PORTLAND, Maine >> The state that dominates the U.S. lobster haul saw the catch fall to its lowest level since 2011 last year, yet the industry is still strong and the crustaceans remain easily available to consumers, regulators said Friday.
Maine fishermen caught a little more than 110.8 million pounds of lobster last year, following a stretch of five consecutive years in which the state topped 120 million pounds annually, the state Department of Marine Resources announced.
Fishermen in Maine, who typically catch about 80 percent of America’s lobster, also made slightly less money. They were paid $3.91 per pound at the docks for lobsters last year, down from about $4.08 per pound in 2016, the state said. Prices remained steady for consumers, who usually pay $8 to $10 per pound for Maine’s signature seafood item, the live lobster.
J.C. Penney cuts more than 300 jobs
NEW YORK >> Department store chain J.C. Penney says it has cut more than 300 jobs, and reported disappointing sales at established stores for the quarter that includes the holiday season.
J.C. Penney said Friday it eliminated 130 positions across all departments at its Plano, Texas, headquarters, and said restructuring regional, district and store support teams to eliminate bureaucracy led to 230 job cuts. It estimated the cuts will save it $20 million to $25 million a year.
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ON THE MOVE
The Friends of the Library of Hawaii and co-sponsor Native Books Na Mea Hawaii honored two library employees and three volunteers:
>> Curt Fukumoto, a children’s librarian for Kaneohe Public Library, was honored with the 2017 Public Librarian of the Year award. Fukumoto has been a librarian for 24 years at different libraries across the island.
>> Hye Kyung Choe, a library technician V for McCully-Moiliili Public Library, was awarded the 2017 Excellence in Service award. Choe has worked at the McCully- Moiliili Public Library since 2007 and served as a part-time substitute employee and before becoming a full-time library technician V.
>> The 2017 Friends of the Library of Hawaii Volunteers of the Year award went to El Burson, Richard Burson and Valrie Griffith.
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