January 2013

janurary 2013

free

We Are More Than Where... It’s Who We Are

BELIEVE

BELIEVE

common ground

A NEW YEARS RESOLUTION the 13% solution

SKIN DEEP

b e l ow t h e s u r fac e

We Are More Than Where... It’s Who We Are Volume: 02

ISSUE: 01

EDITORIAL Managing director /editor

Tony Bates | tbates@wearegreensboro.com Features editor

A. Anthony | anthony@wearegreensboro.com creative director

AJ Bates | abates@wearegreensboro.com Non-profit coordinator

Veronica Bates | vlb@wearegreensboro.com staff writer

Carol Bates Morris | cmore@wearegreensboro.com

ADVERTISING advertising manager

John Graham | jgraham@wearegreensboro.com

Published by: We Are Greensboro 415 Pisgah Church R.d #186 Greensboro, NC 27455 www.wearegreensboro.com 336.310.6017

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Š We Are Greensboro 2012.

All material is strictly copyright and all rights are reserved.

Reproduction in whole or in part without the written permission of We Are Greensboro is strictly forbidden. The greatest care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of information in this magazine at the time of going to press, but we accept no responsibility for omissions, errors, products, services, information or statements made by contributing editors or advertisers. We Are Greensboro reserves the right to deny advertising or any other type of submission that does not meet our standards.

Last chance!!! Once this remarkable exhibit is gone, it’s gone for good!

336.288.3769

Indiana Bones has returned. Don’t miss his exciting adventures

4301 lawndale Dr. Greensboro, NC 27455

www.natsi.org

Contents

06 Believe

09

The Golden Corner

A look into the religious diversity within Greensboro. There is much more that unites us than divides us.

It’s tax time again. Here are a few tips for seniors to help you navigate.

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14

Artist Spotlight Carol Kroll is an amazing artist who plants her own canvases. It’s time to reap what she has sown.

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Events Calendar

Theres something to do everyday in Greensboro, find it here.

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Skin Deep V - Below the Surface

We’ve talked about body modification, now its time to expand the discussion to include our pre-concieved ideas and the need for acceptance.

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The 13% Solution Shop local...This should be at least one of your new year’s resolutions.

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Visitors Must Eat

Photo Album

Sushi, hibachi and other Asian inspirations...You MUST tase Mizumi.

The Fisrt Friday Indie Market is the perfect place to mingle and shop for one of a kind treasures.

Contents <<< 05

Believe Common Ground

T Bates

The New Year always comes in two parts, one a time of reflection on the year we’ve left behind, the second a period of looking forward to new beginnings. For many these reflections as well as the hope for what lies ahead are often manifested in faith and if there’s one thing we have plenty of in Greensboro, it’s faith. With a population serving more than 45 different religions and spiritual affiliations, Greensboro is as diverse a city as any in the U.S. Yet as powerful as religion and diversity can be in terms of societal growth and stimulation, both must come with understanding, because without understanding, without taking the time to know our friends and neighbors, we can never hope to achieve any level of unity and without unity what can we hope to accomplish at all?

There are over 1000 Christian churches alone in the greater Greensboro area and although primarily comprised of Southern Baptists, Christianity is itself an amalgamation of dozens of different denominations including but certainly not limited to Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox not to mention the many sub-denominations and sects of each. Add to that the wealth of Greensboro’s other religions and divine inspirations which include Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and a host of others, and the wide variety of belief systems and those that participate in them becomes even more apparent.

Absorbed in one’s own convictions it becomes easier to underappreciate or even overlook entirely the beliefs of others. Yet with such a spiritual variety, appreciation and understanding are exactly what we need. We hear the term “tolerance” used quite often when discussing the religion of others. But tolerance is only the beginning because tolerance implies the minimal degree to which we can abide something. When we “tolerate” an ideal, a person or anything else the suggestion is that we are merely putting up with it, but we need to go further. Wouldn’t it be more beneficial to be accepting?

Not necessarily accepting in the sense of changing our beliefs, but accepting in terms of another person’s faith and their right to practice what they believe in. After all, who among us would not agree that freedom of faith was and is still considered one of the foundational principles of our country?

It’s one thing for us to take another person’s religion 06>>> believe

at face value, even if we claim to be tolerant of it and accepting of their right to practice it. It’s quite another however to take the time to learn about it and in doing so learn more about our neighbors. For far too long the discussion of religion has been, along with politics, considered a taboo subject by many in our society. Perhaps we’ve been afraid of exposing our differences. On the other hand, if we learn more about others while sharing a bit more of ourselves, we open the doors to the discovery of our commonalities and begin the process of building a unified foundation that can only benefit us all.

In terms of this common ground, even the most cursory look into the beliefs of others reveals that far more of our ideals are shared than any that may differentiate us.

Virtually every religion or spiritual belief system imparts tenets that we all can appreciate. Such doctrines as the belief in something greater than ourselves, the Golden Rule (do unto others…), love thy neighbor, don’t steal, do no harm, speak the truth and most of the other basis’ of the faiths that we hold dear are common in all religions. All of the “Religions of Abraham” (Christianity, Islam and Judaism) as well as most if not all eastern religions (Hinduism, etc.) embrace these as part of their core values. In this light it is easy to understand that we have much more in common than that which divides us.

If we are Greensboro and make no mistake we are, then we must make an effort to act like it, because we are all in this together. Much of what is good for one of us is good for all of us and a stronger sense of our shared common ground can only fortify our ties and in turn our city. Since understanding and acceptance is the key to unity, the tenets we believe in, in other words our faith, is the perfect place to start. To that end, beginning with our next issue we will be visiting the houses of worship of various religious organizations throughout Greensboro to gain a better understanding of faith in our city and what it means to believe.

If you believe that your house of worship, your church, synagogue, mosque, or temple, whatever it may be called has something to offer all of us, contact We Are Greensboro and we will visit you too.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;we have much more in common than that which divides usâ&#x20AC;?

believe<<< 07

Ambleside Gallery

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Senior Tax Tips Carol Bates Morris Staff Writer

I

hope you all had a wonderful holiday filled with great memories of family and friends. Now that the New Year is upon us, it is once again tax time, the time to start gathering our tax information in preparation to give Uncle Sam his due.

Since I am neither an accountant nor a CPA and actually pay one to do my taxes, please do not consider this legal advice. However I searched the web and read quite a few articles on the subject and found some great resources and information that I am sharing below.

Medical Expenses - many seniors, especially those on fixed incomes may be able to deduct medical expenses on their taxes because the allowable expenses often exceed the minimum amount that is required in order to start detcuting (in most cases 7.5% of the adjusted gross income). In addition to the obvious expenses, medical equipment and insurance premiums including long term care insurance may be deductible. You can find allowable deductions on the IRS website for publication 502 Is assisted living tax deductible? - in some cases an assisted living will often report the "medical" as opposed to room & board expenses at the end of the year. Contact the executive director of the community to find out more.

Is in home care tax deductible? - very tricky. If home care aid is providing medical services such as administering medication, help with bathing etc, the cost is probably tax deductible, see the above publication. But it gets tricky if you are paying a caregiver directly as opposed to a licensed agency. If the caregiver is your employee - in regards to taxes you need to make sure you withholding their taxes and matching their contributions.

Tax Deductions & Credits - Those 65 and older may qualify for a special credit as long as their incomes donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t exceed certain thresholds, which vary by filing status. Be sure to consult the I.R.S. Web site for form 524.

Taxable Social Security - to find out more consult this worksheet A Quick Way To Check if Your Benefits May Be Taxable on the IRS website. This often applies to seniors that have substantial additional income in addition to their social security.

While most federal income tax laws apply equally to all taxpayers, regardless of age, there are some provisions that give special treatment to older taxpayers. The following are some examples.

Higher gross income threshold for filing. You must be age 65 or older at the end of the year to get this benefit. You are considered age 65 on the day before your 65th birthday. Therefore, you are considered age 65 at the end of the year. If your 65th birthday is on or before January 1 of the following year.

Higher standard deduction. If you do not itemize deductions, you are entitled to a higher standard deduction if you are age 65 or older at the end of the year. You are considered age 65 at the end of the year if your 65th birthday is on or before January 1 of the following year

The Credit for the Elderly or Disabled applies only to seniors filing Form 1040 or Form 1040A. Seniors can only claim the credit depending on the income reported on Line 38 on Form 1040 and depending on the non-taxable portion of Social Security, pensions, annuities or disability income. These rates vary based on filing status.

(cont. on page 25) golden corner<<< 09

SKIN DEEP PArT V T Bates

We know better or at least we think we do. We know better than to judge a book by its cover and we certainly know better than to judge a person by the color of their skin. Except what if that color is part of a tattoo? Is there a difference? Do we still know better? For the last four months we’ve taken a peek into the world of body art and modification. As those of you who have been following along have hopefully surmised, the reasoning here has always been twofold; 1) to enlighten, to provide some small insight into a world you may not be familiar with and 2) to ask each of us to take a look at our own reactions to appearance. Since what we see is only skin deep, in this last installment we explore the reasons to look below the surface into...

THE SOUL OF THE MATTER

A

s we’ve discovered, the reasons people modify their bodies are as vast and varied as there are people with modifications. Sometimes it’s as simple as an expression of art, a decoration…an earring perhaps. Often it’s related to the memory of someone or something loved or lost, as is the case with many tattoos. Modifications can even be born out of necessity, such as a person with Parkinson’s disease utilizing permanent makeup because the shaking of their hands prohibits them from applying eyeliner or a cancer survivor replacing the eyebrows they lost during chemotherapy treatments. Yes, there are many reasons why someone may choose to modify some part of their body, but then that’s not really the point. The real message here is that the reasons don’t matter. Everything that does matter lies below the surface.

We consider ourselves cultured, highly civilized even. Yet with all of our ethics and sophistication, we often battle with acceptance, freedom of expression and tolerance. Personal choices, especially those that have no adverse effect on others are just that, personal. The fact that each of us has the right to make those choices is the only real factor of consequence.

Do we have to agree? No, of course not, but we do have to respect the rights of each person to choose. None of us will ever subscribe to all of the personal choices others make, and it would be naïve to believe we should. However, just as our hair styles and clothing choices do not affect our neighbors and we would not appreciate any snide remarks and insults they made because of them, we must be mindful of our own attitudes, responses and comments when it comes to the choices of others.

In truth judging someone because of something they have chosen to do to their skin is shameful, just as shameful as judging someone solely based on the color of their skin, their religion or sexual orientation. We’ve heard the arguments, “it’s not the same thing… race is not a choice”. What we’re saying then is that it’s different because it is their “fault” that they made that choice, so it’s alright for us to assume that they’re terrible people and worthy of our admonishment. Yet in essence it really is the same thing entirely. In both of these instances we are judging someone based upon nothing more than their appearance. Further attempts at justifying our bias towards people with atypical body modifications have been made by implying that the changes they have made to their bodies makes them rebellious, translating into a higher level of irresponsibility or a disregard for authority. Maybe, maybe not, but if this were true, then the same rationale would imply that too much or even too little makeup, a new hairstyle or choice in a new fragrance or clothing, or in fact any of the thousand other options we could choose regarding our appearance would be justification alone for determining a person’s worth. The implications run deep. Is it ridiculous to judge our neighbors before we meet them by the colors they’ve chosen for clothing we saw them wearing when they moved in? Of course it is, yet this behavior is practiced every day.

10>>> skin deep

A kid out shopping with his parents sees them react negatively to someone’s appearance, snickering and saying how ridiculous it looks. When he takes that same behavior to school and bullies some other kid, because of their style of clothing or hair color whose fault is it really? The parents will be the first to say “not theirs”. A hypothetical situation, yes but here’s a real one; a young man is in a Midwest bar having a drink. It’s summer and his short sleeve shirt exposes his tattoos. A group of men in the same bar notice the tattoos and begin to make jokes and harass the young man. The situation escalates into a fight and the heavily outnumbered young man is severely beaten. Why did this happen, because he was different and not worth the same respect as we are all entitled to? He was different. It turns out this young, tattooed man was in the military and had recently returned home from his deployment where his actions saved several members of his squad. Would the guys in the bar have treated him any differently if they knew he was a hero? Should it have mattered?

The idea of acceptance is more than a matter of being polite, it’s about changing the way we think and the realization that we should not be judging at all. This is not a new concept. Even the bible says in the first verse of Matthew 7 “judge not lest ye be judged”. If we wholly embrace the concept of freedom as a “God given right” in this case the freedom to choose what we do to our bodies, that right has to extend past our own tastes and include the various tastes of other. As long as we allow our preconceived ideas about other people to influence our actions towards

“The idea of acceptance is more than a matter of being polite, it’s about changing the way we think” them, we become the lessor for it.

It will not always be like this. Each generation pushes the limits set by the previous generation. This idea of becoming more than we were when we started has driven humans to excel far beyond where we may have been otherwise. As we become used to something as a society, the more we are exposed to it, the less we tend to object and the more accepting we become. However, we are not there yet and because we aren’t it becomes especially important to remember there are consequences to our actions, even when those actions don’t affect anyone else. Young people in particular must realize before they permanently alter themselves that it could very well affect how they are perceived by society. Right or wrong doesn’t matter here, because it will happen either way, especially in situations such as applying for certain jobs. As outlooks change, this may become less of a factor, but today the first impression is always appearance and for now at least, appearance is still subjective.

We may not have made the same choices as someone else, but neither would we want everyone walking around in the same color and style of clothes that we wear, driving the same make and color car we drive or living in exact replicas of our home. That’s not to say that we are wrong if we don’t like everyone else’s choices, we certainly don’t have to, however what we should do, what we must do is respect those choices and a person’s right to make them, just as we would want our choices accepted and respected. After all, appearance is only skin deep, but true ugliness Greensboro, North Carolina goes down to the soul.

skin deep<<< 11

Carol Kroll The seeds of art

I

t doesn’t happen often or at least not often enough. That moment of discovery when we see something we are familiar with transformed in ways we had never imagined. I thought I’d seen gourd art before and to a degree I had. I’ve seen them polished and painted and even converted into decorative practical items such as lamps and bowls. Some of what I had seen was lovely, and in truth still is. However, after seeing the work of Carol Kroll currently on display at Ambleside Gallery I had my own moment of discovery, that moment when I realized I hadn’t really seen gourd art at all, until now.

Decorating gourds is nothing new. After all gourds, which in essence are members of the same plant family (Cucurbitaceous or Cucurbit) as pumpkins, squash and melons have been used as decorative pieces, utensils and musical instruments for over 10,000 years. Since that time the process has come a long, long way because, carving a gourd into a useful bowl or water jug, or simply painting it doesn’t come close to describing what Carol Kroll creates. One look at her remarkably crafted artwork is all it takes to be hooked on its detail and beauty, but to fully appreciate the creativity and artistry involved in her work; we must take a closer look at Carol’s process and it all starts with a seed.

Actually, that should read “seeds”, plural because they are many and varied. The first was planted at a young age when Carol, encouraged by her family to pursue her creativity, began taking classes from various artists in oil painting, pastel, watercolor and life-drawing. Carol’s interest in art continued to grow and develop while attending the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Arts in Newark NJ. After graduating from NSFIA and for nearly the next three decades, Carol enjoyed channelling her creativity through her career as a textile designer.

The inspiration for her art comes from what Carol describes in addition to her supportive family as a life-long interest in art and her observations of the natural world, offering that “fractal patterns found throughout nature are an endless source of inspiration and reflect our interconnectedness to all of life”. (cont. on page 20) 12>>> artist spotlight

Artist Spotlight T Bates

Events

January ‘13

MONDAY

14 >>> events

TUESDAY

01

young professional night Every Monday from 4-9 pm at the WFMY News 2 ice rink & presented

by YES! Weekly. If you are between the ages of 20 & 39, show your ID at the skate shed to receive $2 off the regular ticket price of $9. Visit piedmontwinterfest.com for additional information.

07

greensboro sportsplex

08

Monday Night Fun League is but one of the exciting and fun-filled programs brought to you by SOCCEROP. Visit greensborosportsplex.com for schedule & details

greensboro sportsplex Senior Programs... beginning today the Sportsplex is offering three hot sports, Pickleball, Chair Volleyball & Cornhole...have fun while knocking off the “get more excercise” box on your new Year’s resolution list. Visit greensborosportsplex.com or call 336.373.3272 for additional information.

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Food and Film Nico’s Restaurant and Bar 201 N. Elm St. Presents “A Citizen Above Suspicion” Dinner and film with a glass of wine for only $35 (tax and tip not included)! Seating is limited so reserve your seats early.

Call 336.285.9866 for additional info and reservations.

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greensboro sportsplex HEALTH AFTER THE HOLIDAYS For active adults (50 & up) the program includes classes in Zumba, Yoga & Aerobics. A different class each meeting, each class is free or only $5.

Visit greensborosportsplex.com or call 336.373.3272 for details.

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WEDNESDAY

02 GREEN HILL CENTER Green Hill Center for NC Art Celebrates North Carolina Arts with its annual exhibition, Winter Show, through January 13th. Visit greenhillcenter.org for additional information.

09 CHILDREN’S DANCE classes The School of Greensboro Ballet offers their Children’s Dance Program for ages 3-6 throughout the school year using the Leap N Learn curriculum.

Visit greensboroballet.org or call 336.

333.7480 for additional information.

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KARAOKE NIGHT J. Butler’s is the place to be every Wednesday...Brought to you by SoCal Entertainment. It’s all about having fun! You don’t have to be a good singer to have fun at our karaoke shows. Call 336.294.8884.

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greensboro Sportsplex SCHOOL’S OUT...WHO’S IN???

Kids grades K-5 can have a ball on their days off from school in a safe well-supervised environment. This month school is out on the 21st and 22nd...Visit greensborosportsplex. com to get in!

Weatherspoon Museum YOSHUA OKóN: FALK VISITING ARTIST. Yoshua Okón creates staged and improvised situations that challenge notions of reality and truth. Visit weatherspoon.uncg.edu or call 336. 334.5770 for additional information.

Women’s Resource center WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT SERIES IN JANUARY 2013. Enhance confidence in yourself! Explore how you can experience greater life satisfaction. This program is free, call 336275-6090 for additional information and to register.

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KIDSTUDIO At the Center for Visual Arts, Kidstudio is and after-school arts program. Each structured with a different emphasis.

Pick one day or all 5! Visit the center’s website at greensboroart.org or call 336.333.7475 for additopnal information about this and other programs.

carolina theatre AFI’s Top 100 Film Festival #85 A Night At The Opera.This is a must see Marx Brothers classic. Visit carolinatheatre.com or call 336. 333.2605 for showtimes and additional infromation.

EXHIBITION The African American Atelier, Inc. will open its Winter/Spring exhibition schedule with the “22nd Annual Founding Members Invitational Exhibition. Visit africanamericanatelier.org or call 336.333.6885 for additional details.

Calendar

thursday

03

Weatherspoon Museum The Weatherspoon Art Museum on the campus of UNC Greensboro presesnts On the Path to Abstraction: Highlights of the Permanent Collection. Visit this unique exhibit through February 10th.

Check them out online at weatherspoon.uncg.edu or call 336. 334.5770.

10

Ambleside Gallery Solo Exhibition, Recent works by Morgan Samuel Price, through Jan.26th.

See this masterful exhibit along with the other remarkable works at Ambleside Gallery. Visit amblesidearts.com or call 336.275.9844 for additional information.

17 carolina theatre GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA Come enjoy the world famous Glenn Miller Orchestra, the most popular and sought after big band in the world today for both concert and swing dance engagements! Visit carolinatheatre.com or call 336.333.2605 for details.

24 Rodney Carrington

At the Greensboro Coliseum. Comedian Rodney Carrington has eight major record label comedy albums selling over 3 million copies. Visit rodneycarrington.com for info or ticketmaster.com for tickets.

31 FRINGE FESTIVAL 11th Annual Greensboro Fringe Festival at the City Arts Studio Theater. 1/24 to2/10. theatre festival focusing on new works by artists who wouldn’t be able to produce on their own. Visit http:// greensborofringefestival.org for details

friday

04 Center for Visual Artists ARTVENTURE DAYS ! Join us on teacher workdays and school holidays for art-filled days of creative exploration. Your child will draw, paint, sculpt, and play the day away.

Visit greensboroart.org or call 336.

333.7475

11

KIDS KNIT! Hemphill Branch - GSO Public Library Bring your needles; learn to knit.

Learn new skills or just knit with friends. Yarn is provided. Don’t have needles? We have some to get you started. All ages welcome. Visit greensborolibrary.org or call 336. 373.2925 for details.

18 Teen Choice Live!

The45-city nationwide Teen Choice Live! The Tour brings together Olympic gold medalists Gabrielle Douglas, Aly Raisman and Jordyn Wieber, with special musical guest and rising pop stars Megan & Liz. Visit TeenChoiceLive.com for details.

25 carolina theatre The Ultimate Comic Challenge The Finals of this 5th annual event features the best of the five remaining comics.

See which one will bring home the $1000 top prize and the title of the Ultimate Comic! Visit carolinatheatre. com or call 336.333.2605 for details.

saturday

sunday

05

06

Natural Science Center INDIANA BONES IS BACK!!! You are needed to help Indiana save the Animal Discovery Zoo... Saturdays, Sundays and Guilford County school holidays at 11am. Visit natsci.org for details.

12

Greensboro Sportsplex Boone Commish Rogers, & Chris Bootie Idol along with C.I Boards & Sak Attack Cornhole present...The Southern Cornhole Shootout!!! Visit greensborosportsplex.com for details.

19 Justin Bieber live!

At the Greensboro Coliseum. The “Believe” Tour, presented by AEG Live and featuring Carly Rae Jepsen as special guest. Visit bieberfever.com for additional info or ticketmaster.com for tickets.

26 Zac Brown Band Live at the Greensboro Coliseum.Things are just beginning to come together for this accomplished band of brothers, led by one of the most charismatic individuals ever to don a beanie and dominate radio. Visit greensborocoliseum.com for additional information.

CHESS CLUB Knights oF Vandilia Chess Clubat the Hemphill Branch - Greensboro Public Library, for ages 6 and up; all skill levels welcome. Every Sunday from 2 - 4 pm. Visit greensborolibrary.org or call 336. 373.2925 for details.

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Greenhill center Green Hill Center for NC Art Celebrates North Carolina Arts with its annual exhibition. Today is the last day to see first hand the amazing works by NC artists. Visit greenhillcenter.org for additional information.

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Natural Science Center LAST CHANCE!!! the Accidental Mummies of Guanajuato Exhibit has been extended until January 20, with a new special rate. This is your last chance to see it, or see it again! Visit natsci.org for additional information.

27 Natural Science Center INDIANA BONES IS BACK!!! You are needed to help Indiana save the Animal Discovery Zoo... Saturdays, Sundays and Guilford County school holidays at 11am. Visit natsci.org for details.

Planning an event? List it for free at

wearegreensboro.com Visit us online for additional events

events<<< 15

W

e’ve said it before; Greensboro is a rare gem, a unique combination of big city vitality and small town community, a combination that is rare even under the most idyllic circumstances. The distinctiveness of Greensboro, what gives it its flavor, is due in large part to the vibrant small business and art communities that thrive here.

However, without our help these communities could vanish taking with them the heart of Greensboro itself. Likewise, what would Greensboro be without the colleges and universities that call the “Gate City” home? This is not some rhetorical question with no basis in the realm of possibilities. On the contrary, the hypothetical scenario brought to mind here has enormous potential to become reality yet it’s actually quite simple. If we as consumers continue to bypass small locally owned shops and boutiques on our way to large, corporate one-stop megastores then the need for and by extension the existence of small shops would cease, with the same holding true for the arts community and the institutions of higher learning. But this doesn’t have to happen and the power to ensure that it does not lies within each of us.

In a nutshell the theory is this, if each of us can commit 10% of what we spend to locally owned, independent businesses we will greatly improve our economy. This is not some random determination with no evidence to support it. Cities all across the country have already begun to calcu-

Above: Independent, locally owned Lillo Bella (507 State St.) is but one of the distinctive shops that make the State Street district such a jewel late what the benefit to local economies would be if everyone shifted just 10% of what they will already spend. At the Arizona website “www.shiftarizona.com” even non-residents can use the calculator on the site to determine the additional amount that would recycle back into the local economy if they committed just 10%. For instance if someone shifted 10% of a $5,000.00 spending budget (food, clothing, artwork, whatever they would normally buy) they would add an additional $150.00 to the local economy. If just 100,000 of the roughly 270,000 residents in Greensboro made the 10% shift, the local economy would be boosted by approximately $15,000,000. That’s right, if a little more than 1/3 of the people in Greensboro made slight changes to the way they spend the money that they already need to spend, there would be fifteen million additional dollars available in the local budget. This is not small change. How many roads could be fixed or schools could be properly staffed and supplied with $15,000,000? How many additional police officers or fire-fighters would $15,000,000 pay for or how much could each of our tax bills be reduced if this were to become a reality?

Hint? The mall is packed

16>>> The 13% Solution

A New Year’s Resolution

The 13% Solution

Tony Bates

There’s no magic to how this concept is possible, in fact it’s an idea that we’ve discussed here before. Although the figures vary slightly, it is a widely accepted fact, verified by numerous state impact studies that up to 45% of money spent locally is recycled back into the local economy compared to 14% for large chains. To be fair, other studies have place the figures as close as 68% (local) compared to 45% (national chain) depending upon the community make-up, but still that’s a minimum 23% more for the community, amounting to as much as $68 of every $100 spent. Regardless, the benefit is clear, spending locally helps and North Carolina is already on

more local suppliers than chains (per dollar). The additional jobs then pay employees who spend it, in turn creating more jobs and so on and so on. Monies spent locally remain in the community longer and have greater benefit and the beauty of it is that it won’t cost us any extra.

On any given day the masses drift in and out of Walmart, Target, Macy’s and the rest of the “big box” stores found in almost every city. Each with our own reasons, we search for sales, and of course the convenience of various items in one place. But what do we

“shopping at locally owned, independent stores returns on average 45% of every dollar spent back to the community” board with this concept. NC State University sponsors a website committed to this idea. “www.ncsu.edu/project/nc10percent” proposes that each of us commit 10% to buying locally grown food and they will even help track the results and keep participants abreast of the progress.

What’s more, the benefits don’t just stop at the initial increase.

Through what is known a “multiplier effect” the initial money recycled into the economy continues to be returned, again and again. For instance, local businesses create more jobs and support

give up? Instead of making an extra stop or two to visit a locally owned store, we opt to buy the artwork for our living room from the same store we purchased our toilet seat from. Are we really to believe that the best artwork for the price will be found here? Will really get the best quality or price? There are benefits to having the availability of large big-box stores around and no one is suggesting that we avoid them all together. But 10% is not asking a lot, it’s only one out of every ten purchases. (cont. on page 22) The 13% Solution<<< 17

Mizumi hibachi & sushi

Miso Soup & Seaweed Salad 18 >>> Must Eat

visitors must eat T Bates

F

irst, while this installment of Visitors Must Eat focuses on what is foremost a sushi establishment, this is by no means is a fish story. It is not a fish story because fish stories as a rule tend to exaggerate the facts and everything youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re about to read here is 100% truth. As a disclaimer I must admit that I was initially conflicted going into Mizumi Hibachi and Sushi, after all my experience with sushi is limited to say the least. Luckily, my familiarity with hibachi style cooking runs much deeper and as it turns out that my associate for this adventure, AJ (who is also We Are Greensboroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Creative Director) is quite the sushi connoisseur.

Arriving at Mizumi we entered into the first of three distinct dining areas, the sushi bar. The bar which seats eight, affords diners a close-up view of sushi chef Danny as he prepares what can only be defined as masterpieces (more on that later). This same area also has four tables for those preferring a more standard dining experience. Moving towards the back and up one level we found a more traditional Japanese dining

arrangement composed of four semi private spaces complete with Chabu-Dai (low Japanese dining tables) and Zabuton (a cushion used when sitting on the floor). Located in the back of the restaurant is a more customary restaurant setup with numerous round tables and situated with the ability to be cordoned off for private parties or rental space. The entire space is designed to flow seamlessly from one dining room to another and decorated in a modern Asian motif with just enough traditional flair.

The dining experience itself was quite extraordinary.

Starting with Miso soup (a fish based broth accented with scallions, seaweed and diced tofu); we each followed up with the seaweed salad (finely grated with a light Asian inspired sesame dressing). The soup which I expected to be bland, instead harmoniously combined several layers without being overpowering. The salad which was a first for me was lighter than I expected with a delicious sesame flavor.

(cont. on page 24) must eat<<< 19

(cont. from page 12)

Once properly cured, they have the look and feel of wood. Gourds have been and Other seeds were sown when the outstill are being used by people all over the sourcing of her job afforded Carol the world as storage vessels, utensils, containopportunity to, as she puts it, “reinvent ers, birdhouses and for musical instruherself ”. A deeply felt connection to naments. For added durability in my own ture and a desire to grow her own food work with gourds, once I complete the brought her to the “unique and invalucarving and before moving on to paintable Sustainable Agriculture program ing, I apply a sealer. Upon completion offered at Central Carolina Community of the entire piece, I use several coats of College” after which, armed with her sealer inside and out. Naturally, the more impetus to apply her new found knowlcarving in a piece, the more fragile it edge, Carol and her partner started a will become and should be handled with small market garden in 2006. Carol soon care. The versatility of the gourd allows discovered that “growing me the freedom to transgourds and using them Using multiple artistic techniques form them into functional as an art medium was the objects such as lamps, wall perfect marriage of art and Carol’s work embraces a wide sconces, luminaries and nature”, adding that “It spectrum of styles earring holders or turn fulfilled in me the desire them into pieces of art”. to explore artistic ideas using something ing different types of clay in conjunc- Whatever the finished piece of made by nature”. Planting her own seeds, tion with the gourds. When asked how art will be, each one starts with a seed. in turn growing her own gourds, then she would describe her work in her own It may have to mature, be cultivated, harvesting, drying and preparing them to words; she offers that “my artwork is di- cured, carved and painted, but in the end become the three-dimensional canvases verse in subject matter and style. It can it is us who reap the benefits. Visit Carol Carol uses to create her works is a process range from modern to contemporary to Kroll’s website (carolkrollart.com) for that can take over a year, and that’s before more traditional. Sometimes I will use a more information on this amazing artthe actual art work even begins. Unlike a combination of several styles in one piece. ist and to view additional images of her blank flat canvas, it seemed impossible to For instance, I may reference a traditional work. Or, to truly experience the depth envision what the finished product would style of Japanese art in my depiction of a of her remarkable art, stop by Ambleside be, especially in the initial stages of the tranquil scene from nature wood-burned Gallery at 528 South Elm Street and see process. When asked, Carol explained on a gourd that I carved and shaped into her works as they were meant to be seen, that I was half right. She knows the basic a contemporary form”. live and up close. Better still, take one shape by the type of seed she has planted, While some of her pieces may (or more) home, have your own moment further explaining that “once the gourds indeed be more delicate than others and of discovery and continue to reap what have been cured and cleaned, I live with therefore consigned to decorative pur- Carol Kroll has sown. them for a while, letting them tell me poses, Carol explains that, “Hard-shell what they want to be. I begin work on gourds are both sturdy and functional.

20 >>> Artist spotlight

the gourd with an idea, but the gourds thickness and natural markings help determine the direction I will take with the engraving, puncturing, painting or addition of clay. During the entire process, I am guided by the gourd itself ”.

Using multiple artistic techniques Carol’s work embraces a wide spectrum of styles and media. For any given piece she many use any one or a combination of gouache, acrylics, alcohol inks and pyrography as well as found objects in nature such as cedar roots and twigs, noting that she recently began us-

natural wonder

Artist Spotlight

Carol Kroll harvesting a gourd

Carol Kroll

The seeds of art

Individual images appear courtesy of carolkrollart.com Group images are from Carolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ambleside Gallery display

Ode To Nature

Ode To Nature 2

Van Gourd

beyond

Aritchoke

Ode To Nature 3 Artist spotlight<<<21

The 13% Solution (cont. from page 17) Detractors will argue that large corporate chains being bigger hire more people and pay a larger amount of taxes, and that’s true. But, and this is the real point, dollar for dollar more of the money spent at locally owned stores is returned to be recycled throughout the community. Meaning that every dollar we choose to spend at the local store will return at least $.68 compared to only $.45 from the chain, an additional $.23 per $1.00…$23 per $100.00…$230,000 per million. According to the data at CLR Research (clrsearch.com) in 2010 over $700,000,000 was spent in retail establishments in Greensboro. Suddenly if becomes easier to envision what an additional shift of 10% would do for each one of us.

Since it would be so easy to commit 10%, We Are Greensboro is suggesting we up the stakes for our city. If we can make a resolution to commit not 10 but 13% to our locally owned independent businesses, you know the ones owned by our friends, our neighbors and our relatives imagine the precedence we could set, the inspiration we can be and all the good we can do. Our city has needs.

We can continue with business as usual by ignoring some and relying on ever increasing taxes to fix the rest, or we can be proactive and make the changes happen ourselves, all without spending an additional dime.

This year make a new year’s resolution that a) can be kept and b) will do some real good both for yourself and the community, make your resolution the 13% solution.

Hints (top) 236 S Elm St # F and Design Archives (right) 342 South Elm St are two examples of of the unique shopping available in Greensboro.

22 >>> the 13% solution

16 >>> the golden corner

(cont. from page 19) Both starters, as enjoyable as they were, became just a pleasant memory as my Hibachi chicken and shrimp arrived. The generous portions needed neither the white nor teriyaki sauce which was provided as they were already flavorful, each retaining their own unique tastes. It was easy to notice that the chicken was tender and juicy before ever sampling it, but doing so served as a pleasant confirmation.

The large shrimp was done to a turn without the slightest hint of overcooking which is so often the case when presented in combination.

The side of hibachi vegetables (zucchini, carrots, onions and broccoli) was tender without being overdone while the lightly fried rice provided the perfect balance to the seasonings of the hibachi sauce. Two light and crispy egg rolls rounded out this delightful meal. For the rare non-sushi love in your group, they also serve a wide variety of Chinese style dishes including their house special Mizumi’s Nest.

Danny has been perfecting his craft for the last six years, most recently in NY where he developed such noteworthy specials as the Danny roll, Gozzila roll, Cherry roll, Black Dragon roll, Volcano and more. In fact, he is so well versed that

24 >>> must eat

if you don’t see your favorite, or have a unique combination you prefer, just ask your server and Danny will be happy to accommodate you.

The sushi was presented with such artistry that two new arrivals couldn’t help but stare while anxiously whispering to each other. Our waiter produced what should really be referred to as a work of art. What he so deftly delivered was a platter, delicately set with three layers of sushi and sashimi decorated with bamboo, banana leaves and even flowers. Before you assume that the decorations were there to distract, even I was impressed with the depth of flavor in the California Roll I stole from AJ’s plate (it was the only [pseudo] sushi I knew so I insisted he include

it in his order). I have it on the very best authority that the rest of the meal was equally impressive. Both the tuna and salmon sashimi were ultra-fresh as was the Tiger Roll (soft shell crab, cucumber, lettuce and masago).

When I pushed for more of a description I was told that it’s complicated. It turns out that good sushi (and sashimi for that matter) has a very mild, almost indiscernible taste. The differences come in the textures and amount and choice of the various sauces and spices used (ginger, soy sauce and of course wasabi). Still, Mizumi’s sushi and sashimi is as fresh as or fresher than anywhere else in Greensboro. Add to that the multiple seating options, décor and the knowledge and friendliness of the staff and it becomes clear, Mizumi is a must eat for you and your visitors alike!

Located on the northwest corner of State Street at Golden Gate Dr., Mizumi is open from 11am to 10pm Sunday through Thursday and 11-11 Friday and Saturday, offering lunch specials 11-3 daily. Having only recently opened September 5th, Mizumi Hibachi & Sushi is the newest resident of the historic State Street shopping district, one more of the many reasons to visit the area.

Mizumi hibachi & sushi

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309 State St. greensboro, NC 27408 Tel: 336.230.2266 Fax: 336.691.8030 Hours: Sun - Thurs: 11a - 10p Fri - Sat: 11a - 11p

(cont. from page 09

Reminders - Tax return preparers. Choose your preparer carefully. If you pay someone to prepare your return, the preparer is required, under the law, to sign the return and fill in the other blanks in the Paid Preparer’s area of your return. Remember, however, that you are still responsible for the accuracy of every item entered on your return.

Future developments. The IRS has created a page on IRS.gov for information about Publication 554, (Tax Guide for Seniors) (2001) at www.irs.gov/pub554. Information about any future developments affecting Publication 554 (such as legislation enacted it’s release) will be posted on that page.

Underpayment. Quite simply, ou are responsible for paying it, plus any interest and penalty that may be due.

Sale of home by surviving spouse. If you are an unmarried widow or widower, you may qualify to exclude up to $500,000 of any gain from the sale or exchange of your main home.

Third party designee. You can check the “Yes” box in the Third Party Designee area of your return to authorize the IRS to discuss your return with your preparer, a friend, family member, or any other person you choose. This allows the IRS to call the person you identified as your designee to answer any questions that may arise during the processing of your return. It also allows your designee to perform certain actions.

Employment tax withholding. Your wages are subject to withholding for income tax, social security tax, and Medicare tax even if you are receiving social security benefits.

Please Help Me! - The AARP has set up Tax-Aide which offers free assistance for federal and state returns. For the location of an AARP Tax-Aide site in your community, call 1-888-227-7669. When asked, be ready to press in or speak your 5-digit ZIP code. Or, you can visit their website on the Internet at www.aarp.org/money/taxaide.

Return preparation assistance. The IRS wants to make it easier for you to file your federal tax return. You may find it helpful to visit a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE), or American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) Tax-Aide site near you.

The Internal Revenue Service provides free tax help through Tax Counseling for the Elderly program. The program is sponsored by the AARP, which offers in-person tax counseling. The service is provided by certified AARP Tax-Aide volunteer counselors. TCE looks to help low- to middle-income individuals who are at least 60 years old, offering assistance at more than 7,000 sites in the United States.

For information on Tax Counseling for the Elderly, call 800-829-1040. Additionally, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly program aids taxpayers age 60 or older fill in and file their returns. For the VITA/TCE site nearest you, contact your local IRS office.

I hope I have given you enough information to at least get started about thinking about your tax returns. Again, I am not an expert in this field and the information being provided should not be considered all inclusive of available information. Happy Filing! Next month, I am not sure what I will be writing about but whatever it is, I hope is it fun, enjoyable and serves as a resource to many in the golden corner<<<25 skin deep<<< 25 Greensboro Community.

Photo A Christm 26 >>> holiday indie market photos

Album mas 2012 T. Bates

Holiday Indie Market<<<27 photos<<<27

Greensboro is home to eight different institutes of higher education. There is a building in Greensboro that was designed by Walter Gropius, who is widely regarded as one of the pioneering masters of modern architecture. The Natural Science Center of Greensboro is home to a Bengal/Siberian hybrid tiger. Even the North Carolina Zoo doesn’t have a tiger. The Greensboro Children’s Museum is home to the only publicly accessible Edible Schoolyard program in the country.

And while Greensboro may not be a bustling metropolis or a leading financial center, it has its share of interesting and cultural offerings. Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t seem to know how great Greensboro is. That’s why a group of community members and business owners founded Love Greensboro.

Love Greensboro was formed to give residents a unified way to share all the wonderful aspects of the city. It’s about getting people to appreciate what’s here. Their mission is twofold: First, they want to teach people to love where they’re from, to know what resources are available, and educate themselves about things to do. It’s about the importance of celebrating pride of place and building a strong, lasting sense of community.

The second part of their vision is to market Greensboro. Their goal is to promote to the people who live here. Then as Greensboro grows, reach out on a regional and national level to advertise what the city has to offer, from the small independent businesses to the big corporations.

Greensboro has come along way in the past few years, but the city has room to grow and Love Greensboro wants to be a part of it. This is a chance for all of us to contribute to promoting our city and seeing it grow together. It’s a total volunteer effort. They have established an endowment fund housed at the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro for continued support and future activities.

The group invites everyone to get involved. You can find them by searching LoveGreensboro on Facebook. Their website is lovegreensboro.com. Even displaying a sticker, which you can pick up for free, makes you part of the cause in supporting Greensboro.

If there was ever a time when a name said it all, this is it.

Love Greensboro is on a mission to make you fall in love.

Visit Love Greensboro online at lovegreensboro.com