I was never the most athletic kid – ballet, gymnastics and best dribbler on the court, I gave sports one final shot (pun intended) and started playing softball at 12. And it stuck.
I loved the control the game offered. With my type A personality, I could be deliberate and strategic – how I played my position relied on more thoughtful calculation. I wasn’t a standout player, but I showed up in my rec leagues and on my middle school and high school junior varsity teams. Left field, right field, first base (thank you, long legs) and pitcher. I even tried out for club softball at UNC – those women were far and away more talented than I! – but I watched the Women’s College World Series every year in awe.
Fast forward nearly two decades. A press release arrived in my inbox in January: the Athletes Unlimited Softball League announces Durham as the home of the Carolina Blaze. I had to move quickly to cover the story – like I would if a line drive came straight back to the mound. “The Carolinas have produced generations of elite softball talent, and Durham sits at the heart of that tradition,” the release read. “With a strong youth pipeline and a deep appreciation for high-level competition, the region offers an ideal home for the Blaze.” I wanted our readers to get to know the accomplishments of the players on this new star-studded team – turn to page 30 to learn more about a few of its members, including pitcher Jala Wright, who competed for Duke Softball from 2022-2024. Now an assistant coach for Duke, she’ll return to play in Smith Family Stadium as a member of the Blaze. She graces our cover, poised to throw – quite literally – fire. Photographer John Michael Simpson had a true lightning bolt moment just before this photo shoot to bring the “Blaze” to life. This is no digital effect – that flame is real, folks!
“When I left Duke, I truly believed that chapter was closed,” Jala told us. “I never imagined I’d have the chance to compete professionally in the same city that gave me so much. So to still represent this community – to feel their support, to see familiar faces, to walk onto fields that hold so many memories – it fills me with so much gratitude. There’s a different kind of joy in it now. It’s deeper. It’s appreciative. I don’t take a single moment for granted.” Let’s give Jala and the entire team a big Bull City welcome by cheering them on at every Blaze home game. Mark your calendar for the first one on June 9. Play ball! – Executive Managing Editor Amanda MacLaren
WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT
26 Lissette Saavedra
developmental psychopathology fellow, RTI International
28 Kalle Simpson
founder, Discover Night
30 Carolina Blaze
Durham’s newest professional women’s sports team
34 CC Chu
owner, The Bean Flower
38 Marilyn Bell Hawley
co-founder, Montessori School of Durham
42 Dr. Mary Klotman
dean, Duke University School of Medicine;
chief academic officer, Duke Health;
executive vice president for health affairs, Duke University
44 Angelique Stallings
deputy chief of staff,
North Carolina Central University
46 Katie Wyatt
executive director, Durham Arts Council
HOME & GARDEN
50 Home Away From Home
A sweeping refresh of a storied inn pairs Duke history with contemporary comfort
54 Sound Garden
A backyard recording studio blends modern architecture and playful design in a creative home base for musician James Phillips
AGING & WELLNESS
82 Next Chapter, Best Chapter
Staying active, connecting with neighbors and embracing change – this is what making the most of your golden years looks like
88 Take Good Care
The case for proactively planning, talking early and aligning on decisions now for aging loved ones
DEPARTMENTS & COLUMNS
8 Go.See.Do.
Top events this spring
16 The Big Picture
Sarah P. Duke Gardens’ Cherry Allée
18 Let’s Dish
at Nerra
22 News Bites
Now serving: the latest Bull City restaurant news
112 Wedding
Tying the knot, Bull City-style
PEOPLE & PLACES
98 SECU Caring House Annual Benefit Gala
100 Book Harvest’s Dream Big Book Drive and Community Celebration
102 Durham Arts Council’s Art of the Party
104 pARTies on Parrish
106 Central Bark’s Grand Opening Celebration
108 Durham Rotary Clubs’ Martin Luther King Jr. Day Regional Meal Packing Project
110 Durham Regional Association of Realtors’ Annual Awards Luncheon
