Food Lion wins milestone EPA Energy Star Partner of the Year award

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognized Food Lion with its 18th consecutive Energy Star award for its continued leadership in protecting the environment through energy efficiency.

Food Lion is the only grocery retailer to receive the award for 18 years consecutively.

“We are honored to serve as a leader in energy conservation in the many towns and cities where there are Food Lion stores,” said Susan Sollenberger, vice president of energy and maintenance for Food Lion. “This award speaks to our commitment to reducing carbon dioxide emissions throughout our 10-state footprint.”

Since beginning a partnership with the EPA and Energy Star in 2001, Food Lion’s energy use reductions are equivalent to powering 92,082 homes for one year, the company says. An example of its energy-saving techniques is installing LED lighting to replace fluorescent lights in stores. By the end of the year, almost half of Food Lion stores will have LED lights installed.

“Food Lion’s application stood out among many highly competitive submissions this year, demonstrating exemplary commitment and dedication to leadership in energy efficiency and the Energy Star program,” said Jean Lupinacci of Energy Star.

Thursday’s Power in Partnership to address health care

Lisa Finaldia of the North Carolina Early Childhood Foundation will be the speaker at the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce Power in Partnership Breakfast.

The breakfast will be at 7:30 a.m. Thursday at Trinity Oaks, 728 Klumac Road. Novant Health Rowan Medical Center is this month’s sponsor.

Finaldi is the community engagement leader for the foundation, leading the First 2000 Days initiative, the N.C. Campaign for Grade-Level Reading and the local financing initiative. She has more than 30 years of experience as a nonprofit leader at the state, national and international levels.

Finaldi holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from West Virginia University and a certificate in nonprofit management from Duke University. She and her family live in Raleigh. She is a past president of the Society for the Preservation of Historic Oakwood and a founding board member of Raleigh City Farm, a 1-acre farm in downtown Raleigh.

The last PIP for this series will be May 16 for Leadership Rowan graduation. 

For anyone who is not a Power Card holder, individual reservations are welcome. The deadline is by 5 p.m. Tuesday. The cost is $15 for members and $25 for nonmembers. The price includes breakfast and the program.

Contact the chamber for information on reservations or sponsorship opportunities at 704-633-4221 or info@rowanchamber.com.

First Ministry Center hosts community job fair

First Ministry Center will hold a community job fair Tuesday at First Ministry Center, 220 N. Fulton St.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

NCWorks, at 1904 S. Main St., also will provide an employment information session at 2 p.m. Monday.

Both are free. Salisbury Transit will provide rides.

Roses Discount Store to celebrate grand reopening in Lexington

Roses Stores has completed a remodel of the Roses Discount store at 288 N. Talbert Blvd. in Lexington. A grand reopening is set for Thursday.

Each Roses store employs about 30 people with most associates living in the local community.

“We are excited to reinvest in the Lexington community with our special mix of dependable values and unique finds,” said Bruce Efird, president and CEO of parent company Variety Stores Inc.

“Everyone loves a bargain. Our stores and the great teams that run them ensure that all our customers’ needs are met by offering great, quality items at tremendous savings, without the need for constant couponing and chasing down clearance sales,” Efird said.

Roses Stores is a regional retail chain founded in 1915 by Paul Howard Rose and headquartered in Henderson.

Lack of housing supply and growing population continue to affect home sales 

According to the Charlotte Regional Realtor Association, the Charlotte metro region’s year-over-year home sales in March decreased 6 percent, with 3,842 properties sold compared to 4,089 properties sold in March 2018.

Compared to the previous month, sales increased 35.6 percent.

The average sales price in March was $289,652, up 3.3 percent compared to March 2018 at $280,350. The median sales price of $244,203 was up 3.9 percent compared to March 2018, at $235,000.

Compared to February, the average and the median sales prices increased 3.9 percent and 5.2 percent, respectively, in March. 

“In March, the market had nearly 600 fewer homes for sale when compared to inventory this time last year,” said Brenda Hayden, president of the Charlotte Regional Realtor Association/CarolinaMLS. “We know that close to 60 people move to the Charlotte area daily, and while the population continues to grow at rapid pace, the supply of homes is not keeping up with current demand and growth. However, the exceptionally strong month-over-month new listing activity should give buyers more options and perhaps lead to stronger sales numbers in April and May.”

The average number of days a property was on the market was 100 days, one less fewer than in March 2018.