Katie Seiz, gallery director of the nonprofit Durham Art Guild, announced that Sweet Arts, the 19th annual evening of art and fundraising, takes place Feb. 15 at Golden Belt. The event, whose motto is "All Is Fair in Love and Art," features heavy hors d'oeuvres and sweet treats from Durham restaurants Loaf, Watts Grocery and Hummingbird Bakery as well as a cash bar and coffee service provided by the Washington Duke Inn. Sweet Arts features live and silent auctions of upscale travel experiences as well as artwork by some of the region's leading artists.

Shana Dumont Garr is the new director of programs and exhibitions at Artspace, the Raleigh nonprofit. She is responsible for organizing more than 40 exhibitions a year as well as maintaining and initiating educational programs for both youth and adults. Located in downtown Raleigh in the historic Sanders Ford building, Artspace has been providing the community with the opportunity to interact with working artists and to participate in hands-on arts education since 1986. "We are very fortunate to have such a qualified individual as Ms. Garr as our new director of programs & exhibitions," said Mary Poole, executive director of Artspace. "We are excited about kicking off the year with fresh ideas and new perspective on ways we can broaden and deepen Artspace's role."

The Durham Arts Council announced:

• Exhibits running through March 3 include Chung Chak: Half-Awake Dream Series, photography; Wendy DesChene: Platonicz, drawings; Sauda Zahra: With These Hands: Quilting as a Spiritual Odyssey, art-quilts.
• Sixteen local artists are receiving Ella Fountain Pratt Emerging Artists Grants for 2013. They include Sarah Goetz and Debra Wuliger of Durham County. The awards ceremony takes place Feb. 21.

Artists Christine Long, Roxanne Lorch and Patricia Pittman of The Millenaissance Studio in Golden Belt, in Durham, are exhibiting in a three-person show at Raymond James Brokerage, in Chapel Hill. Their paintings and drawings are on display through the end of March.

The two women featured at Cary Gallery of Artists next month are Elda Hiser, who displays brush works in the Chinese tradition, and Ann Howe, who presents work in collage and encaustic in From the Mountains to the Sea. The shows run through March 26.

Sarah Powers, executive director of Visual Art Exchange, a nonprofit creativity incubator and gallery that supports and educates emerging, professional and student artists, announced that the group's 29th annual art auction and gala is Feb. 2. For the Love of Art takes place at the Raleigh Marriott City Center. The event's honorary chairs are Dr. Anne McLaurin, a former member of the Wake County Board of Education, and her husband, Charles Meeker, the former mayor of Raleigh. Its co-chairs are Kim Duffley and Brad Haynes. For the Love of Art highlights the work of Carol Joy Shannon, a prominent Raleigh artist.

 

The Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce announced the election of its volunteer board of directors. The new officers include Paige Zinn, chief operating officer at Jennings, as chair. New members include Wendy Tanson of RE/MAX Winning Edge. Those re-elected to the board include Helen Antipov, of Comfort Keepers, and Pam Herndon, of State Farm.

 

Cynthia White, CEO and founder of Cynthia White and Associates, which is based in Cary, spoke on "Me Inc.: A Guide to Personal Branding" at a luncheon of the Knowledgeable Network of Women of the Morrisville Chamber of Commerce.

 

Tracey Gritz, owner of Cary-based The Efficient Office, spoke on "Three Foolproof Steps to Skyrocketing Your Productivity" at the Business of Women luncheon of the Cary Chamber of Commerce.

 

Pat Wilkins, president of the Junior League of Raleigh, an organization of women committed to improving the community through volunteerism and leadership, spoke on a panel at the Chamber Executive Women's Luncheon of the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce. Wilkins discussed "Connecting With a Cause: How Engaging With Nonprofits Benefits Your Business." She was joined by local business professionals and nonprofit leaders, including Sandi Macdonald, president and CEO of the N.C. Symphony; Michele Reeves, manager of organizational development and human resources at SAS; and Crystal Suazo, partner at Vaco Raleigh.

William Peace University, a private four-year university located in downtown Raleigh, announced:

• Carrie Draper was named the communications and marketing administrative assistant.
• Its president, Debra M. Townsley, Ph.D., was appointed to the NCAA Division III President's Council. Townsley's term runs through 2017.
• Rebecca B. Leggett, director of visitor services, was appointed to the board of directors of the nonprofit Wake County Community Foundation.

UNC-Chapel Hill announced:

• Former Gov. Bev Perdue, North Carolina's first female chief executive, launched the Women in Media Leadership Series at UNC-Chapel Hill. The series, sponsored by the UNC School of Journalism and Mass Communication, kicked off with Perdue's talk, which was free and open to the public. After her opening remarks, Perdue discussed leadership on stage with Susan King, dean of the UNC journalism school, Karen Gil, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and journalism students Averi Harper and Jessica Kennedy.
• Charle LaMonica, of Charlotte, is the new director of World View, which offers professional training in global issues to educators in North Carolina's schools, community colleges and universities. World View, which is based on the campus, has worked with more than 20,000 educators in a classroom setting and forged partnerships with more than 130 districts, schools and colleges from Cherokee County on the Tennessee border to Camden and New Hanover counties on the Atlantic coast.
• After serving as interim director for the past year, Christiane Hurt, of Chapel Hill, was selected as director of the Carolina Women's Center. Hurt is a Carolina alumna, graduating in 1993 with a bachelor's degree in history and in 1998 with a master of public administration degree. She has extensive experience in organizational development and leadership transitions and has worked on the local, state and national level in nonprofit organizations that advocate for an end to violence against women.

Debbi Yow, athletic director of N.C. State University, spoke about the state of Wolfpack sports at a meeting of the Greater Raleigh Sports Council.

Moni Singh, founder and CEO of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) For Kids, based in Raleigh, announced that the latest international assessment of students showed that North Carolina performed better than other U.S. states in math. She notes that government, academia and local businesses are playing a significant role, ranging from basic research and education in our universities to innovations that make it fun for elementary-age kids. STEM For Kids offers camps, in-school workshops, field trips and after-school programs.

Sew Fine II, in Durham, announced the addition of Janice Guarino, a licensed interior designer, to its staff. Guarino assists clients who visit the design studio with selections of window treatments, wall coverings, bed coverings, carpeting, area rugs, furniture and accessories. In addition, she meets with vendors to help select the products to be offered by Sew Fine II.

The Dobrick Little Group, a financial advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial, announced the recent organization of a formal team practice. The North Raleigh team brings together the talents and more than 19 years combined experience of Brenda Dobrick and Judy Little, CFP. The Dobrick Little Group helps individuals, families and small businesses achieve financial success though planning, asset management and accountability. A focus of the practice is helping women discover financial confidence through education and wealth management. Dobrick, who has been a franchise advisor with Ameriprise for more than nine years, is a member of the Financial Planning Association. Little has more than a decade of financial planning experience.

Soroptimist, a nonprofit that works on projects that directly benefit the lives of women and girls in our community and around the world, hosts a meet-and-greet gathering for prospective members on Feb. 6 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Bev's Fine Art, in Celebration at Six Forks, Raleigh.

On Feb. 21, WomenNC hosts its fourth annual dinner forum, featuring five North Carolina university students who were selected as 2013 student fellows by the organization. The event, attended by prominent leaders in government, business, academics and nonprofits, takes place at the N.C. State University Club, in Raleigh. The fellows will represent the state at the 57th annual Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations, in New York, from March 2 to 10. At the local event, the fellows share their research on challenging issues in society, including violence against N.C. immigrants and refugee women, human trafficking, rape culture in society and media, men's engagement in violence against women and girls, and domestic violence.

Jennifer Crowe was the January volunteer of the month at the Animal Protection Society of Durham. The nonprofit group, which runs the Durham animal shelter, says of Crowe: "We are so lucky to have a volunteer like Jenn. She is the first to step up when a need arises and gives so much of her heart to our dogs and puppies. She's great with all dogs and helps them find homes, not only by spending quality time with them but also by taking them to out-of-shelter adoption events so they can be seen. Jenn is an all-around great volunteer!"

The Raleigh chapter of the International Coach Federation announced its 2013 board of directors. They are: president – Sackeena Gordon-Jones, PCC, Transformation Edge Company; vice-president – Stefanie Zizzo, PCC, Career & Life Coach, Speaker; secretary/treasurer – Jennifer Paylor, Make A Leader; membership chair – Betsy Smith, ACC, E. L. Smith Consulting; programs chair – Lucetta Zaytoun, Your Life In Bold; communications chair – Grace Thompson, SPHR, CTC, Lendor Consulting; at large, sponsorships/community support – Suzi Snyder, ACC, Ph.D., Choiceful Living; and at large, public relations – Michele Lewis Reeves, PCC, OD Manager, SAS.

Donna DeLong, CRS, GRI, who is a broker with Frank Ward Realtors, in Durham, was sworn in as 2013 president of the Durham Regional Association of REALTORS.

At the annual installation and awards banquet of the Greater Chapel Hill Association of REALTORS, a new slate of officers and directors were sworn into service. Officers include president – Jennifer Guyer-Stenner; treasurer – Claire Billingsley, Coldwell Banker-HPW Chapel Hill; and assistant treasurer – Sandra Paul, The Home Team. New members of the board of directors include Jessica Bryan, House to Home Realty, and Gayle Claris, Coldwell Banker-HPW Chapel Hill.

Linda Craft & Team, REALTORS, based in Raleigh, announced:

• Listing manager Brenda Miller received the team's Atta-Boy award for 2012.
• Buyer's agent Pamela Mansueti earned the 2012 Agent of the Year honor.

The Home Builders Association of Raleigh-Wake County recognized Allison Moriarty, vice president of sales and marketing for the Raleigh Division of M/I Homes. She was named chair of the year for 2012 by the organization. Moriarty received this honor for her efforts as the chair of the group's Triangle Sales and Marketing Council.

Billie Redmond, CEO of Raleigh-based TradeMark Properties, announced that Marnie Settle joined the commercial real estate firm as vice president of marketing and business development.

Members of the Raleigh-based Luxury Home Marketing Group elected new board leadership for 2013. Linda Craft of Linda Craft & Team, REALTORS assumes the presidency, while Jill Rekuc of Olde Raleigh Real Estate becomes vice-president. Former board president Kimberly Conroy of Coldwell Banker HPW is the new secretary, while Shawn Britt of Realty World-Triangle Living remains treasurer. The immediate past-president is Kathy Beacham of Coldwell Banker HPW.

Cameron Batson joined Royal Oaks Homes, a Raleigh-based homebuilder, as a marketing assistant.

UNC-Chapel Hill awarded the 13th Perl-UNC Neuroscience prize jointly to May-Britt and Edvard Moser of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Norway. Professors Edvard Moser and May-Britt Moser are director and co-director, respectively, of the Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience, and they jointly lead the Centre for the Biology of Memory at the university. The Perl prize carries a $10,000 award and recognizes a seminal achievement in neuroscience. Past recipients have included four subsequent winners of the Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine. This year's Perl Prize is being awarded to the Mosers for "the discovery of key principles governing the internal representation of space and episodic memory," according to Dr. William Snider, director of the UNC Neuroscience Center and chair of the selection committee. Dr. Edward R. Perl is professor emeritus of Cell Biology and Physiology at the UNC School of Medicine. The Mosers will visit UNC on April 16 and 17 to receive the prize and present the award lecture.

Sepi Asefnia, president of SEPI Engineering & Construction, a Raleigh-based firm that provides civil engineering and planning services to private and public sector clients across the Southeast, announced the addition of Kim Hamlin as environmental project scientist. Hamlin works in the environmental division of the Raleigh office.

Dr. Michelle Bailey, a pediatrician, now offers integrative approaches to the general health and well-being of children, adolescents and young adults at Duke Integrative Medicine, in Durham. Bailey has a special interest in supporting the emotional health of children through mindfulness-based practices to build resiliency and healthy stress management skills. She recommends therapies and practices such as yoga, biofeedback, guided imagery, expressive arts and mindfulness as adjunctive treatment. Bailey has been a pediatrician at Duke for the past 14 years. She completed a two-year training in integrative medicine through Dr. Andrew Weil's Program in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona.

The League of Women Voters of Orange, Durham and Chatham Counties is hosting a series of discussions, in Chapel Hill, on the impact of the Affordable Care Act on North Carolinians. Speakers include Dr. John Oberlander, professor of Social Medicine and Health Policy & Management at UNC with an adjunct appointment in the Department of Political Science; Wayne Goodwin, N.C. insurance commissioner since 2008 and the regulator in charge of the implementation of the act; and a panel of insurance, physician and hospital representatives.

Amanda Gorecki, president and founder of Healing Waters Spa & Cosmetic Clinic, a medical aesthetic clinic in Durham, announced that it launched the Calm skin- and body-care line. Calm products are directly aligned with Healing Waters Spa & Cosmetic Clinic's four concepts that represent fundamental principles of healthy living.

NC Bodymind Therapies is seeking nominations of Triangle women who've triumphed over obstacles in life and continue to contribute to our community. Owner Morgan Carlisle is giving a free, one-hour massage to a nominee each month in 2013. You can nominate yourself or another deserving woman at ncbodymindtherapies@live.com. More information can be found at www.ncbodymindtherapies.com

Diehl Plastic Surgery and Aesthetics By Eileen, in Raleigh, are holding a lunch-and-learn workshop regarding CoolSculpting on Fri., Feb. 8, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., said Dr. Cynthia Diehl, owner of Diehl Plastic Surgery. CoolSculpting is a non-surgical technology for fat reduction. Admission is free but space is limited, so reservations are requested. Lunch is provided.

Jill McCorkle's first novel in 17 years is alive with the daily challenges and triumphs of the residents and staff of Pine Haven Estates, a retirement facility that is now home to a good many of the older citizens of Fulton, N.C. Among them, third-grade teacher Sadie Randolph, who has taught every child in town and believes we are all 8 years old in our hearts; Stanley Stone, once Fulton's most prominent lawyer, now feigning dementia to escape life with his son; Marge Walker, the town's self-appointed conveyor of social status, who keeps a scrapbook of every local murder and heinous crime; Rachel Silverman, recently widowed, whose decision to leave her Massachusetts home and settle in Fulton is a mystery to everyone but her. C.J., the pierced and tattooed young mother who runs the beauty shop, and Joanna, the hospice volunteer who discovers that her path to a good life lies in helping folks achieve good deaths, are two of the staff on whom the residents depend. McCorkle has her finger on the pulse of every character's strengths, weaknesses, and secrets. "Life After Life" will be published next month by Chapel Hill-based Algonquin Books. McCorkle is the author of nine previous books – four story collections and five novels – five of which have been selected as New York Times Notable Books. The recipient of the New England Book Award, the John Dos Passos Prize for Excellence in Literature, and the N.C. Prize for Literature, she teaches writing at NC. State University, in Raleigh, and lives in Hillsborough.

N.C. Writers' Network announced readings by its members in February, including:

At The Arts Center, Carrboro:

• Sun., Feb. 3 – Chocolate, wine, music, and poetry – pre-Valentine's Day celebration of the "…and love…." anthology, edited by Richard Krawiec, Debra Kaufman and Allison Elrod.

At McIntyre's Fine Books, Fearrington Village, Pittsboro:

• Sat., Feb. 16 – Karen Pullen hosts a book-launch party for her debut mystery, "Cold Feet."
• Thurs. Feb. 21 – Jill McCorkle discusses her upcoming novel "Life After Life." This is part of the Southern Scribblers: A Southern Book Club series.
• Sun. Feb. 24 – Alice Osborn reads selections from her most recent book, "After the Steaming Stops," at this year's N.C. Poetry Society Series.

Megan Cutter announced the release of "Ink in the Wheels: Stories to Make Love Roll." The book is a memoir written with her husband, Barton, who has cerebral palsy. In sharing their story, they dive into many themes, including disability and relationships, intimacy, family influences and dynamics, external and internal support networks, direct support staff and the balance of care-giving. A pre-release party takes place at the IMAX complex at Marbles Kid's Museum, in Raleigh, on Fri., Feb. 8.

Wake County Public Libraries invites residents to visit a library in February and meet local writers. All programs are free of charge, but registration is requested. Each author discusses her own writing process and the books she has published and answers questions from the audience. Appearances include the following:

• Sharon Ewell Foster – Feb. 2 at Southeast Regional Library, Garner; Feb. 7 at Eva Perry Regional Library, Apex
• Erin Knightley, Jennifer Delamere and Regina Jeffers – Feb. 10 at East Regional Library, Knightdale
• Erin Knightley, Deborah Fletcher Mello and Leceila Turnage – Feb. 16 at North Regional Library, Raleigh
• Diane Chamberlain – Feb. 17 at West Regional Library, Cary
• Erin Knightley and Jenna Black – Feb. 21 at Cameron Village Library, Raleigh