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Chapel Hill Police Officer Jim Orbich was selected for recognition at this year's ASIS Law Enforcement Appreciation Banquet. ASIS International is the largest organization for security professionals, with more than 35,000 members worldwide. Orbich has worked for the Chapel Hill Police Department for 15 years. He has served as a defensive tactics instructor, a Taser instructor and as a member of the tactical team. He is assigned to the patrol division as a canine handler where he also serves as the department's K-9 instructor.

Mark Egan, a 2003 graduate of East Chapel Hill High School, received a bachelor's degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in June. He lives in New York City and is special assistant to the CEO of Steve and Barry's.

Darryl Russell with the Chapel Hill Fire Department has been promoted to fire lieutenant. Russell joined the CHFD in 2000 and has served as department fitness coordinator and academy instructor. He is certified as a mediator and a group facilitator and is a certified CPS technician.

Da-Zhi Wang, an assistant professor in the UNC School of Medicine, has been selected to receive a National Established Investigator Award from the American Heart Association. The award provides $500,000 in funding over a five-year period for a research project headed by Wang that will investigate molecular regulation of cardiac gene expression and cardiomyocyte development.
Congenital heart defects represent one of the most common classes of birth defects, and cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of human mortality. The thorough understanding of the mechanisms that control early heart formation will be an important prelude to the development of strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of congenital cardiac defects.

Master firefighters John Wellons and Justin Lanning have been promoted to fire equipment operator.
Wellons joined the Chapel Hill Fire Department in 2003. He is an N.C.-certified apparatus operator, USAR tech and emergency vehicle driver.
Lanning joined the department in 2005. He is an N.C.-certified apparatus operator, rescue tech, instructor II, USAR tech and fire inspector I.

John J. Koniges of Chapel Hill received a bachelor's degree from Minnesota State University during commencement ceremonies Dec. 15 in Mankato, Minn.

Gordon Shatley, a fire equipment operator with the Chapel Hill Fire Department, has been promoted to fire lieutenant. Shatley joined the CHFD in 1990 and has extensive experience as an acting company officer.

Tova Boehm of Chapel Hill performed in the Fall Chorale/Tour Preview Concert at Earlham College in Richmond, Va. She is the daughter of Nancy Luberoff and Bruce Boehm.