: CAMILLUS — After just a year in business, the local franchisee for Batteries Plus is opening a second store in Camillus.

Thomas Ruhlman opened his 2,400-square-foot store on Erie Boulevard in DeWitt in September 2006. He will open a second location, a 1,550-square-foot shop at 5310 W. Genesee St. in Camillus, in November.

Ruhlman says he chose Camillus for the new store because its location to the west of DeWitt will allow him to cover much of Onondaga County. It's also close enough that the stores will benefit from joint marketing, he adds.

The staff will probably grow from its current total of five to seven or eight, says David Ferguson, store manager.

Batteries Plus sells 12,000 different types of batteries, including ones used in cell phones, cordless phones, golf carts, hearing aids, cars, and motorcycles.

Lowe's, Zaxby's in the works as area's growth paces forward

September brings openings for new restaurants and retail stores in Franklin.Do-it-yourself retailer Lowe's will open its doors to the public at 7 a.m. Sept. 18 at the northeast corner of U.S. 31-W and VFW Road, according to spokeswoman Maureen Rich.The grand opening - which represents an average investment for the company of $12 million and creates up to 120 new jobs - will be Sept. 20 and will include a traditional board cutting ceremony, Rich said. Ceremony details have not been finalized.The second-largest home improvement retailer in the world will offer more than 32,000 products overall under one roof in its 94,000 square-foot space in Franklin. Additionally, a 26,500 square-foot garden center will offer a selection of flowers, bushes, trees and garden supplies, tailored to the Kentucky climate and lifestyle, according to Rich.Rich said that over the past decade Lowe's has evolved its stores to accommodate its main customer - women shopping for their family household.

Officials urge tourism transport systems to register with LTFRB

THE Land Transportation, Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Department of Tourism (DOT) will meet with those transport services for tourists on Thursday to urge them to secure franchises.

Edgar Violan, LTFRB action officer, said during the weekly Kapehan sa Dabaw that the failure of these transport services to register with the agency before October 16 will force the agency to apprehend them.

Violan said there are only 23 units duly registered as tourism transport vehicles, nine of them are servicing Mindanao. The only registered bus operator in the region is CC Liner which has six units. Philtranco, another bus company has a franchise to operate nationwide.

The Metro Shuttle Bus Co. has also signified to secure a franchise although the number of vehicles will still be determined.