Man Stole $450 in Teeth Whitening Strips, Razors and More, Police Say

Easton man charged with taking health and beauty items for Giant in Palmer Township.

An Easton man with two prior retail theft convictions is now accused of stealing more than $450 in health and beauty items—including teeth whitening strips and razors—over four separate visits to the Giant supermarket on 25th Street in Palmer Township last week, according to court papers. Brian K. Norton, 46, of 501 Belmont St., was charged with four counts of felony retail theft by Palmer Township police. Norton was nabbed by supermarket security at a little after 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, according to an arrest affidavit. Norton allegedly pilfered numerous unnamed health and beauty items, valued at $163.50 and concealed them in his coat before trying to exit the store through the pharmacy. Giant security personnel observed Norton attempting …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

April Gas Prices Have Been Good to Drivers

Find the cheapest gas in Palmer and Forks Townships.

Gas prices in every state—except Idaho—have seen another decrease since last week, according to AAA’s fuel report. In Pennsylvania, the average for a gallon of self-serve regular is $3.552 per gallon down 5.4 cents from a week ago. U.S. gasoline prices in April have continued to fall, the reports states, not just because of weak demand, but oil prices have also moved sharply lower. In the Lehigh Valley, the average priceof self-service gasoline is $3.522 per gallon, 5.9 cents lower than a week ago, 14.5 cents lower than a month ago and 43.5 cents lower than a year ago. Locally, the cheapest price is $3.60 per gallon at the Giant in Forks Township and $3.38 per gallon at Wawa, $3.43 at Giant and $3.48 at Weis in Palmer Township. If you know…

• Photos (1)

Peas, Shrimp Snatched from Palmer Giant

Easton woman tried to take shrimp, peas, from Palmer Township Giant, court records state.

An Easton woman is accused of trying to leave the Giant supermarket in Palmer Township Sunday morning with two bags of raw shrimp and a bag of sweet peas concealed in her purse. Court records say Maria L. Zuleta, 57, has three prior guilty pleas for “petit larceny” in New York state, meaning the Palmer Township charge of retail theft rises to a level-three felony. A loss-prevention official at the Giant, 801 S. 25th St., told police he saw Zuleta take shrimp off a shelf, then go over to the dairy aisle and conceal the shrimp in her purse. She checked out, only paying for milk, according to the records. Police arrived around 11 a.m. The official stopped Zuleta outside the store and found the shrimp and peas—with a total value of $65.96—…

• Photos (1)

Visions for Vacancies

What Should Go Here? Palmer Towne Center

One of many storefront are open in the Palmer Township shopping center where Giant and Home Depot are located.

Go to the Palmer Towne Center in Palmer Township and you'll often see a familiar site: Storefront vacancies. There are several. And with a shopping center anchored by Giant Food Store, Marshall's and Home Depot, the empty storefronts are littered throughout the retail area. There are probably at least four. Palmer/Forks Patch.com recently visited the shopping center and shot one of the storefronts for our Visions for Vacancies series. So what do you think should fill this empty space? Please leave your comments below.

• Photos (1)

Giant Recalls Bird Treats Over Salmonella Concerns

Giant Food Stores announced it removed from sale several varieties of bird treats due to possible salmonella contamination in the parsley flake ingredients.

GIANT Food Stores, LLC and MARTIN’S Food Markets, following a recall by Kaytee Products, announced it removed from sale several varieties of bird treats due to possible salmonella contamination in the parsley flake ingredients. Giant has locations in Forks and Palmer townships. The following products are included in this recall:   GIANT/MARTIN’S has received no reports of pet or human illnesses to date, but the product could be potentially harmful to birds who ingest the product or to humans from handling contaminated pet products. Pet owners should thoroughly wash their hands after having contact with these products and clean any surfaces that were exposed. Customers who have purchased the product should discard any unused portions or …

• Photos (1)

Gas Prices Rise 30 Cents in a Month

Weis Markets and Giant in Palmer and Forks Townships offer best alternatives to pinch pennies at the pump.

Prices at the pump keep climbing. The national average for a gallon of gas has increased for 34 consecutive days, rising 47 cents or more than 14 percent during this stretch, according to AAA’s Fuel Gauge Report. This is the longest streak since the price increased 44 cents over 44 days March 22-May 5, 2011. In the Lehigh Valley, the average price of self-serve gasoline is $3.751 per gallon, 3.4 cents higher than a week ago, 27.4 cents higher than a month ago and 10.2 cents higher than a year ago. In Pennsylvania, the average price of self-serve gasoline is now $3.788 per gallon, up 5.6 cents since last week. One reason for the price increase is the trend of U.S. refineries performing seasonal maintenance and making the switchover to …

• Photos (1)

Giant Pulls Smoked Salmon From Shelves

The supermarket chain says it has removed several varieties of smoked salmon from its stores, following a recall by Ocean Beauty Seafoods LLC due to possible listeria contamination.

Giant Food Stores, LLC and Martin's Food Markets announced Monday that they have removed from sale several varieties of smoked salmon due to possible contamination by listeria monocytogenes. Giant has locations in Forks and Palmer townships. The announcement followed a recall by products sold by Ocean Beauty Seafoods LLC. The following products are included in the recall: • Nathan’s Nova Salmon, 3 oz., UPC 7303080368, all sell by dates • Nathan’s Nova Salmon, 8 oz., UPC 7303080369, all sell by dates • Lascco Smoked Salmon, 3 oz., UPC 7284001703, all sell by dates Giant said in a press release that it has received no reports of illnesses to date. Customers who have purchased recalled products should discard any unused portions and bring …

• Photos (1)

Visions for Vacancies

What Should Go Here? Former Tanning Salon

Vacancy at former tanning salon in Giant Shopping Center on Sullivan Trail in Forks Township.

They're like bookends. On each side of the Giant Shopping Center on Sullivan Trail in Forks Township are two vacant storefronts, both relatively the same size. While one was featured on Visions for Vacancies, the second is on the far right, near the wine and spirits store and Something Different. It used to house a tanning salon, the former Tanetics. The shopping center features the Giant food market, Something Different, a wine and spirits store, a Hallmark store, Just a Dream frozen yogurt, a dry cleaner and a nail salon along with a Chinese Restaurant, pizza place, Subway and H&R Block office. So what should go here?

•  2 Comments
• Photos (1)

Allergy Concerns Prompt Peanut Butter Cookie Recall

Giant Food Stores has removed GRANDMA’S Peanut Butter Sandwich Crème cookies from shelves because the product contains milk and eggs, but that is not identified on the label.

GRANDMA’S Peanut Butter Sandwich Crème cookies have been removed from Giant Food Stores shelves because the product contains milk and eggs, allergens that are not identified on the label, according to a press release. The product, which is safe to consume for individuals who do not suffer from a milk or egg allergy, was removed from shelves after a recall by Frito-Lay. Giant has locations in Palmer and Forks Townships. The following product is included in this recall: Giant Food Stores has not received reports of illness, but people who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk or eggs may run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product. The product should be thrown away or brought to any …

• Photos (1)

PPL Offering Free Water, Ice to Those Without Power

Customers of PPL Electric Utilities who are still experiencing a power outage due to Hurricane Sandy may receive up to three 10-pound bags of ice and three gallons of water daily.

Customers of PPL Electric Utilities who are still experiencing a power outage due to Hurricane Sandy can receive free ice and water from Giant Food Stores and Weis Markets in Palmer and Forks Townships and Weis Markets. PPL customers may receive up to three 10-pound bags of ice and three gallons of water daily. Just identify yourself as a PPL Electric Utilities customer at the time of purchase. If you cannot find a vendor in your area, you may purchase your ice and water supply from any vendor and PPL will reimburse you for up to the daily maximum amount noted above. Forward receipts to: PPL Electric Utilities Attn: Ice & Water 827 Hausman Road Allentown, Pa. 18104 Visit pplelectric.com for the full vendor list, which may change frequently…

• Photos (1)