TCB Feb. 21, 2019 — Defiling the temple

Greensboro / Winston-Salem / High Point February 21-28, 2019 triad-city-beat.com

FREE

Def i li ng t he t em ple PAGE 12

Urban bowhunting

PAGE 10

Pollock’s place PAGE 20

GRAWL returns

PAGE 21

February 21 - 28, 2019

EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK

Going to the dogs We’re headed south on Eugene Street, my kid and me, when I point out the TV news crew — the blonde in the dress, the

by Brian Clarey rumpled cameraman in a sweatshirt and ballcap.

“You see that?” I say to the kid. “They’re doing a spot about dogs in bars for the evening news.”

“You can tell?”

“Oh yeah,” I say. “See how she’s talking to that guy with the dogs? And they’re setting up Joymonger’s in the background for the live shot.

“Plus,” I say, “that’s all anybody’s talking about today.”

I fill the kid in on some of it: how the boards of health — first in Forsyth, then in Guilford — began taking a closer look at all the dogs hanging around breweries across the state while their owners sampled the wares, and got to maybe thinking it wasn’t such a hot idea to combine the state’s two most popular hobbies.

The kid’s not on Facebook and has no way of knowing that a few social media posts from Joymonger’s went viral among the hops-and-hounds crowd, pushed high enough in the algorithm to attract the

sorts of news media that uses Facebook as a tip sheet. The resounding softball of public opinion began its arc towards the strike zone, practically begging for someone to come along and swat it out of the park.

The kid, who won’t be eligible to vote for the first time until the 2020 election, could never appreciate the swiftness with which this softball was sized up and taken aim upon by elected officials — most notably state Rep. Jon Hardister, who pledged right there in the Joymonger’s comment thread to put together a piece of legislation to address this issue in the next few days.

In the next few days!

And I don’t have the words to explain why beer and dogs are such an emergency to a kid who spent the day taking lessons in a temporary classroom trailer that’s been there since the 1980s.

So I revert to form and poke fun at the people who make news on TV. “Look at her now,” I say. “She’s down on the ground petting the guy’s dogs before they go on air. She’s probably calling them ‘fur babies.’”

“You should watch it with that,” the kid says. “People don’t like it when you talk shit about their dogs.”

At 16, this kid is smarter than I’ll ever be.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

My tagline is, ‘Breaking hearts and pinching arms.’

-pg. 21, Jennifer Ruppe

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

ART ART DIRECTOR Robert Paquette

EDITORIAL SENIOR EDITOR Jordan Green

KEY ACCOUNTS Gayla Price

PUBLISHER EMERITUS Allen Broach

jordan@triad-city-beat.com

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

STAFF WRITER Lauren Barber lauren@triad-city-beat.com

2

1451 S. Elm-Eugene St. Box 24, Greensboro, NC 27406 Office: 336-256-9320 Cover: Illustration by Robert EDITORIAL INTERN Savi Ettinger Paquette calendar@triad-city-beat.com

robert@triad-city-beat.com SALES gayla@triad-city-beat.com

SALES Johnathan Enoch

johnathan@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.

Yako THE MANHATTAN TRANSFER GI CH

SAUCE BOSS

LOVE LETTERS STARRING BARBARA EDEN & HAL LINDEN

GINA CHAVEZ

Show |7:30pm / Doors |6:30pm

OF SERENDIP

GINA CHAVEZ

RYTHM OF THE March 7, 2019 DANCE Two iconic TV personalities - Barbara Eden (I

Smirn Smirnof

THE Raleigh Ringers HIGHPOINT BALLET The SAUCE veters o BOSS L LeRAtEDEN N

February 21 - 28, 2019

High Point Theatre Presents� a new exciting season!

Yako March 8, 2019

Show | 8pm / Doors | 7pm

Dream of Jeannie) and Hal Linden (Barney Miller) - present the late A.R. Gurney’s poetic, elegant, and profoundly touching story about the power of the written word. The star power and supreme acting of Barbara and Hal has been holding audiences spellbound throughout the U.S, in this spectacular live performance of Love Letters!

E

Gina Chavez invites audiences on a journey of discovery of her own Latin roots through a passionate collection of bilingual songs traversing cumbia, bossa nova, vintage pop, reggaeton and folk, combined with dynamic vocals and sharp social commentary. Backed by a talented four-piece band, this multi-ethnic pop songstress is a nine-time Austin Music Award winner.

THE QUEEN’S CARTOONISTS

RHYTHM OF THE DANCE

PASSPORT

Raleigh Ringers

To Entertainment

BRANFORD MARSALIS QUARTET 2018 & 2019

THE QUEEN’S CARTOONISTS March 10, 2019

DANCE On a mission of music preservation and music BALLET

Show |2pm / Doors |1pm

March 19, 2019

OF SERENDIP

A BARB HAL LIND

GINA CHAVEZ

BRANFORD MARSALIS THE MANHATTAN TRANSFER QUARTET THEHIGHPOINT RYTHM OF THE

THE QUEEN CARTO

Show | 7:30pm / Doors | 6:30pm

Reliving the epic journey of the Irish Celts education, the six cats of The Queen’s Cartoonists throughout history, Rhythm of the Dance is a two-hour dance and music extravaganza! A gifted offer a tour-de-force of the Swing Era’s zaniest young cast of performers, combining traditional and most creative music, some dating back to dance, music, vocals and costuming, while using the 1920s, and much of which was written for or adapted for classic cartoons. Whether you’re a fan the most up-to-date modern technologies, has of Looney Tunes,N Merry Melodies, The Simpsons, made this the premier performance in its field.

EDE classics, or the oldRDisney you’ll find something to Exciting and fresh, this critically acclaimed show A N E A D B will surely enthrall. swing BARalong to.LIN

veters o L et L

HAL

Presented in conjunction with the HP Community Concert Association.

THE QUEEN’S CARTOONISTS

Ra Rin

THE MANHA

BILLY “CRASH” CRADDOCK

Acts and dates are subject to change. For tickets and updates, go to HighPointTheatre.com or call 336.887.3001

RYTHM OF THE DANCE

3

February 21 - 28, 2019

CITY LIFE Feb. 21-24, 2019

by Savi Ettinger

THURSDAY Feb. 21

FRIDAY Feb. 22

Curator Elaine Gustafson leads a discussion with Sara Farrington, Antoine Williams and Kate Gordon on the behind-the-scenes of creating artwork. The exhibit features works from North Carolina artists, all revolving around the use of paper. Find the event on Facebook.

Douglas Dunn presents a speech with Kira Blazek Ziaii before this dance concert set to classical music. The show features a ballet by George Balanchine called “Concerto Barocco,” alongside Martha Graham’s “Maple Leaf Rag” and Dunn’s own “Pulcinella.” Find the event at uncsa.edu.

Remembering Sam @ SECCA (W-S), 6 p.m.

Art on the Rocks @ Greenhill (GSO), 6:30 p.m.

This night of art and partying benefits Greenhill’s art and education programs. J. Timber performs live music while guests enjoy cocktails, food and a prize-fueled scavenger hunt. Find the event on Facebook.

UNCSA Winter Dance @ Stevens Center (W-S), 7:30 p.m.

Opinion

News

Up Front

Artist and Curator Talk: Art on Paper @ Weatherspoon Art Museum (GSO),4 p.m.

Culture

Laser Led Zeppelin @ Greensboro Science Center, 7 p.m.

Puzzles

Shot in the Triad

SECCA’s Preview Gallery hosts an opening reception for an exhibit in tribute of Sam McMillan. Known as the “Dot Man,” McMillan built a body of art through self-taught methods in his sixties. Learn more at secca. org.

4

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels @ High Point Community Theatre, 7:30 p.m.

This play based on a 1988 film showcases the most mischievous con men in the French Riviera who are trying to scam a young heiress out of her fortune. Find the event at hpct.net.

The Flick @ GTCC High Point Campus, 7 p.m.

The Performing Arts Theater of GTCC performs The Flick through the weekend. A trio of workers at a sub-par movie theater clean the room of an old 35-millimeter projector in this dramatic comedy. Find out more at gtcc.edu.

The 40-foot Omnisphere Theater lights up in a display of lasers set to Led Zeppelin’s discography. Hits like “Stairway to Heaven,” “Kashmir” and “Immigrant Song” fill the room with a kaleidoscopic show. Find the event on Facebook.

Mel Jones & his Bag O’Bones @ Muddy Creek Cafe & Music Hall (W-S), 8 p.m.

Mel Jones performs a skillful Americana set with his band, bringing out his harmonica to amp up the band’s rootsy sound. John Hofmann joins the show with his bluegrass fiddle. Find the event on Facebook.

February 21 - 28, 2019

SATURDAY Feb. 23

Lady Sings the Blues @ Greensboro Cultural Center, 6 p.m.

TEDxWakeForestU @ Wake Forest University (W-S), 12:30 p.m.

SUNDAY Feb. 24

Citizen Lane @ Reynolda House Museum of American Art (W-S), 2 p.m.

Up Front

Open Studios @ Elsewhere Museum (GSO), 3 p.m.

Elsewhere opens their studios so guests can explore the workspaces and process of their resident artists. Get a peek at the artist’s in-progress works, in an array of mediums.

Find the event on Facebook.

Spotlight Session @ the Carolina Theatre (GSO), 4 p.m.

The Crown hosts the third chapter of Spotlight Sessions, featuring a quartet of songwriters: Casey Noel, Dave Ray Cecil, Ashley Heath and David Childers, who play genres from blues to folk to pop. Find the event on Facebook.

Culture

The Center for Visual Arts commemorates Diana Ross in this Black History Month event. A live band plays music from both her original work and from her portrayal of Billie Holiday, and poets offer spoken word. Find the event on Facebook.

Opinion

Lecturers fill an afternoon in Wait Chapel with musings on the theme: Metamorphic. The presentations focus around topics of change, including self-growth and self-transformation. Find out more at tedxwakeforestu.squarespace. com.

North Carolina Brass Band @ Home Moravian Church (W-S), 3 p.m.

The historical Home Moravian Church becomes host to a show from the North Carolina Brass Band. Brian Meixner directs the 28-member ensemble of brass players, percussionists and jazz artists in this free concert. Find the event on Facebook.

News

The Reynolda House hosts a screening of this documentary drama about Hugh Lane, a famous European art collector. Professor and author of Hugh Lane: The Art Market and Art Museum, 1893-1915. Morna O’Neill introduces and proctors a Q&A surrounding the film. Find the event on Facebook.

Shot in the Triad Puzzles

5

February 21 - 28, 2019 Up Front News Opinion Culture Shot in the Triad Puzzles

6

5 questions for Angel Fant of No Punching Bag Designs

by Sayaka Matsuoka No Punching Bag is a Winston-Salem based familyowned fashion brand for social change. Made up of mother Angel Fant and daughters Danielle and Tenijah, No Punching Bag promotes a sense of community and unity in the quest to end violence against women and children.

Their designs will be showcased in Paris for Paris Fashion Week on Feb. 28. You can follow their work on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. We interviewed Angel, who will be traveling to Paris by herself.

Angel Fant (center) with her daughters Tenijah (left) and Danielle (right).

ANGEL FANT

How and when did No Punching Bag get started?

The conversation started in 2014 and we were founded in 2015. Basically, it started with a conversation about domestic violence, violence against women and about the #MeToo movement. Since we’re artists, we wanted to see what could we do about it. As a child, I was abused and I was a child of a mother who was a domestic violence survivor. It’s an uncomfortable conversation to have about these things and we thought, ‘Why don’t we have a brand.’

As time went on, we began to showcase social issues in fashion shows.

How did you come up with the name?

It had to be very blunt. We played around with it, but it had to be very direct. I’m a domestic-violence survivor but the brand is not just about domestic violence. It’s about self-worth and it’s about respect. The foundation of No Punching Bag came from domestic violence, but the ultimate goal is to have a society where people will love and respect each other.

How did you get into fashion design?

Fashion has been my dream since I was in third grade since my aunt sent me my first fashion design kit. I’ve been drawing since I was a kid; I can just about make anything. People contact me for all kinds of stuff. As a kid, I remember going to the Ebony fashion show in Winston-Salem and I wanted to be a model but was told, ‘You’re gonna have to grow a few more inches,’ but I never grew! So, I set my sights on fashion design.

What inspires your designs?

We all have different inspirations. Mine is portraiture and painting. I love to paint. Awhile back I made a cape that has hand painting on it with portraiture of historic women like Oprah Winfrey, Marilyn Monroe, Mary from Mary’s Gourmet Diner, Michelle Obama, Rosa Parks.

Women who have paved the way for so many people in society.

Danielle’s designs are more geometric, and Tenijah, we don’t know what she’ll come with but it’s always like, ‘Wow.’ We combine all of our designs together. I want everyone to be able to relate to the designs How did you end up getting invited to show at Paris Fashion Week and how do you feel about showing there?

We were invited by Flying Solo Designers. And then we started a Go Fund Me. The folks of Winston-Salem are helping me get to Paris Fashion Week. To be featured in Paris Fashion Week is really amazing. Paris is the capital of fashion. I’m very excited; of course, I’m excited.

We have a global mission and just to be able to use our platform and take it elsewhere, out of the US, that’s pretty awesome. We decided to do the collection in purple mostly because purple is the color for domestic violence; it’ll be symbolic of domestic violence. I’m excited to see Paris. I’m gonna go to the Eiffel Tower; I’m gonna go everywhere.

February 21 - 28, 2019

Privatizing the ABC

by Brian Clarey

Up Front

Every five or 10 years the state legislature looks at the possibility of demolishing North Carolina’s antiquated attitude towards alcohol, which they once used to call “demon rum” around these parts when they weren’t shuttling illegal loads of it around the state in souped-up cars.

Remember, North Carolina had statewide prohibition a full 12 years before the rest of the nation — enacted in 1908 — and didn’t ratify the 21st Amendment that repealed it until four years after its passage.

That year, 1937, the state formed the Alcohol Beverage Control system, effectively putting the state in control of the alcohol business — not exactly seizing the means of production, but certainly the sale and distribution of the product.

This is why an ordinary citizen can go into an ABC store and pay less for a bottle of scotch than a bar owner who orders it by the case.

There are industries in which the state should maintain a controlling interest: public transportation, education, prisons, law enforcement, to name a few. But no state — particularly North Carolina, which in 100 years has failed to accurately grasp the nature of the booze business — should hold a monopoly on alcohol sales.

We need to privatize alcohol sales in North Carolina, not just because private industry can do it better, faster and cheaper. And not just because the state should never have been involved to this degree in the first place.

We should also consider the coming legalization of cannabis, the law of the land in 29 states and the District of Columbia, now creeping across the Atlantic states.

It’s coming to North Carolina sooner or later, and our ABC Board, under whose purview this would currently fall, is not up to the task.

News Opinion Culture

1/2 off Tequila & $2 Tacos.

WEDNESDAY

Shot in the Triad

TUESDAY

50 cent wings.

Run Club at 6pm & Trivia at 8pm.

Poké Night

Puzzles

THURSDAY SUNDAY

Boozy Brunch www.burgerbatch.com

7

February 21 - 28, 2019 Up Front News Opinion Culture Shot in the Triad Puzzles

8

NEWS

Months of missed loan payments for Comer’s Morehead Foundry

by Sayaka Matsuoka A recently compiled loan compliance agreement by the city shows that Lee Comer, the previous owner of the Morehead Foundry development and current owner of Iron Hen Café, owes over $260,000 in payments for an economic parking lot loan for the foundry.

Lee Comer and her partner Fareed Khori opened Morehead Foundry off Spring Garden St. in Greensboro in November 2016 as a unique concept that combined multiple food businesses in one complex with a shared kitchen. The business launched after Comer and Khori, who passed away in November 2018, secured two separate loans from the city: One a forgiveable loan for $100,000 and the other a $275,000 economic development loan for the complex parking lot.

The foundry closed in July 2018 after allegations of racism were brought up by past employees against Comer.

An old compliance report from July 11, 2018, found that as of July 2018, Comer-Khori LLC, the entity set up by Comer to redevelop the project, were current on payments for the parking lot loan which were paid on the first of every month. An updated report finds that since then, Comer has missed at least four months of loan payments.

The February 2019 report found that the $275,000 loan was “four months delinquent for payments in October, November, December and January” and that the “last payment received” came in on Nov. 14 for a payment that was due on Sept. 1. The document also states

that Comer’s company is “in default on the terms of the loan agreement.”

The loan was modified in 2017 to allow an interest-only payment of $577 per month but on Aug. 1, that amount ballooned to $2,961 per month. The remaining balance on the loan, including interest through Dec. 31, is $268,814, according to the compliance document.

Comer did not meet a Feb. 14 deadline to retire the debt. Carla Banks, the city’s communications and marketing director, told City Beat that the city provided a notice of delinquency indicating that the loan is in default. Under the loan agreement, the city has the option of recouping its losses by pursuing foreclosure. And Kathi Dubel, the city’s economic development and business support manager, has previously said that the city could take action based on the company’s performance review.

Banks said the matter has been referred to the city attorney. Calls and emails to the city attorney’s office were not returned for this story.

The document also found Comer to be in compliance with other terms of the loans including the minority and women participation contracts as well as the amount and retention of jobs.

A quarterly tax and wage report cited in the compliance review ending on Dec. 31, 2018 indicated that the company employed 30 full-time employees and 57 part-time employees despite closing most of its businesses in July.

A Facebook post on the Morehead

The Morehead Foundry closed in July 2018 after allegations of racism were brought against Lee Comer.

Foundry page shows that Comer started a new business, Hen in a Hurry, an offshoot of her popular Iron Hen Café, in July 2018. The business aimed to be a prepared food delivery service and in a press release posted on the Facebook page, claimed to provide an extra 150-225 jobs. According to a catering employee for Fresh.Local.Good food group, the Hen in a Hurry business is still active.

Calls and emails to Comer for this story went unreturned.

Comer provided documentation to the city to show that she invested $3.5 million in the upfit of the property, exceeding the $3.2 million threshold required as a condition of the loan. The investment doesn’t include money spent on the purchase of the land and building.

The complex and the lot are currently owned by Burlington investor Shawn

FILE PHOTO

Cummings, who acquired the property in November 2017, as part of Lee Comer’s refinancing efforts. The loan however, is still owed by Comer as required by the loan agreement, according to Banks. The document also states that the city subordinated its deed of trust to the Allegacy Federal Credit Union deed of trust in the amount of approximately $2.9 million. Cummings could not be reached for this story.

Recently, for lease signs went up at the complex. In the 1920s the building was Piedmont Ice and Coal, it was Greensboro Iron Works in the 1950s, and a gas station in the 1960s. Now, after being vacant for seven months since Comer’s businesses closed, residents are left to wonder what venture may occupy the space next.

February 21 - 28, 2019 Up Front

NCDOT TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETING FOR PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS TO N.C. 68 FROM FOGLEMAN ROAD (S.R. 2129) TO N.C. 150 / OAK RIDGE ROAD (S.R. 2137) GUILFORD COUNTY STIP PROJECT NO. R-5725 The N.C. Department of Transportation will hold a public meeting regarding the proposed project to improve N.C. 68 from Fogleman Road (S.R. 2129) to N.C. 150 / Oak Ridge Road (S.R. 2137) in Oak Ridge.

Opinion

The meeting will take place Tuesday, March 5 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Oak Ridge Town Hall located at 8315 Linville Road in Oak Ridge. The public may drop in at any time during the meeting hours. Please note that no formal presentation will be made.

News

The purpose of the project is to increase safety and traffic flow along this section of N.C. 68, which includes intersection improvements at Linville Road (S.R. 2022), Marketplace Drive and N.C. 150 / Oak Ridge Road (S.R. 2137).

The project will also address connectivity for bicyclists and pedestrians.

NCDOT representatives will be available to answer questions and listen to comments regarding the project. The opportunity to submit comments will also be provided at the meeting or via phone, email, or mail by March 20.

Comments received will be taken into consideration as the project develops.

Culture

Project information and materials can be viewed as they become available online at https://www.ncdot.gov/news/public-meetings.

For additional information, contact Brian Ketner, P.E., NCDOT Division 7 Project Engineer, at bkketner@ncdot.gov or 336-487-0075.

Aquellas personas no hablan inglés, o tienen limitaciones para leer, hablar o entender inglés, podrían recibir servicios de interpretación si los solicitan antes de la reunión llamando al 1-800-481-6494.

Puzzles

Persons who do not speak English, or have a limited ability to read, speak or understand English, may receive interpretive services upon request prior to the meeting by calling 1-800-481-6494.

Shot in the Triad

NCDOT will provide auxiliary aids and services under the Americans with Disabilities Act for disabled persons who wish to participate in this meeting.

Anyone requiring special services should contact Samantha Borges, Environmental Analysis Unit at smborges@ncdot.gov or 919-707-6115 as early as possible so that arrangements can be made.

9

February 21 - 28, 2019 Up Front News Opinion Culture Shot in the Triad Puzzles

10

Bowhunting for deer on the table in Winston-Salem

by Jordan Green Winston-Salem could become the largest city in North Carolina to provide an urban archery season for deer hunting.

The slope down to the creek from Carolyn Fay’s house in southwest Winston-Salem is one of the most charming facets of the place.

The winding streets in her 1980s-era subdivision off Burke Mill Road promote a feeling of seclusion even though the houses are wedged closely together. But Fay’s place at the edge of the development accesses a little piece of urban wilderness along the banks of Burke Creek, which runs between the subdivision and a cluster of sylvan medical offices across the west bank. The frogs make a natural symphony when they breed in the spring.

And once Fay spotted a blue heron stepping along the streambed.

The creek plays a vital role in the city’s hydrology, flushing out storm-water runoff from Hanes Mall and Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home, while also providing a thoroughfare for deer wandering upstream. Fay, who retired after 30 years as a costume designer in the dance department at UNC School of the Arts, pointed to a set of deer hooves in the wet ground near the creek on a recent weekday morning.

The deer ravaged her garden, wiping out lettuce, asparagus and tomatoes, along with summer crops of cucumbers, green beans and snap peas. She finally secured the garden with six-foot high horse fence from Tractor Supply Co., but only after unsuccessfully installing three ultrasonic yard sentinels with rabbit fence that proved useless, and military-grade wire, which the deer just barged through.

In addition to eating Fay’s garden, the deer are also causing a hazard for motorists. Several months ago, Fay said, a neighbor hit a deer that lay on Burke Mill Road for three days attracting buzzards before it was removed.

Fay isn’t a hunter and she isn’t interested in killing a deer, but she started questioning whether a bowhunting season in the city limits would be a solution to her problem. She reached out to the NC Wildlife Resource Commission.

Whatever concerns she might have harbored about safety were quickly allayed.

“Talking to them made me not be afraid,” Fay said. “I thought it sounded like a reasonable, safe and humane option.”

Although Fay lives in the Southwest Ward, which is represented by Councilman Dan Besse, her idea caught the interest of Councilman James Taylor, the Southeast Ward representative who chairs the Public Safety Committee.

Taylor touted the proposal as a recreational opportunity for residents in an interview with Triad City Beat.

“One thing I like about Winston-Salem is no matter where you live and what you’re into, there’s something for you,” he said.

“I represent a district that has an urban core, but also has a JORDAN GREEN Carolyn Fay’s garden in southwest Winston-Salem is a tempting prospect for deer rural component,” wandering up Burke Creek. he added. “Several years ago, we annexed food to underserved individuals and Jeff MacIntosh — approve the measure, people who might enjoy hunting.” families. The nonprofit reimburses the it would advance to the full council for Councilwoman DD Adams, Taylor’s processors for labor. Among 18 procesconsideration. colleague in the North Ward, also enthusors across the state that participate in If city council votes to allow bowsiastically embraced the proposal. the program, the two that are closest to hunting, hunters would be required to “I believe we can do something good Winston-Salem are in Greensboro and shoot down from a raise platform to here, provide protein for families that Madison. According to the nonprofit, avoid the risk of stray arrows endangercan’t afford to go get — whether it’s hunters donated more than 1,000 deer ing neighbors. steak or Angus or whatever it is,” Adams last year, yielding more than 20 tons of A total of 61 municipalities in North said during a committee meeting in ground venison.

Carolina allow bowhunting during the January. “I also believe we can help feed Councilman John Larson, a member urban archery season, from Jan. 12 to the homeless in this way, of the Public Safety ComFeb. 17, including King and Lewisville to go give protein. mittee who represents in Forsyth County; and Jamestown, Oak “I definitely plan to get the South Ward, said Ridge, Pleasant Garden, Stokesdale me some bow lessons,” and Summerfield in Guilford County.

I thought it sound- he remains skeptical of she added, “because I’m the proposal. He quesWinston-Salem would be by far the ed like a reasongoing for it.” tioned how the city would largest city to participate in the program, Although the details provide enforcement for with almost three times the population able, safe and aren’t fully worked out, minimum acreage guideof Concord, the current leader. humane option.

Fay said she would like lines, while noting that Elkin, a town of about 4,000 people to see a provision in the the city doesn’t employ that straddles Surry and Wilkes counties – Carolyn Fay program for ensuring that game wardens. He said on the Yadkin River, was one of the first some portion of the harhe also worries about the to allow bowhunting, beginning in 2004 vest helps address hunger. potential for wounded or 2005, Town Manager Brent Corneli“If we want this to go over as a bendeer to wander across property lines and son said. eficial act — maybe you keep one [deer] discomfort residents who may not ap“The issue at the time was that we and give one,” she said. “Reciprocity.” preciate hunting. were seeing an overpopulation of deer,” The nonprofit North Carolina HuntTaylor said he plans to bring the he said. “A lot of them were getting hit ers for the Hungry allows hunters to proposal up for a vote at the next Public on the road. It was causing a lot of probdonate legally harvested deer to proSafety Committee meeting in March. If lems with eating landscaping.” cessors, which in turn provide ground at least two out of four members of the There was concern at first because venison to women’s shelters, soup committee — which also includes Mayor people didn’t know what to expect. kitchens and church pantries to provide Pro Tem Vivian Burke and Councilman But Cornelison said he’s received no

Up Front News Opinion Culture Shot in the Triad Puzzles

Hard news at no cost to you, and no matter the cost to us.

February 21 - 28, 2019

urban archery season falls at a different time of the year would also expand opportunities for hunters and processors, he said.

Hendrix said he’s seen five deer killed by cars within a half-mile of his house in the past month.

Considering that deer are nocturnal, most people don’t realize how many there are, he said.

“I guarantee if you put a trail camera out, they would see 10 deer, not just one,” Hendrix said.

“There’s way more deer than people realize. You don’t realize how big the population is. You’re not going to do away with them; it’s going to make them more healthy.”

TRUTH IS POWER

complaints about the program, and the hunters tend to be inconspicuous. Most residents don’t even realize the town has an urban archery season, he said.

“Most of the hunters are doing it for food and wildlife management, not for sport,” Cornelison said. “They’re really good about not being seen. You’re using a bow, so you don’t hear gunshots.

They’re good hunters, and they’re very respectful.”

Cornelison emphasized that Elkin has a lot of woodland, and people need to determine whether urban archery is right for their municipalities based on each one’s unique factors.

In Winston-Salem, much of the open space clusters along the city’s major stream systems, including Muddy Creek arcing across the west, and Salem Creek, which cuts a diagonal southwesterly path across the south end. The two stream system’s many tributaries include Burke Creek, which flows past Carolyn Fay’s house. The streams also provide a thoroughfare for the deer.

Forsyth County property records show dozens of sizable properties along Salem Creek, many as big as four acres and at least one at more than 20 acres that are owned by real estate companies, private investors, a railroad company and the city.

Some municipalities that participate in the state’s urban archery program like North Wilkesboro allow hunting on public property; others, like Elkin, do not. City Manager Brent Cornelison said Elkin prohibits bowhunting on town property because it’s too confusing for hunters to differentiate between types of town property: Hunting in a cemetery might be okay, as long as there wasn’t a funeral; hunting in a public park would never be safe. Regardless, state law requires hunters to get permission from the property owner.

Elkin has no minimum acreage requirement. Council members in Winston-Salem are contemplating a restriction to lots that are a minimum of two, or maybe even three acres.

Randy Hendrix, a bowhunter who lives about a mile outside of Winston-Salem on the southeastern periphery, said he would gladly take the opportunity to hunt inside the city limits if he were able to find a property owner who would grant permission.

“I really think it’s a good idea,” said Hendrix, who has been bow-hunting for about 40 years. “They’re over-populated even in the areas we can hunt. It’s bound to be even triple that in the areas we can’t hunt in the city.” The fact that the

11

February 21 - 28, 2019 Up Front News Opinion Culture Shot in the Triad Puzzles

12

De f i l i ng t h e t e m pl e

by Jordan Green

Kenneth Fairbanks’ charismatic ministry elevated him to prominence as a community leader and spawned an African outreach mission. But four criminal indictments allege he was sexually violating girls, including his daughter, at the same time.

Trigger warning: The alleged acts of child sex abuse described in this story are disturbing.

through December 2006. The three other indictments, which uniformly accuse Kenneth Fairbanks of “lewd and lascivious” acts upon the bodies of minors under the age of 16, allege shorter periods of abuse The worship services began in Kenneth Fairbanks’ living room, ranging from three to 30 months, continuing as recently as December but the charismatic pastor had a vision for something grander — an 2016. international church that would share the word of God throughout the Christa Fairbanks said her father kept her isolated from other adults world, train and ordain ministers, and promote development to help lift and took advantage of the fact that her mother was away from home people in underprivileged villages out of poverty. receiving treatment for recurring bouts of cancer.

FaithWorks Ministries was an informal church designed to appeal to “She would be in the hospital or doing treatment, and that would those who felt left out by conventional religion; it offered comfort and kind of be his, I guess, opportune time to prey on me,” Fairbanks told empowerment to worshipers looking for a new start.

Triad City Beat. “A lot of inappropriate touching, kissing, fondling. He As Fairbanks’ 2014 book, Life’s Perspectives: Wisdom for Everyday Living, would sneak into my bed at night. That’s pretty much all I can say. This put it, his teachings would allow “the average person to take control of went on ’til I was 15 or 16, and I finally found the courage to tell my their lives” by “purging old hurt, pains, and destructive thinking from mother.” the minds and hearts of those that would experience new freedom and Kenneth Fairbanks declined through his lawyer to comment for this a productive mindset.” The heart of the ministry was Kenneth Fairstory. banks himself. His author’s biography described He was released on bond after 40 days in jail, but him as “a great visionary” with “compassion for was forced to surrender his passport after a judge ministry and all people.” declared him a flight risk based on his charitable ‘When he speaks, he does activities in Kenya. Before Fairbanks was even The bio proclaimed, “One of his greatest assets is his ability to sense the heart and pulse of God. charged, FaithWorks Ministries had been evicted not speak as men speak, When he speaks, he does not speak as men speak, for nonpayment of rent from the church on Spring but listens intently to the Garden Street and the landlord had donated the but listens intently to the spirit of God, and then shares God’s heart with his creation.” building to the Greensboro Fire Department for a spirit of God, and then And the Greensboro pastor made his mark live-fire training. shares God’s heart with as a leader of a congregation that grew to hun“Mr. Fairbanks is a good man who has been dreds of members and moved into a conventional through a lot, and I want him to be judged imparhis creation.’ church building adjacent to Whitestone retirement tially by people,” said Brennan Aberle, his lawyer, —Kenneth Fairbanks’ official bio explaining why his client isn’t commenting while community on Spring Garden Street. Fairbanks traveled several times to Nairobi, Kenya and raised his case is still pending. money to help build a school for an orphanage While Kenneth Fairbanks’ supporters cast him there. as a victim of familial treachery, his daughter, Christa, alleges that he Back home in Greensboro, Fairbanks raised his pastoral profile besexually abused her for years, along with other girls, while isolating her yond the church walls to play a prominent role as a community leader. to exert control and extorting her silence by admonishing her against In 2007 and 2008, Fairbanks and his wife, Shelia, served on the Guilruining God’s plan for their family. ford County Disproportionate Minority Contact Committee, a project Christa said she finally told her mother about the sexual abuse when funded by the US Justice Department and administered through a her father attempted to come into her bed during a family trip to her center at UNCG. Kenneth Fairbanks served on the Greensboro Violent Alabama grandfather’s — Kenneth’s father’s — funeral.

Crimes Task Force, a police-community partnership in which repeat “She screamed, she cursed, she demanded that he get help imviolent offenders are offered a choice between community support mediately, or she would go to the police,” Christa said, recalling her or aggressive prosecution. In 2015, FaithWorks Ministries teamed up mother’s reaction. with the Greensboro Police Department to collect supplies for children Kenneth Fairbanks pretended to go to therapy for about two years, going back to school, culminating in a daylong event at the coliseum.

Christa said, but in reality moved on to another, younger victim. City Fairbanks also served on Chief Wayne Scott’s Faith Advisory Council.

Beat is not naming the youngest victim, but the indictment alleges that But four criminal indictments allege that for much of time Fairbanks she was abused over a period of three months from June to August was operating his ministry, he was also sexually abusing children. The 2011. alleged victims include his daughter, a niece and two other girls who “Honestly, finding out about the youngest victim is what made me attended his church. The four alleged victims are named in court docucome forward,” Christa said. “I realized that, okay, I knew he had a ments but have not been identified in previous media accounts. Two problem, but he doesn’t realize it. And he is not going to stop until he is are speaking out publicly for the first time. behind bars or he is buried.”

Christa Fairbanks, who is now in her late twenties, said her father, The allegations of sexual abuse, first aired privately and then to now 62, began abusing her at the age of 6 or 7. According to the police investigators, have ruptured at least two families. Shelia, who has indictment, Fairbanks sexually abused his daughter from August 1997 stood by her daughter, obtained a divorce from her husband, reclaim-

ing King as her maiden name. The v shunned by family members, while K vocal supporters among friends and tured various ulterior motives for bo and the divorce.

Brianna Fleming, who attended Fa her mother, told City Beat that Kenne propriately when she was in seventh Fairbanks’ home after school.

Fleming told City Beat that when C dogs, Kenneth Fairbanks called her him lying in bed. She said he touche her stomach and then moved it dow clothes.

Fleming said she had previous exp family member, and she recognized thing wrong about the encounter.

“He looked at me really deeply, I g tion was,” Fleming recalled. “And I f I wanted him to understand that I kn forever just standing there staring. A out of the house, and I went to my c door.”

Shot in the Triad Puzzles

Continued on Page 14

Culture

guess trying to read what my reacfroze. And I stared back at him like new this wasn’t right. It felt like And then I yanked back, and I ran cousin’s house, who lives right next

Opinion

perience with sexual abuse by a immediately that there was some-

News

Christa went outside to feed the into his bedroom where she found ed her arm, moved his hand over to wnward and fondled her through her

Up Front

FaithWorks Ministries as a child with eth Fairbanks touched her inaph grade, while she was visiting the

‘I thought that I had ruined everything.

I had ruined God’s plan for him. That was the first and last time I tried to tell a police authority, until now.’

February 21 - 28, 2019

victims have found themselves Kenneth Fairbanks has retained pastoral associates, who have venoth the allegations of sexual abuse

Brianna Fleming and Christa Fairbanks said the incident put their friendship on hiatus because Fleming didn’t want to come over to the house anymore and risk being alone with Kenneth Fairbanks.

Fleming said she was initially reluctant to talk to the police when Christa Fairbanks contacted her to see if she and other girls had experienced abuse.

Learning that there was a younger victim ultimately swayed her, Fleming said.

“No matter how minimal it was what happened to me, it still happened,” Fleming said. “And hopefully it can be a piece of the puzzle to make sure that he doesn’t keep doing this stuff with other girls.”

Fleming said when she told her mother about the abuse, she responded by saying, “Well, what do you expect me to do?”

Instead of accepting that her pastor had done something wrong, Fleming said her mother deflected blame by portraying her daughter as being promiscuous.

“Even a previous member of the church told me that when I told my mom about [the abuse], she was scared I was going to tell everybody,” Fleming said. “She told the church I was being ‘fast.’ ‘Don’t listen to anything Brianna has to say. She’s just being fast in her pants, and she needs to sit down somewhere,’ basically.”

City Beat spoke with Christa Fairbanks and Brianna Fleming for more than two hours last September. Fairbanks asked to delay publication to honor the wishes of the prosecutor handling the case, but after repeated continuances in the case, signaled her wish for the story to go forward. Fairbanks provided additional details through subsequent Facebook messages and a phone conversation during the course of reporting for this story.

Eventually, Fleming left FaithWorks Ministries, but she said her continued attendance at the church for years after the alleged abuse was cited to discredit her. It was having a child of her own, she said, that ultimately influenced her decision to leave FaithWorks Ministries when her son was a year old.

“Immediately, all the thoughts that I had suppressed about what happened came back,” Fleming said. “I remember what he did to me.

And I got my child, and we left. And that was one of the things that my

mom tried to throw in my face when I brought it out: ‘Well, you let him christen your son. You didn’t have a problem with it then.’

“She’s just brainwashed, that’s all,” Fleming added. “She can’t wrap her mind around the fact that this person she’s trusted her entire life is not who he has portrayed himself to be. I guess she’d rather believe that he’s good than that her daughter isn’t a liar.”

Fleming said she continues to maintain a relationship with her mother, but the price of doing so is refraining from discussion of the subject.

Among the various theories posited by Kenneth Fairbanks to explain the allegations against him is that his daughter and other young women in the church chafed against his religious authority.

“I think he was preaching what he should have been preaching; I think it might have hit them the wrong way,” said Ed Cobbler, a private investigator hired with state funds to work on the case on Kenneth Fairbanks’ behalf. “His own daughter was rebellious. I don’t think she understands how serious this [set of allegations] is.”

Cobbler, who has worked as a private investigator for 36 years and started his career with the Greensboro Police Department in 1968, said he has known Kenneth Fairbanks for 20 years. The two men served on the Greensboro Violent Crimes Task Force and fed homeless people together. Cobbler said he went into the case with an open mind, and nothing he’s uncovered in his investigation has caused him to question his belief in his client’s innocence.

“When you talk about inappropriate touching — not rape or intercourse; that’s not alleged here — when you put stuff out like this, you’ve destroyed a reputation,” Cobbler said. “Even if he’s acquitted, people will say, ‘Oh, he just got off on a technicality.’

His reputation is ruined.

I don’t think he’ll ever pastor a church. Fortunately, he’s maintained —Christa Fairbanks his innocence. He’s a very strong man of prayer. I’ve been in touch with him trying to keep him strong. But this has not been easy. I can only imagine, as a man, what a toll this has taken on him.”

Aberle said via Facebook that Cobbler “was appointed as an investigator on this case because he had some background information about Kenneth Fairbanks, and it seemed ideal to have someone familiar with the case working on the investigation.”

Christa Fairbanks said Cobbler has harassed her by showing up at her apartment and “demanding to know the truth.”

“Honestly, it got to the point where I — I called the police on him five times before the DA actually stepped in,” Christa Fairbanks said.

“The last time he actually came to my home, he was so loud and belligerent that I had neighbors below me come out and see if I wanted to call the police. He’s yelling out questions in front of my children pertaining to this case; it’s definitely not something I need for them to hear…. Just being loud and belligerent. Trying to intimidate. Trying to kind of force his way into my home. I asked him to leave three times; he still would not leave. I got on the phone with the police and the DA. Once he saw me reading off his license plate he sped away.”

Cobbler admitted that he tried to talk to the

13

Opinion

News

Up Front

February 21 - 28, 2019

Continued from Page 13 women, while denying that his behavior was aggressive.

“I can promise you: my reputation in the community would speak for itself,” Cobbler said. “Any attorney would say, ‘No, he’s just the opposite. He makes friends with witnesses and perpetrators.’

I go to the jail and get confessions from murderers that they haven’t given to the police or to their own lawyers.

“I was surprised that they wouldn’t talk to me,” he added. “One person made up the lie that I was pushy and harassing them. That was far, far from the truth. I will go to the door, and if they say, ‘I don’t want to talk to you,’ end of story — I’m gone.”

Aberle said he hadn’t been aware that Cobbler was contacting witnesses, and once he found out, he pulled him off the case.

“I did not ask him to contact specific witnesses in this case,” Aberle said in a prepared statement. “Typically, I wait until we receive discovery in a case before I set up an investigation plan.

The district attorney’s office called me and said there were some witnesses who were contacted who were upset and did not wish to be contacted by Mr. Cobbler.

When I found out about that I called Mr. Cobbler and told him to not have any further contact. He is not actively investigating in this case.”

Puzzles

Shot in the Triad

Culture

†††

14

FaithWorks Ministries started in the home of Kenneth and Shelia Fairbanks.

At first, the majority of the church was comprised of family members, Christa Fairbanks recalled.

“And everybody knew everything that was going on with everybody basically,” she said. “It was a very tight, tightknit….”

Her voice trailed off as she looked for the right word. Seated next to her friend, Brianna Fleming during an interview at Panera Bread in September 2018, the two women said in unison, laughing: “…

Cult.”

“I find the way that my family became involved in the church to be very ironic because they were already going to a church in Winston-Salem,” Fleming said. “There were four women all in the same family — single women with children. None of them were involved with a male at all.”

Fleming said she sees a pattern in Kenneth Fairbanks’ recruitment of her family.

“He would always run men off from the church; that was one thing that was very noticeable,” she said. “There would always be full families that would come in as new members or guests. The women would stay, but the men wouldn’t stay. It was always something about the men leaving.”

Fleming said her stepfather was among the men who found Kenneth Fairbanks alienating. And it was her stepfather as opposed to her mother who stood with her when she stepped forward to allege abuse.

“He said that he had always had bad feelings, and that he was actually just starting to accept him,” Fleming said.

“So, he was really hurt by it. And it caused a big rift between him and my mom because my mom is still on that side of the fence. And my stepfather supports me wholeheartedly.”

Between frequent church attendance and isolation from other families, Christa Fairbanks said she didn’t have much context for what a healthy father-daughter relationship should look like. But around the age of 11 or 12, she said, she recognized something wasn’t right.

“I started to realize this isn’t what it should be,” she said. “This isn’t right. I don’t feel right. I don’t feel good about this. I feel very — I feel ashamed…. I remember asking him — he had snuck into my bed one night, and I lay there.

I feigned sleep, just in hopes it would make him leave faster. As he was about to leave, I asked him: ‘What’s wrong with you?’ Because at that point I understood this isn’t how a father-and-daughter relationship is supposed to be. He said that he accidentally got into the wrong bed and he thought I was my mom. Which, considering that she’s had a mastectomy, I don’t think that’s very possible.”

To her knowledge, Christa Fairbanks said, “penetration” didn’t occur, adding, “I can’t honestly say that it didn’t [occur] because I have a lot of just kind of blank patches there, which my therapist said is my brain protecting itself.”

Kenneth Fairbanks’ authority as a father and pastor was magnified by “a vast collection of guns,” his daughter said.

“He would take them out and clean them and tell me I couldn’t tell anyone because it would ruin God’s plan for us,” she said. “Because he’s a pastor, and his church is going to be worldwide. It’s going to be a megachurch.”

Speaking to City Beat, Fairbanks apologized at one point for a graphic description. She recalled her father touching her around the time she reached puberty.

“So he was alarmed that I had pubic

hair,” she recalled. “And he recoiled, as if I were a monster, and said, ‘When did that happen?’”

Kenneth Fairbanks physically abused her on top of the sexual abuse, Christa Fairbanks said. One incident in particular stands out.

Christa Fairbanks and Brianna Fleming had reached high-school age. They snuck out late at night with their boyfriends. Christa Fairbanks recalled that her boyfriend was driving them back to her house when her father jumped into the street from behind a fence “like a ninja” while brandishing a loaded pistol.

They said they heard Kenneth Fairbanks cock the pistol.

“We all started freaking out,” Christa Fairbanks said. “We thought he was going to start shooting. We thought he was gonna kill us. And my boyfriend backed up really fast. We were in a real-live chase.”

They drove to Fleming’s house, they said, and Kenneth Fairbanks caught up with them there.

Christa Fairbanks recalled that her father pistol-whipped her boyfriend and called her a ‘whore.’”

Fleming said her mother sent her away to stay with family members in Morganton, and the incident was never spoken of again.

Christa Fairbanks said that according to her father’s account the judge was sympathetic to his position being that he himself was a father with a daughter and sentenced him to community service.

Guilford County court records confirm that Kenneth Fairbanks received multiple charges in April 2006 — for assault with a deadly weapon, assault by pointing a gun, simple assault and communicating threats. Marquez Parker and Christopher Tinnin, who were dating the two girls at the time, are listed as the victims in court records. Three of the charges were outright dismissed, while Kenneth Fairbanks received deferred prosecution — which typically involves dismissal in exchange for community service — for the charges of assault with a deadly weapon and assault by pointing a gun.

Christa Fairbanks said her boyfriend was aware of the abuse, and the police investigation into the pistol-whipping incident led to a wider inquiry.

“And they actually sent a police officer — female officer — to come and ask me: Was I being abused?” she recalled. “My issue with that is she asked me about three feet away from my father. So, I did not come clean at that time. I denied everything. I mean, he was right there.

Kenneth Fairbanks

COURTESY GUILFORD COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

After she left, that was the first suicide attempt I can remember. Because, like he said, I thought that I had ruined everything. I had ruined God’s plan for him.

That was the first and last time I tried to tell a police authority, until now.” ††† The last time Kenneth Fairbanks visited Mogra Children’s Centre in Nairobi, Kenya was in 2017, according to the Rev. Hannah Njoroge, the orphanage’s founder. She said Fairbanks helped raise funds to build a school to serve the orphans. Njoroge’s organization was able to complete the project with additional funds raised in Kenya.

Njoroge said in an email that the allegations of child sex abuse don’t square with her staff’s impressions of Fairbanks, “as he was really very good and clean, and to say molesting children would be the worst-case scenario for an allegation.

We know him as a very powerful man of God, and that to us is just unbelievable.”

Njoroge said Fairbanks was never left alone with the children at the orphanage and slept at a hotel when he visited.

Njoroge, who performs marriage counseling, said the last time Fairbanks visited he complained that his family had turned against him.

“He said, ‘I don’t have a wife who’s caring for me,’” Njoroge said. “I told him my husband, we were praying together. My husband said, ‘You cannot leave your wife.’… Pastor Ken told me: ‘I don’t think I can do this anymore.

Hannah, what am I going to do?’ From what he was telling me, the wife was on the side of the children.”

Njoroge said the allegations of child

Up Front News Opinion Culture Shot in the Triad Puzzles

Other siblings did not return messages for this story.

Kenneth Fairbanks or his accusers.

Both Kenneth Fairbanks and Shelia King had chilChrista said she’s authorized two different therapists, dren from previous marriages. a psychologist and her primary-care physician to release “As far as I know, I have five siblings from my father, her medical files to the court. She said she suffers from and two from my mother’s previous marriage,” Christa post-traumatic stress disorder, and three different anxisaid. “Her husband passed away before her and my ety disorders. The court has a list of medications, with a father met. He was a rolling stone. All of these children history of how long she’s taken them. have different mothers, different ages. Honestly, I didn’t “I understand that these are allegations, but medifind out about half of them until I was 16, 17. And cal files don’t lie,” she said. “Multiple therapists and they’re all older than me. So I have a lot of siblings. On psychologists don’t lie. It had to have happened. There’s his side, I only have one that is supportive.” no way that my life — psychologically and mentally, I On Valentine’s Day 2018, Shelia Fairbanks had diwould not be this damaged had this trauma not hapvorce papers served on her husband in Greensboro Jail pened. It’s just impossible to fake. There’s no faking Central. The divorce was finalized on June 4. post-traumatic stress disorder.”

Shelia, who continues to struggle with health chalIronically, court filings suggest that the victims’ menlenges, declined to comment for this story. tal health history is likely to play a role in the defense “I am really dealing with a lot right now,” she said in strategy as well. a Facebook message. “Just not something I want to add Brennan Aberle, Kenneth Fairbanks’ lawyer, filed a to the list. Trying to keep away as much stress as I can, motion for discovery last year requesting “information but thanks for asking.” that may indicate that any witness suffers from mental Kenneth Fairbanks has continued to profess his inillness, infirmity, impairment or any kind of impairment nocence. of their senses,” along with information that may indi“They offered him plea deals, because right now he’s cate any witness suffers from drug or alcohol addiction; facing four to 24 years,” Christa Fairbanks said. “Like any information “that may show bias, hostility or motive I said, he doesn’t think he’s done anything wrong. How by any witness”; or any criminal records or “prior bad can you make someone say that they’re guilty when they acts” by witnesses. honestly don’t feel any remorse or guilt?”

Christa Fairbanks and Brianna Fleming said their Even though Kenneth Fairbanks is prohibited from only motivation for coming forward is to protect other having any contact with the four victims as a condition children from being abused. of release, Christa Fairbanks said she “I have nothing to gain by telling took the initiative to meet with her something like this,” Fleming said, father after he was charged. “but I have a family, I have a hus‘It’s not okay because “If you will get help, I will not band, I have a job. I have a lot that what they’re missing is press this any further,” Christa said I’m putting on the line. I’m putting she told her father. “If you just admit my children in harm’s way. He could that the age at which that there is some type of issue that react however right now. He’s out on these things are hapneeds to be addressed….” bond and lives two miles away from She said he cut her off, and reme. So, I’ve had to go out and train pening is a very vital sponded, “I don’t have a problem. I myself with a pistol. I’ve had to take part of the child’s devel- extra precautions. I’m a helicopter never did those things.”

Kenneth Fairbanks’ most recent parent.” opment.’ court date was Jan. 22, and court reChrista Fairbanks concurred.

—Brianna Fleming cords don’t specify the next time he’s “My children do not leave my due to appear in front a judge. The sight,” she said.

Guilford County District Attorney’s Both women said they hope that office declined to comment for this story. that by speaking out they will help people understand Christa Fairbanks said she’s been in therapy for seven that it’s not okay to turn a blind eye or excuse child sex years — a process begun before she gave birth to her abuse by family members. first son.

“It’s not okay because what they’re missing is that the “I’ve been in therapy for a very long time,” Christa age at which these things are happening is a very vital Fairbanks said. “Honestly, I probably will always be in part of the child’s development,” Fleming said. “Betherapy, just like I will always have my meds. It’s not ing taught at an early age incorrectly about sexuality something that’s cured necessarily; it’s just managed. and what is okay and who it’s okay with is extremely, That’s what I’m trying to do, is manage the best I can.” extremely impactful. And can cause mental illness, She said surviving sex abuse involves a lifetime of recan cause promiscuity. It can cause even for that child programming, particularly with regards to establishing a to abuse someone else because this is what they were sense of sovereignty over her body. For a long time, she taught as a child is okay. And it’s not. said, she “had to work through the fact that sex is okay.”

“And you need to tell on Uncle So-and-So, however “I’m just now as an adult approaching my thirties old they are, however long they’ve been doing it,” she coming into my own sexuality, if that makes any sense, said. “It’s not okay, and they need to stop. And they because I wasn’t given the opportunity to,” she said. need to get help. Or they need to be locked up. Either “So, a lot of things have been confusing because my way. We’re ruining children. Children are the future. normal was obviously not normal.”

What kind of future is it going to be if we’re devouring If and when the case eventually goes to trial, the our kids?” outcome will likely depend on whether jurors believe

February 21 - 28, 2019

sex abuse against Fairbanks surprised her because they don’t sync with his conduct at the orphanage.

“There’s nothing we can say that he has done wrong,” she said. “There’s not any language or any sign he has done anything with girls or women. We have never heard about any wrong anything.”

Others say they have made similar observations.

“I’ve interacted with him many times, and I’ve seen him around females,” said Ed Cobbler, the private investigator in Greensboro. “He always conducted himself as a gentleman. He’s always been quiet. He’s been involved in the community, but he’s not a flamboyant person.”

Shaun Wagner, who attends a different church in Charlotte, said he considers Fairbanks to be a “mentor.” When Wagner was going through some personal difficulties a couple years ago, Fairbanks provided spiritual counseling to him over the phone. Wagner said Fairbanks is a frequent visitor and beloved by the congregation at New Foundations Church, where Wagner’s brother is the pastor.

“I watch people’s mannerisms,” Wagner said. “I never even saw this man say anything inappropriate to any woman…. I know pastors who are flirtatious with women. I never saw him be flirtatious with women.”

Brianna Fleming and Christa Fairbanks said it was a different story at FaithWorks Ministries, and that even while he was sexually abusing children, he was also having inappropriate relationships with adult women.

Although her mother would downplay it, Fleming said that Fairbanks “did a lot of inappropriate things and made a lot of inappropriate comments, even to my mom.

“He was commenting on their behinds,” Fleming added. “You don’t do that when you’re a preacher, you know?”

In 2016, FaithWorks Ministries was evicted from the church on Spring Garden Street. Kenneth Fairbanks rented the church building from the North Carolina Masonic and Eastern Star Foundation, a nonprofit that owns Whitestone retirement community. Walt Clapp, grand secretary of the foundation, said Fairbanks “wasn’t very good about paying his rent.”

Clapp recalled: “The one time I remember meeting him was the time that we told him he’s going to have to exit the property. He told me his wife had cancer. I said, ‘I hate to do this to you at this time of your need, but we got to move on.’”

The building was in such bad condition, Clapp said, that the foundation opted to donate it to the Greensboro Fire Department for a live-fire training. Assistant Chief Dwayne Church confirmed that the fired department conducted a live-fire training on a building at a Spring Garden Street address on Sept. 23, 2017.

Less than five months later, Kenneth Fairbanks was arrested and charged with four counts of indecent liberties with a child.

One of the pastor’s most ardent defenders was Brian Fairbanks, Kenneth’s son and Christa’s half-brother.

“My father is a father first, a pastor, an upstanding citizen, a loving father and a loving grandfather to a host of kids,” Brian Fairbanks told Fox 8 News. “People that know him could definitely tell you, you know, that this is not in his character.” Brian Fairbanks declined to comment for this story.

15

February 21 - 28, 2019 Up Front News Opinion Culture Shot in the Triad Puzzles

16

CITIZEN GREEN

OPINION

A battle of symbols, from Chapel Hill to Ole Miss

Earlier this month, students at UNC Chapel Hill installed a pair of memorials to victims of white supremacy.

The concept was brilliant: After 18 months of university administrators and the UNC Board of Governors arguing to keep the inflammatory white supremacist monument known as Silent Sam because a 2015 law prohibits the removal of “any object of remembrance” from public property, the students installed two finely rendered, informative and moving memorials of their own. One

by Jordan Green commemorated James Lewis Cates, a 22-year-old man stabbed to death in the Pit, the main gathering place on campus, during an all-night dance party in November 1970 by members of the white supremacist motorcycle gang the Stormtroopers. The other commemorated the “Negro Wench,” an unnamed black woman referenced by industrialist Julian Carr in his speech dedicating Silent Sam in 1913. Carr boasted, “One hundred yards from where we stand, less than 90 days perhaps after my return from Appomattox, I horse-whipped a negro wench until her skirts hung in shreds, because upon the streets of this quiet village she had publicly insulted and maligned a Southern lady, and then rushed for protection to these university buildings where was stationed a garrison of 100 federal soldiers.”

The installations provided the university an opportunity to demonstrate its legal commitment to preserving objects of remembrance and to neo-Confederate hard-liners to prove that their devotion to symbols of the Confederacy is motivated by a desire to honor the dead as opposed to upholding glorifying white supremacy.

The memorial to Cates was the first to go on Feb. 12, with the university citing its facilities use policy, “which states no temporary structure shall be erected or placed on lawn space beneath the drip line of trees,” according to The Daily Tar Heel.

Frankie Harper, a member of ACTBAC, poses with one of the UNC COURTESY PHOTO The “Negro Wench” memorial appeared to be more secure, as it was placed on Franklin plaques that he stole.

Street, on the property of the town of Chapel Hill. But late in the night on Feb. 15, a group of neo-Confederates hoisted it into the back a pickup truck and sped away. intercepted Harper and confiscated the plaque. Students reinstalled it on Wednesday.)

The perpetrators of these two desecrations could not have more perfectly reinforced the The North Carolina neo-Confederates up in arms over the toppling of Silent Sam and antiracist students’ charge that the university, as an extension of the state, and extremist their mid-South brethren are mobilizing for simultaneous rallies on Saturday. While the vigilantes are colluding to uphold white supremacy.

North Carolina crew is preparing for the six-hour “Heirs to the Confederacy Flag Raising The neo-Confederates responsible for the theft of the “Negro Wench” memorial and at UNC Chapel Hill,” Helton’s Hiwaymen and the allied Confederate 901 are holding a their allies didn’t try very hard to cover their tracks or conceal their racism.

“Mississippi Stands Rally” at the University of Mississippi at Oxford to denounce calls to The evidence turned up in a series of Facebook Live videos posted by Billy Helton, remove the Confederate monument there. leader of a violent neo-Confederate-militia hybrid outfit called the Hiwaymen based in During the video, Helton showed off a helmet he said he wore during the August 2017 Arkansas. On the morning of Feb. 15, Frankie Harper — a member of Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville and mocked Heather Heyer, the Alamance County Taking Back Alamance County, or ACTBAC — antiracist activist murdered by James Fields Jr. commented on Helton’s video: “I’ve been dealing with the Chapel Hill “Well, this is my Charlottesville helmet, Kary,” he told his cousin.

The perpetrators of these police this morning on removing the plaque on Franklin Street. I would “Okay?

This is like trigger time for the left. Because I had this helmet two desecrations could like for all the people out here to call and demand that they take it on when we went into Charlottesville, Va. You know the one that they not have more perfectly down, or I will myself.” put all over the news and tried to impeach Donald Trump on, and some Later that day, in yet another video, Harper commented again: “Billy, fat chick had a heart attack from eating too many McDonald burgers reinforced the antiracist when you finish give me a call. Got a good story for you. I made a and smoking Newports, and they blamed it on a Challenger running students’ charge that the promise and….” her over? Yeah, well this is the helmet.” university, as an extension By midnight, Helton was drinking beer with a friend, Jonathan AdIn the two-hour video stream, Helton managed to wedge in blaof the state, and extremist dison, and hamming for a celebratory video entitled, “Antifa lost their tantly racist tropes about both Hurricane Katrina survivors (“a bunch of first monument UNC Chapel Hill.” mother***ers coming out of damn stores with TVs on their heads and vigilantes are colluding to “I got a phone call tonight, guys,” Helton announced. “You know shit”) and indigenous people (“Trading your daughters off for trinkets? uphold white supremacy. those little plaques they got, that antifa at UNC Chapel Hill put up?

Beating your women?”).

One of ’em’s in patriot possession!”

Members of Students Against Social Injustice, a local chapter of The comment thread under the video showcases a spray of Harper’s United Students Against Sweatshops at University of Mississippi, self-satisfied statements, including this gem: “It make my pecker hard [sic].” joined with faculty and staff to demand that administration remove the Confederate statue Still, Helton played coy. “I’ll tell you who that little birdie is one time,” he said. “That little in November, according to a report in Hotty Toddy, a local news site. birdie flies around with a big ole CSA f***ing cavalry hat on.”

On Tuesday, antiracist students and faculty at Ole Miss began circulating a letter A diminutive man with craggy features and a snow-white beard flowing down his chest, demanding that the university “cancel” the Confederate rally amid threats by the neo-ConHarper is hard to forget if you ever happen to lay eyes on him. And on Jan. 4, he updated federates to bring firearms in violation of university policy, while charging that the adminishis Facebook profile with a new photo of himself sporting a gray cavalry hat decorated with tration has demonstrated a lack of transparency by failing to inform community members gold cord and a metal “CSA” ensign. Gotcha. of a plan to keep people safe.

(As it turns out, the plaque was not “in patriot possession”; an Orange County deputy Sound familiar?

Election fraud: NBD

Up Front News Opinion Culture Shot in the Triad

North Carolina voters have been subEvidence implicated political operaject to the boogeyman of election fraud tive Dowless McRae, Harris and his staff for a decade now. It was the only stated in the grift. The board must now decide impetus for the state’s voter ID bill, if a new election is necessary to maintain which NC Republicans have been trying confidence in our electoral system. to pass pretty much since they took over And now Woodhouse, once a the General Assembly in 2010. champion of the will of North Carolina And it was the specter of election voters, becomes a skeptic, an obfusfraud that fueled the voter ID amendcator, a water-muddier, an agnostic ment to the state constitution, which bean-counter, all the while insisting that passed by voter referendum in 2016 so Harris be seated as a member of the US that we could all have more confidence Congress. in NC’s electoral process.

He told The Hill: “His victory margin is Flash back to 2016, when NC GOP 905 votes. Even if all of his [absentee by Chairman Dallas Woodhouse, while mail] ballots were tainted, his 905-vote being interviewed for margin would stand.” the NPR program “This He told a gaggle of American Life,” was asked While the illegal acreporters on Monday about absentee ballot tions of those he’s de- that he hadn’t yet seen fraud in Bladen County, any evidence that would fending have become change his mind. where Pat McCrory had evident, Woodhouse hinged his last hopes on And in a tweet on re-election before finally Tuesday he acknowlsticks to his guns. conceding in December. edged the similarities “Should the election between his 2016 comboard find that these are plaint and the current absentee ballot mills, with the purpose of fiasco, but added: “It was dismissed by fraudulent voting, those people should the board. Of course we know now that go to jail,” he said, then. democrat @ncsbe appointee was made But Woodhouse spent Monday and aware of concerns BEFORE the primary Tuesday on Twitter, responding in real and did nothing, except certify the time to the NC Board of Elections hearprimary race.” ing concerning absentee ballot abuse…

The hearings continue through the in Bladen County. The board has yet week. And while the illegal actions of those he’s defending have become to certify the results of November’s evident, their consequences more clear, election in the 9th Congressional District that saw Republican Mark Harris defeat Woodhouse will stick to his guns.

Democrat Dan McCready by 900 or so Because, though the board has the votes. authority to call a new election, the state On Monday, state Elections Director House can intervene. Woodhouse and Kim Strach testified that “a coordinated, the GOP still have more influence on unlawful and substantially resourced that body than they do with the general absentee ballot scheme operated in the public.

2018 general election.”

February 21 - 28, 2019

EDITORIAL

Take charge of your mind, body and spirit Puzzles

Test pH balance, allergies, hormones Balance diet, lifestyle and emotions Create a personalized health and nutrition plan

(336) 456-4743 • jillclarey3@gmail.com

3723 West Market St., Unit–B, Greensboro, NC 27403

www.thenaturalpathwithjillclarey.com

17

February 21 - 28, 2019 Up Front News Opinion Culture Shot in the Triad Puzzles

18

CULTURE A carefully reimagined classic in A&T’s Taming of the Shrew

by Sayaka Matsuoka

F

or I am he am born to tame you, Kate,” says Petruchio as he courts Katharina.

Thus begins the cat-and-mouse game between the playboy Petruchio and the argumentative Katharina in Shakespeare’s, The Taming of the Shrew.

A&T theater debuted a rendition of the comedic play on Valentine’s Day at the Paul Robeson Theater.

The show opens to a crowd of students, couples and families with a promise to tell the romantic story of how a cocky man tames a mulish, obstinate woman, transforming her into an obedient wife so that her demure younger sister can, in turn, be married.

Baby blue pastels along with rich hues of purple colors the set while Katharina and her younger sister, Bianca, adorn bright pink wigs and fairy-tale costumes.

The whole thing feels a bit like watching an absurd story in a different dimension, a kind of dreamlike state.

“I didn’t want people to feel like it was too much of a reality,” says Xulee-Vanecia J. Love, the show’s director. “I wanted it to feel like watching a cartoon, and that it’s not real life with real people.

It’s more like caricatures. It’s a made-up world that wasn’t too serious.”

Love says putting on a play about a man taming a woman in 2019 was a challenge.

“I think it’s important for theater to always be active,” she says. “It’s more than just entertainment. But this show is comedic. It gives us time to laugh when things are really bad.”

She says both her and the cast made important changes to the show to leaven its misogyny. In the original story, Petruchio, as Katharina’s suitor, abuses her both physically and psychologically to “break” her. Love says that in order for the play to be successful, and to ensure that the actors were comfortable, all dialogue that seemed offensive to women was taken out.

“We changed some of the language like ‘Women are weak’ to ‘Women are compassionate,’” she says. “We put in words like ‘strength’ and ‘compassion’ and ‘surrender’ instead of ‘obedience.’”

Some of the cast members, including Ishmael Muhammad, who plays the lead role of Petruchio, also suggested changes in the wording.

“He would bring me things that he was not comfortable saying,” she says.

“We were really collaborative.”

Love also made the decision to cast several women into roles that were traditionally played by men.

“I wanted to help break up the misogyny,” she says. “I wanted women to be able to relate to the roles.”

Petruchio, played by Ishmael Muhammad (left) courts Katharina, played by Jaylnn Pasley (right) in A&T’s Taming of the Shrew.

SAYAKA MATSUOKA

Working with an all-black cast on a traditional Shakespearchasing Katharina for the entire play and “taming” her — audiean play has been a dream of Love’s for a long time. ence members get the sense that by letting him pursue her, A black woman herself, Love played the lead role of Juliet in Katharina is in turn, taming Petruchio as well.

Romeo and Juliet in graduate school in Nevada.

“If I be waspish, best beware my sting,” says Katharina with “People were mad,” she recalls. “People walked out. It’s a hint of sass as she playfully spars with Petruchio. Later, when important to do this work and show people that Shakespeare she agrees with Petruchio that the sun is the moon, it’s like is so universal. Anybody can do it. Any culture, any race. It’s so watching a mother give in to a petulant child rather than actuopen and fluent now that we don’t have anybody to answer ally believing in the falsehood. to.”

“She knows she’s right,” Love says.

In directing The Taming of the “She knows he’s immature.”

Shrew, Love took creative liberties in Other standouts include Grumio, The Taming of the Shrew runs the choices of set and costume design an outlandish servant played by Evan through Feb. 24. Tickets can be but also in the way both the speech Muton, as well as the money-hungry and the acting was delivered.

Baptista Minola, Katharina and purchased at ncataggies.com.

While she retains most of the Bianca’s father, played by Thomas Shakespearean language — which Martin. makes it hard at times to understand And while the play still maintains the story if you were unfamiliar with its original storyline of a man “tamit — the actors also infuse their own personalities and moding” a shrew, on Valentine’s Day, Love says she wanted to give ernize their roles. a comedic, satirized view of how absurd relationships can be.

A man tuning an instrument sings lines from a Drake song “I think Shakespeare meant that too,” she says. “It was while another raps a wedding procession. Several of the cast originally a play within a play. It was meant to be satire or members weave in modern slang into their Shakespearean commentary on the time. I wanted it to feel like a fantasy.” speech.

The lead roles of Petruchio, played by Muhammad, and Katharina, played by Jaylnn Pasley, spark chemistry on stage.

Rather than seeming one-sided — with Petruchio aggressively

February 21 - 28, 2019

Up Front

News

Opinion

Culture

Shot in the Triad

Puzzles

19

February 21 - 28, 2019 Up Front News Opinion Culture Shot in the Triad Puzzles

20

CULTURE Universal truths unveiled in Hopper to Pollock at Reynolda House

by Lauren Barber

E

ach viewer sees a work of art through a lens of their own, whatever distillation of events and ideas informs their unique experience of the zeitgeist. It was the American modernists who gazed inward in search of universal truths that — on the canvas — could extrapolate meaning from the volatility and brutality of so-called civilization.

Reynolda House Museum of American Art is showing Hopper to Pollock, an exhibition of American modernism from the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute in Utica, NY through May 12. Art collector Edward Wales Root donated the selection of iconic works to the institute upon his death in 1956, and they reflect his support of young artists working primarily in New York City, in contrast to most other collectors of his generation, who sought treasures from Asia and Europe. He was the son of Elihu Root, a high-powered private-sector lawyer and Nobel Peace Prize laureate who advocated for imperialist policies as a presidential cabinet member for both William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt.

Modernism is a philosophical movement that arose across artistic disciplines in the first half of the 20th Century. In the realm of visual art, emerging artists like Jackson Pollock, Charles Burchfield and Arthur B. Davies rejected realism in favor of experimentation with form, especially through developing techniques that highlighted materials and processes. Pollock is considered the foremost exemplar of this aspect: In the late 1940s he began to drip and fling — reportedly with great control — oil and enamel paints onto canvas or paper lying flat on his studio floor. His “No. 20, 1948” hangs in a section of the gallery focused on abstract expressionism.

“Artists were experiencing these overwhelming changes — both positive and negative — in the first half of the 20th Century,” Reynolda House curator Allison Slaby says. “In addition to industrial growth and scientific progress, artists were also reacting to the horrors of two world wars, an economic depression, the Holocaust, the nuclear bomb. So they really did need to develop a new visual language to respond to all of that, those disorienting effects of modernism, and that’s how abstraction was born. Artists like Rothko and Pollock were very articulate about why they began painting

Jackson Pollock (1912–56), “No. 20,” 1948.

JOHN BIGELOW TAYLOR AND DIANE DUBLER

the way they did: that they were accessing their psyches, they to include additional works from another private collection, were looking to the inner life of the mind rather than external each offering a more well-rounded understanding of these colartistic material.” lectors and of American modernism.

Rothko’s 1947 oil on linen “Number 11 (Untitled: AbstracReynolda curators wanted to include visitors in the exhibition),” in which of wisps of saffron punctuate muddy grays, tion’s emphasis on the act of collecting art, beginning with an beiges and blues, hangs in the Mary and Charlie Babcock Wing interactive grid of goldenrod-colored papers hanging in the Gallery at Reynolda House. Radical avant-garde painters like gallery entryway. As an ensemble these glossy sheets spell out Arthur Dove alongside Rothko sought to evoke universal the exhibition’s title, but when unhooked from the wall each truths through non-representational forms, rejecting known reveals the image and details about a specific piece from Hopsymbols for aesthetic introspection. Others, like William per to Pollock.

Baziotes, continued to paint hazy semblances mined from his “The viewer has a larger role in the art process with Modernpsychological landscape such as in “Toy,” a curious 1949 oil ism than ever before,” Deputy Director Phil Archer says. “The painting that elicits childhood memoviewer brings a lot of the interpreries, prodding the subconscious to tation to the work; it can be very confront the periwinkle iris of a longinternal. Here, you’re having your Learn more about related pronecked creature. moment to claim and interact [with gramming at reynoldahouse.org The installation’s three other secthe artwork]. I think that’s one piece and visit at 2250 Reynolda Road tions focus on landscapes, still life of the idea; I think the other piece is and figure studies, and a selection this collecting notion. [In the gallery] (W-S). of American modernism from the you’re with one collector then the private collection of Barbara Babcock Millhouse section is another colMillhouse, granddaughter of tobaccolector. What preferences, parts of titans RJ and Katharine Reynolds, who founded the Reynolda [Root’s] mind and soul are reflected in what he chose? Here, collection and directed acquisitions. you get to choose one.”

“It really is about the perspective of one collector… Edward When asked about the potential for viewers to connect past Wales Root,” Slaby says. “But we at Reynolda have another to present, as visitors re-examine cultural mores and reckon story to tell, and that’s the story of Barbara Babcock Millwith their own experiences of uncertain times, Slaby says, house. In some ways, they were interested in some overlap“One way to respond to that idea is to be encouraged that ping artists, so we thought we had this great opportunity to new forms of art come out of times of human toil and strife. display the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arthur Dove but also The human response to rapid change is to create something Reynolda’s Arthur Dove … We wanted to focus on … a differnew, so that’s an encouraging way to think about difficult ent eye, looking at what Barbara was selecting approximately periods of history.”

50 years after Edward Root was collecting.”

Hopper to Pollock is the first installation of Root’s collection

February 21 - 28, 2019

CULTURE Fight like a girl: GRAWL returns for fourth season

by Savi Ettinger

I

Up Front News Opinion Culture

Mary Elise McNaught (left), known as Cherry Bomb, wrestles Shannon Reeves (right), or Sleazy Weasley, in the final match of the night.

TODD TURNER

Puzzles

When an arm-wrestler loses a match, they may rejoin the the table. The divided crowd chants “Cherry” and “Sleazy” as competition if they raise $75 in GRAWL bux, the competition’s the referee places his hand over their interlocked grips and currency, and win a competition of their choice. starts the match.

Sleazy Weasley weasels her way back with a lip-sync to While Sleazy Weasley resists Cherry Bomb’s strength, Cherry Cee-Lo Green’s “Forget You.” She jumps around the aisle as her manages to break through at the final second and slam her secret weapon— a glitter cannon — deploys. fist onto the cushion.

After losing a second match to Candy Crusher of Dreams, After the show, McNaught greets some of the people she aka Laura Eynon-Way, Reeves wrestles for — her students. repays the sum of money for a “Part of the reason I wanted dance-off. to do this GRAWL was for For more information on the Greensboro As Britney Spears’ “Toxic” them,” McNaught said. plays, the Slytherin sways McNaught sees arm-wresArm Wrestling League, visit greensboroher hips, climbing onto the tling as a chance to not only armwrestling.org. front-row bench; her Hogwarts raise money for the foundation, entourage rains GRAWL bux but to also help the LGBTQ down on her. Candy Crusher, students in her middle-school her magenta wig draping her classes. face, hangs her head in defeat.

McNaught adds how becoming Cherry Bomb provides a “It’s hard to compete with all that cleavage,” Eynon-Way channel to show off being a strong woman. laughs.

“It was outside of my gender role,” McNaught said, her Mary Elise McNaught, known for the evening as the no-nontrophy tucked under one arm. “So, this has given me an outlet sense punk-rocker Cherry Bomb, ends most of her matches in for that.” moments. She stares down Sleazy Weasley as she approaches

Shot in the Triad

think I might need another hairpin,” Amanda Lehmert says. “My wig feels loose.”

Lehmert drapes the ginger curls of her wig over her shoulder, then walks up to the taproom of Gibb’s Hundred Brewing Co., her floor-length Grecianinspired dress trailing behind her.

Lehmert is going by Aphro-Bite-Me this evening, taking her place among the parade of costumed women kicking off the fourth season of the Greensboro Arm Wrestling League or GRAWL. Tonight, a Saturday, the quiet taproom out front acts as the backstage area to a tournament of ladies’ arm-wrestling.

Lehmert pulls up a page on her phone, showing off the money the group raised before the first match had begun. The proceeds go towards the Guilford Green Foundation’s newly-opened LGBTQ Center. At the end of the night, the women will have raised over $4,000. For Lehmert, the real victory comes from the donations, rather than forcing an opponent’s fist onto their side of the table.

“I’m really competitive at the fundraising part,” she admits.

Jennifer Ruppe, executive director of Guilford Green Foundation, jumps into the fray against Lehmert. For her first onstage arm-wrestling experience, Ruppe crafts what she calls the “antiValentine”: Cu-Pissed. She covers herself in a dark cloak and mask, lit up by a red LED heart on the back of her cape, along with her slogan.

“My tagline is, ‘Breaking hearts and pinching arms,’” Ruppe says.

Aphro-Bite-Me gives a sarcasticlooking curtsy after losing two rounds to Cu-Pissed, but she grins as she weaves through the room while the rest of the matches play out.

Rachel Scott, a founder of GRAWL, firmly believes in the group’s motto of “fierce feminist philanthropy.” Scott mentions how women gain confidence through controlled combat and shared goals.

“It’s really fun to see a lot of the women come out of their shell,” Scott says.

For Shannon Reeves, the night may be her last armwrestling event in Greensboro before moving to Asheville.

However she pushes that thought to the back of her mind to act as Sleazy Weasley — the Weasley sister disowned for sorting into Slytherin.

“I’m a huge Harry Potter fan, but I also love looking sexy if I can,” she laughed.

“So I merged the two ideas.”

When she loses, she stays in the running by using a GRAWL tradition: the tie-breaker.

21

February 21 - 28, 2019

Randleman Road, Greensboro

Shot in the Triad

Culture

Opinion

News

Up Front

SHOT IN THE TRIAD

Retail life.

CAROLYN DE BERRY

PIZZERIA

Puzzles

L’ITALIANO

22

Large 1-topping pizza

11

$

99

Good through 3/4/19

Monday – Thursday

WE !

DELIVER

4-cheese pizza

10

$

Recycle this paper.

99

Order online at pizzerialitaliano.net

every Tuesday, all day

219 S Elm Street, Greensboro • 336-274-4810

Across

‘You’re All Out of Order’— it’s all about the position.

by Matt Jones

EVENTS Every Tuesday

Julian Sizemore and Guest Every Wednesday Open Mic Night Fri. February 22nd Camel City Songwriters

Up Front

Fri. February 23rd Sunshine Knights ©2018 Jonesin’ Crosswords

(editor@jonesincrosswords.com)

News

602 S Elam Ave • Greensboro

Answers from previous publication.

(336) 698-3888

Opinion Culture Shot in the Triad Puzzles

1 Bodily pouches (and not something like what Santa carries, unfortunately) 5 Airline to Adelaide 11 Adversary 14 How some sit by 15 Lacking the resources 16 Hedwig, for one 17 Midday song by The Moody Blues, out of order?

19 Cup edge 20 Blissful 21 Jots down 23 Throat problem, briefly 24 “Forgot About ___” (2000 single) 26 Frigid 27 Oscar winner 29 Stylish, to some 32 “We try harder” rental company ©2017 Jonesin’ Crosswords (editor@jonesincrosswords.com) 35 “Forever Mine” singer Day 37 Ray of sunshine 38 “Good Will Hunting” campus 39 Comedian Black who was Anger in “Inside Out” 40 GOP fundraising org.

41 It’s red, white, and blue for a bunch of countries 43 “Love Story” author Segal 44 “The Duchess of Alba” painter 45 Croquet need 47 “Far out!”

49 “Smallville” villain Luthor 50 “Moonrise Kingdom” director Anderson 51 Addis ___ (Ethiopia’s capital) 55 Breed of chicken once known as Indian Game 58 Vexation 59 Kimono sash 60 Punny Stephan Pastis comic strip, out of order?

Answers from last issue 63 Guitar master Paul 64 “Honor Thy Father” author Gay 25 It pairs with steak 65 River from Lake Victoria 28 Parking person 66 Turn purple?

29 Malia’s sister 67 Like some tomatoes 30 Buffoonish 68 Boat bottom 31 1970s song whose first two words denote the first two letters Down 32 Letters on a boom box 1 Building locations 33 ‘80s “This Old House” host Bob 2 Mature 34 Persevere, out of order?

3 Disperse 36 Some side dishes 4 “All ___ go!”

42 Country singer Campbell 5 College square 44 Fail to bring up a memory 6 “... join in ___ reindeer games” 46 Is 7 Photographer Goldin 48 Cassette contents 8 Short loin cut 50 During 9 ___ gobi (Indian potato dish) 52 Eagle’s perch 10 Mailed, as a contest entry, way back when 53 Disney “princess” fond of reading 11 Temperature where the Fahrenheit and 54 Adams who photographed Yosemite Celsius scales meet, out of order?

55 Target of some over-the-counter medicine 12 Boo-boo 56 Toe the line 13 They give shade 57 Go after flies 18 ___-Provera (birth control injection) 58 Went 40 in a 20 zone, e.g.

22 “But she’s calling ___” (“Mr. Brightside”) 61 Mint-condition 24 Off-the-highway eatery 62 Ending for Nepal

SUDOKU

February 21 - 28, 2019

CROSSWORD

23