Leung, (909) 483-9376

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.