Winter Storm Brings 2 Feet Of Snow, Kills At Least 9

BOSTON — A storm dropped a blanket of light, powdery snow across the Northeast and ushered in frigid temperatures Friday that were unusual even for cities accustomed to blasts of winter weather. The storm, which shut down major highways temporarily and grounded flights, was blamed for at least nine deaths in the eastern half of the country.

The nor’easter was accompanied by plummeting temperatures that on Friday morning reached 8 degrees below zero in Burlington, Vt., with a wind chill of 29 below and 2 degrees in Boston, with a wind chill of minus 20. It dumped 23 inches of snow in Boxford, Mass., and 18 inches in parts of western New York near Rochester. Thirteen inches of snow fell in Boston, while Lakewood, N.J., got 10 inches and New York City’s Central Park got 6.

On a mostly empty Main Street in Concord, N.H., Kathy Woodfin hustled to work, a tall iced coffee turning to caramel-colored slush in her left hand. It was 7 degrees at 9 a.m. and the wind zipping through alleyways blew a fine, stinging snow in her face.

“I just run from heated car to heated building,” the New Hampshire native said. “It’s just like down South, where they run from air conditioned car to air conditioned building.”

Read more: http://www.pottsmerc.com/general-news/20140103/winter-storm-brings-2-feet-of-snow-kills-at-least-9

Kids’ Well-Being Slipping In Pennsylvania, Nonprofit Says

Map of Pennsylvania (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The well-being of children in Pennsylvania is 17th best in the nation, but that’s down from 14th a year ago, according to a study released today.

A lack of gains in health care and early learning caused the slip, according to the study by The Annie E. Casey Foundation, a Baltimore nonprofit for helping children.

The best-ranked states: New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts. The worst: Nevada, Mississippi and New Mexico.

It’s a warning sign that Pennsylvania was one of only five states to fall three or more spots, said local professionals who deal with children.

Read more:  http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=486933

Irene Damage Causing Tourist Cancellations For New England Fall Season

Image via Wikipedia

Vermont’s Governor says the state is open for business and large parts of Vermont were unaffected by Irene.  Cancellations are coming in from tourists concerned about damage from the storm.  A few September festivals were cancelled and a few inns closed due to storm damage.  Otherwise, Vermont is ready for tourists.  The fall leaf season brings in $300 million in business each year.  Next door neighbor New Hampshire brings in $1 billion from fall tourism.

Vermont resorts are hoping their ski season is unaffected.  That will depend on how fast some roads are repaired.

Best bet is to research the situation before cancelling your plans.  You can check out this website for a starting place if you have plans to travel to Vermont this fall, http://travel-vermont.com/

Dollar General: Recession Success Story – Expanding In 2011

Dollar General Corporation of Goodlettsville, TN is actually thriving during the recession.  Unlike many businesses, Dollar General is expecting to hire 6,000 new employees and open 625 new stores this year.  I doubt we will be seeing many other chains announcing such large-scale expansion plans for 2011.

Dollar General operates 9,200 stores in 35 states.  The expansion will add three more states to that list.  Residents of Nevada, New Hampshire and Connecticut will soon be getting stores near them!

The Pottstown area has two Dollar General stores located in the North End Shopping Center and Stowe Crossing.