5 West Magazine – January/February 2025

EDITOR’S

Happy 2025! Our new year, as always, begins with the Diamond Awards—your choices for the best of the best in Wake County. See if your favorites made the list!

Having written and edited articles about the local community for many years, I have seen consistently that one of our area’s greatest strengths lies in its ability to collaborate effectively between organizations. In helping the homeless, building up local theater programs, integrating university and Research Triangle company resources into local education, and in dozens of other ways, our area is very good at bringing resources together to serve the community.

One such collaborative relationship is the one that the fie departments of Cary, Apex and Morrisville have built. Because the towns are so physically interwoven, the teams have created a system by which they respond to emergencies based on who is closest rather than based on town boundaries. They have established standard operating procedures with each other, and regularly train together. They also collaborate to run Camp Ignite, a free fiefighting summer camp for teen girls led by female fiefighters fom Cary, Apex and Morrisville. This unique relationship saves lives and helps young women break barriers. It represents the best of the Triangle, and I hope you will check it out.

Our January/February issue focuses on senior living and caregiving, and Mario Boucher has written a piece on finding the right senior living community for ourself or your loved ones. His piece offers some context—what types of senior living communities are out there, for example, and some resources to help navigate them—and he also offers a few examples of interesting senior living communities in the area. It’s not intended to be an exhaustive list, but rather to show the unique approaches different senior living facilities can take and how nuanced they can be. The right place for you or your loved one is out there—you just need to find the one whose appoach resonates with you. We hope this article helps you do that.

January/February is also our health and wellness issue. If you’re like me and prefer exercises that engage your attention, check out Katelyn Rutt’s article on outside-the-box fitness opportunities in Wake County. I had never heard of some of these workouts, and many of them sound like a ton of fun! Among other options, they include beginners’ circus arts and aerial silks, Bollywood dance-based exercise classes and a program involving swing music and bungee cords (I’ll let you read on your own about that one).

In keeping with our fitness theme, our Nws Around Town sections include Spotlight sections on noteworthy fitness-elated programs and organizations in each of Western Wake’s fie towns. And to bring a little color into the chill of winter, our opening articles for each town's section cover some of the beautiful public murals the town has displayed. I encourage you to flip though these sections and enjoy the images of the public art that is all around us. Finally, if you’re looking for a nice place to go for Valentine’s Day, our locally-based writers from each town recommend places you can go for a romantic date.

Our Kaleidoscope arts section includes an article on Missy Lane’s Assembly Room in Durham that I was excited to write. Missy Lane’s focuses on celebrating Black American music forms—especially jazz—and educating the public about them through their performance choices so they’ll want to keep coming back. The venue is amazing—it feels like a retro jazz club in New York. It’s well worth the 20-minute drive to Durham to enjoy a venue this high-quality, and this is a great chance to learn more about it.

I hope this issue helps you take a fresh, creative perspective on fitness, communit, local art—anything you find that helps launch ou into a happy and fruitful new year. Enjoy!

Elizabeth Brignac, Editor

Photo by Jenn McKinney Photography

WHERE CINEMA MEETS LUXURY

PUBLISHERS

Ronny Stephens

Kent Braswell

MANA GING EDIT OR Elizabeth Brignac

ART AND WEB DIRECTOR

Sean Byrne

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

Dathan Kazsuk, Fran Sherman

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

James Jarnot

WEB DESIGNER

Dathan Kazsuk

COPY EDITOR

Cindy Huntley

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Kyle Marie McMahon

SOCIAL MEDIA AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER

Crystal Wa tts

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Sherry Braswell, Paige Gunter, Sophie Lapierre, Stefanie McClary

DISTRIBUTION

Joe Lizana, Manager DistribuTech.net

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Elliot Acosta, Jennifer Axness, Drew Becker, Mario Boucher, Elizabeth Brignac, Heather Darnell, Dave Droschak, Paige Hachet Jacob, Janice Lewine, Elizabeth Lincicome, Judith Cookis Rubens, Mike Rumble, Charlotte Russell, Katelyn Rutt, Dolly R. Sickles

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Chris Charles Photography, Jenn McKinney Photography, Josh Manning

5 West magazine is published six times annually. Any reproduction in part or in whole of any part of this publication is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher. Copyright 2025. All rights reserved.

5 West magazine is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photography or art. Unsolicited material is welcome and is considered intended for publication. Such material becomes the property of the magazine and is subject to editing.

5 West magazine will not knowingly accept any real estate advertising in violation of U.S. equal opportunity law.

SUBSCRIPTIONS

6 print issues (1 year) Available online at 5westmag.com 4818-204 Six F ork s Road Raleigh, NC 27609 Phone: 919.782.4710 Fax: 919.782.4763

Arhaus.

Photo by Josh Manning.

BY JANICE LEWINE

APEX WELCOMES TOMASHESKI FAMILY DENTISTRY

Tomasheski Family Dentistry recently opened at 854 Perry Road in Apex, offering a one-stop destination for all dental needs. Led by Drs. John and Kimberly Tomasheski, a husband-and-wife team, the practice provides general dentistry for the entire family, cosmetic and restorative dentistry, oral surgery, dentures, Invisalign and more. Tomasheski Family Dentistry is open Monday and Tuesday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m., and Wednesday and Thursday, 7 a.m.–3 p.m. 854 Perry Road, Apex 919.500.7088

tomasheskifamilydentistry.com

Photo courtesy of Tomasheski Family Dentistry.

GRACE ANIMAL HOSPITAL PROVIDES QUALITY CARE IN HOLLY SPRINGS

Offering reliable services for every stage of a pet’s health care journey, Grace Animal Hospital opened September 13 at 116 Collins Crossing Road in Holly Springs. Led by Dr. Tiana Montell, the clinic’s experienced veterinarians and dedicated support staff work in harmony to provide four-legged friends wellness exams, dental care, ultrasounds, digital radiology and surgery while focusing on trust and education. The practice is open Monday–Saturday, 8 a.m.–7 p.m., and Sunday, 8 a.m.–2 p.m. 116 Collins Crossing Road, Holly Springs 919.346.0285

graceanimalhospital.com

Photo courtesy of Grace Animal Hospital.

1 BLOSSOM 2 BLOOM FLORAL DESIGN OPENS AT BOXYARD RTP

Specializing i n floral arrangements and design workshops, 1 Blossom 2 Bloom Floral Design held its grand opening event September 28 at Boxyard RTP in Durham. Guests enjoyed a fun-fi lled afternoon featuring specialty cocktails, flower crown making and a permanent jewelry station. 1 Blossom 2 Bloom Floral Design works with select local farmers to source the freshest of blooms, wild flowers and seasonal greenery. The shop also offers space for private parties.

900 Park Offices Drive, Suite 145, Durham 919.727.9448

1blossom2bloom.com

Photo courtesy of Stephaun Perry of Eaze Day Entertainment.

VEGA VITALITY LANDS AT FENTON IN CARY

Vega Vitality has arrived at Fenton, setting a new standard for aesthetics and wellness. With a reputation for award-winning care and expertise, Vega Vitality offers a full suite of services, from injectables and facials to lasers, weight loss programs and hormone balancing. Already a trusted name in Massachusetts, this premier medspa and wellness center is now bringing its transformative approach to help you look and feel your best to North Carolina. Discover the perfect blend of cutting-edge aesthetics and personalized wellness right here in Western Wake. 350 Fenton Gateway Drive, Suite 105, Cary 919.377.2054

vegavitality.com

Photo courtesy of Vega Vitality.

2025

The Best of Western Wake

READERS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY VOTED FOR THEIR FAVORITE BUSINESSES, SERVICES AND VENUES. NOW, WE ARE EXCITED TO PRESENT THE 2025 GOLD, SILVER AND BRONZE DIAMOND AWARD WINNERS!

BROWSE THE LIST TO SEE IF YOUR FAVORITES ARE THERE, AND MAKE A NOTE OF ANY NEW BUSINESSES YOU’D LIKE TO CHECK OUT.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR WINNERS!

HEALTH AND BEAUTY

BEST SALON

GOLD: Bebe Ellis Salon

SILVER: Sparkle Studio

BRONZE: Jill’s Beach

BEST HAIR SALON

GOLD: Bebe Ellis Salon

SILVER: Sparkle Studio

BRONZE: J&F Gemelli (tie) Twisted Scizzors (tie)

BEST DENTIST

GOLD: Wells Family Dental Group

SILVER: Lane & Associates Family Dentistry

BRONZE: Goodall Family Dentistr y

BEST ORTHODONTIST

GOLD: McNutt Orthodontics

SILVER: Lane & Associates Family Dentistry

BRONZE: Bovenizer & Baker Orthodontics

BEST DOCTOR

GOLD: Avance Care

SILVER: Cornerstone Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine

BRONZE: Generations Family Practice

BEST OBGYN

GOLD: Triangle Physicians for Women (tie) Raleigh OBGYN Centre (tie)

SILVER: Kamm McKenzie OBGYN

BRONZE: Arbor OBGYN

BEST FUNCTIONAL AND INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE

GOLD: Carolina Total Wellness

SILVER: Avance Care

BRONZE: Integrative Functional Medicine

BEST PERIODONTIST

GOLD: Lane & Associates Family Dentistry (tie) Dr. Paul Kazmer (tie)

SILVER: Cary Periodontics and Implant Dentistry

BRONZE: Tar Heel Periodontics and Implant Dentistry

BEST PEDIATRICIAN

GOLD: Cornerstone Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine

SILVER: Jeffers, Mann & Artman Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine

BRONZE: Cary Pediatric Center

BEST PEDIATRIC DENTIST

GOLD: Cary Pediactric Dentistry

SILVER: Southern Smiles Pediatric Dentistry

BRONZE: The Smiling Tur tle Pediatric Dentistry (tie) High House Pediatric Dentistry (tie)

BEST DERMATOLOGIST

GOLD: Noor Dermatology & Aesthetics

SILVER: Central Dermatology Center

BRONZE: Cary Dermatology Center (tie) Blue Ridge Dermatology Associates (tie)

PHOTO BY STUDIO ROMANTIC – STOCK.ADOBE.COM

BEST COSMETIC SURGEON

GOLD: Lyle Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics Center

SILVER: Cynthia Gregg MD Face & Body Specialists

BRONZE: Zenn Plastic Surgery

BEST MED SPA

GOLD: Azura Skin Care Center

SILVER: Beem Light Sauna

BRONZE: Thrive Skin + Wellness

BEST MASSAGE

GOLD: Salon Serenity & Spa

SILVER: Hand and Stone Massage and Facial Spa

BRONZE: The Umstead Hotel and Spa

BEST SUNLESS TANNING

GOLD: Jill’s Beach

SILVER: Oak City Sunless

BRONZE: Sun Tan City

BEST CHIROPRACTOR

GOLD: North State Sport & Spine

SILVER: The Joint Chiropractic (tie)

Gray Family Chiropractic (tie)

BRONZE: Swank Chiropractic Sports Medicine & Wellness Center

BEST PSYCHIATRIST

GOLD: Casey Mental Health Collaborative

SILVER: Best Day Psychiatry and Counseling

BRONZE: Avance Care

BEST MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER (THERAPIST/PSYCHOLOGIST)

GOLD: Wynns Family Psychology

SILVER: Horizon Integrated Wellness Group (tie)

Peak City Psychology (tie)

BRONZE: Best Day Psychiatry and Counseling

BEST PHYSICAL THERAPY

GOLD: Total Motion Physical Therapy

SILVER: Epic Physical Therapy

BRONZE: BreakThrough Physical Therapy

SPORTS AND FITNESS

BEST COACH / PERSONAL TRAINER

GOLD: Romain Marriott

SILVER: CrossFit Surmount

BRONZE: Kim Bradley, Rex Wellness Center – Cary

BEST WELLNESS COACH

GOLD: Gold’s Gym – Fuquay-Varina

SILVER: Anytime Fitness

BRONZE: Life Time Fitness(tie) Planet Fitness (tie)

BEST FITNESS GYM

GOLD: Life Time Fitness

SILVER: Stretch Zone – Apex

BRONZE: Planet Fitness

BEST CYCLE STUDIO

GOLD: CycleBar (tie) Hotwor x – Apex (tie)

SILVER: Spenga

BRONZE: Orangetheory Fitness

Photo by Stock.Adobe.com/Viacheslav Yakochuk

BEST YOGA STUDIO

GOLD: Cary Yoga Collective

SILVER: Prana Yoga Holly Springs

BRONZE: Dose Yoga and Smoothie Bar (tie)

YoBa Studio (tie)

Pura Vida Studio (tie)

BEST STRETCH STUDIO

GOLD: Stretch Zone – Apex

SILVER: StretchLab

BRONZE: Hotwor x – Apex (tie) N Zone Sports (tie)

BEST YOGA/PILATES STUDIO

GOLD: Fred Astaire Dance Studios

SILVER: Club Pilates

BRONZE: Stage Door Dance

MEDIA

PERSONALITIES

BEST LOCAL RADIO PERSONALITY

GOLD: Erica DeLong, G105

SILVER: Mike Wheless and Amanda Daughtry, 94.7 QDR

BRONZE: Kyle, Br yan & Sarah, Mix 101.5 WRAL

BEST LOCAL TV PERSONALITY

GOLD: Elizabeth Gardner, WRAL (tie) Don “Big Weather” Schwenneker, ABC11 (tie)

SILVER: Debra Morgan, WRAL

BRONZE: Dan Haggerty, WRAL

BEST LOCAL INFLUENCER

GOLD: The Life Projects

SILVER: Megan Nichols, NC Eat & Play

BRONZE: Joseph William Interiors

ENTERTAINMENT

BEST MOVIE THEATER

GOLD: Paragon Theaters of Fenton

SILVER: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Raleigh

BRONZE: AMC Theatres

BEST MUSIC VENUE

GOLD: Koka Booth Amphitheatre

SILVER: Red Hat Amphitheater

BRONZE: Lenovo Center

BEST PERFORMING ARTS VENUE

GOLD: Durham Performing Arts Center

SILVER: Koka Booth Amphitheatre

BRONZE: Raleigh Little Theatre (tie) Fuquay-Varina Arts Center (tie)

BEST BOOKSTORE

GOLD: Barnes & Noble

SILVER: Quail Ridge Books

BRONZE: Mr. Mike’s Used Books

BEST PLACE FOR GAMES AND AMUSEMENT

GOLD: Dave & Buster’s

SILVER: Frankie’s

BRONZE: Gamers Geekery & Tavern

CULTURE

BEST MUSEUM

GOLD: North Carolina Museum of Art

SILVER: North Carolina Museum of History

BRONZE: Museum of Life and Science

BEST PARK OR RECREATION CENTER

GOLD: Downtown Cary Park

SILVER: Pleasant Park

BRONZE: Pullen Park

PHOTO BY SORRAPONGS – STOCK.ADOBE.COM

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To book your magical Disney vacation, contact us today!

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Mention Midtown Magazine when you book your Disney vacation with DWB Vacations to receive a special gift, compliments of DWB Vacations. dwbvacations.com

BEST GARDEN

GOLD: Sarah P. Duke Gardens

SILVER: JC Raulston Arboretum

BRONZE: Raleigh Rose Garden

HOSPITALITY

BEST BOUTIQUE HOTEL OR BED AND BREAKFAST

GOLD: The Mayton

SILVER: The Umstead Hotel and Spa

BRONZE: The Carolina Inn

BEST WEDDING AND EVENT VENUE

GOLD: Chandelier Event Venue

SILVER: Donovan Manor

BRONZE: The Oaks at Salem

BEST CATERING SERVICE

GOLD: Salvio’s Pizzeria

SILVER: City Barbeque

BRONZE: Donovan’s Dish

FOOD AND FARE

BEST BREAKFAST OR BRUNCH

GOLD: First Watch

SILVER: Brigs Restaurants

BRONZE: Eggs Up Grill – Apex

BEST BARBECUE

GOLD: City Barbeque

SILVER: Danny’s Bar-B-Que (tie) Smithfields Chicken ,N Bar-B-Q (tie)

BRONZE: Daddy D’s BBQ

BEST BURGER

GOLD: Corbett’s Burgers & Soda Bar

SILVER: Abbey Road Tavern (tie) Smashburger (tie)

BRONZE: Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar (tie) Cook Out (tie) Salem Street Pub (tie)

BEST PIZZA

GOLD: Di Fara Pizza Tavern

SILVER: Salvio’s Pizzeria

BRONZE: Anna’s Pizzeria

BEST STEAKHOUSE

GOLD: Rey’s

SILVER: Angus Barn

BRONZE: Oak Steakhouse

BEST MEXICAN FOOD

GOLD: Mi Cancun

SILVER: Gonza Tacos y Tequila

BRONZE: Los Tres Magueyes

BEST ITALIAN FOOD

GOLD: Salvio’s Pizzeria

SILVER: Daniel’s Restaurant & Catering

BRONZE: Enrigo Italian Bistro

BEST MEDITERRANEAN FOOD

GOLD: Sassool

SILVER: Neomonde

BRONZE: Aladdin’s Eatery

BEST SEAFOOD

GOLD: The Blind Pelican Seafood House

SILVER: Cape Fear Seafood Company (tie) 42nd St. Oyster Bar (tie)

BRONZE: Captain Stanley ’s Seafood

BEST ASIAN FOOD

GOLD: Osha Thai Kitchen & Sushi

SILVER: Sushi-Thai

BRONZE: Taipei 101

BEST INDIAN FOOD

GOLD: Zeera Indian Restaurant

SILVER: Swagat Indian Cuisine

BRONZE: Biryani Maxx Indian Cuisine

BEST BAKERY/CONFECTIONER

GOLD: La Farm Bakery

SILVER: Once in a Blue Moon Bakery & Cafe

BRONZE: Fera’wyn’s Artisan Chocolates

BEST ICE CREAM

GOLD: FRESH. Local Ice Cream

SILVER: Andia’s Ice Cream

BRONZE: Goodberry’s Frozen Custard

BEST FOOD TRUCK

GOLD: Cousins Maine Lobster

SILVER: Buoy Bowls

BRONZE: Bulkogi (tie)

Gussy’s (tie)

BOOZE AND BREWS

BEST COFFEEHOUSE

GOLD: Esteamed Coffee

SILVER: Crema Coffee Roaster & Bakery

BRONZE: Fount Cof fee + Kitchen

BEST WINE BAR

GOLD: Peak of the Vine Lounge

SILVER: RBF, Your Authentic Champagne Bar

BRONZE: Wine 100

BEST COCKTAIL BAR / LOUNGE

GOLD: Peak of the Vine Cellar

SILVER: Neat & Sweet Lounge at Scratch

BRONZE: SideBar

BEST BREWERY

GOLD: Bond Brothers Beer Company

SILVER: Southern Peak Brewery

BRONZE: Vicious Fishes Brewery

BEST SPORTS BAR

GOLD: Di Fara Pizza Tavern

SILVER: Rudy’s Pub & Grill (tie) Sports & Social (tie)

BRONZE: My Way Tavern

BEST DISTILLERY

GOLD: Aristotle Spirits

SILVER: Olde Raleigh Distillery

BRONZE: Durham Distillery

BEST ROOFTOP BAR

GOLD: Nightingale Rooftop Restaurant & Bar

SILVER: Ava Rooftop Bar

BRONZE: TapStation

SHOPPING

BEST FLORIST

GOLD: Plant Therapy

SILVER: Preston Flowers

BRONZE: Kelly Odom Flowers

BEST RESALE AND CONSIGNMENT

GOLD: Petersons’ Consigning Design

SILVER: J ‘Adore Boutique (tie)

Dorcas Thrift Shop (tie)

BRONZE: Adore Designer Resale Boutique

BEST MEN’S CLOTHING BOUTIQUE

GOLD: Gentlemen’s Corner

SILVER: Alexander Eton

BRONZE: Kannon’s Men’s Clothing (tie) Ashworth’s Clothing (tie)

BEST HOME FURNISHING STORE

GOLD: HomeGoods

SILVER: Arhaus

BRONZE: Petersons’ Consigning Design

BEST GARDEN CENTER

GOLD: Garden Supply Company

SILVER: Fairview Garden Center

BRONZE: Logan’s Garden Shop

BEST JEWELRY STORE

GOLD: Bailey’s Fine Jewelry

SILVER: Holland’s Jewelers

BRONZE: Johnson’s Jewelers

REAL ESTATE

BEST REAL ESTATE FIRM

GOLD: The Ragan Realty Team

SILVER: Nancy Grace, Keller Williams Legacy

BRONZE: Gaskill Realty

BEST REAL ESTATE AGENT

GOLD: Nancy Grace

SILVER: Melissa Ragan

BRONZE: Rocio Rojas

BEST BUILDER/DEVELOPER

GOLD: Rufty Homes

SILVER: Loyd Builders (tie)

Greenfield Communities (tie)

BRONZE: KB Home (tie)

Triple A Homes (tie)

BEST LIVE-WORK-PLAY COMMUNITY

GOLD: Fenton

SILVER: Wendell Falls

BRONZE: Brier Creek Country Club

BEST NEW HOME COMMUNITY

GOLD: Wendell Falls

SILVER: Montvale at Copperleaf

BRONZE: Destin

BEST RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

GOLD: Carolina Preserve

SILVER: Glenaire

BRONZE: Del Webb Active Adult Communities (tie)

Overture Centennial (tie)

Searstone Retirement Community (tie)

HOME SERVICES

BEST INTERIOR DESIGNER

GOLD: Joseph William Interiors

SILVER: The Right Space

BRONZE: Amy Huber Designs

PHOTO BY KWANGMOOZAA – STOCK.ADOBE.COM

BEST LANDSCAPING SERVICE

GOLD: Mr. Mow It All

SILVER: RB Landscaping (tie)

Jay ’s Lawn & Landscape Co.(tie)

BRONZE: Scholarship Landscaping

BEST BUILDER

GOLD: Rufty Homes

SILVER: Loyd Builders

BRONZE: Paragon Building Group

BEST HOUSEKEEPING

GOLD: Best Clean Ever

SILVER: Go 2 Girls

BRONZE: Dust and Mop

BEST HOME MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR

GOLD: Mr. Handyman

SILVER: Alan’s Home Improvements

BRONZE: Michael & Son

BEST OUTDOOR SPACES (FIREPLACES AND POOLS)

GOLD: Jay’s Lawn & Landscape Co.

SILVER: Wildflwer Landscape Architecture

BRONZE: Cornell Crest Landscaping

BEST MOVERS AND STORAGE

GOLD: Movin’ On Movers

SILVER: Moore Than Moving (tie) Trosa Moving & Storage

BRONZE: Big Brother Moving

BEST HOME FLOORING

GOLD: Kimi’s Carpets Plus

SILVER: Lee’s Hardwood Floors

BRONZE: Terry’s Floor Fashions

BEST KITCHEN AND BATH FIXTURES /ACCESSORIES

GOLD: Kitchen & Bath Galleries

SILVER: Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery

BRONZE: Lowe’s

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

BEST FINANCIAL SERVICES AND WEALTH MANAGEMENT

GOLD: Maria Litzinger, Edward Jones (tie) Fidelity Investments (tie)

SILVER: Cary Financial Planning

BRONZE: Hunter Street Investment Advisors

BEST LOCAL BANKING INSTITUTION

GOLD: State Employees’ Credit Union

SILVER: Fidelity Bank

BRONZE: Wells Fargo

BEST LAW FIRM

GOLD: Cary Estate Planning

SILVER: Gantt Family Law

BRONZE: The Banks Law Firm

PHOTO BY TOMASZ ZAJDA – STOCK.ADOBE.COM

PHOTO BY RASULOV – STOCK.ADOBE.COM

BEST LOCAL ACCOUNTANT OR TAX ADVISOR

GOLD: Brilliant Numbers

SILVER: Cary Financial Planning

BRONZE: Watson & Davis (tie)

Rachel A. Brown (tie)

BEST TRAVEL AGENCY

GOLD: DWB Vacations

SILVER: MousePros Travel Agency

BRONZE: Taylor’s Travel (tie) AA A – Apex (tie)

AUTOMOTIVE

BEST AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR

GOLD: Frantz Automotive Center

SILVER: Black’s Tire & Auto Service – Apex

BRONZE: Precision Tune Auto Care

BEST CAR WASHING AND DETAILING

GOLD: Oak City Auto Detailing

SILVER: Tidal Wave Auto Spa

BRONZE: Zips Car Wash (tie)

Spif fy (tie)

Sam’s Xpress Car Wash (tie)

Heroes Car Wash (tie)

BEST NEW CAR DEALERSHIP

GOLD: Autopark Honda

SILVER: Hendrick Toyota of Apex

BRONZE: Leith Honda

BEST USED CAR DEALERSHIP

GOLD: Whipple Auto Sales

SILVER: Matthews Motors

BRONZE: Weaver Motorsports

EDUCATION

BEST PRIVATE SCHOOL

GOLD: Grace Christian School

SILVER: Resurrection Lutheran School

BRONZE: Cardinal Gibbons High School

BEST PERFORMING ARTS EDUCATION

GOLD: Cary Ballet Conservatory

SILVER: Cary Ballet Company

BRONZE: Cary Arts Center

PHOTO BY RASULOV – STOCK.ADOBE.COM

BEST PRESCHOOL

GOLD: Resurrection Lutheran School

SILVER: Oak Village Academy

BRONZE: Primrose School at The Park

BEST TUTORING SERVICES

GOLD: LearningRx

SILVER: Mathnasium

BRONZE: Triangle Learning Academy

PETS

BEST VETERINARIAN

GOLD: Town and Country Veterinary Hospital

SILVER: Harmony Animal Hospital Pet Resort & Spa

BRONZE: Lake Pine Animal Hospital (tie) Swift Creek Animal Hospital (tie)

BEST PET PAMPERING SERVICE

GOLD: PetSmart (tie) West Street Dog (tie)

SILVER: Groomingdales

BRONZE: Triangle Pet Resort

BEST PET BOARDING AND DAYCARE SERVICE

GOLD: Pupsi Inc.

SILVER: Triangle Pet Resort

BRONZE: Harmony Animal Hospital Pet Resort & Spa

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR READERS FOR VOTING, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THIS YEAR’S WINNERS!

A student enjoys an aerial silks class at Cirque de Vol. Photo courtesy of Cirque de Vol.

BEYOND THE GYM

Fun and Unusual Fitness Opportunities

in Wake County

to all ages and skill levels. You’ll start with an intro class in which you’ll learn the basics of each apparatus—silks, sling, lyra and more—to find yur perfect fit. Classes ae organized by levels and offeed as a monthly series to help you track your growth in strength and flexibilit. Studio director Alicia Calderwood says nine out of ten guests return, and she often hears students comment, “I didn’t know I could do that!” She adds, “Our aerial community is super supportive and a unique one to join if you feel like the gym is not for you!”

Pure Vida Studio

202 Ledgestone Way, Cary puravidastudionc.com

BY KATELYN RUTT

From circus rings and bungee cords to fandom-inspired classes, these Wake County organizations are redefining what it means to work out. Here’s our guide to discovering your new favorite way to break a sweat—no gym necessary!

Aerial Acrobatics at Pura Vida Studio

Ever dreamed of flying? At Pua Vida Studio, you can get closer to that feeling than ever—no experience required! This studio has spent nearly six years making the art of aerial acrobatics accessible

Bollywood-Themed Aerobics at Indigo

Dance Evolution Academy

Get ready to jump, twist and groove through the vibrant world of Bollywood dance at Indigo Dance Evolution Academy! The dynamic Priya Chellani leads Bollywood-themed aerobics, a fullbody fusion of Bollywood’s lively spirit with house, jazz, hip-hop and traditional Indian dance. Chellani’s classes welcome all ages and fitness lvels (55+ included) to join a dancercise routine that alternates between high- and low-intensity intervals, all set to the latest Bollywood hits. Expect laughter and lighthearted fun as she fills each session with cultual insights, translates playful lyrics and breaks down dance moves. A Triangle resident since

An athlete conquers an obstacle course at Warrior Tech. Photo courtesy of Warrior Tech.

An instructor demonstrates aerial hoop techniques at Cirque de Vol. Photo courtesy of Cirque de Vol.

2013, Chellani brings 30+ years of teaching experience from her native Mumbai and a special passion to make Bollywood dance empowering, accessible and affodable to all!

Indigo Dance Evolution Academy Classes offered at locations throughout ake County priyachellani.com

Bungee Swing Fitness at A Step To Gold

Looking for something that’s easy on joints but challenging enough for military pros? A Step to Gold International Ballroom’s Bungee Swing Fitness offers a unique form of rebound workout (a low-impact exercise designed to be easy on joints without sacrificing intensity) designed to uild coordination, stamina and agility. Suspended from ceiling bungees, securely harnessed at the waist and thighs, you’ll tackle exercises like lunges and squats—all set to swing and hustle beats. Owner Melanie Dale says, “You use every muscle in your body, kind of like swimming in air, and it will make you feel like a kid again!” She’s seen groups bond through laughter and even helped a client regain movement she’d lost for months. Need more proof? Dale adds, “Men from the military take the class and ae amazed at how much of a workout it is!”

A Step to Gold International Ballroom 6278 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 200, Raleigh asteptogold.com

Circus Arts at Cirque de Vol

Run away to the circus at Cirque de Vol’s aerial, yoga, fitness and circus community, where fitness and fun combine! This unique blend of aerial arts, acrobatics and functional strength is more than just a workout—it’s a way to quiet the mind, relieve stress and build a strong sense of community. Circus arts workouts are open to people of all skill levels. Whether you’re flying on the trapeze or balancing on a hoop, you’ll work every muscle and feel the burn in places you never knew existed. Founder Sara Howell’s goal is to make wellness feel like an adventure, pushing you out of your comfort zone while keeping it fun, welcoming and personal. As Howell puts it, “The aerial arts are inherently empowering, offering a sense of achivement every time you master a new move or hold. It’s fitness in the air—both liteally and figuatively!”

Cirque de Vol Circus Arts Studio

300 W. Hargett Street #40, Raleigh cirquedevol.com

Fandom, Gaming and Culture Fitness at Geek Fit Network

Calling all cosplayers, gamers and geek culture enthusiasts. If long hours of sitting and unhealthy habits have taken their toll on your health, have no fear! At Geek Fit Network—a niche community dedicated to promoting healthier physical and social lifestyles by blending gaming, exercise science and behavior change models—a more balanced routine is just a booking

away. Whether it’s a Cos Fit challenge where you embody your favorite character while breaking a sweat, or a gamified fitnes tournament using VR, there are so many ways to get fit while having a blast. Have you ever wanted to try yoga with friends dressed as your favorite Star Wars characters, or test your hand at a historical sword fighting class? At Geek it Network, your imagination truly is the only limit!

GeekFit Network

Programs at locations across the Triangle geekfitnetwork.co

Mega-Tramp at Mega

Mega was founded in 2019 with the mantra “Fitness is forever, so let’s keep it fun and fresh.” The colorful studio, created by former gymnast, cheerleader and dancer Alicia Bell, offers classes on megaformers—spring-loaded workout machines that combine resistance training, cardio workouts and Pilates exercises. The gym also offers mini-tampoline cardio classes and mega mat classes, which utilize classic Pilates techniques. Mega is home to a vibrant community of tight-knit regulars. Healing an injury or simply looking for an activity that’s gentler on the body than a traditional workout? Mega-Tramp is just the thing for you, with its ability to absorb 80% of impact and give a hearty boost to the lymphatic system. According to Mega’s website, expect to “shake, sweat, and maybe even curse” your way through the workout! Our pro tip? Go ahead and book three or four classes in advance to allow yourself to get comfortable with the format and cues. You’ll be jumping to new heights in no time!

Mega

2330 Bale Street #104, Raleigh themegaworkout.com

Ninja Warrior Training at Warrior Tech

Step into the action and train like your favorite TV show pros at Warrior Tech! This family-owned training facility helps build champions of all ages, with synchronized adult and kids’ classes designed to promote health and fitness for the whole famil. Take on the adrenaline-pumping adult ninja classes and obstacle course race prep classes to push your endurance, resilience and strength. You’ll scale walls, swing from monky bars and end every session feeling like you’ve “hit the buzzer”! Want more freedom? Their open-rig sessions allow you or your family to tackle the course at your own pace, with access to rigs, climbing walls and the ever-popular warped walls. With expert techs on hand for guidance and support, Warrior Tech ensures your training is safe, motivating and packed with fun!

Warrior Tech

220 Dominion Drive, Suite G, Morrisville

6451 Triangle Plantation Drive, Suite 107, Raleigh warriortechnc.com

people to one of

Esther Cromwell, CEO and founder of Avendelle Assisted Living, welcomes

Avendelle’s residences.

Photo courtesy of Avendelle Assisted Living.

Senior Living: NEW WAYS TO EXPERIENCE THE GOLDEN YEARS

BY MARIO BOUCHER

Senior homes are transforming their image—just in time for a “booming” generation that seeks highquality health care as they maintain an active lifestyle into their golden years. Long-term care can offer services tailored to meet each person’s unique needs, helping them maintain the best quality of life.

L EVELS OF CARE

Different clients need different levels of long-term care. Some people fi nd in-home care enough to suit their needs. These people can live day-to-day at home and only require a certi fied, trained caregiver to visit and assist with services as needed, including money management, medications and medical care, personal hygiene, meal preparation and other household chores.

T he next level is assisted living: An individual moves into their own apartment within a facility that operates a kitchen and dining room, and has centralized staff to provide support services. For example, a nurse may pop by once or twice weekly to help with speci fic needs.

I f more assistance is required, a skilled nursing facility with either a private or shared room offers a full nursing staff and daily checks to ensure that residents are comfortable. These facilities can also provide other health services, such as physical therapy and social and entertainment activities. Specialized nursing care can also include memory care, oriented specifically for

patients with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease or other memory issues.

F INDING THE RIGHT CARE

“ You do not have to navigate this process alone,” says Kay Castillo, executive director of Friends of Residents in Long Term Care, a nonprofit organization committed to advancing the quality of life for North Carolinians in long-term care. “While we cannot provide recommendations of facilities in the area, we have numerous resources on our website to help you better understand long-term care and additional resources if you or a loved one is receiving long-term care.”

Organizations like this one can help families fi nd the right fit for loved ones who need long-term care.

“Another important thing you can do is find out more about the financial options available to help cover the costs,” says Steven Hahn, communications director for AARP North Carolina. “Long-term care insurance is one way you can ensure that you’re prepared for long-term care needs and reduce the chances that you’ll need to rely on loved ones for care or financial assistance. The best way to determine what long-term care protection options are right for you is to speak with a qualified professional who is well-versed in long-term care and takes the time to understand your individual needs and circumstances.”

Hillcrest Raleigh at Crabtree Valley provides care on a park-like campus wth gardens and walking paths.

D IFFERENT TYPES OF CARE FACILITIES

H illcrest, Avendelle Assisted Living and Cambridge Village Optimal Living are three locally owned and operated examples of the many different types of facilities seniors and their families may encounter as they look for local care options.

H illcrest, which has locations in Raleigh and Durham, offers varying levels of care including everything from in-home care to residential nursing care. Founded in 1951, Hillcrest was the fi rst certi fied senior care facility in North Carolina and remains family owned and operated by the third generation of the founders’ families: CEO Ted Smith and CFO Bill Hoover. “We offer a full range of high-quality senior care services, including 24/7 residential skilled nursing, after-hospital short-term rehabilitation, assisted living and outpatient physical therapy,” says Smith.

H illcrest provides various levels of in-home care, from respite care for people whose caregivers need breaks to consistent in-home companion care tailored to each

individual’s needs. They also provide assisted living, allowing people to live on-site independently with some support. Finally, they provide skilled, regular nursing care with medication assistance and other support services. “We believe our signature Elegant Care sets us apart from other providers, especially the large corporately owned businesses,” says Smith.

I n 2005, founder and CEO Esther Cromwell opened Avendelle Assisted Living, a neighborhood-based model for senior living. Avendelle residents live in houses located in residential neighborhoods. The goal is to create a place that feels like a home rather than a facility.

Avendelle “redefi nes senior care by offering a uniquely intimate, home-like environment tailored to each resident’s individual needs,” says Cromwell. Offering a high staff-to-resident ratio, Avendelle focuses on fostering strong connections between staff and clients, and delivering care in a way that respects each person’s routines and preferences.

Photo courtesy of Hillcrest.

Cambridge Village Optimal Living offers a hybrid approach to senior care with the goal of allowing residents to live in their own apartments with increasing access to care as needed. This means they can age in place rather than moving to different spaces for different levels of care. The independent living rentals allow residents to benefit from the facility’s amenities and space while paying for only the care they need. “Cambridge communities offer personalized options, flexibility, and a communitycentered model that focuses on holistic well-being,” says Nicci Franklin, Cambridge’s chief marketing of ficer. Cambridge Village Optional Living offers resort-style retirement communities in Apex, Raleigh and Wilmington. T hese are three of many different types of senior living options available in the Triangle. They are meant to illustrate the different kinds of options available, and you will doubtless fi nd other models as you explore. Keep looking and try to fi nd the model that best supports your particular situation and your or your loved one’s individual needs.

RESOURCES

Here are some websites to help seniors and their families find the informatio they need.

• North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services: ncdhhs.gov/imstillhere. Here you can find Noth Carolina’s Multisector Plan for Aging, which will help implement key needs for older adults over the next 10 years.

• Wake County, Resources for Seniors: resourcesforseniors.org

• Central Pines Regional Council: centralpinesnc.gov/aging-human-services, including a long-term care ombudsman (a person who researches and resolves complaints).

• Residents’ rights for nursing homes and adult care homes in North Carolina: ncdhhs.gov/divisions/aging/long-term-care-ombudsman-advocacy-residentslong-term-care-facilities/residents-rights.

• Friends of Residents in Long-Term Care: forltc.org and forltc.org/resources

• AARP long-term care overall guide: aarp.org/caregiving/long-term-care

• Hillcrest Raleigh: hillcrestnc.com/home/raleigh-nc

• Avendelle Assisted Living: avendelle.com

• Cambridge Village: cvsliving.com

Fireplace at The Cambridge at Brier Creek’s Tavern on the Lawn. Photo courtesy of Cambridge Village.

LOCAL TOWNS TEAM UP TO FIGHT FIRES

Morrisville fi refi ghter Natasha Byrd rides a ladder truck in her second career. She worked eight years in pharmaceutical manufacturing before, at age 28, changing direction to pursue the career she always wanted.

BY JUDITH COOKIS RUBENS

Camp Ignite participants pose next to a re truck. Photo courtesy of the Town of Apex.

“ I’m a people person. I want to serve people,” says Byrd, now one of four women in the Morrisville Fire/ Rescue Department.

Byrd didn’t come from a family of police or fi refighters. No one from her rural Johnston County background encouraged her early interest in fi refighting. “I never thought this would be something I could do. Women where I grew up were not in the fi re department,” she says.

It was an uphill climb, but Byrd graduated from a fi re academy, obtained her EMT and fi re certi fications, and passed grueling physical tests to land a full-time fi refighting job in Morrisville by age 30. Then came even more training hours.

“I put in blood, sweat and tears,” she says.

CAMP IGNITE

This roundabout career route encouraged Byrd and two of her peers to launch Camp Ignite, a free fi refighting summer camp for teen girls. Led exclusively by female fi refighters from the Cary, Apex and Morrisville fi re departments, the camp is the towns’ collaborative effort to introduce young women to fi re service careers and to boost their con fidence and leadership skills.

“I wanted to give them this eye-opening experience that this is something you could do,” Byrd says.

Summer 2024 marked the fi rst Camp Ignite in the Triangle—it’s planned again for summer 2025. Last summer, the group—21 teen girls from ages 14 to 18— rotated between stations in all three towns. They learned basic fi rst aid, CPR and ladder and hose basics, and performed physical agility exercises, vehicle extrications and even water rescues at Lake Crabtree.

One morning, the young women scaled a 60-degree ladder, about 70 feet in the air, simulating an aerial rescue. “Climbing the ladder truck was harder mentally. It was more scary than you would think,” says Katie Nelson, 18, of Apex, who participated.

Currently a student at Wake Technical Community College, Nelson plans to earn her fi re certi fications and one day joi n a fi re department. “It’s a lot more physically demanding to be a woman doing this. But I like that.”

Camp Ignite cofounder Courtney Butler, an Apex fi refighter and community risk reduction coordinator, showed her group how to cut into a car to extricate and stabilize an accident victim. “They didn’t realize how many different hat s fi refighters wear,” says Butler. “We can put a Band-Aid on, or we can run into a burning building and pull you out.”

Even if all attendees don’t wind up applying to local departments, the camp is still a win, organizers say. “I want girls to know they can do more than they can even imagine. There are no limits,” Byrd says.

F irefighting remains a heavily male-dominated profession. Nationally, only 5% of career

A Camp Ignite participant learns how to force open a car window in an emergency. Photo courtesy of The Town of Apex.

Camp Ignite participants training with a re hose. Morrisville reghter Natasha Byrd says female reghters must sometimes handle hoses differently from men because of their size. Photo courtesy of the Town of Apex.

firefighters are women, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

Local numbers hover around that figure, but it’s a number all three towns are trying to boost. “We’re trying to get females to recognize that the fi re service is a place for them. It’s obviously a work in progress,” says Morrisville Fire Chief Nathan Lozinsky. “I have a saying that we don’t lower standards; we open doors.”

Veteran women fi refighters are encouraged to share their tips and tricks with female trainees, Lozinsky says. “I have to hold a charged hose line differently, so it doesn’t come back and smack me in the face,” Byrd explains. Apex’s Butler agrees. “I’m short — 5'3" throwing a 20-foot ladder—I had to fi nd another way to do it. It doesn’t always look as pretty, but I get it done as well as the next guy,” Butler says.

“We’ll build you up to our standard,” Lozinsky says. “I don’t think anybody wants a service where they’re going to be viewed as being given things.” He adds, “The air pack on the fi re truck is unisex. It weighs 30-some pounds. There’s not female gear or male gear, right? It’s just gear. The axe weighs the same.”

THE CAM PARTNERSHIP

C amp Ignite isn’t the only collaborative effort between fi refi ghters in Cary, Apex and Morrisville. Back in 2019, Cary, Apex and Morrisville fi re departments (or CAM, for short) moved to a uni fied respon se fi re system. The departments regularly train together, coordinate resources, and respond to calls within all three jurisdictions.

Cary’s Emergency Communications Center, or 911 Center, now handles all fire calls for Cary, Apex and Morrisville, dispatching trucks and emergency vehicles as needed. This unified system covers more than 100 square miles and serves nearly 250,000 residents. It follows the rule of “closest unit dispatch,” meaning the closest truck from either trio of towns responds. The first responding officer (or battalion chief, if needed) leads the response.

“ We’re getting our people there to provide help the fastest, regardless of what the side of the truck says,” Lozinsky says. “What’s 25 seconds? Well, you hold your child who’s not breathing for an additional 25 seconds, and you want that truck [to get] there as quickly as it can.”

H istorically, loca l fi re departments use mutual aid agreements with neighboring towns in a crisis, but this arrangement takes it a step further. CAM fi refi ghters train together year-round. Committees, made up of representatives from each department, decide standard operating procedures. The three fi re chiefs meet monthly over lunch. CAM crews cover each other’s stations in the event of a large-scale emergency in one town.

Each department still maintains its own identity, equipment and uniforms. Budgets, hiring and personnel matters are handled separately as well.

It’s an unusual collaboration as fi re departments, historically, can be territorial. But it makes a lot of sense in this part of western Wake County, where town boundaries snake around and through one another. “It’s not necessarily that we did it [built a uni fied response]. It’s that we’ve maintained it,” Lozinsky says.

A stronger, faster fi re response helps residents and business owners in all three towns, Lozinsky adds. Better response metrics, more available equipment and increased water supply boosts a department’s ISO rating—the Insurance Services Of fice rating (1 to 10, with 1 being the best) that grades a community’s fi refighting ability. Businesses in towns with high ISO ratings pay less for insurance, as do homeowners. Cary, Apex and Morrisville are ISO 1-rated.

Car y fi refighter Jess Rogers found running Camp Ignite with her peers from Apex and Morrisville an extension of their everyday partnership. “We run so many calls together,” says Rogers, adding that CAM fi refighters even practice operating each other’s trucks and equipment. “Everybody wins when you lose that ego and you’re willing to work together.”

IS ALL SUBSTANCE

USE BAD?

Substance use exists along a continuum. Some people drink or use substances occasionally without impacting their well-being. Others develop an unhealthy relationship with alcohol or drugs and cannot decrease their use despite its having negative impacts on their family, job or health. Signs of addiction may be someone’s isolating themselves or their being too impaired or hungover to meet their basic obligations to their family or coworkers. An addiction diagnosis isn’t based on the type or frequency of substance use but on the role substance use takes in someone’s life.

WHO IS AT RISK OF ADDICTION?

The single biggest risk factor for addiction is family history (genetics), which is responsible for about 50% of the risk of addiction. Other powerful factors include age at first use of drugs or alcohol and childhood t auma. Many of the assumptions people have about “addicts” are based on what they see on television or read in the news and do not represent the range of clients we treat. It is important to understand that addiction isn’t about “bad choices”—many clients follow doctor’s orders after surgery, for example, and develop addictions to opioids.

WHAT DOES “DUAL DIAGNOSIS” MEAN?

We are used to thinking about mental health and substance abuse as two different problems. In reality, substance or alcohol abuse rarely exists without the presence of what we traditionally think of as separate mental health disorders. Substance abuse impacts the same mental networks that can cause symptoms such as anxiety, depression, lPTSD and obsessive thinking. A dual-diagnosis treatment approach accounts for the relationships between mental health, maladaptive coping behaviors and addiction. We are the only Cary practice that offers a dual-diagnosis IOP. We also offer medication management, because there are safe and effective medications for alcohol and substance abuse that are underutilized in most primary care or psychiatric practices.

WHAT IS AN INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT PROGRAM (IOP)?

An IOP provides intensive, office-based sevices to people struggling with mental health issues or substance abuse. It allows people to receive care while living at home—and often to continue working at their jobs—instead of going to residential treatment programs. An IOP fills the gap beteen individual therapist and doctor’s visits and more time-consuming residential programs. Clients receive approximately three hours of services per day, up to fie days per week. We offer sessions at different times to provide flexibilit.

We provide other services as well, including therapy, medication management and ketamine treatments with ketamine-assisted psychotherapy.

1000 Darrington Drive, Suite 204, Cary, North Carolina 27513

919.338.5620 | trianglewellnessandrecovery.com

Zena Chase, MS, LCMHC, LCASA Clinical Director

Sara Koenig, MD, MBA Medical Director & CEO

HOW DOES A DENTIST’S INTEREST IN SLEEP IMPROVE YOUR OVERALL HEALTH?

As dental professionals, we could talk about teeth all day long. We’ve dedicated our lives to helping people maintain their ability to chew and to smile. So why would we want to know how well our patients sleep?

Well, the mouth really is the gateway to the rest of the body— and when you care about the person behind the teeth, you think holistically about their care. Clues in the mouth can give us insight into a patient’s overall wellness. For example, if a patient has a narrow dental arch and are not able to hold their tongue against their palate, they may tend to breathe through their mouth. Many years of routine mouth breathing can lead to skeletal changes that make it increasingly difficult to beathe through the nose.

These individuals are more likely to develop obstructive sleep apnea as they age, which can lead to a myriad of health problems down the road—poor sleep, difficulty focusing, morning headache and even Alzheimer’s disease. Early signs of this problem in children include snoring, restlessness in bed, bedwetting, difficulty focusing in school and behavioral problems.

By teaching simple exercises that help them open their airways, we are able to improve our patients’ overall health and quality of life. Why do we do this? Because we don’t just care about your teeth—we care about all of you!

Dr. Tina Goodall

Dr. Chris Booker

WHY SEEK SPECIALIZED MIDLIFE WOMEN’S CARE?

Jamie Gallagher

DNP, FNP-C, MSCP Founder/Owner

Peri & Pause

Peri & Pause was built to meet the gap in midlife women’s health care during perimenopause and menopause. Many women struggle to understand changes in their bodies during this time and seek care that is difficult to find. Mo providers receive minimal education on menopause, and much of the information they do get—even today—is outdated and inaccurate. This problem negatively impacts the lives of women and those who love them. In addition, there are opportunists in the menopause space who use this emotional time for profit

WHAT CARE CAN YOU EXPECT?

Midlife women’s care at Peri & Pause is relational and not transactional. We build relationships. That is the starting point, and it begins with trust, active listening and shared decision-making. We provide evidence-based and evidence-informed treatment

that is safe and effective, ultimately improving health and overall quality of life. Every single woman deserves this conversation, and we are here for it.

HOW DO WE PRACTICE MIDLIFE CARE?

Peri & Pause’s mission is to provide the highest-quality and most up-to-date menopause care with certified menopause specialists. Our vision is to change midlife women’s health care by filling the gaps in menopause cae. Our values are passion for what we do, respect for everyone we serve and integrity in how we do it. Jamie Gallagher is the owner and founder of Peri & Pause. She is a doctoral-prepared family nurse practitioner and certified menopause specialist

AND HELP ME FEEL MY BEST?

Katy Graham General Manager Beem Light Sauna

Red light therapy is a noninvasive treatment that delivers the highest-quality results for skin rejuvenation, wrinkle reduction, collagen production and overall skin health. At Beem Light Sauna, our medical-grade red light treatments also ensure optimal effectiveness in reducing inflammation, enhancing blood circulation and accelerating healing. In addition to red light therapy, our infrared light treatments offer six core benefits: detoxification, pain elief, improved skin, boosted immunity, stress reduction and ignited metabolism (you can burn up to 600 calories per session!) These therapies work in synergy to help you feel refreshed, rejuvenated and energized.

615 Peace Street, Raleigh, North Carolina 27605 984.833.2336 |

At dental checkups, we check more than just your teeth. First, for your safety, we ask you for an updated medical history and record your blood pressure. We also recommend an annual oral cancer screening—a painfree blue light scan of your mouth that aids the dentist in visualizing abnormalities. Finally, we can get down to the business of chewing. We evaluate your teeth and gums, assess for decay and determine if there are broken fillings that need treatment. We also look for inflammation or gum disease. We check for dry mouth, wear on your teeth, signs of trauma and so much more. Every day is a great day for a checkup!

HOW CAN CONSULTING A

My Roar Speech Therapy offers a holistic approach to enhance communication. If you’re concerned about your child’s development, reach out for a personalized evaluation. Every child deserves to be heard—let’s help them ROAR!

Speech-language pathologists are experts in communication sciences and disorders. They can diagnose and treat speech and language disorders in the following areas:

• Articulation: Helping children improve speech clarity.

• Language: Developing expressive (speaking) and receptive (understanding) language skills, like conversational abilities and answering questions.

• Fluency: Assisting children who present with disfluencies or stutte.

• Cognition: Building attention, memory and executive function.

• Feeding and swallowing: Supporting children with eating or swallowing difficulties

• AAC: Helping children use communication devices.

Kayla Brown Owner

PAINTING THE TOWN: APE X

For the last 10 years, the Town of Apex has focused on developing its Public Art Master Plan. The Apex Public Art Committee (APAC) evolved from this initiative, which, according to chairperson Tom Colwell, “generates ideas, develops the concepts and determines the projects that we would like to advance.”

Murals and public art provide more than just a beautification o space—they build community. In North Carolina’s fastest-growing town, public art can be enjoyed through a myriad of murals, an art walk, a sculpture walk and along the GoApex bus route.

THE COMMUNITY LAUGHING GARDEN

Painted by Loren Pease in 2022.

Located at the downtown Apex police station, 205 Saunders Street. “Murals create character,” says Chapel Hill muralist Loren Pease with Sweet Pease Art. “Using the side of a building to create a feeling is like creating a billboard for your community. It can be a pretty powerful thing.”

Pease’s style is colorful, joyful and natural; she is inspired by the colors, shapes and magic of living things around her. She says she just kind of fell into painting murals. “A friend

in advertising asked if I could paint her nursery, and the next thing I knew I was painting every weekend in [different homes] and eventually businesses.” Pease says her goal “is to create something that invites the viewer to pause, think, reflect and connect with the yumminess of nature and life.”

Her mural, The Community Laughing Garden, highlights the joy she finds in eople and the pure happiness and unity they can share. It was selected from one of APAC’s calls for art and completed in November 2022. “The committee felt strongly about this being a unity mural that somehow represented the people in the community,” she says. “Apex has a beautifully diverse population, and my goal was that anyone walking by could relate to someone in the mural in some small way.”

TAPSTATION

Painted by Max Dowdle in 2022. Located at TapStation, 320 S. Salem Street.

Max Dowdle has two murals in town that are part of his “Legacy NC–100 Murals in 100 Counties” project. He painted Destination Becomes Home in 2020 on the Apex Public Works building. It caught the attention of Jeff Kromenhoek, who owns TapStation.

The Community Laughing Garden by Loren Pease “highlights the joy in people, pure happiness and unity,” she says. “Smiles are contagious, so hopefully it makes people smile!”

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY DOLLY R. SICKLES

“Jeff contacted me and said, ‘Hey, we’re renovating this building and turning it into TapStation, so just go wild on it,’” says Dowdle. The commissioned mural, TapStation, pays homage to the former Holt & Sons garage, on the corner of South Salem and Williams streets. It features beer and hops, and a fun robot gas attendant. Dowdle also painted the vintage truck out front.

Dowdle studied sculpture in college and discovered painting during his last term. After college, he studied in Florence, Italy for two years, learning the classical Old Master style with oil paints. Dowdle favors big, bold colors and silhouettes. He worked in other genres—fine arts, ortraiture and graphic novels—before settling on murals and opening his company, NC Public Art. Working on murals lets him be outside, which he especially enjoyed during the pandemic. “I had such a great experience, working in tandem in a collaborative fashion with people who wanted to see a creative vision come to life,” he says.

Both Pease and Dowdle also have murals along the GoApex bus route. To learn more about Pease, check out sweetpease.com. To learn more about Dowdle, check out ncpublicart.com. All of Apex’s public art is documented at apexnc.org/1800/public-art.

Max Dowdle created the original gas-pump robot character for his mural TapStation

Max Dowdle says the external artwork on the TapStation mural was “the perfect opportunity to marry art and storytelling, showcasing a large tap literally drenching the silhouette of Apex in beer and hops.”

Where to Go For a ROMA NTIC DATE

BY PAIGE HACHET JACOB

You’ve got a date for Valentine’s Day! Now—what should you do on the big night? Apex offers opportunities for drinks and dinners, creative activities and romantic getaways.

Offering Southern contemporary cuisine and handmade cocktails, The Peak on Salem is a top location for a romantic dining experience. Set in downtown Apex, it offers live music with signature cocktails and mouthwatering menu options. You might also savor the ambiance at Peak of the Vine with wine and music. For a twist on a classic date night idea, try one of their wine-tasting classes. This venue often offers other entertaining events—you can laugh together at a stand-up comedy night or enjoy a special musical performance, for example—so check their website to see what you and your date might enjoy.

How about a date experience that brings out the creative side? Unleash your inner artist at Mad Splatter in Beaver Creek Crossings. Whether you’re in the mood to create a fun, messy canvas or prefer a more structured session to craft a masterpiece, Mad Splatter is the perfect place to let loose and have fun together. After working up an

appetite, head for a bite to eat at one of the many nearby dining options. Want to enhance the romance with a night or weekend away with your partner? Book a stay at the charming Boho Bungalow. Within walking distance of the restaurants, bars and shops on Salem Street, this modern cottage offers a chance for couples to enjoy the charm of Apex and share time away from their everyday routine. Make the night unforgettable by discovering some of the unexpected opportunities Apex offers, and let the sparks fly

Couples enjoy getting creative on their dates. Photos courtesy of Mad Splatter.

STREET HOCKEY IS COMING TO APEX!

BY DREW BECKER

When the Carolina Hurricanes began searching for a site on which to build outdoor street hockey rinks, Angela Reincke immediately took notice. After all, Reincke, the Town of Apex Parks’ planning manager, has been a season ticket holder of the NHL team for two decades. “I couldn’t think of a better organization or group of people to partner with than the Carolina Hurricanes,” she says.

Tapping into the NHL’s Industry Growth Fund, the team proposed the street hockey concept in 2022 and began searching for an ideal location in the Triangle. “We wanted to push this, because the Hurricanes have been offering an inschool program for roughly 20 years where

the team donates street hockey equipment to schools,” says Hurricanes Youth and Amateur Hockey Specialist Thomas Whitmeyer-Weathers. “And hopefully it got kids interested in the sport. The downside was, there was no great transition after that. If they wanted to play hockey, the answer was ‘OK, learn how to skate.’ So building street hockey rinks provides more accessibility and more inclusivity for the sport, [allowing] more people to just try it.”

The idea to build the project at North Carolina State University fell through, so the Canes began reaching out to parks and recreation departments, calling on Raleigh, Cary, Apex and Durham.

“Apex was pretty quick to respond,” says Whitmeyer-Wathers. “Everybody else was

sort of like, ‘We’ll see where we want to go with this’ or ‘We don’t have an idea,’ but Apex told us they had a site they wanted to use for the project. We went out and looked at it, and loved it.”

The two outdoor rinks will be located at Apex Community Park at a total cost of $1.2 million, which was split between the town and the team. “We hope we’re creating a model that can be replicated across the Triangle,” says Apex Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Director Craig Setzer.

Setzer says the completion date is expected by early March of this year. When the weather gets warmer, Apex residents can look forward to getting outside and playing some hockey!

Renderings of Apex’s planned street hockey rinks. Renderings courtesy of the Town of Apex.

PAINTING THE TOWN: CARY

Public art is a hallmark of the Cary experience today. Nestled in parks and public spaces throughout the city, sculptures, paintings and other public artwork emerge to give the town beauty and character.

One of Cary’s oldest murals provokes curiosity, as it incorporates many of Cary’s historic figures and buildings some of which no longer exist. Its newest mural is very different, with a focus on nature rather than culture. We spoke with the muralists who painted these two works to learn more about how the murals were composed and what ideas inspired them.

BLOSSOMS AND BIRDSONG

Painted by Lisa Gaither, 2024.

Located at 160 E. Cedar Street, owned by Scratch Kitchen & Taproom. Cary’s newest mural was painted in 2024 by muralist Lisa

Gaither and adorns the wall of Scratch Kitchen & Taproom near Chatham Street in downtown Cary. It depicts four bluebirds surrounded by pink chokeberry blossoms. The mural is meant to be viewed from down Chatham Street, which is how most people see it. Viewed from directly in front of the mural, Gaither says, “The birds in the back are skewed; they’re stretched way out… their perspective is wrong. And that’s just so when you’re way down the street and you see them, they look normal.”

The depiction of bluebirds and chokeberries was chosen simply because both Scratch’s owners and Gaither liked how they looked. “It was kind of simple,” says Gaither. “[Chokeberries] are something we actually have in the area.” Gaither wanted a local bird and plant combination with colors that resonated with her—and she wanted it to be unpredictable. In this area, “everybody expects people to paint cardinals and dogwoods,” she says. “I said, ‘I’m not doing those because, you know, that’s what everybody expects.’”

CARY—THEN AND NOW

Painted by Val Fox, 2002–2003.

Located at 220 W. Chatham Street, now owned by La Farm Bakery. Born in 1938, Val Fox grew up in Cary and remembers it as a small town. “If anybody did anything, everybody in the town knew about it,” she says.

Fox painted Cary—Then and Now on the wall of what was then Sorrell Paint Wallpaper Interiors & Floors, where her studio was housed, at the suggestion of prominent community members Dick Ladd and Ralph Ashworth. She wanted to give an overview

Blossoms

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY ELIZABETH BRIGNAC

of Cary’s history over the 150 years that preceded the mural. “I think it took me 8 months to do it—I could only paint in good weather,” she says. “Anyway, we got it done, and hallelujah!”

The images show moments in the history of Cary over time, starting at the right with the Cary train station, representing the town’s roots in the railroad, and moving roughly through time to the left. Images of people include Cary figures who were prominent in their time, some of whom were known to either Fox herself or her parents. Dr. James Templeton, for example, a beloved local doctor who died only a few years before Fox was born, stands in his World War I uniform in front of the Cary train station. The man pumping gas is Jerrell Spencer, who owned Cricket Service Station (now called Cricket Service Center) and who was known to everyone in town, including Fox.

Some of the images are both personal and communityoriented; the teacher standing at the blackboard at the center of the mural, for example, is Ruth Cathey Fox, who taught for many years at Cary Elementary School before becoming principal of Briarcliff Elementary School. She was Fox’s stepmother. The man with the microphone to the far left is musician Clay Aiken, whose star was rising when Fox painted the mural—and whose mother worked in the Sorrell building near Fox’s studio.

The buildings depicted in the mural include well-known places, like the Pink House and the building at the end of Academy Street that was once Cary High School and is now the Cary Arts Center. They also include buildings that were once important but have since been torn down, like the barn from

Kildaire Farm, the dairy farm that once stood on the road that currently bears its name.

Fox is in her 80s now, and the mural depicting Cary’s history is fading slowly from the wall of 220 West Chatham. “I just want everyone that lives in Cary to love each other, to respect each other, and to build each other up—be a big, happy family like we were, you know, 50 years ago, 80 years ago,” she says. “Just love Cary like us old folks used to love it.”

You can learn more about Cary—Then and Now at the PageWalker Arts & History Center. They sell an inexpensive copy of the mural that includes a detailed account of its history.

Cary—Then and Now offers an overview of Cary’s history from the 19th century through the 21st, moving right to left. Clay Aiken is the singer in the white jacket.

This detail depicts Jerrell Spencer from Cricket Service Station.

Where to Go For a ROMA NTIC DATE

As Cary expands its dining and nightlife options, it’s becoming easier to find sophisticated dining—perfect for a Valentine’s Day celebration—close to home. Here are a few options for a special, romantic date night in Cary:

BY JUDITH COOKIS RUBENS

MC MODERN ASIAN CUISINE

Featuring cozy fireplaces, candlelight and its historic setting, C Modern Asian Cuisine is a good pick for a romantic evening out. MC serves inventive Asian cuisine in the Queen Anne–style, 1902 Sams-Jones House, across from the new Downtown Cary Park. Chef Michael Chuong (the name behind Cary’s former An Cuisines and Chapel Hill’s Elements) changes his Asian fusion menu weekly. You’ll find East-meets-est pairings like crispy jumbo prawns with candied almonds, Vietnamese nuoc cham sauce and small plates of wagyu dumplings, to a wide sampling of sushi and sashimi. Homespun touches of flowers and colorful ceamic dinnerware add warmth. Make reservations early for a three-course Valentine’s Day prix fixe menu. 324 S. Academy Street mccuisines.com

DATE NIGHT IN THE PARK

A no-cost romantic outing could include strolling the now 1-year-old Downtown Cary Park, hosting a Valentine’s Day romantic date night on February 14. Grab beer or wine at The Bark Bar, order dinner from the nearby taco truck, buy treats at the park’s Market 317, or bring a

picnic of cheese and charcuterie from nearby gourmet market Pro’s Epicurean. Valentine’s night details are still in the works, but its inaugural event featured live jazz, couple-oriented crafts and custom poems-on-demand from Durham’s poet laureate, the Poetry Fox.

Downtown Cary Park Pro’s Epicurean 327 S. Academy Street 211 E. Chatham Street downtowncarypark.com prosepicurean.com

THE MAYTON

If you want to extend your romantic evening, downtown Cary’s charming 45-room boutique hotel is the perfect spot for an overnight stay. Start with dinner and cocktails at Peck & Plume, the hotel’s upscale eatery featuring Southern American classics with international flvor hints. Follow with a nightcap at a local brewery (Cotton House is right next door). The Mayton’s Valentine’s Day room packages include chocolate-dipped strawberries, a bottle of bubbly and breakfast for two the next day. A Valentine’s Day threecourse prix fixe dinner menu is planned at $65 er person.

The Mayton Cotton House Craft Brewers 301 S. Academy Street

307 S. Academy Street themayton.com cottonhousenc.co

Left: An intimate table setting at MC Modern Asian Cuisine. Photo courtesy of MC Modern Asian Cuisine.

Right: A couple enjoys a date at Peck & Plume’s cocktail bar at The Mayton. Photo courtesy of The Mayton.

PAVING THE WAY TOWARD A BIKE-FRIENDLY TOWN

BY ELIZABETH BRIGNAC I PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE TOWN OF CARY

In May 2023 the Town of Cary introduced Bike Cary, an initiative to fill in the gap in Cary’s bike system. Cary currently has around 100 miles of greenway that connect with other municipalities’ greenway systems. Now the town hopes to make it easier for people to both access the greenways safely and use bike paths for practical purposes.

“Our greenways are usually built along stream corridors,” says Todd Milam, Bike Cary’s project manager. “They’re great for when you want to get away from traffic and escape into nature. However, that location makes it hard to get to all of those destinations—to your schools and parks and restaurants.” According to local and national surveys, many people don’t feel safe riding bicycles on roads with traffic and currently, it can be difficult to access

either local destinations or greenways in Cary without bicycling on major roads. Bike Cary wants to make bicycling both to and beyond greenways feel safe for cyclists. “[We’re] trying to create that safe, comfortable feeling that you get when you’re on a greenway—trying to translate that into the transportation corridors or the on-road network,” says Milam.

Generally speaking, on nonresidential roads, Bike Cary plans to establish barriers between bike lanes and traffic, with different types of separated bike paths for different types of roads. In residential neighborhoods, they plan to add signs and other safety measures. Throughout the network, says Milam, “a big component is intersection design—really making sure that the bikes, the pedestrians and the cars

know where everyone is supposed to be.” In the end, they hope to make bicycling a major form of transportation in Cary rather than simply a recreational activity.

So far, Bike Cary has surveyed the town, communicated extensively with residents and gathered data. They are currently using the information they have collected to build their plan. This spring, they will present the plan to the public and solicit feedback. After making adjustments, they will bring the plan to the Cary Town Council and propose that it be adopted.

If you live or bike in Cary, keep an eye out for Bike Cary’s plan coming out sometime this spring. Offer your feedback! In the meantime, you can find detaile information about Bike Cary at carync.gov/ recreation-enjoyment/bike-cary.

This Fenton bike lane features a raised barrier between cyclists and traffic.

This Fenton multiuse path marks spaces for pedestrians and for cyclists going in different directions. Bike Cary plans to use these methods on popular multiuse paths to prevent accidents.

PAINTING THE TOWN: FUQUAY-VARINA

BY HEATHER DARNELL

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE TOWN OF FUQUAY-VARINA

Public art in Fuquay-Varina promotes community spirit and civic pride, and adds beauty to the town. Our local murals in particular draw attention to the town’s unique history within North Carolina.

The colorful I Love Fuquay-Varina mural in downtown Varina and the friendly Welcome Home mural in downtown Fuquay feature elements that showcase Fuquay-Varina as a unique and special place to live.

I LOVE FUQUAY-VARINA

Painted by Sean Kernick in 2018.

Located at 409 Broad Street, the current location of SupaBowlz Café. The iconic I Love Fuquay-Varina mural is located on 409 Broad Street in downtown Varina. Visitors might stumble upon this work of art while shopping at Varina Station or when going to

an Aviator restaurant or brewery. This mural was painted on the side of the brick building where SupaBowlz Café is currently located by prolific orth Carolina artist Sean Kernick. Kernick has brought large-scale works of art to life across the state.

This visual love letter to the town writes the story of FuquayVarina. In the mural, American and North Carolina flags wve over local historic landmarks like Fuquay Mineral Spring Park. The mural uses bright colors and urban illustration that connect present elements of Fuquay-Varina to its past and future.

The I Love Fuquay-Varina mural was made possible by United Arts Wake County (UAWC) through the Wake Murals program in 2018. Kelly Schrader, United Arts coordinator at UAWC, says, “We work with municipalities across Wake County to guide them through the process of how to commission and install public murals. UAWC also contributes up to $5,000 of matching funds toward each mural and assists with all stages of the process.”

Maureen Daly, cultural director at the Fuquay-Varina Arts Center, remembers all the elements coming together quickly for this mural. “The I Love Fuquay-Varina mural came to us by chance,” she says. “I received a call from the United Arts Council president asking if we were in a position to have a mural in town, and if we could participate in their program quickly.” The Fuquay-Varina Arts Center, the Town of Fuquay-Varina and artist Sean Kernick all jumped on the opportunity to make it happen, working together to find a lcation and create and approve the concept.

“The mural is a great welcome to our Varina district, and is amongst the most photographed murals in town,” Daley says.

I Love Fuquay-Varina depicts Fuquay Mineral Spring Park, whose natural spring became a tourist attraction in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

WELCOME HOME

Painted by Jermaine Powell in 2023. Located at 201 S. Main Street, owned by Abshure Realty. Fuquay-Varina’s Welcome Home mural is the town’s newest addition to downtown Fuquay. Completed in 2023, the mural is located at 215 S. Main Street on the south side of the Abshure Realty building and brings cheer to the town’s Vance Street parking lot. The mural is easily viewable to visitors traveling north on Main Street or when walking around downtown Fuquay.

The colorful mural represents a sense of home, with the American flag wving over the North Carolina state bird (the cardinal), the state flower (the flowering dogod), and beautiful blue North Carolina skies.

Daly says that she planned the Welcome Home mural in collaboration with Dawn Russell, a former town manager, and the Abshure family, who own the Abshure Realty building. In the design process, the “welcome home” sentiment was a favorite.

The group identified uquay-Varina artist Jermaine Powell to bring the concept to life, and secured a placemaking grant from the National Association of Realtors through the Raleigh Regional Association of Realtors. Powell has installed murals across the state, and he also works in mediums like canvas, portraits and custom-painted handbags. In an April 21, 2023 Instagram post, Powell described his thoughts about the Welcome Home mural.

“As an artist, it’s always a joy to create something that celebrates the beauty and diversity of a community,” he writes. “I wanted my mural to highlight the many people who live

and work in Fuquay-Varina, and to convey the warmth and welcoming spirit of this great town. With your help, I believe we achieved that goal.”

Daly notes that in the short time it has been viewable, the Welcome Home mural has been used in multiple town publications and has become a local landmark.

Welcome Home depicts the North Carolina state bird (the cardinal) and the state flwer (the flwering dogwood) interspersed with blue hydrangeas.

Jermaine Powell takes a break from painting Welcome Home to pose for a photo.

Where to Go For a ROMA NTIC DATE

Valentine’s Day is in February! Here are some places in Fuquay-Varina that are perfect for a romantic night out.

BY HEATHER DARNELL

steak served

THE LIBRARY STEAKHOUSE

C heck out Fuquay’s newest fine dining establishment, The Library Steakhouse. With delightful decorative nods to the building’s former use as a library, the steakhouse brings a highly anticipated date spot to the heart of downtown Fuquay. Enjoy 100% Certified Angus Beef along with extensive whiskey, wine and cocktail menus. With locally sourced ingredients and fan favorites like clam chowder and crispy fried Brussels sprouts, The Library will have you and your date checking in again and again.

133 S. Fuquay Avenue thelibrarysteakhouse.com

KHAO SEN

Celebrate love and spice at Fuquay-Varina’s new Thai restaurant, Khao Sen. This restaurant brings the delectable flvors and hospitality of Thailand to Bengal Towne Centre. Featuring both rice (khao), and noodles (sen), the menu at Khao Sen highlights popular Thai flvors like coconut, lemongrass and curry. Enjoy rich flvors found in traditional Thai meals and savor fragrant broths and noodle dishes. Try the restaurant’s namesake dish or celebrate your love over passion fruit boba tea. The atmosphere is relaxed, polished and cozy, perfect for a casual date night.

2100 Gathering Square Court khaosen.com

A

with crab meat, asparagus and béarnaise sauce. Photo courtesy of The Library Steakhouse.

ORIGINAL STRENGTH INSTITUTE

Helping Clients Feel Better in their Bodies

BY DREW BECKER

At Original Strength Institute (OSI), owners Tim Anderson and Dani Almeyda help ordinary people build fitness based on how their odies feel. “We shouldn’t be in pain after workouts. We should feel better,” says Anderson, a physical trainer, lecturer and author of physical fitnes books. Anderson’s methods are based on doing exercises that make the body feel good, an approach he began developing when he researched methods that would allow him to move his body in ways he enjoyed. He and Almeyda—also a personal trainer—have brought this “feeling better” method to their clients. It is designed to help people realize they are stronger than they think.

OSI opened in 2009 and moved to its current 15,000-square-foot location

in 2024. The gym offers small group, semiprivate and private personal training; physical therapy; and a pickleball court and more, for folks of all ages. It describes itself as a “gym for people who don’t like the gym.” According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 25% of people in Southern states are not physically active. Anderson and Almeyda understand that adopting an exercise program can be challenging, and they want to help their clients learn what it’s like to feel good through exercise.

The owners also believe people are stronger together, and have built a robust community around fitness. When they opened the gym, they began finding clients by volunteering for community

service projects. When OSI moved to its current location, members helped tear down walls and scrubbed paint off the floors. They built new walls, hung sheet rock, painted and moved equipment in. The project was truly a community endeavor.

Anderson, Almeyda and the OSI staff emphasize that when people feel good in their bodies, they lead better and happier lives. Toward that end, they encourage clients to move their bodies every day. “People need to start where they are. We encourage them to use what they have and do what they can,” says Anderson.

OSI is located at 212 S. Main Street in Fuquay-Varina. Find more information at originalstrengthinstitute.com

Above: Tim Anderson and Dani Almeyda, co-owners of Original Strength Institute (OSI). Photos courtesy of OSI.

Top: OSI clients work out with battle ropes. Bottom: OSI community members pose for a photo.

PAINTING THE TOWN: HOLLY SPRINGS

Murals have become a powerful way for towns across North Carolina to celebrate local culture, boost tourism and support small businesses. From urban neighborhoods to small towns, the growing mural movement in North Carolina showcases the state’s unique local stories, turning ordinary walls into vibrant expressions of community connection and pride.

Holly Springs has embraced this movement with two beloved murals at The Block on Main and Parrish Womble Park.

MURAL AT THE BLOCK ON MAIN

Painted by Lacey Crime in 2021.

Located at The Block on Main, 300 S. Main Street. The Block on Main is an anchor of downtown Holly Springs,

housing many popular dining and social venues. Chris Harol, a local business owner at The Block on Main, launched the nonprofit owntown Alive to energize Holly Springs’ Village District with activities and art that celebrate community spirit and small business. The organization, led by a team of local business and community leaders, aims to make Holly Springs a vibrant destination by hosting regular events like spring art festivals, holiday celebrations and monthly pop-ups.

Harol saw a mural at The Block on Main as a natural fit for this vision—a way to enhance the area’s visual appeal and a source of pride for residents. Through an open call for art, Downtown Alive selected local muralist Lacey Crime to design an interactive, colorful mural as the district’s focal piece. They hoped it would help draw people downtown, support local vendors and build a sense of place and identity for Holly Springs.

Completed in February 2021, the mural features floal elements and the word “hello” in elegant script. It integrates a bench into the work, allowing passersby to become part of the scene, and making the mural a popular spot for selfies. Crim’s initial design was quickly embraced by locals, prompting her to return for a second phase: an expansion that added a chalkboard wall, tic-tac-toe grids and additional details that extend the interactive experience.

“I wanted it to be interactive, a piece for everyone—inviting people to stop, smile and engage,” Crime says. “The colors, the

The Block on Main mural is a popular spot for selfies. Atist Lacey Crime even has a Facebook video showing people how to “sit” on the bench for photos.

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY JENNIFER AXNESS

games, even the added extensions—all reflect a desire to bring something fun for the public to enjoy in Holly Springs.”

Crime blends digital planning with traditional painting techniques to create her vibrant murals. When moving to a larger scale, such as that of The Block on Main mural, she adapts her technique, mixing freehand painting with scaling to ensure the design fits erfectly into its space. This flexibility allows her t transform her digital concepts into engaging, interactive public art.

ROOTED IN NATURE

Painted by Regina Carter in 2021.

Located at Womble Park, 1201 Grigsby Avenue. Womble Park’s mural, commissioned in honor of the Parks & Recreation Department’s 25th anniversary, was created by local artist Regina Carter. The mural captures the essence of Holly Springs, incorporating elements of nature that reflect the eauty and tranquility of the park itself. Carter’s work brings vibrant color and energy to the surroundings, enhancing the visitor experience while serving as a visual reflection of the tow’s commitment to community art.

LOOKING FORWARD: A FUTURE FOR PUBLIC ART IN HOLLY SPRINGS

With the formation of the Holly Springs Arts Council and potential collaborations with the Wake Murals program, the town is eager to expand its public art offerings. These partnerships aim to bring more public art to Holly Springs—

including murals—creating opportunities for local artists and residents to contribute to the town’s visual landscape. Plans for additional murals and art projects in the coming years reflect a commitment to fostering a vibrant, creative environment that attracts both locals and visitors.

Public art here isn’t just decoration—it’s a way to bring people together, celebrate shared spaces and tell a town’s unique story.

The vibrant Rooted in Nature mural depicted in both photos above celebrates Holly Springs’ parks and activities people enjoy at them.

Where to Go For a ROMA NTIC DATE

Valentine’s Day means love is in the air. Here are some romantic places to celebrate with your special someone in Holly Springs.

BY MIKE RUMBLE

PIMIENTO TEA ROOM

Want to enjoy an intimate atmosphere with a quirky twist? Look no further than Pimiento Tea Room. Located in a 180-year-old farmhouse, Pimiento Tea Room brings together the warmth and history of its building with a fun and funky atmosphere (one of the ground flor fireplaces has an elegant, gold-famed portrait of Mr. T ensconced above it). The menu changes often, and you can enjoy a fun and fancy tea brunch or a nice dinner that includes Southern-inspired seasonal food. The venue often brings in live music. They will have a prix fixe menu for couples on alentine’s Day; look for an announcement about what they will be serving around mid-January.

200 N. Main Street pimientotearoom.com

MAMMA MIA ITALIAN BISTRO

In 2019, having built a successful Mamma Mia location in Apex, Chef Ciro Formisano sold the Apex location to his daughter so he could open a new restaurant in Holly Springs. Mamma Mia features

scratch-made lunch and dinner Italian specialties. You can go casual and share a pizza with your date or order a more elegant pasta or salad dish. Pair your meal with a glass of wine or cocktails from the bar. Located on picturesque Main Street, the atmosphere at Mamma Mia is warm and friendly, and the service is excellent.

300 S. Main Street, Suite 200 mammamiahs.com

NICHE WINE LOUNGE

Niche is full of comfy nooks and polished wood. It’s a nice place to have a drink and a conversation with a person you’d like to get to know better. Share a bottle of wine or enjoy a glass from the establishment’s extensive wine list. In warmer weather you can enjoy your drinks on the large outdoor patio, which combines a rustic look with Mediterranean-inspired elegance. You can buy cocktails as well as wine, and sometimes you can enjoy live music with your drinks.

109 N. Main Street nichewinelounge.com

Warmth and style meet humor at Pimiento Team Room, where the elegant wallpaper depicts solemn lemurs. Photo courtesy of Pimiento Tea Room.

PICKLEBALL TAKES CENTER COURT IN HOLLY SPRINGS

BY JENNIFER AXNESS

Pickleball, America’s fastest-growing sport in 2024 according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, is bringing together residents of all ages in Holly Springs with its social atmosphere and fitness enefits. The sort blends elements of tennis, badminton and pingpong, offering an exciting game that’s easy to learn yet challenging enough to keep players coming back. Low-impact and accessible to all fitness levels, pickleball is both a good way to stay active and a great community builder.

Because of its many benefits and ecause local enthusiasm for the sport has been high, the Town of Holly Springs Parks & Recreation Department has expanded its pickleball offerings in recent years.

Residents can play at several different public courts, both indoor and outdoor. The town offers classes and clinics for everyone from 9-year-olds through senior citizens.

If you’d like to get in on the fun, here are some places where you can pick up a paddle and enjoy a game.

HUNT RECREATION CENTER

The W.E. Hunt Recreation Center offers open-play pickleball on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The center offers three nets, providing ample space for play. The cost is $2 for residents and $3 for nonresidents, with 10-punch passes also available. This friendly setting is perfect for both beginners and experienced players.

TING PARK

Ting Park provides four outdoor pickleball courts with permanent lines and nets. These courts are free and available on a first-come first-served basis. In springtime, ing Park also hosts pickleball programs on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

WOMBLE PARK

At Parrish Womble Park, players can enjoy two youth-sized pickleball courts located near the turf multipurpose field along Stinson Avenue. Open play is available when courts are not reserved for programming, with a one-hour limit when others are waiting. These courts provide a convenient spot for casual players looking to enjoy a quick game.

Ting Park and Parrish Womble Park pickleball courts. Photos by Jennifer Axness.

PAINTING THE TOWN: MORRISVILLE

BY ELIZABETH LINCICOME

Morrisville is now home to three new murals that, while very different in subject matter, all pay homage to the town’s rich history, natural beauty and cultural heritage. All funded by the Town of Morrisville, these murals are just one component of the town’s developing public art initiative.

Upon receiving an Arts for Towns grant from United Arts Wake County in the fall of 2023, the town issued a call for artists. The artists who were selected are required to maintain the murals for at least two years after installation. “It’s our hope that these murals will be in place for many years to come,” says Brittany Johnson, planning manager for the Town of Morrisville.

The murals all celebrate the diversity of Morrisville’s population and the cohesion amongst the community.

Three artists were chosen to showcase their works, which were unveiled in May and June of 2024. (We only have space to include two of these in print, but you can find the third in th online version of this article at 5westmag.com.)

DANCING ON THE BREEZE

Painted by Max Dowdle in 2024.

Located at 100 Morrisville Carpenter Road, Morrisville’s fire administration building.

“This mural represents all ages living in harmony, and reflects our sense of community,” says local artist Max Dowdle. “I was tapped to conceive of a design that was vibrant, energetic and, most importantly, welcoming.”

Since the building is located on a main road into town, during the planning process, Dowdle stressed the importance that it be eye-catching and prominently feature the name of the town. “I submitted a number of designs, but the butterfly one was favorably settled on, and with a few additional tweaks we got it to a very pleasing point,” he says.

Dowdle’s other work is heavily featured throughout the state, as well as in Washington, D.C. and New Jersey. (We profile another of his muals in Western Wake on page 55.) He is currently engaged in a statewide project entitled Legacy NC: 100 Murals in 100 Counties, which commemorates historic and modern legends, luminaries and unsung heroes. He began

The colorful Dancing on the Breeze mural greets people as they drive into Morrisville on Morrisville Carpenter Road. Photo courtesy of the Town of Morrisville.

his public artwork in 2019 after a long career in fine art. “ find it tremendously rewarding and gatifying to work with municipalities to help bring their creative visions to life,” says Dowdle

ROOTS AND WINGS

Painted by Sampada Agarwal in 2024. Located at 1301 Morrisville Parkway, the Morrisville Aquatics & Fitness Center (MAFC).

Sampada Agarwal is a visual artist who has been practicing the folk and tribal art styles of India for over 20 years. Her Roots and Wings mural portrays a sprawling tree offering a haven for many colorful birds. Each bird is unique and special, yet together they create a rainbow of colors that live in harmony. “Each bird is detailed with intricate and different patterns, in tune with the hallmark style of Gond art,” Agarwal says, referring to a style from the state of Madhya Pradesh in India.“This playful, colorful style is steeped in tradition, yet contemporary in nature.”

“The varied patterns symbolize the diversity in our community,” says Agarwal. A red triangle at the base stands for Research Triangle Park, and the airplane alludes to Raleigh-Durham International Airport and Morrisville’s global connectivity. The fish is a reference to the aquatic element of the MAFC building.

Each of the birds in Roots and Wings is designed to be unique while also coming together visually. Photos courtesy of the Town of Morrisville.

This mural’s colorful style comes from the Gond art tradition of central India.

Where to Go For a ROMA NTIC DATE

BY ELIZABETH LINCICOME

For those looking to celebrate a romantic Valentine’s Day out of the house, Morrisville offers several great options. Leo’s Italian Social, located in Park West Village, offers authentic Italian food with a wide range of menu options including handrolled meatballs, mussels, lobster corn chowder, chicken Parmesan and pizza. In keeping with their Valentine’s Day tradition, general manager Chris King says the restaurant will offer a special filet option and a seasonal dessert. “The atmosphere alone with our candlelit patio makes this a romantic option, but the food here is also amazing,” he says. (The patio has fire pits but no heat lamps. Babymoon Cafe also offers fine Italian cuisine that includes pizzas, pastas, seafood, steaks, salads and more. General manager Jimmy Boykin says that between their low-lit main dining room,

which features a starlit ceiling, and their outdoor patio, which features a fountain and trellis (as well as heat lamps for chilly weather), the ambiance at Babymoon couldn’t get any more romantic. Their Valentine’s Day dinner will include five secialty menu options in addition to their regular menu, and every guest leaves with a rose.

For a slightly more casual vibe, Georgina’s Restaurant & Pizzeria off Davis Drive will offer a prix fixe menu that includes seveal appetizer options as well as a main course and homemade dessert. The family-owned establishment, which offers over 112 items on its regular menu, has been serving Morrisville and the surrounding community since 2006. It offers a pleasant, low-key atmosphere, and when spring arrives, diners can enjoy its newly renovated patio.

The romantic decor of Babymoon Cafe’s dining room (left) and patio (right) will put stars in anyone’s eyes. Photos courtesy of Babymoon Cafe.

SMALL TOWN, BIG VISION

Morrisville’s Wake Competition Center brings professional-grade athletic opportunities

BY ELIZABETH LINCICOME

Any discussion of fitness and athletics in Morrisville must highlight Wake Competition Center (WCC). WCC is a 30-acre facility offering twin sheet ice rinks, championship volleyball, turf soccer fields and gymnastics. Adjacent to the RaleighDurham International Airport, the facility first oened in 2019. WCC developer Jeff Ammons says he was encouraged to develop the facility years ago after identifying a need for specialized facilities in and around the Triangle that would attract amateur and professional sport enthusiasts from not just across the state, but across the nation.

WCC accommodates everyone, from professional athletes to children. It is the

official pactice facility of the Carolina Hurricanes and the site of the N.C. State University Icepack hockey team’s practices and home games. Ammons, an N.C. State alumnus, says he is proud to see the Wolfpack getting the chance to play at his arena. The venue includes the Invisalign Arena—a 115,000-square-foot building that includes a pro shop, state-of-the-art locker rooms and a hockey school. It also offers a full restaurant—the WCC Cafe by Tribeca Tavern.

Young people and amateurs can use the ice skating rinks as well as professional skaters. “Ice skating is excellent exercise, as it works nearly every muscle group in the body. You are never too old to start taking lessons, and ice skating is wonderful

for joint mobility,” says Traci Todd, regional marketing brand director for Polar Ice NC. ”Whether you are looking for aerobic or anaerobic activity, ice skating can help you accomplish your fitness goals—or just accomplish a fun goal you might have for trying a new sport.”

WCC also houses the Athletic Lab, an indoor gym offering Crossfit, private fitness taining, Olympic-style weightlifting, and classes geared toward middle and high school kids. The gym offers various levels of membership. Thanks to Wake Competition Center, Morrisville has access to an indoor athletic facility comparable to those in any major city in the U.S. The winter months are a great time to check it out!

Above: One of Wake Competition Center’s two ice rinks. Photo courtesy of Polar Ice NC. Left: Ice skater. Photo by AdobeStock/Andrey Bodrov.

DICED

Where Fresh Meets Flavor

BY ELLIOT ACOSTA | PHOTOS COURTESY OF DICED

Michelle Woodward spent the first 26 years of he life being flung into th air for elite championship cheerleading squads. Her dedication to the sport earned her a spot as a flyer on the renowned niversity of Louisville squad, which resulted in championships at the collegiate, national and world levels. When her time as a Cardinal ended, Woodward stepped away from the sport that had defined he, leaving a void for her energy, risk-taking and drive.

The daughter of a small business owner, Woodward was born with an entrepreneurial spirit and was constantly conjuring business ideas. While her preliminary plans of owning a cheer gym or a custom T-shirt company never took off, a Louisville salad restaurant tipped Woodward off on the idea of a fresh and healthy fast-casual eatery. Having been a high-level athlete who had to settle

for eating most of her meals from fast food establishments for many years, Woodward was intrigued. She convinced the owner to bring her on board to help run its operations. However, Woodward quickly realized the restaurant lacked true structure and used subpar products.

“The [quality of the] restaurant’s ingredients wasn’t great,” she says.

“He got steak that he would boil in a bag, and everything that he could get canned was canned, and the dressings weren’t homemade. But they had a line out the door. So I saw that, and it kind of triggered [a thought that] I could do this better. If the owner of that restaurant can do it, I can do it.”

This was the moment when Woodward started to devote her talent and passion into creating Diced, her Triangle-based healthy restaurant that has grown to four locations between Cary and Raleigh, with a fifth oening in Holly Springs this spring.

FINDING THE TRIANGLE

After being introduced to the Triangle region through a cheer event at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Woodward was immediately enamored with the area.

“I cheered a game at UNC. I was driving down Franklin Street, saw all the stonework and the trees. I just thought it was an awesome place. So I always loved North Carolina,” Woodward says, describing her first visit to the area.

Due to her interest in the Triangle, Woodward and her father, who wanted to partner with her in launching Diced, began to look for a space in the area.

The timing was fortunate in that they were looking to buy at the same time another local business was looking to sell in what Woodward thought was a perfect location—off Kildaire Farm Road in Cary.

“I knew the Triangle was very medical-heavy, all these doctors that

want to be healthy. There’s a hospital [near the original Diced location], a wealthy demographic. It all works out together,” says Woodward. She opened that location in 2015, and it is still going strong.

LEARNING THE ROPES

Despite being a novice to the restaurant industry and not much of a home cook, Woodward took to building recipes immediately. “I didn’t cook [any meals at home],” she says. “I actually think what gave me good insight [to develop recipes] was the fact that I went out to eat every meal, every day. So I would see how restaurants did things, and what they could do better.”

One way Woodward decided Diced could differentiate itself was through the quality of their ingredients. For Woodward, serving items like grass-fed beef and salad dressings made with 100% olive oil is as much of a personal decision as it is a business decision.

“I think that living in Raleigh and only wanting to be a local company, I want to be able to go somewhere and say, ‘I started Diced’—and feel proud to say that instead of saying, ‘It’s OK.’ I used to have all my food sales guys say, ‘You can get cheaper and lower-quality ingredients and make way more,’ but I would rather lose money than serve that. It’s about my reputation and being able to sleep at night,” she says.

FINDING THE RIGHT BUSINESS PARTNER

While Woodward was learning how to operate a restaurant on the fl, she leaned heavily on the advice of Brandon Christy, her food supplier representative at the time, for advice. “Anytime something was happening [at the restaurant], he would be my first call He was like a mentor,” says Woodward. When Diced started to hit a postpandemic lull around 2021, Woodward offered Christy part ownership to be an operational partner. “Brandon has been a really vital part [of our success],” she says. “When he came on, Diced was at kind of a standstill. When he joined, we were really able to get back on our feet and continue to grow.”

DOWNTOWN RALEIGH AND BEYOND

In October of 2024, Diced moved into downtown Raleigh. Before Diced started serving their freshly made salads from 121 Fayetteville Street, the location housed a gourmet hot dog restaurant named Tasty 8’s, of which Christy was the general manager. Woodward took the connection to the space as a sign that Diced belonged there.

Diced’s expansion in the Triangle doesn’t stop in downtown Raleigh. After the Holly Springs location opens in the spring, Diced will have five lcations. Woodward hopes eventually to open 10 locations throughout the Triangle.

Menus, hours and more information on Diced can be found at dicedsalads.com.

Opposite page: Exterior of Diced in downtown Raleigh. Above: Enjoy a salad to go!

Diced owner Michelle Woodward. Diced offers

A NEW BEAT

One year in, Missy Lane’s Assembly Room offers groundbreaking contributions to the Triangle music scene

BY ELIZABETH BRIGNAC

BY ELIZABETH BRIGNAC

Missy Lane’s Assembly Room is approaching its one-year anniversary. The Durham-based music venue and cocktail bar has been bringing jazz, improvisational and related musical performances to the Triangle since March of 2023. Visitors can enjoy concerts with cocktails in the performance space or relax in the bar with friends while listening to the musi pumped in from the back

“One thing that wasn’t present [before we opened] was something that was fully dedicated to Black American music, which people love,” says Missy Lane’s co-owner Cicely Mitchell. “There just wasn’t a venue dedicated to it. And so that’s, I think, what Missy Lane’s place in the [Triangle] music scene is.”

Missy Lane’s is part of a project that has been ongoing for many years. About 13 years ago, Mitchell began working with Durham-based trumpetist Al Strong to build up jazz and improvisational music in the Triangle and to educate the community about them. They called their program the Art of Cool Project. “It took time to build the community behind [this kind of music]” says Mitchell. Missy Lane’s was opened “with an intent to have a home for

jazz and improvised music … So it was all kind of leading to this moment.”

In opening Missy Lane’s, Mitchell fulfilled an aspiation sooner than she had anticipated. “It’s always been a dream,” she says. “Like, ‘Once I retire, then I’ll open up the club.’ But last year was a good time to do it because the right location became available.” Missy Lane’s is located near the Durham downtown loop, and also close to good parking. Robert Trowers, director of jazz studies at North Carolina Central University, brings his students to jam sessions at Missy Lane’s on Thursday nights. The venue is only about five minutes fromCCU. “It’s great to have Missy Lane’s in the downtown area, accessible to so many people,” Trowers says. “It adds a lot of cultural value.”

In addition to jazz acts, Mitchell brings in artists who perform R&B, soul, blues, gospel and even country. “We try be an influence, a tastemaker, and to show that Black American music is not a monolith,” says Mitchell. “One thing I learned, and I learned this very quickly, is that people come to Missy Lane’s to be entertained.” In the process of being entertained, they educate themselves about the world of jazz and other forms

of Black American music.

The lineup at Missy Lane’s helps people learn about this eclectic music landscape. “Most artists, almost by default, have to be historians within their own genres,” says Al Strong. “So often, th music is accompanied by stories or some background in terms of where the pieces come from or what inspied the writing of certain music, composing certain songs. And so, I think a lot of the education comes from the types of musicians that Miss Lane’s chooses to present to audiences.”

Some particularly interesting acts from the past year have included jaz drummer Kassa Overall and keyboardist Kiefer, whose work brings together jazz, hip-hop, R&B and electrical music. Kiefer performed with Nate Smith, also a jazz drummer, and Carrtoons, a multiinstrumentalist, in one of the year’s most popular concerts. The club also brought in bass player MonoNeon. “He’s a very unusual bass player. He used to play with Prince in the New Power Generation, and he’s very popular on TikTok,” says Mitchell. “He had to perform with a black light on the stage. It was a very, very good concert.”

The performance space at Missy Lane’s has a retro vibe, with a simple stage setup

| PHOTOS COURTESY OF MISSY LANE’S ASSEMBLY ROOM AND CHRIS CHARLES PHOTOGRAPHY

and the name “Missy Lane’s” in neon on one of the pillars. Beneath the plain ambience lies a high-quality sound system. “The way the venue is set up is unlike any other in the area,” says Brevan Hampden, a Triangle-based percussionist who ofte plays at Missy Lane’s. “I mean, it has the best backline in the area. It has some of the best sound engineers.” (“Backline” refers to the equipment and instruments used by a band or artist during a live performance.)

The size of the space offers a specia experience. “Hearing certain artists in an amphitheater—it’s much diffeent than hearing them in a more intimate setting such as Missy Lane’s,” says Strong. “I think that from an audience perspective, thee are a lot of people who want to be that close to the artist and that close to the music. It helps them feel more connected to the experience.”

As she moves into her second year of business, Mitchell hopes to build Missy Lane’s charitable foundation. She wants to do more work connecting Missy Lane’s performers to the Triangle community through workshops and master classes. In the past year, Missy Lane’s has asked three performers—a violinist, a trumpeter and a drummer—to work with children’s

music ensembles and other community groups. Mitchell hopes to increase these opportunities moving forward.

She also hopes that people from utside of Durham will become increasingly aware of what Missy Lane’s has to offe. “Just like DPAC gives you that kind of New York

experience of being at Broadway, that’s what Missy Lane’s does, too,” she says. “If you go into the back room for a jazz concert, you are transported, as if you are in the Blue Note Jazz Club in New York. So we want people in the Triangle to start to see us in that light.”

Soul-jazz flutistAlthea Rene.

Grammy-winning jazz, hip hop and blues trumpeter Maurice “Mobetta” Brown. Saxophonist Kenneth Whalum and his band’s bass player.

A musician plays the piano at Missy Lane’s opening event.

Patrons can enjoy drinks and listen to music in the bar adjacent to the performance space

ERIN STESCH

(TOP) FLIGHT OVER THE MAGNOLIAS, 2024

ACRYLIC ON CANVAS

24 " X 24 "

(BOTTOM) QUIET WATERS, 2022

ACRYLIC ON CANVAS

12 " X 24 "

WHERE THE DREAM MEETS REALITY

Deforestation and its impact on animal habitats inspire the work of Durham-based artist and high school art teacher Erin Stesch. In her Durham neighborhood, Stesch is witnessing firsthand how urbanization changes animal habitats. She channels her emotional connection with the notion of home, particularly for animals and their environments, into her paintings.

Stesch builds her backgrounds intuitively, using colors she is drawn to and letting the interplay of colors dictate the direction of the painting. From there, she paints her subject matter in a realistic style. The interplay of abstraction and realism results in works that are layered both visually and symbolically.

In Flight Over the Magnolias, Stesch imagines the habitat of the two geese flying overhead. In Quiet Waters, Stesch focuses on the great blue heron in a more realistic approach to her subject matter. In her acrylic-on-canvas pieces, Stesch envisions safe and protected habitats for the subjects of her paintings.

Erin Stesch received her BFA from East Carolina University and her degree in art education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. You can view her work at erinstesch.com and on Facebook at “Art + Design by Erin Stesch.”

“In my work, I paint animals and my interpretation of their habitats. I draw from pictures I have taken and from what I wish for them—imaginative settings—and create their homes that are protected in my mind.”

– Erin Stesch