News From Our Neighbors

Cornwall Zellers Likely to Close in March 2013

The Hudson’s Bay Company said it will close most of its remaining Zellers outlets, including the longtime Zellers store in Cornwall’s Eastcourt Mall. There are only 64 Zellers left in Canada, many considered to be no longer viable, with many previous Zellers converted to Target stores. It looks as if Target will not pick up further leasing at the Eastcourt property. It appears the store will be closed by next March, leaving approximately 100 employees out of work.

Hannaford Recalling Cantaloupes

Burch Farms of North Carolina announced a recall of Athena cantaloupes because the product may contain listeria monocytogenes. No illnesses have been associated with this recall, according to Burch Farms.

Hannaford is advising customers because its stores had carried Burch Farms Athena cantaloupes. The product has been removed. Athena cantaloupes, a variety grown in the Southeastern United States, are a whole cantaloupe produce item. If stickered, the label on the item will reference Burch Farms and read: Cantaloupe PLU 4319.

Customers should not consume these cantaloupes. Return the item to stores or dispose of the item and return the sticker for a full refund. Listeria has the potential to cause serious illness. No other products are affected by this recall.

Governor Cuomo Signs Bill to Recognize High School Graduates Who Demonstrate Proficiency in Multiple Languages

Governor Cuomo signed into law a bill to recognize New York State high school graduates who demonstrate academic excellence in attaining proficiency in one or more languages other than English with a state seal of biliteracy. The seal will be attached to diplomas and transcripts of graduates who excel in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in multiple languages.

The purpose of the seal is to increase the prospect of a student’s future employment and educational success. The Commissioner of Education will award seals according to regulations developed by the Board of Regents. The bill will take effect September 1.

Body Piercing Now Requires Minors’ Parents Permission

Governor Cuomo signed into law a bill that requires anyone under the age of 18 to have written parental consent before obtaining a body piercing.

Until this bill was signed, New York law stated that there was no minimum age requirement for body piercing. By contrast, it is illegal to tattoo someone under the age of 18. Approximately 20% of all body piercings result in infection, and there is also a risk of contracting hepatitis from the procedure.

The legislation requires that body piercing studios check the identification of teens, and that underage teens provide a consent form signed by a parent or legal guardian that was signed in the presence of the owner or body piercing specialist at a body piercing studio. A body piercing is a piercing located on a part of the body other than the ear. This law takes effect in 90 days.

GLOS & NYSG Provide Real-Time Boaters’ Forecast for St. Lawrence River

On Tuesday, July 31, New York Sea Grant announced the public upload of the new real-time Great Lakes Observing System St. Lawrence River Boaters Forecasting tool for recreational boaters. The new tool extends Great Lakes global observing technology to the St. Lawrence River with some data specific to the river system.

The easy-to-use, web-based application at http://www.glos.us provides current-time and 12-hour-forecasted water current and depth data for points all along the St. Lawrence River.

Boaters and marina operators can access the site by computer and smart phone. Users can request email and text alerts that are sent when their personal pre-set datapoint (for example, a specific water depth or speed) is reached.

The new tool integrates data from various sources, including Environment Canada.

Kelli Page, Great Lakes Observing System Program Coordinator, Ann Arbor, MI, says, “GLOS has plans to extend the scope of the new tool across the entire Great Lakes basin in 2013.