Utica Shale Academy
Utica Shale Academy
SALINEVILLE
The Utica Shale Academy is in the works in Columbiana County and will offer oil- and gas-related education to students still in high school, according to a report in Thursday’s Columbus Business First blog.
The academy will be under the guidance of the Southern Local Board of Education, Columbus Business First also reported.
Estimating contest
YOUNGSTOWN
Ten Youngstown State University students compete today in the annual Builders Association Construction Estimating Competition.
The students met with six veterans of the local construction community, who mentored the civil- and construction-engineering technology students and helped them hone their estimating skills.
Today, those students will split into two teams, as they analyze and prepare a construction bid on a real-life project. The team that most accurately completes the entire bid will be named the 2014 champions.
The competition takes place at YSU’s Moser Hall, Room 2400.
Ace grand opening
New Middletown
The new Ace Hardware store at 10395 Main St. will celebrate its grand opening this weekend.
The roof of the new store, connected to Village Pharmacy, features solar panels, which power 85 percent of the pharmacy.
The grand opening starts today from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and it will continue from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Starbucks to offer alcohol at more cafes
NEW YORK
Starbucks plans to turn more of its cafes into a destination for beer and wine in the evenings.
The coffee company says it is looking to expand alcohol sales to “thousands of select stores” over the next several years, although it didn’t provide details on an exact timeline.
The chain first offered beer and wine after 4 p.m. at one of its Seattle cafes in 2010. “Starbucks Evenings” now is available in 26 cafes, with plans to reach 40 by the end of the year. The cafes also serve a variety of small dishes ranging in price from $3 to $5, such as bacon-wrapped dates, truffle macaroni and cheese and flatbreads.
The regular coffee menu also is available during that time.
Sales of existing homes fell in Feb.
WASHINGTON
Sales of U.S. existing homes slipped in February to their lowest level since July 2012 as severe winter weather, rising prices and a tight supply of homes discouraged buyers.
The National Association of Realtors said Thursday that sales declined 0.4 percent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.6 million. That was the sixth decline in the past seven months.
Temperatures below freezing and snowstorms likely kept many buyers from visiting open houses. And higher mortgage rates have weighed on sales since last fall.
Vindicator staff/wire reports