The oil paintings of Pinehurst's Betty DiBartolomeo are featured in an exhibit titled "Images in an Artist's Life" at the Cary Gallery of Artists this month. The opening of the show, as well as the gallery's New Year's party, takes place Jan. 3. The exhibit runs through Jan. 27.

Kiki Farish, teen programs artist–in–residence at the N.C. Museum of Art in Raleigh, introduces her work in the exhibit "Line, Touch, Trace" and then leads teens in using line to convey character and emotion during a workshop on Jan. 10. Farish is the recipient of a 2014–2015 fellowship from the N.C. Arts Council.

Paintings by Chapel Hill's Lynne Albert are on exhibit at Margaret's Cantina, a restaurant in the town's Timberlyne shopping center. The works include oils, acrylics and mixed media.

Weavings by Ann Roth and pottery by Marsha Owen and Courtney Martin are on display at The Mahler Fine Art on Fayetteville Street in Raleigh through Jan. 28.

Local Color Gallery, a co–op of female artists working in a variety of mediums, is moving to the Martin Street Galleries Building in Raleigh's Art Warehouse District. A sneak preview exhibition is set for First Friday, Jan. 2. The exhibit runs through the end of the month.

Artspace hosts "Fine Contemporary Craft of the Southeast," juried by Stefanie Gerber Darr, through Jan. 17 as well as "Threads of War," guest curated by Betsy Greer, through Jan. 31.

The Chapel Hill–Carrboro Chamber of Commerce hosted its Salute to Community Heroes. Annually, the chamber celebrates the men and women who're committed to a thriving, healthy and sustainable community. At the event last month, Sylvia Black and her husband, who are community volunteers, were named Citizens of the Year and Cheryl Kornegay was named Orange County EMS Employee of the Year.

Joy Currey of Corral Riding Academy spoke at last month's Business of Women luncheon organized by the Cary Chamber of Commerce.

A new study shows that college students in online courses give better evaluations to instructors they think are men – even when the instructor is actually a woman. "The ratings that students give instructors are really important, because they're used to guide higher education decisions related to hiring, promotions and tenure," said Lillian MacNell, lead author of a paper on the work and a Ph.D. student in sociology at N.C. State University in Raleigh. "If the results of these evaluations are inherently biased against women, we need to find ways to address that problem."

Dianne Jackson, president of the Chapel Hill–Carrboro Federation of Teachers and the American Federation of Teachers/North Carolina, was appointed vice chair of the national AFT Women's Rights Committee. The organization represents 1.6 million workers, including: pre–K through 12th–grade teachers; paraprofessionals and other school–related personnel; higher education faculty and professional staff; federal, state and local government employees; nurses and healthcare workers; and early childhood educators.

N.C. Central University in Durham announced:

• The history department, which has been training historians from diverse backgrounds for 75 years, received the 2014 Equity Award from the American Historical Association. The honor recognizes individuals and institutions for excellence in recruiting, retaining and graduating members of underrepresented racial and ethnic groups into the history professions. The department has sent more African–American students to receive the Ph.D. than any other historically black college or university in the country. This dedication to producing professionals with advanced degrees began in the 1950s, when NCCU professor and then department chair Helen G. Edmonds, Ph.D., established the goal of producing historians of color.
• Debra Saunders–White, chancellor of the university, joined President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and Vice President Joe Biden at last month's White House College Opportunity Summit. The summit brought together leaders in education, nonprofits and business who are committed to supporting more college opportunities for students across the country.

Emily Parks, owner and productivity consultant at Organize for Success, was the event chairperson for the LUNGe Forward Greensboro Run, Walk and Rally. Seven hundred participants raised more than $136,500 to benefit the Lung Cancer Initiative's research, awareness, education and access programs, saving lives and providing support for those affected by the leading cancer–killer of Americans.

Jan Beresford created Toe Talk, a Raleigh company that produces a line of socks designed to bring a sense of mindfulness and ease into everyday activities. Personal mantras, such as Seek Balance and Be Mindful, are woven into each pair. "Toe Talk was inspired by my own personal quest for motivation and mindfulness," Beresford said. The socks come in a variety of styles, some with non–slip grips, for improved traction, balance and stability. They are available at toetalkmindful.com and Amazon.

Sara Ellis was hired as business manager and Kamille Watson as program coordinator and executive assistant at Cary's The Special Event Company. Sally Webb Berry, CSEP, is CEO of the firm, which has offered turnkey services for meetings and events since 1987.

Vivian Howard, a Kinston, N.C., chef and restaurateur featured on PBS' "A Chef's Life," delivered N.C. State University's commencement address last month in Raleigh. Howard was born in Deep Run, N.C., to parents who grew tobacco and raised hogs. After working with cutting–edge chefs in New York, Howard and Ben Knight, now her husband, left the urban landscape in 2005 to open Chef & the Farmer restaurant in Kinston. Eight years later, they expanded their portfolio, opening the Boiler Room Oyster Bar. In 2013, "A Chef's Life," following the trials and travails of Howard and Knight and their restaurants, premiered on PBS. The show, which explores traditional and modern applications of Southern ingredients, won a 2014 Peabody Award and was named a James Beard Media Award finalist.

Jayshri Patel and her husband, owner/operators of a Smashburger in Durham, opened one in Raleigh last month. It's located in the Shops at Falls Village. The Patels have lived in the Triangle for nearly 30 years and have extensive experience in the restaurant industry. They also own and operate Inchin's Bamboo Garden, an Asian restaurant in Morrisville. Smashburger is a "better burger" restaurant with almost 300 locations. The 2,400–square–foot Raleigh Smashburger has dining room seating for 83 guests and patio seating for 36.

The city of Durham was recognized for its budget reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association, a professional association of 18,000 members throughout North America. The organization presented the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award to the city's Budget and Management Services Department. "The city has received this award for 26 consecutive years, which speaks to the city's longtime professional management as well as commitment to transparency and accountability," said Bertha Johnson, director of the department.

Martha Browning started working as an account executive in Bolt PR's Raleigh office. Browning oversees accounts in the technology, nonprofit, consumer products and restaurant industries.

Jaclyn Proctor joined MMI, a communications firm based in Raleigh, as project coordinator. Proctor is responsible for providing content marketing, public relations and brand awareness campaign management services to clients in industries including real estate, life sciences and beverage distribution.

DHIC, a local nonprofit development company committed to meeting the housing needs of seniors, families and individuals of modest incomes, welcomed new members to its board of directors, including Julie Paul, executive director of ULI Triangle, and Ashton Smith, associate project manager for Citrix Systems.

Junior Achievement of Eastern North Carolina, based in Raleigh, elected seven new members to its board of directors, including Monica Cutno, president/co–founder of Envision Science Academy; Rosalind Fox, factory manager with John Deere Turf Care; and Leah Webb, senior vice president/general counsel with Square 1. Junior Achievement is a nonprofit that uses hands–on experience to help young people understand the economics of life.

GlaxoSmithKline announced the recipients of 2014's GSK IMPACT Award for the Triangle during a ceremony at the company's Research Triangle Park campus. Local nonprofits received $40,000 each in recognition of their achievements in contributing to a healthier region. "Today's winners show us what it means and what it takes to build a healthier Triangle," said Katie Loovis, director, US Community Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement. The awards, which were presented in partnership with the Triangle Community Foundation, went to:

• Community Home Trust – integrates affordable homes to create more inclusive neighborhoods
• Dress for Success Triangle – provides professional attire, a network of support, and career development tools
• Durham's Partnership for Children – ensures that every child in Durham from birth through age 5 enters school ready to succeed
• Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina – restores hope to children, families and seniors, one meal at a time
• Girl Scouts North Carolina Coastal Pines – helps girls discover their values, connect with others to work as a team, and take action to make a difference in the world
• Motheread – puts books into the hands, literacy into the lives, and stories into the hearts of children and adults
• Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina – prevents child abuse and neglect, so children grow up healthy and ready to succeed
• StepUp Ministry – builds healthy communities through trusting relationships and employment services
• Voices Together – helps those with autism and developmental disabilities build important life skills to help them communicate, socially connect and thrive.

Jennifer Tolle Whiteside, president and CEO of the N.C. Community Foundation, announced its 2014 grant recipients from the statewide Women's Fund of North Carolina. The total awarded to the six organizations was $11,500, including $3,000 to Interact in Raleigh. "These organizations help fill critical needs for women and children in our state," Whiteside said. The foundation is based in Raleigh.

Burning Coal Theatre Company presents Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" at the Murphey School Auditorium in Raleigh Thursdays through Saturdays from Jan. 22 to Feb 15. The production, which stars Emily Rose White as Juliet, is directed by Emily Ranii. When she was 14, Ranii played Juliet in Burning Coal's second season. Sixteen years later, she has returned to direct Shakespeare's drama about star–crossed lovers.

The ArtsCenter in Carrboro added shows to its Winter Concert Series.The series features Robin & Linda Williams on Jan.9; Four Bitchin Babes on Jan. 23; and the Piedmont Melody Makers, including Alice Gerrard, on March 3.

The American Dance Festival added two members to its development office. Meredith Frye is the director of individual and corporate giving. Diana Hoffmaster is the director of grants and development operations.

The Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University will receive a $35,000 Art Works grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, announced Jane Chu, NEA chairman. Deirdre Haj, director of Full Frame, said, "This year's grant marks a significant increase for Full Frame, and is specifically to help offset the enormous costs of bringing our documentary filmmakers together in Durham."

Barbara Jones Gullatt joined FonvilleMorisey Realty as a full–time sales associate of the Brier Creek office.

The Greater Chapel Hill Association of REALTORS elected a new slate of officers and members of the board of directors. The officers include: Sandra Paul of Allen Tate, president elect; Jaye Kreller of Tony Hall & Associates, treasurer; and Kim Woodard of Coldwell Banker Advantage, assistant treasurer. Members of the board include Claire Billingsley of Coldwell Banker HPW; Erin Daniel of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services; Melanie Girard of Grapevine Realty Services; Vicki McDaniel of Gates Management & Realty; and Jo Ellen Munsee of FonvilleMorisey.

Barbara Tindall Carney was named vice president of corporate services for the Triangle region of Allen Tate Relocation and Corporate Services. Carney provides services to companies and their associates relocating to or from the Triangle.

Allison Moriarty, vice president of sales &marketing for M/I Homes, announced:

• The company opened a model home in The Atrium at WoodCreek, located just off Sunset Lake Road in Holly Springs.
• The Village at Evans Farm is open for sale. The townhome community is at the intersection of O'Kelly Chapel and Green Level Church roads in west Cary.
• A decorated model is open in the master planned community of Powell Place in Pittsboro.

N.C. State University in Raleigh announced:

• In the city that never sleeps, it's easy to overlook the insects underfoot. But that doesn't mean they're not working hard. A new study shows that insects and other arthropods play a significant role in disposing of garbage on the streets of Manhattan. "We calculate that the arthropods on medians down the Broadway corridor alone could consume more than 2,100 pounds of discarded junk food, the equivalent of 60,000 hot dogs, every year – assuming they take a break in the winter," said Dr. Elsa Youngsteadt, a research associate at N.C. State and lead author of a paper on the work. "This isn't just a silly fact," Youngsteadt explained. "This highlights a very real service that these arthropods provide. They effectively dispose of our trash for us."
• Powered lower limb prosthetics hold promise for improving the mobility of amputees, but errors in the technology may also cause some users to stumble or fall. New research examines exactly what happens when these technologies fail, with the goal of developing a new generation of more robust powered prostheses. "My work has focused on developing technology that translates electrical signals in human muscle into signals that control powered prosthetic limbs – such as decoding muscle signals to tell a prosthetic leg that it needs to walk forward or step up onto a staircase," said Helen Huang, Ph.D., senior author of a paper on the work and an associate professor in the joint biomedical engineering program at N.C. State and UNC–Chapel Hill.
• Climate change is expected to disrupt ecosystems by changing the life cycles of insects and other organisms in unpredictable ways – and scientists are getting a preview of these changes in cities. Research from N.C. State shows that some insect pests are thriving in warm, urban environments and developing earlier, limiting the impact of parasitoid wasps that normally help keep those pest populations in check. Emily Meineke, a Ph.D. student at N.C. State, is the lead author of a paper on the work.

Lee Smith is the final judge for The Thomas Wolfe Fiction Prize, which awards $1,000 and possible publication of the winning work in The Thomas Wolfe Review. The deadline for submissions is Jan. 30. The prize, which honors N.C. novelist Thomas Wolfe, is administered by the Great Smokies Writing Program at UNC–Asheville. Smith, a 2008 inductee of the N.C. Literary Hall of Fame, is a New York Times bestselling author as well as a professor of creative writing at N.C. State University in Raleigh. Her novels include "Fair and Tender Ladies," "The Last Girls," and most recently, "Guests on Earth."

Flyleaf Books, owned by Jamie Fiocco, hosts the following author readings at the Chapel Hill bookstore this month:

• Jan. 4 – Penelope Easton on "Learning to Like Muktuk"
• Jan. 6 – Sylvia Wilkinson on "Big Cactus"
• Jan.11 – Penny Hawkins on "The $2 Dinners Cookbook"
• Jan. 14 – Megan Mayhew Bergman on "Almost Famous Women: Stories"
• Jan. 15 – Kristyn Kusek Lewis on "Save Me"
• Jan. 22 – Catherine Faherty on "Autism: What Does It Mean To Me?"

"Miss Julia Lays Down the Law," the latest in the Miss Julia series from author Ann B. Ross, will be published in April by Penguin Random House. Ross holds a doctorate in English from UNC–Chapel Hill and has taught literature at UNC–Asheville. She's the author of 15 novels featuring the popular Southern heroine Miss Julia.

H.B. Clementine, a student at N.C. School of Science and Mathematics in Durham, is the author of "Nothing but Your Memories, which
was published by BookLogix. Clementine was 14 when she wrote it. Her novel won the 2013 BookLogix Young Writers Contest. In the story, future overpopulation forces the emergence of a society in which bodies and time are shared. The novel is available on Amazon, shop.booklogix.com and NothingButYourMemories.com.

Quail Ridge Books & Music in Raleigh, owned by Lisa Poole, announced its author events for this month, including:

• Jan. 10 – Lee Zacharias, in her workshop "From Personal Essay to Magazine Feature," explains how to write personal nonfiction and turn it into material suitable for literary journals and magazines. After lunch, Zacharias reads from her book of essays, "The Only Sounds We Make."
• Jan. 13 – Megan Mayhew Bergman, "Almost Famous Women"
• Jan. 17 – Mamie Potter, a local writer and Quail Ridge employee, in a workshop on "Good Relations: Quail Ridge Books and the Self–Published Author"
• Jan. 20 – Kelly Lyons and Eleanora Tate in a workshop on "Writing Books for All Kids: Two African–American Authors Share Their Stories"
• Jan. 21 – Sharon Draper, "Stella by Starlight"
• Jan. 23 – Sarah Addison Allen, "First Frost"
• Jan. 24 – Local children's authors Jacqueline Ogburn, Louise Hawes and Clay Carmichael, in "The Children's and YA Market," offer a panel discussion on the publication process and answer questions about writing, illustrating and publishing a book for young people
• Jan. 30 – Karen L. Cox, "Dreaming of Dixie: How the South Was Created in American Popular Culture"