Costco’s much anticipated opening day is at hand. The warehouse opens Wednesday. The Costco in Baxter is one of 12 scheduled to open between Oct. 24 and Dec. 15, including stores in the U.S., Canada and one in Korea. The company plans to open 14 new warehouses before the end of the year.

Costco’s net sales for the fourth quarter were $31.52 billion, an increase of 14 percent from $27.59 billion for the same time period in 2011. Net sales for fiscal year 2012 were $97.06 billion, an increase of 12 percent from 2011.

Costco ended its fiscal year on Sept. 2, with 608 warehouses — 439 in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, 82 in Canada, 32 in Mexico, 22 in the United Kingdom, 13 in Japan, nine in Taiwan, eight in Korea and three in Australia.

Funds are available to help long-term unemployed and laid-off workers. Rural Minnesota Concentrated Employment Program (CEP) reported it has funds to help laid-off workers find new employment through its dislocated worker programs.

“These programs can help laid-off and long-term unemployed workers increase job skills and find employment,” Rural Minnesota CEP reported. “Program services include resume building, skills assessment, job search and job training.”

The Rural Minnesota CEP offices are in the WorkForce Center at the Community Services building on Laurel Street in Brainerd. The center offers resources for jobseekers to help research labor markets and careers.

For more information: in the Brainerd area, call 828-2450; in Little Falls, call 320-232-2000; in Wadena, call 218-631-7660.

Verizon Wireless, on Edgewood Drive in Baxter, is hosting an event beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, for its 4G LTE network announcement to the Brainerd and Baxter area.

Two long-standing businesses closed their doors this past week — Esser’s liquor store in northeast Brainerd, which had been in business 48 years and the Bead Box in downtown Brainerd.

Ruttger’s Bay Lake Lodge is celebrating Octoberfest this weekend with beet, brats and other food, activities and live entertainment.

The Gull Lake Yacht Club is hosting a women’s wellness seminar and open house at 6 p.m. Oct. 25. RSVP is requested by calling 454-9999.

There are 65 days until Christmas. Somehow, it always seems months away and then smack in front of you like a deer on the highway. Mills Fleet Farm opened its Toyland Saturday.