Durham Magazine April/May 2026

APRIL/MAY 2026 VOL 19 NO 2

durhammag.com

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EXECUTIVE MANAGING EDITOR

Amanda MacLaren amanda.maclaren@durhammag.com

PUBLISHER

Sarah Davis sarah.davis@trianglemediapartners.com

EDITORIAL

EDITOR, CHAPEL HILL MAGAZINE

Jessica Stringer

EXECUTIVE EDITOR, CHATHAM MAGAZINE & THE TRIANGLE WEEKENDER

Morgan Cartier Weston

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Sharon Kinsella

CONTRIBUTORS

Heather Lowe, Anna-Rhesa Versola and Lauren Rouse

EDITORIAL INTERNS

Emma Arthur, Regan Butler, Lojine Goumaa, Alison Grau, Stephanie Hughes, Olivia Jarman, Ellie Kollme, Delphine Liu, Rebekah Mann, Katrina McLean, Jamell Mumford, Tiffany Plusnick, Lexi Tatum, Cassie Tripp, Libby Wakefield

ART & Production

MAGAZINE DESIGN DIRECTOR

Kevin Brown

PHOTOGRAPHER

John Michael Simpson

MAGAZINE DESIGNER

Alex Crotti

GRAPHIC DESIGNER & PRODUCTION COORDINATOR

Lindsay Scott

AD MANAGER

Khadijah Weekes-Nolan

Advertising

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Corporate

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CO-FOUNDERS

Dan Shannon & Ellen Shannon

May 20 - June 14

Tickets Going Fast

APRIL/MAY

WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT

26 Lissette Saavedra developmental psychopathology fellow, RTI International

28 Kalle Simpson founder, Discover Night

30 Carolina Blaze Durham’s newest professional women’s sports team

34 CC Chu owner, The Bean Flower

38 Marilyn Bell Hawley co-founder, Montessori School of Durham

42 Dr. Mary Klotman dean, Duke University School of Medicine; chief academic officer, Duke Health; executive vice president for health affairs, Duke University

44 Angelique Stallings deputy chief of staff, North Carolina Central University

46 Katie Wyatt executive director, Durham Arts Council

HOME & GARDEN

50 Home Away From Home

A sweeping refresh of a storied inn pairs Duke history with contemporary comfort

54 Sound Garden

A backyard recording studio blends modern architecture and playful design in a creative home base for musician James Phillips

AGING & WELLNESS

82 Next Chapter, Best Chapter

Staying active, connecting with neighbors and embracing change – this is what making the most of your golden years looks like

88 Take Good Care

The case for proactively planning, talking early and aligning on decisions now for aging loved ones

91 Directory of Assisted Living, Continuing Care, Independent Living, 55+ Living and Cohousing Retirement Communities

DEPARTMENTS & COLUMNS

6 Letter From the Editor

8 Go.See.Do.

Top events this spring

16 The Big Picture

Sarah P. Duke Gardens’ Cherry Allée

18 Let’s Dish at Nerra

22 News Bites

Now serving: the latest Bull City restaurant news

70 Our Top Dentists

112 Wedding

Tying the knot, Bull City-style

PEOPLE & PLACES

98 SECU Caring House Annual Benefit Gala

100 Book Harvest’s Dream Big Book Drive and Community Celebration

102 Durham Arts Council’s Art of the Party

104 pARTies on Parrish

106 Central Bark’s Grand Opening Celebration

108 Durham Rotary Clubs’ Martin Luther King Jr. Day Regional Meal Packing Project

110 Durham Regional Association of Realtors’ Annual Awards Luncheon

Empowerly provides one-on-one college counseling led by former admissions o cers from Duke and other top universities. 98% of Empowerly students are admitted to a top-100 college.

Fast Pitch

I2026 Great Futures Breakfast

was never the most athletic kid – ballet, gymnastics and basketball all came first, but after realizing I was A) not the most graceful; B) not the most flexible; and C) not the best dribbler on the court, I gave sports one final shot (pun intended) and started playing softball at 12. And it stuck. I loved the control the game offered. With my type A personality, I could be deliberate and strategic – how I played my position relied on more thoughtful calculation. I wasn’t a standout player, but I showed up in my rec leagues and on my middle school and high school junior varsity teams. Left field, right field, first base (thank you, long legs) and pitcher. I even tried out for club softball at UNC –those women were far and away more talented than I! – but I watched the Women’s College World Series every year in awe. Fast forward nearly two decades. A press release arrived in my inbox in January: the Athletes Unlimited Softball League announces Durham as the home of the Carolina Blaze. I had to move quickly to cover the story – like I would if a line drive came straight back to the mound. “The Carolinas have produced generations of elite softball talent, and Durham sits at the heart of that tradition,” the release read. “With a strong youth pipeline and a deep appreciation for high-level competition, the region offers an ideal home for the Blaze.” I wanted our readers to get to know the accomplishments of the players on this new star-studded team – turn to page 30 to learn more about a few of its members, including pitcher Jala Wright, who competed for Duke Softball from 2022-2024. Now an assistant coach for Duke, she’ll return to play in Smith Family Stadium as a member of the Blaze. She graces our cover, poised to throw – quite literally – fire. Photographer John Michael Simpson had a true lightning bolt moment just before this photo shoot to bring the “Blaze” to life. This is no digital effect – that flame is real, folks!

“When I left Duke, I truly believed that chapter was closed,” Jala told us. “I never imagined I’d have the chance to compete professionally in the same city that gave me so much. So to still represent this community – to feel their support, to see familiar faces, to walk onto fields that hold so many memories – it fills me with so much gratitude. There’s a different kind of joy in it now. It’s deeper. It’s appreciative. I don’t take a single moment for granted.” Let’s give Jala and the entire team a big Bull City welcome by cheering them on at every Blaze home game. Mark your calendar for the first one on June 9. Play ball!

 amanda.maclaren@durhammag.com

Hope backed by science.

When someone you love is diagnosed with cancer, you want to give them the very best. Specialists across every aspect of care. The most innovative clinical trials. A tailored treatment plan based on the latest breakthroughs and research. At UNC Health Cancer, we do these things every day. Delivering hope where it matters most.

unchealth.org/cancer

Concerts on the Creek

SECOND SATURDAYS IN APRIL, MAY, JUNE & SEPTEMBER

Enjoy a free, family-friendly, outdoor concert series alongside Hub RTP’s Burdens Creek boardwalk in Research Triangle Park. Presented in partnership with Sonic Pie Productions, the lineup includes Kaira Ba April 11, Too Phat Brass Band May 9, Lamont Landers June 13 and Rissi Palmer Sept. 12.

Komen Triangle Race for the Cure

APRIL 25

Run or walk a 3.1-mile course starting and ending at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park during this 30th annual fundraising event benefiting Susan G. Komen’s mission to end breast cancer through research, community outreach and public policy initiatives. Honor survivors, patients and loved ones at Hope Village – a dedicated gathering space for those impacted by breast cancer – and take part in the inspiring group walk during the opening ceremonies, and visit the Tribute Garden, a poignant memorial for those lost to the disease.

see go

Full Frame Documentary Film Festival

APRIL 16-19

Duke University’s Center for Documentary Studies brings this internationally renowned four-day festival to downtown for the 28th year. Catch more than 60 nonfiction film screenings; attend parties, panels and exclusive sessions with filmmakers; and meet industry professionals and cinephiles from around the globe.

do

TOP EVENTS THIS SPRING

Compiled by Olivia Jarman

Angels Among Us

APRIL 25

Lace up your running shoes for the only 5K race across the Duke University Medical Center campus, all in support of the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke Cancer Institute. This leading research center treats nearly 1,000 new brain tumor patients each year while advancing groundbreaking discoveries. Not racing? Participate in the Walk for Hope or Li’l Angels Dash and enjoy a day of fun with food trucks, local vendors, a silent auction, live music and a KidZone packed with activities!

Bull City Beer Mile

APRIL 25

Head to Durham Central Park for an afternoon of racing, cheering and drinking at this high-energy event hosted by The Glass Jug Beer Lab and Bull City Running Co. Individuals and relay teams compete in a 1-mile drinking race, which involves downing a 12-ounce beer before each quarter-mile lap. The event welcomes everyone, including spectators, to enjoy the fun, with live DJ music, local food vendors and craft beer available from the Glass Jug beer trailer. 

Auction Gala

APRIL 25

Savor an elegant evening of fine dining and philanthropy at the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club, featuring silent and live auctions to support Urban Ministries of Durham, a nonprofit that has served the Durham community for 43 years by providing close to 250,000 meals annually, nightly shelter and programs to help individuals build a stable future. Gala guests can connect with community members and nonprofit leaders, bid on memorabilia and fine art, and enjoy a seated dinner – all in support of a meaningful cause.

Garmin Marathon

MAY 2

This Boston Marathon-qualifying race features marathon, half marathon, 10K and 5K courses starting at the American Tobacco Campus and finishing at Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium on Duke University’s campus. The celebration continues at the Finish Line Festival, featuring music, entertainment, and food and beverages inside the stadium.

Music Beyond Borders

MAY 3

Close out The Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle’s season at the Carolina Theatre with a performance that moves across cultures and musical styles. The program features three dynamic works: “Richard III” by Bedřich Smetana, “Sin Fronteras” by Brazilian composer Clarice Assad and Antonín Dvořák’s moving Cello Concerto in B minor. Cellist Brannon Cho joins as a soloist, delivering a deeply emotional and fitting finale.

Hamilton

MAY 20 – JUNE 14

Experience a groundbreaking night of theater at the Durham Performing Arts Center with the genre-defying musical that chronicles the rise of Alexander Hamilton and his role in founding the United States. Creator Lin-Manuel Miranda blends hip-hop, R&B, jazz and Broadway to reshape how audiences engage with history. With choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler, this award-winning production continues to leave a lasting mark on modern theater.

American Dance Festival

MAY 27 – JULY 25

One of the largest and most influential modern dance festivals in the world marks its 93rd annual season, spotlighting the iconic choreography of acclaimed companies like Paul Taylor Dance Company, Mark Morris Dance Group, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company (pictured) and the Charlotte Ballet, among others, across venues including Duke University’s Reynolds Industries Theater, Page Auditorium and von der Heyden Studio Theater as well as the Carolina Theatre, Jewish for Good and ADF’s Samuel H. Scripps Studios 

Bimbé Cultural Arts Festival

MAY 16

Make your way to Rock Quarry Park for a celebration of African and African American history, arts and culture presented by Durham Parks and Recreation. This beloved tradition, which is free and open to all, brings the community together around live music, local artists and the flavors of African cuisine. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, soak in the festive atmosphere and experience the spirit of this 56th annual event, which was established by a group of local students and community members to honor the West African harvest celebration filled with dancing, delicious food and cultural pride.

Feed the Need Gala

MAY 29

Join an elegant evening of community and compassion at the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club for Meals on Wheels Durham’s seventh annual gala. This special event caps a spring campaign dedicated to moving 100 local seniors off the meal service waitlist, ensuring they receive the nourishment they deserve. The evening features a lively cocktail hour, dinner, and both live and silent auctions, alongside powerful stories that bring the nonprofit’s mission to life.

(Photo credits, clockwise from top left)

Page 8 Full Frame Doc Film Festival photo by Kaylin Tsukayama; Bull City Beer Mile photo courtesy The Glass Jug Beer Lab

Page 10 Auction Gala photo courtesy Urban Ministries of Durham; Garmin Marathon photo courtesy Garmin; Music Beyond Borders

by Kristen Solecki; Bimbé Cultural Arts Festival by Casha Palmer, Palmer & Co. Photography; Hamilton photo by Joan Marcus; Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company photo courtesy ADF

Page 12 Feed the Need Gala photo by Marlon Headon, Headon

for

Walk for the Animals

MAY 30

Leash up your furry friend for a 1.5-mile walk around Duke University’s East Campus, all in support of the Animal Protection Society of Durham, which helps more than 5,000 animals in need each year. This annual spring event brings together animal lovers for a morning of entertainment, featuring pet contests, an agility course, a kids zone and exciting raffle prizes. Explore local vendors – from doggy day cares to vets and other pet-friendly businesses – or get a portrait taken of your fluffy companion during this fun-filled crowdfunding event for a great cause!

Triangle Race

the big picture

Sky High

The Cherry Allée ranks among spring’s most breathtaking sights in Durham and across the Triangle. Lauren Smith Hong and the incredible team at Sarah P. Duke Gardens helped make this shot a reality, sharing daily updates as the blossoms neared peak bloom. While the allée offers an iconic view from the walking path toward the rose garden, I chose a different perspective – tilting the lens skyward to capture the canopy of light pink in full, fleeting glory. – by John Michael Simpson

let’s dish

Coastal calm washes over 506 Ramseur St., where a new seafood spot brings fresh energy – and serious flavor – to downtown.

Nerra opened in September 2025 with Executive Chef and partner Alexis Lawson, better known as Chef Lex, at the helm. Diners may recognize her as the former head chef of Krill, which previously occupied the space. “Food has always been that connection for me, just bringing people together,” Chef Lex says. When Krill closed, Chef Lex quickly transformed the restaurant to create a serene, seaside aesthetic. An aquatic mural by Kate Loughlin, a friend of Chef Lex’s from their days at Durham School of the Arts, stretches across a wall in the dining room. Local artist Brooke Bomar of Salt & Drift specializes in transforming mussel shells into art. She crafted a striking installation from the restaurant’s used shells, which hangs beside the bar, adding texture and a sense of place. “It’s kind of like a little souvenir,” Chef Lex says.

DURHAM MADE

Chef Lex studied baking and pastry arts at Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte, North Carolina, before returning to her hometown to build her career. She applied for a serving job at Bonefish Grill, but managers steered her into the kitchen instead. She rose quickly to kitchen manager, sharpening her leadership skills and refining her craft.

Experience at several restaurants followed, along with the launch of her own meal-prep and catering venture, Chef Lex Meals. In 2025, she stepped in to help Krill during a busy Mother’s Day weekend. As time passed, she and the team recognized the need to shift the restaurant’s direction after the chefs – who shaped its identity as an authentic Filipino concept – were no longer involved. Chef Lex began developing a new vision, drawing on her own menu ideas and service expertise while collaborating with friends and family. She soon took on roles as partner, executive chef and general manager, paving the way for her next chapter: Nerra. Five members of Krill’s kitchen team stayed on board with her through the transition and, she says, have played a key role in its growth. 

Your Cozy Neighborhood Pizza Spot!

Mon–Thurs: 4 pm – 9 pm Fri–Sat: 11:30 am – 10 pm Sun: 11:30 am – 9 pm

CATCH OF THE DAY

Seafood drives the menu, and the 2-pound whole roasted snapper is one of its stars. Served with sautéed spinach, capers, cherry tomatoes and roasted potatoes, guests can share the dish or savor it solo. The “Curated Catch” option invites diners to select from rotating fish choices and choose a preparation method. Pair yours with one of five housemade sauces, like the Crimson Harvest, made with sundried tomatoes. Other kitchen highlights include a Cajun seafood pasta, the Golden Coast fried seafood platter, and rotating specials featuring chicken, steak and pork. Dessert keeps it close to home with cheesecakes baked by Chef Lex’s mom, Elizabeth Jackson, who owns specialty sweet shop Gimme Some Suga

SIMPLE SIPS

The bar faces the open kitchen, giving guests a more personal view of the team at work. The intentionally streamlined drink list offers unique cocktails, mocktails, and locally sourced beers and wines. Try the white chocolate espresso martini for an indulgent sip, or the vanilla bourbon pear cocktail, with its layers of warmth and spice. The Tidal Bloom mocktail is a bright, balanced zero-proof alternative, featuring housemade elements that pair excellently with the coastal menu.

SETTLE IN

The intimate footprint makes smart use of every inch of the 3,800-square-foot space. High-top tables perfect for date nights sit among larger tables best suited for families or bigger groups. Plentiful, shaded outdoor seating invites guests to linger when the weather is warm (though there are heaters for cooler evenings, too!), channeling shoreside vibes that make a weeknight dinner feel like a beach escape. Chef Lex recommends visiting from 4 to 6 p.m. for half-price small plates and dropping in every other Thursday for live music from local artists. Make plans for Sunday brunch, too, and ease into Monday with a relaxed, leisurely close to your weekend.

Our takeaway: Order the snapper. Sip something bright and citrusy. Settle in as the sun dips low over Ramseur Street and let dinner double as your own mini getaway – no plane ticket required. 

Now Serving:

THE LATEST BULL CITY RESTAURANT NEWS COMPILED BY DELPHINE LIU

• Delancey Tavern opened at 408 W. Geer St. in February, bringing an upscale tavern concept to the renovated Weeks Motor Company building. The restaurant from Bull McCabes and Hutchins Garage owners Malachy Noone and Tracy Hancock serves elevated fare –from steak frites and rainbow trout to Korean-style wings – alongside cocktails, wine and draft beer, with a mezzanine lounge upstairs for drinks.

• Chef Mike Lee’s M Restaurants, which operates M Sushi, M Pocha, M Tempura and M Kokko, is opening a new Korean restaurant in the space formerly occupied by Plum Southern Kitchen & Bar, which closed last fall.

• Wine bar Pinheiro celebrated its opening March 20, bringing a taste of Portugal to 304 S. Driver St. The new concept pairs Portuguese wines with specialty wares and provisions.

• A new woman-owned lounge opened at 108 E. Parrish St. Eve offers a stylish setting for cocktails and conversation, envisioned as a welcoming gathering space in the heart of the city.

• Glasshouse Kitchen chef Kyle Fletcher took home the $10,000 grand prize at the eighth annual Cooking for the Kids Chef Competition. After three rounds of culinary challenges, Kyle impressed judges with inventive dishes such as a surf-and-turf appetizer featuring ribeye and yellowfin tuna. The event raised more than $150,000 for Overflowing Hands, a nonprofit that works to provide healthy meals and fresh food, access to camps, and leadership development for children and teenagers.

• Two-time James Beard-nominated chef Oscar Diaz steps into the national spotlight as a “cheftestant” competing on season 23 of “Top Chef,” which premiered March 9. His bold “pocho cuisine,” which blends Mexican flavors, Southern influences and global techniques, recently earned Little Bull a Recommended Restaurant status in the 2025 Michelin Guide American South. He’s also the force behind Aaktun and TaTaco, helping shape Durham into one of the South’s most exciting food cities. Episodes air Mondays at 9:30 p.m. on Bravo – tune in to see if Oscar takes home the title of Top Chef in the Carolinas!

• Bull City Solera and Taproom on University Drive closed its doors in late January after five and a half years of serving take-out friendly “Durham-style burritos” filled with Southern staples like collard greens. The restaurant also turned heads with quirky marketing, including its upsidedown outdoor sign. Owner Seth Gross wrote on social media that he hopes to “reopen one day with a new concept.” He will continue to operate his flagship restaurant, Bull City Burger and Brewery, downtown.

• Kahlovera Street Tacos opened a new location at 2812 Erwin Rd. near Duke University and Duke University Hospital Jan. 17. Owner Edy Barahona first launched Kahlovera as a food truck before securing a brick-and-mortar in Chapel Hill. Edy previously ran Ay Por Dios! in Chapel Hill, which closed permanently in December 2024.

• E.O.’s Athletic Club opened Feb. 7 in the former Beyu Caffe location at 341 W. Main St., debuting alongside the Winter Olympics opening ceremony, UNC vs. Duke men’s basketball and Super Bowl Sunday. The new sports bar is the latest project from Michelle

Vanderwalker and Sean Umstead, the hospitality duo behind Kingfisher, Queeny’s, QueenBurger and Killer Queen Wine Bar. Designed with an emphasis on both women’s and men’s athletics, E.O.’s space features 25 TVs, a vintage sports aesthetic and shareable pub fare, including pizzas, wings and sandwiches on house-baked focaccia. The bar serves “Scout’s Lager,” brewed exclusively for the bar by The Glass Jug Beer Lab, along with draft cocktails and prosecco. A standout feature is the bartop sealed with more than 400 childhood sports photos submitted by the community, creating a playful, local scrapbook.

• KatSushi Bar is slated to open this spring at Boxyard RTP, offering Japanese-inspired handrolls, rice bowls and ramen. The concept comes from “Top Chef” alum Katsuji Tanabe and Raleigh restaurateur Anthony Rapillo. Signature dishes include the classic shoyu ramen, made with a traditional 16-hour broth, pork belly, soy-cured egg, bamboo shoots and more. Local mixologist Duke Campbell designed a creative cocktail program to pair with select menu items.

V

Our

14th Annual

WOMENS ISSUE

Bold, creative and unstoppable –meet eight women who bring a unique vision and passion to their field, from fostering the arts and mentoring the next generation, to advancing science, wellness and community engagement 

Research psychologist Lissette Saavedra built a career rooted in curiosity and community. Durham became the setting for that work, though her path began far from the Bull City. Lissette was born and raised in Miami, and the diverse coastal city shaped her early years, influencing her worldview. She initially expected to follow a traditional academic career. “I was going to teach, mentor and do my research in a university,” Lissette says. “That is how I was trained.”

Graduate school reshaped that expectation. Lissette pursued a doctorate in psychology at Florida International University while contributing to a research project between the University of Miami and RTI International, the nonprofit independent research institute headquartered in Research Triangle Park that focuses on improving the human condition by finding scientific-based solutions to large, global challenges. She visited Durham for training sessions, revealing a new professional landscape. The density of research opportunities in the Triangle both surprised and excited her.

“I had no idea places like RTI existed,” Lissette says. “I saw all the things that RTI does and said, ‘I’m in.’”

That collaboration gave Lissette the chance to work alongside RTI researchers during her doctorate, which eventually led to an offer to join the organization full time. She did so in 2004 and relocated to the Triangle in 2008. After nearly 22 years with the organization, Lissette says she’s embraced a “nontraditional academic trajectory.”

As a fellow in developmental psychopathology, Lissette studies how people grow and adapt across their lifespan, examining areas like post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, substance use and workforce burnout to better understand how to strengthen resilience and support long-term well-being.

Much of Lissette’s current – and most meaningful – work centers on youth mental health and suicide prevention. She leads a data coordinating center funded by the National Institute of Mental Health that focuses on identifying risk and protective factors for preteen suicide, an area of growing concern in the United States.

Through this initiative, she collaborates with a consortium of researchers across the country, bringing together findings from multiple studies to better understand what places young people at risk – and what helps protect them. This research comes at a critical time: Lissette says suicide rates among children ages 10 to 14 increased by 87% between 2000 and 2021. “The coordination and harmonization of data across studies will enable us to answer critical questions about what drives preteen suicide risk in a way that has never been possible before,” she says.

Her passion for research is matched by her commitment to mentoring. She advises early-career scholars at Duke University and North Carolina Central University on more specific professional goals, but holds a special place for guiding high school students. Over the years, she has shared insights on careers in psychology and research with students across the Triangle, including at Research Triangle High School and Durham School of the Arts. Lissette’s desire to give back also extends to her board work with El Futuro, a nonprofit that provides mental health services to the Latino community. She began collaborating with the organization in 2016 and joined its board of directors in 2024. Her Colombian heritage informs her approach, ensuring care is culturally and linguistically accessible. El Futuro Executive Director Luke Smith describes her in one word: “heart.”

As a social scientist dedicated to community-engaged research on critical issues like mental health, Lissette has helped me and my organization better recognize the power of research to drive real change in health and wellness. She brings compassion, rigor and exceptional skill to her work.

– Molly Hayes, director of training, education and consultation services, El Futuro

LISSETTE SAAVEDRA

developmental psychopathology fellow, RTI International

“She really rolls up her sleeves to help, whether it be designing an evaluation plan, leading a focus group, or talking Spanish and celebrating with a family whose child has had a breakthrough at school,” Luke says. “When you’re with her, she feels like family – or maybe familia!”

Lissette broadened that spirit of service in 2023 by working with JusticeMatters to support efforts aimed at reducing burnout among attorneys who advocate for children and families. She now serves as co-leader of the organization’s Trauma-Informed Practices for Legal Aid Program.

Lissette’s daily motivation is a philosophy of intentionality. “One of the most important things you can control is your perspective on your every day,” Lissette says. She often asks herself a simple question: “How do I want to feel at the end of the day?”

“If you are able to find joy, whether it’s in the everyday or it’s in relationships or small little goals that you have, that can really reduce burnout,” she says.

Lissette says she personally unwinds by cooking, diving into novels and hitting the tennis courts at Southern Boundaries Park or Bethesda Park. At home, she’s keeping busy raising a spirited puppy, Milo Manuel.

After 15 years in Durham, Lissette says she treasures the community that has supported her family. She and her husband of 25 years, Javier Rodriguez, a microbiology scientist at Duke University Hospital’s molecular lab, raised their son, Sebastian Rodriguez, here. Now a senior at UNC-Greensboro, Sebastian is already planning his return to Durham to pursue a nursing career locally.

“I am very grateful to live in Durham,” she says. “I feel like I’m in a good place to give back to the community that has given us a lot.” – by Olivia Jarman 

Women of Achievement

Tfounder, Discover Night

KALLE SIMPSON

hree days before New York City issued its COVID-19 shelter-in-place order, Durham native Kalle Simpson signed a lease for office space to house her company, Discover Night. Within a year, she convinced her team to relocate to the Bull City.

That same confident determination shapes nearly everything Kalle does.

She founded Discover Night in August 2015 as an investor-free company focused on luxury nighttime beauty products designed to offer benefits while you rest. The mission reflects her practical approach to wellness. “Most beauty products ask a lot of women,” Kalle says. “Anything that I can do that makes my life easier and women’s lives easier, I’m passionate about.”

Discover Night’s offerings simplify skin and hair care by putting in the work overnight. The brand’s DualSilk pillowcase, for example, features a reversible design that pairs 100% mulberry silk for hydration with 100% eucalyptus designed to help reduce acne. The goal: Help customers wake up ready to take on the day.

Discover Night chief operating officer Joseph Willet knows Kalle’s persistence firsthand – she spent 10 years patiently recruiting him to work on her team. “Being around her is contagious,” he says. “She sets a pace that elevates everyone. It’s like running a marathon: You think you’re doing well until you’re training alongside an elite athlete, and suddenly your definition of possible changes.”

Kalle built that momentum early. She began her sales career in North Carolina’s furniture and textiles industry after graduating from UNC Wilmington in 2007. Her motivation and connections carried her to New York City, where she spent years as a high-profile account executive selling pillows she didn’t sleep on. When people in her life asked her for bedding accessory recommendations, she was conflicted on what to tell them –until she decided to make her own. Now she spends her time developing items she wholeheartedly believes in; over the course of almost 11 years, she has slept without her brand’s silk memory foam pillow only twice.

“A plane lost it, and I had one sent to Canada and paid all the [shipping] duties because I couldn’t go longer than that,” she says. “It goes everywhere with me.”

Since the success of the original pillow, Kalle has expanded Discover Night’s product line to include sheet face masks infused with hyaluronic acid and silk protein, silk scrunchies, cooling bed sheets and more, but the focus on high-quality materials that create restorative and protective surfaces for skin and hair remains consistent.

The pandemic led to more unexpected opportunities beyond an office relocation. Discover Night donated 120,000 disposable masks to hospitals, nursing homes and other organizations during the national shortage. Kalle also applied the knowledge she gained from her research on skin-friendly fabrics to quickly pivot to manufacturing the brand’s own silk face masks, which captured consumer attention after A-list celebrities, including singer-songwriter Adele and actress Jessica Alba, appeared wearing them.

Media outlets had already taken notice of the company even before its face mask successes; Discover Night appeared on “Good Morning America,” and in publications such as People and Forbes. Kalle says she’s grateful for these features promoting her business, but hometown recognition as a 2026 Woman of Achievement is, when measured in terms of sentiment, among the most meaningful. “It’s going to sound like I’m just saying that for this interview, but I truly feel authentically about it,” she says.

Her tenacity is likewise valued by other passionate, local entrepreneurs. Eve Botanical Lounge owner Uma Ramiah says Kalle offered extensive support leading up the cocktail bar’s opening on East Parrish Street in

Women of Achievement

early March. “We’re lucky to have Kalle Simpson in Durham,” Uma says. “She loves her hometown, represents it hard, believes in it and wants to see it thrive.”

Kalle says she’s working to further incorporate Discover Night into the local industrial landscape and, while she’s not certain of all the ways that goal will come to fruition, the company is starting with a contract to supply its travel-friendly, dissolving toiletry sheets to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.

“We’re here integrating ourselves in the fabric of what North Carolina is: It’s textiles, it’s military,” she says. “Your inspiration is always going to come from your environment. All you need is to believe in your place.”

Kalle celebrates Durham as her place – in fact, her best friend Alison Griffith, who she’s known since they were students at Carrington Middle School, jokes that Kalle’s the city’s future mayor – for many reasons, including her family ties. Her mother, Susan Simpson, a retired Duke University Hospital nurse, raised Kalle and her siblings, Sam Simpson and Victoria Simpson Fulton, as a single parent. Sam and his family still live locally, and Kalle cherishes time with her niece, Grace Simpson, 15, and nephews Eli Simpson, 9, and Samuel Simpson, 17, as well as sister Victoria’s sons, Otis Fulton, 9, and Hank Fulton, 7, who live in San Francisco.

Moving back to Durham also allowed Kalle to support her mother through some health challenges; she says Susan’s example continues to guide her approach to leadership.

“As a woman, her work ethic is definitely something I aspire to,” Kalle says. “[She taught me] to be consistent and honest in how you treat people.”

But she says one of the most important lessons she’s learned in life is to trust her gut. She’s known for telling those around her to always “swing for the fences,” but only if intuition backs the risk when stepping up to bat.

“Your body will [understand] things before your logic does, but in business, logic is respected more,” she says. “So you have to be firm when something doesn’t feel right, and you have strong faith in yourself.” – by Rebekah Mann 

CAROLINA BLAZE

, s newest professional women , s sports team

Expect a major heat wave to hit the Bull City this summer – and we’re not just talking about the temperature. The Carolina Blaze, part of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League, opens its inaugural home series versus the Portland Cascade at Duke University’s Smith Family Stadium June 9. The moment marks more than a new franchise – for head coach Kara Dill, general manager Dana Sorensen and players Ana Gold and Jala Wright, it’s an opportunity to further ignite the region’s growing enthusiasm for women’s sports. 

Women of Achievement

Tell me about your career path leading up to your current role.

Jala Growing up, softball shaped my work ethic, taught me resilience and gave me a strong sense of community and leadership. As I advanced in my playing career, I realized I didn’t just love competing, I also loved helping others develop their skills and confidence. That naturally led me toward coaching. Fortunately, I am now able to do both.

Dana I played at Stanford and then got my graduate degree in exercise sport science at UNC while playing professionally with National Pro Fastpitch and Team USA. After coaching at UC Davis and Oregon State, I founded Sorensen Elite Softball and later worked as a consultant with college programs specializing in analytics before joining the AUSL as general manager of the Carolina Blaze.

What is a philosophy you live by or the best piece of advice you’ve received? Who gave it to you?

Ana The way you do one thing is the way you do everything. My parents instilled that mindset in me early on, and it’s something I try to carry into everything I do – both on and off the field.

Kara Everyone has value. As coaches, our job is to see that value in our athletes and staff and maximize it. I learned it from Rachel Lawson, head coach at University of Kentucky.

Ana Gold, infielder

Ana grew up in Schenectady, New York, and has played softball for 17 years. The former Duke infielder now returns to Durham with the Carolina Blaze.

Dana Sorensen, general manager

Dana grew up in San Diego, California, and built a decadeslong career that spans nearly every level of the game. After playing at Stanford University, she competed professionally, coached at the collegiate level and worked in athlete development before stepping into her role with the Carolina Blaze.

What does it mean personally to you to help launch North Carolina’s newest professional women’s sports team in this moment for women’s sports?

Jala I am incredibly grateful to be a trailblazer. To step into this space right now feels bigger than me. It’s about showing young girls that their dreams don’t have to stop at college, and there is a professional future right here at home.

Kara Launching this league in North Carolina is both an exciting and meaningful opportunity. The Durham community has already demonstrated strong support for women’s sports, making it an ideal place to build something lasting. This is a powerful combination – a sport on the rise and a city that understands how to invest in its

teams. We have the opportunity to lay a strong foundation not only for today’s athletes to pursue softball as a career, but also for future generations.

What does Carolina Blaze represent –what identity do you hope to build and/or contribute to for this franchise?

Ana Carolina Blaze represents hardworking, strong and talented women who push themselves to be better every day.

Dana I hope we can build a competitive, committed, team-driven identity and a family feel in our clubhouse that becomes infectious to our fan base.

What are you most looking forward to when it comes to home games in Durham?

Ana I’m especially excited that my family will be able to come to a lot of games. It’s a quick flight from New York, so having them in the stands often will make the experience even more meaningful.

Jala I’m most looking forward to stepping back on to my alma mater’s field. Duke is home. When I graduated, I never imagined I’d have the opportunity to take that field again.

What does success look like in year one?

Kara Success in the first year means building a strong base of season ticket holders, competing for a championship and being a positive influence on younger generations in the community.

How does it feel to build a professional career in the same city where you built your college legacy? How has your game evolved since your time at Duke?

Ana It’s a privilege to continue my professional career in the same city where I went to college.

My game has grown a lot since my time at Duke. I used to get a little too mechanical, but now I focus on trusting my instincts and letting my athleticism take over.

Jala Building a professional career in the same city where I built my college legacy feels surreal. It’s where I grew up, where I was challenged, and where I became the woman and competitor I am today. To still be

3 Burning Questions

One word to describe the Blaze?

Ana Fierce

Dana Fire

Jala Spicy

Kara Versatile

Female athlete who inspires you most?

Ana The Romero sisters – Sierra and Sydney

Dana My whole Blaze team!

Jala Mo’ne Davis

Kara Billie Jean King

If you could describe the 2026 season in one headline, what would it be?

Ana Coming in Hot

Dana New Frontier

Jala Rising From the Ashes

Kara AUSL and Carolina Blaze Breaking Records

Kara Dill, head coach

Kara was born in LaGrange, Ohio, and has spent nearly two decades in the sport as a player and 13 years as a coach. She played at the University of Kentucky before launching a coaching career that included stops at Kentucky, Louisiana State University and Texas A&M. She now leads the Carolina Blaze while also serving as head coach for the University of Texas at Arlington’s softball team.

here, still chasing dreams in the same place that shaped me, feels like a full-circle blessing. As for my game, it’s evolved in every way. At Duke, I played with passion and hunger – I was proving myself. Now, I play with purpose. The game has slowed down for me. I understand situations better. I trust my preparation more. I’ve grown mentally stronger, more resilient when things don’t go my way, more confident when the pressure rises. I’m not just relying on talent anymore; I’m relying on experience, discipline and maturity. Most of all, I’ve learned to truly enjoy it. ... Being able to build a professional career here, in the same city that built me, feels like grace. It feels like alignment. And it makes me more motivated than ever to give everything I have, not just for myself, but also for the place that poured so much into me.

The AUSL is transitioning from a touring model to city-based teams. What are the biggest opportunities – and challenges –in establishing long-term roots here? Dana Our biggest opportunity is to show how fun pro softball is to watch and follow, and to build a longstanding, committed fan base that is dialed in year after year. Our biggest challenge is to keep the fans interested in our offseason while other sports are happening – having fans keep track of the Blaze roster moves and draft choices during college basketball season. – as told to Lauren Rouse 

Women of Achievement

Growing up in south Durham, CC Chu attended Durham Public Schools – Southwest Elementary School, Sherwood Githens Middle School and Jordan High School – before earning her bachelor’s in fine art from UNC Greensboro. She returned to Durham in 2021, where she currently lives with her dogs, Opus and Oliver. She opened The Bean Flower, a boba and dessert cafe that hosts craft workshops, game nights, drag shows and other community events, in summer 2024.

What was it like growing up in Durham?* Having traveled around the world and around the country a lot [as an adult], I feel like this is the kind of place that a lot of people seek out in larger city settings. It’s been fun realizing that about my small hometown. [My childhood] was unique, though, because I was not surrounded by a lot of other Asian kids growing up. There was definitely a large minority population in general, and so that part of it never really felt out of place to me – of course, there’s always some sense of othering – but there was a nice camaraderie and community of people of color even back then. Getting to watch that blossom over the last couple of decades and blow up into an even deeper, more appreciated multicultural community, it’s awesome to see where our roots were already settling in for that type of city. I’ve been proud to watch Durham grow up as I’ve grown up.

What kept you in Durham? I always knew that the end goal was going to be [living in] Durham. … As I got older and tried to reckon my cultural identity with my upbringing and where I was physically located, and how that related to my identity and personhood, I realized there’s actually so much overlap between Asian and Southern cultures. Durham as a whole embodies a lot of that, so I wanted to get back to all of the things that really matter to me and settle down in the place that I feel most comfortable.

What drew you to opening a cafe? Had you always wanted to do that, or did the concept evolve over time? I’ve known from a pretty young age that I wanted to own my own business in some capacity, but didn’t know exactly what that would look like. I didn’t know how I’d be able to make that happen. And at the time, I didn’t think that that was a reasonable dream either.

As I went through college and gained some entrepreneurial skills, I started realizing there was a way that I could carve out a space for myself. Originally it was going to look like an arts org, which it still hopefully will be in the future, but I realized really quickly that nonprofits usually come after profit-making establishments. …

Offering a sustainable platform for local artists has always been close to my heart. It’s been such a gift to have a space to do that [at The Bean Flower], and we’re lucky to have such a talented community of artists who have honored us with sharing their work.

[I started an arts organization when I got out of undergrad, and that] was really tough. … I learned a lot, and then COVID-19 happened and shook everything up. After seeing the resiliency of so many small business owners I knew … in the food and beverage industry, it made me realize that this is where I’ve always wanted to be.

CC CHU

Fully embracing it has been the most fun part for me. I didn’t know this exact concept would come out of it, I just knew all the things that I liked, what I was good at and the people [I could partner with]. … It happened coincidentally and organically based on a lot of factors that came together at the right time.

In general, I was trying to stay connected to my roots … trying to find a way to revisit those nostalgic tastes and memories. 

*Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

Women of Achievement

Explain the meaning behind the name. How did you come up with your mascot, Beanie? It’s basically a slight joke on my really bad Chinese. The dessert that we centered the entire business around – our tofu pudding –one of the names of that dessert in Chinese is dou hua, which, if you take each individual character, literally translates to bean flower. It is correct technically, but it’s not actually what people call the dessert.

My general manager, Grand Cheung, and brand and marketing manager, Jianna Costiniano, and I were bouncing around ideas for names, and we hated everything until we came across that one, and it [immediately felt like the right fit].

The mascot followed from that. I had a really abstract vision in my mind that I had to then communicate to Jianna to turn into a logo. I literally said to her, “What if it were a flower, but it’s a cute little character, and instead of the middle of the flower, it’s a bean?”

That’s exactly what the logo is now, but the cutest possible iteration of that.

The center represents a soybean or a red bean – the two main beans we work with in Asian desserts. The flower is a chrysanthemum, which is, for many of us, a favorite tea from childhood – it’s non-caffeinated, so it was often the kids table tea.

It’s been such a gift to have the best people to do this with, the best community to do it for, and to hopefully be representing my culture well to the next generation.

Walk me through the menu and tell me a little about how you decided what would be on it. We have drinks and desserts. The syrups and toppings deserve their own section, because we make all of our syrups in house, from scratch, and many of our toppings as well. We don’t use any artificial powdered mixes or premade products, and none of our syrups have any artificial flavoring.

We make fresh soy milk by hand, [which is a] very labor-intensive process. We make our regular and a black sesame soy milk using housemade black sesame paste that has no nuts in it, which is fairly rare because a lot of the [packaged] mixes and pastes will have additives to enhance flavor that can cause allergy issues.

Then we have our teas and milk teas, caffeinated and noncaffeinated. We try to offer a unique selection of flavors, both in the teas and the syrups that we offer.

We do traditional Asian desserts – what you would find in a potluck setting versus commercial shops. Making our silken tofu pudding in-house from our fresh soy milk is a really big part of what we do. We offer a lot of dessert jellies as well, and sweet dessert soups.

How do you develop seasonal items? Are there any special, limitededition menu items coming up? One of the lessons I’ve learned is that if you only sell things that you like, you are probably doing something wrong. I’ve tried to keep it open – we also take customer requests seriously as well, because that’s the goal: to bring people [food and drink] they remember from childhood that aren’t as accessible, especially in this part of the country, for a lot of Eastern and Southeast Asians.

As far as the monthly specials, we [create] a seasonal drink [based on] what’s locally available to us. That’s where we’ll highlight the bounty of North Carolina. For example, as we get into berry season, I go to as many of the local farms in the area as possible. I’ll go pick them myself if I can. We try to make sure that we’re using what’s naturally [abundant] around us [and] get everything at its peak.

We have a new section of our drink menu coming. … We’re adding some yogurt fizz drinks to our permanent menu. The yogurt drink is one of my favorites. We did our first one last May for strawberry season, and it just totally took off. Anything that has made our customer base exceptionally happy has been the most rewarding part for me.

Any exciting events on the horizon?

Common Roots [Fest in Durham Central Park] takes place May 16. It’s a great [Asian American and Pacific Islander] festival that we got to be part of last year, and we hope to be out there again. We’re going to have an AAPI art show up [at Bean Flower] as well in celebration.

Our Pride show will be up for the next couple months after that, so all summer there will be some really good art in the store –local artists in underrepresented communities – that you’ll be able to come check out.

We’ve got [pop-up] events each month with a local craft facilitator. We also do queer BIPOC yarn, craft and needlework meetups every month.

You’ve said that you prioritize people over profits – how does that philosophy shape your daily decision making?

The biggest thing that anyone really wants, needs or asks for is a living wage. [That’s] at the core of what’s important to me. I would not be able to sleep at night if I knew that I was running a business where the people who work for me can’t live, so I don’t compromise on that part, ever. Day-to-day operations and the way that I approach the business comes from our team. Everybody gets to contribute. I try to make sure that everybody feels like they have autonomy and that they get to put their stamp on what we’re doing, because it’s really important that we’re doing this together and that we’re using our platform for good. [This means] not only incorporating what customers are asking for in menu items, but also making sure that we’re amplifying the customer base we have in terms of our values and the way that we’re operating as a business ethically to support other local businesses and to donate to local charitable organizations. [It’s important to] make sure that the money goes back to where we know our people who are spending their money with us would want it to go.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received? Great advice that I’ve gotten from my mom, [Julie Huang], is to always be looking and learning. Never think that you’re ahead of or better than a situation, because there’s always going to be something that you can take away from it. Having the humility to even look at a bad situation and find lessons is really important – not only for being an entrepreneur, but just as a human in life. It helps to have a lot of empathy and think first about what somebody else might be experiencing rather than to steamroll that with what you think you already know. Being able to put myself outside of the situation and look at it objectively and see what lessons I can take from it has given me most of the tools that I’ve used to open a business. So, very helpful – thanks, Mom. – as told to Renee Ambroso 

Women of Achievement

“I’m just so thankful that we were able to influence young people,” Marilyn, here on the playground at Montessori School of Durham, says. “For many parents, it has been an awakening to another approach, to not only teaching children, but also rearing their own and just being in the world.”

co-founder, Montessori School of Durham

MARILYN BELL HAWLEY

When Marilyn Bell Hawley was a child, she would play in the waves of the Atlantic Ocean along North Carolina’s shores and imagine traveling to Africa. Dreams turned into destiny.

Marilyn was living in Zambia in 1970 when she encountered the work of Maria Montessori, the first woman physician in Rome who also developed the eponymous philosophy of instruction through experiential learning. At the time, Marilyn had just given birth to her daughter, Miji Bell, and some of the only early childhood development books available in English were by and about Montessori.

“I liked her,” Marilyn says. “I liked her boldness.”

That admiration sparked an idea that would transform early childhood education in Durham. After arriving back in her home state, Marilyn began helping build a school that would ultimately inspire generations of inquisitive young minds in the Bull City.

Other educators have told her, “‘If I could pick all my students, I’d take every Montessori student,’” Tammy says, “‘because they care about their education. They are leaders. They are respectful.’ And they just [keep going] down the list of Montessori traits.”

SEEING A NEED

Marilyn began adopting Montessori’s methods upon her return to the U.S. in 1971.

“It was about teaching to [the child’s individual] learning style,” Marilyn says. Local schools, however, revealed a troubling reality. “When we returned here, I realized that the average low-income family could not send their children to a Montessori school. That was the strangest thing to me. I’m thinking, ‘That’s not what [Maria] intended.’”

Not a week goes by that I don’t reflect on how fortunate I was to be in Mrs. Bell’s orbit for three years.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Montessori School of Durham, which Marilyn cofounded in 1976 with only a handful of little ones in its first class. Originally named the Montessori Children’s House of Durham, it became the first in the state to achieve accreditation from the American Montessori Society in 1996 and remains one of only six in North Carolina to maintain this distinction. The school now serves 182 students, from infants to sixth graders, across 10 classrooms on a campus constructed in 2012.

– Amber E. Murray

“I love Marilyn,” says MSD Head of School Tammy Squires “She’s really an interesting lady with lots of life experiences. She became more involved [again] when her grandchildren came here, going to the classrooms and reading from time to time.”

Tammy says she and Marilyn are not alone in observing how a Montessori education can make a difference for young children.

Durham offered no Montessori school at the time, so Marilyn’s children – Miji and her brother, Omar Bell – attended one in Chapel Hill. The experience convinced her that the Bull City needed its own program. “I thought, ‘Well, we’ve just got to fix that,’” she says. “So I gathered this group of friends and neighbors, and at that table,” – she nods to her dining room, where they drew up the articles of incorporation – “we created the school.”

“Montessori is so much more than a method of education,” Marilyn says. “In my opinion, it’s really a way of life. And I’m not saying you need to turn your home into a classroom, but I think we can all agree on teaching kindness and basic good manners in helping children settle differences through collaboration. I feel so passionate about that.”

Marilyn also has ties to two additional early Montessori programs: She says she was one of the first two Montessori-certified teachers to work in the newly merged Durham Public Schools in 1992, and she helped teach the first preschool classes at Morehead Montessori Elementary School in 1994. Earlier, in 1982, Marilyn converted her living room into an informal classroom – the Eno River Montessori

Women of Achievement

School – and incorporated activities such as gardening, basket weaving, cooking and the study of African culture and art into the standard Montessori curriculum. She taught kids mostly from her north Durham neighborhood for close to 15 years.

ALWAYS LEARNING

Marilyn was born in 1945 in a segregated hospital in Wilmington, North Carolina. She grew up in Sunset Beach, a small fishing village along the coast’s southern edge, and always felt the tug to explore.

“Oh, that’s for me, to go to a faraway place and work with needy people, because [others] helped my family and me,” Marilyn says. She notes how teachers, counselors, her high school principal and her family encouraged her to pursue her dreams and ambitions, and that she believes she must pass that support forward.

Marilyn continues to be a lifelong learner. She earned a sociology degree from Elizabeth City State University and later completed a master’s degree in special education from North Carolina Central University. She regularly upgraded her teaching credentials, like the time she sought licensing from the University of Alaska Fairbanks to lead classes in that state. She spent the summer of 1978 at Cornell University in an intensive teacher training program to become certified by the American Montessori Society – a rare distinction at the time, as Cornell was one of the few official Montessori teacher training programs in the United States.

“I come from a family that always advocated for education,” she says. “We didn’t have a lot of books and educational tools in the modern sense, but I could tell you every tree in Brunswick County, every bird. The ocean was the primary source of food; we had a boat

when we didn’t have a car. And every day, you went either fishing or clam-digging, and that was a curiosity that just stayed with all of us.”

LASTING IMPRESSION

One of Marilyn’s former students, Robert “Bobby” Poole, is a filmmaker who recently relocated back to Durham from Los Angeles. Some of his earliest memories include Marilyn’s guided explorations of the natural world at the Eno River Montessori School. He credits Marilyn with “the very foundation of my education.”

“She established what a normal education could and should be like,” Bobby says. “It was a very kind and gentle introduction to education and making learning feel fun.”

Amber E. Murray, who was among the first class of students to attend Eno River, concurs.

“She was an early environmentalist long before people were talking about climate change and composting,” Amber says. “We would use cloth napkins during lunch and wash them after we ate. All of these years later, I still primarily use cloth napkins in my house and even have a set I keep in my office and use when I’m eating my lunch at work. That’s Mrs. Bell’s influence in my life.”

That early Montessori experience left a lasting impression for Bobby and Amber; they are but two of the countless students whose lives Marilyn has shaped.

“To think that I’ve helped plant seeds in these young minds and the impact has been immeasurable, is magical to me,” Marilyn says. “It’s just such a blessing to have been a part of this journey. I’m most proud of what my dream has become.” – by Anna-Rhesa Versola 

Women of Achievement

DR. MARY KLOTMAN

dean, Duke University School of Medicine ; chief academic officer, Duke Health ; executive vice president for health affairs, Duke University

Mary Klotman had spent little time in the South before a spring college visit brought her to Durham. Duke University’s campus was in full bloom.

Encouraged by her father to consider colleges outside the Northeast, the Long Island, New York, native found Duke welcoming and approachable.

Mary enrolled that fall, earning her undergraduate degree, medical degree, residency and fellowship at Duke – a path she jokes makes her a “quadruple Dukie.”

Years later, the student who decided to stay now leads one of the nation’s top academic medical centers as dean of the Duke University School of Medicine, chief academic officer for Duke Health and Duke’s first executive vice president for health affairs.

“Durham is home,” Mary says. “My career took me elsewhere, but this is where I grew up professionally.”

It’s also where she has lived the longest – more than 30 years. She and her husband, Paul Klotman, live in Hope Valley.

Medicine captured her imagination early. With a grandfather and uncle who were physicians – and a strong interest in science – she realized by middle school that it was the right path.

“As soon as I understood how science and medicine connected, I was fascinated,” she says. That curiosity led her into infectious disease research, where she became internationally recognized for her work focused on HIV/AIDS and viral diseases. Her career has spanned the clinic, the laboratory and the classroom. Her contributions earned national recognition, including election to both the National Academy of Medicine and the Association of American Physicians.

She became dean of the School of Medicine in 2017, expanding its mission by adding community partnership alongside care, education and research.

“Health is not about driving to a hospital or clinic for a single episode of care,” she says. “It’s about environment, lifestyle, the people surrounding us and more. None of us live in isolation, so our success as a health system is tightly connected to the health of our community.”

Durham reflects that relationship clearly. Roughly 85% of residents have received care through Duke Health – a reminder, Mary says, of the institution’s responsibility to the neighbors it serves.

That philosophy was especially visible during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Duke partnered with community leaders across Durham to expand testing, vaccination access and public health education.

The same approach extends to workforce development. Duke collaborates with Durham Technical Community College to prepare locals for careers in health care.

“Duke’s community is broader than Durham, but it starts close to home,” Mary says. “I hope residents see Duke as a partner in problem solving. We’re all in this together.”

A recent initiative demonstrated that ideology in action: A large-scale training event set a national record for teaching thousands of people CPR in a single day, inspired by Duke research on improving survival after sudden cardiac arrest.

“It’s a virtuous cycle,” Mary says. “Research leads to action in the community, and that action saves lives.”

Even after nearly half a century in medicine, Mary says this may be the most exciting moment of her career, as biomedical science, artificial intelligence and data science converge in ways researchers could scarcely imagine a decade ago.

“We have technologies now that we didn’t have before,” she says. “The possibilities for discovery are extraordinary, and we can accelerate progress against diseases that have long resisted treatment, from Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s to pancreatic cancer and glioblastoma.”

As the science evolves, the principle guiding her leadership remains simple: “Medicine is a service profession,” she says. “The reason we’re here is to serve, and to serve our community first.”

Her advice to young professionals – especially women considering careers in science or medicine – is to stay curious and embrace opportunities that stretch them. “Growth often comes from taking on something you’re not entirely sure you know how to do yet,” she says.

Durham looks dramatically different from the city Mary first visited more than four decades ago. But the collaborative spirit that drew her to Duke still defines the institution – and the young woman who once arrived for a college tour now helps shape the future of medicine. – by Heather Lowe 

Women of Achievement A

ngelique Stallings makes a point to show up each day as her authentic self. She has no off-switch when it comes to serving her community, whether she’s juggling 10 meetings a day, planning an event with her team or heading to a boardroom after work.

The long hours can be draining, but she takes the piece of advice she received when she was just 12 – a woman in her hometown of New Bern, North Carolina, told her to “always leave the house looking like a lady” – and carries it with her throughout the day. “It just really means showing up as you,” Angelique says. “Whether I have on stilettos or sneakers, whether I have on a suit or a sweatsuit, a ball cap or a ball gown. I’m not defined by what I wear or any of those things. I think her main message was to be mindful of how you move through the world, and really pay attention, because perception is reality.”

That mindfulness has shaped a career defined by evolution. Angelique graduated with her bachelor’s from North Carolina Central University in 1997 and then spent two decades in hospitality, climbing the ranks from hotel sales coordinator to director of sales. She later transitioned into radio media and, during the pandemic, worked on the first Biden-Harris campaign. Four-and-a-half years ago, the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce tapped her as vice president of community investment.

Angelique expected to eventually retire from her job at the chamber, but a recent opportunity from her alma mater changed that plan. In early March, she became deputy chief of staff at NCCU, a role she calls the “quintessential cherry on top” of her career. Now she supports executive leadership, strengthens cross-campus

STALLI ANG

She’s been my idol my entire life; I’ve always looked up to her. Her independence, her determination, her passion for serving others and helping others encouraged me to explore a career in community engagement and in sports. Watching her raise me by herself and figure it out on her own allowed me to learn how to be resilient and to solve any type of problem or challenge that I’ve encountered, and it allowed me to continue to grow and develop, not only as a person and as a woman, but in my career.

To see her success and all of her sacrifices come full circle and all the work that she’s put in for her own career come to fruition –watching that is beautiful.

– Dajah Stallings

coordination, manages strategic initiatives and enhances external partnerships that elevate the university’s mission and impact.

“Regardless of where I am, my daily work is always engagement,” Angelique says. “It’s always community. It’s building relationships, maintaining them and growing them.”

Her influence extends far beyond the campus. Angelique serves on numerous boards, including the United Minority Contractors of North Carolina, the Durham Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People, Duke Community Affairs’ Affordable Housing Strategic Council and Durham Public Schools’ Career and Technical Education Advisory Board.

Her impact is especially present in the local sports scene. She draws on her experience as a former NCCU basketball point guard and shooting guard to champion athletic opportunities across the city as board chair of the Durham Sports Commission, which recently announced that the Athletes Unlimited Softball League’s Carolina Blaze –North Carolina’s newest women’s professional sports team – will call Durham home. Additionally, Durham County Memorial Stadium will host the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association football championship game for the second consecutive year this November. Angelique says she’s also looking forward to DSC’s fourth annual Emerging Women in Sports Leadership Summit April 13 at the Durham Convention Center. “It is a beautiful conference of women leaders from

deputy chief of staff, North Carolina Central University

NGS ELIQUE

all over the world who come and hear from speakers,” she says. “We’ll have Jennifer King [speaking]. She is the first Black woman to be a coach in the NFL [and is] now a coach at NCCU. It’s going to be so major to have her there.”

Sports serve as her ultimate connector. She views discipline, focus and teamwork as universal values, which motivates her to support programs such as the Duke Women’s Basketball camps for children.

The mindset she developed through athletics still guides her today. Even with her well-established reputation in leadership, Angelique emphasizes the importance of staying “coachable” as one moves through their professional life.

“Know what you’re talking about, and be confident that you know what you’re talking about,” she says. “And always, always, be open to learning. Even at my age, I want to learn something new every day. If you’re not learning, then you’re not living.”

She balances her drive and ambition with moments of unwinding. Documentaries or period pieces often play in the background while she works around her house, but she never skips her nightly ritual of watching “The Golden Girls.” She also enjoys reading, discovering new music – she’s currently listening to new albums from Jill Scott and T.I. – and spending time with her daughter, Dajah Stallings, who works as the community engagement and legends coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks.

Above all, Angelique says she measures success in the ways her “fingerprint” shows up in the community and the simple knowledge that her contributions bring positive feelings to others.

“It’s important that your name means something to someone,” Angelique says. “When they hear your name, they feel good about it. They’re like, ‘Yes, this person has, in some way, made me feel seen, heard, valued.’ Those are the moments where I’m like, ‘Yeah, this work – it’s worth it.’”

That is more than enough to encourage her to strap on her boots, leave the house feeling fully herself, and do it all over again.

–

by Alison Grau

Women of Achievement WYATT KATIE

Durham Arts Council welcomed Kathryn Wyatt as its new executive director in August 2025. Katie grew up moving frequently as a daughter of parents in the armed forces, spending most of her early years in Bowie, Maryland, before attending high school in Belgium. She began playing the viola as a child and later earned degrees in music and political science from Indiana University, combining her artistic training with an interest in how the arts and culture influence laws and governance around the world. She went on to pursue a master’s degree in viola performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music.

Katie moved to North Carolina in 2006 to serve as director of education for the North Carolina Symphony. She went on to co-found the music education nonprofit Kidznotes in 2009, launching it out of the Durham Arts Council building, and later became the founding executive director of El Sistema USA. She most recently served as executive director of the Weymouth Center for the Arts & Humanities in Southern Pines before stepping into her current role.

Katie continues her music career as principal violist of The Carolina Philharmonic and as a member of the indie folk-rock band Ice Cream for Breakfast. She divides her time between Southern Pines, where she lives with her 7-year-old daughter, Petra Wyatt Vandermeer, and Durham.

*Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

What role did the arts play in your early life?* I started playing the viola in the third grade in public school. It was something I did with my sister Karen [Wyatt Pape] – she plays violin. Moving all the time, music quickly became a way for us to make friends and build community. Music has truly been my ticket around the world; the arts are what has built an international community and a global mindset for me as a person. [It’s also guided] the way that I think about doing business and the spirit of collaboration in all the work I do through arts administration.

When did you begin to see yourself not only as a performer, but also as someone who could build and lead arts institutions? The movement of El Sistema is a very deep, fundamental experience in my life. I was on tour with the Youth Orchestra of the Americas [in 2005]. I was inspired by [Venezuela’s] system of music for all. The government of each barrio supported this youth orchestra program and made sure that all the kids got their instruments and would be able to go to practice and concerts. It reminded me of Texas football towns, where the whole town is behind the team. But in this case, it was really about the orchestra and the kids and families who didn’t have opportunities like that [otherwise]. That inspired me

executive director, Durham Arts Council

“Given the access, everyone has the potential to pursue their passion to its deepest level of excellence and mastery,” Katie says. “It is so important that every human be invited to pursue that – that each one of us be given the chance to find that love and have every opportunity to follow that dream all the way to the end.”

to think about what I could do to help build that kind of community web – a network of opportunities for all people. I am very passionate about opportunities for kids, because those early years [are critical].

What are you most proud of accomplishing in your career so far? I [was selected to] the Abreu Fellows program [in 2008], and that fellowship awarded me the chance to go back to Venezuela. José Antonio Abreu – the founder of El Sistema – was honored as the TED Prize global winner, and with that prize, you get a wish to change the world. His wish was to bring 50 young musicians and

It , s a Small World Katie’s path into arts administration began with a national fellowship through the League of American Orchestras from 2005 to 2006, an experience that introduced her to mentors and colleagues who helped shape her career –many of whom now work in the Triangle arts community, including:

Deborah Rutter – Katie worked under Deborah at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as an intern and later at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts during Deborah’s tenure as president. She now serves as Duke University’s vice provost for the arts.

Jesse Rosen – Former president of the League of American Orchestras who has served on the boards of the Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice and the Durham Symphony Orchestra

John McCann – Arts consultant who also served on the Pauli Murray Center and Durham Symphony boards.

Sandi Macdonald – Now president and CEO of the North Carolina Symphony, Sandi was Katie’s first boss in arts administration when she worked with The Cleveland Orchestra’s marketing team.

Women of Achievement

artist administrators to Venezuela to bring El Sistema back to the United States, with the idea that each fellow would launch an El Sistema-inspired program in each of the 50 states. [That experience directly led me to] start Kidznotes around the same time. Kidznotes is really one of the things I’m most proud of in my life – that it’s still here, I’m still able to support it, and so many of the young musicians and their families enrolled in it have gone on to do incredible things.

How have you spent your first few months in this role, and which areas are you focusing on most? The timing is excellent [because] the cultural road map run by the City of Durham is wrapping up, and they are beginning to share some of their findings. The arts council and I have been able to respond immediately to some of those needs – one of the biggest identified is space. I quickly worked with our team to massage some of our existing grant programs. We’ve just launched three new creative spaces grants: Creative Hours, Creative Residency and Creative Showcase. Artists can bring projects to the Durham Arts Council to work on, and it’s all free. The idea is to offer this place as a City of Durham building. The arts council is the steward of this building, but the building belongs to the community as a creative hub available for its use.

Suite Spot

If creativity were truly within reach for everybody, what do you think that would look like in a community like ours? It would be access to mastery – this idea of having the space, time, resources and support to pursue one’s passion, and that you would be able to explore that in the public school system. You’d be introduced to everything so that you could have a sense of what inspires you. Then as that grows, and as you grow, you would have access to opportunities to be able to pursue whatever spark lit your fire. That’s something the arts council believes in as a No. 1 core value of what we do. – as told to Sharon Kinsella

BridgePoint’s Bold New Chapter

BridgePoint General Contracting has over a decade of building experience, combined with 35 additional years of expertise. Because of this, BridgePoint has built the spaces where Durham and the Triangle works, gathers, and thrives.

Now, as BridgePoint becomes part of the Southway family, the same trusted team continues its work — now with expanded capabilities and bandwidth to deliver an even more meaningful impact across the Triangle.

Rooted in Durham, we remain dedicated to shaping spaces that matter — guided by Southway’s Purpose:

We serve others to help them achieve their maximum potential.

HOME HOME away from

A sweeping refresh of a storied inn pairs Duke history with contemporary comfort

BY REGAN BUTLER

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF THE WASHINGTON DUKE INN & GOLF CLUB

unlight now pours across pale limestone floors where dark slate once absorbed the glow. Guests pause just inside the door, taking in the brighter lobby, sculpted botanicals and clusters of inviting seating designed for engaging dialogue. A familiar Durham landmark suddenly feels both timeless and new.

This moment encapsulates the next chapter of the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club, which unveiled a transformative, multimillion-dollar renovation in early January that honors its deeprooted history while modernizing the hospitality experience for today’s travelers. Set along the edge of Duke University’s campus, the inn balances two

priorities: immersing visitors in a century of tradition while also delivering contemporary convenience and design.

The property completed significant updates to its more intimate spaces in 2024, including specialty suites and the AAA Four Diamond Fairview Dining Room. Updated furnishings and decor draw inspiration from the Duke family legacy while reinforcing a strong sense of place that feels distinctly North Carolinian – and uniquely Durham.

The newest phase marks the inn’s most ambitious transformation yet, as it foundationally reimagined the entryway and lobby as well as multiple dining and gathering spaces to create a more welcoming flow throughout the property. Richmond-based designer and architectural

historian Gary Inman curated public spaces to reflect North Carolina’s dynamic character and the evolving preferences of hotel guests.

“I have always believed that great design begins with a great story, and very few properties boast a more layered and fascinating story than Washington Duke Inn,” Gary says.

That story begins with the inn’s namesake. Industrialist and philanthropist Washington Duke built a tobacco empire after serving in the Civil War. Washington transformed his sparse post-war assets into the American Tobacco Company and later joined other businessmen to help bring Trinity College to Durham in 1891. His son, James Buchanan Duke, established the Duke Endowment in 1924, prompting the renaming of Trinity College to Duke University in his father’s honor.

The original Washington Duke Hotel was constructed downtown between 1924 and 1925, but was demolished in 1975. The inn’s current iteration opened in 1988. Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club Area General Manager Daniel Lotz says the building underwent a significant expansion in the 2000s, but the lobby in particular remained untouched.

“It really [captured] the feeling of the Washington Duke,” Daniel says. “But it was approaching 40 years of age, and it certainly became time to transform it and create a … look that [still] honored the Duke heritage” while appearing more current.

Gary and Daniel approached the renovation with that balance in mind. Gary often summarizes the evolution with a bit of humor, stating that the inn is “moving from Queen Elizabeth to Kate Middleton.”

The experience begins before visitors step inside. Builders framed the entryway with locally quarried Duke stone found throughout the university’s architecture. Planters outside the entrance nod to the nearby Sarah P. Duke Gardens, Daniel says.

Guests now enter a reimagined front lobby crafted for conversation and connection. Seating clusters create natural gathering spaces while 12 sculpted botanical pieces by Hillsborough artist Tommy Mitchell echo the plant life of Duke Gardens, further rooting guests in a sense of place.

“The biggest piece of creating that sense of modernity is brightening up the space,” Daniel says. “The [original] lobby [had] dark slate floors [and] dark wooden panels.” Limestone floors and light gray walls now illuminate the room and make the entire space feel more open.

The adjacent Duke Family Heritage Hallway adds historical context through a photographic exhibit highlighting the family members who helped shape Durham’s culture and philanthropy. Displays spotlight influential matriarchs, from Sarah Pearson Duke to Doris Duke, whose social circles included figures such as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Duke Ellington. A bust of Mary Duke Biddle Trent Semans, the greatgranddaughter of Washington Duke, is also on display, honoring her legacy of service; Mary became the first woman to serve as Durham’s mayor pro tempore from 1953 to 1955 and spent much of her term advocating for civil rights, arts funding, affordable housing and health care.

Gary says his training as a historian played a key role in executing this space. “As a design storyteller, my process always begins with research,” Gary says. “I’ve had the extraordinary privilege to design the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club for almost 20 years, and my appreciation for both the Duke family and the university they founded has grown during that tenure.”

Daniel says it was important to retain the emphasis on the inn’s relationship with Duke in the redesign, and artwork throughout the property reinforces that connection.

“You’ll see that as you walk in through the spaces,” Daniel says. “Gary Inman is very intentional in honoring the Gothic pieces. You’ll see a lot of quatrefoils throughout the dining room. You can see it in the light fixtures. You’ll see some furniture pieces that honor that shape, which is very prevalent in the Duke Chapel.”

Other gathering areas received that same attention to detail. The sunroom, bathed in natural light, now features a fireplace that creates a cozy setting for coffee and chitchat. Expanded outdoor terraces extend the experience beyond the inn’s walls, offering an inviting retreat for evening cocktails beneath retractable pergolas and walls designed for year-round comfort. The inn’s conference center also received new carpeting and finishes to support professional gatherings.

Dining spaces saw their own refresh. The Bull Durham Bar now pairs warm wood finishes with soft ambient lighting and also displays reproductions of architectural drawings by Julian Abele, the second licensed African American architect in the nation, who designed Duke’s West Campus. The nearby Vista Restaurant introduces an expanded wall of windows overlooking the golf course along with kiosk-style ordering for added convenience.

Guests now linger a little longer in the lobby, pausing to admire the light-filled space before settling into a chair or heading toward dinner.

Instants such as these confirm the renovation achieved its goal, Daniel says – crafting spaces that surprise, delight and leave a lasting impression. “It’s all about creating those really wonderful ‘wow’ moments.”

SOUND GARDEN

A backyard recording studio blends modern architecture and playful design in a creative home base for musician James Phillips

BY SHARON KINSELLA | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN MICHAEL SIMPSON

alk down a gently sloping path leading behind a cheery peach Craftsman house in Old North Durham, and you’ll encounter a surprising structure. Round-eyed, metalskinned and painted a shadowy charcoal with a burst of bright green on its side – it’s more creature than outbuilding. Inside, instruments and acoustic panels line the walls. A collapsible ship’s ladder leads to a loft. On most mornings, someone is making music.

That someone is James Phillips, musician, recording engineer and the force behind Mangum Street Grocery, an independent recording studio he built in 2021 just steps from his back door. James is a longtime member of the indie folk-pop band Bombadil alongside Daniel Michalak, who now lives in France, and newest member Madison Via Rivis. But his studio has grown far beyond his own projects. He’s recorded albums, film scores, choirs, podcasts and full-band sessions in a space designed to make creating

Mangum Street Grocery takes its name from the former shop across the street from James Phillips and and Torry Bend’s home, which was built and once occupied by the grocer who owned it. “We were the last stop on the trolley back in the day, “ James says. “This is a nod to that.”

art “fun, comfortable and quick” for both himself and others. “I really love helping other folks realize their creative ideas,” James says. “It’s deeply rewarding to me.” The building came to life through a collaboration with architect Bronwyn Charlton, principal of Charlton Architecture PLLC. She met James and his wife, Torry Bend, a puppeteer and Duke University theater studies professor, socially around 2019. “We connected in our love of and practice of art,” Bronwyn says. The three shaped the design together before moving into financing and construction, with James and Torry

LEFT This compact, efficient bathroom includes a full shower, while a circular window evokes a porthole. BELOW “Whenever we have people over, they’re so excited to come out here,” James says of their frequent visitors.

completing much of the build themselves alongside carpenter Fernando Rubio between January and December 2021.

“The studio needed to feel like it belonged in the backyard both in terms of its size and form, but also its character,” Bronwyn says. “I didn’t want it to look like it was plopped down from outer space, but rather like a playful creature in the garden.” Working within a $150,000 budget and a 497-square-foot footprint, she chose carefully where to invest and where to economize. The standingseam metal roof – the project’s biggest design gesture – wraps down the front face of the building in one continuous surface, giving the studio its sculptural silhouette. The other facades feature more cost-conscious horizontal siding. Circular windows punctuate each elevation. “The way I see it is that each side of the building has its own literal face – a mouth and eyes,” Bronwyn says.

The result is simple yet striking: modern, natural and warm, with clean lines softened by a touch of whimsy and integration into the landscape. Interiors follow suit: light maple cabinetry and floors, white walls, natural trim and pops of color. Torry guided the palette, infusing a Scandinavian-inflected sensibility – calm, bright and lighthearted – throughout. “I am always considering biophilia in

The

Come see this great home for yourself on May 16 and 17 on the High

my work,” Bronwyn adds. “Natural light and views are part of my canvas, and the windows and [two] skylights on this project are carefully coordinated to offer that connection to the outdoors.”

Inside, the 740-square-foot studio packs in a remarkable number of details. A control room anchors the back, with custom built-ins and a corner window overlooking the wooded gully beyond the lot, where James enjoys observing “hawk action.”

A circular window to the right of his desk aligns with one in the live room door, creating a framed sight line through the building.

On mornings when James plays his upright piano, the sunlight and trees reflect through the circles, creating a layered, infinite effect.

Listen Up!

Bombadil’s latest album, “How the Moon Got Back Home,” released in 2025, was recorded at Mangum Street Grocery using James’ 8-track tape machine. The project features friend and collaborator David Wax on various stringed instruments and draws inspiration from a story written by singer, dancer and bassist Madison Via Rivis.

The live room is the heart of the building: tall enough for optimal acoustics and wide enough for a full band, including a drum kit. Massive barn doors – on special hinges that allow them to fold fully flat – open the room entirely onto a

performance deck. Closed, it’s an intimate recording space; open, it transforms into an outdoor stage that flows into the yard. The natural slope of the lot resembles gentle stadium seating beyond the deck. A loft with a writing desk, window seat and floorto-ceiling built-ins rounds out the space, along with a galley kitchenette and a bathroom – including a shower – where the hard tile surfaces have become “a secret sonic weapon,” James says. The amenities were intentional: James also wanted the building to host musical guests overnight if needed and, someday, function as a rental accessory dwelling unit.

Acoustics naturally guided many of the design decisions. “You do what you can with the building,” Bronwyn says, “and then you finesse the rest.” She studied the proportions needed for quality sound – the relationship among length, width and height –while balancing a key constraint: the studio sits just

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beyond the couple’s deck and their kitchen and bedroom windows, so it couldn’t tower over the backyard. A monopitch roof provides height for both the loft and recording space without overwhelming the lot. The final fine-tuning came via custom sound panels – wood-framed, insulationfilled and upholstered in white – designed by Torry and built largely by James. “The space sounded awesome for acoustic guitar without them up,” James says. “But if you tried to play drums and piano at the same time, you couldn’t hear each other. Now you can hear each [instrument] perfectly.”

James taught himself to record around 2010 to avoid commercial studio fees, working for years out of his attic. 

(continued on page 68)

Spring Ahead

MUST-ATTEND HOME AND GARDEN EVENTS OF THE SEASON

Modapalooza

April 18, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Tour eight stunning new and classic modernist homes across the Triangle with NCModernist. Ride in style on a luxury bus, which departs from 800 Park Offices Dr. in Research Triangle Park, with fellow architecture and home design enthusiasts while enjoying a light breakfast of coffee and bagels, snacks, drinks and lunch. Meet the talented architects behind these homes, including Heather Washburn, Arielle Schechter and Sophie Piesse. Tickets – $179 for the general public and $164 for Mod Squad members – include transportation, a USModernist tote bag and aforementioned refreshments.

Earth Day Festival

April 19, noon-5 p.m.

Celebrate sustainability and expand your environmental awareness at Durham Central Park during this free, annual all-ages event. The 2026 international Earth Day theme, “Our Power, Our Planet,” spotlights collective action for environmental change, with music, Earth-friendly activities, educational resources and food vendors throughout the day.

Durham Garden Tour

May 2-3, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Stroll through Durham’s most beautiful and sustainable gardens on this third annual self-guided tour curated by Keep Durham Beautiful that showcases between eight and 10 inspiring outdoor spaces in the community. Meet knowledgeable docents, gain insight into the intentions behind each design and discover innovative plantings to bring into your own garden. Early-bird tickets are $25 till April 15 and $30 afterward, with free entry for anyone younger than 18 when accompanied by a ticketed adult. Proceeds support the nonprofit’s ongoing efforts to cultivate greener spaces.

High Performance Home Tour

May 16-17, noon – 5 p.m.

Explore the future of sustainable living during this free, self-guided showcase of green-certified homes across the Triangle hosted by the Home Builders Association of Durham, Orange and Chatham Counties The 19th annual event highlights eco-friendly residences designed for energy efficiency, healthier indoor environments and long-term savings. Visitors can start at any location and tour as many homes as they like, no registration required.

2026 Home Tour

May 16-17, noon – 4 p.m.

Step into a century of history with Preservation Durham’s Hope Valley Home Tour, a two-day celebration marking the neighborhood’s 100th anniversary. Established in 1926 and centered around its iconic golf course, Hope Valley emerged as one of Durham’s earliest automobileoriented communities, distinguished by its striking period revival homes – many designed by noted local architect George Watts Carr. Today, the neighborhood stands as one of Durham’s 20 National Register Historic Districts, underscoring its lasting architectural and cultural significance. This year’s tour invites guests inside eight homes built within the neighborhood’s first decade. Tickets are available now, with discounted pricing for Preservation Durham members. General admission includes a one-year membership for new members. 

Cat French Design: Intuitive interiors for a beautiful, cohesive home

t its core, Cat French Design believes in designing homes that are meant to be lasting, loved and truly lived in. With a Master of Fine Arts in Interior Architecture, Cat transforms each client’s personality and preferences into a detailed, actionable design plan that makes their home inviting, joyful and unique. Over the past decade, Cat and her dedicated team have prided themselves on being their clients’ biggest advocates throughout the entire design process. Guiding clients through every step, the team touches every part of the design, from reviewing floor plans and functions to selecting elements such as tile and lighting, all the way to sourcing high-quality furnishings to complete each room. With a collaborative process and careful attention to detail, they ensure the entire home functions and flows seamlessly, and beautifully supports the rhythms and routines of daily life.

Their broad skill set includes award-winning custom homes, sustainable design, aging-in-place and accessibility, and historic preservation. The team also specialize in creating turnkey experiences for their clients, with layered furnishings and styling sourced from local vendors. Known for their teamwork and client-centered approach, Cat and her team provide clients with a fully integrated, comprehensive process in which communication is the priority and no detail is overlooked. From the first conversation to placing the final framed family photo, clients experience full team collaboration and support, resulting in an incredibly personal, beautiful home.

For him and many of the artists he collaborates with, recording isn’t simply the final step in documenting a finished song – it’s part of the writing process itself. High-end studios can make that process costly –hourly rates add up quickly for musicians keeping an eye on the bottom line – and eventually, the traffic of musicians made it clear the work needed its own space. Torry, raised by a homebuilder, saw the solution. “I credit her with the idea and the encouragement to make it all happen,” James says.

Since it opened, Mangum Street Grocery has led to the creation of two Bombadil records, solo albums, three film scores, and projects for artists including The Pinkerton Raid, Christy Jean Smith, The King Teen and Vito DiBona, among others. Bands often rent the space for their own sessions. On a 100-degree August night that also happened to coincide with James’ 40th birthday, the performance deck hosted a backyard concert, followed the next morning by an improvisational session that became the album “Dive 1: Refraction.” The studio has also hosted a silent film screening with live scoring, assorted concerts and even a pillow fight for James and Torry’s son, Linus Phillips, on his 6th birthday this past year.

“I walk out here every day, and I’m so grateful,” James says. His commute now consists of a few steps outside.

“I play way more music now than I did when I thought I’d just tour all the time,” he says. The separation between home and studio is also a boon. “It’s been absolutely great for my mental health,” James adds. “Packing a lunch and heading out back for the day shows the world I mean business.”

2026 Top Dentists

For the 17th straight year, Durham Magazine commissioned a peer-to-peer survey of the local dental community – from endodontists to prosthodontists. The following listing is the result. Dentists and specialists were asked the telling question: “If you had a patient in need of a dentist, which dentist would you refer them to?” and also asked to take into consideration years of experience, continuing education, manner with patients, use of new techniques and technologies and, of course, physical results. The nomination pool of dentists consists of those listed online with the American Dental Association, as well as all dentists listed online with their local dental societies, thus allowing virtually every dentist the opportunity to participate. Dentists are also given the opportunity to nominate other dentists who they feel should be included in the list. Respondents are asked to put aside any personal bias and to use only their knowledge of their peer’s work when evaluating the other nominees. The Durham area is well-served by the dental community. Hundreds of dentists, specialists and support professionals have made this city home, and the overall quality of dental care in our communities is second to none. What good dentist wouldn’t want to practice here?

Endodontics

Hong Chen

RTP Endodontics

5318 N.C. Hwy. 55, Ste. 201 919-237-2818 rtpendo.com

Deborah A. Conner

922 Broad St., Ste. B 919-416-4200 debconnerdds.com

Linda Levin Levin Endodontics

3624 Shannon Rd., Ste. 106 919-401-4827 levinendodontics.com

A. K. Bobby Mallik

5324 McFarland Dr., Ste. 120 919-493-5332 durhamendo.com

Roger A. McDougal McDougal Endodontics

245 E. N.C. Hwy. 54, Ste. 201 919-806-8667 mcdougalendo.org 

What began as Grant H. Service, DDS continues today as Church Family Dentistry—led by Dr. Will Church and built on the same foundation of trust, integrity, and patient-centered care. Chosen to carry the practice forward, Dr. Church is proud to serve the Durham community while honoring the values that shaped the practice from the very beginning.

General Dentistry

Debora A. Bolton

Bull City Smiles

2705 N. Duke St., Ste. 100 919-381-5900 bullcitysmiles.com

Jason W. Butler

Croasdaile Dental Arts

2900 Croasdaile Dr., Ste. 5 919-383-7402 croasdailedentalarts.com

Lei Cao

Beyond Dental

3917 University Dr., Ste. 150 919-439-8999 beyonddentaldurham.com

Eric T. Cole

Croasdaile Dental Arts

2900 Croasdaile Drive, Ste. 5 919-383-7402 croasdailedentalarts.com

A Little Background

The Top Dentists list for Durham is the result of a rigorous evaluation process consisting of peer-to-peer surveys of area dentists and professionals. This survey was conducted and managed by the nationally recognized thirdparty firm topDentists LLC of Augusta, Georgia. This list is excerpted from the 2026 topDentists™ list, a database that includes listings for nearly 60 dentists and specialists in Durham. The list is based on detailed evaluations of dentists and professionals by their peers. The complete database is available at usatopdentists. com. topDentists management has more than 60 years combined experience compiling peer-review referral guides in the dental, medical and legal fields. Working from this experience, along with the input of several prominent dentists from throughout the United States, topDentists created a selection process that has earned the respect of the country’s leading dental professionals. For more information, call 706-364-0853; write P.O. Box 970, Augusta, Georgia, 30903; email help@usatopdentists.com; or visit usatopdentists.com

Scott M. Donner (retired)

University Commons Dental 3719 University Dr., Ste. A 919-490-3015 universitycommonsdental.com

The purchase of advertising has no impact on who is included in the Top Dentists list. 

Mark Donoway 1212 Broad St. 919-286-2235 steadwillisdmd.com 

Brighter

James H. Eaker (retired)

4208 S. Alston Ave., Ste. 100 919-544-5620

handcrafteddentistry.com

Alex Fleming Fleming Dental 1020 Broad St. 919-682-5327 durhamncdentistry.com

Mary V. Gaddis Park Place Dental 245 E. N.C. Hwy. 54, Ste. 204 919-484-8088 dentistindurham.com

Elizabeth A. Grooms 1212 Broad St. 919-286-4439

Brittanie Harris A New Reason to Smile 105 Newsom St., Ste. 204 919-471-9106 anewreasontosmile.com

Stephanie Q. Jenkins 5317 Highgate Dr., Ste. 118 919-361-0500 drjenkins-dds.com

James Jorge Bull City Smiles 2705 N. Duke St., Ste. 100 919-381-5900 bullcitysmiles.com

Audrey Kemp Bull City Dental 106 W. Parrish St., Ste. 1 919-680-3531 bullcitydentaldowntown.com

Shirin Mashhoon Ninth Street Dental 811 Ninth St., Ste. 280 919-286-9090 ninthstreetdental.com

Lionel M. Nelson 3109 University Dr., Ste. 1 919-489-0497 nelsongentledental.com

Desiree T. Palmer A New Reason to Smile 105 Newsom St., Ste. 204 919-471-9106 anewreasontosmile.com

Grant H. Service (retired)

2711 N. Duke St., Ste. B 919-220-6553 durhamdentistgrantservice.com

Michael A. Tapper Croasdaile Smiles

2900 Croasdaile Dr., Ste. 2 919-383-8619 croasdailesmiles.com

Jerry ter Avest 2515 N.C. Hwy. 54 E. 919-544-6080 jteravestdds.com

William W. Turner Croasdaile Dental Arts 2900 Croasdaile Dr., Ste. 5 919-383-7402 croasdailedentalarts.com

Dr.

C. Steadman Willis III 1212 Broad St. 919-286-2235 steadwillisdmd.com

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Jeffrey S. Jelic Jelic Center

Functional Aesthetic Maxillofacial Surgery 5501 Fortunes Ridge Dr., Ste. G 919-419-9222 drjelic.com

Aaron Park Triangle Implant Center 5318 N.C. Hwy. 55, Ste. 106 919-806-2912 triangleimplantcenter.com

David B. Powers

Division of Plastic, Maxillofacial & Oral Surgery 40 Duke Medical Circle 919-681-7043

dukemedicine.org/ find-doctors-physicians/ david-b-powers-md-dmd

Andrew T. Ruvo

Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates 2823 N. Duke St. 919-479-0707 omsanc.com

Debra Sacco

Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates 2823 N. Duke St. 919-479-0707 omsanc.com

Pedro E. Santiago Duke Surgery 3475 Erwin Rd. 919-660-0320

surgery.duke.edu/faculty/ pedro-e-santiago-dmd 

Precision dental implants from Durham’s most experienced team

Voted best oral surgeons in Durham

Know that you’re in the best hands for your procedure with expert care from our board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeons, Debra Sacco, DMD, MD, Brian Vandersea, DDS, Andrew T. Ruvo, DMD, MD, and Adam D. Serlo, DMD, MD.

DENTAL IMPLANT SURGERY

BONE GRAFTING

IMPLANT SUPPORTED OVERDENTURE

WISDOM TEETH EXTRACTION

CORRECTIVE JAW SURGERY

Adam D. Serlo Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates

2823 N. Duke St. 919-479-0707 omsanc.com

Brian Vandersea Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates 2823 N. Duke St. 919-479-0707 omsanc.com

Orthodontics

John R. Christensen

Durham Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics 121 W. Woodcroft Pkwy. 919-489-1543 durhampdo.com

Gavin C. Heymann

Smith & Heymann Orthodontics 2919 Colony R. 919-493-4911 smithandheymann.com

Tom Hoopes

Hoopes Orthodontics

5726 Fayetteville Rd., Ste. 104 919-405-7111 hoopesorthodontics.com

Gina Lee

North Durham Orthodontics 4301 Ben Franklin Blvd., Ste. 201 919-797-2300 durhambraces.com

Julie H. Mol (retired)

5726 Fayetteville Rd., Ste. 104 919-405-7111 molorthodontics.com

Katya Skillestad Smith & Heymann Orthodontics 2919 Colony Rd. 919-493-4911 smithandheymann.com

J. Dempsey Smith Smith & Heymann Orthodontics 2919 Colony Rd. 919-493-4911 smithandheymann.com

Michael J. Wilson Wilson Orthodontics

2900 Croasdaile Dr., Ste. 3 919-383-7423 wilson-ortho.com

Pediatric Dentistry

Erica A. Brecher

Duke Street Pediatric Dentistry 2711 N. Duke St., Ste. A 919-220-1416 dukestreetsmiles.com

M. Gentry Byrd

Duke Street Pediatric Dentistry 2711 N. Duke St., Ste. A 919-220-1416 dukestreetsmiles.com

Robert T. Christensen

Durham Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics 121 W. Woodcroft Pkwy. 919-489-1543 durhampdo.com 

Jenny Citineni

Smile First Dental

3616 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd. 919-493-2569 smilefirstdental.com

Amy C. Davidian

Southpoint Pediatric Dentistry

249 E. N.C. Hwy. 54, Ste. 300 919-354-6220 southpointpediatricdentistry.com

Martha Ann Keels

Duke Street Pediatric Dentistry 2711 N. Duke St., Ste. A 919-220-1416 dukestreetsmiles.com

Jamie L. Molina

Durham Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics 121 W. Woodcroft Pkwy. 919-489-1543 durhampdo.com

Maria Wang

RTP Pediatric Dentistry

5318 N.C. Hwy. 55, Ste. 202 919-827-1350 rtppediatricdentistry.com

Periodontics

Ellie Bash

Ellie Bash Periodontics & Implants 3001 Academy Rd., Ste. 250 919-489-3204 drbashperio.com

Arnold T. McClain 5015 Southpark Dr., Ste. 130 919-484-8338 gumsandimplants.net

Samantha Robles 4301 Ben Franklin Blvd., Ste. 101 919-383-6611 drsamperio.com

Prosthodontics

Geoffrey R. Cunningham Durham Prosthodontics

3709 University Dr., Ste. D 919-489-8661 mydurhamdentist.com

R. Kyle Gazdeck Durham Prosthodontics

3709 University Dr., Ste. D 919-489-8661 mydurhamdentist.com

Rosanna V. Marquez

Triangle Restoration Dentistry

1920 E. N.C. Hwy. 54, Ste. 410 919-544-8106 trianglerestorationdentistry.com

Mark S. Scurria

Triangle Restoration Dentistry

1920 E. N.C. Hwy. 54, Ste. 410 919-544-8106 trianglerestorationdentistry.com

Our practice mission is to provide dental care above and beyond expectations, while bringing our patients to optimal oral health. Drs. Brittanie Harris and Canāi Calmore offer a full scope of cosmetic and family dentistry including: Implant Restorations, Crowns, Partials, Dentures and Invisalign.

Gentle Dentistry for Growing Smiles

Dr. Wang holds advanced degrees from West China Medical University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has served as faculty at both UNC and the University of Michigan, bringing exceptional training and clinical experience to every patient visit.

At RTP Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Wang treats every child as a whole person — caring for their comfort, confidence and health.

We focus on building trust, easing fears, and creating positive dental experiences from the very first visit. Through preventive care, restorative treatment, and proactive growth and arch development, we support healthy smiles that last a lifetime.

Staying active, connecting with neighbors and embracing change – this is what making the most of your golden years looks like

BY KATRINA MCLEAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN MICHAEL SIMPSON

FOR MANY RETIREES, the goal is simple: Stay active, stay connected and enjoy the freedom that this stage of life brings. That’s exactly what Croasdaile Village residents like Jim Hastings say they’ve found. Jim – a Durham native who retired from an extensive teaching career at Durham Public Schools including Northern and Southern High Schools, and Carrington, Neal and Shepard Middle Schools – now fills his days with exercise classes, social events and other community activities. “The thing I have found out at Croasdaile,” Jim says jokingly, “is there’s too much stuff to do.”

Indeed, the continuing care retirement community offers countless ways to remain engaged, from aqua aerobics, Zumba and tai chi classes to outings at the Durham Performing Arts Center and Duke Basketball games. Jim regularly attends aerobics and participates in activities organized by the Croasdaile Village Residents Association, which coordinates programs and addresses community priorities such as dining services and safety.

A Duke Health-operated clinic on campus makes managing health needs convenient, reinforcing the community’s focus on wellness.

Jim’s path to retirement living began years earlier through a class at Duke University’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute – a continuing studies program that offers educational classes, social engagement and volunteer opportunities.

“The classes [cover] anything from how to speak, how to paint, World War II battles,” Jim says.

“It’s amazing – it’s a school without tests or a book. So I signed up.” In this particular course, aptly named Stay Put or Move On, participants explored the question many older adults eventually face while covering topics like accessible home layouts

ABOVE Croasdaile Village offers connected campus living centered on wellness, arts, dining and recreation.

LEFT Jim Hastings chats with Hank Scherich on "The Croasdaile Podcast," diving into what's new in the community.

BELOW Amy Butters chose to make a "happy change" and relocated from Pinehurst to Durham to embrace city living.

and touring several local retirement communities. The experience sparked a deeper interest in Jim, who later co-taught the class for five years while expanding his own knowledge on various retirement options. Ultimately, he and his wife, Barbara Hastings, chose Croasdaile Village largely because it allowed them to remain close to their church, Temple Baptist, longtime friends and familiar corners of Durham.

They made the move about 12 years ago, first settling into a cottage on the property. More recently, they transitioned to a two-bedroom apartment in the main building – a change Jim says makes everyday life even easier as it means fewer responsibilities and more convenience, since amenities are steps away. Residents

also benefit from services that simplify daily routines, including housekeeping and prepared meals. “We don’t have to worry about a lot of the things we used to,” Jim says.

Beyond comfort, Jim treasures the sense of community. Retirement living often fosters friendships that might not happen in traditional neighborhoods. Croasdaile Village residents connect through shared activities, casual conversations and organized social outings. “Living here multiplies your friendships,” Jim says. He also volunteers to lead historical tours of Durham, sharing stories about the city where he has lived most of his life, and hosts “The Croasdaile Podcast,” interviewing residents and staff about happenings on campus.

For Jim, retirement isn’t slowing down – it’s an opportunity to stay curious, engaged and enjoy the place he calls home. “It’s a really good way to live,” he says.

THE RIGHT FIT

A new beginning is unfolding for Amy Butters as she prepares to retire this summer after nearly 40 years in pharmaceutical manufacturing. This chapter, she says, is defined by one word: change. “It’s happy change,” she explains. “But it’s still change.” That spirit of transition ultimately led her to The Courtyards at Oak Grove, a 55-andolder community in southeast Durham where she moved in late February – the culmination of a long search for the right place to land.

Amy moved to downtown Durham from Pinehurst, North Carolina, a year ago after nearly 25 years in the Sandhills.

“I’ve lived in North Carolina for 25 years, and I’ve never really taken advantage of everything the Triangle has to offer,” she says. She loved the energy of the city, but found it harder to connect with peers in her stage of life. Even the Durham Farmers Market – where she could happily spend hours on a Saturday – reflected a more youthful demographic.

the thoughtfully designed homes to the welcoming staff and convenient location. Its proximity to Raleigh-Durham International Airport appealed to Amy, who plans to travel frequently in retirement. Amy chose a two-story townhome in the community because it offers a “lock-and-go” lifestyle, ideal for someone who doesn’t want to worry about yard maintenance while traveling. The first-floor primary bedroom allows for easier living as residents age, while the second floor provides additional bedrooms and a separate living space for guests; Amy looks forward to visits from her daughter, Olivia, and her granddog, Hunter. Her favorite part of the home is its open-concept living, dining and kitchen area, where large windows bring in natural light. “It truly ticked off all the boxes I was looking for,” she says.

Though Amy has lived there only a few months, she already feels a greater sense of sociability. A neighbor welcomed her on moving day, and the clubhouse offers opportunities to connect through meeting spaces, fitness classes and other amenities “that make getting to know other people easier,” she says. Building those relationships is an important part of this next chapter for her. “Living well now means creating community outside of work,”

Amy began exploring neighborhoods around Durham about six months ago. When a friend from work shared her experience living in a 55-plus community, Amy thought, “Maybe that’s somewhere I should look.” She quickly discovered The Courtyards at Oak Grove and “fell in love with everything about it.” The community features drew her in, from

she says. Her advice for those considering 55-plus neighborhoods: research carefully. “They’re not all the same,” she says. “Ask a lot of questions, and make sure it really fits the lifestyle you want.”

As retirement approaches, Amy looks forward to having more time to explore Durham, travel and enjoy her thoughtfully chosen home. The move, she says, is the culmination of a long journey. “It just feels like everything came together the way it was meant to.”

After a Decade of Nightl y Pain , Lisa Found Relief in an Une x pected Place After a Decade of Nightly Pain, Lisa Found Relief in an Unexpected Place

How Piedmont Acupuncture Healthcare Helped One Woman Sleep Through the Night Again

FFor more than a decade, Lisa M. lived in fear of her own bed.

“Every night felt like a countdown to torture,” she said. “I would lie in bed, wide-eyed, waiting for the pain to hit. And when it did - it was like being struck by lightning inside my head.”

Lisa was suffering from cluster headaches, an excruciating and rare form of headache disorder. Sometimes called, “suicide headaches” due to their severity, cluster headaches often strike in patterns–sometimes at night, sometimes during the day–but always with crushing, debilitating force. They robbed Lisa of more than just sleep–they stripped her of joy, energy, and hope.

“I tried everything,” she said, “prescription meds, neurology visits, sleep studies. I followed every piece of advice I was given. But nothing worked. Eventually, I stopped hoping anything would. I was really in a dark place.”

Then she found Piedmont Acupuncture Healthcare (PAH), a clinic that has become known for restoring not only health - but hope.

Located in Durham, NC, PAH blends modern, integrative solutions with the time-tested science of acupuncture to deliver real, lasting results. And while cluster headaches may be rare, conditions like migraine are widespread and equally devastating–leaving millions of people sidelined by pain, nausea, vision disturbances, and neurological symptoms. PAH addresses both. Their focus isn’t just treating symptomsit’s understanding the whole person and giving them back their life.

“When Lisa came to us, she was exhausted, discouraged, and rightfully skeptical,” said Patrice, Patient Care Coordinator at Piedmont Acupuncture Healthcare. “But what we see every day is that when you meet a person with compassion, listen to their story, and build a treatment plan just for them - everything can change.”

Lisa began a personalized care plan that included ATP Resonance BioTherapy®, O3 ReBoot Therapy® and

targeted acupuncture designed to calm overactive pain pathways and reduce inflammation.

And then–everything changed.

“For the first time in over a decade, I slept through the night,” Lisa said, her voice cracking. “I remember waking up and crying–not from pain, but from relief. I didn’t even know that kind of rest was possible anymore.”

That rest has transformed Lisa’s life.

“When you no longer dread your own bedroom–when sleep becomes a comfort again, not a threat–it changes everything. I feel rested again. I’m present with my family. I can think clearly again. I have a will to live again.”

known as a last resort with the best results. Patients from across North Carolina and southern Virginia seek their expertise when other avenues have failed. And Lisa’s story is just one of many.

“We specialize in giving people their lives back,” Patrice said. “It’s what we’re here for.”

If you or someone you love is battling a chronic condition with no relief in sight, know this: hope is not lost. At Piedmont Acupuncture Healthcare, it just might be a new beginning. Call (919) 318-0103 to schedule a consultation today or visit PiedmontAcuHC.com

The case for proactively planning, talking early and aligning on decisions now for aging loved ones

BY ELLIE KOLLME

A

PHONE CALL often starts the journey: a fall, a hospital visit, a pile of unopened bills on the kitchen table. Families suddenly confront decisions about aging, care and finances – often without a plan.

Demographics make that scenario increasingly common. The number of Americans ages 65 and older is expected to increase by 42% from 58 million in 2022 to 82 million by 2050, according to the Population Reference Bureau. More families now face questions about long-term care, housing transitions and financial planning.

Experts say the best approach is a proactive one that begins long before a crisis. Dori J. Dixon, founder of Southpoint Estate Planning; Jay Cannon, chief operations officer of Always Home Furniture Consignment; and Allison O’Shea, founder of Openly Aging, encourage families to plan early, ask questions and understand their options.

MYTH BUSTERS

The biggest misconceptions about aging and care

YOU MUST NAVIGATE THE AGING PROCESS ALONE. It’s easy for families to feel isolated when facing the complexities of elder care, but Jay says it’s important to remember that people have faced these challenges many times before. “You’re not the only person doing this,” he says.

Allison adds that families are not expected to understand the “ecosystem” of aging, as older adults today have significantly more options than previous generations and navigating those choices requires professional insight. “It’s all about education and understanding as a consumer what to expect,” she says. “There’s no right or wrong answer to aging. There’s so many options, and that’s why strategy is key.”

AGING MEANS LOSING CONTROL. Allison notes that society tends to ignore aging and to favor the youth, but her key mantra is, “Aging is not a problem to fix.” It’s a universal experience, and she encourages individuals to shift their mindset from avoidance to advocacy. Being proactive and planning ahead allows older adults to implement strategies that enable them to remain independent and in control of their lives for as long as possible.

LONG-TERM CARE MEANS MOVING

TO A FACILITY. Images of clinical corridors and nursing home hallways often dominate conversations about aging. Reality offers far more options. Dori explains that the right coverage can actually be a ticket to staying home. Many long-term care insurance policies can cover in-home care, allowing seniors to maintain independence and avoid institutional settings altogether. Timing matters. Premiums rise with age, so Dori often recommends investing in long-term care insurance between ages 50 and 60.

ALL POWERS OF ATTORNEY ARE CREATED EQUAL. A common mistake is treating a power of attorney as a “one-size-fits-all” document easily downloaded or purchased online. However, Dori cautions that these documents carry significant legal nuance. “They have different powers in them depending on what kinds of powers you want to give to your agent,” she says. According to the NC Department of Health and Human Services, the general power of attorney allows someone to take care of your finances during your lifetime if you are unable, while a health care power of attorney appoints a decision-maker for your medical care. A power of attorney goes into effect once the document is signed or when one is deemed incompetent.

MARRIAGE AND PARENTHOOD GUARANTEE

AUTOMATIC ESTATE CONTROL. “A lot of people think that, if you’re married, everything automatically goes to your spouse, or that the living parent will automatically be in charge of any money that goes to a child,” Dori says. “But that’s not the case.”

If you die without a will, North Carolina law states who receives your property at death. For example, if you are married and have two or more children and you die without a will, your spouse will receive the first $60,000 of personal property and one-third of the remaining personal property as well as a third of the real property. The children will receive the remaining personal and real property. This does not apply to property that is jointly held or property that names a beneficiary. If the children are minors, the surviving parent will need to go to court to be appointed as guardian of any property the children receive and will be required to submit annual accountings to the court.

PROBATE IS A SIMPLE PROCESS. Many believe that having a will ensures a quick transition of assets, but the legal reality of probate – the court-supervised process that validates a will and appoints a personal representative to administer the estate – can be grueling. Even with a straightforward estate, Dori warns that the timeline is often backlogged.

“While you’re waiting for that process, no one has access to the bank [account],” Dori says. She recommends establishing a living trust to avoid this waiting period. This document outlines exactly how property is distributed upon death, provided that the assets are correctly “titled” in the name of the trust. An advantage of this process is the inclusion of a successor trustee, who gains immediate access to assets as soon as they present the owner’s death

BIG QUESTIONS

FAQs every adult should know

certificate, avoiding the court system entirely. Beyond trusts, Dori suggests utilizing beneficiary designations, as naming a specific beneficiary on an account allows that individual to access funds immediately.

ESTATE PLANNING ONLY MATTERS FOR WEALTHY FAMILIES. People often mistakenly believe that an “estate” requires a mansion or a sprawling portfolio. In reality, if you own a bank account, a car or a home, you have an estate. Proper planning can help avoid unnecessary legal hurdles and costs. “The worst feeling ever is paying a ton of money to get access to just a little bit of money,” Dori says. To get ahead of these challenges, Dori recommends organizing documents and ensuring all accounts are updated. This clarity guarantees that your resources are handled according to your wishes if you ever become unable to speak for yourself.

YOU WON’T QUALIFY FOR MEDICAID.

Dori says she frequently sees people prematurely disqualifying themselves from Medicaid, assuming their income or assets are too high to ever receive assistance. Dori warns that this assumption often leads to costly mistakes, such as “spending down” assets too quickly or making improper transfers that can trigger eligibility penalties. Rather than relying on “neighborly advice,” which is often inaccurate or outdated, Dori stresses the importance of professional guidance. “Get advice from an elder law attorney, and don’t just start spending,” she says. “Definitely don’t start giving things away without [expert] advice.” An elder law attorney can help families navigate the complex look-back periods and asset limits, ensuring they persevere as much as possible while still securing the care they need.

WHAT IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS SHOULD I HAVE, AND HOW OFTEN SHOULD I UPDATE THEM? The moment an individual turns 18 and gains legal independence, Dori says they should have three foundational documents in place: a financial power of attorney, a health care power of attorney and a HIPAA waiver, which bridges the gap for accessing medical information. A health care power of attorney allows an agent to make medical decisions, but that authority only goes into effect once a person is declared incapacitated. The doctor cannot disclose necessary medical information to prove incapacity without a HIPAA waiver already in place. The waiver authorizes designated individuals to speak with doctors immediately, enabling them to confirm the individual’s condition and trigger legal authority without administrative delays.

Dori also recommends a living will, formerly known as an Advance Directive for a Natural Death, which is not strictly required but is a critical component of a complete plan. Dori advises to update estate

plans whenever a major life event occurs, such as the birth of a child or grandchild, a divorce, the onset of a disability or a bankruptcy filing.

Dori suggests another simple “rule of thumb” for document maintenance: “Every time there’s a change in the administration, so every election cycle, check in with your attorney.” Legislative changes can affect estate law and tax policies, so it’s important to see how it might impact your current plan.

WHAT IS

THE DIFFERENCE

BETWEEN

A WILL AND A TRUST?

Both documents outline how property is handled after you pass away, but they function in different ways. A will outlines your final wishes, but does not go into effect until your death. A trust, however, is active and allows someone to manage your property if you are incapacitated.

A trust requires “funding,” meaning retitling assets such as your home or bank accounts into the trust’s name. This structure allows assets to pass directly to your beneficiaries upon death, which helps avoid court fees and enables loved ones to access their inheritance quicker. It also enables your named trustee to step in immediately to help pay bills and manage assets without needing a court order. Dori says a trust can be more expensive to set up, but often saves families time and legal expenses later by not needing to pay probate fees to attorneys. 

RETIREMENT

WHEN SHOULD I START DOWNSIZING?

Downsizing often carries emotional weight when it’s associated with a move into a smaller home or a care facility, but Jay suggests that decluttering isn’t just about getting rid of things, but about improving daily life, reframing the concept as a transition rather than a loss.

“There’s an instant qualityof-life benefit, whether you’re 25 years old or 75 years old, to just let go of some stuff,” he says. Always Home helps families manage this shift through comprehensive downsizing services ranging from estate sales and consignment services to moving support.

“We took what a lot of vendors do really well, and we packaged it up into a complete offering,” he says.

WHAT

IS AN ESTATE

SALE? The professional selling of an older adult’s personal belongings. In many cases, the sales often generate proceeds that can help offset moving or care costs. Jay explains that Always Home focuses on items they believe will sell, consigns or includes them in estate sales, and then shares the proceeds with the client, effectively reducing or even covering the cost of the downsizing services.

Professional organizer Erica Edelman saw the process firsthand while helping a client move into assisted living whose home contained years of belongings. She says Always Home took care of everything – clearing out the house before the estate sale, coordinating and conducting the sale and clearing the house afterward. “I could not be more ecstatic,” Erica says.

START HERE

1 HAVE THE

CONVERSATION

The most critical step in estate and care planning isn’t a legal filing, it’s dialogue. While these discussions can be difficult and uncomfortable, Dori emphasizes that they are the only way to ensure a loved one will get the support they want and need. Dori suggests framing the talk as an act of support, using phrases like, “I want to make sure I’m prepared, so I can take care of you in the best way possible.”

Transparency is key to ensuring everyone is on the same page. Dori recommends verifying details such as health insurance coverage, income sources and specific preferences for future care. If a loved one is resistant, she suggests bringing in a neutral third party.

Allison recommends weaving discussions into everyday moments instead of viewing it as a “big conversation,” which tends to lead to better and more honest answers. She says talking about this topic in positive ways is more efficient, and to ask questions surrounding independence when it comes to transportation, social engagement and housing to reveal priorities for the future. An example: “Have you ever thought about your goal to stay here? If you can’t drive, will you feel socially isolated?”

2

ESTABLISH A POWER OF ATTORNEY

A power of attorney gives one or more persons the power to act on your behalf as your agent, and ensures someone is in place to help with health care or financial decisions if an individual is incapacitated. This can help avoid guardianship, which completely takes away a person’s freedom. Dori says establishing a power of attorney helps clients stay in control. “It’s your choice when you need it, and if you don’t have that in place, then the court is going to decide, and it’s going to be a whole lot more expensive,” Dori says.

3

ORGANIZE AND UPDATE DOCUMENTS

A well-organized filing system saves families countless hours later. Dori suggests creating a separate file for categories like property documents, bank statements, credit card statements, brokerage accounts and confirmations of beneficiaries that are named on life insurance or retirement accounts. It’s also prudent to keep a container with spare keys to the front door, the car, a vacation home, etc. “It’s a great way to organize things and make it really easy for your family, because they have everything in one place.” She recommends families keep these documents at home in a fireproof box rather than a safe-deposit box, because those are sealed after death. Dori says putting together a list of assets, concerns and personal goals for the future helps attorneys and advisors provide tailored guidance.

4

REVIEW THE FOUR PILLARS

Allison structures proactive aging around four pillars –support system, living environment, supportive services and social connection – and says it’s important to know the contents of each pillar to better understand an individual’s aging journey. Support systems include family and friends as well as professional relationships. Allison says you need to know who is going to be there for you as you get older, but also understand when to seek out expert assistance. She says she commonly sees people struggle to identify a support system, but knowing you might need a care manager earlier will help you plan later on, and ensure you can pay for it. Ask questions to see if your current living situation is suited for aging, and make necessary adjustments if need be. “Your living environment has a lot more to do with how you age than people realize, but that’s also one of the hardest ones for people to get their heads wrapped around,” Allison says. “People have a hard time accepting the fact that their living environment may not be setting them up for success.” People also must understand how services are paid for – what your finances can support

FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE

THUY BROOKS ’ family contacted Openly Aging after her father received a Parkinson’s diagnosis.

Allison guided the family through options while respecting her parents’ need to move slowly and ease into the idea about bringing outside caregivers into their home.

“There were many options available to help facilitate the aging process and address the needs of the elderly,” Thuy says. “Openly Aging and Allison made the process much easier for us because we trusted the organizations she recommended, and it saved us a lot of wasted time and energy.”

The experience also changed how Thuy thinks about her own future.

“I believe I will be better prepared to help myself and my spouse with the aging process,” Thuy says, “and, as a result, help relieve the burden on my own children in the future.”

The process relieved the pressure on Thuy and her siblings; she says that Allison’s firm, but sensitive, manner helped her parents realize that home health care should not fall on other family members, but at the same time, their needs would be too difficult to handle without further assistance. “I can’t overstate how effective her energy and positivity were to my parents and our family,” Thuy says. “She eased their concerns, and they trusted her guidance and suggestions completely.”

and what services are required based on your needs. She says people often realize too late that they can’t afford home care, or they might hold onto their money rather than proactively spending on reliable services like hiring a handyman or a driver, only to find themselves in desperate need later on.

Lastly, aging can bring an increased risk of isolation, particularly when mobility changes or driving is no longer an option. Allison says maintaining social connection plays a critical role in overall well-being. She encourages people to think intentionally about how they connect with others – whether they are more introverted or extroverted, and whether they prefer purposeful activities like volunteering or casual social gatherings. Understanding those preferences, she says, allows individuals and families to create strategies that preserve meaningful interaction and prevent isolation as circumstances evolve.

5 UNDERSTAND THE FINANCIAL LANDSCAPE

A common pitfall in aging is miscalculating the cost of future care. Allison notes that many people overestimate what they can afford, while others are unaware of the various benefits for which they may be eligible. Allison

says it’s important to work with a financial advisor, as understanding your money situation as a whole will help with planning and benefits.

Dori echoes the sentiment that talking with your financial advisor early is essential, as retirement communities and assisted living homes can average $10,000 to $12,000 a month – oftentimes more – causing people to quickly run out of money when paying for care. If families cannot pay for long-term care in a nursing home, she advises investing in long-term care insurance and researching if they qualify for Medicaid benefits.

6 BEGIN NOW

Allison emphasizes that early planning gives you the most options. “When you wait for a crisis, you put yourself or your loved one in a more vulnerable position,” she says. “Because, all of a sudden, you need an intense level of care, and you have to trust that the people who are providing it are doing the right thing.” She says this can be prevented by having your strategy in place, which is why she focuses on pre-crisis planning and giving people peace of mind that enables them to adapt to certain circumstances.

THE 2026 DIRECTORY OF ASSISTED LIVING, CONTINUING CARE, INDEPENDENT LIVING, 55+ LIVING AND COHOUSING RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES

ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITIES

Avendelle Assisted Living at Southpoint

1305 Capstone Dr., Durham

Entrance Fee Call for pricing

Monthly Fee Range Call for pricing

Contract Options Monthly rate includes personalized care, dining, activities, laundry and housekeeping

Refund Options 14-day notice required

Long-Term Care Insurance Not required, but accepted Contact Information avendelle.com

Brookdale Chapel Hill Assisted Living

2220 Farmington Dr., Chapel Hill

Entrance Fee One-time community fee, call for pricing

Monthly Fee Range Call for pricing

Contract Options Month-to-month

Medicare Certified No

Long-Term Care Insurance Accepted

Contact Information 984-710-4715; brookdale.com

Brookdale Chapel Hill Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care

2230 Farmington Dr., Chapel Hill

Entrance Fee One-time community fee, call for pricing

Monthly Fee Range Call for pricing

Contract Options Month-to-month

Medicare Certified No

Long-Term Care Insurance Accepted

Contact Information 984-710-4715; brookdale.com

Brookdale Durham Assisted Living and Dementia Care

4434 Ben Franklin Blvd., Durham

Entrance Fee One-time community fee, call for pricing

Monthly Fee Range Call for pricing

Contract Options Month-to-month

Medicare Certified No

Long-Term Care Insurance Accepted

Contact Information 919-479-9966; brookdale.com

Brookdale Meadowmont Assisted Living and Dementia Care

100 Lanark Rd., Chapel Hill

Entrance Fee One-time community fee, call for pricing

Monthly Fee Range Call for pricing

Contract Options Month-to-month

Medicare Certified No

Long-Term Care Insurance Accepted

Contact Information 919-918-7600; brookdale.com

Calyx Living of Durham

4214 Guess Rd., Durham

Entrance Fee Application fee required, call for pricing

Monthly Fee Range Call for pricing

Contract Options Monthly rate includes care, dining, activities, laundry and housekeeping

Refund Options 14-day notice required

Medicare Certified Not applicable

Long-Term Care Insurance Not required, but accepted

Minimum Age 60

Contact Information 919-471-0091; calyxseniorliving.com

Cambridge Hills Assisted Living

140 Brookstone Ln., Pittsboro

This all-inclusive four-star community, which has served Chatham County and neighboring counties for more than 20 years, is a 90-bed assisted living community with a 38-bed memory care wing that offers both private and semiprivate rooms and award-winning activity programs.

Community Fee Call for pricing

Monthly Fee Range Call for pricing; veteran discounts offered

Contract Options None. Requires 14-day notice before moving out

Refund Options Prorated based on move-out date

Medicare Certified No; Medicaid accepted

Long-Term Care Insurance Accepted

Minimum Age 65

Contact Information 919-545-9573 or shelby@silver-thread.com; silver-thread.com

Chatham Ridge Assisted Living & Memory Care

114 Polks Village Ln., Chapel Hill

Entrance Fee One month’s rent

Monthly Fee Range Starting at $5,290

Contract Options Month-to-month

Long-Term Care Insurance Accepted

Minimum Age 55

Contact Information 919-883-9767; navionseniorsolutions.com

Laurels of Chatham (Skilled Nursing & Rehab Facility)

72 Chatham Business Dr., Pittsboro

Monthly Fee Range

$10,260 – $12,240

Medicare Certified Yes; also accepts most Medicare Advantage plans, commercial insurance, Medicaid and private pay

Long-Term Care Insurance Not accepted

Contact Information Facility: 919-542-6677;

Admissions: 919-302-7862; laurelsofchatham.com 

RETIREMENT

Mebane Ridge Assisted Living & Memory Care

1999 S. NC Hwy. 119, Mebane

Entrance Fee One month’s rent

Monthly Fee Range Starting at $4,500

Contract Options Month-to-month

Long-Term Care Insurance Accepted

Minimum Age 55

Contact Information 984-203-7588; navionseniorsolutions.com/ communities/mebane-ridge

Roxboro Assisted Living

5660 Durham Rd., Roxboro

Entrance Fee Call for pricing

Monthly Fee Range Call for pricing

Refund Options Requires 14-day notice

Medicare Certified No

Long-Term Care Insurance Accepted

Minimum Age 55

Contact Information 336-598-4697; admin1@roxboroassistedliving.com; roxboroassistedliving.com

TerraBella Senior Living

1911 Orange Grove Rd., Hillsborough

Entrance Fee $3,500

Contract Options Month-to-month

Medicare Certified No

Long-Term Care Insurance Accepted

Minimum Age 55

Contact Information 919-732-9040; terrabellahillsborough.com

Waltonwood Cary Parkway

750 SE Cary Pkwy., Cary

Entrance Fee One-time community fee, call for pricing on cottages, oneand two-bedroom options in independent living; one- and two- bedroom options in assisted living and private apartments in memory care.

Monthly Fee Range Call for pricing

Contract Options Year lease

Medicare Certified No

Long-Term Care Insurance Accepted

Contact Information 919-460-7330; waltonwood.com

CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES

Cambridge Hills Assisted Living

100 Carolina Meadows, Chapel Hill

The 166-acre campus includes a nine-hole golf course, pristine walking trails, tennis and pickleball courts, community gardens and more. Residents enjoy distinctive dining venues, a state-of-the-art wellness center and an auditorium that offers fascinating lectures and performances.

Entrance Fee Range

$154,700 – $925,100

Monthly Fee Range $3,687 – $6,064

Contract Options Fee for Service: Housing, residential services and guaranteed access to health-related services in exchange for entrance fee and monthly fee. Health-related services are provided at per diem rates, which vary. Home Care services are also available. Equity: See below.

Refund Options Predictable 75% Return of Equity refund option offered for all independent living homes on campus. The refund is based off original entrance fee.

Medicare Certified Yes, Medicare Part B

Long-Term Care Insurance Not required, but welcome

Minimum Age 62

Contact Information 919-370-7159; 800-458-6756; carolinameadows.org

Carol Woods

750 Weaver Dairy Rd., Chapel Hill

Entrance Fee Range

$116,000 – $636,000

Monthly Fee Range $2,680 – $6,191

Contract Options Modified: Entrance fee and monthly payments cover housing, residential services like meals and housekeeping, and some healthrelated services. Health-related services are provided at a discounted rate.

Refund Options Declining Refund: Pay entry fee; full refund in first 90 days; refund declines at 2% rate each additional month; after 50 months, no refund.

Medicare Certified Yes

Long-Term Care Insurance Not required; could help pay for discounted per diems.

Minimum Age 62 (co-applicant must be at least 55)

Contact Information 919-968-4511; 800-518-9333; carolwoods.org

The Cedars of Chapel Hill

100 Cedar Club Circle (Meadowmont), Chapel Hill

Purchase Price Range $400,000s – $2,000,000*

Monthly Fee Range $4,016 – $10,742

Contract Options *Equity: Actual real estate purchase, with transfer of ownership of the unit. Type B Modified contract. If a resident moves to a health center, 90 prepaid days except two meals per day. After 90 days, member pays discounted rate.

Refund Options Not applicable because of ownership

Medicare Certified Yes

Long-Term Care Insurance Not required

Minimum Age 62 (co-applicant must be at least 55)

Contact Information 919-259-7927; cedarsofchapelhill.com

Croasdaile Village

2600 Croasdaile Farm Pkwy., Durham

Set on more than 100 acres, the community offers a blend of a rural atmosphere and city conveniences within the residential neighborhood of Croasdaile Farm, located only 6 miles from downtown Durham. Residents enjoy numerous green spaces with yards, gardening and walking trails, a dog park, lakes and the security of a full continuum of care on-site. The central campus buildings are connected, with a stateof-the-art wellness center, large heated pool, auditorium, woodworking shop, indoor pickleball court, art studio, multiple dining venues, a village shop and an interfaith chapel.

Entrance Fee Range

$70,619 – $584,529

Monthly Fee Range $2,606 – $6,017 (single occupancy with second person fee of $1,647 for all residential homes)

Contract Options Fee for Service: Entrance fee and monthly payments cover housing, maintenance and groundskeeping; residential services such as meals, utilities and housekeeping; along with priority access to health-related services and health care navigation. Advanced levels of health services are provided at per-diem rates.

Refund Options Declining Refund: Option 1: Pay lower entry fee; refund declines at rate of 2% per month of occupancy; after 50 months, no refund is paid. Option 2: 50% Refund – pay higher entry fee; refund declines at a rate of 2% per month until 50% of residence fee is accrued; refund limited to 50%. Option 3: 90% Refund – pay higher entry fee; refund declines at a rate of 2% per month until 10% of fee is accrued; refund limited to 90%.

Medicare Certified Yes; rehab on-site

Long-Term Care Insurance Not required, but welcome

Minimum Age 62

Contact Information 919-384-2475 or 800-960-7737 for marketing and sales; 919-384-2000 for general inquiries; croasdailevillage.org

The Forest at Duke

2701 Pickett Rd., Durham

Celebrating more than 30 years of community, The Forest at Duke is a vibrant continuing care retirement community located in the heart of Durham. The Forest offers both an off-campus residency program and an on-campus residency program for independent living. On-campus living offers five floor plans for apartment living, six floor plans for cottages and individual homes, and 10 all-new apartment floor plans debuting in its 71-residence expansion, The Terraces. Each on-campus home provides spacious, contemporary living with access to a range of amenities. Both on- and off-campus living provides residents with myriad opportunities for fitness, wellness, socialization, entertainment, self-discovery and lifelong learning.

Entrance Fee Range

$99,729 – $722,585

Monthly Fee Range $4,300 – $10,096

Contract Options Modified: Entrance fee and monthly payments cover housing, residential services such as meals and housekeeping, and some health-related services. Health-related services are provided at a greatly discounted rate and are free for a specified number of days.

Refund Options The Forest retains $10,000 of each person’s entry fee as a health care reserve. The remaining balance of the entry fee, the residence fee, is refundable based on the following: 2% of the residence fee accrues to The Forest at Duke each month. The refund decreases to zero over 50 months.

Medicare Certified Yes

Long-Term Care Insurance Not required, but welcome

Minimum Age 65 (co-applicant must be at least 62) Contact Information 919-490-8000; forestduke.org

Galloway Ridge at Fearrington

3000 Galloway Ridge Rd., Pittsboro

This welcoming life plan community redefines senior living, offering a vibrant and fulfilling lifestyle where the next chapter is filled with possibility, and deep connections are fostered among residents and staff, creating a place that truly feels like home.

Nestled south of Chapel Hill, Galloway Ridge offers the perfect balance of small-town charm and big-city access. Adjacent to Fearrington Village, the 67-acre campus is surrounded by miles of scenic trails and sidewalks, with Jordan Lake and the Haw River a short drive away for outdoor enthusiasts.

Residents enjoy an array of amenities, including independent living apartments and villas, multiple dining venues, an art studio, a woodworking shop, a movie theater with stadium seating, a billiards room, and a variety of social and gathering spaces. The WellPlex – which features the Duke Center for Living, a 20,000-square-foot fitness center, Duke Primary Care and the Center for Physical Rehabilitation – supports an active and engaged lifestyle.

On-campus primary care services are available through both UNC Health and Duke Primary Care. For residents in need of additional support, Medicare-certified health care center The Arbor offers 96 private rooms for assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing, ensuring compassionate, high-quality care at every life stage.

Entrance Fee Range

Monthly Fee Range

$275,000 – $1,802,000

$4,415 – $10,277

Contract Options Life Care (Type A): For a one-time entrance fee and a monthly service fee, Galloway Ridge’s contract provides housing, dining, housekeeping, utilities, maintenance, wellness services, 24-hour security and a variety of resident amenities. If needed, unlimited assisted living, skilled nursing and memory care are available to residents. An additional meal fee applies when transitioning to higher levels of care.

Refund Options Option 1 (Traditional Entrance Fee): Entrance fee cost is lower but is only refundable on a prorated basis for four years. Refund declines at a rate of 4% in the first month; 2% each additional month; after 4 years, no refund. Option 2 (75% Refundable Entrance Fee): Entrance fee cost is higher but is 75% refundable of original entrance fee cost.

Medicare Certified Yes

Long-Term Care Insurance Not required

Minimum Age 62

Contact Information 919-545-2647; gallowayridge.com

Glenaire

4000 Glenaire Circle, Cary

Entrance Fee Range

Monthly Fee Range

$87,000 – $1,025,000

$3,309 – $6,901

Contract Options Modified: Entrance fee and monthly payments cover housing, residential services such as meals and housekeeping, and some health-related services, which are provided at a subsidized rate or are free for a specified number of days.

Refund Options Option 1: Declining Refund – refund declines at rate of 2% per month for 48 months. Option 2: 50% refundable. Option 3: 90% refundable.

Medicare Certified Yes

Long-Term Care Insurance Not required

Minimum Age 62 (co-applicant must be at least 55)

Contact Information 919-460-8095; glenaire.org

Pittsboro Christian Village 1825 East St., Pittsboro

Entrance Fee Range

Monthly Fee Range

$3,500 or $30,000 - $155,000

$1,925 - $5,525

Contract Options The Village offers a range of living options, including 26 freestanding Independent Living Homes, 40 Independent Living Apartments and a 40-bed Assisted Living facility. Fee for Service –Cottages, Patio Homes, Heritage Homes, Legacy Homes, Apartments. Included additional services, meals, activities, housekeeping, linen service, maintenance, available assisted living services.

Refund Options Option 1: Non-Refundable, Option 2: Declining refund over 36 months.

Medicare Certified No

Long-Term Care Insurance Yes

Minimum Age 55

Contact Information 919-542-3151; pcvnc.org

Searstone

17001 Searstone Dr., Cary

Entrance Fee Range

Monthly Fee Range

$429,000 – $1,144,000

$4,050 – $9,500; (second person fee is $1,910)

Contract Options Type A LifeCare contract. Residents pay a one-time

Maybe you’ll get together to discuss a good book

Or maybe you’ll sit down and write one.

At Twin Lakes Community, it’s all about how you want to live life. Join a book club, take an exercise class, volunteer in town or tend your patio garden. You’ll find people from all walks of life and neighbors who suddenly seem like old friends. And, because Twin Lakes is a Continuing Care Retirement Community, you’ll experience the peace of mind that comes with knowing you’re at a good place in life.

NC 336-538-1500

RETIREMENT

LifeCare fee to cover costs of assisted living, skilled nursing and/or memory support. The LifeCare program has significant tax advantages and works well with long-term care policies.

Refund Options Entrance fee is 100% refundable

Medicare Certified No

Long-Term Care Insurance Yes

Minimum Age 62

Contact Information 919-234-0339; info@searstone.com; searstone.com

Springmoor

1500 Sawmill Rd., Raleigh

Entrance Fee/Monthly Fee Range Call for pricing

Contract Options Modified: Housing, residential services and some health-related services in exchange for entrance fee and monthly fee, which includes 30 days of free health care (with a maximum balance of 90 days), then is available at a discounted rate.

Refund Options Option 1: Life Occupancy – Residence & Care refund declines at 4% per month for 25 months, then no refund. Option 2: 50%

Life Equity – refund declines at 2% per month for 25 months. The remaining 50% is returned to the resident or estate after residency is terminated and within 30 days of re-occupancy of the residential unit. Option 3: 100%

Life Equity – 100% of the Residence & Care fee is returned to the resident or estate after residency is terminated. The refund is available, once residency is terminated, six years after initial move-in date, or 30 days after reoccupancy of the residential unit, if six years has passed.

Medicare Certified No

Long-Term Care Insurance Not required

Minimum Age 62 Contact Information 919-848-7080; springmoor.org

Contact Information 919-848-7080; springmoor.org

The Templeton of Cary

215 Brightmore Dr., Cary

Cary’s only rental Life Plan community offers 10 spacious floor plans with highend finishes. The Templeton’s 15-acre campus couldn’t be more convenient to everything and includes an abundance of activities and wellness programs complete with a saltwater pool, spa, transportation and several culinary choices.

Entrance Fee Range N/A. Community fee is equal to one month’s rent.

Monthly Fee Range $4,995 – $10,380

Contract Options Rental community with 13-month lease, but can give 30-day notice at any time.

Medicare Certified Yes, for skilled nursing and rehab

Long-Term Care Insurance Yes

Minimum Age 62 (for couples, at least one spouse must be 62)

Contact Information 984-200-3688; thetempletonofcary.com

Twin Lakes Community

3701 Wade Coble Dr., Burlington

An intentional community filled with people who chose Twin Lakes for various reasons, but who all have one thing in common: the desire for a well-rounded life surrounded by others who are engaged and open to new experiences, people and ideas. More than 600 residents in independent living enjoy the 215-acre community and the amenities that make it home. In addition to the spacious campus, this is a unique CCRC: There’s no mandatory meal plan, and it offers comparably lower fees. Its neighborhoods are filled with people from diverse backgrounds and life experiences.

Entrance Fee Range

Monthly Fee Range

$67,000 – $599,000

$2,033 – $4,678

Contract Options Fee-for-service contract only

Refund Options 30-month declining refund and 50% refund available

Medicare Certified Yes

Long-Term Care Insurance Not required

Minimum Age 62 (co-applicant must be at least 62)

Contact Information 336-538-1572; twinlakescomm.org

The Village at Brookwood

1860 Brookwood Ave., Burlington

Entrance Fee Options start at $162,000

Monthly Fee Range

$3,081-plus

Contract Options Option 1: LifeCare: Garden Homes & Apartments, bundled services, campus amenities, maintenance and guaranteed future health care provided in exchange for the entrance fee and monthly fee. When moving from one level of care to another, the monthly fee reflects a significant reduction of the daily per diem skilled nursing rate. Option 2: Fee for Service: Garden Homes & Apartments, bundled services, campus amenities, maintenance and guaranteed access to future health care are provided in exchange for entrance fee and monthly fee. Health-related

services are provided at the per diem rate.

Refund Options A declining refund over 47 months

Medicare Certified Yes

Long-Term Care Insurance Not required; can help with costs related to assisted living, memory care, skilled care for Fee-for-Service or LifeCare plans.

Minimum Age 62 (co-applicant must be at least 55)

Contact Information 336-570-8440; villageatbrookwood.org

POST-ACUTE CONTINUING CARE SYSTEMS

Hillcrest Convalescent Center

1417 W. Pettigrew St., Durham

The center has provided quality care – including after-hospital rehabilitation, 24/7 skilled nursing, home care or out-patient physical therapy – for more than 74 years. Contact the Raleigh or Durham location for more information about its services and signature Elegant Care.

Entrance Fee No deposit or application fee required

Monthly Fee Call for pricing

Contract Options All-inclusive monthly rate for short-term, long-term, assisted living or respite stays

Refund Options Pay only for the days spent, any unused daily rate refunded

Contact Information 919-286-7705; admissions@hillcrestnc.com; hillcrestnc.com

Hillcrest Raleigh at Crabtree

3830 Blue Ridge Rd., Raleigh

Entrance Fee No deposit or application fee required

Monthly Fee Call for pricing

Contract Options All-inclusive monthly rate for short-term, long-term or respite stays

Refund Options Pay only for the days spent, any unused daily rate refunded

Contact Information 919-781-4900; admissions@hillcrestraleighnc.com; hillcrestnc.com

Hillcrest Home Health of the Triangle

1000 Bear Cat Way, Ste. 104, Morrisville

Personal care, in-home support and companion care, and respite care. Contact Information 919-468-1204; agencydir@hillcresthh.com

Hillcrest Physical Therapy & Wellness

4215 University Dr., Ste. B2, Durham

Physical therapy, specialty treatments and wellness programs. Contact Information 919-627-6700; rehab.durham@hillcrestptw.com

INDEPENDENT SENIOR LIVING

Bartlett Reserve

300 Meredith Dr., Durham

Entrance Fee

$5,000

Monthly Fee Range

$4,295 – $5,195

Contract Options Month-to-month; 60-day notice to leave

Medicare Certified Yes

Long-Term Care Insurance Accepted for personal care and veterans benefits

Minimum Age 55

Contact Information Karen Camara, 919-634-2197; marketing@bartlettreserve.com; bartlettreserve.com

Brier Pointe Retirement Community

5911 McCrimmon Pkwy., Morrisville

Entrance Fee One month security deposit (partially refundable)

Monthly Fee $4,300 – $7,100

Contract Options Month-to-month

Medicare Certified No

Long-Term Care Insurance Can be utilized for additional care

Contact Information 919-378-2902; rlcommunities.com

Cambridge Village of Apex

10000 Cambridge Village Loop, Apex

This all-inclusive independent senior living community invites its residents to live their best life among its luxurious and detail-oriented amenities. The Optimal Living community focuses on improving every aspect of its residents’ lives by providing a total wellness approach and offering a variety

Entrance Fee Based on unit type

Monthly Fee Range

$3,200 – $6,800

Contract Options One-year or month-to-month lease options

Medicare Certified Medicare accepted through on-site physician and with WakeMed Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy

Long-Term Care Insurance Accepted by on-site home health partner

Minimum Age 55

Contact Information Sales director, 919-363-2080; apexinfo@cvsliving.com; cvsliving.com/apex

Cambridge Village at Brier Creek

7901 TW Alexander Dr., Raleigh

Entrance Fee Range Equivalent to two month’s rent

Monthly Fee Range

$4,135 – $11,995

Contract Options Month-to-month or one-year leases

Medicare Certified Medicare accepted through on-site physician and with WakeMed Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy

Long-Term Care Insurance Accepted

Minimum Age 55

Contact Information Marketing Director, 919-737-7000; briercreekinfo@cvsliving.com; cvsliving.com/brier-creek

Holiday Durham Regent

3007 Pickett Rd., Durham

Entrance Fee Range First month’s rent

Monthly Fee Range $2,379 – $4,500

Contract Options Month-to-month leases, all independent living

Medicare Certified No medical services included

Long-Term Care Insurance No

Minimum Age 55

Contact Information 919-490-6224; holidayseniorliving.com

Twin Rivers Independent Senior Living

25 S. Rectory St., Pittsboro

This 31-unit complex offers a friendly, social and communal atmosphere for independent older adults. Staff is on-call seven days a week, and residents have use of a communal kitchen, game room and other shared spaces.

Entrance Fee Call for current rates

Monthly Fee Range Call for current rates

Contract Options None. Requires 60-day notice prior to moving out

Medicare Certified No

Long-Term Care Insurance N/A

Minimum Age 65

Contact Information 919-545-0149; 919-637-7117; paula@silver-thread.com; silver-thread.com

55+ COMMUNITIES

Carolina Overlook

19 Dover Downs Dr., Clayton

Price Range of Houses From the mid-$300s

Number of Units 620, plus possible future growth across the street

Resale Status Resales available, but mostly new homes, selling in second phase

Average Size of Houses 1,223 – 3,000 square feet (adding villas that are townhome/duplex-style middle of the year)

Amenities Included Indoor pool, indoor hot tub, outdoor pool, fitness center, aerobics studio, varsity room, clubhouse, clubs, classes, lifestyle director, pickleball courts, lake with walking trails

Contact Information 919-899-1767; delwebb.com/carolinaoverlook

Carolina Preserve

115 Allforth Pl., Cary

Price Range of Houses From the $450s

Number of Units 1,360

Resale Status Resale only

Average Size of Houses 1,200 – 3,500 square feet

Amenities Included Tennis courts, bocce ball courts, indoor pool, outdoor pool, fitness center, clubhouse, pickleball court and access to Town of Cary Greenway and Amberly Clubhouse

Contact Information 919-467-7837; carolinapreserve.com

The Courtyards at Andrews Chapel

1007 Havenwood Ln., Durham

Showcases beautifully designed homes with single-level living and signature private garden courtyards. Homeowners enjoy a lowmaintenance lifestyle in a close, connected community, with easy access to the best of the Triangle. It is a place where neighbors become friends, and homeowners can truly live well every day.

Number of Units 120

Resale Status Resale only

Average Size of Houses 1,500 – 4,000 square feet

Amenities Included Large clubhouse, outdoor swimming pool, fitness center, walking trails, pavilion

Sales Contact oscraleigh@epconcommunities.com; epconcommunities.com

The Courtyards at Lochmere

5100 Lilly Atkins Rd., Cary

Features thoughtfully designed homes that embrace single-level living and a lock-and-leave lifestyle. Open, light-filled floor plans and private outdoor living areas create the perfect setting for both everyday comfort and meaningful connection with family and friends.

Price Range of Houses From the upper $500s to the mid $600s

Number of Units 73

Resale Status Resale only

Average Size of Houses 1,519 – 2,930 square feet

Amenities Included Clubhouse, fireplace pavilion, fitness center, pool

Sales Contact oscraleigh@epconcommunities.com; epconcommunities.com

The Courtyards at Oak Grove

1702 Doc Nichols Rd., Durham

An Epcon community offering three distinct product lines: cottage homes, townhomes and luxury ranch homes, each thoughtfully designed for single-level living with first-floor owner suites; open, lightfilled spaces; and private garden courtyards that make the outdoors a central part of each home. With HOA-maintained landscaping and a lock-and-leave lifestyle, homeowners enjoy less time on chores and more time with family, friends and the freedom to live well every day.

Price Range of Houses From the $500s

Number of Units 166

Resale Status New construction

Average Size of Houses 1,500 – 4,000 square feet

Amenities Included Clubhouse, outdoor pool, fitness center, walking trails, pickleball courts, dog park

Sales Contact 919-646-6612; oscraleigh@epconcommunities.com; epcondurham.com

The Courtyards at O’Kelly Chapel 1601 Vineyard Mist Dr., Cary

Showcases beautifully crafted home designs centered around private garden courtyards that make the outdoors a pivotal part of each home. With no more yard maintenance and more time to focus on family, travel and personal passions, homeowners enjoy a new chapter filled with freedom and flexibility.

Number of Units 149

Resale Status Resale only

Average Size of Houses 2,000 square feet

Amenities Included Clubhouse, outdoor pool, fitness center, walking trails, access to the American Tobacco Trail

Sales Contact oscraleigh@epconcommunities.com; epconcommunities.com

The Courtyards at Southpoint

1203 Cherob Ln., Durham

Offers a boutique lifestyle community with abundant natural light, open floor plans and first-floor owner suites designed for living comfortably now and in the future. Ideally located near shopping, dining and health care, it provides the convenience and connection today’s active adults are seeking.

The Courtyards on Farrington 5113 Farrington Rd., Durham

Brings together innovative home design and an active lifestyle community in a highly desirable location. With private garden courtyards, no steps and HOA-maintained grounds, homeowners enjoy a lowmaintenance lifestyle that makes it easy to travel, gather with friends and fully embrace what matters most.

Price Range of Houses From the low $500s

Number of Units 64

Resale Status Resale only

Average Size of Houses 1,520 – 2,969 square feet

Amenities Included Clubhouse, outdoor pool, fitness center Sales Contact 919-646-6612; oscraleigh@epconcommunities.com; epconcommunities.com

Del Webb at Chatham Park

1277 Sanford Rd., Pittsboro

Price Range of Houses From the upper $300s

Number of Units 837

Sale Status Coming soon – sales expected to start January 2027

Average Size of Houses 1,223 – 3,000 square feet

Amenities Included Pickleball courts, indoor pool, indoor hot tub, outdoor pool, fitness center, aerobics studio, food and beverage service, lifestyle director, clubs, classes and a 20,000-square-foot clubhouse. Contact Information 919-921-8689; delwebb.com/chathampark

Inspire Briar Chapel

152 Market Chapel Rd., Pittsboro

Price Range of Apartment Homes Starting at $1,830/month – $3,265/month

Number of Units 150

Average Size of Homes 688 – 1,262 square feet

Amenities Included Heated saltwater community pool, creative art center, fitness center, yoga studio, theater room, billiards room, salon, library, bocce ball court, putting green, community garden, pet park and spa, wellness center, outdoor courtyard, grilling stations, planned daily resident events, indoor mail & package concierge, concierge services, smoke-free community

Contact Information 919-503-3034; inspirebriarchapel.com

Overture Chapel Hill

5910 Farrington Rd., Chapel Hill

Price Range of Apartment Homes Starting at $1,670/month

Number of Units 184

Average Size of Houses 598 – 1,365 square feet

Amenities Included Heated outdoor pool, outdoor lounge and terrace, fire pit, elevator-accessible floors, happy hours and yappy hours, fitness center and yoga studio, grand club room with demonstration kitchen, coffee bar, movie theater, game room, craft room, on-site guest suite for friends and family, Lyft ride-sharing scheduling through management, 24-hour emergency maintenance and carports available.

Contact Information 919-907-2200; overturechapelhill.com

COHOUSING COMMUNITIES

Village Hearth Cohousing

4900 Buttonbush Dr., Durham

Price Range of Condos Mid-$300s to high-$400s

Number of Condos 28

Resale Status Resale only

Average Size of Condos 650 – 1,150 square feet

Amenities Included An intentional 55-plus community 15 minutes north of downtown Durham, created by and for LGBTQIA+ folks and allies. The community – which is set on 15 acres, complete with walking trails and community raised-bed gardens – is self-governed, making decisions cooperatively. Single-story accessible homes feature welcoming front porches, vaulted ceilings, large windows and skylights. The community-oriented, 2,600-square-foot common house includes a gourmet kitchen, dining/meeting room, craft room, laundry room, exercise room and guest suite.

Contact Information 984-219-6686; connect@villagehearthcohousing.com; villagehearthcohousing.com

Price Range of Houses From the $500s

Number of Units 161

Resale Status Resale only

You Live Now Designed for the Way

At The Courtyards at Oak Grove, luxury ranch homes and townhomes are thoughtfully planned for single-level living, with first-floor owner’s suites, open interiors and abundant natural light. This boutique community makes everyday life feel easier so there’s more time for connection, comfort and doing what you enjoy most.

With lawn care included and private outdoor spaces for relaxing or gathering, The Courtyards at Oak Grove offers a lifestyle that’s both active and unhurried. Resort-style amenities, such as a clubhouse, fitness center, walking trails, pickleball and a meditation garden, round out a setting designed to help you live well every day.

WHY YOU’LL LOVE LIFE HERE

• Single-level living with first-floor owner’s suites designed for simplicity and confidence

• Lawn maintenance included—no yard work and more time for you

• Lock & leave convenience so you can travel freely and return with ease

• Private outdoor spaces for quiet mornings and casual gatherings

people &places

Dr. David

Keep Caring

BY LIBBY WAKEFIELD

PHOTOGRAPHY BY GAIL VANMATRE PHOTOGRAPHY

SECU Caring House held its annual benefit gala Feb. 21 at the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club, honoring Dr. David Ashley, director of the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center, and Natalie Ashley, administrative director of Duke Palliative Care. Guests heard from Dr. Erik Sulman, interim executive director of Duke Cancer Institute, and Zachary Slice, a former guest at Caring House, who spoke powerfully to the audience, noting “I am more than just a diagnosis.” The evening raised $259,575 to fund Caring House’s efforts of providing affordable accommodation and a supportive community to Duke Cancer Institute patients and their caregivers.

Read All About It

PHOTOGRAPHY BY STEPHANIE HUGHES

Book Harvest marked a milestone Martin Luther King Jr. Day at Boxyard RTP, hosting its 15th annual Dream Big Book Drive and Community Celebration. This year’s campaign shattered records, collecting 67,220 children’s books – more than any previous Dream Big drive – thanks to the efforts of 132 community-led drives across schools, sororities, churches, workplaces, neighborhoods and other local organizations.

The celebration came on the heels of another major moment: the distribution of Book Harvest’s 3 millionth book, underscoring the organization’s growing impact in placing books directly into the hands of local children. Families browsed and selected titles to take home while enjoying a Paperhand Puppets parade, visits with Wool E. Bull, live poetry from The Poetry Fox, face painting by Kathi’s Klowns, hot chocolate from Baekho Coffee & Ice Cream and a toucha-truck experience featuring a bus, dump truck, fire engine and moving truck.

U.S. Rep. Valerie Foushee joined Book Harvest CEO and founder Ginger Young and Executive Director Tabitha Blackwell in highlighting the nonprofit’s mission and also announced plans to introduce the Empowering Young Readers Act. The proposed legislation would support organizations working to expand book access in underserved communities through distribution efforts, literacy events and family-focused reading programs.

Rep. Foushee also recognized Book Harvest’s 2025 Library of Congress Literacy Award, which honored its Books from Birth program – an initiative that partners with hospital systems to send newborns home with a starter library of 10 new board books and family reading resources.

Mission

To ensure every child in Durham enters school ready to succeed, we lead community strategies for children birth to age 5 and their families that promote healthy development and learning and enhance access to high quality care.

Background

The first 2,000 days shape a child’s future success in school, work and life. That’s where Durham’s Partnership for Children comes in. The Partnership identifies emerging needs and mobilizes partners to support comprehensive approaches to serving all 23,000 young children in Durham. The organization administers the Smart Start initiative, N.C. Pre-K and Early Head Start, as well as community-based programs in Durham County.

Get Involved

Connect with us to stay updated on upcoming events and helpful resources

• Facebook: /DurhamsPartnershipForChildren

• Instagram: @the_partnership_dpfc

Volunteer with us as an early childhood advocate, volunteer, service project lead, committee member or organizational supporter

• Email our community awareness manager at kristen@dpfc.net

Apply for our Early Head Start Program, a comprehensive child development and family support program serving pregnant women and children from birth to age three

• dpfc.net/our-work/durham-early-head-start

Enroll your child in N.C. Pre-K, a high-quality program that prepares eligible 4-year-olds for school through early education in both public and private settings

• dpfc.net/our-work/ncpk

Donate to support Durham’s early childhood programs!

Get in Touch!

1201 S. Briggs Ave. Ste. 100 Durham, NC 27703

919-403-6960

Website: dpfc.net

Email: mail@dpfc.net

Brag Lines

• We partner with community partners to offer early care and education, family support, literacy and health services.

• We lead collaborative efforts to identify needs, connect systems, and develop strategies through events, trainings and initiatives.

• We raise awareness about early childhood development and available resources.

Parent Testimonial: “Having proper childcare and these resources gave us the stability we needed… If basic needs aren’t met, families can struggle to thrive. Pre-K allowed us to flourish.”

– 2024-2025 Pre-K Parent

The Durham PreK Application is OPEN

Apply for high-quality PreK in Durham County at durhamprek.org/dpk-application

Where Art Meets Heart

PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMY

ELLIS PHOTOGRAPHY

The Durham Arts Council brought the community together for The Art of the Party gala Feb. 28 to celebrate the creative spirit of the Bull City. The night featured specialty cocktails, music, dancing, auctions and more, and raised $58,000 to advance DAC’s mission including providing arts education opportunities, accessible public exhibits and festivals, and grants and resources to artists and arts organizations. The event also honored DAC Director of Artist Services Margaret DeMott for her 44 years of dedication to the arts.

Creative Takeover

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF MARK MALEK

pARTies on Parrish, a collaboration between Weird Productions and Amos Cooper Jr. of Black Robin Ventures, blended art, poetry, puppetry, storytelling, food, music and science in a monthlong February series honoring Black Wall Street’s history while spotlighting the artists and entrepreneurs shaping the Bull City’s future. Highlights included a Galentine’s Day paint-and-sip, a live podcast recording, a photography exhibit, a civil rights history tour, interactive science demos, and community-focused music and storytelling events. The series culminated with a closing celebration featuring local musicians and performers, engaging neighbors and visitors of all ages.

Following February’s success, March’s Focus on Blooming showcased artwork, workshops and community gatherings hosted by Candy Carver, and April will host the Sixpence Art Series, a one-month exhibition featuring local artists curated by Alyssa Cuffie Onuoha and Nori McDuffie-Williams. Each series continues the vision of using the space at 104 W. Parrish St. as a platform to celebrate Durham’s vibrant culture and creative economy.

Wally Cardona & Molly Lieber

Co-presented with Carolina Performing Arts

May 27–29 at 7 pm & May 30 at 2 pm & 7 pm

ADF’s Scripps Studios • $30

Jesse Factor

June 17 at 7:30 pm

Reynolds Industries Theater • $30–$45

for more details & to purchase tickets, visit

Footprints

june

Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company

June 18 & 19 at 7:30 pm

Page Auditorium • $40–$70

Camille A. Brown & Dancers

Co-presented with Hayti Heritage Center

June 20 at 2 pm & 7:30 pm

Reynolds Industries Theater • $30–$60

Made in NC

Tracey Durbin, Jabu Graybeal, Courtney Liu, & Amanda K. Miller

Co-presented with Cary, NC

June 22 at 7:30 pm

Page Auditorium • $30

ADF-Commissioned World Premieres

Encore performance at Downtown Cary Park on September 26 at 7:30 pm

I-Ling Liu & Stacy Matthew Spence

June 23 & 24 at 7:30 pm & June 24 at 2 pm

von der Heyden Studio Theater • $30

american dance festival may

Pioneer Winter Collective

Co-presented with The Carolina Theatre

June 25 at 7:30 pm

Carolina Theatre • $30

Charlotte Ballet

Co-presented with Jewish for Good

June 26 at 5:30 pm & 8 pm

June 27 & 28 at 1 pm & 4 pm

Jewish for Good • $38

Kimberly Bartosik/daela

June 27 at 7:30 pm

Reynolds Industries Theater • $30–$45 ADF Commission

Tere O’Connor Dance

June 30 at 7:30 pm

July 1 at 2 pm & 7:30 pm von der Heyden Studio Theater • $30 ADF Commission

Ephrat Asherie, Vincent E. Thomas, & Keith A. Thompson

July 11 at 7:30 pm & July 12 at 3 pm

Reynolds Industries Theater • $30–$45

ADF-Commissioned World Premieres

Stephan Koplowitz

July 11 at 1 pm & 3 pm

July 12 at 11 am & 1 pm

A FREE site-specific work at Mutual Tower

ADF-Commissioned World Premiere, Presented in collaboration with Turnbridge Equities

Paul Taylor Dance Company

July 15 & 16 at 7:30 pm

Page Auditorium • $40–$70

ADF-Commissioned World Premiere

Shen Wei Dance Arts & Guangdong Modern Dance Company

Mark Morris Dance Group

July 2 & 3 at 7:30 pm

July 4 at 5 pm

Li Chiao-Ping Dance july

Reynolds Industries Theater • $40–$70

Monica Bill Barnes & Company

July 7–10 at 7:30 pm von der Heyden Studio Theater • $30

SPECIAL EVENTS OFF STAGE

June 17: Opening Dance Party • $25

July 17: Closing Dance Party • $50

Film Screenings to celebrate 30 years of ADF’s Screendance Festival. For more details, visit our website.

July 17 at 7:30 pm & July 18 at 5 pm

Reynolds Industries Theater • $30–$60

ADF Co-commission

July 22 at 7:30 pm

Reynolds Industries Theater • $30

Pilobolus

July 24 at 7:30 pm & July 25 at 5 pm

Page Auditorium • $40–$70

CHILDREN’S MATINEES

Saturdays at 12 pm • $18 followed by a free Kids Party

July 4: Mark Morris Dance Group

July 25: Pilobolus PACKAGE DEAL $30 for both!

Please Join Us For

Auction Gala

Honoring Urban Ministries of Durham’s 43 Years of Ending Homelessness, Fighting Poverty & Saving Lives

Saturday, April 25

Saturday, April 25

6 p.m.

6 p.m.

Washington Duke Inn

Washington Duke Inn

3001 Cameron Blvd.

3001 Cameron Blvd.

Durham, NC

Durham, NC

For sponsorship info. email sfilter@umdurham.org

For sponsorship info. email sfilter@umdurham.org

Sit. Stay. Celebrate.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SARAH DAVIS

Central Bark marked the grand opening of its Durham location at 725 Iredell St. Feb. 21, welcoming the community for a day full of fun, furry friends and family-friendly activities. Local pet parents and their dogs enjoyed a lively celebration featuring dog photo shoots, balloon animals, paw print crafts, face painting, giveaways and more. The franchise, which has grown to 44 locations across 16 states over the past 20 years, offers a full range of services, including day care, grooming, training and boarding.

“Our mission is to enrich dogs’ lives and support their families with expert care they can trust,” says Central Bark Durham owner Brett Antonio.

May 30th 9:00am12:30pm

Packing With Purpose

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF CECILY KALKHOF

Rotary Clubs across the Triangle, including the Rotary Club of Durham and the Rotary Club of Southwest Durham, hosted the 19th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Regional Meal Packing Project. A total of 835 volunteers packed 187,264 meals for distribution to families in need across Durham, Orange, Wake and Johnston counties. In Durham specifically, 289 volunteers at Duke School packed 56,592 meals. The event was attended by Mayor Leonardo Williams and Duke University President Vincent Price. Volunteers’ efforts supported local food pantries at a time of rising food insecurity, ensuring that families across the region received essential meals.

Keys to Excellence

BY REGAN BUTLER

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN ELKINS PHOTOGRAPHY

The Durham Regional Association of Realtors celebrated its members’ impact at the annual Awards Luncheon Jan. 22 at Hope Valley Country Club. The event opened with remarks from DRAR President Sondra Trice-Jones and recognized the 2025 award winners – dedicated professionals who generously give their time, provide exemplary service, and help advance the association and the Realtor profession. Matthew Young earned Associate of the Year, Gian Hasbrock received the Citizenship Award, Roger Hudson took home the Service Award, and Doug Davis claimed the Distinguished Service Award – only the second time the association has presented the honor. The event also spotlighted Silver Service recipients – members actively engaged in the real estate profession who have served as a Realtor for 25 years or more – before culminating with the organization’s top honor: Realtor of the Year, awarded to Grace Jones.

COMING SOON THE GROVE AT LATTA PARK

wedding

Michael Kohagen & Marija Rudzite

BY EMMA ARTHUR PHOTOGRAPHY BY CLICHE PHOTOGRAPHY, CLICHE-PHOTOGRAPHY.COM

Wedding Date April 26, 2025

Occupations Mike works as a transactional business attorney at Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton while Marija is pursuing her Ph.D. in neurobiology at Duke University Crossed Paths The two met outside Fullsteam Brewery in 2022. Marija, who grew up in Latvia, was a recent Duke graduate heading to her weekly trivia night. Michael, a Raleigh native, was out walking his dog, Chancho. They chatted briefly before continuing on their way. They crossed paths again outside the same spot about a month later. Mike was sitting at a table with friends when Marija walked by, and he called out to say hello. Marija returned during a trivia break and slipped him a napkin with her number. Mike texted the next day, and they met back at Fullsteam a week later for their first date. The Proposal Mike popped the question just before Christmas during a road trip to visit Marija’s family in Cincinnati. He’d spent months planning the moment, quietly designing a custom ring and waiting for the timing to be just right. The couple stopped at a scenic overlook in the Appalachian Mountains during the drive. Winter air cut sharply across the ridgeline, but the sweeping views made it unforgettable. They stood, soaking in the sights, and then Mike turned toward Marija – in that instant, she knew. Tears filled her eyes before he could say much. Mike dropped to one knee and asked Marija to marry him; she happily said yes.

and heartfelt toasts. The day unfolded in a palette inspired by a European spring meadow, with soft pastels of green, blue, pink and lavender accented by silver, glass and wood for a look that balanced rustic charm with refined elegance. Something Fabulous Weddings & Events guided the planning, Curated Events Raleigh supplied thoughtfully styled rentals, Petal & Oak created lush arrangements and Diamond River Band of EastCoast Entertainment delivered an energetic live performance that kept the dance floor filled throughout the reception.

The Big Day The ceremony unfolded beneath the soaring arches of Duke Chapel, a setting Marija had long imagined at the heart of her dream wedding day. Guests later gathered at The Cotton Room, where the celebration shifted into an evening of warmth and joy, the historic brick walls and airy space creating the perfect backdrop for dinner, dancing

Favorite Moments The wedding included a traditional Latvian mičošana, a custom that marks the creation of a new family. “The ceremony took place during a song performed by my uncles,” Marija says. “As the music played, Mike and I were presented with traditional gifts, symbolizing our passage into married life and our farewell to our childhood homes.”

Marija’s two uncles – both talented guitar players – also learned how to play “Right Down the Line” by Gerry Rafferty for the couple’s first dance.

“It was a beautiful moment to have family playing our song for us, in front of all the people we love,” Mike says.

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