SoDu Morning Brief: Hope Valley Spirit Night, DPS Jobs & Today’s Events

Sunshine and a light breeze this afternoon, cooler tonight near 50°. Support Hope Valley Elementary at Tomato Jake’s, see today’s obits, free school meals, DPS hiring needs, and a full rundown of Oct. 21 happenings across South Durham.

SoDu Morning Brief: Hope Valley Spirit Night, DPS Jobs & Today’s Events
Tonight, Tomato Jake's (8202 Renaissance Pkwy.) hosts a spirit night for Hope Valley Elementary School and its supporters from 4 to 9 p.m.

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Today’s South Durham Weather Forecast (Oct. 21, 2025)

Today: Sunny, high near 76°F. Light south wind becoming southwest 6–11 mph, with gusts up to 20 mph.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy early, then clearing. Low around 50°F. South wind 5–8 mph shifting to west after midnight.

Quick Take

  • Best time outdoors: Late morning to late afternoon - comfortable warmth and sunshine.
  • Breezy at times: Occasional SW gusts near 20 mph.
  • Jacket tonight: Clearer, cooler overnight with a crisp ~50°F low.

What to Wear/Do

  • Light layers this afternoon; a light jacket for the evening.
  • Great day for walking the American Tobacco Trail, running errands, or getting out to youth sports practices; tie down lightweight décor due to gusts.
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🍅 Hope Valley Elementary School Spirit Night at Tomato Jake’s + PTA Meeting

Tonight, Tomato Jake's (8202 Renaissance Pkwy.) hosts a spirit night for Hope Valley Elementary School and its supporters from 4 to 9 p.m. The restaurant will donate 20% of proceeds to the school during that window. Customers should tell the clerk that the order is for the elementary school to make sure it's counted.

Principal Ingrid Whitaker and Assistant Principal Paulette Davis plan to attend from 5 to 6 p.m.

After you eat, jump on Zoom for the PTA general meeting at 8 p.m.

Read more in Southpoint Access!


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🕯️ Durham Obituaries – Oct. 21, 2025

NameAgeDate of DeathService DetailsFuneral Home
Nonie Coline Rose102Oct. 17Oct. 22, 12:30 p.m., Woodlawn Memorial Park, DurhamHudson Funeral Home & Cremation Services
Jeffrey R. Thrash85Oct. 17Oct. 22, 11 a.m., Oak Grove Memorial Gardens, DurhamHudson Funeral Home & Cremation Services
Edward Harvey Estes Jr.100Oct. 16No services listedHall-Wynne Funeral Service & Crematory
Jeffrey William Porter64Oct. 16Celebration of life to be held later in WilmingtonHudson Funeral Home & Cremation Services
Jack S. “Pe Paw” Warren Jr.76Oct. 16Nov. 13, 2 p.m., Hudson Funeral Home, DurhamHudson Funeral Home & Cremation Services
John W. Chappell82Oct. 15Services held Oct. 19Clements Funeral & Cremation Services
Ronald Lewis Newton73Oct. 15No services listedFisher Memorial Funeral Parlor
Samuel Adedeji75Oct. 14Oct. 28, 1 p.m., Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, DurhamBurthey Funeral Service
Rebecca Anderson79Oct. 14No services listedHanes Funeral Service
Barry Yandell Blalock76Oct. 14Services held Oct. 18Clements Funeral & Cremation Services
James Lynn Hudson75Oct. 14No services listedClements Funeral & Cremation Services
Johnnie Walker65Oct. 14Services held Oct. 20Holloway Memorial Funeral Home
Billy Lee Codwise Jr.47Oct. 13Services held Oct. 16Clements Funeral & Cremation Services
Vidal Benitez Cruz70Oct. 12Services held Oct. 18Peaks & Waters Memorial Funeral Care
Stanley Branch Sr.71Oct. 11Services held Oct. 20Holloway Memorial Funeral Home
Tanisha Jones Holland Walden51Oct. 11No services listedHolloway Memorial Funeral Home
Bonnie Sue (Bass) Allen78Oct. 10Services held Oct. 15Clements Funeral & Cremation Services
S.P. Williams86Oct. 10No services listedAmerican Cremation & Funeral Service
Thurman Cash84Oct. 9Services held Oct. 17Holloway Memorial Funeral Home
John David Smith91Oct. 9Oct. 22, 12 p.m., First Calvary Baptist Church, DurhamBurthey Funeral Service
Wanda Wolfe53Oct. 9No services listedPeaks & Waters Memorial Funeral Care
Charles Routledge Eilber100Oct. 8Dec. 6, 2 p.m., Croasdaile Village Chapel, DurhamHall-Wynne Funeral Service & Crematory
Patricia Carpenter78Oct. 6Services held Oct. 17Burthey Funeral Service
Dr. Paul Jay Feldblum72Oct. 6Memorial service expected in late springClements Funeral & Cremation Services
Thomasena Massey73Oct. 6Services held Oct. 16Peaks & Waters Memorial Funeral Care
Amiah Imani Corbett15Oct. 5Services held Oct. 18Peaks & Waters Memorial Funeral Care
Kathleen Ann Welsh44Oct. 5Oct. 25, in St. Petersburg, Fla.Hudson Funeral Home & Cremation Services
Sara Vanessa Bodison54Oct. 4No services listedHolloway Memorial Funeral Home
Ronald Stephen Watkins78Oct. 4Services held Oct. 17American Cremation & Funeral Service
Bedel Henry Saintange37Oct. 1Services held Oct. 19Peaks & Waters Memorial Funeral Care
Bennie Darryl McFarland67Sept. 15Services held Oct. 18Holloway Memorial Funeral Home

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DURHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS

The local public school district wants to fill numerous positions, but is particularly keen to bring in new EC (exceptional children) teachers and transportation workers. Also, DPS offers alternative certification tracks for potential educators coming from fields without a background in teaching.


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🍽️ Durham Public School Lunch Today

🍳 Breakfast (K–12)

Entrée: Fruited Bread Slice (V)
Sides: Applesauce

All breakfasts include a choice of low-fat or fat-free milk, fresh fruit, and 100% fruit juice.

🧒 Elementary School Lunch

Entrée Options:

  • Barbecue Chicken with Roll
  • Yogurt Snack Pack (V)

On the Side:

  • Mashed Potatoes
  • Green Beans
  • Fruit Cobbler

All lunches include milk and fresh fruit.

👦🏽 Middle School Lunch

Entrée Options:

  • Barbecue Chicken with Roll
  • Yogurt Snack Pack (V)

Sides:

  • Mashed Potatoes
  • Green Beans
  • Fruit Cobbler

Middle School To Go Option:

  • (No “To Go” salad listed for Tuesday)

All meals include milk, fruit, and 100% juice.

🎓 High School Lunch

Entrée Options:

  • Double Cheeseburger on Bun
  • Veggie Burger on Bun (V)

Sides:

  • Oven Potatoes
  • BBQ Baked Beans
  • Fruit Choice

Each high school meal includes milk and fresh fruit.

📌 All student meals are free. Menus include choice of milk, fresh fruit, and 100% juice. Items subject to change. Get the full week of menus here. And did you catch the latest DPS school cafeteria inspection reports?


🎟️ Events In and Around South Durham – Oct. 21

  • 4–5 p.m. | Teen Spooktober: The Ultimate Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Taste Test (Durham County Library)
    Southwest Regional Library, 3605 Shannon Rd.
  • 6–7:30 p.m. | Parents’ Night Out (Durham Parks & Recreation)
    Community Family Life & Recreation Center, 1309 Halley St.
  • 6:30–8:30 p.m. | Durham Public Schools Board of Education Meeting (Durham Government)
    511 Cleveland St.
  • 7–8 p.m. | Durham Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee (Durham Government)
    Virtual.
  • 7:30–8:30 p.m. | BEERthoven with The Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle (Atomic Clock Brewery)
    Atomic Clock Brewing, 501 Washington St.

📅 More local happenings on the SoDu Events Calendar.

Have something to share? Email wes.platt@southpointaccess.news.


💬 WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND?

What issues around your neighborhood in South Durham should get more attention? Reply to this newsletter and let me know. Send email to wes.platt@southpointaccess.news.


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