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Tuesday, November 20, 2012

The Obama Economy: Layoffs And Business Closings- November 20, 2012

By Susan Duclos



Additional layoffs and business closings will be listed as they are announced throughout the day. Below are reports found on November 20, 2012. (Updates which are added after original publishing at the top of categories with - New next to them)

Layoffs: November 20, 2012



North Shore Mining to lay off about 125 employees- New

About 125 employees of North Shore Mining will be laid off Jan. 5 when the taconite operation idles two of its four pelletizing lines, according to an announcement issued Monday by the mine’s owner and operator, Cliffs Natural Resources.

The pending layoffs will affect people working at North Shore’s mine in Babbitt in addition to those working at the production facility in Silver Bay, but the exact breakdown of how many jobs will be trimmed at each location has not yet been determined, according to Sandra Karnowski, Cliffs’ district manager of public affairs.


 Mayor Bloomberg Proposes Cutting 2,100 Jobs, 167 Considered "Layoffs"

Mayor Bloomberg is proposing cutting 2,100 jobs, raising school-lunch fees, slashing library funds and raising parking meter prices to offset losses from his plan to sell 2,000 extra taxi medallions, although the cuts could evaporate if the proposed taxi plan is resurrected.

Only 167 city workers would be laid off as part of the $1.7 billion in cuts, with the rest of the jobs lost through attrition, but school lunches would rise from $1.50 to $2.50, parking meters south of 96th Street in Manhattan would rise 50 cents to $3.50 an hour, and four school health centers would see their funds eliminated.


Islip leaders approve tax hike, layoffs in new budget
The Islip Town Board Monday unanimously approved a 28-percent property tax increase, employee layoffs and fee increases as part of a $111 million operating budget for 2013.

The approved spending plan represents a 7.6 percent decrease compared with last year and includes at least 22 full-time employee layoffs and the closure of the town's shellfish hatchery, which was substantially damaged during superstorm Sandy.

Town officials estimated dozens of part-time workers will be laid off as the town eliminates its marina guard program.

Employees Laid Off at Endicott Interconnect

The New York Department of Labor said the stagnant economy has caused most manufacturing companies to slim down, including here at Endicott Interconnect.

"Unfortunately, we're probably looking into the future, some more declines as the industry tries to figure out what size and shape, and dynamic of itself in the new industry is," said Christian Harris, an analyst at the state department of labor.

The labor department reported computer and electronic product manufacturing jobs in Binghamton fell by 800 since October 2011.

It also reported that Endicott Interconnect shed 250 jobs from 2010 to 2011.

[...]


Former employees said dozens of jobs were lost in the recent round of layoffs this month.

Action News was unable to confirm any numbers with Endicott Interconnect as they did not respond to repeated requests for comment.


11 People laid off from Yakima Washington County Jail

 More people are off the job at the Yakima County Jail and, more layoffs could be on the way. Jail costs climbed too high while fewer prisoners came through the door. Action News looked at whether the staff is being cut too thin for your safety.

The Yakima County Jail is down to bare bones on staffing. It has people worried about safety.

Business Closings: November 20, 1012



First Financial Bank closing 3 branches in Ohio - New

First Financial Bancorp is closing three of its branches in February, the Hamilton JournalNews reported.

The downtown Cincinnati-based bank will close branches in Seven Mile, Fairfield Township and Hamilton as First Financial works to cut costs and respond to customer habits. The three closures in Butler County are among total 10 branches planned to close.


3 Albert Leans Businesses Close - New

Albert Leans saw the closing of Lakeside Cafe, a name that has a history going back to 1947. And they witnessed 34-year-old formalwear provider Courtly Manor and 10-year-old hair salon Classic Reflections close.

[...]


Jesse provided the Tribune with a written statement:

“After nearly 34 years in business I have decided to close Courtly Manor. Now is not the time for the streetscape project due to the present economy. I feel this projects is being jammed down our throats by City Hall and the (Albert Lea-Freeborn County) Chamber of Commerce.

The remark by President Barack Obama that the government built my business proves that he is a liberal college professor who knows nothing about business. My family and employees built and kept Courtly Manor in business, not the government.


Historic Wolf's Tavern Closing In Henderson Kentucky - New

The third incarnation of Wolf's Tavern and Restaurant has reached the end of the line.

The iconic Henderson watering hole at First and Green streets, once renowned for its bean soup, ham sandwiches and being, as its motto has long declared, "Where friends meet," closed at the end of business Saturday night.

Business owner Darrell Williams posted about the closing on the Wolf's Facebook page on Friday.
"We made a lot of good friends," Williams said Monday. "We gave it our best shot. It just wasn't to be."

Wolf's is one of Henderson's most-storied establishments. It opened in 1878 as a bakery, later became a tavern, then survived Prohibition by transforming into a candy store and plumbing supply store. Wolf's reopened as a tavern and restaurant following Prohibition.

Asheville, Canton NC Suntrust Banks Closing - New

The Asheville branch in Pack Square will close January 11th. The Canton location will close on January 18th.

Champion Window closes Houston facility, cuts 70 jobs- New

Champion Window Inc. will close a Houston facility, eliminating about 70 positions.

The Houston subsidiary of Dallas-based Atrium Windows and Doors Inc. will close its facility at 12427 Duncan Road in north Houston between Jan. 9 and Jan 23, the company said in a letter this month to the Texas Workforce Commission.

Navistar To Cut 900 Jobs In Garland Texas Plant Closing

Navistar International Corporation announced on Tuesday its intentions to close its Garland, Texas, truck manufacturing operation by the first-half of 2013. The plant currently employs 900 salaried, hourly and third-party temporary workers.


Wave3 Closing In Louisville Kentucky

You have seen the signs. Everything must go. Out of business.  Sometimes it is an owner competing with big box corporations. Or as WAVE 3 discovered, an entrepreneur still struggling to recover from what has been dubbed, the great recession.


Surgical Hospital Closing In North Baton Rouge

 Greater Baton Rouge Surgical Hospital, a 10-bed facility in Howell Place Business Park in north Baton Rouge, will close in December, seven years after its opening.


Kmart in Flint Michigan will close long-time location on Dort Highway

A Flint Kmart is the latest location slated for closing by the struggling retail chain that once was one of the nation's most successful.

A manager at the store declined to comment on the pending closure.

The store, located south of Atherton Road on Dort Highway, employs 46 people. They were informed in October it would close in late January, according to an email from Chris Brathwaite, a spokesman from Sears Holding Corp., the parent company of Kmart and Sears.


Kmart closing S. Monaco store in Denver 

The national retailer has begun liquidating its stock at its 2150 S. Monaco Street Parkway location, in southeast Denver.

The company said it had 1,252 Kmart locations and 866 stores as of the end of October. In the past year, Sears Holdings has closed 57 Kmart stores and 52 Sears stores.

Among the stores closed earlier this year were Sears locations in Longmont and Westminster and Kmart stores in Glenwood Springs and Broomfield.


Dallas-based liquor store chain planning to close more stores

Dallas-based Centennial Beverage Group is planning to close another round of stores, including several in Tarrant County.

One official at the liquor store chain confirmed Monday that "stores are closing" but would not say how many or where, and would not provide further details.

Company President Greg Wonsmos did not respond to a telephone message.

Centennial closed seven Dallas-Fort Worth stores in February, a year after buying its former competitor, Majestic, out of bankruptcy.

After those closings, the company still operated 63 stores in DFW, including Big Daddy's, Majestic, Apple Jack's and the Arlington Bottle Shop.


Workers Say Canton's Mercier tool-and-die company closing

Workers say that’s what they were told, but company officials aren’t saying anything.

Employees of Mercier Tool & Die, which has operated here for 50 years, say they were told Friday that they no longer had jobs and that the business at 1007 High Ave. SW was closing.

Office Administrator Sharon Mercier gave word through an employee Monday afternoon that she would have no comment at this time.


3 restaurants in Muskingum County Ohio closing

Three local eateries have closed or will be closed by year’s end, citing economic factors.

Jack Havanas Wing Revolution in Hazlett Court and Ace’s Sports Bar & Grill in Dresden are closed, and a longtime family business, Maria Adornetto’s, will close its doors for the last time Dec. 22.

FAA closing Palm Coast training center, cutting 100 jobs

The Federal Aviation Administration is shutting down its Palm Coast management training center Dec. 21, cutting 80 to 100 jobs in the process.

The closing cuts jobs in the city but it also has a negative impact on the economy in Palm Coast, as about 150 people train there on an average week.


Golden Ridge nursing home in Robesonia PA closing down

The owner of Golden Ridge said the facility is closing due to taxes owed to the I.R.S.

"It's very difficult. But unfortunately, with the back taxes for the I.R.S., there's no choice in the matter," said Lynn Zerbe, owner. "These residents are family to me. And it kills me that this is happening right before the holidays, and it kills me that it has to happen at all."

Over century-old post office closing in Ralph Michigan

Residents in the Dickinson County community of Ralph will have two weeks before they're forced to say goodbye to their over-century-old post office.

The tiny 12 foot by 14 foot post office was established in 1904 and currently is open only two-and-a-half hours a day during the week and an hour-and-a-half on Saturdays.

The Cootware family, who's been running it for the past 25 years, says the little financial compensation isn't enough for them to continue keeping it open.


Senior Living Facility Closing its Doors In Pennsylvania 

 A senior living facility in the Poconos is closing its doors in 2013.
More than 40 people called the place their home and they have only two months to find someplace to go.

The place is called Pocono Lutheran Village, and it’s closing its doors in January 2013 due to financial reasons.

Administrators were doing what they could to find a new home for the seniors who said they’re sad to have to pack up and go.

Dorothy Anderson called Pocono Lutheran village her home for nine years.

Last week, Anderson and her neighbors learned the facility — owned by a company called Diakon — is shutting down in 2013 because it’s nearly $5,000,000 in debt.


Bankruptcy: November 20, 2012



Walla Walla Gardener's Association closes doors - New

A local produce packing and shipping company in existence for almost 100 years is calling it quits.

Walla Walla Gardener’s Association closed its doors today, said Mark Jones, a financial and business advisor to the company. Located at 205 N. 11th Ave., it sold and shipped Walla Walla Sweet Onions under the Gloria label and fresh asparagus.

The company has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, and the court will decide how to dispose of its physical assets.

“The board felt that Chapter 7 was the most effective way to dissolve the business,” Jones said.


Missouri - Salt Restaurant Files for Bankruptcy - New

The acclaimed Central West End restaurant Salt (4356 Lindell Boulevard; 314-932-5787) on Monday filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Missouri. In the petition, a copy of which Gut Check has obtained, the restaurant claims to have debts of between $100,000 and $500,000 while holding assets of no more than $50,000.


Obama's Economy pieces at this link.

(Correction on date made to this post)