Five Startups Awarded More than $200,000 in new NC IDEA Grants

Five emerging tech companies, including three in Durham (Arcametrics Systems, PopUp, and Starfish ), will share some $200,000 in the latest round of grants from the economic development group NC IDEA.

Deputy Chief Curia Named Interim Fire Chief

Deputy Chief Daniel Curia has been appointed as the interim chief of the Durham Fire Department. Curia fills the interim chief spot left vacant by Chief Bruce T. Pagan, Jr., who will retire December 1, 2012.

Beverage Companies Merge

Durham-based Harris Inc. has merged with a Henderson-based company of the same name. The newly named Harris Beverages LLC will distribute beer, soft drinks, water and the like in seven counties, including Durham, Orange and Person.

SJF Ventures closes on $75M fund

Durham-based SJF Ventures, a green investor, says it has closed on a majority of its third fund, which is worth $75 million. Investors included U.S. banks, foundations, family offices and mutual funds.

Sylvan Learning Center To Open In Durham In December

A new Sylvan Learning Center is slated to open in December in Durham at 5117 Highgate Drive, Suite 100, in Durham. Sylvan Learning Center is a national franchise operation that sells pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade tutoring services.

Pop-Up Restaurant Coming To The Cookery in February

Hakanai, a pop-up Japanese-inspired restaurant will open for dinner February 1-3 at The Cookery.

Duke Football Coach Named 2012 ACC Coach of the Year

Duke head football coach David Cutcliffe has been named the 2012 ACC Coach of the Year as voted on by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association.

Biogen Idec Opening New Building in RTP

This week Biogen Idec will celebrate the opening of its newest building on its Research Triangle Park Campus, a 190,000-square-foot Bio26 administration building.

New Mexican Restaurant Opens in Durham mall

Joel Ibarra, has opened a new restaurant concept called Baja Shack in the Food Gallery section of Northgate Mall in Durham.

Durham Medical Office Building Sold For Nearly $3.8 Million

Fuquay Varina-based DKNC Ventures partnered to buy a medical office building and nearby property on North Roxboro Street for nearly $3.8 million, and is planning to renovate the building and build a new Kerr Drug.

VA Nurse Honored

Gwen Waddell-Schultz, the associate chief of nursing education and medicine at the Durham Veterans Administration Medical Center, has been inducted into the N.C. Nurses Association Hall of Fame.

Duke Partners With Johnson & Johnson on Nurse Leadership Program

Duke University’s Schools of Medicine and Nursing have partnered with Johnson & Johnson to create the Duke-Johnson & Johnson Nurse Leadership Program, which is designed to develop the leadership and management skills of advanced practice nurses.

Durham Company Behind Online Dog Personality, Intelligence Assessment Tool

Durham-based Canines Inc. will launch Dognition.com to the public in January, which features dog personality tests and cognitive assessments.

DCPCC Breaks Ground on Cohousing Complex

About 100 people ceremonially broke ground on Durham Central Park Cohousing Community's five-story, 24-unit condominium complex at 130 Hunt St. The design is eco-friendly, energy-efficient and neighborly, with ground-floor common areas visually open to the street and corrugated metal, concrete and masonry facades meant to blend into the area’s industrial character.

NCCU Student and Durham Resident Receives Award

N.C. Central University senior Korey Mercer from Durham is one of 17 college students across the state to receive the 2012 Community Impact Award, which recognizes college students who make significant, innovative efforts to address local community needs.

Corning Deal with BD includes $33M for Durham Building

As a part of a $720 million acquisition deal, the 174,000-square-foot light manufacturing facility in north Durham’s Treyburn business park now belongs to Corning Inc., along with the majority of BD’s Discovery Labware business. Included in the Corning deal was BD’s. The building was transferred to Corning this month in a real estate transaction valued at $33 million.

Stay & Play Snack Cafe To Open in Durham

Stay & Play Snack Cafe, a cafe catering to mothers and children, will open at 405A E. Chapel Hill St., in downtown Durham, next door to Rue Cler in January.

Duke Professor Emeritus Receives Award

James Joseph, former ambassador to South Africa and the leader in residence at Duke University’s Hart Leadership Program, has received the Distinguished Leadership Award at the 2012 International Leadership Association conference.

Duke Professor Honored For Article

The New York Academy of Medicine has awarded the 2012 Lewis Rudin Glaucoma Prize to W. Daniel Stamer, a professor of ophthalmology at Duke University School of Medicine. The prize recognizes the most significant scholarly article on glaucoma published in a peer-reviewed journal in the prior calendar year.

Square 1 Financial, Inc. Announces Dr. Seth Rudnick Has Joined the Board of Directors

Square 1 Financial, Inc. has announced that Dr. Seth Rudnick has joined the Board of Directors of both Square 1 Financial, Inc. and Square 1 Bank. Rudnick has an extensive background in the venture capital industry, as well as over 30 years of comprehensive experience in the biotechnology, healthcare and pharmaceutical industries.

AirTran Airways Adding New Flight at RDU

AirTran Airways will launch a nonstop flight between Tampa and Raleigh-Durham International Airport in June, replacing one of three daily flights by its sister airline Southwest Airlines.

Raleigh Real Estate Investor Pays $4.5M for Durham Buildings

Raleigh real estate investor Mark Andrews’ TME Investments paid $4.5 million for the four office buildings in the Miami North Office Park, a 13-year-old office park at the intersection of South Miami Boulevard and Chin Page Road in Durham.

Rice Diet Program to Reopen in January After Revamping Strategy

The Rice Diet Program, a weight loss clinic that has operated in Durham since 1939, has temporarily closed until January, as it seeks to overhaul its business model.

Durham Bulls Athletic Park To Host 2013 ACC Baseball Championship

The Durham Bulls Athletic Park will host the 2013 Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Championship next May 22-26, 2013.  Full tournament passes for the 2013 ACC Baseball Championship are now on sale.

Food Network Goes Nuts for Monuts Donuts

Durham's Monuts Donuts will be showcased on The Food Network's new program, Doughnut Masters. Monuts will have the opportunity to compete for a $10,000 prize.

Former Durham City Councilman Directing Governor's Transition Team

Former Durham City Councilman Thomas Stith III  is directing  Governor-elect Pat McCrory’s transition team which is comprised of a 10- to 15-member transition staff that is putting together an administration in less than two-months.

South Durham Hotel Prepares for Renovation

The Comfort Suites hotel on Page Road in south Durham will soon be undergoing a $500,000 renovation as a new investor takes over ownership and management of the 125-room hotel.

City of Durham Announces New Deputy City Manager

City Manager Tom Bonfield has named William Bowman “Bo” Ferguson as the new deputy city manager. Ferguson comes to the City of Durham with 16 years of experience in local government management, most recently as the city manager of the City of Hendersonville, N.C.

Durham's American Underground Expanding

American Underground, a hub for new and emerging businesses in downtown Durham, is expanding. The business accelerator, located in the American Tobacco Historic District, is leasing a second location, where it will offer another 22,000 square feet to house up to 50 fledgling companies.

M&F Bancorp Announces Chief Financial Officer Transition

The Durham-based parent company of Mechanics & Farmers Bank has named Randall C. Hall, the former president and chief executive of the now-closed Bank of Asheville to replace its outgoing finance chief.

Durham Technology Company Cenduit Relocating in Durham

Technology company Cenduit is relocating to the Overlook Building in Durham. The company has signed a lease for 18,450 square feet of space on the property, which is located on Creekstone Drive.

Durham Company, Quintiles, Make Top 25 in Great Place to Work List

Durham-based Quintiles ranked No. 23 on the World’s Best Multinational Workplaces by the Great Place to Work Institute list.

Colorado-Based Developer Buys Vacant Land, Buildings From Greenfire

Austin Lawrence Partners, a Colorado-based developer with Duke University ties has bought vacant land and several vacant buildings downtown on West Main and West Parrish streets for $3 million, and is planning a development that could transform the city’s skyline.The developer envisions up to 26 stories including ground-floor shops and restaurants with office space and apartments above.

Durham apartments sold for $29M

Apartment investment and management company Bell Partners Inc. said Wednesday that it has sold its 288-unit Bell Southpoint apartment complex in Durham to a subsidiary of Melville, N.Y.-based Duck Pond Corporation for $29 million.

Duke Law approves new JD/LLMLE program

Duke Law will launch a new dual-degree program in law and entrepreneurship beginning in the 2013-14 academic year.

Duke Names Innovation and Entrepreneurship Leader

Eric Toone, a Duke University chemist, educator and entrepreneur who has been serving as principal deputy director of the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, will be the new leader of the university's Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative.

Condé Nast Traveler Readers Rank Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club as One of Top Hotels in the South

Condé Nast Traveler readers recently ranked Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club as One of Top Hotels in the South as part of its 25th annual Readers' Choice Awards, ranking the best cities, islands, cruise lines, airlines, hotels, and resorts worldwide.

Durham Native and Film Writer's "A Late Quartet" to Premier in Durham This Week

Durham native and film writer Seth Grossman's film, "A Late Quartet," will open this weekend, starring Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Christopher Walken and Catherine Keener. The film will premier in Durham at Carolina Theatre on November 16 at 7 pm.

Former Duke Health CEO Joins Medical Diagnostics Firm's Board

Ralph Snyderman, former chancellor for health affairs and CEO of Duke University Health System, is joining the board at SenGenix, a startup in Durham that is commercializing technology developed at Duke.

Duke Professor Receives $50,000 Grant to Develop Free Online Course

Denise Comer, Assistant Professor of the Practice in Writing and Director of the First Year Writing Program at Duke University will develop an introductory course on English composition with a new $50,000 grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The 12-week 65 lecture course will provide an introduction and foundation for academic writing and will begin in Spring, 2013.

Durham Community Development Director Appointed

Durham City Manager Tom Bonfield has announced the appointment of Reginald J. Johnson as the director of the City’s Community Development Department. Johnson has served as the interim director since August 2011.

DCVB Honored With ConventionSouth’s Prestigious Annual Readers’ Choice Award

The Durham Convention and Visitors Bureau has been honored with ConventionSouth's prestigious Annual Readers' Choice Award.

$6.6M Durham Condo Project Set to Break Ground

The Durham Central Park CoHousing Community project will break ground on the condo project at 132 Hunt St. that will contain 24-residential condo units.

RDU Airport Introduces Customer Loyalty Program

Raleigh-Durham International Airport has introduced  a customer loyalty program named "Thanks Again." Through the program, individuals can earn airline miles or rewards when they park, shop or dine at RDU.

Employment Capacity in RTP Could Triple to 150,000 People

Under the new development plan for Research Triangle Park, the park's capacity could triple to accommodate around 150,000 employees as office space could grow to more than 84 million square feet.

Durham Man's Invention Receives Patent

International Business Machines, based out of Armonk, NY, has recently been assigned a patent (8,306,652) developed by four co-inventors for a "dual-band communication of management traffic in a blade server system." Co-inventor Clifton Ehrich Kerr is from Durham.

Duke Receives Award for Social Entrepreneurship Accelerator

Duke University will be able to draw on its expertise in social entrepreneurship and innovation to tackle global health challenges, thanks to a $10 million award from the U.S. Agency for International Development that was announced Thursday in Washington.

Duke Soccer Player Named ACC Defensive Player of the Year

Duke University junior center back Sebastien Ibeagha was voted by the ACC head coaches as the ACC Defensive Player of the Year to headline the Blue Devils' 2012 Men's Soccer All-ACC selections.

The Durham Convention and Visitors Bureau Receives MarCom Awards

The Durham Convention and Visitors Bureau received two 2012 MarCom Creative Awards along with three honorable mentions. They received a Platinum award for the 2010-2011 Annual Report and a Gold award for their Mini-Meeting Planners Guide.The MarCom Creative Awards is an international awards competition that recognizes outstanding achievement by marketing and communications practitioners. Entries were judged by industry professionals who looked for companies and individuals whose work serves as a benchmark for the industry.

Duke Professor and Forner U.S. Ambassador Honored

James A. Joseph, former ambassador to South Africa and the leader in residence at Duke University's Hart Leadership Program, received the Distinguished Leadership Award at the 2012 International Leadership Association conference.

Durham Biscuit Maker in New Hardee’s Commercial

Shirley Jones, who makes biscuits at Hardee's North Duke Street location, is featured in a now-airing commercial for the company.

New Plan Promises Breathtaking Rebirth for Research Triangle Park

Research Triangle Park unveiled a new plan for the park's future, calling for changes across virtually the entire 7,000 acres which supports about 40,000 employees. The plan would create a more urban feel with affordable housing, clusters of services, targeted retail and collaborative places.

Fitness Cub to Open in East Durham

Anytime Fitness will be opening its first Durham location at the Ravenstone Commons shopping center in east Durham before the end of the year, confirms Ken Wygle with Weingarten Realty, owner of the shopping center.

Durham History Museum Gets $47K From City

Durham City Hall has approved a $47,145 grant to the Museum of Durham History to outfit its “History Hub” in the old DATA station downtown.

Karmanos Gets New Role At Compuware

Peter Karmanos, the former founder and CEO of Durham-based software company Compuware, is stepping down as executive chairman of its board and he will transition to a consultant role.

Coach P Radio Show Kicks Off Monday, Nov. 19 at Nosh

Duke women’s basketball coach Joanne P. McCallie will host her own radio show. The Joanne P. McCallie Radio Show will have its kickoff on Monday, Nov. 19 from 6:00-7:00 p.m., at Nosh in Durham.

Durham Senior Living Facility Plans Renovation

A Durham senior living and continuing care facility, Croasdaile Village, has accepted a bid from Frank L. Blum Construction Co. to renovate the Pavilion, a two-story health care facility. The project will include renovation of nurses’ stations and the addition of common areas that will function as living rooms where residents can gather.

Road Show to Reveal Research Triangle Park’s Future

Research Triangle Park President and CEO Bob Geolas will unveil the plans for the park's future on Nov. 9, followed by a nearly-three week bus tour to 21 cities and towns in North Carolina, including Durham.

Duke Baseball Renews Partnership With Durham Bulls Athletic Park

Duke has signed a two-year renewal deal with the Durham Bulls Athletic Park for its baseball team to use the athletic park.

Beltline Station Platform Renamed

The Platform at the Cordoba Center for the Arts in the Golden Belt complex is being leased and tentatively renamed "Belt Line Station." Catering will be provided by the managers of the Cotton Room.

Durham Filmmaker Honored at Film Festival

Durham resident and filmmaker Jim Haverkamp has been selected as the Cucalorus Film festival's honoree for its second annual North Carolina Filmmaker Retrospective Nov. 8-11 in Wilmington, NC.

Durham’s Whitted School Redevelopment Advances

The Durham County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Monday to approve in concept a proposal to redevelop the James A. Whitted School for senior housing and as a Durham Public Schools pre-kindergarten center.

Durham Welcomes New SCORE Chapter

Durham-based entrepreneurs and small business owners will soon be able to receive free, confidential counseling and mentoring sessions thanks to the start of a new partnership between the City of Durham’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development and the Small Business Advisory Committee, in partnership with Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE).

Durham Company Selected as Business Partner

St. Paul, Minn.-based Apex has selected Durham’s Bell and Howell as a business partner for providing secure document delivery via mobile apps. Apex provides statement design and e-statement and e-payment technology for the health care and financial industries.

Former President of Columbia Alvaro Uribe to Speak at Duke Nov. 5

Former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe will discuss "Leadership Lessons and Growth Opportunities for Latin America: Learning from Colombia's Economic and Social Transformation" at Duke University Nov. 5. in the Fuqua School of Business's Geneen Auditorium.