The nation's single-family housing market is springing back to life, and the luxury market is budding right along with it.

Luxury homes have received a healthy boost from historically low mortgage rates, increased buyer confidence and burgeoning interest from foreign investors looking to capitalize on favorable exchange rates.

One bellwether of the recovery: Toll Brothers, the largest luxury home builder in the United States, reported that fourth-quarter revenues (ended Oct. 31, 2012) were up 48%, and new orders were the highest level seen since 2006.

The shooting tragedy in Newtown, Conn., has prompted a call for stricter gun control laws, and Larry Stone, former president and chief operating officer at Lowe’s, weighed in on the debate in a Dec. 19 interview with the Wall Street Journal. 

Voters in 38 states will consider 174 statewide ballot measures on Nov. 6, 2012, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). These proposals are wide-ranging, with a number of them having potential workplace implications.

Questions appear on the ballots in more than one state concerning:

• Medical marijuana use; • Legalization of marijuana; and • Same-sex marriage.

Newton Hardware, a fixture in New Britain, Conn., for 31 years, is closing its doors. A liquidation sale that began in September is expected to conclude by the end of this month. Owners Al and Linda Brown, interviewed in The New Britain Herald, said they’re ready to retire.

The 2012 crop of Home Channel News Hardware Store All-Stars marks the second year of the state-by-state accounting of high-performance retailers. The common theme of “excellent customer service” runs through the entire list, but that’s just the beginning.

Here are the honorees from Connecticut, Delaware and Florida:

Sales were up but net earnings were down for Stanley Black & Decker, the maker of construction and DIY tools, security and industrial products.

New Britain, Conn.-based Stanley Black & Decker first quarter sales increased to $2.65 billion, up 12% from $2.36 billion in the same quarter last year.

The company said the sales growth was attributable to volume (+2%), price (+1%), currency (-1%) and acquisitions (+10%). Last year, Stanley announced it would acquire Niscayah Group AB, a Swedish commercial security company.

Jerry Zezima Jr., 80, was owner of the former Zezima Paint and Hardware store in Norwalk, Conn., and a Korean War veteran. 

According to an article in the Daily Norwalk, Zezima was born in Stamford, Conn., in 1931 and served in the military during the Korean War.

LBM dealers trying to deliver building materials into New York are wondering if they haven’t become a new source of state revenue, given the stepped-up enforcement of linkage laws by the Department of Transportation (DOT). Although the issue is being addressed in the New York State legislature by a bill brought forth by the Northeastern Retail Lumber Association (NRLA), lumberyard delivery drivers are playing cat and mouse with state troopers while their bosses are fighting $1,000 citations in court.

The Northeastern Retail Lumber Association's Industry Recognition Dinner presented a wealth of leadership, including Lifetime Achievement honoree Joseph Lauto of Great Jones Lumber Corp.

The Wednesday night event, a highlight of the 2012 LBM Expo held at Foxwoods in Mashantucket, Conn., was headlined by the 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award winner Joseph F. Lauto, of Great Jones Lumber Corp. in New York City.

The Northeastern Retail Lumber Association's (NRLA's) marquee event officially begins today at MGM Grand at Foxwoods in Mashantucket, Conn.

Seminars focusing on Wood I-joists, Laminated Veneer Lumber and interior doors bolster an NRLA agenda that also includes an all-day product demonstration zone. The Expo's show floor will draw to a close Friday, Jan. 27, at 3 p.m.