For International Women’s Month, Raleigh Magazine partner CBS 17 joins Nexstar Media Group in honoring “Remarkable Women” across the country and to honor the influence women have had on public policy, social progress and the quality of life. In the Triangle, CBS 17 station staff selected three outstanding women, as nominated by friends, family members and significant others. These women’s stories will be featured in local newscasts and on CBS17.com. Their stories, as told in nomination letters from their loved ones excerpted below, are compelling, inspiring and, sometimes, heartbreaking. CBS 17 will announce our local winner March 6.
Lisa Overcash
“…Lisa is quite a remarkable woman. From a young age, she has been goal-oriented, determined to accomplish whatever goal emerges. She received a BS in Recreation Management at NC State University and an MS in Therapeutic Recreation at UNC Chapel Hill. She’s worked professionally as a Recreation Therapist in medical/surgical pediatrics, psychiatry, chemical dependency and eating disorders in various hospitals, including locally at Duke Hospital. Lisa has been married 31 years to Tommy, her childhood friend, and they have four adult daughters and one granddaughter.
…Lisa also works as a Postpartum Doula. She helps identify in a person’s life ways they can improve physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Every hour that she coaches, instructs or assists a new mother and baby, she donates her time to someone in need of her services….
…Lisa knows what it feels like to be knocked off her feet and have to climb back on top again. She has had multiple sclerosis for 17 years, but it does not have her, that’s for sure. She chooses to rise above the obstacles and challenges.
Lisa serves the community as a certified Therapy Dog team member with River, her Golden Retriever that she trained from a puppy. They do special request visitations to hospice, homes, universities, special events and NODA—No One Dies Alone—visits and stays with people who do not have any family that can be with them as they die. River is also her service dog that helps her navigate the multiple sclerosis symptoms. River was recently a finalist in the Good Morning America Pet of the Year Contest…”
Alketa Stephens
“…Keta grew up in Albania with three siblings and parents all sharing a tiny apartment. Her humble living circumstances laid a foundation for Keta to be so adaptable and to love ‘community.’
…Keta completed her math degree at Tirana University. While there, serving in a campus ministry that provided food and shelter to the poor, she met and married her American husband, Mark. They have two sons, Daniel, who is pursuing a career in professional baseball, and Aaron, who was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease before he was even born. While Aaron was in the hospital fighting for his life, Keta and Mark became his greatest medical advocates, but sadly, his life on Earth ended abruptly at just eight months old. This was Keta’s catalyst that motivated her to pursue nursing. She attended Nursing school at Durham Tech and then went on to work at Duke Raleigh Hospital. After three years there, she won the prestigious ‘Friends of Nursing Excellence Award,’ through Duke University Health Systems. Keta went on to study for her Masters at Duke to obtain a Nurse Practitioner license and was set to graduate with honors with only one class left to complete. Following a medical mission trip to Honduras, her whole life was paused…
…Keta was driving home from her nephew’s soccer game and was side-swiped. She tragically suffered a severe TBI and a broken neck. She was in a coma, prayers and tears poured out day and night, and then … ‘a miracle;’ she woke up and now, just six months later, is walking, talking, and her amazing, loving personality is exactly the same…”
Stephanie Walker
“…For 38 years, my wife served as a nurse, the last 10 as a hospice nurse. In 2015, she was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer (MBC), a terminal disease. Except for the recovery time from a double mastectomy, she never missed a day’s work or serving others while she underwent both chemo and radiation.
In 2018, her oncologist told her it was time to quit working and take care of herself. From that point on, she has dedicated her life to continue serving others.
In eastern North Carolina, MBC occurs at a higher rate than elsewhere in the country and eastern North Carolina is a medically underserved region. My wife advocates for those with MBC, especially African Americans such as herself. She has gone to Washington to lobby legislators for increased and lower cost insurance and she advocates for those with MBC by attending conferences and participating in forums.
In December, the Susan G. Komen Triangle to the Coast affiliate presented her with its ‘Spirit to Impact’ award, given to an individual making an impact by supporting survivors/thrivers and being a catalyst for change in breast cancer outcomes.
Under present circumstances, my wife’s disease is not curable. She receives monthly maintenance treatments and will until they stop working.
In the meantime, she is ‘Mimi’ to six grandchildren and volunteers with Kindred Hospice, visiting with terminal cancer patients, as well as at UNC-Nash Hospital, where she volunteers in a quality improvement program…
…She can’t say ‘no’ to someone who needs help she feels she can provide.
…Her goal is to increase treatment opportunities for the medically underserved cancer community in eastern North Carolina and, knowing my wife, she will.”
Dating has changed a lot in the digital age, from dating websites, to apps, and now, to Brian Howie’s Great Love Debate, a touring dating and relationship show that sparks a feisty conversation between men and women in the audience. While it might not seem like debating will lead you to the love of your life, Howie’s show proves that when it comes to love and attraction, anything is possible.
Where did you get the idea for The Great Love Debate?
I was always fascinated by the dynamic between men and women and had been writing, directing and producing content about it for years. My book “How to Find Love in 60 Seconds,” a semi-satirical look at dating, came out in 2014 and my agent suggested I do a promotional event in a theater where people could raise (and debate) some of the questions the book raised. It blew up from there.
How does it work?
It’s a live, fun, feisty, hilarious, extremely interactive debate on love/sex/dating/relationships in each city. Every show, every crowd, every night is different. It’s town hall-style, so the audience drives the dialogue. Over 90 fun minutes, we try to solve the disconnect in that particular city. And we always do.
Is it just for singles?
Not at all! Plenty of married couples and people in relationships come to our shows. It comes down to confidence and communication, no matter your status. You should never stop trying to learn about your partner—and your relationship!
You’re described as “the country’s leading authority on the state of love.” What is the state of love today?
Hesitant but hopeful. We’re going through changing times: blurring of traditional gender roles, new ways to communicate, social media, dating apps. Everybody is treading more lightly than in the past. But there are also more people trying to figure things out, asking the right questions, trying to get beyond their comfort zone when it comes to love. Ultimately, those people will find the happiness and answers they seek.
What makes dating and finding love so challenging?
Women want men to try harder and men want women to make it easier. That’s the standoff, the crux of the disconnect in every city we go to. When everyone realizes that if we take a half-step towards what we’re looking for, we will all be just fine.
What’s the funniest, weirdest thing that’s happened during one of your live shows?
A woman stood up at a show in New York City and said, “What do you do if you go out with a guy, you have a good time, he says he’s going to call you, and he doesn’t call you? And what do you do if that guy is here tonight?!” The women immediately started chanting “Show your face!” over and over until this poor guy sheepishly stood up and apologetically threw himself to the mercy of the mob.
What’s the goal of the show?
For people to laugh and for people to learn that there is hope, there are answers and there are endless possibilities to finding love and happiness, in every city, every day.
Orange you glad this bright and cheery color is finally having a moment? Add fun, decorative pops of orange to an otherwise neutral room and lift the spirits of all who enter there.
1. ADS Murano glass mango vase, $38; Form and Function 2. James Studio large cachepot, $33.99; small cachepot, $24.99; Inspirations 3. The Essential Bar Book by Jennifer Fiedler, $19.99; Form and Function 4. Ervin Edwards Design Buddha pillow, $195; For Your Convenience 5. “Bundle of Carrots” by Deb Hauser 13” x 7”, $195; For Your Convenience 6. Boston International carrot plate, $19.95; Zest 7. Glass spiral bowl, $59, Zest 8. Mangiacotti clementine shea butter soap, $9.50; For Your Convenience 9. Decorative large bowl, $85; Form and Function 10. Indoor/outdoor lattice rug 5’ 3” x 7’6”, $135.99: Target 11. Christopher Knight Home Mervynn mid-century recliner, $305; Target
With the color of the year being True Blue, there is no better accent color to go with than orange…and for me, it has to be as close to Hermès orange as possible, which I always find to be Invigorate, by Sherwin Williams.
Outrageous Orange is a bold hue. It usually is not the first color that comes to mind when designing a room, but a well-placed pop of orange can add warmth to any space. Outrageous Orange is an expressive shade, full of energy and joie de vivre!
Great in a room with lots of windows and the ceiling and carpet are ivory white. Throw in blue accents … I see a vase full of blue hydrangea and accent pillows in navy blue.
I like to use Benjamin Moore’s Orange Burst #2015-20. It is perfect for an active space in need of a strong color. Use it on an accent wall to motivate and inspire.
My favorite shade of orange these days is Sherwin Williams Hearty Orange SW6622. Nothing beats this deep, reddish-orange color for upping the cozy factor in a room. It reminds me of breathtaking sunsets. Consider Hearty Orange for the laundry room, an accent wall behind a bed or your front door.
Orange adds excitement and energy to a room. It is dramatic when used with bright white cabinets or furniture. Royal blue and fuchsia accents are bold and beautiful with this color. Try it in a full gloss in a small area, an accent wall or painting furniture.
— Julie Flournoy, For Your Convenience
A little bit goes a long way with bold colors. Try adding to a bathroom ceiling, interior door, or accent furniture. This playful shade of orange will add a splash of happiness to any home!
Whether you plan to stay in your house for a long time or just a few years, it’s smart to know which home renovations add the most value. Here are the home remodeling projects that deliver the highest returns, according to the Cost vs. Value report.
A newly remodeled luxury kitchen
1. Garage door replacement
• Average cost: $3,611 • Average resale value: $3,520 • Cost recouped: 97.5 percent
A good-looking garage door tops the list when it comes to getting cash back on your investment when you decide to sell your house. The estimate for this job is based on the cost of removing and disposing of an existing 16-by-7-foot garage door (or two-car garage door) and replacing it with a new four-section garage door with heavy-duty galvanized steel tracks, assuming the motorized garage door opener is compatible. This curb-appeal enhancer will get you back almost every dollar you spent on it when you sell your house.
2. Minor kitchen remodel
• Average cost: $22,507 • Average resale value: $18,123 • Cost recouped: 80.5 percent
Creating a modern-looking and functional kitchen can add more than just value to your home; it can boost your enjoyment of everyday activities like cooking, entertaining friends and sharing meals with your family. However, potential buyers see the intrinsic value of this kind of upgrade. On average, you’ll recoup a little more than 80 percent of the cost of a minor kitchen remodel. In a remodeling project of this kind, you might replace appliances with new, more energy-efficient models, reface cabinets with new shaker-style wood panels, install new countertops, replace hardware, install a new sink and faucet, add new flooring and repaint.
3. Deck addition (wood)
• Average cost: $13,333 • Average resale value: $10,083 • Cost recouped: 75.6 percent
If you’re lucky enough to own a house with a big yard, having a wooden deck can be an extra enhancement to enjoy the outdoors around your home. The average cost of adding a wooden deck from scratch (estimated based on a 16-by-20-foot deck, including a railing system with pressure-treated wood posts, railings and balusters) is approximately $13,333. But the good news is that this feature, which also includes a built-in bench and planter, can hold more than 75 percent of its value come sale time.
4. Siding replacement
• Average cost: $16,036 • Average resale value: $12,119 • Cost recouped: 75.6 percent
Old, dilapidated siding can make even the nicest house look worn out. For the average home, replacing 1,250 square feet of old siding will cost you just over $16,000 and you’ll get back roughly three-quarters of that investment upon resale. This upgrade includes the factory trim at the openings and corners.
5. Entry door replacement (steel)
• Average cost: $1,826 • Average resale value: $1,368 • Cost recouped: 74.9 percent
You will recoup nearly 75 percent of your cost by replacing your main entry door with a 20-gauge steel door, complete with clear dual-pane half-glass panel, jambs and an aluminum threshold with composite stop. These doors come factory finished with the same color on the front and back sides.
Raleigh Livability
The personal finance website WalletHub recently released a list of the most livable state capitals in the the United States, comparing all 50 cities across 49 key metrics ranging from cost of living to K-12 school system quality to number of attractions. Here’s how Raleigh stacked up.
Photo courtesy of VisitNC.com
Livability of Raleigh (1=Best, 25=Avg.):
• 2nd – Most Livable Capital City • 20th – Housing Affordability • 3rd – Median Household Income (Adjusted for Cost of Living) • 28th – Unemployment Rate • 12th – Percent of State-Local- and Federal-Government Employees • 12th – Percent of Population in Poverty • 3rd – Percent of Adults with Bachelor’s Degree or Higher • 18th – Health Conditions • 11th – Percent of Millennial Newcomers • 13th – Number of Attractions
Real Estate Market Update
Numbers from the Triangle MLS comparing January 2020 to 2019.
A graduate of UNC Greensboro, Paul Hodges has spent the last 13 years working for locally owned and operated O2 Fitness, helping facilitate clubs throughout Raleigh and western Wake. The work, Hodges says, “helped shape many relationships and organizations of this growing community.” Currently, Hodges is the executive assistant for MDO Holdings, a local investment and management firm (and O2 Fitness owner) focused on building strong and healthy communities.
Paul Hodges | Photo by Joshua Steadman
Paul Hodges | Photo by Joshua Steadman
Jacket: “Tallia Orange” dragon embroidered blazer; Shirt: Burberry; Watch: Daniel Wellington; Shoes: Gucci; Pants: Michael Kors
Hometown: Born and mostly raised in Raleigh, I am a true native to the City of Oaks. But I have been blessed to have parents from different parts of North Carolina, my mother from the foothills (Winston-Salem) and my father, a Cary native. They taught me the importance of Southern charm and manners, clinging to family traditions and upholding an honest work ethic.
Your neighborhood: I live in the corner pocket of the Glenwood South and Capital Districts. Among all the high rises, new construction and train tracks, I somehow live a peaceful, urban lifestyle in a tight-knit community where my neighbors are like family. Plus, I can walk anywhere downtown in under 15 minutes flat!
What do you love most about Raleigh: We have the greatest sense of community and support for each other. We strive for diversity, acceptance and love, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity and class status. Whenever I walk through the city, I look at the oak trees that have stood the test of time, standing tall and strong; a true symbol of the strength this city and its people embody.
Currently reading: I just finished “How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie. Another recent read is Garth Stein’s “The Art of Racing in the Rain,” a poignant tale written from the perspective of a dog and his owner about how our relationships with animals are forever embodied in unconditional love—grab a box of Kleenex, or three!
Currently listening to: I just started the podcast Dolly Parton’s America; her music and euphonious speaking voice make for the most joyous listening experience in American storytelling. When it comes to music flair, I am an old soul for the classics: Motown, jazz standards, cocktail lounge tunes that help me escape to another era where class and decorum never went out of style!
Style mantra: Style should be focused on the three C’s: Colorful, Clean and Classic.
Style influencer: John F. Kennedy mastered relaxed, laid-back sophistication. He would take a neutral toned crew neck sweater, paired with a fresh pair of pressed chinos, penny loafers, the perfect pair of tortoise-shell Saratoga sunglasses—and would wear them with complete confidence. He is an icon that set the standard for classic, Ivy league style that still graces the modern look for men.
Favorite clothing labels: I love vintage clothing, so Ralph Lauren is a staple in my closet. Over the years, I have been collecting seasonal sport coats by Tallia Orange, a fresh concept in tailored clothing with a unique array of fabrics, designs and colors. When summer hits the South (in mid-April), I gravitate toward vibrant colors, such as Lilly Pulitzer (yes, they make it for men too) or Vineyard Vines, as a casual, beach resort-attire look.
Boxers or briefs: Honey, don’t make me blush through my tan…I’ll turn purple!
Local go-to shop: Locally, you’ll find an array of vintage brand clothing at Revolver. I’ve found Gucci and Burberry at remarkable prices there. Otherwise, I’m guaranteed to find a bargain at the Belk Men’s department at Crabtree Valley Mall.
Last great dinner: Barcelona Restaurant and Wine Bar. I love that the ever-changing menu is focused on clean flavors, seasonal ingredients, specialties from Spain and the Mediterranean paired with some of the best wine in the city.
Go-to piece: I always keep a freshly ironed, white button down, preferably done by a dry cleaner (yes, people will notice) and a navy sport coat on hand. Pair with a simple watch and it’s a sharp contrast to the ordinary, pedestrian looks of today. And I always accessorize with a vibrant pocket square.
Favorite piece of jewelry: A pair of sterling silver Tiffany cufflinks that I only wear to formal weddings and events. It was my first purchase, while in college, when I had saved up enough money to buy an expensive item that would be a forever keepsake. They’re a simple reminder that if you want nice things, you have to work hard for them.
Travel dreaming: The Greek Isles; Santorini, Mykonos, Ios. I love Greek and Mediterranean culture and the food has always been a staple in my diet. Besides, who would pass up an ocean view sunset, sipping Avaton, listening to ABBA?
Staying fit: Part of my job is teaching group fitness classes so I’m cycling, interval training, leading senior fitness formats anywhere between five and six times a week. I try to drink 160-180 ounces of water a day. I also believe everything in life should be done in moderation; exercise, food, work, play. A lifestyle of moderation is just as important as physical fitness and mental wellness, especially as we age.
Favorite drink: I love a well-stirred gin martini, not too light, not too heavy, with a layer of thinly crushed ice and a lemon twist. Royale makes the best one I’ve ever had, hands down! I prefer Beefeaters gin, with an added secret ingredient; French vermouth (my favorite is Boiserie which adds a subtle floral, citrusy flavor).
Style secret: You can never be overdressed or overeducated. Style is greatly affected by your attitude and demeanor.
Moment in your life that inspired your style: In high school, I remember watching “The Talented Mr. Ripley” in the theater and being immersed in the era of the late 1950s/early ’60s fashion. The film is about passing for someone you’re not, explored in several ways, socially, economically and sexually. In the central conflict between Dickie Greenleaf (Jude Law) and Tom Ripley (Matt Damon), this theme is examined through fashion; Tom clearly wants to be Dickie and deeply envies Dickie’s style. Ultimately, Tom assumes Dickie’s identity but can never quite ape his presence (or, in this context, his “look”). The film is a primer on breezy, mid-century Italian style but incidentally shows how to build a personal style that can’t quite be replicated. It also examines how personal style can expose a man’s broader personality.
