noted. NEWS BITES
Moon Dog Meadery and Bottle Shop opened
on Dec. 26, 2021, at 1104 Broad St., in the space below Joe Van Gogh. Owners Derrick Forrest and Kenneth Thrower produce mead and creative fruit wines in the 3,356-squarefoot space, which are for sale along with local craft beer, wine and nonalcoholic beverages. Moon Dog also offers board games that patrons can rent to play, and plans to host trivia and game tournaments. Kenneth and Derrick hope to add a monthly wine and mead subscription service, an outdoor patio and small stage to host live music.
Send us your news! WHAT WE’VE HE ARD AROUND OUR CIT Y … Compiled by Renee Ambroso
community education. Founders Areli Barrera Grodski and Leon Grodski Barrera opened their current roasting facility in June 2017 out of Cocoa Cinnamon’s Lakewood location.
ON THE MOVE
Durham Public Schools
Superintendent Pascal Mubenga chose
Lakewood Elementary School Principal James
Hopkins (right) to serve
as the first principal of Lyons Farm Elementary School. James began hiring and onboarding staff for the new school, which is slated to open in summer 2022. Christine Catalano
Chef Michael Lee’s restaurant M Sushi was the only eatery in the state to be named on reservation platform OpenTable’s 2021 Top 100 Restaurants in America list, which took into account 10.5 million reviews made on the site by diners to select the most beloved restaurants in the nation. M Sushi is rated 4.9 out of 5 stars across more than 1,600 reviews. Cocoa Cinnamon’s roastery Little Waves
Coffee Roasters was named the 2022 Micro
Roaster of the Year by Roast magazine. The category encompasses roasters who process fewer than 100,000 pounds of coffee per year, and the award is based on sustainability, commitment to inclusion and equity, and 18
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started her role as DPS executive director of K-12 curriculum and instruction in January after serving as a principal and executive director for Nash County Public Schools. Christine holds a doctorate in education from East Carolina University. Kelly Thompson was
named the executive director of the Exchange Family Center, taking over the role from interim director Wendy Scott on Nov. 2, 2021. Kelly has spent more than 15 years leading nonprofits and brings her experience to help the center continue supportive programs for children and families in Durham.
F e b r ua ry/ M A r c h 2 0 2 2
From births to awards to new biz and more –
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Duda|Paine Architects
Principal and Design Director Jay Smith joined the American Institute of Architects Triangle Board of Directors in December 2021, where he’ll contribute his expertise based on his experience as a design team leader and project manager for complex, large-scale corporate and commercial sites. Gov. Cooper appointed three North Carolina Central University School of Law alumni as superior court judges in December 2021. Reggie McKnight fills the seat in Judicial District 26E, serving Mecklenburg County, after the retirement of Judge Donnie Hoover. Justin Minshew will serve Greene, Lenoir and Wayne counties in District 8A, succeeding Judge Ericka James. N.C. Central professor and Center for Child & Family Health Legal Director Dorothy Hairston Mitchell was appointed to District 14 as Durham’s District Court Judge, taking over from Judge Brian Wilks. Sarah Tondu (right) was
named the managing director of the American Dance Festival on Jan. 10. Sarah was promoted from her previous position as the director of communications and marketing for ADF and has held various roles with the modern dance organization since 1997, including as director of performances and community programs for nearly a decade.