YES! Weekly - May 11, 2022

ELECTION 20 GUIDE22 yesweekly.com

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MAY 11-17, 2022 VOLUME 18, NUMBER 19

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ELECTION 20 GUIDE22

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 CHANEL DAVIS chanel@yesweekly.com YES! Writers IAN MCDOWELL

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YES! WEEKLY

MAY 11-17, 2022

MARK BURGER

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The 24th annual RIVERRUN International Film Festival, which took place April 21-30, was, in the words of executive director Rob Davis, “a ‘stepping stone’ festival back toward normalcy and it exceeded our expectations,” he said.

5 THE HEART OF THE TRIAD CHORAL SOCIETY, proudly announces our much awaited return to the stage as a full choir! Over the past 2 years, HTCS has worked hard to navigate the protocols and restrictions of the Covid pandemic, which kept so many of the performing arts from even gathering at full strength, much less putting on a full performance.

6 Whenever there is a large number of candidates vying for the same office, political pundits like to refer to it as a “crowded field,” which often implies that those candidates are all bunched up in the polls. Not so with North Carolina’s race for U.S. SENATE, where a dozen or more hopefuls are entered in each of the major party primaries, and the front-runners have commanding leads.

7 The Most Reluctant Convert, the screen version of Max McLean’s one-man show detailing the spiritual awakening of author C.S. LEWIS (1898-1963), the author of such beloved works as The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.

18 As spring unfolds and days get longer, those looking to fill the hours with music don’t have to look far across the Triad as spring and summer CONCERT SERIES come into bloom — most of which are free thanks to city organizations and sponsors.

KATEI CRANFORD JIM LONGWORTH NAIMA SAID PRODUCTION Graphic Designers ALEX FARMER designer@yesweekly.com AUSTIN KINDLEY artdirector@yesweekly.com ADVERTISING Marketing TRAVIS WAGEMAN travis@yesweekly.com Promotion NATALIE GARCIA

DISTRIBUTION JANICE GANTT 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 2022 Womack Newspapers, Inc.

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[SPOTLIGHT]

MAYORAL CANDIDATE SUES CITY FOR DOCUMENTS, RECEIVES SOME BUT NOT ALL

Make An Impact

BY IAN MCDOWELL

“It’s not just about the f***ing gun show,” said Greensboro mayoral candidate Eric Robert to YES! Weekly.

After months of requests, Robert received public records of how the city purchased and then canceled the Greensboro Gun Show. While he condemned “buying the gun show just to kill it,” he said the greater issue is transparency.

Mayor Nancy Vaughan and City Manager Taiwo Jaiyeoba are named in the lawsuit Robert filed on April 8. The complaint accuses the city of delay and falsification in responding to his public information requests.

On Saturday, Vaughan said she sought a way to end the coliseum gun show shortly after Valentine’s Day 2018, when 17 high school students were murdered by a 19-year-old gunman in Parkland, Florida.

“My daughter came home very upset about that tragedy and how common these tragedies have become. I asked myself, as a city, do we want to sponsor a gun show at the Greensboro Coliseum?”

Vaughan also said patrons of other coliseum events complained about guns openly carried and even sold from the trunks of cars in the coliseum parking lot.

“I discussed with other city council members whether it was appropriate to have such an event in a city building.

Many agreed it wasn’t. This wasn’t about banning guns. I have a handgun and a concealed carry permit.”

Vaughan said former city attorney Tom Carruthers gave several conflicting opinions, before stating that coliseum director Matt Brown was the only official with the power to do what she wanted.

“Matt came up with the idea of buying the gun show out over a number of years. He negotiated the purchase from its former owner, just as he’s done with other events, because he had a better use for that space.”

Vaughan said Brown then approached Chuck Watts, Carruthers’ successor.

“Chuck said we aren’t forced to have a gun show in the coliseum, as we can determine who carries guns in our buildings.

I think this was a good idea, and I believe Matt was able to rebook that space with a higher revenue generator. I’m pretty sure we had a closed session about this, and the majority of council agreed it was a good idea.”

Vaughan said that last year, another company wanted to hold a gun show there, and when they were refused, took the issue to state legislature. “They threatened to WWW.YESWEEKLY.COM

sue the city, and we kind of said go ahead, we get sued all the time anyway. And then they tried to get the state legislature to force us to allow it.”

On Aug. 5, 2021, Robert filed a public information request for “all emails, voicemail, contracts and correspondence having to do with the gun shows and all emails documents and correspondence between Matt Brown and city elected officials and staff from Dec. 2017 to today.”

Robert criticized the city’s “refusal to release this information” in a January 11 email to Watts, who responded “we have searched our files, as we always do, and do not appear to have any documents responsive to your PIRT request.”

In a email later that day, Watts wrote, “I do not believe that [records of the sale] exist in our office” and “I am the City’s lawyer and I am not obligated to provide testimony or information about the actions of my client.”

On March 31, Robert filed a request for all email correspondence and documents from 2018 to present containing the name “Rodney Sorrel.” Using the name of the previous event owner rather than Brown yielded results. On May 5, the city provided Robert with multiple documents.

These included a Dec. 20, 2020 email from Brown to the mayor and city council stating the city now owned the name and trademark “Greensboro Gun Show,” and that Sorrel “agreed not to produce another Gun Show within the City of Greensboro limits for five years.”

The response included a “Draft Purchase Agreement” stating Sorrel “agrees to withhold any direct or public notification or confirmation” of ownership transfer.

That document states the city agreed to pay Sorrel $80,000 upon signing of the contract; $80,000 on 01/20/2022; $80,000 on 01/20/2023; $80,000 on 01/20/2024; and $80,000 on 01/20/2025, for a total of $400,000.

Robert is not dropping his lawsuit, as the city has not sent the signed final draft of the purchase agreement, nor the 47 emails between the city and Brown that are mentioned but not included in the city’s partial disclosure.

“I have proof they spent $400,000 of taxpayer’s money without our knowing about it, but not the emails in which they hashed out those details. I made a very basic public information request on a document that I knew existed. ” !

for the School Bond and Sales Tax for Schools Most Guilford County schools were built for the freshman Class of 1967, not the graduating Class of 2022. School bond funding will support modernized classrooms and wireless technology, providing students and teachers with the tools for a quality education in today’s high-tech world.

The 2022 bond will also deliver safety upgrades to 100 percent of schools across the county, including ones with immediate safety and security concerns by installing things such as security cameras, digital locks, classroom phones, intercoms, and safe entry points.

Vote YES: School Bond • 34 schools across the county to be rebuilt, renovated and constructed.

• Upgrade technology and safety measures at every school in Guilford County.

• Expand in-demand programs such as STEM, Career & Technical Education and Early/Middle College to schools across the county.

Vote YES: Sales Tax for schools • Applies to visitors who spend $1.6 billion in Guilford County annually.

• Only 5 extra pennies on every $20 spent, and does NOT apply to groceries, vehicles, gas and RX drugs.

• Ensures property tax rates are not raised. County Commissioners have even voted to lower property tax rates if the sales tax is passed.

Citizens from across the community are supporting the school bond and fraction of a penny sales tax for schools.

Scan here to hear their stories.

Turn out to vote on May 17

(or vote early starting April 28) and vote YES and YES at the bottom of the ballot.

Learn more by visiting www.smartschoolbond.com.

MAY 11-17, 2022

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visions

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RiverRun 2022 wraps happy

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he 24th annual RiverRun International Film Festival, which took place April 21-30, was, in the words of executive director Rob Davis, “a ‘stepping Mark Burger stone’ festival back toward normalcy and it exceeded our exContributor pectations,” he said.

“We are delighted at the positive response from our audiences and visitors.”

The 2020 festival was canceled outright because of the COVID pandemic, and last year’s festival was primarily virtual, but this year’s festival saw a resumption of live, in-person screenings and events, as well as offering virtual screenings. Attendance this year was almost 9,500, and approximately six percent of ticket sales

were virtual. Of the more than 1,670 submissions the festival received, this year’s line-up included 174 films representing 33 countries from around the world.

“I was thrilled with our film line-up this year — easily my favorite one we have ever offered,” said Davis. “It was wonderful to see so many folks in person again this year and to host awards ceremonies, wonderful panels, and of course so many screenings where smiling faces filled seats. As always, RiverRun is grateful to all of the incredible people who make the festival happen — our staff, volunteers, filmmakers and, of course, all the people that came out to attend our screenings.

We cannot wait to celebrate 25 years of RiverRun in 2023!”

(The 25th annual RiverRun International Film Festival is scheduled to take place April 13-22, 2023.)

You Resemble Me, written and directed

by Dina Amer, won both the Best Narrative Feature and Best Screenplay of a Narrative Feature. The Peter Brunette

You Resemble Me

Award for Best Director went to Adam Sjoberg and Seanne Winslow, co-directors of The Falconer, and Best Actor in a Narrative Feature was shared by Rami Zahar and Rupert Fennessy for The Falconer. Rachel Lambert won Best Actress in a Narrative Feature for I Can Feel You Walking, and the Special Jury Award for Creative Vision went to The Noise of Engines directed by Philippe Gregoire.

Art & Krimes by Krimes, directed by Alysa Nahmias, won Best Documentary Feature, Ira McKinley and Bhwain Suchak

The Falconer shared the award for Best Director of a Documentary Feature for Outta the Muck, and the Special Jury Award for Human Rights Filmmaking went to A Decent Home, directed by Sara Terry. Hallelujah, directed by Victor Gabriel, won the award for Best Narrative Short, Best Student Narrative Short was won by Not

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Hallelujah the ‘80s (directed by Marleen Valien), S.O.S. (directed by Marleen Valien) earned Honorable Mention for Comedy, and Skin & Bones (directed by Eli Powers) earned Honorable Mention for Horror.

The RiverRun International Film Festival is an Academy Award-qualifying festival for Documentary Shorts, and this year The Sentence of Michael Thompson (directed by Haley Elizabeth Anderson and Kyle Thrash) won Best Documentary Short, Holding Moses (directed by Rivkah Beth Medow) and Stranger at the Gate (directed by Joshua Seftel) earned Honorable Mentions, and the Special Jury Award for Visual Storytelling went to His Name Was Cargo, directed by Marco Signoretti.

The festival is also an Academy Award qualifying festival for Animated Shorts and this year The Clearing (directed

by Daniel Hope) won Best Animated Short, Yallah! (co-directed by Cecile Adant, Renaud de Saint Albin, Candice Behague, Nayla Nassar, Edouard Pitula and Anais Sassatelli) won Best Student Animated Film, and Honorable Mention went to Prosopagnosia (directed by Steven Fraser).

The Kilpatrick Townsend Audience Choice Award was won by Fiddler’s Journey (directed by Daniel Raim). This year’s Reel South Award was won by Mother(s) and Son, directed by Kiersten Houser. At the 11th annual RiverRun Pitchfest, first place went to Becoming the Lion (directed

by Meri “Miranda” Tai from Wake Forest University) and second place to Sentient Souvenirs (directed by Pearl Marley from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington).

“It was wonderful to host RiverRun 2022 inside the cinema this year,” said Zack Fox, general manager of Marketplace Cinemas in Winston-Salem, one of the festival’s screening venues. “The turnout for RiverRun’s first full festival return since COVID was tremendous. We saw many faces that we haven’t seen since 2019 return to the cinema and festival. The audiences also loved the Q&As that took WWW.YESWEEKLY.COM

place in our cinema. I am so happy we partnered with RiverRun these past years.

This year, the 24th RiverRun festival was nothing short of a terrific success. We’re already looking forward to next year for RiverRun’s 25th anniversary and it will be amazing. Stay tuned!”

In addition, Fox’s short film Spirit of the Cinema was screened at this year’s festival. “Spirit of the Cinema received a wonderful and joyful applause,” he said.

“We were so grateful to play at SECCA with the fellow North Carolina feature film Rosebud Lane. We received great reviews on our film and have already been invited to submit to several other festivals in the wake of our screening. RiverRun is a powerful festival.”

Actress Gigi Perreau was among this year’s Master of Cinema award winners at RiverRun, and she attended two screenings of Shadow on the Wall, the 1950 film noir classic she starred in as a child, alongside Ann Sothern, Zachary Scott, and Nancy Davis (Reagan). She was accompanied by her daughter, producer Gina Gallo, whose award-winning 2007 animated feature Fly Me to the Moon was presented as a free family screening at Marketplace Cinemas.

“Mom and I loved every moment of our time spent at the RiverRun International Film Festival,” said Gallo. “We felt warmly received by all. It was wonderful to meet the dedicated filmgoers and the generous donors who make RiverRun possible, especially Rob Davis. Rob beautifully curated a festival program that pushed the boundaries from eclectic, experimental films to the classics. As someone who supports film preservation and move theaters — thank you, Marketplace Cinemas! — it warms her heart knowing film festivals are back and avid moviegoers are right there, enjoying it live!”

The official RiverRun International Film Festival website is https://riverrunfilm. com/. !

See MARK BURGER’s reviews of current movies on Burgervideo.com. © 2022, Mark Burger.

[ WEEKLY ARTS ROUNDUP]

“REMEMBRANCE AND REFLECTION” — A RETURN TO THE STAGE, FOR THE HEART OF THE TRIAD CHORAL SOCIETY

BY RONNIE BLANTON | Outreach Director for Heart of the Triad Choral Society The Heart of the Triad Choral Society, proudly announces our much awaited return to the stage as a full choir! Over the past 2 years, HTCS has worked hard to navigate the protocols and restrictions of the Covid pandemic, which kept so many of the performing arts from even gathering at full strength, much less putting on a full performance. With both hard work and the amazing support of the members, the HTCS board and Artistic Director, Dr. Carol Earnhardt, the Heart of the Triad has persevered in having small ensemble performances for a number of functions and special events; Now for the first time since 2019, we get to take the stage in full force!

This week, The Heart of the Triad Choral Society will be performing two concerts, titled “A Season of Remembrance and Reflection.” Our concerts will be Friday May 13 at 7 p.m. and Saturday May 14 at 7 p.m. and performed at Main Street United Methodist Church in Kernersville, North Carolina. As an exciting addition, we will be accompanied by Glenn High School Concert Choir (Friday) and North Davidson Chamber Singers & Treble Choir (Saturday). HTCS will be performing a selection of songs and each High School will perform their selection of songs. We will come together in the second portion of the concert to perform “Requiem” by John Rutter, and will be accompanied by an incredibly talented Chamber Orchestra.

For so many reasons, this is a very

meaningful concert for not only our HTCS members, but the community as a whole. As we remember those we have lost due to the pandemic and we reflect on what the world has experienced since 2020, we hope the message of the performance will uplift spirits, renew the soul, and strengthen the heart. John Rutter’s “Requiem,” speaks a message of hope and comfort to a weary and grieving soul. The unprecedented struggles that we have all experienced in the past two years have been overwhelming for most, and we very much look forward to these two nights of beginning to move beyond days of pain and allowing ourselves to reflect, remember, and hopefully, start a new path forward.

For both the Friday night and Saturday night performances, both concerts are free to attend and for the first time ever, both nights will be Live Streamed through our HTCS Facebook Page. This is an exciting new platform for HTCS and we do hope that those who can’t physically attend, will be able to still enjoy the music from the comfort of home.

For more information on the Live Stream, visit our page at: www.Facebook.com/@HeartoftheTriadMusic HEART OF THE TRIAD CHORAL SOCIETY is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community choir made up of singers from all over the Piedmont Triad. Our season runs August - May with two major concerts as well as various events throughout the year. All who love to sing are welcome to join! No previous musical knowledge is necessary.

MAY 11-17, 2022

YES! WEEKLY

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Budd vs. Beasley in November?

W

henever there is a large number of candidates vying for the same office, political pundits like to refer to it as a “crowded field,” which often Jim Longworth implies that those candidates are all bunched up in the Longworth polls. Not so with at Large North Carolina’s race for U.S. Senate, where a dozen or more hopefuls are entered in each of the major party primaries, and the frontrunners have commanding leads.

With less than a week to go before the polls open, former State Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley enjoys an insurmountable lead over all contenders.

According to a WRAL-TV poll from April 14, Beasley has a 33-point advantage over her nearest competitor. Transla-

tion? Barring any last minute, selfinflicted wound (which I refer to as “Pulling a Cal Cunningham”), Judge Beasley will be the Democratic nominee.

Over on the GOP side, Congressman Ted Budd enjoys a double-digit lead over former Governor Pat McCrory, with former Congressman Mark Walker trailing way behind. But unlike the Democratic primary, which seems all over but the shouting, the Republican contest could offer some last-minute surprises. To understand why, it might be helpful to recap the politics and polls that got us to this point.

Prior to serving as Governor, McCrory was a seven-term mayor of Charlotte who was known for his ability to bring disparate groups together to achieve common goals. Hoping to take his moderate approach to Raleigh, McCrory was blindsided by his own party on more than one occasion, the last time being when he tried to stop them from passing HB2. Ultimately McCrory signed off on the so-called “Bathroom Bill,” but only as a stop-gap measure until the matter

could be properly adjudicated. Nevertheless, he became the first Governor in modern history to be thrown under the bus by both parties at the same time over the same issue.

Fast forward to 2021 when early polls showed McCrory with a huge lead over Budd and Walker. His lead narrowed by January when a Civitas poll put him just 5 points ahead of Budd. Then in March, a Vitales poll showed Budd erasing McCrory’s lead, and overtaking him by 32% to 29%. Budd’s surge was due largely to Donald Trump’s endorsement, and his momentum continued into the first week in April, when an Emerson College poll put Budd at 36% and McCrory at 22%. Meanwhile, Walker who dropped out of, then re-entered the race, saw his numbers dwindle across all polls. Walker went from 12% to 9%, and is now polling around 7%. On April 14, WRAL released its latest poll, showing Budd dropping to 33% and McCrory rising a point to 23%.

McCrory’s television ads reflect his desperation, as he tries to convince voters that he is more conservative than Budd or Walker. It’s an ironic twist, considering that as a moderate he tried to stop HB2, stabilized and vastly improved the State’s economy, and built up a much-needed rainy-day fund that came in handy during Hurricane Katrina. Still, there’s no indication that Pat is getting a significant bump from his TV ads. Budd, meanwhile, continues to grow his war chest and avoid debates with McCrory and Walker. The question is, will Budd’s

lead hold, and is it enough to win the primary next week and avoid a run-off.

Here in North Carolina, the threshold for winning outright is 30% plus one vote. Clearly, Budd currently meets that threshold, but the fly in the ointment may be a large block of voters that no one in the media is talking about. Right now, about 35% of likely Republican voters are undecided. If an overwhelming majority of them should cast their ballots for McCrory and Walker, then Budd could fall under the 30% threshold, and that would trigger a two-man run-off next month between Budd and McCrory. Here’s where it gets crazy.

Sources tell me there is bad blood between Budd and Walker. Meanwhile, Walker and McCrory have been playing nice, and showing up for joint appearances sans Budd. That tells me Walker is likely to throw his support behind McCrory in a run-off, and that could give McCrory just the edge he needs to defeat Budd.

As this edition of YES! Weekly hits the streets, the primary is only six days away, and that’s plenty of time for any number of upsets and permutations to occur. Absent that, Judge Beasley and Ted Budd are headed for a showdown on November 8. !

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

McLean deluxe: Actor/playwright brings C.S. Lewis to life

T

he problem with most faithbased films is that they tend to preach to the converted, the message overpowering, or even tramMark Burger pling, every other aspect of the narrative.

Contributor That cannot be said of The Most Reluctant Convert, the screen version of Max McLean’s one-man show detailing the spiritual awakening of author C.S. Lewis (1898-1963), the author of such beloved works as The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.

That the film is subtitled “The Untold Story of C.S. Lewis,” which is something of a misnomer, as anyone familiar with Lewis’s life and work — or anyone familiar with English literature — is likely well aware of his deep, abiding Christian faith.

Under the direction of Norman Stone (also the screenwriter and executive

producer), who previously helmed the award-winning 1986 television film Shadowlands, The Most Reluctant Convert has been opened up, with scenes filmed at Lewis’s old stomping grounds, Oxford University.

Lewis is played by Max McLean, who penned the original stage production in 2016, directed the 2018 video adaptation, is credited as an executive producer here and has adapted other Lewis works throughout his career. His affection and affinity for Lewis are evident. In the opening scene, McLean is seen reviewing his script, being made up, taking his place on the soundstage and, upon the word “Action,” transforming himself into Lewis, as

he strolls through his past to explain how religion, which he had disdained for so many years, ultimately became a source of comfort, inspiration, and spiritual nourishment.

The most refreshing thing about McLean’s effortless performance is that Lewis doesn’t preach and he doesn’t proselytize. It’s not a lecture, it’s not a sermon. Avoiding histrionics at every turn, he offers a simple discourse as if talking to a companion, sharing a pint at the local pub or touring the Oxford campus. Even those who subscribe to no religious faith can appreciate and enjoy McLean’s earnest but avuncular and sympathetic approach to the character.

The Most Reluctant Convert is, to a great extent, a monologue, which is hardly an easy sell for any film. Newcomers Eddie Ray Martin and Nicholas Ray portray Lewis as a youngster and a young man, respectively, and there’s a nice turn by Richard Harrington as Albert Lewis, his hard-headed but not unsympathetic father, but this is McLean’s show all the way.

Running less than 80 minutes, the film certainly can’t be accused of overstaying its welcome, but that does limit its overall scope.

Nevertheless, for devotees of C.S. Lewis, The Most Reluctant Convert is a worthy, if occasionally sketchy, tribute. Its message is conveyed in modest, unforced terms, which is to its credit, and much of that credit is due to Max McLean.

— For a complete list of platforms The Reluctant Convert is available on, visit the official website: https://cslewismovie. com/. The film is also available on DVD ($24.99 retail) and Blu-ray ($34.99 retail), each replete with bonus features. !

See MARK BURGER’s reviews of current movies on Burgervideo.com. © 2022, Mark Burger.

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[NEWS OF THE WEIRD] THEY’RE LOVIN’ IT

Rob and Grace Jones wanted to replace a built-in toilet paper holder in their home in Crystal Lake, Illinois, on April 16, which required them to cut Chuck Shepherd into the wall of their bathroom, NBC New York reported. That’s when they came across a most unusual find: a towel containing two McDonald’s hamburger wrappers and a full order of french fries inside. Vintage 1959. “We were expecting the worst,” Grace said. “I was shielding my kids in case there was any dried blood.” More like dried ketchup. “Not a cold case, just some cold fries,” she said.

“They were very well preserved.” Must not be many mice in Crystal Lake.

QUESTIONABLE JUDGMENT

An American family returning to the United States from a trip to Israel on April 28 set off a chaotic bomb scare at Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv when they tried to take an unexploded artillery shell through a security check, the BBC reported. They had found the shell in the Golan Heights and picked it up as a souvenir; at the airport, a family member pulled it from a backpack and asked if it could be put in a suitcase.

The security official called for her immediate area to be cleared, but someone misheard her, and panic ensued. The family members were later questioned and allowed to board their flight.

THAT’S ONE WAY TO DO IT

As his United Airlines flight taxied to its gate at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport on May 5, one passenger apparently couldn’t wait to deplane, WLS-TV reported. So he opened the emergency exit and walked onto the wing, then slid down the wing and onto the runway. The ground crew stopped the man, and he was turned over to law enforcement officers.

SEEING DOUBLE ... AND MORE

The Mansfield Independent School District in Texas will celebrate an unusual graduation this year, feting 35 pairs of twins in its senior class, along with one set of triplets. Anthony and Angela Morka are among the twins who will graduate at the end of May, CBS News reported. “Knowing that it’s almost over is exciting, but it’s also kind of sad,” Angela said. “It will definitely be a change

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MAY 11-17, 2022

because we’re not going to be together like we’ve always been,” Anthony added.

The district held a special event for the multiples on April 29 at Vernon Newsom Stadium.

BRIGHT IDEAS

— Five students at Ponte Vedra High School in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, have been accused in a “senior prank” in which a probable sandbar shark (prohibited from recreational and commercial harvest in Florida state waters, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission) was hoisted over a staircase at the school on May 5, News4Jax reported.

“I was going to first period, and there was this massive shark hanging from the ceiling, and it smelled really bad,” said Cooper Gottfried, a sophomore at the school. The shark is the school’s mascot.

The responsible parties may face charges of trespassing, wildlife violations and criminal mischief.

— An unnamed man in Detroit was arrested in late April for illegally possessing guns, but the federal agents who arrived at his home with a search warrant were more interested in how he made a living: He sold marijuana from a vending machine attached to his house, clearing $2,000 a day, he told them. The Associated Press reported that agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made purchases from the machine to collect evidence before the bust. The man was released on bond.

RECENT ALARMING HEADLINE

During a funeral in Lambayeque, Peru, on April 26, pallbearers were stunned to hear knocking coming from within the coffin of Rosa Isabel Cespedes Callaca as they carried it, Metro News reported.

They lowered the box to the ground and opened the lid to find that Callaca was weak, but alive, following a serious car accident. Cemetery caretaker Juan Segundo Cajo said that Callaca “opened her eyes and was sweating.” She was rushed to a hospital, where she was shown to have faint signs of life, but sadly, she expired a few hours later. Her family members suspect she may have been in a coma following the accident, rather than deceased. Police are now investigating the incident. !

© 2022 Chuck Shepherd. Universal Press Syndicate.

Send your weird news items with subject line WEIRD NEWS to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com.

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[KING Crossword]

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may 11-17, 2022

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ELECTION 20 GUIDE22

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GUILFORD COUNTY CANDIDATES DISTRICT ATTORNEY DISTRICT 24 - GUILFORD THE QUESTIONS:

Q1: If an incumbent, what have you done during your tenure as district attorney to improve life for county residents? If a challenger, what overall plans do you have to improve life for county residents?

Q2: The district attorneyʼs office has come under scrutiny for having a large backlog in the past few years. How have you or how do you plan to combat that, ensuring that defendants receive a speedy trial?

Q3: Crime has increased in the county. How can the district attorneyʼs office help to combat this and convict perpetrators?

AVERY CRUMP INCUMBENT - (D) CRUMP4DA.COM

A1: After being sworn in on January 1, 2019 as the District Attorney, I have helped over 12,000 Guilford County residents get their driving privileges restored by helping to remit unpaid traffic fines. This was at no cost to program participants. This means that thousands of Guilford County residents will be able to get back on the road because of this program to forgive court debt on minor traffic offenses. This YES! WEEKLY

MAY 11-17, 2022

helps individuals directly, and the community indirectly by having more legal and insured drivers on the road. I was able to accomplish this despite the pandemic and constant flooding in the High Point courthouse, which caused significant courthouse closures. I also established a free alternative to prosecution program for young offenders charged with minor nonviolent offenses. This required performing community service and not reoffending.

Completion of the program led to charges being dismissed. I also expanded the eligibility for our mental health and drug treatment programs so that more people would be eligible to get the services that they need. Also, my office with the assistance of the High Point Police Department has started reviewing cases for expungement under the Second Chance Act. In High Point, there are approximately 8800 individuals eligible for expungements. I really appreciate the High Point Police Department’s willingness to help us with this endeavor. In Greensboro, there are approximately 18,600 individuals eligible. I also petitioned our state legislators to increase the number of staff members in the District Attorney’s Office in both Greensboro and High Point because studies revealed that we were grossly understaffed by 8 attorneys and 5 victim witness legal assistant positions. Under my administration and leadership, I have been able to add 5 attorneys and one victim services coordinator position. This increase in staff will help carry out my plan to handle the backlog of cases that have occurred as a result of the pandemic.

A2: When I took office in 2019 there was a backlog of cases. During the pandemic, because there was a suspension of normal court operations, the backlog of cases drastically increased. During this time, no

jury trials were allowed for approximately one year and calendar sizes for court were drastically reduced. I along with other courthouse leaders have implemented a plan to add additional court sessions in district and superior court. These additional sessions have helped to work to reduce our pending backlog. I have also increased the number of defendants on the calendars as well as emphasizing the prosecution of homicide trials. My office has scheduled over 25 homicide trials this year, which is more scheduled than ever before. This is needed to help provide justice to the victims, their families, and the accused. Another reason for the backlog is when defense attorneys request countless continuances on their clients’ cases, even when they have not had contact with their clients for several months. As I previously stated, the increase in attorneys and staff that I lobbied for are key to our efforts to overcome the backlog.

A3: The District Attorney’s Office plays a critical role in keeping our communities safe. Under my leadership, I established quarterly meetings with all heads of law enforcement where we discuss relevant issues of policing in our communities while maintaining our key objective, which is keeping our communities safe from violent crime. During these meetings, we discuss what information is needed in officer reports to make stronger cases for prosecution. Stronger cases lead to convictions. My office also aggressively prosecutes violent crime. For successful prosecutions, we also need the help of the community in coming forward when they see criminal activity take place. We need the community to speak with law enforcement and provide the information needed to help prosecute these cases and convict the perpetrators.

BRENTON J. BOYCE CHALLENGER - (D) BOYCEFORDA.COM A1: I believe that the people of Guilford County deserve to have their faith restored in the fairness and legitimacy of the criminal justice system. How can people believe the system is fair when there is demonstrable inequality along racial and socioeconomic lines in which members of our community get policed, which ones are able to make bail, and which ones get convicted of certain offenses? How can anyone feel that their government is accountable when the current DA barely interacts with the public or posts online outside of election cycles?

How can victims feel safe when violent crimes take years to prosecute? How can we trust that innocent people aren’t just pleading guilty to get out of jail when then the cost of going to trial might mean waiting months or years in jail?

I believe that we can have a more fair, efficient, and accountable Office of the District Attorney by admitting that crime is a community problem, and it will take actual collaboration with the community to solve. We can increase fairness by doing a better job keeping data about case dispositions to make sure that we have a metric to assess improvement. We should also have a District Attorney that keeps an open-door policy with community organizations, victim advocates, law enforcement, and civil rights groups to keep a diverse set of voices guiding policy.

We increase efficiency by acknowledging the reality that “broken windows” hyper prosecution is not reducing crime

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and wastes valuable resources that are needed to prosecute violent crime. Instead, we should focus on restorative justice and deferred prosecutions to reduce court time, make victims whole, and give non-violent offenders a chance to keep a clean record. We increase accountability by having transparent office policies and a DA willing to routinely and personally answer tough questions from the media and community organizations.

I would also do what my opponent has refused to do and actually follow the recommendations of the group that actually started the Driver’s License Restoration Program, the Pro Bono Resource Center.

They have urged my opponent to allow applicants to qualify for assistance who have been suspended for two years for failure to pay fines. My opponent does not believe that you should qualify for debt relief unless you have spent five full years being too poor to pay a fine. The Guilford DA’s policy is more conservative than several surrounding Republican counties and it is part of the reason that after three years, Guilford still ranks among the top counties in the state with drivers who hand suspended licenses for failing to pay a fine.

A2: The current District Attorney cannot scapegoat the entire backlog on the pandemic. Her office has refused to accept several recommendations from members of the Courthouse Backlog Committee, which consists of judges and attorneys.

Part of the backlog is due to a failure to exercise greater discretion to dismiss cases with insufficient evidence or make greater concessions in plea-bargaining to avoid lengthy trials in non-violent cases.

Much of the backlog is also due to high turnover in the District Attorney’s Office and several cases going through multiple Assistant District Attorneys before disposition. I have spoken to many attorneys in the courthouse who can confirm that it has become much harder to resolve even misdemeanor cases in the last three years. The current DA has made it more difficult to negotiate fair plea bargains on simple traffic tickets. The increased focus on getting convictions in misdemeanor cases has grinded the system to a halt, and hasn’t made the community more safe. It has, however, caused a large class of people with unemployable convictions for petty offenses to emerge.

I want to change the culture in the District Attorney’s Office to support my staff and retain experienced prosecutors who can assess the strength of a case quickly to move court dockets along. I also want to recruit and provide better training to a diverse set of employees who feel supported and want to spend a good www.yesweekly.coM

portion of their careers in Guilford County.

I will also meet in good-faith with judges and defense attorneys on the Backlog Committee and propose and accept ideas that help clear the backlog while protecting both victims’ rights and the rights of the accused to a fair and speedy trial. I will prioritize cases where the defendant is sitting in jail, unable to pay to bond out, so they can have their day in court within a reasonable amount of time.

A3: This issue goes to the very heart of the biggest difference between me and my opponent. Violent crime is a community problem and prosecuting from a silo has done nothing to decrease crime rates over the last three years. So many people in the courthouse and greater Guilford community are yearning for a District Attorney that works well with others and actually visits with community groups outside of election cycles. I have a lot of great ideas to combat violent crime, but I am also humble enough to admit that I don’t have every answer, because no single person does.

One answer is prioritizing violent offenses because dragging them out can lead to additional crimes being committed before a person is convicted in a trial many years later. One answer is trying to reduce recidivism by investing in our mental health and substance abuse specialty courts. One answer is partnering with community organizations such as “violence interruption” groups that mentor at-risk youth. One answer is better training and retaining staff who have been given the resources to be prepared to move cases more quickly. One answer is to be present in our schools and speak with faculty and social workers about what is happening in classrooms and identify ways to alleviate the schoolto-prison pipeline. The list goes on and on because there is no single answer to complex problems like violent crime. I am committed, however, to building relationships outside the courthouse to advocate for data-driven policy plans that actually make our community more safe, protect the rights of its residents, and restore the public’s faith that its leaders are committed to a better criminal justice system.

Guilford country board of commissioners at larGe The quesTions: Q1: If an incumbent, what have you done during your tenure as commissioner to improve life for county residents? If a challenger, what overall plans do you have to improve life for county residents?

Q2: What are the biggest challenges facing Guilford County in the few years?

Q3: The board has taken some heat for what some may call “underfunding” the county school system. With the current highlight on failing facilities and an emphasis on the upcoming school bond vote, what are your thoughts on the county’s contribution to the local school system?

A3: The needs of our children are just as important as our pandemic response-they are top-priority and deserve to be fully funded. The Board of Education and current commissioner board has made its case and the public should respond by showing up to vote in favor of the bond. I firmly believe that a 21stcentury education should be met with 21stcentury facilities.

Further, as a former GCS teacher I am truly concerned about teacher pay and classified employee pay. With GCS loosing talented teachers, administrators and service workers to neighboring counties, even across state lines, we need to revisit supplement incentives and advocate the legislature for additional funding.

Jerry branson ChallenGer - (r) jabranson4CounTyCommIssIoner.Com

Kay cashion InCumbenT - (d) kayCashIon.Com

No RespoNse by pRess time

GreG drumwriGht ChallenGer - (d) GreGdrumWrIGhT.Com A1: - My top priority is to GROW GUILFORD. I want to establish a stronger relationship with the school board to build better schools, I’m interested in working to expand home ownership opportunities, tackling mental health and homeless disparities, as well as addressing the workforce shortage that has primarily affected our young professionals we are seeking to retain in Guilford. I am also running to use my voice and vote to attract tech-innovation to our county.

A2: There are two major crises on the rise here: crime and housing insecurity.

The commissioners can lean into these matters through its work with the Sherriff and its influence upon the distribution of Emergency Assistance funds and infrastructure. Since my opponent started on the board 18 years ago, the issues have changed and it is time to have a fresh voice at the table to work for our families and the next generation that will be greatly affected if we don’t act more aggressively for change.

A1: From 2012-2020 when I was a representative on the Board of Commissioners, the Republican majority led board accomplished many projects such as a new animal shelter, a new emergency services facility, the Family Justice Center in High Point and Greensboro, and a new mental health facility for children, adolescents and adults. We also funded the schools more money every year I served on the board along with passing a 300 million dollar bond referendum. There were many more projects to numerous to list. I will continue to strive for economic development, jobs for the future generations and affordable housing.

A2: Providing citizens with a quality education and safe communities.

A3: You need to go back to 2006 when our current leadership was in control and look at the facts. Our current chairman at the time chose to freeze the budget and not increase the budget for our schools. It is very interesting how he is now an advocate for the most expensive bond referendum in the state of NC ever.

Our facilities maintenance with the school system is in dire need for competent leadership, which we are now lacking. These maintenance items that are in need of fixing should have been repaired and maintained through the years instead of being ignored and falling into disrepair.

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alvin robinson challenger - (r) alvinrobinsoncommissioner.com A1: My overall plan for improving life for residents of Guilford County involves my representing and leading residents according to truth and righteousness.

Truth and righteousness leads to the experience of true freedom and true liberty, both of which are rooted in upholding biblical principles in decision-making. My convictions about God, the Lord Jesus Christ, and about Christianity’s influence on the founding of America, of which Guilford County is included, will guide my decisions related to economic development, allocation of tax money, and other decisions I will be tasked with as Guilford County Commissioner - At Large. The only way our county will see true and lasting improvement in dayto-day practical matters is when we do things God’s way.

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord...”

Psalm 33:12 (English Standard Version Bible) A2: I believe one of the biggest challenges facing Guilford County in the next few years includes gaining public trust in governmental leadership. I will work to establish public trust by upholding a standard of accountability where I make regular contact with citizens, hearing their concerns, answering their questions, but most importantly facilitating educational programs based in biblical citizenship. This type of program will help citizens know and understand the role of government, and the role of citizens; that the government is employed by the citizens and that the citizens have a right and responsibility to be involved in everyday governmental decisions making processes.

A3: I believe that first and foremost it is the role of patents to educate their children. When parents take on this God-given responsibility, concern for corruption and misappropriation of funds will become less of an issue because naturally, the loving, devoted patents of the children will have the best interest of their children at heart before the interest of themselves. With that, under the present concerns related to the local school system and the County’s contribution to it, I believe the County needs to do everything statutorily possible to hold the school system accountable for YES! WEEKLY

May 11-17, 2022

monies already allotted to it before the County contributes anything more than the minimal needs of the school system until the school system has been straight forward honest about its use of public funds. Further, I oppose the $1.7 billion bond for supposed school upgrades.

Guilford county board of commissioners - district 2

Paul meinhart challenger - (d)

No RespoNse by pRess time

alan Perdue incumbent - (r) alanperdue.com

No RespoNse by pRess time

steve arnold challenger - (r)

No RespoNse by pRess time

Guilford county board of commissioners - district 3 The quesTions: Q1: if an incumbent, what have you done during your tenure as district attorney to improve life for county residents? if a challenger, what overall plans do you have to improve life for county residents?

Q2: What are the biggest challenges facing guilford county in the few years?

Q3: the board has taken some heat for what some may call “underfunding” the county school system. With the current highlight on failing facilities and an emphasis on the upcoming school bond vote, what are your thoughts on the county’s contribution to the local school system?

derek mobley challenger - (d) electmobley.com

A1: I will focus on high quality schools, competitive pay for teachers and first responders, controlling violent crime, and creating a supportive environment for responsible companies and small businesses. This means commissioners need to fund the replacement or repair of our public schools, pay salaries that keep high performing public employees, fully fund and staff law enforcement, and be seen as an enabler and not a barrier to our local business community. My back-to-basics approach will improve the quality of life for all of our residents and return Guilford County to a top tier status in North Carolina.

A2: Guilford County is facing an increase in violent crime and substance abuse, an underfunded school system, and a shortage of affordable housing among many other challenges. We need to ensure that our school system is preparing our students to take the jobs of the future that will be coming here. We also must ensure that our zoning and development policies support growth in housing that is affordable for different income levels across the county.

Finally, we must support law enforcement and mental health resources so that we can meet the more immediate challenges of violent crime and substance abuse.

A3: First, the voters must understand that the root cause of our underfunded school system is the North Carolina General Assembly. State funding for education is well below where it would be if our lottery proceeds were spent as initially advertised and the legislature complied with their mandate under the NC Constitution as they have been repeatedly ordered to do by the NC Supreme Court. Faced with the current reality, the Commissioners have a choice to either fill the gap with local funds or allow our facilities to fall into disrepair and our pay to become uncompetitive. For many years the board chose not to fill that gap because of its focus on revenue neutral tax rates. I believe this was a mistake, and I support the efforts of the current board to increase our contributions to the school system. It is more important now than ever with the learning loss that resulted from COVID that we get this right. Still, I would urge the voters to question and hold their state legislators accountable and to understand that there is no free lunch from the legislature when it comes to tax cuts and funding for schools.

GeorGe mcclellan challenger - (r)

georgemcclellannc.com

A1: I’m currently serving my third term on the Oak Ridge Town Council. I am the only candidate in this race who has voted on 10 municipal budgets without raising the property tax rate. I have also voted to lower taxes for families in Oak Ridge to put more money in their pockets. The responsible budgeting by the Oak Ridge Town Council has resulted in funding for sidewalks to make Oak Ridge more walkable, for Oak Ridge’s town park to improve family and community activities and to purchase land for what will become Heritage Farm Park.

I worked with County Commissioner Justin Conrad to bring the Mountains-to-Sea Trail through Oak Ridge. I also served as the town council liaison on the water advisory committee, where I led the opposition to the county’s $110 million water plan while helping to offer a responsible alternative and investing in a local water system for our town that is now under development.

I will bring to the Board of Commissioners the lessons that I have learned and the experience that I have developed over the last ten years on our Town Council.

A2: The biggest challenges is going to be keeping the property tax rate low and making our county business friendly. I will not vote for budgets that increase the tax rate and I will not vote for mandates that interfere with business ability to prosper and create new jobs.

A3: I will support school board budgets that are reasonable and follows the student.

dan suter challenger - (r) dansuter4commissioner.com No RespoNse by pRess time

Pat tillman challenger - (r)

No RespoNse by pRess time

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city of greensboro mayor The quesTions: Q1: What do you think the city’s biggest challenge is and what would you do to fix that?

Q2: Safety is a hot topic in the city, and with a retiring police chief, what are your plans towards public safety in Greensboro?

Q3: How do you plan to address the city’s disparities when it comes to housing and food insecurities?

nancy vaughan incumbent mayornancyvauGHan.com A1: I think our biggest challenge is actually our biggest opportunity. We recently had two megasite announcements. Each job is expected to generate an additional five supportive jobs. We planned for years how to be successful. I want the residents of Greensboro to be the recipients of those announcements. As part of the recruiting team we made sure that employment would focus on educating and upskilling our local workforce to successfully fill these jobs. Transportation will be an advantage because there will be concentrated areas of employment making mass transit more efficient. I have worked on these projects and I am the one to make sure that we benefit to the fullest.

A2: We must make sure that we are adequately staffed. To recruit the most qualified officers, and non-sworn support staff, we must insure that our wages and benefits are competitive. I will continue to make sure that GPD, GFD and GM911 are fully funded. I want a police chief that continues to implement progressive policies, which include community outreach, BHRT (Behavioral Health Resource Team, co-response model), civilian traffic enforcement, the Take Me Home Program, youth employment and homeless outreach.

A3: We need to implement and accelerate our 10-year housing plan. It outlines a roadmap to increase our housing stock and stabilize rental rates. The four pillars of HousingGso are: affordable rents, reinvesting in our neighborhoods, permanent supportive housing and a pathway to home ownership. On the July

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26, 2022 general election ballot there will be a $30M Affordable Housing Bond.

It is imperative that we pass it in order to implement this plan.

The Greensboro/High Point area has made strides in food security over the past few years. My goal is to make sure that we continue on that trajectory. The City can help by supporting projects like the Renaissance Co-op. While that particular location was not successful it may work in others. Community ownership with reasonable prices. The City has and will continue to supply “gap funding” for grocery stores located in food desserts.

Delivery and distribution will increase accessibility (especially for people who ride mass transit). Since COVID delivery of all products have increased there is no reason why that it can’t work with local fresh food. We will continue to our partnerships with organizations like Second Harvest Food Bank, Backpack Beginnings and local pantries.

justin outling cHallenGer voteoutlinG.com

A1: We are seeing cities across the country rapidly adapt to meet challenges and take advantage of new technology, new voices, and new ways of doing things.

But here in Greensboro we have fallen behind our peer cities across the state with widening gaps in poverty (19%), affordable housing (25% of housing units considered “cost burdened”), median household income (-26% to national), and violent crime (51% above national average) widen. Too often the mayor’s leadership on these issues has been to merely restate the problem or argue with the statistics. That isn’t good enough and I will be a different type of mayor.

One who inspires a new sense of transparency, inclusiveness, and compassion, which will lift all parts of the city and develop a consensus about what Greensboro can be. That starts with building trust between people, institutions, and government. This election is not about what we promise, but tangible differences you can see starting from Day One after this election.

A2: I reject the false choice between safer streets and common sense police reforms. Reducing crime starts with prevention through programs like summer jobs guarantee for young people in areas heavily impacted by crime, affordable housing and reductions in blight, and job

training. But we still must have intervention when crime occurs. That means reducing response times, filling vacant positions, and attracting and retaining good officers and recruits. Beyond that we have to bridge the gap in trust that often exists between law enforcement officers and the communities they serve.

That means we have to move beyond promising common sense reforms to acting on them. Finding the right person for the police chief’s job, who has a positive vision for a responsive and effective police department will be critical.

A3: We have to be more nimble in responding to the lack of affordable housing. That means using available state and federal resources and allocating more in bonds and federal ARP funds than we have. We also need to better leverage federal, state, and non-profit funding sources. In addition, simply being more focused on enforcing housing codes will have a positive impact.

We should also look at tax breaks to low-income homeowners so they can stay in their home in the wake of rising property tax evaluations. A key aspect of fighting food insecurities will be committing the resources to stabilize neighbors which will have the benefit of attracting businesses to those areas, in addition to continuing to seek out public/private partnerships to address food deserts.

eric robert cHallenGer fb paGe: eric robert 4 mayor No RespoNse by pRess time

mark cummings cHallenGer mark4mayorGSo.com

No RespoNse by pRess time

guilford county sheriff The quesTions: Q1: criminal reform has taken center stage the past few years. What measures would you enforce to ensure the safety of residents and the prisoners you house?

Q2: there have been calls to divest correctional facilities, stating that the funds could be used elsewhere in the communities that are served by the sheriff’s office. What are your thoughts on that?

Q3: Just like everywhere else, jails are overcrowded. Some of that is because they are being used for social issues such as mental health and homelessness. How would you work to combat that issue?

danny rogers incumbent - (d) dHroGerS4SHeriff.com

A1: To ensure the continued safety of the residents of Guilford County I would encourage Community Policing, Town Hall Meetings which helps to build trust between the citizens and law enforcement.

Continue to encourage Guilford County citizens to join the Sheriff’s Roundtable discussions. Continue to engage with the youth in our schools to promote a level of trust with law enforcement.

A2: I feel that it is necessary to provide adequate housing for individuals who are incarcerated. I do not feel that funds should taken away from the correctional facilities unless these funds are used to help rehabilitate those who are moving back into society.

A3: I feel that we need to go back to the legislature to make them aware of the fact that our correctional facilities are being used to house those with mental health problems when they need specialized medical treatment, which cannot be administered in a way that is needed for these type of issues. Our correctional facilities should be used for those individual who have committed crimes not those with mental health issues. We need more mental health professionals and/or counselors to be employed to assist in the health and well being of these individuals who suffer from mental illness. There is a higher risk for those who suffer mental May 11-17, 2022 YES! WEEKLY

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health illness when they are placed in a facility that is not equipped with proper staffing in this area of expertise. I feel that having the laws changed regarding those who should be placed in a correctional facility would also reduce the homeless population. I feel that we need additional outreaches for the homeless to assist them in getting the proper help and housing that is needed to assist them in becoming a productive citizen.

Therron j.

(T.j.) PhiPPs challenger - (d) phippsforsheriff.com A1: As sheriff I intend to pivot the agency to an evidence-based, prevention-focused, problem-solving oriented posture.

We will use the science of policing to direct our efforts in the most effective and efficient manner. In addition, we will focus our attention on those things we know help prevent crime from occurring in the first place. Lastly, we will make sure that our efforts are geared toward seeking solutions to problems. The sheriff is responsible for the care and custody of those housed in the detention centers.

That obligation requires frequent review and adherence to polices, procedures and practices that prevent inmate deaths, address inmate mental and physical health needs and reduce assaults on detention officers.

A2: The sheriff is responsible for being a good steward of taxpayer dollars by prioritizing and determining the most cost effective and efficient manner of service delivery. One of those services involves the operation of two (2) detention centers.

The sheriff derives his authority from the people who fund these services with taxpayer dollars. Although these services are necessary in order to keep the public safe from those who find it necessary to prey upon law abiding citizens, others who are not a serious threat to the public languish in detention based on their inability to pay to be free prior to their trial date. Those who advocate for criminal justice reform and restorative justice seek a better balance of the two within the system.

A3: The detention centers often house inmates who are unable to meet the conditions for pre-trial release, which includes making bail. If they’re unable to be released and are homeless and/or suffering from mental illness, being incarcerated is in no way a solution to the underlying problem. In many instances, incarceration YES! WEEKLY

May 11-17, 2022

exacerbates the problem and places a strain on understaffed detention officers and mental health professionals. I will advocate for services that identify and treat these conditions in lieu of incarceration where deemed appropriate.

juan monjaras challenger - (d) fb page: juan monjaras nc A1: - As sheriff of Guilford County I will address the trust issues by implementing a diversity equity manager. I will work with all the different law enforcement agencies in our County. I will bring the DA’s office, city councilman and women and office of the mayor to the table to implement new crime reduction policies. I will implement a crime repression team to help reduce crime within our community. A gang prevention youth program will be created to discourage the youth from joining a gang.

A C.I.T team (Crisis Intervention Team) will be put together to deal with all of our mental health calls. Under my administration, the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office will be a department accountable to the people.

A2: - Calls to defund the police are not the solution to all the current social issues going on in our society. We are living in times where police brutality and systemic racism put law enforcement agencies and their practices under scrutiny. I want to highlight a few of the most important reasons why it’s a bad idea. Many issues of police-involved violence occur because officers are not properly trained on when and how to use their equipment. Defunding the police hinders officer recruitment and retention. It takes away the resources that are needed to make sure officers are properly trained on things like deescalation techniques. Some examples of such techniques are using verbal as well as physical deterrents under specific circumstances. Lower police budgets mean fewer police officers keeping our communities and streets safe. Defunding the police places a greater strain on existing officers and increases the likelihood that they’ll quit or perform their jobs ineffectively because they’re burned out. it will ruin cities making them unsafe and unappealing causing people and businesses to leave. Let’s put into perspective that no other branch of government or social service agency can do the job in quite the same way. We can not allow violent and dangerous criminals to win.

A3: - It’s my opinion that The Guilford County jails should only be used to house violent criminals that pose a threat to our communities’ safety. The jails should never be used to house individuals suffering from mental health issues or homelessness. I will petition to all 99 Sheriffs in North Carolina to request the state to reopen mental health facilities to help combat those issues. The homelessness crisis needs to be addressed by the city leaders not by the sheriff’s office.

william (billy) queen challenger - (r)

billyqueenforsheriff.com

No RespoNse by pRess time

Phil byrd challenger - (r)

philbyrdforsheriff.com

A1: The first part of your question becomes a collaborative effort. We must work to reduce violent crime in our communities, as law enforcement professionals we must build trust with our citizens to communicate effectively to resolve gun violence. Proactive strategies must be developed and with our citizen partners to combat the growing violent gun crimes in our city. Trust will build the line of communications that will be necessary to act on information and be more preventive than reactive to crime. Citizens will be more in tune to help and work with law enforcement to build a safer city. I believe in investing in our youth at an early age to provide guidance and the discipline for them to choose a positive direction in life. Our money will be better spent investing in our youth early than to trying and repair their lives after becoming victims of circumstance. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, this is still as true of a statement as it was once written years ago. The second part to this question, safety of Inmates we house. We must address policies. Polices must reflect upon risk factors of inmates. The number of inmates must not exceed safe housing occupancy. Officer ratio to supervise inmates must be adequate to make sure inmates have the necessary protection themselves from attacks. We should always explore releases of inmates that do not pose a danger to the community and are of minor offenses. This will reduce

the unnecessary chances of an inmate be assaulted.

A2: Just to be clear, a County Jail is not a correctional facility. A jail is housing the Sheriff of a County is required by the NC Constitution to provide for persons awaiting court hearings or trials to guarantee the person will be in court, if they have not secured a Bond. Jails are NOT for punishment or for rehabilitation, NEVER should a jail be responsible for pretrial punishment. I support programs that are in the interest of inmates to receive if they are unable to bond out, or if they are under a no bond situation. I do believe the majority of “help” programs should be offered and monies spent outside the facility because of the temporary status of most inmates in a jail setting.

A3: The first issue we have are, NC does not provide Mental Health facilities as they once did. (Dorothy Dix, etc) We are finding ourselves dealing with a huge population of undiagnosed mentally ill individuals that are many times being passed on through the criminal justice system. The exact place they should NOT be. This is an ignored issue- With this being said, What do Sheriffs do when these individuals make it to the Jails? I believe we MUST have in-place, professionals to diagnose the individual’s mental capacity and if all possible provide services to these individuals immediately. The question will still revolve around housing these individuals once they are recognized. I will, if elected work diligently to address the mental health crisis we have ignored for so long in the legal system. Minor offenses should not be a reason to house someone in a jail setting. I will partner with other professional services for a solution.

adam moore challenger - (r)

adammooreforguilfordcountysheriff.com

No RespoNse by pRess time

randy Powers challenger - (r) randypowersforsheriff.com

No RespoNse by pRess time

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E.L. MELvin challenger - (r) melvinforsheriff.com

A1: We need to stop saying “reform” if we’re not attempting to any criminal reform! There are 3 things we need to focus on: A. Technical skills funding and training for inmates returning to the communities after serving their time. B. Community infiltration of law enforcement. Not to “police” the community, but to become a welcoming part of the community. C. Early Youth Intervention Programs that actually work.

A2: I am against that. The Sheriff needs to do a much better job with the funding he has. Throwing money at every problem with no tried and tested plan is an excuse in futility. We need to start programs on a small scale first to insure success before we move forward with tens of thousands of dollars. There’s a saying; “If you can bake a muffin, you can bake a cake”.

A3: In my opinion, jails should never be used for the sole purpose of providing shelter for homeless Individuals - Full stop! Further, locking up people with mental health issues is not the answer.

They need professional help, therapy, guidance and counseling. Putting them in jail and not addressing the underlying issue(s) is tantamount to putting a bandaid over a gunshot wound. It just doesn’t cure the problem.

wiLLiaM whitE challenger - (r)

williamwhiteforguilfordcountysheriff.com

No RespoNse by pRess time

www.yesweekly.coM

FORSYth COUntY CanDiDatES FORSYth COUntY CLERk OF COURtS The quesTions: Q1: what do you feel are the major issues in the county’s clerk’s office and how would you fix it?

Q2: what would you do to increase staff morale?

Q3: what would you do to increase customer service to the general public and lawyers?

DEniSE hinES incumbent denisehines.com

A1: The issues that existed when I entered the office in December 2020 have been resolved. The current concerns that I have as Clerk of Court are low paying salaries for our clerks and poor communication between judicial officials and judicial agencies. I have been advocating for assistant and deputy clerk pay increases with our Administrative Offices of the Courts since I became the Clerk.

As for communications between judicial officials and offices, I have communicated directly with many of our elected officials by email and in-person about our need for more inter-office and agency communication. I have also requested assistance from our state administrative office to mediate discussions that will help all parties involved understand the need for better communication.

A2: We work as a team here in the Forsyth County Clerk of Superior Courts Office. Our clerks have expressed that they experience less tension and workrelated stress because as a whole we know our jobs better, we work together within and across departments better and because cross-training has reduced the workload imbalance that’s created when clerks are out sick or on vacation.

Although we have a chain of authority, there are no restrictions that prevent clerks from bringing their concerns to me or to the supervising staff as a group.

Staff morale has increased because we have a dedicated team of clerks who

work together to increase our accountability to our community and to laws of the State of North Carolina.

A3: We are addressing customer service concerns through weekly in-house trainings where we discuss issues that may have occurred the previous week or new policies or laws that effect our current processes and procedures. I believe the best customer service comes clerks who are knowledgeable of their content area and who have confidence in their ability to resolve issues or concerns from the general public or from lawyers.

tina FLOwERS challenger electtinaflowers.com

A1: First, I believe there is low morale and general workplace dissatisfaction in the Forsyth County Clerk’s Office. Staff turnover is at 30%. True, Covid has created significant turmoil in our present economy. We have a labor shortage and labor skills deficit. Unfortunately, many experienced clerks have retired, were fired, or resigned. The loss of institutional knowledge has had a tremendous negative impact on the operation of the clerk’s office. I would focus my efforts on restoring staff workplace satisfaction and changing the culture of the office.

Furthermore, as deaths have increased, laws have changed, and as our county has grown, the types of cases that must be handled by the Clerk as the Ex Officio Judge of Probate are more complex. It is taking longer to settle estate matters. I understand the complexity of estate law, will drafting, and probate. I have assisted many clients with navigating various special proceedings including guardianships, adoptions, and name changes. I believe that my education and experience in accounting and administration better equip me to perform the duties of the job. I am an experienced accounting professional with an advanced accounting degree. I understand Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and Auditing Standards. I have experience supervising others and managing financial control systems. My goal is to use my unique set of qualifications and experiences to create a courthouse environment that is accessible, available, and accountable to the people.

A2: In an economy with a labor force deficit, a positive and healthy workplace

culture becomes essential to maintaining efficient operations. Employees must be appreciated and treated with respect.

Professionalism, courtesy, and support must be extended to all who work and serve in the Courthouse and citizens who enter the Courthouse. Training and staff development should be done within segments and measured with reasonable expectations. I would use my experience as an administrator and supervisor to bring vision and guidance to the courthouse. I know that workplace enjoyment and job satisfaction are primary reasons people stay with an employer. I will implement fair evaluation policies and procedures to establish such an environment. I am committed to properly developing and attracting qualified staff and reviving the culture of service.

A3: We need to make our courthouse more accessible to the community through enhanced technology. Covid has taught us that in-person-only options are not practical and disadvantage those who do not have flexible work schedules. In the past, we had a website managed by the clerk’s office that allowed for simple things, such as uploading reasons you needed excuse from jury service. The current Clerk took down that website. Those actions did not benefit the public.

We need a clear vision and unifying goal of providing excellent customer service to the community. When we make this our priority, then all decisions will be made with the community in mind. Furthermore, many people are unfamiliar with the functions of the Clerk of Superior Court. I will rely on my background as an educator and my work in the community to educate the public on various court services and to educate courthouse staff on available community resources. Courthouse staff may not be aware of some options and resources.

They are the first information source for the public. Ensuring that courthouse personnel are familiar with community resources will result in helpful information being shared.

Finally, there is a loss of collaborative engagement with local attorneys. As the only lawyer in this race, I understand civil procedure and the sanctity of the attorney-client relationship. Actions of the clerk’s office, like sending notices directly to an attorney’s clients, negatively impact the trust that those clients have in their retained counsel. When the clerks, who should operate as an unbiased party, take an adversarial position against the local bar, it creates tension.

I would work with the members of the local bar and other stakeholders May 11-17, 2022 YES! WEEKLY

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to develop a collaborative approach.

Regular case check-ins and assigning dedicated personnel to cases will reduce the amount of confusion and help to quickly resolve matters.

john snow challenger johnsnowclerk.com

A1: The most prominent issue facing our court system is a lack of communication between the Clerk’s office, the citizens of Forsyth County, and the multiple stakeholders and agencies within the community. Present leadership has created a culture of apprehension and concern among employees and stakeholders. That problem can be resolved with proactive, effective management.

Prior Clerks have utilized technology to share information through a locally maintained website. Reestablishing that website will be an immediate goal. Common sense discussions and exchange of ideas between interested parties will be encouraged.

A2: A competent, productive staff is the most important part of an efficient Clerk of Court office. Recently the turnover rate among employees is over 30 % and that includes some of the most experienced Assistant and Deputy Clerks.

These staff members are professional employees who have the knowledge, ability, and desire to serve the public.

They shouldn’t be forced to sign out for bathroom breaks or ordered to perform menial tasks like organizing recycled paper clips, and they should never be subjected to threatening and foul language. A Clerk that can return the sense of dignity and professionalism to the employees will be the highest priority.

A3: A fully staffed, competent, and helpful organization should the ultimate goal for the office of Clerk. Experienced and knowledgeable Assistant and Deputy Clerks must be retained, rehired, or developed within that office. Decreasing turnover and employee stress will immediately result in increased customer service. Many divisions of the office are highly specialized and require an experienced Assistant or Deputy clerk to manage the processes. Moving employees around the office under the guise of cross training, or simply to change the dynamic is simply poor management.

YES! WEEKLY

May 11-17, 2022

forsyth county commissioners at large

board of commissioners district a

shai woodbury

The quesTions:

The quesTions:

challenger shaI4dIstrIcta.com

Q1: If an incumbent, what have you done during your tenure as commissioner to improve life for county residents? If a challenger, what overall plans do you have to improve life for county residents?

Q1: If an incumbent, what have you done during your tenure as commissioner to improve life for county residents? If a challenger, what overall plans do you have to improve life for county residents?

Q2: what are the biggest challenges facing Forsyth county in the few years?

Q2: what are the biggest challenges facing Forsyth county in the few years?

ted kaplan

phil carter

Incumbent

challenger phIl4Forsyth.com

Statement sent: I have worked with my fellow county commissioners to address our most pressing needs. Just during COVID: - We delivered more than $30 million for vaccinations, masks and healthcare assistance.

- We provided $5 million for mortgage and utility assistance and allocated millions more for minority business support, at-risk student programs and for children of domestic violence.

-We funded nutritional programs and mental health and hospice patient assistance programs for those in need.

More broadly, each year, we invest more than $180 million for school facilities and significantly more for teacher supplemental pay. Forsyth County now offers the third highest teacher supplement pay in North Carolina.

This year we invested $65 million for Sheriff Kimbrough’s public safety programs including $3.5 million for our Juvenile Intervention Team and $1.5 million to send trained violence interrupters into our neighborhoods.

For my fellow veterans, we budgeted over $15 million for Veteran programs and facilities to serve those who have served us so well.

And we’ve done all this while lowering the tax rate year after year. Today, Forsyth County’s tax rate is the lowest it’s been in 10 years. Our future is looking great. Better Public and Mental Health programs will be implemented. Economic Developments have never been as strong.

We will continue to make Forsyth County a great place to live, raise children and provide good jobs. Join us....

A1: First, to meet with District A residents quarterly to hear from them directly. As taxpayers, and citizens they not only know what services are provided by the county that are beneficial to them, but also what services are not, and what services need improvement.

Beyond that, I also plan to ensure that taxation collection is fair and equitable, and that taxation allocation, along with the services and programs provided by the county enhances, and improves the quality of life and community for the citizens of District A. County employees, along with teachers, need to be retained and compensated appropriately. I plan to strongly advocate that citizens working in the private sector are given livable wages.

Finally, I will work to establish an office of immigration engagement to build relationships with our Hispanic community, as they are a valuable part of District A, like all citizens. Overall, we need everyday people directly involved in governance in order for it to work for them - everything I plan on doing will be with and for the residents of District A, as well as the greater Forsyth County.

A2: The challenges I see for Forsyth County now that will only become a larger problem if not immediately addressed are the lack of affordable housing, health and mental care services, the wealth gap, education in a safe environment, and ensuring that those incarcerated are treated with dignity and respect. This is why I am running for County Commissioner - we need bold advocates and solutions for our residents, and our residents deserve to be brought into their government.

A1: As a challenger, I believe that the county needs to make a bold investment in public education and youth empowerment. Thus, my campaign priorities are: Increase pay for all educators Provide Pre-K for all eligible children Restore juvenile justice A2: I believe the main issues that continue to plague Forsyth County primarily overburden the area known as District A, or historically where most African Americans and other diverse groups have lived. In this area we are the most uneducated, unhealthy, and unsafe. Overall some of the main specific challenges of Forsyth County are extreme concentrations of poverty, especially among juveniles, low reading literacy rates, lack of affordable housing, juvenile delinquency and violence, and a lack of diversity and inclusion in decision-making. If elected, I will advocate for an equitable distribution of resources and services for all citizens, especially those who live in District A. Vote Shai4DistrictA!

forsyth county board of education at large The quesTions: Q1: If an incumbent, what have you done during your tenure to improve the school system?

If a challenger, what overall plans do you have to improve the school system?

Q2: retention is a big issue after having had to learn via alternate ways for the past two years. what measures would or have you put in place to ensure students don’t experience too much academic loss?

allen daniel challenger - (r) danIelForschoolboardwsFcs.com A1: As a challenger, if elected, I would strive to fill all the open classroom educator positions, and the professional support positions. Far too many of our students do not have a licensed teacher

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in the classroom. There are far too many EC teacher and TA positions open; and our teachers do not have the support personnel available to allow them to focus on the actual education of our children.

In order to fill the open positions, we need to create a safe environment in which every educator and every student is respected; where educators and students are supported; and where educators have the time to teach.

A2: The answer to the first question is also the answer to this question. If all classroom educator positions and support professional positions are filled, class sizes will be reasonable, allowing classroom educators the time they need to assess where each child is, meet them where they are, and guide them to where they need to be.

In classrooms where all students are grade-level proficient, thirty students might not be totally unreasonable. In classrooms where many students are behind, or a few are far behind, we need to look at smaller class sizes. It is not humanly possible to differentiate the teaching of thirty students to the degree necessary to catch them up if they are as much as a year behind.

I would like to see the district move more and more towards standards-based grading, where a student does not move to the next standard until they have mastered the current standard. Not all children learn at the same pace. Not all children enter kindergarten with the same preparation.

K-3 need to be the grades in which children learn to love learning. They don’t need to be told they aren’t at “grade level”. By grade 4 or 5, every child should be able to read and retell what they read.

Every child should know their math facts: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division to 12. Those are the building blocks for all of learning. If by grade 5, they do not have that solid foundation, they will struggle for the next seven years, be frustrated, and, possibly, give up.

That is where we are now. Fully 50% of our students, in all grades, are below grade level. That means 50% of the students who receive a diploma do not really have a high school education. We must do better. The future of our community depends on it.

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FORSYTH COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION - DISTRICT 1

FORSYTH COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION - DISTRICT 2

THE QUESTIONS:

THE QUESTIONS:

Q1: If an incumbent, what have you done during your tenure to improve the school system?

If a challenger, what overall plans do you have to improve the school system?

Q1: If an incumbent, what have you done during your tenure to improve the school system?

If a challenger, what overall plans do you have to improve the school system?

Q2: Retention is a big issue after having had to learn via alternate ways for the past two years. What measures would or have you put in place to ensure students donʼt experience too much academic loss?

Q2: Retention is a big issue after having had to learn via alternate ways for the past two years. What measures would or have you put in place to ensure students donʼt experience too much academic loss?

ALEX BOHANNON INCUMBENT ALEXBOHANNON.COM

A1: “Since I joined the board of education last year, I focused my first few months on building relationships with my colleagues, because no single board member has the power to change anything.

You need the support of at least four others colleagues to make changes, so taking the time to build those relationships was extremely important. It’s been because of those relationships that we’ve been able to pass things such as an equitable spending plan for our 215 Million dollars of Federal Covid relief dollars, or a new code of conduct, character, and support that is trauma informed and integrates restorative practices. Lastly, as of January 1st I have served as Chair of our Policy Committee and in that role I pushed for us to pass a resolution encouraging our General Assembly to fund the Leandro Plan, so our schools can get the funding they need.”

A2: “Unfortunately, our data district wide shows that students have already experienced a tremendous amount of learning loss, particularly in the area of Math. What we can do moving forward is ensure fidelity in the instruction that students are receiving everyday in their classrooms. An example of what that might look like is ensuring that they have a consistent full time teacher throughout the year, as opposed to a long term sub.

What it does not look like, is an increase in pressure on teachers to make up that learning loss in a short period of time.

They already have so much on their plates. We have to ensure that they have the support they need.”

LIDA CALVERT HAYES INCUMBENT

LIDAFORSCHOOLBOARD.COM

I am seeking re-election to the WS/FCS BOE because I want to see our school system come back better than we were before the pandemic.

A1: I supported pay raises for our teachers, as well as classified workers such as bus drivers and cafeteria workers. · I have been involved in progressing the Bond, which allowed for the building of two (2) new schools and renovations/ additions to others. · Got funding approved for new technology in our schools. · Have addressed and worked to improve the traffic problems at various schools. · Worked to improve the 3rd grade reading. We kicked off reading programs in 17 elementary schools. · Supported the creation of a new practice field for RJ Reynolds High School. · Supported increasing school safety and adding additional resource officers at many schools in the area. · Worked to improve drop-out rates in schools. · Have advocated for a Parent’s right to choose. · Have visited numerous schools and discussed problems, concerns and possible solutions to issues with Principals and teachers. · Worked in support of the quarter cent sales tax which provided supplements/ bonuses for our teachers. This supplement put our teachers in the top 4 in NC for supplements. · Worked with the community in the

purchasing of land for the new Ashley School. · Attended many training sessions to help me perform my duties as a School Board member to the best of my ability.

2) What Measures would or have you put in place to ensure students don’t experience too much academic loss?

A2: First and foremost, we need to keep our kids in school and in-person learning is critical to their success.

To ensure our students retain and recover learning loss due to Covid, we have implemented the following programs: · Various summer school sites that will enforce current standards, help recover learning loss and continue to support our students and families. · We are hosting our first exploratory CTE camp. This will be for middle school and high school students interested in learning more about skilled trades and technology in the workforce. I am a big proponent of trade schools. · I believe our district should spend funds on such things as literacy coaches, graduation coaches, after-school programs and more. I want to retain and reward our teachers for their hard work and engage parents to stay actively involved in helping students with their homework and ensuring they stay in school. It is a collective effort. I believe we all need to pull together on behalf of our community and kids.

If you don’t see a particular candidate or race in this list, check yesweekly.com !

MAY 11-17, 2022 YES! WEEKLY

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tunes

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HEAR IT!

Triad concert series come into bloom

A

s spring unfolds and days get longer, those looking to fill the hours with music don’t have to look far across the Triad as spring and summer concert Katei Cranford series come into bloom — most of which are free thanks Contributor to city organizations and sponsors.

In Greensboro, Revolution Mills is hosting “Stacks at the Tracks” Thursday evenings through May. Evan Blackerby will perform on May 12; Dylan Smith with Jessica Yates on May 19; and Ben Singer on May 26. Down the road in downtown, Joymongers will kick off their Saturday “Summer Concert Series,” with Carri & the Good Watts on May 14; Maia Kamil and Friends is scheduled for May 28.

Weekday delights pour from the new Lawn Service spot by Little Brother Brew-

ing, who’ve partnered with Greensboro Downtown Parks to present “Music in a Bottle” on Wednesday evenings. Meanwhile, the Friday “Tunes@Noon” season returns to Market Square at LeBauer Park, with live music and food trucks spicing up lunch hours, through October. The May lineup includes: SunSp.t on May 13, Folk-

knot on May 20, and Jeff Tucker on May 27. Running a bit further in the evening (and further south down Elm St.) the “First Friday Night Live” concert season makes its comeback, with the Fritz slated for June 6.

Also returning is the City Sunsets Series, Saturdays, in Center City Park. June artists

include: Alter Egos Band, Wake Moody, Gregory Amos, and Gooseberry Jam. July features Drew Foust, Abigail Dowd, The Grand Ole Uproar, PureFiyah Reggae Band, and Ashley Virginia. August will see SunQueen Kelcey & The Soular Flares, Casey Noel, DJ MikeWawa and Geigespazz, and MoSoul.

Over in Winston-Salem, Incendiary Brewing’s CoalPitLive season starts on

Small Business Spotlight

Listen every Sunday at 9 AM for WTOB’s Small Business Spotlight.

Hosted by Josh Schuminsky, you will learn about the many small, locally-owned businesses in the Winston-Salem area.

MAY 15 Tommy Priest - Coffee Park Airstream Brian DeAngelis - Winston-Salem Dash GM THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

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MAY 11-17, 2022

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May 28th with the Eric Gales Band and Marvelous Funkshun.

For smaller city vibes, the Oak Ridge “Music in the Park” monthly series will run every second Saturday at the Oak Ridge Town Park Amphitheater. Starting May 14 with the Nathan Ward Band; Never Too Late is scheduled for June 11; Barefoot Modern and the Ghosts of Liberty on July 9; 80z Nation on August 13; and Twin County Ramblers and the Robertson Boys on October 8.

80z Nation will also make an appearance (as the season closer on October 7) for Jamestown’s “Music in the Park” series.

Running every first Friday at Wrenn Miller Park, with food trucks and beverages from Four Saints Brewing Company. Musical artists include: the Ryan Perry Band on June 3, the Special Occasion Band on July 1, and Radio Revolver on September 2. A special “National Night Out” edition on Tuesday, August 2, will feature AM rOdeO. Four Saints’ hometown of Asheboro has partnered with Downtown Asheboro, Inc. to present DAI’s inaugural “Rock’n the Park Friday Nights” series at Bicentennial Park. Featuring a two-artist lineup, mixing cover bands and original acts, the series kicks off on May 20 with Stephanie Quayle and Casey Noel. Live Wire (an AC/DC Tribute) and Joey Whitaker will perform on June 10; Rumours ATL (a Fleetwood Mac experience) and Trouvaille on July 15;

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and Who’s Bad (a Michael Jackson cover) and Marvelous Funkshun will wind down the season on August 5.

The City of Asheboro’s “Summer Concert Series” will also make a return, Sunday evenings at Bicentennial Park, starting on May 15 with East Coast Rhythm and Blues; Sand Band will appear on June 5; Envision on June 19; Gary Lowder & Smokin’ Hot on July 10; The Castaways on July 24; and Mason Lovette on August 21. A Labor Day special show with Cat5 Band will close the series on Monday, September 5.

From free shows in Randolph County to ticketed events for Randolph County, the first installment of the 2022 Jimmy-June Concert series (May 21 at the Ramkat in Winston-Salem) will benefit the Randolph County Family Crisis Center. The bill pairs the alt-country outfit American Aquarium with special guests Time Sawyer and Sam Foster and the Obsolete.

Also at the Ramkat, the Summer Music Shindihg returns with Robert Earl Keen on June 4, Los Lobos on July 22, and Shovels & Rope on August 10.

Down the road, the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds is partnering with WBRF Classic Country for the indoor Classic Country Concert Series at the Annex Theatre, running May 21 - August 27. The series will host Rodney Atkins, Ricky Skaggs, Aaron Tippin, Sammy Kershaw, Collin Raye, Wynonna with Big Noise, Little Texas with

Crawford & Power; and an evening with Charlie Wilson and The B.B. King Experience featuring Claudette King.

In Greensboro, Colin Cutler will present the “East of Nashville Songwriters in the Round” series at the Crown above the Carolina Theatre. The first installment, on May 22, will feature Cutler along with David Childers and Billie Feather.

Emanuel Wynter, Momma Molasses, and Matty Sheets will appear on June 19; Jamie Collins, Justin Reid, and Walking Medicine on July 17; Aaron Pants, Laura Jane Vincent and Maia Kamil on August

21; and catherine the great, Sam Foster, and Sunqueen Kelcey on September 25.

As spring heats up, the concerts keep coming. Be on the lookout for the return of the Winston-Salem Downtown Summer Music Series, High Point’s “Rock the Point,” and Greensboro’s “Music for a Sunday Evening in the Park,” all of which have yet to announce lineups.

Happy spring, Triad music lovers! Hope to see you out there! !

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

WINSTON DUKE AUGUST 26

JOSHUA BELL OCTOBER 3

SHAUN LEONARDO OCTOBER 13

URBAN BUSH WOMEN OCTOBER 14

INDIGO GIRLS WITH THE GREENSBORO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

JANUARY 13

SERAPH BRASS MARCH 24

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YEAR A N N I V E R S A RY

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For tickets visit UCLS.UNCG.EDU

MAY 11-17, 2022 YES! WEEKLY

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Submissions should be sent to artdirector@yesweekly.com by Friday at 5 p.m., prior to the week’s publication.

Visit yesweekly.com and click on calendar to list your event online. home grown music scene | Compiled by Austin Kindley

ASHEBORO

Four Saints Brewing

218 South Fayetteville St. | 336.610.3722 www.foursaintsbrewing.com Thursdays: Taproom Trivia Fridays: Music Bingo May 14: Caeland Garner May 15: Honky Tonk Jam w/ Mark Dillon & Friends May 21: Creatio Jun 4: William Nesmith

Charlotte

Bojangles Coliseum

2700 E Independence Blvd | 704.372.3600 www.boplex.com May 15: Kountry Wayne May 29: Dean Cole Jun 1: Bonnie Raitt

CMCU Amphitheatre

former Uptown Amphitheatre 820 Hamilton St | 704.549.5555 www.livenation.com May 16: Leon Bridges Jun 5: Barenaked Ladies Jun 8: Russ Jun 9: Ben Rector Jun 10: Flogging Molly & The Interrupters Jun 14: The War on Drugs Jun 16: Maren Morris Jun 17: Cody Johnson & Friends

The Fillmore

1000 NC Music Factory Blvd | 704.916.8970 www.livenation.com May 11: The Carousel tour ft Anthony Green, Laura Jane Grance, and Tim Kasher May 14: The Dead South May 14: Dean Lewis May 15: NLE Choppa May 18: Clutch May 19: The HU May 19: keshi May 20: Poppy May 21: Stunna 4 Vegas May 23: Wage War May 24: Orville Peck May 28: T-Pain May 29: Wallows May 31: Bright Eyes Jun 1: Jesse McCartney Jun 3: Lil Xan Jun 4: Chvrches Jun 5: GWAR

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May 11-17, 2022

PNC Music Pavilion

707 Pavilion Blvd | 704.549.1292 www.livenation.com May 12: Tim McGraw May 20: Dave Matthews Band

Spectrum Center

333 E Trade St | 704.688.9000 www.spectrumcentercharlotte.com May 18: J Balvin Jun 16: Ana Gabriel Jun 21: Machine Gun Kelly Jun 24: James Taylor Jul 12: New Kids On The Block

clemmons

Village Square Tap House

6000 Meadowbrook Mall Ct | 336.448.5330 www.vstaphouse.com | www.facebook. com/vstaphouse May 13: Whiskey Mic Jun 2: JVC w/ Stewart Coley

durham

Carolina Theatre

309 W Morgan St | 919.560.3030 www.carolinatheatre.org May 11: Joe Jackson May 14: Leonid & Friends May 25: Béla Fleck Jun 3: Robert Earl Keen Jun 4: Ray LaMontagne Jun 5: Empower Experience Jun 9: Happy Together Tour

DPAC

123 Vivian St | 919.680.2787 www.dpacnc.com May 11: Triangle Rising Stars May 12: Get The Led Out May 17-Jun 5: HAMILTON Jun 7: Bonnie Raitt Jun 8: Chris Rock Jun 10: Jo Koy Jun 11: Chelsea Handler Jun 14-19: Jesus Christ Superstar Jun 22 : Puscifer

ELKIN

Reeves Theater

129 W Main St | 336.258.8240 www.reevestheater.com Fourth Thursdays: Old-Time Jam May 13: Bill & The Belles May 27: Jeff Little Trio May 28: Reeves House Band

greensboro

Arizona Pete’s

2900 Patterson St #A | 336.632.9889 www.arizonapetes.com May 24: After The Burial & Thy Art Is Murder w/ Currents & Brand Of Sacrifice

Barn Dinner Theatre 120 Stage Coach Tr. | 336.292.2211 www.barndinner.com Apr 9-May 7: Crowns Mar 14-Jun 25: Groovin’ Jul 8-Aug 6: Soul Sistas

Baxter’s Tavern

Greensboro Coliseum 1921 W Gate City Blvd | 336.373.7400 www.greensborocoliseum.com May 21: Banda MS May 27: Erykah Badu & Friends Jun 8: Chris Tomlin Jun 11: Keith Sweat, Monica, Tevin Campbell, Tamar Braxton, Silk Jun 24: Hank Williams Jr. Sep 10: Alan Jackson

Little Brother Brewing

348 South Elm St | 336.510.9678 www.facebook.com/littlebrotherbrew May 20: Stray Local

536 Farragut St | 336.808.5837 www.baxterstavern.com Jun 4: Southern Sounds Band Jun 18: Shoot To Thrill Jul 2: High Fidelity Jul 3: Cory Luetjen & The Traveling Blyes Band Jul 10: The Pink Slips Jul 15: Spindle 45 Jul 16: Killing Fiction

Piedmont Hall

Carolina Theatre

South End Brewing Co.

310 S. Greene Street | 336.333.2605 www.carolinatheatre.com May 15: Dori Freeman May 19: Chelcie Lynn May 20: Drew Shamir: The CLRTHRY May 21: Colin Cutler May 22: Songwriters in the Round in the Crown Jun 4-5: Spring Concerts 2022 Jun 9: JJ Grey & Mofro Jun 17: Shrek The Musical

Comedy Zone

1126 S Holden Rd | 336.333.1034 www.thecomedyzone.com May 12: Ca$h-Out Comedy May 13-15: Comedian CP May 20-22: Lavar Walker May 27-29: Benji Brown Jun 10-12: Ryan Davis Jun 17-18: James Murray Jun 24-26: Luenell Jul 12: Pauly Shore

Flat Iron

221 Summit Ave | 336.501.3967 www.flatirongso.com May 14: Royal Jelly May 20: Justin Cody Fox Jun 2: 2nd Today Jun 3: Tyler Meacham Jun 4: Chuck Mountain

2411 W Gate City Blvd | 336.373.7400 www.greensborocoliseum.com May 21: Asking Alexandria w/ Atreyu

Rody’s Tavern

5105 Michaux Rd | 336.282.0950 www.rodystavern.com May 25: SoundKraft 117B W Lewis St | 336.285.6406 www.southendbrewing.com Tuesdays: Trivia Night May 12: Tony & Katy Jun 4: Jon Ward Beyle Band Jul 14: Decades

Steven Tanger Center

300 N Elm Street | 336.333.6500 www.tangercenter.com May 17: Rita Moreno May 20: Chicago May 21: Kenny G Jun 8: Bonnie Raitt Jul 5: The Masked Singer Jul 7: Vince Gill Jul 23: Jeezy & K. Michelle Aug 5: Southern Soul Summer Explosion

The Idiot Box Comedy Club

503 N. Greene St | 336.274.2699 www.idiotboxers.com May 21: Mo Alexander Jun 4: Kevin McCaffrey

White Oak Ampitheatre

1921 W Gate City Blvd | 336.373.7400 www.greensborocoliseum.com May 25: The Smashing Pumpkins

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high point

AftEr HourS tAvErn

1614 N Main St | 336.883.4113 www.facebook.com/AfterHoursTavernHighPoint Jul 9: Living temptation

GoofY foot tAproom 2762 NC-68 #109 | 336.307.2567 www.goofyfoottaproom.com may 21: the Williamsons may 28: michael Chaney music

HAm’S pALLAdium

5840 Samet Dr | 336.887.2434 www.hamsrestaurants.com may 14: Stephen Legree Band may 21: Huckleberry Shyne may 28: Stereo doll

HiGH point tHEAtrE

220 E Commerce Ave | 336.883.3401 www.highpointtheatre.com may 13-14: Celtic Legends may 15: raleigh ringers may 21-28: recital 2022

SWEEt oLd BiLL’S

1232 N Main St | 336.807.1476 www.sweetoldbills.com may 12: Chris Sheppard may 19: Banjo Earth may 26: michael and the pentecost

jamestown

tHE dECk

118 E Main St | 336.207.1999 www.thedeckatrivertwist.com may 12: Ethan Smith may 13: patrick rock may 14: Stereo doll may 20: Big City may 21: radio revolver may 26: renae paige may 27: 7 roads

kernersville

BrEAtHE CoCktAiL LounGE

221 N Main St. | 336.497.4822 www.facebook.com/BreatheCocktailLounge Wednesdays: karaoke fridays: dJ may 11: dJ mike Lawson may 12: Eli fribush Experience may 12: dJ mike Lawson

kErnErSviLLE BrEWinG CompAnY 221 N Main St. | 336.816.7283 kernersvillebrewing.com thursdays: trivia

Mwww.yesweekly.coM

may 22: Brews-A-palooza Jun 11: taylor mason

lewisville

oLd niCk’S puB

191 Lowes Foods Dr | 336.747.3059 www.OldNicksPubNC.com fridays: karaoke Jun 18: Carolina pines

liberty

tHE LiBErtY SHoWCASE tHEAtEr

101 S. Fayetteville St | 336.622.3844 www.TheLibertyShowcase.com Aug 13: dailey & vincent Aug 20: Gene Watson

raleigh

CCu muSiC pArk At WALnut CrEEk

3801 Rock Quarry Rd | 919.821.4111 www.livenation.com may 17: kiSS may 21: tim mcGraw may 24: the Lumineers Jun 3: morgan Wallen Jun 10: maverick City music x kirk franklin Jun 11: the doobie Brothers Jun 18: kid rock w/ Grand funk railroad Jun 25: Backstreet Boys Jul 1: train

LinCoLn tHEAtrE

126 E. Cabarrus St | 919.831.6400 www.lincolntheatre.com may 11: Lucius w/ Celisse may 12: Jantsen w/ Space Wizard, Superave may 13: Aly & AJ may 14: nightrain - Guns n’ roses tribute may 15: tray Wellington Band w/ Sunny miles (Solo) may 19: ray Wylie Hubbard may 20: Joe Hero may 21: the Band of Heathens w/ reed foehl may 22: kidd G w/ robyn ottolini may 27: Bring out Yer dead Jun 3: Jupiter Coyote Jun 4: Buried Alive & moon Water Jun 10: marauda Jun 11: Abby road

rEd HAt AmpHitHEAtEr 500 S McDowell St | 919.996.8800 www.redhatamphitheater.com may 16: rex orange County Jun 4: parker mcCollum Jun 9: maren morris w/ Brent Cobb Jun 10: Ben rector

LIVE MUSIC THIS WEEK Thursday 5/12

Joe Dowdy Trio | 6pm | Fords Food Mall DJ Fish | 7pm | Mayfair Club

Friday 5/13

Chris Joyner | 6pm | JL Caspers Papa Soul | 6pm | Fords Food Hall DJ Fish | 10pm | Foods Food Hall

Saturday 5/14

Phil ray | 2pm | Mayfair Club Chris Joyner | 6pm | JL Caspers The Rockers | 6pm | Fords Food Hall DJ RichyB | 7pm | The Mayfair Club DJSK101 | 10pm | Fords Food Hall

Sunday 5/15

Gypsy Should | 3pm | Fords Food Hall Phil ray | 6pm | JL Caspers DJ Fish | 7pm | Mayfair Club Uptown Dueling Pianos | 8pm | Fords Food Hall

Monday 5/16

DJ Fish | 2pm | Mayfair Club

Britishmania: ROOFTOP SHOW

Friday, 5/20 | Doors @ 4pm | Show @ 6pm

Britishmania: ROAR BRANDS THEATRE Friday, 5/20 | Doors @ 8pm | Show @ 9pm Saturday, 5/21 | Doors @ 3pm | Show @ 4pm

633 North Liberty Street | Winston-Salem, NC 27101 www.roarws.com | www.roarbrandstheater.com May 11-17, 2022

YES! WEEKLY

21

Jun 11: Rebelution Good Vibes Summer Tour 22 w/ JP Saxe, Jordy Searcy, & Stephen Day Jun 12: Flume w/ Tinashe and Jim-E Stack Jun 13: The War On Drugs w/ Lo Moon Jun 14: Belle & Sebastian and Japanese Breakfast w/ Los Bitchos Jun 15: GOOSE Jun 16: Cody Johnson Jul 21: Flogging Molly w/ The Interrupters, Tiger Army, The Skints Jun 24: H.E.R.

PNC ARENA

1400 Edwards Mill Rd | 919.861.2300 www.thepncarena.com May 16: Casting Crowns, We The Kingdom Mar 22: John Mulaney Jun 22: Machine Gun Kelly w/ Avril Lavigne & Iann Dior Jun 25: James Taylor Jul 22: New Kids On The Block Jul 23: Shawn Mendes w/ Dermot Kennedy Jul 31: Rage Against The Machine w/ Run The Jewels Aug 18: Roger Waters Aug 20: Kevin Hart Aug 26: My Chemical Romance w/ Turnstile & Soul Glo

WINSTON-SALEM

BULL’S TAVERN

408 West 4th St | 336.331.3431 www.bullswsnc.com Wednesdays: Karaoke May 20: Sun Dried Vibes May 28: Pure Fiyah Jul 2: Viva La Muerte

EARL’S

121 West 9th Street | 336.448.0018 www.earlsws.com May 12: Will Jones May 13: Ashes & Arrows May 14: Megan Doss Band May 20: Jonathan Parker Band May 21: Drew Foust Band May 27: Alton Douglas Band May 28: Time Bandits

FIDDLIN’ FISH BREWING COMPANY 772 Trade St | 336.999.8945 www.fiddlinfish.com May 12: Jessie Dunks May 27: Camel City Blues Jun 3: Pat Bourque

FOOTHILLS BREWING 638 W 4th St | 336.777.3348 www.foothillsbrewing.com May 15: Sunday Jazz

MIDWAY MUSIC HALL

11141 Old US Hwy 52, Suite 10 | 336.793.4218 www.facebook.com/midwaymusichallandeventcenter Mondays: Line Dancing w/ Denise May 13: Brett Tolley and Friends May 14: Lacey Key May 14: Jimmy Shirley Jr. & The 8 Track 45 Band May 20: Jimmy Shirley Jr. & The 8 Track 45 Band May 21: Diamond Edge Cover

MUDDY CREEK CAFE & MUSIC HALL

137 West St | 336.201.5182 www.muddycreekcafeandmusichall.com Thursdays: Open Mic Night w/ Country Dan Collins Jun 18: Muddy Creek Band

THE RAMKAT

170 W 9th St | 336.754.9714 www.theramkat.com May 12: Spirit System, Irata, Petrov

May 13: Tyler Nail, His & Hers May 14: Stryper, The Fifth May 17: Five Tone Faces, Secret Monkey Weekend May 18: John 5, Written in Gray May 19: Dai Cheri, Toothsome May 21: American Aquarium, Time Sawyer, Sam Foster & The Obsolete May 28: Old Heavy Hands, Crenshaw Pentecostal Jun 1: Bombino Jun 2: Dirty Logic - Steely Dan Tribute Jun 3: Them Pants, It’s Snakes Jun 4: Robert Earl Keen Jun 11: Smyle Band Reunion Jun 16: Will Easter & The Nomads, Migrant Birds

WINSTON-SALEM FAIRGROUND

421 W 27th St | 336.727.2236 www.wsfairgrounds.com May 19-20: Classic Country Concert Jun 17: Classic Country Concert

WISE MAN BREWING

826 Angelo Bros Ave | 336.725.0008 www.wisemanbrewing.com Thursdays: Music Bingo Jul 16: Love & Valor

BreAthe Cocktail Lounge FollY's Draft & Snack Kernersville Brewing Co

Downtown K'ville

Hippie Hop May 14, 5-8pm

Dress in your grooviest hippie Threads

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Door Prizes * Give-aways Plus

Each bar will be giving away

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last call

[THE ADVICE GODDESS] love • sex • dating • marriage • questions

GIRL-ON-GIRL INACTION

I hate to be trite, but my wife and I are experiencing “lesbian bed death.” We’ve been happily married for three years. I’m not sure why we’re not having sex. Sure, Amy Alkon we’re both busy, but it’s more a question Advice of just not ever feelGoddess ing the urge. I know sex is important for a relationship, and I’m worried. Is there a way to reboot our sex life? — Bedfriends It’s understandably depressing if the only time there’s heavy breathing in the bedroom is when you’re re-enacting WrestleMania XXV — that is, trying to get the duvet cover on.

This doesn’t mean you should buy into the lesbo-bashing notion of “lesbian bed death” — the myth that lesbian relationships, in particular, are where sex goes to die. The term traces back to a finding from social psychologist Phillip Blumstein and sociologist Pepper Schwartz, published in their 1983 book, “American Couples: Money, Work, Sex.” Blumstein and Schwartz, reviewing results from their survey of 12,000 American couples, announced that lesbians in relationships “have sex less frequently by far than any other type of couple.”

This single survey led to decades of sneering about lesbian relationships as the province of hot hand-holding.

However, psychologist Suzanne Iasenza

notes that a bunch of subsequent studies found that lesbians tend to be more sexually assertive and sexually satisfied than straight ladies — as well as less orgasmchallenged. (Helps when you know your way around the ladyparts without needing a two-hour lecture and a female anatomy PowerPoint.)

The reality is, so-called lesbian bed death actually happens to heterosexual women — once they get into relationships.

In other words, the real issue is not being a lesbian but being a woman in a long-term partnership — and the assumption that male sexual response, driven by spontaneously occurring lust, should be considered the norm for women.

Sex researcher Rosemary Basson, M.D., finds that when a relationship is brandnew or when women are apart from their partners for days or weeks, they’re likely to experience the “spontaneous sexual hunger” that men tend to have. However, once a relationship has been going for a while, women’s sexual desire becomes “responsive.” It isn’t gone. It’s “triggerable” — which is to say it’s hibernating until somebody wakes it up with a little makey-outey.

This, however, brings us to another problem. Chances are, a reason that straight couples might have more sex is that men — driven by that spontaneous lust — are more likely to initiate. You and your wife need to initiate — and maybe even schedule sex dates so initiating doesn’t become yet another thing that falls off your to-do list. Eventually, when you light a bunch of candles to set the mood, your wife’s response should be something a little more erotic than “You gotta be kidding me.

Another squirrel fried on the power line?”

answers [CROSSWORD] crossword on page 9

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FOR WHOM THE CELL TOLLS

I’m addicted to my phone — Twitter, Instagram, news, texts...you name it. My girlfriend feels disrespected and unheard when I look at it while she’s talking, but I can’t seem to stop. Please help me out before I lose the woman I love! — Addicted If your smartphone were actually smart, it would ping you to listen to your girlfriend before she’s your ex-girlfriend trash-talking you in a bar.

Instead, smartphones and apps turn us into lab rats ferociously hitting the touch screen for another hit of techno-crack.

They do this through what psychologists call “intermittent reinforcement” — “rewards” that come randomly and unpredictably. Checking your phone sometimes “rewards” you with a new message or newsbit — sometimes (or even often), but not always. When “rewards” come regularly and reliably — like when a rat pushes a bar and gets a food pellet every time — the rat chills out and only presses when, say, his stomach rings the dinner bell. Unpredictable rewards, on the other hand — only sometimes getting a hit — drive the rats to pump the bar incessantly, sometimes even

till the little fellers go claws up.

However, there is hope for you — and your relationship — thanks to research on habit formation (by psychologist Phillippa Lally, among others). Repeatedly behaving differently when your girlfriend’s talking to you — by turning your phone totally off and, if possible, relocating it to another room — can eventually change your default behavior from robotically checking your phone to attentiveness to those important to you.

In time, you might expand your attentiveness into other areas of your life.

A good test for whether it’s okay to be all up in your phone is swapping in its lowtech counterpart. For example, when the highway patrolman strides over and taps on your car window, is that really the best time to pick up that Stephen King novel and read the end of Chapter 4? !

GOT A PROBLEM? Write Amy Alkon, 171 Pier Ave., #280, Santa Monica, CA 90405, or email AdviceAmy@aol.com (www.advicegoddess.com). Follow her on Twitter @amyalkon. Order her latest “science-help” book, Unf*ckology: A Field Guide to Living with Guts and Confidence. ©2022 Amy Alkon. Distributed by Creators.Com.

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