SALISBURY — Now through April 27, Food Lion customers can name their favorite private brand soda flavors for a chance to win prizes.
To participate, customers should submit their suggested names for Food Lion brand root beer, ginger ale, orange soda, grape soda and fruit punch. One entry per soda per day is allowed in order to offer multiple opportunities to win prizes.
Participants should visit www.foodlion.com/younameitentry to enter the contest. Five grand prize winners will receive $500, plus one a one-year supply of free private brand soda and 10 more winners will receive a $100 Food Lion gift card, as well as a three-month supply of free private brand soda.
Customers will have the chance to vote on their favorite names at www.Facebook.com/Foodlion from May 7 through May 13.
Food Lion is based in Salisbury and owned by Delhaize America, the U.S. division of Brussels-based Delhaize Group.
Jay W. Efird, a representative of Modern Woodmen of America, has been named to Modern Woodmen’s President’s Club. 
 This distinction recognizes Efird’s high achievement in life insurance sales among the organization’s representatives nationwide.
 The local Modern Woodmen office is located at 860 Craigmont Lane NW in Concord.  Contact Efird at 704-244-8353 for more information.
CHINA GROVE — Warrior Golf Club needs sponsors and participants for the HELP Challenge 5k Run/Walk and Fun Run on May 25.
The event, which stands for Hope Empowers Local People, will benefit the family of Marco Kauffman.
Kauffman, 25, of Cleveland was shot during a home invasion when returning from a Thanksgiving trip and died several weeks later. He left behind newlywed wife Maryann and an unborn child, who was recently born on Valentine’s Day.
Event organizers need sponsors and participation to run, walk or buy a memorial spot.
Each year, a worthy local family is chosen by the race committee to receive proceeds from the HELP Challenge. This year’s event will begin at 4 p.m. May 25 at Warrior Golf Club, 890 Lake Wright Road in China Grove. Race day registration opens at 2:30 p.m. To help or learn more, contact Rick Houston 704-856-0871, 704-245-9195 or rhouston@warriorgolf.com.

The Rowan Real Estate Investors and Associates will meet Tuesday, April 22, and Mona Lisa Matthews from Excellence Realty will speak about the behind-the-scene view of property search websites and which ones are the most accurate.  
She is a licensed Realtor in both Carolinas and has more than 20 years of experience.
 The group meets at China Buffet in Salisbury at 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month.  The meeting is open to anyone who would like to attend.  (China Buffet is on Arlington street behind O’Charleys near Interstate 85 exit 76)
For more information, call 704-762-1117.
Amy Curtis, admissions director of Brookdale Senior Living will speak on optimum living and a balanced life through purpose, spirit, emotion, intellect and social well-being at the monthly “Caring Connections” seminar at Whitley’s Annex Chapel on Wednesday, April 23, 11:30 a.m. 
Comfort Keepers continues to seek out special interests for senior living.  A light lunch and opportunity to socialize is part of the event.   
RSVP to 704-630-0370 or 704-640-5152 by Tuesday noon April 22. 
CONCORD — Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development and Convention and Visitors Bureau hosted Celebrate Cabarrus to recognize achievements of county businesses in 2013.
This was a combination of Annual meeting for the Chamber and EDC and the CVB’s Golden Helmet Awards — all which celebrate business excellence in our county.
This first partnership event was held at the Embassy Suites on Thursday, April 10, with close to 500 attendees.
Cabarrus Economic Development Awards:
Champion of the Year- Gary Walker, Walker Marketing
Supporter of the Year- City of Concord Utility & Development Directors
Partner of the Year- Tammy Whaley, Duke Energy
Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce Awards:
Ambassador of the Year- Hank Alston, Windstream Communications, Inc.
Sustainability Award- Kannapolis City Schools
Small Business of the Year- CASCO Signs
Citizen of the Year- Pat Horton Uwharrie Bank
Cabarrus County Convention and Visitors Bureau Golden Helmet Awards:
Restaurant of the Year- The Speedway Club
Hotel of the Year- Embassy Suites Charlotte/Concord Golf Resort and Spa
Attraction of the Year- Concord Mills
Small Business of the Year- Miss M’s Sweets
Outstanding Ambassador- Evan Lindsey, SpringHill Suites
Unsung Hero- Sam Dozier, Great Wolf Lodge
Hospitality Professional of the Year- Randy Long, Kannapolis Intimidators
Hometown Hero- Virginia Foil Bill Foil & Dot Foil Shillinglaw, Foil Farms
Patrick Coughlin is president/CEO of the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce and Cabarrus Economic Development. For more information, visit www.cabarrus.biz.
CONCORD — Allstate agency owner Dave Cash received the Allstate Agency Hands in the Community Award for his commitment to helping others and community service. The Allstate Foundation awarded a $1,000 grant to the CVAN organization, where he volunteers.
Now in its 62nd year, The Allstate Foundation has given more than $300 million in financial contributions to communities around the country and in 2013, $47,000 in North Carolina as part of the Allstate Agency Hands in the Community Program.
The Allstate Foundation awards $2 million every year to nonprofit organizations across the country.
The Dave Cash Agency is located at 6045 Gateway Center Drive in Kannapolis. Cash can be reached at 704-499-6445 or davecash@allstate.com.
 MOORESVILLE — Dennis Cowardin was honored as a 2013 Main Street Champion at the North Carolina Main Street Annual Awards Ceremony in New Bern.
Cowardin was selected by the Mooresville Downtown Commission for this special recognition in appreciation of his exceptional contributions to the downtown revitalization process. Along with Champions from 32 other communities, he received a certificate commemorating this designation, presented by N.C. Assistant Secretary of Commerce Dr. Pat Mitchell and Office of Urban Development Director Liz Parham.
Kim Atkins is executive director of the Mooresville Downtown Commission.

The Salute to Senior Service program generated 1,146 nominations and more than 122,000 votes of support for senior volunteers between Jan. 15 and March 1. The votes are being tallied to determine state and provincial, and national award winners, who will receive cash prizes for their favorite charities.
According to research, volunteering reaps more than goodwill. Among seniors who volunteer:
• 99 percent want to make a difference
• 98 percent want to stay active and feel better physically and emotionally
• 98 percent gain a sense of purpose
If you are looking for ways to help, the “Give-Back” program offers a series of activity resource sheets for caregivers and care community activity professionals trying to keep seniors engaged.
If a senior needs help around the house, transportation to a volunteer job, or just a friend, contact Jena Hare of Home Instead at jena.hare@HomeInstead.com
Tractor Supply Company, in partnership with National 4-H Council, recently announced the launch of its spring 2014 Paper Clover Campaign.
Tractor Supply has a Salisbury location at 405 Jake Alexander Boulevard South.
Customers can purchase paper clovers between April 23-May 4 for $1 or more during checkout.
All funds raised will be used to support 4-H youth development programs.

The N.C. Department of Labor honored area employers and employees at the agency’s annual safety awards banquet in Thomasville on Tuesday, April 15.
“It’s really an honor for me to travel throughout the state and recognize these employers who are making a commitment to their employees’ safety and health,” Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry said. “These employers are helping to make North Carolina workplaces some of the safest in the country.”
The awards honor outstanding on-the-job safety achievements of each company during 2013. Recipients are based in High Point, Lexington, Linwood, Mocksville, Salisbury, Thomasville and Welcome.
The event is co-sponsored by the N.C. Department of Labor and the Thomasville Area Chamber of Commerce.
Recipients have met the stringent requirements necessary to receive a safety award.
Under program rules, companies must have been free of fatal accidents at the site for which the award is given to be eligible. The gold award criteria are based on a DART rate that is at least 50 percent below the statewide rate for its industry.
The rate includes cases of days away from work, restricted activity or job transfer. The silver award is based only on cases with days away from work. They are recorded when the worker misses at least one full day of work, not including the day of the injury. The applicant must attain an incidence rate for cases with days away from work that is at least 50 percent below the rate for its industry.
More information on the Labor Department’s Safety Awards Program is available by calling 919-807-2908 or emailing Eursula Joyner at eursula.joyner@labor.nc.gov.
Rate of days away from work must be at least 50 percent below the industry average.
First Year
Johnson Concrete Co. Inc., Lexington Division
Second Consecutive Year
Lexington Home Brands, Plant #5
Third Consecutive Year
Lexington Home Brands, Plant #15
Rate of days away from work, job transfer or restriction must be at least 50 percent below the industry average.

First Year
Davidson County , Support Services Department
Davidson Water Inc.
Facility Logistic Services , Lexington
Flexible Foam Products
Ingersoll-Rand Co. , Mocksville Operations
Kimberly-Clark Corp. , Lexington Mill
Lexington Home Brands, Plant 6
Parkdale America , Plant #3
Printcraft Co. Inc.
Unilin Flooring , DTR Facility
Second Consecutive Year
Lexington Home Brands, Plant #3
Novant Health , Thomasville Medical Center
Third Consecutive Year
Duke Energy , Buck Combined Cycle Station
Novant Health , Rowan Medical Center
Royal Development Co.
Fourth Consecutive Year
Hedrick Bros. Lumber Co. Inc.
The Resource Co. Inc., Mocksville
Unilin Flooring , Thomasville Facility
Fifth Consecutive Year
Thomasville Furniture Industries, Central Warehouse Plant W
Sixth Consecutive Year
Pearson Furniture Co.
Thomasville Furniture Industries , County Line Road Facility
Young Graphics Inc.
Eighth Consecutive Year
Henredon Maitland-Smith , Corporate Office
Ninth Consecutive Year
Elizabeth Carbide of North Carolina
11th Consecutive Year
Thomasville Furniture Industries, Plant M
12th Consecutive Year
N.C. Department of Commerce, Division of Workforce Solutions Lexington Workforce Office
N.C. Department of Commerce, Division of Workforce Solutions, Mocksville Workforce Office
N.C. Department of Commerce, Division of Workforce Solutions, Salisbury Workforce Office
Tysinger Hosiery Mill Inc.
16th Consecutive Year
Diversified Graphics Inc.
55th Consecutive Year
Thomasville Furniture Industries , Central Office
1 million hours, or multiples thereof, with no lost-time accidents

Royal Development Co.
1 Million Hours
May 25, 2010, through June 30, 2013

Unilin Flooring
1 Million Hours
Aug. 22, 2012, through Dec. 31, 2013

SALISBURY — Lutheran Services Carolinas was recently awarded the Lighthouse Beam Safety Award by BB&T for excellent safety performance during 2013.
LSC senior services received the recognition for its low incidence of workers compensation claims.
Trinity Place, an LSC skilled nursing home in Albemarle, was also recognized recently for its safety efforts, receiving a prestigious SHARP award from the North Carolina Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). SHARP, or the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program, is a designation granted to small businesses that demonstrate exemplary injury and illness prevention programs.
“Safety is good stewardship,” said LSC President Ted W. Goins Jr. “We don’t want to see a fellow staffer hurt and out of work. If people are out of work, the people we serve suffer, so our mission suffers. Stewardship also refers to money. We’d rather put our money into caring for people than into higher insurance premiums or OSHA penalties. Every dollar we save is another dollar of care to those we serve.”
Lutheran Services Carolinas is a collective ministry representing the affiliation of Lutheran Services for the Aging, founded in 1960, and Lutheran Family Services in the Carolinas, founded in 1976. LSC now provides care management, skilled nursing care, assisted living, rehabilitation, and retirement options, as well as foster care, adoption, veterans services, mental health services, refugee resettlement, disaster response, and residential care for people with disabilities in both North and South Carolina.
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