‘Restaurant Impossible’ seeking volunteers

Producers of the Food Network show “Restaurant Impossible” are looking for volunteers to participate in the planned makeover of Uncle Andy’s Diner in South Portland.

Crews will be taping at the popular diner on June 10 and June 11, according to a press release from the show, as celebrity chef Robert Irvine and his staff redesign the menu and the diner to give its owners, the Fogg family, an economic boost. It’s the first time a Maine restaurant has been on the reality TV show.

Producers are looking for people to make reservations for the diner’s grand re-opening on June 11. They also are looking for volunteer crew members – people willing to help with painting, crafting, construction, remodeling, cleaning and decorating – and skilled tradesmen such as electricians and plumbers. To make a reservation, call Uncle Andy’s at 799-7199.

Work crews are being scheduled for three shifts: 1 to 8 p.m. and 8 p.m. to midnight June 10, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 11. Volunteers should email nick@shootersinc.com by Sunday if they want to help with the renovations.

The episode featuring Uncle Andy’s Diner will air this summer, according to the release.

Inflation drop signals Europe will cut interest

Another unexpected drop in inflation in the 18-country eurozone has made it a near certainty that the European Central Bank will act this week to support the economy.

The annual inflation rate fell to 0.5 percent in May, below the 0.6 percent that markets expected, the previous month’s 0.7 percent – and way, way below the ECB’s goal of just under 2 percent.

The worryingly low figure has stamped out what few doubts may have been left that the ECB will loosen its monetary policy at its monthly meeting Thursday by cutting interest rates, and possibly more, to try to boost a weak recovery that’s fraught with worries.

Stock indices slide back slightly from record highs

The stock market fell slightly Tuesday, pulling back from record highs the day before.

The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 21.29 points, or 0.1 percent, to 16,722.34. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index fell 0.73 points, or 0.04 percent, to 1,924.24 and the Nasdaq composite fell 3.12 points, or 0.1 percent, to 4,234.08.

Even with Tuesday’s decline, the direction for the stock market the last two weeks has been up. The S&P 500 and Dow have fallen just three times in the last 12 sessions.

Orders to U.S. factories rose for a third consecutive month in April, the latest evidence that manufacturing was regaining momentum after a harsh winter. Factory orders rose 0.7 percent in April, better than the 0.5 percent rise that economists expected.

– From news service reports