61.   Its smaller brethren include several local firms, a unit of the National Weather Service, a utility-supported alternative engergy firm and some out-of-state engineering companies.

62.   Just today she pleaded guilty to embezzling money from a local mechanical contracting firm where she was employed.

63.   Kurzweil faces tougher competition from another local firm, Dragon Systems of Newton.

64.   Local firms in software, telecommunications, financial services and other sophisticated industries are heavily reliant on highly trained workers.

65.   Louis Harvey, president of Dalbar, a local consulting firm, makes the same point.

66.   Many of the toys are custom-made by such local firms as the San Francisco Whip Company and another S and M supplier called Happy Tails.

67.   Local firms have joined in too.

68.   Local firms, such as an aluminum operator in Goldendale, Wash., are already developing outside energy sources.

69.   Meanwhile, another local firm has decided to seek relief through merger.

70.   Philips eventually got the message and helped the local firms upgrade.