TCB Dec. 16, 2021 — Lock him up! by Triad City Beat

DEC. 16-22, 2021 TRIAD-CITY-BEAT.COM

Deface your own photo of Mark Meadows on page 10!

BY BRIAN CLAREY | PAGE 2

NEW POLICE BODY-CAM LAW

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CLAUDE’S VEGAN CASTLE

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G IF

North Carolina’s Mark Meadows should be in prison.

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2021 H OL ID AY

LOCK HIM UP!

JUVENILE EXPUNGEMENTS

D UI G

DE ! N SI I E

DEC. 16 - 22, 2021

EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK Coronavirus in the Triad (as of Wednesday, Dec. 15) Documented COVID-19 diagnoses NC 1,580,909 (+22,399) Forsyth 55,970 (+881) Guilford 71,724 (+985) COVID-19 deaths NC 19,070 (+147) Forsyth 595 (+4) Guilford 927 (+5) Documented recoveries NC 1,515,240 (+11,993) Forsyth *no data* Guilford 68,816 (+453) Current cases NC 46,599 (+10,259) Forsyth *no data* Guilford 1,980 (+528) Hospitalizations (right now) NC 1,561 (+190) Forsyth *no data* Guilford 77 (+8) Vaccinations NC Partially vaccinated 6,051,659 (+33,982) Fully vaccinated 6,106,537 (58%, +57,995) Forsyth Partially vaccinated 239,929 (+1,166) Fully vaccinated 224,136 (59%, +1,783) Guilford Partially vaccinated 331,307 (+1,647) Fully vaccinated 311,762 (58%, +2,677) 1451 S. Elm-Eugene St. Box 24, Greensboro, NC 27406 Office: 336.681.0704 BUSINESS

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EDITORIAL

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Sayaka Matsuoka sayaka@triad-city-beat.com

Charlie Marion charlie@triad-city-beat.com

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Drew Dix drew@triad-city-beat.com

Chris Rudd chris@triad-city-beat.com Carolyn de Berry, James Douglas, Matt Jones, Jordan Howse, Jen Sorensen, Clay Jones

Mark Meadows can go fuck himself

eah, author of the PowerPoint detailing I’m the extreme path that could lead to saying Trump’s second term. it. And Crimes, these are! Un-American not in some they are! cutesy way like Meadows has been subverting all those losers American values for a long time. by Brian Clarey say, “Let’s Go As a Congressman, he was at the Brandon!” I’m saying it out loud, forefront of the obstructionists to outright, articulating each word. the Obama agenda. He moved to Mark Meadows should go fuck North Carolina from Florida to win himself. that seat in the 11th District, which Meadows, of course, is Trump’s had just been redistricted from former chief of staff, facing crimDemocrat to Republican advantage inal charges right by splitting the now for his last-mincampus of Warren He said that ute refusal to testify Wilson College before a Congresdown the middle. Republicans who sional committee — It’s the same seat don’t back Trump an action technically now held by Rep. should be removed and legally known Madison Cawthorn as “contempt.” But (R-Asheville), who from office. just last week he can also go fuck handed over roughly himself. 6,000 pages of memos, emails, text But I digress. messages, PowerPoint presentaMeadows started the House tions and other documents that Freedom Caucus, which was document precisely what a piece of dedicated to defeating Obamacare. shit he is, rivaled only by his former He’s lied about his college degree. boss. He said that Republicans who don’t Even Sean Hannity and Trump Jr. back Trump should be removed were horrified by the Jan. 6 Insurfrom office. He kept a sexual predrection, according to text messagator on payroll after being forced to es sent that day. But not Meadows, dismiss him. And on top of all that, who seems as if he was willing to he’s a general, all-around asshole pursue just about any avenue to who’s more than willing to burn it steal the election for Trump. all down just so he can sit next to It was Meadows who perpetrated the king of the ashes. the rumor that “illegal aliens” voted Fuck this guy. And fuck everyone in Arizona, Meadows who leaned else who tried to take our country on Georgia’s secretary of state to down on Jan. 6. Americans deserve find more votes for Trump, Meadno less. ows who allegedly met with the

COVER

Then-US Rep. Mark Meadows speaking at the 2018 Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Md. [Photo by Gage Skidmore] Creative Commons AttributionShare Alike 2.0 Generic Photo illustration by Charlie Marion

triad-city-beat.com/tcb-first-amendment-society

by Sayaka Matsuoka

THURSDAY Dec. 16

FRIDAY Dec. 17

Running the Balls with IPR and Fleet Feet! (GSO) 6 p.m. If you missed the Running of the Balls this year, join this run that takes you through the Sunset Hills neighborhood which will be lit up with hundreds of Christmas balls! The event is free and anyone can join by meeting up at Sticks and Stones. Learn more about the event on Facebook.

Victoria Victoria @ Flat Iron (GSO) 9 p.m.

Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley @ Little Theatre of Winston-Salem (W-S) 7:30 p.m.

If you’re tired of listening to Jingle Bells and “Oh Holy Night,” head to the Flat Iron this Friday for a live set by Victoria Victoria, a NC-based indie-pop band fronted by singer songwriter Tori Elliott. Fans of Regina Spektor, Imogen Heap and Feist will be sure to enjoy the show. Visit etix.com to buy tickets.

SATURDAY Dec. 18

This sequel to Jane Austen’s classic Pride and Prejudice takes a look at the bookish and often overshadowed Mary Bennet’s life after her two older sisters find love. Set two years after the original story, this play is sure to interest any Austen fan. Visit ltofws.org for more info. Show runs through Dec. 19.

Winter Festival at the Farm @ Red Feather Farm Sanctuary (W-S) 10 a.m. Snag tickets for this special event where you can take pictures with rescue animals and enjoy crafts and cookies. A story time station will also be available for little ones. Because the farm is on private property, advanced registration is required. Visit the farm’s Facebook page or send an email to redfeatherfarmsanctuary@gmail. com for more info.

Beethoven’s 9th Symphony @ Tanger Center (GSO) 8 p.m.

Scottish Faire in the Historical Park @ High Point Museum (HP) 10 a.m.

The Christmas Shoes @ Dana Auditorium (GSO) 6 p.m.

UP FRONT | DEC. 16 - 22, 2021

CITY LIFE DEC. 16 - DEC. 19

Returning for its ninth year, this holiday ballet by the Royal Expression Contemporary Ballet tells the story of the Christmas Shoes. Family friendly and festive, this show tells the story of love, generosity and family. Learn more at tinyurl. com/reboxoffice. Ugly Christmas Sweater Party @ Red Oak Brewery (Whitsett) 8 p.m. Okay, so this event isn’t technically in the Triad but it’s close enough that we decided to include it. Plus, who doesn’t love an ugly Christmas sweater party? Break out your worst and head on over to the largest brewery in the area for a fun time.

SUNDAY Dec. 19 Yoga & CBD @ Hemporia (W-S) 10 a.m. Holiday season got you stressed? Why not stretch it out at Hemporia this Sunday morning? This all-levels class invites you to relax with a CBD tasting before the session followed by a CBD tea and coffee tasting afterwards. Call 336-448-0045 to learn more. Selfies with Santa @ Doggos (GSO) 12 p.m. So you’ve gotten Santa photos for your kids but what about the pooch? Head to Greensboro’s

If you haven’t had the opportunity to visit the newly-opened Tanger Center in downtown Greensboro yet, this might be the perfect chance. This holiday show has affordable tickets and promises to showcase incredible vocals in the large, acoustic space. Visit tangercenter. com for tickets and more info.

Block off a couple of hours to visit the High Point Museum this Saturday for a Scottish festival featuring festive New Year’s Eve and Yule traditions. Enjoy traditional Scottish foods, dancing, music, poetry and more! Photos with Santa @ Winston Junction Market (W-S) 11 a.m. Visit the monthly market this weekend to catch Santa for some selfie opportunities. Local food trucks such as Urban Street Grill, Uptown Pizza and Old South Kettle Corn will also be available on site. Plus, you can peruse the market for last-minute gifts!

first dog park bar for a chance for your dog to sit on Santa’s lap. Learn more by calling All Pets Considered or Doggos Dog Park and Pub. Dog must be up to date on vaccinations to enter facility.

HOLIDAY ADVENTURE starts here

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NEWS | DEC. 16 - 22, 2021

NEWS

New law allows district attorneys to expunge thousands of juvenile records in the state by Nicole Zelniker

District attorneys Jim O’Neill and Avery Crump for Forsyth County and Guilford County are in charge of looking at thousands of defendants to see whether or not they qualify for expungement.

orth Carolina’s Second Chance Act will soon expunge hundreds of records will be expunged automatically once the district attorney offices in each thousands of juvenile criminal records. county have the official lists of who qualifies. However, there are still a few barriOriginally passed with unanimous bipartisan supers for some who may have multiple charges. port in June 2020, the law allows district attorney’s “If you have multiple charges in a case, you still need to petioffices to purge non-violent offenses on North Carolinians’ crimtion for those to be expunged,” said Ayana Robinson, the head inal records if those charges landed when they were under the of the Second Chance work at Legal Aid. If filing in multiple age of 18, even if they have accrued additional felony charges in counties, those petitions all need to be filed within 30 days of the interim. each other, she explained. Along with the Second Chance Act, or SB 562, North CaroRobinson emphasized her support of the bill and how much lina also passed SB 301 this session, which allows more people the laws in North Carolina have changed over the last few years, to be eligible for expungements. For example, a person with but she also noted the difficulties still in place. five misdemeanors and one DWI could not previously clear the “We are 100 counties doing it 206 different ways,” she said. misdemeanors from their records. “Because we don’t have a unified court system, each county is — Sen. Michael Garrett (D-Guilford) “I was proud to see the act become law,” said Sen. Michael doing it differently. In one county, I can go to the clerk and I’m Garrett (D-Guilford), a cosponsor on the bill. “Sometimes folks make mistakes, good, and then in another I have to get a judge to sign.” and it keeps them from different opportunities. The Second Chance Act allows Each county also has to clear their lists to make sure everyone on it is eligible their records to be expunged so they don’t face those barriers for the rest of their for expungement. Guilford County District Attorney Avery Crump currently has lives.” a list of 27,000 defendants with cases dating back to 1978. Not all of them are For people with one charge or multiple nonviolent charges in one county, their eligible even under the Second Chance Act.

‘Sometimes folks make mistakes, and it keeps them from different opportunities.’

Crump and Forsyth County District Attorney Jim O’Neill are both working toward clearing their lists, but as Crump said, the process will take some time. “It’s great because it takes the burden away from defendants who may not be able to afford a lawyer to have something expunged,” she said. “Going forward, cases will get automatically expunged. We won’t have to do as much work. But those other cases, we have to make sure those cases qualify.”

it allowed for the automated expungement for dismissed charges. It’s going to allow people to get relief.” One of Holland’s recent clients had been shut out of food stamps, housing and employment because of previous charges. He is 45 and has eight kids between him and his wife. Because of the bill, he was able to expunge that record. “All his charges were nonviolent charges,” Holland said. “He’s able to have opportunities that were kept from him in the past.” Another recent client was not able for expungement at all Coming together for until the bill. criminal justice reform “He had a number of misdemeanors and one felony hile it is technically illegal to discriminate charge, and because of the felony he couldn’t get rid of any against people with criminal records in of them,” she said. Holland was relieved to be able to tell hiring, there are many him about the bill. clauses that make it Sen. Mujtaba Mohammed easy to find loopholes according to the (D-Mecklenburg), another co-sponNational Conference of State Legissor of the bill, called the new law latures. “life-changing” for his clients. MoLikewise, landlords and the like hammed is also a practicing attorney can deny housing for a person with and has seen many of his clients in a criminal history if they believe the similar positions to Holland’s clients. person is a risk to neighbors, accord“There are folks who don’t have — Sen. Danny Britt (R-Columbus) ing to the Fair Housing Center for the time or knowledge to clear their Rights & Research. The discriminanames,” he said. “Now, we can do that tion hits marginalized communities, in North Carolina.” such as those who are Black and Brown, in particular because of the disproportionate numbers of those incarcerFor those who may be eligible for expungement under these new laws, ated. they can call Legal Aid at their state-wide, toll-free number, (866) Sen. Mujtaba Mohammed (D-Mecklenburg) was one of 219-5262. 13 co-sponsors on the original bill, including Sen. Gladys Robinson (D-Guilford). Sen. Danny Britt (R-Columbus) and Sen. Warren Daniel (R-Caldwell), two of the primary sponsors on the bill, are Republican and former Sen. Floyd McKissick (D-Durham), the third primary sponsor, was a Democrat. Other sponsors come from both parties. “Despite what’s often out there, there’s a lot of collegiality between Republicans and Democrats on legislation,” said Britt. “Criminal justice reform is one of those things I think we do a good job of coming together on.” Sen. Britt also hopes to expand on the areas the bill does not cover. Right now, breaking and entering, possession with intent to sell and distribute cocaine and assault are charges that will not be automatically expunged. “That person could go 30 or 40 years with no other charge, but that is something they cannot have taken off their record,” he said. “I’ve always felt like folks who have been exonerated or had charges dismissed should not be strapped with a charge.” Getting the automatic expungements rolling will likely take several months, but Laura Holland, the project director of the NC Justice Center’s Fair Chance Criminal Justice Project, has already seen a real-life impact on her clients. “It allowed us to not have to turn anyone away,” she said. “It allowed more people to be eligible. And then of course,

NEWS | DEC. 16 - 22, 2021

NEWS

‘Criminal justice reform is one of those things I think we do a good job of coming together on.’

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Local

Gift Guide 1 2 0 2

Restoration MedSpa restorationmedspa.com 336.999.8295 Offices in Greensboro and Winston-Salem

Restoration MedSpa offers two full-service medical spas in Winston-Salem and Greensboro, dedicated to results-oriented, corrective medical procedures for treating fine lines, wrinkles, sunspots, skin laxity, loss of facial volume and other unwanted consequences of aging or traumatized skin. The practice also offers wellness and body sculpting services. November marks our sixth anniversary in business. To celebrate, we’re offering amazing specials on all services for the entire month. Additionally, as our thanks to you, we’re giving you a gift with the purchase of any gift card during the month of December! Whether it’s for yourself, a friend, or a relative, nothing says “I care” more than a gift card or a pampering Salt Therapy Suite Session from Restoration MedSpa.

Recycles Bike Shop recyclesbikeshop.com 336.370.9099 In Greensboro’s College Hill neighborhood

Recycles bike shop began in 2005, when owner Merritt White decided to create a rider-owned shop that would help every type of rider, catering to their individual needs — and would live up to high-sustainability standards. After all, one person’s trash (1975 Schwinn) is another person’s treasure (1975 Schwinn)! Recycles puts elbow grease into old parts and frames to bring bikes back to life. The Recycles crew swaps out parts on bikes and builds up new ones, dialing in to the specific needs of each client. Customers get high quality, full-service work and custom builds of complete bikes and wheels. And everyone really is welcome, from beginners to seasoned cyclists. Recycles just expanded its original location to double the space. Come see their latest creations or just pop in to get your bike tuned up. Open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday (although we’re usually there till 6). Appointments are accepted after hours and on weekends.

Royal Expressions Contemporary Ballet royalexpressions.org 336.944.6146 In Greensboro

The Christmas Shoes has been uplifting families since 2012 and will return to the stage on Dec. 18 at the Dana Auditorium of Guilford College at 6 p.m. “As we continue to navigate this pandemic, we will present this show in the safest way possible,” says Founding Director Princess Johnson. Last year, this original holiday ballet was transformed into a film starring the students of the ballet school, shown as a drive-in experience in the parking lot across from the school. In the tradition of The Nutcracker, the show includes modern day Christmas music and a meaningful storyline that is sure to warm hearts. The Christmas Shoes a has become a modern holiday tradition all its own. For more information, contact Princess Johnson at princess@ royalexpressions.org. Find tickets at tinyurl.com/reboxoffice.

Scuppernong Books Independent Bookseller

Clemmons Florist

scuppernongbooks.com 336.763.1919 In downtown Greensboro

clemmonsfloristinc.com 336.282.1701 In Greensboro

Scuppernong Books is a general interest/literary bookstore featuring fiction and poetry along with a remarkable children’s section and a broad range of general interest titles. It opened in December 2013 and has been an essential part of downtown Greensboro’s rebirth ever since.

Established in 1954, we are Greensboro’s oldest family-owned florist and are a fourth generation florist offering the finest flowers and plants available anywhere. We offer prompt delivery service to all of Greensboro and most of Guilford County. Because our customers are important, our professional staff is dedicated to providing you with the most prompt service and quality products obtainable.

Within the store is a café serving organic coffee and espresso, wine, and beer, sourced primarily from local small businesses. They partner with Jerusalem Market for sandwiches, salads and more substantial fare.

Hundreds of arrangements available for delivery or pick up at clemmonsfloristinc.com - or call us for that extra special touch!

Scuppernong Books hosts hundreds of events a year, bringing in writers from around the world, the country, and the state. In 2019, they hosted more than 250 writers, as well as theater, music, dance and community conversation. In 2017, Scuppernong Books was instrumental in the formation of the Greensboro Literary Organization, a separate nonprofit organization which stages the annual Greensboro Bound Literary Festival, and brings authors into the Guilford County Schools through their Authors Engaging Students program. In 2018, they also formed Scuppernong Editions, an eclectic small press. Scuppernong Books believes that independent bookstores have an important role to fill in a community, and hope to live up to that responsibility with an openness to ideas, a respect for all the individuals that make up our Greensboro community, and a willingness to have fun doing so.

Oscar Oglethorpe oscaroglethorpe.com 336.333.2993 In downtown Greensboro

Shop small this holiday season with Oscar Oglethorpe Eyewear. Voted Best Place to Buy Glasses in Guilford County 5 years in a row and Best Optometrist in the Triad in 2020 by Triad’s Best. Make sure to use up your HSA and FSA money before the end of the year — Oscar Oglethorpe has an amazing optometrist on staff for your annual eye exam. Then add to your stunning eyeglass wardrobe, scoop up those polarized sunnies you’ve been eyeballing since this Summer, or stock up on your contact lens supply. Our eyeglasses start at just $150, including a unique frame from an independent eyewear company, light and thin lenses, anti-glare, UV protection and a one-year warranty. Come in anytime to shop for specs — no appointment needed. Give back to your loved ones with the gift of sight. Gift cards of all amounts for any occasion are available for purchase year-round. Open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oscar Oglethorpe looks forward to SEEING you soon!

Havana Phil’s Cigar Co. havanaphils.com 336.288.4484 In Greensboro

Founded in Greensboro in 2010 by longtime cigar enthusiast Phil Segal, Havana Phil’s features the complimentary Rocky Patel Lounge and the private Davidoff Lounge, available with a membership. A wide selection of the world’s finest cigars, housed in a beautiful and spacious walk-in humidor, offers something for every cigar enthusiast on your list. Havana Phil’s can create personalized gift packs for the cigar smokers in your life, curated exactly to their tastes, or find a pre-packaged gift set put together by Philip IV and his knowledgeable staff. Other wares include wines, cutters, humidors, lighters and other necessities of the cigar life. Gift cards, suggestions and gift memberships are available at the shop on Battleground Avenue.

Sutler’s Spirits Sutlersspiritco.com 336.565.6006 In Winston-Salem’s West End

Lavender and coriander lay the firm foundation for this Sutler’s Gin, warmed by the spice of juniper, and ornamented with notes of lemon and bitter orange. Sutler’s Gin isn’t just from Winston-Salem — it’s made of it. Inspired by time-tested heritage recipes and hand-made by North Carolina natives, Sutler’s Gin gin is an homage to its hometown. Sutler’s Gin is available by the bottle right at the distillery, at the West End Mill Works. The distillery is available for events and limited holiday tours in December. They invite the rebellious to gather there, and to raise a glass for the cause.

CROSSWORD

“Dr. Livingston, I Pre-Zoo?”--it’s the same outcome. by Matt Jones

Across

1 One of 11 for RuPaul 5 100-meter race 9 Telegram break 13 Rowed vessel 14 “It is not ___ am crazy ... it is ___ am mad!” (“Ren and Stimpy” quote) 15 Believer in spiritual unity 16 What happened when the wedding party gained an extra foot? 18 Elicit 19 TV series divs. 20 “Try the ___!” (comedian’s clichÈ) 21 Signs of snoring 22 Hallowed place to learn to count in French? 27 Without assistance 28 ___ squared (formula for the area of a circle) 29 2014 U.S. Open champ Michelle 30 Pinafore designation 33 Done at the table 35 Words from a ghost clock? 37 Perform really well at freestyle rap 39 Belarus, in prev. days 40 . follower 41 Bit of duplicity 42 “Who ___ thinks that’s a good idea?” 46 Chef’s complaint about a lack of sauce base? 52 Oldman’s villain role in “The Fifth Element” 53 “Up in the Air” Oscar nominee Farmiga 54 “Live in Front of a Studio Audience” airer 55 Elevator selection 57 Allows just a pair? 59 Full of dryer fluff 60 Blue-gray shark 61 “Now, more ___ ever ...” 62 Beehive State athletes 63 Part of MS-DOS 64 Janitor’s ringful

SUDOKU

26 Signed very simply 31 Fast food dessert inspiring the search question “Is the spoon a straw?” 32 Downhill event 33 Quaint cry of disgust 34 More bent out of shape? 35 Mountain, for example 36 Early Palm smartphone 37 Ecol. or econ. 38 PBS documentary film series since 1988 43 Want no part of 44 Franchise with recent legal questions about its tuna 45 They’ve been out for a while 47 1976 literary bestseller 48 Bit of light that’s harmful to the skin Down 49 Durable woods 1 Field formerly home to the Brooklyn Dodgers 50 “Believe It ___” 2 Vivid blue butterfly type 51 Queen’s “___ Bottomed Girls” 3 “The Marvelous Mrs. ___” 55 Reason for a fall shot 4 “Jan. 1 to now” column 56 Burning 5 Honey Smacks frog mascot introduced in 57 Ball club VIPs 1972 58 Wall St. cert. 6 “That’s ___!” (director’s shout) 7 Beach souvenir 8 “___ goes it?” 9 Hit Ctrl-S 10 First words of some proverbs 11 Furniture wood 12 Pecan, for one 15 Smoker contents, maybe 17 “All About ___” (Bette Davis movie) 21 Shaggy’s catchphrase 23 “I’m going ___ the hay ...” 24 Huge retelling 25 180-degree turn, slangily

LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS

New body-cam law makes it harder for families to access footage by Sayaka Matsuoka Correction: In our article last week, “Father of victim shot and killed by Greensboro police officer seeks answers,” we incorrectly stated that Joe Lopez had the right to view body-worn camera footage from his son’s death. The process has actually become more complicated because of a new law that went into effect earlier this month.

NEWS | DEC. 16 - 22, 2021

NEWS

new state law that went into effect on Dec. 1 has made it more difficult to view police body-worn camera footage in instances of death or serious bodily injury. Prior to the law’s passage, which took place in September, families of victims of police violence and those caught on footage could appeal directly to the law enforcement agency that had been involved. However, the signing of SB 300, otherwise known as the “Criminal Justice Reform Bill,” has made it so that families must now petition the courts to be able to view the footage. The law also only applies to the worst types of recordings involving those “related to death or serious bodily injury.” According to the law, those wishing to view body-worn camera footage must fill out a notarized form provided by the law enforcement agency and then turn that form into the agency, at which point agency officials will file a petition in Superior Court. The court has seven days to review the recordings and make a decision on whether or not to release the footage to the petitioner. “This is unnecessarily restrictive and it creates an additional hurdle Victims of police shootings in North Carolina must now appeal to courts to see body-worn camera footage as of Dec. 1. that impedes the spirit of transparency that these body-worn camera laws were enacted to address,” said Kami Chavis, a law professor would have been able to view the footage if he had made a and director of the criminal justice program at Wake Forest request prior to Dec. 1 when the new law took effect. Now, University. Lopez will have to go through a judge. The issue with this, The change to the body-worn camera footage disclosure is Chavis said, is that it puts an extra burden on victims and embedded within the omnibus law which includes items such their families. as a database for decertified law enforcement officers and “I see no reason why a family member who is alleging that limits to local laws that criminalize poverty. their family member was shot or killed or seriously injured Joe Lopez, whose son Joseph Thomas Lee Lopez was shot by police should have to go through an additional hurdle of and killed by a Greensboro police officer on Nov. 19, said — Kami Chavis, Wake Forest University going through a court,” Chavis said. “This, to me, seems so he didn’t know about the law change until recently. After a law professor unnecessary and absurd.” Greensboro officer called to tell him his son had been killed And even if families petition a judge, they could decline on Nov. 20, he reached out to a State Bureau of Investigation their request to see the footage. officer to ask to see the body-worn camera footage but said Lopez, who said he will continue to fight for justice for his son’s case, said he he never heard back. doesn’t know why a judge would do that. “I made a request to the detective of the SBI, and he told me he was going to “I don’t see why he would do that,” Lopez said. “I just want to know what look into that,” Lopez said. “And the other detective of the Greensboro Police happened to my son.” Department never gave me a chance.” According to Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan, Lopez did not make a direct request to the Greensboro Police Department prior to the new law taking effect. “I believe he called the SBI, and they referred him to Greensboro, but we do not have a request on file at all,” Vaughan said in an interview on Friday. Vaughan noted that because Lopez’s death occurred on Nov. 19, his father

“This, to me, seems so unnecessary and absurd.”

OPINION | DEC. 16 - 22, 2021

Deface your own portrait of insurrectionist Mark Meadows!

Post your finished work on Facebook or Instagram and tag Triad City Beat.

Can Greensboro go supersonic?

et’s not dwell on the fact that the Raleigh News & Observer scooped the Greensboro News & Record in its own backyard on a major economic-development coup in a sexy, high-dollar industry with game-changing tech. Nobody cares about scoops anyway. Look instead at the message: Boom Supersonic, Colorado-based airplane manufacturer is considering Greensboro for a facility to make its supersonic passenger planes — an upgrade of the old Concorde model called the Overture — which can go twice the speed of conventional commercial aircraft. Negotiations have gone far enough that the General Assembly has written legislation appropriating $175 million and 1,000 acres at Piedmont Triad International Airport. The company is expected to invest $500 million if the deal goes through, and create about 1,750 good jobs. We’ll know before spring. Pile this on top of the new deal with the Greensboro-Randolph County Megasite, an 1,800-acre tract near the highway and rail lines that’s been primed, graded and ready for a large-scale manufacturing tenant for almost a decade. This one’s a billion-dollar deal involving a Toyota car-battery manufacturing plant, and the paperwork has already been

signed. There’s another Greensboro manufacturing opportunity on South Elm-Eugene Street, right next door to the Triad City Beat offices: The Steelhouse, a 75,000-square-foot manufacturing facility spread over 15 acres. It’s part of a plan by the Piedmont Triad Regional Council that encompasses seven interconnected projects in our counties. The PTR plan has already been named a finalist in the Build Back Better Regional Challenge, an effort by the US Economic Development Association, that could be worth $100 million. Capital investment is where all growth starts, and our little corner of the state has been waiting for dollars like this since furniture and textile manufacturing left more than 20 years ago. One difference between then and now, though, is that those corporations paid income tax, which will be down to nothing by the time these projects come online. These days, we pay corporations to come here. As we mentioned, the state will pony up $175 million to get supersonic, which might not even include county and city incentives. The state budget has $300 million earmarked for the Megasite. So we’d be down almost half a billion before the tide starts to rise.

Jen Sorensen

jensorensen.com/subscribe

OPINION | DEC. 16 - 22, 2021

EDITORIAL

OPINION

John Cole courtesy of NC Policy Watch

QUOTE OF THE WEEK Doing the murals is therapy for myself in small ways, and hopefully it’s a form of therapy for the communities and definitely the families. – Kyle Holbrook, pg. 14

CULTURE | DEC. 16 - 22, 2021

Claude’s Vegan Castle crafts home-cooking for CULTURE herbivores by Sayaka Matsuoka

COURTESY PHOTO

Taylor Dankovich and Kyle Grimsley combined their knowledge and love of cooking to start Claude’s Vegan Castle, a plant-based food company named after their cat.

aking food for others is Taylor Dankovich’s love language. It all started when Dankovich started cooking meals for her father, a hedge fund manager who decided to become vegan. “He’s a very busy person and I wanted to help out to make sure that he had good meals to eat,” Dankovich explains. “There’s this kind of perception with vegan food that it’s too complicated or that it’s just tofu or potatoes or something like that. But there’s so much that can be done on the vegan spectrum of food.” The full-time personal chef and her partner, Kyle Grimsley are now the co-owners of Claude’s Vegan Castle, a new plant-based food business in Greensboro. While Dankovich has been creating 14 meals a -Taylor Dankovich week for her father for the past several months, Grimsley brings his history of foodservice to the business. After moving to Greensboro from south Florida in 2016 he began working at Scrambled, where he managed the kitchen for a few years in between working at the Iron Hen, the now-closed Traveled Farmer and M’Coul’s Public House. When the pandemic hit and the

hours became unsustainable, Grimsley took a full-time job working from home, giving him and Dankovich the flexibility to start their own business. Now the two are making a name for themselves as one of the few plant-based food businesses in the Triad. It’s a well-known fact that despite being the third-largest city in the state, Greensboro is lacking when it comes to vegan options. Boba House on Tate Street was one of the only vegetarian spots in town for years until places like Mike’s Vegan Cookout and Dragon City in High Point opened. And even when looking at the Triad as a whole, it wasn’t until recently when Dom’s opened in Winston-Salem that a fully vegan restaurant materialized. And that’s a huge reason why Dankovich and Grimsley started their food stall, which has been a part of the Saturday Corner Farmer’s Market since early October. “There’s really not a lot of places in Greensboro,” Dankovich says. “So, we thought, Why don’t we do something that’s good for us as a couple to do together and good for the community and kind of fill that void?” Grimsley acts as the financial manager and prep cook while Dankov-

‘We thought, Why don’t we do something that’s good for us as a couple to do together and good for the comunity?’

CULTURE | DEC. 16 - 22, 2021

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One of the most popular items that Claude’s Vegan Castle makes is a chickpea “chicken” salad wrap.

ich creates the menu and does the bulk of the cooking. They started with two items for their stall — their wildly popular chickpea salad wrap and chorizo bowls. Now, they sell everything from vegan muffins and doughnuts to chili to savory pastries. While they’re not vegan, Grimsely explained how he had been vegetarian for a few months and noticed how good he felt after not eating meat for weeks. “I used to eat a lot of meat,” he says. “That used to be most of my diet. I would get bad acne and I would be sweaty and I felt greasy all the time.” Now the two are mostly plant-based at home with the occasional sushi splurge thrown in. The goal, Dankovich explains, is to offer delicious vegan food that anyone can enjoy. And it’s not just about feeding people for her. As someone who identifies as queer and lives with OCD and anxiety, she says it’s about creating space for marginalized people. “The main reason that I’m so passionate about vegan cooking is because my main goal, basically in life, is to always do what I can to provide a service or a space for people who don’t often get recognized or aren’t really catered to,” she says. “My main goal is, how can I make other people feel seen and cared for and included?” And as the holidays come around, that means providing plant-based options for people to easily heat up and make at home. For the next

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The duo has been making vegan donuts of the chocolate and coffee cake variety as of late.

two markets, Claude’s Vegan Castle will be offering vegan lasagnas made with tofu ricotta and vegan turkey loaves made with seitan. Each serves anywhere from four to eight people and can be easily heated up at home. In the future, they hope to add frozen meals to their lineup and they might even start their own catering business if the demand is there. They recently started making most of their products gluten-free and endeavor to have a nut-free commercial kitchen one day. And even though the products are catered towards vegan customers, Dankovich and Grimsley say that their food is meant to be enjoyed by everyone. They hope their products prompt people to think more deeply about what they eat and about how a plant-based lifestyle can foster sustainability and care for their community. “Food is part of self-care,” Dankovich says. “You need to eat.” “And what you eat matters,” Grimsley adds. “So, with everything I give to people, I’m like, in my head, ‘I love you,’” Dankovich says. “I want to care for people in that way.” Visit Claude’s Vegan Castle at the Corner Farmer’s Market in Greensboro. To place orders for the holidays, visit the stall this Saturday or send them a message on Instagram @claudesvegancastle.

CULTURE | DEC. 16 - 22, 2021

Q&A with Kyle Holbrook, the man behind the new W-S CULTURE mural about gun violence by Nicole Zelniker

Kyle Holbrook is about to become a fixture in the Triad arts community. Holbrook, a Pittsburgh-based muralist, digital artist and filmmaker, brought his Stop Gun Violence Mural Tour to 704 Trade Street in downtown Winston-Salem with a mural depicting a hand making a peace sign and “Stop gun violence” printed to the right. Holbrook is the founder of the MLK Community Project and plans to do future projects in Greensboro and Winston-Salem with local artists.

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long have you been painting for? are you hoping people take away from your work? QWhat QHow I always wanted to be an artist all my life, and I’ve been painting since The whole point of it is to draw more attention to the epidemic of gun first semester in college. I used to draw. Even when I got in trouble in A violence that the country is currently in. People are so desensitized and Amy high school I always went to my art classes. I’ve been doing murals now there are so many shootings that happen all the time. I want to bring it for 22 years.

QWhy did you choose Winston-Salem for the site of your most recent mural? about Winston-Salem because my godson lives in Charlotte and AweI know go sometimes. I have a friend who lives [in Winston-Salem] for some time and I visited him. It’s a cool city. I like their downtown area. But I also know about the gangs there and I’ve been keeping up with the gun violence and the uptick in this last year and a half.

to the forefront of people’s minds so people realize this is a nation-wide epidemic so it doesn’t keep getting swept under the rug. I lost 45 friends to gun violence, and my uncle, who served in Vietnam, knows less people than me that were killed. I’ve done murals in the past where they’ve become memorials where people go to honor their loved ones. It can be a place, and that’s one thing that public art can do. It can draw attention to issues and become a place to go in the communities. I want people to be thinking of solutions, to understand that we need solutions.

QWhy do you paint murals pertaining specifically to gun violence? QTell me more about your Community Mural Project Program. murals have a curriculum, and the kids go through each step. We There’s a couple different things. A lot of my childhood friends were vicAtims AdoThea mural project that goes over five weeks and each kid has a different of gun violence. My daughter’s god dad. My best friends at different

times of my life. It’s something that’s close to my heart. And then a mentor of mine, an advocate for gun violence awareness back in Pittsburg, his name is Rashaad Byrdsong. He’s had a grandson who was recently killed tragically in January. He was 15 years old. I’ve known him since he was a little baby. It is heavy. Just as I was talking, the heaviness came upon me. Doing the murals is therapy for myself in small ways, and hopefully it’s a form of therapy for the communities and definitely the families. When you do think about your lost loved ones, it’s good to feel like they’re remembered. It feels like I’m doing it for them, like they’re with me. The pain never really leaves, so it’s good to think about it with the murals.

role: cleaning the brushes, material safety. We have two hours of class a day, each day. The kids are paid $12 an hour and at the end of it, that’s over $1,000. They work closely with educators, artists and managers, so positive role models. It’s through grants and corporate sponsors, and also individual donors. We have one for murals, one for film, one for video. We work a lot with youth on the spectrum as well. Providing mentorships is important. Positive male role models are important. Also, economics is a part of the problem, and it can be part of the solution. We employ low-income youth through murals and we get them their own bank account. Check out Holbrook’s work at MLKmural.com. Artists can get involved at MLKmural.com/call-for-artists.

SHOT IN THE TRIAD | DEC. 16 - 22, 2021

SHOT IN THE TRIAD Price Park Drive, Greensboro

CAROLYN DE BERRY

Morning frost at Price Park Bird and Butterfly Meadow.