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UTC reported net income Of $1.3 billion and EPS of $1.45. The Hartford corporation said all six of its units saw organic sales growth in the quarter, the first time that has happened since 2008. Sikorsky, UTC’s Stratford subsidiary, had $1.7 billion in net sales.

It’s really more of the same for UTC this quarter. The company execs told analysts that they face the same headwinds of the last couple of years, a weak economic recovery in America, uncertainty in Europe and some commodity cost concern. At Sikorsky, the Canadian helicopter contract for the CH 148, was a subject of conversation as Sikorsky begins to deliver on the program, which generated some political heat on the company due to delays and higher costs.

As it is UTC said it expects millions in restructuring costs as it continues to corral costs, so we should be on the look out for job custs, here.

But the company also noted it’s sales are recovering to peak economic levels.

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Two banks cut jobs in New England adding to a growing list of recent actions that will be adding to the unemployment ranks.

People’s confirmed last week to The Boston Globe that it will trim about 91 positions in Massachusetts after closing on the Danversbank acquisition.

People’s said the cuts were all back office jobs and not related to front-line customer service work.

While People’s appears to have spared Connecticut, Bank of America told the state Labor Department it would be shedding 107 jobs in Hartford and East Hartford.

Electric Boat also announced it will cut 104 jobs in New London. Sikorsky aircraft has cut jobs across all its operations recently, but New York was particularly hit hard.

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Downtown, after 9 a.m. it was difficult to find parking. By 11 a.m, the merciless heat chased people inside the multitude of shops and restaurants.

This was Pasadena’s downtown shopping district, last week, where there was little evidence of a recession. Customer traffic was steady enough throughout the day and you didn’t get hit up for change by anyone on the street. I didn’t see the people standing at the bottom of off ramps holding signs asking for money, either

A friend recently hit San Diego and said the same thing.

But isn’t  the Golden State supposed to have a horrible economy? All that regulation? All those taxes? Shouldn’t it be a ghost state by now?

According to Pasadena Views, a California-based firm, the average sales price of a Pasadena home is up this year topping $760,000.

To be sure, it’s not perfect. Went to L.A. and 10 minutes there, got hit up for a few bucks by a beggar. But I was surprised by how much strength there was in the Pasadena economy, but maybe I shouldn’t have been.

Pasadena has a lot going for it. It’s home to Cal Tech, Pasadena City College, The Rose Bowl and, invariably, Californiamnesia. Which is a sort of attitude that allows you to forget the past failures, and even the successes, and get on with living today.

Returning , I look at Bridgeport, home to UB and Housatonic Community College, and next door to two excellent private schools and more than a few major corporations.

But still, there’s the empty buildings. I wonder, is the difference that maybe, just maybe, people are hanging onto the past, a little too tightly, here?

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London-based CVC Capital said on it’s website it and LA-based Leonard Green Partners have an agreement to buy the shopping club for more than $52 a share. It’s too early to tell what if any changes are in store for BJ’s workers and shoppers in Conn.