After nearly seven years of wanting to go into business together, Janice Escott and Donna Nelson got their chance when they learned of a sudden storefront vacancy in downtown Pittsboro.

"As soon as I saw the 'For rent' sign, I called Janice right away," Nelson said. "I said, 'You've got to come look at this place. It's perfect.'"

Now, just a few months after their "This is it!" moment, the two friends and entrepreneurs have opened an interactive metaphysical bookstore at 80 Hillsboro St. in Pittsboro.

Unity Books & Stuff opened earlier this month. The owners have transformed the store's 1,000 square feet of space into a multipurpose hub of New Thought books, gifts and activities. Among their offerings will be new and gently used books, local consignment gifts, jewelry, music and art, as well as activities from cooking and floral arrangement classes to spiritual counseling, holistic healing and guided meditations.

Unity is a private business, but it is also connected to the Unity Spiritual Center, which recently relocated from Chapel Hill to Pittsboro.

Run as an LLC, the new store plans to tithe 10 percent of its net profits to the Unity Spiritual Center minister. In addition, Unity's minister, the Rev. Terrance Padgett, will have office space in the store and will act as a spiritual consultant for the business.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. on the first Sundays of each month.

UNC student wins entrepreneur award

Tim Mertes, founder of Altenergy Corporation and a student of UNC-Chapel Hill, recently won the Global Student Entrepreneur Award Washington D.C. regional competition for top undergraduate student business owners.

The program, which attracted more than 500 nominees from the United States, Canada, China, Australia, Spain, Mexico, Sweden and Puerto Rico, provides recognition to undergraduates who are balancing the pressures of a full college workload alongside the unique challenges of running a growing business.

Mertes started his first business at the age of 16, selling used cars across the United States. He started his second company at 19, and in less than two years the business grew to more $1 million in yearly revenue, qualifying him for membership in the Entrepreneurs' Organization. He recently launched his third company after filing his first patent for an energy-efficient light bulb.

Mertes will go on to to compete at the GSEA Global Finals in Chicago in November.

Swim for Smiles sets youth triathlon

The Swim for Smiles Foundation, a Chapel Hill-based charity in which youths participate in swim-related sporting events to benefit hospitalized children, has opened registration for a youth triathlon for 7-17-year-olds.

The triathlon, scheduled for 8 a.m. June 3 will be at the Chapel Hill Country Club.

Swim for Smiles is a two-year-old foundation that has raised more than $14,000 for local children's hospitals. Swim for Smiles has three events planned this summer -- all aimed at raising money for the N.C. Children's Hospital on the campus ofUNC-Chapel Hill.

The Youth Triathlon is open to the first 250 kids who register.

Information is available at www.swimforsmiles.org under "Events." That site also includes a link to online registration for the event.

Money will be raised through the triathlon registration fee, selling Swim for Smiles T-shirts and Nalgene water bottles, and through private donations.

Send private donation checks to the Swim for Smiles Foundation, 400 Meadowmont Village Circle, Suite 425, Chapel Hill, N.C., 27517.

Panera joins Special Olympics

Panera Bread, which has 13 locations in the Triangle, including one on West Franklin Street, has announced a partnership with Special Olympics North Carolina for the 2007 Summer Games to be held June 1-3 in Raleigh.

More than 1,300 athletes from across the state will compete in aquatics, athletics, gymnastics, powerlifting, softball and volleyball.

Panera Bread will provide the meals for the President's Dinner prior to Opening Ceremonies, box lunches for athletes and coaches at the aquatics venue on June 3 and gift certificates for volunteers. Panera also will host several delegations for dinner on June 1. Additionally, a cash donation will be made to Special Olympics North Carolina.

Each year, law-enforcement officers from across the state raise money for Special Olympics North Carolina through the Law Enforcement Torch Run. This year, Panera will supply refreshments and support for a couple of the Torch Run relay legs across the state.