YES! Weekly - September 18, 2024

GREENSBORO PRIDE

The 17th Greensboro Pride Festival starts Sunday, September 22, at 11 a.m. on South Elm Street.

4 BERNARDIN’S represents one of the Triad’s longest-running success stories in the fine dining category. The restaurant originally opened in 1992, in a shopping center out in the hinterlands.

6 Having marked a major milestone last year with its 10th festival, WinstonSalem’s popular LGBTQ+ screening series and annual film festival “OUT AT THE MOVIES” (OATM) embarks on its second decade of success with its 11th festival, which runs October 3-6 in Winston-Salem and boasts of a bevy of screenings, parties, special events, and special guests.

8 “ I sat down recently with Jim Longworth to reflect on the upcoming 1,000TH EPISODE OF TRIAD TODAY.”

10 Both relevant and resonant, REBEL RIDGE (now on Netflix) is a highly charged, immensely satisfying crime drama that marks a triumph for all concerned, particularly leading man Aaron

Publisher CHARLES A. WOMACK III publisher@yesweekly.com

EDITORIAL

Editor CHANEL R. DAVIS chanel@yesweekly.com

YES! Writers IAN MCDOWELL MARK BURGER

KATEI CRANFORD JIM LONGWORTH

DALIA RAZO

LYNN FELDER JOHN BATCHELOR PRODUCTION

Pierre and quadruple-threat Jeremy Saulnier (writer/producer/editor/director).

14 Wake Forest University kicked o its Face to Face Speaker Forum on Wednesday, September 11 at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum with the NFL’s five-time Most Valuable Player PEYTON MANNING.

16 Bookmarks is excited to announce the 19th Bookmarks FESTIVAL OF BOOKS & AUTHORS which will take place on Saturday, September 28 in downtown Winston-Salem. The Bookmarks Festival continues to be the largest annual book festival in the Carolinas, drawing more than 20,000 attendees from 20+ states.

17 Summer ends and the seasons of giving begin with benefit FESTIVALS AND MUSICAL FUNDRAISERS heating up while the days cool off.

Senior Designer ALEX FARMER designer@yesweekly.com

Designer SHANE HART artdirector@yesweekly.com

Marketing ANGELA COX angela@yesweekly.com TRAVIS WAGEMAN travis@yesweekly.com Promotion NATALIE GARCIA DISTRIBUTION JANICE GANTT ANDREW WOMACK

[SPOTLIGHT]

NATIONAL DANCE DAY GSO 2024 GREENSBORO DOWNTOWN PARKS, INC. & IALIGN DANCE COMPANY

PRESS RELEASE

Greensboro Downtown Parks, Inc. (GDPI) is thrilled to announce the return of National Dance Day GSO on Saturday, September 21, 2024, in LeBauer Park. The annual celebration unites the community through the joy of dance, the vibrant exchange of cultures, and the sheer exhilaration of movement.

For the second year, GDPI is proud to partner with Greensboro’s iAlign Dance Company to bring you Dance Night: A Block Party In The Park. Dance Day will be from 1 to 5 p.m. and Dance Night will be from 6 to 9 p.m.

The festivities begin in LeBauer Park at 12:30 p.m. with the GDPI Kids’ Klub program Dance Around the World with Greensboro Ballet. Dance Day kicks o at 1 p.m. with a diverse lineup of performers showcasing a range of dance styles from around the world. At 6 p.m., the park transitions into an exciting Block Party, featuring mesmerizing dance performances by iAlign Dance Company and live music. Both events are free and open to the public. Dance Day promises a lively afternoon filled with captivating performances by 12 local dance groups, a bustling vendor market, and food trucks. Some performances include group dance participation for all attendees. This daytime celebration is the perfect opportunity for families and folks of all ages to explore dance. Dance Night: A Block Party in the Park produced by iAlign Dance Company and 3601 Music

PRESENTED BY:

is the culmination of the day’s festivities. It guarantees to be an unforgettable evening featuring the music of Aaron McCoy and a special performance by Mary Jane Tribute Band, a tribute band to Rick James.

The event will take place on the UNCG Great Lawn in LeBauer Park, located at 208 N. Davie Street in downtown Greensboro. The event is open to all visitors free of charge, thanks to the generous support of the Arts Council of Greater Greensboro and Cone Health.

For more information, including the complete event schedule, vendors, and performer lineup, visit www.greensborodowntownparks.org. Event graphics are linked here. For all the latest event updates and news, follow GDPI @greensborodowntownparks and iAlign @ialigndance on social media. !

GREENSBORO DOWNTOWN PARKS, INC. is a non-profit organization that manages and programs Center City and LeBauer Parks in partnership with the City of Greensboro. The mission of GDPI is to serve as the executive management of Greensboro’s downtown parks, focusing on public activation, maintenance, financial wellbeing, and overall vitality.

IALIGN DANCE COMPANY is a dynamic dance company dedicated to promoting the art of dance and celebrating the unity it brings to our community. Through engaging performances and educational outreach, iAlign Dance strives to inspire and connect people of all ages and backgrounds through the joy of movement.

KONTOOR ADVOCATES for LGBTQ+ LIVES

Chow Down at Bernardin’s at the Zevely House

BY JOHN BATCHELOR

Bernardin’s represents one of the Triad’s longest-running success stories in the fine dining category. The restaurant originally opened in 1992, in a shopping center out in the hinterlands. When the historic Zevely House property became available 14 years ago, owners Freddy and Terry Lee jumped on it. This is reputed to be the oldest house in Winston-Salem, dating back to 1815. (The stru cture was moved from its original location in the mid-1970s, in a harrowing transition. See northcarolinaroom.wordpress.com for the story.)

The rooms in the original house are smallish, reflecting their era. An annex has been constructed adjacent. It provides an attractive seating arrangement, open to the outdoors if weather is favorable, enclosed, heated, and/ or cooled when necessary. No matter where you sit, the ambiance is sophisticated and upscale.

I consider the wine list here one of the Triad’s best — customer-friendly, with regard to familiarity, pricing, and quality. This is one of those rare places where you simply cannot make a bad choice or pay an unreasonable price. Our server provided well-informed suggestions for food pairings, demonstrating solid knowledge of both cuisine and wine. During the time I visited here, the restaurant did not have a cocktail list, but I was advised that this needed change is

in the works as well. Meanwhile, the bar served up an exotic concoction under our server’s guidance.

We started one evening with Prince Edward Island Mussels, swimming in a wine broth with leeks, tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, garlic, fresh herbs, plus cilantro and butter. The mussels themselves are tender and fresh tasting — no muddy aftertaste, and the broth is just wonderful, the leeks imparting mild oniony flavor, sharpened just a little by the peppers.

On another night, we gravitated toward Crab Cakes. These are based on blue crab caught off the Carolinas coast, presented over black beans and corn. This variety of crab is kind of sweet, but rich at the same time. I liked the vegetable blend, but I didn’t get much of a relationship to the crab flavors.

The Goat Cheese Tart is surrounded by swirls of pesto and balsamic syrup. The flavor of goat cheese is highly enjoyable all by itself; in this case, that mellow flavor gets just a bit of an edge from sundried tomatoes. Pieces of eggplant round out the construction, creating an elegant structure.

The menu contains all the usual suspects, as far as proteins go, plus a surprise.

Atlantic Salmon bears a horseradish crust, seared to an exceptional texturefirm and crisp, without overcooking the interior. It is presented over spinach, with sweet roasted garlic cloves and diced tomatoes. A lush port wine sauce

surrounds the interior of the plate. I consider this one of the best salmon preparations I have encountered, but I wish more identifying information were provided. “Atlantic” covers a lot of territory. It means a farmed product, which is probably just fine, but it would be nice to know a little more about its origin. A restaurant this good owes that sort of information to its customers.

Six Sea Scallops, fairly large, are seared to a darkish brown exterior, still almost buttery tender inside. They surround risotto, studded with mushrooms, leeks, and asparagus. A chipotle plum vinaigrette is spicy-fruity, an excellent flavor match for the scallops.

Lobster is a frequently offered offmenu special. A split cracked tail is plated over raviolis filled with shredded lobster meat covered in a champagne cream sauce. Shiitake mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, a little shrimp, and asparagus tips complete the array. Lobster served this way is easy to eat, and the flavors are supremely rich.

The menu includes the source for Duck Breast — Maple Leaf Farms, a quality product. It arrives on vibrant display in shades of deep red from braised red cabbage and fig sauce, plated over yel-

low mascarpone polenta. This is served on a black plate, which enhances the visual impact, further decorated with slivered carrots and micro greens. Companion Anna, an excellent cook in her own right, raved over the flavor.

Now for the surprise. The menu offers Emu, a grounded bird similar in appearance to an ostrich, but smaller, farmraised in North Carolina. The texture and flavor are close to lean beef, but the levels of fat and cholesterol are a lot lower. I am not suggesting that you eat this for a diet. Eat it because it tastes good! In this case, that natural flavor is extended with a sweet potato puree, colorful rainbow carrots, plus asparagus and mushrooms, with a Madeira cranberry sauce. The wine-fruit taste of the sauce is especially well suited to the fowl. I rounded out my last evening with a Ribeye Steak, which arrived cooked precisely as ordered, with solid depth of flavor emerging from the Certified Angus Beef cut. A portabella mushroom and green peppercorn sauce, reduced with brandy, proved an excellent accompaniment. Spinach and a potato pancake with a light, crusty exterior, rounded out this stellar conception, surrounded with a swirl of pesto sauce.

Prince Edward Island Mussels Atlantic Salmon

Crab Cakes

Lobster

Since we were with guests, my wife and I were able to have desserts. Peach and Blueberry Cobbler is baked in a ramekin, topped with praline ice cream. Cinnamon Bread Pudding is soaked in a Grand Marnier sauce, vanilla ice cream melting on top.

Worth the calories!

Chef de is Cuisine Jason Pinch. There is another Bernardin’s installation from the same owners in Charlotte.

The website makes reference to something I wrote around 30 years ago: “Described as ‘The Triad’s only five-star restaurant’ by the Greensboro News And Record .” That statement has not been valid for decades. Management needs to take that comment down. There are no five-star restaurants in the Triad anymore. Clearly, however, Bernardin’s ranks among the Triad’s elite. !

JOHN BATCHELOR has been writing about eating and drinking since 1981. Over a thousand of his articles have been published. He is also author of two travel/ cookbooks: Chefs of the Coast: Restaurants and Recipes from the North Carolina Coast, and Chefs of the Mountains: Restaurants and Recipes from Western North Carolina. Contact him at john.e.batchelor@gmail.com or see his blog, johnbatchelordiningandtravel.blogspot.com.

WANNA go?

Bernardin’s at the Zevely House 901 West Fourth St. Winston-Salem 27101 336-725-6666 bernardinsfinedining.com

Hours: 5-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday

Appetizers: $10-$16

Salads: $8-$10

Soups: $8

Entrees: $19-$40

Desserts: $8

Most recent visit: September 4

[ WEEKLY ARTS ROUNDUP] REMEMBERING CAROLINA STREET SCENE

Carolina Street Scene, a beloved festival that once transformed the streets of downtown Winston-Salem, is making a return in spirit thanks to a unique collaboration between the Arts Council of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County and Camel City Goods. This partnership not only celebrates the historic festival but also Arts Council’s 75th anniversary, with the release of a one-of-a-kind T-shirt that honors the festival’s legacy and the creative spirit of the community.

The Carolina Street Scene began in 1974 as a birthday bash for the Arts Council, which, by then, had already made a name for itself as the first locally-established arts council in the United States. What started as a modest celebration quickly blossomed into one of the region’s most iconic events, drawing large crowds from all over to enjoy a weekend packed with art, music, and culture. For 20 years, the festival was a vibrant celebration of the arts, featuring a wide range of performances and entertainment, from local bands to legendary musicians like jazz great Dizzy Gillespie. Downtown Winston-Salem’s streets were filled with artists and vendors, o ering everything from paintings and sculptures to unique crafts and food, creating a lively atmosphere that left a lasting mark on the community.

Though the festival ended in the 1990s, the memories of the Carolina Street Scene remain vivid for many who experienced its magic. Now, to celebrate

Arts Council’s 75th anniversary, Camel City Goods has designed a limited-edition T-shirt to bring that festival spirit back to life. This collaboration merges nostalgia for one of Winston-Salem’s most cherished events with a modernday tribute to Arts Council’s ongoing mission to foster creativity and artistic expression.

The T-shirt is available for purchase at Camel City Goods and online at camelcitygoods.com. A portion of each sale will be donated to Arts Council, supporting our e orts to continue enriching the cultural landscape of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County. By purchasing a shirt, community members can not only show their pride for Arts Council’s remarkable history but also contribute to our future endeavors, helping to ensure that Winston-Salem remains a thriving hub for the arts.

Join us as we celebrate Arts Council’s 75th year! !

Duck Breast Emu

Ribeye Steak

Six Sea Scallops

Peach and Blueberry Cobbler

Cinnamon Bread Pudding

BY KATIE HALL NICOLAS

“OUT” is on! Annual LGBTQ+ film festival celebrates 11th anniversary

BY MARK BURGER

Having marked a major milestone last year with its 10th festival, WinstonSalem’s popular LGBTQ+ screening series and annual film festival “OUT at the Movies” (OATM) embarks on its second decade of success with its 11th festival, which runs October 3-6 in Winston-Salem and boasts of a bevy of screenings, parties, special events, and special guests. This year’s festival includes 43 films (features and shorts), and individual tickets, festival passes ($75), and flex passes ($40) are available. For a complete schedule of events, visit https:// outatthemovies.org/11th-annual-out-atthe-movies-international-film-festival/.

This year’s event will welcome some old friends, new faces, and of course a wide variety of films carefully selected by the OATM team that depict, dramatize, or

document issues facing the LGBTQ+ community, but are also designed to entertain the masses.

“We had 247 films submitted through FilmFreeway and from distributors,” said Rex Welton, OATM executive director. “It was the most di cult that I can recall over the last 11 years. There were seven or eight feature films that absolutely would have made the festival slate in previous years that didn’t make the cut in 2024. But we are planning to show some of these as part of our year-round screening series.”

The wealth of selections was “definitely” due to the festival’s longevity, Welton confirmed. “Our submissions were up over 40% from 2023.”

Screening venues include the Byrum Welcome Center at Wake Forest University, Hanesbrands Theatre, and the ACE Theatre Complex on the UNCSA main campus, while the parties will be held at

Damn Yankees Yankees

Wake Forest University, Stem Beverage Supply, Young Cardinal, Sage & Salt, and Six Hundred Degrees.

“’OUT at the Movies’ is a local treasure,” said Deborah LaVine, UNCSA School of Filmmaking dean. “Winston-Salem is so lucky to have two world-class film festivals, and UNCSA is extremely proud to support them both. OATM has a terrific track record of screening films from established artists and young, emerging talent that represent a broad spectrum of stories. The festival supports early-career filmmakers with scholarships and awards that provide resources for projects. This support not only helps jump-start a young filmmaker’s career, but it gives artists who feel outside the mainstream a platform to express themselves.”

UNCSA. Walsh, executive producer/co-star Kimberly Chesser, and actor/performers Jones and Sushi Keywest are scheduled to attend.

“I’m excited to experience more of what I discovered at our premiere screening in Winston-Salem in February,” Walsh said. “That is how Oscar Wilde in our film speaks to young people, LGBTQ+, and their advocates, in a way that is personal and immediate without becoming didactic.”

As far as the community and the festival, “I speak for myself and other filmmakers when I say that Winston-Salem is a town and community we love to come home to. And I believe that OATM is on track to become the pre-eminent LGBTQ+ film festival in the United States.”

Award-winning actress Alicia Coppola (Another World, Jericho) is an OATM newcomer, with her short film And You Are …? starring Jane Seymour and Zach Barack, being screened as part of the Selected Shorts Preview Night on October 3 at the Byrum Welcome Center.

In February, the OATM screening series enjoyed a rousing success with the world premiere of Oscar Wilde About America, a fanciful recreation of the famous author’s record-breaking 150-city tour of the United States in 1882, when Wilde was only 27 but already a worldwide celebrity, but set in a contemporary America. The film, which marks the starring debut of executive producer Oscar Conlon-Morrey in the title role, was partially filmed in Winston-Salem and features Rosemary Harris, Kate Burton, Michael Childers, and Randy Jones. Filmmaker James Andrew Walsh had previously attended OATM events and fell in love with the region, prompting his decision to film there.

“Because of past visits to WinstonSalem for the annual ‘OUT at the Movies’ film festival, my team and I had already fallen in love with the city’s vibrant and artistic spirit you feel the moment you arrive — [it’s] an ideal location to represent the American South in our film,” Walsh said prior to February’s premiere.

Now, Oscar Wilde About America returns — again — to Winston-Salem, this time as the centerpiece screening on October 5 at

“I want to tell stories,” explained Coppola (no relation to Francis). “Whether I am telling them as an actress, writer, director, or producer is irrelevant. I have much to say and I want to say it in any way that serves the story.”

Although she’s never attended the festival before, “I have been familiar with OATM due to our mutual friend Alan Locher,” Coppola said. “Alan has been a huge supporter not only of my work as an actor but [also] as a filmmaker. Thus far my experience has been fantastic. I feel heard and accepted. I feel like my film has met its kindred spirits and is home.”

In her opinion, the importance of events such as this cannot be underestimated. “I am a huge LGBTQ+ advocate. We have family members in this wonderful community. I want to not only tell their stories but educate and exalt their stories as well. Showing and telling these stories brings us closer as a community. In doing so, we create inclusion, acceptance, and love. This is why I do what I do.” !

Book by George Abbott & DouGlass Wallop

Music and lyrics by Richard Adler & jerry ross

ACROSS

1 Old-time crooner Julius

7 James — Garfield

12 Taxing org.

15 Old newspaper section

19 On cloud nine

20 Having fine granules

21 Refilled to the brim

23 Nocturnal burrower wearing clothes?

25 “Rocky” star

26 French “a”

27 Taking after

28 Semiaquatic reptile that’s really zealous?

30 Big spotted cat released from jail early?

34 Doc treating laryngitis

35 Orig. texts

36 Sports o cial

37 Interprets

39 Antifraud org.

42 1990s Toyota coupe

45 “McQ” actor Gulager

46 Ready- — (precooked)

48 Region

49 Tesla’s Musk

50 Lobe-finned swimmer turning red?

54 Pioneering email co.

55 One-eighty

56 Mini-guitar

57 Elizabeth — Browning

58 Spiny anteater on a leash?

64 Put in very hot water

65 Solid ground

66 Actor Wallach

67 Seat winners

69 Florida city

72 Quark’s place

74 Very small monkey from the red planet?

79 Rhine siren

82 “Sliver” writer Levin

83

Mimicking bird that’s predatory?

Tannahill Weavers in Concert

SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

DooRS @ 6:30PM Show @ 7:30PM

Get ready to experience Tannahill Weavers’ performance as they bring the vibrant spirit of Scotland live. This performance will be filled with poignant ballads, humorous tales of Scottish life, and modern rhythms.

ScythianUkraine to Appalachia

SEPTEMBER 27, 2024

DooRS @ 6:30PM Show @ 7:30PM

Named after Ukrainian nomads, Scythian (sithee-yin) plays roots music from Celtic, Eastern European and Appalachian traditions with thunderous energy, technical prowess, and storytelling songwriting, beckoning crowds into a barn-dance, rock concert experience.

oCToBER 05, 2024

DooRS @ 6:30PM Show @ 7:30PM

With positive impact at the core of his creative approach, Alexander Star is trailblazing a lane traveled by few other artists and standing tall on his mantra: Give Hope While Being Dope.

Triad Today to Air 1,000th Episode

When Jim

Longworth began his broadcasting career in 1970, most people only had three TV networks to watch. There was no Paramount+, Hulu, or Netflix. There was no such thing as DirecTV, and less than 10 million households even had cable. What folks DID have was a plethora of local television programs to watch. There were programs that featured news makers and sports stars. There were shows targeted to women and children. And, there were locally produced specials and documentaries.

“I was lucky enough not just to be influenced by local programming, but to be a part of it as well,” Jim told me. That luck included everything from running studio cameras, to reporting, doing weather, and producing prime time specials, such as a half-hour show with legendary comedian Red Skelton, which was taped before a live audience at WFMY in 1978. Jim produced and appeared in his own kids’ show in Charlotte, then hosted a live, daily talk show in Richmond before starting a production company which produced and syndicated public a airs programs that focused on everything from healthcare and education, to business and government. It was all leading to his most enduring venture in his own hometown. I sat down recently with Jim to reflect on the upcoming 1,000th episode of Triad Today.

Pam : When did you create Triad Today , and why?

Jim : I came back home to WinstonSalem in 2002 to help look after my parents, and one day while watching TV with my dad, I realized that with the exception of news, all other local programs had pretty much disappeared from the Piedmont broadcast landscape. That’s when I created Triad Today , and we’re now in our 21st year.

Pam : Do you remember the first broadcast?

Jim : Do I remember it? How old do you think I am?

Pam : 70.

Jim : You didn’t have to answer that. It was a rhetorical question.

Pam : OK, so what was the first show like, and how has Triad Today changed over the years?

Jim : The first broadcast was on October 3, 2003, and it featured a debate over the proposed baseball park in Greensboro. Former Mayor Jim Melvin spoke in favor of the project, which soon became a reality. Before leaving the studio, Melvin said to me, “ This is kind of

a third-rate setup you have here .”

Pam : Did you take offense at that remark?

Jim : No, because he was right. During that first year, the Triad Today studio set consisted of a plain black wall, a grey drape, and three director’s chairs. It looked like we were shooting the show in a bus station basement.

Pam : Bus stations don’t have basements.

Jim : What are you, a CNN fact-checker?

Pam : In spite of the sparse studio set, along the way you managed to win the prestigious Spectrum of Democracy Award, and were recognized by Congress for your commitment to voter education. How did those honors come about?

Jim : Because during every election cycle I give free air time to candidates in high-profile races, including interviews with folks like Senator Elizabeth Dole and her challenger, the late Kay Hagan. We’ve also had candidates for Governor come from all over the state to appear on Triad Today, and we’ve featured a number of Congressional candidates

from Piedmont area districts.

Pam : In every show you also interview community leaders who focus on a wide range of topics. But the most popular segment each week is the Roundtable. How did that evolve?

Jim : I called it the Roundtable because I would throw out topics and then have local journalists and civic leaders comment. During the first year, the Roundtable gang consisted of former WFMY legend Lee Kinard and news reporter Leonard Simpson. Later I expanded the Roundtable to include two regulars (journalist Ogi Overman and civic leader Keith Granberry), along with a rotating panelist from the world of business, politics, education, and the arts.

Pam : At the end of each Roundtable segment, you comment on a funny item in the news, then embellish it with a humorous twist. How did that come about?

Jim : I stole that from the late great David Brinkley who as host of “This Week” on ABC, would end each show by commenting on a funny news story.

Pam : Your jokes don’t always go over though, right?

Jim : No, and thanks for reminding me. That’s correct. Sometimes the Roundtable gang laughs and sometimes they groan.

Pam : Can you give me an example of a funny one?

Jim : “The Greensboro Science Center just announced the addition of a sloth to their exhibits. The sloth will sleep at the center at nights, but he’ll keep his day job at the post office.”

Pam : I don’t imagine local postal workers appreciated that joke. Jim : No, so I apologized to them on air. I would have mailed my apology, but

Pamela CookLongworth

Longworth at Large

Keith Grandberry, David Daggett, Ogi Overman, Jim (Triad Today Roundtable, 2019)

Jim with Red Skelton (Greensboro, WFMY, February 1978)

Thad Mo tt, Rebecca Petty Mo tt, Pam Cook, Richard Petty, and Jim (on the King’s 80th birthday, 2017)

Pam : Never mind, I get it. In addition to interviewing various community leaders each week, Triad Today has also featured a number of celebrities. Who were some of your favorite special guests?

Jim : The Rev. Jesse Jackson was a great guest. In fact, we did an entire half hour with him. I recall asking him if voter apathy was the biggest problem in America, and he said, “No. Voter suppression.” Golfing legend Arnold Palmer was another memorable guest. He was a real gentleman and could make you feel like you were the only person in the room. Then there was Ed Asner who made a pass at you right in front of me. In fact, he actually licked the side of your face.

Pam : Yeah, that was interesting. So, who was your most memorable guest, or the most famous person you ever interviewed?

Jim : Well, there’s a difference between most famous and most memorable. Over the past 54 years, I’ve been fortunate to interview hundreds of really famous folks like Bob Hope, Elizabeth Taylor, Dick Van Dyke, Angela Lansbury, and Bryan Cranston. But when it comes to the most memorable, then hands down, that was NASCAR legend Richard Petty.

Pam: Why?

Jim: Triad Today was only about ten shows into the first season and still trying to attract an audience, so Richard

agreed to appear and promote Victory Junction, which was yet to open. The night before taping, Richard’s secretary called me and said that he and Kyle had to fly to Detroit for a sponsor meeting and because of that, Richard wouldn’t be able to do my show. I was devastated because Richard would have put Triad Today on the map, plus we had promoted his upcoming appearance. Nevertheless, I went ahead with the show, and midway through taping, I heard a commotion just outside the studio door. In walked Richard, who promptly sat down next to me and did the interview. Afterward, I learned that he had left Kyle in Detroit and took a plane back to Greensboro that morning just so he could do my show. Off camera I said to Richard, “I really appreciate your being here, but why would you leave an important sponsor meeting in Detroit to be on my little TV show?” “Because I give you my word,” said Richard . To this day and until the day I die, I’ll always get goosebumps when I remember that moment. It says all you need to know about The King.

Pam : What’s the goal of Triad Today, and has that changed over the past two decades?

Jim : Some things have changed, like my waistline and the color of my hair, but our mission has never changed, which is to facilitate discussions with

movers and shakers who help to impact our community in a positive way and improve quality of life for every population. Sometimes that involves making folks aware of job training opportunities or reminding them of the importance of mammograms and wellness exams. Sometimes we promote the arts and cultural activities, and other times we help to lobby for much-needed legislation and public policy initiatives, like the work we did to push for reparations for victims of forced sterilization.

Pam : One last thing. Why is it that you’ve never invited me to be on Triad Today ?

Jim : Because I don’t believe in nepotism. I learned that from Ricky Ricardo who never wanted Lucy to perform in his nightclub.

Pam : OK then Mr. Ricardo, let’s see what happens the next time you want something from me.

Jim : On second thought, how’d you like to be on the show next week? !

PAMELA COOK-LONGWORTH is president of Pam Cook Communications and the reluctant wife of Jim Longworth. Visit www.triadtoday.com and www.jimlongworth. com for archived episodes and celebrity interviews. Triad Today airs Saturdays at 7:30 a.m. on abc45, Sundays at 11 a.m. on MY48, and streams on wfmy+.

Pam Cook, Angela Lansbury, and Jim (Los Angeles March 2007)

Jim and Dick Van Dyke (Los Angeles 2009)

Ed Asner and Jim (Winston-Salem, ABC45, February 2010)

Profiling and courage: Rebel Ridge crackles with suspense

Both relevant and resonant, Rebel Ridge (now on Netflix) is a highly charged, immensely satisfying crime drama that marks a triumph for all concerned, particularly leading man Aaron Pierre and quadruple-threat Jeremy Saulnier (writer/producer/editor/director).

The film initially seems to be the 21stcentury equivalent of Billy Jack (1971) and/or First Blood (1982) as it follows taciturn ex-Marine Terry Richmond, who is rousted by a pair of small-town police officers (David Denman and Emory Cohen) who “relieve” him of $30,000, some of which is meant to pay his cousin’s bail for a charge of marijuana

possession. The cash is considered a “civil forfeiture asset,” which Terry can reclaim only after legal procedures that will take weeks, if not months. Unfailingly polite and well-mannered, Terry explains his plight to local police chief Sandy Burnne (Don Johnson), who proceeds to throw up every potential bureaucratic roadblock. This, not surprisingly, rankles Terry, who soon realizes that the sleepy little town of Shelby Springs is rife with corruption — starting at the very top. But Burnne and his officers have severely underestimated Terry’s sheer determination and will. He uses his military training to continually outwit them, and when push comes to shove — which it inevitably does — Terry exacts his revenge not by killing them but by subduing and humiliating them.

Terry finds an unlikely ally in Summer McBride (AnnaSophia Robb), a clerk at the courthouse who takes pity on him and eventually joins him in his crusade for justice and vindication, although it inevitably puts her in harm’s way.

Saulnier could have easily played up the racial angle here, yet never does. Nor does he need to. This is a quintessential underdog story, told in straightforward, suspenseful terms — one man defying the odds to simply make things right. Pierre’s superb performance is highly controlled, tightly coiled, and works on both emotional and physical levels. Terry is an immediately empathetic character, and the audience is on his side from the get-go. Even better, the police aren’t wholly portrayed as bigoted rednecks. Some, including Officer Sims (newcomer Zsané Jhé), are clearly uncomfortable with the power Burnne wields — and how he wields it.

In addition to Billy Jack and First Blood , there are vague echoes of Spielberg’s The Sugarland Express (1974) and Carl Franklin’s 1991 breakout One False Move , with cinematographer David Gallego imbuing the proceedings with atmospheric, suitably noir -ish touches throughout.

The performances are terrific down

Administrative Services ManagerPlan, direct, & coord activities that help the organization run efficiently. Devel, monitor, & mnge organization’s recs. Oversee reno prjcts to imprve efficiency or to meet regulations & envrnmntl, health, & security stndrds. Monitor facilities to ensure that the premises are safe, secure, & well maintained. Sup staff. Set goals & deadlines for their dept or facility. Rec changes to policies or proceds in order to imprve ops, such as reassessing supplies or recrdk’g. Monitor facilities to make sure that they remain safe, secure, & well maintained. Oversee the maintenance & repair of machinery, equipmnt, & electrical & mechanical systms. Make sure that facilities meet envrnmntl, health, & security stndrds & comply w/regs. Reqs HS Dip & 24 mos of exp as Admin Services Mgr. Mail resume to Unity Group LLC, 501 South Regional Rd, Greensboro, NC 27409

the line, with Pierre (who replaced John Boyega midway through production) the indisputable dominant force. Combining pluck and vulnerability in irresistible, emotionally affecting fashion, this is also a career performance by Robb, and although Johnson has occasionally (and entertainingly) played villains in an over-the-top fashion reminiscent of Dennis Hopper, he’s in top form here. Burnne isn’t a one-note heavy but a cool customer who knows the system is rigged in his favor — because he’s rigged it that way. Yet each time he changes the rules, Terry summarily turns the tables on him. Their scenes together are first-rate, with both actors parrying in delicious fashion.

In a small but pivotal role, James Cromwell scores as a venerable judge (the town’s only one) so riddled with guilt that he provides Terry and Summer with the key to bring Burnne and his department down.

The underlying message of Rebel Ridge is plain to see, but the filmmakers have built a true-blue crowd-pleaser, with heroes to cheer and villains to boo. That these characters are entirely credible only enhances its overall effectiveness and impact. This is full-throttle filmmaking at its best, and Rebel Ridge is among the year’s best films. !

See MARK BURGER ’s reviews of current movies. © 2024, Mark Burger.

Mark Burger

Contributor

AGELESS

LOVE (Indican Pictures): Joshua Coates co-wrote, produced, and directed this award-winning, fact-based 2021 romantic comedy based on executive producer/story writer Yale Schwartz’s one-man presentation detailing his romance with a widowed mother of five 14 years older, and the hurdles they faced in 1960s Pennsylvania as the relationship flourished into marriage. The real Schwartz, who died shortly after filming, narrates the film in Jean Shepherd-like fashion on- and o -camera, and despite a strident score by Daniel A. Weiss the performances of newcomers Elizabeth Caponigro and Nicholas Runfolo (billed as “Nick R. McCormack”) are both credible and appealing, thereby lending dignity and heart to their characters’ relationship. The DVD retails for $24.99.

THE ANTICHRIST (Kino Lorber Studio Classics): One of the more repulsive rip-o s of The Exorcist (1973), writer/ director Alberto De Martino’s 1974 shocker (originally titled L’anticristo) stars Carla Gravina as the paraplegic daughter of Italian nobleman Mel Ferrer, possessed by an ancestor burned at the stake as a witch centuries before. Less scary than stomach-churning, squandering Arthur Kennedy, Alida Valli, Umberto Orsini, Anita Strindberg, and George Coulouris (as the obligatory exorcist) in support, while Ennio Morricone and Bruno Nicolai’s bombastic score blares incessantly. At least Rome looks nice. This sat on the shelf for four years until it was dumped onto the American marketplace as The Tempter (replete with the original, discarded poster artwork for Exorcist II: The Heretic!). The 4K Ultra HD combo ($39.95 retail) includes audio commentary, retrospective featurette, and more. Rated R.

“FILM

NOIR: THE DARK SIDE OF CIN-

EMA” (Kino Lorber Studio Classics): The latest selection of Blu-ray triple-feature ($39.95 retail) film-noir thrillers — each replete with audio commentaries and trailers: “Volume XX” includes Captain Carey, U.S.A. (1949), starring Alan Ladd and Wanda Hendrix, based on Martha Albrand’s novel and directed by Mitchell Leisen, which introduced the classic, Oscar-winning song “Mona Lisa”; Ladd returns in 1950’s Appointment With Danger, which also features future “Dragnet” co-stars Jack Webb and Harry Morgan (as heavies) under the direction of Lewis Allen; and Make Haste to Live (1954), based on the 1950 novel by The Gordons (Mildred and Gordon), marked director

[VIDEO VAULT]

BY MARK BURGER

DVD PICK OF THE WEEK: ACES HIGH (Kino Lorber Studio Classics)

Based on R.C. Sherri ’s classic 1928 World War I play Journey’s End, director Jack Gold’s 1976 award-winning adaptation smoothly transposes the action from the muddy trenches to the wild blue yonder, detailing the exploits of the Royal Flying Corps in 1916.

The characters are familiar but comfortable archetypes: Malcolm McDowell as the hard-drinking, hard-nosed squadron commander, Christopher Plummer his avuncular, even fatherly adjutant, Simon Ward a flier who’s lost his nerve, and Peter Firth as the eager, baby-faced rookie who wants to impress McDowell, whom his sister is engaged to. As expected, the film has its share of camaraderie, courage, and “sti -upper-lip” resolve, but just beneath

the surface are undercurrents of despair and futility. The average lifespan for a pilot is roughly 14 days, and for every moment of triumph there’s a more vivid one of tragedy. The anti-war sentiment is plain to see, and still hits home.

Despite dated rear-projection e ects, the actual flying scenes are spectacular, and aviation aficionados will doubtless savor the vintage airplanes on display. Yet there’s an old-fashioned quaintness to the proceedings, and the film feels slightly out of step with the time in which it was made. For marquee value, there are “special appearances of” Ray Milland, Trevor Howard, Richard Johnson, and John Gielgud (who would soon reunite with McDowell in the notorious Caligula). It’s nice having them around, but they haven’t much to do.

By the mid-1970s, the British film industry was in free-fall, and although Aces High fared reasonably well on its home soil, in the United States it was spottily released by Cinema Shares International (a distinctly minor-league independent best known for distributing kiddie-oriented Godzilla sequels) and disappeared shortly thereafter. Not a lost treasure but a good, worthy film that well warrants a look. The special-edition Blu-ray ($24.95 retail) includes audio commentary, retrospective interviews, theatrical trailer, and more. Rated PG.

William A. Seiter’s final feature and stars Dorothy McGuire, Stephen McNally, Mary Murphy, and Carolyn Jones. “Volume XXI” consists of Fritz Lang’s Cloak and Dagger (1946) starring Gary Cooper, Lilli Palmer, and Robert Alda, inspired by Corey Ford and Alastair MacBain’s non-fiction bestseller; the 1952 Cold War favorite Shack Out on 101, scripted by the husbandand-wife duo of director Edward and Mildred Dein, starring Terry Moore, Frank Lovejoy, Keenan Wynn, and Lee Marvin (as “Slob”); and Short Cut to Hell (1957), based on Graham Greene’s novel A Gun for Sale, which marked the producing debut of A.C. Lyles and the only directorial e ort of James Cagney (who disliked the experience), with William Bishop, Robert Ivers, and Yvette Vickers (in her feature debut).

JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS — PART THREE (DC/Warner Bros. Animation/Warner Bros. Home Entertainment): Based on Marv Wolfman and George Perez’s popular DC limited comic-book series “Crisis on Infinite

for the loot he buried there years earlier. Reportedly filmed in 12 days, Di Leo himself expressed dissatisfaction with the final result — and he wasn’t mistaken. In Italian with English subtitles, available on Blu-ray ($29.95 retail), replete with audio commentary and theatrical trailer.

“SUCCESSION”: THE COMPLETE SERIES (HBO/Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment): Brian Cox portrays the patriarch of the world’s most powerful media conglomerate (shades of Rupert Murdoch, anyone?) whose empire is threatened by external and internal strife when he contemplates retirement, in all 39 episodes from the entire 2018-’23 run of the acclaimed HBO drama series created by executive producer Jesse Armstrong, which earned a whopping 75 Emmy Award nominations and won 19 — including three for Outstanding Drama Series (in 2020, 2022, and 2023) — and features a star-studded ensemble cast including Nicholas Hoult, Hiam Abbass, Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook, Kieran Culkin, Peter Friedman, Matthew Macfadyen, Natalie Gold, and Alan Ruck, available on Blu-ray ($94.99 retail), replete with bonus content including behind-the-scenes featurettes, cast and crew interviews, and more.

Earths,” this PG-13-rated animated fantasy saga — the culmination of a trilogy devoted to the “Tomorrowverse” narrative, sees DC’s most famous superheroes from multiple universes banding together to prevent Armageddon, featuring a star-studded voiceover cast including Darren Criss (as Superman), Stana Kantic (as Wonder Woman), Jensen Ackles (as Batman/Bruce Wayne), along with Mark Hamill, Matt Bomer, Geo rey Arend, Zack Callison, Alexandra Daddario, Will Friedle, Jennifer Hale, Aldis Hodge, David Kaye, Matt Ryan, Jimmi Simpson, Lou Diamond Phillips, and the late Kevin Conroy (to whom the film is dedicated), available on Blu-ray ($29.98 retail) and 4K Ultra HD combo Steelbook ($47.99 retail), each boasting behind-the-scenes featurettes.

MADNESS (RaroVideo/Kino Lorber): Director/screenwriter Fernando Di Leo’s tacky, tawdry crime drama (originally titled Vacanze per un massacre) stars Joe Dallesandro as an escaped convict who manipulates the residents of a remote country manor as he desperately searches

“TED LASSO”: THE RICHMOND WAY (Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment): Creator/executive producer Jason Sudeikis brings his fictional NBC sports character Ted Lasso to this critically acclaimed Apple+ comedy series in which Lasso is hired to coach a faltering English soccer team — despite having no experience — and proceeds to win over players and fans alike with his perennially optimistic and enthusiastic outlook. The series set a record earning 20 Emmy nominations in its first season and has won 13 overall including back-to-back wins in 2021 and 2022 for Outstanding Comedy Series, Sudeikis as Outstanding Leading Actor in a Comedy Series, and Brett Goldstein as Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, with Hannah Waddingham winning Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2021. The regular cast also includes Jeremy Swift, Phil Dunster, executive producer Brendan Hunt, Nick Mohammed, Anthony Head, and Juno Temple. Both the DVD ($74.99 retail) and Blu-ray ($84.99 retail) contain all 34 episodes from the entire 2020-’23 series run. !

See MARK BURGER’s reviews of current movies. © 2024, Mark Burger.

Greensboro gets festive with Pride

Ian McDowell

The 17th Greensboro Pride Festival starts Sunday, September 22, at 11 a.m. on South Elm Street. The popular event, which has become one of the city’s most attended celebrations, will feature more than 215 vendors, 15 food trucks, three stages, and numerous activities for the old, young, and in-between.

“We cannot thank the City of Greensboro enough for their help and support for making our event extremely special,” said Greensboro Pride Executive Director Spencer Jewell. “Our city is rated a solid 100 by the Human Rights Campaign and has numerous departments celebrating diversity. It is an honor to put this festival on for the community, and we really appreciate the community engagement and support.”

The festival runs down South Elm from Market to Lewis Streets. Its three stages include Plane Jane from RuPaul’s Drag Race season 16 and Luxx Noir London from season 15. “Not to mention Jessica Wild, who represents the Latinx community, and numerous local entertainers.”

Festivities commence with the Presentation of Colors and Anthem on the Crest, Kontoor and Qorvo Sponsor Stage, followed by performances from Brenda the Drag Queen, Greensboro Ballet, and Giovanni Diamond. Jessica Wild will be on the Sponsor Stage at 2:30 p.m., followed by Lux Noir London at 2:45 p.m., Plane Jane at 3 p.m., and Legends of Drag at 3:15 p.m. Pageant winners will be presented at 4:40 p.m., with headliner encores from 4:55 to 5:45 p.m.

Last year was the third row in a year that Greensboro received a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index, which rates U.S. cities on the LGBTQ+ inclusiveness of municipal laws,

employment practices, and leadership.

Six decades earlier, the city so often cited for inclusiveness experienced the most prolonged and extreme crackdown on same-sex relationships in the history of U.S. law enforcement.

In 1957, 32 gay Greensboro men were convicted of having consensual sex with other adult men in the privacy of their own homes. Now known as the Greensboro Purge, this was unlike other anti-gay raids, which were aimed at sexual acts in bars and parks. All of those arrested received jail time, with 24 sentenced to as much as 20 years and/or heavy labor on chain gangs. Those eventually paroled were told never to come within 100 miles of Greensboro.

On September 16, 2006, the News & Record published an article about the 1957 purge. Reporter Lorraine Ahearne wrote that, while those arrested included “the manager of a country club, a judge, two lawyers and a policeman,” none of these high-profile suspects were convicted, and their names were blotted out of courthouse records. But the names and addresses of poorer or less influential men convicted remained in those records, and their lives and careers were ruined.

What happened in Greensboro in 1957 was a uniquely brutal example of the repression that would be actively resisted 12 years later, first in Greenwich Village, then across the nation.

On June 28, 1969, patrons of the Stonewall Inn fought back against police after that year’s mayoral election precipitated a series of raids on New York’s then-illegal gay bars. This resistance became a series of demonstrations. On the 1970 anniversary of Stonewall, the first Pride marches were held in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. Although Stonewall had been led by transgender women and people of color, these early Pride marches often excluded them, but as the movement spread across the United States, it gradually became more inclusive.

The Human Rights Campaign issued its first rankings of U.S. cities in 2014 when Greensboro received a score

of 50 out of 100 possible points. Had those rankings existed earlier, that score might have been lower. Although most cultural celebrations of gay identity were legal since the 1960s, they were regularly met with organized hostility through the end of the 20th century and beyond.

In June 1996, NCPride held its annual parade in Winston-Salem. Churches for Christian Family Values organized a counter-protest march. The News and Record estimated that, while approximately 10,000 people marched in the Pride parade, 12,000 marched against it. According to Outhistory.org, Winston would not see another Pride parade until 2011.

Contributor

Dallas Cole Coutour, Mr. Charlotte Pride 2023

In 1997, 250 Baptists stormed the Guilford County Commissioners chamber in protest of a Carolina Theater production of “La Cage aux Folles,” which received financial support from the United Arts Council of Greensboro, causing county commissioners to cut all funding to the arts councils of Greensboro and High Point.

In 2006, a decade after Winston-Salem’s first (and for 15 years, only) Pride parade, Greensboro’s first Pride festival was held in what is now LeBauer Park. The turnout was less than half of what it had been in Winston, but with no comparable backlash.

In 1988, Alternative Resources of the Triad (ART) was established by former Triad Health Project executive Director Kathryn Smith. With an anonymous donation of $1,000 as seed money, ART’s first event was the Lesbian Health Fair, followed shortly thereafter by the establishment of the Gay & Lesbian Hotline of the Triad.

In 1999, President Bill Clinton declared “the anniversary of Stonewall every June in America as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month.”

In August 2006, ART organized the first Triad Pride Festival in what was then downtown Greensboro’s Festival Park, with approximately 400 attendees and six vendors.

In 2011, President Barack Obama expanded the officially recognized Pride Month to include the whole of the LGBT (later LGBTQ+ and then LGBTQIA+, for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, and asexual) community.

In 2012, the date of the Greensboro festival was moved to either late September or early October, depending on the date of Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year is celebrated 163 days after the beginning of Passover, and can fall anywhere between September 5 and Oc-

tober 6; this year it begins on October 2).

According to Jewell, the change was to give students at Greensboro’s colleges and universities, many of whom go home for the summer, the opportunity to attend.

“Some of these kids live in towns where being gay is frowned upon. By us moving our event, we can follow our mission to provide a safe space for the 30,000 students that call this city home each school year. Another reason we focus on late September or early Octo-

ber is that we believe in heat-related illnesses. High temperatures discourage us from holding this in the summer.”

In 2014, the name of this event was changed to the Greensboro Pride Festival. Due to park construction, the location was moved to South Elm Street, where it drew what the Greensboro Police Department estimated as between 6,000 and 8,000 people.

In 2017, that number grew to over 10,000, and in 2018, approximately 15,000 attended.

After declining to continue federal recognition of Pride Month in 2017 and 2018, President Donald Trump acknowledged it in a 2019 Tweet later used as a Presidential Proclamation. In 2021, President Joe Biden recognized Pride Month.

Due to the pandemic, Greensboro Pride Festival was canceled in 2020 and 2021, but came back with a bang in 2022, when nearly 40,000 attended and Elm Street was lined with over 160 booths.

The record was broken last year when the Greensboro Police Department estimated that 45,000-50,000 people attended the 2023 Greensboro Pride Festival. Jewell expects Sunday’s celebration to be even larger and more festive, but asked to close on a more solemn note.

“The board of Greensboro Pride wants to remind everyone that voting is your voice. During this high election year, we cannot forget that LGBTQIA+ issues are on the ballot.” !

IAN MCDOWELL is an award-winning author and journalist whose book I Ain’t Resisting: the City of Greensboro and the Killing of Marcus Smith was published in September of 2023 by Scuppernong Editions.

Peyton Manning talks football, family, and giving back

Wake Forest University kicked o its Face to Face Speaker Forum on Wednesday, September 11 at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum with the NFL’s five-time Most Valuable Player Peyton Manning.

“Each conversation this season is sure to raise important questions and o er us surprising insights at a time when discourse and dialogue in our community and our world is so very needed, let’s make Face to Face a place where our community can come together and find more common ground,” said Susan R. Wente, president at Wake Forest University.

The Face to Face Speaker Forum is designed to provide “unique opportunities for student interaction, faculty discourse and community debate with world changers,” according to the university.

The conversation with the legendary

quarterback was moderated by Tracy Wolfson. She is a multi-emmy awardnominated reporter for CBS Sports and was named the NFL on CBS’s lead game reporter in May. Wolfson is a host on We Need To Talk, the first-ever nationally televised all-female weekly sports show.

Manning, a 2021 Hall of Famer and a 14 time Pro Bowl pick, led the Denver Broncos to a 24-10 win over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50, making him the first starting quarterback in NFL history to win a Super Bowl with two different teams.

In 1998, Manning entered the NFL as the Indianapolis Colts as the first overall draft pick. When he retired in 2016, he held numerous records including the most career touchdown passes in league history in addition to ranking first alltime in completions and passing yards.

Named a first-team All-Pro selection by the Associated Press on seven occasions, no quarterback in NFL history had more playo appearances or 300-yard passing games than Manning when he retired.

“That was such an emotional time,” he explained about his decision to retire. “I really didn’t decide that I was going to

retire going into that game but I think I knew that was going to be my last game. I just wanted to take some time and realize what we had done. It was a special time and a great way to end my career.”

Manning said that he always worked hard to get to know his teammates, their strengths, and their weaknesses.

“I always worked really hard to get to know my wide receivers. A little bit about their background, what motivated them, what drives them, what makes them tick. You can’t talk to all receivers the same way,” Manning said. “I felt like when I knew my teammates it made me more of an e ective communicator. I was also a good listener. I would want my receivers’ feedback. Being a good listener and having an open door policy is a good way to go about it.”

Manning was a star “student-athlete.”

lege Football 150: College Football’s 150 Greatest Players list announced in January 2020. Manning endows the Peyton Manning Scholarship at the University of Tennessee — Knoxville, awarding four year scholarships to four incoming freshmen each year. To date, there have been 45 scholarships.

Manning credits his father, Archie, and his coaches for teaching him the foundations of football and character.

The New Orleans native attended Isidore Newman High School, where he was named Gatorade Circle of Champions National Player of the Year and Columbus (Ohio) Touchdown Club National O ensive Player of the Year as a senior. He was named the No. 1 greatest athlete to hail from the state of Louisiana by The Times-Picayune and was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2019. He was also inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame (2019) and the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame (2018).

“My dad always talked about having respect for the game, for the opponents, for the o cials, for the media, for the fans,” Manning said. “I always thought that to engage in taunting or trash-talking was probably taking me away from what I should be doing, talking to my coaches and my teammates. I just try to stay even keel. I try not to get too high or too low.”

He claimed 43 records at the University of Tennessee, conference, and national levels while graduating with Phi Beta Kappa honors. He led Tennessee to an SEC Championship as a senior in 1997 and earned consensus All-America honors. Following his senior season, Manning was honored with the Sullivan Award for the nation’s top amateur athlete based on character, leadership, athletic ability, and the ideals of amateurism. In 2017, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Manning was named to ESPN’s Col-

When asked what he missed the most about being a part of the NFL, he said “being a part of the team.”

“There are 53 players on an NFL team. You do everything together. I miss the camaraderie and fellowship,” he said. O the field, Manning has continued to excel. He has received numerous

Chanel R. Davis

Editor

Peyton Manning

awards for his philanthropic work and was honored as the recipient of the Byron “Whizzer” White Humanitarian Award and the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2005, the Bart Starr Award in 2015, and the Lincoln Medal in 2017. He supports various organizations, including the PeyBack Foundation and the Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital. In 2020, he founded the Emmy Award-winning company Omaha Productions.

Manning is a longtime supporter of The Pat Summitt Foundation, a non-profit with a mission to find a cure for Alzheimer’s. He also sits on the American Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet.

He and his wife, Ashley, established the PeyBack Foundation in 1999 to promote the future success of disadvantaged youth by assisting programs that provide leadership and growth opportunities for children at risk. Since its inception, the PeyBack Foundation has provided millions of dollars through its grants and programs. In 2020, through the PeyBack Foundation, Manning endowed a total of nine scholarships at three HBCU schools in Tennessee and five in Louisiana. Manning is a champion for the Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at St. Vincent (Indiana).

At the end of 2020, Manning founded Omaha Productions, an entertainment company that produces unscripted and scripted programming as well as documentaries, digital programming, branded content, and podcasts. Omaha focuses on developing content that will unify and uplift. In partnership with ESPN, Omaha launched Monday Night Football with Peyton & Eli. Omaha has since produced alternative telecasts for college football, golf, and the UFC. In 2019, Manning debuted as the host and executive producer of Peyton’s Places on ESPN Plus.

“I can be a part of something without having to play the main role. It’s just been a lot of fun for me to join a new team,” he said. “I think there’s a real need for content like that so I really enjoy being a part of it.”

Next up in the Face to Face Speaker Forum is Anderson Cooper at Wake Forest’s Wait Chapel. The CNN anchor and correspondent for CBS’s 60 Minutes has received 20 Emmy Awards and authored four books.

On December 5, Face to Face will o er a free event at Wait Chapel featuring Jesmyn Ward. An American novelist, she is one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People and a MacArthur Genius Grant recipient.

Also at Wait Chapel, Face to Face will present David Brooks on February 27, who is a bestselling author, an op-ed columnist at The New York Times, and a commentator on PBS NewsHour. Brooks is well known as a keen observer of politics and people with a gift of humor and quiet passion.

Face to Face will conclude its season at LJVM Coliseum on April 8 with John Legend. He is a critically acclaimed, multi-platinum singer-songwriter and the first African American man to earn an EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards). Legend leverages his influential position in the entertainment industry to advocate for ending mass incarceration and advancing community equity. For more information about purchasing tickets, go to facetoface.wfu.edu or visit Ticketmaster. !

CHANEL R. DAVIS is the current editor of YES! Weekly and graduated from N.C. A&T S.U. in 2011 with a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications. She’s worked at daily and weekly newspapers in the Triad region.

The 19th Annual Bookmarks Festival of Books & Authors

STAFF REPORT

Bookmarks is excited to announce the 19th Bookmarks Festival of Books & Authors which will take place on Saturday, September 28 in downtown WinstonSalem. The Bookmarks Festival continues to be the largest annual book festival in the Carolinas, drawing more than 20,000 attendees from 20+ states. Fifty authors will be featured at this year’s free

Saturday festival, in addition to the two keynote events which will bookend the weekend. Festival authors will visit with more than 7,500 students in 40 WinstonSalem schools on Friday, September 27.

The ticketed Festival Opening Keynote with New York Times bestselling author, TJ Klune will take place on Thursday, September 26 at First Baptist on Fifth and is presented with support from Inside the Writer’s Studio. He will be discussing his

new book, “Somewhere Beyond the Sea.” Each ticket will include a pre-signed copy of the book and admission to the event. After the success of the inaugural year, Books & Bites, presented with support from First Bank, is returning to the Benton Convention Center on Friday, September 27 and will be a chance to meet the authors early, avoid the Saturday signing lines, and enjoy a bite to eat with fellow book lovers. All of our Saturday authors are scheduled to attend, which makes this the perfect opportunity for fans to meet them and get books signed in the comfort of an indoor setting.

Join Bookmarks for the main festival day, Saturday, September 28, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in downtown Winston-Salem. All events will be free to the public, including activities for every age group and reader, and the two Saturday Keynotes featuring Stacey Abrams in conversation with Zaila Avante-garde and Carol Anderson in conversation with Michael Eric Dyson.

Abrams is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of “While Justice Sleeps,” “Our Time Is Now,” “Lead from the Outside,” and the NAACP Image Award-winning picture books “Stacey’s Extraordinary Words” and “Stacey’s Remarkable Books.” She has launched multiple organizations devoted to voting rights and tackling social issues at the state, national, and international levels.

Inspired by her legacy of activism and advocacy, “Stacey Speaks Up” is a new picture book about how everyone has the power to make a di erence.

Anderson is the Chair of African American Studies at Emory University. She is the author of “White Rage,” a New York Times bestseller and winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award; The Second, a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice; and a contributor to “The 1619 Project.” “One Person, No Vote” is the startling history of America’s voter suppression and the Bookmarks 2024 Book with Purpose selection.

Festival goers will encounter interactive author panels on a variety of genres, booksignings, a new kids’ activity area, exhibitors and vendors, and food trucks. These events will take place at various locations on Spruce, Poplar, and Holly Streets with panels in Calvary Moravian Church, Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts, Hanesbrands Theatre, and Winston Square Park.

The festival will close with a brunch on Sunday, September 29 featuring Friends & Fiction, which includes authors Mary Kay Andrews, Kristy Woodson Harvey, Kristin Harmel, and Patti Callahan Henry.

The event is presented with support from Sarah McCoy and will be held at the Benton Convention Center. Tickets include brunch, the authors’ program, and a booksigning.

Tickets and all information can be found at www.bookmarksnc.org/festival.

The following is a list of the authors who will appear at the Saturday, September 28 free Festival of Books & Authors.

Fiction authors: Essie Chambers, Johnny Compton, Zoraida Córdova, Emily Gi n, Tami Hoag, Amalie Howard, Anita Kelly, Jenn Lyons, T.J. Newman, Sarah Pinsker, Tita Ramírez, James Rollins, Jeneva Rose, O.O. Sangoyomi, Peng Shepherd, Dr. Ian K. Smith, Nisha J. Tuli, & Margaret Verble

Nonfiction authors: Carol Anderson, M.K. Asante, William Stark Dissen, Robin D. G. Kelley, Liza Mundy, Joe Posnanski, Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodríguez, Karen Tang, MD, Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, & Wright Thompson

Teen / YA authors: Terry J. Benton-Walker, Michael Eric Dyson, Marissa Eller, Desiree S. Evans, Hafsah Faizal, Josh Galarza, Romina Garber, Jordan Ifueko, Tony Keith, Jr., Sabaa Tahir, & LaDarrion Williams

Children’s authors: Stacey Abrams, Zaila Avant-garde, Terry J. Benton-Walker, Hena Khan, Loren Long, Stacy McAnulty, Yamile Saied Méndez, Chanel Miller, Claribel A. Ortega, Caroline Palmer, & Jasmine Warga

Bookmarks is a literary arts non-profit that cultivates community by bringing people of all ages together with books and authors who educate, inspire, challenge, and entertain. For 18 years, Bookmarks has hosted the largest annual Festival of Books & Authors, outreach into schools and community, year-round events for all ages, and opportunities to connect through the power of story. Bookmarks Bookstore is located at 634 West Fourth Street in downtown WinstonSalem. Visit bookmarksnc.org for more information. !

Summer ends with a spirit of giving

Summer ends and the seasons of giving begin with benefit festivals and musical fundraisers heating up while the days cool o .

GROOVE JAM XIII, SEPTEMBER 21

The annual Groove Jam celebration returns to Doodad Farms for lucky number 13 to once again help put food on the table and fundraise for the Greensboro Urban Ministry.

Organizers invite folks around the Triad to “bring a chair and sit under the shade trees while listening to a stream of music from a variety of talented musical groups.”

As founder, bluesman and WQFS DJ, Rich Lerner, said: “Any day that I can do a little good in this world with my guitar in my hands is a good day for me. So Groove Jam is always a good day for me, even if it rains.”

The “little good” remains subjective, with Groove Jam having raised more than $39,000 and 1260 pounds of food donations in 2023 alone. And Lerner hopes that number keeps growing as his band keeps grooving. They’ll be joined on the 2024 bill by Doobe and the Accomplices, Greensbrothers, The Mighty Fairlanes, Braco, Gooseberry Jam, Hi-Test Rascals, Blind Dog Gatewood and Jimmy Murray, Laura Jane Vincent, William Nesmith, and many more.

MIRA MUSIC FEST, SEPTEMBER 28

Meanwhile, the Mira Music Fest returns to Rubicon Farm in West End (down east in Moore County).

The annual festival has been going since 2021, with fundraising proceeds dedicated to the Mira Foundation USA, which provides guide dogs at no charge to visually impaired children and teenagers. Scythian, Justin Clyde Williams, and special guest Matt Parks are on the bill for 2024, with music running throughout the afternoon.

CAROLINADAZE, SEPTEMBER 28 AND OCTOBER 13

Further south in Charlotte, the folks behind Common Cause North Carolina will present the second installment of the inaugural CarolinaDaze festival — a rock the vote initiative — ”by and for North Carolinians building a brighter future in our state.”

Fresh o the first event in Raleigh, they’ll carry that energy to Johnson C. Smith University on September 28 with a free concert and celebration

featuring the Sainted Trap Choir, SHAME GANG, and Jason Jet; along with voter education initiatives before heading west for the Asheville iteration on October 13.

Hoping to connect with young voters across the state, the festival’s third installment is a ticketed indie-rock a air at Salvage Station in Asheville, featuring Cavetown, Indigo De Souza, Adia Victoria, and Pink Beds.

DOWN HOME N.C. AT DOUBLE OAKS, OCTOBER 3

ever-present ideal: “Do Not Submit to Intimidation,” heralded by the late-great FemFest NC founder, Bryn Hermansen.

Common Cause isn’t the only organization turning to tunes to energize voting initiatives. In Greensboro, Down Home N.C. is settling into its new homestead, the former Double Oaks mansion on Mendenhall — henceforth to be known as the Reclaim North Carolina Center. Acting as a homebase for the organization, the idea is to o er a place “to convene people in a central location from time to time, to strategize, to train together, to build relationships.”

As the slogan goes: “All are welcome at Down Home,” with the active mission involving e orts to “increase democracy, grow the good in our communities, and pass a healthy and just home down to our grandbabies.” With that, they’ll rejoice our communities and raise funds (for themselves and area organizations like Siembra NC and Carolina Federation), with an evening of lyrics and libations on October 3. With a lineup TBA, it’s a safe bet Molly McGinn will pluck a number or two. “NC is a swing state in this November’s election. We need all hands on deck to protect our democracy and get out the vote,” she said, urging support for “progressive organizations that are coming together to help in this election,” while inviting folks to be on the lookout for more event details and ways to be involved.

FEMFEST XI, OCTOBER 26

As Hermansen once wrote: “All I ever wanted was a day where women felt safe and inspired by seeing other women play music…This is for the women that have nowhere else to turn other than the safe space of the shelter that Family Services of Forsyth County, N.C. built and I’m giving you an opportunity to support that…”. The silent auction and ra e are once again returning, along with special guest MC (and 2024 Pride WinstonSalem King,) Roy Fahrenheit. On stage, Chloe and the Country Crawdads, Katie.Blvd, Reese McHenry, Monsoon, and Bangzz.will rock the crowd — from honky tonkin’ to hip-hop beats — along with a Halloween Costume Contest

REEVESTOCK, OCTOBER 11-12

Backtracking just a bit, the annual Reevestock festival ushers its finale with its 2024 edition, running October 11 and 12 in Elkin.

“It’s the last year of Reevestock as we know it,” organizers said. “Come celebrate in this beautiful space with us once more!”

Launched by Americana band, Time Sawyer, along with The Foothills Arts Council, Reevestock has been “keeping Yadkin Valley’s music alive and kickin’,” since 2011. Initially intended as a benefit to restore the Reeves Theater in Elkin, following the success of that mission, the festival pivoted proceeds toward a scholarship program — the Reevestock Scholarship Fund — which helps seniors at Elkin, East Wilkes, and Starmount High School on the path toward higher education.

In Winston-Salem, the folks behind FemFest NC are also looking to get folks to the polls — and pregame their 11th annual music festival the following day — with an Early Voting Rally going down on October 25. FemFest NC organizers are planning to meet downtown at a to-be-determined Downtown Winston location, followed by an approximately 10-minute walk to an early voting site. “Cast your vote early and show support!,” they beckoned, before launching into excitement for the 2024 FemFest proper. Once again finding a home at the Ramkat, the FemFest XI takes place a bit earlier in the year to “close out Domestic Violence Awareness Month with a night of music and Halloween fun,” from 5 to 10:30 p.m. on October 26.

O ering a mix of genres from female and femme musicians, the festival continues its mission to fundraise for Family Services of Forsyth County, advocate for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, and pump the

Reevestock 2024 will kick o with a free Downtown GetDown Block Party, hosted by DJ Charlie Brown Superstar, on October 11 in front of the Reeves Theater; the ticketed show, featuring Amythyst Kiah and singer-songwriter Maia Kamil, will follow inside the theater, starting at 8 p.m.

The main event moves to Elkin’s “Hidden Amphitheater,” starting in the afternoon on October 12 with Brent Cobb, Time Sawyer, Jonathan Scales Fourchestra, Victoria Victoria, Cordovas, Mike McKenna Jr, Darby Wilcox, and the RMF 2024 Emcee, Sherry Boyd.

Originally from Bryson City, Boyd now calls Elkin home after a more than 30-year-long career in radio. A graduate of the Columbia School of Broadcasting in Honolulu, Hawaii, Boyd’s speciality radio shows, dedicated to the variety of bluegrass, old-time string band, Americana, gospel, and country genres have earned her a handful of accolades, including four-time “Broadcaster of the Year” award from Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America; and the Distinguished Achievement Award by the International Bluegrass Music Association.

While the final Reevestock closes in, Fall is just beginning — with a bounty of festivals on the horizon and plenty of good will to light up those lengthening nights. !

events.

KATEI CRANFORD is a Triad music nerd who enjoys spotlighting artists and

Katei Cranford

Contributor

HOME GROWN MUSIC SCENE | Compiled by Shane Hart

CARBORRO

CAT’S CRADLE

300 E Main St | 919.967.9053

www.catscradle.com

Sep 18: Florry

Sep 19: Luna Li

Sep 20: Brigitte Calls Me Baby

Sep 21: Augustana

Sep 21: Gatecreeper

Sep 21: Upsahl

Sep 22: Magdalena Bay

Sep 24: Quarters of Change

Sep 24: The Cactus Blossoms

Sep 26: Kashus Culpepper

Sep 26: Stop Ligh Observations

Sep 27: Infinity Song

Sep 27: Slaughter Beach, Dog

Sep 28: Dust

CHARLOTTE

THE FILLMORE

1000 NC Music Factory Blvd | 704.916.8970

www.livenation.com

Sep 19: Montell Fish

Sep 20: Alec Benjamin

Sep 20: Mickey Guyton

Sep 21: Old 97’s

Sep 23: Lawrence

Sep 24: The Sisters of Mercy

Sep 25: Mariana Trench

Sep 26: STRFKR

Sep 26: Briston Maroney

Sep 27: Fleshgod Apocalypse & Shadow of Intent

PNC MUSIC PAVILION

707 Pavilion Blvd | 704.549.1292

www.livenation.com

Sep 18: Korn

Sep 19: Hootie and The Blowfish

Sep 20: Cody Johnson & Ashley McBryde

Sep 22: Breaking Benjamin & Staind

DURHAM

CAROLINA THEATRE

309 W Morgan St | 919.560.3030

www.carolinatheatre.org

Sep 23: Mat Kearney

Sep 25: Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers

DPAC

123 Vivian St | 919.680.2787 www.dpacnc.com

Sep 20-21: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

Sep 24: The Piano Guys

Sep 26: Ghost Files Live!

Sep 28: Sigur Ros

ELKIN

REEVES THEATER

129 W Main St | 336.258.8240 www.reevestheater.com

Wednesdays: Reeves Open Mic

Fourth Thursdays: Old-Time Jam

Sep 27: The Arcadian Wild

GREENSBORO

COMEDY ZONE

1126 S Holden Rd | 336.333.1034 www.thecomedyzone.com

Sep 18: Craig Conant

Sep 20-21: The Magic Of Eric Eaton

Sep 26: Therapy Gecko Live

Sep 27-29: Randy Feltface

FLAT IRON

221 Summit Ave | 336.501.3967

www.flatirongso.com

Sep 18: Laura Jane Vincent

Sep 20: Harvey Street w/ The Wreck

Sep 21: The Steel Crows, DAZR, + Galen Deery & The Reason Why

Sep 23: Nicky Diamonds + Marley Hale w/ Special Guest Justin Reid

Sep 26: Will WIllis & Friends w/ Evan Blackerby

Sep 27: Mommyheads + Lemon Sparks

Sep 28: The Deluge w/ Hunter McBride

HANGAR 1819

1819 Spring Garden St | 336.579.6480 www.hangar1819.com

Sep 18: Nails w/ 200 Stab Wounds, Mammoth Grinder, Tribal Gaze

Sep 19: Emarosa w/ Laur Elle, Val Astaire

Sep 20: PeelingFlesh w/ Snu ed On Sight, Corpse Pile, Two Piece, Torture, Khasm

Sep 21: Hal The Sun w/ Many Eyes, A

Lot Like Birds, Zeta, Moondough

Sep 25: Signs Of The Swarm w/ Cane Hill, Ov Sulfur, 156/Silence, A Wake in Providence

Sep 27: Norma Jean w/ Darkest Hour & No Treaty

Sep 28: Nervosa w/ Lich King, Hatriot, Blackwater Drowning, Dying Oath

Sep 29: NanowaR Of Steel w/ Tragedy

Sep 30: Self Deception

PiEDMONT HALL

2411 W Gate City Blvd | 336.373.7400 www.greensborocoliseum.com

Sep 20: Green Queen Bingo

high point 1614 DMB

1614 N Main St | 336.883.4113

https://www.1614drinksmusicbilliards.com/

Sep 21: Black Glass

Sep 27: When Darkness Fails

Sep 28: Taking Back Sadder Days

HiGH POiNT THEATRE

220 E Commerce Ave | 336.883.3401

www.highpointtheatre.com

Sep 20: Killer Beaz

Sep 26: Tannahill Weavers

Sep 27: Scythian

Sep 28: Dancing with the Sisters

PLANK STREET TAvERN

138 Church Ave | 336.991.5016 www.facebook.com/plankstreettavern

SWEET OLD BiLL’S

1232 N Main St | 336.807.1476

www.sweetoldbills.com

Sep 26: Doobe and The Accomplices

jamestown

THE DECK

118 E Main St | 336.207.1999

www.facebook.com/TheDeckJamestown/

Sep 20: Second Glance

Sep 21: Sons of Bootleg

Sep 21: Radio Revolver

Sep 28: Jon Montgomery Band liberty

THE LiBERTY

SHOWCASE THEATER

101 S. Fayetteville St | 336.622.3844

www.TheLibertyShowcase.com

Sep 6: Blackhawk

Sep 14: TG Shepard

Sep 21: Wilson Fairchild Sons of the Statler Brothers

raleigh

CCU MUSiC PARK AT WALNUT CREEK

3801 Rock Quarry Rd | 919.821.4111

www.livenation.com

Sep 18: Creed

Sep 21: Staind & Breaking Benjamin w/ Daughtry

Sep 28: Eye To Eye

LiNCOLN THEATRE

126 E. Cabarrus St | 919.831.6400

www.lincolntheatre.com

Sep 20: Shane Smith & The Smiths

Sep 21: Black Pumas and Cory Wong

Sep 21: Lily Rose

Sep 22: Old 97’s

Sep 24-27: iBMA — Bluegrass Ramble

Sep 28: victor Wooten & The Wooten Brothers

RED HAT AMPHiTHEATER

500 S McDowell St | 919.996.8800

www.redhatamphitheater.com

Sep 21: Black Pumas & Cory Wong

PNC ARENA

1400 Edwards Mill Rd | 919.861.2300

www.thepncarena.com

Sep 20: Jelly Roll

Sep 22: Canes 5K

Sep 26: Kirk Franklin

winston-salem

FiDDLiN’ FiSH

BREWiNG COMPANY

772 Trade St | 336.999.8945

www.fiddlinfish.com

Tuesdays: Trivia

Sep 20: Province of Thieves

Sep 21: Oktoberfest 2024

Sep 27: Hotwax & The Splinters

FOOTHiLLS BREWiNG

638 W 4th St | 336.777.3348

www.foothillsbrewing.com

Sundays: Sunday Jazz

Thursdays: Trivia

Sep 20: Eddie & Josh

THE RAMKAT

170 W 9th St | 336.754.9714

www.theramkat.com

Sep 18: Shannon Curtis

Sep 19: The Wildmans

Sep 20: Sarah Shook & the Disarmers, Skylar Gudasz

Sep 21: Rocky Horror Music Show, The Hapschatt Wedding Band

Sep 22: Road to Memphis Blues Challenge

Sep 25: Chuck Owen & ReSurgence

Sep 26: Palmyra, William Hinson

Sep 27: Time Sawyer

Sep 28: Jesse Dayton, Ghalia volt

Viente Veinte Vision Latin Festival at Barber Park

Photos by Natalie Garcia

[SALOME’S STARS]

Week of September 23, 2024

[ARIES (March 21 to April 19) After much traveling this year, you’re due for some relaxed time with family and friends. Use this period to check out situations that will soon require a lot of serious decisionmaking.

[TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Keep that keen Bovine mind focused on your financial situation as it begins to undergo some changes. Consider your money moves carefully. Avoid impulsive investments.

[GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) You’ll need to adjust some of your financial plans now that things are changing more quickly than you expected. All the facts you need haven’t yet emerged, so move cautiously.

[CANCER (June 21 to July 22)

Personal and professional relationships dominate this period. Try to keep things uncomplicated in order to avoid misunderstandings that can cause problems down the line.

[LEO (July 23 to August 22) That elusive goal you’d been hoping to claim is still just out of reach. But something else has come along that could prove to be just as desirable, if only you would take the time to check it out.

[VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) This is a good time to get away for some much-needed rest and relaxation. You’ll return refreshed and ready to take on a workplace challenge that awaits you.

[LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Confidence grows as you work your

way through some knotty situations. Watch out for distractions from wellmeaning supporters who could slow things down.

[SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Consider spending more time contemplating the possibilities of an o er before opting to accept or reject it. But once you make a decision, act on it.

[SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) You’re in a very strong position this week to tie up loose ends in as many areas as possible. Someone close to you has advice you might want to heed.

[CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Congratulations! This is the week you’ve been waiting for. After a period of sudden stops and fitful starts, your plans can now move ahead without significant disruptions.

[AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) You’re in an exceptionally strong position this week to make decisions on many still-unresolved matters, especially those involving close personal relationships.

[PISCES (February 19 to March 20) The week starts o with some positive movement in several areas. A special person becomes a partner in at least one of the major plans you’ll be working on.

[BORN THIS WEEK: You work hard and get things done. You also inspire others to do their best. You would do well heading up a major corporation.

[TRIVIA TEST]

by Fifi Rodriguez

[1. GEOGRAPHY: Mount Vesuvius overlooks which modern Italian city?

[2. MYTHOLOGY: What kind of creature is half bird and half woman with an alluring song?

[3. SCIENCE: What is a common name for iron oxide?

[4. FOOD & DRINK: What kind of pastry is used to make baklava?

[5. MOVIES: What is the name of Elle’s chihuahua in Legally Blonde?

[6. MEDICAL: What is a common name for bruxism?

[7. LITERATURE: Prospero is a character in which of Shakespeare’s plays?

[8. ASTRONOMY: How many stars make up the Big Dipper?

[9. U.S. STATES: Which state’s nickname is The Sunflower State?

[10. ANIMAL KINGDOM: Which is the only continent without bees?

answer

7. “The Tempest.” 8. Seven. 9. Kansas. 10. Antarctica.

6. Teeth grinding.

© 2024 by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

CROSSWORD] crossword on page 7

WEEKLY SUDOKU] sudoku on page 7 answers

© 2024 by King Features Syndicate

1. Naples.

2. Siren.

3. Rust.

4. Phyllo or lo.fi

5. Bruiser.

Founded 1924

Dear Friend:

As we celebrate our Centennial on September 14, 2024, we find inspiration and wisdom in HPU’s 100-year-old motto: Nil Sine Numine. It reads in English: Nothing Without Divine Guidance.

It’s hard to start so many new academic schools, enlarge campus, attract stellar faculty, increase enrollment, and raise necessary funds to keep growing. It is hard, but achievable when you have faithful courage.

Our God, Family, and Country school focuses on academic excellence, personal development, and practical life skills. Our top-rated career outcomes are one reason why families flock to HPU from 50 states and 50 countries.

While enrollment has grown to 6,335 students and our national positioning is ranked high, we also rejoice because Dental, Law, and Entrepreneurship schools enjoy full classes in their first year this fall, and our $100 million library project is generously supported by alumni and parents.

We are blessed and grateful for many successful initiatives. We also rejoice in the major economic growth in the Triad as we commit to do our part to graduate talented leaders in the workforce and caring citizens in our society.

With appreciation for your support,

The HPU Family