Conservation In three years, the S.C. Conservation Bank has protected 86,849 acres of natural and historic properties at an average of $635/acre.

More conservation MeadWestvaco, the paper company, received significant backlash a few years ago after its sale of almost 7,000 acres off S.C. Highway 61 near Charleston. MeadWestvaco sold the land with the understanding the buyer would put the 7,000 acres into conservation uses such as open space, but the land was resold to people who recently applied for permission to fill in 138 acres of freshwater wetlands while they build a high- density, mixed- use development along the narrow, two- lane highway. MeadWestvaco is taking a new approach with its 72,000 acres along the eastern side of the Edisto River. The company is developing its own conservation- driven master plan for the property.

Springs not always eternal Springs Global U.S. Inc. will cease manufacturing in S.C. and close two plants here by the end of the summer. The Grace plant in Lancaster County will lay off 540 employees, and the Close plant in Fort Lawn will put 210 employees out of work. Another 700 Springs employees will keep their jobs at distribution sites in Lancaster and Fort Lawn and at administrative offices in Fort Mill.

Food Lion buys its own debt Salisbury- based Food Lion, owned by Delhaize America, has more than 1,300 supermarkets. Delhaize recently repurchased $1.1 billion of its debt, comprising senior notes due in 2011 and debts due in 2031. The Delhaize Group is based in Belgium.

Wachovia gives $500,000 Charlotte- based Wachovia Corp. has given $500,000 to the University of Florida to study affordable housing in the state.

Charlotte's mayor Pat McCrory has announced he will file for re- election this month. He will be running for his seventh two- year term, a record time in the mayor's office.

Milk Bill Herndon, a dairy economist at Mississippi State University, has compared Southeastern dairy farmers' operating costs in April 2005 and in April 2007. Dairy farmers' operating costs have increased almost 30 percent while the prices farmers receive have increased only 9 percent.

Einstein Bros. Bagels expanding in the Carolinas Their bagels are sold in the Russell House at USC, in Daniel Dining Hall at Furman University in Greenville, and at Clemson University. Einstein Noah Restaurant Group already has two locations in downtown Charlotte and plans to open another three to five locations. Colorado- based Einstein Noah Restaurant Group operates 340 company- owned Einstein Bros. Bagels restaurants and more than 100 franchises.

Irmo Restaurateur Barry Walker is running for mayor in Irmo. The election is November 6. Incumbent Mayor John Gibbons has not disclosed his intentions. Walker owns and runs Mac's on Main across the street from the Richland County Courthouse. Walker is also known as Fatback when he plays his guitar in an orchestra. His peach cobbler is sold in the freezer case at area Piggly Wiggly locations.

NASCAR Scheduled to open in early 2010, downtown Charlotte's NASCAR Hall of Fame will cost $154.5 million and will feature 40,000 square feet of exhibit space, a retail store and restaurant, and TV and radio studios. Adjacent to the NASCAR Hall of Fame will be the NASCAR Corporate Plaza, a 19- story, 380,000- square- foot office tower, which has been financed for $95 million.

Tibetans The Charleston Tibetan Society is holding a benefit dinner to celebrate the 72nd birthday of the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso. The dinner is 7- 10 pm, Friday, July 13, at Kudu Coffee House, 4 Vanderhorst Street in downtown Charleston. For more information, call Guy Vitetta, (843) 302-2050.

North Carolina pushes renewable energy The North Carolina Senate approved legislation on July 2 that sets minimum standards for renewable energy. The legislation obliges each utility to get three percent of its electricity from renewable sources or by reducing demand by 2012. The proportion increases to 10 percent in 2018 for electric co- ops and city- owned utilities. For Duke and Progress, the proportion increases to 12.5 percent in 2021.

Summerville's Woodlands Inn scores high The posh 5- star Woodlands Inn was chosen as the second best hotel in the continental U.S. and Canada by the subscribers to Travel + Leisure magazine. No. 1 was the Tu Tu' Tun Lodge in Gold Beach, Oregon. The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort was No. 5, and the Planters Inn at the corner of Market and Meeting in Charleston was No. 7. Three of the top seven are in the S.C. Lowcountry, while the storied Hay- Adams overlooking the White House, luxury living at a strategic location by any measure, came in at No. 99.