Jamestown News - November 2, 2022

Pig Pickin’ concludes another successful event

By no RMA B. denni S FREELANCE WRITER ndworddesign@gmail.com

Two kinds of guests attended the annual Family Service of the Piedmont Pig Pickin’ fundraiser Oct. 29 — those who enjoyed wearing costumes and those who simply enjoyed seeing all who did. Whichever the case, everyone found the event, “Pigs and Pumpkins: Masquerade Madness,” filled with good food and fun.

Costumes were judged and winners included “Most Unique,” Sydney Harris and Lily Crane dressed as pigs in a blanket, and “Best Couple,” Mark and Tamra Bing ham who came as a lumberjack and tree.

“Every year the themes have been good,” said Carol Collins of Nashville, who often joins her brother Curtis for the Pig Pickin’. “I love dressing up so have especially enjoyed tonight’s theme and ‘Pigs and Poodles’ that had a ’50s theme. The fund raisers are for such a worthy cause.”

Curtis Collins is a member of the board of directors for Family Service of the Piedmont and has been involved with the Pig Pickin’ for 10 years, three of which he served as chair.

“These fundraisers are important because Family Service of the Piedmont directly addresses issues that are important to the health and safety of our community

including domestic violence, child abuse, mental health and financial stability, he said.

“They also make an impact on the indi viduals helped,” added Kelley Canter, who served with her husband Ken as this year’s honorary chairs.

The Pig Pickin’ was held at the home of Elsa and Jere Ayers. Blaze the City, a band from Asheville, N.C., provided music and

the presenting sponsor was Technology Concepts & Design, Inc. (TCDI).

Mark Whitesell, this year’s chair, noted that the success of the event would not be possible without all those who attended and also those who helped sponsor it.

“The crowd seemed to be down slightly, but I think it might be one of our best years for donations,” Whitesell said. “We appre ciate both. I also want to thank Sedgefield

County Club for making parking available to us and putting lights on the fairway for those who wanted to walk across. Also, BBQ Joe’s Country Cooking and Catering for donating the barbeque and chicken.”

As the 13th Pig Pickin’ drew to a chose, one could only imagine what next year’s theme for the event might be. But no imagination is needed to understand the good that the funds raised will do.

Potter family owned vast property in area

By CARol BRook S FREELANCE WRITER cab1hp@gmail.com

Have you ever driven along West Main Street near Jamestown Elemen tary School and wondered how Potter Drive got its name?

Who were the Potters who lived in the house that once stood across from the beginning of that street … and why were they such an influence on the community?

For one, there would be no Forestdale subdivision today if it weren’t for the Potter family.

Jamestown histo rian Mary Browning researched the fam ily and uncovered many interesting facts. In the “Guilford Genealogist”, Vol. XIV (1987), Brown ing found that the 1815 tax list shows Isaac Pot ter, a farmer, owned 165

acres valued at $1,000. She speculated that this property was purchased from David Beard. Beard ran the famous Beard’s Hat Shop on Penny Road. The deed for the property, however, possibly record ed several years after the transaction, shows a date of 1819. This deed is the property of the Historic Jamestown Society.

Research by Mrs. W. G. Ragsdale, Jr., for mer owner of the prop erty, shows the land and a building, probably used as a general store, were bought in 1819 by Potter.

The book, “Roads to Jamestown”, by Yvonne Bell Thomas, notes that Henry Humphries was using the building as a store or saddle and har ness business and it was he who sold to Potter.

According to Brown ing, Potter family tra dition says the original

building was used as a store from 1819-1826. It is not known if Potter ran the store and what was sold there. It was a log structure, v-notched, on a stone foundation.

The log store was con

verted into a house about 1826 with a separate kitchen. Following the Civil War, according to Ragsdale, the walkway between the kitchen and

Quarterly and September golf course figures varied

By CARol BRook S FREELANCE WRITER cab1hp@gmail.com

The quarterly golf course report for the first quarter of the fiscal year showed improvements over the pre vious year, although there were only 120 additional rounds played. Green fee revenue was up 8 percent and cart and driving range fees were up 4 percent. The driving range was closed several weeks for renova tions.

Another area that saw an increase in sales was the pro shop, as merchandise sales were up 28 percent with an increase in special orders.

Food and beverage sales were up 8 percent for the quarter.

“August and September were busy tournaments with our Senior and Men’s Club Championships being held in August,” said Ross

Paving the way on the road to adoption

By no RMA B. denni S FREELANCE WRITER ndworddesign@gmail.com

It does not take a lot of effort to find that every month has one or more spe cial types of recognition.

November is known as National Adoption Month.

President Ronald Rea gan began the initiative in 1984 when he proclaimed a National Adoption Week and President Clinton took it a step farther in 1995 by proclaiming the first National Adoption Month.

Many adoptions occur from foster care situa tions. About 30 percent of these children may be adopted. In recent years, the Children’s Bureau has used November to focus attention on the adoption of teens since they are at higher risk of aging out of

the foster care system.

The theme for this year’s National Adoption Month is “Small Steps Open Doors,” which emphasizes taking time to talk with and listen to youth to earn their trust and help them make good decisions about permanen cy in their lives.

But adoption beginning with foster care is certainly not the only way to grow a family. Parents wishing to adopt may find a child through a certified adop tion agency or by word-ofmouth from someone who knows a woman looking for a family to adopt a child she is unable to raise.

Lifeline Children’s Ser vices, which began in Bir mingham, Ala., is licensed in the state of North Caro lina to offer domestic adop tions. Founded by John Carr and Wales Goebel in

Photo

1981, the organization grew out of a desire to begin an adoption agency that would be an extension of the Cri sis Pregnancy ministry. It would provide a way for a woman to carry a child to term and, if desired, place the child through adoption.

“The men’s desire was not just to lead women not to abort their child, but to support, disciple and walk with the mothers through

the pregnancy and after,” said Herbie Newell, presi dent of Lifeline Children’s Services. “As the organi zation grew and flourished they realized many were interested in having their child placed for adoption. Their mission grew to also recruit families that wanted to adopt, as well as foster families that could care for a child while its mother got back on her feet.

“If a woman expresses a desire to place her child for adoption Lifeline walks her through the process to make sure she believes that is the best thing for her child and is a decision she will not regret in the future. Then we allow her to chose a family she believes is the best one for her child.”

The Internet and DNA testing sites have made the possibility of adoptive chil dren or birth parents not finding each other slim to none according to Newell.

Although some birth mothers still want to be anonymous, most adoptions today are semi-open, which involves the birth mother receiving letters about and pictures of the child, or open and includes visits and phone calls. It is the option of the birth mother which one they want.

Sanderlin, director of golf and recreation. “Jamestown hosted six corporate out ings in September and the month was highlighted by our Jamestown Golf Asso ciation Honor the Veterans Tournament with over 90 participants and the presen tation of colors by Ragsdale High School.”

On the Golf Maintenance side, Superintendent Jamey Claybrook said things went well during the summer.

“We continue to have several irrigation leaks around the course, and we stay on top of those as best

S ee gol F PAg E 2

“Mainly, we want to make sure that all adoptions are legal, ethical and some thing everyone can be com fortable with,” Newell said. “Things that set us apart are we are pro-women and pro-birth mother. We are a Christian organization that wants to minister with acts of service and love to the entire adoption triangle — mother, child and family.”

Adoptions may start at birth and also include step parent adoptions and even adoptions of adults, persons over the age of 18.

There are four main ave nues of adoption: an agency helps a birth mother place her child; an independent family finds a mother will ing to place her child with them; becoming a foster parent with hopes to adopt;

Photos by Norma B. Dennis

Costume winners included Most Unique — Pigs in a Blanket, above, lily Crane, left and Sydney Harris; and Best Couple, at right, — lumberjack and tree, Mark and tamra Bingham.

Above, supporting the event were, left to right, Curtis Collins, Family Service of the Piedmont board of directors; Carol Collins, Curtis’ sister who came from nashville to participate; and tom Campbell, Family Service of the Piedmont Ceo

Photo by Carol Brooks

Although the building is gone, a historical marker stands at the site of the isaac Potter house on west Main Street. S ee P otte R PAg E 2

From The Front

Jamestown woman killed in high Point

By CARol BRook S FREELANCE WRITER cab1hp@gmail.com

The former boyfriend of a Jamestown woman has been charged with her murder. Police respond ing to a shooting at the Super 8 Hotel by Wynd ham at 4400 Regency Dr. around 1 a.m. Oct. 28

found 31-year-old Anita Hyatt suffering from gunshot wounds. Hyatt later died at the hospital.

D’Metruis Hill, 31, also of Jamestown, is charged with first-degree murder and felony use of a firearm. More charges are pending. He is being held in the Guilford County jail without bail.

gol F Co NTIN u E d FR om FR o NT

we can,” Claybrook said. “One of our worst leaks of the year was a 10-inch mainline in July that set us back quite a bit, but it is now fixed and holding.”

Equipment failure with some of the mowers made the grass a little more diffi cult than normal in the fairway and rough.

“Our greens held up very well this sum mer and we believe most of our customers were pleased with them.”

Pre-emergent weed control will be applied and crews have already started to blow and mulch leaves. Covers for the greens are being prepared for colder temperatures.

Winter plans call for removal of several dead trees and limbs, mulching bare areas, and repair of the worst bunkers by replac ing the old fabric and adding new sand.

September report

Total revenue for September 2022 was

This in an ongoing investigation and no additional information will be released at this time.

Anyone with infor mation should contact CrimeStoppers of High Point at 336-889-4000 or submit a tip via the P3Tips app or website.

bedroom was enclosed. Isaac Potter lived in the small house with his wife and seven children.

About 1897-98, Isaac’s daughter, Mary, added a shed to the back of the bedroom, later used as a kitchen and den. Accord ing to the Sept. 11, 1986, “Jamestown News,” a loom room was once attached to the old kitchen.

“What Potter had, in today’s terms,” wrote Browning, “was the land north of the railroad as far east as Dillon Road, and a bit beyond, I think; and all of the land that Forestdale, the school, the shopping center and the businesses on the west side of Main Street rest upon.

the land she had inherited in 1911 for $1,250, to be the new Farm Life School for Guilford County. More property was purchased for the school in 1915. This is where the current public library and Jamestown Ele mentary are now located.

$120,300, down approximately $8,000 from the previous year and operating expenses were $154,903, up 31.45 per cent.

There were 3,180 rounds played com pared to 3,452 rounds played the previous year. Five weather days and one closed day due to Hurricane Ian account for some of the lack of play.

Green fees were down nearly $4,000 but cart rentals were slightly up at 0.63 percent. Pull carts were up the most at 65.22 percent.

Driving range revenue was down 96 percent due to closure for renovation.

Pro shop inventory sales were up 19 percent.

Clubhouse rentals and golf clubs were up 93.48 percent.

The grill had a loss of $1,860, compared to a profit of $1,692 in September 2021.

Thomas’ book also notes that Potter purchased 273 acres from Beard and James Talbert. (Talbert could have been the hus band of Potter’s daughter Nancy.) Browning adds to this information by stating in her book, “Remember ing Old Jamestown,” that Potter bought adjoining property from Talbot in 1819 and from Jesse Field in 1825 and 1838, bringing his total acreage to more than 300, all on the east side of Deep River, away from the original settle ment of Jamestown.

In the “Guilford Gene alogist”, Browning stated, “Other deeds show how Isaac added to the first tract until an extensive acreage on the east side of Deep River, both north and south of the ‘Salisbury Road,’ now the Greensboro-High Point Road, was encompassed.”

“How far north it went, I don’t know, but I think to Perry Road.”

Isaac died around 1864 and the land was divided among his heirs in 1896.

In 1948, Penny Brothers, auctioneers, began offering the remaining Potter Farm lots as a new residential community in Jamestown, Forestdale.

But real estate holdings were not the only side of the Potter family. Also noted is its influence on the education of the James town community.

Henry Potter, son of Isaac, was a member of the Jamestown Township School Committee from 1877-97, according to Browning. The 1870 cen sus indicates he was the agent at the Jamestown depot.

According to a Jan. 23, 1981, article in the “James town News,” Isaac’s daughter Mary sold part of

A do P tion

or international adoption handled by an agency.

“All adoptions have to be done right,” noted Brinton Wright, a lawyer in Greens boro who has been handling adoptions since the 1980s. “There are a lot of rules that people would not know without a lawyer.”

Every state has different laws outlining what expenses can be paid for or reim bursed to a birth mother from an adoptive family. Some expenses that may incur are the birth mother’s medical bills, lawyer fees, court costs and pre-placement assess ments, also called home studies.

However, there is a federal adoption tax credit of up to approximately $15,000 after an adoption is completed. This reimburse ment is used to pay the adoptive parents’ taxes and must be used up within five years. If an adoptive child is a ward of the state, the state will pay up to $2,000 after the adoption is complete.

Usually consent for an adoption comes from the birth mother, but if a birth father was married to the mother or has supported the mother and child, his consent also must be given for the adoption to take place.

Mary, affectionately known as “Aunt Mary,” lived in the house from 1902-12, running a sub scription school in the house. Children who could pay did so, but those who couldn’t pay were able to attend free.

Mary also taught at sev eral other schools in the area.

William and Mary Eliza beth Ragsdale acquired the property in 1948. Browning has said that Mrs. Ragsdale once said that her husband bought up old buildings just so someone wouldn’t make the mistake of pull ing them down.

But nothing could save the Potter house. Today, nothing is left of it. The building suffered major damage in a Jan. 5, 2003, fire and was cov ered by a tarp for many years. Its remains were removed in 2010 and only a marker remains to note its existance.

“Birth parents in North Carolina have seven days to revoke their desire to place their child up for adoption,” Wright said.

Although most adoptions today are open or semi-open, North Carolina requires that social and medical forms for all birth moth ers and birth fathers, if known, be shared with the adoptive parents.

“This provides a word picture of what the birth parents are like, their education, hobbies, appearance, etc.” Wright said.

For legal purposes, adoption is a com plete substitution of family. Adoptive par ents get a substitute birth certificate to replace the original one.

“A person becomes a member of the new family just the same as if he or she is ‘homemade,’ with all the legal rights of any child,” Wright said.

(Note: There are many reliable agen cies available for those wishing to place their child or to adopt. Lifeline Children’s Services reached out to share their story during National Adoption Month. Brinton Wright, PLLC, from the law offices of Brinton Wright in Greensboro assisted with information about the legalities of N.C. adoptions.)

Area Deaths & Funerals

Glenn Clifford Angel, Jr.

Glenn Clifford Angel, Jr., 53 years old, passed away August 7, 2022 at his home. He was born in Wilmington, NC in April 10, 1969 to Glenn Clifford Angel, Sr. And Beverly Richardson Angel. He received his GED from GTCC.

He is surviving are his two chil

dren, Glenn Angel, III and Cicily Angel Cheek, and nine grandchildren.

He was an avid NASCAR fan and loved spending time with his grandchil dren.

Memorial service at a later date.

Letter to the Editor

I am a seeker of truth. An elusive truth regard ing the development of the property, formerly known as The Johnson Farm in Jamestown.

For well over two years, the possible development of this property has been debated and has dragged on through many meetings at Jamestown Town Hall.

Yet, there is still no clarity, no real answers and no true representation of the people of James town.

The property was pur chased for many millions by DR Horton, the largest production builder in The United States. I have to ask, why would a compa ny, beholden to it’s share holders, spend so much on a property without knowing if it could build the massive development planned for this property. Were they given assur ances from a local govern ing body before official approvals?

Why does the James town council postpone decisions time and time again? It is clear that a very large number of their constituents are opposed to the current plans from DR Horton. Are they not duly elected representatives of the town residents, who have been asking them to eliminate the apartments and commercial sections proposed by DR Horton, as well as enlarging lot and home sizes to reflect surrounding communi ties such as Whitting ton Hall, Jordan Creek, Jamesford Meadows and Cedarwood. With empty

commercial spaces in and around Jamestown, why do we need more com mercial space and directly across from existing resi dential neighborhoods? Is it too difficult to drive several minutes to Lowes Foods, Publix, Harris Tee ter, Food Lion and every fast food restaurant and big box retailer on Wen dover Avenue?

The land use attorney hired by Jamestown and paid with Jamestown tax dollars, seems to be DR Horton’s biggest cheer leader, at the council meetings. A bit unusual perhaps?

The Jamestown town manager, Matthew John son, recently appeared before the governing board in the town he resides in. For what rea son? To oppose a large development near his home, using the same arguments against the development that James town residents have been using against the Johnson Farm development. He has been a huge propo nent of the D.R. Horton development that does not affect him and his family. Ironic?

Some of the loudest voices against the devel opment have been bad gered, banned from online discussions and even had veiled threats from back ers of the project.

Doubling the size of the population in Jamestown will destroy the small town feel and lifestyle here. It’s the reason many chose to live here, instead of Greensboro, High Point

or Winston-Salem. The many points about over crowded schools, exces sive traffic along Guilford College Rd. and Mackey Rd., construction traf fic, noise and pollution for at least the next ten years, clearing many acres of old growth trees, the overburdened public ser vices such as emergency services and garbage col lection, go unheeded by town council. At the last meeting in October, they claimed they were look ing into these services, but had no concrete answers for the public.

Do more tax dollars mean more than our qual ity of life in Jamestown? So, the “battle” drags on, with no clear answers, no definitive opposition from our elected officials or pressure on D.R Horton to make serious changes to the current plan and frustration from all sides.

If the mayor and town council truly represented their constituents, this debate would be long over and a sensible develop ment would be planned. Sensible development, envisioned by many resi dents, but not our elected officials.

So I and many other Jamestown residents, electors and taxpayers, continue to seek some truth and clarity, but it does not look promising.

Jeffrey Craig Jamestown

North Carolina’s most interesting political figure

this time become a proud defender of our Constitu tion, including the Second Amendment, our right to bear arms. I was a lawabiding man who was look ing forward to purchasing a rifle at a gun show.”

By d.g. MAR tin oNE o N o NE

Who is the most interest ing political figure in North Carolina today?

Hint: he or she is not on the ballot for this month’s election.

So it might be an office holder. Maybe state Trea surer Dale Folwell or state Attorney General Josh Stein?

Or Lt. Governor Mark Robinson?

All three are likely can didates for governor in 2024.

Nothing against either Folwell or Stein, but Rob inson has them beat on the question of who is the most interesting.

In an August 22 arti cle published by WRAL News, Bryan Anderson wrote about Robinson and his new book, “We Are the Majority: The Life and Passions of a Patriot.”

Until 2018, when he gave a fiery speech about gun rights at a meeting of the Greensboro City Coun cil, Robinson was a politi cal unknown. He had been planning to buy a rifle at an upcoming gun show in Greensboro until he learned that the council was plan ning to cancel the show.

Reacting to the killing of 17 students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Flori da, the council was meet ing to consider possible responses.

“I was upset,” Robinson explains in his book. “No, I was furious. What did the action of a depraved shoot er three states away have to do with me wanting to buy a rifle? Nothing! I had by

When Robinson attend ed the council meeting, he became upset with the antigun remarks and signed up to speak. “I had no idea what I was going to say. I had my beliefs, but I had planned nothing. I stepped up to the podium. What had I gotten myself into?”

Robinson confesses that he was not prepared, “but in a greater sense I knew exactly what I was doing. I was speaking up for every one who just wanted to be a law-abiding citizen of the United States. Every one who wished to enjoy their God-given rights and be left alone to do it. I stepped to the microphone-and made the speech that changed my life.”

In his book Robinson recounts his early life, growing up poor and Black on Logan Street in Greens boro. His memoir would be instructive and moving, even if Robinson had not become an important polit ical figure, the lieutenant governor of North Carolina and likely candidate for governor in 2024.

In his review of “We Are the Majority,” Bryan Anderson makes several important points that could have an impact of North Carolina’s political future, including:

1. Robinson is really pre paring to run for governor, including developing lists of fundraising prospects.

2. He would support eliminating the State Board of Education, stop teaching history, science and social sciences in the fifth grade and below.

3. He is critical of gov ernment financial assis tance because he thinks it leads to dependence. He advocates making abortion illegal, calling it murder, even though he and his

then girlfriend (now wife) decided to terminate her pregnancy in 1989.

4. His relationships with women are strained. “They love to be able to talk a man into submission. And with me, it never happens. They can’t do it.”

5. He mocks gay pride parades and “takes frequent aim at transgender people, labeling them as mental ly and physically unfit to serve in the military.”

6. He “pushes back” on the idea of systemic rac ism which he writes turns the Black experience into a “tale of woe.”

As the 2022 election sea son comes to a close, we are going to hear more and more about Mark Robin son.

Like it or not.

D.G. Martin, a lawyer, served as UNC-System’s vice president for public affairs and hosted PBSNC’s North Carolina Bookwatch

Coffee break

Salome’s Stars

Week of NoV. 7, 2022

ARIeS (March 21 to April 19) You might feel compelled to get involved on the “right side” of a seemingly unfair fight, but appearances can be deceptive. Get the facts before going forth into the fray.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Bullying others into agreeing with your position could cause resentment. Instead, persuade them to join you by making your case on a logical pointby-point basis.

GeMINI (May 21 to June 20) Resist pushing for a workplace decision you might feel is long overdue. Your impatience could backfire. Meanwhile, focus on that still-unsettled personal situation.

CANCeR (June 21 to July 22) Your aspects favor doing something different. You might decide to redecorate your home, take a trip somewhere you’ve never been, or even change your hairstyle.

Leo (July 23 to August 22) You

might want to take a break from your busy schedule to restore your energy levels. Use this less-hectic time to also reassess your plans and make needed changes.

VIRGo (August 23 to September 22) What you like to think of as determination might be seen by others as nothing more than stubbornness. Try to be more flexible if you hope to get things resolved.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Watch that you don’t unwittingly reveal work-related information to the wrong person. It’s best to say nothing until you get official clearance to open up.

SCoRPIo (October 23 to November 21) With things settling down at work or at home, you can now take on a new challenge without fear of distraction. Be open to helpful suggestions from colleagues.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Your creativity can help resolve an emotional situation that might otherwise get out of hand.

Strange But True

By lUCie winBoRne

• In 2015, Colin Furze invented a creative alarm that would literally throw its user out of bed.

• A study in which researchers scanned actors’ brains while they answered questions revealed that their brain activity differed depending on whether they spoke as themselves or as the character they were portraying.

• Female ferrets will die if they go as long as a year without mating, due to elevated estrogen levels.

• Prior to 2011, any drink in Russia with less than 10% alcohol content was legally classified as a soft drink.

• On Aug. 20, 2013, a group of students from Delaware built the tallest Lego tower in the world, standing at 112 feet tall and consisting of more than 500,000 pieces.

• Not that we think you’re likely to drop an ant from the Empire State Building, but if you do, you should know ahead of time that it will walk away unharmed. Due to

Continue to be your usual caring and sensitive self.

CAPRICoRN (December 22 to January 19) You could impress a lot of influential people with the way you untangle a few knotty problems. Meanwhile, a colleague is set to share some welcome news.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Aspects favor recharging your social life and meeting new people. It’s also a good time to renew friendships that might be stagnating due to neglect on both sides.

PISCeS (February 19 to March 20) Congratulations. Your talent for working out a highly technical problem earns you well-deserved praise. The weekend could bring news about a friend or relative.

BoRN THIS Week: Your sense of justice makes you a strong advocate for the rights of people and animals alike.

Synd., Inc.

its proportions and tough exoskeleton, its terminal velocity won’t be enough to kill or hurt it on impact.

• If the sun explodes, we won’t know it until just over eight minutes afterward.

• Pretty much everyone finds TV ads annoying, but at least they don’t normally last too long — with the exception of a commercial for Old Spice that aired in Brazil in 2018 and ran a staggering 14 hours, earning it a Guinness World Record for the longest TV ad ever.

• In the early 1900s, tug of war, pigeon shooting and pistol dueling were Olympic sports.

• Studies suggest that “Huh?” is the closest thing humans have to a universal word. This expression is understood and used in almost every language.

Thought for the Day: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” — Winston Churchill

HELP US HELP OTHERS

don’t give

the world

just

Coffee break

Salome’s Stars

Week of NoV. 7, 2022

ARIeS (March 21 to April 19) You might feel compelled to get involved on the “right side” of a seemingly unfair fight, but appearances can be deceptive. Get the facts before going forth into the fray.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Bullying others into agree ing with your position could cause resentment. Instead, per suade them to join you by mak ing your case on a logical pointby-point basis.

GeMINI (May 21 to June 20)

Resist pushing for a workplace decision you might feel is long overdue. Your impatience could backfire. Meanwhile, focus on that still-unsettled personal situ ation.

CANCeR (June 21 to July 22) Your aspects favor doing something different. You might decide to redecorate your home, take a trip somewhere you’ve never been, or even change your hairstyle.

Leo (July 23 to August 22)

You might want to take a break from your busy schedule to restore your energy levels. Use this less-hectic time to also reas sess your plans and make needed changes.

VIRGo (August 23 to Sep tember 22) What you like to think of as determination might be seen by others as nothing more than stubbornness. Try to be more flexible if you hope to get things resolved.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Watch that you don’t unwittingly reveal workrelated information to the wrong person. It’s best to say nothing until you get official clearance to open up.

SCoRPIo (October 23 to November 21) With things set tling down at work or at home, you can now take on a new chal lenge without fear of distraction. Be open to helpful suggestions from colleagues.

SAGITTARIUS (Novem ber 22 to December 21) Your creativity can help resolve an emotional situation that might

otherwise get out of hand. Con tinue to be your usual caring and sensitive self.

CAPRIC o RN (December 22 to January 19) You could impress a lot of influential peo ple with the way you untangle a few knotty problems. Mean while, a colleague is set to share some welcome news.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Aspects favor recharging your social life and meeting new people. It’s also a good time to renew friendships that might be stagnating due to neglect on both sides.

PISCeS (February 19 to March 20) Congratulations. Your talent for working out a highly technical problem earns you well-deserved praise. The weekend could bring news about a friend or relative.

BoRN THIS Week: Your sense of justice makes you a strong advocate for the rights of people and animals alike.

Couch Theatre

By A M y Ande RS on

The Watcher (TV-MA) — If you’re looking for a new TV show to binge, look no further than this mystery thriller out now. Based on a true story, this seven-episode series focuses on the Bran nock family, who relocated from New York after find ing their dream home in a quiet suburb in New Jersey. Shortly after they move in, the Brannocks begin receiv ing disturbing letters in the mail from someone called The Watcher, who claims to be watching them, and their house, from a distance. These letters, followed by odd interactions with their neighbors, leave the Bran nocks to question their

move. But, little do they know that once they had set their sights on the house, they would never be able to just walk away. (Netflix)

The White Lotus Season 2 (TV-MA) — The huge success that followed the limited series The White Lotus led to its renewal by HBO as an anthology series, prompting a second season with a mostly new set of characters. Jennifer Coolidge reprises her role as Tanya, Michael Imperi oli (The Sopranos) portrays a new troubled character named Dominic Di Grasso and Aubrey Plaza (Parks and Recreation) stars as Harper Spiller. The second season is set in the White

Lotus resort based in Sic ily and explores a range of tough relationship dynamics similar to the ones viewers encountered at the Hawaii resort during the first sea son. The first episode of the season is out now. (HBO Max)

Strange But True

By lUC ie win B o R ne

• In 2015, Colin Furze invented a cre ative alarm that would literally throw its user out of bed.

• A study in which researchers scanned actors’ brains while they answered ques tions revealed that their brain activity dif fered depending on whether they spoke as themselves or as the character they were portraying.

• Female ferrets will die if they go as long as a year without mating, due to elevated estrogen levels.

• Prior to 2011, any drink in Russia with less than 10% alcohol content was legally classified as a soft drink.

• On Aug. 20, 2013, a group of students from Delaware built the tallest Lego tower in the world, standing at 112 feet tall and consisting of more than 500,000 pieces.

• Not that we think you’re likely to drop an ant from the Empire State Building, but if you do, you should know ahead of time that it will walk away unharmed. Due to

its proportions and tough exoskeleton, its terminal velocity won’t be enough to kill or hurt it on impact.

• If the sun explodes, we won’t know it until just over eight minutes afterward.

• Pretty much everyone finds TV ads annoying, but at least they don’t normally last too long — with the exception of a commercial for Old Spice that aired in Bra zil in 2018 and ran a staggering 14 hours, earning it a Guinness World Record for the longest TV ad ever.

• In the early 1900s, tug of war, pigeon shooting and pistol dueling were Olympic sports.

• Studies suggest that “Huh?” is the clos est thing humans have to a universal word. This expression is understood and used in almost every language.

Thought for the Day: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the cour age to continue that counts.” — Winston Churchill

Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me (R) — From director Alek Keshishian (Madonna: Truth or Dare), this docu mentary film zooms in on the past six years of Selena Gomez’s career in Hol lywood. Gomez reached a turning point in her life

when she was diagnosed with lupus. After having battled depression and anxi ety for years leading up to this point, the young star knew she needed to reset and regain her power back, so she focused her efforts on learning how to stabilize her mental health. This docu mentary shows a vulnerable, raw side to Gomez in a way meant to inspire others as she reaches a breakthrough in her personal and pro fessional life. Out Nov. 4. (AppleTV+)

My Policeman (R)

Another notch on Harry Styles’ acting belt this year is the romantic drama film My Policeman, based on the 2012 novel by Bethan Rob

erts. In Brighton, England, during the 1950s, Tom Bur gess (played by Styles) is a policeman who’s deeply within the closet but mar ries schoolteacher Marion Taylor (Emma Corrin) in order to maintain the image that he’s a heterosexual man. However, Tom is in love with a museum cura tor named Patrick, and by choosing to marry Marion, he swears all three of them to secrecy. But can either relationship truly thrive this way, or will Tom have to sacrifice for love? My Policeman is available to stream Nov. 4. (Prime Video)

©2022 King Features Synd., Inc.

Photo courtesy of Netflix Bobby Cannavale stars as dean Brannock in The Watcher

FA m ILy S ERVICE o F T h E P IE dmo NT FP+C