Odds and Ends

This week: Red Cross to open its newest U.S. facility in Henrico and VCU's School of the Arts in Qatar to design Qatar's new military uniforms.

AWARDS

Ukrop's Super Markets, Inc. announced that Ukrop's Pharmacy has been recognized as Drug Topics Chain of the Year for 2006. Ukrop's Pharmacy was selected for recognition by Drug Topics for providing outstanding services to patients, including a comprehensive immunization program, health screenings and free wellness and disease state management classes. Currently, there are 22 Ukrop's Pharmacy locations in the Richmond, Williamsburg and Fredericksburg areas with 78 pharmacists and 72 technicians on staff.

Hanover County has been awarded a National Association of Counties' Achievement Award for its blight abatement and anti-litter campaign, which was initiated by the Board of Supervisors last spring. Several departments of the County government joined with dedicated citizens to implement the campaign, including the Sheriff's Office, County Attorney, Building Inspector, Planning and Public Works. The award submission was entered in the program category of Environmental Protection and Energy. The award will be presented at NACo's annual conference in Cook County, Ill., on Aug. 6.

BANKING

DuPont Fibers Federal Credit Union celebrated the grand opening of its fourth full-service Member Center located in Midlothian in the Shops at Stonehenge Shopping Center on June 24 with a formal ribbon cutting. The new Member Center features a concierge station to help direct members, non-traditional teller spaces, private offices, a computer to access the Internet, a free coffee station, child's play area and a retail display area. Richmond's Baskervill was the designer and locally headquartered Kjellstrom & Lee was the general contractor.

BENEVOLENCE

The Home Depot recently donated 50 air conditioners to Senior Connections, The Capital Area Agency on Aging, as part of the organization's Fan Care Cooling Program. The Home Depot stepped in to meet the agency's need for air conditioners after it learned the nonprofit had exhausted its supply earlier this summer. The Fan Care Cooling Program provides fans and air conditioners to eligible seniors to help them cope with the summer heat, which can cause heat exhaustion quickly among seniors.

As part of its annual scholarship program, Virginia Credit Union has awarded a total of $62,500 in college scholarships to 25 students, 14 of which are from the Richmond area. Winners were selected based on scholastic achievement, community service, extra-curricular activities, hours devoted to work and an essay. The credit union has presented more than $350,000 in scholarships since 1991 when its program began.

What are people saying about mortgages today:

Rates on 30-year mortgages edged down last week to a seven-month low. Mortgage-giant Freddie Mac reported Thursday that 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages fell to 6.3 percent, down slightly from 6.31 percent two weeks ago. It put rates at the lowest level since they were at 6.24 percent the first week of March.

Bank of Hawaii, Central Pacific Bank, Territorial Savings Bank and Wells Fargo Home Mortgages all cut their 30-year mortgage rates to 5.75 percent this week.

Most people think of a mortgage as a means to an end. After all, you buy a house, not a home loan. But a mortgage is much more than the path to homeownership. It is a financial instrument that must be managed, just like any other financial investment.