Happenings

School's Village, a $10 million project located at the corner of Davis Drive and Parkside Valley Drive in Morrisville, was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting celebration in November. Arvind Mahajan and his wife, Neha, own the nearby Goddard School and are co-owners of the new plaza. Businesses now open at School’s Village are MyGym, Safesplash/Swimlabs Swim School, Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids and AKM Investments. Future tenants include

Khara Orthodontist, Growing Smiles (a pediatric dentist), Domino's Pizza and Handles Homemade Ice Cream. More than 450 people, including Morrisville mayor TJ Cawley and several town council members, attended the event. akminvestment.com

BAND TOGETHER AND UNITED WAY OF THE GREATER TRIANGLE’S

COMEBACK FEST raised over $1.1 million through the annual philanthropic concert in October. The funds were divided among 100 nonprofit organizations in Wake, Durham, Orange, and Johnston County. Local recipients include Read and Feed, Interact, Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, NAMI Wake County, and many others. bandtogethernc.org/impact-partners

Bonafide Bakeshop & Cafe’s decadent egg- and dairy-free Chocolate Cream Pie has won a spot on PETA’s list of the Top 10 Vegan Pies served around the country. The Apex business was highlighted by the animalrights organization in October, in time for holiday entertaining. bonafidebakeshop.com

AIESHA EDWARDS

was recently elected as the executive director of Girls on the Run Triangle. The job change was effective Dec. 1. Girls on the Run is a physical activity-based positive youth development program for girls in third-eighth grade. The goal of the program is to unleash confidence through accomplishment while establishing a lifetime appreciation of health and fitness. gotrtriangle.org

The CARY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION announced $4,270 in grants to local nonprofits in October. The recipients were: Made4Me, the Center for Volunteer Caregiving, Family Promise of Wake County, and NAMI Wake County. The CCF was founded in 2009 and is led by a local volunteer advisory board that helps build community assets by creating permanent endowments, making grants and leveraging leadership – specifically to benefit Cary. nccommunityfoundation.org

Members of the YOUNG MEN’S

SERVICE LEAGUE-FIRST IN

FLIGHT chapter volunteered at Passage Home, working over two weekends in October. The philanthropic event included two projects: painting and furnishing a home to create transitional housing for single moms and their children, and remodeling an existing space to create a socially distanced meeting space for staff and clients. Nearly 80 high schoolaged young men and their mothers dedicated 716 hours and welcomed over $14,000 in donations in support of Passage Home, which helps break the cycle of poverty for Wake County families. YMSL.org, passagehome.org

Kuantum Life, a new retail store focused on the harmony of body, mind and spirit, is now open in Ashworth Village in downtown Cary. Founded by Mykal Harp, Kuantum Life features a variety of products including books, jewelry, crystals, apparel and its own line of locally made, aromatherapy oils. KuantumLife.com

performed its first Christmas production, “Santa Everywhere!,” in December at Panther Creek High School. Created by Alison Levenberg, a veteran Broadway dancer and choreographer, the show featured dozens of dancers of all ages. starpathdance.com

Read and Feed and The Carying Place, both based in Cary, are among 10 Triangle-area nonprofits to receive GSK Impact awards for their outstanding contributions to providing life improving and sustaining services and resources, reinforcing healthy habits, and serving those in need. Announced in early December, the award-winners received $50,000 each to support their missions. readandfeed.org, thecaryingplace.org

ART BY SHALIMAR, an upscale art studio and gallery, is now open in downtown Cary at 121-B E. Chatham St. Owner and artist Shalimar Waffa held a grand opening in October, hosting more than 250 people at the business. artbyshalimar.com

Cary physician, Azra Shaikh, whose father and mother are living with forms of dementia, and her team raised more than $2,200. Photo by Alzheimer's Association

During the Alzheimer’s Association’s Walk to

End Alzheimer’s – Triangle, held in October, more than 1,300 people helped raise more than $395,000 to fund Alzheimer's care, support and research programs. alz.org/nc

PHILIP H. KOWALCZYK was

recently named the Chief Operating Officer for The Diversity Movement, a Raleigh-based national organization working to help companies transform workplace culture through a DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) platform of tools. As a member of the leadership team, Kowalczyk will focus on implementing the company’s strategic vision and business goals, as well as oversee marketing, human resources, and financial management. thediversitymovement.com

JESSIE AMMONS

RUMBLEY is the new executive director of The Jandy Ammons Foundation, an organization focused on supporting project-driven endeavors that will enhance wildlife habitats, park settings, educational surroundings, artistic installations or Christian church mission projects. Jessie Rumbley is the daughter of Jan and Andy Ammons, who founded the nonprofit in 2012. thejandyammonsfoundation.org

Andrew D. Scrimgeour, of Cary,

recently released a collection of poetry, “Books and Libraries,” part of Penguin Random House’s

Everyman’s Library Pocket Poets series.

The anthology was edited by Scrimgeour, the Dean of Libraries

Emeritus, Drew University, Madison, N.J. penguinrandomhouse.com

For more events in and around Cary, check the social calendar on CaryMagazine.com!

EVIE FELTEN, from Cary, performed Joseph Haydn's "Serenade" on flute during the 6th World Children’s Festival at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., in August. The local 12-year-old was the only North Carolinian chosen to participate in the WCF, a global celebration of creativity, diversity, and unity. WorldChildrensFestival.org

Anthony C. Delauney, a local author

and Certified Financial Planner, released his new picture book for families, “Dash and Nikki and The Jellybean Game,” in December. Delauney wrote “Dash and Nikki” to entertain children

of all ages and to teach them an important financial lesson that will help guide them for years to come. owningthedash.com Bella + Mauve, a contemporary clothing boutique offering the latest women’s styles and accessories at an affordable price, is now open at 223 N. Salem St., Apex. “We are proud to work with and elevate local artists, makers, and other small, women-owned businesses by using our space to showcase their product line,” said owner Gabrielle Carlin. bellaandmauve.com

James Patrick Flanagan is the

new director of community experience for Tri Pointe Homes Raleigh. He will oversee the sales, marketing, design, and closing services departments, as well as the development of community marketing assets and communication materials

for the region. tripointehomes. com/nc/raleigh/

Local author EARL HOUSTON FULLER

JR. recently published “Wounded Dove,” the sequel to his 2020 release, “Requiem for a Rat.” Beginning in 1965, the novels follow Joe Linzey as he struggles to navigate college and then the Vietnam War. amazon.com