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58
FEATURES 41
Fourth of July Night
Poem by Carl Sandburg
42 A Faithful Companion By Cassie Bustamante Hopper finds his home at High Point’s Buddhist Temple
48 Natty, the Therapy Dog By Ross Howell Jr. A rookie pooch at GFD chills out in the hot seat
54 The Spirit of ’76 By Warren L. Bingham Hooper, Hewes and Penn
58 A French Dream in the Triad By Cynthia Adams And it will only get better with age
66 July Almanac By Ashley Walshe
Cover photograph by Liz Nemeth
DEPARTMENTS 8 Chaos Theory By Cassie Bustamante 11 Simple Life By Jim Dodson 14 Sazerac 19 Tea Leaf Astrologer By Zora Stellanova 21 Life’s Funny By Maria Johnson 24 The Omnivorous Reader By Jim Moriarty 27 State of Mind By Tommy Tomlinson 31 Tiny Tale By Elena Yarmak 33 Home Grown By Cynthia Adams 35 Birdwatch By Susan Campbell 37 Wandering Billy By Billy Ingram 92 Outings 102 GreenScene 104 O.Henry Ending By Marianne Gingher
Photograph this page by Amy Freeman
4 O.Henry
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
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M A G A Z I N E
Volume 16, No. 7 “I have a fancy that every city has a voice.” www.ohenrymag.com PUBLISHER
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SKIP THE RUNAROUND. TALK TO THE GUYS YOU CAN TRUST.
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6 O.Henry
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
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CHAOS THEORY
Home Is Where the Dogs Are And the more the merrier
By Cassie Bustamante
Years ago after our bea-
gle, Charlie, died at the age of 13, I remember my much more practical husband, Chris, saying to me, “Now, we will be a one-dog family.” I nodded in agreement as I, fingers crossed, scratched behind the long, tan, velvety ears of Charlie’s younger “brother” — 10-year-old basset-beagle mix, Jake.
Months later, as the ninth birthday of our son, Sawyer, rolls around, I broach the subject. “What do you think we should get Sawyer this year?” I ask, before blurting out, “He really misses Charlie. What if we found him a rescue — maybe a retriever who can play fetch?” Scouring local rescue listings, filter set to “retrievers,” my heart does a little flip when I see one puppy’s photo. I make a preliminary visit to his foster home and know this dog is zero part retriever. Even though his litter mates are all mutts, two puppies look exactly like Weimaraners with short, grayish fur and blue eyes, and a couple others clearly resemble Australian shepherds in tan, brown and white. But this little guy? He has a look all his own, a perfect, unique combo of the two. Retriever or not, I’m already head-over-heels in puppy love. Before long, Chris, Sawyer and Sawyer’s little sister, Emmy, meet — and fall for — the tiny, fuzzy, greige puppy with smiling hazel eyes and white-tipped paws. Even before the pup comes home, Sawyer selects a Jabba-the-Hut stuffed toy, chewy (as in texture, not as in Chewbacca) teething treats and a turquoiseand-red gingham collar. He names him Catcher, excited to toss a ball with his new pal. A blend of two anxious breeds, Catcher is anything but a retrieving kind of playmate. He’s a velcro dog, meaning he’s always
8 O.Henry
under our feet and won’t explore the backyard — not even with Jake — unless his people are with him. When we walk him, he takes his shepherding job very seriously, barking loudly at all other dogs we come across, clearly an order to fall in line. While gruff-sounding, he absolutely refuses to step in wet grass and will avoid a puddle at all costs, earning him the nickname “Prissy Paws.” Eventually, we adopt yet a third dog, a small, deaf miniature schnoodle pup named Snowball who follows Catcher around, just as Catcher once did to Jake. And then, at the age of 13, Jake, riddled with spinal arthritis, takes his final walk. Catcher steps into the role of alpha. Catcher shamelessly does become a sort of retriever, but only of food and ice cubes. When the freezer door opens, he comes running, Snowball following his lead since she can’t hear the action herself. He stands watch as Snowball chows down each morning just in case she leaves any morsel of kibble behind. We learn to keep all food off the kitchen counters — except for that one very full tray of holiday cookies my mom lovingly baked for us. Headed out in various directions, we accidentally left the dogs alone in the house, tantalized by the smell of butter and sugar wafting out from under its Saran Wrap seal. We return home to empty muffin-pan liners that once housed cookies strewn everywhere, scarcely a crumb in sight. Snowball, who doesn’t hear the car pull up, is gleefully licking the floor when the front door opens. Meanwhile, Catcher hides under the dining table with a look that I assume is guilt but soon discover is intense gastrointestinal distress. One soiled and discarded area rug later, he’s absolutely fine and, I assure Chris, “He will learn nothing from this.” And so, it seems to us that he will live forever — or at least until 13 like Charlie and Jake. But, just a couple months after his 11th birthday, he falls ill suddenly and there’s nothing we can do. On another hot, late-July day, Chris, Sawyer, Emmy and I once The Art & Soul of Greensboro
CHAOS THEORY
again surround him as we did the day we brought him home. “You are a good boy,” I choke out through tears. We all tell him how loved he is as we stroke his ears, his back, his muzzle. And then we let him go. Back at home, that afternoon, a bright-white gardenia blooms outside the window where I work. The bush had dropped its last blossom of the season a couple weeks earlier. I point it out to Chris, certain that Catcher is letting us know he’s at peace. I can tell by the look on his face he’s not buying it. Snowball mopes around the house, grieving, too, but we give her extra treats and snuggles. Chris strokes her fluffy ears, sighs, and says to her, but more to me, “Well, I guess we will be a one-dog family now.” While I know I need time to process my own feelings, I also know that we are solidly, forever a two-dog kind of family. Or three. Months later when I begin to put together our bi-annual O.Henry pet issue, the one in your paws right now, I am treading dangerous waters. Of all things, I decide to write about a local monk whose new best friend was just adopted from Guilford County Animal Services (see page 42), which involves emailing shelter employees, researching their rescue services and watching videos they’ve posted on social media. The algorithms do their thing and suddenly my Facebook feed is nothing but sweet snouts in need of new homes. Cue Sarah McLachlan’s “Angel” and grab some tissues. A video of a timid, rust-and-black hound mix catches my eye. I show Chris, fully aware of his soft spot for hounds. A smile spreads across his face and I can tell he’s in — that is, until his logical brain takes over. He sighs. “Do we really need another dog, Cassie?” “It’s not about what we need,” I answer. Just a few days later, the morning after Emmy returns home from her first year of college, Cider, our brown-eyed hound, comes home, too. OH Cassie Bustamante is editor of O.Henry magazine.
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
O.Henry 9
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SIMPLE LIFE
My Miss American Pie And our slice of heaven together
By Jim Dodson
She has a birth-
ILLUSTRATION BY GERRY O’NEILL
day this month. It’s one of the biggies. It’s not every day you reach an age when you’re permitted — even expected — to kick back and reflect on a long journey that has shaped so many lives for the better. Her kindness is exemplary, guided by a heart that is as compassionate as it is brave. Over the years, I’ve seen her take on tasks that seemed almost hopeless, inspiring significant change in others around her. That’s just her nature. No wonder her birthday is a national holiday — at least in France. It’s hard to believe that my wife, Wendy, born on Bastille Day, is 65. She’s never looked more youthful and beautiful. Yes, I know. America also has a big birthday this month. So, roll out the bunting, strike up the band, hand out the confetti poppers and light the fireworks. Even in times that try men’s souls, it’s good to pause and reflect on how our beloved nation got here — and where it may be headed, for better or worse. My birthday gal, Wendy, is as all-American as apple pie and just gets better with age, an infectious optimist and embodiment of what it means to be a fully engaged citizen, a wise counselor and the most capable human being I’ve ever known. Because she’s also a gifted baker, I call her my Miss American Pie. I’ve said for years that she’d make a great president. But please don’t spread that notion around. I’d hate to give up her enlightened leadership skills to a struggling nation and lose her famous roasted apple-crumb pie in the deal. The Art & Soul of Greensboro
Meeting her almost 30 years ago was the luckiest day of my life — an encounter in retrospect that seems providential, if not presidential. It’s a story I’ve told only once in a book many years ago. This is as good a moment to share it with you as any. On the heels of a wearying, month-long, national book tour for Final Rounds, I was invited to give the keynote speech during the American Lung Association of New York’s three-day golf event and fundraiser in Syracuse. I’d been amicably divorced for a couple years and shared custody of our two goslings with my former wife. The last thing I wanted to do, however, was trek to Syracuse for yet another golf event and rubber-chicken speech. But my host was relentless. He not only talked me into coming but set me up with dinner “companions” for the three nights of the event. I don’t know why I said yes. But I’m glad I did. The first night’s blind date met me, my host and his wife at the stately Onondaga Country Club where Walter Hagen once belonged. My date was a local poet who showed up late to the table and said nothing until I was asked by my host’s sunny wife if it was true that I received (and replied to) hundreds of letters from fans of my new book. I confirmed that I did. “That’s nothing,” piped up the poet. “I get pictures from prisoners. They send me photos of their [use your imagination].” The formal dining room around us was full of elderly diners. Audible gasps and crashing crystal sounded throughout the room. As I walked her to her car, the poet laughed merrily and declared, “I love making rich Republicans uncomfortable!” O.Henry 11
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SIMPLE LIFE
“Everybody needs a hobby,” I told her. The next night’s match was worse. She was the town’s historian. I borrowed my host’s car to take her to a lovely restaurant in the Finger Lakes. She wasn’t planted on the seat beside me for two full seconds before she exclaimed, “I hear you wrote some beloved book about golf. I hate golf. It’s a fascist sport. Golfers are fascist doughboys.” “So, I guess hitting a bucket of balls before dinner is out of the question,” I remarked. “You’re &%$#@! right,” she declared. Please use your imagination again. Every other word was a charming expletive. I guess she hated history as well. I got her home in record time. I asked my host for Number Three’s phone number to cancel the final date. He refused. I demanded her phone number. He wouldn’t budge. “Her name is Wendy. She’s an incredible baker and mother of two young boys. Everyone in the neighborhood adores her. If you break this date, Sparky, I’ll be as lonely as you are and sleeping on the couch for a month.” The final dinner was held at the home of our hosts with two additional couples. At the appointed hour, I forgot to go down the block to meet Wendy Ann Buynak at her house. She walked up by herself bearing a plate of homemade chocolate chip shortbread cookies in the shape of acorns. They looked too good to eat and tasted even better.
The minute I saw her standing in the open doorway with that plate of cookies, I realized there was a God (who probably played golf) after all. Third time was the charm. We sat at the end of the table talking only to each other for three solid hours. Then I walked her home. The next afternoon, we went for a drive and wound up at a local golf course, where I kissed her. She smiled and kissed me back. Two weeks later, I drove seven hours for our first date. She put me to work helping to box up 75 beautifully made miniature wedding cakes for a Syracuse bride. I got to eat the 76th cake. It was love at first bite. She also made me a roasted apple-crumb pie to take home to my kids. Is this an All-American love story or what? Three months later, I introduced Wendy Ann to my two little ones, who instantly fell in love with her and her key lime pie. Two summers later, she and her two young boys joined our family, doubling our size in a lovely backyard marriage ceremony in Maine. I saw the spectacular cake she made but never got a taste. It vanished without a trace before I could get a piece. This summer marks our 25th wedding anniversary. Miss American Pie and I plan to slip away to our favorite inn for a few days of golf, relaxation, and — use your imagination again. Later this summer, we plan to renew our vows. I’m reliably informed there will be pie. OH
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Jim Dodson is founding editor of O.Henry.
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The Art & Soul of Greensboro
O.Henry 13
SAZERAC
"A spirited forum of Gate City food, drink, history, art, events, rumors and eccentrics worthy of our famous namesake"
JOI DE VIVRE A nosy Nelly knocks at our door: In my second year of college at UNCG, I went back home to Goldsboro during fall break, where I met our family’s newest addition, Nelly — or what I like to call her, Nosy Nelly. There she lay, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, pulling the threads from the comforter on my bed. A bit shy and reserved — and occasionally snoopy — our white-furred cat with blue eyes isn’t the sweetest kitty on the block, but somehow she found a soft spot for my sister, Bre, and me. Our soon-to-be-Nelly was first found in a loved one’s garden, digging up more than just weeds, and had to be moved to a home that would accept her, claws and all. And if anyone will take in a stray, misbehaving cat who doesn’t listen, it’s my sister. We’d fostered many cats since moving to our latest house and, like the rest of them, our mother let us keep Nelly until we could find her a forever home — which turned out to be closer than we thought. A few months passed and my mother finally gave up the pretense. Nelly had settled in our house with no intention of leaving. When guests visit, she’ll peek out curiously from underneath our beds, ultimately decid-
ing it’s not worth her time, and slide back into hiding. Sometimes considered rude or aloof, she just might surprise you. In fact, if you’re lucky enough — or shake a treat in your hand — she may find her merry way to your lap for an evening nap. A year ago, I asked my sister why she chose the name Nelly, half expecting it to have originated from the phrase “nosy Nelly,” fitting for a curious cat who’s torn up our blinds to sneak a peek outside, but that seems not to be the case. To this day, my question remains unanswered. All we know is that the name fits her all too well. – Joi Floyd
Unsolicited Advice met with fluffy ears cocked in confusion. Take it from us, you don’t want to be caught without the proper puppy parlance. Don’t fret, we’ve compiled a list of useful common phrases to know before you hit the homes of these happy hounds.
If you have never owned a pooch, then visiting a dog owner’s home may seem a little strange to you. They don’t operate like houses without wagging-tail greetings. You’ll hear phrases or words yelled over and over again. And, if you neglect to use them while visiting, you might be
14 O.Henry
About twice a day you’ll hear “Walk?” Say this and watch every flappy ear in sight shoot up and you’d better get ready for the barrage of wagging tails running straight toward you. Just be cautious: If you accidentally drop it into conversation, you may find yourself guilt-tripped into a late-night stroll, holding the leash of a cheerful canine. “Who’s a good boy/girl?” you’ll hear a dog owner say as they scrunch,
ruffle and scratch behind their pups ears. Don’t be tricked. “Good” probably refers to the dog having decided to chew on their bone instead of the living room furniture. So what if they respond to the question by masticating a choice Birkenstock? It’s all relative. “Treat,” anyone? The easiest way to a dog’s heart is through the stomach — that’s just the way the boneshaped biscuit crumbles. Whether they’ve eaten an hour ago or five minutes ago, a treat will always be happily wolfed down. Who doesn’t love a mid-day Scooby snack? It’s guaranteed to sweeten the bond between the two of you. The Art & Soul of Greensboro
SAZERAC
Sketch Artist
Paw Patrol Pictured in this mutt-shot, alongside esteemed Guilford County Sheriff Danny H. Rogers (left) is Master Corporal C. Young and his patrol K-9 partner, Rook. Rook is a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois-German Shepherd mix from Hungary who was deputized by the sheriff’s office just last year — a K-9 with canines for takin’ a bite outta crime. In his dogged pursuit of two-legged desperados, Rook is trained in narcotics detection, suspect tracking, evidence recovery and missing-person searches. Already, he’s assisted in seizing pounds of illegal snout candy, and a doggy bowl’s fill of fentanyl, plus he recently collared a criminal suspect currently cooling his heels in the county kennel. That’s a good boy!
most rewarding aspects of his job is observing these K-9 crime-fighters as they grow into reliable, indispensable deputies trailing errant assailants. Fun fact: Young and Rook even share the same birthday and will one day be the same age — in doggie years, natch.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF THE GREENSBORO HISTORY MUSEUM
Corporal Young admits one of the
— Billy Ingram
This rising artist — the 11-yearold winner of our Dolley Madison sketch contest — Josephine (Jo) Reese clearly has a knack for drawing picture-perfect first ladies. With creativity and skill already peeking through, she is well on her way to painting her own path — quite literally!
Just One Thing
Window on the Past A pet sheep may not sound ideal, but, in the early 1900s, you never knew what might wander onto the lawn around Ceasar and Jeanette Cone’s first Greensboro mansion. Still, we’d bet counting sheep there contributed to some much needed slumber — and honestly, that doesn’t sound too baaaaaad. The Art & Soul of Greensboro
If you haven’t yet wandered through The Marshall Muse Gallery’s newest exhibit, “Nature’s Kingdom,” take a cue from a curious deer and stop in to discover what animal-inspired artworks are waiting around the bend. For instance, Linda Reville’s Strength & Courage watercolor features three bucks and a bald eagle, and dips deeply into Mother Nature’s palette, from earth tones to indigo blues. Other works, says gallery owner Tracey Marshall-Becker, are “very diverse from pottery, wood, sculpture, fiber art, paintings, acrylic oil and watercolor," July 1–25. Info: themarshallmusegallery.com. O.Henry 15
SAZERAC
JOIN US ON JULY 11TH FROM 3:00–5:00 PM FOR
PUPS IN THE DRIVE-THRU
Animal Tale
a fun-filled adoption event and donation drive in partnership with the SPCA of the Triad!
Stop by to meet adorable adoptable dogs looking for their forever homes and learn more about the SPCA’s mission. Bring a donation to support local pets in need, and as a thank-you, you’ll receive a sweet treat with your contribution. We’re also celebrating with some special surprises for our four-legged guests! Dogs dressed up like cows will receive a special treat, and every dog who visits the drive-thru will get a complimentary pup cup. Come support a great cause, meet some wonderful adoptable pets, and enjoy an afternoon of community fun. We can’t wait to see you and your pups there!
209 PISGAH CHURCH RD.
16 O.Henry
Sun’s out, scales out: The days are getting hotter, but we’re not the only ones with an affinity for soaking up vitamin D. Olivander, Forrest Pfaff’s cold-blooded bearded dragon, naturally loves the sunlight, so, when the temperatures started rising in late March, he decided to take his little legs for a threeday solo journey off the beaten path. “He doesn’t really escape a lot,” says Pfaff. Although he’s apt to run and hide, “he’s never flown the coop before. I guess he decided this was his Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” Like most bearded dragons, Olivander refuses to stay in his cage. Instead, he roams around the house and front lawn as he pleases. But on this particular day, Olivander hit the road to warmer pastures. Usually, he hides himself during the day, always returning for his evening feast. So, when he didn’t, Pfaff and his 13-year-old daughter knew something was wrong. Instead of panicking, they did what any modern pet owner does — they ran to Facebook. “We typed in ‘missing bearded dragon’ and the first thing to pop up was Olivander,” says Pfaff. His merry jaunt had taken him all the way to the parking lot between the Downtown Greenway and the Greensboro College campus, where Tom Saitta, senior director of marketing and communication at the college, spotted him. How did Saitta know Pfaff was in fact the rightful lizard owner? When the two spoke on the phone, Olivander recognized Pfaff’s voice and ran toward the sound, head-bumping Saitta — his signature move. Safely back at home, Olivander’s owners keep a more watchful eye on him, but, as free-spirited as he is, it’s doubtful we’ve seen the last of this rambling reptile. – Joi Floyd
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
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Mother Bear
Art to Heart UNCG biology student Kayden Friddle knows that there’s an art to blazing a path forward. Born and raised in Summerfield, Friddle is an artist whose pyrographic work consists of burning wood and leather with sketches of bears, dogs, birds, cats and just about anything you can find in the wild — or at home with a wagging tail. “I use a really hot tool that burns the wood to make patterns,” says Friddle, “the same way you would draw with a pen.” While it may sound simple enough, woodburning requires precision and patience — oh, and, at the very least, an artistic hand. As a child, Friddle
18 O.Henry
says all the content she consumed — documentaries and TV shows — and the toys she played with were, you guessed it, animal related. Inspired by traditional pyrography artists, she began experimenting beyond wood. With a steaming-hot pencil in hand, Friddle crafted her own method, discovering new techniques. “I had seen where people have done pyrography and wood burning but, at the time, I hadn’t seen anyone do it on leather.”
So, she adds, “I crafted a method to do it.” Her love for animals extends far beyond her medium. Merging her creativity with compassion, she has auctioned her work and donated from 50% to, sometimes, all proceeds to Red Dog Farms Animal Rescue Network and World Wildlife Fund, both nonprofit organizations dedicated to rescuing animals. Turns out, Friddle’s work makes a mark on more than just leather and wood. Info: kaydenfriddleart.com. OH
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
TEA LEAF ASTROLOGER
CANCER (JUNE 21 – JULY 22) It wouldn’t be Cancer season without a few tears, your basic mood swings and a new pair of house slippers. That said, with Mercury retrograde in your sign until July 23, expect more introspection and — you know you love it — a bit more time at home. Pick up a bodice ripper that you can’t put down. Make a playlist of hits from the year you were born. In other words: Distract yourself from making rash decisions until month’s end. And even then, try not to get swept up by your own swell.
Tea leaf “fortunes” for the rest of you: Leo (July 23 – August 22) Listen to your gurgling gut.
Virgo (August 23 – September 22) Clean the baseboards.
Libra (September 23 – October 22) Pass on the potato salad.
Scorpio (October 23 – November 21)
Schedule Your Annual Screening Mammogram
Look for the silver lining.
Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21) Just let things steep.
Capricorn (December 22 – January 19) Trust what you already know.
Aquarius (January 20 – February 18) Stop at the farmstand.
Pisces (February 19 – March 20)
40
B ec au se yo u’ re
Try firefly therapy.
Aries (March 21 – April 19) Bring something to the potluck.
Taurus (April 20 – May 20)
AND
Three words: homemade ice cream.
Gemini (May 21 – June 20) Hit refresh. OH
Zora Stellanova lives in the N.C. mountains with her wolfdogs, Venus and Lilith. Although she prefers divining with loose-leaf puerh, she recommends a mugwort and passionflower blend for those seeking wisdom and clarity from the dream realm. The Art & Soul of Greensboro
Outpatient Imaging Phone: 336-765-5722 WakeHealth.edu/mammogram
WFBI_2026-03_OH JULY-AUG Ad 3.875X4.625_Mammography.indd 1
O.Henry 3/10/202619 3:51:18 PM
LIFE’S FUNNY
Begin the Begats A longstanding Greensboro church makes room for an up-and-coming flock
By Maria Johnson
You might remember my January 2023 col-
PHOTOGRAPH BY LYNN DONOVAN
umn about a venerable, old Greensboro church’s plan to sell their property and downsize, a sort of spiritual and physical transformation. Well, the 120-year-old Presbyterian Church of the Covenant — worshippers affectionately call the place “peacock,” the phonetic version of PCOC — finally has a reason to flash its feathers. The small congregation has sold their massive complex and found a more suitable space that’s literally across the street. At the same time, the old church property has been assumed by a younger, up-and-coming congregation, the Citadel of Praise Church & Campus Ministries, which has occupied different rental spaces around Greensboro since its founding 23 years ago. Finally, the nondenominational, charismatic congregation has a home of its own. In many ways, it’s a story of generational and societal change written on the back of a church program. “It feels like a torch is being passed,” says Joyce Powers, an 83-year-old PCOC member and self-described “catalyst” of the hand-off. First, a little history. PCOC, then called the Walker Avenue Presbyterian Church, started in 1906 as an offshoot of First Presbyterian Church and Westminster Presbyterian, both on the edges of downtown Greensboro. The Art & Soul of Greensboro
The upstart church, which changed its name a few years later, focused on serving young people around Greensboro College and the state-run school that would later become UNCG. For years, the congregation worshipped in a small, wooden church. Then, backed by several prominent families, they hired notable architect Harry Barton — who also drew plans for the Guilford County courthouse, as well as UNCG’s auditorium and chancellor’s house — to design a stately house of worship. Done in the Neoclassical Revival style, the 1919 building hunkers at the corner of Mendenhall Street and Walker Avenue. Additions eventually covered much of that block. From the beginning, PCOC was an activist church. Members nursed the sick during the recurring flu pandemic of the late 1910s. They fed soldiers who paused at Greensboro’s Overseas Replacement Depot in World War II. They housed programs that provided child care, counseling, a preschool for blind children, and enrichment for disabled adults. More recently, as their numbers dwindled, they leased out worship space to different denominations and nondenominational groups, as well as to artists and musicians. In 2019, Greensboro native and Grammy-winning musician Rhiannon Giddens, who once attended PCOC, joined other local musicians at the church for a concert benefitting the Experiential School of Greensboro. By the time the COVID pandemic hit — nearly 100 years after the flu pandemic — the congregation, which numbered 30 on a good Sunday, knew they had to make a change. As with O.Henry 21
LIFE’S FUNNY
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22 O.Henry
many mainline U.S. churches, shrinking membership made it difficult to keep the physical plant going. They had a grand vision. They would sell their sprawling complex to a developer who would keep the property largely intact, rehab it into an affordable live-work-play space and, hopefully, rent back a space to PCOC so the congregation could continue to worship there. The church entertained potential buyers starting in 2023. Several developers looked at the fixer-upper. And passed. “There was hope. Then there was not. Then there was hope. Then there was not. We went through a roller coaster,” Powers says. Finally, the church hired an agency that specializes in selling churches nationwide, and the property was listed for sale “as is.” That’s how the Rev. Greg Drumwright, who started his church in 2003, just before graduating from N.C. A&T, found out about the property. Someone else had filled out an online contact form using his name, and an agent followed up. Drumwright — who had indeed been searching for a permanent home for his flock but had no idea PCOC was up for grabs — went with the flow. A showing was arranged. Drumwright met PCOC’s minister, Rev. Mark Sandlin, and common threads quickly emerged. Both had attended divinity school at Wake Forest University. Drumwright also learned that PCOC was once pastored by the Rev. Z. Holler, a well-known civil and labor rights activist. A social justice advocate in the same vein, Drumwright — who received national attention for ministering to George Floyd’s family during the 2021 trial of Floyd’s killer, a former Minneapolis police officer — felt a kinship between the churches. “It felt like we were meeting our aunts and uncles and grandparents,” he says. “I would call that providential.” Like the PCOC of yore, the Citadel is known for its outreach to college students and for its hands-on involvement in social
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
LIFE’S FUNNY
and political issues. Drumwright walks his talk; he’s the Democratic candidate for an at-large seat on the Guilford County Board of Commissioners, and Powers says PCOC members back him. “This is a guy who makes things happen,” she says. In December, PCOC members, most of whom are white, worshipped in their old home for the last time, alongside the Citadel’s mostly Black congregation. PCOC mustered most of its 40 members, many of them silver-haired. The Citadel, which boasts a congregation of more than 250 people, most in their 20s, 30s and 40s, filled the rest of the pews. The Citadel choir belted out hymns of praise. “They shook the dust off the chandeliers,” says Powers. “It was wonderful.” “It felt transitional and transformational,” says Drumwright. The churches closed the sale on the last day of 2025. Knowing that the property went to a growing church, PCOC members leased another space right across Walker Avenue, inside the Victorian home known as the Holderness House, which was built for the current owner, the Presbyterian Campus Ministry. The resettled congregation will hold an open house with music, lemonade and watermelon from 5–7:30 p.m., Saturday, July 18, with a rain date of Sunday, July 19. Drumwright says the Citadel, too, plans an open house, probably in the late summer or early fall, once they’ve spruced up the sanctuary and fellowship hall. Like elderly homeowners who sell their property to younger families, Powers says PCOC members delight in watching from across the street as the Citadel’s energetic members plant flowers and work to restore the aging church home. And who knows? Maybe someday PCOC members will move back in with their spiritual children. “We’ve told them: ‘You can always come home,’” says Drumwright. OH Maria Johnson is a contributing editor of O.Henry. Email her at ohenrymaria@ gmail.com. The Art & Soul of Greensboro
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OMNIVOROUS READER
The Skill of Perseverance The remarkable second act of John Quincy Adams
By Jim Moriarty
If your American history IQ, like
mine, falls somewhere between Animal House’s Flounder — “fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son” — and the great David McCullough, you’ll find America’s Founding Son both an enlightening and rewarding portrayal of our sixth president, John Quincy Adams.
It’s written by Bob Crawford, something of an oddity in itself given he’s the upright bass player for The Avett Brothers band. “For more than two decades, I’ve studied American history while rambling up and down the interstates, freeways, and back roads of America,” Crawford writes in his introduction. While not exactly an autodidact, his lifelong fascination, beginning as a kid collecting fliers about historic landmarks at highway welcome centers, places him in the company of another member of the band, Scott Avett, who has a side hustle as an admired visual artist. With the recent passing of Ted Turner, one is reminded of the quote he often attributed to his father, “Be sure to set your goals so high that you can’t possibly accomplish them in one lifetime.” This is, in fact, the crux of Crawford’s thesis about Adams and the goal was, or became, the abolition of slavery. His primary source is Adams’ own diaries, written faithfully on a daily basis, that illuminate the arc of JQA’s understanding of how America must eventually, and tragically, cope with its most egregious and contradictory failing. Jimmy Carter is often extolled as a man who, in the modern age at least, made the most of his post presidency, but he was a piker compared to John Quincy, who, after losing the presidential race of 1828, briefly considered retiring from public life but instead won election to the U.S. House of Representatives. He served the citizens of Massachusetts in that capacity from 1831 until his death in 1848, when he collapsed at his desk in the House chamber and died two days later on a couch in the Speaker’s Room in the Capitol building. During those 17 years, Adams became a formidable opponent of slavery, argued the Amistad case before the Supreme Court, defeated the “gag” rule designed to muffle anti-slavery petitions, and outmaneuvered efforts, led by represen-
24 O.Henry
tatives of the “slavocracy,” as Crawford calls it, to censure him. “John Quincy Adams may not have been an extraordinary president like Washington and Lincoln, but he is our most extraordinary ex-president. A maverick. A public servant. An American hero,” Crawford concludes. Adams’ opposition to slavery was never in question, but his theories on what exactly to do about it evolved over time, a transition Crawford illustrates through Adams’ diary and speeches. “America’s founding son had reached the end of his patience,” Crawford writes of an 1844 clash on the House floor. “He shuddered in 1820, when he prophesied a violent dissolution of the Union, but all he had experienced in the nearly twenty-five years since proved to him that the South would never, ever, voluntarily or otherwise, give up being the enslavers.” Crawford’s fascination with the period of American history between the War of 1812 and the Civil War came into focus after reading Sean Wilentz’s The Rise of American Democracy: Jefferson to Lincoln. His own study of John Quincy is divided into three acts. The first begins with Adams’ appointment as secretary of state under James Monroe, covers his election to the presidency in the House of Representatives in 1824 (the second time the young republic picked a president in that manner), his loss to Andrew Jackson in their rematch in 1828 and concludes with the voters of Plymouth, Massachusetts, sending him to the House as their representative. In act two Crawford does an admirable job of setting the table. “In 1835, the slavery issue was tearing the fabric of the nation apart. Its threads tossed into a smoldering furnace of bigotry and hate. And there was Adams. A witness to all of it. Sitting on the fence. Waiting for his moment.” That moment builds to a crescendo in act three. The political figures of the day — Jackson, Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun, Martin Van Buren — are carefully drawn, as are the central issues of nullification (What if the federal government says one thing and a state refuses?) and what to do about Texas. Of equal, or even greater, interest are the abolitionists: Benjamin Lundy, Charles Finney, Theodore Weld, Arthur Tappan (full disclosure, the square at my alma mater is named Tappan Square), William Lloyd Garrison and the writings of David Walker. When Crawford first pitched the idea of America’s Founding Son to his agent, he thought he’d be paired with a writer to The Art & Soul of Greensboro
Cooper Marona
featuring:
produce the final work. Instead, he was left to his own devices. The result is highly readable, no small feat when you’re bound to be leaning on quotes written in the first half of the 19th century. If there is any complaint — and it is admittedly minor — it’s that on a rare occasion or two he strays too far into the vernacular of his own day, seemingly trying a bit too hard to prove that history doesn’t have to be tedious and dense. This is, perhaps, an innocent byproduct of cohosting his history podcast, “The Road to Now.” Where Crawford ends up is in praise of a historical figure most of us, I’d venture to say, don’t often associate with greatness. “Adams brought the issue of slavery out of the darkness and into the light of the center of politics in the United States — the People’s House. John Quincy Adams preserved and protected the American democracy established by the founding generation — his father’s generation,” writes Crawford. “As the man standing in the breach, Adams passed the aspirations of the Declaration of Independence on to the next generation. With one hand reaching back to the founding and the other reaching forward toward the Civil War, John Quincy Adams is a bridge and perhaps the best representation of America’s tortured adolescence.” If, in reading Founding Son, you see traces of modern America — our deeply flawed and fractured America — so does Crawford. “I can’t say for sure whether history repeats or rhymes, but I do notice echoes from the past in our present. That’s because history is driven by people — and people haven’t changed since 1776,” he writes. “Truth be told, people haven’t changed since Adam and Eve, or however you signify the beginning of time (or should I say history?). Spend a little time reading about the 1830s and 1840s, and you’ll encounter figures who feel eerily familiar. They dressed differently, used different slang and communicated via what now seem like antiquated technologies — but in a very real sense, we are them and they are us.” OH
Appalachian Smoke
OMNIVOROUS READER
pEachgra S s festival on the lawn of the Boyd House
third annual
jUly 25 th 6-til
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Jim Moriarty is the editor of PineStraw. He can be reached at jjmpinestraw@gmail.com. The Art & Soul of Greensboro
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O.Henry 25
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STATE OF MIND
Doing the Wave From Ocracoke to Rockingham
By Tommy Tomlinson
Summer comes in waves.
ILLUSTRATION BY GARY PALMER
Many years ago I went through a rough stretch, mostly of my own making, and ended up needing to clear my head for a while. I drove to the Outer Banks, traveling alone. I took the ferry from Swan Quarter to Ocracoke, piddled around in the village for a couple of hours, then aimed the car for Hatteras. Ocracoke tapers to a thin strand that can be secluded even in high season. I found a spot to pull over and stepped between dunes onto an empty beach. Not a soul in either direction. The only sounds were the wind and the waves. Those waves: calm and steady, a wet metronome. I got in and rolled in the warm ocean like an otter. Every so often a wave would give me a gentle slap. Snap out of it, son. Everything’s going to be fine. The waves are even milder on rivers and lakes, at least usually. When you see whitecaps on fresh water you know a storm is coming. That’s when you pull up anchor and gun the outboard and hope you get back to the landing before the sky breaks open. Waves can be a warning, too. They can also be a mirage. When I was a kid I was mesmerized every summer by the shining puddles that always appeared up ahead on the road, only to disappear when we got close. Much later I found out it’s called heat shimmer, and it happens The Art & Soul of Greensboro
when a surface like asphalt gets much hotter than the air just above it, refracting the light in between. The same thing on sand creates a false oasis — the thing that drives desert wanderers crazy in the movies. That road shimmer was my introduction to the idea that some things in life are always dancing just out of your reach, and that maybe they were never really there in the first place. It takes time to learn some lessons. For example, when waves of heat are rising from a car, it’s not a good time to sit on the hood wearing shorts. The backs of my thighs learned that one the hard way. It also took time to learn that people in other places don’t wave the way we do in the South. This especially applies to what I think of as the two-lane wave — the wave you give somebody when you’re slowly passing them in a car. To me, there are a couple of times when that wave is mandatory. One, if you’re out in the country and drive by somebody on the side of the road. Two, if you’re on a narrow street or at a four-way stop and somebody lets you through. I live in a neighborhood with a lot of narrow streets, and my experience is that you get the wave about half the time. Every time I don’t get the wave, O.Henry 27
STATE OF MIND
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I always wonder where up North the driver came from. This is not fair. But barring any proper research I’m gonna roll with it. You might know about the debate over exactly what Bruce Springsteen sings in the first line of “Thunder Road.” The screen door slams / Mary’s dress . . . What’s the next word? On the record it’s hard to tell. I have always heard it as Mary’s dress sways. Springsteen’s manager has said that it’s definitely “sways.” It feels to me like the most poetic word, the most evocative. But many other Springsteen fans — including my dear friend Joe Posnanski, a fellow
That road shimmer was my introduction to the idea that some things in life are always dancing just out of your reach, and that maybe they were never really there in the first place. Charlottean — swear that the line is, or at least should be, Mary’s dress waves. Joe has written thousands of words about this over the years. It is one of those debates that means everything and nothing, much the same way that it means everything and nothing to argue about the greatest baseball player of all time. (Joe, who wrote an entire book called The Baseball 100, says Willie Mays; the correct answer is Henry Aaron.) Joe
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
STATE OF MIND
has not convinced me on “waves” and probably never will. But when I play “Thunder Road,” I always listen close to that first line. I kind of want to hear “waves,” at least one time. Not because I want Joe to be right, but because you should try, when you can, to feel what someone else feels. I had a neighbor one time who loved to listen to NASCAR on the radio. Every Sunday afternoon in the summer he would take his old AM/FM portable out to the patio behind his trailer and turn on the race from Rockingham or Martinsville or wherever. This was back in the ’70s, when Richard Petty won most of the time, Cale Yarborough and Bobby Allison occasionally gave him hell, and David Pearson lingered at the back of the pack, waiting to strike. I wasn’t much of a fan of racing, but I was a fan of my neighbor. So sometimes I’d go over there and we’d drink cold Cokes and listen to the howling engines, those sound waves traveling from the track through the radio to our ears in ways that I still do not fully understand. The one thing waves have in common is that they carry energy. Something desires to get from one place to another and a wave is the vehicle. That can be a pulse from somewhere deep in the ocean or the attraction from someone who caught your eye across the room. We are out more this time of year, exposed to the energies of the universe, and open to the waves that life brings our way. Sometimes they are so powerful they can knock you sideways. But most of the time they’re just a pleasant ride, carrying us through the shimmer of a summer day and the promise of a summer night. OH Tommy Tomlinson is the author of two books, The Elephant in the Room and Dogland. He was a longtime columnist for the Charlotte Observer and has written for Esquire, The Atlantic, ESPN the Magazine and many other publications. His online newsletter is called The Writing Shed. He lives in Charlotte with his wife, Alix Felsing.
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TINY TALE
Youth Is Nothing . . . But the absence of excess
By Elena Yarmak
Grandma Lena’s dog-grooming salon sprang
ILLUSTRATION BY MIRANDA GLYDER
up right in the kitchen.
She declared her wish to trim the family dog, Axel, at home: “Our elderly and sensitive Axel will be less stressed,” she said, “and $70 will stay in the family budget.” The family loved the idea. Her son-in-law even bought a dog clipper, complete with a set of attachments. The very first haircut transformed Axel beyond recognition. From an old, curly mutt, he turned into a sleek, smooth-coated, young-looking spaniel. His muzzle sharpened, his eyes opened to the world, his legs seemed longer. On walks, neighbors praised Grandma Lena’s skill. Encouraged by success, she took on Zoe — her daughter’s friend’s lapdog. The client was promised a free “rejuvenation.” An hour later, Zoe had become a mysterious exhibit: Her fur The Art & Soul of Greensboro
was gone entirely, leaving only smooth skin, and on her tail a coquettish tuft stuck out — like a cocktail umbrella. Grandma beamed, proclaiming, “Exotic! Short, bold, with a twist!” Reactions split. Her daughter called Zoe “a rat — a bald rat.” Her grandkids wanted to know where Zoe’s T-shirt was. A friend sat in stunned silence. But Grandma? She felt absolute confidence in her genius. Now on walks, Zoe enjoyed heightened attention from the local gentlemen. Every male dog changed his route to confess love at first sight. “What did you expect?” Grandma shrugged, like an artist certain of her masterpiece. “Youth is nothing but the absence of excess.” OH Elena Yarmak is a writer of short, observant stories that find humor in everyday life. O.Henry 31
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The Art & Soul of Greensboro
HOME GROWN
Buffy, the Unrepentant A terrier on a tear
By Cynthia Adams
The flapdoodle in our household began when
ILLUSTRATION BY CAMBPELL PRINGLE
my friend asked about our potentially rescuing Buffy, whose elderly owner had died.
As his owner grew weak and debilitated, Buffy was relegated to the horse barn. He had already lost most of his “inside” manners and was nearly feral when we picked him up. If Buffy was compatible with our senior dogs, we would keep him ourselves. Either way, we would at least help place a Yorkie who seemed to know he possessed star power. This Buffy was no vampire slayer — just a tiny, prickly terrier, I cooed when we met. Looks, dear readers, can be deceptive. The pup was small enough to fit in my workbag. That is, if I could have wrestled the toffee-colored charmer, as strong and feisty as a Tasmanian devil, into it. He seemed determined to remain with the horses, which was not an option. I coaxed him into my arms, and we returned to Greensboro to introduce him to our pack. Of course, this all happened just as we were leaving for a long-planned vacation. Our dogsitter agreed to tend to a third dog — along with our deaf and blind senior mutt and aging mini-Schnauzer. We swiftly learned Buffy had no desire to adapt to our older, cranky territorial dogs. On return from our weeklong trip, most of the first floor and furniture had been marked by an ambitiously assertive Buffy. Several wooden floors were damaged. Worse, Buffy was not just a terrier, but a terror. The dogsitter was exasperated. Buffy, she reported, was incorrigible. She suspected, as we did, that Buffy had never been socialized, accustomed to being the one and only alpha dog. Weeks later, chaos continued. We reluctantly decided to find a loving home where Buffy, the cutest possible anarchist, could happily dominate. Working with a pet daycare, we distributed flyers with a picture of photogenic Buffy explaining his history. We stressed what seemed best, an older owner with no other dogs. Unless we found such a home, Buffy would remain with us. With the help of the doggie daycare staff, we began fielding eager interviews. One day, the daycare called to tell us that a retired lady had come in seeking to adopt, having lost a previous Yorkie who “looked exactly like Buffy.” She was a cutie herself; the perfect match! Buffy seemed to agree, practically jumping into the woman’s arms at first meeting. My heart soared. After subsequent meetings and checking references, we packed up Buffy’s new bed, bowls and toys. The duo left The Art & Soul of Greensboro
all smiles — even the tiny terror seemed to grin. Periodically, I checked on Buffy. They were happily ensconced in Raleigh, her new owner reported. But trouble in paradise ensued. “I’m concerned about Buffy,” the woman announced over the phone one night without preamble. Uh-oh. Here it comes, I thought. Was it his old habit of peeing on furniture? Was he unwell? Nope, Buffy’s health was excellent. She nervously cleared her throat. He has issues, she said. “I took him to Bible study with me, just like I used to take my Alfie. But, Buffy acted horribly.” What had happened? I gulped. “I don’t want to say, it’s so vulgar,” she answered. Vulgar? A Yorkie? Finally, she spoke. “Buffy humped his toy! Right there at Bible study. Everybody saw it.” I joked. “Maybe Buffy isn’t a Baptist?” The woman was unamused. We agreed to talk in a few days, and I suggested Buffy not accompany her to the meetings. Wouldn’t that resolve it? The next time we talked, Buffy’s owner remained upset, despite admitting that otherwise, his behavior was mostly good. “He has a sex problem,” she reluctantly reported. “Buffy likes to sleep on the chaise in my bedroom, right where Alfie slept.” I took a deep breath, completely uncertain where this was going. “He looks straight at me and humps his toy. Like he’s goading me. It’s indecent!” she cried. My heart broke for the miscreant Yorkie. I told her I would come for him. “No,” she replied slowly. “He’s testing me. But I’ll keep praying on it.” Eventually a détente was reached. I wasn’t sure I had to know exactly how. Still . . . I wondered. Was Buffy back in Bible study? Was he swaddled like Alfie on the chaise, peeking innocently at his devout owner? I considered the many reasons she relented: Buffy’s button nose? His bright little eyes? That perky swagger! Or did Buffy leverage the power of the unrepentant? For, as my God-fearing Baptist grandmother said, “The good Lord sure does love a sinner.” OH Cynthia Adams is a contributing editor to O.Henry magazine. O.Henry 33
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BIRDWATCH
Carolina Newcomer A summer visitor from down South
By Susan Campbell
The limpkin is not a familiar bird to many in
our area, but this good-sized wader isn’t a complete stranger to North Carolina. Over the years there have been plenty of sightings, and there is a good chance there will be plenty more — so much so that the species may be breeding here before much longer. Although we hear a lot about birds that are in trouble — those disappearing from their usual haunts as a result of habitat loss, climate change, predation by invasive species, etc. — there are some that are actually becoming more widespread. Slowly but surely, the limpkin is one of these. Limpkins, native to the subtropical region of the Americas, are wading birds that eat a variety of aquatic invertebrates. They are brown with white spangles and blotches, long legs and, most importantly, a relatively long decurved bill. Appearing a lot like a heron or ibis, they are actually more closely related to rails, those secretive smaller birds found lurking in marshy habitat. Their slightly offset bills are specialized for extracting the bodies of apple snails from their twisty shells, but they are equipped to get into a variety of mussels and clams as well. It is thought that the bird’s name originates from its halting gait as well as an odd running style when pursued. Here in the U.S., limpkins were once confined to the wetter parts of Florida as well as the coastal marshes of the Gulf Coast The Art & Soul of Greensboro
states. Over the past few decades, however, they have been spotted farther north in Georgia and southern South Carolina. Given that they now even breed in a few locations “south of the border,” it’s no wonder that individuals have been spotted here in our state. The first was reported along the North Carolina coast (no surprise) in 1975, but in more recent years, they have been found in the Piedmont, too. There have also been a handful of sightings in our western counties. I saw my first N.C. limpkin during the summer of 1998 in a marshy water hazard at a golf course community close to New Bern. The expansion of this species can be connected to multiple factors. First, invasive mollusks such as Asiatic clams and apple snails have become more abundant in freshwater systems across the Southeast in recent years. That spread of a ready food source, coupled with warmer winters, has provided additional habitat for limpkins. Furthermore, increasingly frequent and prolonged drought within their historic range has resulted in more birds roaming northward in search of the wet habitat they require. With the summer of 2026 likely to be a dry one in the Southeast, it is very likely some limpkins will arrive here in the weeks ahead. A number of individuals showed up late in the summer of 2023 and persisted well into the fall. If you happen to be out at any of the larger reservoirs, or even along a creek or near a retention pond, keep an eye out — you just might spot one of these unusual creatures on the prowl for a meal or a new summer hangout. OH Susan Campbell would love to receive your wildlife sightings and photos. She can be contacted by email at susan@ncaves.com. O.Henry 35
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The Art & Soul of Greensboro
How I Spent the Bicentennial Summer
WANDERING BILLY
Stirring up scandal in a sleepy Southern hamlet
By Billy Ingram
Tom, myself and a trio of other cast members bunked together in a three-bedroom house “A small town has as many eyes as that I christened “Freedom Shack” due to its a fly.” — Sonya Hartnett location directly next door to Liberty Hall, the Kenan family ancestral home, which in the sumplayed a central role in our production. It mer of ’76, I landed a gig as an was the town’s one claim to fame, a historical tourist attraction then and now. Following ensemble player in a new, outdoor a month of rigorous rehearsal, Liberty Cart drama, The Liberty Cart: A Duplin opened on July 29. I was assigned five characStory, written by Randolph Umter parts, including the first boo-hiss villain, berger. He’d penned another openHenry McCulloch, a British fop seated atop a luxuriously appointed barge carried aloft by air theatrical production debuting servants. I also played a shady land speculathat year, Strike at the Wind!, a tor there to stump for a tax stamp scheme Lumbee Indian pageant performed steaming the colonies leading up to the Revolutionary War. The Richlands-Beaulaville in Pembroke. Liberty Cart was set, Billy Ingram in the Summer of '76 both in story and in fact, in Kenans- and Kenansville's historic Liberty Hall Advertiser News described my performance as an “absurdly humorous interpretation ville (pop. 900 then, a bit less toof the King’s representative.” On the front day), situated between here and the page, no less. I wonder now how I was able to finish a single play. Constructed to last for years, those period costumes were woolen coast. Kenansville was an unassuming hamlet only saunas in the brutally humid summer swelter. accessible by traveling down two-lane roads before During down time, Tom and I were home a lot, content to the I-40 extension was completed in the 1990s. read away lazy afternoons. Tom, a New York City resident, was genuinely loving the change of scenery and relished serving as All of the 10 professional actors hired for Liberty Cart porde-facto housemother, cooking meals most nights partly out of trayed multiple roles with the exception of one. Tom Hull solely necessity. The lone restaurant in this no-stoplight town, the played Phenius Pickett, a wise, old, time-traveling pushcart pedTastee-Freez, had bug sprayers positioned above the dining room dler who wove together oft-told tales of Duplin County lore as tables for spritzing insecticide into the air — RAID raining seen through the prism of the Kenan family’s Revolutionary War down on your cheeseburger and fries every few minutes. experience and beyond, into war-torn South in 1864. The Kenan There was a quaint little diner across Main Street from family’s claim to fame, so far as I can tell, is that they were fabuFreedom Shack, but it had closed recently, rumored to have lously wealthy, thanks to the oil and gas business. To this day, it’s been forced out of business because the proprietor was African a philanthropic surname splashed across multiple buildings on American. I talked the guy into opening just for us at noon. So evthe UNC-Chapel Hill campus. ery day, this gentleman took our orders — pork chop sandwiches Having spent little time in small towns without high and low were a favorite — then strolled next door to the Piggly-Wiggly for tides, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Certainly not strutting center what he needed to prepare our lunch while we howled with laughstage into a bewildering psychodrama soon surreptitiously swirlter watching The Gong Show on TV. ing around us. Along with Tom, my Freedom Shack roommates were Roger In an art form rooted in North Carolina theatrical tradition, Dale Jackson, Kevin Flanigan and David Elliott. With a thick Tom Hull was already a bona fide outdoor-drama star, having head of red hair, Roger was one of the sweetest people I’ve ever portrayed the comical drunk Old Tom in Lost Colony for a decade.
As a 19-year-old
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met, intensely serious about acting as were the others. I really looked up to Kevin, incredibly effective in that outdoor setting as the handsome, smoldering young firebrand. Two seasons earlier he’d wowed audiences in a major role in Horn in the West. David was athletic, no affectations, and once brought along his Labrador retriever, who absconded with a roast we left marinating on the kitchen counter. One of my best friends from college, “Sweet” Val McCaw, was also cast in Liberty Cart. Her dramatic moments are still talked about in Kenansville. No, really, especially her turn as Mammy Till chasing Yankees from Liberty Hall’s kitchen. Because of the time periods depicted, Val was relegated to playing domestics, which ultimately didn’t sit well with her, being a proud, independent, young Black woman. Supporting players, dozens of all ages, were recruited from nearby Wilson, Warsaw, Rose Hill, Wallace and Beulaville. They were some of the nicest folks I’ve encountered in life, but I quickly became aware of awkward, sideways glances from shopkeepers and pickup trucks when Val and I meandered around the four or five local businesses that constituted a downtown. Unbeknownst to us, it was a downright scandal that the whitest teenager God ever blanched and a Black co-ed were flagrantly lollygagging around town together. A local mechanic having a fling with one of the actresses, their relationship consummated on the back steps of sacred Liberty Hall, informed us that townspeople routinely tracked us via their CB radios. Val was mortified . . . that anyone would consider for a moment that we were a couple! Val had the last laugh, however. At a cast party meet-and-greet held in Freedom Shack’s backyard, with Kenansville’s hoi polloi in attendance, Val stepped from the house, screen door slapping shut behind her, and announced, “Billy, I left the jeans I borrowed from you yesterday on your bed.” Jaws dropped and eyes popped like beasts in a Tex Avery cartoon. The only cast member with a car, I had deputies hugging the back bumper of
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
WANDERING BILLY
my ’72 Dodge Dart Swinger while driving. Discovering one morning that someone had sideswiped my Swinger, parked overnight on the street, naturally I attempted to file a report with the Sheriff for insurance purposes. Peering above mirrored sunglasses, fully reclining in his swivel chair like the stereotypical good ol’ boy with a badge in every Southern noir movie ever filmed, he blithely commented that he knew who was responsible but wasn’t going to do a damned thing about it. In the rural South of the ’70s, everyone knew their place; if not, it would be made plain to you at some point. Whereabouts of most of the cast is a mystery. Roger Dale Jackson was seen in a dramatic role in a 1985 episode of AfterMASH, passing away in 2020. Tom Hull died in 2009. I wish I’d had a chance to talk with him again. Of all the cast members, we were the closest as he was the first openly gay person I ever met. Tom moved to Wilmington in the 1980s, where he had a stellar stage career, appearing in occasional movies like Raw Deal in 1986, a role that found him ruthlessly pummeled by Arnold Schwarzenegger. Pretty funny we both ended up working on that same project, myself as a West Coast movie poster artist for the film. Val McCaw married her high school sweetheart, William, enjoying the love of a warm and close-knit family in Colorado. In a return visit to Kenansville a few years back, I discovered several changes. The town has an intersection with a stoplight now. Liberty Hall is even more of a tourist attraction today, but our beloved Freedom Shack was long ago demolished for additional parking. Liberty Cart closed in 1990 and the amphitheater is covered over in kudzu, but several locally owned restaurants thrive there today, including a soul food joint that residents rave about. OH Born and raised in Greensboro, Billy Ingram moved to downtown in the 1990s after a career in Hollywood as a key member of the design team the ad world has dubbed, “The New York Yankees of Motion Picture Advertising.”
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Fourth of July Night The little boat at anchor in black water sat murmuring to the tall black sky. A white sky bomb fizzed on a black line. A rocket hissed it’s red signature into the west. Now a shower of Chinese fire alphabets, A cry of flower pots broken in flames, A long curve to a purple spray, three violet balloons — Drips of seaweed tangled in gold, shimmering symbols of mixed numbers, Tremulous arrangements of cream gold folds of a bride’s wedding gown — A few sky bombs spoke their pieces, then velvet dark. The little boat at anchor in black water sat murmuring to the tall black sky.
— Carl Sandburg
Carl Sandburg (1878-1967) was a poet, biographer, journalist and editor. He was awarded three Pulitzer Prizes, two for poetry and one for a biography of Abraham Lincoln.
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Faithful
Companion
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Stuart Belcher and Hannah Kohler sidle up next to 4-year-old Lucy, a 95 lb cuddlebug who’s looking for her next lap
Hopper finds his home at High Point’s Buddhist Temple
O
By Cassie Bustamante • Photographs By Liz Nemeth
n an early-spring afternoon, Hannah Kohler drove up to High Point’s Buddhist temple in a Guilford County Animal Services van. Inside the vehicle was a gift for one of the resident monks, the Venerable John Manivong. The gift was a dog, but not just any dog. This was a special-needs dog, a three-legged canine with the improbable name of Hopper. Before that moment, Hopper, a brindle-coated beauty, had spent months at the Guilford County Animal Services shelter on Guilford College Road, where staff had guessed him to be an Akita mix. Akitas, according the American Kennel Club, are muscular, double coated and descend from ancient Japanese lineage. In fact, in Japan, the “venerated” breed is thought to be a symbol of good heath, happiness and a long life — all things
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
the shelter hopes its rescues will find. Stuart Belcher, an animal care technician at the shelter, says, “Our biggest mission is just to get them comfortable, feeling safe, and then help them find their perfect person.” Where better to feel a secure and loving presence than by the side of a Buddhist monk? According to Buddha Weekly, dogs embody much of what Buddhists strive for and can guide us humans toward love, responsibility and living in the present moment. Perhaps a young dog could teach an old monk new tricks. Wat Prakeonaramith, the High Point temple, is a center for traditional Buddhist practices including daily alms, food offerings and Laotian New Year celebrations. Plus, the temple hosts three-day forest retreats that promote contentment, something well-nourished dogs are pros at. O.Henry 43
When Hopper arrived in late March, it was love at first nuzzle for Manivong, who is known as Yapho John out of respect for his elder wisdom. “He have three legs, but I love it,” he says. The 76-year-old native of Laos made news earlier this year when he joined in the Walk for Peace, supported by a walking stick as he traveled from Charlotte to Greensboro’s Grandover Resort. (Due to his age, the organizers didn’t want him to do more than that, but he was able to travel later, meet-
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ing at the Washington, D.C., finish point.) Despite the immediate bond between monk and mutt, Hopper, who is estimated to be a little over 2 years old now, had to be sent back to the shelter from whence he came to comply with the temple’s strict protocol regarding gifts. “It was a heartbreaking thing,” says Hannah, communication coordinator for Animal Services. The shelter, she says, had been operating under the assumption that the temple was aware of Hopper’s adoption. But, according to the temple coordinator, Andy Le, any gift requires approval from the temple board. The tripod dog, it seemed, hadn’t found his forever home quite yet. Before meeting Yapho John, Hopper had been patiently waiting for his human. For reasons the shelter staff couldn’t fathom, no one scooped up the lovable pup who bubbled with personality. With his love of toys and walks — and even companionable silence — he was the ideal pup. “That’s why I was so shocked that it took him a while to get adopted because he just checks all the boxes,” says Stuart. “But I think sometimes the three legs can make some people very apprehensive.” A quadruped canine at the time of his December 1, 2025, arrival, Hopper was discovered as a stray when someone called him in because their chickens were all riled up. Clearly, he was on the hunt for his next meal, though hobbling along due to an obviously serious back left leg injury. But, notes Stuart, “You could tell he wasn’t ready to give up or anything.” Shortly after his intake, the shelter vets made the tough decision to amputate. The staff had already taken to calling him Hopper, but now the question arose as to whether or not his name could be perceived as insensitive for a three-legged dog. The Art & Soul of Greensboro
Mama Woods, a 6-year-old, sits, shakes and high-fives – especially when a pup cup is involved – but she’ll happily sit by your side
Big Boy, a 3-year-old lab mix, is a gentle soul seeking someone to stroll softly and slowly with him through the world
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
In the end, they decided that he looked a little like Hopper from the paranormal TV series Stranger Things, a character, much like this affable mutt, who never gives up. “He was always determined,” Stuart says. “You know, you could not get that guy to slow down — ready to meet people, ready to go, ready to play, ready to interact. So he definitely fit the name.” As for that amputation, it didn’t seem to phase him one bit. He kept putting one paw in front of the other and was made available for adoption on December 27. It would be over three months before Hopper would find his home. Prolonged stays happen more than the shelter staff would like. The shelter houses upwards of 100 dogs and 50 cats at a time and some, sadly, eventually, are put down, such as the extremely ill or those who are injured beyond the state Hopper was in. “There’s always going to be at least 10 or 20 dogs that are going to fall through those gaps every month, that people just don’t notice,” Stuart says. “But if you keep trying, even though it’s five months later, all it takes is that one person coming in.” In Hopper’s case, his one person was Yapho John. After just a few hours together, says Andy, “They got attached to each other. So, Yapho John tells the temple board, say, ‘Pretty please, a cherry on top, I want the dog.’” Yapho John made his plea and waited for the board to deliberate Hopper’s fate. Four or five days later, says Hannah, the shelter got word that his adoption had been approved. She and one of the intake staff members loaded him up in one of the animal control vans and headed to the temple, where Yapho John was waiting. The reunion? “It was like a Disney moment!” exclaims Hannah, who admits that the way this adoption went down was rather unconventional. “It’s not what we recommend. But he fell in love with the dog, regardless.” Smiles stretched across both dog and human faces as Yapho John repeated the words, “I missed you, Hopper.” The day Guilford County Animal Services made the news social-media official? April 1. “A couple people thought we were pulling a prank,” says Hannah. “But, no, it was for real. Hopper found a home.” Now, a few months later, Hopper has settled in, spending his days by Yapho John’s side. “I like to walk outside all the time,” says Yapho John. “He will follow me everywhere.” Stuart now admits she’d had one little concern about Hopper’s new home: “He might be too energetic for an old monk.” Yet, when it’s time to meditate in the temple, Hopper waits patiently just outside the door for Yapho John. Stuart says she and her coworkers initially erupted at the thought of Hopper just sitting and meditating. “We all laughed. We said, ‘If anybody needs to meditate though, it is Hopper!’” So far, the Buddhist way of life is suiting Hopper just fine. “I am so happy,” says Yapho John, his faithful companion by his side. OH
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Though it’s located a stone’s throw from Interstate 74, the Wat Prakeonaramith temple is a colorful, woodland oasis. Vibrantly-painted buildings, fences, murals and shrines adorn the hub of the 14-acre property “where Lao Cultural Tradition melds with Buddhist Forest Tradition.” Here, the two resident monks, John Manivong, aka Yapho John, and Venerable Dr. Pra Maha Ajahn Wichian, adhere to a strict discipline that includes eating one meal a day, celibacy, detachment from worldly belongings and meditation — often by walking in the woods — with a goal of enlightenment. Founded in 2016, Wat Prakeonaramith welcomes visitors and volunteers in an environment that fosters peace, compassion, wisdom and connection to nature. The temple even hosts an annual Lao New Year festival every April where guests can immerse themselves in the culture for a weekend. The monks not only serve as role models of what it means to let go of material longing, but also lead no-cost meditation retreats on site. Yapho John only became a monk a little over a year ago. Before that, he’d been married with grown children. His new companion, Hopper, he jokes, has filled him with so much love that it’s like having another child. Prior to his adoption, the shelter had guesstimated Hopper’s birthday to be on the same day Yapho John became a monk, so the temple celebrated both last month. His former wife, Sandy Manivong, now serves as secretary of the temple board. The two first stepped onto the path to enlightenment together. “Sell our house, everything,” she says. “We’re still trying to practice to the point that we won’t attach to anything,” she adds. “We try to free our spirit.” Sandy explains how to free the spirit using a metaphor of a cup full of water. In goes salt, representing dukkha, or negative emotions and suffering. Suffering is just part of the human experience, whether it’s financial, physical or emotional. But through releasing attachment to material things or sending loving thoughts to those who have wronged you, you fill your cup with more water, diluting its saltiness. In the Buddhist principle of reincarnation, what you do in this life flows over into the The Art & Soul of Greensboro
next one, creating karma, which is inherently neither good nor bad. Ideally, each life cycle, or samsara, that you go through will be purer than the last. The ultimate goal is to reach nirvana, the point where the cycle ceases. “So when we pass, we just, nothing will come back,” says Sandy, also in her 70s. “We just kind of let go.” For Yapho John, simply practicing Buddhism wasn’t enough. He chose to become a monk, abandoning belongings and shaving his head to symbolize the letting go of vanity. When he set out on that spiritual path, the plan was to go to Laos, where he would practice mindfulness in the forest, meditating and connecting with nature. “But this temple needed help,” says Sandy. “So that’s why we end up here.” At first glance, the temple buildings are a kaleidoscope of bright colors, painted in vivid reds, turquoises, yellows and greens. But, temple coordinator Andy Le points out, “We need a better living condition — living conditions, building conditions.” He gestures to a breezeway ceiling that connects two buildings. “This is not really up to code in some ways.” The meditation space, he says, could use temperature control. “When you go in there, it’s too hot, too cold, too hot,” says Yapho John, who would like to welcome guests to meditate with him in a comfortable space. The first night Hopper slept at his new home, Yapho John worried that Hopper might be cold. “I could not sleep all night,” he says, noting that he eventually got up from his own bed to bring Hopper a blanket. Now that Hopper has found his home at the temple, those much-needed donations have been on the rise, allowing for the purchase of a fence and doghouse for him. Plus, toys and other goods have been dropped off. Some have even bought items from the temple’s Amazon wish list. Maybe with enough funds, Andy jokes, the large property could serve as home to more dogs. To find out more, visit watprakeonaramithhp.org. O.Henry 47
NATTY, THE THERAPY DOG A rookie pooch at GFD chills out in the hot seat By Ross Howell Jr. Photographs By Becky & Bert VanderVeen
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sk anyone in the Greensboro Fire Department, and they’ll tell you rookie year is tough. Sure, you’ve survived training, passed your exam and received your city employee number. But for months you’re still on probation and can be fired for shortcomings in your performance, conduct or attitude. And while you’re learning the job and getting accustomed to an unusual work schedule, you’re also trying to prove yourself in the eyes of fellow firefighters — and meet strict GFD standards for performance, conduct and safety. It’s a delicate balance between standing out and blending in. But for one GFD rookie, it’s not possible to blend in. She attracts attention wherever she goes. Maybe it’s that lush, flaxen mane that glints in the sunlight. People call out to her by name. And word is, she got the job because of the boss, Fire Chief Jim Robinson. Now that’s pressure. But if Natty, the young female golden retriever who is GFD’s first therapy dog, is feeling the heat, she sure doesn’t show it. Most days, you’ll find her at the department’s public safety training facility next to Fire Station 1 on Church Street, chilling — the ill-informed might say napping — by the desk of her handler, Capt. Shawn Hyatt, who runs the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)-training program for all GFD staff and trainees. Natty may look relaxed, but, like her handler, she has a big job. “When Chief Robinson was named to his position, one of the first things he said that he wanted was a therapy dog for firefighters,” says Patty Potter, a retired anesthesiologist who serves as president of the Greensboro Firefighters Association. It’s a relatively new nonprofit organization established to support the morale, community engagement, and physical and mental health of GFD members. Raising funds to bring on Natty was the association’s first project. “Ed Kitchen, who is a board member of our association, also serves as president of the Bryan Foundation,” Potter says. “They provided the donation for a therapy dog.” Not long after, Natty was picked up from a breeder in Asheboro. She was 8 weeks old. “So, here we are,” Potter adds, laughing. Natty wags her tail. “For first responders, there’s a lot of stress,” Hyatt points out. “The hours are crazy, they see plenty of trauma and sometimes they come up with unhealthy ways of trying to cope.” “The chief had seen health issues in the department,” Potter explains. “Alcoholism, drug use, depression, potential suicide — things like that.” Hyatt nods in agreement. “Those aren’t just department issues,” he says. “Those are national issues.” A Greensboro native, Hyatt worked in construction before earning his EMT certification. He has 12 years with GFD — two as a captain.
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Capt. Shawn Hyatt works with Natty
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The guys just seemed to relax and open up, and we hung out for a while and talked.
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“When I got my own station, I had a bunch of young guys on the crew,” Hyatt says. He recalls a shift when he took his firefighters on a stressful emergency call. “I’d seen stuff like that probably a dozen times, so I could just move on,” he continues. But Hyatt realized that his younger firefighters might have never experienced anything like what they’d just witnessed. Back at the station, he got them together to talk about the call and see how they were doing. “I learned that was something important to do,” Hyatt remembers. Although she’s still new to the job — still a puppy for that matter — Natty has participated in a similar session. Recently, firefighters returned from a difficult call and reached out to Hyatt to see if he and Natty would come by their station. “So we drove out,” Hyatt says. He told the firefighters that he wasn’t there for a counseling session, that nobody was expected to speak if they didn’t want to. “What I saw in that environment was that Natty can be a conversation starter,” he continues. “The guys just seemed to relax and open up, and we hung out for a while and talked.” Carol Key, GFD deputy chief of essential services, points out an interesting aspect of firefighters’ response to stress. “Many times, when someone has been on a severe call and we suggest they take time off, they reject that idea,” Key says. “They actually prefer to be around the people who work with them.” That fact has led to the development over the years of a robust GFD peer support teams program that has become an important component of maintaining firefighter health. The support teams’ work is strictly confidential, so Key is not privy to any conversations, but she knows that the groups are very active. Support teams are sometimes requested by other fire departments — even as far away as Florida. The Art & Soul of Greensboro
“Natty can be a part of that effort,” she continues. “If a peer can show up with a dog and help a firefighter calm down, that’s very valuable.” Golden retrievers are noted for being friendly, eager to please and gentle — ideal for the role of providing solace. But Hyatt points out that Natty’s disposition is more important than her breed. “You’re looking for the right dog with the right personality and giving her good, basic obedience training,” he says. The goal is to develop a dog who remains calm and does her job, even when facing distractions or stress. “Dogs, by themselves, are a kind of therapy,” Hyatt says. “Any dog.” Studies have shown that interacting with a dog reduces cortisol, the hormone associated with stress, releases oxytocin, the hormone associated with feelings of well-being and happiness, slows heart rate and lowers blood pressure. “But it’s not like we’re thinking, ‘Alright, now we’ve got a dog and everybody’s going to be fine!’” Hyatt adds, smiling. “Natty’s just another piece of the puzzle that helps us address the mental and emotional health of the people in our department,” he concludes. Natty recently returned to Greensboro after a couple of weeks in Charlotte, where she completed additional work with her original trainer, a retired fireman. “She’s still a work in progress,” Hyatt says. “But she’s doing great.” When Natty’s not at the training facility, she’s at home with Hyatt and his family and their two dogs. “She’s a part of the family now,” he adds. Hyatt continues her training daily, working in 20-minute sessions on obedience and interaction with people in public spaces. Not as large as the fireman’s helmet she was photographed next to when she first arrived at GFD, Natty’s getting to be a big girl now, weighing in at 45 pounds. When she’s fully grown, she’ll tip the scales at around 60 pounds, roughly the weight of the full turnout gear — including breathing apparatus — that firefighters wear when they answer a call. Service dogs, as you’d expect, must wear service vests. Hyatt shakes his head. “She went through a phase where she just exploded,” he says. “She outgrew the first vest we bought so fast, I decided to wait and see how much bigger she was going to get.” Natty lifts her head, raising her ears to listen as several police academy recruits pass through the training facility lobby, heading for an EMT class. The space reverberates with the laughter of a group of firefighters talking nearby. Natty yawns and stretches out on her side. I ask Hyatt what he believes Natty would want readers to know. “Just how important she is, how happy she makes everybody, how she loves people,” he replies. “That’s her job,” he adds. “To be Natty.” OH Ross Howell Jr. is a contributing writer. O.Henry 53
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The Art & Soul of Greensboro
THE SPIRIT
I
By Warren L. Bingham
t’s 2026, which means it’s time to celebrate America’s semiquincentennial. Since semiquincentennial sounds like a dreaded medical procedure, the celebration’s formal organizers just call it America 250. For this special anniversary, we should do more than the customary overindulgence in hot dogs, ice cream and fireworks on the Fourth of July. We should remember. Sometime before the last Roman candle brightens the sky, you should consider paying tribute to three important Founding Fathers whom you’ve likely never heard of: William Hooper, Joseph Hewes and John Penn, the trio from North Carolina who signed the Declaration of Independence, which is, after all, the reason for all this merrymaking and bottlerocketing. The Fourth is about the Declaration. The three North Carolinians were among a total of 56 signers of the Declaration. Great Britain considered all of them to be traitors, for which they risked their lives. The last line of the Declaration summarizes the gravity of the signers’ commitment: We mutually pledge to each other our lives, fortunes, and our sacred honor. Had the American rebellion failed, the signers would have likely been executed in the public square. Or as Benjamin Franklin, the oldest signer of the Declaration at the age of 70, observed, “We must all hang together or assuredly we shall hang separately.” In July 1776, the Continental Congress, composed of delegates from the 13 British colonies lining the Atlantic Coast from
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New Hampshire to Georgia, had been in session in Philadelphia for over a year. Hooper, Hewes and Penn, selected by their peers in North Carolina’s Provincial Congress, represented North Carolina. The primary topic was governance and whether the Colonies should seek independence from Great Britain. The Colonies had recently ousted royal governors, and now Colonial assemblies were trying to figure out how to best govern themselves — but the people were still subjects of King George III, and a good number of Americans liked it that way. Many felt it was beneficial to remain with Great Britain, and numerous English, Scots and Scots-Irish settlers had known only loyalty to the king. Some historians describe the Revolutionary War as America’s first civil war. News of deadly skirmishes in New England perpetrated by British troops against local militia, combined with King George III’s uncompromising efforts to tax and regulate the Colonists, increasingly drove Americans to question their loyalty to the Mother Country. The women of eastern Carolina were notably engaged in their own protest of the crown and the British Parliament. Fifty-one women, led by Penelope Barker of Edenton, lent their names in the fight against tyranny when they staged the Edenton Tea Party in 1774. Parliament had passed several taxes on imported British goods, and the ladies of Edenton called for a boycott of British imports. As debates about independence crept along in Philadelphia, delegates would come and go, tending to matters at home. Among the dozens of delegates from the 13 Colonies, rarely was everyone present at the same time. Travel was hard — the trip by horse from North Carolina to Philadelphia took two to three weeks. In North Carolina, momentum for self-governance was growing. In May 1775, Mecklenburg County leaders met in Charlotte and publicly resolved their desire for independence. Then, in April 1776, the North Carolina Provincial Congress put forth the Halifax Resolves in which North Carolina became the first Colony to call for independence from Great Britain. From that action in Halifax comes a significant claim: North Carolina — First in Freedom. In January 1776, Thomas Paine, a theretofore little-known writer and thinker, released his pamphlet, Common Sense, which strongly advocated for American independence from Great Britain. Written for the masses, Paine called monarchies absurd and implored Americans to unite, proclaim independence, and create a democratic government. Paine’s words resonated. Common Sense was a bestseller. As the season
turned from spring to summer, throughout the Colonies, the call for independence was as hot as the weather. The delegates in Philadelphia got the message. On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress set forth the Declaration of Independence, which spelled out grievances with Great Britain and specifically with King George III. The collective body declared the “united” States of America to be free and independent states, absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown. The Declaration was the seed of the future, but the lower case “u” in united, as printed in the Declaration, meant that each state was sovereign. For the time being, the states within their new independence would move forward in a loose alliance. That alliance took on the British military, and after eight years of battles and skirmishes from New Hampshire to Georgia and all the land in between, independence was secured in 1783. Despite their noble role in representing North Carolina in Philadelphia, Hooper, Hewes and Penn are relatively unknown today. They all died in their late 40s, and though they made continued contributions to the fledgling state of North Carolina after July 4, 1776, they never became widely heralded. Though each man is recognized by historical markers and tributes at their graves, there are no places in North Carolina named in their honor. There are, however, places around our state for some of the big founding names. The town of Washington is on the Pamlico River, and the town of Jefferson is in the Blue Ridge. Franklin County is named for Ben, as is Franklin Street in Chapel Hill. Fayetteville is named for Lafayette, the young French officer who served under Washington. Thanks to a modern Broadway play, practically everyone now knows Alexander Hamilton. Hip-hop has proven to be a Revolutionary educator. Even though he wasn’t from North Carolina, Gen. Nathanael Greene has several namesakes here, enough to make other Revolutionary leaders green with envy: Greensboro, Greenville and Greene County are all named in honor of the general. Additionally, a Greensboro brewer produces Natty Greene beer. Cheers! Beyond its signers of the Declaration, North Carolina produced its share of founding heroes. Some of them are honored with county namesakes: Nash, Harnett, Moore, Jones, Lenoir and Sampson were all North Carolinians and founding leaders, but there are no counties named for Hooper, Hewes or Penn. None of our signatories were originally from North
Great Britain considered all of them to be traitors, for which they risked their lives.
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Carolina, but that was not unusual in their day. In the 1770s, it’s thought that over half the residents of North Carolina had come from somewhere else. It was a time of significant population growth and resettlement, and newcomers were plentiful in the state. People came from other states and abroad seeking land and opportunity, bringing new talents and skills, and new ways of thinking. In 1776, William Hooper was a Wilmington lawyer, but he had previously lived in Campbelltown (present-day Fayetteville) and at one time served in Royal Gov. William Tryon’s legal department. Hooper had been a Royalist, a reminder that everyone in the Colonies was a subject of the king. His wife was the former Anne Clark, daughter of a New Hanover sheriff. Born to a prominent Boston family in 1742, Hooper’s father was the second rector of Trinity Church. His son graduated from Boston Latin for his prep education, then earned both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree at Harvard University. Trinity Church, Boston Latin and Harvard are all still up and running. In addition to his formal training, Hooper studied law in Boston in the early 1760s under Boston lawyer James Otis, who was known for his strong advocacy of Colonial rights. At the time of the Declaration, Joseph Hewes was a wellestablished Edenton merchant who had served in Colonial assemblies for 20 years. Hewes was in import-export trading and was a shipbuilder. Born on his family’s large farm in Kingston, New Jersey, in 1730, Hewes completed his formal studies at Kingston Friends School and was apparently bound for college at Princeton but — in today’s vernacular — turned pro instead. Strong-willed and ambitious, Hewes was drawn to commerce and in lieu of college, sought practical training as an apprentice to a Philadelphia merchant. After five years of dock work and learning the trading business from the cargo hold up, Hewes struck out on his own, at first in Philadelphia. But by 1755, he was making a life and career for himself in Edenton. Hewes was engaged to marry the well-connected Isabella Johnston of Edenton, sister of Samuel Johnston, a future North Carolina governor. The Johnstons’ uncle was former Royal Gov. Gabriel Johnston. Sadly, Isabella Johnston died after a short illness before her marriage to Hewes could take place, and Hewes never married. By 1776, John Penn was a known advocate for independence. A Virginia native who grew up on a small farm near the Rappahannock River in Caroline County, Penn was born in 1741 to a hard-working farm family. Though he received little formal education in his late teens, after the death of his father, he could afford to take time to study the law. John Adams famously said, “All Virginia geese are swans.” Yet, despite his Virginia birth and rearing, Penn was more goose than swan — but an ambitious, hard-working, smart goose. Unlike Hooper and Hewes, he was not of the Eastern North Carolina elite. He lived in Granville County, in the northern
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Piedmont, where he farmed and maintained a successful law practice. His wife, the former Susannah Lyme, was a native of Granville County, and their marriage is what brought Penn there. He was more typical of back country settlers who lived simpler lives and distrusted both the Crown and the Eastern North Carolina elite. Though Penn was ready sooner than most to move on from Great Britain, Hooper and Hewes were not early rabble-rousers for independence. In fact, in 1775, Hewes was among the leaders in the Continental Congress that offered the Olive Branch Petition to King George, an offer for a reset in relations between the Americans and British through peaceful means. The offer was rebuffed by George III. Frustrated by repeated British affronts, heavy taxes and regulations, enforced at times by corrupt officials, the North Carolina signers grew to accept that independence was the inescapable course. Hooper, Hewes and Penn were amiable colleagues, but not close friends. Their bond was a shared belief in the principles of self-governance, democracy and individual freedom — the spirit of ’76. The North Carolina trio had challenges during the ensuing war. Hooper’s home, Finian, was situated on 100-plus acres on Masonboro Sound south of Wilmington. The British bombed and burned Finian, and Hooper and his entire family were forced to flee to Hillsborough, where they lived out their lives. Leaving his family, farm and law practice for long periods, Penn attended more days of the Continental Congress than any other North Carolinian. Over the years, he was a member of 15 or more Congressional committees. Back home, Penn was involved in equipping and supplying both the North Carolina militia and soldiers of the Continental Army. During the war, Hewes was in Philadelphia more than in Edenton, often using his knowledge and skill in trade and shipbuilding to help the American cause. He was in effect the first secretary of the Navy. As the war raged, his health worsened and he grew increasingly weak, probably from malaria. He died in his Philadelphia rooming house in 1779 and was laid to rest nearby in Christ Church Burial Ground, just a few hundred yards from where he signed the Declaration of Independence. If not the authors, the three Carolinians — Hooper, Hewes and Penn — were witnesses and signatories to what historian Walter Isaacson has characterized as The Greatest Sentence Ever Written. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and pursuit of Happiness.” That’s not nothing. OH Warren L. Bingham is a speaker, writer and author of George Washington’s 1791 Southern Tour.
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A FRENCH DREAM IN THE TRIAD
And it will only get better with age
By Cynthia Adams • Photographs by Amy Freeman
With an upbeat persona and eye for beauty, Caitlin Covington is a force in social media, proving the power of the positive. With more than 1 million followers, she has leaned into her love of the fall, family and fashion. Her new home reveals a deep affection for all things French.
H
ome base for Caitlin Covington is a far cry from the UNC-Chapel Hill dorm room where her blogging life began 15 years ago on a lark. Of course, back then, no one really understood that it could grow into a lucrative career. It is a Provencal beauty set in Winston-Salem that she and her husband, Chris Dorsch, began building in 2021. First, there is un courette, a small courtyard, with trimmed boxwoods in Versailles planters. A low stone wall defines the
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perimeter of the front of the home where Covington captures life en famille. Wisteria vines are in place and will eventually climb the creamy stucco exterior. Cornflower-blue working shutters, complete with shutter dogs, punctuate the dual-sash windows. A walk-out balcony overlooks the handsomely limed door at the front entrance. Cue a bluebird — er, rather, a French magpie!
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Set in a secluded residential pocket within the city, the overall effect makes you forget this isn’t a French suburb. Designed by Asheville architect Greg Koester, the home’s understated beauty relies upon architectural touches he sourced. “The barrel tiles used on the roof are from France — the marble floors, too,” says Covington. In fact, the foyer’s aged-toperfection marble tile was recycled from a French cathedral. Limestone fireplaces convey classical French style. The exposed beams, multiple fireplaces, elevated ceilings and architectural flourishes include custom-designed doors and even air vents. The appeal of those materials is that they deepen with age. Patina, Covington mentions, inspired their conversations with the architect from the very start. Even the family pet is winsomely charming. The 9-year-old teacup Goldendoodle, Winnie, is a nod to Winston-Salem. From the very beginning, Covington has invited readers into her life. Her 1.3 million Instagram followers, along with daughters Kennedy, 5, and Collins, 2, were awaiting baby number three in May. People Magazine reported on the viral influencer’s latest pregnancy when it was announced on Instagram last November. Followers vicariously experienced the couple’s 2012 meeting in The Art & Soul of Greensboro
Greenville, S.C., when she worked in public relations, and Dorsch was then a mortgage banker. A six-year courtship ensued. “We met through mutual friends at a group dinner just a few weeks after I started my job. A favorite story of ours is that our first date was actually a lunch date because Chris insisted that lunch dates were ‘harmless’ — in an effort to convince me to go on a date with him, ha-ha,” she shares. Dorsch left Greenville the next fall to attend graduate school at Wake Forest University. “We both got apartments,” he says. “By then, Caitlin was blogging full time.” Covington’s social media work was now successful enough for her to leave public relations. “Chris and I got married in Charleston, S.C., in June of 2018,” she says. Fans watched the couple’s romantic wedding unfold in posts. By then, Covington was an old hand at content creation. After marriage, they lived in Clemmons in a new home, but jumped when, in 2021, they learned of a development in one of Winston-Salem’s oldest residential neighborhoods. Although only in their 30s they both gravitate to homes that feel timeless. “It is really rare to find undeveloped land in the Buena Vista area of Winston-Salem, so we quickly acted on it, and we were O.Henry 59
able to buy the land,” she explains. The developer required all new builds to be architect-designed. Covington had followed the work of designer-architect duo Brooke and Steve Giannetti, former Californians now living in Tennessee. “This book is where the inspiration for this house came from,” she says, holding up the Giannettis’ Patina Homes, chock-full of their French and European-inspired designs, all leaning toward simplicity. Covington and Dorsch interviewed builders, architects and interior designers before breaking ground in 2022. The couple met with Koester, who showed them some of his projects. She showed him her favorite images from the book. “I said, this is the kind of house that I would like, and he
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was so on board with the project,” she recalls, referencing the book. “He was like, you know, let’s go to France and let us do research. He was just so excited.” While a group trek never materialized, the project did inspire the couple to plan a trip to France. A Triad native, the architect began his career in New York and bases Gregory Koester Designs in Asheville. His residential projects span the state and nation, including new houses and renovations and additions to older ones. Covington deeply admires how French style softens with imperfections and age. As they refined their ideas for the home, the couple considered their favorite details in Koester’s existing designs. “Houses that he has done just spoke for themselves,” says Covington. The Art & Soul of Greensboro
Koester assured the couple he could make their environs seem intimate even given spacious public rooms, five bedrooms, and fourand-a-half baths. “One of the things that Greg told us when we first met him is, ‘I like designing big houses, but ones that feel really cozy.’” He translated nearly 6,000 square feet into functional, human-scale spaces. “You don’t need a big house with tons of big rooms,” she recalls he first advised. Covington heaps further praise on the team that created what she and Dorsch call a dream home. Koester enlivened the French Provincial design they wanted. There is ample praise, too, for builder Jonathan Lee, who “was able to take our vision and make it a reality!” The core design team, including architect, builder and landscape designer, had worked together previously. “And we loved that familiarity between them,” says Covington. They chose Kate Marker Interiors out of Chicago as the interior designer. Jeffrey Allen Landscape Architecture created an exterior design for the property. “Our house was officially finished in October of 2024,” she says. The Art & Soul of Greensboro
Despite the distance between the Triad and Chicago, the couple worked collaboratively with Marker, exchanging ideas. The designer kept in step with the personality of their family. Nothing too stuffy nor period made the cut; the interior colors and furnishings were kept tonally quiet and soothing. Marker has described the resulting interiors as “refined French with a relaxed soul.” The house is famous in its own right. It has been featured in the Robb Report and House Beautiful. When completed, Covington posted a video tour of their home. In the caption, she wrote: “Someone pinch me; I’m pretty sure I’m dreaming.” Covington smiles at the memory. “We really wanted the house to look like someone had picked it up out of France and dropped it in Winston-Salem.” Given that Covington once posted from her dorm room in Chapel Hill, it was certainly an upgrade. Avid followers of her blog, Southern Curls and Pearls, now frequently glimpse the interiors, especially her study and the open kitchen. Their work lives melded when Dorsch left his role at Hanesbrand as chief financial officer in April 2023 to devote his time to their social media advertising and promotion company. As both work at home and nontraditional hours, the spacious kitchen is put to good use, he says. A multiburner French stove, pot filler and deep sinks aren’t merely there for optics. “I cook a lot, so this is where we’re spending a lot of our energy,” says Dorsch, who enjoys creating healthy, savory meals. The butler’s pantry features a coffee nook with a hardworking Breville espresso machine taking pride of place, points out Covington. The ceilings and walls throughout the downstairs feature atmospheric beams hewn from reclaimed wood. The living room is a favorite for the couple, where she loves reading and entertaining. There’s no TV to offer a distraction. At Christmas, the tree goes right into a front corner, just as envisioned, she says. Heading upstairs, pastels, scalloped effects, and delicate floral Riley Sheehey wallpapers echoing French style dominate the girls’ rooms. Recently, the older girls began sharing a room, making way for the new arrival’s nursery. “They won’t share rooms forever,” Covington says, given three upstairs bedrooms. O.Henry 61
Dorsch jokes with his wife as they both digest what lies ahead with three children under age 6. Humor may just be their superpower, especially in navigating life beneath the glare of social media. “He’s a great girl dad,” says Covington. “And I think God just meant him to be a girl dad.” Dorsch smiles. He has learned to “lean into pink,” he says goodnaturedly, pointing out his wife’s pink maxi dress, fetchingly belted above a baby bump. Sometimes appearing in videos with his daughters, he plays to a sweet fish-out-of-water appeal — a father happily engulfed by his daughters’ femininity. He is deeply aware of the privilege of working at home during their childhoods, mindful of how fleeting these years are. He lost his own parents as a young adult. He is also helping manage the sheer volume of business that social media has generated. And with that volume of business come numerous collaborations, which means receiving and reviewing products. In preparation for that, the architect had considered the
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heavy influx of products coming into their home. Some of his best ideas are tucked out of view. “Greg designed storage and what he calls my warehouse.” Here, Covington stows seasonal clothing and the surplus of autumnthemed items, often received as part of a brand partnership. Dorsch points to their work with brands including Rufflebutts, Lululemon, Nordstrom, MacKenzie-Childs, Abercrombie & Fitch, Ballard Designs and Walmart Fashion. “I was just telling Chris yesterday, that’s one of the things that I’ve been getting frustrated over lately, is just the accumulation of stuff. We have to constantly purge.” In The Parenting PATH, a nonprofit, she has found the perfect outlet for excess. Covington donates to Pinwheels, a thrift store that helps finance their programs. Dorsch jumps in to add, “She’s being humble. She does a lot of work. She’s on the board of directors of Parenting PATH and has helped them for several years now.” He leads the way through custom-designed French doors opening into Covington’s study, where she often spends time working after hours. The Art & Soul of Greensboro
Nearby, the primary bedroom suite features a similarly soft color palette. It’s soothing, without jarring color or art. The fireplace, flanked by comfy chairs, is designed for a timeout with a book, sometimes with a child curled on their lap. We are a family of readers, the couple stresses. She favors using Kindle. Dorsch, who just completed 1984, prefers to hold a book in his hand. “I’m one of those old souls, I guess,” he explains. “I have to physically turn a page.” He credits his wife for the family’s reading ritual. “We finish the night reading to the girls, and our daughter — our oldest — is going to be going to kindergarten next year. All she wants to do is learn how to read, just because she sees Caitlin and me doing this.” Covington enjoys the reading and research social media requires, especially when creating travel guides and itineraries. The children have passports and have used them, benefiting from unusual travel experiences. A recent trip allowed 2-yearold Collins to try falconry. Covington stresses that it only sounds dangerous. “This was part of a collaboration that we were doing with this The Art & Soul of Greensboro
hotel. I was standing right next to her,” she says. “But she had to wear that heavy glove — and she had the biggest smile on her face,” says a proud mother. This fall, they will have lived in their new home for two years. Outside, the property has begun maturing as planned. The wisteria and roses will slowly climb walls in the European way, erasing signs of newness. It will slowly acquire the patina that inspired the design from the very start. Outdoors, at the rear of the house, a classically simple pool and an outdoor kitchen surrounded by pea gravel keep with the low-key style they favor. Here, their girls have tea parties and make poolside videos, playfully lip-syncing to dialogue. Hydrangea, a Southern favorite, blooms. “The roses are maturing,” she comments, taking stock of the back of the property. “So eventually, they are going to start growing all around the fence that we have there. But we are still in the very early stages of that growth.” She, too, has weathered changes and growth, experiencing marriage, motherhood and, more recently, the sudden loss of her father, Roy Covington, in May. O.Henry 63
Roses are a metaphor, too; with the roses come thorns, a necessary part of the beauty. Cognizant of this, she has developed a healthy relationship with her followers. The couple considers how the media has changed, anticipating that changes will continue. Some of those will be liberating. One day, they will play a less visible role, Dorsch predicts. Back inside, Winnie burrows deeply into a sofa cushion. A heavily pregnant Covington sinks beside her, pulling the sweet-natured dog closer for a snuggle. Together, they are comfortably cocooned in their piece of Provençal paradise, en famille. OH
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MAKING LEMONADE
GOOD GRACES PHOTOGRAPHY
G
iven all the internet noise, how did Caitlin Covington’s blog springboard from an impulse in 2011 to a social media phenomenon? Drive, explains Covington’s husband, Chris Dorsch. “I just recently started working more with Caitlin,” he says, “but seeing it firsthand, in this type of profession, she can never turn off — from the moment we are up till the moment we go to sleep. It is our business.” And it is sometimes as demanding as a child, he explains. His wife unstintingly puts in the hours — both early mornings and late nights. Timing was another factor. For an early adopter of blogging and a student of journalism, creating content came easily for Covington, who planned to enter magazine journalism. Her natural good looks, fashion sense and Southern charm didn’t hurt. Fifteen years later, Wired magazine called Covington a blogging pioneer with “Disney princess beauty.” As fate would have it, her whole family, including mom Carla Covington (also a blogger), has Disneyesque good looks. Now, age 35, she and Dorsch run a digital media business, Covington Media Group, Inc., with Covington frequently cited in The New York Times, Forbes, The New York Post, People and WWD. In 2023, Covington ranked sixth among the top 100 influencers with 1.3 million Instagram followers. Such success is unusual; Business.com estimates that 48% of creator-earners typically make $15,000 or less. Also that year, she was one of three influencers profiled in journalist Stephanie McNeal’s book, Swipe Up for More. Naturally, there have been potholes along the way. In 2019, Covington, who loves all things autumn, went viral when another influencer reposted a photo of Covington with another blogger friend, captioned, “Hot Girl Summer is coming to an end, get ready for Christian Girl Autumn.” (The “hot girl” reference to a Megan Thee Stallion song made a playful jab at the two women as personifying entitled Christian girls.) She “hadn’t coined those terms,” as Dorsch points out. “Then she made lemonade out of lemons.” She took the ensuing backlash in stride, pointing out that the meme wasn’t even one of her own making. She decided to go allin on the autumn themes. Covington good-naturedly mugged, playing with the stereoThe Art & Soul of Greensboro
types: pumpkin-flavored everything, thickly knitted sweaters and apple harvests. The Times Magazine reported on how deftly Covington pushed back — quipping she was a fan of pumpkin-flavored lattes. EntertainmentNow.com profiled her, noting her “amazing sense of humor.” The lighthearted response was a masterstroke, serving to heighten her popularity. Since then, autumnal trips and outfits make “Christian girl autumn posts” both an annual staple and a fan favorite. Dorsch weighs in. She excels in the art of civility. Her posts are always diplomatic. Had she known how intertwined she would become with the blog name Southern Curls and Pearls, she might have chosen differently. She shrugs. Nowadays, the public is never more engaged than when she features travel content. Fortunately, she enjoys doing research and creating itineraries. Travels sometimes include her mom, daughters, and their girls’ nanny, Alyssa Emmel. (Carla sometimes appears with her daughter and shoots some of her photographs.) As for traveling solely for the joy of travel, Covington admits she cannot recall any such trips. That is the reality of audience engagement. She faces the challenge of keeping up the need to entertain — she uses that phrase carefully — ever mindful that blogging is a hybrid form of infotainment. When Emmel returns from picking up the girls from school, she makes sandwiches and mentions that her own mother is also an influencer. The fresh-faced young woman joined them five years ago, having graduated from UNCG 10 years ago with a degree in early childhood education. “She helps the engine run around here,” praises Dorsch. At this writing, some of the blog posts are deeply personal, as she is on official baby watch. Followers are posting Covington baby names, offering suggestions. Most are alliterative. Dorsch smiles mysteriously, without saying whether they correctly guessed their top choice for the third baby’s name. “It’s amazing,” he adds. “Some are very good ideas.” But, for now, until it’s Instagram official, they’re keeping it to themselves. O.Henry 65
A L M A N A C
July
By Ashley Walshe
uly is a carnival of butterflies. As sunlight saturates the riotous garden, yellow and black visions float from Joe-pye weed to purple coneflower, pausing at each blossom like boats anchoring at tiny, teetering berths. Seconds pass. Nectar passes through proboscis. Yet, time stands still. Imagine breaking out of chrysalis to emerge here, in the lushness of summer. Kissing each flower. Delighting in an endless banquet. Relishing a lifetime in 10 ambrosial days. These wonders leave us awestruck. In sweeping fields, where grass cicadas and katydids broadcast themselves, buckeyes startle wrens and warblers with their wild, wide-eyed wingspots. Life drifts blissfully along. Silver-spotted skippers wish upon electric purple blazing star. Painted ladies worship cosmos flowers. Fritillaries flit among zinnia and thistle. Walk through the forest, where summer azures appear as paper crafts, moonlit fairies, dainty apparitions. Dip your feet into the creek’s cool waters. Feel time slow when a winged one lights upon your salt-laced finger. Embody the transmission. Move at the speed of summer. Taste the earth through your feet as you walk upon it. Let the flowers guide you. Here, where milkweed and monarch embrace, sip the nectar of the ephemeral. Slower. Slower. Slower, still. Anchor yourself in this moment. Delight in the banquet. Relish in the wonder of these timeless days, this fluttering carnival of a lifetime.
The butterfly counts not months but moments, and has time enough. — Rabindranath Tagore 66 O.Henry
What’s Poppin’
The summer garden spills. Tomatoes swell on the vine. The corn silks tell of peak sweetness. The berries grow fat in the life-giving sun. The peaches are popping, too. The annual N.C. Peach Festival takes place in Candor (Peach Capital of N.C.) July 16–18. Among the festivities: a hot wing competition, live music in the park, family fun and homemade peach ice cream. Get the sweetand-juicy scoop at ncpeachfestival.com.
Folk Medicine
It wouldn’t be summer without fresh watermelon, the nasal cries of nighthawks and — oh, yes — poison ivy. You know the rhyme: Leaves of three, let it be. But what of the antidote? Enter jewelweed, the tall, native beauty thriving along stream banks and moist woodland edges. Also called orange balsam, orange jewelweed, spotted jewelweed and spotted touch-me-not, this self-seeding summer annual is known by its orange, trumpetshaped blossoms, which dangle from the plant like fiery pendants. Native Americans used jewelweed as medicine, applying sap from its stem and leaves to relieve skin irritations, including rashes from poison ivy and stinging nettle. Thanks to nature’s endless brilliance, it’s common to find jewelweed growing wherever poison ivy runs wild. And guess who adores those tubular flowers? Hummingbirds love its sugary nectar, making them a primary pollinator for this summer-blooming plant ally. OH The Art & Soul of Greensboro
Leading Meet the Pioneering Women Redefining Our Local Business Scene Sponsored Section | July 2026 Written by Danielle Rotella Guerrieri Photographs by Betsy Blake Photography & Bert VanderVeen Blowouts & Bubbles Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro Fellowship Hall GenCrest Capital Partners The Jaree Todd Team Lindsey Architecture Monkee's of Burlington The Marshall Muse Gallery South 23rd Porch Pops Weatherspoon Art Gallery Wilkerson Bakery Winston-Salem Symphony
Tracey Marshall-Becker The Marshall Muse Gallery
The Marshall Muse Gallery, which opened its doors last October, is designed to engage and inspire artists as well as the creatively curious in the community through exhibitions, hands-on classes and curated events that foster growth and collaboration. • Areas of Service: As a hub for creative programming, The Marshall Muse Gallery offers more than 60 classes and
workshops per week for all ages, hosts a concert series, a rotating artist showcase and wellness offerings such as yoga and tai chi, all while creating a holistic environment that nurtures both creativity and wellbeing. • Advice for Women Starting Their Careers: Don’t be afraid of failure. Embrace the process, learn from every misstep
and trust that even the difficult moments help guide you to where you are meant to be. • Biggest Lesson Learned: “Never give up. Hard work and dedication truly pay off, and the effort you put into your craft and your business will eventually be reflected in the results you achieve.” • Best Part About Being a Woman in Business: Witnessing the joy that creativity brings to everyone involved. It is incredibly fulfilling to see the delight on an artist’s face when their work sells, and they feel recognized for their talent, and also seeing a customer discover a piece they truly adore, something that resonates with them so strongly they cannot imagine being without it. • At Home: Tracey’s family has been enormously supportive as she built her dream creative space, from her husband, Adam Becker, to her three daughters, Riley, Brooke and Haven, and, of course, her dog, Boro.
314 N. Church St., Greensboro 336-285-8396 | www.themarshallmusegallery.com
Amy Conley, Sherry Campbell & Ashley Madden GenCrest Capital Partners
With a focus on financial well-being for high-net-worth individuals and families, GenCrest Capital Partners brings a holistic, coordinated approach to complex client situations. Chief Executive Officer Sherry Campbell, President Amy Conley, and Director of Financial Planning Services Ashley Madden lead an experienced team of professionals who provide objective guidance to simplify the complexities of multi-generational wealth. • Primary Services: Private wealth strategies, family office, tax planning, business exit planning and divorce consulting. • Expertise: Operating as a family office for its clients, GenCrest manages client investments and coordinates each client’s financial experience, including wealth management, advanced tax planning, estate and legacy strategies, business exit planning, and complex life transitions, such as divorce. • Advice For Young Women Starting Their Careers: Success isn’t defined by a title or a milestone — it’s built through consistency, courage and a willingness to keep learning. Explore environments that offer growth, spend time with people who
value integrity and collaboration, and never underestimate the power of a unique perspective. • Best Part About Being a Woman in Business: There’s a unique sense of connection and support among female leaders, where collaboration outweighs competition, and success is shared and celebrated. Being a part of that allows women in business to mentor, uplift and inspire others while creating a legacy rooted in both professional excellence and community impact. • On the Horizon: Growing the GenCrest team, strengthening existing relationships and continuing to build a firm that not only delivers exceptional results but also enriches the lives and legacies of our clients in the Triad and beyond.
603 Dolley Madison Road, Suite 200, Greensboro 336-235-6600 | gencrestcapital.com
Susan Campbell South 23rd
Susan Campbell is the founder and CEO of South 23rd, a company she brought to life because, as she says, “We all want a pretty space.” Inspired by a passion for design, Susan launched the patent-pending So.CachePot planter cover, offered in a variety of elegant, classic patterns that blend beauty and function to elevate indoor and outdoor areas. When she isn’t innovating and designing, Susan loves traveling to visit family and relaxing by the ocean, her favorite place to recharge. • Mission Statement: Taking your space from ordinary to extraordinary. • What Sets South 23rd Apart: There are other planter covers out there, but nothing as stylish as the So.CachePot. It allows people to tap into their “inner decorator” and makes expressing one’s personal style a cinch. • Biggest Lesson Learned: Be flexible in pursuit of your end goal. There will be surprises. Adjust and keep going. • Advice for Young Women Starting Their Careers: Just start. Even if you don’t have all the answers. Each question leads to a new discovery and answer. Also, trust your intuition. Those small nudges are usually spot on. • Proudest Career Accomplishment: Taking a product from the original concept to the customer. Manufacturing something from an idea has been extremely rewarding for Susan. “It was a challenge to find suppliers and manufacturing partners in a world I had never worked or been exposed to,” she says. “This has been a journey for me.”
Kernersville, NC https://south23rd.com/
Rebekah Anne Allen Monkee’s of Burlington
Rebekah Anne Allen opened Monkee’s of Burlington, a boutique shopping experience offering elevated clothing, shoes and accessories, last September with a mission to make getting dressed the easiest — and most fun — part of your day. Established in 1995, Monkee’s now has 60 locations, with each franchise bringing its own style and charm, making each store a unique shopping experience. Your clothing, Rebekah Anne says, should feel good, fit nicely and, above all, make you feel confident. From sleepwear to black-tie affair dresses; Rebekah Anne and her team take pride in helping every woman walk out feeling like her best self. • What Sets You Apart: Monkee’s of Burlington brings a more sophisticated, style- focused shopping experience to a market full of traditional stores — offering curated brands, intentional outfits and confidence-driven service. •
Biggest Lesson Learned: “Early on, I wanted every customer, every employee and every decision to please everyone. But I realized that the more you try to be everything to everyone, the more you dilute your vision and your brand. By letting go of the need to please everyone, you can build something much stronger, more intentional and ultimately more successful.”
• Advice for Young Women Starting Their Careers: Don’t let others’ opinions about you shape your own opinion about yourself. • Best Part About Being a Woman in Business: By owning a small business in her hometown, Rebekah Anne pours back into the community that raised her. Plus, she adds, “If I can inspire even one person to go after something bigger for themselves, that means everything.”
2771 South Church Street, Burlington 336-270-3365 | monkeesofburlington.com
Dr. Jewell Cooper, UNCG (seated); Taylor Ghost, Sunbrella (Glen Raven); Sue Simmons (Chair); Dr. Shelly Penumalli; Karen Dyer, On Point Leadership (seated); Dr. Deborah Friedman; Soumya Iyer, Allwave Site Solutions; Brittany Hicks, Kontoor; Ellen Moore, Neighbors (seated); Kim Gatling, Fox Rothschild
Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro Development Committee The women of the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro’s (CFGG) Development Committee are trusted volunteers with a collective background in law, healthcare, education, manufacturing, hospitality and community engagement. They generously contribute their time and expertise to cultivate charitable giving, connect donors to meaningful causes, strengthen community partnerships and expand participation in philanthropy throughout Greensboro. • Mission: To help build the CFGG’s philanthropic resources to meet the needs and goals of our community, strengthen planned charitable giving and expand engagement among diverse communities in philanthropy.
• What Sets the Development Committee Apart: All of the women on the Development Committee are accomplished Greensboro leaders from prominent organizations who bring an extraordinary level of expertise, connections and a shared passion for strengthening Greensboro through generosity, collaboration and civic leadership. • Best Thing About Being a Woman in Business: Greensboro’s female leaders are linked through business, nonprofit, academic and civic networks. Working together and collaborating across industries allows women leaders to build meaningful relationships that generate real change and strengthen the broader community.
• Expertise: With extensive expertise in long-term philanthropic stewardship, the CFGG manages more than 700 funds and approximately $350 million in assets to address Greensboro’s immediate challenges while strengthening its future. • Advice for Young Women Starting Their Careers: Build authentic relationships, stay curious and say yes to opportunities that allow you to both serve your community and grow your leadership skills. It’s never too early to think about the impact you want to make — professionally and philanthropically.
301 N. Elm St., Suite 100, Greensboro 336-379-9100 | www.cfgg.org
Dr. Juliette Bianco
Museums and Creative Practice, UNCG Weatherspoon Art Museum Jeanne Tannenbaum Center for Creative Practice As associate vice chancellor, Dr. Juliette Bianco strategically leads Museums and Creative Practice at UNC Greensboro: the Weatherspoon Art Museum and the soon-to-open Jeanne Tannenbaum Center for Creative Practice. This latest addition provides spaces for creative innovation and exchange as part of UNCG’s Millennial Campus Initiative, aimed to advance cross-disciplinary collaboration, public-private partnerships and community-embedded learning. • Advice for Young Women Starting Their Careers: Seek and offer mentorship now and always! Juliette counts many strong women as mentors throughout her life who have encouraged her to think expansively rather than cautiously. “I lead with generosity first, coupled with an understanding that there’s no single ‘right’ path, but an authentic and fulfilling path for everyone.” • Best Part About Being a Woman in Business: Making a difference through community engagement and collaborations. In her role, Juliette blends policy insight, civic service and community-centered decision-making to strengthen local cultural engagement. “Greensboro is a city full of incredibly creative, entrepreneurial and civic-minded individuals, and I want to meet all of them and find out how I can help!” • On the Horizon: Coming fall 2026, the Cole Levin Center for Art and Human Understanding at the Weatherspoon Art Museum and the Jeanne Tannenbaum Center for Creative Practice. These centers will expand how art, creative practices and transdisciplinary collaboration contribute to teaching, research and community engagement. • At Home: Juliette enjoys spending time with friends and family, traveling, walking, reading, playing collaborative board games and, to keep her creativity flowing, visiting museums and cultural venues.
1005 Spring Garden Street, Greensboro 336-334-5770 | www.weatherspoonart.org
NeAva Davis Blowouts & Bubbles Blowouts & Bubbles is more than a salon; it is a place that uplifts women through beauty and meaningful connections, bringing elegance and empowerment to every customer experience. Owner NeAva Davis and her team of stylists blend specialized skills and meaningful artistry in every appointment, and, as a licensed cosmetologist and former Miss North Carolina for America Strong 2025, she knows how to mix glamour with her passionate spirit. • Mission: Where good energy meets good hair. • What Sets Blowouts & Bubbles Apart: A diverse team of stylists from all over the world that has the ability to serve a diverse community. All stylists are experts in hair styling and trained to work on all hair textures. They use their creativity and expertise to provide blowouts, cuts, root touch-ups, hair color, hair updos, braiding, silk presses, hair masks and scalp massages. • On the Horizon: Makeup services and in-house headshot photography. • Proudest Career Attribute: Taking the opportunity of owning
a business and running with it. “I’m most proud of my growth as a woman and a business owner. The growth we’ve made in just a year of ownership is amazing!” • Best Part About Being a Woman in Business: The honest, genuine connections she’s built with her clients. “We pride ourselves on being a safe space for women. Being able to connect with women, listen to their stories, and give them advice — if they want — is really the best part. Watching women leave feeling and looking great is the most rewarding.”
2105 W Cornwallis Dr, Ste A, Greensboro | 336-285-7642 431 West End Blvd, Winston-Salem | 336-293-8384 Blowoutsandbubbles.com
Chelsi Wilkerson Wilkerson Bakery
Ask Chelsi Wilkerson what the greatest honor of her life is and she’ll tell you — it’s carrying on the family legacy as president of Wilkerson Bakery. During the Great Depression, her great-grandfather opened the family’s very first bakery. Almost a century later, Chelsi and her family returned to its roots, reigniting its ovens to deliver “The Taste You Remember®.” • Services: Retail, ecommerce and wholesale bakery specializing in thin Moravian cookies, freshly made sugar cake and Carolina cheese straws; plus, traditional bakery items and pastries available in-store. • What Sets Us Apart: The legendary thinness and taste of the family’s Moravian cookies; sourcing the highest quality ingredients with careful attention to detail such as freshly grinding whole spices; the stories behind the family’s cookie shapes and flavors such as the Moravian star cookie and the distinctive flavor of Blackbeard’s cookie; decorative items in the bakery itself, such as a chandelier Ol’ Blue Eyes once sang beneath; every part of the process holds meaning. • Proudest Career Accomplishment: “Experiencing raw and heartfelt reactions to our products based on our quality and kindness. The bakery is built on love, sacrifice, grit, a lot of laughter and tears. It’s so much more than just cookies and cake.” • Biggest Lesson Learned: “It’s not about why you got knocked down, it’s about how you got back up. Wear those bruises proudly, as they are what create leaders.” • Advice for Young Women Starting Their Career: Define your why and your values; maintain clear sight of the things that are most important to you and prioritize; don’t be afraid to ask for help. • For Fun: Part owner of historic Old Salem’s Lot 63, a bakery, coffeehouse and tavern; co-director of Miss Mermaid USA and King & Queen of the Seas as seen on Netflix.
593 S. Stratford Road, Winston-Salem 336-829-0407 | WilkersonBakery.com
Kelly Scaggs Fellowship Hall Kelly Scaggs is the president and CEO of Fellowship Hall, a leading treatment center in Greensboro that has been helping individuals and families find freedom from addiction through compassionate, evidence-based care since 1971. In fact, it was the first licensed addiction treatment center in the state. With an ongoing commitment to grow, innovate and provide comprehensive care, Scaggs is passionate about helping people who suffer from substance use disorders. • Expertise: Treating substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health issues with gender responsive, individualized care to adults struggling with alcohol or other substances. • What Sets Fellowship Hall Apart: The intensive family program offers immense value. Because addiction impacts the entire family system, the program engages both individuals and their families in the recovery process to create a stronger foundation for lasting change. • On the Horizon: Fellowship Hall’s original building is undergoing a major renovation to modernize and enhance the environment for patients and staff. Expanding services is also a
priority and includes addressing issues that often accompany substance use, such as gambling disorders. • Biggest Career Accomplishment: Serving as the first female CEO of Fellowship Hall and leading an institution with a powerful, half-century-old legacy into the future. • Advice for Women Starting Their Career: Don’t doubt yourself. Fear and self-doubt often make people wait for everything to be perfect, but the opportunities that seem the scariest are often the ones that lead to the greatest growth. Take the leap, trust yourself and embrace challenges. And remember, you deserve a seat at the table.
5140 Dunstan Road, Greensboro 336-621-3381 | www.fellowshiphall.com
Michelle Merrill Winston-Salem Symphony
As the first female music director of the Winston-Salem Symphony, Michelle Merrill leads one of the Southeast’s most distinguished regional orchestras as it approaches its 80th year. A dedicated and dynamic artist, Michelle enjoys introducing new works as well as old favorites, finding imaginative ways to bring a wide variety of compositions to life. • Mission statement: To enrich the community with live music, educational programs and community-engagement initiatives that create shared experiences and connections while improving quality of life. • Advice for Young Women Starting Their Career: Go for it — all of it. Put the work in, don’t be afraid to ask questions, get the experience. Hard work is inevitable and a necessity to get where you want to go, but also make sure you take time for yourself to just enjoy life. • Biggest Lesson Learned: Lead with confidence, kindness and a spirit of collaboration. When people feel like they are a part of a larger whole, far more can be accomplished. “And, don’t forget to have fun! Music can be serious at times, but it’s also full of whimsy and imagination.” • On the Horizon: The 2026–27 season launches in September, featuring incredible guest artists such as saxophonist Robert Young, trumpeter Tine Thing Helseth and performing troupe Cirque de la Symphonie, plus, many family-focused concerts for music enthusiasts of all ages. • At Home: Michelle loves spending time with her husband, Steve, principal percussionist of the Jacksonville Symphony in Florida, and their two boys, exploring nature, cooking, playing games and enjoying the quiet moments of life.
PO Box 1545, Winston-Salem, NC 336-725-1035 | wssymphony.org
Jaree Todd The Jaree Todd Team A home is much more than an investment; it’s a cherished family member. That’s why buying and selling a home is not simply a transaction to the Jaree Todd Team. They see it as a way to help their clients pursue their dreams and navigate their future. Founded in 2023, the Jaree Todd Team, consisting of Jaree Todd, Carol Rush and Melanie Soles, is committed to building lasting relationships and empowering their clients with expert guidance during one of life’s most pivotal moments.
• Best Thing About Being a Woman in Business: Jaree is continuously focused on building strong relationships and communities. “One of the most rewarding parts of what I do is helping others and watching them become part of the community. Many clients have become friends, and there’s nothing better than seeing them happy and thriving in a home they love.”
• Mission: To help clients navigate one of life’s most important decisions by understanding their unique needs, goals and priorities and providing trusted guidance every step of the way. • Expertise: With an extensive legal background and many years of experience in the luxury residential real estate market, the Jaree Todd Team serves clients across the Triad with a particular emphasis in Sedgefield, Grandover, Jamestown, and Irving Park. • Advice for Young Women Starting Their Careers: Always act in your client’s best interests, even when it may not be the easiest or most profitable path in the short term. Integrity has a way of coming back tenfold over the course of a career.
1007 Battleground Ave, Ste 101 Greensboro 336-601-4892
Emily Hinton Lindsey Architecture
Founded in 2008, Lindsey Architecture is dedicated to creative excellence, imagination, and innovation. Its mission is to make a positive impact by providing design solutions that solve clients’ greatest challenges. Architect Emily Hinton, who joined the firm in 2015 and became partner in 2018, focuses on projects that are both functional and environmentally sustainable. Architects and builders, she believes, are stewards of the Earth and its resources, drawing on combined talents to create spaces that nurture quality of life while addressing unique client needs. • What Sets Lindsey Architecture Apart: Being a smaller, local firm, Lindsey Architecture prioritizes strong relationships and client service while fostering a collaborative approach to each project. • Expertise: Emily enjoys a wide range of projects but is especially drawn to ventures that strengthen communities and enhance individual lives. “I love design for the ability to be part of a larger vision and see the ‘big idea’ equally as much as I love being in my boots on a jobsite working through details required to realize the vision.” • Proudest Career Accomplishment: Shaping meaningful community spaces, including the Greensboro Science Center and the Hayes Taylor Memorial YMCA. • Advice for Young Women Starting Their Careers: Stay curious, build strong relationships, seek out mentors and be open to learning from every experience — both the successes and the challenges. • Best Part About Being a Woman in Business: The opportunity to build meaningful relationships and make a visible impact while contributing to the local economy, supporting neighbors and inspiring other women along the way.
1100 Revolution Mill Drive, Suite 10, Greensboro 336-617-4402 | www.lindseyarchitecture.com
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
A SPECIAL SECTION DEDICATED TO LOCAL PET PRODUCTS, SERVICES AND CARE.
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TIKTOK
THE PETS OF A PET PHOTO CONTEST CELEBRATING THE “BARK & SOUL” OF GREENSBORO SPONSORED BY:
O.Henry Hound Dog
Tulip
Bree Chanel
Our readers were asked to submit photos of their beloved pets to our pet photo contest. Above, you'll find the top three as selcted by popular vote. On the following pages, you'll see more images of reader pets that didn't place but were too cute to keep to ourselves.
82 O.Henry
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
Compassion for Animals & the People Who Love Them Affordable, Full-Service Veterinary Care
• Spay & Neuter • Microchipping • Pet Vaccines
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Kelly Kovacs, Executive Director Nicole Harrington, DVM - Medical Director
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84 O.Henry
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
KEEPING TAILS WAGGING, ONE TUNE-UP AT A TIME Trust Webster’s Import Service to keep your vehicle running smoothly, so you can. spend more time on the road with your favorite co-pilot.
Elizabeth, Webster’s office manager/HR with one of Katy Torney (“Llama Lady”) llama’s she sometimes brings to the shop for staff and customers to enjoy.
• State of Art Diagnostics • ASE Certified Technicians • Free Courtesy Shuttle • Providing Factory Scheduled Services to Maintain New Car Warranty • 36 Month/36K Mile Parts and Labor Warranty 306 Grumman Road Greensboro • (336) 393-0023 • WebstersImportService.com
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O.Henry 85
THE PETS OF
86 O.Henry
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Tiger Thinks It’s Playtime. What He Doesn’t Know Might Hurt Him. Pets will interact with critters that have made nests in your home. We have a “no poison” policy to help keep your pets safe from harm.
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Pets Are Family, Too Through the Pets Eat Too program, Senior Resources of Greensboro helps ensure that the beloved furry companions of Meals On Wheels participants receive the nourishment they need alongside their owners.
Together, we’re caring for seniors and their pets who brighten their days. For many seniors, pets provide comfort, companionship and unconditional love. Pets Eat Too helps keep those special bonds strong by delivering pet food to qualifying Meals on Wheels clients - because no senior should have to choose between feeding themselves or feeding a cherished pet.
Serving older adults since 1977
Senior Resources of Guilford is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization eligible to receive tax deductible donations. Your support enables the agency to respond to requests for information and services that will assist seniors to continue to live independently..
www.senior-resources-guilford.org
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O.Henry 87
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88 O.Henry
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101 Vinegar Hill Road Winston-Salem, NC 336-293-8199
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The Art & Soul of Greensboro
O.Henry 89
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Live Life on Your Terms.
The Way You Always Have. At WhiteStone, the freedom you’ve always known opens up with even more possibilities. Spend your days exactly as you choose—staying active, exploring new passions, or simply enjoying time with your neighbors or four-legged friends. Here, everyday living is easier—free from chores and home maintenance and rich with amenities and activities—so each day feels lighter, brighter, and full of opportunity. Call us today to schedule your personal appointment | 336-652-3415 700 S. Holden Road | Greensboro, NC 27407 liveatwhitestone.org Independent Living | Assisted Living | Memory Care | Skilled Nursing | Rehabilitation | In-Home Care
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Dr. John Wehe | Dr. Michelle Parenteau
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Serving Greensboro pets since 2019
120 W. Smith Street • Greensboro NC • 336.338.1840
www.downtowngreensboroanimalhospital.com
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Schedule a meet and greet: toptailsofgreensboro.com/get-started 336-355-0812
O.Henry 91
OUTINGS July
2026 In need of a night out on the town? We’re highlighting some of our picks so you can immerse yourself in the growing and evolving Greensboro arts-and-culture scene. Before attending any event, it’s best to check times, costs, status and location. Although we conscientiously use the most accurate and up-to-date information, the world is subject to change and errors occur!
Eastern Festival of Music 07.01 – 07.31
JULY 1–31 READ AROUND THE CITY
If your kid has caught the travel bug and is itching to wander, you may find flipping pages to be a journey worth taking. The Greensboro Summer Reading Trail encourages kids to, you guessed it, read — yes, even during the summer. It’s simple: Grab a Reading Trail Map, pop into participating businesses and have them stamp it. Every child who completes their map with stamps from all across the city receives a free book prize. And those who finish 12 out of 22 stops will be entered into a drawing for family-friendly prizes. Free. Info: runningonbooks.com.
Greensboro Summer Reading Trail 07.01 – 07.31
JULY 4
STRIKE THE RIGHT CHORD
LET FREEDOM RUN 1–6 p.m.
Ah, there’s nothing like Mozart’s timeless symphonies to carry us through the heat of July. The annual Eastern Festival of Music has swung its way back this year and we know your ears have been itching for a fine-tune concert. Featuring a variety of classical instruments, this five-week music festival and educational program inspires young talent and brings exceptional classical music to the stage. Blending intensive student training with professional orchestral concerts, the festival showcases a wide range of instruments, ensembles and celebrated works. Tickets: 45.75+. Dana Auditorium, 710 Levi Coffin Drive, Greensboro. Info: easternfestivalofmusic.org.
Nothing screams “Happy Birthday America” like live music and water slides. Celebrate our nation’s semiquincentennial — aka 250th and don’t try saying that five times fast — anniversary at Greensboro’s annual Fun Fourth Freedom Festival. Cool off by making a splash, then chow down on delicious eats from downtown vendors and food trucks. At 7:30 a.m., early risers can kick things off with the Fun Fourth Freedom Run featuring race distances for all ages and skill levels. Fun Fourth Freedom Fest: Free; Freedom Run: $20+. Downtown Greensboro, 532 S. Elm St., Greensboro. Info: downtowngreensboro.org/ events/fun-fourth-festival.
92 O.Henry
JULY 10 SHRED THAT AIR GUITAR 8 p.m.
Turn back time for a totally rad night of classic rock nostalgia. If you’ve been waiting for the perfect excuse to break out the shoulder pads and leg warmers, slip back into the ’80s with an unforgettable evening featuring legendary soft-rock duo Air Supply. Sing along to timeless hits — “All Out of Love,” anyone? — and get ready for a night packed with feel-good vibes and iconic music. Tickets: $48.35+. Tanger Center, 300 N. Elm St., Greensboro. Info: tangercenter.com. The Art & Soul of Greensboro
OUTINGS
07.10
07.17
and see for yourself. Tickets: $15+. Carolina Theatre, 310 S. Greene St., Greensboro. Info: carolinatheatre.com/events. FLASHBACK TO THE PAST 11 a.m. –4 p.m.
Fun Fourth Freedom Festival 07.04 MINKA satisfies your craving with a set that keeps the energy high and the crowd moving. Tickets: $17.20+. Flat Iron, 221 Summit Ave., Greensboro. Info: flatirongso.com/events.
JULY 11 CRUISIN’ FOR A BRUISIN’ 7 p.m.
GET FUNKY WITH IT 9 p.m.
Combine favorite genres — think jazz, rock and a splash of electronic music — and you’ve got the recipe for a funky, fresh night out. Genre-blending band MINKA takes listeners on a groove-filled journey through layered rhythms, electrifying beats, and unexpected sounds. Whatever your musical tastes, The Art & Soul of Greensboro
Step back in time to the era of poodle skirts, jukeboxes and rock ’n’ roll. Lucky 757’s Rock ‘N Roll Revue promises an unforgettable night of timeless 1950s hits, spanning the decade with rockabilly doo-wop, beach, Motown and R&B. And what a decade. This swingin’ multimedia show performed by the five-time VEER Music Awardwinning tribute band Lucky 757 is packed with nostalgia and vintage flair. Think you can hang with the cool cats? Grab a ticket
There’s nothing like a flashback to the ’70s to keep you groovin’ through the summer heat. Greensboro History Museum’s annual Flashback series as it takes visitors on a journey through both the 1770s and 1970s. Watch vintage cars cruise by, cheer on contestants in Colonial and ’70s bake-offs and step back in time with hands-on fun for all ages. Whether you’re rocking bell bottoms or a petticoat, you’re sure to have a blast — and you might even take home bragging rights in the costume competition. Can you dig it? Free entry. Greensboro History Museum, 130 Summit Ave., Greensboro. Info: greensborohistory.org/events.
JULY 16 LOL WITH SNL 7 p.m.
Don’t hold in your laughter — let it out. Local nonprofit Held invites you to its comedy show fundraiser. Headlined by North Carolina native and Saturday Night Live writer Maddie Wiener and SNL cast member James Austin Johnson, this unforgettable night combines comedy with community impact. Every dollar raised will support Held’s mission of providing guaranteed income to individuals and families across North Carolina. Enjoy a night of non-
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have gone their “Separate Ways,” but Trial By Fire brings the timeless sound of Journey back to the stage with a high-energy tribute featuring iconic hits and crowd favorites. From classic ballads to arena-rock anthems, this tribute band captures the spirit, sound and nostalgia of one of rock’s most beloved musical groups. Singalong classics, electrifying musicianship and pure rock-and-roll magic — what more could you ask for? Tickets: $40+. Carolina Theatre, 310 S. Greene St., Greensboro. Info: carolinatheatre.com/events.
JULY 18 stop laughter while helping make a meaningful difference. Tickets: $87+. The Pyrle, 232 S. Elm St., Greensboro. Info: thepyrle.com.
JULY 17 SET THE STAGE ON FIRE 7 p.m.
Want to spend your Friday night reliving the magic of classic rock? The original band may
CHURNING FOR YOU Noon–2 p.m.
Summer is here, and with it comes National Ice Cream Day — the perfect excuse to satisfy those sweet-tooth cravings. Here’s the scoop: Head to High Point for a hands-on afternoon of making ice cream in a bag. Mix, shake and swirl your ingredients together for a fun-filled activity that’s equal parts messy and delicious. After all that stirring,
Historical Park at High Point Museum 07.17
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cool down with your very own sweet treat. Because honestly, who doesn’t love ice cream in a bag? Free. Historical Park at High Point Museum, 1859 E. Lexington Ave., High Point. Info: highpointmuseum.org. RAISE THE ROOF 11 a.m. –1 p.m.
Impress all of your friends at your next party — or should we call it a rave? — when you show ‘em you can mix decks like a DJ. Learn the fundamentals of beat making with modern music technology at Beats & Bops, a DJ workshop. With a drop of a needle and a slide of a turntable, you’ll be a master beat maker in no time. When Bruno Mars calls out, “Hey, Mister DJ,” he just might be talking to you. Free. Morehead Park Trailhead, 475 Spring Garden St., Greensboro. Info: downtowngreenway.org/events. LET’S GROOVE TONIGHT 7:30 p.m.
DJ Workshop 07.17
Hello, is it groovy tunes and nostalgic vibes you’re looking for? Then we’ve got the happening for you: The Sing A Song All Night Long
Handmade In House
Tour with singer, songwriter and producer Lionel Richie plus multi-genre band Earth, Wind & Fire. Catch these superstars in a one-night-only concert filled with tunes that’ll make you want to put on your boogie shoes. Tickets: $57.60. First Horizon Coliseum, 1921 W. Gate City Blvd., Greensboro. Info: greensborocoliseum.com/events.
JULY 19 MUSEP 6–8 p.m.
Sunday nights are made for singing, swaying dancing and MUSEP, Music for a Sunday Evening in the Park, starting your week off with some fine R&B tunes. SongBird Raven and the Nest, a Greensboro-based R&B group, at Barber Park hits hard with lively harmonies to groove to while food vendors whet your appetite — there’s something for everybody. Free. Barber Park, 1500 Barber Park Drive, Greensboro. Info: greensboro-nc. gov/departments/creative-greensboro.
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OUTINGS
JULY, 25 MUSICAL GLOBETROT 10:30–11:30 a.m.
Take a musical journey around the world and discover the unique sounds and rhythms each country has to offer. The Music Academy of North Carolina invites you to explore global music at its “Up, Up and Away” concert, led by Musikgarten, a childhood music education program. Experience an engaging celebration of culture, creativity and song designed to inspire music lovers of all ages. It’s the perfect summer staycation soundtrack. Free. Benjamin Branch Library, 1530 Benjamin Parkway, Greensboro. Info: musicacademync.org. OH
To submit an item for consideration, please email ohenrymagcalendar@gmail.com by the first of the month prior to the month of the event.
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Lionel Richie & Earth, Wind & Fire 07.17
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Connecting Through Community As America marks its 250th anniversary, we invite you to the Greensboro History Museum to reflect on our shared history and be part of a picture of our city today. July 8 Declaration of Independence Reading, 5:30-6:30 pm Part of “Sharing the Spirit of America,” a nationwide event July 8-10 One by One Community Portrait, 2-6 pm Pose for a free portrait by photographer Tom Strykowicz
Smithsonian Affiliate
GreensboroHistory.org/events
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GreenScene Red Dog Farm’s Dogs on the Catwalk Steven Tanger Center
Friday, March 20, 2026 Photographs by McKenzie Lewis
Kaitlyn Krauch with Snoopy
Chris Tracey, Chelsea Robert, David Streck, Addie Hoover, Jason & Kristie Streck, Kristen Hoover
Laura Folla with Velma
Back Row: Jennier Shannon, Brooke Townsend, Courtney Kent, Sarah Amburger, Mallory Hash, Will Pruden. Front Row: Hayley Garner, Shelley Ryals, Shea Peterkin
Lavra Cheek, Alison Schwartz, Rita Lazar, and Jessica Godette
Karen Kimrey with Birdie
Morgan Ouzts with Sir Winston Pickles and Chrissy Walker with Maggie
Tahini, owned by Christy Harrup
Ellie, owned by the Streck family
Hali Kohls with Conan
Greensboro History Museum Presents
Flashback 70s: Battlegrounds to Bicentennial
Saturday, July 11 at the Greensboro History Museum
Historical reenactors, vintage vehicles, contests and fun! Music in LeBauer Park and film to follow! Sponsored by
Smithsonian Affiliate
GreensboroHistory.org/events
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
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GreenScene O.Henry Magazine Kickoff to Summer Reading: Kristy Woodson Harvey Grandover Resort & Spa
Kristy Woodson Harvey, Cassie Bustamante
Connie Porter
Sarah Leonard, Tina Leonard, Dee Bartlett, Mary Beth Cox, Patricia Decker
Pam Smith, Brenda Macfadden, Deborah Friedman
Kaye Brinkley, Kathy Haines, Kristi Stanley
Marian Lovelace, Laura Beth Vietor, Jane Berry
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Monday, May 4, 2026
Katie Allen, Laura Jones
Angela Hodges, Janice Wood, Elissa Brannan
Susan Benson, Debbie Walker, Susan Purser
Gina Decker, Beth Wright
Paul & Barbara Stewart
Karen Carter, Alison Buchanan, Ginger Holloway
Kristy Woodson Harvey, Laura Beth Vietor, Debbie Elston, Diane Graham
Celia Canaday, Nodia Mena, Grace Ausley
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
GreenScene Shamrockin’: A Party for Pennybyrn Pennybyrn
March 14, 2026 Photographs by Johnny Davis Digital Solutions
Carol Andrews Hughes & Sr. Lucy Hennessy
Debbie Prince & Cheryle Parrish
Carolyn Graves, Patrick Graves, Kerry Graves, Nicholas Graves, Annette Benson
Rob Creel, Vonda Hollingsworth & Shane Bunnell
Sr. Lucy Hennessy, Maryanne Rochford & St. Gabriella Hogran
James Allen Struble, David Allen, Lisa Allen, Joe Hughes, Sally Hughes, Ken Hughes, Debi Hughes, Kyle Hughes, Chris Hughes, Kirk McLeod, Mary Golden-Hughes, Dean Andrews, José Ortiz
Rich Newman
Jamie Forbis & Lily Alexander
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
Roy Roebuck, Carolyn Thomas, Tom Blount
Judy Guilfoil & Sarah Barker
Jim & Diane Brennan, Bob & Lucy Kearns, Father Ed Sheridan, Felton & BJ Dengler
Bubba Morris & Richard Andrews
Kim Fritz, Art Clayton, Billy Fritz, Karl Stonecipher
Gus Schwenk & Kathy Faltynski
Bob Korabek & Tim Knorr
Arlene & Charlie Kusnyer
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O.HENRY ENDING
George the Wonder Cat A king of many hearts
By Marianne Gingher
One dreary afternoon, I hear my cat door
I follow the little orange guy, and he notes me matter-of-factly. In fact, I have never met a less intimidated cat burglar. I scoop him up — a featherweight. One eye is blue and one is green. He has a white face, white chest, white paws. Otherwise, he is the pale-orange color of a Dreamsicle. There is immense trust in that little poker face. His tag informs me that he lives a few houses away; he has people, but what a cold, rainy day it is, and so I feed him. In my house, if you appear to be waylaid by trouble or weather, I feed you. He eats a bowlful and follows me back to the sofa. Dewey awakes, stretches, rubs noses with the little guy, offers to make him a cup of tea. Little guy says he’s already had refreshments, then makes himself right at home, licking a few remaining raindrops from his fur and nuzzling into a throw-blanket. After his nap, he meows to be let out, and I watch him trot confidently in the direction of his home. The next day, I walk to his house and find him taking a sun bath on his porch. We wave fondly at one another. “Do you know that cat?” I ask a neighbor. “Everybody knows George,” the man says. “He’s feeling displaced these days.” “Why?” “There’s a new baby at his house.” • The baby’s name is Owen. I soon meet the entire family because George loses his collar over the weekend, and I report it to his mom, Madison. “I’ve already ordered a new one,” she says. “Thanks for looking out for him. Hope he’s not being a nuisance.” I confess that I fed him, that he is pals with Dewey and that the three of us sometimes nap together. I suggest that, if George became my cat, it would be OK. “Making friends is George’s thing,” Madison tells me. “He gets free range because we want him to be his authentic self. You’ll
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love his new collar. It fits a bon vivant like George.” It is a red bowtie. • Everybody who meets George loves him. He shows up whenever I have visitors and glad-hands around the room, like he’s running for office. • One Halloween, George is hanging out with Dewey and me when Madison and husband Carr bring their kids by to trick-ortreat. After she sees them together, daughter Ellis starts planning George’s and Dewey’s wedding. • George is 18, possibly older. He also has serious kidney issues. But does he ever whine about his ailments? No, siree. Life is for the living, George insists, batting around a cat toy, then jumping on Dewey’s head. • When Madison lets me know that George has died (“gone over the rainbow” is how she puts it), after I have wept a good long while, I feel the need to write about him. The writer Sandra Cisneros once told me that the way to write about grief is to write about the presence of a lost loved one, not their absence. And my dear friend George keeps on being present. Through him, I’ve become friends with his funny and spirited family, a gift that endures. He was not my cat, and maybe he was not a cat at all. You begin to think that way when your doorway has been brightened by a radiant someone who seems to transcend the limitations of their species while making the world a better place. OH Marianne Gingher is a Greensboro writer, artist and puppeteer who lives with her beloved cat, Dewey Moon. The Art & Soul of Greensboro
ILLUSTRATION BY HARRY BLAIR
flap open and glimpse a small orange cat slipping towards the kitchen. My own cat, Dewey Moon, is sawing logs on the sofa beside me. Normally, if any stranger breaches his castle, Dewey puffs to twice his size and leaps to investigate.
SCULPTED CABLE ON EIZA GONZÁLEZ