Starting today, there are new winter hours for the North Raleigh Farmer's Market will be held Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon and Wednesdays 2 to 6 p.m.

The market features products from local farmers offering the finest in regionally grown produce, meats and other products.

The market is in the Falls River Town Center off Durant Road. Here's its Facebook page... 

Kerr Drug has received a new shipment of the H1N1 vaccine and will distribute it over the next few days at stores throughout the state.

Due to limited supplies, those eligible to receive the vaccine at Kerr Drug health centers include: pregnant women, household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age, healthcare and emergency medical services personnel, all people from 14 through 24 years of age, persons aged 25 through 64 years who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza.

No appointment is required, though you may want to call ahead. The cost for administration of the vaccine is $19.70. Information is available on the Kerr Drug Web site, www.kerrdrug.com or by calling 877-267-8896.  

Click read more to see the schedule for vaccinations.

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For those of you who like Freecycle and recyling products you no longer use, you may want to check out a new site called SwapItGreen.

I've only taken a quick look, but this site kind of reminds me of a mix between ebay and Freecycle. You list your items that you no longer want and then "sell" them to others for points. Then you can buy other things using your points.

www.swapitgreen.com

This month, Harris Teeter stores in North Carolina will expand their in-store recycling programs. In addition to the bins for recycling plastic and paper bags, shoppers will now see additional bins for bottles and cans. According to Harris Teeter, the new in-store recycling program is intended for items including drink containers, milk bottles from the coffee shop, pharmacy bulk bottles and deli containers.

Clemmy's Ice Cream is now being distributed to Harris Teeter stores, including those in our area.

For those who are unfamiliar, Clemmy's is a premium ice cream that is all-natural and sugar-free. It's on sale at Harris Teeter right now for $4.49 (with your VIC card, of course). And since I'm so nice to you all, there's a $1 coupon to download below. (You can also find the coupon on this Web site.)

One of the best parts about my job is that I get to see things before the general public. I've just returned from a preview visit at the new Trader Joe's store in Raleigh, which will open at 9 a.m. tomorrow.

Workers are still stocking shelves and putting the finishing touches on things, but I think all the Joe's fans out there will be pleased. There is plenty of Two Buck Chuck wine (OK, $2.99 wine) and all the other Trader Joe's goodies you've come to know and love.

Tomorrow, I will be tweeting from the grand opening. You can follow my tweets right here on Taking Stock (in the scrolling box on the left-hand side of the page).

A couple of weeks ago in my Retailing column, I wrote about longtime Raleigh hair stylists Keith Woodlief and Wendell Edwards returning to Raleigh to reopen their design studio here.

I heard today from Edwards, who said folks are having a bit of trouble locating the new business. Apparently the phone company does not want to list the studio as "The W." So to make it easier to find, try the full name of the studio, which is The W: Wendell & Woodlief Designs. It is located at 5205 Oak Park Road, off Glenwood Avenue near Taverna Agora. It is scheduled to open in early November.

If you have a bunch of old VHS tapes that are taking up space, Flicko's Video Services will reclycle them for free. Just bring your tapes by the store (1779 NW Maynard Road in Cary) during regular hours and drop them off.

The recycling is free and no purchase is required. But local store owner Gary Chvatal won't be upset if you decide to purchase some of Flicko's services while you're there. The company converts old movies, slides, photos and more into digital files. If you have VHS tapes that you'd like converted to CD before they are recycled, the cost is 25.95 for a two-hour tape.

Wow. Talk about an amazing video. Watch this security tape of crooks wiping out all of the items on display at an Apple store in Marlton, NJ.

Grand total it takes them 31 seconds to get the job done.

Toys R Us announced today that it will join Sears and Kmart in offering layaway for Christmas. These promotions have been really popular with cash-strapped consumers. But be sure to read the fine print on this one:

"Placing a product on layaway at any Toys"R"Us or Babies"R"Us store requires a deposit of 20% of the total purchase, including all applicable taxes, and a $10 service charge. Payments may be made at the store at any time in the form of cash, check, credit card, debit card or gift card. Merchandise will be made available within 7-10 days of final payment, so items must be paid for in full by December 6 to ensure that the gift is available for pickup before Christmas. A fee will apply to canceled layaway orders**."