TCB April 18, 2019 — Rhyme & Reason

Greensboro / Winston-Salem / High Point April 18 - 24, 2019 triad-city-beat.com

GREENSBORO EDITION

RHYME & REASON The Poetry Café in its second decade

Light & Line PAGE 11 Beto!

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April 18 - 24, 2019

EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK

By invite only

The ceviche is outstanding: scallops and lump crabmeat with the most delicate tortilla chips. So lemony! And I just had a fine episode

by Brian Clarey of cocktail-party banter with the husband-and-wife team behind the film A Scientist’s Guide to Living and Dying. She stars; he directs. So far, he says, the buzz has been good.

Here’s Eddie Garcia, fresh off his star turn on Thursday night, when he played a live score alongside a screening of No Country for Old Men. And there’s a few more filmmakers hugging the walls, unsure of conversational prospects. I can see Rob Davis, RiverRun’s executive director, posted up by the door and issuing greetings and handshakes like his life depends on it. The tables outside slowly fill with that regular slate of Winston-Salemites who routinely show up when the food is above par and the drinks are free.

I happened upon this one quite by accident — a RiverRun supper housed in the roller mill for which this subdistrict near the West End is named. Just 20 minutes ago I was in Hoots Roller Bar, playing pinball and otherwise minding my own business, when I noticed the action over

by the old mill: tuxedo-ed attendants, belaminated socialites, confused bohemians, upper-tier volunteers with the glazed look that comes over them all by the last weekend of the festival.

My first instinct, upon seeing all the wide-open entrances and loose door policy, was to sneak in. I’ve been crashing VIP parties for decades, since before I was a journalist even. It’s easy: Sometimes you dress like you work there. Sometimes you act like you belong there. Sometimes you ensconce yourself in the thick of a moving crowd and glide past security.

For this one, I planned to enter the facility through the creek-side door and just hold up my notebook and pen if anybody started asking questions.

But then I remembered: Triad City Beat is a sponsor of RiverRun, and right there in my car I had a couple laminates that gained me access to every single event under the RiverRun banner.

So now here I sit, a welcome guest at the fancy party, on my second helping of ceviche and angling to be among the first wave to approach the buffet line.

It’s fine. Wonderful, even.

But it’s a little more fun when I’m not supposed to be there.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

No me importa if you’re a Republican or a Democrat...as long as you’re in this country, one of my fellow Americans, I will listen to you, learn from you and serve you every single day of my life.

-Beto O’Rourke

BUSINESS PUBLISHER/EXECUTIVE EDITOR Brian Clarey brian@triad-city-beat.com

PUBLISHER EMERITUS Allen Broach allen@triad-city-beat.com

EDITORIAL SENIOR EDITOR Jordan Green

ART ART DIRECTOR Robert Paquette

jordan@triad-city-beat.com

robert@triad-city-beat.com SALES

sayaka@triad-city-beat.com

gayla@triad-city-beat.com

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Sayaka Matsuoka STAFF WRITER Lauren Barber lauren@triad-city-beat.com

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1451 S. Elm-Eugene St. Box 24, Greensboro, NC 27406 Office: 336-256-9320 Winston-Salem: STAFF WRITER Savi Ettinger Josephus III has been hosting the savi@triad-city-beat.com Poetry Café in Greensboro for 11 EDITORIAL INTERN Cason Ragland years. (Photo by Todd Turner)

KEY ACCOUNTS Gayla Price CONTRIBUTORS

Carolyn de Berry, Matt Jones

TCB IN A FLASH @ triad-city-beat.com First copy is free, all additional copies are $1. ©2018 Beat Media Inc.

Greensboro: The Winston-Salem Light Project’s 2019 piece, “Lines.” (Photo by Sayaka Msatsuoka)

April 18 - 24, 2019

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April 18 - 24, 2019

CITY LIFE April 18-22, 2019

by Cason Ragland

Third Thursday feat. the Melvin Holland Quartet @ Centennial Station Arts Center (HP), 7 p.m.

Opinion

News

Up Front

THURSDAY April 18

The High Point Arts Council hosts Melvin Holland and his quartet this weekend for an evening of jazz. Holland graduated from UNCG in 2016 and plays with many groups throughout the Triad. If you’re so inclined, feel free to enjoy a drink at the bar where there will be specials on beer and wine.

Check out the event on Facebook.

Cave Twins @ Muddy Creek Music Hall (W-S), 8 p.m.

All 35 players and coaches of the High Point Rockers will be at the String & Splinter club this Friday. You can enjoy an array of seasonal dishes and discuss the upcoming season with High Point’s minor league baseball team. If you’re interested, take a look at the event’s page on Facebook.

Twin City Fashion Week @ the Millennium Center (W-S), 7 p.m.

Designers from Winston-Salem will showcase their latest ensembles at this year’s Twin City Fashion Week all weekend. Emerging designers and national brands take over the Millennium Center all weekend. Each night, a reception will be held at 7 p.m., followed by a runway show at 9 p.m. Head over to the TCFW website to buy tickets.

Sinbad @ the Carolina Theatre (GSO), 8 p.m.

Culture Shot in the Triad

Meet the Rockers @ String & Splinter Club (HP), 6 p.m.

Though the name of the group leads one to believe they’re related, the Cave Twins are simply two close friends who love to make music together. Those who wish to have a few heartstrings pulled on a Thursday night might enjoy this performance. Look for the event on Facebook.

Puzzles

FRIDAY April 19

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Kids Karaoke Night @ EducateDancer (GSO), 6 p.m.

If you’re too embarrassed to sing karaoke in front of your friends at the bar, just get your kid to do it for you (preferably not in a bar). Join the crew at EducateDancer with your little one(s) and have some cake and ice cream if you’d like. This event is open to the public and you can find out more on Facebook.

Don’t get him confused with the sailor since he’s probably sick of hearing that joke; it’s Sinbad! He’s coming to Greensboro to show off his comedic talents this weekend.

Comedy Central described him as one of the “100 Greatest Standups of All Time” so if you’ve got a hankerin’ for some laughs, come check out his show. Take a look at the event on the Carolina Theatre’s website.

April 18 - 24, 2019

SATURDAY April 20

Kids in the fifth grade or below are invited (along with their folks) to join the Oak View Kids Ministry this weekend to hunt for eggs. They’re not just any eggs, though — these ones glow in the dark!

Does that mean the chicken who laid them glows in the dark as well? Hard to say, really. Take a look at the Facebook event if you’d like to find out more.

News

Science Extravaganza @ Greensboro Science Center (GSO), 10 a.m.

Glow in the Dark Easter Egg Hunt @ Oak View Kids Ministry (HP), 7 p.m.

Up Front

#StayWoke Good Friday Vigil @ the Saltbox (W-S), 8:30 p.m.

With the passing of Nipsey Hussle at the end of last month, the Drum Majors Alliance will host a vigil in the parking lot of the Saltbox in Winston-Salem in his honor.

The event plans to discuss the challenge of healing from such traumatic events and to confront the violence that besets various communities around the country.

Find out more through the event’s page on Facebook.

SUNDAY April 21

Antony and Cleopatra @ SECCA (WS), 2 p.m.

Opinion Culture Puzzles

‘Game of Thrones’ Trivia and Party @ Small Batch Beer Co. (W-S), 3 p.m.

Winter has come and gone but “GoT” fans are practically foaming at the mouth while they wait for new instalments in the fantasy franchise. If you find that you’re running out of patience for the next episode, head to Small Batch Beer Co. in Winston-Salem for trivia and drinks based on the popular TV show and series of novels. Check out the event’s page on Facebook.

The National Theatre in London will put on a live broadcast of William Shakespeare’s tragic love story about the famous power couple of the ancient world. Political intrigue, betrayal and loyalty are at the center of this gripping, historical drama.

The SECCA in Winston-Salem will show the broadcast this weekend and you can find out more on Facebook.

Shot in the Triad

The GSC celebrates the NC Science Festival this weekend with an event for the entire family. Their “science samplers” will cover everything from nanotechnology and robotics to the quintessential exhibit of elephant toothpaste. The activities provided will be free with the purchase of a GA ticket or for those with a GSC membership. Check out the Facebook page to find out more.

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April 18 - 24, 2019 Up Front News Opinion Culture Shot in the Triad Puzzles

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The Winston-Salem Portrait Project needs your help

by Cason Ragland

Maya Angelou, 9th Wonder, Ernie Shore, Ben Folds, Chris Chang has more experience in the logistical challenges Paul and other famous Americans have called Winstonof organizing a public project. She co-founded CommuSalem home. However, the city houses many less famous nity Heroes NYC, where she did nearly everything from but just as consequential citizens. Some of these people conceptualizing how the program would be executed to include the workers at the Hanes factory and the students designing the website. who attend the four universities dotted throughout the city.

The two of them, along with members of various comHow can their voices be heard? munity outreach programs in the city, have put together A few years ago, the Winston-Salem Arts Commission a committee of 32 Winston-Salemites to file through the made a call for artists to pitch ideas for a communal and nominations of subjects for each portrait. Many of them are creative endeavor that would bring artists local to Winston-Salem who the city closer together. The comwish to contribute something to To nominate subjects for the mission settled on the Winston-Satheir city through this communal eflem Portrait Project with New York Winston-Salem Portrait Project, fort. Alongside artists are students, City-based artists Jasmin Chang teachers, elected officials and activvisit wsportraitproject.com and Kisha Bari at the helm. ists who wish to engage in discourse. /get-involved The goal of the project, which The WSPP is also backed by some began in January, is to envision “a members of Leadership Winstonphotographic portrayal of the comSalem, SG Atkins and the Boys and munity, a portrait made of its many faces, displayed where Girls Club of Winston-Salem. people come together and where they are divided.”

Throughout the summer, the WSPP will host several Both Chang and Bari have extensive experience in the workshops to shoot the portraits. Chang and Bari are still field of community outreach through art. Bari, after leaving looking for the perfect location in Winston-Salem to hold the world of commercial photography, began documenting these workshops. Even if the space is found tomorrow, the social movements. She was lead photographer for ReSisters: WSPP needs the people of Winston-Salem to nominate Behind-the-scenes at the Women’s March, a documentary people who make the city work. based on the events of the 2016 Women’s March in DC.

April 18 - 24, 2019

Four questions for the duo The Cave Twins

by Sayaka Matsuoka

Up Front News

The Cave Twins will play at Muddy Creek Café in Winston-Salem on Thursday.

COURTESY IMAGE

Musicians David Mayfield and Abby Rose, otherwise known as the Cave Twins, released their debut album, Best Friends for Now, last month. The two will be playing a live show at Muddy Creek Café in Winston-Salem on Thursday at 8 p.m. Tickets can be found at muddycreekcafeandmusichall.com.

Opinion

How did you both get into music and what was your inspiration?

Abby: Well, I grew up playing the flute and started playing the guitar when I was about 15 years old. Then, I started writing songs and I met David three years ago.

David: Yeah I grew up in a family bluegrass band so I grew up playing music at about 11 years old. I started on the bass because that’s what the family band needed. Then, I took up guitar and mandolin, which is what I play, mandolin, for Cave Twins.

GINA

April 27th, 2019 Show | 8:00pm / Doors |7:00pm With nine #1 singles and countless top-ten charted singles to his credit, this Greensboro native will perform such mega hits as “Rub It In” and “Knock Three Times”.

Raleigh Ringers

THE SAUCE BOSS

BRANFORD PASSPORT To Entertainment 2018 & 2019

THE HIGHPOINT BALLET veters o L et LBA

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Concert goers are asked to bring food donations in

May 7th, 2019

MARSALIS QUARTET

RYTHM OF THE DANCE

Show | 7:30pm / RDoors A EDE |6:30pm N

support of the Greater High Point Food Alliance.

THE QUEEN’S Acts and dates are subject to change. For tickets and updates, go to HighPointTheatre.com or call 336.887.3001 CARTOONISTS

Puzzles

What are your future goals for Cave Twins?

David: World domination is the end goal but we’re taking baby steps. Probably the next step is to build fans all over the US and hopefully we make someone happy along the way.

Abby: When we perform, it’s not about us. We try not to make it all about us. It’s more about everyone who has decided to participate and come to experience the evening.

David: We like the idea of thinking of ourselves as plumbers. Like people, they pay us, to come and entertain. We’re providing a service…. That’s something we always talk about.

Abby: We just want to have fun and try to be ourselves.

THE MANHATTAN T “CRASH” CRADDOCK

Shot in the Triad

So you both grew up in Ohio right? Did that influence your music at all?

Abby: Yeah, we grew up in the Youngstown area, and later, we were both were in the Kent area and we were part of the music scene there that was happening.

David: Yeah, in Kent, they have a huge folk festival every year and it’s just kind of an area and a town that’s very accepting of the arts and music especially. Especially the bluegrass type of music, which is what I grew up playing, there’s a lot of that in northeast Ohio. Originally, it was coal miners who wanted to find better jobs… brought that music with them.

Abby: That history both influenced us.

David: It influences the whole scene.

Culture

Now you guys are so close that you jokingly call each other twins who were separated at birth. How did you guys meet?

David: Well, we were born around same area of northeast Ohio but had never met. And then one day, I went to an open mic night about three years ago in Akron, Ohio. I saw her singing and I was instantly drawn to her voice and her music. Then we became quick friends and started writing songs together.

Abby: We had met like kind of a couple of times but we never talked to each other until that night. We’re both musicians in a smaller cities, so we knew a lot of the same people. I heard his name so much. But that night was the first time we met.

The � a new exciting season! s t n High Point Theatre PreseSAUCE BOSS BILLY

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Puzzles

Shot in the Triad

Culture

Opinion

News

Up Front

April 18 - 24, 2019

NEWS

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Beto O’Rourke kicks off presidential campaign, stops in Greensboro

By Sayaka Matsuoka Presidential hopeful Beto O’Rourke stopped at Natty Greene’s in Greensboro on Monday where he talked about issues such as immigration, universal healthcare and education.

Close to 400 people showed up to see Beto O’Rourke in Greensboro on Monday. The presidential candidate made a stop at Natty Greene’s downtown around 1 p.m. for his North Carolina speaking tour. O’Rourke spoke about universal healthcare, climate change, immigration and the need for racial equity amongst other things during the event.

A press released confirmed that O’Rourke came to Greensboro after visiting Charlotte in the morning and that he would be going straight to UNCChapel Hill after his talk in Greensboro.

O’Rourke began by addressing an overflowing crowd on the sidewalk outside of Natty Greene’s on Elm Street.

“I am running to serve you as the next president of the United States of America,” O’Rourke said on the Natty Greene’s patio. “No me importa if you’re a Republican or a Democrat, or an independent, or if you cannot vote because of a prior conviction or your immigration status, as long as you’re in this country, one of my fellow Americans, I will listen to you, learn from you and serve you every single day of my life.”

Once inside, O’Rourke was introduced by Ashton Clemmons, representative for NC House district 57 which covers parts of north and northeast Greensboro.

“We are excited to invite Beto to the greatest city in North Carolina, Greensboro North Carolina,” Clemmons said.

While some of the supporters in the upstairs of Natty Greene’s, where O’Rourke spoke, spoke out directly against Republicans like President Trump and Betsy DeVoss, the Texan advocated for a message of unity and cooperation.

“I want those kids of mine, to look back at 2019…and be proud that for every challenge, we came up with a solution,” O’Rourke said. “Not from the Democratic party, not from one man or one woman, but all of this country coming together. Ensuring that the greatest challenges that we have ever faced are not met by half measure or by only half the country. Cannot be urban communities versus rural communities. Cannot be Democrats versus Republicans. It can’t

Beto O’Rourke spoke about immigration, education, universal healthcare and institutionalized racism at his talk at Natty Greene’s in Greensboro on Monday.

be those who’ve been here for 10 generaabout was how racism affects minority tions versus those who have been here communities and how to promote equity. for 10 days. It’s gotta be all of us coming Throughout his talk, the presidential together as a country.” candidate referred to Greensboro’s A&T In addition to advocating for universal Four, who ignited the Civil Rights Movehealthcare, including mental healthcare, ment by staging sit-ins at Woolworths in O’Rourke spoke passionately about a the 1960s. woman’s right to choose what happens “There’s still 10 times the wealth in to her body and rights for those in the white America today than there is in LGBTQ community. O’Rourke specifiblack America today,” O’Rourke said. cally mentioned the state’s HB 2, also “The disparity in black infant mortalknown as the “bathroom bill,” which ity is greater now in 2019 than it was in discriminated against 1850, 15 years before the transgender individual’s abolition of slavery.” right to use the bathroom To combat institutionalA portion of in line with their gender ized racism, O’Rourke O’Rourke’s speech proposed ending gerryidentity.

“We know that transmandering, getting rid of can be viewed on gender kids are more likepolitical action comthe TCB Facebook ly to be the victims than mittees and super PACs the perpetrators of those in elections, enacting page. attacks and we know that same-day voter registraby correcting this injustice tion and automatic voter in your own state, not only do we bring registration for anyone who turns 18, back the NCAA, not only do we bring decriminalizing marijuana and expungback investment, we are bringing back ing arrests for those who have been talent, human capital that would have convicted of possession of marijuana as have gone elsewhere that was going to well as rehabilitating the for-profit prison other places,” O’Rourke said. system.

Among the topics that O’Rourke “Let’s confront the continuing legacy spoke most passionately and the longest of slavery, of segregation, of Jim Crow

SAYAKA MATSUOKA

and of suppression in our economic life, in our justice system, in our healthcare,” O’Rourke said. “In everything that matters, we have two Americas right now functioning.”

After finishing his speech, O’Rourke took questions from the audience including from a young man who stood in the center of the room who asked how states can ensure that everyone can get a high quality education.

O’Rourke advocated for expanding Medicaid and paying teachers a living wage.

“Now whether they’re a nurse, counselor, a librarian, work in the cafeteria, pick up as a custodian at the end of the day, drive those kids to school as a school bus driver, or are the instructor at the front of the classroom, I want those public school educators focused on those children, on locking their lifelong love of learning after which, there’s no stopping those kids,” O’Rourke. “There’s no stopping us as a country.”

O’Rourke, a Democrat who represents Texas’s 16th congressional district, unsuccessfully ran for the US Senate in 2018, narrowly losing to incumbent Ted Cruz. O’Rourke announced his plans to run for president in March.

Residents of northern Forsyth County are ramping up a fight against a proposed landfill, which will accept tree stumps, concrete and other inert material.

Up Front News

John Polite attempts to speak with the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Planning Board on April 11.

Shot in the Triad Puzzles

opponents cite the impending construction of the Winston-Salem Urban Loop, which will traverse the northeast corner of Winston-Salem from Highway 52 down to Business 40 and run to the south of the proposed site.

“Yes, there’s gonna be some noise,” Stewart said. “Do they not think when this interstate comes through we’re gonna get some more noise? Do you think you’re going to have needs in this area for all these things that we’re doing?

Yeah.”

Polite and others said Germanton Road is heavily traveled. He added that there are no stop signs from Highway 66 at the outskirts of Winston-Salem to Highway 65, just outside of Germanton.

“Accidents happen out there quite a bit,” Polite said. “If the speed limit is 55, they’re driving 65.”

Stewart said that if neighbors don’t think the roadway is capable of accommodating increased traffic loads from the landfill, that’s a matter best taken up with the NC Department of Transportation.

Meanwhile, after losing the first vote at the planning board on Thursday, the residents girded for a fight.

Calling the attention of the crowd milling in the lobby at Stuart Municipal Building, Polite said, “If we don’t say nothing, we know what’s gonna happen.

Don’t get discouraged. It’s gonna be a long process.”

Culture

a water truck if there are dusty or dry conditions,” Osborne said. Along with operation areas, that includes the driveway from the access point on the main highway to the interior of the site.

The county’s erosion inspectors will typically visit sites once a month, depending on their workload, Osborne said. Regulation is “limited to what we observe during routine inspection. If dust becomes a problem, we rely on citizens to say, ‘Hey, the dust is bad today,’ and we’ll make a special trip out there.”

Neighbors also cite the potential noise from stump-grinding, concrete-crushing and trucks delivering materials as a reason for their opposition.

“That’s our forever here,” Polite said.

“We’ve got a tranquil area. We’ve got people with health concerns. I’ve got a noise concern. It’s gonna affect the quality of our life. To have a landfill in our community, if they were putting in a housing development that would increase our property values, that would be one thing. This could decrease the value of our homes and make it harder to sell.”

The current site plan review on file with the planning department limits hours of operation from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

“We are changing our business hours,” Stewart told Triad City Beat. “I’m not going to tell you what the times will be.

We’re going to change our grinding hours.”

Both the landfill operator and its

JORDAN GREEN

Opinion

The vote to recommend approval of a 41.6-acre landfill in northern Forsyth County came quickly — before neighbors had the opportunity to ask to be heard.

“Sir, this isn’t a public hearing,” Chris Leak, the chair of the Winston-Salem/ Forsyth County Planning Board, told one man who rose to speak. Leak added that the vote “was simply a review” to determine whether the proposed landfill met the minimum requirements of the city and county’s Unified Development Ordinances, and that they would have the opportunity to speak before the matter comes up for a final vote by the Forsyth County Commissioners.

John Polite, a retired sheriff’s deputy who lives on a lane north of the proposed landfill, asked everyone opposed to rise. About 25 people, roughly half the room stood, and then filed into a narrow hallway as members of the planning board moved on to the next item in their agenda on April 11. Chris Murphy, the deputy director for inspections, fielded questions outside in the hallway, while Margaret Bessette, the assistant director for planning, collected phone numbers so that neighbors could receive notice of the county commission hearing, likely sometime next month.

One member of the planning board, George Bryan, voted against recommending the landfill for approval, noting that the area plan calls for large-lot residential development. But most board members seemed to be satisfied with an explanation by Planning Director Aaron King that the current agricultural zoning allows landfills, and that the burden lies on opponents to make the case that the proposal isn’t consistent with the area plan.

“I’m finding that a hard sell,” Bryan said, adding that approval would constitute a “bait and switch.”

The proposed landfill, located three miles outside of Winston-Salem off a highway leading to Germanton, has drawn swift opposition from neighbors.

Classed for “land clearing/inert debris,” the landfill includes a 200-feet buffer from the property line, but will contain no lining.

With about three days’ notice from a realtor, neighbors said about 50 people

showed up for an April 9 meeting on the side of the highway organized by the landfill operator to answer their questions. One of the neighbors, John S. Young, quickly put up a website. Two days later, after the planning board meeting, the neighbors thronged the lobby of the Bryce Stuart Municipal Building and made plans to order yard signs.

Adam Stewart, who plans to operate the landfill, is the owner of Stewart’s Grading and Hauling, a general contractor based two miles up the road in Germanton. Stewart expresses little patience with the neighbors’ concerns, contending that they’re reflexively opposing him without taking the time study his plan.

“It’s inert debris, tree limbs, anything that’s not going to hurt the environment,” Stewart said in an interview. “It will take concrete, asphalt. If they’ll read the plan, it states the different areas that we’re going to take materials. When the stump pile gets too big, we’ll bring in a grinder, and sell the product for mulch.

If the concrete pile gets too big, we’ll bring in a crusher and break it down into rock to re-sell. It’s more of a recycling center than a dump. There will be no trash, no shingles.”

Michael Schmid, whose property backs up to the north side of the proposed landfill, said he worries about pollution from the site running downhill into a creek that runs through his backyard.

“I’m worried about leaking oil from the equipment that could be up there running down the hill and into the stream that empties into Buffalo Creek,” he said. “They’re going to be grinding concrete. It contains silica dust. It’s definitely a cancer-causing agent.”

Stewart responded that in addition to the 200-foot buffer around the landfill, the heavy machinery will operate another 600 feet inside the perimeter.

“If we’re leaking oil and it runs that far, we’ve got a problem,” he said. He added that he does not think that there’s a reasonable health and safety concern about people who live in the area being exposed to silica dust.

Erosion Control Manager Matthew Osborne said the county requires developers to keep sediment, including airborne particles, on the premises.

“To control dust and to keep the material damp — there’s no regulation that deals with dust — it’s good housekeeping to maintain a practice of using

April 18 - 24, 2019

Rural Forsyth residents mobilize against proposed landfill

by Jordan Green

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April 18 - 24, 2019 Up Front News Opinion Culture Shot in the Triad Puzzles

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OPINION

EDITORIAL

Tax cut, or no?

Trump’s signature tax cut — not to be confused with his signature, wall-based immigration policy, or his signature gold toilet — has finally settled on the American people as Tax Day came and went. And the reviews are mixed.

News reports proliferate this week on the extent of the cuts. The Washington Post’s fact check found that about 65 percent of Americans did, in fact, experience a cut in their overall taxes, with an average reduction of $1,200.

But anecdotal reports across the country document what has become a common complaint this year: Where’s my refund?

According to data from H&R Block, tax refund checks are down an average of 1.1 percent from last year. And people are starting to complain, even though on paper they just saved $1,200 on the year.

Believe it or not, most Americans do not fully understand US tax policy. What they do understand is that Uncle Sam takes a mighty swipe out of their paychecks every month — about a Trump’s signature tax third — and that cut has finally settled after they file their taxes, they on the American get some of it people as Tax Day back.

It’s a ridiculous came and went. situation: The And the reviews are government holds our money mixed. at no interest for more than a year before paying it back. But it does incentivize people to file their taxes, and if people had to cut a check for all that money at the end of the year rather than having it deducted from their paychecks, there would be open revolt in the street.

Trump’s tax cut relied on a bait and switch: for the last nine months of 2018, the feds took a smaller piece of everyone’s paycheck, giving people tangible, written proof of a lowered tax rate with the added bonus of pumping a few extra billion into the economy — albeit in tiny increments — over that time.

And what people understand now is that their refund checks — which in most cases is already earmarked for things like home-improvement projects, debt reduction, family vacations, auto repairs and other large purchases — are smaller.

How’s that going to play out come election time in Trump’s America?

CITIZEN GREEN

Court fines undermine family stability

It might come as a surprise that Patterson, a 23-year-old Shaw University student who had the US Supreme Court has ruled been charged for speeding, operating a car without valid that judges are obligated to inquire registration and inspection and driving with a revoked about the reasons the defendants license while visiting family members. are unable to pay court costs.

“Why are you in my county, boy?” the judge reportedly That’s critically important considasked. ering that the federal courts have Patterson, who is black, told the ACLU that he had also ruled that defendants can’t be worked all summer to earn money to pay his traffic fines.

by Jordan Green punished merely for being poor.

He came up with $200 — not enough to satisfy the judge.

Likewise, the North Carolina Constitution states, “There After calling him a “disgrace” to his university and shall be no imprisonment for debt in this state.” admonishing him to never return to Robeson County, Judges have the discretion to waive court fees and costs Judge Richardson reportedly scoffed at his $200 by saying, if defendants can’t afford them.

“That’s not even enough to buy you a man in jail. And that’s The quality and philosophy of judges that voters elect in where you’re going to end up. In jail. Boy, do you know local jurisdictions makes a huge difference. As the ACLU what they will do to you in jail? They will have fun with you of North Carolina found in a report released earlier this in jail.” Judge Richardson reportedly sentenced Patterson month, court culture varies wildly from county to county: to $561 in fines and 30 days in jail, even though his charge Judges in some counties waived less than 1 percent of fines was not eligible for jail time, and he had not pleaded guilty and fees in 2017, while in Mecklenburg and Cumberland, for his traffic charges or even received a hearing. the counties that respectively surround Charlotte and With the ACLU’s help, Patterson obtained pro bono Fayetteville, they waived more than 20 percent of court counsel, and got the conviction overturned, with his fines costs. (Guilford and Forsyth counties did not respond to and fees reduced to $258. the ACLU’s request for data.)

Judge Richardson retired at the end of 2018.

The court system preys on the poor In contrast, the authors found that in people, saddling those who can least afAvery — a mountainous county on the ford it with fines and fees and sometimes Tennessee state line that is 90 percent white In North Carolina throwing them in jail, to funnel almost $263 — “defendants were rarely locked up for million annually to the state’s general fund, failing to pay,” but ability to pay was rarely and across the according to the report. In North Carolina and fines and fees were never country, one of our considered, and across the country, one of our biggest waived in 100 cases reviewed. products is human misery, sustaining an One case stands outs. Brandon Sutton, biggest products industry that provides livelihoods to count18, was convicted of possession of less than is human misery... half an ounce of marijuana in July 2017, and less police officers, prosecutors, defense attorneys, detention officers, probations placed on supervised probation. officers and judges.

The following May his grandfather gave And while poor people of color are no more likely to ofSutton, who is white, a ride to court in the county seat of fend than their white counterparts, it should surprise no one Newland to face an allegation that he had violated his that North Carolina’s criminal-justice system inordinately probation due in part to failure to pay his court debt. falls on their backs. While blacks make up only 22 percent “In court that day, his attorney did not tell Judge of the state’s population, they account for 47 percent of Theodore McEntire that Sutton had only an 8th grade the state’s prison population. Blacks make up 32.8 percent education or that his family barely made ends meet,” the of the population of Mecklenburg County, but the report’s report recounts. “Judge McEntire did not inquire about authors observed that they accounted for 68 out of 100 Sutton’s ability to pay. After his court-appointed attorney people in the court system. submitted fees for his representation, Sutton owed more The report found a tale of two criminal-justice systems — than $1,311.50 in court fines and fees, or almost twice the worst and bad enough. amount of his father’s monthly disability check.”

Starting with worst, Robeson — a county where racism The report’s authors learned that the young man’s great and poverty intersect — the authors discovered that judges grandmother tapped her kerosene fund and his grandrarely appointed attorneys to represent indigent clients. mother took out a small loan to cover his court costs so he With a 30.8 percent poverty rate and a population almost wouldn’t risk going to jail. The family didn’t know how they evenly split between African Americans, Native Americans would come up with money to cover their heating bill the and whites, the authors observed that 32 out of 110 defenfollowing winter. dants in Robeson County were jailed for failure to pay their Every time district court judges run for election, voters court costs. In 84 of the cases, the ACLU found that the should ask them if they will prioritize keeping defendants defendants’ ability to pay court costs was raised by neither financially solvent so they can take care of their families, or the judge nor counsel, or the defendants themselves if they funneling more money to the state. And every defendant were appearing pro se. should insist on their constitutionally guaranteed right to an During one session in August 2017, an ACLU observer “ability to pay” hearing. witnessed Judge Herbert Richardson Sr. belittle Gregory

by Sayaka Matsuoka

I

Up Front News Opinion Culture Shot in the Triad Puzzles

t doesn’t look like it was supposed to.

While the structure and the shape is the same, the ghost house at the corner of Waughtown and Main in Winston-Salem isn’t lit up the way it was intended.

Still, the organizers and artists behind “Lines,” the Winston-Salem Light Project’s most recent installation, say it accomplishes the same goal.

“People talk about gentrification all the time,” says Kim Smith, a senior lighting student at UNC School of the Arts and one of the four students who completed the project. “It’s just become a thing now. You know, gentrification, it’s what happens…. But I think it’s starting that conversation, getting people to really start to think about it… and it’s not gonna stop happening, but what can we do to help these people who are displaced?”

Bright white lines of PEX pipe, stronger than PVC, form the outline of a small, two-story house that would have been typical in 1920s Winston-Salem. A doorframe indicates the sole entrance to the home, while four floating windows materialize out of thin air, held up only by strips of metal beams that connect SAYAKA MATSUOKA Originally, the stark outline of a home was supposed to be illuminated against the night. But there was a to the top and bottom frames of the problem getting electricity to the site. structure. A lone door sits behind the fully constructed house, while three parestablished the Federal Housing Administration. plot of land sits at the corner of a busy intersection where jogtially formed homes, also made of pipe, “It determined who got loans and who could move to cergers cross a nearby bridge and others file in and out of a YWCA fill the rest of the grassy area where the tain areas in the town,” Smith says. “People were shuttled into across the street. The completed house, which measures project has been installed. poor or rich areas based on red lines. The name came from 19-by-26 feet, is based off of small, shotgun-style homes that The installation, which went up that.” existed here in the early part of the 20th Century while the deon April 12, is the 11th iteration of the constructed homes and single doorframes are meant to show She also points out the history of how major highways often Winston-Salem Light Project, which the breakdown and erasure of residences over the years. cut through whole neighborhoods, displacing many of the partners with UNCSA students each year “It’s like, ‘Oh wow, a house used to be here,’” says Smith. residents, creating more segregated to create illuThe project, which will be up at least through April 25, took areas of the city. minated public over a year to complete. And along the way, the students say The project is meant to illuminate works of art.

“Lines” can be viewed at the they experienced setback after setback. First, they had a difhow certain neighborhoods and This year, Smith ficult time finding the right materials to create their sculpture. communities were disenfranchised intersection of South Main and and her classThen they had to change sites because of the timeframe. And by racist housing practices and urban Waughtown streets in Winstonmates settled finally, when it came to lighting the actual piece, they found renewal. on the idea of Salem. Find out more about the that there was no access to electricity to light the tubes, like “We’re using Winston-Salem as creating these originally planned, at the final location. the example of that, but it happens project at lightproject.org. house frames “It was every day that we would move forward came with a everywhere,” says Norman Coates, to give complex laundry list of things to overcome, the things that you almost the director of the project and direcconcepts like can’t anticipate,” says Brendan Warner, another senior lighting tor of the lighting department at gentrification, displacement and urban student who worked on the project.

UNC School of the Arts. “You can expand the idea of lines renewal a face.

“I think it would be similar to waterboarding perhaps,” so broadly… the construction lines or the redlining that has The idea came to light when one of Coates jokes. divided communities. We look at lines of connection. How do the students began delving into the hisSo, when visitors witness the sculpture now, it won’t be lit the bridges connect us back and forth? How do we build lines tory of redlining in the city. The systemic up, but they hope it conveys the same message says Warner. and barriers?” denial of access to things like loans, “What it does is it asks the question, it inspires you to think The installation sits on a piece of property owned by the most often targeted at black communiabout what it is and why it is the way it is,” he says. “As long school, close to Happy Hill, the city’s oldest African American ties, got its start after the passage of as it’s rooted in what you’re trying to say, it will still say what neighborhood. The area where the piece exists used to be a the National Housing Act of 1934, which you’re trying to say.” working-poor neighborhood, according to Smith. Now, the

April 18 - 24, 2019

CULTURE The Winston-Salem Light Project, gone dark

11

April 18 - 24, 2019 Up Front News Opinion Culture Shot in the Triad Puzzles

12

CULTURE The Poetry Café: Feeding mind, body and soul for 11 years

by Lauren Barber

T

here is a brick-walled haven on Triad Stage’s third and final floor, the Upstage Cabaret, where the Poetry Café lives and breathes on the second Friday and Saturday of each month.

Eleven years after a grant from the United Arts Council, now known as Arts Greensboro, enabled Josephus Thompson III’s creative venture, it’s thriving and, this weekend of April 12-13, the Poetry Café is donating proceeds back to the Arts Fund which provides grants for local and regional artists.

“The Poetry Café is centered around community,” Thompson says. “It’s not just for professional, traveling poets; it’s for the poet in all of us. We all have a story to tell, we all have a voice. I want the person who works at McDonald’s and writes in their spare time. I don’t need your résumé.”

Eight years ago, Thompson began hosting a 6 p.m. radio show every Tuesday on WNAA 90.1 FM that features some of the artists that grace the Poetry Café stage, and others from around the world. “[The radio show] makes poetry more accessible to people who can’t come to open mic,” he says.

The two-hour events showcasing local talent are edited into two 30-minute segments for television now, too: My 48 at 11:30 p.m. on Sundays. Thompson says more than 9,000 people watched on March 24, and next month the show will appear on Amazon Prime. Poetry Café is launching a YouTube channel on May 1, too. Thompson says he aspires to taking the show international, traveling with the band and camera crew to Paris, London, South Africa, Dubai to showcase international poets — a long stretch from the early days of asking three dollars for folks to deliver poems behind pool tables in loud bars. Now there’s space for venders and guided deep breaths.

“Greensboro is an artistic city and art is one of the things that brings people together,” he says. “People like to go out, and I think the Poetry Café serves a niche. It’s not the club, but they are allowed to communicate and have a good time. People sign the list and get on the stage and see what happens. It could be a joke, it could be a poem, it could be a song, it could be horrible. But people get a chance to be who they are and to laugh and sing, which is what the show’s

Jasmine Williams, spoken-word artist, performs during the 11th year of Poetry Café at Triad Stage’s UpStage Cabaret. “We share our gifts, we share ourt art and we learn about each other,” she says.

TODD TURNER

really about. Affirmation, validation from your peers is very banter throughout; they’re family. important.”

The celebratory “old school track of the day” brings the “We share our gifts, we share our art and we learn about crowd back from intermission, and anything goes, from each other,” spoken-word poet and long-time Café supporter Usher’s “Nice & Slow” to “The Golden Girls” theme song.

Jasmine Williams says. “It inspires us to want to do better and There are only a few rules at Poetry Café: Each performer is algrow. I’ve grown as an artist. lotted time for one piece; snaps are for the performance, claps “It’s organic, people are sharing their vulnerability with for after; and if you know the lyrics to a song, you have to sing you,” she continues. “It’s truly humbling. When you’re on the along. stage, it reminds you it’s not about you, it’s about you sharWhen singer Irie Child takes the stage, he assures the audiing something with others. Your gift is not for you, it’s for ence: “If you don’t understand what I’m saying, just feel the someone else.” vibe.”

Clement Mallory, who’s engaged Poetry Café audiences Some nights, like this, it’s more song than poetry on stage, from the Cabaret stage since its founding, is Universal Mathbut it’s always what everyone needs. ematics onstage. As he saunters toward the front-and-center “This space is for us to build and share our lives, our art, our mic, he introduces himself: “I’m a love, our pain, our struggles,” Thompson walking open mic, I’m a walking open says. mic, I’m a walking open mic…mic…

Performers tell about fathers and Learn more at josephusiii.com/ mic…” The willowy poet sets his own tyrants, about freedom fighters and gathe-poetry-cafe. pace, offering innuendos concernzelles so swift they can’t be caught; they ing “peachy attitudes, banana slick transform the Cabaret stage into windy moves” and options for participation beaches where love holds on tight, and beyond swaying, snapping and clapping. then sail past the pyramids and moon until the end. After the The band, often ad-libbing in the backdrop, is Anna Wilhugs and expressions of gratitude, a man says goodnight to a liams on drums, Michael Reaves on keys, Marta Richardson on friend in the hall (“Enjoy the peace, brah”) and a woman is still electric violin and vocalist JhaMai Milindez, who started workhumming the café’s staple theme song in the restroom. ing with Thompson on the Gate City Youth Slam team years “Who are we without our hopes, our dreams, and our ambiago. Now 23, the full-toned singer captivates with renditions tions to be more?” Thompson says during his last poem of the of Erykah Badu’s “On & On,” John Legend’s “Ordinary People,” night. “I may be nothing, chasing a dream of a comet followSZA’s “The Weekend” and a new original between performers. ing a star headed for Neptune, but I promise I will write you When she and Thompson open and close shows, he layers his when I get to Neptune soon. Signed, Me. P.S. Never doubt the spoken-word over her singing, but they riff through playful possibilities of poetry.”

by Savi Ettinger

W

Up Front News Opinion Culture Shot in the Triad Puzzles

ith a flick of a light switch, the ioned chairs encouraging world outside the tub pauses passersby to stop and for an hour. give their stomachs a The darkness swallows up little care too. the shapes of the room, the edge of the “Our focus in the tub. The water — kept at body temperacafé,” Jessika Olsen says, ture and infused with salt — keeps the “is people with food alperson floating, just levitating there in a lergies.” self-contained void.

The sisters’ own While it may seem ripped from science autoimmune issues and fiction, the process is called floatation related dietary restrictherapy and grants the user a meditations inspired the café’s tive power nap, a recharge of sorts. It’s creation. The menu among the many offerings at Sonder avoids common allerMind & Body in downtown Greensboro. gens. While seasonal and Co-owner Jessika Olsen opens the almost always local, the pod-shaped bath with a quick click, ingredients never include revealing an inviting, blue light that what’s referred to as the shimmers across the water’s surface.

“Big 8” which includes “It’s based on the original design from dairy, gluten, tree nuts, the 1950s,” she says. soy and peanuts.

Jessika and her twin sister Veronika “We just created a opened Sonder, and the Well Café & place we needed,” VeJuice Bar connected to it, almost a year ronika Olsen says. ago on South Elm Street. The dual busiOn an early Monday nesses combine de-stressing strategies afternoon, people pop and allergen-conscious food under one in and out of the café, roof. grabbing power bowls, SAVI ETTINGER Sonder Mind & Body, and the Well Café connected to it, opened almost a year ago “We call ourselves a new kind of wellDutch-brewed coffee and in downtown Greensboro. ness center,” Veronika Olsen says. muffins by the register. barbeque jackfruit.

Individual practitioners conduct many The new spring-and-summer menu sits on the counter, offerA man sits on his laptop, taking quick bites from his rice. techniques from acupuncture to masing both breakfast and lunch items to pair with drinks from a Two women stop their jog and each leave with a cup of coffee. sage in Sonder’s back rooms. Along with full page of options.

A guest emerges from the back, refreshed, and grabs her tote the two floatation-therapy rooms and The sunberry toast is one of the picks that the chefs build bag from the wall as she thanks an employee. Jessika and an infrared sauna, guests find freedom from gluten-free sourdough out of Burlington-based bakery Veronika Olsen both keep busy between the Well Café and in picking out the exact type of treatSimple Kneads. A creamy sunbutter rests atop the toasted Sonder Mind & Body. ment to try, regardless of health status. slice, underneath a carefully laid out layer of ripe strawberry “The definition of Sonder,” Jessika Olsen says, “is that every“What this place offers, “Veronika slices, finished with hemp seeds. The fruity sweetness melds one’s life is as vivid and complex as our own.”

Olsen says, “is stress reduction.” with the nutty spread for a melty, comforting taste with a The duo had often returned to the fitting crunch from the seeds. The strikidea of a multi-purpose space that ing purple of a blueberry, honey and blended food with healing, but the draw coconut milk smoothie pops beside the towards floatation therapy came from bright red berries, as satisfying to the their mother. She tried the pods decades eyes as they are for the taste buds. ago but returned to them to reduce the Other brunch meals include caper stress of chemotherapy. and avocado toast and gluten-free vegThe goals of an pancakes self-care and and waffles mindfulness for the weekSonder Mind & Body and the Well bleed into the ends. The Café & Juice Bar can be found at 515 front lobby Olsens say and the conthese dishes S. Elm Street in Greensboro, or online nected Well give a rare at sondermindandbody.com.

Café & Juice treat to peoBar. Natural ple who may sunlight satuhave adverse rates the café, bouncing between red reactions to some common ingredients exposed brick and the white and deep in many dishes at other restaurants. blue of the walls. The sound of blenders For lunch, the small space whips whirling and people chatting enlarge the up bowls containing a diverse assortintimate space, with couches and cushment of fruits and vegetables, such as

April 18 - 24, 2019

CULTURE The Well Café makes an escape in downtown GSO

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April 18 - 24, 2019

South Elm Street, Greensboro

Shot in the Triad

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SHOT IN THE TRIAD

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by Matt Jones

Sunday, April 20th Glen Jones ©2018 Jonesin’ Crosswords

(editor@jonesincrosswords.com)

602 S Elam Ave • Greensboro

Answers from previous publication.

(336) 698-3888

Culture Shot in the Triad Puzzles

Conclusion, in Koln Boat bottom Bus-jumping stunt cyclist, casually Folk/country musician Iris City not far from Kingston upon Hull Oil tycoon Halliburton “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” kid Golf pro who won post-Fuzzy Dug around, with “out” Olympics sword D&D and similar campaign pursuits Flimflams, for short Auto body flaw Loch for cryptozoologists

Car also known as a Bug Hairstylist known for cowboy hats Throat doc that also works in ophthalmology Conduits found in “TMNT” Ovoids in a carton ___ nous “So ___ to you, Fuzzy-Wuzzy” (Kipling) Not horiz.

Syngman ___ of 1950s Asian politics Brain activity monitors Suffix for carbon compounds, plural Child star who was Damian in “Millions” Grayish-brown aquatic bird Angry, with “off” MIT study topic including hospitals, diagnostics and MRIs

Friday, April 19th Emily Stewart

Opinion

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 15 21

40 44 45 50 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62

Every Thursday Open Mic with Zander

News

Down

Every Wednesday Matty Sheets and Guest

Up Front

1 ___ out a living (got by) 5 KFC drumsticks, basically 9 Half a cartoon duo with a platypus 13 Matt’s “Wild Things” costar 14 Didn’t do it right 16 Actor Omar of “Almost Christmas” 17 Form an opinion 18 Pupil, in Paris 19 Handbook info 20 “Finding Dory” star 23 “Dr. Mario” and “Duck Hunt” platform 24 Quattro minus uno 25 School tasks using Scantrons 28 Big buy for suds 31 K-pop group with a 2019 Grammy nomination 33 “Lucky Man” prog rock trio, for ©2017 Jonesin’ Crosswords (editor@jonesincrosswords.com) short 34 “Tommy” song on day two of Woodstock 39 “___ Griffin’s Crosswords” (2007-2008 show) 41 Gallup poll finding 42 TV cook Paula 43 HOF Brooklyn shortstop with uniform no. 1 46 Physics unit of work 47 “Chicago” lyricist 48 Promgoing kids, for short 49 Poly finish Answers from last issue 51 21___ (Shaq’s foot stat) 53 180∞ from WSW 22 Kathryn of “Oz” and “L&O: C.I.” 54 Hashtag post that’s always apt 25 Mall Santa job or sub at work, say 62 WWF’s “Hitman” Hart 26 Robt. ___ (Civil War fig.)

63 War of 1812 pact city 27 Buying outing 64 Raison d’___ 28 TV cook Graham and family 65 “Wordplay” and “Simpsons” crossword 29 Abu Dhabi VIP (var.) guy with Will 30 Mutation factors 66 Bob who did “Hollywood Nights” 32 Bad driving condition 67 Russo of “Tin Cup” 35 July and August, to Balzac 68 “Comp·s” point 36 Gps. that assist putting out conflagrations 69 In ___ (actually) 37 Nothing but 70 Toboggan 38 RPI grad’s abbr.

EVENTS

April 18 - 24, 2019

CROSSWORD ‘E’s Here!’— grid only, though. SUDOKU

15