• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) is pleased to announce the promotion of Cary resident King Prather to vice president of legal services.

• The Veterinary Specialty Hospital of the Carolinas (VSH) recently hired two new veterinarians to provide surgical, emergency and critical care services at its Cary location.

Dr. Cindy Eward joins the surgical team at VSH in its Cary location. Prior to coming to VSH, Eward served as a surgeon in private practice in Vermont. Previously, she was in surgical residency at Auburn University in Auburn, Al. and filled an assistant professor position at the veterinary school. Eward is a graduate of Ontario Veterinary College in Guilph, Ontario where she also completed an internship in small animal medicine and surgery.

Dr. Mary Lewis also joins the emergency/critical care team at VSH’s Cary hospital. Prior to VSH, Lewis held an internship in emergency and critical care medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pa. Lewis is a graduate of the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine in Blacksburg, Va.

• Mary Westerhorstmann of Cary has been recognized for sales as a distributor with SeneGence International. SeneGence International, founded in 1999, has become a pioneer in long-lasting cosmetics and anti-aging skin care products.

• Jean Anne Costa of Cary has earned certification as a Kripalu Yoga Teacher after a month-long, 200-hour training program at Kripalu Yoga and Health Center in Lenox, Mass. Costa has been a yoga practioner for over 20 years. Her involvement with the Duke Caner Patient Support Program’s Annual SeaSide Yoga Retreat for breast cancer survivors inspired her to seek professional credentials as a yoga instructor. The retreat is held every August at the Trinity Center in Salter Path, N.C.

Costa and her husband Sandy have been a residents of Cary for 20 years. As a way to continue her community service, Costa is available to teach demonstration sessions for any service or support group who may be interested. She is also available for private lessons. She can be reached at jacosta@nc.rr.com or through www.SeaSideYogaRetreat.com.

• Joey Robbins, vice president and managing broker for the Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston Cary Parkway office, has announced that Alan Smith has joined the firm’s Cary real estate division as a sales associate.

Business

• Michael Carlton, president of Crescent State Bank, has announced that the bank has been named as one of the Top 100 ranked businesses in “The Financial 100” listing in Business North Carolina magazine.

Crescent State Bank has also been named the “Top Bank” by Carolina Parent. Readers submitted nominations to the Raleigh-based magazine in its Family Favorites contest and the winners are featured in the publication’s November issue.

• Shea Homes, the nation’s largest privately owned homebuilder, has appointed Karen Warren to process improvement manager, the company announced today.

Events

• Wedding Chapel of Love invites children and adults to spend Christmas Eve with Senior Pastor Steven A. Rumley as he presents a special candlelight service of the true meaning of Christmas at 8 p.m. The Wedding Chapel of Love is located at 1150 S.W. Maynard Road in Cary. For more information, please visit www.WeddingChapelofLove.com or call 469-5550.