Libby O'Daniel and Sarah Keen showcase their work at The Frankie G. Weems Art Gallery as part of "Binding Notions." The senior exhibition represents the culmination of O"Daniel's and Keen's journey at Meredith College in Raleigh and their emergence as maturing artists. "Binding Notions" runs through Dec. 5. The artists present a gallery talk Dec. 2 at 5:30 p.m.
The Durham Arts Council presents Debra Wuliger's "Coffee Talk" exhibit at the Ella Fountain Pratt Legacy Gallery through Dec. 27. The Durham native is a recipient of the council's emerging artist grant.
Nancy Raasch and Shelly Hehenberger show their artwork in "Nature of Design" at the Hillsborough Arts Council Gallery through Dec. 21. A reception takes place Dec. 7 from 2-5 p.m.
When City Ballet's "The Nutcracker" is staged in Rolesville High School this month, Ashley Hathaway dances the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy. Kendall Terashima, a freshman at Longleaf School of the Arts, plays Clara and Hannah Monroe, Wakefield High School senior, is the Snow Queen.
Lauren Nicole of The Lauren Nicole Band, who won last year's Bands4Good Challenge, is one of the judges this year. Nicole is a singer, songwriter and musician from Raleigh who was discovered in a local karaoke bar. The challenge is an online music competition open to bands and soloists who"re at least 13. They may perform all genres of music.
Diane Chamberlain of Raleigh was a featured speaker at the N.C. Book Awards. Chamberlain is the author of "Necessary Lies" and "The Silent Sister." She spoke during the free afternoon program.
Alice Bonnen, Ph.D., an attorney at Myers Bigel, served on an agribusiness intellectual property panel at the Eastern region meeting of the Association of University Technology Managers. Bonnen's panel explored how intellectual property and tangible assets translate into agribusiness transactions. Myers Bigel, based in Raleigh, is the largest independent patent law firm in North Carolina.
Dawn van Hoegaerden, CEO and founder of LEKR, announced the opening of the Chapel Hill-based company. LEKR is a specialty agency focused on growing food businesses. It provides step-by-step strategies for traction, optimization and expansion.
Laura Edgerton, founder of Edgerton Immigration Law, announced that U.S. News – Best Lawyers named the firm a Tier 1, or highest-ranking, firm in the Raleigh area. Practices at this level must provide professional excellence and receive impressive ratings from their clients and peers.
Becky Sansbury, founder of After the Shock, a resilience and crisis stabilization practice, was elected treasurer of the board of directors of the National Speakers Association, Carolinas Chapter.
Karla Jackson joined Fonville Morisey Realty as a full-time sales associate in the Garner office. Jackson is a member of the Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS, the N.C. Association of REALTORS and the National Association of REALTORS.
Kentoura Gilmore, manager of Clothes Mentor, announced the opening of the upscale-resale fashion chain's Raleigh shop. The Townridge Shopping Center store sells 40 better and designer brands in excellent condition and buys clothing for cash. Gilmore earned her bachelor's degree in political science from N.C. State University in Raleigh and completed the fashion-retailing program at the Art Institute of Raleigh-Durham.
Betsy M. Bennett, Ph.D., of Raleigh, is one of six people to receive the North Carolina Award, the state's highest civilian honor. She is being recognized for her work in public service as the director of the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences for more than 20 years. With its reopening in 2000, she transformed the museum into a landmark. The Nature Research Center opened in 2011. The museum is now the most visited attraction in the state.
Betsy Crittenden, interim executive director of the Hillsborough/Orange County Chamber of Commerce, announced that the Hillsborough Holiday Homecomings Tour takes place Dec. 7. The event honors veterans and depicts the holidays in Hillsborough during war times from the Revolutionary War onward. A percentage of the net proceeds will benefit a veteran's charity.
Beth Dehghan, president of WomenNC, announced its student fellowship recipients for 2015. They will represent the organization at the annual United Nation's Commission on the Status of Women, which takes place in March. The fellows will spend five months formulating their topic as it pertains to the theme of the annual meeting and issues challenging women in North Carolina. On Feb. 19, they will share their findings at the WomenNC's Local-to-Global Dinner Forum in Raleigh. The honorees include:
- Liz Alvarado – completing her master's degree in ESL-Education at Meredith College in Raleigh
- Alison Domonoske – senior at UNC-Chapel Hill, majoring in global studies
- Mina Ezikpe – sophomore at Duke University in Durham, majoring in cultural anthropology
- Dana Raphael – sophomore at Duke University in Durham, majoring in political science and Asian & Middle Eastern studies
- Justine Schnitzler – sophomore at N.C. State University in Raleigh, majoring in international relations and women's & gender studies
- Dina Shehata – first year master's degree student in international studies at N.C. State University in Raleigh
Elisabeth Chadbourne and Gina Wisotzky, co-owners and founders of Lo & Behold, announced that several stores in the Triangle are carrying its natural products. The Durham-based body-care company was founded in January, and its products were originally sold at local farmers" markets. The line consists of handcrafted body oils, scrubs and butters as well as hand salves, lip balms and cuticle cream.
Barbara Nicol, Ph.D., received the Women Scientist Advisors Committee Scholar award from the National Institutes of Health. Nicol is a research trainee in the field of reproductive biology with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park.
Her project explored a series of genetic defects that can lead to infertility or sex reversal at birth and was one of the top three studies among those of 113 young, female scientists.
Dr. Lisa Tolnitch, a breast cancer surgeon with Duke Cancer Institute and founder of Pretty in Pink Foundation, announced that the organization's 10th anniversary breast cancer luncheon, "Beyond the Ribbon...A Breast Cancer Journey," raised $18,000. The next signature luncheon will take place in September as a kickoff to Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
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