TCB Sept. 24, 2020 — The 2020 Legislative Issue

Greensboro / Winston-Salem / High Point Sept. 24-30, 2020 triad-city-beat.com

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The 2020 Legislative Issue

The coronavirus session — so many bills, so few laws PAGE 5

Newspaper layoffs PAGE 10

Nasty voicemails PAGE 2

Vinyl in film PAGE 12

Sept. 24-30, 2020

EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK

Racism is the root issue You people on any given time, perhaps a third of the Triad the damn left, is upset with me, a third are grateful that you’re making one I’m here and a third don’t care either way. big mistake about Lately I’ve been experiencing a new Donald Trump form of vitriol, above and beyond the usual and his voter base. fare: Personal. Menacing. Disturbingly We are deplorable misguided. just like Hillary The best — or worst, depending on your

by Brian Clarey calls us…. We are point of view — came in the form of a sedeplorables; we’re bitter clingers. We’re all ries of anonymous voicemails, 38 minutes that shit you call us, and we’re worse than spread out over 12 messages from a single that, actually. We’re racist…. We don’t give source. a damn about politics…. All we want is that It’s part personal attack, part manifesto wall on the southern border to keep out Roand part lunatic screed, a diatribe against man Catholics with brown skin, who have a everything that is not white or Christian.

Latin culture…. So yeah, It invokes the founding we are racist. We don’t fathers, Donald Trump and Lately I’ve been like Black people. Hell Vladimir Putin. My caller experiencing a new no, we don’t like ’em. made predictions, named We call ’em [N-word] in enemies and walked right form of vitriol, private conversation. We up to the line of threatening above and beyond hate their damn guts. personal violence.

We don’t want ’em here.

But the most interesting the usual fare: They have no place in thing he said is excerpted Personal. Menacing. above, where my Copenhaour vision of America.

In fact, no non-whites…. gen-voiced caller articulates Disturbingly We’re not political, we’re the heart of Trump’s base, misguided. racial. We’re strictly the basis for Nixon’s Southracial. … Trump’s not a ern Strategy, the reason why political leader, he’s a our first Black president sent racial leader, I support Trump only because I so many white Americans into conniption believe he’s a racist. … We are racist. And we fits. hate the Republican Party.

It’s the racism. This guy was just willing From an anonymous voicemail, 1 of 12, to admit it. received July 8.

In that one word, my caller explained why so many Trump voters no longer Here’s the thing about working in the care about deficits and taxes (Where my news: The hours are long, and the pay is tea party people at?), the shifting set of terrible. standards applied to lawmakers, the dogBut on the other hand: Everybody hates whistle codewords that make them salivate. us!

For so many of them, it really is that You get used to it. I like to think that at simple.

BUSINESS PUBLISHER/EXECUTIVE EDITOR Brian Clarey brian@triad-city-beat.com

PUBLISHER EMERITUS Allen Broach allen@triad-city-beat.com

EDITORIAL SENIOR EDITOR Jordan Green jordan@triad-city-beat.com

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Sayaka Matsuoka sayaka@triad-city-beat.com

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1451 S. Elm-Eugene St. Box 24, Greensboro, NC 27406 Office: 336-256-9320 COVER: SPECIAL SECTION EDITOR Nikki Miller-Ka Cover design by Rob Paquette niksnacksblog@gmail.com EDITORIAL INTERN Michaela Ratliff ART ART DIRECTOR Robert Paquette robert@triad-city-beat.com SALES

KEY ACCOUNTS Gayla Price gayla@triad-city-beat.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Carolyn de Berry, Matt Jones

TCB IN A FLASH @ triad-city-beat.com First copy is free, all additional copies are $1. ©2018 Beat Media Inc.

Sept. 24-30, 2020

CITY LIFE Sept. 24-27

by Michaela Ratliff

THURSDAY Sept. 24

The Pumpkin Batch @ Organix Juice Bar (GSO, W-S) 10 a.m.

Both locations are excited to welcome fall with their special lineup of fall-inspired drinks made from organic vegetables and fruits grown by local farmers. These flavors are a “this weekend only” exclusive! Stop by every day until the 26th from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. for your serving of pumpkin spice apple and other flavors.

FRIDAY Sept. 25

Fancy Friday @ the Tasting Room (W-S) 4 p.m.

Late-Night Vendor Market @ Hempress Farms (W-S) 7 p.m.

Soul Refreshment Can Release @ Wise Man Brewing (W-S) 4 p.m.

Take advantage of the chance to enjoy the finer wines in life at Tasting Room. This week’s featured beverage is a wine imported from Marche, Italy. Follow Tasting Room on Instagram @tastingroomws for more info.

The newest beer in Wise Man’s social-distancing collection is soul refreshment, an American wheat ale flavored with apricot and tangerine.

Willingham Story Slam @ MUSE Winston-Salem (W-S) 7 p.m.

MUSE in partnership with Willingham Theater invites you to The Masks We Wear, a participatory storytelling event giving you the opportunity to elaborate on the masks you’ve worn in life, both literal and metaphorical. Larry Barron, AKA LB the Poet, will emcee this event. Both storyteller and audience member registration is free and can be done on Eventbrite.

Oktoberfest 2020 @ SouthEnd Brewing Co. (GSO) 6 p.m.

This year’s two-day Oktoberfest celebration will include live music, seasonal beers and more! The event begins with a costume contest with more fun to follow. To view the full schedule, visit the event page.

Join Hempress Farms and other vendors at this rooftop, spa-like shopping experience.

Product tastings and samples will be available and attendance is free. Vendors, CashApp $40 to $HempressFarms to reserve your table space. Be sure to mask up. They’re required at this event.

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Sept. 24-30, 2020

SATURDAY Sept. 26 Up Front

Form / Texture / Light / Shadow @ Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts (W-S) 9 a.m.

Coast to Curb to-go Seafood Celebration @ 501 Yanceyville St. (GSO) 4 p.m.

Shrimp, corn, potatoes, oh my! Join Greensboro Farmers Curb Market for their second annual seafood celebration fundraiser to benefit their food security programs. The to-go meal box will include everything you need to create a seafood feast at home. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit TicketMe.

SUNDAY Sept. 27 News

Jazz Shoebox Brunch @ the Historic Magnolia House (GSO) 11 a.m.

Coronavirus in the Triad:

(as of Wednesday, Sept. 23, compared to last week)

Documented COVID-19 diagnoses NC

196,501 (+8,471)

Forsyth

6,886 (+192)

Guilford County

8,244 (+420)

Culture

Opinion

COVID-19 deaths

This collaboration between Photographer Jasmine Huff and jewelry designer Nannette Gatti Davis came from a discussion about photography enhancing the presentation of jewelry. From there, they created an exhibition explaining how photography transforms jewelry and jewelry transforms the wearer.

The exhibition is available to view until Oct. 15. For more information, visit the event page on Facebook.

Pieces of Now: Murals, Masks, Community Stories and Conversations @ Greensboro History Museum (GSO) 10 a.m.

Each Sunday this month, the Historic Magnolia House will be hosting a jazz brunch to celebrate the launch of their new Magnolia Shoebox Meal program to benefit local schools and communities. The event will be outdoors, but tours of the house will be available. To register, visit the event page.

Shot in the Triad

Panthers v. Chargers @ Kickback Jack’s (W-S) 4:05 p.m.

NC

3,322 (+168)

Forsyth

96 (+2)

Guilford

179 (+3)

Documented recoveries NC

176,422 (+9,165)

Forsyth

6,290 (+333)

Guilford

4,838 (+301)

Puzzles

Hospitalizations

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This new exhibition highlighting murals created during the aftermath of recent protests will open to the public at 10 a.m. Artifacts and photos will help tell the stories of GSO businesses impacted by COVID-19. To learn more, visit the museum’s website.

Join the staff of Kickback Jack’s for football and drink specials as you cheer on the Panthers.

NC

912 (-6)

Forsyth

24 (+6)

Guilford

651 (+14)

The 2020 short session of the North Carolina Legislature was marked by the emergence of the coronavirus in our state. From the moment they convened, almost all legislation concerned the virus itself, responses to the economic damage it has wrought and disbursement of federal funds to our counties, with a few other nuggets tucked in there just to keep the wheels on the bus.

As in the 2019 session, at the outset Republicans held majorities in both the House (65-55) and Senate (29-21), and a Democrat governor attempted to hold them in check.

The Senate passed 70 bills into law this session, the House 54. Four House Bills failed to override a governor’s veto; three of his vetoes held in the Senate. And almost all of the drama concerned Republicans pressuring Gov. Cooper to “reopen” the state before he was comfortable doing so.

Like most members of the General Assembly, Guilford and Forsyth representatives put in a lot of hasty work this session as the global emergency took shape.

Culture Shot in the Triad Puzzles

REP. DERWIN MONTGOMERY (D) DISTRICT 72 Terms: 1.5 About the district: As currently configured, District 72 covers the northern half of WinstonSalem. The redrawn district, which goes into effect in 2021 and is in play for the November election, cuts a diagonal swath, starting

REP. EVELYN TERRY (D) DISTRICT 71 Terms: 4 About the district: As currently configured, District 71 covers the south end of WinstonSalem. The redrawn district, which goes into effect in 2021 and is in play for the November election, covers a big chunk of the city towards the northwest, running west from Carver School Road and north from Salem Parkway Committee chairs: None Sponsored bills: 3 Highlights: HB 1144 — CARES Act Funds for Winston-Salem (with Montgomery): Appropriates $30 million in CARES Act funds to the city of Winston-Salem for purposes of preventing community spread of the coronavirus.

Status: Died in committee HB 694 — Designate Legacy Airports (with Montgomery and Conrad): Instructs the state Department of Transportation to designate as a legacy airport any airport in the state that meets the following criteria: being owned and operated by a county or airport authority, being established before 1945, having an actively used runway that is at least 6,500 feet long, and having contributed significantly to the development of the state.

Status: Signed into law by Gov. Roy Cooper on July 1

Opinion

REP. DONNY LAMBETH (R) DISTRICT 75 Terms: 4 About the district: As currently drawn, District 75 forms a horseshoe around the southern half of Forsyth County outside of Winston-Salem, stretching from Kernersville in the east around to Clemmons. (The reconfigured district for the November election more or less forms a horseshoe around the eastern half of the county.)

in the neighborhoods east of Carver School Road, and running through the south side of the city down to the Davidson County line.

Committee chairs: None Sponsored bills: 7 Highlights: HB 1124 — Funding for NC Housing Trust Fund: Appropriates an additional $100 million to the NC Housing Trust Fund.

Status: Died in committee HB 1125 — WSSU/Online Education/CARES Act Funds (with Terry): Appropriates $4 million from CARES Act funds to Winston-Salem State University for infrastructure upgrades to allow the university to move to online instruction.

Status: Died in committee HB 1145 — Farming Modernization Act: Appropriates $50 million to the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to provide grants to farmers to for conversion to production of marijuana for medical use.

Status: Died in committee HB 1143 — North Carolina Medical Cannabis Act: Allows qualified patients to purchase and possess cannabis (marijuana) for medical use with a doctor’s prescription and protects designated caregivers from arrest, prosecution or penalty for purchasing or possessing the drug for use by the patients they serve.

Status: Died in committee HB 1165 — Modify City Council/ City of Winston-Salem: Expands the number of seats on Winston-Salem City Council from eight to 10, with two at-large seats added to the eight district seats currently in place. Modifies the process of filling vacancies on city council by establishing a process for a special election in place of the current process of allowing the executive committee of the political party of the incumbent to select the replacement.

Status: Died in committee

News

REP. DEBRA CONRAD/ WES SCHOLLANDER (R) DISTRICT 74 (Note: Rep. Conrad resigned on July 31; Rep. Schollander was appointed on Aug. 19) Terms: 4/1 About the district: As currently drawn, District 74 forms a horseshoe around the northern half of Forsyth County outside of WinstonSalem. (The reconfigured district for the November election covers the southwest corner of the county, including Lewisville and Clemmons) Committee chairs: None Sponsored bills: None

Committee chairs: Chair, Health; senior chair, Appropriations; vice chair, Appropriations, Health and Human Services Sponsored bills: 13 Highlights: HB 1087 — Waste/Wastewater Public Enterprise Reform: Requires Local Government Commission approval for grant applications by local governments for water and wastewater systems.

Status: Signed into law by Gov. Roy Cooper on July 1 HB 1208 — Funding for Workforce Housing Loan Program: Appropriates $20 million for the Workforce Housing Loan Program.

Status: Signed into law by Gov. Roy Cooper on June 19 HB 1187 — Raise the Age Funding: Appropriates $5.7 million for renovations to the CA Dillon Youth Development Center in Granville County; $2.8 million for renovations to the Perquimans Youth Development Center; and $2.0 million for construction of the Youth Development Center in Rockingham County. The investments in juvenile confinement facilities are for the purpose of preparing for implementation of Raise the Age, which ends the practice of trying youth offenders as adults for serious crimes.

Status: Signed into law by Gov. Roy Cooper on June 12

Up Front

FORSYTH HOUSE

Sept. 24-30, 2020

The 2020 Legislative Issue: The Coronavirus Session

by Brian Clarey, Jordan Green and Sayaka Matsuoka

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Sept. 24-30, 2020 Up Front News Opinion Culture Shot in the Triad Puzzles

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REP. LEE ZACHARY (R) DISTRICT 73 Terms: 3 About the district: District 73 covers the entirety of Yadkin County and the western tip of Forsyth surrounding Lewisville. The reconfigured district, which goes into effect next yar and will be in play for the November election, also includes all of Yadkin County but takes in the northwest corner of Forsyth County, including Tobaccoville and Rural Hall.

Committee chairs: Chair, Judiciary Committee on Civil Matters; vice chair, Judiciary Sponsored bills: 5 Highlights: HB 451 — Temp. ABAWD Time Waivers: Allows the state Department of Health and Human Services to seek a temporary waiver from the time limits for able-bodied adults without dependents participating in the food and nutrition services program during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Status: Died in committee HB 679 — Rules of Civ Procedure/E-Filing and Service: Changes the rules of civil court procedure by allowing parties to file electronically.

Status: Signed into law by Gov. Roy Cooper on June 26 HB 736 — Elective Share-Joint Accounts (with Conrad): Clarifies legal guidelines for inheritance when a person dies: “An act to limit spousal share with respect to jointly held property to a rebuttable presumption of in-kind contributions unless otherwise established by clear and convincing evidence and to require a fee for filing a claim for an elective share.”

Status: Signed into law by Gov. Roy Cooper on June 30 HB 1106 — Judicial Discretion of FTA Release: Gives judicial officials discretion in setting conditions for pretrial release for defendants that have previously failed to appear in court.

Status: Died in committee HB 1195 — Sales Tax Exemption/ Bankruptcy Proceedings: No sales tax on items sold during a bankruptcy proceeding.

Status: Died in committee

FORSYTH SENATE

SEN. JOYCE KRAWIEC (R) DISTRICT 31 Terms: 3 (+1 in House) About the district: District 31 contains Forsyth’s rural tracts outside Winston-Salem and the entirety of Davie County.

Committee chairs: Appropriations on Health and Human Services, Health Care Primary sponsored bills: 5 Highlights: SB 730 — No Patient Left Alone/ Collaboratory Funds: Articulates patients’ rights when undergoing hospital treatments for COVID-19, with funds for materials to be distributed at hospitals. Allows for a patient to have “a support person” be present.

Status: Failed a vote in subcommittee SB 846 — Enact Naturopathic Doctors Licensure: Regulates natural healthcare practitioners with licensure requirements.

Status: Died in committee SEN. PAUL LOWE (D) DISTRICT 32

Terms: 2 About the district: District 32 contains most of the city of Winston-Salem and outlying areas to the north and south.

Committee chairs: None Primary sponsored bills: 6 Highlights: SB 759 (HB 1128) — Student-Athlete Compensation/Study: Allows student-athletes to be paid for use of their image or likeness in school promotional materials, establishes rules for student-athletes receiving other forms of payment and for agent representation, and establishes a study to look into the payment of student-athletes.

Status: Died in committee SB 822 (HB 1144): CARES Act Funds for Winston-Salem: Requests

$30 million of federal CARES Act allotment for Winston-Salem for coronavirus relief.

Status: Died in committee

GUILFORD HOUSE

REP. ASHTON CLEMMONS (D) DISTRICT 57 Terms: 1 About the district: The district starts in east Greensboro near East Market Street and stretches north and northwest, picking up much of the northern parts of the city before ending at the edges of Lake Brandt and Lake Townsend.

Committee chairs: None Primary sponsor bills: 20 Highlights: HB 1190 — UNC-TV/At-Home Learning Initiative: Appropriates $1.9 million in funds from the Coronavirus Relief Reserve to UNC-TV to distribute school programming and instruction through public television.

Status: Died in committee HB 1182 — Funds for Educational Entities/COVID: Transfers funds from the Coronavirus Relief Reserve to help assist public schools, community colleges and public UNC schools during the pandemic.

Status: Died in committee HB 1180 — Sam’s Law (with Hardister): Requires schools to train about seizures, have first aid for seizures and have a seizure action plan.

Status: Died in committee HB 1166 — CARES Act Funds for Greensboro (with Harrison, Quick, Brockman): Asks for $3 million from the Local Government Fund, allocated by the federal government, to help Greensboro combat coronavirus.

Status: Died in committee HB 1113 — Local Option Sales Tax/School Construction (with Hardister, Faircloth, Brockman): Allows Guilford County commissioners to vote on whether or not to put an additional one-quarter percent additional sales tax referendum on the November ballot for school repairs and construction.

Status: Died in committee

HOUSE MINORITY WHIP AMOS L. QUICK III (D-GUILFORD) DISTRICT 58 Terms: 2 About the district: This southwestern district reaches towards Jamestown near Grandover Resort and then creeps up towards the UNCG area and Hamilton Lakes.

Committee chairs: None Bills: 4 Highlights: HB 1166 — CARES Act Funds for Greensboro (with Harrison, Quick, Brockman): Requests $3 million from the Local Government Fund, allocated by the federal government, to help Greensboro combat coronavirus.

Status: Died in committee HB 413 — Funds to Support Greensboro/US Figure Skating (With Faircloth, Hardister, Quick, Clemmons): Gives $150,000 to the city of Greensboro to offset the cost of renting the Greensboro Coliseum for the 2020 US Figure Skating Championship.

Status: Died in committee HOUSE MAJORITY WHIP JON HARDISTER (R-GUILFORD) DISTRICT 59 Terms: 4 About the district: Hardister’s district, which is shaped like a “C,” covers almost half of the county including much of the rural eastern parts.

It then curves westward towards Summerfield in the north and Jamestown in the south.

Committee chairs: Alcoholic Beverage Control (vice-chair); Appropriations (vice-chair); Appropriations, Capital (chair); Banking (vice-chair) Bills: 12 Highlights: HB 463 — Education in Prisons: Appropriates funds for community college courses for state prison inmates.

Status: Signed into law on July 1 HB 536 — Temp Outdoor Restaurants for Outdoor Seating:

Sept. 24-30, 2020 Up Front

News

Opinion

Culture

Shot in the Triad

Puzzles

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Sept. 24-30, 2020 Up Front News Opinion Culture Shot in the Triad Puzzles

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Allows existing establishments to offer and operate outdoor dining options.

Status: Vetoed by Gov. Roy Cooper on June 5 HB 471 — Exempt Direct Primary Care from DOI Regs: Exempts medical direct primary care from regulation by the Department of Insurance.

Status: Signed into law by Gov. Roy Cooper on July 1 HB 1123 — Study of Retention of K-12 Teachers: Creates a task force to study methods for improving teacher retention.

Status: Died in committee REP. CECIL BROCKMAN (DGUILFORD) DISTRICT 60 Terms: 3 About the district: Brockman’s district runs vertically along the western part of the county, starting near West Market Street near the airport, and moves south towards High Point, catching a bit of Jamestown on the way.

Committee chairs: Vice chair, Education K-12 Bills: 4 Highlights: HB 1104 — Access to Affordable Health Coverage for All: Appropriates $100,000 to help individuals who fall into the coverage gap afford health insurance.

Status: Died in committee REP. PRICEY HARRISON (DGUILFORD) DISTRICT 61 Terms: 8 About the district: Harrison’s district covers a swath of Greensboro from Franklin Boulevard on the eastern side through downtown towards Guilford College to the west.

Committee chairs: Vice-chair, Environment Bills: 9 Highlights: HB 1135 — Housing and Utilities Assistance/COVID-19: Uses money from the CARES Act to provide housing

assistance such as hotel expenses, rent payments, move-in costs and applications fees to those that qualify. Would also help pay for some utilities.

Status: Died in committee HB 1085 — Front Line State Employee Hazard Pay/Funds: Gives hazard pay to mandatory state employees who work on the front lines during the pandemic.

Status: Died in committee HB 1046 — COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave: Requires employers to provide at least two weeks of COVID-19 paid sick leave to employees that qualify.

Status: Died in committee HB 1209 — Permit Req’d/Assault Weapon and Long Gun: Requires a permit to purchase an assault weapon or a long gun.

Status: Died in committee HB 1169 — Bipartisan Elections Act of 2020: Changes some election laws including relaxing some absentee voting rules, relaxing poll worker recruitment requirements and providing federal election funds to counties.

Status: Signed into law by Gov. Roy Cooper on June 12 REP. JOHN FAIRCLOTH (R-GUILFORD) DISTRICT 62 Terms: 5 About the district: Faircloth’s district covers the westernmost portion of the county, starting in Stokesdale, descending all the way to High Point.

Committee chairs: Vice-chair, Appropriations, Justice and Public Safety Bills: 11 Highlights: HB 425 – Implement Conner’s Law: Appropriates $1.2 million to pay for benefits provided under Conner’s Law which increased the penalty for assaulting a law enforcement officer from a Class E felony to a Class D felony. This bill provides funding for a death benefit for employees killed in the line of duty.

Status: Signed into law by Gov. Roy Cooper on July 2 HB 1113 — Local Option Sales Tax/School Construction (with Hardister, Faircloth, Brockman): Allows Guilford County commissioners to vote on whether or not to put an additional one-quarter percent additional sales tax referendum on the November ballot for

the use of school repairs.

Status: Died in committee HB 633 — Temp. Outdoor Restaurant/Bar: This bill initially started out as a bill titled “Strengthen Criminal Gang Laws,” which it was first introduced in April 2019. Since, then it’s undergone major changes and in its current state, allows for businesses to temporarily have outdoor dining.

Status: Died in committee HB 885 — Only Allow Courts to Charge FTA Fee Once: States that a fee for failure to appear to court can only be collected once in a criminal case.

Status: Signed into law by Gov. Roy Cooper on July 1

GUILFORD SENATE

SEN. MICHAEL GARRETT (D) DISTRICT 27 Terms: 1 About the district: District 27 includes all of rural Guilford county with the northern tier and west side of High Point, and a sliver of Greensboro west of Guilford College Road.

Committee chairs: None Primary sponsored bills: 25 Highlights: SB 704 — COVID-19 Recovery Act (with Robinson, Gunn, Tillman, Krawiec, Lowe): Pretty much everyone signed onto this bill, which was actually filed on April 28, before the COVID shutdown. It ended up as a 70-pager, with many financial measures, instructions for schools and community colleges, rules for healthcare facilities, adjustments to DMV procedures and authorizations of studies, among other things. It’s a monster.

Status: Signed into law by Gov. Cooper on May 4 SB 734 — Reinstate Earned Income Tax Credit (with Lowe, Robinson): Reinstates a 5 percent credit against earned income tax through 2024.

Status: Died in committee SB 747 — $15/Hour Min. Pay for Noncert. Sch. Employees: “An Act to Require the Hourly Rate of the Minimum Salary for Noncertified Public School Employees to be at Least Fifteen Dollars Per Hour.”

Status: Died in committee SB 766 — Rebuild A Better NC Bond Act: Establishes a $3 billion

bond for “construction and renovation of public school facilities,” including UNC universities, community colleges and county-level infrastructure. Projects capped at $300 million each.

Status: Died in committee SB 770 — Mixed Beverage Permit Fees/Reimburse Portion: Refunds mixed-beverage permit fees to restaurants and bars for March through May, with the option of keeping it capped through June 2021.

Status: Died in committee SB 830 — CARES Act Funds for Greensboro: Asks for $3 million from the Local Government fund, allocated by the federal government, to help Greensboro combat coronavirus.

Status: Died in committee SB 858 — Expand Mixed Beverage Sale During Pandemic: Allows restaurants to include mixed drinks with to-go orders.

Status: Died in committee SEN. RICK GUNN (R) DISTRICT 24 Terms: 5 About the district: District 24, covers all of Alamance County and the rural eastern strip of Guilford.

Committee chairs: Chairsa Appropriations on Agriculture, Natural and Economic Resources; Commerce and Insurance Primary sponsored bills: 2 Highlights: SB 733 — UNC Capital Projects: Allows two UNC schools to finance projects without drawing from the General Fund: UNC-Chapel Hill ($28.5 million) and Western Carolina University ($20 million).

Status: Signed into law by Gov. Cooper on July 1 SEN. GLADYS ROBINSON (D) DISTRICT 28 Terms: 5 About the district: District 28 is now most of the city of Greensboro, with a bit in the east ceded to District 24.

Committee chairs: None

Up Front News Opinion Culture Shot in the Triad

SEN. JERRY TILLMAN/SEN. DAVID CRAVEN JR. (R) DISTRICT 26 (Note: Sen. Tillman resigned on June 30; Sen. Craven was appointed July 17) Terms: 9/1 About the district: District 26 covers all of Randolph County plus most of High Point in Guilford County’s southwest corner.

Committee chairs: None Primary sponsored bills: 5/0 Highlights: SB 793 — Expand Local Option Sales Tax for Education (with Robinson and Garrett): Allows Guilford County to implement a sales tax to pay for a school bond.

Status: Died in committee

Sept. 24-30, 2020

Primary sponsored bills: 13 Highlights: SB 722 — Umstead Exempt/ Dairy/NC A&T State University (with Garrett): Allows A&T to sell dairy products from its farm to support the agricultural research program.

Status: Died in committee SB 787 — Restore Master’s Pay for Teachers (with Garrett): Uses $8 million from the General Fund to pay public school teachers a “salary supplement) if they have advanced degrees.

Status: Died in committee SB 840 — Allow Clerks to Hear Traffic Cases Virtually (with Garrett): Pretty self-explanatory, for minor traffic cases.

Status: Died in committee UNCG/Jackson Library Funds (with Garrett): Authorizes an $84 million for upgrades to Jackson Library.

Status: Died in committee

Puzzles

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by Clay Jones

Puzzles

Shot in the Triad

Culture

Opinion

News

Up Front

Sept. 24-30, 2020

Claytoonz

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claytoonz.com

OPINION

EDITORIAL

Wandering through the news desert A tenet of our profession is that the But the problem with Lee Enterprises people who cover the news — reporters, — and, to be fair, other business-minded editors, photographers and such — do entities that have been buying newspanot like to be in the news. But that’s what pers in large and mid-sized cities as of happened, more or less, last week. late — is that they’re not in this business Lee Enterprises, new-ish owner of because of the First Amendment, the the Greensboro News & Record and the necessity of speaking truth to power, the Winston-Salem Journal, laid off about essential services that the newspaper of a third of its editorial staff last week, record must provide. including longtime editors, award-winning They’re in this for the money. reporters and photographers and others Lee Enterprises took in $121.4 million who answered the siren’s call of journalin the second quarter of this year — that’s ism, only to be bashed upon the rocky $30 million a month to operate its 66 shore for their efforts. news organizations. We know something It’s a travesty. Greensboro about what it costs to make is the third largest city in a newspaper, and this is an North Carolina, and about enormous cash flow. Lee Communities six reporters are left to Enterprises has generated do not function more than $45 million in make a daily newspaper that covers it: sports, cops and earnings so far this year. without a courts, schools, government, That’s according to its own vibrant press. arts, business… all of it.

P&L. Everybody knows it’s not Lee Enterprises has no enough. problem taking advertisWe are on the cusp of the most historic ing dollars out of our cities, from small election in all of our lifetimes; a global businesses and large corporations alike. pandemic is ravaging our health and our They’re just not interested in investing economy; widespread upheaval over that money back into the communities policing and systemic racism has shaken from whence it came. the firmament.

At Triad City Beat, we do things differTo decimate the newspapers of record ently — but then, everybody knows that. for the anchor cities of the third largest The newspaper business is not like population base in the state is irresponother enterprises. We’re not making widsible at best, reprehensible at worst, and gets here. Our mission is surely patriotic at its heart a fundamentally un-American and almost sacred. move.

Lee Enterprises has forgotten that Our communities do not function most basic tenet of our profession. Or, without a vibrant press. That’s what the perhaps, they never knew in the first First Amendment is all about. place.

I

Up Front News Opinion

Horizons Residential Care Center’s blessing box is here for whomever needs it.

Care Center.

Contributing to a blessing box is community activism at its finest. Anyone in need and has a need can be blessed by the boxes out in the community.

“They have been a blessing to us,” says Arrington.

“On the outside of the box it says, ‘Box of grace, take what you need bring what you can but above all be blessed.’ Not one time since that day have they been empty.”

Blessing boxes in the Triad: • • • • •

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Puzzles

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Ardmore Moravian Church, 2013 W. Academy St., Winston-Salem Ardmore UMC, 630 S. Hawthorne Rd., WinstonSalem First Baptist Church, 405 N. Main St., High Point Friedburg Moravian Church, 2778 Friedberg Church Rd., friedberg.church/blessing-box Horizons Residential Care Center, 5900 Bethabara Park Blvd., Winston-Salem and 101 Horizons Lane, Rural Hall New Philadelphia Moravian Church, 4440 Country Club Rd., Winston-Salem St. Paul United Methodist Church, 2400 Dellabrook Rd., Winston-Salem Sharpe Road Church of Christ, 2400 Sharpe Rd., Greensboro

Shot in the Triad

community donors. Other things like dog food, school supplies, feminine products and personal toiletries are welcome additions.

Blessing boxes work in a way that community pantries do not. Organized agencies want names, addresses and other demographic info from users. There may be limitations on the number of times you can visit and the amount of items you can receive. Some families trek from pantry to pantry, from week to week, to get what they need. Blessing boxes are anonymous. There is no stigma or level of dignity attached to the use of a blessing box. Most of the blessing boxes set up in our area are affiliated with churches or other houses of worship. There is one that was born out of the mess that is the 2020 pandemic.

May 22 is when the blessing box program began at Horizons Residential Care Center. The facility employs approximately 130 employees between two campuses in Rural Hall and Winston-Salem. Most of the staff are direct support professionals who take care of the longterm care facility’s 40 residents. The boxes provide an aegis of care and protection to these front-line healthcare workers.

“We started these blessing boxes when this pandemic started for our employees so they could benefit from them,” says Cindy Arrington, director of resource development and communications at Horizons Residential

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Culture

don’t remember a time in my life when I was without food, clothing or shelter.

To my knowledge, my family never had to use food stamps while I was growing up. I may not have been allowed the latest Capri Sun drink-pouch flavors or

by Nikki Miller-Ka Dunkaroos snack packs, but I did grow up in a household with a grandmother who was born during the Depression.

The door of our refrigerator was lined with bottles of sauces, a random vial of perfume with a well-worn lid and bags of flours, tops crumpled with folded edges.

Tucked in between would be balls of foil, all misshapen, all filled with bits and pieces of leftovers from meals: Crusty ends of cornbread kissed and blackened by an iron skillet, shriveled strips of chicken breasts, another aluminum parcel with a shard sticking out revealing a magenta strip of bone where the marrow had been scraped clean.

These refrigerated packets were one step removed from the poverty my grandmother experienced growing up as the youngest of 11 in rural eastern North Carolina.

Saving those bits of food was like saving pieces of herself. Most of the foil-packet contents rotted before they could be opened, but the act of preserving them was more for self-preservation than anything else.

According to Feeding America, more than 1.5 million people struggle with hunger in North Carolina. Solving the hunger problem is not just one agency’s job. In the Triad and in many communities across the state, there is a small-scale approach to the big food problem — blessing boxes. A blessing box is a tiny food pantry, almost like a Little Free Library of food. It’s a community-driven, often handmade structure where people leave donated goods for others to pick up anonymously.

No one person commits to filling any given box, but the generosity of the surrounding community keeps it going.

St. Paul United Methodist Church’s blessing box sits in the heart of the Dreamland community within East Winston. According to a 2016 Forsyth County Food Access Report, this predominately African-American neighborhood is in the largest food desert in Forsyth County. The box itself is handcrafted with doors fitted with glass and shelves full of non-perishable items and toiletries.

“The concept is simple: take what you need and when you’re in a better position or place, bring back what you can,” says Jana Walser-Smith, chair of evangelism ministry at St. Paul UMC. The box is managed by the evangelism committee.

This task includes filling the box on a weekly basis and taking care of any repairs and maintenance. Since its inception in 2018, the church has received generous donations from congregates, the alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority of Winston-Salem, the Winston-Salem Chapter of Jack and Jill, the State Employees Association of North Carolina and other

Sept. 24-30, 2020

Nik Snacks A blessing in disguise: Community boxes share food without red tape

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Sept. 24-30, 2020 Up Front News Opinion Culture Shot in the Triad Puzzles

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CULTURE Winston’s Chris Livengood shares passion for analog in new doc

by Sayaka Matsuoka

A

s a child, Chris Livengood would retailers as eager collectors and casual listeners alike wait for watch his father carefully rifle doors to open. An annual event since 2008, the day is akin to through his dozens of vinyl reChristmas or Black Friday for both shoppers and shopkeepers cords, contemplating each cover, as sales of vinyl fly off the charts this one day out of the year. each sleeve, until he found the right In 2020, because of the pandemic, the event was postponed portal of sound through which to be and spread out across three dates — Aug. 29, Sept. 26, and transported.

Oct. 24. Independent cinemas like A/perture in Winston-Salem “There wasn’t a day that my father began virtual screenings of the film in late August to celebrate wasn’t pinballing between Pink Floyd the postponed event. and some bombastic organ music,” Throughout the film, the stereotyped notion that vinyl and Livengood says. “The process always record stores are spaces for old, white men is actively disseemed so magical to me. It made him pelled. We see lines filled with women and children and people seem like a wizard. It had a discreet of color on Record Store Day, and female store owners are scholarly quality to it from my perspecrepeatedly interviewed. The film follows a timeline of the rise tive.” and fall of the medium from its peak in the eighties with the Now, Livengood’s own love of vinyl release of Michael Jackson’s Thriller, to its fall after the inven— everything from the sound, to the tion of CDs, then portable players like the iPod and, finally, the making of them, to the physical act of introduction of digital streaming. owning them (he has hundreds of his But then, something magical happened. own) — is captured in a new documenVinyl saw a resurgence, particularly after independent tary called Vinyl Nation. record stores collaborated to start Record Store Day — bands Livengood co-owns and operates and labels would produce limited editions and exclusive vinyl Ember Audio + Design, a hi-fi stereo pressings that would only be sold during the event. Rising and modern furniture shop in Winstonfrom the ashes of long-forgotten dusty crates, vinyl was reinSalem, with his wife Jamie. The shop is in vigorated, the documentary shows. Soon, large-box retailers its 12th year of operation. like Target, Barnes & Noble and the millennial/Gen Z utopia He says he was approached by Kevin Urban Outfitters, joined the cause, making vinyl accessible and Smokler, one of the directors and proeven hashtag-trendy again. With its revival, the medium found ducers of the doc, to see if he wanted to new audiences, particularly younger people and women. The be involved in the film. Livengood had film captures a young college-aged woman’s personal experimet Smokler when he was operating ence with records and how she balances listening to music Ember out of San Francisco and they both on her phone and on her robin’s egg blue Crosley record became fast friends, bonded in their player that sits on her dresser. A young millennial interracial love of analog. They kept in touch after couple talks about how they bonded over vinyl when they first the Livengoods moved back to Winstonmet.

Salem a few years ago.

For Livengood, that sort of messaging is why he decided to “I thought, I don’t normally do that get involved with the film. sort of thing but I thought, Why not?”

“It used to be if a woman or person of color walked into Livengood says. a record shop, results may vary,” He says that Livengood says. “But the film is about he decided to getting rid of the old guard and letting Rent Vinyl Nation through be involved in people who are passionate about muA/perture cinema through their the 92-minsic stake out their own territory.” ute film after Livengood, who is in the business website. hearing what of selling accessories for vinyl like Visit Ember Audio + Design at 151 Smokler and sound equipment and furniture, says W. 9th St. in Winston-Salem from Christopher the same stereotypes existed in his Boone, the industry, too.

11 a.m.-5 p.m. every day except other director “I spend so much of my time deproMonday. Appointments preferred. and producer, gramming my clients about that oldCelebrate Record Store Day on wanted to foschool rhetoric,” he says. “Focusing cus on in their on how shops are trying to be more Sept. 26 and Oct. 24 at a local doc: the rise inviting, that’s a documentary that record store near you. and fall of the hasn’t been made before.” medium and Since the pandemic hit this spring, the new, more Livengood says sales have jumped at inclusive nature of the industry.

Ember. In the first week, he made $6,500 in just gift certifiThe film starts out in Kansas City, Mo., cates because people were calling in to help support the on April 13, 2019 — otherwise known to business. vinyl fans across the country as Record “We’re so busy that I don’t sleep,” he says.

Store Day. Long lines weave outside of In addition to people wanting to support local, Livengood

Chris Livengood with his wife, Jamie, in their shop, Ember Audio + Design.

COURTESY PHOTO

said that a lot of the sales have been driven by people’s desire to enhance their home life while quarantining.

“They want to make their meditative processes at home much richer and more meaningful,” he says.

The category of item that’s sold the most during the pandemic? Turntables.

And that begs the question that Vinyl Nation also explores.

Does vinyl actually sound better than digital?

Many of the people interviewed in the film express varying opinions on the age-old question, but Livengood says he believes it does, but not for the reason people might think.

“In every measure, no,” Livengood admits. “Digital is technically perfect, but in the conversion, some sounds are lost. It’s a dry, obedient, hyper-accurate reproduction.”

He and the filmmakers explain how vinyl is a direct translation of sound into a physical disc. Every ounce of noise from the original recording is captured when it comes to vinyl whereas with digital, it’s cleaned up and sterilized.

“Our brain doesn’t want perfect timing, it doesn’t want crystal-clear,” Livengood says. “Analog brings out randomized distortions that ultimately render a more seemingly pleasing picture of sound…. It just makes people feel like they are more connected to the music in a more kinetic way.”

By Michaela Ratliff

R

Up Front News Opinion Culture Shot in the Triad Puzzles

amya Sundaresan Kapadia stood in front of the purple leaf sculpture in Carolyn’s Garden in LeBauer Park. She was preparing to dance Bharatanatyam, a form of Indian classical dance characterized by elaborate costumes and frequent hand gestures to express Hindu religious themes.

“Namaste,” Kapadia said as she held her hands out towards videographer Paul Byun. “Today I present to you Samarpan — an offering.”

National Dance Day has been taking place annually on the third Saturday in September since 2010 but made its way to Greensboro in 2017. This year, instead of the usual gathering of people in the park to view live performances, Byun filmed solo and group routines in various locations around the park and posted them to GDPI’s YouTube channel. Each year, international flags are suspended above the park to honor forms of dance from different countries. Some dancers, like Kapadia, use the annual event to showcase dances from their own culture.

Before beginning, Kapadia briefly described the meaning of Bharatanatyam.

“Through this piece, I open myself up to whatever life has to offer,” she said.

According to Kapadia, she began learning music and singing at three years old. In 2008, she founded the Natyarpana School of Dance & Music in Durham.

Dressed in traditional Indian dress, Kapadia’s gown and sleeves flowed as she used the entire garden as her stage.

JENNIFER SCHEIB Her big, brown eyes helped convey the Performances for National Dance Day were pre-recorded for this year’s event. vulnerability of the subject of the dance.

“The piece is basically saying, ‘I don’t friends who like to come together through dance,” she said in and performance opportunities for Black arts organizations in know anything,’” Kapadia said in a an interview with GDPI prior to the event.

Greensboro.” statement prior to the video’s release.

They chose to dance salsa to “Han Cogido La Cosa” by A The dance began with just the five older girls dressed in Af“‘I don’t know where I am or what I am Golpe De Folklore. rican clothing, but each girl added her own style to her outfit. doing. I don’t know the proper way of The quartet members, filmed by Byun at the LeBauer Park Some girls opted for printed pants while others wore leggings living. Take my hand and lead me.’”

Seasonal Plaza, were dressed in T-shirts with wraps around their waists. They were eventually joined There to infuse representing their home country. They by the younger dancers in animal print tutus and headbands Latin American flabegan their performance by dancing in with ears, dancing as zebras and cheetahs and other African vor to the celebration All performances will pairs, eventually forming a line and dancing animals. The dance was a fusion of jazz and traditional African was GSO Salseros, a alone. movements. permanently remain on group of four friends Princess Johnson, founder of Royal Although this year’s performances were done differently representing several GDPI’s YouTube channel.

Expressions of Dance, brought her troupe than normal, Gonzalez from GSO Salseros remains hopeful for Caribbean counof young dancers ranging in age from 2-16 next year. tries — Jamaica, the years old to the park to perform an Afro“National Dance Day is so valuable for our community Dominican Republic, jazz contemporary routine.

The routine, because it shows that dance is for everyone,” she said to GDPI. Colombia and Venezuela — who dance performed to “Freedom” by Nicole Mullen, was created to “We hope that next year we can gather as a community again at outings around the city. One member, address the current state of race relations and politics in the and dance together under the international flags in LeBauer Maria Gonzalez, was shocked to find out country.

Park.” they were chosen to perform this year.

“We wanted to express our frustration,” she said, “but also “We’re not professional dancers, just our hope for things to get better in regards to arts funding

Sept. 24-30, 2020

CULTURE Love of artful movement showcased on National Dance Day

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Lake Brandt Road, Greensboro

Sept. 24-30, 2020 Shot in the Triad

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Scene from the Laurel Bluff Trail.

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CAROLYN DE BERRY

Across

‘Adjusted to Fit Your Screen’—what the flip is going on? (#590, Sept. 2012)

by Matt Jones

EVENTS

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(editor@jonesincrosswords.com)

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Answers from previous publication.

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Opinion Culture Shot in the Triad Puzzles

1 What your answers must be written in to understand the theme 5 Hiking path 10 “Which came first?” choice 13 Clapton or Cartman 14 Candy branded as “The Freshmaker” 16 Stuff to fix a squeaky hinge 17 Aligned correctly 19 Pompous attribute 20 Stun gun relative 21 Jewel 22 Amy Winehouse hit song 24 Complainer’s sounds 26 1980s hairstyle that may have involved a kit 27 Donut shop quantities ©2012, 2020 Jonesin’ Crosswords (editor@jonesincrosswords.com) 30 Cop show with the line “Just the facts, ma’am” 33 Cupid’s Greek counterpart 34 Wire-___ (like some terriers’ coats) 37 Rowboat propeller 38 Transmit electronically, in a way 39 Devices that, when turned, adjust themselves (just like the theme answers) 40 Greek vowel 41 Suffix form for twenty and thirty, but not ten 42 Audrey Tautou’s quirky title role of 2001 Answers from last issue 43 Stay away from 44 Moved the borders to create a new area, perhaps 15 Jam, margarine, or cream cheese, e.g.

46 They’re collected in passports 18 Sci-fi film set inside a computer 48 Coffee dispensers 23 Exercise machine unit 49 Cartoonist Guisewite, or her comic strip 25 Makes embarrassed 51 Faith whose name comes from the Arabic 26 Class warmup before a big exam for “glory” 27 Postpone 53 Rapper ___ Def 28 Make big speeches 54 Walkway on an airline flight 29 Do the “I am not a crook” thing with 58 Bullfighting cheer the V-signs, for example?

59 What Neil Armstrong partook in, e.g.

30 Three, in Germany 62 Homer’s outburst 31 Completely devour 63 It may be tossed after a wedding 32 ___ fatty acids 64 Charity benefit, maybe 35 Troy’s friend on “Community” 65 Take notice 36 Under the weather 66 Some religious observances 39 Activity done in heated beds 67 Stretch across 43 Well-known quotations, often 45 “Are you a man ___ mouse?”

Down 47 Warm up after being in the freezer 1 Like some checks: Abbr.

49 Amounts on a bill 2 Operatic solo 50 Liability counterpart 3 Sty dwellers 51 Physiques, in entertainment tabloids 4 Crafty plans 52 Lotion ingredient 5 Symbols after brand names 53 Actress Sorvino 6 Rule over a kingdom 55 Shower gel, essentially 7 Chilean mountain range 56 Hit for The Kinks 8 Checklist component 57 Actor McGregor 9 Rawls of R&B 60 Clumsy sort 10 “Land sakes alive that’s awesome!”

61 Org. that provides W-2 forms 11 Prefix for byte meaning “billion” 12 Amorphous clump

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Sept. 24-30, 2020

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