Salisbury-based Lutheran Services for the Aging (LSA) now owns two nursing homes it has operated for the last five years.

Under the terms of a lease-purchase agreement executed in 2001, LSA would not have owned Lutheran Home-Hickory West and Lutheran Home-Winston-Salem until 2011. That changed in June when LSA was offered the opportunity to make the purchase ahead of schedule.

The acquisition was finalized in Hickory just before Christmas.

According to LSA President Ted W. Goins Jr., “The accelerated purchase of these buildings is a blessing for everyone and will mean great things for the residents, staffs and families of both homes.”

These will include major capital improvements.

“The Winston-Salem and Hickory communities have embraced our presence in these two facilities, generously supporting our efforts to improve and enhance the services. Now we are free to make the structural changes and other improvements the buildings need and the residents deserve,” Goins said.

Changes for the Hickory building will include renovating the home’s exterior and the purchase of new equipment. In Winston-Salem, LSA hopes to create two smaller, more home-like living situations.

“Right now, it is our hope to split the Winston-Salem home’s existing 217 beds between two new homes: one to replace the existing home and the other to be located in an as yet undetermined part of Forsyth County,” Goins added.

According to Goins, long-term care is undergoing a cultural revolution of sorts. “We want our nursing homes to be true homes, places where people enjoy living and working. Huge homes like the 217-bed home in Winston-Salem are outdated and reflect the old hospital model of care.”

In addition to the two recently purchased homes, LSA now owns and operates Lutheran Home-Hickory, Lutheran Home-Albemarle and the Lutheran Home at Trinity Oaks, which is part of LSA’s Trinity Oaks Retirement Community in Salisbury. The organization also owns and operates Crescent View Retirement Community, Arden, and Abundant Living Adult Day Care, Salisbury.

With a total of 1,089 residential living units and 1,023 employees, LSA is now ranked 63rd on the “AZ-100.” Published by the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging and Ziegler Capital Markets Group, the AZ list identifies the nation’s 100 largest providers of not-for-profit senior living services.

Wallace Realty honor

Greg Scarborough has been named Wallace Realty’s top salesperson for 2006.

This individual award goes to the agent who has sold the highest volume of real estate from the previous year.

Scarborough has been a local Realtor for 31 years and specializes in residential sales. He is a graduate of Rhodes College, former president of the Salisbury Board of Realtors and holds several national Realtor designations.

A member of First Presbyterian Church, he is also active with Rowan Little League baseball.

Karen Cheek certified

Karen R. Cheek of Salisbury, director of employee relations for Shoe Show Inc. in Concord, recently earned certification as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR).

The certification, awarded by the Human Resource Certification Institute, signifies that Cheek possesses the theoretical knowledge and practical experience in human resource management necessary to pass an examination demonstrating a mastery of the body of knowledge in the field.

To become certified, an applicant must pass an examination and demonstrate a background of professional human resource experience.

The institute is the credentialing body for human resource professionals and is affiliated with the Society for Human Resource Management. Its purpose is to promote the establishment of professional standards and to recognize professionals who meet those standards.

Simply Silver retail shop closes

Simply Silver recently closed its retail shop in Granite Quarry and is now located at 2006 Raney St., Faith.

The business will still offer gift baskets for all occasions, embroidery and soy wax candles in a variety of scents. New bakery items are planned.

Customers can now schedule a home show for purses and jewelry while earning “free” merchandise.

Krista Lyerly can be reached at 704-210-8109 from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays or at

simplysilvergifts@yahoo.com.

Realty firm opens in Concord

CONCORD — New Gate Realty has opened for business at 103 Country Club Drive. Owned and operated by Isaac Tyndall, a real estate investor and broker, New Gate Realty is a full-service real estate agency specializing in real estate investments.

“It is our goal to assist our clients with the process of purchasing an investment property, assessing needed renovations and ultimately marketing the sale or lease of the property,” Tyndall says. “We hope to impact our community one property at a time while educating our clients on the profitable acquisition and investment view of real estate.”

Tyndall can be reached at 704-792-2210 or 704-965-3080.

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Linda Braswell compiles the Rowan Roundup of companies, organizations and individuals. You can submit information about new businesses, honors and management promotions to her at the Salisbury Post, P.O. Box 4639, Salisbury, NC 28145-4639; fax it to 704-639-0003; or e-mail lbraswell@ salisburypost.com. Please include a daytime phone number.