Jamestown News - June 26, 2024 by YES! Weekly

By CaROL BROOKs

WrIter

High Point sues over Pfas

The City of High Point has filed a civil lawsuit against certain chemical companies it claims are responsible for the “forever chemicals,” or PFAS, found in its water. These chemicals do not break down in the environment causing many health risks.

Jamestown purchases some of its water from High Point. Water samples from the Arnold Koonce City Lake, which borders several Jamestown neighborhoods, and the city’s drinking water have indicated PFAS levels above federal limits, which is four parts per trillion.

The suit was filed in

May and is now in federal court. It names as defendants 3M, DuPont and other manufacturers. High Point is just one of several municipalities in litigation against DuPont and 3M. The Jamestown News could find nothing that alludes to what the outcome might be. However, this is not the first lawsuit filed against a chemical company. Lawsuits have been going on for several years. In 2023, CNBC reported a growing list of states, including Alaska, California, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin,

that have filed litigation against several chemical manufacturers. Even North Carolina has filed lawsuits against these manufacturers for several years.

Some settlements have already been made with the states winning some and the manufacturers winning others. Minnesota settled with 3M for $850 million and Delaware with DuPont for $50 million. Some manufacturers plan to reduce or discontinue the production of PFAS in the future, according to CNBC.

DuPont denies ever manufacturing PFAS. In August 2023, however, the company, along with Chemours and Corteva, both part of DuPont, announced a $1.19 billion fund to be

used to resolve “PFASrelated drinking water claims.” The company still does not accept responsibility for the manufacture of PFAS and the fund does not include personal injury claims as a result of exposure.

Challenges

On the other side of the issue, some chemical companies and water utilities are challenging the EPA ruling that limits PFAS in drinking water. According to NPR, “At least three lawsuits against the rule were filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit this month, ahead of a June 10 deadline for submitting such challenges. The Safe Water Drinking Act, requires par-

rHS gains fifth principal in 64-year history

By nORMa B. dennIs

FreeLANCe WrIter

ndworddesign@gmail.com

The idea of community means a lot to Noel Keener — whether it comes from neighborhoods or the sense of community shared by students, teachers and school staff. That is what Keener felt years ago when she worked as principal of CJ Greene Education Center in Jamestown and had a close relationship to the adjoining Ragsdale High School.

After leaving CJ Greene, Keener worked as principal for five years at Northeast Guilford High School where she planned and developed the school’s signature career academy. Most recently a principal at Parkland High School in Winston-Salem, Keener saw the graduation rate there increase by six percentage points under her leadership.

ties challenging a regulation to file a petition within 45 days of its publication in the Federal Register.

“The lawsuits, filed by parties that may be directly or indirectly responsible for paying to remove PFAS

from tap water, take aim at the EPA’s science, cost analysis, and rulemaking process. Legal experts say the pushback is expected, and it’s not yet clear how much traction these challenges will gain in court.

COMPILed By

AFCC MINISTER RETURNS

Rev. John Kimmons, former pastor of Adams Farm Community Church, will return to the church for a four-week series in July. Services begin at 10 a.m. each Sunday. The topic is “Jonah: One Whale of a Fish Story.”

The series will include “Chapter 1: A Pathetic, Prejudiced Prophet,” “Chapter 2: A Pale, Pitiful Prophet,” “Chapter 3: A Powerful, Preaching Prophet” and “Chapter 4: A Pitiful, Pouting Prophet.” Kimmons was pastor at AFCC from 2009-2014 and lives in Greensboro.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

noel Keener has barely stepped into her role as the new principal of Ragsdale High school, but is already displaying her Tiger Pride.

“But I am most proud of the community I have helped build wherever I go,” said Keener, who has worked for most of her educational career in Guilford County Schools. When she learned Dr. James Gibson was retiring as principal at Ragsdale, Keener knew that was the place she wanted to be. It was a school she could see herself retiring from as well. She applied for the position and received it, becoming only the fifth principal of

Ragsdale High School during its 64-year history.

Sedgefield Presbyterian Church will hold its summer Vacation Bible School July 8-16 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Geared for ages 3-rising sixth graders, the theme will be “Camp Out.”

Keener began her career in education later than some. She received a degree in psychology from Wichita State University. When her husband Marc retired from the military, the couple moved several times before settling in the North Carolina Triad area in 2001.

After working as an applied behavior analysis therapist in Winston-Salem, Keener started her career with Guilford County Schools in 2004 as an exceptional children’s teacher at Allen Jay Middle School and

see PRInCIPaL, PAGe 2

Gold fever hits Jamestown

By CaROL BROOKs FreeLANCe WrIter cab1hp@gmail.com

The excitement was building.

“Gold has been discovered in Jamestown!”

Imagine living in the early 1800s and hearing these words.

Gold was found in 1819 on William Hudson’s property near Deep River.

You cannot really call it a gold rush like California in 1848-55 but there were approximately 31 mining operations in the Jamestown area and Guilford County and a countless number in the state of North Carolina. During peak years, gold mining was second only to farming in the number of state residents it employed, according to historicsites.nc.gov.

All the mining was on private property and early mining was probably done by farmers during the off season and was stream bed, or placer, mining, not deep shafts or pits – more like you see in old westerns, with prospectors panning for gold. Gold, copper and some silver could be found by digging down into the ground. When the surface gold ran out, that’s when open pits and some shafts were dug. Most shafts were less than 200 feet deep.

Locally, the Gardner Hill, Lindsay, Jack’s Hill, Deep River and North State/ McCulloch mines were part of a 3-mile long group of quartz veins. Most of Guilford County’s gold came from these mines. The combined value of the output of these mines was $225,000, including copper. Long-time residents of Jamestown have grown up with stories of gold and copper mines in the area. Many even played in them as children.

The late historian Mary Browning believed there was a mine near the High Point City Lake.

“There was a place called “the gold mine” between Mendenhall Road and the lake, where Mendenhall curves to the north,” Browning said. “My son says it was just because there was a large quartz rock or boulder there.”

Shawn Rogers, director of Mendenhall Homeplace, believes there is a mining connection to Jamestown’s founding family. He has found writings stating there was a mine on the Homeplace property as well as on James Mendenhall’s property near the Penny Road bridge. He spoke about this connection at a gold mining roundtable on 2015 sponsored by the Historic Jamestown Society and Friends of the

MANESS NAMED COACH OF THE YEAR

Ragsdale baseball Coach Donnie Maness has been named 4A Metro Conference Coach of the Year. This year, the Ragsdale Baseball Team did something no other team had done since 2009 — they won 11 of its last 14 regular season games. The Tigers brought home the regular season conference championship trophy in the NCHSAA Metro 4A division in April.

Maness is a 1988 graduate of Ragsdale and has been baseball coach since the 1995-96 school year. This makes the seventh conference title his teams have won, with six coming from 20022009. Realignment of the teams a few years ago makes this the first title in the 4A division.

ADOPT, DON’T BUY

According to Best Friends Animal Society, pet adoption has been steadily declining over the last five years, with more people acquiring pets from breeders and pet stores, while shelter intakes have increased. The group recently launched “Bring Love Home,” a campaign to inspire people in North Carolina and across the country to adopt pets by emphasizing all the positive contributions that rescued pets bring to homes. This campaign is a heartfelt plea for compassion.

“Pets don’t belong in shelters, they belong in loving homes,” said Julie Castle, CEO, Best Friends Animal Society. “If just six percent more of the seven million Americans looking to add pets to their home in 2024 choose adoption over purchasing pets, we can end the killing of shelter pets nationwide.”

Image by bublikhaus on Freepik

nORMa B. dennIs and CaROL BROOKs

Photo by Norma B. Dennis

Photo courtesy of North Carolina Office of Archives and History archival photograph of McCulloch gold Mill with its original roof, probably taken around 1900. see gOLd, PAGe 2

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

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The Community's Best Source of Local Information

Freelance Writers Carol Brooks & Norma B. Dennis

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From The Front

OpiniOn

the sin of political lying

By d.g. M a RTI n O N e ON ON e

Is it our religion that is leading us down a pathway of lying about political matters?

What is lying?

Is it simply not telling the truth?

And then, what is truth?

Is truth based on facts? Or is it something that is revealed by a higher power?

What then if facts contradict the “truth” revealed by the higher power?

Those of us who are religious may accept as true some things that cannot be proven as fact. We accept these “truths” and proclaim them because we believe in and trust the higher power.

It is a religious thing. Some things we believe but cannot prove.

And sometimes we know such things are not really factual, but we hold on to these beliefs because of our confidence in a higher power and because a rejection of these beliefs would throw us out of balance.

We accept as truths the assertions we make when we repeat the creeds of our faiths, even when we know that we cannot prove such “truths.”

Similarly, we sometimes accept as truth the false claims of political leaders.

For example, many Americans accept Donald Trump’s assertion that the 2020 election was rigged and that he was the actual winner, not Joe Biden.

Robert Reich, the liberal economist and commentator who served as labor secretary in President Bill Clinton’s cabinet, wrote in the June 21 edition of The Courier (an online news source at thecourier.com) about the problems these false claims cause.

“How can we conduct a presidential election when one candidate and his party continue to lie about the outcome of the previous election and sow doubts about the electoral system?

“Our system depends on trust. But if voters are repeatedly told they can’t and shouldn’t trust it because it is rigged, and a significant number come to agree, then no outcome will ever stick. We will be forever fighting over elections.

Jamestown Public Library.

The Gardner Hill Mine was located somewhere near Sedgefield, Groometown and Jamestown. James MacClamroch, Guilford County historian, queried in 1952, “The town around the mine in the 1840s was the largest in the county with a population of around 800 while Greensboro had only about 500.” Could that have been Jamestown?

MaIL

It’s no doubt Jamestown grew as these mines grew. The prospect of wealth brought capitalists and laborers to the state, including miners from Wales, Cornwall, Germany, Austria and Poland. Many descendants of the Cornish miners are still around. It’s estimated at least 30,000 people were associated with mining in North Carolina.

Jack’s Hill Mine (gold), near Riverdale Road, operated approximately 25 years, from 1855-1880, as an extension of the North State Mine (copper) in High Point. According to thediggings. com, it was a small-scale underground mine with only one known access shaft. The shaft probably only went 75 feet into the earth. Perhaps most well known gold site to locals today is the McCulloch Gold Mill, or the Rock Engine House, just off Kivett Drive, now known is Castle McCulloch. This site was not a gold mine but a refinery.

An interesting connection to one of the mines has come to light. Jamestown’s Dr. Shubal Coffin purchased the Guilford Gold Mining Co. (also known as the Lindsay Mine) in the mid-

“If voters come to believe that the people who rioted at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, were ‘true patriots’ who have been unfairly prosecuted, how can anyone maintain faith in our system of justice?”

Reich continues, “Trump has poisoned the well. His big lie about the 2020 election has led to more lies about unfair prosecutions, including his own.

“And Trump is forcing every other Republican to add more poison.”

He requires those who want to be on his team to accept his version as truth.

Reich explains, “The litmus test for being Trump’s vice president — lying that the 2020 election was stolen, that the rioters were patriots, and that Biden and the Democrats are unfairly prosecuting them and Trump — is also becoming the litmus tests for being a Republican lawmaker. Any Republican who doesn’t spout these lies is politically endangered.

“These are not small lies. They are not political hyperbole. They are lies that cut to the core of our entire system of selfgovernment. They undermine belief in our democracy and system of justice.”

The assertion that Trump won the 2020 presidential election has become doctrine for his supporters.

This “false fact” becomes a corrupting truth that compromises everyone who accepts it.

Reich argues that “for an entire political party to wittingly repeat these lies amounts to organized treason.

“How can lawmakers who presumably know how dangerous these lies are nonetheless seek to convince the public they’re true? Is their love of power so great that they would sell out our democracy for it? If so, what do they get from unprincipled power?”

Political lying is a sin for sure, but maybe forgivable.

Unforgivable is the establishment of a political culture that accepts, encourages, and is dependent on lying.

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

g OL d

to-late 1850s but according to Browning, soon sold it to investors.

By the 1830s, the easily accessible ore had been extracted and the remaining gold was 50 feet or more below ground. New mining techniques were necessary, bringing the steam engine to the mining scene.

N.C. gold rush

North Carolina’s “gold rush” started when young Conrad Reed discovered a 17-lb. yellow rock in the creek on the family farm in Cabarrus County in 1799, now designated Reed Gold Mine. The family used it as a doorstop for three years. It was the first documented gold find in the United States. Soon, the state was the No. 1 producer of gold in the United States and stayed that way until the California Gold Rush.

From 1804-1828, all domestic gold coined by the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia came from North Carolina. This prompted the government to build another U.S. Mint in Charlotte, which operated 1838-61. It closed after the Confederate Army took it over and turned it into a hospital.

From 1829-35, 393,119 oz. of gold was produced. Gold output peaked in the 1830s and again in the late 1840s.

However, the California Gold Rush of 1849 as well as the advent of the Civil War virtually brought an end to mining in N.C.

The Dept. of Conservation and Development said important periods for gold in North Carolina was 1831-

Obituaries Bill Spence, III

Jamestown, N.C. — William “Bill” Wallace Spence, III, 80, passed away on Friday, June 14, 2024, while surrounded by his family.

Born June 28, 1943, in Baltimore, Maryland, Bill was the son of the late William Wallace Spence and Mary Hughes Spence. He graduated from Loyola University in Maryland where he also completed the schools ROTC program. He then served as an officer in the United States Army and was a proud Vietnam Veteran, leading soldiers there in 1966 and 1967. After resigning his commission, Bill moved to North Carolina with his family in 1978 and later retired from AT&T as a District Manager.

Bill is survived by his immediate family, Eileen Spence, and their three sons, Stephen Spence, Greg Spence along with his fiancé Chi-Yuan Chen, and Matthew Spence along with his wife Gail, his beloved granddaughter, Megan Spence "His Little Sweetheart"; He also leaves behind a sister, Carol Bland, her husband Tom, of Pasadena, Md., and their daughter, Beth Bland-Denisuk along with her husband Scott Denisuk.

The family will receive friends Sunday afternoon, June 23, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Cumby Family Funeral Service in High Point. Services in Baltimore will be Thursday, June 27, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Kaczorowski Funeral Home in Dundalk followed by a noon church service at Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church. Interment will follow in Parkwood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in the name of Bill Spence to Triad Honor Flight program (info@triadhonorflight.org)

Online condolences can be made at www.cumbyfuneral.com . Arrangements by Cumby Family Funeral Service in High Point.

PRI n CIPa L

worked as a teacher until 2012.

43, 1882-91, 1902-06, 191215 and there was a short revival in 1933-34.

Total production of gold in the entire U.S. 1792-1847 was more than 1 million fine ounces (1 troy ounce, slightly more than a regular ounce, assumed to be 995 pure), and a large part of this was from N.C.

The total amount of gold sent from N.C. to the Philadelphia Mint 1799-1860 was 9 million fine ounces. (a troy ounce is heavier than a regular ounce by 2.75 grams. In other words, a troy ounce is 31.10 grams while a regular ounce is 28.35 grams. Using grains, a troy ounce is 480 grains versus 437.5 for a regular ounce.) A recent closing price on a U.S. $20 gold piece (.9675 fine ounces or 96.75 percent pure) was $2,315.10. Any guess what that 9 million fine ounces sent to the Philly Mint from 1799-1860 would be worth today? Close to $21 billion.

No wonder the N.C. General Assembly declared gold the official state mineral in 2011.

It’s estimated that 80 percent of the gold is still underground, but if you’re thinking about looking for it, don’t. All the land is private property and it’s not profitable to try to extract it.

For more information, visit the following websites: McCulloch Gold Mill, https://www.ncpedia.org/ castle-mcculloch-gold-mill Reed Gold Mine, https:// historicsites.nc.gov/all-sites/ reed-gold-mine. Charlotte Mint, https:// coinweek.com/the-story-ofthe-charlotte-nc-mint

During that time, she also served as an adjunct professor at the University of North Carolina — Greensboro teaching introduction to professions in special education. In 2012 she participated in the Piedmont Triad Leadership Academy where she worked as an intern principal at Jones Elementary School. She earned a master’s in school administration and one in special education from UNCG. A position as assistant principal at Northeast High School followed before she became principal at CJ Greene.

As an administrator, Keener has always preferred to be out among the students and staff, connecting to them on a personal level and that is what she intends to do at Ragsdale High School.

“I am highly visible,” she said. “That is the way I like to roll. I like being in a school setting. I need the students and staff to keep me energized.

“Athletics, clubs and other events are helping to rebuild our sense of community after dealing with Covid. I attend as many school functions as possible because I love to see all the students doing well.”

Keener credits her degree in psychology and her first step into education with students who had special needs for providing a larger view of the needs of all students, and how to use their strengths to address those needs.

“I have learned to focus on the student more than the subject and that has helped me be a better principal in traditional high schools,” Keener said. “I view education as something personal for students and the families who send them to school.”

She noted that any future goals for Ragsdale would be developed along with the staff, fellow administrators and her supervisor.

“I have always had a strong focus on servant leadership,” Keener said. “I want to hire, train and retain good teachers, and I definitely want to make Ragsdale my home for the long haul.

Although her official duties as principal of Ragsdale do not begin until July 1, Keener has already begun getting acquainted with staff and the building.

“I appreciate the job Dr. Gibson and others before him have done at Ragsdale, Keener said. “What they have built here is important and I want to keep that going. Our goal is to prepare kids for the future until they can find their path. We want them to be well educated, well rounded and ready for what comes next.”

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE

NORTH CAROLINA

GUILFORD COUNTY

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE BEFORE THE CLERK 24SP000630-400

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Donna C. Kellawan and Junior Nangoo (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Donna C. Kellawan and Junior Nangoo) to PRLAP, Inc., Trustee(s), dated June 28, 2006, and recorded in Book No. 6555, at Page 2206 in Guilford County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Guilford County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse, West Door U-G Level in Greensboro, Guilford County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 10:00 AM on July 2, 2024 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Greensboro in the County of Guilford, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows:

LEGAL NOTICES

Being all of Lot 26, of Hidden Forest Subdivision, Phase II as per plat thereof recorded in Plat Book 156, Pages 109 in the Office of the Register of Deeds for Guilford County, North Carolina. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 1708 Fern Hill Drive, Greensboro, North Carolina.

Subject to all easements, restrictions and rightsof-way of record.

Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. §45-21.23.

Should the property be purchased by a third party, that party must pay the excise tax, as well as the court costs of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1).

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any

and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws.

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale.

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property

An order for possession of the property may be

Coffee Break

Salome’s Stars

WEEK OF JULY 1, 2024

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Temper your typical Arian urge to charge into a situation and demand answers. Instead, let the Lamb’s gentler self emerge to deal with a problem that requires delicacy.

TAURUS (April 20 to May

20) You are aware of what’s going on, so continue to stand by your earlier decision, no matter how persuasive the counterarguments might be. Money pressures will soon ease.

GEMINI (May 21 to June

20) By all means, have fun and enjoy this newly expanded social life. But don’t forget some people are depending on you to keep promises that are very important to them.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) You need to wait patiently for an answer to a workplace problem instead of pushing for a decision. Remember, time is on your side. A financial matter also needs closer attention.

LEO (July 23 to August 22)

By deMI TaVeRas

A Family Affair (PG13) — From the producers of Anyone but You, this rom-com is led by quite the interesting trio — Nicole Kidman (Expats), Zac Efron (The Iron Claw), and Joey King (The Kissing Booth trilogy) — with Kathy Bates and Liza Koshy co-starring.

King plays Zara, the personal assistant to celebrity Chris Cole (Efron), while Kidman plays Brooke, Zara’s widowed mother.

Upon learning that her boss of two years is hooking up with her mother, Zara understandably undergoes a bit of a crisis, especially knowing firsthand how

You now have information that can influence a decision you planned to make. But the clever Cat will consult a trusted friend or family member before making a major move.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Good news: You’re finding that more doors are opening for you to show what you can do, and you don’t even have to knock very hard to get the attention you’re seeking.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Your gift for creating order out of chaos will help you deal with a sudden rush of responsibilities that would threaten someone who is less able to balance their priorities.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Congratulations! Your energy levels are coming right back up to normal — just in time to help you tackle some worthwhile challenges and make some important choices.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) The sage Sagittarian should demand a full explanation of inconsistencies

much of a selfish man Chris can be. Amid Zara’s protests, Brooke and Chris’ relationship starts to deepen, as Brooke acknowledges that she hasn’t felt this way in years since the death of her husband. So, will Zara continue to stand in her mother’s way, or will Nicole Kidman get her happily ever after with Zac Efron? (Who would’ve thought!) Find out on June 28. (Netflix)

Red Right Hand (NR) — In this action-thriller film out on June 28, Orlando Bloom dons a Southern accent to become Cash, a hardworking man who is just trying to live a quiet

that might crop up in what had seemed to be a straightforward deal.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) A conflict between obligations to family and your job can create stressful problems. Best advice: Balance your dual priorities so that one doesn’t outweigh the other.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Don’t guess, speculate or gossip about that socalled “mystery” situation at the workplace. Bide your time. An explanation will be forthcoming very soon.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Boredom might be creeping in and causing you to lose interest in a repeat project. Deal with it by flipping over your usual routine and finding a new way to do an old task.

BORN THIS WEEK: You can warm the coldest heart with your lyrical voice and bright smile. You find yourself at home wherever you are.

Couch Theatre

the debt. Despite his honorable intentions, he quickly realizes that he underestimated the mercy Big Cat will show and buckles up to finally put the kitty down.

(Hulu)

life with his niece and brother-in-law after the death of his sister. But his past wasn’t as clean as his present, and the presence of the kingpin Big Cat (Andie MacDowell) in his town is a reminder of that tragic past. But when Cash finds

out that his brother-in-law owes Big Cat a hefty sum of $100,000, Big Cat starts showing her claws and terrorizes their family. So, Cash is left with no choice but to fall back into her trap, and he promises to do three jobs for her to repay

Fancy Dance (R) — Erica Tremblay makes her feature directorial debut with the perfect actress to lead this emotional drama. Taking place on the Seneca-Cayuga Nation Reservation, Lily Gladstone (Under the Bridge) stars as Jax, an aunt who is helping prepare her 13-year-old niece, Roki (Isabel DeRoy-Olson), for an upcoming powwow. Because Roki’s mother recently went missing

again, this powwow holds a special importance to Roki, and Jax tries her best to step up in Roki’s mother’s place. But law enforcement fails to show any desire to find Roki’s mother, rather showing an interest in Jax’s criminal background that they think makes her an unsuitable guardian. Even though they force Roki to live with her close-minded grandparents, the renegade Jax sneaks Roki out to embark on a journey to find her mother in time for the powwow. This moving film premieres June 28. (Apple TV+)

Strange But True

By LUCIe WInBORne

On July 4, 1776, King George III wrote in his diary entry, “Nothing important happened today.”

• A 5-month-old fetus has 200,000,000,000 brain cells, but by birth half of them have been lost.

• Superstitious folks understandably took note in Santa Clara, California, on Oct. 22, 1931, when the Gamma Eta Gamma legal fraternity was partially destroyed by fire: The house was located at 1313 Franklin Street, its phone number was Santa Clara 13, and the postman wore badge number 13! The damage sustained to the house was even estimated at $13,000.

• An AK-47 is depicted on the flag of Mozambique.

• Einstein’s ideas on relative acceleration were partly inspired by a guy who fell off a roof in Berlin. Surviving without injury, he told the physicist that he had not felt the effects of gravity.

• Until the 17th century, the word “upset” meant to set up (i.e., erect) something.

• The oldest recorded death sentence is found in the Amherst papyri, a list of state trials of ancient Egypt dating to 1,500 B.C. A teenage boy, convicted of “magic,” was ordered to kill himself by either poison or stabbing.

Apart from humans, the Asian elephant is the only mammal that can stand on its head.

• In 2002, the Nevada state legislature authorized a license plate depicting a mushroom cloud from an exploding nuclear bomb to commemorate nuclear weapons tests conducted in the state’s desert between 1945 and 1992. The Department of Motor Vehicles, however, rejected it.

• Soviet craftsman Nikolai Syadristy carved a set of chess figures that were so small they could only be distinguished when magnified 2,000 times with a microscope.

Thought for the Day: “In any given moment we have two options: to step forward into growth or step back into safety.”

— Abraham Maslow

King Features Synd., Inc.

Photo courtesy of Apple TV+ Isabel deRoy-Olson, left, and Lily gladstone star in Fancy Dance.

Beach Vibes in Every Bite: Dive Into Baja Fish Tacos

By PaTTI dIaMOnd

DIVAS ON A DIMe

Nothing evokes the joy of summer quite like a meal that transports you to the beach, and Baja Fish Tacos do just that. Originating from the coastal towns of Baja California, these tacos are a celebration of the ocean’s bounty and the vibrant flavors of Mexican cuisine.

As we gear up for Independence Day celebrations, these

Baja Fish Tacos are the perfect addition to a special summer occasion or any day you want to bring a little sunshine to your table.

Here's A Tip

By JOann deRsOn

BAJA FISH AND TORTILLAS

Yield: 10 large tacos

Total Time: 35 minutes

1 1/2 pounds cod, halibut, mahi mahi or other firm white fish

1 recipe Beer Batter (see above) 10 (6-inch) corn tortillas, or 30 street taco size

Baja Fish Tacos are a delightful fusion of fresh, crispy fish, crunchy cabbage slaw and zesty crema. Whether you’re miles from the coast or just steps away, this dish promises to deliver the essence of summer in every bite.

ZESTY BAJA SLAW

Yield: 6 cups

Total Time: 10 minutes

3 tablespoons cider vinegar

1 1/2 teaspoons vegetable oil

1/2 teaspoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

5 cups (10-ounce bag) red and/or green cabbage, shredded

3 tablespoons red onion, minced

1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

Squeeze of lime at time of servings

In a large bowl, whisk together the vinegar, oil, sugar and salt to make dressing. Add the cabbage, red onion, cilantro, and toss to coat. Add a squeeze of lime as you serve.

Diva Tip: Don’t dress the slaw until you’re ready to serve. Keep the red cabbage and red onion separate from the rest

of the ingredients until immediately before serving. Unless you like pepto-pink colored slaw, then you do you.

BAJA BREEZE CREMA

Yield: 1 cup

Total Time: 5 minutes

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 tablespoon lime juice

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon sugar

Hot sauce to taste, optional

Whisk all the ingredients together in a medium bowl, cover and refrigerate until serving.

CRISPY BEER BATTER

Yield: 2 cups

Total Time: 2 minutes

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 cup beer

Mix batter ingredients together in a large bowl.

Vegetable oil for frying

Pico de gallo for serving

Slice fish into strips approximately 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch wide and 4 inches long. They don’t need to be exact. Pat the fish dry with paper towels, add all the fish to the batter (recipe above) and gently toss to coat.

In a 12-inch pan, add oil to cover bottom of the pan by about 1 inch deep and heat the oil to 375 F. Working in small batches, fry fish until golden, flipping halfway through. Place on paper towels to drain; keep warm. The fish will cook very quickly; don’t overcook!

To Assemble:

Warm the tortillas either individually in a lightly oiled skillet or all together in the microwave wrapped in damp paper towels. Add cooked fish to each tortilla, top with slaw, pico de gallo, a drizzle of crema and finish with freshly squeezed lime juice. So, gather your loved ones and devour these tacos whilst dreaming of sunshine, sand and surf. Here’s to a festive Fourth filled with fireworks, fun and fabulous food!

• My best tip for the beach? A laundry basket and a bungee cord. I put my cooler, bags and sand toys in the basket and pull it along the sand using the bungee. It has worked for me many times — and it’s so convenient to keep things corralled in! Here’s more tips on beach vacationing. — JoAnn

• Must-haves at the beach: Zippertop bags for trash and clothespins to clip a napkin down so it won’t blow away!

• “Freeze bottles of water (take out a sip or two to allow the ice to expand) and juice boxes or pouches before you head out to the beach (or anytime you’re taking a cooler). They will act as ice packs to keep food and snacks cool, and double as refreshing beverages along the way!” — A.A. in Florida

• “My eyesight started to falter a few years ago, and I had found that my glasses slipped and were uncomfortable during seaside trips. I dearly love to read, and have since discovered audiobooks, or books on tape. I download them to a digital music player and can listen all day if I like. It also allows me to people-watch and even doze off! I am almost 80, so I can do that if I feel like it!” — R.A. in Connecticut

• “I keep an empty gallon jug in the trunk of my car. When I go to the beach, if there’s no shower, I can fill it with water at a faucet and get a good rinse there before I leave.” — L.G. in Mississippi

• “I bring a thin nylon bag to the beach in case I go shopping or collect shells, etc. It folds and zips down really small, so it takes up no room, but has come in handy most times that I’ve gone to the shore.” — T.T. in New York ©2024 King Features Synd., Inc.