The 45th annual Fine Designer Crafts Show takes place Nov. 28-30 at the Exposition Center in Raleigh. The event, which is presented by the Carolina Designer Craftsmen Guild, features a wide variety of fine crafts, including ceramics, leather and jewelry. On-site artist demonstrations include Wake Forest's Ginger Meek Allen discussing the narrative power of jewelry.

Cary Gallery of Artists features Jane Dittmer's stained glass and Sherry Nicholson's pottery through Nov. 25.

The Second Friday Artwalk at WomanCraft in Carrboro showcased "The Seasons" by Janet Resnik, a Chapel Hill potter, last month. Resnik's work includes mugs, plates, trays and serving bowls. WomanCraft is a local co-op of more than 70 artists who create jewelry, pottery, clothing, basketry and more.

Emily Page, a Raleigh resident, exhibited her art last month at Howard Perry and Walston at North Hills. Page works with oil and copper to portray dancers. Three years ago, she opened Artistic Abandon, a sip and paint studio in Raleigh.

Duke University in Durham announced new faculty hires for the 2014 academic year, including,

• Emily Derbyshire – assistant professor of chemistry
• Maria Ciofani – assistant professor of immunology
• Alicia Jimenez – classical studies professor
• Lillian Pierce – mathematician/faculty-in-residence
• Ashley Jardina – assistant professor in the department of political science
• Beverly McIver – Esbenshade professor of the practice in studio arts
• Sara Greene – Interdisciplinary scholar of bankruptcy, commercial and tax law

The School of Journalism and Mass Communications at UNC-Chapel Hill honored eight leaders as they were inducted into the N.C. Halls of Fame for Journalism, Advertising and Public Relations. Those selected have made outstanding, career-long contributions to their fields and are native North Carolinians or otherwise identified with the state. Inductees include Susan Credle, Julie Dixon and Kim Stone. Credle is chief creative officer of the Leo Burnett agency. Dixon is the deputy managing director of the Golin agency. Stone is the executive vice president and general manager of American Airlines Arena in Miami.

Two postdoctoral fellows, Hazel Nichols, Ph.D., and Sabrina Robertson, Ph.D., made the switch from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park to full-time academia at nearby universities. Nichols, a Chapel Hill resident and former breast cancer researcher with NIEHS, is now an assistant professor with the Gillings School of Global Public Health at UNC-Chapel Hill. Robertson moved to the College of Veterinary Medicine at N.C. State University in Raleigh, where she coordinates a large core course in molecular biology. She studied brain neurology and human disease at NIEHS.

Leah Brown, founder, president and CEO of A10 Clinical Solutions in Cary, was featured in Fortune magazine's October issue. Brown was profiled in the "Women in Business: Entrepreneurs, Leaders and Game Changers" article.

Elizabeth Carrasco celebrated the 10-year anniversary of her Raleigh-based interior design business, VIP Interior Design, as well as the launch of its newly designed website. She also started an online interior design service.

LearningRx Raleigh Brain Training Center was presented with the 2014 Customer Service Award at the company's national convention in Colorado. The award is given to centers that have shown a strong commitment to customer satisfaction. Erin Whiteley is the director of LearningRx, which specializes in treating the causes of learning struggles.

Mary Long announced the opening of 140 Salon and Dry Bar in Durham at the Shoppes at Erwin Mill. Her business offers a full line of hair services, including a specialty blowout menu, and waxing.

"Expressions, A Celebration of Food and Art" takes place Nov. 14 at The Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary. The fundraiser features well-known chefs from the Triangle as well as a featured artist, Paperhand Puppet Intervention, from Saxapahaw. The money raised goes to the Lucy Daniels Center, the area's largest nonprofit provider of mental health services for children.

Diane Tighe, director of catering and conference services at The Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club in Durham, appointed Jessi Twisdale catering and conference services manager. One of Twisdale's responsibilities is to handle the increased demand for catering and conference services while Duke Chapel is closed for renovations.

Elaine Marshall, the N.C. secretary of state, was inducted into the National 4-H Hall of Fame at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center in Maryland. Marshall was one of 14 honorees.

The Durham City Council declared Oct. 3 "Dr. Elmira Mangum Day." The Durham native recently became the 11th president of Florida Agriculture and Mechanical University. She is the first female in the college's 127 years to hold the title.

Employees at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park donated 2,500 pounds of food and personal hygiene items as part of the 2014 Feds Feed Families Campaign. The donations went to the Durham Rescue Mission and the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. Linda S. Birnbaum, Ph.D., is director of the NIEHS.

The Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce inducts six business leaders into the Business Hall of Fame on Nov. 13 at The Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill. Inductees include Eunice Brock, who was the first woman to solely own and operate a real estate company in Chapel Hill-Carrboro, and Mary Julian of Julian's, a Franklin Street staple.

Couture for a Cause takes place Nov. 15 at Marbles Kids Museum in Raleigh. For this event, Activate Good pairs local designers with nonprofit partners to create outfits inspired by the organizations. In addition to the runway fashion show, there are silent and live auctions. Amber Smith is executive director of Activate Good.

Gretchen Senez is now the executive director of Housing for New Hope. The organization's mission is to prevent and end homelessness by providing increased access to healthcare, integrated services and housing in the Triangle.

The Animal Protection Society of Durham dedicated its play yard in honor of Becky Heron, a longtime board member, advocate and supporter. The happiest place at the shelter is named the Becky Heron Memorial Play Yard.

Erin Cohen, president of the greater Raleigh chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners, announced the newly appointed board of directors. In addition to Cohen, those on the board are Susan Stanhope, Kim Lewey, Jess McLamb, Deborah Meehan, Lorraine Stephens, Michele Nidiffer, Karen Albright, Bianca Jones and Linda Zoffer.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services announced grants for nine museum projects in North Carolina, including the N.C. Museum of Art Foundation and the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh. These funds support learning experiences, engage community members and make collections more accessible.

Carolyn Zahnow, founder and CEO of The Shore Grief Center, announced that its annual "Walk Along the Shore...a walk to remember" takes place Nov. 1 in Wake Forest. The organization provides free, peer-based support groups and seminars for children and adults in Wake and Franklin counties.

The Assistance League of the Triangle Area held its seventh annual "Baubles and Bags," a one-day jewelry and handbag fundraiser, last month. The group raised money for its local philanthropic programs, which focus on Women in Need, Operation School Bell and Kidsplace at WakeMed.

The Greater Carolinas Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society hosts its 2014 education conference and 45th annual meeting Nov. 15 at the Cary Embassy Suites. The conference theme is "Make Every Connection Count."

Linda Craft & Team, REALTORS welcomed Chandra Green as team assistant. Green is a Raleigh native with a background in customer service, database management and community health.

Ellen Nightingale, tour chair, announced that the public is invited to the 43rd annual Historic Oakwood Candlelight Tour on Dec. 13-14. Ticket holders can tour 12 homes that were built in the mid-1800s to early 1900s. Each home will have a docent with information on the history of the space and community.

Diane Donnelly, vice president and sales manager at the Fonville Morisey Preston Sales Office in Cary, announced that Theresa Bernier joined the team as a full-time associate.

Nimmi Ramanujam, Ph.D., is pursuing new cancer-screening technologies while teaching doctoral students to move between the lab and marketplace in order to serve women all over the world. Ramanujam is the Robert W. Carr, Jr., professor of biomedical engineering at the Pratt School of Engineering at Duke University in Durham.

Sarah Kenney, neonatal intensive care unit family support specialist, received the 2014 Plus People Award from the March of Dimes. The honor is given to a UNC Health employee for outstanding performance and service.

Jessica Ekstrom, founder and CEO of Headbands of Hope, has donated more than 20,000 headbands to girls with cancer since launching her company in 2012. Headbands of Hope is a socially responsible, American-made, colorful headwear line. For every headband purchased, a child with cancer receives a donated headband and St. Baldrick's Foundation, which researches childhood cancer, receives one dollar. Ekstrom started the venture as a senior at N.C. State University in Raleigh.

Dr. Cynthia Gregg, of Cary, was presented with an award at the fall meeting of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons. The honor was for receiving the highest written and oral exam score on the academy's Maintenance of Certification, which is given nationally. Gregg is on the board of directors of the academy.