Interested in learning how to save money at the grocery store? Or do you feel like you need a refresher course in couponing?

Registration is now open for my next coupon workshop, a half-day class on Saturday, June 16.

Unlike my previous classes, which were held at The N&O's offices, I'll be teaching this class at the Halle Cultural Arts Center in downtown Apex, which happens to be my hometown for the last 19 years.

It's a much bigger venue, which means more folks can take advantage of the opportunity to participate in the class, which will cover basic and advanced coupon techniques, teaching you to save at least 50 percent, if not more, on your grocery bill.

The half-day session will include information on:

In a sign that new home construction activity in the Triangle could finally be picking up, the number of single-family building permits issued in Wake County increased 26 percent in the first quarter.

There were 967 permits issued in the first three months of the year in Wake, up from 768 during the same period in 2011, according to data compiled by the Home Builders Association of Raleigh-Wake County.

Holly Springs and Garner posted the largest percentage increases.

Holly Springs issued 98 percents compared to 56 during the first quarter of 2011, a 75 percent increase. Garner's permit activity jumped 480 percent, from 5 to 29.

Permit activity declined 16 percent in Cary and was up 45 percent in Raleigh. Apex was also a big gainer with a 42 percent increase.

As the number of both new and existing homes has continued to drop in the Triangle, real estate professionals have been waiting for it to correspond to an uptick in new home construction.

There were just 1,603 new homes on the market in March in Wake, Durham, Orange and Johnston counties, Triangle Multiple Listing Services data show. That was down 27 percent from the same period a year ago and off 40 percent from two years ago.

New home construction has historically been a major source of employment in the Triangle, and the lack of activity has made it harder to bring down the unemployment rate.

Today's Retailing column in the business section informs us about two new restaurants: Krispy Krunchy Chicken at Northgate Mall in Durham and Yamato in Apex.

Go HERE to read the column.

Donate canned food to benefit the needy in western Wake County, and the Chick-fil-A in Apex will reward your good deed with a FREE biscuit or sandwich.

The "Soup'er Bowl" food drive, which is scheduled to run from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. this Tuesday, Jan. 31, will help stock the shelves of the Western Wake Crisis Ministry food pantry.

Bring in three cans of soup or other canned food from 7 to 10:30 a.m. and get a free chicken biscuit. Donate from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and get a free chicken sandwich.

Click here for all the details.

Before state transportation officials cut a red ribbon Thursday morning to open the six-lane Triangle Expressway through Research Triangle Park, they thanked local elected leaders who had endorsed the unpopular idea of collecting tolls from drivers to pay for the road. [An edited version of this story was published in the N&O today; I'm posting the full version here to include more comments from Apex Mayor Keith Weatherly, below (and my photo, left).]

“It wasn’t an easy thing,” said David Joyner, executive director of the N.C. Turnpike Authority. “The northern loop was free. This one, we were asking citizens to pay. You stepped up and you made the tough decision, and you decided a toll road is better than no road.”

When it’s completed, the 18.8-mile TriEx will combine two new highways and an existing section of the 540 Outer Loop into North Carolina’s first modern toll road. There appears to be wide agreement among residents and commuters that the fast-growing region needs the new roads, but time will tell whether drivers want them enough to pay tolls for each trip.

By lunchtime Thursday, a few drivers were using the first 3.7-mile section ... . [MORE]

Garner 44, Harnett Central 23 (FINAL). Garner trailed 17-7 at the half

Leesville Road 41, Wake Forest-Rolesville 16 (FINAL)

Wakefield 55, Heritage 10 (FINAL)

Broughton 35, Sanderson 19 (FINAL)

Millbrook 49, Enloe 15 (FINAL). Keith Marshall 298 rushing yards, 5 TD

Cardinal Gibbons 45, Oxford Webb 6 (FINAL)

Middle Creek 33, Apex 0 (FINAL)

Triton 55, South Johnston 9 (FINAL)

Cleveland 46, Southern Lee 21 (FINAL)

Cary 36, Athens Drive 12 (FINAL)

Orange 15, Chapel Hill 6 (FINAL)

Clayton 19, Knightdale 17 (FINAL)

Franklinton 45, Warren County 8 (FINAL)

Hillside 46, Northern Durham 20 (FINAL)

Jordan 42, Riverside 21 (THURSDAY FINAL)

East Chapel Hill 35, Person 21 (FINAL)

Lee County 17, Holly Springs 14 (FINAL)

Panther Creek 35, Green Hope 18 (FINAL)

Ravenscroft 49, Harrells Academy 26 (FINAL)

Northwood 22, Cedar Ridge 20 (FINAL)

West Johnston 26, East Wake 7 (FINAL)

Shred-a-thons are being held across the state tomorrow (Oct. 22) to help protect consumers from identity theft, and four events will be held right here in the Triangle:

Commercial publishing company Henry Wurst announced today it will be closing its Apex site and laying off about 55 employees in December due to market conditions.

The company is moving its production facility to its home-office in Kansas City, MO.

"It was a very difficult decision to close this facility and certainly not a reflection on the excellent employees we have here," said President Mark Hanf, of Henry Wurst, in a statement.

The Apex plant was an overflow facility for the Kansas City office. Market conditions have made competing in this area no longer viable," Hanf said.

You may notice a lot of girls softball players in the Triangle this weekend and next week.

The PONY Softball Fastpitch National Championships are returning to the Wake County for the fifth year in a row.

Scott Campbell retired from his position as coach of Apex's girls basketball team Sunday. Campbell has coached the Cougars for the past 20 years.

Campbell has won more 450 wins and led the Cougars to a 10-13 overall record and a 7-9 mark in the Tri-Nine conference last season.