A new "The Pet Corner" sign will go up over "The Pet Spot" at Ward Warehouse at the end of this week or early next to reflect the shop’s new but familiar ownership.

Liberty Belback acquired the business from David and Jennifer Pang in May after serving as the store’s assistant manager since 2007, David Pang said.

"It boiled down to economics," not just the monetary kind, but of the hours-in-the-day variety.

He owns distribution company Ilio Products, as well as import-export company Global Sourcing LLC, of which his wife’s award-winning public relations and marketing company, Pang Communications, is a unit.

The businesses all were growing, and "with all the dynamics of running retail, you have to be more hands-on," he said.

The busy Pangs were also expecting a baby at the time, and Kawika was born July 31.

"I offered (The Pet Spot) to the employees and Libby took me up on the offer."

Pang recommended Belback change the shop’s name to end customer confusion with another, unrelated store in Pearl City.

Belback vacillated about assuming the business. "I was scared … but finally my husband pushed me off the deep end," she giggled.

"I love it," she said. "It’s so much fun and we have great customers."

The store offers fish and small animals in addition to puppies. And with a background as a veterinary technician, she personally screens the breeders.

The Pet Corner sells American Kennel Club-registered and mixed-breed puppies. "Sometimes we don’t have a huge amount, but I’d rather … know that they come from safe, loving homes."

Other new merchants at Ward include Point Break, a surfboard and lifestyle shop that will open Sept. 16 in Ward Centre next to Taco Del Mar; and All About Hawaii, selling island apparel, locally made cookies and salad dressing since Aug. 16 near Borders Books & Music.

Happy anniversary, Mixed Plate

Pamela Young will mark the 26th anniversary of her "Mixed Plate" specials on KITV with an anniversary special at 7 p.m. tomorrow. There was no 25th anniversary special because "we were too busy with (Saint) Damien coverage," she said.

"Mixed Plate" has won 10 Emmy awards and a Peabody and is the longest-running feature series in Hawaii television, she said.

Viewers have expressed the most interest in food and travel, so "we’ve tried to respond by shooting adventures in over 26 countries." The special will revisit Burgundy, France; Shangri-La, India; Pamplona, Spain; and more. It will be retelecast at 4 p.m. Saturday.

Farmers takes a cue from AIG Hawaii

Swiss-owned Farmers Insurance Group has adopted a traffic-safety campaign created by its Hawaii unit in 2002, when it was known as AIG Hawaii.

The Hot Spots Traffic Safety Program was launched in response to community concerns about speeders, and was instituted with cooperation from local schools and the Honolulu Police Department. In addition to the company preparing traffic safety booklets, students, teachers and community members would sign-wave to remind drivers of the 25 mph speed limit around schools.

Farmers corporate has adopted the program for its 21st Century Insurance and Financial Services Inc. in Delaware.