TCB Nov. 30, 2023 — Flipping the Script by Triad City Beat

THE PEOPLE’S PAPER NOV. 30 - DEC. 13, 2023

FLIPPING the

SCRIPT

KUYA BEAR BRINGS STREET READY FILIPINO EATS TO THE TRIAD BY SAYAKA MATSUOKA - PG. 15

QUEEN BEES PG. 13

WORKERS STRIKE PG. 6

2023 GIFT GUIDE! PG. 9

Chris Wiles @ the Comedy Zone (GSO) 7 p.m.

Known as the “Godfather of Triad Comedy,” Chris Wiles has appeared on Fox and CBS, and is a favorite of Carnival Cruise Lines, appearing alongside Chris Rock, Eddie Griffin and other comedians. Now, he’s offering a weekend of laughs at the Comedy Zone. Purchase tickets at thecomedyzone.com.

A Christmas Carol: The Musical @ High Point Theatre (HP) 7:30 p.m.

High Point Community Theatre presents a production of A Christmas Carol: The Musical, a musical version of the well-known holiday tale by Charles Dickens. Watch as Ebenezer Scrooge, who is no fan of Christmas, is visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future and is forced to face his selfish ways. Purchase tickets at hpct.net.

SATURDAY

Holiday Art Market @ Wine & Design (W-S) 12 p.m. Wine & Design invites you to the third annual Holiday Art Market spotlighting Winston-Salem artists. Visit the

DEC. 9 - 12 event page on Facebook for more information.

WinterFest 2023 @ High Point City Lake Park (Jamestown) 4 p.m.

Celebrate the beginning of the winter season with WinterFest 2023. Enjoy festive lights and decorations, amusement rides, children’s inflatables and more. Head to the event page on Facebook for more information.

Ugly Sweater Party & Contest @ SouthEnd Brewing Co. (GSO) 7 p.m.

Put on your ugliest Christmas sweater and head to SouthEnd to compete in the contest for the ugliest and tackiest holiday sweater. Live music will be provided by Second Glance Band. More information on the Facebook event page.

SUNDAY

Holiday Market @ Cooks Flea Market (W-S) 9 a.m. Cooks Flea Market invites you to a holiday market with great deals on new, used and handmade items. Visit the event page on Facebook for more information.

Merry Makers Market @ Centennial Station Arts Center (HP) 1 p.m.

High Point Arts Council is hosting a European-inspired merry makers market with one-of-a-kind creations, glühwein (hot mulled wine), hot cider and holiday spirits for purchase. More information on the Facebook event page.

TUESDAY

UP FRONT | NOV. 30 - DEC. 13, 2023

CITY LIFE

Scan the QR code to find more events at triad-citybeat.com/local-events

Christmas Sparktacular Tasting @ the Loaded Grape (GSO) 6 p.m.

The Loaded Grape invites you to a holiday-themed wine tasting featuring 16 sparkling wines from Cava, Prosecco and other regions. Visit loadedgrape.com to purchase tickets.

“

I don’t know why some people write songs, but for me, it’s because I don’t want to die from sadness so I’m going to write about it.

“

UP FRONT | NOV. 30 - DEC. 13, 2023

OPINION

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

— Molly McGinn, pg. 13

Black Friday Sale 20% off Appliances + a special gift when you shop in store November 24-25 3826 W Gate City Blvd Greensboro, NC 27407 1451 S. Elm-Eugene St. Box 24, Greensboro, NC 27406 Office: 336.681.0704 BUSINESS PUBLISHER/EXECUTIVE EDITOR

KEY ACCOUNTS

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TCBTIX

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EDITORIAL MANAGING EDITOR

Sayaka Matsuoka

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CONTRIBUTORS Carolyn de Berry, John Cole, Owens Daniels, James Douglas, Michelle Everette, Luis H. Garay, Destiniee Jaram, Kaitlynn Havens, Jordan Howse, Matt Jones, Autumn Karen, Michaela Ratliff, Jen Sorensen, Todd Turner

TCB IN A FLASH @ triad-city-beat.com

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ART

Aiden Siobhan

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COVER:

W-S: Joseph Olson started Kuya Bear in 2021 as a pop-up to make extra money. Now, he runs the operation full-time out of a food truck. Photo by Jerry Cooper GSO: The Queen Bees is made up of Molly McGinn, Anna Luisa Daigneault and Kate Musselwhite Tobey, three Greensboro-based musicians who first collaborated together in 2021. Photo by Carolyn de Berry Design by Aiden Siobhan

EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK

I’m grateful all the time

t’s been a busy f e w weeks h e r e in the MatsuokaLeBlanc household. Last week, we by Sayaka Matsuoka had an impromptu hosting of Sam’s parents in our 1,100-square-foot-home after they faced a septic tank crisis. (It’s all okay now.) That morning, we deep-cleaned the house, vacuuming, brushing the rug to collect all of the dog hair, cleaning the kitchen, scrubbing the toilets. And in the afternoon, his parents visited our humble abode with trays of mac and cheese, sweet potato casserole, slices of turkey and ham and at least one delicious bourbon-chocolate pecan pie. A few hours later, my parents came to visit too, and the six of us talked and drank coffee in our living room. It was nice. It was the first time that we’ve hosted Thanksgiving for our parents in our life. And it made us feel quite adult. I mean, we’re both still on our parents’ phone plan and we use our parents’ Netflix and

Youtube TV accounts. We’re still their kids, you know? But having our parents come over and spend time in the house we’ve made a home was kind of a milestone for us. And the fun isn’t over. We’re going to Asheville this weekend to hang out with Sam’s brother and his wife and we’ll be joined by Sam’s parents again. It’ll be their first time hosting the family, too, in their new house. The weekend after that, we’re getting together with friends for Friendsgiving. Two weekends after that, we’ll gather for Christmas in Chapel Hill and then again in Greensboro for a late Christmas/ New Year’s celebration. Of course, it’s a busy time of year. But reflecting on how we’ve m a t u r e d , changed, grown our families — both blood and otherwise — over the years, it’s hard not to be thankful. We’re privileged and lucky to have a home in a city that we love, surrounded by friends and family who make time out of their crazy lives to hang out with us. What more could we ask for? So yeah, in the words of Olivia Rodrigo — the voice of a generation — I’m grateful all the time.

We’re privileged and lucky to have a home in a city that we love, surrounded by friends and family who make time out of their crazy lives to hang out with us.

To suggest story ideas or send tips to TCB, email sayaka@triad-city-beat.com

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER Receive weekly updates on breaking News stories with Monday Mix, stay in the loop with our curated events calendar The Weekender, and view our headlining stories with TCB This Week.

A CityBeat story

Reporting In New city manager to make regular presentations in Winston-Salem

Pat Pate has been WInstonSalem’s city manager since earlier this month. FILE PHOTO

NEWS | NOV. 30 - DEC. 13, 2023

NEWS

by Gale Melcher | gale@triad-city-beat.com

inston-Salem’s new city manager is changing it up. Monday evening’s city council meeting showcased a new agenda item that will make a regular appearance at council meetings from now on: a city manager report. While he’s only a month into his new role, Winston-Salem’s new City Manager Pat Pate is already coloring outside of the lines drawn by previous city managers and will give presentations at the beginning of each council meeting. His predecessor Lee Garrity didn’t have a specific time set aside for his comments. Winston-Salem’s new feature follows in the footsteps of neighboring Greensboro, which has had comment periods for their city managers during council meetings for several years now. That’s changed recently, too. Their reports used to go at the end of Greensboro’s meetings. But this March, City Manager Taiwo Jaiyeoba City Beat stories are free to republish, courtesy of Triad City Beat began saying his piece near the start of the agenda. and the NC Local News Lab Fund. See our website for details. Winston-Salem’s Pate used his time on Monday evening to draw attention to a roundup of items, from holiday events to city operations. “We talked a lot about leaf collection last year, and it was not always a fun conversation “We want to make sure that we are updating you and the to be had,” King said. community on a few things that are going on,” Pate told councilmembers. This year, the city started collecting leaves on Oct. 30, with the first round of collection Pate drew attention to nominations for this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Young Dreamers Awards. The city is looking for two young adult leaders who have made a already completed in around two-thirds of the city. “I get more calls on leaves than pretty much everything else combined,” West Ward “tangible difference in the lives of those who may have otherwise been overlooked, ignored or disadvantaged” to be selected for the honor, according to a press release Councilmember Robert Clark said. This year, Clark has “yet to get a call.” In his ward, he sees “piles disappearing every from the city. They must be city residents between 18-40 years old, nominations are open to the public and must be received by Dec. 14. The city seeks people who have day.” This juxtaposes with Greensboro’s leaf-collection changes, which were approved by done “outstanding work” in the community that is “in the spirit of how Dr. Martin Luther council in August. This fall marks Greensboro’s last season of loose-leaf collection. King Jr. lived and encouraged others to live.” Pate also made sure to mention this year’s holiday parade, which will begin and end Next year, there will be no more vacuum trucks, no more raking leaves to the edge of the street. at Corpening Plaza on Dec. 2 at 5 p.m. Beginning March 1, residents must use only biodegradable paper bags for yard waste One of the issues Pate touched on was the fact that the city has been struggling with such as leaves, as well as a large cart that will be provided to residents by summertime. staff retention and hiring. The city has also promoted a movement that will not only ease the city’s collection “I know council has been concerned about our hiring rate,” Pate said. Then he revealed some good news: He’d just attended his second employee responsibilities, but help out the environment, too. It’s called “leave the leaves.” As part of the effort, city staff is encouraging residents to keep leaves on their lawns orientation that day, surmising that he’d greeted more than 50 new employees. or mulch them instead of raking and bagging them. “That’s a good sign that we’re making good progress there,” he noted. “Letting leaves naturally decompose where they land creates natural mulch that The manager’s minute also included a chat about this year’s leaf collection, which is going smoothly per city staff and councilmembers. Pate called upon Assistant enriches the soil and creates a habitat and food for beneficial microorganisms, insects City Manager Aaron King to give residents an update. According to King, the weather, and small wildlife, among other environmental benefits,” a city press release states. staffing levels and leaf collecting equipment have cooperated this fall. During last year’s 5 leaf collection season, they did not.

NEWS | NOV. 30 - DEC. 13, 2023

NEWS L-R: Kelly Shepherd, Kerri Fulk and Shannon Faucette all work at Eastern Guilford High School’s cafeteria and walked out on Nov. 27 to strike for higher wages. PHOTO BY SAYAKA MATSUOKA

‘We Deserve More’

Guilford County Schools’ cafeteria workers go on strike for higher wages

by Sayaka Matsuoka | sayaka@triad-city-beat.com

espite near-freezing temperatures, more than 200 Guilford County Schools’ cafeteria workers went on strike this week to demand higher wages. Kelly Shepherd, Eastern High School’s cafeteria manager, who helped organize the effort to walk out, said that he and others had been involved in negotiations with Travis Fisher, the district’s executive director of school nutrition services, for the past three weeks but that talks had broken down this week. On Monday, nutrition services within the state’s third-largest school district were disrupted with many teachers, staff and administrators having to step in to feed students on the fly. Some students opted to order food from DoorDash while others went without. On Tuesday, as workers went on strike again, an increased amount of district staff was called in to feed students. By Tuesday evening, district administrators had reached an agreement with workers and nutrition employees returned to cafeterias on Wednesday.

What happened?

efore negotiations took place this week, most cafeteria workers were making anywhere from $15-18 per hour depending on their position. Salary increases based on years of experience, otherwise known as “step” pay, currently does not apply to nutrition workers within Guilford County. That has been a sticking point for many workers. Lisa Hargrove, who works as the cafeteria manager at Jackson Middle School, said that she’s worked for Guilford County Schools for 22 years, and that she and others like her are tired of being underpaid. 6 “They just want to be paid for the work that they do,” she said, “and at this time, they

don’t feel like they are.” Currently, Hargove said that she works to feed anywhere from 400-500 kids per day for both breakfast and lunch service because there’s been an increase in the student population due to consolidation during school construction. Right now, first through fifth grade students who were zoned for Foust Elementary School are attending Jackson Middle School while their school is being rebuilt. “You know, that’s a job I didn’t ask for,” Hargrove said. She noted that she didn’t receive a raise when the workload increased. She also said it doesn’t make sense for a manager like her, with more than 20 years on the job, to make the same amount as someone just coming in. On Monday afternoon, Superintendent Whitney Oakley met with group leaders like Shepherd to offer an updated payment plan. The updates included a 7 percent salary increase for cafeteria managers and a 4 percent increase across the board for nutrition assistants, with 2.3 percent of that increase having been paid out in October. Under the updated plan, the minimum starting pay for workers will be raised to $15.86 for assistants and $18.60 per hour for managers. Assistant managers, who pay falls in the middle range, will also get a 4 percent raise. A pro-rated quarterly bonus for school nutrition service managers “serving over 100 meals on average per day was also included. Part of the reason it’s been difficult to pay nutrition workers more, even as other classified staff like bus drivers and custodians have gotten raises, is because the state doesn’t allocate funding for nutritional staff. That means that when other workers get raises, like in the most recent state budget when classified workers got a 4 percent raise, cafeteria workers are left out, leaving local municipalities to make up the funding. “Another important thing to remember here is that the state doesn’t fund school

How are workers responding?

hepherd said on Tuesday evening that the workers didn’t get everything that they asked for but that they still consider the week’s efforts a win. “We felt like we were at a position where we didn’t get everything we wanted but we did get something accomplished with the percentages and stuff that we got and we laid groundwork, we think, for budget negotiations come spring,” Shepherd. “I think we can call it a win. Did we get everything? Absolutely not.” One of the things that he and many other employees are still hoping for is the reinstitution of the “step” plan. During Monday’s press conference, Oakley mentioned that while they can’t guarantee that the “step” pay would come back, that now is the time to think about it as they plan for the next budget cycle. When asked why the “step” pay was eliminated a few years ago, Oakley said that when the state raised the minimum pay for cafeteria workers to $15 per hour, it made the step pay unsustainable. “There were people making $12 an hour and then the minimum was raised, that creates that compression if you think about it in terms of how much people make and years of experience,” Oakley said. “But we have gone back and figured out how to do that in other areas. This is different because of the fact that it’s an enterprise fund; it’s not state or locally funded source so we are committing to having a conversation and figuring out how to do that, but it’s going to have to be different than what we do for our bus drivers, or our plumbers, or our grounds crew just because of how school nutrition is funded. But we did tell them in writing and tonight and yesterday that we hear them and that step is a concern.” Oakley said that during the town hall she met with two cafeteria managers, one who has been working for 23 years and one who had been working for two weeks; their pay is the same. “That doesn’t feel fair no matter what your job is or what industry you’re in,” Oakley said. “We are committed to having that conversation. I also think we have to understand how the funding stream works and that’s the reality.”

Center, NC’s per-student funding, funding distribution between low-poverty and highpoverty districts, as well as the amount of the state’s GDP that is dedicated to funding schools, resulted in the state ranking last in a 2022 report. At the end of September, GOP lawmakers in NC pushed to include an expansion of the school voucher program into the state budget, which passed without Gov. Roy Cooper’s signature. Many Democratic representatives, including Rep. Ashton Clemmons and Sen. Gladys Robinson, both of Guilford County, pushed back against the expansion stating that it takes funding away from public schools. “Let me be clear: We’re using public taxpayers’ money to subsidize private schools for wealthy people, and that’s not because they asked for it, it’s simply because you want to give it to them,” Robinson said in a NC Newsline article. Currently, the county commissioners, who set the property tax rate every year, is comprised of seven Democrats and two Republicans after Republican James Upchurch vacated the District 6 seat in October. Historically, Democratic members of county commission have been more vocal about funding for public education compared to their Republican counterparts. After the two days of striking, Shepherd said that he’s optimistic about the future. “I’m overall pleased, and I think the group is too,” he said. “Again, not exactly what we wanted but better than what we thought going in. And, not having been a budget negotiator, I don’t think we did too bad. We hadn’t gotten fired yet so that’s a win, right?”

Sat. Dec. 9th

2pm - 5pm

Windsor Recreation Center (1601 East Gate City Blvd Greensboro NC)

FREE and open to the public with FREE food and FREE reading books

Toy wrapping and giveaway

FEATURING KIDS FROM OUR AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM: Lewis Recreation Center - Peeler Recreation Center, Archer Elementary School - Partnership Village of the Greensboro Urban Ministry

Performances by Fred Motley Gate City Breakers Housewife Band 40+Double Dutch Club

‘People have to think about who they vote for’

oing into the future, Oakley said that because nutrition workers aren’t funded by the state, the school district will have to be creative about pooling funding from different pots including federal, state and local funding for not just cafeteria employees, but all employees. Part of making it easier to fund public schools and thus pay employees, is electing the right officials, something Oakley alluded to during Monday’s press conference. “I don’t want to say that this is it and we’re done but it’s something that we have to work on and work towards,” Oakley said. “We can’t do that as a school district alone though. People have to think about who they vote for, how they vote, where they show up, who they advocate for. And we need to make sure that the choices we’re making are in favor of public education.” As reported by Education NC, NC has been ranked last in the nation for K-12 public school funding in recent years. According to data collected by the Education Law

NEWS | NOV. 30 - DEC. 13, 2023

nutrition programs,” Oakley said during Monday’s press conference. “They are completely self revenue. So what money brings in is what money we can put out, and that drives what we’re able to do but also unfortunately what we’re not able to do.” According to the district, funding for nutritional services is determined by the number of paid meals served and reimbursements from the federal government. The district has not increased school lunch fares since the 2017-18 school year. On Monday evening after the district unveiled its new plan, cafeteria workers met via a Zoom call and voted to reject the district’s offer. On Tuesday morning, they were back outside striking for a second day. On Tuesday afternoon, Oakley held a town hall with about 60-100 workers where she explained to them the financial difficulties while stating that she heard their concerns. In addition to the announced raises, the district said that it would implement an advisory council for school nutrition employees to foster ongoing discussions and feedback moving forward. Oakley said that they plan on having the council formed by the end of January 2024. Afterwards, the district announced that workers agreed to return to schools on Wednesday.

DJ Sugga Shack

Kids Poetry Basketball is a literacy enhancing program designed for kids ages 4-13. Presented by:

Contact Clement Mallory for questions 336-988-0793 KidsPoetryBasketball.com

Sponsors:

SUMMIT ROTARY

JOHN RICH

OPINION | NOV. 30 - DEC. 13, 2023

OPINION

EDITORIAL

Almost 14 years later, Medicaid expansion begins in NC

UPCOMING CONCERTS!

by Brian Clarey

t certainly took us long enough. It would eat up our entire word count to explore the reasons why the North Carolina legislature fought so hard against expanding Medicaid to its more vulnerable residents. Suffice to say that most of them stemmed from a distaste for former President Barack Obama, whose signature Affordable Care Act became law the same year that Republicans took over our state government. But finally, as of Dec. 1, NC becomes the 40th state to adopt this measure. The ACA i m p r o v e d healthcare for all Americans in ways large and small. But its most important provision allowed for individuals and families living below 138 percent of the federal poverty level to qualify for free government healthcare. In NC, that means individuals aged 19-64 making less than $20k per year — or families of four pulling in less than $41k — can finally qualify for free annual doctor visits, dentistry, emergency care, mental healthcare and preventative care. This affects about 1.3 million North Carolinians. Which begs the question: What were 8 they doing before?

Short answer: They were suffering and sometimes dying because they could not access the treatment they needed. So while there’s cause to celebrate, there’s a fair share of shame that must be dropped at the feet of NC Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore, who used their positions of power to thwart Medicaid expansion for more than 10 years. And when they finally allowed for it — largely because the America Rescue Plan Act allowed for $1.63 billion in incentives for the state — they tucked it into a budget that erodes the public school system, exempts state legislators form public-records laws, creates a secret police force and awards $17.5 million to fake pregnancy clinics, among other atrocities. This is not a fair trade. But for those who finally have access to some healthcare, it’s welcome nonetheless. Still, we must ask why — when not just millions if not billions of dollars but also the health of more than 10 percent of our state’s population is on the line — it took so long to make this a reality.

As of Dec. 1, North Carolina becomes the 4oth state to adopt Medicaid expansion.

We don’t expect an answer.

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LOCAL

Gift Guide 2023

LOCAL GIFT GUIDE / SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

OPINION | NOV. 30 - DEC. 13, 2023

LOCAL GIFT GUIDE / SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

DOSE+INBTWN

Dabble Art Bar

606 Trade St. NS W-S doseartistcollective.com

840 Mill Works Road W-S dabbleartbar.com

abble Art Bar is Winston-Salem’s newest hangout spot. The momand-kid team, Sarah and Tuesday, opened their doors in September at the West End Mill Works. As WinstonSalem natives, they wanted to add to the city’s creative culture by bringing fresh perspectives and experiences. Designed for the creatively curious, the art bar menu includes everything from coloring to stamp carving, plus an array of holiday activities, like ornament decorating, card-making, “Gingerboard” houses and

mini-tree making. Beginners and families welcome. Give the gift of joy! The gift shop is a menagerie of artful goods including vintage glassware, pottery, jewelry, tees, candles & more. Gift cards available in any amount and can be used in the shop or art bar. Dabble will also host live music performances, pop-up hot chocolate bars, movie screenings and more during the month of December. Check out their website to learn more.

The Dragon’s Hoard

NBTWN is a community art space located in Winston-Salem that provides free programming during the week ranging from songwriting workshops to mixed-media nights to album and record listening events, with live music on the weekends. They curate local art in the storefront (jewelry, clothes, prints, instruments, etc.) by 13 local creatives so far since opening in September 2023. The space is run by DOSE Artist Collective, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Winston-Salem, NC. They’re mission is to provide opportunities for local creatives to experiment, collaborate and connect with the community through gallery space, programming and events, and affordable housing. All events are posted on their instagram @ dose.inbtwn.ws weekly and on their website for the full calendar of events at www.doseartistcollective.com.

Habi ReSt

4645 W. Market St. GSO 336.617.5668 dragonshoardgameshop.com

ragon’s Hoard is a family-run store focusing on gaming, collectibles and crafts. Players from all over the Triad and Triangle gather to play Magic the Gathering, Lorcana, Warhammer, Dungeons & Dragons and more every week. Shoppers from all over the state come in to purchase uniquely geeky homemade crafts and traditional collectibles ranging from dice and potions to staples like Funko Pops and anime statues. If you’re ever looking for a space to call your home-away-from-home to

discuss the latest metas for your favorite card game or strategies on how to mix your miniature paints for that perfect metallic shine, Dragon’s Hoard is that home. If you’re looking for presents for you coworkers, your child’s classmates or a neighborhood White Elephant party, we have everything you could need with prices ranging from just a few dollars like hot wheels to higher end items like cartoon cels for that special someone in your life. Make sure Dragon’s Hoard is on your list to visit this holiday season!

2190 L habita

Relief Heating & Cooling

it’s all at ReStore. Com our 12 Days season, Dec unique gift o make your h Habitat Gre not just a donate you and find a g

336.442.9278 reliefhc.com

he little details matter, especially when dealing with what can be the most expensive equipment in most people’s biggest investment: Their homes. Relief Heating & Cooling built their business on trust, says Avion Harris, who handles marketing for the family business. “We stand by our work 100 percent,” Avion says. “We don’t leave until the job is finished, whether it’s repairing an HVAC system in an old house that is starting to break down, to routine maintenance to a complete install of a brand new unit. We do a

Happ doing cooli air pu cond includ disco Re Forsy servi Call f or to and e

Clemmons Florist

2828 Battleground Ave. GSO 336.282.1701 clemmonsfloristinc.com

stablished in 1954, we are Greensboro’s oldest family owned florist. A forth generation florist offering the finest flowers and plants available anywhere. We offer prompt delivery service to all of Greensboro and most of Guilford County. Because our customers are important, our professional staff is dedicated to providing you with the most prompt service and quality products obtainable. Hundreds of arrangements available for delivery or pick up at https://www. clemmonsfloristinc.com - or call us for that extra special touch!

itat for Humanity tore

housewares, or building materials. It is where people from all walks of life work together Lawndale Drive GSO for a greater good; and a place atgreensboro.org that strengthens families and builds From vases and homes. picture frames to Every purchase from Greensboro’s tables and chairs to ReStore helps build safe, stable, light bulbs and doors, and affordable housing for families Habitat Greensboro’s in Greensboro through Habitat me shop with us during Greensboro’s Homeownership s of Deals this holiday Program. For more information, c. 8 – 23, to find that please visit HabitatGreensboro.org or the perfect item to home holiday-ready! eensboro’s ReStore is place where you can ur gently used items great deal on furniture,

py Check within a day or two of a call just to see how we’re g. In addition to all manner of expertise on all heating and ing systems, Relief Heating & Cooling can also work with urification, humidifiers and dehumidifiers, and ductless airditioning. The Relief Comfort Club offers a service plan that des priority scheduling, free air filters, waived fees and ounts on parts. elief Heating & Cooling operates throughout Guilford and yth Counties, where you’ll see their signature aquamarine ice trucks and sharp-dressed technicians applying their trade. for an estimate, or visit the website to set up an appointment learn more. Available every day for both routine maintenance emergency services.

NEWS | NOV. 30 - DEC. 13, 2023

LOCAL GIFT GUIDE / SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Scuppernong Books independent

books

booksellers

‘scup?

wine =

community

scuppernongbooks.com = scuppernongbooks@gmail.com 304 South Elm St. Greensboro NC 27401 = 336.763.1919

Scuppernong Books 304 S. Elm St. GSO 336.763.1919 scuppernongbooks.com

cuppernong Books opened on Dec. 21, 2013 and has been an essential part of the rebirth of downtown Greensboro ever since. We are a general interest/literary bookstore featuring fiction and poetry along with a remarkable children’s section and a broad range of general interest titles. Within the store is a café serving organic coffee and espresso, wine and beer sourced primarily from local small businesses. We also partner with Jerusalem Market for sandwiches, salads and more substantial fare. Scuppernong Books also hosts hundreds of events

a year, bringing in writers from around the world, the country and the state. In 2019, we hosted more than 250 writers, as well as theater, music, dance and community conversation. In 2017, Scuppernong Books was instrumental in the formation of the Greensboro Literary Organization, a separate non-profit organization which stages the annual Greensboro Bound Literary Festival, and brings authors into the Guilford County Schools through their Authors Engaging Students program. In 2018, we formed Scuppernong Editions, an eclectic small press. Scuppernong Books believes that independent bookstores have an important role to fill in a community. We hope to live up to that responsibility with an openness to ideas, a respect for all the individuals that make up our Greensboro community, and a willingness 11 to have fun doing so.

This holiday season, make a difference with your gift choices.

Shop local and support Greensboro’s small businesses.

CULTURE | NOV. 30 - DEC. 13, 2023

CULTURE A ‘Triforce’

Kate Musselwhite Tobey, Molly McGinn and Anna Luisa Daigneault are the Queen Bees

by Sayaka Matsuoka sayaka@triad-city-beat.com

hey don’t really have the time, but they do it anyway. When Kate Musselwhite Tobey texted Molly McGinn and Anna Luisa Daigneault earlier this year to ask if they wanted to enter the NC Folk Festival’s Not Your Average Folk competition, McGinn was quick to say, “No.” The Queen Bees (L-R): Molly “I was in a space where I was trying to say no more and trying McGinn, Anna Luisa Daigneault and Kate Musselwhite Tobey, to be more thoughtful about projects that I say yes to,” McGinn bring three distinct influences to recalls. their music. Even Daigneault responded in the thread by saying that she was tired, wiped out. PHOTO BY CAROLYN DE BERRY “And Kate responded and was like, ‘Are you sure?’” Learn more about the McGinn says. “And I’m doing pilates in the garage and Queen Bees on Instathinking, ‘Well, actually, I’ve got this song start….’” gram at @queen.bees. years feels especially unique. Over the next few weeks, the three sent texts, voice music. The three will be “I have really been missing playing with women,” McGinn says. “I’m lucky memos, beats and lyrics back and forth as they created to find a collaborative musician in general, but there’s something particularly performing at the Blue a song. Tobey renamed their text thread “Queen Bees,” lovely to be able to play with women who are also peers and also women Ridge Music Center on and the name stuck. you admire.” Jan. 20. “Because we’re grown ass women, we text each other Plus, the three bring distinct skills that allow them to each make their mark at like 7 a.m. because that’s the time we’re awake and on the music. have time to do stuff,” Daigneault says. “We’ve able to bridge between Molly’s world building, research and lyrics, Kate’s Eventually, those few lines that McGinn had come up ear for arrangement and structure and me with the actual production side and the coalesced into the disco-inspired song, “Let the Queen Be,” for skeleton of the song,” Daigneault says. “I like to call us the triforce; I know we’ll share which the trio made it to the finals of the competition. the load equally between us in a way that feels healthy and fun.” The three artists, creatives, writers, musicians all have their own solo work for So, when the opportunity presented itself again this year, the trio came back together which they are known. McGinn is a folk singer-songwriter known for her near constant for another shot. collaborations with local musicians, including with Daigneault in the past. Daigneault, “The nugget of that creative idea, the spark was so real,” Tobey says. “You could just who performs under the stage name Quilla, is a vocalist, songwriter and electronic see all the places it could go.” music producer. Tobey is a classically trained violinist who uses her talents to harmonize with local musicians. Prior to the three getting together, she had worked A celebratory queer anthem with both McGinn and Daigneault separately. In addition to their creative pursuits, all cGinn’s smoky alto voice offers up the first line, introduced by Quilla’s three balance full-time jobs with other creative side projects; two of them have kids. It’s tinny disco beat and a smooth bassline. a lot to add another musical collaboration on top of everything they’re doing. “She moves like Donna Summers undercover,” McGinn sings as So why do it? Tobey’s fingers pluck violin strings. “A disco bird of paradise. And that’s Part of it is because they didn’t win the competition two years ago when they gave just her on a Sunday, hip step through the grocery aisles. Oh, why be King, when you it a go. could be Queen?” “I was personally heartbroken,” McGinn says. “We didn’t even make the final four.” The impetus of the song, according to McGinn, was watching all of the anti-trans 13 But also, McGinn says the relationship that the three of them have built over the

CULTURE | NOV. 30 - DEC. 13, 2023

and anti-drag queen hate that has been rising in the last few years. “I was thinking, Wait a minute; we could take this contest and make it an opportunity to really stand up for something and make a difference in something,” McGinn says. The tempo picks up for the chorus as all three sing along. “Drag Queen dreams, in bootcut jeans With rhinestones wear her heart should be Let the Queen be” In addition to coming up with the sound of the song, which was anchored by Daigneault’s production and Tobey’s talent for harmonizing, the three used their skills as researchers (Daigneault) and as past journalists (McGinn and Tobey) to learn more about queer history. They delved into Queerolina, an online oral history project of queer history in North Carolina and listened to the stories for They have a lot of inspiration. Initially, after they created the song, they hoped fun. to premiere it and shoot the video at a queer club but realized that they don’t have those connections. PHOTO BY CAROLYN “It was a little presumptuous for me to think that just DE BERRY because you write an anthem for a community that you know where they’re coming from,” McGinn says. “That was a big lesson for me.” In the end, they shot the video at the Flat Iron, where they’ve performed in recent weeks. Part of the reason they wanted to create an anthem rather than just a song, is because the three, who identify as cisgender, view music as an arm for social justice and storytelling. “We have a tendency to see collectively beyond the song,” Tobey says. In addition to “Ravens and the Wrens,” the song they created in 2021 — which was inspired by trans activist and author Sam Peterson — the Queen Bees have about a

dozen songs, many of which they’ll be performing at the Ramkat on Nov. 29. They’re plan is to release an EP next year. Almost all of the songs represent a kind of push and pull dichotomy that speaks to a larger issue within society. “I think we all see music in our own way as a platform that we’re very privileged to have,” Tobey says. “We’re trying to see the deeper meaning and the most meaningful way to use these instruments, these tools.” “As the Sea Rises” and “You Belong Here,” both penned by Daigneault, touch on climate change and migration respectively. “Everything is Fine” by Tobey was inspired by the meme, the one with the dog surrounded by fire. “Each song goes into a heavy theme,” Daigneault says. “But we find a way to make it uplifting.” For McGinn songmaking is also a personal “antidepressant strategy.” “If I’m feeling terrible, my only option is to make something beautiful out of it and make other people feel connected to it,” she says. “I don’t know why some people write songs, but for me, it’s because I don’t want to die from sadness so I’m going to write about it.” As the three have continued to collaborate after the Folk Festival, they say that working together has changed them as musicians. “My own sound feels stronger and more interesting,” Tobey says. That’s why, even though they don’t have the time, they couldn’t do without it. “We’re inventing pockets of time to do this project because it feeds our soul,” Daigneault says. McGinn puts it plainly. “There’s no way we’re not going to do it.”

Flipping the Script Kuya Bear brings street ready Filipino eats to the Triad

CULTURE | NOV. 30 - DEC. 13, 2023

CULTURE

by Sayaka Matsuoka | sayaka@triad-city-beat.com

TOP: Joseph Olson is the hey’re not all nurses. That’s what Joseph Olson wants owner-operator of Kuya people to know about Filipinos. That, and the fact that Bear, a new FIlipino food their food doesn’t really taste like other Asian food. truck based on out Winston“I feel like Filipino food is very different from all other Salem. Asian cuisine in that it’s not very Asian-y,” says Olson. “It BOTTOM: In addition to meat lumpia, Kuya Bear also has has so many different influences and it’s not the typical Asian flavors like ube lumpia as a sweet treat. you get when you go to Chinese or Japanese or Thai restaurants.” Because the taste is hard to explain, Olson prefers to let people try it PHOTOS BY JERRY COOPER instead. For the last two years, he’s been running Kuya Bear, a Filipino food truck out of Winston-Salem. At first, it started as a way to make extra money. “In December 2021, my friend was doing these food pop-ups at Krankies and I saw other people doing burger pop-ups and I needed says. money,” says Olson, who has lived in Winston-Salem since 2017. “I saw that it was a Follow Kuya Bear “At the time, I worked in education.” need in the area in terms on Instagram at Now, Olson runs Kuya Bear full time as the head chef, social of availability,” he says. @kuyabearfood. media manager, swag creator, truck driver and basically anything “I was also raised more else that needs to get done. American than Filipino so “It’s essentially just me,” he says. “I do all the booking, decide I feel like I can bridge the what’s on the menu, the social media.” gap between the cultures. I But it suits Olson’s entrepreneurial spirit. Coming from a background feel like I have the knowledge in the skate and hardcore music scene, Olson took the skills he learned like to expose more people to Filipino making flyers, self-promotion and graphic design and has poured them into his new culture. It’s helped me to connect food business. to my culture and heritage more “I’m self-taught in everything,” he says. and try dishes I’ve never tried And that kind of includes the food. before.” Growing up, Olson says his mom, Deana, made Filipino staples like lumpia for meals. In addition to exposing more people to the food, Olson says that another part of the The way that he explains it is it’s like a “long fried dumpling” that looks akin to a thin business that he enjoys is the ability to be creative. As a self-taught designer who loves spring roll but with meat. to follow streetwear trends, he’s had the opportunity to make his own logo and design When he saw his friend and others doing food pop-ups, he decided to take his mom’s his own swag for the company, something he wasn’t able to do in his former job as a lumpia recipe and make a batch using a camping stove and a pot of hot oil. Almost school counselor. two years later and he’s expanded the business to add more to the menu including The logo for Kuya Bear depicts a cartoony bear in a traditional two-step “Running crab rangoon rolls and ube lumpia, a sweet dessert version of the savory staple. He’s Man” pose, something that a lot of hardcore merch designs use, Olson says. The also added other Filipino dishes that he taught himself to make, like tapsilog, which is bear even has an “X” on its hand as a shoutout to straightedge culture. On Nov. 30, a a traditional Filipino breakfast consisting of fried rice, sliced tomatoes, a fried egg and promotional Kuya Bear skate video will be premiered at Sayso Coffee from 7-9 p.m. marinated steak. Instead of serving it all on a plate, Olson prefers to wrap the contents “My business has become a vehicle for me to do things that I like to do,” he says. in a tortilla and serve it like a breakfast burrito. He’s also got a chicken adobo burrito Olson stays connected to younger generations by doing a design collaboration with that uses chicken that’s been braised for hours so that it’s tender and juicy. other Filipino artists who he features on the Kuya Bear social media every month. Perfect for the winter is the nilaga, a Filipino pot-roast soup that comes full of garlic, “I do most of the graphic design myself but I like to partner with other local artists ginger, bok choy, napa cabbage, daikon, onion, oyster sauce and short ribs; it’s also and I want to highlight younger creatives,” he says. “There are so many talented young Olson’s favorite food. kids, and I want to be a platform for those kids as well.” “I grew up in the Midwest,” he says. “And I would go out sledding, and it would be so Now that he’s found more of a Filipino community here and in states like New York, cold and I would come home and my mom would have nilaga made.” where he goes for food festivals, Olson says he wants to help bolster others like him Despite the fond memories, Olson says that Filipino food isn’t his favorite cuisine. who chose the arts over nursing. “Admittedly I don’t really love Filipino food that much,” he says. “I don’t know if that’s In that way, he’s kind of like the “kuya,” or the older brother, to those he’s worked with. because of my taste budget or if it’s because I grew up seeing my friends eat mac and “Being able to share my experience and relate to others has been really cool,” he says. cheese. I don’t even eat my own lumpia.” “And it makes me feel proud finally after all these years. It’s funny, I felt like an outcast But seeing the dearth of options in the Triad made him want to bridge the gap, he when I was younger, but now I can use those memories to connect with others.” 15

CULTURE | NOV. 30 - DEC. 13, 2023

CULTURE

Striking Blue and Gold

NC A&T women’s bowling team strives for fourth consecutive MEAC championship following strong season start by Michaela Ratliff michaela@triad-city-beat.com

The women’s bowling team at NCA&T State University won the MEAC Championship this year and are training to win the 2024 champtionship in March. PHOTO BY ERIN E. MIZELLE/ NCA&T STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

To keep their bowling skills sharp during the off-season, the players take advantage of opportunities in their hometowns. The 2024 MEAC Bowling “Normally we bowl leagues locally wherever we’re at. That really helps Championship will be held he women’s bowling team at NC A&T us keep in shape,” says Chloe Newberry, a junior who joined the team March 22-24, 2024 at Buffaloe State University is leaving a striking in 2021. Lanes North Family Bowling legacy. “I try to practice every day at least for an hour trying to keep my form Center in Raleigh. Learn more With 37 wins so far this season, the in check,” she adds. about the NC A&T women’s team recently came out on top with a In addition to participating in local and national tournaments and bowling team at ncataggies. score of 1,004-980 against Lincoln Memorial University leagues to maintain her competitive edge, Tomaszewski dedicates the com/sports/womensat the Hawk Classic bowling tournament hosted by the off-season to working on spares, learning her arsenal — or collection of bowling. Follow them on University of Maryland Eastern Shore on Nov. 17. balls of various strengths and shapes — and running drills. Instagram at The team is no stranger to championships, though. In “There are some days where I will just go do drills in the bowling alley @ncataggiebowling. addition to the 2015 Intercollegiate Team Championships, just to make sure everything’s staying on the up and up,” Tomaszewski the team has won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference says. Championship seven times, and every year since 2021, including The players and coach say a lesser-known challenge of bowling is that it can this year. be physically and mentally taxing. “Not a lot of teams get to say they get to three-peat in their conference championships,” “By the end of the day, we’re wiped out because you’re using every single bit of all says graduate student Lauren Tomaszewski, who is in her fourth and final year with the you have in terms of the physical effort it takes to throw the ball that many times team. “Hopefully that turns into a four-peat this year.” throughout the day as well as competing at such a high level,” Terrell-Kearney says. Since 2016, the team has been led by Head Coach Kim Terrell-Kearney, who started Newberry acknowledges the difficulty of staying in a competitive mindset at 4 p.m. bowling at 8 years old. Perfecting her craft over time has earned her five conference when matches began at 8 a.m. championships, five regular-season titles and four Coach of the Year awards. According “Staying competitive most of the day is kind of difficult because they’re very long to the NCAT Aggies website, under Terrell-Kearney’s direction, “the Aggies have secured days,” she says. 14 first-team All-MEAC recognitions by eight different players.” Despite the tough parts of bowling, the team remains optimistic for the future of the “It was a good fall,” she says. “I’m very happy with how we’ve played. I think we’re only season and the program as a whole. Tomaszewski looks forward to how new students getting better every year.” develop skills based on former players. She is joined by her husband and assistant coach Eric Kearney, who was on the “With it being my last year here, I’m really excited to see the progress of the new men’s bowling team at A&T from 1991-94. recruits coming in and depending on what we do this year, how they’re going to build Terell-Kearney runs alternating practice sessions, with some days focused on small off that for the years to come.” she says. groups and others on full team practices. Small groups involve improving players’ According to Terrell-Kearney, one priority for the bowling program is to foster a versatility, skill and ability to repeat shots while the women learn to play off each other competitive yet enjoyable environment so players want to return. For Newberry, the during team practices. ultimate goal is to win. During the season, the team’s schedule includes travel on Thursday, competing “Our eyes are set on that national championship,” Newberry says. “We are really during the weekend and relaxing on Mondays. Because of this, the team opts for gunning for that.” intentional, vigorous practices when they can. “If we’re competing that week, we really only get to practice two days,” Terrell-Kearney 16 says. “There’s always a lot to do.”