TCB Dec. 2, 2021 — Our Slice of the Pie by Triad City Beat

DEC. 2-8, 2021 TRIAD-CITY-BEAT.COM

THE BURNING OF PILOT MOUNTAIN PAGE 5

LOOM COFFEE CO. PAGE 12

VULTURE CAPITALISTS

BY SAYAKA MATSUOKA & NICOLE ZELNIKER PAGE 14

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OUR SLICE OF THE PIE

The Triad’s piece of the state budget, itemized

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DEC. 2 - 8, 2021

Coronavirus in the Triad

(as of Wednesday, Dec. 1) Documented COVID-19 diagnoses NC 1,537,044 (+15,284) Forsyth 54,181 (+661) Guilford 69,741 (+536) COVID-19 deaths NC 18,776 (+134) Forsyth 585 (+7) Guilford 923 (+30) Documented recoveries NC 1,489,392 (+12,112) Forsyth *no data* Guilford 67,760 (+685) Current cases NC 28,876 (+3,038) Forsyth *no data* Guilford 1,057 (-179) Hospitalizations (right now) NC 1,157 (+45) Forsyth *no data* Guilford 42 (-12) Vaccinations NC Partially vaccinated 5,978,858 (+44,393) Fully vaccinated 5,971,067 (57%, +47,920) Forsyth Partially vaccinated 237,453 (+1,650) Fully vaccinated 219,128 (57%, +1,613) Guilford Partially vaccinated 328,043 (+2,651) Fully vaccinated 305,478 (57%, +2,181)

BUSINESS PUBLISHER/EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Brian Clarey brian@triad-city-beat.com

PUBLISHER EMERITUS

Allen Broach allen@triad-city-beat.com

OF COUNSEL

Jonathan Jones

Michaela Ratliff michaela@triad-city-beat.com

Chris Rudd chris@triad-city-beat.com

SPECIAL SECTION EDITOR

CONTRIBUTORS

Nikki Miller-Ka niksnacksblog@gmail.com

EDITORIAL ADVISOR

Jordan Green jordan@triad-city-beat.com

EDITORIAL MANAGING EDITOR

ART ART DIRECTOR

STAFF WRITER

SALES SALES EXECUTIVE

Sayaka Matsuoka sayaka@triad-city-beat.com Nicole Zelniker nicole@triad-city-beat.com

1451 S. Elm-Eugene St. Box 24, Greensboro, NC 27406 Office: 336.681.0704 CHIEF CONTRIBUTOR KEY ACCOUNTS

Charlie Marion charlie@triad-city-beat.com

Drew Dix drew@triad-city-beat.com

EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK

The First Amendment Society: Reporting can save the world!

made media, not even a monthly city magathe zine. decision I found out very quickly that I about could make a real difference here, as 10 years ago: I opposed to pitching my stories into would stay here, the great maw of freelance work and in the Triad, and moving on like a hired gun. by Brian Clarey dedicate the rest More: Local news is the best news. of my career to local news. I stopped It’s the most underserved — there looking for gigs outside this market, are more print reporters covering stopped pitching longform freelance the White House than there are at pieces to the magazine market, the Greensboro, Winston-Salem and stopped pretending I could do anyHigh Point newspapers combined. thing else with my career outside the Local news affects your life a lot news business. more than anything you will see on Why, you ask, would I the “Today” show. do such a thing? And like a lot of Local news affects Because I believe things that are imyour life a lot more portant to the funcreporting can save than anything you tioning of society, the world. And I go where I’m needed. there’s no money in it. will see on the It’s true that Triad City Beat is “Today” show. reporting can save a free paper and it the world — that’s always will be. And why freedom of the press is the very we are able to do a lot with the small first amendment in our Bill of Rights. bit of advertising we are able to sell. Journalism, done ethically and But it’s never enough. responsibly, literally heightens a readAnd so we created the First er’s awareness. As for undermining Amendment Society, a way for readdespots and combatting injustice: ers to donate to our enterprise, help The facts, written down and dissemkeep our journalists paid and help inated, make a more potent weapon keep the news free for those who than any firearm. don’t have a few extra dollars to send I believe this. our way. And I go where I’m needed. It’s You’ll be seeing and hearing more why I left New York, where there are about it in our pages, on our site, in thousands of guys like me. I came our emails and on our social media to realize it was why I settled here, in properties. But for now it’s enough Greensboro, where the mediascape to say that the FAS is for people who in 2000 was a dreary and provincial believe in the power of reporting, like visage: no altweekly, no independent me.

Carolyn de Berry, James Douglas, Matt Jones, Jordan Howse, Jen Sorensen, Clay Jones

COVER

by Charlie Marion with Icons from Noun Project: “Airport” by Vectors Point, “Groceries” by Zulfa Mahendra, “Shop” by Nareerat Jaikaew, “Masks” by Yuvika Koul, “Badge” by Adrien Coquet, “Education” by Fatemah Manji

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

N. GREENE ST.

N DAVIE ST

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N CHURCH ST

Community Tree E. FRIENDLY AVE.

PIEDMONT WINTERFEST Ice Rink | NOV. 19 - JAN. 30

E MARKET ST.

MERRY MADNESS PASSPORT Spend Local, Win $$ | NOV. 27-DEC. 24

TINSEL TOWN

W. WASHINGTON ST.

HUGHES ST

S. DAVIE ST.

HOLIDAY WINDOW DECORATING Vote for your favorite | NOV. 27-DEC. 31

LYNDON ST

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Community Tree Display | DEC. 3-31

FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS Community Tree Lighting | DEC. 3

W MCGEE ST

Holiday Parade Route

S DA VIE ST

HOLIDAY PARADE DEC. 4

S. GREENE ST.

Selfie-lovers Dream | DEC. 3-31

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PEPPERMINT ALLEY

Festival of Lights Route

SANTA AT THE BILTMORE DEC. 4-5, 11-12, 17-19 SANTA CON Bar Crawl | DEC. 11

CLASSIC HOLIDAY MOVIES Carolina Theatre ALL MONTH LONG

W. LEWIS ST. S. ELM ST.

THE NUTCRACKER Greensboro Ballet at the Carolina Theatre DEC. 11-12, 17-19

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UP FRONT | DEC. 2 - 8, 2021

CITY LIFE DEC. 2 - DEC. 5 by Sayaka Matsuoka

THURSDAY Dec. 2 Historic Postcard Exhibit @ Forsyth County Public Library (W-S) 10 a.m.

Visit the Forsyth County Public Library anytime this month and next to view historic postcards on display in the cases on the second floor of the library. Visit Preservation Forsyth’s website to learn more.

FRIDAY Dec. 3 Equitable Housing Solutions and Community Violence (GSO) 12 p.m.

Join UNCG’s monthly event around housing for a conversation about how the environmental and social characteristics of a neighborhood impacts health outcomes and crime rates. The event will be through Zoom. Register at go.uncg.edu/housinghangout. Twin City Santa Toy Drive and Semi-Formal (W-S) 8 p.m. Donate toys and dance the night away at this volunteer-run event that aims to brighten the holidays for children in Forsyth County. For just $25 you can attend this event which will include complimentary beer and wine and a DJ. For more info, visit twincitysanta.org.

The Market @ The Festival of Lights (GSO) 6 p.m.

Creative Greensboro presents the Lorena Guillen Tango Ensemble and ALLL @ Van Dyke Performance Space (GSO) 7 p.m.

During your visit to the lighting of the holiday tree in downtown Greensboro, stop by LeBauer Park for a festive vendor market. There will be hot coffee, cocoa and bites to eat from local food trucks in addition to more than 70 local makers peddling their wares. The tree lighting will take place right before 7 p.m.

Once you’ve taken in the holiday tree downtown, head to the Van Dyke Performance Space for a free concert showcasing tango pan-Latin fusion music as well as smooth R&B. The concert is free, but donations are accepted.

‘Light Up the Night’ with Winston-Salem Theatre Alliance @ 650 W Sixth Street (W-S) 7 p.m.

3 Chambers Tour: Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, RZA @ Cone Denim Entertainment Center (GSO) 7 p.m.

Join the downtown Winston-Salem community as they gather at the Winston-Salem Theatre Alliance’s new location to light up their venue and marquees. The event will be followed by a performance by local actor and musician Taylor Vaden who will sing hits by Elvis. Visit theateralliance.ws for more info.

If tango and R&B isn’t really your thing, how about some old-school hip hop? Snag tickets to this concert featuring members of the Wu-Tang Clan. Visit Ticketmaster to buy tickets.

SATURDAY Dec. 4

MADE 4 the Holidays Marketplace @ Greensboro Farmers Curb Market (GSO) 11 a.m. Missed the other markets over the weekend? Try stopping by this annual event at the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market. As always, the event is free and will feature more than 50 artisans both inside and outside of the building.

Maker’s Market @ Black Belt Soap Company (GSO) 11 a.m.

Come out to support this Black-owned business as they host a holiday market from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. There you’ll be able to shop for handmade gifts by local small businesses including products by Black Belt Soap Company. Visit their Facebook page for more info.

SUNDAY Dec. 5

NEWS

NEWS | DEC. 2 - 8, 2021

Feature Photo

TONY WHITE

A wildfire of still-unknown origin continues to burn in Pilot Mountain State Park after first being reported on Saturday afternoon. As of Wednesday morning, the fire had consumed more than 1,050 acres and was about 20 percent contained, according to the NC Forest Service. Pilot Mountain State Park is 20 miles north of Winston-Salem and is a popular attraction for outdoor enthusiasts. So far, no injuries have been reported and no evacuations are planned. The forest service has issued a burn warning for the area with dry conditions expected throughout the week. — James Douglas

NEWS | DEC. 2 - 8, 2021

NEWS

A slice of the pie: The Triad’s piece of the 2021-22 state budget by Sayaka Matsuoka & Nicole Zelniker On Nov. 18, Gov. Roy Cooper finally signed the state budget into law, making North Carolina the last state in the country to do so. The budget, which passed the state legislature with broad partisan support, comes in at $25.9 billion for the current fiscal year which began on July. For the 2022-23 fiscal year, the total is $27 billion. As a whole, Cooper noted that the “good outweighs the bad” with salary raises for teachers and other state employees, and cuts to individual income taxes. However, items such as an expansion of Medicaid and full funding of public schools as required by the Leandro case did not make the cut. The state’s corporate income tax — which at 2.5 percent is the lowest rate of any state with such a tax, according to NC Policy Watch — will also be phased out starting in 2025 with the goal of hitting zero by the end of the decade. In addition to what’s happening at the state level, here’s a more granular look at monies that will be coming directly into the Triad. EDUCATION

Education

With more than a dozen colleges and universities and more than 200 public schools in the area, it’s nt wonder that this category makes up the largest portion of funding that the Triad will receive. Notable line items include funding for Guilford County Schools to expand their signature career academy program as well as funding for the completion of a national guard readiness center in McLeansville.

UNCG (GSO) — $184,188,127

The university will receive this funding as part of the state’s general fund. - Funding for an eSports Program — $2.4 million: Funding for the operation, equipment, technology, marketing, and programming costs associated with the creation of an eSports facility on campus.

NC A&T State University (GSO) — $106,349,802

The university will receive this funding as part of the state’s general fund. - Doctoral Programs — $5.5 million: Funds will support new faculty and graduate student services for the doctoral programs including computer science, various engineering fields, energy and environmental systems, education and rehabilitation counseling. - Agriculture Research and Cooperative Extension — $3 million: Funds to support the state-matching requirement for the university’s research and cooperative extension federal grant. - Engineering North Carolina’s Future — 2.5 million: Provides funds for additional faculty, staff, equipment, facility improvements, and other resources needed to support an expansion of the College of Engineering.

DPS - National Guard Guilford Regional Readiness Center (Guilford) — $15.7 million

This funding will go to funding the completion of the Guilford County Regional Readiness Center in McLeansville. The center spans across 85.5 acres with operational space for approximately 600 soldiers. The total cost of the project is estimated to be $47 million.

Parkland High School Athletic Fields and Stadium (W-S) — $2.5 million Parkland High School will receive funding for repairs of the athletic fields.

Guilford County Career and Technical Education Pilot (Guilford) — $2 million

Guilford County Schools will receive funding to expand the Innovative Signature Career Academy Program. The program will establish signature career academies at six high schools that specialize in defined areas of career and technical education. Currently, there are six high schools that are a part of the effort offering academies in manufacturing and engineering, computer science and information science, transportation, distribution and logistics as well as biomedical and specialized health sciences.

Bennett College (GSO) — $1,589,942

The private college will receive funding for responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Allocation of Funds for the Program (W-S) — $1.5 million (out of $14 million)

The Department of Public Instruction from the State Fiscal Recovery Fund will give $1.5 million to Winston-Salem out of a total $14 million for all the districts.

Ready for School, Ready for Life (GSO) — $1,208,000

The university will receive this funding as part of the state’s general fund. - WSSU KR Williams Auditorium — $5.7 million: Provides funds for renovations to the auditorium. The total amount for the project is $57 million.

This nonprofit will receive a directed grant to help provide children and their families with resources for healthy development. The organization focuses on development in areas such as physical development, language and communication, social-emotional, cognitive and approaches to play so that by the time children enter kindergarten, they are well prepared.

UNC School of the Arts (W-S) — $33,894,255

Atrium Health School-Based Virtual Health –– $1 million

Winston-Salem State University (W-S) — $65,004,094

rehabilitation of existing facilities and repairs and renovations.” - Guilford Technical Community College Aviation Training Center (Guilford) — $2 million: Provides a grant to Guilford Technical Community College for an aviation training center. - Guilford Technical Community College R&R (Guilford) — $1.5 million: Provides a grant to Guilford Technical Community College for repairs and renovations.

The university will receive this funding as part of the state’s general fund. - UNC School of the Arts COVID-19 Expenses — $364,253: Funds to offset expenses incurred by the high school academic program to respond to the pandemic.

This money provides funding to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic by providing school-based virtual health services.

Guilford Technical Community College (Guilford) — $19,525,968

Guilford College (GSO) — $964,118

The community college will receive more than $19 million for “new construction or

School-Based Virtual Care Pilot Program (W-S) — $1 million

This grant will be used to address health disparities in marginalized communities. The private college will receive funding for responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The private college will receive funding for responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Salem College (W-S) –– $484,246

Salem College will receive a grant to assist with COVID-19 recovery.

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools (W-S) — $435,000 (out of $4 million)

This grant is for charter school funds per district. The total amount is $4 million with $435,000 going to Winston-Salem and Forsyth schools.

Crosby Scholars (Forsyth) –– $300,000 (out of $500,000)

John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival (HP) — $1 million Provides funding for the annual blues festival.

Wake Forest University Reynolda House and Gardens (W-S) — $900,000

Provides a grant to Wake Forest University for repairs and renovations to the Reynolda House and Gardens. - Reynolda House (WS) — $20,000: Reynolda House, Inc., will use these funds to contribute to and maintain the Reynolda House Museum of American Art.

This is a grant for the Crosby Scholars Community Partnership. The money will provide scholarships for students eligible for Pell grants, $300,000 for students in Forsyth and $100,000 for those in Rowan and Iredell.

Natural Science Center of Greensboro (GSO) — $500,000

The Enrichment Center (W-S) — $250,000

Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (SECCA) (WS) — $400,000

This grant will go to The Enrichment Center in Winston-Salem, an organization that provides services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The Crossnore School & Children’s Home (W-S) — Part of $200,000

This grant will provide funding to the Crossnore School & Children’s Home.

Cultural Resources With the impact of the pandemic still lingering, cultural institutions in the Triad are looking to the state for funding to get them back on track. Notable line items include a new Holocaust memorial planned for Greensboro and money to expand the Charlotte Hawkins Brown site.

State Aid to Public Libraries (Triad) — Part of $10 million Funds to provide economics assistance grants to local libraries.

AeroX Grant-in-Aid (W-S) –– $5 million

This grant is to fund the drone program at Smith Reynolds Airport.

Science Museum Grants (Triad) — Part of $3.5 million

Funds for grants to local museums and science center impacted by the pandemic.

Belews Lake Park Land Development (W-S) — $3 million Forsyth County will use this money to further develop Belews Lake Park.

Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) - Shallow Ford (W-S) — $1.8 million The DNCR will use this funding to purchase acres at the Shallow Ford in Forsyth County. - DNCR - Shallow Ford Parking Lot (W-S) — $245,000: This grant provides funding to add a parking lot to the acres to be purchased at the Shallow Ford.

DNCR - Charlotte Hawkins Brown (Guilford) — $1 million

Provides funding to DNCR for the purchase of approximately 100 acres adjacent to the Charlotte Hawkins Brown State Historic Site in Guilford County, to be added to the site. The site is the home of the former rural African American school of which Charlotte Hawkins Brown was the founder and leader for 50 years.

NEWS | DEC. 2 - 8, 2021

Greensboro College (GSO) — $613,040

Provides economic assistance to the Natural Science Center of Greensboro, a nonprofit organization impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This funding will allow SECCA to operate in Winston-Salem.

Holocaust Monument (GSO) — $250,000

This funding will help the city of Greensboro create a memorial of the Holocaust in downtown Greensboro at LeBauer Park. The monument has been designed by Victoria Milstein who visited the Auschwitz Concentration Camp in 2018. The sculpture will be the first public monument in the state dedicated to women and children who died in the Holocaust.

High Point Preservation Society (HP) — $250,000

Provides a directed grant to High Point Preservation Society, Inc., to restore the John Coltrane House

High Point Arts Council (HP) — $150,000 Provides direct funding to the arts council.

International Civil Rights Museum (GSO) — $100,000 Provides funding to the museum.

Old Salem Museum and Gardens (W-S) — $100,000 Provides funding to the museum and gardens.

Paul J. Ciener Botanical Gardens (Kernersville) — $100,000

Provides economic assistance to the Paul J. Ciener Botanical Gardens, a nonprofit organization impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

NC Folk Festival (GSO) — $100,000

A direct grant for the annual festival in Greensboro.

YMCAs (Triad) –– Part of $11.4 million

This grant provides funding for various YMCAs across the state to help them recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Each location is eligible for $100,000.

National Black Theater Festival (W-S) — $25,000

Provides a directed grant to the NC Black Repertory Company, Inc., to support activities related to the National Black Theater Festival.

Piedmont Opera (WS) — $25,000

This money is for operating Piedmont Opera, Inc.

NEWS | DEC. 2 - 8, 2021

Public Safety

While there’s only one item in this category, it’s an important one that looks to shift certain responses to mental-health crises away from police and to mental-health professionals. How it is different from the co-response model already being implemented by the city of Greensboro is yet to be determined.

Support Team Assisted Response (STAR) (GSO) — $330,000 of $990,000

Provides a directed grant to establish STAR pilot programs to support citizens and law enforcement in Charlotte, Greensboro and Greenville. Funding for the pilot is equally distributed among the three municipalities to provide for mobile teams of mental health clinicians and paramedics to handle low-level incidents and connect people with necessary services.

Social Services Many social service organizations are looking to the state budget to fill in the titanic financial rifts created by the pandemic. Notable items include the expansion of TROSA to Guilford County, more funding for affordable housing in Winston-Salem as well as funding for an anti-abortion crisis pregnancy center in Winston-Salem.

Food banks — (Triad) — Part of $40 million

This grant provides funding for the construction of a new senior services building.

Youth Villages (GSO) — Part of $2.9 million

Provides additional funding to the Foster Care Transitional Living Initiative Fund for Youth Villages to help improve outcomes for youth ages 17-21 who transition from foster care. The organization has locations in nine areas across the state including in Greensboro.

Winston-Salem Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program (WS) –– $500,000 Funding for the Violence Intervention Program will aid in identifying and linking patients at risk of repeat violent injury to hospital and community resources.

SaySo, Inc. (Guilford & Forsyth) — Part of $320,000

Provides funding for the statewide organization of youth ages 14-24 who are or have been in the out-of-home care system in the state. Has locations all over the state including in Guilford and Forsyth county.

Welfare Reform Liaison Project, Inc (GSO) — $300,000

Will provide equally distributed funds to six food banks in the state to meet increased demand caused by the pandemic.

The Welfare Reform Liaison Project,Inc. Is a nonprofit and CAA in Guilford County that provides assistance and services for low-income individuals and families through workforce training and job placement.

Crisis Behavioral Health Program Joint Partnerships (Forsyth) –– Part of $25 million

Salem Pregnancy Center Renovations & Equipment (W-S) — $255,000

The funding from this grant will allow for joint partnerships with local hospital systems, crisis centers and emergency services providers, among others

Support County Crisis Behavioral Health Program Joint Partnerships (W-S) — $25 million

The money from the behavioral health program will be used to fund the local hospital systems, crisis centers, emergency service providers and others.

Autopsy Center at Wake Forest Baptist (W-S) –– $2,160,048

Wake Forest Baptist’s Autopsy Center will get a grant of $2,160,048 to assist with operations.

TROSA Expansion (Triad) — $11 million

Provides a grant to TROSA, a multi-year residential program that empowers people with substance use disorders, to expand to the Triad.

City of Winston-Salem Affordable Housing Funds (W-S) — $10 million This grant provides funds to build affordable housing units.

Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (W-S) –– $10 million The Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine will get $3 million in funding each year of the biennium and $7 million in the base budget each year.

Second Harvest Food Bank (W-S) –– $6,666,667

The Second Harvest Food bank has received a grant to assist with operations.

City of Winston-Salem Senior Services Building (W-S) — $5 million

The money from this grant will go to renovations at the Salem Pregnancy Center, a crisis pregnancy center that works to prevent pregnant people from accessing abortions.

Trellis Supportive Care (W-S) –– $250,000

This grant provides the funds for hospice and palliative care.

WSSU-Simon Green Atkins Community Development Corporation (W-S) — $250,000 Provides a grant to support the Simon Green Atkins Community Development Corporation, a non-profit that strives to foster community-based leadership focused on revitalizing the neighborhoods surrounding Winston-Salem State University.

Fellowship Hall, Inc (GSO) — $100,000

Provides a directed grant to Fellowship Hall, Inc., a nonprofit drug and alcohol recovery center in Greensboro, NC.

Senior Resources of Guilford Meal Delivery Van (Guilford) — $100,000

Provides a grant to the Senior Resources of Guilford for a new meal delivery van.

Forsyth Jail and Prison Ministries (W-S) — $75,000

Forsyth Jail and Prison Ministries will use this grant for its prison ministry program.

Macedonia Family Resource Center, Inc. (HP) — $50,000

The Macedonia Family Resource Center, Inc., a nonprofit in Guilford County, will receive funding to help children and adults access emergency services and educational tools including after-school programs, GED classes and summer camps.

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Local

Gift Guide 2021

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. 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. 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.

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

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

“What the H”--is it Cockney? Probably not. by Matt Jones

Across

1 ___-Magnon (early human) 4 Soda can meas. 7 ‘70s music genre 12 Muscle near a lat 13 Certain Greek consonants 15 “Let’s keep moving!” 17 Student financial assistance that makes you groan? 19 Brazilian Carnival city that’s a World Heritage Site 20 GPS instruction 21 Burden on a German opera composer? 23 Tale with the Trojan Horse 25 “I just thought of somethin’” 26 “Either that wallpaper goes ___ do” (Oscar Wilde’s last words) 27 “Romeo and Juliet” locale 29 Delta follower 31 Relative of a joule 32 “Eighth Grade” star Fisher 35 One of a deadly seven 36 American publishing pioneer who’s not feeling so well? 39 6-point plays, for short 41 Elgort of the upcoming “West Side Story” remake 42 Org. that holds Renaissance Fairs 45 Get ready early? 48 Long-lasting lighters 50 “This Side of Paradise” singer Ocasek 51 Magnus Carlsen’s game 54 Goes bad 55 Someone who seeks out either British singer Murs or a vitamin and supplement company? 58 Prefix before directional 59 Swiss psychologist who studied object permanence 60 Booboo for an extended amount of time? 62 Flashing effect that may require a warning 63 Monetary unit of Chile 64 “Sister Act” extra 65 “___ Boomer” (1980s TV dog drama) 66 Chihuahua of cartoons 67 “___ up to you”

Down

1 Processing speed measured in some desktops 2 Mundane 3 Tinting reddish-yellow, as with earth tones 4 Hockey Hall of Famer Bobby 5 “Eternals” director Chloe 6 “I Got You Babe” singer 7 ‘50s music genre 8 Post-wedding relatives 9 Hefty swallow 10 Dessert mentioned in “The Godfather” 11 Words before “our mobile app”, for delivery services 14 IKEA storage box series that sounds destined to jam up? 16 “Beyond the Sea” singer Bobby

18 Tiny buzzer 22 Gives a snotty look 24 “Hamilton” highlight 28 Nothing antithesis 30 Neighbor of Syr. 33 Bond preference? 34 Quarterback Book of the New Orleans Saints 36 NetZero, once 37 Candy from a character? 38 Yale alums 39 Structure of three stones, like some parts of Stonehenge 40 Reveal to a customs inspector 42 Italian ice cream with multiple flavors 43 Really hard snack to eat? 44 Distributes, as tasks 45 Stage accessories 46 “Things Fall Apart” novelist Chinua ___ 47 Ladders’ partners 49 It may have a shallow end 52 Eight-sided message at a four-way intersection 53 Ninja Turtles setting 56 Bela Lugosi’s role in “Son of Frankenstein” (spelled differently from other appearances of this character!) 57 Gain in status 61 365 billion days

SUDOKU

LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS

THERE ARE FOUR MORE WEEKS OF THE TCB LOCAL GIFT GUIDE Contact Brian for details: brian@triad-city-beat.com

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Help keep the lights on for Greensboro businesses. Shop local this holiday season.

cont. from pg. 8 Open Door Ministries of High Point, Inc., a nonprofit in Guilford County, that provides supportive services and emergency assistance to those experiencing homelessness and hunger.

Greater High Point Food Alliance (HP) — $50,000

The High Point Food Alliance aims to alleviate hunger by “executing citywide and neighborhood-focused initiatives to develop more just and sustainable food systems.”

NEWS | DEC. 2 - 8, 2021

Open Door Ministries of High Point, Inc. (HP) — $50,000

Innovative Court Pilot Programs (W-S) — $50,000 (out of $1.5 million) This grant provides funding to various counties for their court pilot programs. Winston-Salem will get $50,000 out of $1.5 million. COMMERCE

Commerce

All of the items in this category are for funds headed to High Point, most notably money for the furniture market.

High Point Furniture Market (HP) — $2,305,472

Funding from the state for the yearly furniture market events. - High Point Furniture Market Authority — $1,510,000: Provides economic assistance to the High Point Furniture Market Authority, a nonprofit organization impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

City of High Point Equity Project (HP) — $1 million

Provides a directed grant to the City of High Point for the High Point Equity Project which aims to “support the growth and development of minority-owned and economically-challenged businesses.”

Business High Point, Inc (HP) — $500,000 A directed grant for Business High Point, Inc.

General Government

GENERAL GOVERNMENT

As people begin to travel again, local airports will receive several millions of dollars for upkeep and improvements to their facilities.

Smith Reynolds Airport (W-S) –– $23 million

This funding is for the Smith Reynolds Airport in Winston-Salem.

Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO) — $10 million Provides funding for capital improvements to the airport.

Wastewater and Water Infrastructure (W-S) – $3.1 million

These project construction grants are for Winston-Salem to build and improve on water and wastewater infrastructure projects.

City of Winston-Salem (W-S) –– $900,000

This grant allows for capital improvements in Winston-Salem. All Icons from Noun Project: “Airport” by Vectors Point, “Groceries” by Zulfa Mahendra, “Shop” by Nareerat Jaikaew, “Masks” by Yuvika Koul, “Badge” by Adrien Coquet, “Education” by Fatemah Manji

OPINION | DEC 2 - 8, 2021

EDITORIAL

OPINION

Alden vs Lee vs Triad local news

Jen Sorensen jensorensen.com/subscribe

t’s a drama worthy of the questions of our officials, holding the movies: a heartless hedge powerful accountable. Not a single fund, a hostile takeover, a one of us who work in local news is poison pill and the fate of doing this for the money. Not even the local news in the balance. TV people. But Alden Capital’s move against And another thing: If this deal Lee Enterprises is more of a horrorgoes through, Alden may find that show than anything else. the carcasses of our biggest daily The hostile takeover started in newspapers have already been picked 2020, when Alden, a hedge fund that clean. Warren Buffet’s BH Media, the recently bought Tribune Publishing’s papers’ former owner, sold the real newspaper properties estate out from under and slashed 70 percent them, shut down one of the union newsTo say this is bad for of the presses and room jobs, bought a 6 the other one. Lee local journalism is an kept percent stake in Lee Enterprises has thinned understatement. Enterprises. It became the newsrooms at both official last week, when papers so severely that Alden offered $24 per they can barely cover share, about $141 million, for Lee’s the sort of news that we rely on our 96 or so daily and weekly papers — daily newspapers to report. which, incidentally, includes the TriAs of this week, Lee is fighting back. ad’s biggest daily newspapers — the The board unanimously approved a Greensboro News & Record and the shareholder bill of rights, known as a Winston-Salem Journal. “poison pill” in the vulture capital parTo say this is bad for local journallance, which puts the brakes on any ism is an understatement. sale for the time being. In response, Alden is a vulture capital firm, with a Alden nominated three new board business model that relies on drastic members. The whole thing is inching payroll cuts, liquidation of assets and slowly towards a showdown. reduction in quality in its near-reliAnd none of the people making gious pursuit of profit. these moves — not a single goddamn But the news business — particone — gives a shit about local news in ularly the local news business — is Greensboro and Winston-Salem. not like the others. We’re not making widgets here; we’re keeping an eye on the cops and elections, asking tough

Claytoonz by Clay Jones

QUOTE OF THE WEEK If the situation at a café is such that their business model would crumble if they paid a living wage, then what good is that? That is literally a system of oppression.” – Christopher Pierce of Loom Coffee Co., pg. 12

claytoonz.com

CULTURE | DEC 2 - 8, 2021

DEC 1

DEC 2

DEC 3

LIVE MUSIC

COLIN CUTLER

Wu-Tang Tribute & afterparty

DEC 9

DEC 10

In the Beat of the Night w/ MaiaKamil

221 SUMMIT AVE GREENSBORO

DEC 6

J Timber Open Mic Monday

DEC 7

George Sluppick and Sam Frazier

DEC 8

PREZ - In the Beat of the Night 103.1 WUAG

Maia Kamil

DJ Harrison Album Release Party

DEC 16

DEC 4

DEC 5

DEC 11

DEC 12

The Hit w Chuck Pinckney

Abigail Dowd

The Hit w Chuck Pinckney

DEC 17

DEC 18

DEC 19

LIVE MUSIC

JIVE MOTHER MARY

The Hit w Chuck Pinckney

DEC 24

DEC 25

DEC 26

Christmas Eve Party

Christmas Party

OPEN 6PM-2AM! LIVE MUSIC EVERY NIGHT DEC 13

J Timber Open Mic Monday

DEC 20

J Timber Open Mic Monday

DEC 14

George Sluppick and Sam Frazier

DEC 21

Charlie Hunter Duo w George Sluppick

DEC 15

In the Beat of the Night w/ Josh King

DEC 22

PREZ - In the Beat of the Night 103.1 WUAG

Geoff Clapp Trio w Rale Micic

DEC 23

Super Yamba Band Holiday Jam

The Hit w Chuck Pinckney

CULTURE | DEC 2 - 8, 2021

Pay to play: Loom Coffee Co. incentivizes local shops CULTURE to pay a living wage by Sayaka Matsuoka

hristopher Pierce and Ashley Griffeth don’t mind paying more for their cup of coffee. In fact, they want others to get used to it too. Loom Coffee Co. opened for business in early 2020, shortly after the pandemic, specializing in what is known as “third-wave specialty coffee.” The co-founders, Christopher Pierce and Ashley Griffeth, collectively have more than two decades of experience working with coffee. “I realized that Greensboro is a more opportune place to do something like this because it’s not on the map in terms of specialty coffee,” says Pierce who lived in Asheville prior to moving to Greensboro. In order for coffee to be labeled as specialty, it has to adhere to certain standards and receive scores above 80 points from the Specialty Coffee Association. But what Pierce and Griffeth are aiming to do isn’t just bring high-quality brews to local shops. They’re looking to change the way customers, baristas and business owners think about coffee as a whole. “In Greensboro, you’ve got a lot of cafés that are not so much about showcasing the talent and skill of the craftspeople but more about customer service and the customer experience,” says Pierce, who worked in horticulture before getting into coffee. “And I think that to really have quality, you’ve got to have a marriage of both.” One of the main issues that both Pierce and Griffeth say they see in many coffee shops is that they don’t pay their employees enough to care about their work, or to see making coffee as a viable career path. “The businesses models that we see in Greensboro are predicated on cheap coffee and cheap labor,” Pierce says. “Folks don’t want to see the price of a cup of coffee go up. They assume that coffee should be cheap and is a ubiquitous commodity. And when it comes to the labor side, those types of the business models tend to rely on the tipping system to pay pretty close to the minimum wage.” A quick look at barista wages on Indeed, a job searching website, confirms Pierce and Griffeth’s claim that those who work in coffee shops often do so for low pay. While the average base salary for a barista in the US is $12.68 per hour, a map shows that in North Carolina, workers are paid 14 percent less than the national average, which would put the hourly rate at just under $11 or $21,450 per year. As past baristas both Griffeth and Pierce know what it’s like to create drinks for customers for low wages. “When you’re not appreciated professionally, there is that type of resentment,” says Griffeth who is the company’s lead roaster. “It’s like, Well, I don’t want to learn more. I don’t want to make money for you.” But in order to enjoy great coffee, you need not only a great starting product, but also skilled, incentivized laborers, they say. “When someone’s working for close to minimum wage, they don’t see that as a career and you don’t see cafés offering intensive training and a path to growing their skill set,” Pierce says. “So I think that what we want to bring is a place where people can gain skills. Where they can think of themselves as a craftsperson and not just like ‘a barista.’ There’s no unskilled labor in any part of the supply chain.” Currently Loom is working with just one coffee shop in Greensboro: Borough Coffee, a mobile coffee cart that operates at different locations throughout the week. (Disclosure: Sayaka Matsuoka’s husband, Sam LeBlanc, is an employee of Borough Coffee.) They say they’re in conversation to partner with other businesses, but only if the shops confirm that they are willing to pay their employees a living wage — $15 per hour. “Specialty coffee for me speaks to the level of incentives and elevating the experience of coffee in its totality,” Griffeth says. “You’re offering education to baristas and career opportunities to kind of stoke that passion for coffee which I think by necessity translates to the customer. When someone is excit-

Christopher Pierce and Ashley Griffeth are the co-owners of Loom Coffee Co. which opened in early 2020. They have a combined background of more than 20 years of working in the coffee industry and are looking to change the culture of coffee by incentivizing shops to pay their employees more. photos by Bree Bigelow @sunlightvisualsgso

ed about something, it’s something that people can tell and pick up on and it’s also a little contagious and you want to learn more.” They know that it can be hard for shops to immediately pay all of their employees $15 per hour, so they say they’ll work with owners to map out a plan to eventually get them there. But they have to be willing to work with them. “If the situation at a café is such that their business model would crumble if they paid a living wage, then what good is that?” Pierce asks. “That is literally a system of oppression.” And while the two are concerned about those making the coffee drinks getting paid, they also focus their efforts on only buying coffee from importers who pay living wages to the farmers at origin. One of their suppliers, De La Finca out of Holly Springs, is a fifth-generation coffee farmer from Honduras who started importing his family’s coffee to cut out the middleman. It’s about creating an equitable pipeline all the way down to the consumer, they say. That’s even where they name of their company comes from. “We often use this metaphor that quality coffee comes from a tapestry of cooperation,” Pierce says. “And we imagine those individual threads as the individual stories of different people involved. So the more that we can share the stories, the more we enrich the coffee experience and the more we understand about the interconnectivity that happens along the supply chain.” The two have big plans for their business, despite being a small operation. As of right now, they roast to order and mostly do online sales, but they’re looking to sell in local shops too. They’re also waiting on a larger roaster to be delivered so they can start producing more product. And who knows? Maybe a few years down the line, they’ll get to open their own coffee shop. But for now, they’re working on shifting the ones that already exist. “Our business model is based on us having the best coffee in town,” Pierce says. “So if these other brands want to interact with our brand and want to carry our beans, they’ve got to get in alignment with our values.” Griffeth echoes Pierce’s explanation. “The quality is the incentive to make these change,” she says. Learn more about Loom Coffee at their website loom.coffee or on Instagram @loom.coffee. Try their coffee or buy their beans via Borough Coffee.

NOW LEASING THE STEELHOUSE CENTER FOR URBAN MANUFACTURING AND INNOVATION

1451 S Elm Eugene Street #BusinessisBuiltHere

CULTURE | DEC 2 - 8, 2021

CULTURE

by Nicole Zelniker

TAP partners with Prison Books Collective for holiday book drive

othing says holidays like gift giving. But there are numerous barriers to giving and receiving gifts for people who are incarcerated and their loved ones,. Enter the Triad Abolition Project and the Prison Books Collective, whose organizers have collaborated to host a holiday book drive for people who are incarcerated throughout North Carolina. Books are vital to the wellbeing of many people in the prison system. In 2015, Brookings found that higher rates of literacy directly led to a sharp drop in recidivism rates. Studies have also found that people who are incarcerated use books as a way to avoid feelings of hopelessness or to educate themselves. It is often difficult for people living in prisons to access reading materials. The Equal Justice Initiative reports that prisons will discard books deemed too provocative or radical, and multiple sources site that books with hard covers are considered dangerous, as they could be used to smuggle contraband. Prisons are more likely, however, to accept books from organizations like the PBC that are familiar with the rules, recognized by the Department of Public Safety and have a reputation in the community. “That’s one of the reasons we decided to partner with someone doing the work,” said Katie Murawski, part of TAP’s communication, research and direct-action committee. “The books collective, they know what they need to do to get the books to our siblings there,” she continued. “The original idea was to host a book drive for the detention center downtown, but they’re very, very strict. It’s a jail, so some of these people haven’t even gone through their trial yet. It’s mind-boggling that they would make it so hard for people that are basically being held for ransom to get books.”

In addition to their monthly letter-writing campaigns, the people at TAP wanted to do something more personal. As the group has been doing fewer marches in this stage of the pandemic, Murawski and her team came up with an event to support people who are incarcerated this time of year. “They’re isolated for the holidays,” she said. “They’re locked in cages. Even with mail, there’s a big controversy surrounding mail lately, so they’re being really strict on that. We wanted to give them contact with the outside world in a way that keeps them entertained and busy.” Three local bookstores are participating in the drive as drop-off locations, including Scuppernong Books in Greensboro as well as Coffee Park Airstream and Bookmarks in Winston-Salem. Scuppernong has done book drives in the past, but this is the first they have taken part in for people in jail. “It’s also nice to have an organization that knows all the hoops you have to jump through,” said Steve Mitchell, co-owner of Scuppernong. “There are a lot of restrictions. There are books that are banned in the North Carolina prison system, and there’s a list of them on their website. “It’s also very difficult for individuals to send books to people who are incarcerated,” he said. “You can’t buy a book and mail it. We have to mail it for you.” Acceptable book genres include African-American and Native-American nonfiction, business and nonprofit guides, dictionaries and activity books like sudoku or coloring books, among others. Sometimes PBC gets specific requests, but mostly they make do with what they have. “It is a big challenge for people who want to send something to a family member or someone they know, so we’re usually contacted directly from inmates with individual request letters, some really specific and some more general,” said Ivy Shelton, a PBC volunteer who is working on the book drive. “Sometimes we get letters saying, you know, ‘My son’s incarcerated and can you send him something?’” PBC accepts book drive donations year round, but generally sends one or two books at a time due to prison guidelines. Postage tends to be their biggest cost, so monetary donations are just as welcome as books. “It goes back to our main mission, that is to provide resources to help people during imprisonment and to help prepare people transitioning back into society,” Shelton said. “This way, we’re supporting incarcerated people who deserve support and resources.” The book drive runs through January 2022. Donors can give new or lightly used books at Scuppernong Books, Coffee Park Airstream or Bookmarks. Check out PBC’s wishlist at bit.ly/PBCWishlist or contribute monetary donations online at bit.ly/TAPBOOKDRIVE.

SHOT IN THE TRIAD | DEC. 2 - 8, 2021

SHOT IN THE TRIAD South Elm Street, Greensboro

CAROLYN DE BERRY

Viviana Rosales sets up the outdoor section of Terra Blue before opening for the day. The store, owned by Sarah McDavid, has been a fixture on South Elm Street since 1999. During the pandemic, McDavid added merchandise and a working sink to the front sidewalk to encourage safe shopping.