The Wachovia Foundation has awarded a $10,000 grant to The Rex Hospital Foundation to support the renovation and expansion of Rex Cancer Center. The improvements to Rex Cancer Center will encompass the values long associated with Rex: high-quality care with the best technologies and clinicians available; a supportive and nurturing environment for the patient and family; and a focus on the whole person. Some of these improvements include: Expanded space for new medical equipment and medical treatments; a state-of-the-art linear accelerator and tomotherapy system, increased space for the cancer resource center and touch-screen kiosks for patient education.

Rex Cancer Center is devoted to preventing and treating cancer through cutting-edge therapies and individualized patient care. At the foundation of Rex Cancer Center are outstanding radiation oncology and hematology/oncology services. Rex provides cancer patients and their families with educational programs, screening programs, complimentary workshops, support groups and individual counseling. Rex diagnoses 1,800 new cancer cases each year. About 850 to 900 of these patients will come to Rex for cancer treatment, with 4,000 chemo treatments and more than 16,000 radiation treatments. Rex Cancer Center has been designated by the American College of Surgeons as a nationally accredited comprehensive community cancer center

Read More:CarolinaNewsWire

RALEIGH – A group of private investors has partnered to buy an office building at a marquee intersection, hoping an Earth-friendly renovation will reduce operating costs and lure tenants willing to pay more for green digs.The group, which includes three Greensboro partnerships and one from Durham, last week paid a partnership led by Mark Properties $3 million for the Navigant building, county property records show. Known for its time-and-temperature display, the building is at U.S. 70 and Creedmoor Road.

It’s the latest deal on a corner across from Crabtree Valley Mall, an area where developers are planning several buildings, including one under construction that would be among the region’s tallest.

The project is expected to meet the standards of the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, rating system.

Details of the 32,000-square-foot renovation are being worked out, said Greg Sanchez, a partner in the ownership and president of Durham commercial real estate services firm Tri Properties, which will manage the building and conduct the renovation.

To meet LEED standards, the renovation would incorporate environmentally friendly construction practices and energy-saving design, which lower operating costs. The LEED designation could attract tenants willing to pay a premium for green offices. “A lot of tenants want to be in an energy-efficient building,” Sanchez said.

Read More:News & Observer

It was a trying year for N.C. State basketball coach Sidney Lowe. The Pack finished 15-16 in his second season, closing with nine straight losses. There also were serious issues he had to deal with away from basketball. On Thursday, Lowe talked with staff writer Chip Alexander.Q: What do you think N.C. State fans want from you and the basketball program?

A: I think they want a winner. Bottom line, they want a winner. With the tradition and history we’ve had, the national championships, we’ve had runs where we’ve really been good consistently, year in and year out, and I think they want to get back to that point. So that every year they know we’re going to be in the hunt. Whether it’s in the hunt for the ACC championship or in the hunt for the NCAA.

Q: Every year is a big year for a coach, but in your mind how big is next year for you given this past season?

A: It’s a very important year. They’re all important, but any time you’re coming off of a tough year that next year is important. But I think you still have to keep things in perspective, in terms of where you are and what you’re trying to do.

It’s like injury situations. If Farnold [Degand] doesn’t get hurt last year, who knows what we would have done this past year and we wouldn’t be discussing having a tough year. So we have to be healthy. But it’s an important year. It’s important because, you know what, we don’t want to come back and duplicate what we did this year.

I know a lot of people were disappointed this year. I know my AD [athletic director Lee Fowler] was disappointed. But I’ll tell you that no one hurt more than I did.

Q: You had so much happen in the last year away from basketball [Lowe’s father died and his mother suffered a heart attack. Lowe’s oldest son, Sidney II, still must face felony charges of kidnapping, possessing drugs and armed robbery stemming from a shooting incident last March in Greensboro]. Did that affect any basketball duties, practice time, game preparation, recruiting, your concentration, anything like that last season?

A: Not really. Because I’ve always been this way, and I try to tell my players the same thing, that when I have something to do, that’s what I’m focused on. This is my job and this is going to take precedence right now.

I never, ever, bring a personal situation to work. Anyone who has been around me will tell you, inside I’m going to be dying but you’re going to get the same smile, get the same hello, the same greeting. I don’t do that. I don’t think it’s right to bring your personal life to work with you and have other people have to adjust to your mood that day. I don’t think that’s right.

So, no, it didn’t. When I got away from the office, I dealt with that. But I still watched the same amount of film, had the same meetings, the same everything. I kept it the same.

Q: How rough has the year been? Has it almost been too much for you to stand at times?

A: It’s been a very rough year. My dad passing, certainly that was very tough on me. But I thought about the good times. My dad lived a long life and was a great father. In the background, not saying too much, but proud and wore his N.C. State hat everywhere he went.

Q: A lot of people were concerned about you because of your dad’s death, but also because of your son. …

A: And that means a lot. So many people have come to me and expressed themselves to me and it means a lot. You worry, but that’s when I get away from it. I can’t say [the job] is therapy for me but this is my focus. I have one son there and I have 13 or 14 here. I just came to work and never let it interfere with my work

Read More:News & Observer

(ARA) – Dogs and cats and fish, oh my! More than 63 percent of American households own a pet today, which equates to 71.1 million homes and a whopping 382.2 million pets, according to a recent American Pet Products Manufacturers Association survey of pet owners. So are Fluffy and Fido just hanging out at home, or are they going to work with their human companions?Pets, it seems, are showing up in the workplace more than ever, with 30 percent of employers allowing workers to bring pets to the office, according to a recent consumer survey commissioned by The HON company, a leading designer and manufacturer of office furniture. Of those who actually bring their pets to work, the majority of Americans bring dogs (24 percent), followed by fish (12 percent) and cats (8 percent).

Dog Days in the Office
Visitors to The Warehouse Office Furniture Mart, a Cincinnati-based contract furnishing dealership that sells HON office furniture, can expect to be greeted by a couple of unusual “customer service representatives” when they enter the showroom. Jake and Woody, Labrador Retrievers owned by the company’s president, Jack Keane, can be seen daily at the dealership.

Since 2000, Keane has encouraged employees to bring in any well-behaved pet to spend the day in the company of the dealership’s staff and customers. He even encourages customers to bring their dogs along when they visit the showroom.

The affable and quite mannerly pair – often referred to as the “star customer relations team” – spend their days tethered on long leads in the 15,000-square-foot showroom’s office area. This arrangement allows them plenty of interaction with dog-loving customers but keeps them out of the way of the handful of those a little more canine-wary.

“We’ve had at least 95 percent positive feedback on Jake and Woody’s daily presence,” Keane says of the boys.

Keane’s business isn’t alone in cultivating a pet-friendly atmosphere. A recent search online at Simply Hired (www.simplyhired.com), an online job search engine, turned up 8,100 open jobs at pet-friendly companies, including natural candidates like PetSmart and IAMS Pet Food; but also big names such as Google, Amazon.com and even Dartmouth College.

There are other benefits to having pets in the office – millions of Americans believe pets on the job lower absenteeism and encourage workers to get along, according to responses from both the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association and HON surveys.

Keane feels having Jake and Woody in the showroom actually helps build top-of-mind awareness for his business, too.

“People definitely remember our showroom,” he says. “It’s a great way to reach out to customers, especially dog lovers, and make ourselves stand out from the competition.,”

For more information on The HON Company, please visit  www.HON.com .

(ARA) – What would happen if a 2-year-old stuck her hand in your dog’s bowl at feeding time? How would he react if the neighbor kid jumped your fence and scared him?

“Pet owners are typically responsible for their animals’ actions — provoked or not — including medical bills and legal fees,” says Jon Farris, personal lines assistant vice president for insurance company General Casualty. “Without proper insurance, it could mean financial ruin, especially if a child’s involved.”

Get Covered

The liability portion of your homeowners policy will probably cover most pet-related claims (with some notable exceptions, mentioned below). But what if you don’t own a home?

“Renters or condo owners with pets should make sure they have appropriate liability coverage, since they are just as much at risk of a dog-bite claim or someone tripping over their pet and getting hurt,” says Debbie Fester, personal lines vice president for Farmers Union Insurance.

She adds that farm residents should let their insurance agent know which animals are pets and which are part of the farm operation. Typically if there are more than three of an animal and/or it’s used to make money, it should go on the farm policy because there’s extra coverage for situations like if the animal is struck by lightning or falls into a ravine.

Ask Before Buying

Homeowners policies vary, but many exclude certain dog breeds. The same goes for exotic pets and dogs with a history of biting. The insurance experts say the best advice is to check with your insurance agent before buying a pet. If you already have one, let your agent know, because you might need extra coverage.

For example, General Casualty won’t cover homeowners with certain breeds of dogs known for their size, power and aggressive breed history. “It’s not that all Boxers are bad, there are lots of very nice ones. But from an insurance perspective, it’s about potential severity — a Boxer could do a lot more harm than a Dachshund. We can’t tell on paper if yours is a ‘good’ dog,” Farris says.

Fester says Farmers Union Insurance typically won’t cover a dog if it’s bitten in the past because of the risk it’ll do it again. However, she says long-term customers in certain states may be able to keep their FUI insurance with a special exclusion for their dog’s actions.

Neither company covers exotic pets, like pythons or alpacas, but Farris says exotic pet owners can find coverage from companies that specialize in these. “An independent insurance agent can match customers with insurers who will cover your pet cougar or monkey or your pack of sled dogs.”

Take Precautions

Fester and Farris also suggest pet owners take precautions to protect themselves:

* Be especially careful with children. Children are never held liable in dog bite cases, even if they provoke the animal.

* Do your research before getting a dog that will be around kids.

* Have your pet spayed or neutered. Dogs that aren’t spayed or neutered are up to three times more likely to bite, according to the Humane Society.

* Keep your animal fenced.

* Post that you have a pet.

* Never let your dog in public without a leash — even if it’s well trained.

* Go the extra step. Don’t let strangers pet your dog. Hold onto its collar so it can’t jump up on a child. Keep your dog in another room during your kid’s birthday party

The Rev. Sally Bingham is the godmother of the environmental movement in the religious community.Back in the 1990s, when religiously based environmentalists were still viewed as nature worshippers, she founded Episcopal Power & Light. Now called Interfaith Power & Light, the nonprofit organization has 27 chapters across the United States, including North Carolina. The mission of the organization is to mobilize a religious response to global warming through the promotion of renewable energy and conservation.

Bingham, the president of Interfaith Power & Light and the environmental minister at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, met with 20 religious leaders at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Raleigh last week. She said religious communities have made remarkable strides in addressing the intersection of faith and global climate change, and she encouraged them not to give up.

“You clergy need to talk about it,” she said. “I think it should be in every single sermon.”

We caught up with her on the occasion of Earth Day on Tuesday to ask her about the progress religious people have made on the issue.

Q: How are churches becoming more active in environmental issues?

A: Environmental issues were once political issues. They didn’t belong in the church. Now it’s integral to mainstream religions in ways unimaginable five years ago. … We’re seeing changes in the liturgy to reflect care for creation. That’s huge because in the Episcopal Church there’s a deep tradition that resists change.

I am seeing clergy take this responsibility seriously enough to actually say that care for creation belongs with love, justice and peace. You hear the term “JPIC,” or justice, peace and integrity of creation. It’s putting care for creation on parallel with love, justice and peace … We have a green mosque in Washington, D.C. We have hundreds of Protestant churches with solar panels on the roof. We have two large cathedrals with geothermal systems — in Boston and in Cleveland, Ohio. The Catholic Cathedral in Los Angeles in solar.

Q: How has Interfaith Power & Light changed?

A: We now have an office in San Francisco and a staff of seven. We coordinate this national campaign. That means we help the state programs get started … One of the important things we do is make sure the Interfaith Power & Light campaign doesn’t get sidetracked. We don’t want to be viewed as the Sierra Club at prayer. We’re not political. We’re not Republicans or Democrats. Our message is rooted in theology. It’s different from an environmental organization. We want to be seen as conservative people coming from a theological perspective. We don’t love trees more than people.

Q: What is the spiritual message you offer?

A: I see it as part of the commandment to love God and love your neighbor. If you love your neighbor, you don’t pollute your neighbor’s air. We are called to serve one another. If you see that your behavior is harming your neighbor and your neighborhood, other species, flora and fauna, or the next generation, it’s a direct disobedience to the commandment. Jesus said what you do to the least of these you do to me. If vulnerable and poor communities are harmed by our behavior, we’re insulting God.

Read More:News & Observer

The “Salute to Our Troops” military-appreciation event Saturday in downtown Raleigh will be one of the largest of its kind ever in the state.ON PARADE: The focus of Salute to Our Troops will be a parade up Fayetteville and Salisbury streets that features military equipment and vehicles, including a missile system, armored Humvees and personnel carriers. There will also be hundreds of marchers in units from every branch of the armed services and from bases across the state, as well as bands from Triangle schools and elsewhere.

FOR MILITARY FAMILIES: Parts of the event, including rides, games and a free lunch, are for military families only.

FOR EVERYONE: All attendees can view the parade and check out displays of vehicles, including armored personnel carriers and several NASCAR teams.

START TIMES: A flyover of F-15Es from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base will start the parade at 10 a.m. The displays will open to the public at 11:30 a.m.

FIND OUT MORE: More information on Military Appreciation Day is available at www.saluteournctroops.org.

SOURCE:News & Observer

ARA) – With gas prices reaching record highs across the country and air travel more aggravating than ever, a growing number of summer travelers won’t be traveling as far for their vacations this year. The result: a growing interest in the “staycation” – long weekends or mini-breaks to destinations within 300 miles of home.

The devaluation of the dollar abroad makes Europe less appealing to travelers, and with air fares expected to soar soon, more vacationers are looking for closer-to-home alternatives. “Americans planning their summer schedules still want to get away for a vacation – this year they just prefer to avoid the expense and exhaustion that can come with a long trip to a far-away destination,” says Nancy Byrne, executive director of the New Jersey Department of State’s Division of Travel and Tourism.

In fact, “staycations” are among the top 2008 summer travel trends, according to a recent study. “Keeping your destination to within 300 miles – or about one tank of gas – from home enables you to travel there in six hours or less,” Byrne notes. If you live on one of the coasts, you have access to hundreds of miles of beaches and attractions, while those in the heartland states will likely find lakes and rivers to cool off. Across the country, everyone can enjoy national parks and historic sites within that same distance.

East Coast beach towns such as Ocean City and Wildwood, NJ, are gaining increased attention on sites like Yahoo Travel Guides. Meanwhile, staff at the global travel advice company, Lonely Planet, selected many domestic spots, including national parks, as top destinations for 2008. New Jersey, in particular, is drawing “staycationers” from up and down the East Coast who are attracted to the state’s ample beaches and attractions, diverse summer festivals, landmark national parks, outdoor theatres, music fests, sidewalk art shows and a highway system that puts drivers in easy reach of numerous points of interest.

“For most of the Northeast and much of the Southeast, New Jersey is a quick getaway,” Nancy Byrne says. “No matter what part of the state is ‘your back yard,’ you’ll find plenty to do and see this summer.”

Festival of Festivals
Across the country, communities celebrate warm weather with festivals and fairs, and New Jerseyans are no exception. From culinary extravaganzas to balloon festivals that fill the sky with brightly colored canopies, virtually every summer weekend is highlighted by a festival in New Jersey. Some highlights feature seafood, food and wine, ballooning and kite-flying events. With event sites scattered throughout the state, virtually every resident and visitor can find a festival within a short drive from home base.

Back to Nature, Back to History
Eco-tourism and historic travel are among the hottest travel trends today. “Staycationers” are finding national parks and historic sites allow them to pursue these interests close to home.

New Jersey has no less than 10 sites designated as national parks, preserves and recreation areas, including part of the Appalachian Trail and the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. In 1978, Congress declared New Jersey’s Pinelands as the nation’s first National Reserve, creating the largest area of open and protected space on the eastern seaboard between Florida and Maine. The Preserve encompasses more than a million acres of farms, forests, wetlands and historical villages throughout seven counties, providing a virtually limitless array of activities from hiking, biking and kayaking to bird watching, fishing and berry picking.

For travelers looking to incorporate historic ventures into their getaway, look no further than Princeton. This historic town is currently celebrating the 225th anniversary of Continental Congress declaring this New Jersey town the temporary capital of the nation. Throughout 2008, visitors can enjoy historic re-enactments, history and art exhibitions, music and dance performances, tours, encampments and more.

To check the state’s calendar of events or begin planning your “staycation” in New Jersey, log on to www.visitnj.org and click on the “Where to Go” tab.

(ARA) – If a fire destroyed your spacious four-bedroom home, complete with landscaping, home theater and wine cellar, would your insurance carrier expect you to live in a small one-bedroom apartment throughout the yearlong process of planning and building your new home? And what if the insurer limited your new home’s design to a modest cracker box, because your policy only covered “insured value” rather than “replacement value”?Then you would know that all homeowner policies are not created equal.

In the event of a loss, it’s important that your lifestyle be protected and restored as completely as possible — starting with your temporary accommodations. And when your home is rebuilt, the last thing you need is to be told there’s a limit to how much you can spend to replace what you had.

How do some homeowners completely restore their houses and lifestyles while others are forced to haggle over additional out-of-pocket costs? The fact is that not all insurance policies are the same. As your life changes, your insurance needs become more complex and your old mass-market insurance policy might not be keeping pace.

In other words, as your lifestyle moves up from a discount store to Rodeo Drive, you begin to consider more than just price. The amount of choice, flexibility and value built into your homeowner’s policy becomes more important.

The Replacement Gap

It is often at the critical juncture of a loss that homeowners learn their insurance has not kept pace with their home’s replacement value.

“It you have owned your home for 20 years and you have the mass-market policy you first bought with that home, it’s very possible your insurance has not kept up,” says Mitch Ziemer, product director for Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company. “Factors include inflation, value of contents, and even building codes, which may require a different kind of construction. A homeowner wants to be sure those costs are known — and covered as long as they own their home.”

Some policies insure only for actual cash value while others cover replacement costs. What’s the difference? When actual cash value is used, the policyholder is entitled to the depreciated value of the damaged property. So the older the item is, the less money you may receive to replace it.

You’ll want a policy that pays the complete replacement cost — including rare and custom work. Under replacement cost coverage, the policyholder is reimbursed the amount it costs to replace the property and its contents with something of a similar type and quality at current prices.

For example, your Italian marble floors would be covered for the cost of the materials and installation — even if these costs are higher at the time of replacement than they were for the original installation. The policy would also rebuild your downstairs home theater, your wine cellar, and even replace and replant your landscaping.

You should also seek a policy from an insurer like Fireman’s Fund that provides the added benefit of a loss of use limit that is much higher than the industry standard. This coverage pays all comparable living expenses (compared to a predefined limit) you incur while your home is being rebuilt. And if you don’t want to rebuild in the original location, you have the option to receive a cash settlement, which is also not offered by many other insurers. Plus, when you do rebuild, you can work with the contractor of your choice, not the insurance company’s.

An additional benefit to seek in your policy is a loss of use limit that is much higher than the industry standard. This coverage pays living expenses you incur while your home is being rebuilt. And if you don’t want to rebuild in the original location, you have the option to receive a cash settlement, which is also not offered by many insurers.

“To get an accurate value to assess risk, you need experts who know the market, your home, and your possessions,” Ziemer says. Unlike the mass-market approach, a company like Fireman’s Fund provides this kind of on-site expertise as part of the homeowner’s policy.

It’s this approach that serves the specific lifestyles of individuals and families with valuable assets and possessions. While perhaps a little lower in price, mass-market policies may not facilitate the concept of the individual experience, nor are they likely to provide coverage for your way of life. In many cases, they do not even insure the full replacement value of your home.

(ARA) – In an effort to jumpstart the struggling economy, the federal government has approved an economic stimulus package that will send rebate checks to qualifying taxpayers, some as early as May. Homeowners can use this refund to invest in home improvements that add value in a difficult housing market.Qualifying individual taxpayers will get up to $600 in rebates, working couples $1,200 and those with children an additional $300 per child. Add that to the average refund some taxpayers can expect after filing their taxes ($2,548 in 2007, according to CNNMoney.com) and that’s approximately $3,800 in total refunds from the federal government this year.

Investing these dollars in home improvements, such as replacing old leaky windows with newer, energy efficient ones, can offer homeowners a significant return on investment. Some experts believe that replacement windows are one of the best home improvement investments you can make in your home.

“Remodeling Magazine’s” 2007 Cost vs Value Report estimates that a homeowner may recoup 81 percent of the cost of installing low maintenance replacement windows at resale. That means on an $8,000 window replacement project, homeowners may recoup $6,480 at the time of sale.

In addition, new energy efficient windows can lower heating and cooling bills, improve a home’s comfort and aesthetics, and add long-lasting value.

There are some important things to keep in mind when choosing new energy efficient windows. Craig Evanich, president of Renewal by Andersen, suggests homeowners look for the ENERGY STAR label to ensure that they are energy efficient. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, replacing inefficient single pane windows with ENERGY STAR qualified windows could save up to 15 percent on your energy bills.

Evanich adds that Renewal by Andersen energy efficient windows are designed to perform at even higher standards. They come standard with High-Performance Low-E4 glass which is over 14 percent more energy efficient than stringent ENERGY STAR requirements and is 56 percent more energy efficient in summer than ordinary dual pane glass.

With a substantial savings in energy costs along with a solid return on investment from home improvement projects, buying energy efficient windows is a wise use of your rebate dollars. And, if you ever decide to sell your home, energy efficient windows can give you the edge — and often a higher resale value — over other sellers in an increasingly competitive housing market.

For more information on choosing energy efficient windows, visit renewalbyandersen.com or call (800) 630-5838.