But to a more disheartening subject: What is the reason that gasoline is $3.65 in Potsdam and only $3.51 in Norwood? That’s 14 cents difference and only a six mile separation. What a ripoff!

In regards to “Pet Death Owner’s Fault,” (North Country This Week July 11-17) I agree that it’s up to the pet owner to make sure their pets are secure and safe. However, dogs will be dogs. When our dog gets a squirrel in sight, or a rabbit, he’s thinking about that critter and not a car. We as drivers, need to watch out for deer, birds, turkeys, you name it. It’s not always the pet owners fault. Our dog is on a lead line when he goes out side, but there have been times he will break that line to get a squirrel, a rabbit or a cat.

To the person who wants to rehabilitate orphaned raccoons: you’d better not release them near our property, or they will meet a quick end in our traps when they come around and get in our chickens, feed, sweet corn, or trash. I once thought they were cute, too, until I saw the devastation they can create if they find their way into a chicken coop. Don’t misunderstand me, we’re animal lovers, too, but there are too many raccoons and rabies is a serious concern. We don’t need Mr. Soft-Heart and his daughter adding to the population and creating more nuisances.

SeaComm Federal Credit Union recently awarded eight students with the Shirley J. Eagles Memorial Scholarships. Congratulations to Massena residents Hanna Gleason, Jessica Cunningham and Morgan Albert; also to Noah Bero of Hogansburg; Sean Godard of Bombay; Monique Jenkinson of St. Regis Falls; Abby Dufrane of Malone and Elizabeth Ruddy of Norfolk. Each student received a $500 scholarship

To the Editor:

In wake of this past week's mass shootings at the cinema in Aurora, CO during the midnight screening of "The Dark Night Returns", I feel compelled for a couple of reasons to offer an informed opinion and observation, and to request my fellow North County Residents to either offer an informed refutation or their own informed opinions. This could have been us and our own families.

From my latest understanding, 12 people have lost their lives, and an additional nearly 60 have been injured (some critically) during this tragic incident.

Unemployment in St. Lawrence County increased slightly last month, according to figures from the state Department of Labor.

The jobless rate in St. Lawrence County rose to 11 percent in June from 10.3 percent in May.

A year earlier, the rate stood at 10.7 percent.

The increase of .7 percent was comparable to many other upstate counties, matching the .7 percent rise from May to June in Clinton County, and less than the .8 percent rise in Cortland and .9 percent in Allegany.

POTSDAM -- The State University of New York at Potsdam awarded more than 920 undergraduate and graduate degrees during its 2012 Commencement ceremonies on May 19 and 20.

SUNY Potsdam honored upwards of 750 students with bachelor's degrees, while another 170 graduate students earned their master's at the college's Commencement weekend.

The graduates included:

Kelly Haley, of Norwood, who earned a bachelor's degree in Speech Communication.

Samantha Ahlfeld of Massena, who earned a bachelor's degree in Community Health

NORWOOD -- The Norwood Village Green Concert Series will present The Brass Firemen July 26, Dana and Susan Robinson July 29 and Babik, Aug. 2 at 7 p.m.

Enjoy some “street music” and some audience participation July 22 with the Norwood Brass Firemen.

The Norwood Fire Department band is a North Country institution that has performed at two presidential inaugurals, the opening ceremony of the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, the Indianapolis 500, and numerous other high-profile events.

Dana and Susan Robinson will perform July 29.

Students install solar thermal panels on the roof of SUNY Canton’s Woodcock Alumni House.

CANTON -- Builders and contractors can learn about solar heating techniques through a SUNY Canton seminar starting next Monday.