It’s barely springtime, but that old unwelcome summer visitor, $3 gas, is headed back for a stay.

Just look at the distressing figures: the average price of regular gas in Washington hit $2.903 a gallon Friday according to AAA Washington. The price in Tacoma was even higher, $2.937 a gallon.

Prices for mid-grade and premium both topped the $3 mark statewide and in the Tacoma area. Mid-grade prices were $3.008 a gallon statewide on average and $3.042 in Tacoma. Premium was higher, $3.157 statewide and $3.194 in the Tacoma area, according to AAA.

Gas prices have risen steeply in the last month. Regular prices were up 37.9 cents from just a month ago statewide and 33.5 cents a gallon from the same time last year.

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A sign at the entrance to Metropolitan Market last night announced that Wilcox Farms will start selling organic milk – a first for the Roy company.

The family dairy is quietly launching its new product on Monday. The milk will be available at several stores in the area.

The company announced last year that it was moving toward more natural products – the only growing niche in the U.S. milk-consumption market. That brought milk without hormones and more natural and organic dairy items.

Flooring retailer iFLOOR.com opened up in Tacoma this week at 4916 South Center St. It’s the 23rd store for the Seattle-based national company.

The 2,500-square-foot store offers online customers in Tacoma a local store presence to browse and purchase a wide selection of hardwood, laminate, bamboo and cork flooring.

iFLOOR.com began testing the “clicks and mortar” concept in late 2004 with its first location in Seattle.

Tacoma Mall General Manager Steve Heim reports that “it looks like the demolition day for the Mervyn’s building will be around April 16th.”

Heim says shoppers will see a construction fence go up around Mervyn’s next week.

Right now construction crews are building a new temporary mall entrance through the east side of Alley Kat so shoppers can get from the parking lot on the south side to stores. It should be ready next week.

Also coming soon: traffic revisions around the parking lot to make it easier to get through the intersection on

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The aviation press is talking about an engine technology breakthrough from US engine-maker Pratt & Whitney that could accelerate the schedule for developing successors to the venerable Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 jets.

Pratt & Whitney says the new geared jet engine will improve fuel efficiency 12 percent, cut emissions and noise in the ubiquitous single-aisle jets.

The new engine uses a gearbox to optimize the efficiency of the turbine that drives the big fan blades you see when you peer into a jet engine.

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State Senate Democrats have included $1 million in their tentative budget for new moorage and infrastructure for Tacoma’s Foss Waterway.

That’s short of the $5.4 million the Foss Waterway Development Authority had sought to fund improvements designed to provide a more permanent home of the Tall Ships Festival and for other waterfront activities on the near-downtown waterway.

But FWDA director Don Meyer isn’t complaining.

“It’s always good news when we hear the Legislature is willing to fund our improvements no matter what the amount,” he said.

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Pilot Eric Litchy guides a ship into the Pierce County Terminal.

Try parking a 1,000-foot container ship.

The Institute of Technology at the University of Washington Tacoma is working with the Port of Tacoma to create a tool that could help ship pilots navigate the Puget Sound.

Richard McCurdy, president of the Puget Sound Pilots, said the pilots didn’t seek out the assistance, but any new tool is appreciated.

“Our constant desire is the give the ships something they don’t already have, that’s where some of this study with

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Boeing is beating the drums again for its ultra-long range 777-200LR this week, the first anniversary of the twin jet’s entry into service.

The 777LR’s chief claim to fame is that it can fly farther without stopping – nearly 10,900 miles – than any other commercial airliner.

That makes the 777LR a game changing airplane in that it allows airlines to link most any city in the world with most any other city without stopping at a hub along the way.

Boeing has sold 40 of the planes so far, not bad, but certainly not as many

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