Stop and Shop to offer free antibiotics, Happy New Year

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Stop & Shop, the supermarket chain owned by Royal Ahold NV, said it will offer some antibiotics free of charge to attract customers grappling with the US recession.

More from Supermarket News:
As a health benefit to its shoppers facing the cough and cold season, Stop & Shop Supermarkets here and Giant Food, Landover, Md., are offering free antibiotic prescription drugs, covering 36 generic antibiotics in nine basic categories, through its pharmacies.
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More than a dozen private companies, including Kind Kullen, and four trade unions in Nassau County have committed to hiring 200 military veterans in 2009, Suozzi said yesterday during a news conference in Mineola

A 70,000-square-foot ShopRite supermarket has opened in the Christina Riverfront district, Delaware, marking the area’s first major food retailer, Kenney Family ShopRites, operator of the new store, said Tuesday.
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Stop & Shop scanners, new King Kullen in Island Park, Tuesday One Liners...

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Here's what Brian Petronella, president of UFCW 371 had to say about the new Stop & Shop scanners.

Long Island Business news takes note that about 2 local pharmacies a month are closing.

Bruce Springsteen has signed a deal with Wal-Mart to be the sole retailer for his new Greatest Hits album.

King Kullen is opening an new store in Island Park in a 67,500-square-foot retail center, which includes King Kullen and several smaller stores, replacing an auto body shop, a warehouse, a junkyard and an empty lot bordered by Beach Avenue and Waterfront Boulevard.

Wal-Mart Stores will reach out to Hispanic shoppers this weekend by hosting Three Kings celebrations. Read more of this story

Wal-Mart Stores has joined the Russian retail association and is eying acquisition opportunities in the country, according to reports yesterday. Read more of this story

Politics

There is a divide on Brian Foley's Legacy in Brookhaven.

New York, which had been expected to lose two House seats in the next reapportionment, may only lose one.

Wal-Mart pays at least $352 million in wage violations, Study confirms that Wal-Mart is still not good for NYC...Happy Holidays

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Wal-Mart said on Tuesday that it would pay at least $352 million, and possibly far more, to settle lawsuits across the country claiming that it forced employees to work off the clock. Several lawyers described it as the largest settlement ever for lawsuits over wage violations.

More at Supermarket News

A study released today by the non-profit Fiscal Policy Institute shows that retail is the industry sector that employs the biggest chunk of the 1.3 million low-wage workers in this city -- that is, workers earning less than $13 per hour. Nearly half of these 176,000 low-wage retail workers earn less than $10 an hour, and the majority lack health insurance.


More workers were fired at a Canada mushroom farm.

Retailers are offering President Elect Obama advice on how to lift the economy.

A curbed tipster says "The former Gristedes Supermarket located on West 14th Street between 5th and 6th Avenue is re-opening as a 'Trader John's' supermarket. I'm not quite sure what 'Trader John's' is all about but I'm thinking it might be similar to Trader Joe's. Who knows. The new store sign and awning have been hung."

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Tuesday's News, Politics, Politics.

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In a letter sent to President-elect Barack Obama last week, the National Grocers Association urged the incoming administration to maintain a level playing field for independent grocers through an economic stimulus, fair employee-employer legislation, federal regulation of credit card interchange fees and enforcement of antitrust laws.
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A former Wal-Mart and Fresh & Easy exec joins Walgreen's.

Balducci's is offering their own caviar line.

Politics
New York City’s budget gap may reach $8 billion in 18 months as the city’s Wall Street-dependent economy deteriorates, Tom DiNapoli.

Clinton is $13 Million she lent campaign.

Bloomberg defends Kennedy's bid for Clinton's vacated seat.

Kennedy spokesman Stefan Friedman said Ms. Kennedy fully intends to support the Democratic nominee for NYC Mayor, after the would-be senator avoided answering the question over the weekend.

Protest at Valley Stream Wal-Mart, Wal-Mart attempts to get out of unionization, Monday morning news...

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Newsday: "Rally to protest Wal-Mart Black Friday Death"

Here's Newsday's report on Sunday's demonstration, here's the video.

Wal-Mart attempts to get out of unionization again: Wal-Mart Canada says it will try to appeal a Quebec Labour Board ruling that granted union certification at a store in Gatineau.

Just months after Wal-Mart shut a unionized tire shop in Gatineau, Que., near Ottawa, about 150 employees at another Wal-Mart have won bargaining rights.

Global Domination: Wal-Mart plans to tender a $2.7 billion offer for all of the shares of D&S, Chile's largest supermarket chain.

For eight years, three people allegedly recruited and later forced Vietnamese nationals to work in two York-area nail parlors in a practice decried by the U.S. Attorney's Office as "modern-day slavery."

New Seasons Market in Oregon, reportedly plans to appeal a judge's decision last week that would force it to comply with a subpoena related to the Whole Foods antitrust case.

Politics

A longtime aide to Senator Edward Kennedy has reached out to labor officials in Washington in an effort to help Caroline Kennedy in her bid to be appointed United States senator from New York.

Questions about Caroline Kennedy are reminding experts of Hillary Clinton.

Another 12 million dollar lawsuit against Wal-Mart, Labor Secretary appointment, Friday Morning...

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Crain's is hosting a conference featuring Michael Bloomberg on the future of New York.

The NY Times takes a look at the Labor Secretary appointment.

Here's Stuart Applebaum on the Labor Secretary appointment.

Wal-Mart refused to allow a Salvation Army Volunteer to ring his holiday bell inside the store in the midst of a blizzard.

Wal-Mart may try to open a second Chicago store...

An Arab- and Muslim-American man filed a $12 million lawsuit Thursday against a Wal-Mart store that caters to his community -- saying employees discriminated against him and fired him because of his background.

About 150 workers at a Wal-Mart store here became the ninth group of Canadian Wal-Mart employees to be granted union certification, the United Food and Commercial Workers Union said Thursday.
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Must Read: "Newspapers need to cover labor as fairly as they cover themselves" An Excellent Editorial..

Rite Aid continues to fall, forecast cut...


Politics

The Daily News looks at Caroline Kennedy's voting record.

New York Gov. David Paterson says Andrew Cuomo wants to be considered for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Patterson on the budget cuts: "I certainly accept the criticism because I can't tell anyone they're wrong," Paterson told reporters in Manhattan. "The education cuts are draconian. The health care cuts are prohibitive. The taxes being levied on New York's citizens are not fair. But when you add it all up, we think we delivered the pain pretty evenly." Two days after unveiling his plan to cut $15.4 billion in deficits over the next 16 months, the governor found himself

The AP takes a glance at the donors for the Clinton foundation.

Embattled defense contractor Blackwater Worldwide contributed a pile of cash to Bill Clinton's foundation, newly released records show - the first potential conflict for his wife, Secretary of State-designate Hillary Clinton, who may ultimately decide if the contractor stays in Iraq.

Here are the winners of Schumers Inauguration lottery.

Fresh Direct Promotes Healthy Eating in the Office, NYC Food Bank gets a huge grant, more One-Liners...

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Police in Connecticut have arrested three men and charged them with stealing about $5,000 from area supermarkets by turning in fake receipts from coin-counting machines, a published report said Wednesday.
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A transit rider in protest of the rising fares and cut of service, attempted to throw his shoe at the MTA board of directors yesterday at an open panel.

The MTA OK'd the hike.

Fresh Direct launched a program "Smart Eating at the Office" The program will bring chefs and nutritionists to your office for a lunch time seminar on healthy foods.

A Portland, Ore., chain of grocery stores has lost a legal bid to keep its confidential business information out of the hands of lawyers for competitor Whole Foods Markets Inc. (WFMI), which says it needs the information to defend itself in a high-stakes battle with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

Wegman's applauded Patterson's plan to sell wine in grocery stores.

BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. has elected Picis president and c.e.o. Christine Cournoyer, to its board of directors. The Wakefield, Mass.-based company is a worldwide provider of software solutions for automating resource-intensive hospital documentation and business practices

The NYC Food Bank receives their biggest grant since 9/11.

Wal-Mart Stores here has reportedly launched a new grocery format in Puerto Rico called Super Ahorros, a discount format similar to the Bodega Express chain the company operates in Mexico and to other similar formats it operates across Central and South America.
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The legal outcomes of a fatal nightclub fire in Rhode Island and a deadly stampede at a Bronx concert could serve as model cases for Nassau County prosecutors in their criminal investigation of the Wal-Mart stampede in Valley Stream, legal observers say...

Op-Ed: "Wal-Mart could have prevented death."

Still on the rise:
A leading consumer research firm raised its holiday retail sales outlook on Wednesday, due to what it called Wal-Mart's "domination" of the retail industry with its bargain-basement deals.

President-elect Barack Obama named Tom Vilsack the next U.S. Department of Agriculture secretary yesterday.
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Politics

Peter King said "Caroline Kennedy is not qualified."

The Mayor's top aide says Caroline Kennedy will be the next Senator.

If she isn't appointed she'll run in '10

Wal-Mart manufactures American Flag pins in China, Patterson's wine sale proposal, Interview with BJ's Wholesale Club's new CEO, more one liners....

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Wal-Mart awarded a manufacturing job to create American Flag pins to China, over an American company.

D'Agostino customers purchased over 9,000 food bundles this holiday season to feed the needy.

Here's an interview with the new CEO of BJ's Wholesale Club, Laura Sen.

Supermarket News has a piece on preparing Supermarkets for 2009.

Negotiations between Loblaw Cos. and the union representing workers at Maxi stores in Quebec resumed over the weekend as the strike affecting 14 stores continued.
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New York will join 35 other states that permit wine to be sold in multiple grocery stores if one of the revenue actions in the Empire State’s 2009 budget proposal is approved.
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A new proposal by Patterson could also boost wine sales in grocery stores.

More on the wine sales at the Progressive Grocer.


Politics

David Paterson plans a state work force reduction of about 3,000, but will suggest that layoffs can be averted if unions agree to givebacks

The governor yesterday signed a bill that would, at least in theory, provide for the collection of taxes on cigarettes sold from the state's Indian reservations.

Patterson has an Op-Ed in the NY Daily News explaining the budget cuts and new taxes.

Bloomberg calls Patterson's budget cuts in NYC "unfair".

Hillary Clinton tells supporters to back off on criticisms on Caroline Kennedy.

Wal-Mart in 2018, Fairway gives away free groceries, Food Banks forced into partnerships, Monday One-Liners...

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Financial analysts look at Wal-Mart in 10 Years, they see banks, mortgages and a New York City store by 2018.

Starting on Monday, Fairway Market is holding a “Free groceries for a year” sweepstakes. Entry forms and contest details are available in the Plainview store

Lee Scott on Meet the Press, chief executive said consumers have changed their behavior to cut costs amid concerns about job security during the recession.

Wal-Mart is still violating Connecticut tax laws.

Newsday is asking if Wal-Mart could be held liable for the Black Friday stampede.

King Kullen Grocery Company recently presented a check for $100,000 to Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York, an organization that finds adoptive and foster homes for children on Long Island and in New York City.

The NY Observer writes about the Garment Center rezoning, and NYC's promotion of unionized workforces.

Food Banks are being forced to partner with farms and fishermen.

Patterson was pretty upset over an SNL skit this weekend.

A Lawsuit accuses famous Chef and TV host of 'Top Chef' of wage & hour violations in NYC.

Newsday thinks Peter King could play spoiler in the vacant NY Senate seat.

McCain doesn't know if he'd support Palin for President.

When will Wal-Mart close the Union Shop?, Friday One-Liners...

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Happy Friday, here's what's in the news12/12/2008

The Island Harvest is holding a few food drives at some Local 1500 stores this weekend.

Lee Scott will address the nation including the economy on Meet the Press Sunday

There has been a call for a state probe in the Black Friday stampede

WakeupWal-Mart is wondering how long it will take for the recently unionized Wal-Mart [Canada] to close.

Delhaize Group said it has named Stefan Descheemaeker as its new chief financial officer, effective Jan. 5.
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BJ's Wholesale Club here on Thursday made it official: Laura Sen will be its next chief executive officer.
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A coalition of food safety, science and consumer groups has urged President-elect Barack Obama to appoint a Secretary of Agriculture "who has had experience with or has been an advocate of the USDA's nutrition, food safety, and conservation programs" and who "has had experience providing leadership to a large and diverse organization."
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Stuart Applebaum released a statement regarding the idea of Caroline Kennedy taking Hillary's vacant Senate seat.

Applebaum also released a statement responding to a Labor Department report that the number of Americans collecting unemployment benefits has soared to 4.43 million.

Christine Quinn announced, No rebate checks for Christmas

Betsy Gotbaum is meeting with her potential successors.

Whole Foods calls FTC pursuit a waste of time, BJ's Wholesale Club finds a new CEO, more one liners...

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Study shows an 84% increase in shoplifting.

Whole Foods CEO John Mackey said that the Federal Trade Commission's pursuit of antitrust claims in his company's acquisition of Wild Oats is "almost a vendetta" and is wasting time and money

Here's another story about getting locally grown food to Long Island schools.

Black Friday Death

Crain's reports the results from the Wal-Mart 'Black Friday' hearing yesterday.

Wal-Mart Organized in Canada

If you didn't hear another Wal-Mart was organized in Canada, the Mayor of the town is worried Wal-Mart will close the store.

Wal-Mart to purchase more from India

Wal-Mart spokesperson: "We will purchase around $630 million worth of goods directly from India this year - mostly apparel, home furnishings, textiles, shoes and jewelry. This is about 40% more than 2005. In addition, we purchase another $1.2 billion worth of goods from suppliers who source from India. We anticipate similar growth in the next year or two.”

The Asia Times questions if WakeupWal-Mart's advertising strategy is too aggressive....Their latest ad is available here.

BJ's Wholesale Club has a new CEO.

Fresh Market is opening a store in New Hampshire. They're still active in looking to open a store in either Long Island or upstate NY.

And Anthony Weiner is still running for Mayor.

Wage violations in NYC Supermarkets, Wal-Mart finally unionizes in Canada (again), Buying Sustainable fish at your grocery store...

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370 underpaid New York City grocery workers will be paid $750K. The owner of the three stores in violation Long Deng, owns stores throughout the metropolitan area. The three supermarkets that were cited for wage violations are:

1. New York Supermarket East Broadway at 73 East Broadway in Manhattan
2. New York Supermarket of Flushing at 43-53 Main Street in Flushing, Queens
   
3. New York Supermarket at 86-22 Broadway in Elmhurst, Queens

Read more at New York Times City Room.

After more than four years of legal wrangling, the Wal-Mart store in Weyburn, Sask., has been officially unionized.

Online grocer FreshDirect has introduced a Daily Produce Rating System, which it said gives shoppers "a foolproof way to ensure that the ripest fruits and crunchiest veggies are consistently delivered to their doorsteps."

The Boston Globe reports supermarket's top retailers with "sustainable fish" (Stop & Shop ranked 2, A&P 11)

Wegman's announced it will switch to 'high efficiency lighting'

Listen to Pat Purcell, Director of Special Projects on WBAI Radio's Building Bridges: Your Community and Labor Report.

Patterson told LIPA to go back to the drawing board on their proposed increases.

Bill Thompson reassured voters he is running for Mayor.

Tesco will be the #2 Retailer in 2012, Wal-Mart uniforms linked to sweatshops, Wal-Mart admits to taxing illegally, Whole Foods files suit against FTC

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NYSUT and the state Labor-Religion Coalition are sounding the alarm over a recent report that links a popular school-uniform clothing line sold at Wal-Mart to a Bangladeshi factory that forces its workers to labor in extreme sweatshop conditions.

Wal-Mart has also finally come clean and fessed up to charging illegal taxes in Connecticut.

It keeps getting better for Wal-Mart Stores Inc., they were ordered to pay up to $54.25 million to settle a class-action lawsuit that alleged the discount giant cut workers' break time and allowed employees to work off the clock in Minnesota.

Moscow News picked up the death on Black Friday story.

The Seattle Times writes the audio accounts leading up to Damour's death.

Yet the shoppers don't stop, Wal-Mart, adding to its counter-trend achievements this year by posting the highest earnings among retailers, $13.7 billion. The profit is more than earnings projections for the next three companies' combined,

A new report says Tesco will become the #2 retailer by 2012

Whole Foods is suing the FTC.

Tom Souzzi wants to make LI green.

Vito Fossella was sentenced to 5 days in a Virginia jail.

Event Update: Coalition of Immokalee Workers

Image by Getty Images via DaylifeCome hear Florida Tomato Pickers Speak Out!

UFCW Local 1500 & The Building Blocks Project welcomes the Coalition of Immokalee Workers to New York City, where they will speak out about working conditions and their campaigns to get fast food chains to pay a fair price for the tomatoes they pick.

Join us on Wednesday, December 10 at 7.30 pm at the Church of the Holy Trinity 316 E. 88th between 1st & 2nd Avenues.

Download the Flyer here.

For more information head here.

Monday News...

The NY Times covers the Chicago Factory sit-in.

More than 70 Mexican and Jamaican agriculture workers at multi-million dollar Ontario mushroom farm are fired, evicted and face defacto deportation [UFCW Press Release]

The Toronto Star has a more detailed story.

RWDSU President Stuart Applebaum has issued a statement.

A&P has released a "Winter preparation guide"

The Hudson Reporter offers a solution to the lack of Supermarkets, in NJ at least.

A man was kidnapped, stabbed at a Wal-Mart in San Diego.

An Immigration raid and legal action have left a northeast Iowa kosher slaughterhouse reeling, but they're not the reason the plant has struggled to remain open. Instead, a company that once was the nation's largest provider of kosher meat has crumbled largely due to a simple problem: an inability to hire enough workers.

Whole Foods has hired top lobbyists and lawyers to plead their FTC case in DC.

Whole Foods was mentioned in a WSJ article regarding 'Job Perks worth getting'

Politics

Adolfo Carrion Jr. revealed in New Haven Friday night that he’s being nominated for a top post in the incoming Obama administraiton.

Mayor Bloomberg will attend Vito Fossella's farewell bash.

The NYC City Council announces millions in cuts.

Pat Purcell on Democracy Now

This morning, Pat Purcell, Local 1500's Director of Special Projects, joined Democracy Now for a discussion on Wal-Mart's irresponsible actions and lack of precautions leading up to Black Friday. Wal-Mart had little or no security and mainly relied on local police to control outlandish crowds. Our sincere deepest sympathies go out to the The result, an employee's death.

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/12/1/wal_mart_worker_crushed_to_death

Vornado named in Wal-Mart suit, Jobless rate increases, BJ's and Wal-Mart Sales are up more news...

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The LA Times gives an in depth look at the lawsuit filed by Jdimytai Damour's family, the Real Estate firm 'Vornado' was named in the suit.

BJ's Wholesale Club continues to gain. Wal-Mart sales also were up. Both retailers continue to make money in this economy

Jobless Rate Rises to 6.7% as 533,000 Jobs Are Lost.

Rite Aid names a former Pathmark Exec a senior VP.

The Queens Tribune ran a story saying the death at Wal-Mart could have been avoided, Bruce Both quoted.

Whole Foods continues to buy-out their competition.

Whole Foods also just opened a new store in Union, NJ.

Thursday morning news...

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Industry

The United Automobile Workers union said Wednesday that it would make major concessions in its contracts with the three Detroit auto companies to help them lobby Congress for $34 billion in federal aid.

Hannaford Bros. is asking for voluntary resignations at its 750-employee corporate offices in Scarborough, Maine.

The Greenwhich Times asked Local UFCW president Brian Petronella what will happen to the 80 union members' jobs from a closing 'Shaws'.

Sales of reusable canvas bags at Tesco-owned Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market have more than doubled since the grocer introduced them this past October

Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Markets opened its first two stores yesterday in Bakersfield, Calif., located about 150 miles north of Los Angeles.
Read more of this story

Sears posted a $146M Loss and will close 8 more stores.

JWJ is holding their annual "vote for the national grinch of the year"

Union workers at Safeway, Fry’s and Smith’s stores in Arizona represented by United Food and Commercial Workers Local 99 here have agreed to a contract extension through Dec. 15 as negotiators work on a new deal with employers.
Read more of this story

Chuck Schumer wants local Long Island farm produce in school cafeterias.

The owners of the two Saigon Grill restaurants in Manhattan were arrested Wednesday on more than 400 criminal charges, including violating minimum-wage laws, falsifying business records and defrauding the state’s unemployment insurance system.

Tesco's Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market locations that have been operating for several months "have now moved strongly into [comparable-store sales] growth," Sir Terry Leahy, chief executive officer of the parent company, said.
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Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart Watch released their official statement regarding the death of Mr. Jdimytai Damour

Here is Wake up Wal-Mart's statement.

Mr.Damour's family has filed a lawsuit against Wal-Mart.

Here's more on the suit.

There's a discussion on Craigslist on Local 1500's statement on Wal-Mart.

The NY Post writes on the events aftermath, quote from BWB.

Other

Rob Ecker's restaurant was featured in the Staten Island Advance.

Politics

Here is an update on the Frank Padavan race.

Vito Fossella may run again in 2010.

Patterson is supporting the MTA bailout plan.

Morning Briefs...

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Canadian supermarket operators and city officials here have reportedly agreed on a plan to introduce legislation requiring consumers to pay 5 cents for each plastic bag they get from stores.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc., known for avoiding many of the blowups that have battered its Wall Street rivals, now is likely to report a net loss of as much as $2 billion for its quarter ended Nov. 28, according to industry insiders.

A New Hyde Park man used forged coupons to buy about $2,000 worth of Pathmark supermarket goods, state police said Monday.

The Working Families Party saw a major increase in votes this election.

The Oregon Editorial Board believes the Wal-Mart death should have been averted.

The lawsuits have started to be filed.

The unresolved State Senate contest between Senator Frank Padavan, a Republican, and his Democratic challenger, James F. Gennaro, moves on Tuesday into a Queens courtroom, where nearly a dozen college students have been subpoenaed to verify their residences.

Gov. David A. Paterson won't appoint a replacement for Hillary Rodham Clinton until she leaves the U.S. Senate, which is unlikely before next month.

Monday Reads...

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Brian Foley is planning a post election fundraiser.

A Kosher Meat Packing plant in Queens has rejected the union [UFCW] in an election, the company bought banners reading "Obama says, unions are a bad deal for workers today,” one banner said. “Save your job. Vote ‘no’ union!” The banner appeared to overlook the fact that exit polls showed that 67% of union members voted for Obama.

Move over Fresh Direct, Aramark, the $12 billion food service conglomerate that operates in a range of venues across the country from school cafeterias to football stadiums, is launching a corporate catering service here early next year.

The Shaw's supermarket on Post Road East in Connecticut will close Jan. 15, costing 89 people their jobs. Brian Petronella confirmed the closing.

King Kullen leases property in Island Park.

The NY Post actually has a positive piece on Food Stamps with a quote from Purcell.