TCB Nov. 19, 2020 — Woodshedding

Greensboro / Winston-Salem / High Point Nov. 19-25, 2020 triad-city-beat.com

GREENSBORO EDITION

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Josh King emerges from his backyard with The Shed PAGE 12

WOODSHEDDING On our Best Of PAGE 3

Nutcracker dreams PAGE 13

Koury wins rezoning PAGE 8

Nov. 19-25, 2020

EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK

A pandemic interlude It’s cold out ment away from the grind, to feel the cold there today, about air on my skin and mark the passing of the as cold as it was day by the lengths of the shadows that on the mid-March fall across the yard. Every now and then morning when I my daughter emerges from her room and parked outside together we empty the coffeepot. Then I the Greensboro go back to work.

Coliseum to cover I miss the other humans. Most of

by Brian Clarey the ACC Men’s them. And I won’t return to the office for Basketball Tournament and made my way another two weeks. inside. That day, though, warmed up conSometimes I think I could do this forsiderably before they sent us all home to ever if I had to. I can handle isolation. I can hide from the virus before the first game deal with monotony. I know how to keep had begun. This day’s cold is just getting the wheel turning. started: a brittle wind with But there’s no such thing ice behind it, slicing through as forever anymore, just the sunlight, rattling the this vague hope that better Eight months dead leaves in the trees and times, surely, are ahead, just sending the fallen ones skitover the horizon where our have passed tering along the street. eyes can’t quite see. between then Eight months have I know the pandemic and now. passed between then and will last through the end of now. the year, bleeding into the I’ve been working from spring and almost certainly the kitchen table for three the front end of summer. I weeks straight — ever since a Triad City can’t bring myself to look past that, eight Beat staffer tested positive for COVID-19. months from now.

And even before that, I sat here most And so it goes with this slow-motion days, conducting business by phone disaster, unfolding in such a way that we and screen, forgetting to eat lunch until don’t quite know where it will lead, or how midafternoon, losing track of my shower it will be resolved. The uncertainty is the schedule, pacing pacing pacing. Every so thing, and there’s no fix for that but time. often I step outside for a smoke, for a mo-

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

You should have confidence that all the votes that were cast were counted and tabulated correctly; there were no irregularities that I observed in Guilford County.

— Gene Lester pg. 6

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 jordan@triad-city-beat.com

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Sayaka Matsuoka sayaka@triad-city-beat.com

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1451 S. Elm-Eugene St. Box 24, Greensboro, NC 27406 Office: 336.256.9320 COVER: SPECIAL SECTION EDITOR Nikki Miller-Ka niksnacksblog@gmail.com

EDITORIAL INTERN Michaela Ratliff ART ART DIRECTOR Robert Paquette robert@triad-city-beat.com SALES

KEY ACCOUNTS Drew Dix

drew@triad-city-beat.com

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: Josh King has a new album out, with help from his friends the Fools.

[Photo by Todd Turner] WINSTON-SALEM: Eleanor Broughton dancing in a production of The Nutcracker [photo by Peter S. Mueller]

Nov. 19-25, 2020

Greensboro / Winston-Salem / High Point

A STATEMENT TO OUR READERS ABOUT OUR BEST OF THE BEAT READERS’ POLL

In Early September Triad City Beat launched the nominations phase for the Best of the Beat, Winston-Salem Edition, with hundreds of categories like Best Burger, Best Cocktails and Best Landscaping Company. We also included non-commercial options like Best City Council Member and Best Political Gaffe, to add some substance to what can sometimes be an advertiser-centric project, and to allow our readers to reflect on the things that matter to them.

It wasn’t until a week into the final voting phase that we realized how problematic a few of these categories were, after strong criticism from activist groups and individuals that truly struck home.

Among them: Best Troublemaker — a noble appellation in some regards, but also profoundly problematic when the label is applied to a Black woman by a white man, which was the perception among many. To our shame, we didn’t even see it until one of the nominees pointed it out.

The Best News Story category also unleashed unintended consequences, revisiting trauma upon the family of John Neville, the Greensboro man who died after being in custody at the Forsyth County jail.

We are deeply sorry for the harm we caused, and are taking steps to make it right.

Both categories have been removed entirely from the ballot, and we have rescinded nominations in other categories such as Best Activist at the request of the nominees, and pledge to do the same for anyone who does not care to participate in our Readers’ Poll.

Some have suggested that we drop the poll entirely, but we are not giving up on the contest, which has been running for almost three months, and is tethered by contractual obligations that bind us legally to its publication. And we still believe it can be useful, and reflective of our communities.

But we promise in future incarnations of the poll — our Greensboro/Guilford Readers’ Poll is scheduled for early 2021 — that our category choices will be more deliberate, adhering first and foremost to the principle of not doing harm.

These were no mere oversights. Our myopia on these matters serves as a powerful example of structural inequities that exist in so many of our systems, including ours.

We were founded in 2014 by white men, two of whom — Senior Editor Jordan Green and Publisher Brian Clarey — are still on the editorial staff. We have always worked towards diversification and actively seek out new and different perspectives. Our current associate editor, Sayaka Matsuoka, is Japanese American; our food editor, Nikki Miller-Ka, is a Black American woman; and our editorial intern, Michaela Ratliff, is also a Black American woman. We mention these facts not to tokenize our staff but to let people know that we are all invested in Triad City Beat and its mission with our time, our talents and our professional reputations.

We acknowledge the pain, stress and anger that our recent actions have caused those in the community which we serve, specifically Black women, in the midst of an ongoing pandemic that has already further marginalized Black and Brown communities. For that, we deeply apologize. Specific regrets go out to our strongest critics as we acknowledge the labor they undertook to correct our course, and to the family of John Neville, who felt that we reduced his terrible death into entertainment. This was not our intention, but as we’re learning, intentions don’t matter when causing actual harm.

We hope that our body of work reflects the care we take to get to the truth and to minimize harm, especially in tackling stories about trauma, exclusion and mistreatment. But we also know that we’re only as good as our last issue, and we promise to do better.

We remain open to feedback, to conversation, to ideas and — most important — to criticism. We’re not perfect, by a long shot, and we are always looking for ways to better serve the communities we cover.

For now, we’re sorry for our transgressions. We’re continuing our work on making Triad City Beat more inclusive to all in our communities. And we’re grateful for the perspective granted to us by what remains our best source: Our readers.

Feel free to address this statement directly be emailing Brian (brian@triad-city-beat.com) or Sayaka (sayaka@triad-city-beat.com).

Brian Clarey, Publisher/Executive Editor Sayaka Matsuoka, Associate Editor Jordan Green, Senior Editor Nikki Miller-Ka, Food Editor Michaela Ratliff, Editorial Intern Carolyn de Berry, Photographer Todd Turner, Photographer

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Nov. 19-25, 2020 Up Front News

CITY LIFE Nov. 19-22

by Michaela Ratliff

THURSDAY Nov. 19

The Blue Death @ the Little Theater of Winston-Salem (W-S) 7:30 p.m.

A Danksgiving Dinner @ Hempress Farms (W-S) 7 p.m.

Speaking Our Piece: A Legacy of Healing, Rebirth & Leadership @ Greensboro History Museum (GSO) 7 p.m.

The LTWS presents The Blue Death, a new docudrama by local playwright Bill Cissna. The virtual play will show on the theater’s website, Facebook page and YouTube channel. The play will be presented at no cost, but donations are requested.

Hempress Farms and Chef Vaughn Williams from Urbana Catering Concepts/Herbana are hosting a fine dining experience, serving luxury, handcrafted items infused with CBD which can be medically beneficial for the body. To learn more or confirm your reservation, visit the event page.

Arts Alive! Virtual Showcase @ Centennial Station (HP) 7 p.m.

The High Points Council and its affiliates are presenting a virtual showcase of the arts featuring performances by the High Point Ballet and John Coltrane Jazz Workshop. The event will be livestreamed from Centennial Station on the Council’s Facebook page.

SATURDAY Nov. 21

SUNDAY Nov. 22

S. Carter Designs Trunk Show @ the Sherrod (HP) 9 a.m.

Culture

Opinion

Blacksmith Demonstration @ High Point Museum (HP) 10 a.m.

Smithsonian Affiliations is hosting a Zoom discussion about activism, expression and healing, followed by a post-program discussion hosted

by GSO History Museum. Visit the event page for more information and registration links to the Smithsonian Affiliations program and the postprogram discussion.

Get some Christmas shopping done with S. Carter Designs. The Atlantabased, mother daughter team creates high-end, unique jewelry inspired by exotic patterns found in the wild.

Puzzles

Shot in the Triad

FRIDAY Nov. 20

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Ri-nü [renew] Moss Art Exhibition @ Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts (W-S) 9 a.m.

The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County in partnership with artist Mona King present an exhibition of moss art and nature-inspired installations. This exhibition, located in the Arboreal Gallery, is free and will be available until Jan. 3. Visit the event page for more info.

One-Year Anniversary Weekend @ Oden Brewing Company (GSO) 5 p.m.

Join Oden Brewing Company as they celebrate their one-year anniversary with live music, great beer and food trucks all weekend long. This day features the Bandito Burrito food truck and live music by Gipsy Danger.

Stop by High Point Museum to view a costumed blacksmith in action as he crafts various iron pieces. The educational opportunity is free and great for all ages.

One-Year Anniversary and Adoption Fair @ Purr Life Luxury Cat Resort & Grooming (GSO) 1 p.m.

Stop by Purr Life for a tour of the boarding area, refreshments and goodie bags. Triad Independent Cat Rescue will be in attendance with kittens ready for adoption.

20/20/20 @ the Historic Magnolia House (GSO) 10 a.m.

O2 Fitness is bringing you the ultimate full-body workout. Sayaka’s class includes 20 minutes of cardio, 20 minutes of strength training and 20 minutes of yoga. For more information, visit the event page.

Greensboro Symphony Youth Orchestra @ Tanger Center (GSO) 6 p.m.

Each of GSYO’s three ensembles — the Youth Orchestra, Youth Philharmonic and Youth Strings — present a livestreamed performance from the Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts via the GSYO’s YouTube channel. The performance will also be broadcast in LeBauer Park.

Nov. 19-25, 2020

Coronavirus in the Triad:

(As of Wednesday, Nov. 18, compared to last week)

Documented COVID-19 diagnoses 317,493 (+20,049)

Forsyth

11,182 (+1,026)

Guilford County

14,326 (+1,156)

News

COVID-19 deaths

Up Front

NC

NC

4,855 (+188)

Forsyth

150 (+13)

Guilford

218 (+3)

276,132 (+14,413)

Forsyth

9,161 (+587)

Guilford

11,724 (+770)

Culture

NC

Opinion

Documented recoveries

Current cases 36,506 (+5,448)

Forsyth

1,871 (+426)

Guilford

1,640 (+84)

Shot in the Triad

NC

Hospitalizations (right now) 1,537 (+307)

Forsyth

37 (+3)

Guilford

118 (+5)

Puzzles

NC

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Puzzles

Shot in the Triad

Culture

Opinion

News

Up Front

Nov. 19-25, 2020

NEWS

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Court battle over disputed ballots could determine outcome of chief justice race

by Jordan Green As counties across North Carolina report final voting numbers, the contest for chief justice of the NC Supreme Court remains too close to call, and on Tuesday Democrat Cheri Beasley — trailing Republican opponent Paul Newby by less than 500 votes — requested a recount.

On election night, Newby led Beasley by about 365 votes. As counties reported their provisional and late-returning absentee ballots beginning Nov. 12 and moving into the weekend, the lead flipped three or four times, with Newby winding up about where he started.

During an election in which Democratic governor Roy Cooper won re-election and Republicans fended off Democratic efforts to flip control of the General Assembly, the outcome of the chief justice election remains a crucial prize in the contest over North Carolina’s political future. The chief justice is the leader of the judicial branch of state government. In addition to administering the state court system, the chief justice presides over a body that is often the final arbiter of legal challenges to administrative decisions made by the executive branch and laws enacted by the legislature.

The two candidates’ stark differences on institutional accountability for continuing racial disparities in the court system is one measure of their differing approaches.

Days after protests erupted across North Carolina in response to the death of George Floyd, Beasley, the sitting chief justice, made a public statement acknowledging that the protests were highlighting disparities that “continue to plague Black communities” and “policies and institutions; racism and prejudice [that] have remained stubbornly fixed and resistant to change.” She referenced a state judicial commission that found “too many people believe that there are two kinds of justice” as a result of “their lived experience.”

“The data also overwhelmingly bears out the truth of those lived experiences,” said Beasley, a former public defender from Cumberland County who was appointed to the chief justice seat by Gov. Cooper in 2019. “In our courts, AfricanAmericans are more harshly treated, more severely punished and more likely to be presumed guilty.”

A former federal prosecutor who grew up in Jamestown, Newby maligned his

opponent during a Federalist Society candidate forum as adopting “an accusatory manner that would question the impartiality of people who have participated” in the system.

“Justice is blindfolded,” said Newby, who has served on the Supreme Court for 16 years. “Justice treats everyone the same. So, where’s the evidence that we’re not treating everyone the same?”

State house candidates concede while close calls continue in Guilford county races

As Guilford and Forsyth, the third and fifth most populous counties respectively, finalized their results last week, two Democratic candidates in closely watched House races conceded.

“All ballots have been counted and there is a close but clear decision in NC House District 74,” said Dan Besse, a Winston-Salem City Council member, adding that he had congratulated Jeff Zenger, his Republican opponent. Nicole Quick, a Democrat who challenged Republican incumbent Jon Hardister in Guilford County’s District 59, followed suit.

The Associated Press called North Carolina for Donald Trump on Nov. 13, as widely expected. The decision came six days after the AP and other media organizations declared Biden the winner of the US presidential contest, following the vote count in the crucial swing state of Pennsylvania. The final additional absentee and provisional ballots in North Carolina narrowed Trump’s lead from 76,479 votes on election night to 74,443 votes, or 1.3 points on Tuesday morning.

In contrast, during the 2016 election, Trump held a 3.7-point lead over Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton in North Carolina.

In Guilford County, three candidates have requested recounts in local races.

In Guilford County Commission District 4, Republican incumbent Alan Branson trails Democrat Mary Beth Murphy by 70 votes, or 0.16 percent. In Guilford County School Board District 3, Democrat Blake Odum trails Republican incumbent Pat Tillman by 101 votes, or 0.20 percent. And in the District 5 contest to replace outgoing school board member Darlene Garrett, Republican Michelle Bardsley trails unaffiliated candidate Deborah Napper by 147 votes, or 0.20 percent.

After an exciting late-game count, Republican Paul Newby prevailed by fewer than 500 votes. Official results are pending a recount.

Beyond state and local recounts, the results in close races could easily be shaped by court battles, as well as a report about inappropriate conduct by a candidate’s spouse in Anson County.

WBTV reports that security video shows the husband of a Democratic candidate for register of deeds in Anson County walking in with voters, filling in their ballots or standing while they vote, after the local board of elections warned campaigns against that conduct. State law says voters can only receive assistance from persons who are not family members if they have specific disabilities.

COURTESY IMAGE

WBTV has reported that the state board is investigating more than a dozen complaints filed on the matter and reviewing the video.

Disputed ballots

Republican members of the local elections boards in Guilford and Forsyth raised objections to counting absentee ballots that came in after the statutory deadline of Nov. 6, as well as absentee ballots cast with so-called “cure certificates,” in which a voter who fails to in-

Continued on pg. 9

Nov. 19-25, 2020 Up Front

News

Opinion

Culture

Shot in the Triad

Puzzles

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Nov. 19-25, 2020 Up Front News Opinion Culture Shot in the Triad Puzzles

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Koury Corp. wins rezoning for luxury apartments off Cone Blvd

by Sayaka Matsuoka Despite fierce opposition from surrounding residents, the Greensboro city council voted 7-2 in support of a rezoning request by the Koury Corporation to build a luxury apartment complex off of Cone Boulevard on Tuesday evening.

The request has been opposed by many residents who live near the parcel of land, which is located at the corner of Cone Boulevard and Cleburne Street and has been owned by Koury for the last six decades. Up until its recent rezoning request, which was approved by the city’s zoning commission in October, the parcel of land had been zoned for low-density residential use, but Koury requested the rezoning to build a 480-unit luxury, gated apartment complex.

In their comments, councilmembers who voted in favor of Koury’s request cited the city’s 2040 comprehensive plan which outlines goals and visions for the city’s future.

“If we want to compete, if we want to be economically viable, we have to look at these diversity of housing options and what will attract people here,” said Mayor Nancy Vaughan during Tuesday’s meeting. “Not everyone wants to buy a house. To me, this is the highest and best use.”

Vaughan was joined by councilmembers Nancy Hoffmann, Tammi Thurm, Marikay Abuzuaiter, Sharon Hightower, Goldie Wells and Mayor Pro Tem Yvonne Johnson in support of Koury’s request.

“Sometimes I think it’s just a matter of timing on things,” said Hoffmann who represents District 4. “I’ve seen firsthand the development of cities like Charlotte and Raleigh and the density in various areas of those cities…. This has been going on in the other two major cities in North Carolina for the last several years.”

The city’s comprehensive plan looks at six distinct ideas to help move the city forward including land use and development; creating interesting public spaces; becoming car optional; prioritizing sustainability; building community connections; and growing economic competitiveness. Councilmember Goldie Wells of District 2 echoed Vaughan and Hoffmann’s sentiments by comparing Greensboro to Raleigh and Charlotte and talking about how the city could grow to be more like them.

“We need more housing,” Wells said.

“This will be upscale luxury housing, but there are people who can afford it. We

Wendy Heise and her husband, Craig Trask, stand in front of their home which is adjacent to Koury’s parcel of land which will soon become a luxury apartment complex.

have to get a mindset that we are going to change.”

Hundreds of residents of the area neighborhoods of Kirkwood, Browntown and others, spoke passionately during Tuesday’s city council meeting and at a previous townhall with councilmember Justin Outling, who represents the area that would be affected.

“We wanted an established, quiet, family-type neighborhood,” said Wendy Heise who lives right next to where the apartment complex would be built.

Currently, Heise and her husband, Craig Trask’s home is adjacent to rental homes that are also owned by Koury. The rentals would be demolished for the project.

“It’s about a lack of privacy, the negative impact to our property value,” Heise said. “These are small, modest homes.

I’d be looking at a large wall.”

Heise and Trask said they just moved into their home in June and said that the new complex would fundamentally change the character of the neighborhood. Several individuals who spoke in opposition to Koury’s rezoning request during Tuesday’s meeting concurred with Heise and Trask’s sentiments.

“A gated luxury community is totally out of character with our community,” said resident Catherine Egerton. “Our neighborhoods are what make Greensboro beautiful.”

Councilmember Justin Outling, who voted in opposition to the request, agreed with residents’ concerns that the large, dense complex would be out of place in the area.

“I have real concerns about the compatibility of what would be allowed on this property,” said Outling, who pointed out that the complex would not be immediately close to any activity centers like a shopping complex or a church. “I don’t believe that comports with my vision of what’s the highest and best use of this area of the city.”

Outling also said that if the complex were to be built in Koury’s vision, there are no other nearby plots of land that could be developed in the future that would help to make the area transitional.

“It could forever be out of place,” Outling stated.

Councilmember Michelle Kennedy, the at-large representative on the board, also voted against the rezoning request for similar reasons, but also cited concerns about the environmental effects of the development, specifically with regards to flooding.

Luke Dickey, a project manager for Stimmel Associates, an engineering company, stated that Koury would be required to be compliant with all city, state and federal codes to ensure that no adverse environmental effects would

SAYAKA MATSUOKA

impact the area.

In addition to changes to the general atmosphere of the area and potential environmental changes, residents also expressed concerns about possible increased traffic in their neighborhoods, increased stress on already struggling local schools and the possibility of increased crime. Each of the points made by the residents was addressed and countered by representatives of Koury or others who are involved with the project.

Mike Foxx, an attorney for Tuggle Duggins representing Koury, mentioned recent conditions that were added to the application, including reducing the height of buildings closest to Cleburne Street to two stories rather than the maximum five proposed, and increasing buffers and tree plantings between existing houses and the proposed complex.

John Davenport, the president of Davenport Transportation Consulting, also pushed back on residents’ claims that there would be increased cut-through traffic in their neighborhoods by stating that both of the entrances to the apartment complex would be situated on Cone Boulevard. Hannah Cockburn, the city’s transportation director, told council members that the city can request popular apps like Google Maps and Waze to block certain travel routes to reduce cut-through traffic.

‘Court battle’ cont. from pg. 6

Up Front News Opinion Culture Shot in the Triad Puzzles

for mail-in ballots that were missing information such as witness signatures and addresses. clude required information like a witness “There’s an argument, which has signature may sign an attestation conto be decided by the judicial branch firming the authenticity of their ballot about whether the executive branch after the fact. In both cases, Democratic has usurped its authority,” Lester said. majorities overruled their Republican “That’s for another day. You state the counterparts in 3-2 party-line votes. challenge by saying the changes are Guilford County Elections Direcunlawful, so therefore those ballots are tor Charlie Collicutt said the disputed unlawful.” ballots include “a couple hundred” Lester clarified that he in no way is involving cure certificates and a dozen implying that there’s evidence any of the that came in past the Nov. 6 deadline. In disputed ballots are fraudulent.

Forsyth County, Republican board memNewby, who currently leads Beasley bers challenged 42 ballots that came in in the race for chief justice, filed protest after the Nov. 6 deadline and 42 ballots petitions with the local elections boards subject to the cure certificate. to challenge ballots received after the Despite their objections to counting Nov. 6 deadline and mail-in ballots with the ballots received after Nov. 6 and various deficiencies in New Hanover and those subject to a cure certificate, ReDuplin counties. The candidate cited publican members joined their Demothree ballots that missed the deadline cratic counterparts in voting to certify and 49 with various deficiencies in the results in both Guilford and Forsyth New Hanover, along with an unspecicounties. fied number of ballots that missed the “You should have confidence that all deadline and 44 ballots the votes that were with deficiencies in cast were counted and tabulated correctly; ‘You should have con- Duplin. The local boards convened on there were no irregufidence that all the Monday to hear the larities that I observed challenges. Lester said in Guilford County,” votes that were cast the Guilford County Gene Lester, a Repubwere counted ... there Board of Elections also lican member of the received a protest filing Guilford County Board were no irregularifrom Newby, but his of Elections, told Triad ties that I observed in Democratic colleagues City Beat. declined to hear it, citStuart Russell, also Guilford County,’ ing no probable cause. a Republican board – Gene Lester, Republican Noting that the member, made a member, Guilford BOE Democratic-dominated similar declaration in state board and its local a statement emailed to counterparts across TCB. North Carolina’s 100 counties are un“I have the highest confidence that our likely to grant Newby relief, Lester said board, with the tireless and professional he expects the Republican chief-justice assistance of its staff, accurately counted candidate to take his case to the state what we were directed to count,” he courts. said.

Even with the extended deadline of As justification for their decision to Nov. 12, there’s evidence that voters count the disputed ballots, the Demowho made good faith efforts to cast their cratic members cited an Oct. 29 US ballots before Election Day are being Supreme Court decision. The high court disenfranchised due to delays by the US declined to hear a GOP appeal that Postal Service. challenged deadline extensions in North “We got a ballot today that was postCarolina and Pennsylvania. marked Oct. 28,” Guilford County ElecBut Republican election officials, tions Director Charlie Collicutt told TCB echoing the arguments of Republican on Monday. “There’s someone who paid lawmakers in Raleigh, note that the $7 for priority mail that was guaranteed Supreme Court decision is at variance delivery on Nov. 7. We got it today. In with state law, which sets a deadline of Maryland, someone took a ballot to the Nov. 6 to receive absentee ballots and US Postal Service and paid $7 for priorrequires a witness signature for mail-in ity mail. The expected delivery was Oct. ballots. The State Board of Elections, a 31. He had a receipt showing he did the division of the executive branch, agreed transaction on Oct. 28. The postmark on in a settlement to extend the deadline to the ballot is Nov. 5.”

Nov. 12 and to provide a “cure” remedy

Nov. 19-25, 2020

Still residents, including Weise, hoped that they could convince Koury to scale down their project from the proposed 480 units to something more like 300 or 200.

“To put 480 units in that small of a space; that’s our concern,” Weise said.

“It steals your privacy.”

In an email response to TCB, Richard Vanore, the president of Koury Corp., argued that the steep terrain of the parcel prohibits the building of lower-density buildings like single-family homes and townhomes and that the parcel being next to a major road like Cone Boulevard lends itself to apartments instead.

Eric Mann, who has lived off of Medford Lane for the past decade, said that he feels like the city council sold out the residents.

“Koury Corp. was successful in their sales pitch to city planning and city council,” Mann wrote in a message to TCB after the meeting. “I believe in this case that city leaders have sold out the citizens it represents and were influenced by a local developer’s sales pitch.”

Weise also expressed disappointment in a text to TCB. “We are incredibly disappointed by this result,” she said. Weise noted that she hopes future environmental investigation finds potential flooding issues so that the project can be scaled back.

“Our personal concerns are small compared to the massive impact to a much larger community,” Weise wrote.

Still, councilmembers who voted in support of the request noted their faith in Koury to develop a high-quality complex.

“Here we have a developer who has deep roots in the city,” Mayor Vaughan said. “They want to be good neighbors.

They’re going to have to look at people face to face.”

Vanore expressed commitment to the wider Greensboro community in his email response.

“We believe that this multi-family community will be an asset to the city and to the surrounding communities,” Vanore wrote. “Koury is a local company that takes pride in the projects it pioneers in their hometown of Greensboro.”

According to Vanore, the company will begin construction in approximately two years and the overall project could take about three years to complete. The price range for the units, which would be one, two and three bedrooms, would range from $1.70 to $2.00 per square foot.

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Nov. 19-25, 2020 Up Front News Opinion Culture Shot in the Triad Puzzles

10

OPINION EDITORIAL

Cell-phone footage forces transparency from Winston-Salem police

She’s 15. She was hanging out with promised a neutral investigation, her friends in her own Winston-Salem transparency. But what does that even neighborhood, like they’d been doing look like? for months in these days when there is Law-enforcement agencies in the precious little for teenagers to do that United States have an astounding doesn’t involve staring at screens. record of clearing themselves of wrongShe was terrified — what Black teendoing, one of the ways in which the ager isn’t when confronted by a white deck is stacked in their favor. police officer shouting at them? And Both Greensboro and Winston-Salem this was before the officer have civilian police-review tackled her to the ground, boards, none of them have handcuffed her and forced A bystander’s any teeth: no subpoena her into the back of a patrol power, no authority, no video is why car. agency. The Winston-Salem It’s important to note Police Review Board doesn’t this case that the police were there even become engaged until bubbled to the after the chief has made a because someone claimed that some Black teenagers decision and a citizen resurface. were trying to break into quests an appeal, according a house. This accusation to the city website. seems to have been acPolice body-camera footcepted immediately as gospel truth. age of the incident cannot be shown to A 10-minute video, shot by a neighthe public, by state law, unless a judge bor on the night of this incident last signs off on it. This is a fairly rare thing, week, is the only reason this case has especially when the footage does not bubbled to the surface of this commuvindicate police. And it’s complicated by nity’s consciousness. And the footage the fact that that all of those detained itself is emblematic, depicting the that night by Winston-Salem police problems with white policing in Black were minors. That’s legal-speak for neighborhoods in a way no lecture, “children.” study or class can accomplish.

And where would we be if one neighNow, Winston-Salem Mayor Albor didn’t leave her home to document len Joines and police Chief Catrina what happened that night in WinstonThompson, are on high alert. They’ve Salem?

Claytoonz

by Clay Jones

claytoonz.com

Nov. 19-25, 2020

Nik Snacks Sides are the main thing for the annual Thanksgiving feast

N

Up Front News Opinion

Stuffing, dressing... it’s all pretty much the same (but it’s dressing).

stuffing, even if it’s cooked separate from the turkey.

There are other debates like: pumpkin pie vs. sweet potato pie; stretchy pants vs. formal wear; jellied cranberry from a can vs. fresh cranberry sauce — I am team #CannedCranberry, but for the first time ever, I am considering making my own sauce with Grand Marnier and fresh lemon peel. But no matter what you pick, no matter how glitzy and glammed up turkey may get, just remember that the real showstoppers are the side dishes singing in the chorus.

Give this dressing the extra special treatment and an extra layer of flavor with the addition of canned, smoked oysters. However, the recipe works fine without them.

Yields 8-10 servings

INGREDIENTS • •

• • • •

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-by 13-inch baking dish.

2. Crumble cornbread into a large bowl. Add toasted bread to cornbread and toss to combine.

3. Heat a large sauté pan over medium-high heat.

Add andouille sausage and sauté until browned, approximately 10 minutes. Add to the bread bowl. Add onion, celery and bell pepper to the same pan. Sauté for 5 minutes. Deglaze the pan with broth, and be sure to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes. Add to bread mixture.

4. Stir together oysters, lemon juice, hot sauce, parsley, sage, salt and black pepper with the bread mixture and mix well to combine. If the dressing seems too dry, add a little oyster liquor or up to 1/2 cup more chicken broth; the mixture should be very moist.

5. Pour dressing into the greased baking dish. Cut remaining tablespoons of butter into small pieces and scatter over the top of the dressing. Bake until top and sides are browned, 40 to 45 minutes.

Puzzles

• •

1 ½ lb andouille sausage, diced 1 stick salted butter, plus more for the baking dish 1 (8-inch-square) yellow cornbread 6 cups sliced and diced white or wheat bread, toasted 1 cup white onion, finely chopped 2 celery ribs, finely chopped 1 cup green bell pepper, finely chopped 1 cup chicken broth, plus more as needed

•

2 3.75 oz tins of smoked oysters ¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 tablespoon hot sauce, preferably Crystal ¼ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped 1 tablespoon fresh sage, finely chopped or 1 teaspoon ground sage ½ teaspoon ground black pepper

Shot in the Triad

Andouille and Smoked Oyster Dressing

• • • • •

NIKKI MILLER-KA

Culture

othing tastes better than food that has been allowed to sit under refrigeration overnight. Also known as leftovers, it’s the best part of the Thanksgiving feast. If I could magically transform all of the pomp and circumstance

by Nikki Miller-Ka of the holiday into the day after, I’d be a better person for it. Who is to say that the centerpiece of the meal has to be poultry, a cut of beef or a select portion of pork? In reality, Thanksgiving is about the fruit, vegetables and decadent starches that hold the meal together.

Andouille-and-smoked oyster dressing is the No. 1 side dish that will be on my table this Thanksgiving. I love dressing. It’s the one thing on the table I know I will eat, no matter who makes it. Barring turkey and sweet potatoes (sans marshmallows, please), it’s not Thanksgiving without it, kind of like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, which is going virtual this year. Our entire community is looking for comfort any place we can find it and many of us have turned to food. And if you’ve turned here looking for it, I welcome you with open arms and a whole cabinet full of baking dishes filled with the best part of the holiday meal.

One year my boyfriend’s grandmother revealed to me that she was not making dressing for our Thanksgiving meal because her other grandson was “off the gluten” and couldn’t have it. To say I freaked out is an understatement. I did not want to be rude and insist she make it, but I also didn’t want to add to the slightly chaotic day by bringing an extra dish for the table. I erred on the side of abundant caution for myself and I made a gluten-free cornbread dressing to take with us to dinner. It’s one thing to go over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house, but quite another to be deprived of the only side dish you really love.

When the breadcrumbs settled, Grandmother ended up making a gluten-filled, celery-studded, butter-slicked dressing anyway. Crisis averted; it was one of the best Thanksgiving meals in recent memory.

Now, let’s talk turkey — specifically, let’s talk about dressing. Or stuffing. And why there’s a debate about what to call it. Stuffing is not the inedible filling of a couch or chair but a seasoned mixture of stale or dry bread cubes, vegetables, bits of meat and butter.

Packed into the cavity of the bird and then cooked, dressing is the same thing only it’s cooked in a separate casserole or baking dish. Many claim the terms are interchangeable.

Here in the south, it’s most often called dressing. I grew up calling it dressing and it will always be dressing to me unless it’s inside of the turkey, or in my case, the chicken. In New England and the Pacific Northwest, it’s called stuffing, and it sometimes contains seafood like oysters, clams or mussels. Down in New Orleans, which is where part of my family is from, not only do we call it dressing, it’s got oysters and sometimes shrimp and mirliton squash in it, too. Midwesterners usually call it

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Nov. 19-25, 2020 Up Front News Opinion Culture Shot in the Triad Puzzles

12

CULTURE Still a Fool at heart: The Shed, by Josh King

by Brian Clarey

T

he shed came with the house when Josh King and his wife bought it a couple years ago, and it wasn’t much: four close walls of plywood and a door, with a tiny roof and shake shingles.

“It was a straight-up wood workshop,” King recalls. “The walls were thin plywood with hooks for his tools. There was a big, old wooden worktable. Spiders and shit everywhere.”

And so it was, until late last year. King had worked as a carpenter for a couple of years after his band, House of Fools, hung up their gear for a bit and before the birth of his daughter, Lydia. He went after the shed with the idea of making a man cave where he could retreat from the responsibilities of marriage and parenthood.

“I took down the plywood and put up drywall, carpet, baseboards, crown molding,” King says. “I made it into a room, you know?”

Later, he had another thought.

On the road to Nashville for a gig, or maybe they were headed back, fellow musician Mark Kano told him about these new, portable, 24-track digital mixers.

“I said, ‘Man, I’m gonna get me one of those,’” King recalls. Just like that, the shed became a recording studio. And then the coronavirus descended. With little else for a professional musician to do, King began spending more and more time out there. The end result is The Shed, a five-track effort by the former House of Fools frontman and his second solo effort since 2018’s Into the Blue.

It begins with “Man on TV,” the first cut and the first to be written and recorded. It’s about the pandemic, its mesJosh King’s second solo effort, The Shed, emerged from the shed in his backyard, labored over during the eaerly COURTESY PHOTO sage nestled in acoustic guitar, Beatledays of the coronavirus. His former bandmates from House of Fools and other friends contributed digitally. esque rhythms and chord progressions that harken back to King’s earlier years.

“Doing Time,” sounds like it might have been written after dancer. He was a performer for sure.”

This could be a House of Fools song, and staring at the shed’s four tight walls for a little too long, the King and his pals may be at their best on “Give Up on Love,” in a way it is: former Fools Jack Foster sentiment softened by gentle guitar and quiet harmonies. an Americana jangle that wouldn’t sound out of place coming and Joel Kiser contributed tracks from “On My Own” is a slow rocker, with off a stage in Nashville, save for that optimistic upturn in the their home studios, crunchy guitars and self-awareness — a melody and the subtle Hammond organ work in the backand the chorus love song, but for married folks. Likewise ground, courtesy of former Fool Julian Sizemore. is laden with the The Shed will be available with the Weezer-esque “Side by Side,” Fools stick around. voices of a halfwhich could be about his wife, or his “When any of us does a solo project,” King says, “You can on SoundCloud, BandCamp, dozen friends. daughter, or both. always expect another Fool to be on it.” iTunes and all streaming There’s no road Family is a recurring theme: The Shed’s King says the Fools, scattered though they may be, are still ahead/We’ll all be platforms starting Nov. 20. charming intro and outro come from playing together, still writing together and working on a new dead/We’ll have to an ancient recording of his grandfather release. pay the cost. singing and playing piano.

“If it wasn’t for the pandemic,” King says, “We’d be working All is lost so put it “At one point he and my mom’s two on our second song on the next House of Fools release.” all behind ya. sisters, they had a little trio and they would go play at radio No further word on that House. For now, King is satisfied Another coronavirus-inspired cut, stations and stuff like that,” King says. “He was also a tap with the one he built in his backyard.

by Michaela Ratliff

E

Up Front News Opinion

Eleanor Broughton will dance as the Sugarplum Fairy in this year’s UNCSA production of The Nutcracker Suite.

If the pandemic eases, she will attend the Prix de Lausanne to further her training.

PETER S. MUELLER

Shot in the Triad Puzzles

of pointe — a technique in which a ballet dancer supports all cannot resist. of their body weight on the tips of their toes while wearing “I love dark chocolate,” Broughton says. “Anything chocopointe shoes. Dancing en pointe is by no means easy, which is late I love.” one reason Broughton appreciates dance.

Although the ballerina loves what she does, she stresses the “I love how it’s athletic but also artistic,” she says. “It allows importance of taking mental and physical breaks from the art. you to express your emotions while doing something that She lives by the phrase, “Work hard, play hard.” challenges your entire body.”

“I definitely like to take time In addition to a full-body workaway from dance even though out, Broughton’s favorite thing it’s such a big part of my life,” she Visit UNCSA’s website to purchase about dance is the temporary says. “You don’t want to get too tickets to The Nutcracker livestream escape from reality. bogged down or burnt out.”

“It’s so much fun to play a role in As coaches and dancers wait on Dec. 12. On Dec. 17, the livestream a ballet that’s completely differfor Prix de Lausanne to make their will become available for on-demand ent than how you would act in real announcement, Broughton looks viewing. To learn more about the Prix life,” she says. forward to UNCSA’s production of de Lausanne, visit the official website.

Underneath the elaborate stage The Nutcracker. costumes is a regular teenage girl “The Nutcracker has been a huge who loves spending time with her inspiration for my dance journey,” friends and outdoorsy family. she says.

“I love to be outside and relax after long days of school and She believes she was destined to fulfill the role of the Sugar rehearsal,” she says.

Plum Fairy.

She played sports like basketball and soccer growing up and “It’s crazy to see how dreams can become a reality somedoesn’t back down from challenging her family to a game. She times.” eats pretty healthily due to dance, but there is one thing she

Culture

leanor Broughton, 16, claimed her role in The Nutcracker when she was much younger.

“I wanna do that one day,” she says she told her mom and grandmother as she pointed to the UNCSA dancers elegantly twirling under the stage lights.

She says she immediately fell in love with the ballet.

The UNCSA high school junior will dance the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy in the performance art school’s production of The Nutcracker on Dec. 12.

Until then, she will be preparing to attend the Prix de Lausanne, an international ballet competition held annually in Lausanne, Switzerland. After submitting a 10-minute audition video showing classwork and a portion of contemporary dance, Broughton was one of 11 dancers from the United States and one of 82 worldwide chosen to compete in the prestigious event.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Prix de Lausanne expects to announce on Dec. 3 whether the competition will be held at all. Broughton remains optimistic as she has only traveled to Europe once.

“Hopefully we’ll all get to go to Switzerland,” she says.

If the competition takes place, the dancers will spend their time taking ballet and contemporary classes with the competition’s coaches, an experience Broughton can’t wait for.

“I think it’ll be amazing to be around so many exceptional dancers and getting to take classes from these worldrenowned teachers,” she says.

Although she’s been training for the Prix de Lausanne for basically her entire life, dancing for such a large audience makes Broughton nervous.

“There’s so many people watching,” she says. “There’s a livestream that they do so people can watch it here in the States.”

Broughton began dancing at the age of three at the Academy of Dance Arts in Winston-Salem. In third grade, she auditioned for the Preparatory Dance Program at UNCSA, taking afternoon dance lessons in ballet, jazz, contemporary and character. In eighth grade, she auditioned for UNCSA’s high school program which she currently attends.

Before COVID, a typical school day for Broughton would include academic coursework with ballet from 10:30 am to 12:45 pm containing about an hour

Nov. 19-25, 2020

CULTURE UNCSA high school student picked for international competition

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South College Park Drive, Greensboro

Nov. 19-25, 2020 Shot in the Triad

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Opinion

News

Up Front

SHOT IN THE TRIAD

Puzzles

Late afternoon, November.

14

CAROLYN DE BERRY

Across

by Matt Jones

Up Front

©2020 Jonesin’ Crosswords

(editor@jonesincrosswords.com)

News

Answers from previous publication.

Opinion Culture Shot in the Triad Puzzles

1 1 of 100 still being finalized in D.C. 4 Company with “counting sheep” ads 9 Beginning (of the hour) 12 “The Clan of the Cave Bear” author Jean 14 It may have a big impact 15 “___ Been Thinking About You” (1991 Londonbeat song) 16 Greetings from trained bears?

18 Shirt marker 19 “Can you wait just a freaking minute?!”

20 It had a baby face in “Teletubbies” 21 Escapees from Pandora’s box 22 “George of the Jungle” creature 23 “___ and Juice” 25 California ballplayer © 2020 Jonesin’ Crosswords (editor@jonesincrosswords.com) 27 Burn a little 29 Modern, to Merkel 31 Annoying 34 Deployed with alacrity?

37 “The Princess and the Frog” princess 40 Heavy metal singer Ronnie James ___ 41 Pronounce 42 Way to keep your spiky sea creatures fastened?

45 City that shares Seattle’s airport 46 “The King and I” actor Brynner Answers from last issue 47 Chaka who sang “I Feel for You” 51 Discharges 21 Siberia’s neighbor on a Risk board 53 Back-to-school mo.

24 Lists of basics 55 Fertility clinic supply 26 Shrivel 56 Disinfectant sheet 28 Hurry back, perhaps 58 Burj Khalifa’s loc.

30 Cohesiveness 60 Alloy containing tin 32 “Born,” in some notices 62 Bug that might bug you in the kitchen 33 E. Berlin was its capital 63 Tool to help build a city?

35 “Army of Darkness” director Sam 65 Descend diagonally 36 Donut, mathematically 66 Battleship blasts 37 Boy king of Egypt 67 “The Flintstones” pet 38 Levin who wrote “Rosemary’s Baby” 68 What Portland went back to recently 39 Be resigned to one’s fate 69 Printer’s excess 43 Quick learner 70 Animal in “Jack and the Beanstalk” 44 Hebrew alphabet starters 48 It’ll pick up the faintest of noises Down 49 Oat-based skin product brand 1 People get steamed there 50 Like some margins 2 One side of “the pond” 52 Weasel cousin 3 AriZona alternative 54 Shepherd’s pie bit 4 Fix a button 56 Paper nest builder 5 HHH, in Greek 57 Calligrapher’s supply 6 Accelerate 59 Icicle lights locale 7 Polish site 61 2000s Iraq war subject, briefly 8 “___ longa, vita brevis” 63 Charging port, maybe 9 Golf ball brand 64 “Mmhmm” motion 10 Like the head of a tennis racket 11 Lite-Brite bulbs, really 13 “Hamilton” creator ___-Manuel Miranda 14 Asking for a tiny bit of fish, maybe?

17 December cartonful

Nov. 19-25, 2020

CROSSWORD ‘UR Here’—as if it isn’t obvious. SUDOKU

15