KANNAPOLIS — Contractor Wayne Brothers Inc. has been named to two regional lists of the fastest growing businesses in 2013.
The Kannapolis-based company was ranked No. 4 on the N.C. Mid Market Fast 40, given by Business North Carolina. The list is used to rate the fastest growing businesses in North Carolina based on employee and revenue growth.
Last year Wayne Brothers was ranked No. 7. Shannon Sapp accepted the award on behalf of Wayne Brothers.
The company was ranked No. 23 on the Charlotte Business Journal’s 50 Fastest Growing Companies. The Fast 50 winners were selected and ranked by average revenue growth from 2010 to 2012.
To qualify, companies had to have at least $1 million in revenue in 2012 and be based in the Charlotte area. Keith Wayne accepted the award for Wayne Brothers.
SALISBURY — After a rocky year and a half, Ethos restaurant in downtown Salisbury has closed.
Owner Louie Mourouzidis said Ethos was still having some good nights, but the restaurant was inconsistent and not profitable enough to stay in business.
“It wasn’t worth keeping it open,” Mourouzidis, who also owns DJ’s on West Innes Street.
Mourouzidis opened Ethos in May 2012 but soon lost the original manager. He hired a succession of chefs.
Mourouzidis leased space for Ethos at 118 N. Main St. in the Washington Building, which is for sale after Community One Bank foreclosed on the property in July 2012.
“Life goes on,” Mourouzidis said.
SALISBURY — The Country Club of Salisbury has hired Pamela Holm as the new food and beverage manager.
Holm comes to Salisbury from Cape Fear Country Club in Wilmington, where she worked as food and beverage supervisor for more than three years. She grew up in Indian Trail and graduated from Western Carolina University with a bachelor’s degree in hospitality and tourism management. 
Holm begins work Feb. 4.
SALISBURY — More than 400 Davidson and Rowan county families had a healthier and nutritious holiday season thanks to Food Lion, a Project Santa organizer said.
With a donation to Project Santa, Food Lion provided 419 needy, local families and people with food for the Christmas season.
The families included 707 children in Davidson and Rowan counties. The project also assisted some families on the edge of Montgomery and Randolph Counties.
“Due to recent layoffs, many families and individuals are in desperate need of food and gifts for Christmas,” said Keith Garner of Project Santa. “Most of these families had to spend the money they had saved for Christmas on rent or heat.”
Project Santa, based in Denton, has been delivering food and toys to families and children during Christmas for 56 years. Project Santa begins in mid-October and culminates with toy deliveries by Santa on Christmas Eve.
Project Santa volunteers screen families and individuals to determine their individual needs. Food Lion, which is based in Salisbury, has partnered with the organization to provide food for families for 13 years.
Each donated food box consisted of green peas, corn, cereal, dry milk, macaroni and cheese, fruit cocktail, peaches, flour, crackers, potatoes, rice, pinto beans, cookies and a ham or turkey. Families with three or more children receive two food boxes or a heavy food box.
Steve Willett of Eagle Financial will talk about new loan programs he has available as well as provide information regarding the new Dodd-Frank legislation when the Rowan Real Estate Investors and Associates meet Tuesday, Jan. 28.
The group meets at China Buffet in Salisbury at 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month.  China Buffet is on Arlington Street behind O’Charleys near Interstate 85 exit 76.
Call 704-762-1117  for more information.
Goldmine Toastmasters Club is offering a free improv workshop Feb. 8, at 8:30 a.m. at Rotary Hall, 211 West Ave., Kannapolis.
The workshops include adding humor to public speaking, developing teamwork through funny eye contact games, and mental exercises to develop creativity and sharpening listening skills. Paul Marks from Over The Counter Improv will conduct workshop (www.otcimprov.com) 
SALISBURY — The Rowan County Chamber of Commerce will hold ribbon cutting ceremonies for a medical clinic and certified public accountant in coming weeks.
The ribbon cutting for FastMed Urgent Care at 1361 Klumac Road at the Wallace Commons shopping center near Kohl’s is set for 10 a.m. Jan. 30.
The chamber will cut the ribbon at a new location for Brent Parks, CPA and Bradshaw Financial at 10 a.m. Feb. 17 at 1816 E. Innes St. suite 101.
RALEIGH — The N.C. Department of Labor is now accepting applications from businesses that qualify for a workplace safety award. Safety awards are given to companies that have above-average worker safety and health programs.
“A safety award shows employees and the community that you are committed to a safe work environment,” state Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry said. “A good safety record is something to be proud of, and businesses deserve to be recognized for their efforts.”
Businesses that qualify must be free of fatalities and the site’s injury and illness rate must be at least 50 percent below that of their industry’s average rate.
Award recipients will be honored in their communities throughout the state at safety awards banquets co-sponsored by the N.C. Department of Labor and local chambers of commerce and other organizations.
For more information or to download an application, go to the NCDOL website, www.nclabor.com/osha/etta/safety_programs/safety_award.htm. The submission deadline is Feb. 15.
Comfort Keepers along with Whitley’s Funeral Home will begin the 2014 Caring Connections Seminars with Jessica Helms, director of rehab with Avante Centers in Concord,  discussing stroke awareness and rehabilitation from hospital to home.  The seminar will be at Whitley’s Annex Chapel, 1748 Dale Earnhardt Blvd., Kannapolis, on Wednesday, Jan. 22nd at 11:30 a.m.
Refreshments will be served and seating is limited.  RSVP to 704-630-0370 or Ann Measmer at 704-640-5152, annmeasmer@comfortkeepers.com  by Monday at noon on Jan 21. 
STATESVILLE — During the January cold snap that saw temperatures fall to single digits and electric load grow to record levels, EnergyUnited members set a record for power use. With temperatures continuing to be colder than normal, EnergyUnited encourages members to take initiatives to conserve energy.
Here are some quick and easy ways:
• Set thermostats to 68 degrees and turn back several degrees when away from home or at night.
• Set water heater temperatures no higher than 120 degrees.
• Only do full laundry loads.
• Make sure electric blankets are turned off in the morning.
• Unplug battery chargers when not using.
• Run ceiling paddle fans on low, blowing up.
• Close fireplace dampers when not burning a fire.
• Make sure drapes and shades are open during the day to take advantage of the sun’s heat. Close them at night to keep heat in.
• Ensure floor registers are not blocked with rugs, drapes or furniture.
• Keep your garage door down. A warmer garage will save energy.
Usage on the morning of Tuesday, Jan. 7, topped a previous EnergyUnited peak record with an increase of 9.3 percent over the previous high, which was set on Dec. 15, 2010. On Wednesday, usage was 1.1 percent higher than the 2010 mark.
While pleased with how the electric system responded as well as the cooperative’s preparation to ensure reliability, EnergyUnited still encourages customers to do what they can to conserve electricity while staying warm.
For more information about energy efficiency, visit www.energyunited.com or call EnergyUnited at 1-800-522- 3793.
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