YES! Weekly - April 8, 2020

TAKEOUT IDEAS

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BURR’S GREED

voting extended to April 24!

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2020

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GREENSBORO URBAN MINISTRY P. 14

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April 8-14, 2020 YES! WEEKLY

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OFTEN IMITATED NEVER DUPLICATED

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APRIL 8-14, 2020 VOLUME 16, NUMBER 15

16 SOOTHE THE SOUL WITH SOUTHERNASMR SOUNDS A Triad “ASMRtist” is the soothing Southern voice behind the successful YouTube channel, SOUTHERNASMR SOUNDS. “I didn’t think anybody would want to watch; I didn’t start it to become famous or anything,” said Mary, the creator of SouthernASMR Sounds. “I was just doing it for fun. Then I started to gain subscribers, and it kind of went from there.”

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5500 Adams Farm Lane Suite 204 Greensboro, NC 27407 Office 336-316-1231 Fax 336-316-1930 Publisher CHARLES A. WOMACK III publisher@yesweekly.com EDITORIAL Editor KATIE MURAWSKI katie@yesweekly.com Contributors IAN MCDOWELL JOHN BATCHELOR KATEI CRANFORD TERRY RADER JIM LONGWORTH

there’s still time!

2020

PRODUCTION Graphic Designers ALEX FARMER designer@yesweekly.com AUSTIN KINDLEY artdirector@yesweekly.com

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The Complaint for Civil Rights VIOLATIONS, Injunctive Relief, Declaratory Judgement and Damages was filed

by Stephen M. Crampton, special counsel to the Chicago-based Thomas More Society, and B. Tyler Brooks, of Legacy Law Services in Raleigh.

6 Greensboro’s DANCE Project: The School of City Arts quickly sprung into action to begin offering virtual “Dance at A Distance” live-streamed classes via Zoom on March 30, right after Gov. Cooper’s stay-

at-home executive order.

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In the lighter spirit that this series of columns hopes to establish and maintain, let’s start with DESSERT. After a hard day of staying at home, how can you conclude the evening with the most enjoyment and the least effort? Ice cream!

8 ...something happened to Richard when he went to Washington. Instead of taking his place at the table of public service, he took his turn at the feeding trough, and enriched himself in ways that were unavailable to his constituents. In doing so repeatedly, BURR has forced me at times to use WWW.YESWEEKLY.COM

less flattering words to describe him. Words like “greedy” and “corrupt.”

9 My favorite place to take my partner on a date is a/perture cinema. But since the city shut down, I brought A/PERTURE CINEMA to my date instead. On April 3, I saw on a/perture’s website that the movie Extra Ordinary had opened, and since the poster looked cute, I clicked on it.

10 Today, things are tough and confusing, but ARTISTS ARE PULLING TOGETHER while staying physically apart, to live-stream and weave artistic endeavors into sources of aid. Dark stages mean dark times for performers who’ve seen their revenue stream suddenly cut.

14 GUM, in addition to being a shelter, also provides about 500 meals a day (breakfast and dinner) to the guests staying there. They also serve an additional 300 plus people a day for lunch. Before staying away from each other became the new norm, GUM had a dining room capacity of 150. It is now down to 32 to comply with social distancing guidelines.

ADVERTISING Marketing TRAVIS WAGEMAN travis@yesweekly.com Promotion NATALIE GARCIA

DISTRIBUTION JANICE GANTT KYLE MUNRO CARL PEGRAM SHANE MERRIMAN JESSE GUERRA ANDREW WOMACK We at YES! Weekly realize that the interest of our readers goes well beyond the boundaries of the Piedmont Triad. Therefore we are dedicated to informing and entertaining with thought-provoking, debate-spurring, in-depth investigative news stories and features of local, national and international scope, and opinion grounded in reason, as well as providing the most comprehensive entertainment and arts coverage in the Triad. YES! Weekly welcomes submissions of all kinds. Efforts will be made to return those with a self-addressed stamped envelope; however YES! Weekly assumes no responsibility for unsolicited submissions. YES! Weekly is published every Wednesday by Womack Newspapers, Inc. No portion may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher. First copy is free, all additional copies are $1.00. Copyright 2020 Womack Newspapers, Inc.

the triad’s best voting extended to april 24!

APRIL 8-14, 2020

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hot pour PRESENTS

[BARTENDERS OF THE WEEK | BY NATALIE GARCIA] Check out videos on our Facebook!

BARTENDER: Beth Shirah BAR: I work at the Bench Tavern and the Sawmill 2 (Just want to add these are the coolest “cheers like” bars in Gboro) AGE: I’m 37 (although I actually thought I turned 38th on my last birthday, which is odd, because if anything you want to be younger) WHERE ARE YOU FROM? I’m born and raised in High Point, NC. HOW DID YOU BECOME A BARTENDER? I first bartended at JButlers on New Garden, right after I turned 21.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY ABOUT BARTENDING? I have since worked at a handful of wonderful places and met a lot of good people along the way.

Those people are the reason I love what I do! I have made friends (to family) from 21 to 90. Side note: the old guys are way more gangster!

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE DRINK TO MAKE? I don’t really have a favorite drink to make; just whatever you’re drinking, I’m serving.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE DRINK TO DRINK? I’m a Jager bomb girl.

WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND AS AN AFTER-DINNER DRINK? I would say one of the best after-dinner drinks would be a baby Guinness—it’s sweet like a dessert, but still has some “power.” I do like to occasionally consume a “beer and a bomb combo” also.

WHAT’S THE CRAZIEST THINGS YOU’VE SEEN WHILE BARTENDING? Being a bartender, you see and know everything.

So the crazy meter can get up there! Probably one of the craziest things I’ve seen was at a benefit golf tournament years ago, and the un-named girl I was working with lost her shoes, balance, golf cart, lunch, and then dignity. I’ve seen a lot of crazy “lusty” things, but really I don’t want to even get into that kinda stuff.

[SPOTLIGHT] VIRTUAL BARS

BY KATIE MURAWSKI Tiffany Howell, the owner of Burke Street Pub and Tee Time Sports & Spirits, said she is holding up “as good as can be expected” as the owner of two bars in Winston-Salem amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It happened so fast that the whole world just got knocked off its axis,” she said. “Yes, everybody is scared of this virus and worried about global health. But on top of that, owning two bars is like, boom, you’re done, for now.”

Howell said she is shell-shocked, but she said the worst part of it is the lack of daily social interaction, which she misses dearly.

“Being a bartender, you are just a social person anyway; I miss that the most, and my staff miss that the most,” Howell said.

“But we all keep in contact with each other every day.”

Howell isn’t one to be all “doom and gloom” about this unprecedented global health crisis. She decided to make the best of a bad situation by bringing the bar experience online. She posted instructions on how to join a Zoom meeting as well as the Venmo accounts of her staff on Burke Street Pub’s Facebook page. From 7 to 9 p.m. on April 1, about 15 to 20 people tuned in remotely to Howell’s Zoom meeting to try and return to some form of normalcy at their favorite bar.

“It was good to see people’s faces and hear people laughing,” Howell said of Burke Street Pub’s first virtual bar meetup. “We aren’t looking to make lots of money off of it; it’s more for our sanity. All of us bartenders and bar owners are like fishes out of water right now being nonsocial creatures. It is really taxing on our mental health.”

In the Zoom meeting, Howell said they

WHAT’S THE BEST TIP YOU’VE EVER GOTTEN? Yeah, I really want to plea the fifth on that.

Everyone looks out for me, and everyone has something different to give. There’s always gonna be a tightwad here and there, but my regular and reliables always look out for me.

Tee Time’s karaoke night on Zoom YES! WEEKLY

APRIL 8-14, 2020

Revik Walker took a photo of Burke Street Pub’s interior and made it his background on Zoom all were sitting down with their drink of choice, just socializing with each other as they would at the bar’s physical location.

She even remarked that one person was out in their yard throwing axes, and one person was teaching the group how to speak Korean.

“One of our customers, Revik Walker, joined us from Spain,” Howell said. “He is healthy and OK, but he is under a strict quarantine there. So, he talked about that, but we try to keep the mood kind of light.” She said it wasn’t a political discussion, but more like, “This is weird, now who’s turn is it to take a shot?”

Howell said that the group also talked about the things they are all watching on Netflix at the moment.

“Of course we are all watching the Joe Exotic thing, Tiger King,” Howell said.

“Owning two bars, seeing stuff like that is not too far off the radar, either.”

Last Friday, Burke hosted another Zoom meeting, but it was for Tee Time, which traditionally hosts karaoke on Friday nights. Burke wrote in a text message that there were about 20 people online with her, and they “had a little sing-along.”

“Doing things like this, to kind of keep us in the loop and keep us together,” she said. “Everybody needs it, I think.”

Howell said she would be hosting more virtual bar nights for both Tee Time and Burke Street Pub on Fridays and Saturdays from 7 to 9 p.m.

“I am not worried that my bars won’t survive once we re-open the country,” Howell said. “My bars will come back, just like this country will come back.”

Check the Facebook pages of Tee Time and Burke Street Pub for instructions on how to join. Don’t forget to tip the bartenders! !

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news

Anti-abortion protesters from Mocksville sue Greensboro mayor, GPD lieutenant

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n April 2, a conservative antiabortion law firm filed suit in federal court against Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan and Greensboro Police Ian McDowell Department Lieutenant Dan Knott. The filing was in response Contributor to Monday’s arrest of four “prayer walkers” for violating Guilford County’s stay-at-home order when they refused to comply with Knott’s directive to leave the vicinity of A Woman’s Choice of Greensboro, the city’s only abortion provider.

The Complaint for Civil Rights Violations, Injunctive Relief, Declaratory Judgement and Damages was filed by Stephen M. Crampton, special counsel to the Chicagobased Thomas More Society, and B. Tyler Brooks, of Legacy Law Services in Raleigh.

The Thomas More Society previously represented the controversial activist David Daleiden, a self-proclaimed “citizen journalist” currently facing trial on nine felony counts after a failed sting operation, in which he offered to buy fetal tissue from Planned Parenthood and selectively edited videos to imply the organization trafficked in “baby parts.” In Burwell vs. Hobby Lobby, TMS attorneys equated birth control with abortion, arguing that the ACA mandate that employees receive birth control coverage at no additional cost was not only unconstitutional but required Hobby Lobby to “cooperate in the destruction of human life” even when the services provided were contraceptives.

Thursday’s complaint seeks an injunction prohibiting “enforcement of the Stay Home Order” against Plaintiffs Paul Nisley, Josiah Chavez, David Troyer, and his daughter, Jolene Troyer. All are residents of Mocksville and described as supporters of the Charlotte-based anti-abortion advocacy group Love Life.

As previously reported, Love Life’s founder Justin Reeder, pastor/chief operating officer Carl Ubinas, attorney Jason Oesterreich and “city ambassador” Isaiah Burner were arrested around noon on Saturday in the parking lot beside A Woman’s Choice.

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On Monday, Reeder, Oesterreich, and Burner returned and were arrested again, along with Nisley, Chavez and the Troyers.

All were charged with violating the stayat-home order, as well as “Resist Delay and Obstruct a Public Officer.”

However, Reeder, Oesterreich, Burner, and Ubinas are not named as Plaintiffs in the complaint.

On Tuesday, March 31, Love Life founder Reeder returned to Greensboro and livestreamed two speeches on Facebook: one time-stamped 11:49 a.m. and one at 12:11 p.m.

Although one of the live streams is titled “Prayer at Abortion Center,” Reeder isn’t actually near A Woman’s Choice in either video. Instead, he acknowledged that he was broadcasting from the parking lot of New Destiny Christian Center at 2401 Randleman Rd., which is 354 yards and across a bridge from the clinic at 2425 Randleman Rd. In the video, Reeder stated Greensboro officials “made adjustments to the ordinance” to allow “the sidewalk team to be out there with their mobile unit.”

On Thursday, Greensboro assistant city manager Trey Davis, told YES! Weekly the ordinance had been amended to allow Love Life members “to gather for the purposes of video recording to live-stream a religious service.” Davis also said, “their van is allowed to provide what has been articulated as medical services.” Once the lawsuit was announced, Davis said he couldn’t comment further.

Davis’s use of “they” appeared to apply to two different parties. The persons allowed to record and live-stream “a religious service” were permitted to do so in the New Destiny parking lot, but not in the lot adjacent to A Woman’s Choice.

Reeder confirmed this in his video, stating that he was not allowed to cross the bridge to the lot overlooking the clinic. “No one is allowed to go over there [from the New Destiny Christian Center lot] and do that, or else they will be arrested.”

Reeder offered a variety of Biblical citations as explanations for why his followers should defy the stay-at-home order to do “prayer walks.”

“We must follow these commands whatever the cost,” he said, while repeatedly praising “Christians who are willing to give up their lives to save the unborn.”

The “mobile unit” was not from Love Life,

Justin Reeder live streams from behind Destiny Christian Center and points to A Woman’s Choice barely visible through the woods but their allies from New Hope Pregnancy Care in Yadkinville.

Like the Pregnancy Network (formerly, Greensboro Pregnancy Care) on Fulton Street, New Hope Pregnancy Care is a CPC, or Crisis Pregnancy Center, a faith-based advocacy group opposed to abortion that offers limited ultrasounds. As previously reported, these ultrasounds do not meet North Carolina’s legal requirement that any woman seeking an abortion must first view one, as that law mandates the ultrasound be done by the abortion provider.

A live video was posted at 11:54 a.m.

Tuesday on New Hope Pregnancy Center’s Facebook page that depicted Pastor Jason Doolittle, of East Bend Evangelical Christian Church, operating the “mobile unit” with two women.

“We have been able to get information into about 40% of people’s hands that have come in here,” said Doolittle in the broadcast from the mobile unit.

He named the physician on duty at A Woman’s Choice and alleged that they were “an abortionist that flies in from up in Massachusetts.” He also said that his team observed, “a woman that we believe is a city employee who has some kind of relationship. We’ve seen her here many times talking with an employee of the abortionist.”

Doolittle complained that “people who want to exercise their right to worship in a public space” in Greensboro “cannot do it near an abortionist for some reason.”

He and the two women claim that they have seen “women come out barely able to walk, being supported by other people as they leave, people come vomiting, dropping

to their knees in the grass, getting zero attention from the folks here.”

While observing outside A Woman’s Choice regularly since November, YES! Weekly has never seen anything like what Doolittle and the two women described.

In a subsequent Facebook video posted on Thursday at 1:36 p.m., Doolittle turned the camera on a woman he identified as “Stacey,” who described the young women she had allegedly induced to enter the van “as pretty vulnerable.” She also praised God for “removing” the clinic’s usual escorts. As previously reported, the clinic’s volunteer escorts had agreed to stay at home and abide by the edict after being assured that anti-abortion advocates would not be allowed near the clinic or its patients.

“If the escorts had been there today, we would not have gotten the literature into people’s hands,” Stacey said.

On Thursday night, Mayor Nancy Vaughan said she could not comment on the specifics of the suit against her and Lt. Knott, but she gave YES! Weekly the following statement: “I haven’t had a chance to analyze the lawsuit. We are living in difficult times with a worldwide health pandemic. We are trying to balance the health and well-being of our entire community and observe constitutionally-protected rights. It is a countywide stay-at-home order asking people to restrict travel, not speech.” !

IAN MCDOWELL is the author of two published novels, numerous anthologized short stories, and a whole lot of nonfiction and journalism, some of which he’s proud of and none of which he’s ashamed of.

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‘Dance at a Distance’ keeps students moving

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reensboro’s Dance Project: The School of City Arts quickly sprung into action by offering virtual “Dance at A Distance” livestream classes via Terry Rader Zoom on March 30, right after Gov. Cooper’s stay-at-home Contributor executive order.

Dance Project studios are temporarily closed to all on-site dance classes, and events are canceled until further notice.

Executive directors Lauren Joyner and Anne Morris started this new program after having only a week to pull it together.

Joyner said that these classes were created for their pre-registered spring 2020 youth students and any adult (ages 18+), who would like to drop-in online.

Joyner said in day three of virtual classes, “the kids were having a blast, and their parents were sending outpourings of heartfelt appreciation.” She said that through collaboration with dance friends, and all the research Morris had done to eliminate unwanted Zoom surprises, they had quickly learned how to work around technology bugs to keep their students dancing.

Joyner said she and Morris had talked a lot about the healing aspects of art and how people need art now more than ever.

YES! WEEKLY

APRIL 8-14, 2020

They have a lot of respect for all those making hard decisions now, and both said they are constantly inspired by the community’s resilience, creativity and cooperation.

Joyner and Morris have never shied away from challenges, and the two have been “going deep” in the heart of how to nurture their dance families and teachers with integrity and thoughtfulness.

Joyner said that many of their students were continuing at their original rate and donating the difference. She said in their goal to meet everyone where they are, they have credited the rest of the semester to support the families who aren’t able to attend online, but no matter what, these attendees would always be considered a part of their Dance Project family.

Morris said that their response to social distancing involved a progression of rapid decision-making, including postponing their fourth-annual Dance Marathon. She said it’d been a constant adaptation to support their administrative team, who are all working from home. They created free mini-class videos out of their responsibility and desire to bring dance to the community, in addition to supporting their teachers, “who are so deeply dedicated to this work.” After that, Morris said they figured free classes were great but posed the next question:“Is there a way to continue doing what we do?”

“Dance at a Distance” was the solution with nearly 30 different virtual dance classes. In Zoom sessions, attendees can hear the music and see their instructor

COURTESY OF DANCE PROJECT

Clare Scott tap-dancing on Zoom as they all dance together on different screens. Joyner said that “it really works.”

Joyner said she gives her students a few minutes to say “hey” to each other and joke around before class starts.

“Teaching my first Zoom class, while different than teaching in a studio, was such a great way to bridge the physical distance between us,” Joyner said. “I’ve always appreciated the ways that dance is able to connect people. Now, many of us are experiencing this in a new way, as people get to move together from wherever we each call home.”

Once students have put on their dance attire and set up a safe dance space at home, they are ready to begin. Programming runs Mondays through Fridays for specific age groups per class that include Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern, Hip-Hop and more. Adults can drop-in to any age 13 and up class, offered in a variety of styles and levels, for $5 per class.

Morris said that in addition to the live Zoom classes, Dance Project is offering free mini-classes (three new ones weekly) on YouTube with Dance Project instructors Jenny Braswell and Dylan Reddish, who teach a version of “Brain Dance” as created by dance educator Anne Green Gilbert.

Joyner said Dance Project has an online list of resources for dancers and choreographers, including various dance and artist relief/advocacy efforts along with personal letters from their teachers and dancers on how social distancing is impacting their lives.

“Dance is my refuge,” Joyner said. “As with most artists, it’s how we process our emotions, and we are seeing that in our students. Parents tell us they are noticing a difference in their kids’ moods and are happy they can continue. The majority of our students are under 18, and while this is a big deal for all of us, it is harder for them to understand. They are so happy to see their dance friends, and it’s great to watch them experience the continued creativity and connection on these Zoom screens.” !

TERRY RADER is a freelance writer/editorial/content/ copy, creative consultant/branding strategist, communications outreach messenger, poet and emerging singer/songwriter.

WANNA

go?

Live online and mini-classes at www.danceproject.org/dance-at-a-distance/, Cultural Center, 200 N. Davie St, Greensboro, (336) 373-2727

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chow

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John Batchelor’s recommendations for takeout during trying times: Part II

BY JOHN BATCHELOR

n the lighter spirit that this series of columns hopes to establish and maintain, let’s start with dessert. After a hard day of staying at home, how can you conclude the evening with the most enjoyment and the least effort? Ice cream! After donning gloves and mask, venture carefully to a grocery and stock up while supplies last.

Here’s my favorite brand: Talenti. After you finish, wash the container by hand (dishwasher heat will cause it to lose its form and fail to seal correctly). They are the best I’ve found for freezing. (Find vegetable sources below.)

On to takeout recommendations.

(See last week’s edition for the Master List.) You might think that after writing restaurant columns for almost 40 years, I could get things right on the first try. But over the years, I’ve found that every time I make a list, a day or so later, I discover something I left off. So here are some additions.

Delicious Bakery (delicious-cakes. com, 3700 Lawndale Dr., 336-282-1377) is open 9-5 every day, but accepting takeout orders only, of course. They request two days’ notice for large orders or custom cakes. In the interest of full disclosure, one of my former students, Mary Reid, is owner. So I’m kind of keeping this recommendation in the family.

In a clear and obvious example of good government decision making, beer and wine vendors, as well as state ABC stores, have been declared essential and are allowed to remain open. I should have included Rioja (riojawinebar.com, 1603 Battleground Ave., 336-412-0011) for wine purchases last week. They carry things you seldom, if ever, see anywhere else. And in these times, you deserve a treat. Call ahead and tell them what you are having for dinner and let them make some recommendations for wine pairings. For entertainment as well as enlightenment, they are offering blind tastings on takeout. If you want to make this a one stop purchase, the folks here have partnered with Lindley Park Provisions (facebook.com/lindleyparkprovisions) for food orders.

Curbside pickup is standard. Free delivery for orders of six bottles or $95 total.

Some discounts are in place, too!

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Reto’s (retoskitchen.com, 600 South Elam Ave., 336274-0499) has always been devoted primarily to takeout, so they’ve had plenty of experience with this concept.

Chef Reto Biaggi is preparing family meals these days. The menu for April 8 provides French Chicken with shallots and tarragon sauce, Basmati rice, grilled vegetables, and coconut cake, sized for four people, for $32. Good food, good value!

Order ahead, pick up between 1 and 6 p.m.

The Shrimp Connection (theshrimpconnection.com) is my go to place for fresh seafoods at all times, not just in these hard times. Open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (if they didn’t sell out on Saturday) at two Triad locations: on Sandy Ridge Road across from the Piedmont Farmers Market entrance and 7301 Summerfield Rd. in Summerfield.

They bring fresh seafood from the North Carolina coast and ship in some frozen fish from Alaska and Maine. Their motto is “Radically Fresh Seafood,” and it is a valid claim. You can sign up for a midweek mailing list if you want advance notice of what’s going to be available, or to place an order to ensure you’ll be able to get what you want.

I frequent the Greensboro Farmers Market on Saturday mornings, but the market is now closed. Many of the vendors, however, are selling direct to the public. Go to gsofarmersmarket.org and scroll down for links to local suppliers.

You won’t go wrong with any vendor, but I will mention a few favorites: Claude Smith and Tamara Hudson Smith of Smith Farms (facebook.com/ SmithFarmsGibsonville, 6806 Tickle Rd., Gibsonville, 336-516-0855) are former students, so this is another family recommendation. I buy from them regularly.

Right now, they have flowers and hanging baskets, plus vegetable starter plants if you want to have a garden this spring.

Strawberries are expected in one ot two weeks.

I always go straight to the Sunset Market Gardens (sunsetmarketgardens. com, 346 Woolen Store Rd., Reidsville) when the Farmers Market is open. Now, you can go to the website and place

orders online Monday-Wednesday for pickup Saturday afternoons. The farm store is open for in person shopping Wednesday, 4-6 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m.-noon. Careful social distance separation is observed. I love their lettuces and other vegetables.

Sugar Hill (sugarhillproduce.com) is my other favorite produce supplier.

Go to the website and sign up for their

Don’t forget!

Reset.

newsletter to learn what is available each week. They are providing contact free home delivery.

I find myself spending a lot of time these days thinking about cooking and looking up recipes. With that in mind, I am setting a personal goal for these trying times to emerge at the same weight as I began, maybe even a little less. Holding my own, +/- 1 pound, so far. !

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.

Some household items must go to the hazardous waste center:

Recycle.

Aerosol cans

Electronics like laptops, TVs and mobile phones

Cleaning products

GAS Chemicals Paint and paint supplies

TO HHW

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center 2750 Patterson St. M-F 10 am to 6 pm, Sat 8 am to 2 pm

For more information, please visit www.greensboro-nc.gov/ResetRecycle or call 336-373-CITY (2489).

APRIL 8-14, 2020

YES! WEEKLY

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Getting woke to Burr’s greed

may not be good at very many things, but I’ve always been pretty good with words, so it is particularly frustrating to me that I can’t find just the right word to Jim Longworth describe Sen. Richard Burr. “Congenial” comes to mind Longworth because that’s what at Large he is whenever you meet him in person.

“Humble” is another word that might describe Burr because not once have I ever known him to brag about himself, not even when the opportunity to do so presented itself, like when he appeared on my Triad Today television show. But something happened to Richard when he went to Washington.

Instead of taking his place at the table of public service, he took his turn at the

feeding trough, and enriched himself in ways that were unavailable to his constituents. In doing so repeatedly, Burr has forced me at times to use less flattering words to describe him.

Words like “greedy,” and “corrupt.” But his latest transgression makes even those words seem inadequate when describing his arrogance and abuse of power.

In December of last year, an animal virus jumped into a human host in the Wuhan province of China. The Trump administration was aware of the fast growing coronavirus, and would have had time to prevent its spread into America had not our Idiot-in-Chief dismantled Obama’s Pandemic Task Force, and then implied the disease was a hoax. Nevertheless, On Jan. 15, an American man returned

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APRIL 8-14, 2020

from China, landed at the Seattle airport, and brought the pandemic with him. On Jan. 24, Richard Burr and other senators were briefed about the spreading virus by Dr. Anthony Fauci.

Three days later, according to Reuters, Burr, as Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, began receiving daily updates on COVID-19.

Then, just coincidentally, Burr began to liquidate his stocks, including all of those in the hotel and hospitality industry. On three separate days, Jan. 31, Feb. 4, and Feb. 13, he made a total of 33 stock trades worth an estimated $1.7 million dollars! And while trading on insider information is a crime, what makes these transactions so odious is the fact that several days before Burr’s stock dump, he wrote an Op-Ed for FOX News in which he assured the public that America was, “better prepared than ever before to face emerging public health threats.”

Burr knew that was a lie, but he needed to protect the value of his investments until he could unload them. After he did, Burr came clean when speaking to the Tar Heel Circle, a private group of high rollers.

“It is much more aggressive in its transmission than anything we have seen in recent history,” said Burr of COVID-19.

He would know, because, in addition to his privileged briefings, Burr also wrote the Federal Pandemic All-Hazards Preparedness Act of 2006.

When news of Burr’s insider stock trades broke, critics from both sides of the aisle began calling for him to resign. Those included Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, North Carolina Democratic

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Party Chief Wayne Goodwin, and conservative FOX News host Tucker Carlson who said, “There is no greater moral crime than betraying your country in a time of crisis, and that appears to be what happened.”

Meanwhile, Scott Huffman, a candidate for Congress in the 13th district, was angry with Burr for only warning big donors of the impending pandemic. Speaking with the Winston-Salem Journal, Huffman said, “Shame on you (Richard) for not stepping up and sounding the alarm so we could have started preparing then.”

I’m really glad to see that so many people are finally getting “woke” to Burr’s long standing proclivity for profiteering, but some of us have been calling for Richard to resign for over a decade. That’s because, among other things, he has consistently voted with the interests of industries he should have been regulating. For example, he sat on committees to oversee the FDA, Medicare and Medicaid, while (according to STATNews.com), companies that manufacture drugs and medical devices donated a million dollars to his last campaign. Burr also voted against every gun reform measure. Why? Because the NRA gave his campaign $7 million. He also voted time and again to keep low cost prescription drugs out of the U.S. market, while accepting over $400,000 from Big Pharma. And, not surprisingly, he was one of only three senators to vote against the Stock Act, which prohibits members of Congress from trading on and profiting from inside knowledge of the stock markets.

According to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Burr’s net worth in 1994 was $189,000, but by 2004 it had soared to over $2.6 million. That’s an increase in net worth of 500% during a period when, according to Ballotpedia, the average American household net worth increased by less than 1%. Get the picture?

Burr’s latest money grab was the most blatant of his political career because it comes at a time when Americans are being laid off and locked in, as thousands of their neighbors die from a horrible virus. So, here I am still searching for the one word that best describes Richard Burr, and the word I’ve settled on is “predator,” which is derived from the Latin for “plunderer.”

These days we put predators in jail. I’m just saying. !

JIM LONGWORTH is the host of Triad Today, airing on Saturdays at 7:30 a.m. on ABC45 (cable channel 7) and Sundays at 11 a.m. on WMYV (cable channel 15).

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flicks

a/perture’s virtual theater presents: Extra Ordinary

M

y favorite place to take my partner on a date is a/ perture cinema. But since COVID-19 shut down the city, I brought a/perture cinema to my date, instead. On April 3, I saw on a/perture’s website that the movie Extra Ordinary had opened, and since the poster looked cute, I clicked on Katie Murawski it. I watched the trailer and noticed the distinct Irish brogue of funny Editor gal Maeve Higgins and that one of my Saturday Night Live crushes, Will Forte, was a lead role. So, I purchased my movie “tickets” online, popped some popcorn, and cracked open a can of Truly. When we sat down to watch the movie, streaming became a bit of an issue. (I know, I am the world’s worst millennial.) I watched it on an Amazon Fire Stick instead of downloading the recommended KINO MARQUEE app on Apple T.V. and Roku. The stream was a bit slow at first (it was running on Amazon’s internet browser), and some parts we had to pause so it could buffer. But when it finally started working, oh man, we both were cracking up like we never

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had before at a movie. The humor is bone dry, and Forte’s absurd character had me rolling on the floor. I feel bad for our roommate, (who was trying to sleep) because we were literally laughing out loud. The film was deliciously camp and fun from its start to finish. Sure, watching a movie at home is cool because you can be as loud as you want, drink as much as you want, and pause the movie for snack and bathroom breaks. But, is this the cinematic experience I have come to know and love? Not exactly…

For me, going to the movies requires sequestering myself for two hours and giving my complete and undivided attention to the piece of art before me.

When the dark cloud of COVID-19 passes, I will be first in line at a/perture cinema as it reopens. Until then, I’ll continue to support one of my favorite places by renting movies from its virtual theater. (Maybe I’ll become a better millennial and figure out how to work with the technology.) After all, a five-day rental for $12 isn’t so bad, especially when it’s for a movie that still has me giggling and supporting a/perture cinema. !

KATIE MURAWSKI is the editor-in-chief of YES! Weekly. Her alter egos include The Grimberlyn Reaper, skater/public relations board chair for Greensboro Roller Derby, and Roy Fahrenheit, drag entertainer and self-proclaimed King of Glamp.

APRIL 8-14, 2020

YES! WEEKLY

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Triad creatives assemble online

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of income. Given the success, they’ll likely host more in the future.

“I missed the feeling I get when I’m able to bring joy to people through drag, and even if just for a moment—transporting them to a magical place, far from however tough their life might be at the moment,” Brenda said about her motivation to carry-on online. “We need that now more than ever.”

Well, that and some money.

“Many entertainers are just crossing this bridge now out of necessity, especially for the performers that rely on drag as their primary source of income,” she explained. “For me, it’s been nice to connect with people from across the country that might never make it to an in-person show.”

Thankfully, performers understand the importance of carrying-on with creative works. And they’re banding together to help each other keep a roof over their heads while keeping the rest of us entertained.

“Creativity has always been such a form of therapy in many people’s lives,

n the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, creatives are spreading cheer and goodwill in ways often unseen outside the holiday season.

Today, things are tough and confusing, Katei Cranford but artists are pulling together while staying physically Contributor apart, to live-stream, and weave artistic endeavors into sources of aid. Dark stages mean dark times for performers who’ve seen their revenue stream suddenly cut.

But in that darkness, “what’s better than reveling in a night of fabulous drag from the comfort of your couch, all while doing a lot of good,” mused Brenda the Drag Queen about her first-ever online benefit show, which aired via Instagram Live on April 4. Featuring a variety of Triad talent, they were able to raise $2,300 for performers who’ve lost their primary source

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APRIL 8-14, 2020

drag artists and others alike,” Brenda said. “The beauty of drag is the art of transformation, and there’s nothing more fun right now than pretending like you’re somebody else, maybe even someone that isn’t living through this. It’s not denial - but it’s certainly a healthy coping mechanism.”

The concept extends beyond the world of drag, at a time when focus hangs heavy on keeping ourselves safe.

It takes a village to keep things going, and that’s the premise behind “Dale Cole and the Virtual Village.” This endeavor of Winstoners acts as a hub of help through music videos, online presence and merchandise fundraising. The “Virtual Village” exists on Facebook as a platform of communication and support for various Winston-Salem businesses in need of relief. So far, they’ve produced one song and music video, “Let’s Work Together,” with support directed at Mary’s Gourmet Diner and Hoots Beer Company. The group is composed of Dale Cole, Gabriel Higgins, Chad Nance, and Tommy Priest.

“We feel it’s our obligation to help as many of our friends and neighbors as we possibly can,” Cole said. “We all live in Winston-Salem and have been blessed in our endeavors; we just want to give back.”

They’ve got another song and video in the works, and have created “Winston Strong” wristbands, thanks to a sponsorship from Servpro, available for purchase at the Coffee Park Airstream on Reynolda Road.

“All proceeds go to our unemployed service industry,” Cole explained. “We’re also working with our local radio station WTOB,” he added, “Ken Hauser has gone above and beyond to help us.”

Winston-Salem is also home to the HEARD Collaborative Cafe, a coalition of hospitality professionals partnering with Second Harvest Food Bank’s Providence Restaurant to serve free meals for displaced workers, Monday through Friday from 2-4 p.m. in front of the Truist HQ (200 W. Second St.).

In Greensboro, the Blind Tiger is taking a reverse cue from the lore of Carole Baskin, feeding folks through free pop-up cookouts and taco parties in the venue’s parking lot.

(Information and dates can be found on the Facebook page.)

Back in the digital realm, a group of Triad musicians has partnered with Immersed Art and Media magazine to present a “Quarantine Battle of the Bands,” starting at 9 p.m. on April 10 via Instagram Live at @battleofthebandsinside.

The lineup features Greensboro bands Charm as well as the Charles Hanson Family Band. While viewing is free, the show is presented as a fundraiser for NourishNC, a nonprofit aimed at combating food insecurity by feeding children.

As folks settle-in to stay-at-home solitude and performers get their bearings, be on the lookout for more streaming entertainment to come. In the meantime, the creative community continues to come together, for each other, and for us all.

Stay safe, Triad. !

KATEI CRANFORD Is a Triad music nerd who hosts the Tuesday Tour Report, a radio show that runs like a mixtape of bands touring NC the following week, 5:30-7 p.m. on WUAG 103.1 FM.

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*Editor’s note: The subject’s last name and location have been omitted from this article to protect their privacy and safety.

A

Triad “ASMRtist” is the soothing Southern voice behind the successful YouTube channel, SouthernASMR Sounds.

Katie Murawski “I didn’t think anybody would want to watch; I didn’t start it to Editor become famous or anything,” said Mary, the creator of SouthernASMR Sounds. “I was just doing it for fun.

Then I started to gain subscribers, and it kind of went from there.”

According to Wikipedia, ASMR is a feeling that is triggered by auditory or visual stimuli. ASMR stands for “autonomous sensory meridian response,” and it is described as “a tingling sensation that typically begins on the scalp and moves down the back of the neck and upper spine.”

Mary said she doesn’t watch ASMR videos, but she said her favorite form of ASMR are Bob Ross’s painting videos.

“I don’t watch ASMR videos myself, because when I started making them, other ASMR videos stopped working for me,” she said. “I have been waking up a lot in the middle of the night feeling anxiety. I find if I start a Bob Ross video on my phone and just listen to him, it distracts me enough and takes away my anxiety so that I can go back to sleep.

It is so nice and comforting to me.” Wikipedia lists five different ASMR triggers: Whispering, Auditory, Personal Attention Role Play, Clinical Role Play, and Tactile. Mary’s videos experiments with all of the different forms, but she added her own unique twist: her distinct Carolina accent.

“Just like with my whole life, my 46 years on this planet, I do everything my way,” she said. ”Every single video I make is exactly the way I YES! WEEKLY

APRIL 8-14, 2020

want them. I don’t have a boss, I don’t answer to anybody, everything is done my way, and I thoroughly enjoy it.”

Mary describes herself as the “Vegas super bar” of ASMR videos because she does a little bit of everything: role play, organization, whispering, reading and more.

One of Mary’s many characters for her role play videos is Charity, who she describes as a “gold-digger.”

“She is always looking for an old, wealthy man, and she is always talking about her misadventures going on dates with different men,” said Mary describing her Charity persona. “She hangs out in nursing homes that have a lot of them.”

More of her characters include a grumpy librarian, a creepy dentist; Lynette, a “super Southern” nail technician with a pet cow; and Harvest, the “sanctimommy,” who tells everyone exactly why they are terrible at raising their children.

Mary said she performs these characters on a regular basis, and all of them have their own storylines, looks and costumes.

“Usually, with the role plays, it is personal attention— where the character is talking directly to you,” she said.

“I never plan what I am going to say; it is all improv. I just make it up as I go. I didn’t expect people to like them as much as they do. These characters were supposed to be a one-shot deal; I would do one or two videos of them, and that would be it. They are all kind of shallow, and people like them so much they ask me to keep bringing them back.

Sometimes it is hard to come up with stuff to talk about.”

The characters in the videos are always doing something that triggers that ASMRfeeling.

“The librarian has library books, and a lot of people love the sound of the crinkly covers of the library books,” Mary said. “So, I will have her handle the books, check them in and type on the computer.”

Another template that Mary likes to explore are organization videos.

“I make a lot of videos in stores, of course, not right now,” Mary said. “A lot

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of people have given me grief over it.” Two weeks before the stay-at-home order went into effect in North Carolina, Mary told her subscribers that she would not be doing those videos for a while, and she received backlash for that decision.

“They were saying, ‘Oh, this is not a big deal, you are just perpetuating hysteria,’” she said. “My only response was, I am not going to risk catching it so you can watch a video.”

She said she doesn’t know how long the stay-at-home order will last, but she misses making organization videos very much. “They love to watch me go into Walmart and organize the nail polish,” she said. “I’ll go into Dollar Tree— their shelves are always a mess—so I just go in there and straighten the shelves out and make it look a little better.

People just love to watch me do that, and I will talk along the way.”

Mary said many college students watch her organization videos, or put them on as background noise, to finish homework and other projects.

“They say it helps them focus better,” Mary said. “I don’t get it— it seems like it would be distracting, but some people really like it.”

Another type of ASMR trigger that Mary finds a bit confusing is “bitchy ASMR.” “It’s like when I am mean to you, and some people like that, they find it oddly relaxing somehow,” Mary said. “I don’t; I don’t get it, like why do you want me to be mean to you?” One example of “bitchy ASMR,” Mary said, is “like I am doing your makeup, and I will kind of lightly insult you now and then.”

Even though this ASMR trigger doesn’t make much sense to her, Mary said she is always open to exploring new ideas and new techniques. She said the reason why she makes these videos is to help others cope and relax.

“For me, the best thing about it is knowing that there are people all over the world who sleep better and deal with anxiety better,” she said of why she continues to make videos. “There are people I will never meet all over the world that I have helped by doing this. They keep me motivated to keep going every day; so many people watch for different reasons. I get messages from people everywhere every day. I have people tell me sometimes, ‘You are the only friend I have, and if I didn’t have you, I feel like I wouldn’t have anyone in my life at all. I play your videos in the background just so I don’t feel so lonely.’ It just makes me feel sad how many lonely people there are out there, WWW.YESWEEKLY.COM

and a lot of them don’t even watch the videos for ASMR, they just find me comforting.”

As of April 7, SouthernASMR Sounds has reached 259,000 subscribers on YouTube. Some of her videos have over a million views, and she has made over 2,000 videos in her five years as a YouTuber. Because of this success, Mary said she doesn’t have to work full time anymore, as she gets a substantial check once a month from Google for ad revenue.

“I don’t have to work full time anymore—I don’t have to work at all, but I do because just making videos is boring,” she said of her revenue stream.

But she doesn’t do it for the money.

“To know that I can help them, that, to me, is worth more than any subscriber count or ad revenue or anything like that,” she said. “I love being able to help people in any way I can just not feel so isolated, especially now being stuck at home.”

Mary said since her ASMR videos help some people manage their anxiety and insomnia, her channel has only grown in its popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“That is all anyone on YouTube wants to talk about right now,” she said. “I have a lot of new subscribers from Italy because you know, they are quarantined, and a lot of people are stuck at home are watching YouTube videos.”

However, more subscribers don’t necessarily mean more ad revenue.

“My ad revenue has gone down quite a bit because people haven’t been buying ads right now,” she said. “It has dropped 30% in the last week or so, and I don’t know how far it is going to fall. I am just kind of taking this as it comes. I am really glad I have a day job where I can work from home.”

“My views are up, my subscribers are up, everything is up except the revenue,” she continued. “I am still doing at least one video a day.”

In addition to bringing people’s spirits up with videos, she has also been sharing memes on her social media platforms. She has also given in to watching the docuseries that is sweeping the nation: Tiger King.

“I started watching Tiger King a couple of days ago because my subscribers kept saying I needed to watch it.

I didn’t know anything about it, so I started watching it and posting reaction videos,” she said. “I do feel an urge to help people. I just feel like I want to do something, but there is nothing else I can do at this point.”

Turns out, making ASMR videos to help people relax during a pandemic, has been equally therapeutic for Mary.

“It kind of gives me something to focus on,” she said.

“Like everyone else, I feel anxiety over this and stress and all of the uncertainty of it. But, at least for a little bit every day, it gives me something to focus on and work on.”

Since she has the extra time on her hands, Mary has revived a couple of characters, and she has made a social distancing-approved organization video.

“I made a video of me organizing my kitchen cabinet recently, and people were just jonesing so bad for an organization video that they just loved it.”

For aspiring YouTubers, Mary said her best advice would be to have thick skin, post consistently, and “figure out what is unique about you; what can you bring to YouTube that nobody else can?”

“For me, one of the things I could bring was a Southern accent because you can’t really find anyone that makes ASMR who talks like I do,” she said. “People really like the way I talk, and that was one unique thing. You shouldn’t just copy other YouTubers; if you are going to copy somebody else, they can just watch that YouTuber.”

She stressed that making these ASMR videos are a real passion of hers, and if anyone is just looking to make money or gain fame from making YouTube videos, they will never achieve it.

“You really have to love it, even when you hate it,” Mary said. “There are going to be days where you are going to want to chuck the whole thing out of the window and never do it again. You have to love it even in those moments.” !

KATIE MURAWSKI is the editor-in-chief of YES! Weekly. Her alter egos include The Grimberlyn Reaper, skater/public relations board chair for Greensboro Roller Derby, and Roy Fahrenheit, drag entertainer and self-proclaimed King of Glamp.

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‘Not just a homeless shelter and soup kitchen’ Greensboro Urban Ministry helps the entire community in crisis “From the homeless standpoint, 30% have some sort of lung problems,” said Chip Berry, Greensboro Urban Ministry’s director of development.

“Health problems that make you a Katie Murawski target for COVID-19, such as diabetes or heart problems, Editor are more prevalent in the homeless population. Those that we serve are vulnerable people, but they are even more vulnerable during this time.”

Greensboro Urban Ministry’s mission is “to express the love of God to our neighbors in need by offering food, shelter and solutions,” and now more than ever, the entire Greensboro community is in need.

“We are really doing the same things we always do,” Berry said. But because

of the pandemic, some adjustments and changes have been made at GUM recently.

Berry said that GUM houses 100 beds for individuals in its main location and has 60 efficiency apartment units in The Pathways Center for families.

“In an emergency like this, we have had to cut back a few of the people as they left—we have not replaced them so we could spread the beds out further in the shelter,” Berry said.

GUM, in addition to being a shelter, also provides about 500 meals a day (breakfast and dinner)to the guests staying there. They also serve an additional 300 plus people a day for lunch. Before staying away from others became the new norm, GUM had a dining room capacity of 150. It is now down to 32 to comply with social distancing guidelines. Additionally, Berry said lunch is bagged or in a container and passed out at the door where people stand in a line, separated 6 feet from each other.

“One of the changes we’ve had to make

is we really don’t want to utilize the dining room for that many people. So, the lunch is a bag-lunch, and sometimes it is hot food, but we hand out the lunch at the door rather than have people in and serve them,” Berry said. “We hand out literally hundreds of lunches per day. There are no requirements; we don’t know who we serve or what their needs are. We serve them until either the food is gone (which is rare) or we run out of folks.”

Another change includes increasing the amount of food and the variety of food in GUM’s food parcels from the organization’s food pantry. Berry said these parcels would include a lot more fresh food, like vegetables and fruits, as well as nonperishable items.

“At this time, we are allowing for people to come once a month (instead of only five times per year),” Berry said about the food pantry. “We are really gearing up for the next couple of months to provide emergency financial assistance to families and individuals.”

Berry said these families and individu-

als do not have to be homeless to get assistance. He said GUM is expanding its services to help the entire Greensboro community, where thousands have lost their jobs due to COVID-19.

“Someone comes in and sits with a caseworker,” Berry said of the process.

“They show their bills, and we work up a budget. We will call their landlord, and we will help them pay their rent and their utilities.”

During this crisis, Berry said that GUM increased its budgets for emergency assistance, and changed the rules where there was a maximum number of assistance funds used in a person’s lifetime or how much they pay on rent.

“We are dropping those things so we can provide more assistance to more people knowing that the need is greater right now,” Berry said. “When we give financial assistance to these individuals, it is just like food stamps, and it is just like unemployment: it has an immediate direct impact on the economy. Economists would call it the multiplier effect— that is

Volunteer fills bags of food at the Greensboro Urban Ministry food pantry

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The Greensboro Urban Ministry food pantry how you build your GDP. By us doing this one thing, that person passes it on, and it is going into the neighborhoods that have the biggest need. Those are the programs, and we do this 365 days a year, 24 hours a day; we are never closed here, and during this crisis, we are doing more.”

Berry urged for those who are struggling financially to make an appointment to see how GUM can better serve them.

“One of the messages we want to get across, we are not just a homeless shelter and soup kitchen,” he said. “We serve the broader community, and our financial assistance programs help keep people from being homeless.”

Even though evictions and utility cut-offs are being suspended at this time, Berry said GUM still wants people to come in and seek that assistance.

“We are taking care of the homeless, but a big part of what we do and a big part of what other social agencies do are helping people stay in their homes and not become homeless,” Berry said.

According to the website, to apply for

emergency assistance with utilities, folks can walk in on Monday and Wednesday, from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. without an appointment. An appointment must be made for any other day of the week by calling (336) 553-2659. For rent and mortgage emergency assistance, make an appointment by calling (336) 553-2657.

“We want people to reach out to us because we are here to help them,” Berry said.

In terms of what GUM needs from the community, Berry said the organization always needs volunteers.

As of April 6, the website states that GUM is in need of “donations to the food pantry. We are especially low on peanut butter, canned meats and canned fruits.”

Food pantry drop-off is located at 1002 S. Eugene St. in Greensboro. !

KATIE MURAWSKI is the editor-in-chief of YES! Weekly.

Her alter egos include The Grimberlyn Reaper, skater/ public relations board chair for Greensboro Roller Derby, and Roy Fahrenheit, drag entertainer and self-proclaimed King of Glamp.

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