Linda Stevenson retires today as the senior vice president of Women’s Business Development at PNC Bank — after 47 years in banking.

Linda will continue her incredible efforts as the leader of the ATHENA PowerLink® program.

I am proud to call Linda my friend and a role model for all women.

Linda started the ATHENA PowerLink® program in Erie and Crawford Counties in 2000. I have served on her committees and learned a great deal from her in meetings. She has empowered countless female entrepreneurs in our region.

The ATHENA PowerLink® program is a business mentoring program. For one year a team of advisers offers free services in accounting, law, marketing, finance, human resources and technology. I had the privilege of serving on the advisory panel for the Sassy Peacock. I have watched owner Sabrina Fischer become a mentor in her own right — a true mark of success for Athena.

A Harborcreek High School graduate and the 2010 Women’s Roundtable Woman of the Year, Linda will continue to help women-owned businesses flourish  in our region.

Best wishes, Linda, and many thanks for all you have done so far — with much more to come.

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa. She is the mom of three and stepmom to three.

Toby Froehlich, of Coldwell Banker Select sent out good news this week with big increases in sales and average home prices for our region. In Erie County, 749 single units sold by May 31 of 2012 compared to 621 in 2011. The average sale price was $129,408 in 2011 and $139,931 in 2012. That’s an 8.13 percent increase.

The biggest jump was in Summit where 21 homes sold this year compared to 15 last year. The average sale price was $219,420 in 2012 compared to 2011′s $184,833 — a whopping 18.7 percent increase.

In Edinboro, 42 homes sold this year compared to 31 last year. The average sale price was $163,372 in 2012 compared to 2011′s $143,368 — a 13.9 percent increase.

In Harborcreek, 72 homes sold this year compared to 51 last year. The average sale price of $140,897 is an increase over 2011′s $127,894 — a 10.85 percent increase. The entire graph is embedded below.

Also, please check out video tours of homes in our region with me as the tour guide(!) right here.

Here’s the entire snapshot of the region:

Thanks to Toby Froehlich!

Pam Parker is an award-winning writer and editor for Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa.

Thanks to Toby Froehlich of Coldwell Banker Select Realtors for the update on real estate sales in Erie County.

It’s good news. In the first quarter of 2012, 371 homes sold compared to 320 homes last year. The average sold 2012 price of $136,371 beats the 2011 first quarter average of $127,203.

The only bad news — for buyers that is — records that home inventory was down. House hunters had 1,094 homes to choose from in the first quarter of 2012 while 1,298 homes were on the market in 2011.

Check out goerie.com/homes for all your real estate needs