April 30, 2020

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Inside:

• See Opinion/Forum pages on A4 &5 •

Volume 46, Number 32

W I N S TO N - S A L E M , N . C .

• See Sports on page B1•

THURSDAY, April 30, 2020

$30M Choice Neighborhoods Grant could be good news for supporters of Ashley Elementary

Last week the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that the Housing Authority of Winston-Salem (HAWS) has been awarded $30 million for a complete makeover of the Cleveland Avenue Community.

The Choice Neighborhoods Grant is a federal grant designed to replace outdated public housing units with mixed housing and single-family homes.

HAWS announced they were applying for the grant (for the fourth time since 2016) last fall. To apply for the grant, HAWS was required to partner with the city, who is responsible for handling projects such as roads, streetscapes, and parks.

In a press release issued by the City of WinstonSalem, Kevin Cheshire, executive director of the Housing Authority said, ““It’s been a long time coming. I’m excited that our persistence has paid off. I’m excited for our residents and I’m eager to see the transformation that comes out of this.”

Mayor Allen Joines said, “This is great news for the entire community.

Local agencies came together to submit a plan that really was designed by the citizens themselves through our public-input process. I’m happy for them and for the transformative effect that this is going to have not only for the Cleveland Avenue Homes, but for the surrounding area.”

The bulk of the grant will be used to replace more than 200 apartment units with 406 new units of housing. The area that will be directly impacted by the renovations stretches

along Cleveland Avenue near Martin Luther King Jr. Drive to 21st Street.

Powered by a “comprehensive approach” to neighborhood transformation, the grant not only revitalizes housing but also puts emphasis on improving service, education, and other programs within the community, which could mean good news for supporters of the construction of a new Ashley Elementary.

Last fall WinstonSalem/Forsyth County Schools made a request to purchase 18 lots located near 21st Street and New Hope Lane to replace the aging school currently located near North Jackson Avenue. To finalize the deal, the city council had to rescind a previous deal for the sale of 24 lots to HAWS in the same area.

Talks about replacing Ashley have been ongoing for more than a decade.

According to representatives from WS/FCS, the project was left off the 2016 Education Bond

File Photos

Last week the Housing Authority of Winston-Salem announced that they have been awarded the $30 million Choice Neighborhoods Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). causing upper respiratory issues. In response to the mold issue, the school board voted to spend $1.38 million to replace HVAC units and install dehumidification systems throughout the school, but many people only saw the improvements as a BandAid on a broken leg. A few

U.S. Department of Education.

In the lawsuit, Action4Equity and others allege WS/FCS violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin. The complaint says, “WS/FCS’s failure to

HAWS receiving the Choice Neighborhoods Grant is good news for supporters of Ashley Elementary. A replacement for the aging school will be built in the area that will be transformed by the $30 million grant. to make room for other projects. Although Ashley opened as an elementary school in the mid-1990s, the building was originally built in the 1950s and operated as a middle school until it closed in the 1980s.

In 2018 faculty, staff and students at the school complained that lingering mold in the school was

months later, Action4Equity, a group formed in response to the handling of the mold issue, and several local organizations, including the WinstonSalem NAACP, Ministers’ Conference of WinstonSalem, and several others, filed a discrimination complaint against the local school system with the

quickly and fully address the poor facility conditions at Ashley has weighed significantly more on one race than others because Ashley is a racially identifiable school.”

Less than six months after the complaint was filed, the Office of Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education agreed

to look at the claim. Kellie Easton, coordinator for Action4Equity, said although she’s happy to see development come to the community, stakeholders should make sure that the people who live and work in the community every day have input.

“The community definitely needs development, we’re experiencing development throughout the downtown area and there is not enough projects going on in historically black communities,” Easton continued “So I’m happy about that; however, we do have to make sure that there is a community driven process around the development that centers the voices of the community.”

With the possibility of Ashley becoming a vocal point of the redevelopment of the Cleveland Avenue Community, Easton said it makes sense to build the community around the school. She said if done right, this could be an opportunity for people in the community to build the community they deserve.

“It makes sense to build the school in the community and for the community to develop around it,” Easton said.

“This is a time to be really intentional about building a community everyone can be proud of and feel safe and children can grow.”

If a new Ashley Elementary is built, the complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Education

would ultimately come to an end. The complaint calls for “a measurable resolution of the complaint,” which includes the construction of a new school.

It is important to note that although land has been purchased for the construction of the new school, WS/FCS will still have to find funding for construction. To get funding, the district will have to make some changes to the projects approved in the 2016 bond or wait until another bond is approved by voters.

A new school would cost about $30 million.

When discussing the future of Ashley with members of city council, Darrell Walker, WS/FCS assistant superintendent, said after having discussions about the Choice Neighborhoods Grant, school officials decided to explore their options. He said they saw it as an opportunity to provide wraparound services for students and the community as a whole.

“Our plan is not to just build a school. We consider schools more now around community centers and getting people in our community to get involved in our schools after hours,” Walker said. “We would like to partner up and build some wraparound services at this school related to health care, dental, daycares, those kinds of things for families.”

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BY TEVIN STINSON THE CHRONICLE

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The C hronicle

WSSU grad works with CSEM, Tate Consulting on economic mobility

BY JOHN RAILEY CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF ECONOMIC MOBILITY

For Quinton Benson, it all started that day he saw the boy in the grocery store.

That was back in the spring of 2014. Benson, then a student at WinstonSalem State University, was working a cash register at the Food Lion on New Walkertown Road to put himself through school. A boy of 9 or 10 was trying to pay for some items, but did not understand how the sales tax worked. The boy’s mother did not understand either, but cussed her son out, right in front of Benson.

Benson, who grew up on the poverty line in Spartanburg, S.C., felt terrible for the boy and decided to do something to help youth like him. So began a journey that now finds Benson with his own branding and photography company. He is a player in economic mobility efforts in East Winston, including through his work with Center for the Study of Economic Mobility

Quinton Benson on site with his photo equipment.

(CSEM) and Tate Consulting. It is a partnership that promises to be a win for all.

In high school, Benson said, he was a class clown until he was fortunate to have a teacher take an interest in him, introducing him to Photoshop, the standard software for graphics editing. Benson found his talent. By the time he encountered the boy while working in the grocery store, he knew he wanted to return the favor

by helping others find their talent. He started a student group at WSSU, Young C.H.I.E.F.S. (Children Helping Influence & Eliminate Future Statistics).

The group went doorto-door in East Winston, meeting boys and girls and mentoring them.

As Benson did so, he advanced in his studies.

Through one of his WSSU professors, Endia Beal, he met Carol Davis, who runs the Enterprise Center on Martin Luther King Drive.

Submitted photo

He graduated in 2016, and soon thereafter, he set up Royalty Branding, royaltybranding.com, in the Enterprise Center.

Davis said: “Quinton Benson is a talented photographer and graphic design graduate who runs The Enterprise Center Digital Media Studio while doing work for his clients and helping other visual artists with their work.”

Benson liked the idea See WSSU on A3

Crisis Control Ministry announces May of Hope on May 5 to support local restaurants SUBMITTED ARTICLE

Crisis Control Ministry had planned to host its 30th annual “Hope du Jour” fundraiser on Tuesday, May 5, benefiting its programs and services provided to families throughout Forsyth County. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the fundraiser has been rescheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020.

But that doesn’t mean the day will go unrecognized. The first Tuesday in May each year, over 130 restaurants, bakeries, breweries and coffee shops in Winston-Salem, Kernersville and throughout Forsyth County come together

to support Crisis Control Ministry by donating 10% of their proceeds for the day to the organization.

This year, Crisis Control Ministry asks the community to return the favor.

“Hope du Jour has become a great tradition in our community,” said Margaret Elliott, executive director of Crisis Control Ministry. “With all of the restaurants being impacted by the coronavirus and the stay-at-home order, we have jointly agreed to reschedule Hope du Jour for the fall. We encourage people to support Hope du Jour partners still open by ordering takeout and gift cards.“

Crisis Control Ministry is encouraging people to order takeout from the Hope du Jour restaurants still offering takeout, curbside pickup, and/or delivery, on May 5, which has been named May of Hope, to help struggling local food establishments.

“Local restaurants have been assisting our neighbors in crisis by participating in Hope du Jour for the past 30 years,” said Abbey Riesett, special events and marketing manager at Crisis Control Ministry. “Now is the time for us to help them through the impact of the coronavirus by providing them hope that they can survive.”

For more information and the list of participating restaurants still open, visit hopedujour.org.

Now in its 47th year with offices in WinstonSalem and Kernersville, Crisis Control Ministry’s mission is to assist people in crisis to meet essential life needs and to become self-sufficient. Crisis Control Ministry provides financial assistance with housing and utilities, food, and prescription medications. For additional information, visit www.crisiscontrol.org.

Assistance coming for families with children eligible for free, reduced lunch SUBMITTED ARTICLE

Families with children who would receive free and reduced lunch at school will be getting assistance to buy food as part of the new Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (PEBT) Program.

This U.S. Department of Agriculture program helps families impacted by school closings due to COVID-19 purchase food for their children. It provides benefits on an EBT card to North Carolina families whose children, under the age of 18, would receive free and reduced lunch.

There is no application process to receive P-EBT benefits. The benefits will be issued according to N.C. Department of Public Instruction files for children enrolled in the free and reduced lunch program.

Eligible families already receiving Food and

Nutrition Services (FNS) benefits will receive an additional benefit on their existing EBT card.

Families not already enrolled in FNS will be mailed an EBT card in the next few weeks. Those families will first receive a letter from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services in the mail explaining how to activate and use their card.

Families will be able to use the P-EBT benefit to purchase food items at EBT authorized retailers, including most major grocery stores. They will receive a total of around $257 per child over two installments, with the possibility of an additional benefit if North Carolina schools are closed beyond May 15. The first of the two installments will account for a higher percentage of the $257 per child, since it’ll cover the school

closure days in March and April. The second will be lower since it will only cover May. The new P-EBT program is in addition to other services families may be participating in. All families that receive Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) are still receiving the maximum amount for their household size allowed for March and April 2020.

Families are encouraged to continue utilizing feeding programs at local school and community meal sites for free, nutritious meals for children. Families can text FOODNC to 877-877 to find local meal sites. The service is also available in Spanish by texting COMIDA to 877-877.

For additional information, visit the P-EBT FAQ at www.forsyth.cc/documents/pebt.pdf.

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T he C hronicle

A pril 30, 2020

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Ronnie Long finally gets his day in court Case to be heard in Fourth District Court of Appeals on May 7

BY TEVIN STINSON THE CHRONICLE

Ronnie Long, the N.C. man who has spent more than 40 years in prison for a crime he maintains he didn’t commit, will finally have his day in court. Last week it was announced that Long’s case will be heard by the Fourth District Court of Appeals on Thursday, May 7.

Here’s what we know about Long’s case and the many appeals that led to him being heard by one of the highest courts in the country.

Long was charged with the assault and rape of a 54-year-old white woman in her home in Concord, N.C., on April 25, 1976.

According to police reports, the victim was the widow of a top executive at Cannon Mills, a major

WSSU

From page A2

of having his company based in East Winston.

“When I first got up here, it reminded me so much of home, the bleak poverty,” Benson said. Educational and financial gains remain low, Benson said, and he wants to make a difference.

textile company and employer in the area. The victim described her attacker as a “yellow-looking African American,” wearing a leather jacket. She told police her attacker came through an open window before pressing a knife against her neck and ripping her clothes off.

Two weeks after the incident and after the victim was unable to pick her attacker out of a photo lineup, investigators with the Concord Police Department took the victim to the courthouse and told her that her attacker may or may not be in the courtroom, and asked her to identify anyone who looked “familiar.”

That same day Long was in the courtroom to settle a minor trespassing charge, but as soon as he

stood up wearing a leather jacket, the victim identified him as her attacker. She later picked Long’s photo out of a lineup where he was the only person wearing a leather jacket.

Later that day, officers showed up to Long’s house and told him he had to go down to the station to sign papers relating to the trespassing charge and that he would be back shortly.

Long hasn’t been home since. On October 1, 1976, despite not fitting the description of the attacker and having an alibi that placed him at home during the attack, an all-white jury, including several who had ties to Cannon Mills, condemned Long to serve two life sentences.

Since 1976, several appeals have been filed on Long’s behalf, all to

no avail. But when it was discovered that none of the fingerprints recovered from the crime scene matched Long to the crime, Long’s case caught the attention of Jamie Lau and the Duke Wrongful Convictions Clinic. And in 2019 they took over Long’s case.

That same year Long’s case was heard before the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in Virginia. Ahead of the appeal case, Lau, who serves as executive director of the Duke Wrongful Convictions Clinic, said, “It was obvious law enforcement officers who investigated the case lied to conceal information that would’ve proved Long was innocent.”

Despite the evidence weighing heavily in his favor, the three-panel of

judges voted 2-1 against granting Long a re-trial, but it wasn’t all bad news.

The lone vote in Long’s favor, made by Judge Stephanie Thacker, left the door open for an appeal to the full Fourth Circuit.

In her dissent, Judge Thacker said, “For more than 43 years, Ronnie Wallace Long has been in prison for a rape that he has consistently maintained he did not commit. From the time of this conviction until now, a trickle of post-trial disclosures has unearthed a troubling and striking pattern of government suppression of material evidence, in violation of Appellant’s due process rights pursuant to Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963).”

On March 16, Long received word that the United

States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit voted to hear Long’s case, but with restrictions in place due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, it was unclear at the time when the case would be heard until now.

As mentioned earlier, Long’s case will be heard on May, 7. The hearing is expected to begin at 9 a.m. and due to COVID-19, the hearing will be conducted remotely. Arguments can be heard live by visiting the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit on YouTube.

For more information on Ronnie Long, visit www.freeronnielongnow. org or “Free Ronnie Long” on Facebook.

dents.

Benson sat in on two classes before the pandemic restrictions were put in place. “We just talked about the necessities of logo development, what homework they would have to do to figure out what they would need to design their logo,” Benson said.

Once the restrictions

Submitted photo

Quinton Benson He met Antwain and Andrea Goode, who also run their business from the Enterprise Center. The Goodes operate Tate Consulting, which helps businesses improve their game.

Early this year, Tate signed a contract with CSEM Associate Director Alvin Atkinson to provide business training courses for WSSU students, business vets and others, the “Playbook for Entrepreneurial Excellence.” The Goodes realized they’d need someone to teach business branding to the class, and that Benson would be ideal.

“We needed a minority business leader who could deliver a clear branding platform and build community awareness,” Dr. Antwain Goode said. “Andrea has over 25 years of experience in marketing and branding. She saw this talented leader in the Enterprise Center, and we both decided to share the significance of small business success.”

They knew that Benson, making it with his own business, had earned this work from them and CSEM, and that both his talent and experience would behoove their stu-

are lifted, he’ll resume meeting with the students.

“We’ll be helping them with brand identity,” he said. “They’ll have a logo, cards, flyers and a retractable banner. I’m helping them develop the look and feel for their company for consumers.”

Antwain Goode said, “Mr. Benson has a unique slogan: ‘Building Big Brands for Small Businesses.’ We are confident that his expertise will solidify each class participant’s company and they will have platforms to serve the community.”

For now, Benson, like everybody else, is enduring the pandemic restrictions. His business is down 50%, he said, because of cancelations of events he photographs, such as weddings. He still has plenty of digital work to do at home, however. He will keep going, as always.

And he will keep thinking of the boy he met at his cash register that day, the boy he could see himself in.

John Railey can be reached at raileyjb@ gmail.com

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DONATE YOUR SHOP AND EARN REWARDS

Now you can help feed local children, families and seniors who may struggle with hunger, especially during this time.

Go to foodlion.com/shop-and-earn to donate now.

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The C hronicle

OPINION

James Taylor Jr. Publisher Bridget Elam

Managing Editor

Judie Holcomb-Pack

Associate Editor

Timothy Ramsey

Sports Editor/Religion

Tevin Stinson

Senior Reporter

Shayna Smith

Advertising Manager

Deanna Taylor

Office Manager

Paulette L. Moore

Administrative Assistant

Our Mission The Chronicle is dedicated to serving the residents of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County by giving voice to the voiceless, speaking truth to power, standing for integrity and encouraging open communication and lively debate throughout the community

Guest Editorial

Trumpism is the real virus It’s painfully obvious that even before the outbreak of COVID-19, this country was suffering from a deadly plague—the plague of ignorance and incompetence spreading from the White House, its allied media, and an all-too-familiar Twitter account.

Unlike COVID-19, this sickness is manmade (and I use the word “manmade” with all due gender sensitivity). While I would hesitate to categorize the United States as anything better than a semi-democracy, millions of people (the majority of them men) voted for a man with no experience, no original ideas, and no compassion to lead their country. Many did this as a form of protest—they correctly rejected a status quo that for years privileged Wall Street at the expense of Main Street; wasted trillions of dollars and millions of lives in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other theaters; and refused to provide health care, higher education, and gainful employment to large swaths of the citizenry.

Nonetheless, they were tragically mistaken to think Trump would do anything other than what he has done: Turned the United States into his own (pathetic) reality TV show, where he gets to be the hero and constant center of attention. Never mind that he is a fourth-rate entertainer at best, and never mind that thousands are dying from a pandemic that could have been prevented by—Hillary Clinton, perhaps?—or anyone competent enough to listen to their own staff or experts.

But Trump can’t do that. He can’t listen. He is immune to reason—unless the reason is that it makes him look good. He’s a hopeless narcissist. A malignant fool.

A jester masquerading as president. Even worse, he is a parasite that thrives off human misery. He pushes others down, so that he can look taller (just think of all his staff who resigned or were fired). Would anyone doubt that he would climb on and drown everyone around him if he fell into a pool and couldn’t swim?

I want his supporters to know that they can stop this. They can flatten this curve. All they must do is turn off FOX and find a new messiah. Or reflect on why they need a messiah. That’s all. I won’t even ask them to admit they were wrong because it accomplishes nothing.

I want Trump gone. I want him gone in some senses even more than I want COVID-19 to subside. At least COVID-19 is a silent killer who doesn’t infect our airwaves with lies and tantrums, all the while blustering war talk with countries big or small. I want Trump gone more than I want my stimulus check—or even my paycheck. I want him gone more than I want this football season to move forward as planned. I want him gone more than I want a beer at my favorite dive bar. And that’s saying a lot.

The Trumpers hold the key to victory. They should do on election day what we are already being ordered to do now: Stay home. Stay the hell home.

You’ve done enough damage already.

Matt Johnson, syndicated by PeaceVoice, is co-author of “Trumpism.”

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR College students need refunds To The Editor: Due to the challenging new nature of social distancing, self-isolation, and sickness, diverse groups of people must adjust to a new life. College students particularly must adapt differently to this unprecedented time and providing housing, parking, and or dining refunds for all college students is crucial. Because of the stay-at-home order most states are under, college students that were forced to move out of residence halls and finish the semester online should receive refunds for the time that is not being spent on campus. There are many students that are not receiving these funds and must sustain their incomes by getting part-time jobs that can interfere with school. Additionally, students that must move out prematurely may not have housing accommodations prepared and are struggling to find a place to stay. Allocating the unused funds to these students provides them with income that helps them with their next steps and gives them the support they need to finish the semester during a global pandemic.

Taylor Adams Greensboro, NC

Reimburse students before collecting new tuition To The Editor: I am writing this letter in response to an article titled “Living Under a New Normal” which was published March 19. This article is very helpful and provides adequate information on the coronavirus. The article also has information about places that are taking precautions such as restaurants, stores, and more.

Schools are also taking precautions due to the coronavirus and I am writing this letter to express my concern about how schools are dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. Due to the coronavirus, many students have been forced to move out of their on-campus housing.

This means that students were not given the opportunity to fully utilize their housing and meal plans for the academic school year of 2019-2020. Although every school has not reimbursed students for this inconvenience, some schools are already collecting fees for the 2020-2021 academic school year. Students should be refunded their money for the present academic school year before they are asked to pay anything for the upcoming academic school year. Due to the coronavirus, many people are out of work and they may not be able to access financial resources that will allow them to pay for tuition and fees for the upcoming academic year right now. In addition to this, schools are not certain about when students will be able to return. Students may not even be able to return to school in the fall, but are expected to pay for it anyway.

This is not fair to college students and schools should find a way to make sure they reimburse their students before they require them to pay for anything else.

Vontarya McBride Winston-Salem, NC

Supporting Terri LeGrand To The Editor: Terri LeGrand is an honest, smart and caring Democrat who is challenging Republican incumbent Joyce Krawiec to be our next state senator in the 31st district.

Terri LeGrand supports Governor Cooper’s and Mayor Joines’ sensible stay-at-home orders. Krawiec has criticized Governor Cooper and sides with our President (“Krawiec Challenges Govenor on Socioeconomic Impact of Stay-at-home Orders,” Winston-Salem Journal, April 18, 2020). Anyone who sides with Trump, a man who exhibits unbalanced and racist behavior, rather than with our responsible governor, is playing a dangerous political game that puts our lives at risk. Terri LeGrand will protect our health, whereas ideological rightwing politicians, such as Krawiec, will not. Terri LeGrand knows that ingesting cleaning fluid--which our president has suggested as a possible remedy-- will not cure COVID-19; it will kill us.

Political pundits say that this November, if Democratic turnout is high, LeGrand can win, which could tip the N.C. statehouse to blue. As soon as early voting be-

gins this October, I urge you to vote for Terri LeGrand.

Your life, and the lives of your loved ones, could depend on it.

Elizabeth A. Carlson Winston-Salem, NC

Unbalanced media reports adding to uncertainty of pandemic To The Editor: COVID-19 has turned the whole world around and affected us and the people worldwide, in a negative way. The world is in a panic because this is a pandemic that has never been seen before and most importantly, it can’t be controlled. There are numerous cases around the world of this outrageous pandemic being reported on all media sites from social media to various television news outlets. And there are questions of whether the media puts the world in more fear than they should be.

There are numerous false reports of the media portrayal of COVID-19 for example March 5, 2020: CBS News posted a story falsely claiming President Trump told sick people to go to work. If you read the actual quote, he is talking about healthy people going about their business not knowing that they have the virus: “So if, you know, we have thousands or hundreds of thousands of people that get better, just by, you know, sitting around and even going to work, some of them go to work, but they get better.” March 12, 2020: NBC, NPR, Newsweek, Joe Biden, CNN, and Esquire falsely claimed that President Trump blocked coronavirus testing and rejected WHO coronavirus test kits because lower numbers are good for his re-election. The issue of this spontaneous virus should be taken seriously; as people, we should take precautionary measures to ensure the safety of ourselves, our families, and other people. But as we see different cases being reported on different media outlets, the media only show how worse it gets, leaving people in a panic buying out grocery stores, leaving more people who are reliable on those essential businesses with nothing and putting a stop on stock. Which was very unnecessary because people spend hundreds of dollars more on groceries than they usually have. But the question is: why did people have this mindset of stocking up their household with more than enough groceries for this pandemic than they really needed? When this outbreak first came about, media outlets all over were reporting this global pandemic but without any clue of what it was and how to prepare for it, leaving people in confusion and certain misunderstanding.

Elijah Wall Winston-Salem, NC

Parents under stress to balance home schooling, working at home To The Editor: Following the recent stay-at-home orders given due to the novel COVID-19 coronavirus, many people are looking for ways to keep from going stir-crazy. Most children between 6 and 12 are used to being in school for most of their sunlight hours, and many young children who enjoy being in a school environment are finding the transition to online schooling difficult. Lots of parents are feeling the strain as well.

Speaking from experience watching my own child work through this new learning system, the lesson plans can be cumbersome and time-consuming. The overwhelming impression I’m getting from these lessons is that they were planned to fill a student’s day, not just a couple hours. With a daughter in second grade, this means that it falls to me and my significant other as parents to help her through this work, which takes time away from whatever remote work has already been piled up on us.

Now, not only are we stressing out about our work, or worrying about what we might catch every time we go out the front door, we’re also worrying about whether or not we can help her get a handle on her own schoolwork.

The daily stresses from being a parent, a student, or a member of the working world have all been exacerbated by the claustrophobia brought on by being indoors for days on end, with little to no interaction with the outside.

Trion D Jenkins, Winston-Salem, NC

T he C hronicle

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Warning to the American people: Taking disinfectant does not cure the coronavirus Dr. James B. Ewers Jr.

Guest Columnist There are some song lyrics that say “love, love, love makes me do foolish things.” Ingesting disinfectant will make you do even more foolish things.

It will have damaging effects on your body and may cause you to pass away.

COVID-19 has brought out false claims and outright untruths. Using disinfectant by mouth to cure any illness is an outright untruth. I remember my mom using disinfectant to clean a variety of

household items including floors. This same cleaning agent is used today. In fact, there are more of them.

The uses are the same.

Nothing has changed.

The president of the United States has been holding daily press conferences since the outbreak.

After a few minutes and a few blunders, he will defer to Vice President Mike Pence, Dr. Anthony Fauci, or to Dr. Deborah Birx.

Usually, they are more factual and more realistic.

Each in their own way has warned about re-opening the country too soon.

Some states are scheduled to open on May 1. That date is really open to some speculation. You will not see large crowds gathering or folks giving each other high fives. There will not be any hugs or kisses.

There will be great

caution with masks and gloves being worn. Social distancing will be in full effect. Restaurants will still have take-out and places of worship will continue to have online services.

With everyone in the healthcare field trying to figure out a vaccine, people will try anything and everything and listen to anybody. But why would you take disinfectant? Is it because the president of the United States of America thought it was a good idea? As unfortunate as this sounds, some people did it. That is unbelievable. If Mr. T told you to jump off a bridge, would you do it? That is a debatable question for some people.

There were some people in the state of Illinois who believed the president

literally when he made the statement about the disinfectant. They tried it. As a result, the Illinois Poison Control Department has received numerous calls about it. Dr. Nogzi Ezike, head of the Illinois Department of Public Health said, “Injecting, ingesting, snorting household cleaners is dangerous. It is not advised and can be deadly.” You think.

Have common sense and understanding taken a vacation? I cannot fathom drinking any type of disinfectant. This occurrence speaks clearly to the fact that some of us live in a separate America. It is that America who will listen to non-sensical methods such as ingesting bleach-type products as a remedy. It is that America who wants to keep some citizens from enjoying the full benefits

of this country.

The coronavirus is a real and present danger with no end in sight. Already there are reports about there being another wave in the fall. Medical experts are doing their best to fight this plague.

Reports suggest that a vaccine may be many months away. While some numbers are going down, this is no time to drop our guard. Patience and prudence are needed as we stay the course.

Having a president give out damaging information and then say he was being sarcastic is simply irresponsible. This was not the first time for his crazy talk, and it will not be the last time.

Mr. T keeps doing it because some Americans keep believing him. If you are one of those lost and

mis-guided souls, you need to wake up before it is too late. There is still time for you to come to your senses. COVID-19 is bringing out a lot of emotions, fear, and ill-timed statements.

This pandemic is taking a heavy toll on the White House. We should expect more from the leader of the free world. Will we get it? No. James B. Ewers Jr., Ed.D., is a former tennis champion at Atkins High School and played college tennis at Johnson C. Smith University where he was all-conference for four years. He is a retired college administrator and can be reached at evers. jr56@yahoo.com.

Racism: A threat to public health Leslie Gregory

Guest Columnist Some of us on the frontlines of health care have been trying to convince CDC to declare racism as a threat to public health. We think our proofs are strong.

Nearly five years ago, when we started the Racism is a Public Health Threat campaign in Portland, Oregon, at Race Talks PDX hosted by long-time community justice activist Donna Maxey, a consistent response from both fabricated “sides” of the racial divide in this country was, “What then?” as if the rightness of it were contingent upon that response. And my answer was the same: They do their job, we do our job.

The CDC criteria for declaration and protocols for remedy are already established.

Race has always been a frightening topic for much of America and what we see now, as white America is on the cusp of being just another minority in the USA, is near hysteria from

the White House on down.

The unknown, the fear of loss of unearned and largely unrecognized privilege, looms large, especially in the setting of the most divisive and labile political climate in memory. Our voice, the call for health justice, has been suppressed, ignored and rejected.

The mental health aspects of threats to cultural power (or one might say “cult of personality”) darken our days now—witness the orchestrated demonstrations in battleground states demanding an end to social distancing, as if temporary loss of business is far more threatening than a pandemic raging worse here than in any country on Earth, killing more than 2,000 Americans every day—and yes, African Americans at far higher rates by the CDC’s own figures.

“It isn’t what you say, it’s how you say it,” I’ve been told. And my response, as a black woman and as a primary health care provider, has been the same: “It’s been said every other way, and yet perceived and proven racism continues to result in death, illness, or injury to the bearer,” so it is the message that America just doesn’t want to hear and

never has.

While we revere the memory of peace makers like Dr. Martin Luther King, Gandhi, Mother Teresa and Mandela, we fail to learn their lessons and walk in their footsteps.

Their teachings include rising above our privilege or lack thereof, and seeking equality for all.

I have been black a long time—I am a child of the Civil Rights era. I confess to discouragement.

We Americans are like ignorant and immature children peering incredulously through a window removed from the dangers of the adult world, as if the stories of pain and loss are made for Netflix, and not real.

That luxury is over, as we face dire losses of life and our economy. As Bruce Lee said: “Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Willing is not enough, we must do”; his brilliance just another example of the importance of a diverse nation. “We don’t have a soul to waste,” cannot have more meaning than right now.

With the emergence of COVID19, we see all hands on deck, mobilized and motivated to halt its spread, and most of us are appreciative of those working to defeat it. Pub-

lic health campaigns bring light and awareness to it and funding is found locally if not nationally for those treating it. Lives are lost, love is expressed and our best selves are called to rise to this frightening challenge in unity and compassion. What has not changed is the disproportionate impact of this disease on African Americans. We are approximately 13% of the U.S. population, we are approximately 33% of the COVID19 mortalities, and even before all this, the Harvard Business Review found that: “Racial health disparities are associated with substantial annual economic losses nationally, including an estimated $35 billion in excess health care expenditures, $10 billion in illness-related lost productivity, and nearly $200 billion in premature deaths. Concerted efforts to reduce health disparities could thus have immense economic and social value.

What has also been consistent is the callous gaslighting and largely falsifying approach of an entitled economic elite at the highest levels that continues to cost lives. This accompanies vitriol and lack of leadership clearly prolonging the misery.

Our national health services appear woefully inadequate to the challenge and behind the efforts of our global neighbors.

We announce the threat, initiate containment measures, screen the most vulnerable, support the front line fighters and then wait to evaluate those efforts and allow our observations to guide next steps. This is part of the protocol of which so many have been afraid and thus reluctant to support our campaign. This is the job of our national health leadership -- and they know it.

In primary care, which is what I do, just as in national health prevention, it is hard to prove a negative, what would have happened, what has been saved. But we see “flattening the curve” as just that during the pandemic. When will we see that in our efforts against health disparities if we never call out the issue? If we never actually make the diagnosis, how will we ever flatten the curve and see the billions of dollars in savings associated with racial health care disparities?

We get it. Change is frightening. Illness is scary, especially when mixed messages about medical approaches in-

creases confusion around action steps. But what we’re seeing is at least a light to bear on the intersection of greed and racism in this moment and many are crying for equity and justice, recognizing what communities of color have been experiencing for generations. Now is the time, America, to begin the process of healing from one virus to learn those lessons and apply them to another and more persistent one, more virulent, costly, unjust and long, long overdue, the virus of racism. Please join and send this and our campaign to clinicians who would likely sign a letter to this effect to CDC and Surgeon General calling for action. We and they now see and therefore know what steps to take; we need them to just show the courage and leadership to do it.

To show your support for our campaign, go to https://sign. moveon.org/petitions/ racism-meets-criteria?r_ by=16228964&source=c. fb Leslie Gregory is a PA-C focusing on preventive cardiology and is executive director, Right to Health.

If farmworkers are ‘essential,’ why are they treated so badly?

Dr. Lawrence Wittner

Guest Columnist

On March 19 the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, spurred to action by the coronavirus pandemic, issued a memorandum that identified the nation’s 2.5 million farmworkers as “essential” workers. Soon thereafter, agribusinesses began distributing formal letters to their farm laborers, also declaring that that they were “essential.”

Of course, it shouldn’t have required a government-business effort to establish this point. Without farmworkers, there is no food. And the American people need food to survive.

But, remarkably, over the course of U.S. history, farmworkers, although essential, have been terribly mistreated. Whether as slaves, indentured servants, sharecroppers, or migrant laborers, these millions of hardworking people endured harsh and brutal lives, enriching others while living (and usually dying) in poverty.

Nor is the situation very different today. Farm labor remains hard, grinding physical toil, often requiring long hours of bending and repetitive motion to gather crops under conditions of extreme heat. Back strain, poisoning by pesticides, and other injuries, sometimes leading to death, contribute to making agriculture one of the nation’s most hazardous industries. Employment is often seasonal or otherwise precarious.

Some problems hit portions of the farm labor force particularly hard. Roughly half of all farmworkers are undocumented immigrants, a status that places them in constant fear of being arrested, deported, and separated from their families. Furthermore, women farmworkers face high levels of sexual harassment, thereby confronting them with the difficult choice of reporting it and facing the possibility of being fired or remaining silent and allowing the harassment to continue.

In recent decades, the federal government has prosecuted numerous growers and labor traffickers in the Southeastern United States for what one U.S. attorney called “slavery, plain and simple.” These cases revealed farmworkers were lured

to the United States under false pretenses and then deprived of their passports, chained, held under armed guard, and forced to work. If they refused, they were threatened with violence, beaten, drugged, raped, pistol whipped, and even shot. In 2015, President Obama awarded the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, which exposed these practices, the Presidential Award for Extraordinary Efforts in Combatting Modern Day Slavery.

Although people performing some of the hardest and most essential work in the United States certainly seem to deserve a break―or at least reasonable compensation― they have not received it. In 2017, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, a quarter of all farmworkers had a family income below the official poverty level, while most of the others teetered just above it. Most of them were forced to rely on at least one public assistance program. Even after some of the more progressive states raised the state minimum wage, the average wages of farmworkers remained abysmal. In 2019, they earned only a little more than half the hourly pay rate of all American workers.

Moreover, they now face enormous danger

from the coronavirus pandemic. Greg Asbed, a leading voice for agricultural laborers, has pointed out that, for farmworkers, “the two most promising measures for protecting ourselves from the virus and preventing its spread―social distancing and selfisolation―are virtually impossible.” Many farmworkers live, crowded together, in decrepit, narrow trailers or barracks, ride to and from their workplaces in crowded buses, have little access to water and soap once in the fields, and cook and shower in the same cramped housing facility. Rapid contagion is almost inevitable, and very few have access to healthcare of any kind.

Despite the heightened danger, though, working―even working while sick―is the only practical option for farmworkers, for, given their impoverishment, they cannot afford to be unemployed. Very few receive paid sick days. Some, to be sure, will be assisted by the one-time $1,200 payment Congress voted for members of low and middle income families. But undocumented workers, who constitute so many of the nation’s millions of farmworkers, are excluded from the provisions of that legislation. Nor are undocumented workers

eligible for unemployment insurance―although, of course, they pay the taxes that fund these programs, as well as the programs that are now bailing out America’s multi-billion dollar industries.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration is getting set to deliver yet another blow to farmworkers. Almost a tenth of that work force is composed of Mexican guest workers, legally admitted to the United States for short periods under the U.S. Agriculture Department’s H-2A program. As America’s big agricultural growers are perennially short of laborers to harvest their crops, they have pressed hard for the admission of these guest workers. But they dislike the fact that, to avoid undercutting the wages of American workers, the H-2A program sets the wage level for guest workers at local American wage standards. And in states like California, the state’s rising minimum wage has lifted the wages of farmworkers considerably beyond the pitiful federal minimum of $7.25 an hour. As a result, the growers have fought for years to reduce the wages paid to guest workers. Finally, in April 2020, the news broke that their dream of cheap labor would soon be realized,

for the Trump administration is now laying plans to lower the guest worker wage rate to $8.34 an hour. These plans, made at the same time that farmers and ranchers are about to receive a $16 billion federal bailout, will cut between $2 and $5 per hour from the pay of guest farmworkers.

Naturally, small labor organizations like the United Farm Workers, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, and the Farm Labor Organizing Committee are fiercely resisting the continued exploitation of the 2.5 million people who grow and harvest America’s food. But there are severe limits to their power, given the greed of the agribusiness industry, plus the nakedly pro-business policies of the Trump administration and its Republican allies in Congress and many states. For the time being, at least, farmworkers seem likely to remain essential, but expendable.

Dr. Lawrence Wittner, syndicated by PeaceVoice, is professor of history emeritus at SUNY/Albany and the author of “Confronting the Bomb” (Stanford University Press).

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BUSTA’S PERSON OF THE WEEK

Dr. Hayley Figueroa: ‘If you’re always ready, you never have to get ready.’

BY BUSTA BROWN FOR THE CHRONICLE

Dr. Hayley Figueroa is a first generation American from New York City.

Hayley’s parents are from the Caribbean. “In the Caribbean, you always have stuff growing. When I was a child, my father took our one-third of an acre and used one third of that as his garden. It was huge.

He was out there morning until night planting things and dealing with the soil, or what have you,” she said.

Dr. Hayley Figueroa was a daddy’s girl, so she was always by his side, learning one of the most important skills to humankind: gardening. She was always drawn to growing, so as an adult it was a natural transition. “Now that my father is gone, this is a way to stay connected,” said Dr. Figueroa.

She shared some of the benefits to having your own garden, versus going to the grocery store to buy fruits and vegetables. “The farmer’s market is a great alternative if you don’t have a garden, but for me, the greatest benefit to having a garden is it’s right outside my door. I don’t have to leave the house.

I can go outside, pick things, and make a healthy meal out of them. I made a salad the other day,” said Dr. Figueroa with a joyful smile. She said the second benefit to having your own garden is saving lots of money. “Buying produce at the grocery store can be very expensive. And when you grow it yourself, you know what’s in it. No pesticides and no chemical laden fertilizers. My garden is organic because I only put into it what’s organic. I never put chemicals in my garden, so my food is safe. They’re no

recalls in my garden,” she jokes.

Dr. Figueroa is an assistant professor in Exercise Physiology, coordinator for the undergrad Public Health Program at Winston-Salem University. During her personal time, she’s a grower. And during this COVID-19 pandemic, having your own garden is vital. Dr. Figueroa shared another extremely important benefit to having your own garden: “There’s something called food sovereignty, which is having control over your food access and what you eat. So more than anything else, you’ll have control over what your family eats. And it’s not dependent on price or whether your car has gas.

Your food is always available whenever you need it.

So having that control over your food, particularly in the communities of color and impoverished communities, is invaluable. You don’t have to wait on your food stamps to come, or depend on getting a ride to the grocery store, because your food is right there.”

As I was listening to Dr. Figueroa, I thought about a conversation I saw on YouTube between James Baldwin and Nikki Giovanni. Baldwin mentioned that we know some type of destruction is coming, so we must be prepared. And what immediately came to my mind was gardening. I shared that with Dr. Figueroa and her response was spot on.

“I was in New York during 9/11, so I’ve been through some stuff and I’ve seen some stuff. So I’ve learned if you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready.

And that’s probably the way we should always think. We’ve seen earthquakes and hurricanes in cities that don’t normally

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Dr. Hayley Figueroa, assistant professor in exercise physiology and coordinator for the undergrad public health program at Winston-Salem State University. have those kinds of natural disasters. You can’t predict when disaster is coming, so we must be prepared with what we need. Where else will you get it from, if you don’t have it on site?”

The more I listened to Dr. Figueroa, the more empowered I felt about taking control over my family’s food access and what we eat. Unemployment is sky high, but the good news is gardening is very affordable. “A seed packet at the dollar store is anywhere between 10 to 25 cents.

In most seed packets, you have between 30 to 1,000 seeds. You’re paying less than a penny for a plant.

If you got two tomatoes from your plant, that plant paid for itself. A packet of lettuce seeds has between 250 and 500 seeds in it. So that’s 250 plants. And you only spent 10 cents. And you can grow lettuces and

herbs on a window sill, so you don’t need a yard,” said Dr. Figueroa.

How do we begin?

“Jump right in! Get yourself some red party cups from the dollar store, some potting soil, some plants, some seeds, and begin growing. I can’t tell you how miraculous it is to see your first seeds sprout.”

What kind of tools do we need? Before she answered my question, she started laughing. “I’m going to tell you the real tools and then the struggle tools. The real tools are a garden trowel, a cultivator, and some gloves. That’s really all you need to start.

And you can get all of that at the dollar store.”

I was waiting to hear what were the struggle tools, because I’m on a serious budget. And North Carolina is under a stay-athome order, so I was hop-

ing the struggle tools were things we can find around the house. I was correct.

Everything we need is right there in our kitchen.

“A sturdy serving spoon can serve as a trowel, cuz you can dig with it. And a serving fork can serve as a cultivator, because you need something to scratch up the dirt. You can plant in a clear shoebox. As long as you can put holes in it, it can be a planter. My favorite tool last year was a plastic take-out fork. I used it for a whole season because it’s great to make holes to put your seeds in.”

She also shared information on the most effective ways to grow. “Leafy plants can get by with four hours of direct sunlight.

Things like tomatoes need about six to eight hours of sunlight. Fruit trees need eight hours of sunlight.

The best time to plant

a fruit tree is in the fall.

Plant things where they will thrive. Collard greens need a little bit of shade, so make sure you follow the instructions on the back of your seed packet, because it’s going to tell you what the plant needs. If you don’t give it what it needs, it won’t give you what you want. The best way to find out what grows best in your area is to check out your agricultural extension office.”

Garden centers are considered an essential business, so you can get started today. Begin saving tons of money by having a garden right outside your door. You and your family can eat free and healthy daily.

To contact Dr. Hayley Figueroa, visit The Urban Academic on Facebook and Instagram.

Saluting Our Heroes Salemtowne would like to honor and thank all those on the frontline of this pandemic including healthcare workers, first responders, and many other everyday heroes who are helping us through the COVID-19 crisis.

Salemtowne Team Members are front and center caring for our residents daily. Whether it is delivering packages or groceries, delivering delicious meals, making nursing visits, or delivering Resident’s prescriptions from our partner pharmacy, Southern Pharmacy—our Team Members are there.

We greatly appreciate your selflessness, courage, and tenacity. Thank you.

1000 Salemtowne Drive · Winston-Salem, NC 27106 · salemtowne.org · 336-767-8130

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Neighbors for Better Neighborhoods announces COVID-19 grant program roots Grants COVID-19 Response Fund is just one Neighbors for Better of the many ways we are Neighborhoods (NBN) working to be there for our is bringing much-needed community in this time of resources into neighbor- great need.� hoods across the city to In addition to the help alleviate the impact grants program, NBN is of the COVID-19 crisis. helping to staff daily food NBN recently unveiled distribution at the Saltbox the Grassroots Grants CO- where NBN is housed VID-19 Response Fund, a and distributing protecnew grants program that is tive masks to individuals designed to provide addi- and families in low-wealth tional assistance and sup- communities in partnerport to enable community ship with the Mask the members to strengthen and City project. assist their neighbors and Food distribution is friends during the COV- held weeknights at the ID-19 crisis. Grant appli- Saltbox from 6-7 p.m. cations will be accepted on through the end of April. a rolling basis for immedi- More information on the ate response projects up to mask giveaway will be $1,000. The grant program posted on NBN’s website will be focused on food as soon as it is available. support, healthcare, emerNBN staff has been gency housing, emergency hard at work ensuring that financial assistance, assist- residents still have access ing older adults, and other to the programs and serCOVID-19- related issues. vices they need in order to “NBN prides itself on help their neighbors and its ability to connect peo- their communities conple, strengthen voices and tinue to thrive in the midst leverage resources, and of the COVID-19 crisis, we believe this mission is Robinson said. more important than ever In observance of health in the face of so much and safety guidelines from uncertainty,� commented the State, NBN has shifted Executive Director Latoya its service delivery modRobinson. “The Grass- el to an online platform SUBMITTED ARTICLE

where individuals can access programs from the safety of their homes. The organization’s popular Organizers’ Circle program streams on Facebook Live every Tuesday at 12 noon, and trainings and technical assistance for current and prospective grantee partners is available in a virtual format by contacting NBN’s main office at 336-602-2519 or by visiting the website. NBN is continuing to offer its traditional Grassroots Grants program, which has monthly deadlines and supports neighborhood work across the county. “We just want the community to know that NBN is still here with them,�

Robinson remarked. “We are all in this together, and NBN is working hard to ensure that all the communities we serve will come out of this crisis stronger than ever.� NBN is located in the Saltbox, 1650 Ivy Ave. in Winston-Salem. More information on all NBN programs and services can be found at www.nbncommunity.org or by calling the main office at 336602-2519.

Foundation awards community grants totaling $431,610 SUBMITTED ARTICLE

 The Winston-Salem Foundation announces 17 Community Grants totaling $431,610 to local nonprofits that will touch the lives of many living in Forsyth County. This support is made possible by donors to the Foundation’s unrestricted funds, flexible funds, and the Next Century Fund.

COVID-19 RESPONSE: *COVID-19 Response Fund for Forsyth County – $200,000 to assist with the immediate needs of economically vulnerable populations impacted by COVID-19 CAPACITY-BUILDING GRANTS: *HUSTLE WinstonSalem – $10,500 for interim executive director and administrative staff for a second year *Moji Coffee and More – $17,500 for a general manager/executive director for a second year FOCUS AREA GRANTS: Advancing Equity in Education: *Triad Restorative Justice – $16,500 to sup-

port the RESTART and Impact Circle programs Building an Inclusive Economy: *Greater Winston-Salem – $75,000 for grants to businesses owned by people of color *Ujima Community Development Corporation – $35,000 to support economic development activities in the City View neighborhood SMALL GRANTS: *Forsyth County PAGE – $800 for PSAT and Duke University Talent Identification Program scholarships to WinstonSalem/Forsyth County students in the academically gifted program *Iglesia Cristiana Sin Fronteras – $1,000 to offer community support during the COVID-19 crisis *Kimberly Park Tennis Association – $500 for Tennis Court rental fees *Piedmont Renewal Network – $1,000 for a bilingual parent and family coordinator *Triad Cultural Arts – $1,000 for research, design, and production of a mobile cultural arts exhibit celebrating Winston-Salem’s rich African Ameri-

can history *Triad Dream Center – $1,000 for adaptations to the Care and Share Food Pantry during the COVID-19 crisis CHRISSY GALLAHER VICTIM’S ASSISTANCE FUND: *Family Services – $4,000 to provide direct assistance to victims of violent crime OTHER COMMUNITY GRANTS: *City with Dwellings – $11,550 for a fulltime program director for a third year *Neighbors for Better Neighborhoods – $20,000 to provide funds for neighborhood projects and programs *Parenting PATH – $21,560 for a director of community outreach for a third year          *Shepherd’s Center of Kernersville – $14,700 for a volunteer service coordinator for a third year For more information about Community Grants and future deadlines, visit wsfoundation.org/ nonprofits-communitygroups.

Black Philanthropy Initiative announces grants for remote learning access in Forsyth County SUBMITTED ARTICLE

 The Black Philanthropy Initiative (BPI) of The Winston-Salem Foundation offers annual grants that focus on Advancing Equity in Education in Forsyth County. Due to the unprecedented challenges being experienced in the community as a result of COVID-19, BPI will postpone its traditional spring grant cycle, instead making direct investments to local schools to address equity issues around remote student learning.

BPI recognizes that technology and Internet access have become a heightened equity issue with the closing of schools and has made three grants

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totaling $20,000 to support local schools working to provide Internet access and devices to students and families in need.

Grants were made to: * Wi n s t o n - S a l e m / Forsyth County Schools $10,000 *Quality Education Academy - $5,000 *Carter G. Woodson School - $5,000 The school system/schools will use these grants to purchase hotspots and/or devices for students and their families so that they can fully

participate in the critical remote learning opportunities being offered at this time. The Black Philanthropy Initiative encourages people to utilize their philanthropic strengths of time, talent and treasure to impact meaningful change and address identified needs in the black community. For more information about BPI, visit wsfoundation.org/bpi or contact Andrea Hulighan at ahulighan@wsfoundation.org or 336-714-3467.

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Youth Grantmakers in Action awards grants to youth-led projects SUBMITTED ARTICLE

Youth Grantmakers in Action (YGA) announces 10 grants totaling $7,390 to support youthled projects in Forsyth County. The group once again granted more than ever before, thanks to the generous support of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, which invested $5,000 for a third year in YGA’s grantmaking program to support youth philanthropy in our community.

Youth Grantmakers in Action announces the following 2020 grant recipients: *CARE Club - $890 to host a spring literacy camp at Bolton Elementary School *CARE Club - $450 to create a uniform closet at Bolton Elementary School *Forsyth County Young Leaders Program $200 to support a volunteer awards program for

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Youth Grantmakers in Action awarded ten grants totaling $7,390. youth *No Hasti Never That $200 to provide environmentally friendly snack bags to 250 elementary students *Peace Builders and

Justice - $1,000 to host a summit designed to train youth in restorative justice practices *STEAM for Girls $1,700 to host a STEAM summer camp for girls

*THETA Awards and Scholarship Fund - $1,200 for a high school theatre awards gala and to raise scholarship funds for a theatre summer enrichment program

*Walkertown High School FCCLA - $250 to provide snacks and school supplies during tutoring sessions *Winston Opportunity Project - $1,400 for a men-

toring program in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters *Winston-Salem Youth Advisory Council - $100 for painting supplies for an anti-vaping mural YGA is a diverse group of youth ages 15-18 from all over Forsyth County who meet to gain leadership experience, represent the youth of the community, and grant money to youth-led community projects that will have a positive impact on the community. A program of The Winston-Salem Foundation, YGA was formed in 2005 from the vision of Dr. Nathaniel Irvin and the financial support of Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust.

Since its first round of grants were made in 2006, YGA has granted over $42,000 to youth-led community projects. For more information, visit youthgrantmakersinaction.org.

Brian Hart chosen as new director of the Public Library system Brian Hart has been chosen as the director of the Forsyth County Public Library system and will start May 4. Hart is currently the deputy director for the Greensboro Public Library system. He succeeds Sylvia SprinkleHamlin, who retired on December 30, 2019, after 40 years of service.

Before joining the Greensboro Public Library system, Hart was assistant director for the Middle Georgia Regional Library and served as a branch manager in the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library system.

The American Library Association (ALA) recog-

Brian Hart

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nized Hart as an “emerging leader” in 2014. In 2017, Hart served on ALA’s prestigious Caldecott Award selection committee, which since 1937 annually recognizes the best American picture book for

children.

“Forsyth County is pleased Brian accepted its offer to lead our library system,” said County Deputy Manager Damon Sanders-Pratt. “He comes well recommended and our library patrons and partners will appreciate his energy, leadership, and vision.”

Hart is a native of Charlotte. He earned his master’s degree in Library Science from the University of South Carolina in Columbia and his bachelor’s degree in English from South Carolina State University in Orangeburg. He lives in Kernersville with his wife, Rena, daughters, Nia and Nyla, and son, Noble.

Local student named Morehead-Cain class of 2024 scholar SUBMITTED ARTICLE

The Morehead-Cain Foundation is proud to announce its class of 2024.

The Foundation is home to the first merit scholarship program in the United States, and was founded at the country’s first public university, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

This fall, Morehead-Cain will welcome 70 new Morehead-Cain Scholars to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from across North Carolina, the United States and the world.

The Morehead-Cain Scholar from Forsyth County is Noah Joseph Gottlieb, who will graduate this spring from R. J. Reynolds High School, where he serves as president of the Key Club and presiding officer for YMCA Youth & Government. He also competes with the Social Studies Team, General Knowledge Team and Science Team. Outside of R.J. Reynolds, Noah is president of Winston-Salem TOPSoccer, a service organization that pairs youth with special needs to student mentors from the local community.

At Carolina, Noah is interested in studying political science and chemistry. He is the son of Richard and Jennifer Gottlieb of Winston-Salem.

The Morehead-Cain Scholarship covers all expenses for four years of undergraduate study at UNC-Chapel Hill.

It also features a distinctive program of summer enrichment experiences designed to stretch students beyond their comfort zones. Scholars learn and grow throughout their four summers. They have opportunities to complete an outdoor leadership course, work in teams on problems facing cities throughout North America, work with organizations around the globe, and gain professional experience that helps launch their careers.

The Summer Enrichment Program is complemented by the Morehead-Cain Discovery Fund. Scholars are encouraged to deeply explore their interests, whether those involve studying under celebrated artists, attending leadership retreats or obtaining wilderness first responder certification. From researching food and agriculture industries in Iceland to examining the impact of innovation and entrepreneurship throughout New Orleans in the decade following Hurricane Katrina, Morehead-Cain Scholars have the resources to pursue educational opportunities wherever they may find them.

As set out in the program’s founding documents, selection criteria for the Morehead-Cain are leadership, moral force of character, academic achievement and physical vigor. Only a handful of Morehead-Cain recipients will be selected, solely on the basis of merit and accomplishment, from among the thousands of students who apply.

Nearly 280 Morehead-Cain Scholars make outstanding contributions across the full range of university life. Morehead-Cain Scholars play a prominent role in Carolina’s vibrant student community, participating in a wide range of activities such as student government, community service and the performing arts. For example, during the past ten years, five student body presidents, five student attorneys general and five honor court chairs have all been Morehead-Cains.

Since 2000, 14 Morehead-Cain Scholars have won Rhodes Scholarships to England’s Oxford University, one of the world’s most competitive and prestigious awards for graduate study. Since the first Morehead Scholars graduated from Carolina in 1957, 31 of UNC-Chapel Hill’s 34 Rhodes Scholars have been MoreheadCain Scholars. Morehead-Cains have also gone on to receive numerous other scholarships that have taken them both across the world and across the country to further their academic goals and achievements.

Founded in 1945, the MoreheadCain has been a model for countless merit scholarships throughout the United States. These include the University of Virginia’s Jefferson Scholars Program, Duke University’s Benjamin N. Duke Scholars Program and Emory University’s Woodruff Scholars Program.

The class of 2024 includes: *37 scholars from North Carolina *33 scholars who attended school outside North Carolina, including: *26 scholars who attended school in 15 different states and Washington, D.C. *3 who attended school in Canada *2 scholars who attended school in the United Kingdom *1 scholar who attended school in Germany *1 scholar who attended school in Singapore Portraits of scholarship recipients can be downloaded at the following link: https://tinyurl.com/uncmc2024.

Charmon M Baker Financial Advisor

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THURSDAY, April 30, 2020

Minneapolis-based National Rugby Football League to bring privately supported elite teams to 8 U.S. cities SUBMITTED ARTICLE

Michael Clements, Commissioner of the National Rugby Football League (NRFL), has announced the establishment of the NRFL Founders Group to launch the league. This is the first professional, league-ownedand-operated rugby league in U.S. history, where the salary cap will be competitive with the international rugby talent market.

“We are continuing to execute our business plan and to assemble the Founders Group to support the NRFL teams in eight U.S. cities,” said Clements. “The Founders Group will own an undivided and non-dilutable interest in all of the founding eight NRFL teams.

The Founders Group receives the full benefit of professional sports team ownership without having the obligation to operate them.

“We have researched the industry and understand the resources necessary to field a team to have long-term sustainability and growth,” said Clements. “Based on that, we are in the process of identifying suitable cities to house teams in our mission to put one of the best products on the pitch glob-

Submitted photo

The NRFL is the first professional, league-owned-and-operated rugby league in U.S. history, where the salary cap will be competitive with the international rugby talent market. ally.

“We are building a premier professional league with world-class professional talent,” said Clements. “As such, our salary cap will be competitive with the international rugby market. Just as an example, the salary cap for Gallagher Premiership Rugby is approximately $9 million.”

The NRFL began with eight combines (similar to NFL combines) across the U.S. in 2014 and 2015, which was unprecedented within the sport, to prove the thesis that America has

athletic talent that can play rugby at its highest level.

Since then, the NRFL has continued to build the foundation, executive team, partners, and league structure. NRFL’s executives have been steadfast in their objective to positively disrupt the North American professional sports landscape, and understand it takes the right partners, capital, energy and time to successfully launch and grow a legacy property.

One partner, the National Football League (NFL) Alumni Associa-

tion, is collaborating with the NRFL in a partnership to launch a world-class high-performance center for tackle sport athletes.

These athletes from around the world have a goal of breaking into a NFL roster or converting into a global rugby athlete in the NRFL. The NFL Alumni Association has also joined the Founders Group.

“We are excited to partner with the National Rugby Football League in an unprecedented training facility for tackle sport athletes and look forward to collaborating with the

NRFL in bringing the fastest growing sport to mainstream America and reaching almost 800 million global rugby followers,” said Beasley Reece, CEO of the NFL Alumni.

Bart Oates, NFL Alumni president, added, “The storied history of the global sport of rugby has significantly influenced our game of professional football from the teamwork aspect to the term ‘touchdown.’ The NFL Alumni Association is pleased to support and endorse the NRFL in bringing the other tackle sport

to the absolute highest professional level in the United States.”

“The NRFL is the next evolution of professional rugby in North America as we fully unlock the commercial viability of this global sport in the most lucrative sports market,” said Clements. “Our ambition is to capture a new fan base that loves tackle sport in America during NFL’s off-season, while also attracting the global rugby fan. This is how we can make rugby culturally relevant in America.

“We have been diligent in building a team of world-class executives and partners with proven experience in all aspects of the professional sports industry, including organizational formation, player development, legal, team operations, facility negotiations, technology, media and marketing,” said Clements. “These executives hail from the NFL, MLB, NASCAR, and domestic and international rugby.

This is the most substantial sports entertainment play we are likely to see in our lifetimes. We believe this is the right time and the right team to bring the highest level of professional rugby to North America.”

Wake Forest announces men’s basketball head coach transition Danny Manning relieved as head coach

FROM GODEACS.COM

Wake Forest University Director of Athletics John Currie has announced that men’s basketball head coach Danny Manning has been relieved of his duties.

Randolph Childress “After a comprehensive review of the men’s basketball program, and with the support of President Hatch and University leadership, I have determined that it is time for a change in our

head coaching position,’’ said Currie. “We thank Coach Manning, Julie and Evan for their service to Wake Forest and for their commitment to our studentathletes and the Winston-Salem community over the past six years.”

Submitted photos

“I am very thankful for having had the opportunity to lead the Wake Forest men’s basketball program,” said Manning.

“I am very proud of the numerous student-athletes I had the

pleasure of coaching, especially the student-athletes who earned their degrees. I am particularly thankful for all of the hard work my staff has put in through the years. I am so grateful to the Wake Forest community, who have made Winston-Salem a special home for my family and I from the second we stepped on campus in 2014. I wish the program nothing but success going forward.”

Randolph Childress will serve as the acting head coach.

“We appreciate Coach Childress’ willingness to assume the responsibility of guiding our student-athletes in the interim period,” said Currie. “We will immediately begin a national search for our next head coach.”

“I am grateful to John Currie for his perseverance in working through these challenging times to focus on this important decision,” said Dr. Hatch. “I support his conclusion and action today, and I add to his gratitude to Danny, Julie and Evan for the grace they have shown throughout their time at Wake Forest.”

Manning finishes with a record of 78-111 in six seasons with Wake Forest. Manning led the Deacs to the 2017 NCAA Tournament where they fell to Kansas State in the First Four.

Following that season, Manning received the Skip Prosser Man of the Year Award and John Collins was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the No. 19 overall pick of the 2017 NBA Draft.

Additionally, Coach Man-

Danny Manning ning mentored three players (Collins, Jaylen Hoard, Doral Moore) who are now representing the Deacs in the NBA. Manning coached six individuals who garnered All-Conference honors (Codi Miller-McIntyre, 2015 Honorable Mention; Devin Thomas, 2016 Honorable Mention; John Collins, 2017 First Team; Bryant Crawford, 2018 Honorable Mention, Olivier Sarr, 2020 Third Team; Brandon Childress, 2020 Honorable Mention) and had five studentathletes earn All-ACC Academic accolades following the 2017-18 (Keyshawn Woods), 2018-19

www.wschronicle.com

(Torry Johnson, Oliver Sarr) and 2019-20 (Ismael Massoud, Ody Oguama) seasons.

A charter member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, Wake Forest’s proud history includes five ACC Championships, 10 ACC Players of the Year, 13 NBA Draft first round picks, and seven current NBA players.

The brand new Shah Basketball Complex and Sutton Sports Performance Center, coupled with Wake Forest’s status as a top 30 national university, provides a world class experience for all Demon Deacon student-athletes.

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April 30, 2020

The C hronicle

RELIGION

Elder Richard Wayne Wood Sunday School Lesson

A Vision of Restoration Scriptures: Zephaniah 3:14-20 By the end of this lesson, we will: *Discern the need for the just restoration of God’s people; *Pursue trusting God for victory, hope and renewal; *Celebrate the return of God’s glory in salvation.

Background: Zephaniah is a prophetic book with only three chapters. In those chapters the prophet (1) announces doom for Judah, (2) describes the doom, (3) offers a chance to repent, (4) speaks against the nations and false gods, (5) speaks of the overbearing city and (6) speaks to the joy that Jerusalem will ultimately experience.

Lesson: Zephaniah is speaking to the remnant of Israel of the millennial period of blessing and restoration. The people of God sing and shout because of all that God has done for them (verse 14). God has taken away their punishment, He defeated their enemies, and has come to dwell within them. “Israel’s Sovereign the Lord is within you …” (verse 15). Verse 17 is the description of God’s jubilation. The Lord will show his delight with His people.

Verses 18 – 20 speak of the time when God brings all the tribes back together. It’s the time of the return of the King, Messiah. All the Jews will be gathered and will be a blessing to the world, they will have renewal in spirit and in wealth “…when I restore your fortunes before your eyes” (verse 20) because of God’s renewed pleasure in them. (The Jewish Study Bible, The New Interpreter’s Study Bible, The MacArthur Study Bible, the Oxford Bible Commentary and the UMI Annual Commentary 2019 -2020).

For Your Consideration: Victory comes after some type of battle or confrontation. How do we trust God to bring victory in our lives today?

Application: It’s really amazing to read Zephaniah and know (read all three chapters) that he is speaking 2400 years ago about something that is yet to happen.

The relevance in Zephaniah tells us that there will be necessary changes in order for the restoration to happen.

We must make decisions that turn us in the right direction and become active participants in our own restoration. We must remember that we don’t act alone.

God turns from His wrath, God turns from His wrath, God changes and God turns away our enemies. Restoration can only happen if God is in the midst.

RELIGION CALENDAR Thursdays and Saturdays Christ Rescue Temple Church, 1500 North Dunleith Ave., will serve hot meals as part of the People Helping People Feeding Program. Meals will be served every Tuesday and Thursday from noon until 1 p.m. at the church’s location. For more information, call 336-722-9841.

April Meeting – canceled Forsyth County Missionary Union The Forsyth County Missionary Union monthly meetings and programs for the month of April have been canceled. This includes all departments: youth, young adults and seniors.

April 27 - May 1 Baptist Training Institute – canceled The Baptist Training Institute scheduled for April 27 - May 1 is cancelled for this year 2020.

May 1 Youth Mini Message FWBC will begin offering a Friday Youth Mini Message at 12 noon. The first message will be delivered by Associate Minister Brian Cager on May 1on Facebook Live -- https://www.facebook.com/ FirstWaughtown/, on Instagram - @firstwaughtown, and on the First Waughtown website, https://www. firstwaughtown.org and click on MEDIA. May 3 First Waughtown Baptist Church Live Stream Dr. Dennis W. Bishop, senior pastor of First Waughtown Baptist Church, will deliver the Sunday message - The Grace Message, part 4 - online at 10:00 a.m. Sunday, May 3. Also, he will lead worshipers in Corporate Communion. Everyone is encouraged to have crackers and grape juice or elements to partake of The Lord’s Supper. Please join us on Facebook Live, https://www.facebook.com/FirstWaughtown/ or the First Waughtown website, https://www.firstwaughtown.org and click on MEDIA.

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Whole Man Ministries: ‘The need is great!’

SUBMITTED ARTICLE

Whole Man Ministries is continuing to be on the frontlines, serving the community.

Last Friday, something absolutely amazing happened on the campus of Whole Man Ministries’ Church. Under the leadership of Bishop Barry, Pastor Camilla Washington and the leadership team, church volunteers prepared to feed 300 people.

But an astonishing over 1,000 cars lined up bumper to bumper from Hwy. 52 to Old Lexington Road, where Whole Man Ministries 6.5-acre campus is located.

“The need was great!

Cars started lining up at 1 p.m., an hour and a half earlier than the scheduled event at 2:20 p.m.,”

Submitted photos

There were over 1,000 cars lined up an hour and a half before the event.

In addition to food, Whole Man Ministries handed out toys and household goods. said Bishop Washington.

“Winston-Salem Foundation’s COVID-19 Relief Fund has played an instrumental role in making this possible. We fed the hungry, handed out toys to the kids, household goods to the adults, and masks to everyone that needed it, especially the elderly,” said Washington.

“The Winston Salem Police Department showed up to assist with the traffic.

Keith Stamper had done an excellent job directing traffic until help arrived.

This is amazing,” said Pastor Camilla. “We have fed 1,000 people and now have to turn cars away.

Who knew the need was so great.”

God stepped on the campus and surpassed anything Bishop and Pastor Washington had expected.

The church gave out all the food that was purchased from the COVID-19 funds and moved to its own food pantry to feed several more families until the food was completely gone.

“We are also grateful to have collaborated with Love Out Loud, Flow, The Ministers’ Council and Mask the City,” said Pastor Washington. “We have given out 850 masks to keep people safe from the virus.”

“The event was a success, started early at 2 p.m. and ended at 5:15 p.m., with the community asking for more. We see the need is great, the line stretched over a mile, people lining up for food and a mask,” said Bishop Washington.

“We have to do this again soon.”

For more information regarding food and mask giveaways, follow Whole Man Ministries on Facebook or call them at 336785-2080.

Whole Man Ministries gave out until all of the food was gone.

Midweek online church attendance spikes due to COVID-19 BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Church technology company and makers of Logos Bible Software Faithlife recently released results from a survey of church leaders across the country revealing that 15% of participants noted increased engagement in online midweek services and small groups.

“We believe that increased midweek attendance during this pandemic is significant for several reasons,” said Faithlife Founder and CEO Bob Pritchett. “We know by now that many people at home, both Christian and non-Christian, have been tuning into church services remotely, and that is wonderful news. But to see midweek attendance

spike so sharply is encouraging because it shows that more and more people are seeking to not simply check off their Sunday service box, but truly engage with God’s Word and connect with the Church.”

In addition to increased midweek attendance, results from Faithlife’s survey showed that 40% of participants have seen their services reach a broader audience, including nonmembers, non-Christians, and individuals who have never been to church, in addition to those who have not gone for several years.

“I believe we are seeing Romans 8:28 play out in real-time during this unprecedented season,” said Pritchett. “Amid all the tragedy in the world,

God is very clearly still at work. Prayers are being answered that this pandemic would be used to point people toward Christ and our need for Him.” Additional data from the survey showed trends in technology use during this pandemic, including: *Less than 25% of churches reported that they had a live streaming solution in place prior to the pandemic, while a whopping 54% said they implemented live streaming because of the pandemic. *Compared to 2019, churches without online giving saw an average giving decrease of 19% during Holy Week. Churches with an online giving solution saw much less of a reduction, decreasing 5.5%

on average. *While attendance overall was down for churches on Easter Sunday, those that streamed live or prerecorded services tended to see less of a drop in attendance than those that used a web conferencing solution. *When asked, 36% of pastors said they need help with staying connected with the congregation, especially those who don’t have Internet access or are not online and 32% worry about the wellbeing of their congregants.

To learn more about the Faithlife survey, visit https://faithlife.com/newsroom.

T he C hronicle

April 30, 2020

B3

Community Calendar Please call ahead to make sure your event is still happening. We will post cancellations/postponements announcements when received.

NOW – Volunteer Center of the Triad The Volunteer Center of the Triad is responding to COVID-19 by bringing the volunteer community together. We have designated a portion of our website www.volunteercentertriad.org to assist our non-profit community as their needs arise around the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you are interested in volunteering, visit www. volunteercentertriad.org, click COVID-19 Response and search volunteer opportunities available.

NOW – Girl Scouts on Facebook Live Every Monday through Friday at 11 a.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. and on Saturdays at 11 a.m., Girl Scouts and anyone who is interested can tune into Facebook Live workshops with topics ranging anywhere from STEM and gardening to life skills and family game night. They even host a weekly campfire on Thursday evenings.

Virtual Troops kicked off the week of April 13.

To receive information for these newly forming troops, families can visit www.BeAGirlScout.org/ connect. There will be specific troop times for each girl grade level.

For more information about virtual Girl Scout

opportunities or to learn more about Girl Scouting in your community, please visit www.girlscoutsp2p. org. Questions about virtual programming can also be directed to info@ girlscoutsp2p.org or 800672-2148.

April 30 – The 108 Challenge Live On Thursday, April 30, at 10 a.m., The 108 Challenge and Convene Communities are hosting a free, virtual event with nationally recognized speakers to bring attention to the hidden pandemic of drug use in youths. The 108 Challenge LIVE includes two sessions, the first at 10 a.m. EST designed for parents, teachers and students. The second at 1 p.m. geared toward adults interested in drug prevention and recovery resources. Students may gain educational credit by viewing the 10 a.m. session with the opportunity to ask questions online during and after the event.

To register for FREE, go to convenecommunities.com/The-108-Challenge-LIVE. April 30 – Deadline to enter online singing competition The Little Theatre of Winston-Salem is holding an online singing compe-

tition, “The Pitch-Perfect Audition Song Competition.” Those wishing to enter should choose their best audition song and send a video entry to kristina@ltofws.org by the end of the day on Thursday, April 30. The winner and runners-up will be announced on the LTWS Facebook page on Wednesday, May 6 at 12 noon. For further information, please visit www.

LTofWS.org or email kristina@ltofws.org.

May 13-June 3 – Farmer’s workshop N.C. Cooperative Extension is offering a free, online workshop series for beginning farmers, Tuesdays at 10 a.m., May 13 - June 3. If you are considering starting a farming operation and are not sure where to begin, this Beginner Farmer Online Series is just for you. Topics include what can be grown, where’s the money, where and how to sell your product, and who can help. There is no registration fee, but registration is required. Learn more by visiting http://forsyth.cc/ CES/Livestock.aspx, or by emailing April Bowman at awbowman@ncsu.edu or by calling 336-703-2855.

May 17 – “Writing Your Manuscript” series

“Finishing Your Manuscript: Revising, Rewriting, Beta-reading, and Reaching Your Goal,” part 4 of the public series on Writing Your Manuscript from Triad Sisters in Crime, with Rase McCray, MFA, at High Point Library, 1:45-4 p.m., 901 N. Main St., High Point.

Stay to 5 p.m. to chat with authors.

June 21- Aug. 29 – 2020 Summer Parks Concert Series The Arts Council of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County has announced the lineup for the 2020 Summer Parks Concert Series with three performances at Tanglewood Park and two at Triad Park.

Here’s the schedule: *6/21, 5 p.m. – West End Mambo at Tanglewood Park *July 4, 7 p.m. – N.C. Army National Guard 440th Army Band at Triad Park *July 24, 7 p.m. – The Plaids at Tanglewood Park *Aug. 8, 7 p.m. – Possum Jenkins at Tanglewood Park *Aug. 29, 6 p.m. – Martha Bassett, Dan River Girls & Laurelyn Dossett at Triad Park Aug. 27-29 – Used book sale The Shepherd’s Center

of Greater Winston-Salem will hold its 33rd Annual Used Book Sale on Thursday, Aug. 27, and Friday, Aug. 28, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and on Saturday, Aug. 29, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. (1/2 price on all items!). The book sale is one of the largest in our state. Parking and admission are free. The event will take place in the Educational Building at the fairgrounds.

Here are online Bookmarks events for the month of April Contact: info@bookmarksnc.org URL for info on all events: https://www.bookmarksnc.org/calendar Book Buzz Book Club - Radiance of Tomorrow

by Ishmael Beah Thursday, April 30 at 12:00 p.m.

This book club meets to discuss lesser-known titles by some of today’s favorite authors.

Email beth@bookmarksnc.org to receive a link to participate virtually. For more info, https:// www.bookmarksnc.org/ book-buzz How to submit items to the community calendar: We appreciate your community news. Here’s

how you can help us to process your news more efficiently: *Please give us complete information about the event, such as the sponsor and address, date, time and place of the event and contact information so that the public can contact someone for more information if needed. *Please submit items in document form in an email or Word or PDF attachment. *Submit photos as attachments to emails as jpegs at least 4 inches wide by 6 inches deep rather than sent on documents. Please send captions with photos. *Please do not send jpeg fliers only, since we cannot transfer the information on them into documents.

The deadline is Sunday at 11:59 p.m. to have all calendar items submitted for that week’s paper.

Send your calendar items to news@wschronicle.com. You can also drop them off, Monday through Friday before 5 p.m., or mail your items to Winston-Salem Chronicle, 1300 E. Fifth St., Winston-Salem, NC 27101; or send them via our website, www. wschronicle.com.

CLASSIFIEDS

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April 30, 2020

T T he HE C C Hhronicle R ON I C LE

APRIL 30, 2020 B7

DEADLINE: MONDAY 5:30 PM • CALL CLASSIFIEDS AT (336) 722-8624

We accept major credit card payment on all classfied Ads. Email us your ad by Monday...see it on Thursday: adv@wschronicle.com NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THE WINSTON-SALEM CITY COUNCIL ON PETITIONS FOR ZONING CHANGES

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to the requirements of Article 19 of Chapter 160A of the General

Statutes of North Carolina, that the City Council of the City of Winston-Salem will hold a public hearing in the

Council Chamber at City Hall, Room 230, 101 N. Main

Street, Winston-Salem, NC at 7:00 p.m. on May 4, 2020,

on the following proposed amendments to the Official Zoning Map of the City of Winston-Salem, North

Carolina:

1. Zoning petition of Clifford Wilson, to amend and

change from RMU-S to NB-S (Arts and Crafts Studio; Church or Religious Institution, Neighborhood; Com-

bined Use; Food or Drug Store; Furniture and Home

Furnishings Store; Government Offices Neighborhood Organization, or Post Office; Museum or Art Gallery;

Offices; Recreation Services, Indoor; Restaurant (with-

out drive-through service); Retail Store; Services, A; and

Banking and Financial Services): the zoning classification and Official Zoning Map of the property located at

the southeast corner of South Main Street and Barber

Street; property consists of ±0.44 acre and is as portion PIN 6834-42-0341.00 as shown on the Forsyth County

Tax Maps and on a site plan on file in the office of the

City-County Planning Board (Zoning Docket W-3432).

2. Zoning petition of City of Winston-Salem, to amend

and change from AG (Forsyth County Zoning Jurisdic-

LEGAL NOTICES

REAL ESTATE

NOTICE TO CREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA FORSYTH COUNTY

Spring/Wachovia Hill Apartments Managed by Community Management Corp.

The undersigned, having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of MARGUERITE D. COLE, deceased, late of ROCKDALE COUNTY, GEORGIA, with property in Forsyth County, North Carolina, hereby notifies all parties having claims against said estate to present them to the attorney for the undersigned at 3735 Memorial Drive, Suite 100, Decatur, Georgia 30032 on or before July 17, 2020 or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.

1 Bedroom Units conveniently located in Winston Salem, 62 yrs of age or older Handicapped and/or disabled. Section 8 assistance available. Income restrictions apply. Call 336-251-1060. 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. on Mon and Fri, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on Wed. Equal Housing Opportunity

property located north of Patsy Drive; property consists

of ±6.00 acres and is PIN 6864-32-7378 as shown on the

Forsyth County Tax Maps and file in the office of the

City-County Planning Board (Zoning Docket W-3433).

3. Zoning petition of Ray and Sallie Edwards Invest-

ment, LLC, to amend and change from HB-S and LB to

GB-S (Storage Services, Retail): the zoning classifica-

tion and Official Zoning Map of the property located on

the east side of Peters Creek Parkway, south of Bridgton Road; property consists of ±2.82 acres and is a portion

of PIN 6822-78-3147 as shown on the Forsyth County

Tax Maps and on a site plan on file in the office of the

City-County Planning Board (Zoning Docket W-3434).

4. Zoning petition of Challenges of the 21st Century, Inc., to amend and change from GB and RS7 to IP-S

(School, Public and School, Private): the zoning classification and Official Zoning Map of the property located

on the north side of Goldfloss Street between Vargrave

Street and Glendale Street; property consists of ±2.42 acres and is PINs 6834-65-0715, 6834-55-9707, 683455-9756, and 6834-65-2791 as shown on the Forsyth

County Tax Maps and on a site plan on file in the office of the City-County Planning Board (Zoning Docket W-

3435).

5. Zoning petition of Burger King Corporation #1283

HEALTH SERVICES

67-9815 as shown on the Forsyth County Tax Maps

All parties in interest and citizens are invited to attend

said hearing at which time they shall have an opportunity

to be heard in favor of or in opposition to the foregoing proposed changes.

During the public hearing the City Council may hear other proposals to amend the zoning of the above-de-

scribed property or any portion thereof. At the end of

weekdays between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

All requests for appropriate and necessary auxiliary aids

and services must be made, within a reasonable time prior to the hearing, to Angela Carmon at 747-7404 or

to T.D.D. 727-8319.

BY ORDER OF THE CITY COUNCIL Sandra Keeney, Secretary to the City Council of the City of Winston-Salem

The Chronicle April 23, 30, 2020

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Request for Proposals for Assistance to Homeless Persons During the COVID-19 Pandemic The City of Winston-Salem seeks proposals for funding anticipated to be available from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to address the housing needs of homeless persons from the impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Proposals are due by 12:00 p.m. (noon) on May 6, 2020. The full Request for Proposals with detailed information is available on the City’s website at https://www.cityofws.org/2453/Homelessness. For more information, please contact Mellin Parker at (336) 734-1310 or mellinp@cityofws.org.

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FTCC. Fayetteville Technical Community College is now accepting applications for the following positions: Coordinator Military Business Center. For detailed information and to apply, please visit our employment portal at: https://faytechcc.peopleadmin.com/ Human Resources Office Phone: (910) 678-7342 Internet: http://www.faytechcc.edu. An Equal Opportunity Employer.

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T he C hronicle

April 30, 2020

B5

Despite shelter-in-place order, a sweet tradition lives on

BY MARTHA MURPHY

The coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic has become the great disrupter, challenging everyone to adjust to a new normal.

But there are some things that COVID-19 cannot touch.

When Harley and Virginia Affeldt moved to Arbor Acres United Methodist Retirement Community in August 2019, they never could have imagined that less than a year later, they would be required to shelter in place in their apartment due to the COVID-19 outbreak, isolated from family and friends. The restrictions Arbor Acres put into place to keep residents and staff safe from COVID-19, however, did not prevent Virginia from carrying out a sweet, 68-year-old tradition.

Every year since they first married, Virginia has arisen early on the morning of Harley’s birthday, March 31, to set the stage for Harley’s annual birthday “surprise.” This year was no different.

To honor Harley’s 94th birthday, Virginia, also 94, did what she has done for the past 68 years - she got up before Harley and spelled out “I LOVE U” in toothpicks on the kitchen table. Then she placed Harley’s birthday cards next to his plate for him to open over breakfast.

Virginia doesn’t remember exactly what first inspired her to start what turned into an annual tradition—she only remembers that the night before Harley’s first birthday after they were married, she decided to do something to surprise Harley the next morning. She looked

around, saw some toothpicks, and decided, “Why not?”

This year Harley and Virginia both received a surprise. As they were settling down for breakfast, they heard a knock on their apartment door. Standing there was an Arbor Acres employee with a special delivery: a birthday cake for Harley from their son, Jim, in Virginia, who coordinated with Arbor Acres to arrange the surprise since he couldn’t celebrate with his parents in person.

Harley and Virginia have deeps roots in the Winston-Salem community. Harley was the first employee of Forsyth Technical Community College in 1960, and a few years later became the college’s second president. Harley and Virginia, lifelong Methodists, are longtime members of Trinity

United Methodist Church.

The story of their annual “toothpicks” birthday ritual has travelled near- and now, far.

When Arbor Acres posted their story on its Facebook page, it generated more than 900 “Likes,” attracted at least 100 comments and was shared 50 times. As a result, Harley and Virginia have been inundated with phone calls and cards from old friends in town as well as well wishes from strangers across the country.

The fear and uncertainty brought on by a worldwide pandemic cannot interfere with a simple family tradition with its message of love, joy and hope.

Submitted photo

Harley Affeldt’s 94th birthday story posted on Facebook received more than 900 “likes,” 100 comments, 50 shares—and generated cards and good wishes from people around the country—even strangers!

Vote absentee in November to avoid possible exposure to coronavirus Seniors are at a higher risk for COVID-19 infection

BY HOWARD PEARRE

On Nov. 3, 2020, one of the most important general elections of our lifetimes will occur. At the same time, a resurging coronavirus may require the same social distancing, obsessive hand washing, and self-quarantining we all must practice today to stay safe.

What is not likely is that North Carolina will adopt a secure “vote-bymail” system, as five other states already use, that would allow voters to stay safe by not having to go physically to their precinct polling places to cast ballots.

For a clue of what could happen in North Carolina for an important election during a pandemic, consider what happened in Wisconsin on April 7: no “vote-by-mail,” no delay of the primary election to a safer time, no extension for absentee voting, extremely long lines, and a reduction of polling places. The city of Milwaukee had only five of its 180 polls open, and Green Bay had only two of it 31 polls open because of a lack of poll workers concerned about their own safety.

Fortunately, North Carolina law allows for an alternative to in-person voting that is available to every registered voter: noexcuse absentee voting. To vote absentee, you do not need to be “absent” or state a reason. And while absentee voting requires some effort before Election Day, it certainly is doable and it could save your life.

There are five steps to absentee voting in North Carolina.

1. Print an Absentee Ballot Request Form from the NC State Board of

Elections’ website. If you do not have a computer or a printer at home, you can call the Forsyth County Board of Elections at 336703-2800 and ask that a form be mailed to you.

2. Complete the Absentee Ballot Request Form and mail it to the Forsyth County Board of Elections. Absentee ballots are available 60 days before the general election.

The form must be received no later than October 27, a week before Election Day, but not waiting until the last minute will help ensure your request is not mishandled in the last minute rush. The Board will mail the absentee voting materials to you.

If you need help requesting a ballot, a nearrelative can request it. A near-relative is a person’s spouse, brother, sister, parent, grandparent, child, mother- or father-in-law, daughter- or son-in-law, stepparent or stepchild.

If a near-relative or legal guardian makes the request, that person must provide their full name, address, and signature.

3. Receive an official ballot, an official return envelope, and instructions by mail from the Board of Elections.

4. IMPORTANT: Mark your ballot in the presence of two witnesses who must sign the outside of the envelope. The witnesses should not see your choices (unless you need assistance marking the ballot due to disability) and must be at least 18 years old.

One witness may be your spouse. Make sure all parts of the certificate form on the envelope are filled out, including your signature.

5. Mail it in. To be counted your ballot must be received by the Board

May Senior Events Calendar: Please note that due to recommendations for social distancing and the stayat-home order during the COVID-19 crisis, most meetings and events have been postponed until further notice.

of Elections or postmarked no later than 5 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3.

However, if you mail in your ballot early enough, you can check online about a week later to make sure it was processed. To do this, do a Google search for “NC State Board of Elections Voter Search” and click on “Voter Search.”

Usually, all you need to enter is your first and last name to find your voter information and voting history that will tell you if your ballot has been processed.

For more extensive instructions about absentee voting, Google search a reliable non-partisan website such as the NC State Board of Elections, YouCanVote, or Democracy NC. By using the absentee voting option, you can make sure you participate in our democracy and still stay safe.

Howard Pearre is a member of Winston-Salem Writers and a volunteer coordinator with his political party.

Martha Murphy is the marketing arts specialist at Arbor Acres.

The Hope Line offers a personal connection for isolated seniors

BY WHITNEY BROOKS

When we began planning One Hope in 2018, none of us could have imagined the events of March 2020. But God knew.

If you’ve spent time around the N.C. Baptist Aging Ministry team, you’ve surely heard us say, “It’s a God thing.”

It’s practically our unofficial slogan, and for good reason. God has shown over and over that he’s always a step ahead, positioning the ministry to respond to the needs of aging adults.

Along those lines, “It’s a God thing” is the only way to describe the timing of the One Hope outreach that provides a spiritual response to social isolation and loneliness among older North Carolinians. The NCBAM HOPE LINE, a toll free “warm” line for callers experiencing isolation and loneliness, opened in June of 2019. Staff and volunteers were fully trained and experienced when just over the course of a few days in mid-March, calls to the Hope Line exponentially increased.

Demand for the Hope Line has continued to be great. We’ve added two lines and temporarily expanded hours to include weekends. The Hope Line (866578-HOPE) is now available daily, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.

Hope Line staff and volunteers help create a sense of strength and grounding in times that feel uncertain. We are trained to skillfully listen and respond to callers. There is power and confirmation in being heard. It’s not our job to diminish a caller’s fear or ignore it. Rather, we acknowledge how they are feeling, knowing it can be incredibly comforting for

Submittd photo

Whitney Brooks

callers to simply say these things out loud to someone who isn’t judging or trying to convince them otherwise. Callers who express fear or anxiety have a safe outlet where they can be heard. They also have someone ready and willing to pray with and for them.

Whitney Brooks, NBC-HWC a healthy aging expert, works with individuals and groups as an integrative health coach.

She developed and teaches the specialized training provided to N.C. Baptist Aging Ministry staff and Hope Line volunteers. Brooks is an advisor to NCBAM’s One Hope outreach. For more information about Whitney, visit https://www. mswhitneybrooks.com/.

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B6

April 30, 2020

The C hronicle

Shepherd’s Center is ‘thirty-five and thriving’

The writer’s corner

The mementos we cherish

BY BILL GRAMLEY

SUBMITTED ARTICLE

The Shepherd’s Center has just completed a record-setting year and as it begins its 35th year of service to older adults in our community, it is proud to announce it is “thirty-five and thriving.”

Here are just a few of their achievements in 2019: *Served a record 6,094 older adults, an 11% increase of 2018 *Provided 10,536 oneway trips by transportation volunteers, an increase of 25%, serving 1,452 individuals with trips to doctors’ appointments, dialysis, and grocery shopping *Provided 800 minor home repair services, an increase of 8% *Provided activities that saw 38,247 visits to the senior center, an increase of 16% *Saw Vital Living participants increase to a record 3,250, a 14% increase *Over 2,300 individuals and families received services through the Faith in Action Care Program *Over 3,200 participants engaged in over 50 activities a week, both at the center and throughout the community, with an attendance of 38,247 These record accomplishments were made possible by over 300 dedicated volunteers who invested over 30,000 hours of service to our community.

Additionally, these achievements were made possible by an increasing number of individual donors, fundraising income, corporate support and program grants, as well as committed staff and board of directors.

The Shepherd’s Center of Greater Winston-Salem promotes and supports successful aging by providing direct services, volunteer opportunities and enrichment programs for older adults. The center is certified as a Senior Center of Excellence through the North Carolina Division of Aging and Adult Services and is a model for “senior center without walls.”

Founded in 1985, the Shepherd’s Center is an affiliate member of The Shepherd’s Centers of America. The Faith in Action Care Program offers transportation to medical appointments, grocery shopping and other essential needs, minor home repair services, and visitation and caregiver support services for older adults and their families. The program also coordinates the Coalition of Ministries with Older Adults, the Powerful Tools for Caregivers training for family caregivers, It’s All About You Caregiver Day Out, as well as the Saturday Night Fellowship program in collaboration with 13 congregations in the community.

The Vital Living Senior Center Program provides health promotion and wellness activities, creative arts, lifelong learning opportunities, book and discussion groups, day trips, SHIIP/Medicare counseling, social engagement activities such as bridge, and fellowship opportunities.

These significant increases speak to the growing number of aging adults in our community. Over the next 20 years, Forsyth County is projected to grow by an additional 81,794 residents, of which 41% will be age 60 or over.

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, The Shepherd’s Center has suspended all activities and volunteer service. It is still providing necessary doctor’s visits and trips to dialysis, but is using paid transportation instead of volunteers. Staff is still working, but the building is closed to visitors until further notice.

For updates and information on changes, or to see how you can donate to support the services they provide, please visit www. shepherdscenter.org or call 336-748-0217.

There is something touching about mementos, those objects you saved. Maybe you picked up a smooth stone or delicate shell on the beach or in a creek and kept it, sticking it on a shelf or dresser.

Or maybe you bought a brass figurine in England, as I did long ago, to recall an English teacher who led us through the writings of Shakespeare. Or perhaps you saved a corsage from a special dance and pressed it into a scrapbook to remind you of a romantic night.

I don’t have many mementos of my grandparents, but I did keep Grandpa’s magnifying glass. I seem to need it myself these days. And Mom left me a little painted wooden angel she tried to hang on the Christmas tree. And when I see it, I am reminded of her and the deep significance of the Incarnation. That wooden angel is a symbol of the real angels who could not contain their joy at the birth of Jesus Christ, so they broke out of heaven one night to let some shepherds know what was going on. And Dad kept a short typed note Grandpa gave him as he left for college in 1923 with a few words of advice about being honest and studious and careful – the sort of things I probably told my children when they went off to college.

These little words are mementos that echo across the years. I’m glad I kept it.

These little symbols seem to evoke emotions, tenderness, and maybe melancholy as they speak from yesteryear to us today whenever we glance at them. They tell a story, an important one, from bygone years. The stories unfold as though those mementos could suddenly stand up and speak! We keep them or old photos or faded trophies because somehow these things touch us in a profound way.

The people of Israel once laid stones across the Jordan. And they built tabernacles – and still do – to remind them of what God did for them long, long ago.

And later we learned about a cup of wine, some broken bread, and a wooden cross.

They, too, are mementos: “Do this in remembrance of me,” Jesus said. Yes, they are symbols, material objects, but they

Bill Gramley

Submitted photo

have power and purpose, like flashing lights to warn and awaken us about what’s coming our way or was done for us!

Mementos are good. We need them.

They help us because our minds and hearts tend to stray. Sometimes we forget special people who once walked with us or taught us or evoked smiles and laughter when we were around them. They lived, and by the grace of God, they gave us good memories wrapped now in a few pieces of paper or wood or stone or clay or whatever. So we look at these shards and fragments and faded photos and recall how blessed we have been by them, through them, with them.

And what mementos shall we leave for our families and friends? What mark, what symbol, what stories, what worn stone or image, will we pass along? Surely whatever it is will convey our love and hope for them and the belief that their lives will be as blessed as ours have been.

Bill Gramley is a retired Moravian minister who has won multiple medals in Senior Games/SilverArts, including track and field and literary arts. He has written two books as well as “Devotional Expressions and Prayer” through the Music and the Arts Ministry Team of Centenary United Methodist Church.

Beauty Flourishes Here

I United Methodist Retirement Community

N OUR FULLY EQUIPPED STUDIO, artist Steven loves to share

his experience and guidance with fellow residents as they tap into

their creative spirits. At Arbor Acres, our residents celebrate the endless

variations and possibilities of beauty. What is beautiful to you?

www.arboracres.org 1240 Arbor Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27104 336 -724-7921