The Durham Arts Council announced the local artists selected to receive Emerging Artists Grants, who will be honored at the 25th Anniversary Emerging Artists Awards Ceremony in the spring. The recipients include: Beverly Botsford, Gillian Parke, Sydney Scherr, Carolyn Shull and Leah Sobsey of Durham County; and Lynn Bregman Blass, Ellen Giamportone, Annemarie Gugelmann and Victoria Ralston of Orange County.

CJ Scarlet of Raleigh released her first novel, “Neptune’s Gift: Discovering Your Inner Ocean,” with donations headed to local public schools and libraries.

Sheila Forte-Trammell, an IBM learning consultant, and Dina A. Bing, recently retired from IBM, are authors of the book “Intelligent Mentoring: How IBM Creates Value Through People, Knowledge, and Relationships.”

Gabriela Clontz announced the opening of her new arts facility, Institute for the Performing Arts and Entertainment Industry in Raleigh, which caters to children and adults interested in theater, TV and film.

Julianne Walther, president of Patchwork Memories in Cary, was honored to have an art quilt included in the Manifest Hope: D.C. art show during the presidential inauguration in January.

Angela Smith of Raleigh was named as a Triangle Insider by TriangleInsider.com, which recognizes her as a featured expert and allows her to display her handcrafted jewelry, hand-painted silk, life casting and pottery at local private showings and shows throughout 2009.

Mary Larsen of Apex, owner of MaryLarsenDesigns.com and GrowYourDesign Biz.com, is the author of “How to Open and Operate a Financially Successful Redesign, Redecorating and Home Staging Business,” which reached the top 10 on Amazon.com’s best-seller list in the consulting category.

Cheryl Micaela McCardle of Clayton was selected by Congressman Bob Etheridge to create an ornament for the White House Christmas tree and represent the 2nd District of North Carolina.

Ragsdale Liggett law firm in Raleigh announced that Melissa Dewey Brumback, partner at the firm, was appointed to serve a three-year term on the 10th Judicial District Grievance Committee, a division of the N.C. State Bar.

Jessica Redman was hired as an account executive at Howard, Merrell & Partners, a strategic branding and advertising firm in Raleigh.

Priscilla Awkard was named as manager of Cross Border Banking for North and South Carolina by RBC Bank of Raleigh.

Carrie Mitchell, president of Raleigh-based ASAP Office Supply, announced that the firm was a sponsor for the 2009 Governor’s Inaugural Ball held at the Raleigh Convention Center in January.

Bryce Batts of Durham launched an online boutique, Clothes Hound (www.shopclotheshound.com), which offers the latest in women’s clothing at affordable prices.

Laura A. Schoppe, president of Fuentek consulting firm, announced that Dr. Nannette Stangle-Castor, senior consultant for the firm, served as a technology transfer reviewer for the Trauma, Treatment, and Rehabilitation panel of the 2008 Deployment Related Medical Research Program for the Department of Defense as a part of its Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs. Schoppe also announced that Danielle McCulloch of Cary joined the firm as a consultant.

Melissa Gass joined the staff at Posh The Salon in Durham.

Katie Page of Minding Your Matters Organizing in Cary earned her Level II specialization certificate in Chronic Disorganization from the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization.

Lou Jurkowski, CEO of BJAC design firm in Raleigh, announced that Jenna Geigerman joined as chief operations officer.

Natalie Perkins, president of Clean Design in Raleigh, announced that Aleta Howell has joined the agency as client service lead.

The Triangle North Carolina Chapter of the Interior Design Society announced its 2009 board members: Loretta Bell (president), Carnela Renee Hill (vice president of programs & events), Casey Blalock (vice president of membership), Yvonne Hanks (secretary), Sandra King (treasurer), Christine Langlois (communications chair).

Courtney Farfour, manager of Personal and Business Banking for RBC Bank in Raleigh, announced that it recently donated $5,000 to Futures for Kids to help support N.C. children in their career development.

Kendria Perry and Amanda Watson of Garner competed in the Miss America Pageant in January.

Mary Ellen Petrin, incoming president of the Hillsborough Exchange Club, received the 2008 Helping Hand Award from the Hillsborough/Orange County Chamber of Commerce.

Allison Mitwol of Raleigh graduated first in her class from the Coldwell Banker Commercial Emerging Broker Training program.

Peggy Mackowski, vice president of Raleigh-based Quality Design & Construction and 2008 Chairperson of the Home Builders Association of Raleigh-Wake County Remodelors Council, was awarded the 2008 Presidential Award by the council.

Allen Tate Realtors announced:
• Bonnie Henderson joined the company’s Brier Creek office.
• Jenny Barber of the Chapel Hill office earned Tate’s Master’s Designation, which is awarded to associates who further their professional real estate education through a program of specialized, in-house coursework.

Donna Kemp, vice president of sales for Beazer Homes of the Triangle, announced the Hometown Heroes Program, in which military personnel, teachers, firefighters, police officers, EMS and other medical personnel receive a special reward on new Beazer homes.

Jenny Martin, real estate/retail new business director at The King Partnership, a Raleigh-based advertising, marketing and public relations agency, was named Top Affiliate Member by the N.C. Home Builders Association of Raleigh-Wake County.

Keelee J. MacPhee, owner of Renaissance Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery in Raleigh, was named a diplomat of the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Kimberly Livingston joined the WakeMed Faculty Physicians Vascular Practice of the Raleigh Campus Heart Center.
Ariel Huisman, certified reflexologist, joined Transformations for Health in Raleigh, owned by holistic lifestyle coach Dotty Bryn.

Betsy Vetter, board chair of the N.C. Alliance for Health, an independent, statewide coalition advocating for obesity and tobacco-use prevention policies, announced that Lisa Familo joined as executive director.

Amaris Balkus (office manager of Michael Law MD Aesthetic Plastic Surgery), Debbie Penny (patient coordinator), Jenny Bullock (registered nurse), and Katie Yadusky (Dr. Law’s executive assistant) provided more than 3,500 pounds of non-perishable food to the Interfaith Food Shuttle of Wake County. The food was donated by Dr. Law’s patients during the Raleigh plastic surgery center’s food drive.

Marie Mantle (director of community relations for Blue Water Spa), Lia Watson (front desk coordinator for the spa) and Thearadise Beaver presented more than 100 pairs of new children’s pajamas and over 250 new toys to the Raleigh Rescue Mission to be used as Christmas gifts for local children in need. The items were donated by spa clients at its six-year anniversary celebration in December.

Morgan Lamphere was named director of community outreach and Laura Lowe was promoted to director of sales and marketing at SearStone, a continuing care retirement community in Cary.

Susan Weaver was named senior vice president of WakeMed Physician Practices.