YES! Weekly - November 17, 2021 by YES! Weekly

KING of the RING

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NOVEMBER 17-23, 2021 VOLUME 17, NUMBER 46

12 5500 Adams Farm Lane Suite 204 Greensboro, NC 27407 Office 336-316-1231 Fax 336-316-1930

KING OF THE RING

Publisher CHARLES A. WOMACK III publisher@yesweekly.com

Life in the United States came as a huge culture shock for THEO RLAYANG, who only knew but a few words of English at the time. “Not only were we provided with language classes to better adjust but were given housing. We all resettled near each other, so we were able to build our own tight-knit community that reminded us of home,” Rayland said. While Rlayang was adjusting to a new life in the States, it wasn’t until middle school that he discovered a newfound passion for mixed martial arts.

EDITORIAL Editor CHANEL DAVIS chanel@yesweekly.com YES! Writers IAN MCDOWELL MARK BURGER KATEI CRANFORD

JIM LONGWORTH

JESSICA CLIFFORD NAIMA SAID PRODUCTION Graphic Designers ALEX FARMER designer@yesweekly.com AUSTIN KINDLEY artdirector@yesweekly.com

Last month, I provided a guide to res-

taurants located near Tanger Center. In this column, we will look at Tanger’s own event enhancements, especially the pre-theater DINNER BUFFET. I attended the buffet last week before Beautiful, The Carole King Musical.

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The Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (SECCA) is proud to present Black@Intersection: Contemporary Black Voices in Art, a SPECIAL EXHIBITION with guest curator Duane Cyrus, coming to SECCA this month. 7 The RiverRun International Film Festival’s VIRTUAL THEATER is currently presenting the award-winning documentary Theirs is the Kingdom, which will be available through Nov. 29th. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased online at https://riverrunfilm.com/. 8 North Carolina Superior Court Judge has issued an unusual order which appears to PUBLICLY REBUKE Guilford County District Attorney Avery Crump for the number of pending murder cases currently stalled in the courts.

In his feature debut, writer/producer/ editor/director D.M. Cunningham takes a page — or two — from the COVID-19 pandemic to fashion a grisly, gory ecological shocker that’s timelier than most films of its ilk. 14 “We just want you to have our back, but feel that ya’ll ain’t there for us,” said city utility worker Chris Yardley at the November 1 meeting of Greensboro City Council. “THIS IS A CRY FOR HELP, and we just want you to hear us.” 15 A Winston-Salem based organization is looking for help from the community at large to assist the most marginalized sectors in its surrounding area. H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Everywhere) Dealers Outreach is currently collecting items for its annual Thanksgiving Drive. 18 For co-founder, and Winston bluesman, Ed Bumgardner, motivation for the project came simple, ALBEIT HEAVY. “After the deaths of too many musician friends to suicide and substance abuse, it became impossible to not try and use the positive force of music to enforce some sort of change.”

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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 2021 Womack Newspapers, Inc.

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Tanger Center pre-theater dining

BY JOHN BATCHELOR

ast month, I provided a guide to restaurants located near Tanger Center. In this column, we will look at Tanger’s own event enhancements, especially the pre-theater dinner buffet. I attended the buffet last week before Beautiful, The Carole King Musical. VIP parking costs $25. If you want to avoid a walk, that’s only $15 more than the city garages are charging. Lobby bars provide drinks and light foods — sandwich packs and such. The Lee and Wrangler Lounge is a private bar on the third floor. Purchase access in conjunction with your event ticket. Drinks and light snacks are available. Lounge access price includes one drink voucher. Check the program in advance to determine when to access the lounge — whether before the show or during intermission. Some events have an intermission, others don’t. The pre-theater dining room is also located on the third floor. I have been pleasantly surprised by the quality of wines and artisan beers as well as liquor, even in the lobby bars. I consider prices reasonable, for the setting — maybe a little higher than BTG restaurant charges, maybe about the same, depending on the restaurant. In the dining room, I would definitely recommend the selections from Sterling, Meiomi, Stag’s Leap, and Decoy.

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You may have to monitor your order more than you would expect in a restaurant. At least in the vicinity of my table, servers did not seem to be familiar with wine service. Other than that, personnel are pleasant and attentive, as they are throughout the Tanger venue. For the pre-theater dinner, a sample menu is posted in advance on the website. Based on my experience, “sample” is an

appropriate terminology — what was actually served is mostly as described, but not always. You choose from buffet selections — anything or everything. You can create multiple courses or just get everything at once. The house salad is nutritious and colorful, a function of leaf lettuces, halved cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumbers, slivered carrots, and crunchy croutons. Dressings

CARROT CAKE

CHOCOLATE CAKE

are commercial — Ken’s, in packets. Soft, yeasty rolls also taste a little sweet. The grits in Shrimp and Grits are creamyrich, the shrimp tender, not overcookeddifficult to accomplish when shrimp are this small. Most of the flavor comes from the grits, and that flavor is good. Servers on the line ladle this into a small bowl. Our servings remained warm when we got to the table. Not so the Pasta — ziti in cream and cheese sauce. It was just cold — a bit above refrigerator cold, but not to the serving temperature I would have preferred. Once again, though, the flavor was good. A squash stack is prepared two ways — baked or fried. My wife and I found the crisp crust appealing, so we chose fried. A large zucchini slice forms the foundation, followed by a slice of yellow squash, then a roasted red bell pepper, topped with a fresh mushroom cap. These are also served cold, but I was advised that the temperature is deliberate. Grilled asparagus, roasted carrots, and baked sweet potatoes round out the vegetable choices. They were room temperature. The meat that evening was Braised Short Ribs. These are really good, emitting solid depth of beef flavor from literally fork-tender texture. Based on my observations of the crowdand the dining room was just about fullthe dessert display is probably the main attraction for a lot of patrons. Dozens of choices lure you off your diet.

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DESSERTS DISPLAY

Various candies invite multiple samplings. Several Mousse concoctions are decorated with fresh berries. Cakes are presented in swirls of appropriate sauces. Carrot Cake is flanked by a candy carrot. Hot Bread Pudding is lush and sweet, redolent of cinnamon. I would suggest starting with the candies and mousse selections, waiting until the first round of cakes have been picked up. Replacements tasted fresher, moister. Finish with the hot bread pudding. Walter Ellerbe is Tanger’s Executive Chef. He holds the Certified Executive Chef and Certified Culinary Educator degrees from the American Culinary Federation. These are exalted credentials, indeed. I have spoken with him on a couple of occasions, including a brief conversation during dinner last week. He visits every table during service, and you are likely to see him throughout the Tanger Center, checking on things and interacting with guests. He advises that everything is prepared in-house. The Tanger pre-theater buffet is a very convenient way to manage an evening. You can dine at your leisure and not have to worry about getting to the Center afterward. I’ve been all over the Tanger Center inte-

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rior (on some occasions, I serve as a volunteer usher, and I’ve been through Tanger training). There are no bad seats in this place — no obstructed views even from the Loge. A row of seating is especially designed for handicapped access (be sure to select handicapped seating when you buy your ticket, if that’s what you or a guest need). Seating is comfortable and restroom facilities are adequate, even for female patrons. The quality of life in the Triad took a major step forward when the Tanger Center opened. !

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

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Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts is located at 300 North Elm Street, Greensboro. tangercenter.com/events/enhance Buffet: $35 | Most recent visit: November 11

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SECCA welcomes guest-curated ‘Black@Intersection’ exhibition

he Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (SECCA) is proud to present Black@Intersection: Contemporary Black Voices in Art, a special exhibition Naima Said with guest curator Duane Cyrus, coming to SECCA this Contributor month. A Bessie Award-nominated performer and a professor at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Cyrus was selected as guest curator for the exhibition from a pool of more than 30 applicants. The exhibition will open Friday in SECCA’s Main Gallery, with a special opening reception from 5 to 8 p.m. Admission is free, with a suggested $10 donation.

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“The opening reception will include two live performers doing improvisational responses to the works and two poets who will be reciting a poem inspired by the works,” Cyrus said. “There will be 25 artists in the show, 17 of them are women, which speaks volumes.” Black@Intersection will feature Black and African Diasporic artists from North Carolina and beyond. The artists simultaneously exemplify and defy — yet continue to redefine the perceived norms around concepts of Blackness as we see it in our world. They resist the nullifying commodification of blackness into a type of monolith and do so by creating works that reify the world on their own terms, according to a release. After evaluating numerous exceptional applications, SECCA selected Cyrus for the guest curator position based on his exhibition proposal. The proposed exhibition draws on Cyrus’ extensive experience in the performing arts while incorporating other artistic disciplines including photography, film, and sculpture. “I have had a love for visual arts, especially photography, since I was a kid. I have a connection between dance, a moving art, and the stillness of photography, and how it also evokes movement. I adore that resonance,” Cyrus said. “I have collaborated with photographers since the ’90s, and a few of them will be making an appearance at the show.” Cyrus previously exhibited work at SEC-

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Duane Cyrus CA in 2020 as part of Escapes and Revelations, a group exhibition of the 21 different artists who received the 2018-2019 North Carolina Arts Council Artist Fellowship. He is also the director of Theatre of Movement, a collective that produces performing and visual art collaborations and curations — meshing Cyrus’ dance background with photographers, filmmakers, actors, poets, and musicians. He holds a BFA from the Juilliard School and an MFA from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Alongside the main gallery, the exhibit will be hosting a variety of programs expanding over several months to showcase contemporary black voices in art. On Dec. 2, 2021, from 6 to 8 p.m., SECCA will be featuring multiple film screenings. The evening will include short films selected from Black@Intersection, and each film will offer a unique perspective around concepts of Blackness, showing how diverse representations of Blackness can help to shift our cultural landscape. On Feb. 17, 2022, there will be an additional screening event from 6 to 8 p.m. of Black Voices in Cinema: Meet the Filmmakers. An evening of short films selected from Black@Intersection, followed by a panel discussion with the filmmakers. Each film in this program offers a unique perspective around concepts of Blackness, showing how diverse representations of Blackness can help to shift our cultural landscape. On Feb. 3, 2022, at 6 p.m., there will be An Evening with the Creative Class: What Is Your Lens?, where those interested

can explore courageous conversations through art and movement and meet artists from Black@Intersection, then engage with art through a guided discussion and movement-based experiences led by Cyrus. “I cannot encourage enough people to come out and have a conversation with us on a variety of topics that aren’t discussed more,” Cyrus shared. “I have been producing these creative classes for almost 10 years.” In March 2022, SECCA will welcome residents to take a look at the intersection of Black women and the art of photography. Black Women & Photography: The Power of the Lens, How Black Women photographers are transforming the field, explores how Black women artists are using the power of photography to expand our cultural landscape during this guided tour and panel discussion. The event will feature artists from Black@Intersection and a panel discussion led by Cyrus. A culmination of the Black@Intersection events will take place on April 7, 2022. “If you leave this intersection with one thing, let it be the continuation of supporting black art. This exhibition is for everyone. It’s about black people by black people, but it’s for our community as a whole. It is important for there to be a space for black voices to be heard in the arts, and showing these voices in all their diversity,” said Cyrus. “We are shaping our own narrative.” ! NAIMA SAID is a 22 year old UNCG theatre graduate and host of Heeere’sNeeNee Horror Movie Podcast.

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Kingdom comes to RiverRun virtual theater The RiverRun International Film Festival’s virtual theater is currently presenting the award-winning documentary Theirs is the Kingdom, which will be available through Nov. 29th. Tickets are $12 and Mark Burger can be purchased online at https://riverrunfilm.com/. Contributor Filmmaker Chris Zaluski’s film was shot on location in Asheville, details the painstaking creation of a contemporary fresco mural inside a small church while juxtaposing poverty and portraiture. The imagery conveys people as they struggle against poverty, addiction, and mental illness. The official website for the film is https://theirsisthekingdomfilm. com/. Theirs is the Kingdom is the latest presentation of the festival’s “RiverRun Rewind” series, which was inaugurated following this year’s festival to offer encore screenings of the festival’s most popular films for audiences who might have missed them during the festival or want to revisit them. “RiverRun Rewind is becoming more and more popular, as it gives our supporters even more chances to view the wonderful films we offer during the festival,” said Mary Dossinger, the festival’s program manager. “Theirs is the Kingdom is a beautiful documentary that we know our audiences will enjoy, and we love the local bend that it has thanks to being from the talented Chris Zaluski. RiverRun has a long history with Wake Forest University, and we are proud to again get to this work from Chris.” “We are delighted to include Theirs is the Kingdom in this series,” concurred Rob Davis, executive director of the RiverRun International Film Festival. “The film had its world premiere at RiverRun in 2021 and is a North Carolina story from Chris Zaluski, a very talented Winston-Salem filmmaker, so we are pleased to be able to share again for those who may have missed it during the festival. There is a wealth of local and regional talent making both narrative and documentary films in our area and region, and RiverRun is proud to showcase their work. The beauty of our virtual theater is that now ticket buyers across the country have a chance to see these RiverRun presentations.” In addition to widespread critical acWWW.YESWEEKLY.COM

claim, the film won the Best Documentary Feature Film award at the 2021 Knoxville Film Festival and the Genre award as Best Documentary Feature at this year’s Longleaf Film Festival. Zaluski, an assistant professor in the Documentary Film Program at Wake Forest University, is hardly a newcomer to the RiverRun fold. “This is the fifth film I’ve had in the RiverRun Film Festival,” he said, “but this is the first ‘bonus’ event — RiverRun Rewind, this is — I’ve done with them. RiverRun is top-notch. In terms of regional festivals, it’s hard to find a better operation. From the competitive curation to the communication with filmmakers to the community of film enthusiasts RiverRun has cultivated over the years, it’s always an honor to be involved in anything RiverRun is doing, and I’m thrilled to be a part of RiverRun Rewind for the first time.” Zaluski’s inspiration for tackling the project came as a result of one of his earlier documentary films. “I was introduced to the story of the Haywood Street fresco by the subject of a former documentary,” he explained. “At first, I had thought it would make an interesting short film, but the more I spoke with people affiliated with the project — from artist Christopher Holt to Rev. Brian Combs — the more I was pulled into the story. What really sparked interest and inspiration in my mind was the juxtaposition between who was being portrayed in the painting — those living on the streets and battling addiction and mental illness — with the ancient technique of fresco painting, literally turning to stone the images of those who have been ignored by society. Throughout the production process, that idea kept me going.” Regarding the finished product, “I am pleased with the film,” he said. “I was the director, cinematographer, editor, and producer — so I’m happy I was able to pull off anything, especially given COVID! I did have some cinematography assistance in a couple of scenes as well as some editing assistance, but this was largely an individual passion project and I’m really proud of how it turned out. “I hope audiences can leave with a feeling of empathy and compassion for those around them who are battling homelessness, addiction, and mental illness — or just all of us battling daily struggles. Too often, we’re stuck in our own silos and I hope this film can make folks a little more aware and curious about the stories of those around them, especially those stories that have

PHOTO COURTESY OF RIVERRUN

Scene from Theirs is the Kingdom largely been silenced and ignored.” The 24th annual RiverRun International Film Festival is scheduled to take place April 21-30, 2022, and according to Davis over 1,000 submissions have already been received. The final submission deadline

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Superior Court Judge rebukes Guilford County DA

North Carolina Superior Court Judge has issued an unusual order which appears to publicly rebuke Guilford County District Attorney Ian McDowell Avery Crump for the number of pending murder cases curContributor rently stalled in the courts. Craig’s “ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER FOR SPECIAL CRIMINAL SUPERIOR COURT ADMINISTRATIVE SESSIONS: WEEK OF 12/13/21,” which the Senior Resident Judge for District 18 signed on Friday, states that unscheduled first-degree murder cases have “reached unprecedented numbers,” and that approximately 100 have been pending for “at least two years.” The order acknowledges that some of the delays can be attributed to the pandemic, but charges that the Guilford County District Attorney and Capital

Defender “have been slow to address this backlog as the operations of the Guilford County Courts are returning to pre-pandemic levels.” What several Greensboro attorneys have told YES! Weekly is particularly remarkable about this order is Craig’s statement that he’d personally requested that Crump “prepare and disseminate calendars for special administrative sessions for the week of December 13, 2021, to address the status of all first-degree murder cases that have been pending for two years or longer,” and that Crump declined this request. Now Craig has officially ordered Crump to comply. Craig’s concluding paragraphs compel Crump to “prepare and publish Administrative Calendars for the week of December 13, 2021,” according to the following schedule: “For the approximately 22 first-degree murder cases that have been pending for more than two years and which originate in the High Point venue, a two-day calendar shall be disseminated, covering December 13 and 14, 2021. The Court will begin each day at 9:30 a.m. and cases shall be scheduled in fifteen-minute

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increments, with the oldest case being heard first. For the approximately 78 cases that originate in the Greensboro venue and which have been pending for more than two years, a three-day calendar will be disseminated, and these cases shall be scheduled for hearing on December 15, 16, and 17, 2021, beginning at 9:30 a.m each day.” The order then states that pending motions or questions concerning counsel will be heard by the Court, “with a goal of setting trial dates during the year 2022,” and that he has requested Special Sessions for Guilford County Superior Court in Greensboro in February, March, May, July “and continuing each month thereafter until the end of 2022.” Public Defender Brennan Aberle, whose client Leon Brimley has been held without trial in the Guilford County Jail since his June 2019 arrest on charges of first-degree murder, told YES! Weekly that Judge Craig’s order was “highly unusual,” but that Crump’s apparent refusal to comply with Craig’s earlier request was even more so. “The chief resident judge essentially calling out the district attorney in a public order by stating that she declined his request is something I’ve never encountered or even heard of in my ten years of practice. But it’s even weirder that the DA apparently forced the judge’s hand by declining to move these cases along.” Aberle explained that Craig asked Crump to “simply calendar a special session with these long-pending murder cases on it, as basically a status conference to see what’s holding them up.” Doing so is important, said Aberle, for two reasons. “If any of these people are falsely accused, they are sitting in jail on extraordinarily high bonds, some of them for more than two years, just awaiting their day in court. And with those who may be guilty, victims’ families have waited for years with nothing happening, while the courts are trying ridiculous offenses.” While many states have neutral trial court administrators to handle calendaring, North Carolina gives this authority to its district attorneys. Aberle called this “incredibly problematic,” alleging it “allows DAs to judge-shop or sit on cases.” But, he explained, even in North Carolina, it’s not solely at a DA’s discretion, due to both the Sixth Amendment’s guarantee of a speedy trial, and because “judges have an inherent authority to control the calendars in front of them.” In Guilford County, 25 assistant district

Guilford County District Attorney Avery Crump attorneys have resigned or been fired since Crump took office in 2019. Aberle alleges “this is evidence of a toxic culture in the DA’s office,” adding that Crump has prosecuted “48 jury trials in 2021 alone, and lost 41 of them.” Aberle called the “vast majority of these,” including nine in which he was the public defender, “petty offenses,” whereas his client who faces a murder charge has done so for over two years. Greensboro Attorney Graham Holt agrees with Aberle’s assessment. “It’s a DA’s duty to prosecute cases,” wrote Holt in a Sunday email. “The fact that a Superior Court Judge felt the need to step in and force the DA to address a backlog of cases speaks volumes about our current elected DA. People charged with murder are languishing in jail without getting their day in court. Families of victims are forced, completely unnecessarily, to wait for the closure they so desperately need.” Avery Crump has not responded to YES! Weekly’s request for comment. This article will be updated if she does. ! IAN MCDOWELL is the author of two published novels, numerous anthologized short stories, and a whole lot of nonfiction and journalism, some of which he’s proud of and none of which he’s ashamed of.

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Mutated mold in Michigan threatens humanity in The Spore

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common cold. As The Spore spells out in no uncertain terms, it won’t be the meek that inherit the Earth, but the mold. But equally, if not more lethal, is the fear and paranoia that grips mankind. In some cases, the characters fall victim to their own carelessness or their compassion, and frequently they turn on one another in moments of anger and frustration. Once again, man’s own worst enemy often proves to be his fellow man. More could have been made of the mold’s origins, although it doesn’t really matter. Its purpose is simple — to feed, spread, and survive. There’s no reasoning with it, and there appears to be no way of destroying (or curing) it. The film, however, doesn’t necessarily end on a hopeless or nihilistic note. The special effects are effectively nauseating, and it should be noted that, despite a smattering of in-jokes, there aren’t many laughs here. Playing is straight and keeping things tight is the proper approach. Given its episodic structure, The Spore is fragmented but it’s fast-moving, and Cunningham clearly knows the basic mechanics of building tension. The small ensemble cast does well within the confines of their characters. Haley Heslip is the standout as Serena, a pseudo-survivalist who refuses to let her emotions get the better of her, and Jeannie Jefferies (who appeared in a couple of ‘80s George Romero films), Jackson Ezinga, and newcomers Peter Tell and Jovonnah Nicholson play their roles with earnest conviction. These are not richly textured characters, but they are believable under the circumstances. — The Spore is available on-demand and digital, as well as on DVD ($19.98 retail) from LionsGate Home Entertainment, the latter boasting bonus features including audio commentary and behind-the-scenes featurette. ! See MARK BURGER’s reviews of current movies on Burgervideo.com. © 2021, Mark Burger.

2018, THE NUTCRACKER

n his feature debut, writer/ producer/ editor/director D.M. Cunningham takes a page — or two — from the COVID-19 pandemic to fashion a grisly, gory Mark Burger ecological shocker that’s timelier than Contributor most films of its ilk. The Spore is a modest but encouraging calling card, and that Cunningham dedicates this film to “Wes” (Craven), “George” (Romero), and “Tobe” (Hooper) indicates his affection for the genre that each filmmaker put an indelible stamp on. Filmed on location in Michigan, the film details a ghastly phenomenon inexplicably taking place: Mutated mold spores are spreading uncontrollably, contaminating and mutating any living thing they come into contact with, including human beings. This little corner of civilization is under a gruesome siege, and the only information the residents are receiving are intermittent radio broadcasts indicating how bad things are and how people should maintain social distancing (hmmm …). The narrative follows 10 characters as they face this encroaching menace, and it’s not made clear until the end how these characters are inter-connected and how their fates have intertwined. The film does follow a repetitious pattern, in that each character is introduced — some aware of the threat, others completely unaware — and how they attempt to flee. In most cases, the characters are infected and perish in a horrific fashion, sometimes infecting others along the way. The allegory is unmistakable and inescapable and could apply to any disease, be it COVID or Ebola or merely the

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[NEWS OF THE WEIRD] AWESOME!

Archaeologists in Israel have found a gold ring with a purple stone, believed to be amethyst, that they believe was used to ward off hangovers. The ring, dated to Chuck Shepherd between the 3rd and 7th centuries, was discovered in the ruins of an ancient wine factory, United Press International reported. The Israeli Antiquities Authority said the ring probably belonged to a wealthy person who may have worn the ring to counteract the “side effects” of wine. The winery was known for its white Gaza variety.

‘TIS THE SEASON

Cobb County (Georgia) Superior Court Judge Robert Leonard has, with tongue firmly in cheek, banned the Elf on the Shelf from his county, United Press International reported. Leonard said the elf poses “a risk to the emotional health and well-being of Cobb’s young children.” He tweeted that his order was a “gift to tired

parents” because “When these Elves do not move, it leaves our children of tender years in states of extreme emotional distress.” But for those families who love their elves, carry on: There will be no charges.

NEWS YOU CAN USE

On Nov. 7, as four astronauts prepare to leave the International Space Station, they’ll have an extra “load” to carry, the Associated Press reported. The SpaceX capsule that will bring them back to Earth has a broken toilet, so the two NASA astronauts and one each from France and Japan will be wearing what NASA calls “absorbent undergarments” for 20 hours. “Spaceflight is full of lots of little challenges,” said NASA astronaut Megan McArthur. “We’re not too worried about it.”

SURPRISE!

Emily Johnson of Vacaville, California, didn’t think it was time to go to the hospital when her contractions were 10 minutes apart on Nov. 4 — but then they quickly started coming faster, and as Emily and her husband headed to the car, she knew it was too late. “I’m going to be here. This is my spot,” she said to her husband, Michael, according to KCRA-TV. Emily’s mom,

Kristy Sparks, was with the couple and helped Emily deliver baby Thomas on the lawn just as rescue crews pulled up to the scene. “By the time they walked up to me, I had a baby in my arms crying,” Sparks said. “It was unreal.” Bonus: Emily will always be able to relive the scene because the entire event was caught on her doorbell camera. (Fortunately, Emily noted, she was facing away from the camera.)

COHABITATION

Christopher Callen, 33, was charged with assaulting his roommate at the Monroe County Detention Center in Key West, Florida, on Nov. 4, The Smoking Gun reported. Callen told police that Amado DominguezQuevedo, 57, “farts too much, stinking up the cell” and doesn’t do a “courtesy flush” after using the toilet. Plus, Callen added, he “speaks weird languages.” The victim told police that he was cleaning the toilet when Callen started punching him in the face and ribs. As a result, he lost two teeth and had a broken rib and bruised left eye.

RECURRING THEMES

The Boulder (Colorado) Daily Camera reported that 39-year-old Jon Charles Streckenbach is facing charges of first-

degree arson, criminal mischief and possession of a controlled substance after he used a blowtorch to rid his mother’s home of cobwebs on Nov. 2. He said he was using the torch in the crawlspace under the basement and worked for an hour to put out the fire before calling for help. His mother had a protection order against him but had been allowing him to stay with her because he was homeless. The flames caused $100,000 in damages — but the cobwebs are gone!

UNDIGNIFIED DEATH

A 30-year-old man who was fishing with two friends in Brasilandia de Minas, Brazil, met a bizarre death on Oct. 31, Newsweek reported. When a swarm of bees surrounded the men, all three jumped into the lake to escape them. Two managed to swim to safety, but authorities believe the third man drowned and then was torn apart by piranhas. Fire department personnel found his body about 4 meters from the shoreline. !

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.

NOVEMBER 21 with guest host Tim Clodfelter

Bethany Sietsma - Roof Replacement Systems Lori Adkins - Spot On THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

The Sportscenter Athletic Club is a private membership club dedicated to providing the ultimate athletic and recreational facilities for our members of all ages. Conveniently located in High Point, we provide a wide variety of activities for our members. We’re designed to incorporate the total fitness concept for maximum benefits and total enjoyment. We cordially invite all of you to be a part of our athletic facility, while enjoying the membership savings we offer our established corporate accounts.

3811 Samet Dr • HigH Point, nC 27265 • 336.841.0100 FITNESS ROOM • INDOOR TRACK • INDOOR AQUATICS CENTER • OUTDOOR AQUATICS CENTER • RACQUETBALL BASKETBALL • CYCLING • OUTDOOR SAND VOLLEYBALL • INDOOR VOLLEYBALL • AEROBICS • MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM WHIRLPOOL • MASSAGE THERAPY • PROGRAMS & LEAGUES • SWIM TEAMS • WELLNESS PROGRAMS PERSONAL TRAINING • TENNIS COURTS • SAUNA • STEAM ROOM • YOGA • PILATES • FREE FITNESS ASSESSMENTS FREE E QUIPMENT O RIENTATION • N URSE RY • T E NNIS L E SSONS • W IRE L E SS INT E RNE T L OUNGE YES! WEEKLY

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November 17-23, 2021

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King of the ring: Theo Rlayang takes on the MMA world

ight-yearold Theo Rlayang was awakened in the middle of the night by his father with only have a few minutes to gather his things before wandering Naima Said off into the jungle to escape persecution. “We lived close to Contributor the jungles, so that’s why everyone calls me Jungle King,” Rlayang said. “I was born in Vietnam, but identify as Montagnard, which roughly translates to Mountain people.” Rlayang grew up impoverished, and although life was tough, he found the simplicity of life to be the most enjoyable as a child. “Growing up in nature, I felt no sorrow of the world. I didn’t comprehend the travesties that were happening in front of me.” It wasn’t until Rlayang began school that the aftereffect of the Vietnam War displayed its true colors. “We were seen as different, the outcasts of society,” Rlayang said. “Back home you have to pay to go to school, and I had already lost focus, so I left. I spent my time daydreaming about more opportunities I knew I was never going to get there.” Rlayang’s father felt the same when it came to his family’s future, and knew he needed to get them out. “My father gathered a few other villagers and began planning an escape to a refugee camp in Cambodia,” Rlayang explained. “I was only 8-years-old when my father woke me up in the middle of the night with no warning, and with sleep still in my eyes, he pulled

me over his shoulders as we fled into the jungle. I caught a glimpse of the rest of my family, worried I was never going to see them again.” After spending a whole week in the jungle, Rlayang made it to Cambodia, but his father’s job wasn’t done yet. “My father left me with my cousin at the refugee camp and went back to get the rest of my family. I was petrified for him because I knew what it took to get here, and I kept thinking my father was going to get caught and thrown in prison or even worse, killed,” Rlayang said. “Thankfully, he made it back with my mother and siblings, and with the help of the United Nations, our journey was just beginning. Everyone who escaped got on this bus that was sent for us and took us to Thailand, where we traveled to Hong Kong. From there, we were relocated to Los Angeles before settling in Greensboro.” Life in the United States came as a huge culture shock for Rlayang, who only knew but a few words of English at the time. “Not only were we provided with language classes to better adjust but were given housing. We all resettled near each other, so we were able to build our own tight-knit community that reminded us of home,” Rayland said. While Rlayang was adjusting to a new life in the States, it wasn’t until middle school that he discovered a newfound passion for mixed martial arts. “I loved sports, whether playing or watching,” Rlayang shared. “At Mendenhall, I joined the soccer and wrestling team. I dreamt about going into WWE until I learned it was staged, so my attention drew to UFC, which is completely real and 100 percent badass.” Although Rlayang admired UFC, it was always from a distance since he continued

Rlayang has dreamed of being a MMA fighter YES! WEEKLY

NOVEMBER 17-23, 2021

Theo Rlayang

wrestling into high school. “My coach at Page High, Cliff Thompson, was a threetime NCAA Division III All-American in wrestling at Upper Iowa and had been competing in MMA for multiple years,” Rlayang explained. “I went to one of his fights, and after witnessing some intense moments, I had fallen in love with the crowds, their energy, and the fight itself. It was raw and rough. At that moment, I wanted to go into MMA, but once again felt deterred by those around me, so I kept wrestling.” Recruited by UNC Pembroke to wrestle in college, Rlayang also went on to study kinesiology and exercise science, continuing to appreciate UFC on the screen. “I was burnt out. I kept playing it safe because I knew what I was good at, but I needed a change, so I left wrestling for good and transferred to UNCG with a business and

nutrition major. This was my fresh start, or so I thought,” he shared. “My best friend Othman (Otto) and I used to sit around after our shenanigans and talk about life, about where we want to be in it. I continued this daydreaming since I was a kid, and I had someone in my corner. When I opened up to him about wanting to be a UFC fighter, he pushed me to go for it. It was the first time someone had given me encouragement, so in my last year of college, I dropped out.” Sometimes all a dream needs is a chance. “While figuring out my next move, I had a family friend offer me a job at a nail salon in Danville, Virginia, so I became a nail technician for a while, and that is where my MMA career began,” Rlayang explained. “My friend’s uncle was a huge MMA fan, and we bonded over that. One day, we were watching a UFC fight together, and I began expressing to him how I wanted to become a fighter. His face immediately lit up, and he informed me that he knew a promoter in Virginia. After getting in contact with him, I had my first fight in two weeks.”

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PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY THEO RLAYANG

(L to R) Ali Abdelaziz, Theo Rlayang, and Khabib Nurmagomedov With no prior experience or professional training, Rlayang learned the hard way what it takes to be a fighter. “I was a deer in headlights. I got choked out in the second round to a competitor twice my size with eight years of experience. I went home devastated that night, believing my dream was over before it even started,” he said. “I knew I needed to give it a real shot, with professional help. I found a gym back in Greensboro and began training with Meshack Adams for striking, Ben Rothrock for (Russian) Sambo, and Peter McGuire for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.” Teamwork can indeed move mountains. “I give much of my success to my team of coaches. Because of them, I gained my confidence and was able to utilize my skill and ability to go on to have a 5-win fight streak, being named number one in the state in amateur, and being a Division II Champion,” Rlayang shared. Moving on to the Pros, Rlayang’s aspirations of becoming a professional were on their way. “I had gotten an offer not long after to travel to South Carolina for my first pro fight. After my win, I was lucky WWW.YESWEEKLY.COM

enough to travel to Florida, California, and a few other states to not only train but fight,” Rlayang said. “I was getting paid to do what I love. What more could I ask for? But, obtaining that opportunity is one thing and maintaining your record is another.” While in San Jose, California at the famous American Kickboxing Academy gym, the young fighter couldn’t believe his eyes when renowned, and now retired, Russian professional mixed martial artist Khabib Nurmagomedov was coaching some of his men for an upcoming fight. “He was such a humble and wise man. He always puts God first and is one hell of a fighter and coach,” Rlayang shared. “While in the locker room, he asked about my fighting career, and we ended up bonding over our love for soccer. I was also thrilled to get a few pointers from the legend, himself.” It was time to put that advice to the test. After a 5-0 winning streak in his professional career, Rlayang was about to fight in his first UFC fight. “I couldn’t believe it when I heard the news,” he said.

“Next thing I knew, I was on a plane to Las Vegas.” Rlayang was selected to compete in Dana White’s Contender Series, where UFC President Dana White scouts talented mixed martial artists who could potentially have a future in the UFC. “When they heard my story, they matched me with another fighter from Vietnam, who had been in this fight once before, so he had more pressure on him to win. I walked into the cage without the support of my family in the stands due to Covid, which added to my nerves,” Rlayang said. “Looking back, the only thing I regret in that fight was my hesitation. I never hesitate. I don’t know what happened.” After three rounds of a solid fight, it was ultimately up to the judge to decide who the winner would be. Unfortunately, it wasn’t Rlayang. “I put up a good fight, but I was the underdog to no surprise. It was my first professional loss,” Rlayang said. “I have nothing but respect for Mr. White, who sees potential in me and gave me the best words of advice to keep pushing for-

ward until we meet again: Go for the kill.” Although he didn’t win, the experience has caused Rlayang to fight harder to achieve his dream. “I’ve almost hit my second year of being a pro, which is a blessing but also goes to show I’m just getting started. I will be back,” Rlayang said. “My coaches always ask me why I smile in the middle of my fights, and I tell them it’s because I’m thinking of the day I’ll be a world champion. A day I can give back to my family and my friends. A day where my community will be proud and inspired.” ! NAIMA SAID is a 22 year old UNCG theatre graduate and host of Heeere’sNeeNee Horror Movie Podcast.

WANNA

go?

Rlayang’s next fight has been scheduled for early next year. For more information and updates, check out Rlayang’s social media platforms: https://www.instagram.com/theorlayang/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/kingtheoo/ https://www.youtube.com/c/TheoRlayang

Rlayang in the ring NOVEMBER 17-23, 2021

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Greensboro city workers protest pay structure “We just want you to have our back, but feel that ya’ll ain’t there for us,” said city utility worker Chris Yardley at the November 1 meeting of Greensboro City Council. “This is a cry for help, and we just Ian McDowell want you to hear us.” Prior to the 5:30 p.m. council meeting, Contributor over a dozen members of the Greensboro City Workers Union gathered in Government Plaza, where they chanted “Respect Our Years of Service!” Five of those union members signed up to speak at the meeting, along with over 40 other Greensboro residents addressing other topics including rezoning, the Hiatt Street eviction, and bodycam videos. Despite a fire drill, an unscheduled presentation, and numerous speakers, those wanting to comment on the city pay structure spoke closer to 9 p.m. Unfortunately, most union members had left, including three who had signed up to speak. Two other speakers on the issue were not city employees. Del Stone and Luis Medina, both of WHOA, the WorkingClass and Houseless Organizing Alliance of Greensboro, expressed solidarity with the city workers and condemned council for the unscheduled speech, which they called a “filibuster.” Chris Yancey and City Maintenance Supervisor Bryce Carter were the only city workers who remained to express concerns over how the city’s new Step Pay Plan is being implemented. “We’re essential workers and we want essential pay,” stated Yancey, who said

he’d worked for Water Resources for 11 years. Carter said that, although council had voted 5-4 for the step plan, it was “doomed from the start,” due to what he described as misinformation spread by supervisors whom, Carter alleged, “didn’t even want it in the first place.” He also complained that no Human Resources surveys about the issue had asked whether the length of an employee’s service should be a factor in their wages. Council did not acknowledge the allegations by the WHOA members but did respond to Yancey and Bryce. The mayor, several representatives, and interim city manager Chris Wilson expressed sympathy, but also consternation at the complaints, which they said came as a complete surprise. “I think we’re gonna have to come back and meet with city workers,” said Mayor Nancy Vaughan, “because we’re confused. I think we need to understand what changed when five voted to implement the step plan.” “I’m a little upset right now,” said District 1’s Sharon Hightower. “I fought too hard for that step plan.” “What I heard was how it’s administered,” said Mayor Pro Tem Yvonne Johnson. “What’s in it that impairs workers instead of what’s in it that motivates and lifts workers. That’s what I heard, am I correct? Perhaps there has to be some tweaking and some changes.” Hightower agreed. “We heard from them repeatedly for years that the merit system was not fair, and that the step plan would bring some fairness to them getting paid, and so that’s why we pushed it so hard. The step plan only passed by one vote.” At the July 20 meeting, Council debated whether to replace the old pay system

City employees address council YES! WEEKLY

NOVEMBER 17-23, 2021

City employees address council about the Step Pay Plan with one modeled on the step plans adopted in Raleigh, Durham, and Charlotte. Hightower, Johnson, District 2’s Goldie Wells, former at-large representative Michelle Kennedy, and District 5’s Tammi Thurm all voted for the step pay plan. Vaughan, District 3’s Justin Outling, District 4’s Nancy Hoffman, and at-large representative Marikay Abuzuaiter voted against it. “I kept asking and I kept talking to you all, to try to understand the step plan,” said Hightower last week. “Now, apparently, it’s not fair, is what you’re saying to me. It sounds like they want longevity pay, and I don’t know if we do longevity pay anymore. I just need to get a clear understanding of what you thought it was going to do, what it’s not doing, what do we need to do to do it right. Tonight, I saw those 25 emails that said ‘respect our service’ by people who weren’t city employees. But now, I hear you all, because that’s who I really want to hear from. So now I really want to fully understand.” “I’d like some clarification, too,” said interim city manager Wilson. “It wasn’t clear from the emails what the actual concern was, outside of years of service.” “The city manager will be in contact with the workers who spoke this evening,” said Vaughan. “I talked to these people for six years,” said Hightower. “They formed a union around this. So, it’s a little concerning to me.” While no conclusions were reached at the November 1 meeting, a letter sent to the mayor and council members the next day by Greensboro City Workers Union president Ramone Johnson and vicepresident Brendan Wynands attempted some clarity. The letter stated that the union supports “full implementation of

a Step Pay Plan,” but one which includes recognition of years of service. “A Step Pay Plan that does not recognize years of service essentially institutionalizes the pay disparities that were in place prior to the Step Pay Plan. Police and Fire have had the Step Plan for many years, other employees are just starting it. This means the years of service of those Police and Fire are recognized, but ours are not.” The letter stated that an equitable Step Pay Plan must include the cost of living adjustments separate from raises and that it must “account for exceptional employees with merit bonuses.” The letter alleged that the Step Pay Plan that Council implemented in July “will not fully account for the necessary economic factors to improve employee morale and retention.” It also condemned what the writers called misinformation. “Ever since the City Council began discussing the Step Plan, supervisors and management have been disparaging the Step Pay Plan to our co-workers. Even as recently as this morning, the Water Resources Superintendent was telling supervisors incorrectly that the Step Pay Plan would result in workers getting smaller pay increases. This type of misinformation campaign must be stopped immediately.” The letter concluded by requesting a special meeting or meetings in the coming months, either with the entire council at once or in “small groups of two or three, “in order to “discuss these matters in more detail.” ! IAN MCDOWELL is the author of two published novels, numerous anthologized short stories, and a whole lot of nonfiction and journalism, some of which he’s proud of and none of which he’s ashamed of.

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Local organization plans to Thanksgiving giveaway A Winston-Salem based organization is looking for help from the community at large to assist the most marginalized sectors in its surrounding area. H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Chanel Davis Everywhere) Dealers Outreach is currently collecting items for Editor its annual Thanksgiving Drive. “We want the community to get involved,” challenged Ethan King, president and chair of H.O.P.E. Dealers Outreach. “Don’t just like social media posts but get involved in helping the community. You can go to the dollar store for $10 and get canned goods.” Last year, King and H.O.P.E. Founder Frankie Gist, single-handedly passed out hams and turkeys to roughly 200 families in Salem Garden Apartments. “We kind of did a pop-up. They didn’t know that we were coming,” King said. “Between me and the founder — we were knocking on doors. People were so touched by it. They were like ‘we didn’t know what we were going to do’ or ‘we didn’t know how we were going to eat’. Some didn’t have any food in the refrigerator. So we made it our goal to go a bit further than just providing turkeys and ham.” Frankie Gist, Founder of H.O.P.E. Dealers Outreach

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This year, the plan is to serve the Skyline Village Apartment area, a lowincome Hispanic community in East Winston-Salem, with more of a complete meal. The nonprofit is requesting the following donations: Turkeys, Hams, cases of water, or canned goods. Non-perishable items can be dropped off at 500 W. Fifth St., and all items can be dropped off at 131 Libertyview Lane, Suite #301. Both drop-off locations will accept items between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. On Friday afternoon, the donations will be collected, and on Sunday, they will be distributed to the Skyline Village community. “We also did our back to school give back in the Skyline area, and the people were appreciative. We were able to see the shape the community was in and made it our goal to return to the community and are doing it now through our Thanksgiving Drive,” King said. “This weekend, we will canvas the area, letting them know that we have food provided for them and all those in need if they’d like to accept the donation.” King said that they don’t plan on stopping at Skyline if they find they still have more donations that can be given out. “Every year, we also make sure we have more than enough. Once we get done serving one community, we go to another community and pass it out. We just keep going to another community until all the food has run out, all the donations are gone,” King said of the

agency’s yearly process. “It’s not our job to hog it. It doesn’t belong to us. It’s for the people. That’s our goal. Reaching as many communities as possible and just providing love. You can’t say you love someone if you don’t show it. Our main goal is to give love and let them know that we care about them.” H.O.P.E. Dealers Outreach is a nonprofit organization founded by Gist following the 2012 murder of Trayvon Martin. The organization was founded out of what Gist felt was the need to fight against police brutality, gun violence, homelessness, and other plagues against marginalized communities. The nonprofit is designed with an emphasis on love, peace, and unity, and is built to stand against the systems and conditions that lead to marginalizations and oppression by being an advocate and resource for marginalized people in the community. This is done by hosting community events focused on civil rights and social justice; assisting the community with resume-building, mentorship, and access to employment and service opportunities; providing assistance to families of victims killed in gun violence; and

collaborating with law enforcement and city government to address policies that impact people of color. Originally named the Helping Hands Foundation, Gist and his team fought to spread positivity while fighting injustice within their communities. Recently celebrating its tenth anniversary, H.O.P.E. Dealers Outreach has held annual hygiene, food, and back-to-school drives, offered educational programs, and hosted peaceful protests in the WinstonSalem area. “This is how H.O.P.E. Dealers was founded. It was founded by giving back and showing love to those in the community that are less fortunate. It is our goal to meet people and make sure that people are not lacking anything. And every year, we strive to go bigger.” For more information on H.O.P.E. Dealers Outreach or its Thanksgiving Drive, visit www.hopedealersoutreach.org or email at hopedealerso16@gmail.com. ! CHANEL DAVIS is the current editor of YES! Weekly and graduated from N.C. A&T S.U. in 2011 with a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications. She’s worked at daily and weekly newspapers in the Triad region. NOVEMBER 17-23, 2021

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[FACES & PLACES] by Natalie Garcia

AROUND THE TRIAD YES! Weekly’s Photographer

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Red Oak

11.6.21 | Whitsett

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hot pour PRESENTS

[ WEEKLY ARTS ROUNDUP]

THE ARTS ARE BACK AND THRIVING! A LOT TO SEE IN THE COMING WEEKS This past weekend was filled with art and cultural events in Winston-Salem. There was so much to see including visual art, theatre, and music. WINSTON-SALEM THEATRE ALLIANCE, Joshua Ridley DREAMGIRLS Dreamgirls is a Marketing & Broadway musical about Communications three best friends from Manager Chicago, Illinois who are on a quest to reach stardom. This is the sixth production in Theatre Alliance’s 38th season. The musical takes place in their new venue at 650 W Sixth Street, Winston-Salem which was recently awarded the 2021 The Triad’s Best award for “Best Live Theatre Venue in Forsyth County.” Opening night was a sold-out performance. The Dreamgirls, “Deena Jones” played by Taylor Hope Mason, ‘Lorrell Robinson” played by Kennethia Mason, and “Effie White” played by Marrissia Ravenell together featured local and statewide talent. It was great to see people getting out more and returning to the theatre. Most came to see friends and family who were in the cast, and others attended because they were fans of the play and major motion picture Dreamgirls. The performance runs through Sunday, November 21. Secure your tickets before they sell out at www.theatrealliance.ws MUSIC THEATRE INTERNATIONAL, ALL TOGETHER NOW! Music Theatre International (MTI) is one of the world’s leading theatrical licensing agencies. MTI’s All Together Now! a global event celebrating local theatre, was designed as a fundraiser for local theatres to perform live, over the same four-days, November 12 – 15, 2021. Theatres across WinstonSalem participated in MTI’s All Together Now! performance between November 12-15, 2021. MTI granted theatres globally the performance rights to their music to help jumpstart live theatre following the pandemic. Over the course of this run, seven of Winston-Salem’s local theatres participated. The Little Theatre of Winston-Salem, 40+ Stage Company, NC Black Repertory Company, Spirit Gum Theatre, Spring Theatre, and Stained Glass Playhouse joined together Saturday evening November 13 in Hanesbrands Theatre. The performance was emceed by Arts Council’s President and CEO Chase Law, and featured actors from our region to perform WWW.YESWEEKLY.COM

the musical revue. Performances included selections from Rent, Waitress, Mamma MIA! and more popular musicals. Winston-Salem Theatre Alliance also participated in All Together Now! with their resident actors on Monday, November 15 in their theatre located at 650 W. Sixth Street, Winston-Salem, and featured songs from Frozen, The Baker’s Wife, Hairspray and more! WINSTON-SALEM SYMPHONY, WILDE DREAMS The Winston-Salem Symphony had its second concert in their 75th anniversary season this past Saturday and Sunday, November 13 and 14 with Wilde Dreams, as a part of their Classics Series. The concert took place in UNCSA’s Stevens Center. Special guest conductor Carolyn Kuan led the performance. Kuan currently serves as the Director of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra in Connecticut. Her experience leading orchestras extends nationwide including Detroit, Milwaukee, San Francisco, Seattle and others. “We are just so excited to be back,” Winston-Salem Symphony’s President and CEO Merritt Vale expressed. “We have all of our conductors lined up for the rest of the season. We have some phenomenal people coming, and we can’t wait to share them!” When asked if there was anyone that people will recognize Vale responded, “One name that people will be very familiar with is JoAnn Falletta.” Falletta, currently is one of the most famous woman conductors in the world. “She was with us once before and we’re really looking forward to having her back,” said Merritt Vale. JoAnn Falletta will be conducting the Winston-Salem Symphony’s next concert in their Classics Series, titled Celebrate Jan. 8 and 9. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.wssymphony.org. There are over 800,000 art experiences taking place in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County annually. To learn more about upcoming arts and culture events happening in our community please visit www.cityofthearts.com. ! ARTS COUNCIL is the chief advocate of the arts and cultural sector in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County. Our goal is to serve as a leader in lifting up, creating awareness and providing support to grow and sustain artistic, cultural and creative offerings throughout our region. We acknowledge that it takes every voice, every talent, and every story to make our community a great place to live, work, and play. Arts Council is committed to serving as a facilitator, organizer, and promoter of conversations that are authentic, inclusive, and forward-thinking.

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

BARTENDER: Jess Lucas BAR: Tailgators Bar and Billiards AGE: 33 WHERE ARE YOU FROM? Greensboro, NC HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN BARTENDING? Almost 12 years HOW DID YOU BECOME A BARTENDER? I started out as a cocktail waitress at Ham’s Brassfield and worked my way up.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE DRINK TO MAKE? I don’t have a favorite necessarily. I love making a shooter or drink when someone asks me to just make them something on a whim.

WHAT’S THE CRAZIEST THING YOU’VE SEEN WHILE BARTENDING? There was a Kid Rock cover band playing at a bar I used to work at. That in itself should tell you how the rest of the night went. A fight broke out between two girls and next thing you know the whole bar was involved. They ran the band off the stage and me and my coworkers were ducked down behind the bar because there were bar stools and beer bottles flying everywhere. We had to grab more security from the couple of other bars on our strip. Needless to say, it was a very long night.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE DRINK TO DRINK? I like flavored vodka bombs!

WHAT’S THE BEST TIP YOU’VE EVER GOTTEN? My amazing boss slipped me $400 one night!

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY ABOUT BARTENDING? Definitely the lifelong friends I have made along the way whether it be a coworker or a regular. Especially with working in a regulars type of bar for so long.

WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND AS AN AFTER-DINNER DRINK? Buffalo Trace or Eagle Rare on the rocks. Just something nice to sip on after a nice dinner.

NOVEMBER 17-23, 2021

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HEAR IT!

Music organization fights mental illness

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When we lose an artist, we not only lose their talent, we lose a human being,” said organizers, who consider musicians a true treasure. “Let’s not allow depression, Katei Cranford mental illness, or substance abuse to stop the music. Let’s start Contributor helping our artists be good to themselves.” For co-founder, and Winston bluesman, Ed Bumgardner, motivation for the project came simple, albeit heavy. “After the deaths of too many musician friends to suicide and substance abuse, it became impossible to not try and use the positive force of music to enforce some sort of change.” The numbers are stark. A 2018 study from the Music Industry Research Association found that the number of musicians experiencing symptoms of depression is double that of the general adult population — and experiencing suicidal thoughts at an almost four-times higher rate. Substance abuse is prevalent. The pandemic has exacerbated issues related to mental illness all-around. To address the needs and provide services, the Be Good to Yourself project has formed partnerships with Abundance NC, MindPath Care Centers, and The SIMS Foundation.

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Bumgardner is particularly excited to help bring SIMS to our state. “They’ve grown into becoming the gold standard for providing mental-health treatment within the vast music community of Texas,” Bumgardner said, noting the organization’s upcoming move to Raleigh; and praising its comprehensive approach in offering aid to immediate families of musicians, as well as services to a range of industry personnel and venue operators. “We couldn’t be more delighted in this partnership that will help them, and Be Good To Yourself, become entrenched in North Carolina’s fertile musical community.“ Bumgardner cemented the project’s foundation through the DeFacto Brothers, a houseband of old friends bonded for a cause. “It’s without question the most satisfying and gratifying musical experience of my life,” he said. Like their own little Ramones, the group lists themselves as Joe Louis DeFacto, Dean Paul DeFacto, Touché DeFacto, Dee Dee “3-D” DeFacto, and Country Joe DeFacto. “As the Funk Brothers were to Motown, the Swampers were to Muscle Shoals, and the Wrecking Crew were to the West Coast pop scene, the DeFacto Brothers are to Be Good to Yourself,” they said. In the outside world, Bumgardner’s DeFacto brethren are a mix of “imports” from his late Winston-Salem blues outfit, Luxuriant Sedans (Rob Slater and Gino Grandinetti) joined by Larry Carman and Chris Garges. Mike Allen offered to consult. More than 60 artists lent their craft. “The artists believed in the cause and trusted us as musicians and humans,” Bumgard-

ner said. “This bond is at the heart of what makes the musical offerings so special.” Britt Harper Uzzell, (aka Snüzz) is one Triad artist proud to be involved with the project. “Being a musician is a high-risk occupation and since most health insurance is employer-based many are left without coverage,” he explained of its significance. “Even with coverage, there are other things to contend with like low pay and uncertainty at every level. With that in mind, it was a wonderful and worthy cause with which to lend my time plus I have tremendous love and respect for all involved.” Production began in 2019, with primary work via Garges’ Old House Studio in Charlotte. The result presents 27 songs split over a 23-track LP and four-song EP, with a “Ten Choice Cuts” special vinyl release to showcase an array of NC talent — and notable band-swapping, with Snüzz covering “Away With Love” by Peter Holsapple; and Don Dixon doing “Getaway Car” by Snüzz. “Holsapple was a big vocal influence on me as a maturing musician trying to discover my own voice and so it’s a double thrill to get to pay homage to that influence by singing one of his tunes,” Uzzell said. “I’ve admired Dixon for most of my music career,” he added, “it’s surreal to have an NC legend putting his own original stamp on my song.” Jeffrey Dean

Foster and his daughter, Ava Louise Foster, partake in the swap on “Ruby Beach,” originally by the Houston Brothers. And Ben Folds’ “Late” is reimagined by John Elderkin (The Popes, Mad Crush) with a string quartet (featuring members of the Charlotte Symphony) arranged by Ron Brendle. But the covers aren’t limited to NC artist-origins. Doug Davis soulfully resonates the title track, “Be Good to Yourself,” (written by Andy Fraser from Free). There’s a version of Hendrix’s “Manic Depression,” along with Edgard Winter’s “Frankenstein.” Libby Rodenbough takes on Travis’ “Why Does It Always Rain On Me?”; and Bo Diddley’s “Pills,” (made notorious by the New York Dolls) gets a treatment featuring Bruce Hazel (Temperance League). Underlying the significance of the project, Bruce Piephoff ’s version of Justin Townes Earle’s “The Saint Of Lost Causes,” was recorded just before Earle’s death by overdose. Meanwhile, Mitch Easter covers Big Star’s “There was a Light” (along with Peter Holsapple). A previously unreleased

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Ed Bumgardner, Rob Slater, and Chris Garges Easter tune, “While The World Careens,” was added to the mix thanks to Garges. An original from Peter May (“Short Flight to Jordan”) graces the LP, with May’s “You Are Sacred,” appearing on the “Be Good To Yourself: Snacks Vol. 1” four-track EP. Possibilities of a “Snacks Vol. 2” echo with intentions to expand outreach beyond MindPath Care Centers in the Triad, Triangle, and Charlotte areas. “We wish we could’ve delved deeper into Asheville and Wilmington, but, after two years of working, we had to stop at 27 releasable songs,” Bumgardner explained. “Future releases will draw even further from the well of North Carolina talent.” With the record itself offering a tangible reward, the Be Good to Yourself project ultimately serves as a gateway — with tax-deductible opportunities for folks to submit single donations or sponsor counseling sessions for musicians in single, monthly, or yearly allotments. Taking things live, Charles Latham and The Borrowed Band are playing a “Be Good to Yourself” fundraiser at The Glass Jug Beer Lab in Durham on Nov. 20. Upcoming shows from featured artists include Bruce Piephoff at Presbyterian Church of the Covenant in Greensboro on Nov. 21. Rodenbough’s group, Mipso, will be at the Ramkat on Dec. 3. As the holidays roll, Bumgardner and his DeFacto Brothers consider their time, energy, and $30,000 in production costs they’ve invested as a contribution to wellbeing. “This money won’t be recouped,” they said. “It’s our gift in hopes that no more friends and colleagues will suffer WWW.YESWEEKLY.COM

because they can’t afford treatment.” Ideally, fans will lend support in kind. “We hope people will respond, buy some music and merch, tell their friends, or, better still, buy multiple copies to give as Christmas presents,” Bumgardner said. “It sounds like a cliche, but Be Good To Yourself is literally a gift that keeps on giving,” he added. “Helping save lives — what could be more gratifying than that?” The “Be Good to Yourself Project” is underway. The album is out now. ! KATEI CRANFORD is a Triad music nerd who enjoys spotlighting artists and events.

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FIDDLIN’ FISH BREWING COMPANY 772 Trade St | 336.999.8945 www.fiddlinfish.com Nov 19: High School Reunion Dec 3: Lisa Saint Duo

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last call

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

ON CROWD NINE

I’m a 43-year-old woman in my second marriage with a man who’s also on his second marriage. We are both determined to make this marriage our last! We have a scheduled date night. Amy Alkon We make sure sex happens weekly. I’d Advice like to know whether there are other things Goddess we can do to keep from walking down the aisle a third time. —Hopeful In some marriages, somebody could lose consciousness and it wouldn’t be all that noticeable. Date nights are good for keeping the marital jets firing, as is having sex weekly, but regular dates and sextivities don’t change how being married is like subscribing to Netflick. No, my copyeditor isn’t day-drinking, and yes, I mean “flick.” Netflick would have only one movie, and you and your partner would be forced to watch it every night of your life together... until one or both of you shrivel up and die of boredom or start dialing jackals with law licenses (aka divorce lawyers). What can help is making your married life more like single people’s lives — uh, in ways that don’t remodel your vows into something more along the lines of suggestions. In a New York Times op-ed, social historian Stephanie Coontz explains, “Single people generally have wider social networks than married couples, who tend to withdraw into their coupledom.”

Though marriage “can provide a bounty of emotional, practical and financial support ... finding the right mate is no substitute for having friends and other interests.” Disappointingly, Coontz trots out a view widely (and uncritically) accepted among researchers: “On average, married people report higher well-being than singles.” And sure, there are studies that conclude this. However, social psychologist Bella DePaulo points out rather glaring flaws in some of the research making this claim. For example, she observes that even respected developmental psychologist E. Mavis Hetherington couldn’t see her faulty reasoning in concluding: “Happily married couples are healthier, happier, wealthier, and sexier than are singles.” The problem? Hetherington is comparing a subset of married people — HAPPILY MARRIED people (as opposed to ALL married people) — with ALL single people. I put this in perspective in a 2013 column: “Yes, shockingly, happily married people are happier than clinically depressed single people.” In fact, people who are unhappily single — who feel “distress” about being single — tend to be those who’d previously been married (and especially those newly divorced or widowed), notes Coontz. About the single-’n’-miserableness of the newly divorced or widowed, you might think, “Duh...they’re lonely or grieving!” Some or many might be. But I think Coontz is onto something in advising married people to “cultivate the skills of successful singlehood.” (Conversely, “people who are successful as singles” — meaning socially connected and relatively content with their lives — “are especially likely to end up in happy marriages, in large part because of the personal and social resources they

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developed before marrying.”) Coontz suggests you bring other people into your marriage — though not like they did in the ‘70s at those suburban parties with all the couples dropping their keys into a bowl. She’s talking about friendships with people beyond your spouse, and ideally, not just one or two others but a whole group. Research (by evolutionary social psychologist Stephanie Brown, among others) consistently finds being socially connected increases individuals’ personal well-being and is even associated with better physical health. Likewise, “maintaining social networks ... after marriage” can also “enhance and even revitalize your marriage,” writes Coontz. As for how you two could put this into practice, you might start by making some date nights double-date nights. This might seem like a bad idea — a date-night romance- and intimacy-killer. However, Coontz describes a date-night experiment in which researchers “assigned some couples to spend time by themselves and have deeply personal conversations,” while others were set up with a couple they’d never met “and told to initiate similar conversations.” Afterward, all of the couples

“reported greater satisfaction with their relationship,” but only those who’d been on the double date reported feeling more “romantic passion” for each other! Because it seems “the more” really is the (maritally) merrier, you and your husband could also host regular dinner parties, cocktail hours, brunches, and/or game nights. However, it’s also important that you each maintain individual interests, activities, and friendships. Ironically, regularly spending less time together — as well as following wise advice from Coontz to each maintain your ability to be self-reliant — should help you avoid going your separate ways. It’s great if your relationship starts to remind you of an iconic one in a classic movie — but not if the movie is “Cast Away,” starring Tom Hanks and a volleyball he draws a face on so he won’t be all alone on a desert island. ! 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. ©2021 Amy Alkon. Distributed by Creators.Com.

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