HICKORY — Sen. Richard Burr is expected to speak at today’s dedication of Trinity Ridge, a new $18 million Lutheran Services Carolinas skilled nursing home.
 A service of blessing and dedication is set for 2 p.m. at 2140 Medical Park Drive in Hickory, on what is the former site of Mountain View Elementary School. Following the service, guests may enjoy refreshments and tour the building. 
 Trinity Ridge replaces Lutheran Home-Hickory West.  Residents are scheduled to move to the new home July 31.
“I hope the entire community shows up to this grand opening,” said Ted Goins, president of Lutheran Services Carolinas. “There are only a handful of truly transformational health care centers in North Carolina, and we are thrilled to be able to build one right here in Hickory where Lutheran Services Carolinas started 50 years ago.”
Trinity Ridge features:

• 81,722 square feet on 12.24 acres
• 120 skilled nursing beds

• 56 private and 32 semi-private rooms
• Four neighborhoods, each with its own living space, dining room, kitchen and activity space
• A secure neighborhood for memory-impaired residents at risk of wandering.
• A chapel, kennel, children’s playground and indoor play areas, wireless Internet and buffet-style dining.
Rowan Real Estate Investors and Associates will meet Tuesday, July 23.    The topic this month is how and where to find motivated sellers, great deals, marketing and finding deals in probate lists.
Tom Sheppard and Bob Yon will provide details about what probate is, where to get lists of properties  and how to reach the decision makers of these properties.  Sellers are often very motivated and you can effectively negotiate your way into a good deal.
The group meets at China Buffet in Salisbury at 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month. Anyone can attend.  (China Buffet is on Arlington street behind O’Charleys near Interstate 85 exit 76). The purpose of the group is to provide information regarding real estate investing in Rowan County.  For more information, call  704-762-1117.
Marjorie Brown, elder law attorney, will discuss estate planning and legal documents on July 24 as Comfort Keepers and Whitley’s Funeral Home continue the monthly seminars for seniors.
Lunch will be provided at 11:30 a.m. and reservations are required for the seminar at Whitley’s Annex Chapel, 1748 Dale Earnhardt Blvd. in Kannapolis. Call 704-630-0370 or email patricegordon@comfortkeepers.com by noon July 23.
Karla Foster Costantino has joined Century 21 Towne & Country as a sales associate.  She will specialize in property sales in the Salisbury, Rowan and Lake Norman area.
She completed extensive training and licensing through Create 21.
“We believe training supports growth and professional excellence in the real estate industry,” Diane Greene of Century 21 said. “Performance-based training is necessary to assure that Century 21 associates maintain their competitive edge and offer the best service possible to their clients.”
Daughter of Kyna and John Grubb of Salisbury and Doub Foster of Haymarket, Va., Constantino is graduate of North Rowan High School. She received her bachelor of science degree in criminal justice from Appalachian State University. She served as transition specialist for Rowan County Youth Services Bureau and in 2012 was one of the state coalition’s directors for Romney for President. She completed her real estate education with J.Y. Monk Real Estate School and passed all national and state requirements for a provisional broker’s license. She is married to John Costantino and they are members of First Presbyterian Church. They volunteer at Rowan Helping Ministries..

ALBEMARLE — Crop Production Services has been selected as one of five Regional Environmental Respect Award winners for the 2013 ERAs. Winners were selected in Willoughby, Ohio.
The Environmental Respect Awards, sponsored by DuPont Crop Protection and CropLife magazine, are the agricultural industry’s highest recognition for environmental stewardship.
Each year a panel of industry experts gathers to recognize achievement in environmental stewardship, professional excellence and community involvement.
Crop Production Services won the award based on excellence in site design, in-plant storage and handling procedures, proper application and leadership in safety and stewardship among customers and employees.
The company has taken steps to ensure the environmental impact of the business is minimal including:
• utilizing a safety checklist from the point of receiving products to inventory storage and transfer
• loading and unloading lines are labeled with the product they are used for
• concrete pad between and outside the rails at the unloading point to facilitate cleanup after rail deliveries.
This winning agribusiness will be competing for the national Environmental Respect Award. Regional winners will receive their trophies and the national winner will be announced in Washington, D.C., during a ceremony later this month at the U.S. Capitol.
Visit www.environmentalrespect.com for more information.
 
Southern States Cooperative has announced a new Agronomy Business Unit to better serve the needs of core agricultural customers.
“We have reorganized our wholesale crops division, with 67 retail stores located in 13 high volume agronomy districts, to form the new Agronomy Business Unit,” said Tom Scribner, Southern States president and CEO. “Our new growth strategy will enable us to be more streamlined and efficient from sourcing products to application in our farmers’ fields.”
Southern States will expand offerings with branded dealers, independent dealers and commercial accounts. Additionally, a small number of retail locations — less than 2 percent of total retail reach — will be closed or consolidated across the 17-state commercial region by the end of this month. Additional retail stores, as well as independent dealers for Southern States branded products, will be added in the future. 
Southern States is investing in a series of operational changes, including inventory management and point-of-sale systems.
CONCORD — Walker Marketing has a new marketing partnership with North Carolina’s Brunswick County Tourism Development Authority.
Located in the southeastern corner of North Carolina, the Brunswick Islands are made up of a wide variety of beaches and attractions. Brunswick Islands retained Walker Marketing to promote travel and tourism.
Earlier in the year, John Ketchum, former CEO of Loeffler Ketchum Mountjoy, joined Walker Marketing as senior brand strategist for its tourism and economic development department. He brings more than 30 years in tourism marketing to the firm.
STATESVILLE — Voting to select the top three photos for the 2014 Carolina Farm Credit calendar photo contest is now open to the public at www.carolinafarmcredit.com.
More than 350 photos were submitted by Carolina Farm Credit members, employees and friends for the contest and 36 finalists are displayed on the website. Visitors will be able to vote once a day for their three favorite pictures through July 31.
Carolina Farm Credit has service centers in Salisbury, Albemarle, Lexington, Mocksville and other areas.
BRUSSELS, Belgium — Delhaize Group, the Belgian international food retailer and parent company for Food Lion, has reached an agreement with Expo Commerce on the sale of 25 Maxi, Mini Maxi and Tempo stores in Montenegro.
Expo is a distributor of major branded fast-moving consumer goods. Delhaize and Expo will enter into a franchise agreement maintaining the Maxi, Mini Maxi and Tempo names.
The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2013 and is subject to regulatory approval as well as customary closing conditions and working capital adjustments. Bank of America Merrill Lynch acted as exclusive financial adviser to Delhaize Group for this transaction.
Submit information about new businesses, honors and management promotions to bizbriefs@salisburypost.com. Include a daytime phone number.