Jamestown News - May 15, 2024

AwArd

The history of Deep River Hunting Lodge and the Clarence Mackay estate along Guilford College Road was chronicled last year in the “Fields and Feathers: Hunting at Deep River Lodge” exhibit at the High Point Museum. The Museum received the 2024 North Carolina Museums Council Award for Excellence for the exhibit, elected by peer review. The award promotes excellence in North Carolina Museums and related institutions.

A MoMent In

tIMe

Life might not be all fun and games, but on May 21 participants at the A Moment In Time meeting will enjoy two fun-filled hours of games, music, crafts, snacks and conversation.

The theme for May is appropriately called Fun and Games and will feature chair volleyball and hot potato.

Monthly meetings are designed for people with dementia and their carepartners and offer an opportunity for them to share time in a relaxed atmosphere. They are held every third Tuesday from 1:30-3:30 p.m. in the JUMC fellowship hall at 403 E. Main St. Park and enter at the front left side of the church. Look for the purple signs. Guests with wheelchairs or walkers may enter from the back under the portico. Someone will be there to greet you. Reservations are requested but not required. For more information or to register, contact Laura Gulledge at 336-9060430 or lauragulledge@ gmail.com.

FIber Arts dAy

Fiber Arts Day returns June 1 to Mendenhall Homeplace. Demonstrators, exhibitors and venders are still needed. Demonstrations might include spinning, dyeing, weaving, quilting, crocheting, embroidery, knitting, chair caning, beading, knot tying, silkworms and more.

Do you have an alpaca you could bring? Or bring your chair and fiber project and work on it with friends. If you would like to participate, contact Julia Ebel at ebel@northstate.net.

Have an event that you think needs to be included in About Town? Email Norma B. Dennis at ndworddesign@ gmail.com or Carol Brooks at cab1hp@gmail.com

Water: The other side of the story

By CARol BRook S freela N ce writer cab1hp@gmail.com

The two women who were asked to leave Music in the Park on May 3 were not the only people concerned with the condition of Jamestown’s water — and what is being done about it.

To recap, a Facebook video showed Town Manager Matthew Johnson and Parks and Recreation Director Scott Coakley calmly twice asking two mothers to leave after they were handing out bottled water and flyers describing the water conditions in the town. Free water would cut down on sales from the food vendors at the event.

When asked what they were doing wrong and why they were being asked to leave, he said, “I don’t owe you an explanation. If you don’t handle this and move on, I’m going to have the Sheriff’s Department

move you out of here.”

The confrontation sparked responses from not only the two women but others in Jamestown.

“Regarding the part of the [Jamestown News May 8] article that there were ‘reports’ of us handing out liquids and papers … there were no reports. We had not handed a single bottle of water or any copies of the press releases to anyone We were there for only minutes before Johnson came briskly marching over to us,” said Katie Gumerson, one of the women, in an email to the Jamestown News

“The average busy family often doesn’t have time to dig into documents like the NCDEQ press release and 1,4-dioxane report, nor would the average person know where to find such information. We [Jamestown United and The Jamestowner 501c] have made it our mission to share information. Plain and simple. Sharing factual information with

citizens, who would not get it otherwise. Jamestown has been covering up our findings and shutting them down.”

The May 1 DEQ press release can be found at https://www.deq. nc.gov › news › press-releases.

Krisdena Reeser, the other mother, also contacted the Jamestown News

“We, as concerned and informed community members, were educating the public on the status of their drinking water, as three rounds of Environmental Protection Agencymandated testing of Town of Jamestown drinking water has confirmed excessively high levels of PFAs, something the Town of Jamestown, and specifically Matthew Johnson, has failed to divulge to its residents, extra-territorial jurisdiction and community members, which is also recommended by the EPA,” Reeser wrote. “The EPA’s notification requirement under the new UCMR rules that towns must make

RHS Chess Club wins second tournament

By no RMA B. denni S freela N ce writer ndworddesign@gmail.com

Bringing home the team trophy for the second time in three months might have come as a surprise to many. But after winning in February, the Ragsdale High School Chess Team garnered another win at the Spring Chess Tournament held April 27 at Northwest High School. The tournament featured 30 chess players from across the district.

“I did not expect to win,” Hudson Kreuser, club vice president, said with a smile. “But we had to hold down the legacy.”

Approaching the fifth and final round of the tournament, two Ragsdale’s players, Ethan Nguyen and Aabhash Dahal, were undefeated and had to compete

S ee C he SS, Page 4

(Above) ethan nguyen, who came in first at the April tournament, plays online against another person on a large-screen television. “Playing on the computer is harder because you cannot see your opponent’s facial expressions,” he said. “But at home i play a lot of people from all over.” (At left) Mark dyce, Ragsdale h igh School Chess Club president, left, plays a game against club vice president hudson kreuser.

Riding the rails A personal journey

By no RMA B. denni S freela N ce writer ndworddesign@gmail.com

For all practical purposes, I had never ridden a train. The fact I had been on one at the age of 3 months and had taken a group scenic excursion out of Bryson City, N.C., as an adult did not count for me. Until recently, I had never used the rails as a specific means to get from Point A to Point B.

Growing tired of fighting heavy traffic each time I traveled to Raleigh to see family produced a desire to try the train as an alternative means of travel. When the opportunity arose to board a train in High Point and arrive in our state capital along with a friend who was

taking the same train, I decided now was the time to try this mode of transportation. Unsure of where to go or what to do, the friend was able to guide me through boarding Amtrak’s Carolinian, on its way from Charlotte to points north, show me the dining car and give advise on getting from the train to the station upon arriving in Raleigh.

The short two-hour trip certainly did not require a visit to the dining car, but passengers in a business car section are entitled to a free drink. Beyond that, I wanted to see how the car looked. When I made my way through the length of my car into the dining car I found rows of booths lining each side of the train.

the results of those tests available to residents within 12 months of receiving.”

Public water systems are not required by state or federal law to inform their residents of test data. Susan Dickenson, editor of The Jamestowner, started the web page (https://thejamestowner9.com) several years ago. She has done considerable research on 1,4-dioxine and PFAs, the so-called “forever chemicals.”

“Industrial manufacturers, chemical companies and landfills have been discharging, dumping, leaching and emitting contaminants into our water, soil and air for years,” she said. “The EPA has finally started mandating limits [most recently on April 10 on six PFAS compounds], based on extensive health and scientific research, to determine the carcinogenic and toxic effects on humans.

Town Council to hear rezoning request and recommended budget

By CARol BRook S freela N ce writer cab1hp@gmail.com

Two public hearings are on the agenda for the May 21 Jamestown Town Council meeting.

The first is for the Recommended 2024-2025 Fiscal Year Budget and Capital Improvement Plan. The Council held three planning meetings this year to discuss the Town’s needs and how they relate to budgetary items.

The second public hearing is for a rezoning request for property at 100 near Lennox Drive (Parcel #160267) from Residential Main Street Transitional (RMST) to Conditional Zoning-Residential Main Street Transitional (CZ-RMST). Burkley Communities, wishes to construct two apartment buildings with a total of 13 one-bedroom units on the site. The site is part of the Lennox Square community behind the Advance Auto store at 401 W. Main St. There are already two existing concrete pads that were poured when the rest of the Lennox Square Condominiums was constructed several years ago but buildings were never completed. The

Planning Board unanimously approved the rezoning at its April 8 meeting.

The Council will set a public hearing date for the annexation request of 1903, 1905 and 1915 Guilford College Road. This property is known as the Jamestown Equestrian Center. In its consent agenda, the Council is expected to approve a Certificate of Sufficiency for the annexation petition. The Planning Board denied the developer’s request to rezone the property from Single-Family Residential (SFR) to Conditional Zoning-Multi-Family residential (CZ-MFR). The developer proposes to construct a 99-unit townhome development on the property.

Also under consideration for the Town Council is approval of amended contracts for services for the Jamestown Public Library and Historic Jamestown Society. The Town Council will meet at 6 p.m. in the Civic Center. It will be available at www.youtube.com/c/ TownofJamestownNC.

Click on “live.” The public is invited to attend and contribute during the public hearings.

Photos by Norma B. Dennis

Photo submitted waiting at Raleigh Union Station for my trip back to high Point. the train’s delay had me arriving at that station 1 and ½ hours late.

w edne S dAy

MAy 15, 2024

ElEcTED OffIcIAlS cONTAcT INfORMATION

U.S. HoUSe

Kathy Manning - District 6 manning.house.gov/contact

DC: (202) 225-3065 NC: (336) 333-5005

U.S. Senate

Thom Tillis www.tillis.senate.gov/email-me (202) 224-6342

Ted Budd www.budd.senate.gov/contact (202) 224-3154

n.C. HoUSe

Cecil Brockton - District 60 Cecil.Brockman@ncleg.gov (919) 733-5825

n.C. Senate Michael Garrett - District 27 Michael.Garrett@ncleg.gov (919) 733-5856

GUilfoRd Co.

Alan Perdue - District 2 aperdue@guilfordcountync.gov (336) 451-6707

Kay Cashion - At Large kcashion@guilfordcountync.gov (336) 274-6272

JaMeStown

Mayor Lynn Montgomery lmontgomery@jamestown-nc.gov (336) 454-7185

Pam Burgess pburgess@jamestown-nc.gov

Sarah Glanville sglanville@jamestown-nc.gov

Mayor Pro Tem Rebecca Mann Rayborn rrayborn@jamestown-nc.gov (336) 848-9583

Martha Stafford Wolfe mwolfe@jamestown-nc.gov (336) 454-5286

Town Clerk / Assistant Town Manager Katie Weiner kweiner@jamestown-nc.gov (336) 454-1138

Town Manager Matthew Johnson mjohnson@jamestown-nc.gov (336) 454-1138

USPS-457-850 - iSSN 1074-5122

The Community's Best Source of Local Information

Freelance Writers carol Brooks

From The Front

GTCC students capture 16 first-place awards in SkillsUSA state competitions

Guilford Technical Community College students won 16 first-place awards and seven second-place awards in the SkillsUSA North Carolina state competitions held at locations throughout the Piedmont Triad April 11-24.

GTCC students garnered 39 top-five finishes across 26 areas of competition.

SkillsUSA is a national nonprofit organization serving teachers, middle school, high school, and college students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations. Through its local, state, and national competitions, students demonstrate occupational and leadership skills.

The state competition was the largest showcase of career and technical education in North Carolina with more than 2,100 students competing in over 120 hands-on trade, technical and leadership contests spanning more than 95 trade areas.

Twenty-one GTCC students now advance to the SkillsUSA national competition by virtue of first place finishes in either individual or team competitions. The national competition will be held in Atlanta, June 24-28.

Following is a list of GTCC’s top finishers in the SkillsUSA North Carolina state competition:

At the front an employee was ready to serve a variety of luncheon sandwiches, salads or breakfast items such as muffins. She could also dispense hot drinks, or cold, whichever a rider preferred.

I opted for hot tea, but instead of stopping in the dinning car to enjoy it, I took it back to my seat hoping to converse with some passenger about his or her reason for traveling on the train. In what was a bless-

First-Place Finishers

Andrew Donaldson, related technical math

Jacob Wright, automotive PS

Michael Lin, aviation

Chloe Logan, automotive refinishing technology

Timothy Newton, computer programing

Isaiah Burney, cyber security, team competition

Avery Digby-New, cyber security, team competition

Alison Pattman, law enforcement

Juan Montiel, restaurant service

Kaitlyn Acord, dental assisting

Shanza Ali, health knowledge bowl, team competition

Hina Asghar, health knowledge bowl, team competition

Megan Brewington, health knowledge bowl, team competition

Charde’ Porter, health knowledge bowl, team competition

Rio Fadonoughbo, health occupations professional portfolio

Logan Jenkins, EMT, team competition

Savannah Langley, EMT, team competition

Joseph Roderick, extemporaneous speaking

Samuel Hammond, HVAC (HS)

Mary Medlin, HVAC (PS)

Jaiden Frasier, major appliance repair

second-Place Finishers

Rafael Herrera, collision repair technology

Melvin Davis, collision damage appraisal

Rachel Clendinen, law enforcement

Aiden Tobin, culinary arts

Marissa Villafane-Flores, dental assisting

Abbygale Cook, health knowledge bowl, team competition

Saavanna Doherty, health knowledge bowl, team competition

Gracie Isley, health knowledge bowl, team competition

Crystal Sultanov, health knowledge bowl, team competition

Brianna Kissel, health occupations prof portfolio

RA il S

ing, I was able to talk to a young man who was using the train for a commute to a job in Raleigh.

“The cost is not much more than gas for my car,” he said. “Besides, it saves putting miles on my vehicle and I can get work done on the trip that I could not do if driving.”

The passenger noted he had taken a business trip to New York recently and enjoyed the solitude of a private section in a sleeper car. The section had a comfortable chair, a table and a couch that turned into a bed, as well as a bunk bed. There was also a private bathroom and shower for a passenger’s convenience when traveling a long distance.

“I was able to use my laptop for work and breakfast and lunch were included in the price of my ticket,” he said. “For longer trips you could also get supper. You could eat in the dining car or meals would be brought to you. It was nice to work without distractions from other people. I had a highly productive day.”

When our train paused on its route northeast to Raleigh, I learned that passenger trains occasionally have to stop to give rightof-way to freight trains. South of Washington, D.C., Amtrak shares the rails with freight trains and they have priority. North of D.C. Amtrak has its own tracks. I also realized that anyone subject to motion sickness should not take a train. There was constant swaying when the train was moving. Thankfully that is not an issue for me, I noticed, however, that everyone was a bit challenged as they walked from one end of the

car to the other as the train sped along.

My ride from Raleigh back to High Point the following evening was in a less expensive coach car. The train’s departure was delayed almost 1 and 1/4 hours, but an Amtrak employee had warned me the previous day that delays sometimes happened.

“If you need to be someplace at a specific time, it is better to take an earlier train than you think you need to allow for the possibility of a delay,” she said.

A backup plan to get to your journey’s end might also be advisable if on a tight schedule. Rides later in the day seem to be the ones most affected by delays.

On my evening trip, I talked less to other passengers, using the time to read or make notes about my surroundings. One detail that stood out was the wail of the whistle as the engineer signaled each crossing as the Carolinian raced along the track headed to Charlotte. A voice, seemingly out of nowhere, ticked off the scheduled stops — Cary, Durham, Burlington, etc.

Occasionally, I glanced out the window, intrigued by cars lined up at the crossings, halted by crossbars and red lights, houses set back from the tracks or long stretches of wooded area. I glimpsed the sunset through the trees until light faded into darkness and finally back to the light of the station as the train rolled into my destination.

I was soon in my car, headed home to food, a comfortable bed and dreams of what was and what could be as I contemplated another ride on the rails.

third-Place Finishers

Grayson Batzin-Lopez, automotive (CCP)

Eli Butler, automotive refinishing tech

Maudiel Ramirez, collision repair technology

Ashleigh Robinson, EMT, team competition

Pitcha Sartyoungkul, EMT, team competition

Dionisio Lopez, job interview

Fourth-Place Finishers

Turner Hargrave, motorcycle

William Clifford, CNC programmer

Mirian Martinez-Espino, restaurant service

Crystal Gutierrez, dental assisting

Carson Yow, diesel equipment technology

Gabriel Salazar, job interview

Philip Ortiz, prepared speech

Fifth-Place Finishers

Zachary Ringler, automotive (CCP)

Austin Powell, internet working

Austin Cooper, culinary arts

Patrick Rose, diesel equipment technology

Guilford Technical Community College is the fourth largest of 58 institutions in the North Carolina Community College System. GTCC serves more than 28,000 students annually from six campuses and a Small Business Center. For more information, visit gtcc.edu, Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Travel information

May 11 was National Train Day.

Amtrak Facts Passenger train travel known as Amtrak recently celebrated its 53rd anniversary. On May 1, 1971, the first Amtrak run was from New York City to Philadelphia. The name of the system was derived from the words America and track.

Excluding South Dakota, Wyoming, Alaska and Hawaii, the Amtrak system connects 500 destinations across 46 states, District of Columbia and three Canadian provinces, incorporating more than 21,400 miles of routes.

There are 10 daily trips between Charlotte and Raleigh. Depending on the time of day you wish to travel, the Carolinian might be the better option. It travels from Charlotte to New York with stops at stations in Kannapolis, Salisbury, High Point, Greensboro, Burlington, Durham, Cary and Raleigh. It coincides with the Piedmont between Charlotte and Raleigh. In October, a train also stops at the main gate of the North Carolina Fair Grounds. Discounts are offered on regular fares for children under 12, students ages 18-24, active military and veterans, state employees and seniors.

Stations close to Jamestown

The High Point Station is located at 100 W. High Ave. There is a station attendant on duty one hour before trains arrive until 30 minutes after departures, with limited waiting room hours. There is no checked baggage service in High Point.

This station was built in 1907 by Southern Railway and renovated in the early 2000s with citizen support. There are stairs

and an elevator to the lower level where the trains arrive. Passengers must step up into the train, but a wheelchair lift is available. You will find same day and overnight parking.

The Greensboro Station is located at 236 E. Washington St. The station is open 24-hours and includes a ticket office, passenger assistance, baggage service and waiting area. Also known as the J. Douglas Galyon Depot, it is an intermodal transit facility and serves the Amtrak passenger rail and is the city’s

In addition to a train day trip, you can learn the history of the location and enjoy the beauty of the ride.

The N.C. Transportation Museum provides a history of everything that gets us around North Carolina. Train rides are 25 minutes long and take you through the 60-acre site. There are also specialty train rides, like the popular Thomas the Train, and unique trains that visit the museum.

(left to right) GtCC dental Assisting students Abbygale Cook, Gracie isley, Crystal Sultanov, and Saavanna doherty, 2nd place winners in the health knowledge Bowl at SkillsUSA north Carolina State leadership and Skills Conference postsecondary awards ceremony at koury Convention Center, April 24.

against each other for the win.

“In a great show of sportsmanship and team support they played their match until just before checkmate and declared it a draw,” Melissa Haynes, the teacher advisor, said. “Ethan and Aabhash both brought home a first place trophy. Freshmen Will Branson and Brodie Scheland also delivered outstanding performances, earning second and third place overall, respectively.”

The wins were supported by teammates President Mark Dyce, Kreuser and member Noah Ogunyomi.

To make this year’s wins even more special, the chess club is new, having formed during the 2022-23 school year. Dyce and Kreuser had asked Haynes, one of Dyce’s teachers, if she would be the teacher advisor for the club and she agreed.

The two students are longtime friends having met when they learned to play chess at Millis Road Elementary School and continued the game at Jamestown Middle.

“We wanted to see if anyone else at Ragsdale was interested in playing chess,” said Dyce, who along with Kreuser, admitted they were also looking toward college in terms of leadership.

An open invitation was issued to everyone in school who was interested in participating in a chess club. There were no requirements to join. If you had never played, someone would teach you. Six or seven origi-

FroM The FronT

C he SS

nally joined the group, but today there are about 15 regulars.

“The kids are really into it,” Haynes, who teaches AP computer science principles, said. “It is very impressive. We practice every Monday in my classroom. Some play online against the computer or another person and some play other students in the room. Anyone can stop by to play. We have even had some teachers join us on occasion, just because they can. It is a safe place to play for anyone who wants to participate.

“The most important thing is how welcoming everyone is to new members. Students are always teaching and learning from one another.”

Dyce and Kreuser admit it was hard work to get the club started and obtain resources to help make it appealing to others. An example of how the club spends money is the large chessboard with playing pieces approximately 12 inches high that club members use during open house or at Trunk or Treat as a way to advertise the club and create interest.

Although the club started last year, it was not until this school year that Haynes learned about the district tournaments. When tournament organizer Steve Russillo from Northwest High School learned Ragsdale had a club, he invited members to participate in the winter and spring tournaments.

In what is called a Swiss-Style Tournament, players are chosen at random for the first round then matched with players of similar records for subsequent games. Scores from the top four players in each school are added and the one with the highest total wins the school trophy. Nguyen and Dahal both had 4.5 wins, Branson had 3.5 and Scheland had 3, giving Ragsdale its second win in as many tournaments.

“We were teased about being asked to participate after winning the only two tournaments we have entered,” Haynes said.

Dyce would like to see a revival of chess in all of Ragsdale’s feeder schools so the high school would have a good base to continue its club. Both he and Kreuser see the possibility of playing the game well into college and for a lifetime.

“It is more than just a game,” Kreuser said. “It is also about life skills. It teaches patience, especially when playing online where a game could take weeks. It involves problem solving as well.”

Although Dyce and Kreuser are seniors and will graduate this year, there are underclassmen ready to step into leadership roles and continue the Ragsdale High School Chess Club. It should be interesting to see where the path of this young club will lead.

The EPA also started requiring testing of public water systems, which began here in Jamestown last February. The PFAS concentrations are well above the EPA’s limits, and that’s for six PFAS analyses — not just one. It’s the presence of ‘several’ versus ‘one’ contaminant in our finished water that gives more urgency to the situation here in Jamestown.”

Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Elizabeth Biser believes there is a misinformation and suppression problem with the findings of the EPA, DEQ and National Institutes of Health. She sent letters out on May 1 to several groups and agencies explaining why DEQ’s proposed mandate is necessary to reduce PFAS contamination in the state’s drinking water sources. Reduction of contaminants at the source is “the most cost-effective way to help water systems meet the drinking water standards.”

Unless groundwater and surface water standards for PFAS are established, taxpayers will pay for removing PFAS from their drinking water.

Biser noted, “North Carolina has been at the forefront of addressing contamination caused by [PFAS] since the discovery of GenX in the Cape Fear River in 2017.

“These actions are vital: if you don’t have clean drinking water, nothing else matters.”

The DEQ report states, “North Carolina has the third highest measured concentration of 1,4-dioxine in drinking water in the nation. The state ranked fourth highest in the number of impacted drinking water systems.” Most of the systems are in the Cape Fear River Basin, one of the largest watersheds in North Carolina at more than 9,300 square miles, according to www.habitat.noaa.gov. Jamestown and all of Guilford County are in the Upper Basin. The Cape Fear River is formed by the convergence of the Deep, Rocky and Hall rivers in Chatham County.

“Guilford County is the worst county in the state for 1,4-dioxane concentration,” said Dickenson.

Any cleanup of surface and ground water contamination will cost a lot of money but there is the question of whether residents should shoulder the burden or if the business that caused the contamination should bear responsibility.

LEGAL NOTICES

relief sought. This the 15th day of May, 2024. Adam W. Arthur Arthur & Kirkman, PLLC 100 S. Elm Street, Suite 410 Greensboro, NC 27401 336-274-7898 May 15, 22, 29, 2024 (225) NOTICE OF SERVICE OF

of May, 2024. Sandra G. Simpkins, Executrix Estate of Dorothy W. Gilliam Blaire D. McClanahan, Esq. Law Offices of Cheryl David 528 College Rd. Greensboro, NC 27410 Phone No.: (336) 547-9999 Fax

Coffee Break

Salome’s Stars

week oF MAy 20, 2024

ArIes (March 21 to April 19) The cautious side of your usually adventurous nature stands you in good stead this week. Someone might, indeed, be trying to pull the wool over the Sheep’s eyes.

tAUrUs (April 20 to May 20) Planetary alignment still causes unsettling situations. Consider delaying matters that aren’t a priority until the weekend. Cheer up! The next such alignment isn’t until 2028.

GeMInI (May 21 to June

20) Family matters take precedence. Spend more time with those close to you. A career move sounds promising, but ask for more facts before making a decision.

CAnCer (June 21 to July 22) Your watchword this week is “tact!” While honesty is, of course, the best policy, it’s best to temper your tendency toward bluntness with discretion.

Leo (July 23 to August 22)

Nothing pleases our Leos and

By de M i tAve RAS

American Fiction ( r )

— This comedy-drama film led by Jeffrey Wright went on to snag the Best Adapted Screenplay award at the last Oscars, receiving five nominations in total.

Wright plays Monk Ellison, an African American writer and professor based in Los Angeles. His novels, although acclaimed by fellow academics, do not generate enough money for his publishers, so they urge him to make his book “more Black.” So, Monk submits a stereotypical novel to his publishers as a joke, but when it brings him commercial success, he’s forced to become the very idea of what he hates the most — an inauthentic writer who panders to

Leonas more than knowing they’re admired, and this week, you’ll be overwhelmed with compliments. Enjoy the adulation. You earned it.

VIrGo (August 23 to September 22) You’re making progress in your dealings with a troubled loved one. Continue to offer understanding and support. You’ll soon see positive results.

LI br A (September 23 to October 22) Change is favored this week. You might want to reassess a situation that has become too demanding. Also, reconsider that job move you rejected earlier.

s C or PI o (October 23 to November 21) A loved one returns after a long separation. At work, a decision is made that could lead to the changes you hoped for. The next step is up to you.

sAGIttArIUs (November 22 to December 21) This is a good time to set things straight in your personal relationships. Some decisions might be dif-

the wrong community. Costarring Tracee Ellis Ross, Issa Rae and Sterling K. Brown, American Fiction premieres May 14. (Amazon Prime Video)

He Went That Way (r) — Saltburn’s Jacob Elordi takes on another psychologically tense film, but this time, it’s his character who has murderous intentions. Inspired by real events that occurred with serial killer Larry Lee Ranes, this crime drama picks up right as animal trainer Jim Goodwin (Zachary Quinto) picks up hitchhiker Bobby Falls (Elordi). While Bobby doesn’t appear to be menacing at first, Jim quickly learns that Bobby has a thirst for killing in cold blood. Besides creating

ficult but necessary if you’re to turn things around.

CAP r IC orn (December 22 to January 19) Cupid rules the Capricorn Goat’s heart this week. It’s a good time to start a new romance or reaffirm your commitment to your current beloved.

AQUArIUs (January 20 to February 18) Travel and entertainment are favored for the rest of the month. You earned this good time. Enjoy it with friends and family members.

PI s C es (February 19 to March 20) Someone you’ve been close to reveals a secret that could put this relationship at risk. Consider the full impact of the admission before making a decision.

born tHIs week: You have a sense of justice that sometimes makes you a mite too judgmental, but it also makes you a trusted and loyal friend.

Couch Theatre

beautifully rustic scenes in the desert and getting great close-ups of Elordi, the film mostly received criticism due to its lackluster story. See for yourself when it premieres on May 17! (Hulu)

Dark Matter (tV-MA)

— This new sci-fi series starring Joel Edgerton ( The Great Gatsby ) and Jennifer Connelly ( Top Gun: Maverick ) has just hit streaming services with its first two episodes. Edgerton plays physicist Jason Dessen, an ordinary family man who suddenly gets

abducted while walking home one night. When he wakes up, Jason finds himself in a completely different reality than the one he calls home. In this new reality, he finds out that he is the creator of “The Box” — a large vessel that holds many alternate versions of Jason Dessen. Realizing that he was abducted by an alternate version of himself, Jason fights to get himself home before the alternate version of himself harms his family.

Look out for new episodes every Wednesday. (May 8, Apple TV+)

In Case you Missed It

Wine Country ( r )

This Netflix original was Amy Poehler’s feature directorial debut, and she signed on her gang of Sat-

urday Night Live actress friends to help tell her first story on the big screen. Starring Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Rachel Dratch, Ana Gasteyer and Tina Fey (among others), the film follows a group of six friends who go on a trip to Napa Valley for a 50th birthday celebration. Although lots of excitement is in the air, all six women are secretly suffering with their own issues that eventually bubble up to the surface after days of drinking in Napa’s hills. So, make sure to grab your favorite wine and call up your besties to watch this movie full of witty and relatable moments! Out now. (Netflix)

©2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

Strange But True

Football player Ronaldinho Gaucho lost a $750,000 deal with CocaCola simply by taking a sip from a Pepsi.

• Some farmers started feeding their pigs waste products from the marijuana industry, such as plant stems, leaves and roots, saying it boosted the animals’ appetites so they would bulk up to 30 pounds heavier than normal, also that it had the effect of making the meat taste “more savory.”

• The fastest any human has ever traveled was during the re-entry of the Apollo 10 module, at a maximum speed of 24,830 miles per hour, or 7 miles per second.

• If you can convince yourself that you slept well last night, even though you didn’t, your brain will be tricked into thinking you aren’t tired. It’s called “placebo sleep.”

• When an astronaut working on the International Space Station needed a tool he didn’t have, NASA came to the rescue by designing one with computer software and emailing the file to him. He then used a 3D printer to create the first object ever designed on Earth but made in space.

Studies show that the human brain remains halfawake when sleeping in a new environment for the first time.

• Just before WWII, the U.S. created the Logan Bar, a chocolate bar that deliber-

ately tasted “a little better than a boiled potato,” as an emergency ration to prevent soldiers from snacking on it outside of emergency situations. Too much grape soda will make your poop turn blue.

• A shopping mall in China offers “husband storage” pods, where wives and girlfriends can leave their partners while they shop. Each pod is equipped with a TV, a gaming console and a leather massage chair.

Thought for the Day: “A comfort zone is a beautiful place — but nothing ever grows there.” — Anonymous ©2024 King Features

©2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

By lUC ie win B o R ne

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Joel edgerton, left, and Jennifer Connelly star in Dark Matter.

Up Your Dinner Game With Hawaiian Style comfort food: loco Moco

By PAtti di AM ond

There’s a special charm in reinventing the familiar. Take Loco Moco, for instance — a delightful fusion of flavors that reimagines the humble hamburger patty into a delicious cultural mashup.

Loco Moco embodies the multicultural tapestry of Hawaii. Its components — bed of fluffy rice from Asian cuisine, a sizzling hamburger patty crowned with a sunny-side-up egg from American diners and gravy reminiscent of European sauces — symbolize the diverse influences that shape Hawaiian cuisine.

Don’t let its delectable flavors fool you; Loco Moco is the epitome of simplicity, offering a quick, wallet-friendly solution for those hectic weeknight dinners. With just a handful of affordable ingredients and minimal prep time, this flavorful masterpiece proves that delicious dining doesn’t have to be complicated or costly.

LoCo MoCo yield: 4 servings total time: 35 minutes what you’ll need:

1 pound ground beef, at least 15 to 20% fat

1 medium Maui or sweet onion, peeled (1/4 of the onion chopped; 3/4 sliced)

2 garlic cloves, peeled and finely grated

3 teaspoons worcestershire sauce, divided

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

2 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil

8 ounces cremini mushrooms, cleaned and sliced (optional)

2 cups beef broth

2 teaspoons soy sauce

Photo courtesy of www.JasonCoblentz.com

Get ready to dive into this loco Moco masterpiece, flavorful and satisfying!

2 tablespoons cornstarch

4 cups cooked white rice

4 eggs, fried, sunny side up or over easy Green onions, sliced, for garnish

Here’s How:

Let’s start with the onion. Be sure you chop a quarter of the onion and slice the rest.

In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, chopped onion, garlic, 1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce, kosher salt and pepper. Mix until just combined, being careful not to overmix.

Shape this into 4 (1/2 inch) patties. Pop those on a plate and stick them in the fridge.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, warm 1 tablespoon of oil. Once it’s hot, add the sliced onion and begin sauteing. You want the onion to be translucent. Stir them occasionally and saute for about 5 minutes. Now, reduce the heat to low and continue to saute the onion as it gets soft and begins to caramelize, about

7 more minutes. Remove the onions to a bowl and keep warm.

Next, retrieve the patties and add another tablespoon of oil to the pan. Bump the heat back up to medium. Once it’s hot, carefully add the patties to the pan and cook them until browned, around 4 minutes per side. Transfer the patties to a platter and keep warm.

Add the remaining 1/2 tablespoon oil to the pan and saute the mushrooms for about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Get your second skillet warming to begin frying the eggs. You’ll have to do two things at once. If you are also walking and chewing gum, I suggest you stop immediately and focus.

Now, everybody in the pool! Return the onions to the pan along with the beef broth, soy sauce and the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to mediumlow.

In a small bowl, whisk the cornstarch with 1 tablespoon cold water until smooth to make a slurry. Add the slurry to the skillet and whisk until it thickens, about 5 minutes.

You should be cooking over-easy or sunny-side-up eggs by now.

Place the patties into the skillet to get all cozy and warmed back up.

To serve: On each plate place 1 cup cooked rice with one patty, a fried egg, then the gravy, topped with green onion.

“E ‘ai kakou!” (Let’s eat!)

Lifestyle expert Patti Diamond is the penny-pinching, party-planning, recipe developer and content creator of the website Divas On A Dime — Where Frugal, Meets Fabulous! Visit Patti at www. divasonadime.com and join the conversation on Facebook at DivasOnADimeDotCom. Email Patti at divapatti@divasonadime.com. ©2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

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give the whole cake a once over holding the hair dryer about 7-10 inches away from the frosting and set on high. It will soften the frosting, giving the cake a just-made look.” — R.L. in California

• Clean out hard-water stains and mineral deposits on your showerhead with this trick: Fill a zip-lock baggie halfway with warm vinegar. Immerse your showerhead in the baggie and secure it to the pipe with a rubber band. Let it hang for an hour or so, then release the bag and scrub the showerhead with a soft toothbrush.

• “There are so many different ways to pay bills these days that it can be hard to keep track of bills that need to be mailed. Here’s a great way to keep track of when to pay a bill so that it always gets there on time: I used to write the due dates of my bills on my calendar. Now I write the pay by date for each bill on the calendar. For bills that go in the mail, I write a date that’s a week ahead of when it is due. For bills that are paid online, I write a date three days ahead of the due date, and for automatic payments, I deduct the money from the paycheck BEFORE the draft is made. Now I never miss a due date.” — T.F. in Indiana

• Change your air filter to save money. Be sure to change it once a month to keep your air conditioner working at its most efficient.

• You might not have a blackboard in your home, but keep a clean blackboard eraser around to get streaks off of freshly cleaned windows. It works really well in the car, too!

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