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November 2026
38
FEATURES 49 Reaching Poem by Clint Bowman
50 Planes, Trains and Automobiles Departures from the norm arrive at greatness By Billy Ingram
62 Possibilities at Pearman’s
A dream is brewing in a oncebeloved Bethany community hub By Cynthia Adams
70 Two Thanksgiving Day Gentlemen Fiction by O. Henry
74 Where Life Takes You
How a young architect found home in an old Fisher Park bungalow By Ross Howell Jr.
83 November Almanac By Ashley Walshe
DEPARTMENTS 11 Chaos Theory By Cassie Bustamante 13 Simple Life By Jim Dodson 16 Sazerac 23 Tea Leaf Astrologer By Zora Stellanova 25 Life’s Funny By Maria Johnson 29 Omnivorous Reader By Jim Moriarty 32 State of Mind By Tommy Tomlinson 34 Home Grown By Cynthia Adams 37 Pleasures of Life By Jennifer Bringle 38 In Good Taste By Jasmine Comer 41 Birdwatch By Susan Campbell 43 Wandering Billy By Billy Ingram 106 Outings 117 GreenScene 120 O.Henry Ending By David Bailey Cover Art by David Rawlins Photograph this page by Jasmine Comer
6 O.Henry
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M A G A Z I N E
Volume 16, No. 11 “I have a fancy that every city has a voice.” www.ohenrymag.com PUBLISHER
David Woronoff david@thepilot.com Andie Rose, Creative Director andiesouthernpines@gmail.com Cassie Bustamante, Editor cassie@ohenrymag.com Joi Floyd, Assistant Editor joi@ohenrymag.com Jim Dodson, Editor at Large jwdauthor@gmail.com Keith Borshak, Senior Designer Miranda Glyder, Senior Designer CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Cynthia Adams, David Claude Bailey, Maria Johnson CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Betsy Blake, Lynn Donovan, Amy Freeman, Liz Nemeth, Bert VanderVeen, Mark Wagoner CONTRIBUTORS
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Jack Andrews, Frank Daniels III, David Woronoff In memoriam Frank Daniels Jr. © Copyright 2026. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. O.Henry Magazine is published by The Pilot LLC
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CHAOS THEORY
Homeward Bound My grandfather’s journey
By Cassie Bustamante
“It might be a little
too out there for you,” says my friend, Alex.
“Too out there?” I ask my fellow Leos, who have gathered together to harness the energy of the Fire Horse year. She’s preaching to the choir. “OK. I highly recommend the book Journey of Souls,” she adds. The book, she tells us, was written by Michael Newton, who holds a doctorate in counseling psychology and is a certified master hypnotherapist. It is unabashedly abounding with “case studies of life between lives.” Using hypnosis, Newton gained insight from subjects who recalled their previous deaths. Yeah, it is way out there. But isn’t it comforting to think that there’s more awaiting us after our time on Earth — in this body — ends? I immediately download the Audible and get to listening. And I reflect back on all of the people I’ve loved deeply and lost in my life. My best friend, Melissa, died when we were just 7 years old from leukemia. For a while after, I wrote letters to her and left them face up on my bed. “So that she can read them in heaven,” I told my mom. • Less than two years later, my father’s father, Grampa, succumbed to his own battle with cancer. He was just 59 years old, 11 years older than I am and 11 years younger than my parents are right now. As he lay in his hospital bed toward the end, he told my grandmother, Nana, “It’s OK, he said I could go home now.” Perplexed, she told him the doctor had said no such thing. Their home was a staple of my childhood. The year I turned 7 was the year we moved to Wilbraham, Massachusetts, the same town my parents grew up in and where I was lucky to cross paths with Melissa. Living just 5 or so minutes away from us, Grampa dropped in often, “helping” my parents with house projects — aka, shooting the crap and munching on donuts while Mom and Dad drilled, sanded and painted. The Art & Soul of Greensboro
We, too, frequented their house — a mustard-yellow split level. To this day, I adore daffodils because they remind me of the hundreds that bloomed every spring in their backyard. Nana always handed me her scissors and let me go to town on cutting them, filling vases all over her house. Their small family room featured rust-colored shag carpeting, a coordinating floral sofa and a portrait of “Paws,” the gray polydactyl cat my dad had growing up. But the pièce de résistance was Grampa’s leather recliner. It sat in the corner, angled for prime TV viewing. My older brother, Dana, and I used to go to the closet, pull out Grampa’s plaid driving caps and place them on our heads. Then we’d occupy his Barcalounger, lay way back and relax, pretending we were him. As his illness progressed, he spent more and more time in that chair until, one day, it was empty. I can still hear his voice calling me his “little chicken” and I can picture his face, his big, hooded blue eyes and the gap in his front teeth. (His mom was British, after all.) After he died in the fall of my fourth-grade year, he visited me in a dream. We were in his driveway, selling some of his things in a yard sale. He told me it was OK, that he was OK, and that I’d see him again one day. As I get deeper into Journey of Souls, I learn that Earth, according to Newton’s research, is a place those of us who have gone to the other side can revisit, that we have soul groups that we can reconnect with. But on the other side is where home actually lies — not here on Earth. I think about my grandfather and wonder if it’s true. Will I see him again one day? I honestly don’t know and I will wait as long as I can to find out. But I would like to think that he did indeed make it home, just like he said he would. OH Cassie Bustamante is editor of O.Henry magazine. O.Henry 11
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SIMPLE LIFE
Something Old, Something to Renew Third Time Was the Charm By Jim Dodson
Not long ago, with fam-
ILLUSTRATION BY GERRY O’NEILL
ily and close friends in attendance, my wife, Wendy, and I celebrated 25 years of marriage by renewing our wedding vows in our garden.
Our original wedding took place in late June 2001, but we decided a day this past September was more appropriate for renewing our vows because ours was an autumn romance that led to a summer wedding three years later. As I noted back in July, the way we met and fell in love was something out of a madcap romantic comedy. Briefly, it involved three blind dates during a major October fundraiser weekend where I was the featured speaker, two of which were comic dating disasters followed by a third that transformed my life in the most unexpected and wonderful way. Her name was Wendy Anne Buynak, a gifted baker and beautiful mother of two small boys who was in the process of divorcing her husband. After a quiet afternoon first date to a local park, we decided to take our budding romance out of town and motored along New York’s beautiful Cayuga Lake on a beautiful November morning and lunched at a winery, where we met a minibus full of five young, married couples who invited us to join them on a tour of the Finger Lakes wine country. On a lark, trailing their bus, we joined them for three wineries in a row. At each stop, the couples toasted us and demanded to know more about our romance and my intentions. “I have a great idea! You guys should get married today,” one of the young wives blurted out, prompting cheers from her tipsy companions. “We’ll even find a minister!” We politely demurred, pointing out that we had a dinner reservation at a legendary restaurant in Ithaca, but thanked them and wished them well. Also, a safe journey home. The Art & Soul of Greensboro
On the way to the restaurant, we passed an old-fashioned roadhouse called Glenwood Pines, set charmingly in the woods above the lake, and decided to stop for a cold longneck beer. We had such fun talking to the owners and playing shuffleboard bowling that we decided to skip the restaurant in favor of a cozy Glenwood Pines supper for two. At one point, Wendy wiped away a tear and I asked her if all was well. “I’ve never felt so happy,” she simply replied. A full harvest moon was shining and the owners told us about a great spot by the lake in Ithaca where they courted once upon a time. An hour or so later, we were doing what couples in love do by a beautiful lake under a full moon when a cop tapped gently on our steamed-up window with a flashlight. “Are you OK, ma’am?” he politely asked Wendy. “I’m fine, officer,” she replied. “We’re just talking about our children and what a lovely November day it’s been.” “She’s in danger of being proposed to very soon,” I chipped in. “In that case,” he said with a smile, “you folks have a nice evening — and great life together.” A few weeks later, we met once again at a historic inn in Williamstown, Massachusetts, for our official third date. I read Wendy a poem I’d written inspired by our wonderful day in wine country. • Three years later, on what would have been my parents’ 58th wedding anniversary, we got married on a rainy June afternoon in Maine, only Wendy’s parents, my widowed mom and two dear friends from Georgia in attendance, Susie and Rick Berta. Susie, who sang with a famous Atlanta chorale, did a beautiful version of John Lennon’s “Grow Old with Me,” with its perfect lyric: Grow old along with me. The best is yet to be. We postponed our reception until early September 2001 — a lobster roast under the stars with an Irish fiddle band for 100 O.Henry 13
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SIMPLE LIFE
friends and family who were coming from everywhere. I was buying flowers for the party that clear, blue Tuesday morning, however, when the World Trade Center’s towers fell and America stood still in grief and disbelief. Since air travel was cancelled nationwide, we cancelled our lobster roast. Besides, the American Red Cross had reserved a thousand lobsters for a major fundraiser in New York. All the available local lobsters were spoken for. Two days later, however, something wonderful happened. Susie and Rick phoned to say they planned to drive all the way to Maine, wanting just to be with us at such a sad time for America. Their call opened a cosmic floodgate. The phone never stopped ringing with friends far and wide who wanted to do the same, including the lobster guy, who called to say the Red Cross fundraiser was postponed and he had several hundred lobsters on his hands that were already paid for. We could get them for a dollar apiece. The lobster bake was suddenly back on. Locals in town who’d planned to go away for the week also called to ask if they might come and bring friends and children. Naturally, we said yes. Instead of 100 guests, we had almost 200, including kids and dogs. Wendy’s amazing wedding cake vanished before I could even get a taste. Because none of our guests except Rick and
Susie had been at our wedding, we did a brief repeat of our wedding vows plus a blessing for the victims and families of 9/11. The music, the dancing and the tears went on until midnight. • This past September, as our grown children, new granddaughter, and a dozen or so close friends gathered in our front garden on a balmy evening, I marveled how quickly time had passed. Susie was there despite having suddenly lost Rick last January after 46 years of a extraordinary marriage. When I told her she wouldn’t have to sing “Grow Old with Me,” she laughed and said, “I’m not sure I could!” Her simple presence was the perfect gift. I surprised my bride of Irish heritage with a small, gold necklace featuring the Celtic symbol of eternity, and she surprised me by appearing in a gorgeous new wedding dress — an upgrade from the one that was ruined in the rain at our first wedding ceremony. Before Rev. Ginny Inman conducted her short but beautiful renewal of our vows, I told our gathered friends about our first three dates 26 years ago and read the poem I proposed with. They seemed to dig it. Maybe the third time really is the charm. This time, I finally got to taste Wendy’s marvelous wedding cake. OH Jim Dodson is founding editor of O.Henry.
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O.Henry 15
SAZERAC
"A spirited forum of Gate City food, drink, history, art, events, rumors and eccentrics worthy of our famous namesake"
INDIE SCENE Since its founding, the University of North Carolina School of the Arts has been a launching pad for remarkable creative talent including seven-time Primetime Emmy-nominated cinematographer Chris Ellison. Ellison’s career in film was hardly a straight line. It had a few detours, a few odd jobs, then, eventually, a whole lot of jungle. Born and raised in North Carolina, Ellison moved from Raleigh to Rocky Mount after graduating from Rocky Mount Senior High School, eventually landing in WinstonSalem in 2006. His reason for moving? Music. Ellison was playing in a band, Sunset Greets the Moon, and soon found himself immersed in Winston-Salem’s arts scene. Apparently, one creative pursuit was not enough. A few years after settling in Winston-Salem, Ellison toyed with graphic design. “I never really decided to do that. It was something that just happened to me,” he says. Eventually, all those creative side quests pointed him toward filmmaking. In 2015, Ellison enrolled at UNCSA, earning a dual degree in cinematography and creative producing. It was a major change, but one that arrived at exactly the right time. “I was at a point where I wanted to make some changes about my future and it all just lined up.” After graduating, Ellison did what countless aspiring filmmakers have done before him: He headed west. “I packed up my station wagon and drove to Los Angeles,” he says — with his heading into the setting sun, a fitting and dramatic cinematic gesture. From there, Ellison worked his way up from assistant camera operator on sets to cinematogra-
16 O.Henry
pher on some of television’s most recognizable adventure programs, including The Amazing Race and Survivor. His work has earned multiple Primetime Emmy nominations, including two for outstanding cinematography for a reality program. He has also survived 12 seasons of Survivor, which means he has arguably spent enough time in the jungle to qualify as local wildlife. “I never really traveled much growing up, so this side of the industry has opened up another world that I never really got to see,” Ellison says. His filmmaking career expands beyond television screens. He directed and shot his own short film, Peach Bottom, proving that even after working on massive productions, there is still something satisfying about making personal projects. “It was a fun little exercise to just make something for myself,” he says. From band practice in Winston-Salem to Emmynominated cinematography, Ellison’s story is a reminder that creative careers do not always follow a map. Sometimes, you just go in different directions and see where the road takes you. — Joi Floyd The Art & Soul of Greensboro
ART TO HEART
“We as humans heal better when we’re in sacred spaces,” says Felicia Reed, a recognized fiber artist who travels the globe with a mission to bring people together through art and shared experiences. For Reed, art has the power to do more than simply inspire — it can help us heal and understand one another. She believes creative expression can create space for connection, conversation and transformation. Her latest exhibition, PEACE, aims to create a sanctuary for community and unity. Through a thoughtfully curated collection of her own pieces plus juried artwork, Reed hopes to amplify a diverse range of voices while creating a sense of belonging for artists ranging from emerging to established. “I try to create exhibits that remove barriers, break glass ceilings and provide a place where everyone can be included and recognized,” Reed says. “Art mediums can bring people together,” she says, “where biases can be removed, expressions can be provided, dialogue can be opened, inspiration can be received and understanding can come visually.” Through this kind of artistic transformation, Reed hopes to move humanity one step closer to unity, gathering people together in the sacred space she’s created with PEACE. Art invites us to pause, see the world through another person’s eyes, and discover something new in the process. As French artist Edgar Degas famously said, “Art is not what you see but what you make others see.” Reed’s PEACE exhibit will be on view in the Central Gallery of Revolution Mill through Jan. 2, 2027. Come expecting meaningful dialogue and leave with a renewed appreciation for the power of art. Info: eventbrite.com/e/peace-art-exhibit-opening-reception-and-networking-tickets-1992674068781.
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
SAZERAC
UNSOLICITED ADVICE
Change is inevitable, everyone and everything must evolve — except when it comes to Thanksgiving favorites. Altering the mashed potatoes or watergate salad is fine, but when it comes to the classics, let’s refrain from any modifications. There is no greater horror for us than sitting down to a plate of creamed-spinach casserole — don’t mess with Great-Grandma’s classic green bean casserole. But gone are the days where turkey shines brightest. Side dishes and desserts are the real stars, so we need to make sure they are decadent and exact each time. We’ve arranged a list of Thanksgiving eats that will definitely cause some family discourse if you happen to meddle with its secret formula. You can experiment with a lot of different foods, but macaroni and cheese ain’t one of them. Health-conscious troopers look forward to reveling in its richness just this once, so, no, Aunt Sally, we don’t want to try your new veggie-style, dairy-free, gluten-free mac and cheese. Gooey and creamy is the only way to whip it up. Chopped, glazed then baked, candied yams are an underrated sweet staple to our annual savory feast. There’s nothing like the sugary, sticky syrup from the yams inching its way into the aforementioned macaroni piled on your plate. We couldn’t imagine a feast without them. A pumpkin pie slice and everything nice is a great way to end the seemingly endless feast. Passed down from generation to generation, it’s a dish not to be tampered with — Great-Great-Great-Grandmother says so. P.S. Take all of this advice lightly. We just want you to make the best of this day full of gratitude and rejoicing without unnecessary food drama. As always, remember, Thanksgiving isn’t about what you take but about what you give. Spending time with friends and family? That’s the real main dish.
O.Henry 17
SAZERAC
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF IRVING PARK ART & FRAME
Window on the Past Curated by Phillip Humphrey Musselwhite, this shadowbox is more than a collection of keepsakes — it’s a life story, carefully laid out and framed by Irving Park Art & Frame. Honoring his late father, James Earl Musselwhite, the piece brings together handwritten letters, military medals, rank patches and memorabilia from his formative years during World War II. Each artifact offers a glimpse into the man behind the memories, preserving not only where he served, but the lasting impression he left on the people around him.
18 O.Henry
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
Where Every Detail
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O.Henry 19
SAZERAC
JOI DE VIVRE Chef Joi-yardee: Dad is a man of many hats: a barber, Bigfoot conspiracy theorist and father to amazing children (myself included, obviously). But it’s his chef’s hat that stands proudest. Known for his delicious recipes, he honed his skills through family recipes and good old-fashioned trial and error. I know what you’re thinking: Joi, you must be an amazing cook as well. Well, I’d be a liar if I let you believe that — and my mother taught me better than to fib. I have been known to burn hot dogs, for goodness’ sake — you can’t be great at everything. That isn’t to say my dad didn’t try to teach me the brass tacks of cooking. He did, but it must have gone in one ear and out the other because, unfortunately, I retained very little of that information. I remember the many hours I would spend in the kitchen with my dad, whipping up dinner while my siblings sat at the kitchen table, praying for an edible meal. I even went as far as saying I wanted to be a chef in my younger years — let’s just say that dream is on the back burner, never to be revived. At the beginning of 2026, one of my New Year’s resolutions was to finally put my apartment kitchen to work. So, unfortunately for my roommates, I stuck to my goal this year. Starting from the bottom with different ramen recipes, I proudly report that I am able to make a full-blown spaghetti-and-garlic-bread dinner — a win in my cookbook. I’m far from the best, but I’m getting better, dish by dish. Could I be the next Gordon Ramsay? The haters, and maybe my roommates, will say no, but my stomach is satisfied. Though I’ve made good progress so far, I think I’ll refrain from troubling my family with any more experimental recipes — at least for this year. So as Thanksgiving marches in and the rest of the family prepares the feast, I’ll be sure to take my table-setting duty very seriously.
— Joi Floyd
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Every home we sell helps strengthen the place we all call home. Thank you for supporting our shared community. PROUD SUPPORTER OF Carolina Theatre • Community Housing Solutions • Downtown Greensboro • Downtown Greensboro Parks Fishin’ for a Cure • Greensboro Parks Foundation • Greensboro Symphony Orchestra • Jones Elementary School Lindley Elementary School • Piedmont Land Conservancy • Preservation Greensboro • Running of the Balls Second Harvest Food Bank • The Academy at Lincoln Theatre • UNCG Concert Program • UNCG Athletics • Youth Focus 336.337.5233 | Melissa@MelissaGreer.com | MelissaGreer.com Top 3 out of 50,000+ Sales Associates in the BHHS International Network for Closed Transactions 2020-2025 Chairman’s Circle Award 2010-2025
20 O.Henry
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22 O.Henry
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
TEA LEAF ASTROLOGER
SCORPIO (October 23 – November 21)
Know what’s sweeter than overseeing karmic justice? Redirecting that soul-piercing energy back to your own life. The first half of the month will bring opportunities for some tending and mending, especially when it comes to financial dealings and joint ventures (read: no bridge-burning required). And when Mercury and Venus station direct on Nov. 13, try letting things feel easy for a while. You deserve the break, darling.
Tea leaf “fortunes” for the rest of you: Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21) Drink more water.
Capricorn (December 22 – January 19) Run your own race, darling.
Aquarius (January 20 – February 18) You’ll laugh about it later.
Pisces (February 19 – March 20) Wear thicker socks.
Aries (March 21 – April 19) Explore lumbar support.
Taurus (April 20 – May 20) Two words: candlelit dinner.
Gemini (May 21 – June 20) Honesty is a grace.
Cancer (June 21 – July 22) Try adjusting your lens.
Leo (July 23 – August 22) Can you let it be simple?
Virgo (August 23 – September 22) There’s nothing to prove.
Libra (September 23 – October 22) You can’t fix what’s not broken. 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 dreams. The Art & Soul of Greensboro
O.Henry 23
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24 O.Henry
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
LIFE’S FUNNY
Points of Light Cooper’s Christmas Balls lives on with Backpack Beginnings
By Maria Johnson
“I’m gonna have arthritis
later in life because of this,” says a grinning 18-year-old Cooper Dunning as he snips and twists a length of wire mesh into an orb that soon will be a lighted Christmas ball glowing in a tree.
“I bet you could do that without looking,” I say, half-joshing. Sitting at his family’s kitchen table, Cooper picks up the challenge, looks away from his hands and continues wire-rasslin’ without missing a beat, showing off the muscle memory that underpinned the success of his homespun business, Cooper’s Christmas Balls. The enterprise, which Cooper started when he was only 11, took off, thanks largely to an annual spectacle one neighborhood over from Cooper’s Lindley Park home: a galaxy of glowing balls suspended in the trees over Sunset Hills at Christmastime. Over seven years, Cooper made and sold 5,500 light-wrapped balls at about $20 a pop. He gave 15% of his profit to local charities. You do the win-win math. Here’s where the story gets twistier than a piece of wire mesh in Cooper’s well-worn hands. Back in August, Cooper went off to college to study — what else? — business. Yay. But physically, emotionally and practically, he was done with the balls. Wah. But the making of Christmas balls will continue as a workforce development program of another homegrown success story, BackPack Beginnings. Yay. “We hope we do it justice,” says BackPack Beginnings founder Parker White. “If things go well this year, we’re hoping to make it way bigger next year.” The Art & Soul of Greensboro
The hand-off happened in an unforeseen way. Last year, Parker walked by Cooper’s ball-laden table at Merry Merry Market, an annual holiday fair at Revolution Mill. Parker’s daughter, Avery, and Cooper are good friends, and Parker knew the ball-making operation had been a hit. She asked Cooper what would happen to his venture when he went to college. He said he planned to let it go. Parker posed a hypothetical: What if BackPack Beginnings took over the business and used it for workforce development? “I love a ‘what-if,’” says Cooper. “It was an aha moment for both of us.” Cooper went home and told his mom, Sarah. “She said, ‘Whatever you say, Cooper,’ as she does for a lot of things,” he recalls. “She’s supportive but hands-off, which is the best kind of supportive in my opinion.” Sarah knew all about Cooper’s entrepreneurial zeal. She had watched him, at age 6, dress up as the Mayor of Munchkinland and go door-to-door to raise money for the Community Theatre of Greensboro. The top fund-raisers would get to be flying monkeys in that year’s production of The Wizard of Oz. “He was motivated by winning,” says Sarah. Cooper raised $1,200, and his father, Matt, hoisted him aloft as a flying monkey suspended by cables and wires. A year later, Cooper opened a booth at The Corner Farmers Market, a Saturday-morning bazaar then located at the corner of Elam and Walker avenues. Cooper’s homemade wares included dog treats, chew toys and bow-ties for the well-dressed canine. He also hawked lemonade and hand-crafted coasters that possessed, as he puts it, “very little aesthetic appeal.” Four years later, a customer asked if he could make Christmas balls like the ones that glowed in the trees around Sunset Hills every year. Cooper went home, found some wire in the family’s garage, and got to work. He made 100 balls that year and sold all of them. O.Henry 25
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Each year for the next six years, he capped production at 1,000 balls — except for last year, when he made a record 1,100 — so he would have time for student council, swimming, junior marshals and singing in Grimsley’s celebrated choral group, the Madrigals. He refined his methods over time. Each year, he started ball production in July, after swimming season ended. Using a 50-foot roll of wire, he made exactly 42 forms while sitting on the floor of his family’s living room, streaming TV and movie serials. He stuffed the family’s basement, shed and attic with the bare spheres. Because he used dog wire — a heavier gauge than chicken wire — Cooper’s balls stood up to storage, unlike the handiwork of a certain columnist, who once made lighted Christmas balls from chicken wire, just as she had seen demonstrated on a TV morning show. After a couple of seasons in the attic, the deformed balls looked like the electrified tears of some very sad trees in her front yard, and she threw them away in a fit of un-elf-like disgust. But she digresses. By the end of September, Cooper was wrapping the balls with strings of 100-count incandescent mini-lights. LED lights were more expensive and gave off a cooler light than Cooper wanted. “Bad for my brand,” he says flatly. Cooper made each of the balls himself. Once, Matt tried to help him, but he did not meet Cooper’s quality-control standards. Matt made up for it, however, by building a cart that Cooper hitched to his bike, loaded with balls and pulled to The Corner Farmers Market. Later, after the market relocated to the corner of West Market Street and Kensington Road, Matt helped Cooper build a deluxe ball stall on a trailer that Cooper towed behind a car. Cooper handed a healthy slice of his market profits to Green for Greens, a Corner Farmers Market initiative that matches SNAP benefits — federallyfunded food-buying credits — up to $50.
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
LIFE’S FUNNY
During last fall’s government shutdown, the bonus helped many families stretch their food dollars. “It’s a wonderful program that was sorely needed,” says Cooper. He feels the same way about BackPack Beginnings, which Parker started in 2010, sending backpacks full of nonperishable food home to a few dozen needy students each weekend. Since then, the nonprofit has expanded to serve more than 30,000 local families with a diaper bank; a family market; comfort backpacks stuffed with toiletries, books and toys for children living through trauma; and a life-coaching service called Beyond the Basics. The Christmas balls will be a pilot program under that umbrella. Participants will be trained in the Cooper Way of ball construction, hired by BackPack Beginnings as seasonal workers, and paid minimum wage plus a per-ball premium. Most of the trainees will be women who find it difficult to work in traditional jobs because of health, childcare or transportation issues. Cooper will be standing by in case advice is needed from afar. “I’m gonna be a second-dimensional figure now,” he says. “I’m letting my baby go.” He isn’t the only one. His parents — and the family of his friend Avery — know the feeling. Both youngsters have shipped out to UNC Chapel Hill to study business. Their families, meanwhile, are adjusting to life without the lights that graced their homes for 18 years. It’s a transition that sparks a flurry of emotions: a twinge of loneliness, a touch of worry and a tide of pride at seeing your child shine. “Trust is a big thing,” says Cooper, reflecting on the handoff of his creation, which he nurtured for so long. “It’s giving me a little peace knowing that it’ll continue to grow and become something bigger than myself.” And all of the parents said, “Amen.” 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
Golf’s Greatest A list of the unforgettables
By Jim Moriarty
If it’s possible to turn an intellectual exercise
into a quasi-coffee table book, Mike Purkey has done that just in time for the holidays with The Immortals of American Golf. It’s the latest in the “Immortals” series that includes boxing, motocross and, for all you Richard Petty fans out there, NASCAR.
Purkey hails from Gastonia, where he broke into the newspaper business about a thousand years ago as a teenager answering phones in the sports department. I can say that because I’ve known Mike for almost that long. We worked opposite sides of the street as competitors and comrades for most of our careers in golf, he for Golf magazine and me for Golf Digest/Golf World. He also did time at the Charlotte Observer, was one of the founding editors of Global Golf Post and worked for the ill-fated Saudi-backed experiment, LIV Golf, for three years. And I can say without fear of exaggeration that Purkey was always among the best of us. The book doesn’t tip the traditional coffee table scales at the weight of, say, the Wannamaker Trophy — the silver PGA Championship swag that winners typically have to powerlift at the prize giving — but it’s beautifully displayed with fine art selections and Purkey’s insightful writing. As golf exercises are wont to do, this one is broken into the traditional set of 18 (players, of course, not holes) and follows more or less in chronological order, with the customary amount of overlap, since the game has been fortunate enough to be graced with more than one immortal at a time. Quibble about his selections if you will; of the 18 American players he picks and makes the case for, there isn’t one that you would throw out without thinking long and hard about it. And in the off chance you want to discard a name or two, he offers a group of honorable mentions you can draft from to fill the slots. I won’t pretend to be a golf historian — many of my colThe Art & Soul of Greensboro
leagues know much more about the history of the game and of its great champions than I do — which is another reason I found Purkey’s list of immortals so engaging. I learned something I didn’t know, or had forgotten, about almost all of them. The book begins with Walter Hagen, and Purkey finds a classic quote from the great Charles Price to pull off the perfect portrait. “He (Hagen) was supremely confident, and he knew the virtue of the grand gesture. Bumptious, sparkling, with wisecracks, dressed in bandbox clothes, Hagen played the game with the aplomb of a man who held the mortgage on the club.” Hagen is followed by his two rivals of the 1920s, Gene Sarazen and Bobby Jones. Purkey quotes Sarazen: “I’d never seen my name in print before,” he said. “I’d look at it and look at it. Eugenio Saraceni. It looked to me like a violin player, not a golfer. So, I changed it to Gene Sarazen, because there was no such name in the whole world, not even in Afghanistan.” If Sarazen had the “shot heard round the world” in the 1935 Masters (then the Augusta National Invitation Tournament), Jones had the “impregnable quadrilateral” comprised of the U.S. and British Amateurs and the U.S. and British Opens — the Grand Slam — in 1930. The Emperor Jones was greeted with his second ticker tape parade in New York City and retired from competitive golf. The first of the great female players Purkey lists is the incomparable Babe Didrikson Zaharias, perhaps the finest true athlete ever to play the game. The Babe won two golds (in the O.Henry 29
OMNIVOROUS READER
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30 O.Henry
hurdles and javelin, setting world records in both) and a silver (in high jump, though she actually tied for first) in the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles. As an aside, I once visited the neighborhood where Babe grew up in Port Arthur, Texas. The hedges separating the yards — her training ground for the hurdles — were still there. The other two women Purkey in-
The whole point is that there is nothing cut or dried about any of it. It’s an amusing exercise, like trying to imagine how Tiger Woods would fare in a match against Bobby Jones. cludes in his list of 18 are Mickey Wright and Nancy Lopez. You certainly can’t carp about the woman who possessed one of the greatest golf swings ever, Wright, or the woman who won five LPGA tournaments in a row in 1978 as a 21-year-old rookie. In fact, I’d argue (and if you have a list, aren’t you supposed to argue?) that somehow or other room needs to be made for another woman, Kathy Whitworth. All she did was win 88 times. But, of course, to make room for Whit, you’d need to oust one of the guys. No easy task. After Jones, Purkey turns to the triumvirate that proved 1912 was one of the greatest years in the history of the game. That was the year Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan and Sam Snead were all born. And, like George Hamilton says
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
OMNIVOROUS READER
in Doc Hollywood (exactly 35 years ago if you’re into anniversaries), you’d have to be a “bovine, clodpated, citified moron” not to list them among the immortals. In one of the great successions of all time, The Big Three — Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus — join the list just as Nelson, Hogan and Snead are exiting the stage. The oft overlooked name of that generation is Billy Casper, but Purkey is quick to include the man who won 51 PGA Tour events and enlists Johnny Miller to defend the choice: “There should never have been just the Big Three,” said Johnny Miller, himself a Hall of Fame player. “It should have been the Big Four. That was an absolute crime.” North Carolinian Raymond Floyd serves as the bridge from Nicklaus to Tom Watson, the five-time Champion Golfer of the Year. The immortals who began in golf with wooden drivers and finished in the era of titanium include Payne Stewart and Phil Mickelson. And, of course, Tiger Woods is the book’s finishing hole. The criteria Purkey describes to make the list are, almost by definition, gossamer. “The questions that must be asked where immortality is concerned are: Were they the best at their craft in their own era? Did they have a particular accomplishment — or multiple — that separates them from the rest? Were they significantly influential or did they make a singular difference in the game? Was their entire body of work broad and deep? Is there something distinctive about them that people have always remembered or will remember?” says Purkey. The whole point is that there is nothing cut or dried about any of it. It’s an amusing exercise, like trying to imagine how Tiger Woods would fare in a match against Bobby Jones. And, of course, time marches on. What are we to do with, say, Brooks Koepka and Scottie Scheffler? I suppose we’ll have to wait for the next edition. OH Jim Moriarty is the editor of PineStraw. He can be reached at jjmpinestraw@gmail.com
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O.Henry 31
STATE OF MIND
Hurricane Watch
By Tommy Tomlinson
There’s always a
moment late in the fall when I wake up groggy and wonder if my hurricane bag is packed.
I don’t have a hurricane bag anymore. But I did have one for years. Part of my job when I was at the Charlotte Observer was to head out to the coast when a hurricane was coming in. It is such a strange feeling to be the only car heading down one side of the highway when thousands are fleeing in the opposite direction. The contents of the hurricane bag: toilet paper, of course; a portable radio; extra batteries; bottled water; food with a shelf life (peanut butter, soda crackers, canned peaches, Chef Boyardee); maps; Swiss Army knife; raincoat; bug spray; first aid kit. We had a guide that we printed out and took with us. Get to a safe place and stay there until the hurricane moves through. Don’t drive into a puddle if you don’t know how deep it is. (A colleague of ours once drowned a rental car.) Look out for critters. Hurricanes cause floods, and floods flush all sorts of animals out into the open. I discovered that was true when I covered Hurricane Floyd back in 1999. I was somewhere outside of New Bern, driving through a neighborhood. I saw a family cleaning up their flooded house and pulled over to talk to them. Their yard was knee-deep in water. I started wading across and noticed a clump of debris floating by. As it got closer, I could see it wasn’t debris. It was a flotilla of fire ants. I backpedaled pretty fast, considering how deep the water was. The water is often the biggest problem when a hurricane
32 O.Henry
comes through, more than the wind. One time — I think it was Hurricane Bonnie in 1998 — I checked into a hotel in Havelock as the storm rolled in from the coast. It was a mom-and-pop place, two stories tall. They gave me a second-floor room and I grumbled about it as I hauled my luggage and gear up the steps. The storm came through during the night. The next morning I went downstairs to find that every room on the first floor had flooded. Another time — Hurricane Fran in 1996, maybe — I stayed in a room with a sliding glass door that led out onto a balcony. When the hurricane hit, that door warped and wobbled like a rubber sheet. I crouched on the far side of the bed for hours, expecting the glass to shatter. It never did. I always wondered if the folks who made those doors prepared them for something like that. Every time a hurricane strikes, it leaves shattered lives behind. Floyd alone led to the deaths of 52 people in North Carolina and caused more than $3 billion in damage. My job as a reporter covering those storms was to tell the stories of the people who lived through them the best I could. I always tried to remember that I was one of the lucky ones. In a few days I’d be going back to my warm, dry home. The folks I was talking to may have just lost theirs. What struck me the most about covering hurricanes is how people look out for one another. “Look for the helpers,” Mister Rogers said, and that’s never truer than after a storm. When roads are flooded, folks with canoes and johnboats get stranded people out and supplies in. When power lines are down, people empty their freezers and fire up their grills to feed the neighborhood. A storm tends to flatten the fences that separate us. When we’re wet The Art & Soul of Greensboro
ILLUSTRATION BY GARY PALMER
The storms that bring us together
STATE OF MIND
and hungry, we’re all the same. I have been far away and covered even bigger storms. I spent a week south of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, and most days I would prefer not to think about that. And of course, the storms keep coming. Hurricane Helene was two years ago, but Asheville and the surrounding mountain towns are still recovering. Not three months after I came to work for the Observer in 1989, Hurricane Hugo came right up I-77 and slammed into Charlotte in the middle of the night. I was living just south of the border in Lancaster, South Carolina. Nobody expected the hurricane to make it that far inland. I fell asleep not sure if it was coming. I woke up to the sound of my front door being blown open. I lived in an old duplex, and the door was not quite square in the frame. I’d slam it shut and the wind would blast it open again. At some point I realized I needed something heavy to brace against it. I grabbed the old Royal typewriter my mom and dad gave me when I was 12. I jammed it against the bottom of the door and it held. I was grateful for my mom and dad, and grateful for being a writer. For the next several hours I watched the pecan tree outside my bedroom window being bent to its limits. The wind was like a claw hammer trying to pry loose a stubborn nail. Finally, it let go. I stepped into my front yard and saw my neighbors stumbling out of their houses. None of us said anything for a while. That’s the thing, the quiet just on the other side of a hurricane. Assessing the damage, helping the needy: That comes later. But first you’re just stunned by nature’s power, your world forever changed. 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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O.Henry 33
HOME GROWN
Brown-Gardiner’s Drugstore with More By Cynthia Adams
It’s lunchtime, and I marvel at my luck secur-
ing a table at the front, just where I like to be. I am happily early, which means time for my favorite offmenu appetizer at Brown-Gardiner’s lunch counter. People watching. Not sweet potato fries, although they are perfectly seasoned and tasty. I cannot speak to everyone, but I feel a surge of pleasure as I stare — force of habit — at the laminated blue menu. From my vantage point, I can catch customers filing in. Rich, poor, young, old — the hungry enter through nondescript glass doors of a pale-blue, nondescript cinderblock building and take their seats in the nondescript place. Ladies and gents who lunch, high school students, tennis players, retirees, 9-to-5-ers and leading lights sit shoulder to shoulder as they munch on onion rings and fries, sipping coffee, sodas, orangeade, lemonade or milkshakes. BG is the great equalizer, smack in the middle of an expensive zip code near the homes of former diplomats and CEOs, where frazzled moms are made just as welcome as utility linemen working nearby. Some are there at 8 a.m. for breakfast and return for lunch, like Cliff, a regular who works nearby. By lunch, a whole new group assembles. The crackling grill swaps from primarily eggs and bacon to burgers, wieners and onions. Before I can dither over my drink choice, the server heads my way and brings a soda — full of crushed ice with just the right balance of syrup to fizzy carbonation. I sigh contentedly. The establishment is not going to win any Michelin stars or be memorialized on foodie blogs, despite the lunch spot being called “legendary” recently in the pages of a glossy Southern magazine. In a sea of constant, churning change, Brown-Gardiner is securely anchored to sameness. This is the good kind of sameness: comforting, consistent, even cosseting. Most patrons know the menu, of course. The only changes are specials, which repeat weekly. For example, on Thursdays, you
34 O.Henry
can count on tacos. Burgers, hot dogs and fries remain top sellers. An architect pal of mine, Greg, reliably chooses the BG burger (a double hamburger) and fries. My friend, Sharon, guiltily orders a fried bologna sandwich, saying it reminds her of her Alabama childhood. “Where else am I going to get fried bologna?” she asks. I am reminded of chef Anthony Bourdain’s love of Waffle House. It is extremely important to us regulars that the menu doesn’t change. The servers already know what you’re going to order, anyway, and probably know you by name. Most weekdays, an elderly woman with springy, gray curls wearing vivid purples and pinks, barely eats her food, cheerily chatting with the waiters and customers. A high-profile Realtor works the room. The two know each other and exchange smiles. Sometimes the Very Successful Realtor picks up the tab for virilelooking firefighters who troop in en masse, reeking of testosterone; I know this because another Realtor fumed recently when she beat her to the punch. My friend, Ann, emerges through the rear entrance, waving and smiling, a bit of purple “fairy hair” woven into her white, cropped ’do. She feeds two colonies of feral cats around town and hurries inside now to feed herself. We both know she will order her usual, the egg-salad sandwich. Yet she goes through the pretense of considering the menu, as one does. For reasons I cannot completely explain, I default to the Baby Salad or grilled cheese. Actually, I can explain it. I can’t take the pressure of someone waiting on my decision, so I buckle. The sourdough, slathered in butter, reliably surrenders to the cheesemelting griddle. The salad is reserved for days when I have a qualm of health consciousness. And their blue cheese dressing? It is the perfect ratio of creaminess, with savory chunks of soft cheese. I always wind up ordering a second cup on the side. This means my virtuous salad, swimming in dressing, soon compares unfavorably, nutrition-wise, to BG’s Maewich burger, which includes a wiener, bacon, lettuce, tomato, mayo and double cheese. (I don’t know who the namesake, Mae, was, but it should probably be called the Widow Maker.) According to a 2012 O.Henry piece by writer Jim Schlosser, Brown-Gardiner originated as a small pharmacy that opened in 1958 near Moses Cone Hospital. An eatery was added in 1960, The Art & Soul of Greensboro
PHOTOGRAPH BY SAM FROELICH
Serving up comforting sameness for decades
HOME GROWN
when the pharmacy moved to the site of a former laundromat on North Elm. And, folks, with that master stroke, a legend was born. And like most legends, this one is difficult to dissect, let alone explain. The tired linoleum floor, the counter and stools that have probably been there since 1960 . . . well, they just work. Call it “atmospheric.” Call it authentic. And I do wonder: Should this joint be nominated for the National Register? Haven’t we paid a price for the souldraining sameness of strip malls, chain restaurants and even gas stations? So please, rich capitalists, if you’re reading this, don’t even think about buying and improving it. That upsetting rumor circulated a while back. Nobody wanted that. A drugstore with a soda fountain is a throwback to a time when lunch counters were once ubiquitous. Fast food and sodas were not. Seltzers were marketed as medicinal in the early 20th century, so druggists cleverly opened fountains, offering seltzers and sodas to pharmacy customers. Once, folks could order an “ammonia Coke,” which was believed to palliate headaches. I was taught how to mix one in my first job as a soda jerk. My hometown of Monroe had just such a place called Oasis Sandwich Shop, adjacent to Gamble’s pharmacy. Few such establishments remain. In Lexington, there is Lexington Drugs. At Ashworth Drugs in Cary, limeades are still made from scratch. Smith’s Drugs of Forest City has a lunch counter, and so does Warren Drug Company in Benson. The nostalgic Soda Shop on Main Street in Davidson bustles with college students and townspeople; however, I cannot vouch for their having had a pharmacy. Ann and I polish off our lunches, relinquishing our primo seating. I leave Brown-Gardiner with my third refill of Coke, sallying forth into the afternoon. And we smile contentedly at a world set right. OH Cynthia Adams is a contributing editor to O.Henry magazine. Email her at inklyadams@aol.com.
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36 O.Henry
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PLEASURES OF LIFE
Melding with Family And showing your hand
By Jennifer Bringle
“Do you want to play cards?” my mother-in-
law, Sheila, asks in a low, conspiratorial tone that sounds more like she’s inviting me to join a secret society than play a game. “Uh, sure,” I reply hesitantly, not entirely certain as to what I’ve just agreed to do. “Good!” she says with a giddy grin. “We’re going to teach you to play canasta.” A few days later, I gather around a small table with Sheila and the two other members of our canasta klatch — Lori, her-youngerby-17-years sister, and Mary, Sheila’s best friend of more than 50 years. We pair off into two teams: the sisters versus Mary and me. Sheila shuffles the cards and deals, laying the remaining deck in the center of the table with one card upturned. We each look at what we’ve been dealt, ordering our cards in fans clutched tightly in our hands. Canasta is a card game in the rummy family typically played by two teams of two, using two decks of cards, including the jokers — 108 cards to keep count of. Players make melds — sets of three or more cards of the same rank — with the goal of collecting seven cards of that rank (or mixed with wild cards), called canastas. Once a team lays at least one canasta, they can “go out” by playing all their cards. The first team to reach 5,000 points wins. The earliest iteration of canasta showed up in Uruguay in the late 1930s, spreading across South America during the 1940s. By the time it reached the United States at the end of that decade, the rules had been streamlined to how we play today. The game caught on and became wildly popular during the 1950s, particularly among women who gathered as a means of socializing away from their husbands or children. Seventy years later, we do the same thing. While I’m the only one still in the thick of motherhood with a young child, it feels indulgent for us all to step away from our everyday lives and sidle up to this table for hours of uninterrupted play. I stumble through the first few hands as I get the hang of the game, making rookie mistakes such as laying a wild card too early (best to save them for making canastas) or trying to pick up a frozen deck (which you can only do if you have a pair matching the top card). Though my fellow players have been at this for decades, they’re patient with me, enjoying the initiation of another canasta devotee. Our games can stretch for hours, and we do more than just play cards. We eat. We drink and get a little tipsy. But, best of all,
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
we talk. The ladies’ favorite classic country musicians — Conway Twitty, Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson, plus a little Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show thrown in for good measure — provide the soundtrack as we share memories and chat about the state of our current lives. While I certainly love the competition of our canasta games, it’s the conversations that bring me back to the table each time. The stories they share make me feel closer to these women, this family that welcomed me as one of their own almost from the moment I began dating my husband nearly 20 years ago. As they count the cards and tabulate our scores with the speed and precision only two former bank tellers could possess, Sheila and Mary reminisce about their days working side-by-side in the financial institution where they met. I find it challenging today to balance motherhood with a full-time career, but these women juggled both in an era that wasn’t as supportive of that dichotomy. Lori sends us into fits of giggles with tales of sneaking out as a teenager during the 1980s — “Mama would have never let me get away with that!” Sheila declares at the end of a tale, playful smirk stretching across her face. They tell me how much I would have loved their late mother and encourage me as I share stories of my own mom. My mother unexpectedly died more than 25 years ago in a car crash, so I never got the chance to have the kind of adult relationship with her that I share with Sheila, Lori and Mary. And while they are not a substitute for my mom, the friendship I’ve developed with them over our canasta games has given me a sense of the kind of connection I might have enjoyed with my mother. Their interest in my life before I knew them makes me feel seen and accepted on a deeper level, easing the pain of a void I’ve struggled with since college. Minus a little good-natured trash talk, of course. The longer we play, the more spirited the competition becomes. I draw a wild card that completes a much-needed canasta and gleefully ask Mary if she’s ready to go out. Sheila and Lori count the cards still in their hands — which are deducted from their overall score — cursing the decision to hold on to too many high-value jokers (50 points each). Serving as scorekeeper, Sheila keeps us abreast of who’s ahead — jubilantly, if she and Lori are in the lead, begrudgingly, when Mary and I prevail. But, in the end, we are all winners. OH Jennifer Bringle lives in Greensboro with her husband and young son, whom she taught to play canasta. He regularly beats her at the game. O.Henry 37
IN GOOD TASTE
A Toast to Savoring the Season Skip the Black Friday shopping and soak up a slow morning with this spicy-sweet French toast
Story and Photograph by Jasmine Comer
Pumpkin spice can be a polarizing topic — but, then
again, so is the great breakfast debate: pancakes, waffles or French toast? Most people have a preference. Me? I’ll take pancakes, and when it comes to pumpkin spice, I like a gentle whisper over a full-blown blast of fall flavor. So it may seem surprising that this recipe brings together two things I would normally pass over: pumpkin spice and French toast. But thick, buttery brioche soaked in a silky pumpkin custard changed my mind. Golden at the edges, soft and creamy in the center, and finished with, you’d never guess it, bright, tangy raspberries. This French toast strikes a delicious balance — warmly spiced, not overpowering, and worthy of a slow, post-Thanksgiving brunch. One thing I discovered while perfecting this recipe is that there’s a fine line between custardy and soggy — and French toast can cross it quickly. The secret here is a two-step cooking method: first, just after soaking in custard, the brioche is browned in a skillet to create crisp, caramelized edges; then, it finishes in the oven for a few minutes so the center can gently set. The result is French toast with a luscious, melt-in-your-mouth texture that holds its own, even under a generous pour of maple syrup. Its flavor comes from a rich pumpkin butter made from scratch and seasoned with just the right amount of pumpkin pie spice — enough to taste like fall without overwhelming every bite. If you are not really a French toast person, this recipe might change your mind. It definitely changed mine. OH
38 O.Henry
Pumpkin Butter French Toast Makes 6 thick slices
Ingredients 4 large eggs 3/4 cup whole milk 1/2 cup heavy cream 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 cup cooled, homemade pumpkin butter (recipe below) 6 thick slices brioche, about 1 1/2 inches thick 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, for cooking Raspberries, optional DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. The Art & Soul of Greensboro
2. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs until completely smooth. Whisk in the milk, heavy cream, vanilla and salt. Add the pumpkin butter from the recipe below and whisk until the custard is smooth and evenly combined. 3. Pour the custard into a shallow baking dish. Add the brioche and soak for about 1 minute per side. 4. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium to low-medium heat heat. Add the soaked brioche and cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side, or until deeply golden with lightly caramelized edges. 5. Transfer the French toast to a baking sheet and bake for 7–10 minutes or until the centers are set but remain soft and custardy. 6. Serve warm with maple syrup and fresh raspberries. The Art & Soul of Greensboro
Note: What you want to put on your French toast is another controversial subject. Definitely try the raspberries with maple syrup. If you’re one of those who can’t get enough pumpkin this time of year, adding some of the leftover pumpkin butter is worth a try. Or just dot it with raspberries and dust it lightly with confectionary sugar. PUMPKIN BUTTER Ingredients 1 15-ounce can pumpkin purée 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar 1/4 cup pure maple syrup 1/4 cup water, plus more as needed 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 teaspoons McCormick pumpkin pie spice 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
DIRECTIONS 1. Combine the pumpkin purée, brown sugar, maple syrup, water, butter, pumpkin pie spice and salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Allow the butter to melt completely, stirring occasionally. 2. Reduce the heat to low-medium and cook for 20–25 minutes, stirring frequently, until the pumpkin butter is darkened, glossy and thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. If it becomes too thick, stir in additional water, 1 tablespoon at a time. 3. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Set aside to cool completely. Reserve 1/2 cup for the French toast custard. Refrigerate the remaining pumpkin butter in an airtight container and store up to two weeks. O.Henry 39
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40 O.Henry
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
BIRDWATCH
A Familiar Call Northern bobwhite on the rebound
By Susan Campbell
For some of those fortunate enough to live
in open piney woods or adjacent to large farm fields, the whistled call of the bobwhite quail may be a familiar sound. As with so many of our bird species, this once prolific songster has diminished across the Piedmont and Sandhills of North Carolina. Bobwhites measure between 8 and 11 inches beak to tail and have very cryptic brown, black and white markings, which make them very difficult to see in the grassy habitats they call home. The male has a bright white eye stripe and throat and is the one who announces his territory through a repeated “bob-white” call. The female is not only smaller but is drabber with an eye stripe and throat that are a buffy color. This stout bird is well adapted to foraging at ground level for insects, berries and soft vegetation with its short sharp bill, strong legs and feet with sharp claws. Bobwhite males attract a mate using their loud repetitive calls in the spring. The female will reply with a four-syllable whistle of its own. Following breeding, the pair create a domed nest concealed in tall grasses, and the hen lays up to 20 pure white eggs. There is a period of approximately 25 days of incubation before the young hatch. Hens will renest if the eggs are eaten or destroyed. Upon hatching, the chicks will immediately follow their parents, learning how to hunt bugs and which shoots are the most nutritious. As a group they are referred to as a covey. They will stay together through the winter and may join with other families to form coveys of 30 or more birds. When alarmed at an early age, the The Art & Soul of Greensboro
young will scatter and freeze to avoid predators. Once they can fly, they will take to the air in a blur of wings if they are startled by a potential predator. Quail were a very popular game bird throughout North Carolina until the 1980s, when a decline in their numbers made them much harder to find. A combination of factors is believed to be responsible. Not only have open woodlands and agricultural fields with hedgerows become scarcer, but ground predators such as foxes, coyotes, raccoons and free-roaming cats have increased. Also, the timing of rainfall can significantly affect breeding productivity. Too much rain too early may inundate nests and result in abandonment. Dry conditions just after chicks hatch may result in insufficient food. Currently, quail season runs from late November through early April. Hunters may well find coveys in the forests and fields of state game lands. They also can be found on Fish and Wildlife Service refuge lands in the coastal plain. The vast acreage of longleaf pine on Fort Bragg supports quail as well. It requires a well-trained bird dog and a good deal of patience. Active quail management in parts of the Piedmont and Sandhills over the past couple of decades has paid off with a gradual increase in the northern bobwhite population. Opening up forested habitat, using prescribed burning as well as replanting undesirable vegetation with quality cover plants are two of the best strategies to help boost the population. If the trend continues, before much longer the whistled call of the bobwhite will be more frequent. OH Susan Campbell would love to receive your wildlife sightings and photos. She can be contacted by email at susan@ncaves.com. O.Henry 41
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42 O.Henry
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The Art & Soul of Greensboro
WANDERING BILLY
Rising from the Ashes
Forty years after devastation, Davie Street sweeps away the dust By Billy Ingram
“Anything you lose comes round in another form.” — Rumi
Photo of buildings destroyed in the Davie Street fire captured by Keith Kolischack in 1976
April 13, 1985. The call came into the
Greensboro Fire Department around 10:53 p.m., reporting white smoke wisping from Dixie Belle Textile’s storage facility at 321 S. Davie St. Two minutes later, Engine 4’s crew, led by Captain Bob Bost, roared up on a scene where bellowing, black plumes were now pouring out of two adjacent 85-year-old wooden behemoths. Less than half an hour later, fueled by the mother of all backdrafts, overwhelmed firefighters were driven into defensive positions against a blaze so overwhelming orders were given that, should any storefront on South Elm catch fire, battalions were to fall back to the Carolina Theatre. There, they should hold the line, allowing everything to the east to burn unabated.
When morning broke, ashes still smoldering, Gate City residents peeled away rubber bands encircling the Sunday edition of the newspaper and were confronted with horrific headlines about a catastrophic event downtown. Excepting four storefronts and significant portions of Greensborough Court apartments, then under construction, Davie Street’s business district was obliterated. Two blocks of two- and three-story warehouses and commercial establishments dating back to 1900 on both sides of the boulevard — the primary focus of our city’s multimillion dollar urban renewal effort that was nearing completion — all went up in smoke due to a besotted squatter’s neglected cigarette. Four decades after disaster, Davie Street is lit up again, ignited The Art & Soul of Greensboro
with entrepreneurial energy no less incandescent. A creative contagion is coalescing around literature, fine art, sassy stitchups, speeding steel balls and four-color fun. Situated in the building next door to where that 1985 blaze broke out, our journey begins at Strange Ways Comics & More. Proprietor Ben (Never Grimm) Roberts’ pop-culture space-time continuum orbits outside the established parameters most associated with typical comic book shops. For one thing, he says, “We have a video store with VHS tapes and VCRs for sale. We can’t keep them in stock, but people are nostalgic for it.” For youngsters coming of age in the 2000s, he notes, “Everything was digital, so the new thing for them is physical media. They have a lot of respect for it.” The latest fad is owning books, CDs and DVDs? Ahead of the curve, we was! College students, in particular these days, are gravitating toward graphic novels, which Roberts stocks a-plenty, but his racks are stacked with traditional comic books, natch. “Right now Absolute Batman is the highest selling. That’s brought in so many people who have never read comics before, so it’s been fun to show them other things.” Anything other than Marvel or DC is categorized by genre rather than by publisher. “So if you’re looking at Ed Brubaker, it’s next to other [indie] crime books.” Those irrational intersecting indecencies compounding the comical conundrums that comprise Brubaker’s twisted storylines serve as a mystifying deep dive into the world of adult graphic novels. Great stuff! A gallery wall showcases local illustrators, while one entire room is ringed in retro pinball machines — “Labyrinth,” “Jurassic Park,” “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” “Metallica,” “High-Speed,” “Cactus Jack’s,” “Friday the 13th.” No admission to play, just quarters for the slots. Pinball tournaments flip out here on Fridays. O.Henry 43
WANDERING BILLY
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44 O.Henry
Bathed in Old World decor next door is Unfettered Books, newest edition — er, addition — on the block, launched last June by GTCC English professor Brian Barbour and wife Lisa Yeager, both reminiscent of those indie booksellers in Greensboro whose discernment nourished my insatiable need to read growing up. There’s a resolute lean here into sci-fi, horror, fantasy and the sexy romantasy sub-genre, where forbidden love (fiction’s favored flavor) flourishes amongst fornicating maidens, gregarious gods and discontented dragons. Tucked into Unfettered’s cozy coffee lounge, where, apparently, “everyone loves the honey whip latte,” a fanciful selection of kiddie lit awaits little readers. Plus, Yeager points out, “an indigenous children’s section and indigenous nonfiction literature, poetry, new fiction and indigenous horror as well.” Various book clubs, including Unfettered’s own, commune over caffeinated beverages and conduct meetings here. Kaleidoscopic hanks of handwoven yarn strung across one wall weave people together during Friday evening St*tch and B*tch sessions, an unravelling lasting well after the shop closes. “We usually keep chatting until 9 or 10,” says Yeager, “we have a good time.” Internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter Colin Cutler performed a Folk Fest pre-party in the cafe as did children’s entertainer Sam Hensley. Additional bookings forthcoming, I’m told. Meticulously reimagined and refashioned in The Farmer’s Wife Antiques’ former longtime hearth emerges PROXY. The avant-art gallery, interspersed with curated collections of unconventional lifestyle accoutrement, is orchestrated by Michael Clapp, locally established architectural romanticist profiled in the March 2019 issue of O.Henry. Clapp walked me through the concept. “PROXY sort of evolved into this space for housing creation of all types. We do a lot of programming, smaller gatherings. We’ve done film screenings, hosted music artists for First Fridays and have a salon discussion series,” he says. “It’s been really amazing to see the reception that we’ve
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O.Henry 45
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46 O.Henry
had.” His wife, Méric Ozgen, is also an architect and artist. “She leads the curatorial aspect of the exhibitions.” Together, they’ve been imprinting their singular architectural style for clients through Schemata Studio, a design practice specializing in adaptive reuse that reflects a harmonious, almost futuristic rusticity. Clapp’s striking monochromatic, metropolitan deconstructions are on display at PROXY’s current instillation entitled Burn, running through mid-November. Its amorphous motif is that electric esprit one experiences when fully enmeshed in the creative process. He’s inexorably drawn to Matthew Steele’s kinetic wooden compositions that “utilize micropins to construct these very geologic sculptural pieces.” Plus, Clapp is fascinated by the juxtaposition of realism and abstract in Ivan Toth Depeña’s paintings, “the main artist that we were familiar with and wanted to have in this show. You’ll see in a lot of his pieces, he actually includes these little artifacts from the places that he’s depicting.” Punctuating the surroundings are islands Clapp refers to as “exhibition retail, a way to share some of these little-known companies and products.” Warmly austere B+P lighting fixtures, Danish hardware accents for furniture, eye-catching art books and sleek Swiss mechanical pencils caught my eye. Circumscribing the block is Davie’s Goliath, largest of the properties, with no imminent expectation of renovation although possibilities abound. Something cinematic perhaps? Clapp, who serves on the board of the Arts Council of Greater Greensboro, envisions this scrappy, compact chorus coursing with creativity as “an extension of the creative corridor that we feel runs all the way up to the Cultural Arts Center.” One upside of sacrificing those scorched storefronts on Davie back in 1985? A preponderance of parking spaces occupy the empty lots left in their wake. OH Billy Ingram has a YouTube channel with loads of local history & mysteries at: YouTube.com/billyingram.
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O.Henry 47
Reaching
NOVEMBER 2026
I. In my grandfather’s house of antiques and dusty books, his spirit sits in the w of his office. When he gets up for a drink— curtains move, floors creak. II. In my grandfather’s house, his office was replaced with a white-washed room, now used for storage. His chair was sold at auction to a woman who said it would look perfect reupholstered. III. In my grandfather’s house of linoleum floors and shiny appliances, you’ll find a young couple and a baby in a bassinet who’s always giggling, reaching for my grandfather’s nose. — Clint Bowman Clint Bowman is a writer from Wallburg who now lives with his family in Black Mountain. His debut fulllength collection of poetry, If Lost, was published in 2024 by Loblolly Press.
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
O.Henry 49
By Billy Ingram
D
uring the ’80s and ’90s, I was a Hollywood movie poster designer and key member of an award-winning team at Seiniger Advertising, churning out high concepts like fresh buttermilk. Our team, headed by the late Tony Seiniger, aka “The Godfather of Movie Advertising” created some indelible images for festive features synonymous with the yuletide: Christmas Vacation, The Ref, Scrooged, The Nutcracker, Lethal Weapon and Die Hard. Yes, it’s been decided, Lethal Weapon and Die Hard are Christmas movies! We’d produce a hundred or more designs for each motion picture before whatever studio muckety-muck eventually signed off on the finished art. One of my fav projects during the summer of ’87, from a creative standpoint, was Planes, Trains and Automobiles. That memorable one-sheet, featuring John Candy and Steve Martin uncomfortably seated too closely to one another, was the brainchild of my mentor, late art director Olga Kaljakin. In contrast to the turmoil Martin’s and Candy’s characters endure while trying to get home for Thanksgiving, my experience returning home for the holidays in 1987 was pure relaxing satisfaction, flying LAX to GSO on Piedmont Airlines, whose slogan, “A Model of How Good an Airline Can Be,” was the very definition of truth in advertising. I arrived easily in time to attend the cinema with my family at Four Seasons Mall Grand Theater. Lo and behold, prominently displayed were framed rows of posters I had worked on earlier in the year including Throw Mama From the Train, The Running Man, Three Men and a Baby, Overboard, Wall Street, Moonstruck and Fatal Attraction (another holly, jolly gem). In the spirit of holiday travel, often problematic even under ideal circumstances, I sought out a trio of exemplary individuals infusing their own individual aesthetic flair when portraying, or embodying, America’s favorite modes of transportation.
IN PLANE SIGHT In 1988, David Rawlins earned a degree in art with a concentration in painting from East Carolina. After graduation, he immediately put down his brushes and didn’t apply paint to canvas again for another two decades. “I had actually given all my paint away to my grandmother and, when she died in 2005, I got it all back. Because it’s oil paint, it was still good.” It wasn’t long before Rawlins began collecting accolades for his realistic depictions of all manner of aircraft. His masterworks followed in the grand tra-
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
dition of American Society of Aviation Artists (ASAA) founding members Keith Ferris and Robert McCall, who rendered those iconic scenes of the future Apollo moon landings for LIFE magazine in the early-1960s as well as the seminal movie poster art for 2001: A Space Odyssey. Rawlins shares a special affinity for Piedmont Airlines, originally a regional carrier out of Winston-Salem whose first scheduled flights in 1948 were on Douglas DC-3s, aircrafts built during World War II as C-47 transports. By the 1970s, Piedmont was recognized by pilots and passengers alike as the finest carrier in the nation, and later named Air Transport World’s “Airline of the Year” in 1984 before disastrously merging with USAir just five years later. In the early 2000s, Rawlins fortuitously connected with Robert Newman, who flew B-17s during World War II. “He had a couple of pictures of the Winged Warrior,” Rawlins recalls. Using those, he created a CGI computer model to paint from. Winged Warrior won first place for the military category in ASAA’s annual juried exhibition in 2011. Afterwards, Rawlins gifted that canvas to Newman, who cried when he saw it. “I rarely sell these paintings. There’s not a huge market for original aviation art these days and I’m a horrible salesman, so they just clutter up my house.” Since 2008, Rawlins’ sky-high scenics are, “painted here in Greensboro at my high school art teacher Jane Averill’s studio near Guilford College.” In 2018, says Rawlins, “I decided I should do smaller paintings because you can finish them quickly and there’s no storage problem.” Rawlins’ 6-inch-by-12-inch painting of an Alaska Airlines 737-900 scored second place in ASAA’s commercial aviation category the very next year. That was followed by another first place win in 2022 for a 48-by-24-inch painting of a Canadian North 737-200. In 2024, though, says Rawlins, “I thought I should enter something new.” The resulting SkyWest 5395 depicts a United Express Embraer arriving at Piedmont Triad International Airport. That painting landed in first place for the commercial aviation category. These days, Rawlins prefers “to get paid for painting,” and is in his 30th season of applying his talents as scenic artist for Cape Fear Regional Theatre, which is presently undergoing a massive expansion and renovation in Fayetteville. Let’s hope Rawlins’ vibrant oils will once again soar across taut canvases, producing just the kind of “clutter” I, for one, would love to see more of.
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EASTERN 727 “My dad was an air traffic controller, at first in Greensboro and then Tampa.” During the ’80s, while visiting his father in the tower at TPA, Rawlins recalls, “I stepped out and there were two Eastern Airlines 727s on the tarmac and the air stairs were down. I could have walked right up.”
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DCA
First place winner in 2017’s American Society of Aviation Artists’ competition in the category of commercial aviation: “That’s an Air Canada Embraer 175 landing at Reagan National Airport in Washington.”
N44V
“This is a vintage 1942 Douglas DC-3 painted in historical Piedmont Airlines livery. Its actual display name is the Thomas H. Davis Pacemaker.”
GREASED LIGHTNING
A Convair B-58 Hustler, the United States Air Force’s first supersonic bomber, considered inefficient and therefore remained operational only from 1960–70. “I met a guy named Fred Gunther in 2008, he was in the Air Force serving at Bunker Hill [now Grissom] Air Force Base. He worked on B-58s and they have one at Grissom Air Museum. I drove up there to take pictures and measurements in 2013 — all you have to do is ask. They gave me a ladder so I climbed all over. I could actually step across the fuselage from one wing to the next.”
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WINGED WARRIOR
“A B-17G of the 95th Bomb Group, piloted by Robert Newman on nine of his 29 missions during WWII.” Winged Warrior survived the war intact but, not long after, was relegated to the scrap yard in Kingman, Arizona.
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ALL ABOARD Mike Small has been expressly devoted to capturing trains in motion and repose over the last 50 years. Positioning himself for flawless framing in optimal conditions, Small will often drive to some remote location then, when the road ahead narrows, pedal his 3-speed the rest of the way. “It can be challenging,” he admits. “I once ran into a ditch chasing a train, another time into a creek.” Yet he won’t be derailed. “If I somehow get that one shot no one else has attempted, all the better.” Among our nation’s preeminent railroad photographers, Small’s tenacity and technical expertise have resulted in his indelible images gracing covers and spreads in numerous national publications over the last 50 years. One memorable yet formidable photograph required repeated attempts before fruition. “Two Southern Crescent passenger trains meeting at the depot in Greensboro that could only converge if the southbound train was almost precisely one hour and 15 minutes late. I finally got the perfect shot only eight days before the trains switched over to the Amtrak system in February, 1979.” That fogenveloped mise-en-scène capturing cross-country travel from a bygone era was published in a 1979 issue of Trains magazine in 1979, a 1984 calendar, as a Vanishing Vistas glossy print and even in a September 2018 O.Henry feature on Small’s images.
“A Winston-Salem to Greensboro General Electric ES44AC cruising into Pomona Yard — the woman is probably the conductor as they only have a two person crew.”
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The Bicentennial American Freedom Train visiting Greensboro in October 1976; an ex-Southern Pacific, a GS-4 Daylight type parked at Guilford Courthouse National Military Park allowing public viewing of original historical documents like the Constitution, Emancipation Proclamation and Bill of Rights. “Sitting on what is now known as the A&Y Trail, I recall going through the train to see the exhibits on moving walkways installed to hustle people in and out so they couldn’t spend too much time standing and gawking.”
“At Pomona Yard in the snow, a southbound BNSF diesel, to the right is a dark-green-and-cream BNSF.”
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These Cobras can go from zero to 60 in six seconds.
PERFORMANCE AND PERFECTION IN PEOPLE’S NEED FOR SPEED Photographs by Mark Wagoner Cruising down Industrial Avenue off South Elm-Eugene, where a surprising number of artists practice their crafts, I arrive at Whitby Motorcars. Jeff Collins and his team are living the dream (mine anyway!), restoring classic cars and assembling custom-made Shelby Cobras for racing enthusiasts. An original Cobra, produced in the ’50s and ’60s, will sell for over a million bucks; replicas, a fraction of that. “It’s a 1950s design, but it still looks contemporary — it doesn’t look like an old car,” Collins points out. “I always thought the Cobra would die out with people my age.” But, he says, there’s a whole new generation who may not know the history of Carroll Shelby, but are familiar with his iconic race car, thanks to video games. The 2019 movie Ford v Ferrari solidified that speedster’s iconic status among younger jet setters. Touring Whitby’s vast, side-by-side facilities, Collins points out a 1965 Falcon that, at first glance, appears to be a typical retro resto, “but it’s got modern mechanicals, modern drive line, transmission, brakes and a digital dash that looks vintage but is all The Art & Soul of Greensboro
electronic.” That’s trending among gearheads, “taking classic cars and installing modern equipment to make it more street friendly.” In for minor tweaks is a Vermilion Red 1955 Thunderbird once belonging to Anita Jones, Whitby’s office manager for 47 years. “It sat in her garage for about 30 years. We got it going again, she drove it for about a year before passing away,” Collins recalls. “It was lead car in her funeral procession.” Surrounded by majestic muscle cars — Super Snake ‘Stangs, bitchin’ Camaros, dodgy Plymouths, racetrack roadsters, modified mid-century Chevy pickups, even a rare 1962 Ford prototype Mustang assemblage — I attempt to impress my host with a story about meeting George Barris and sitting in the original 1966 Batmobile he designed. Collins counters by leading me to his very own ’66 Batmobile, currently under construction. Holy oneupmanship, Batman! • Fastest way home? While roaring home in a 1966 Batmobile may be tempting, turbines for speed after all, you’d never make it past Guilford County Sheriff Deputies, who notoriously have zero tolerance for jokers on the road, especially those jettisoning parachutes to slow their roll. If you’re traveling this season, whether by air, rail or in a panel van with a polka band à la Home Alone, let your goal be arriving safely and sanely. And don’t forget to pack a spare washcloth. OH O.Henry 59
A dream is brewing in a once-beloved Bethany community hub By Cynthia Adams • Photographs By Betsy Blake Farm-loving renovator Margie Benbow turned her attention to a new project: the historic Pearman’s Store, inspired by the possibilities of a country store and its place in the tiny Bethany community.
POSSIBILITIES AT PEARMAN’S
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M
argie Benbow is an admitted dreamer. Kenny Mackovic, her contractor and right-hand man, is a realist. She compares them to the bickering duo John Wayne and Katherine Hepburn in Rooster Cogburn. In truth, they’re long-time friends who met in high school in Winston-Salem. While Benbow is naturally enthusiastic, Mackovic balances that inclination with pragmatism. Both like a challenge, whether a down-on-its-luck barn, ramshackle log cabin, or farmhouse, all of which they’ve tackled. A long-vacant country store, the most publicfacing part of a property Benbow bought six years ago, needed attention. Not quite derelict, but declining. Originally the Baynes Store, it was known as the Pearman Store. Prominently located inside a highly visible, elbow-sharp curve at U.S. Highway 65 and Bethany Road, the store closed in the 1960s. Purportedly dating to 1917, the two-story, weatherbeaten building with a covered stoop had rough-hewn Southern vernacular appeal. The store’s double front doors, distressed surfaces, original floors and shelving, and atmospheric rusticity appealed to Benbow. She grew to envision the former store as a private studio space, a place to make art, as that pursuit has taken a larger place in her life. “I fell in love with the look. I thought it was the cutest thing I’ve ever seen in my life,” she recalls. “One thing I’ve always been able to do is see possibilities.” Long left unpainted, the walls bore the ghostly imprint of commercial signs. “In its prime, it was painted a light color, with dark trim and adorned with many advertisements, including Coca-Cola, Gulf and Super Cola,” says Benbow. Somehow, it was miraculously dry inside, despite a precarious roof. And to her, the parapet wall above the entrance recalled stores in old TV westerns. She envisioned a dusty farm truck pulling in for a fill-up, and the countless work boots that had crossed the stone threshold. Inside, the wooden floor and shelf-lined walls whispered of the past, when farmers lingered around a potbelly stove for gossip and checkers. It stood, despite benign neglect. “I fell in love with the building,” she says, with the helpless shrug of a romantic. That is classic Benbow. Benbow is a polymath — a scientist, educator, lawyer and farmer. Add artist to the list. She nears completion of an art degree at Guilford College while approaching the age when many look longingly at
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retirement. She continuously challenges herself to learn new skills — sometimes for a project, sometimes just for fun — including welding, sculpting, stained glass making and pottery. When fly fishing piqued her interest, she learned to make ties. Along the way, she attended auctioneering school, becoming licensed. This led her to serious temptation, especially in October 2020 when a 50-acre Bethany farm appeared on an auction site. The property on offer featured a lake and four remaining buildings. The showstopper, for Benbow, was the iconic store. “I looked at it like a blank canvas. Wouldn’t this be fun?” Although known as Pearman’s Store, local historians later told her that Jonathan Baynes was the original owner, and the store predated 1917. Recently, Baynes’s descendants unearthed a record for the purchase of the store’s safe dating 1904. The store was subsequently acquired by the Pearman family. John David Pearman, who died in 1946, and his son, John William Sr. (aka J.W.), and then his son, John William Jr., succeeded him as owners, as well as that of adjacent lands. Benbow’s best estimate is that the store remained permanently closed in the 1990s. In the years the store operated, it carved a big place in the small community’s history. By November 2020, both the farm and store were Benbow’s. Before the closing, a storm destroyed the pond dam, meaning
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costly repairs. A house and some outbuildings had previously been burned by vandals. Afterward, she and Mackovic were lunching at Three Sisters Café in Reidsville when a man named Chester Comer approached. “He asked if we were going to fix up the store,” she recalls. “By the time I paid the check and walked next door to the filling station, three more people said they’d heard I was restoring the store.” Given Bethany’s tiny population, their interest struck her. “That’s pressure,” she laughed. Later, Benbow found a photo of Comer with J. W. Pearman at the old store. Comer was a Pearman cousin and store employee “when he was a lad.” Like his cousin, he became “a community champion.” But the ever-practical Mackovic pointed out that if she intended to save it, the store needed a new roof. Benbow acted. “Even though I wanted to preserve my cash flow, he called in a crew and put on a fresh roof.” The walls needed stabilizing, too, so he replaced them with cypress. The interior held truckloads of debris. While helping empty the worst of it, she studied the contours of the building. She imagined a wall at the rear of the store once demarcating a speakeasy, as rumor held. It squared with the store’s earlier life, with Prohibition dating from 1920–1933. Behind the wall was a
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stairway, also out of view. She nicknamed the area “the rat hole,” given it held dirt and detritus, rather than bootlegged whiskey. “The whole back ‘speakeasy’ was filled with old tires.” Tires in the rear and moldering canned goods in the front. After the store closed in the 1950s, over 200 jars of green beans had sat, forming a noxious brew. “As they threw them onto a truck, they smelled like something between roadkill, burning tires and a toilet.” Benbow laughs helplessly. Then she recalls a genuinely funny moment. “The Pearmans used to raise horses,” she shares, setting the scene. “When cleaning out the store, I found these little thermoses about this big” — she says, indicating the size. “I said,
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‘Oh, these will be perfect for soup and things.’” A bubble of laughter erupts before she can continue. “The city slicker that I am, I offered it to another person who told me, ‘That’s for artificial insemination!’” Benbow took time considering a creative reinvention for the store. In the meantime, she resumed work at a Charlotte law practice, where she worked on site a day or two weekly after COVID “forced all work online.” With the store spared from further decline, other projects began, with Mackovic building a horse barn. But Benbow always planned to devote attention to the store’s full restoration. While working on the store as time allowed, the curious routinely appeared, often claiming to be Pearman relatives. Regardless, they hungered for the renewal of a gathering place, once central to a rural community. Like Comer, others shared stories, remembering when the store was a source of treats for schoolchildren and where adults mulled over local happenings. Humorist Rick Bragg writes that he bought everything from Orange Crush sodas to Converse tennis shoes at such a store near his Alabama home. He praises such places, where men gathered to talk about “dogs, Black Angus cattle, snakes, or rain.” Country stores provided more than staples. They were cultural anchors. They served as community centers, “where decisions were made, judgments rendered, and local needs discussed . . . a place for news, a local treasure, and a small business that rarely made money but offered much in outreach, social interaction, and community spirit,” according to Farm Press. The corporate-owned gas stations that replaced them were not the same. Applying to the North Carolina historic preservation office for potential inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places, Benbow wrote that the store was central to 20th-century Bethany life. She pored over photos that surfaced. One showed J.D. Pearman behind the store counter with a well-fed Calico feline nicknamed “Fat Cat” standing atop a glass case, amusing Benbow, who rescued cats on both her farms. O.Henry 67
The blurry outlines of the store’s inventive past slowly took form. “J.W. Pearman used to put sand outside for volleyball,” Benbow learned. “His daddy, J. D., was a genius. He hosted vaccinations for Rockingham County, so people would get kids vaccinated there and get a piece of candy.” Rumor held that “J. D. bought the first television in Rockingham County,” she says, and invited the community to watch his small black-and-white set. A Facebook post by his nephew, Harold Pearman, confirmed the rumor. He described Thursday nights at 7 p.m., perched on a nail keg in his uncle’s store, enjoying The Lone Ranger. Harold correctly recalled the show’s sponsor, Merita Bread. It was just as Benbow imagined. During this past summer, she hand-sanded and refinished the original floors in brutal heat, discovering hand-forged nails as she worked. It was dirty, hot work, which Discovery Channel’s Mike Rowe would appreciate. As August sweltered, she oiled the floors with three successive coats of linseed, often working alone. “There’s a tide of reasons pushing me to do this,” she says. “And every time I do something, I don’t get discouraged; I get energized.” With renovations completed, she now envisions the fun parther vision of a private studio for artmaking and crafting.
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Benbow plans to paint and putter upstairs. She created a partial stained-glass wall to break the long expanse, adding exterior windows for better light. She will invite friends to create art projects downstairs, like a group of six (playfully called The Hookers) who hook rugs together. Eventually, she may invite others, in the community spirit of the Pearmans. “My dream as an artist is to do community art projects. It’s a “pie-in-the-sky dream,” she acknowledges. The curious predictably continued to show up during the building’s renovation. Benbow had planted the field beside the store in wildflowers. One day she saw someone in the middle of the field. She approached the woman and asked, “May I help you?” with Southern politesse, polite but firm. The contrite woman pointed out the butterflies in the field. Her best friend had recently died, and she had stopped, viewing the beauty of it all as symbolic. “Her mother and the best friend’s mother were [waiting] in the car,” Benbow says. They stood together amid the flowers. Benbow, widowed in 2013, understood grief. She gave her a handful of seeds to plant and a bouquet of wildflowers to take home. Yet another woman told her, ‘If everybody planted flowers in The Art & Soul of Greensboro
the front yard, we wouldn’t want to kill anybody. We’d be kinder to one another.’” When a Bethany resident died, Benbow was inspired to dedicate a field of flowers to her memory. “Flowers heal,” she says. “There are so many illustrations of why planting those flowers is my largest artistic statement.” With only a couple of credits to go before completing an art degree, Benbow somehow carved out hours in a studio at Guilford College. After cutting hundreds of pounds of clay into tiles for a mosaic installation for the store, she hand-paints and fires each. She hesitates to estimate how many finished tiles will comprise her design, called “It’s Raining Cats and Dogs.” Pearman’s Fat Cat naturally comes to mind. With the store’s renovation just about complete, other projects are underway, including restoring three log cabins on the Bethany farm. As for Mackovic, he remains counterweight to Benbow, the conceptual thinker and idealist. Their good-natured bickering and collaborations continue. He jokingly accused her of being “100 pounds of feathers,” she says, admitting that he “is 100 pounds of lead.” Benbow points out that he is the one who gave her a plaque with the Walt Disney quote: “It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.” “Maybe he is feathers, too,” she muses. OH The Art & Soul of Greensboro
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Fiction by O. Henry Illustrations by Keith Borshak
T
here is one day that is ours. There is one day when all we Americans who are not self-made go back to the old home to eat biscuits and marvel how much nearer to the porch the old pump looks than it used to. Bless the day. It is the one day that is purely American. Yes, a day of celebration, exclusively American. And now for the story which is to prove to you that we have traditions that are becoming older at a much rapider rate than those of England are — thanks to our git-up and enterprise. Stuffy Pete took his seat on the third bench to the right as you enter Union Square from the east, at the walk opposite the fountain. Every Thanksgiving Day for nine years he had taken his seat there promptly at 1 o’clock. For every time he had done so things had happened to him — Charles Dickensy things that swelled his waistcoat above his heart, and equally on the other side.
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But today Stuffy Pete’s appearance at the annual trysting place seemed to have been rather the result of habit than of the yearly hunger which, as the philanthropists seem to think, afflicts the poor at such extended intervals. Certainly Pete was not hungry. He had just come from a feast that had left him of his powers barely those of respiration and locomotion. His eyes were like two pale gooseberries firmly imbedded in a swollen and gravy-smeared mask of putty. His breath came in short wheezes; a senatorial roll of adipose tissue denied a fashionable set to his upturned coat collar. Buttons that had been sewed upon his clothes by kind Salvation fingers a week before flew like popcorn, strewing the earth around him. Ragged he was, with a split shirt front open to the wishbone; but the November breeze, carrying fine snowflakes, brought him only a grateful coolness. For Stuffy Pete was overcharged with the caloric produced by a super-bountiful dinner, beginning with oysters and ending with plum pudding, and including (it seemed to him) all the roast turkey and baked potatoes and chicken salad
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and squash pie and ice cream in the world. Wherefore he sat, gorged, and gazed upon the world with after-dinner contempt. The meal had been an unexpected one. He was passing a red brick mansion near the beginning of Fifth Avenue, in which lived two old ladies of ancient family and a reverence for traditions. They even denied the existence of New York, and believed that Thanksgiving Day was declared solely for Washington Square. One of their traditional habits was to station a servant at the postern gate with orders to admit the first hungry wayfarer that came along after the hour of noon had struck, and banquet him to a finish. Stuffy Pete happened to pass by on his way to the park, and the seneschals gathered him in and upheld the custom of the castle. After Stuffy Pete had gazed straight before him for ten minutes he was conscious of a desire for a more varied field of vision. With a tremendous effort he moved his head slowly to the left. And then his eyes bulged out fearfully, and his breath ceased, and the rough-shod ends of his short legs wriggled and rustled on the gravel. For the Old Gentleman was coming across Fourth Avenue toward his bench. Every Thanksgiving Day for nine years the Old Gentleman had come there and found Stuffy Pete on his bench. That was a thing that the Old Gentleman was trying to make a tradition of. Every Thanksgiving Day for nine years he had found Stuffy there, and had led him to a restaurant and watched him eat a big dinner. They do those things in England unconsciously. But this is a young country, and nine years is not so bad. The Old Gentleman was a staunch American patriot, and considered himself a pioneer in American tradition. In order to become picturesque we must keep on doing one thing for a long time without ever letting it get away from us. Something like collecting the weekly dimes in industrial insurance. Or cleaning the streets. The Old Gentleman moved, straight and stately, toward the Institution that he was rearing. Truly, the annual feeding of Stuffy Pete was nothing national in its character, such as the Magna Carta or jam for breakfast was in England. But it was a step. It was almost feudal. It showed, at least, that a Custom was not impossible to New Y — ahem! — America.
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The Old Gentleman was thin and tall and sixty. He was dressed all in black, and wore the old-fashioned kind of glasses that won’t stay on your nose. His hair was whiter and thinner than it had been last year, and he seemed to make more use of his big, knobby cane with the crooked handle. As his established benefactor came up Stuffy wheezed and shuddered like some woman’s over-fat pug when a street dog bristles up at him. He would have flown, but all the skill of Santos-Dumont could not have separated him from his bench. Well had the myrmidons of the two old ladies done their work. “Good morning,” said the Old Gentleman. “I am glad to perceive that the vicissitudes of another year have spared you to move in health about the beautiful world. For that blessing alone this day of thanksgiving is well proclaimed to each of us. If you will come with me, my man, I will provide you with a dinner that should make your physical being accord with the mental.” That is what the Old Gentleman said every time. Every Thanksgiving Day for nine years. The words themselves almost formed an Institution. Nothing could be compared with them except the Declaration of Independence. Always before they had been music in Stuffy’s ears. But now he looked up at the Old Gentleman’s face with tearful agony in his own. The fine snow almost sizzled when it fell upon his perspiring brow. But the Old Gentleman shivered a little and turned his back to the wind. Stuffy had always wondered why the Old Gentleman spoke his speech rather sadly. He did not know that it was because he was wishing every time that he had a son to succeed him. A son who would come there after he was gone — a son who would stand proud and strong before some subsequent Stuffy, and say: “In memory of my father.” Then it would be an Institution. But the Old Gentleman had no relatives. He lived in rented rooms in one of the decayed old family brownstone mansions in one of the quiet streets east of the park. In the winter he raised fuchsias in a little conservatory the size of a steamer trunk. In the spring he walked in the Easter parade. In the summer he lived at a farmhouse in the New Jersey hills, and sat in a wicker armchair, speaking of a butterfly, the ornithoptera amphrisius, that he hoped to find some day. In the autumn he fed Stuffy a dinner. These were the Old Gentleman’s occupations.
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Stuffy Pete looked up at him for a half minute, stewing and helpless in his own self-pity. The Old Gentleman’s eyes were bright with the giving-pleasure. His face was getting more lined each year, but his little black necktie was in as jaunty a bow as ever, and the linen was beautiful and white, and his gray mustache was curled carefully at the ends. And then Stuffy made a noise that sounded like peas bubbling in a pot. Speech was intended; and as the Old Gentleman had heard the sounds nine times before, he rightly construed them into Stuffy’s old formula of acceptance. “Thankee, sir. I’ll go with ye, and much obliged. I’m very hungry, sir.” The coma of repletion had not prevented from entering Stuffy’s mind the conviction that he was the basis of an Institution. His Thanksgiving appetite was not his own; it belonged by all the sacred rights of established custom, if not, by the actual Statute of Limitations, to this kind old gentleman who had preempted it. True, America is free; but in order to establish tradition some one must be a repetend — a repeating decimal. The heroes are not all heroes of steel and gold. See one here that wielded only weapons of iron, badly silvered, and tin. The Old Gentleman led his annual protégé southward to the restaurant, and to the table where the feat had always occurred. They were recognized. “Here comes de old guy,” said a waiter, “dat blows dat same bum to a meal every Thanksgiving.” The Old Gentleman sat across the table glowing like a smoked pearl at his cornerstone of future ancient Tradition. The waiters heaped the table with holiday food — and Stuffy, with a sigh that was mistaken for hunger’s expression, raised a knife and fork and carved for himself a crown of imperishable bay. No more valiant hero ever fought his way through the ranks of an enemy. Turkey, chops, soups, vegetables, pies, disappeared before him as fast as they could be served. Gorged nearly to the uttermost when he entered the restaurant, the smell of food had almost caused him to lose his honor as a gentleman, but he rallied like a true knight. He saw the look of beneficent happi-
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ness on the Old Gentleman’s face — a happier look than ever the fuchsias and the ornithoptera amphrisius had ever brought to it — and he had not the heart to see it wane. In an hour Stuffy leaned back with a battle won. “Thankee kindly, sir,” he puffed like a leaky steam pipe; “thankee kindly for a hearty meal.” Then he arose heavily with glazed eyes and started toward the kitchen. A waiter turned him about like a top, and pointed him toward the door. The Old Gentleman carefully counted out $1.30 in silver change, leaving three nickels for the waiter. They parted as they did each year at the door, the Old Gentleman going south, Stuffy north. Around the first corner Stuffy turned, and stood for one minute. Then he seemed to puff out his rags as an owl puffs out his feathers, and fell to the sidewalk like a sunstricken horse. When the ambulance came the young surgeon and the driver cursed softly at his weight. There was no smell of whiskey to justify a transfer to the patrol wagon, so Stuffy and his two dinners went to the hospital. There they stretched him on a bed and began to test him for strange diseases, with the hope of getting a chance at some problem with the bare steel. And lo! an hour later another ambulance brought the Old Gentleman. And they laid him on another bed and spoke of appendicitis, for he looked good for the bill. But pretty soon one of the young doctors met one of the young nurses whose eyes he liked, and stopped to chat with her about the cases. “That nice old gentleman over there, now,” he said, “you wouldn’t think that was a case of almost starvation. Proud old family, I guess. He told me he hadn’t eaten a thing for three days.” OH Born in Greensboro, North Carolina, O. Henry (William Sidney Porter, 1862-1910) published “Two Thanksgiving Day Gentlemen” in 1907 in the collection The Trimmed Lamp and Other Stories. It has been lightly edited for a 21st-century audience.
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Where Life Takes You How a young architect found home in an old Fisher Park bungalow
By Ross Howell Jr. • Photographs by Liz Nemeth
E
mily Hinton welcomes me into the gleaming Revolution Mill offices of Lindsey Architecture, a firm founded in 2008 by president/principal Rod Lindsey. Emily — honored as a 2026 Triad Business Journal Top 40 Under 40 professional — serves as vice-president/principal/ lead architect at the firm. But I’m here to interview her about the renovation of her home. It’s a craftsman bungalow located in the Fisher Park Historic District, a few doors from the namesake park. When Emily first moved to Greensboro in 2010, she rented an apartment downtown for a couple of years. Then she purchased a comfortable townhouse north of town and lived there for a decade. “I had a great little townhouse, but I was ready for a vibrant, walkable neighborhood near the center of downtown,” Emily says. So she started looking. She visited real estate websites, attended open houses, scheduled showings with agents, got into a bidding war or two, but nothing worked out. “I was being picky and there was no urgency,” she admits. Then, scrolling one day, she came across the Greensboro Historic Building Trust (GHBT, formerly Preservation Greensboro Development Fund) website and saw properties that hadn’t appeared on any of the real estate websites she’d previously consulted. She spied the charming but forlorn bungalow.
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Turns out, GHBT had purchased the home in 2022 as an endangered property. “I learned it was a selection process,” Emily explains. “Not a bidding process.” When GHBT acquires a property like the Fisher Park bungalow, the intent is usually to protect it from possible demolition with the understanding that the new owner will restore the property while acknowledging its historical significance. When buying from owners, the trust negotiates a price below market value that in effect subsidizes the significant additional investment a new buyer must make to rehabilitate a property. The new owner may also qualify for federal historic rehabilitation tax credits. Because of these financial advantages, the selection process tends to be competitive. Emily signed up for an appointment to see the Fisher Park bungalow and was met by Cheryl Pratt, a neighborhood representative for the trust. Not much was known about the bungalow’s history at
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the time, other than it had been built around 1913 by Whitt and Bessie Stone. The intervening years had taken their toll. “The house was really rough,” Emily says with a sigh. While the bungalow’s façade with its chalet-style dormer was inviting, its symmetry was marred. Half the front porch had been closed in and covered with aluminum siding. The gutters drooped and water damage was visible. The lot was badly overgrown. A retaining wall facing the street had crumbled. Inside, what was once a 1,770-square-foot, single-family dwelling had been chopped up into three apartments, each with its own small bathroom and kitchen. “It smelled like a cat litter box and there was stuff piled everywhere,” Emily recalls. But she could also see bits and pieces of the craftsman wainscoting, a built-in pie safe and other details. Despite the squalor, she remembers thinking, “I could live here.” Emily realized that the original bungalow wasn’t gone. It just
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
needed someone to love it back to life. “I felt like I had a responsibility to do that,” she adds. Her sense of purpose was years in the making. “I grew up in Elon, and my dad was really hands-on when it came to repairs and renovation work around our house and church,” Emily says. Her grandfathers — both held engineering degrees — also knew about the art and science of building things. And there was her great-uncle, a High Point architect. “He passed away when I was young, but I remember going to his house,” Emily continues. She felt the midcentury-modern design home “was very different, very cool.” From a very early age, Emily sensed that her family’s interests were pointing her in a direction, but she wasn’t quite sure what that direction might be. “As a kid, sure, I built things with Legos, but I was really interested in creative things,” Emily says. “Music was a non-negotiable thing that our parents felt strongly about,” Emily reflects. She and her siblings were expected to learn to play piano and violin, and they did. In high school, she developed an enduring passion for visual art. “I did some photography, etching and a little bit of watercolor,” Emily says. “Mostly, I did acrylic painting, charcoal drawing and sketching.”
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
O.Henry 77
When it came time for her to consider college, the direction she’d vaguely sensed as a girl became clear — architecture. With the help of Elizabeth Wertz, her art teacher at Walter M. Williams high school in Burlington, she put together a portfolio to support her applications. Emily attended the architecture school at UNC Charlotte. “It just fit my personality,” she explains. She liked that all the architecture students were on a first-name basis with the professors. She appreciated the small studio size and the fact that the school was doing meaningful research on environmental issues and sustainable building materials. And while the program offered cutting-edge technology and state-of-the-art design software, there was a softer, low-tech aspect that Emily especially enjoyed. Instead of pounding a computer keyboard, first-year students constantly sketched and executed all their architectural drawings and models by hand. “These days, I go quickly into computer modeling, because it’s so much faster and easier for clients,” she says. “But I still do hand sketches and drawings first. I see more clearly that way.” There were just 22 students in Emily’s architecture class who graduated together from the 5-year program in 2009. “We were very close,” Emily recalls. “It was a special experience.” Problem was, the new grads were entering the job market in the Great Recession that had begun in late 2007. “Some of my classmates never found a job in the profession at all,” Emily says. Unable to land a position herself, Emily moved back into her parents’ home in Elon. At the time, First Presbyterian Church in Burlington — the Hintons’ house of worship — had signed a contract for a renovation project. A representative of the Greensboro architecture firm contracted for the job, Moser Mayer Phoenix Associates (now CPL), was scheduled to meet with congregants and provide information about the renovation process. Emily’s parents attended the session. The firm’s representative turned out to be Bill Moser, one of the principals. “So my parents walked up and said, ‘Hey, our daughter’s at home with an architecture degree and she needs something to do!’” Emily says, laughing at the thought. Moser agreed to speak with her. He explained that because of the recession, the firm had laid off several staff but could use supplemental help on projects. So Emily moved to Greensboro.
78 O.Henry
Emily describes her Moser Mayer Phoenix experience as “trial by fire.” She worked long hours — sometimes 60- or 70-hour weeks — performing whatever tasks were asked of her. “I was probably managing some projects that I really had no business doing with my level of experience,” Emily says. “But they held me accountable and I held myself accountable.” Plus, she adds, “There were some really great architects there that mentored me.” As she saw the positive impact that her projects were having on the community, she began to sense that maybe Greensboro was where she was meant to be. Then the opportunity to become a principal at Lindsey Architecture presented itself. “For me to buy into a firm in my early 30s was a big step,” Emily says. “But it was the right step. We’ve been able to build a great team of people here.” Despite her experience and achievements, Emily doubted that GHBT would take her application to purchase the Fisher Park bungalow seriously. She was young and single. Surely, other applicants would be more established. But there was no application fee. What did she have to lose? The Art & Soul of Greensboro
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
O.Henry 79
Two weeks after she submitted her application, the trust emailed to inform her that out of six applicants, Emily was selected as the one deemed best to see the renovation through successfully. After special covenants and historic preservation easements were written and Emily had secured her financing, the deal was done. The Fisher Park craftsman bungalow became Emily’s property on July 5, 2022. But it wasn’t yet her home. Emily reached out to a good friend, Brandon Hill, who’d just gone out on his own as a general contractor, starting LRC Construction Services.
80 O.Henry
“Brandon hadn’t done a historic renovation before and he was looking to build his portfolio,” Emily recalls. Since she had worked with him as a client in the past, she knew that they communicated well with each other and that she could trust him to do the job right. So she asked him to be her contractor for the Fisher Park renovation. “I’m not sure he would say yes again in hindsight, but he did say yes then,” she says, smiling. While they were waiting for permits, Emily went to work on the floor plan. “It was so hard to visualize,” she notes. There were no original drawings. The first floor, single-family living space had essentially been divided right down the middle to form two separate tenant spaces. Upstairs was a third apartment altogether, with one of the original bathrooms converted into a kitchen. “In some historic renovations, the footprint is still very apparent when you get there,” Emily says. “In this case, it was not.” And she wanted to create a floor plan that would match to the extent possible how the bungalow had been built originally. All this while devising ways to stay within her renovation budget. Emily decided to remeasure the entire house and draw the existing floor plan. That way, she could then draw a functional, single-family plan based on craftsman style, while being strategic about preserving space where possible and reallocating space as needed. “From a cost standpoint, I didn’t want to be running new plumbing across the whole house, not unless it was absolutely necessary,” she explains. Emily felt much better once she finally had the floor plan drawn. But to select paint and finishes, she says, “I had to go through the whole plan again with color palettes and materials palettes.” And then she adds, “As an architect, I help people make decisions about their spaces all day long, but for my own space, it took forever. Man, did I have analysis paralysis.” On the budget side, sometimes, she was lucky. When a section of lathe and plaster in a kitchen corner was removed, a brick furnace chimney was exposed. The brick was in good shape. Rather than having the labor and expense of removing the chimney from basement to roof, she simply left it in place. The exposed brick adds a nostalgic touch to the new kitchen. Another happy event was finding that the aluminum siding had The Art & Soul of Greensboro
in fact preserved the original wood siding quite well. “We had to patch places here and there,” Emily says. “But we only had to replace three boards in all the wood siding on the house.” The roofing crew delivered another lucky stroke to Emily’s budget, though the roofers would probably describe it in more colorful language. As the crew began to scrape off the old asphalt shingles, they discovered original cedar shakes underneath. “There were a lot of unhappy roofers up there prying off those shakes, but the cedar had really protected the roof sheathing, which we worried would have a lot of water damage,” Emily comments. As for the aesthetic of the craftsman bungalow? “My design tendencies are modern,” she says. “I prefer the light and simplicity of Scandinavian design, but I wanted to be respectful of the original house. So I tried to balance the two — not just aesthetically, but also functionally.” “While history is incredibly important to save in a house like this, I didn’t want to simply replicate what had been here originally,” Emily continues. “I wanted the house to be relevant to the way people live today — the way I live today.” When Emily completed her renovation, but before she moved in, the GHBT threw a housewarming party for her. The trust had learned quite a bit about the bungalow. The original owners were Whitley Robert “Whitt” Stone and Elizabeth Ella “Bessie” Eller Stone, who bought the property in 1911. They were first listed at the address in 1913. Whitt The Art & Soul of Greensboro
O.Henry 81
served as vice president of Joseph J. Stone, printers, bookbinders and engravers, a company founded by his brother. Bessie, a Nebraska native, served as regent in the Greensboro chapter of the DAR and as a director of the YWCA. Subsequent owners, including Waldo Porter, a cousin of the author and our magazine’s namesake, O. Henry (William Sidney Porter), made the house a rental property. The bungalow was purchased by a real estate agent, Ella Bumgarner Ward, in 1950 and divided into three apartments. She lived in one of the apartments until her death in 1995. During the housewarming, the trust presented Emily with a plaque, now mounted on the side of the bungalow, inscribed “The Whitt and Bessie Stone House, circa 1911.” With Emily’s renovation, the façade of the house has been completely restored. The right hand side of the porch that had been closed in was torn out. Since the original pilaster on the left hand side remained, Emily was able to have a copy made and installed on the right side. In the living room and the dining room, she was able to return to a craftsman floor plan with traditional moldings, built-ins and details. The kitchen, where a great deal of renovation had to be completed, is a modern space. “I love to cook, so it’s my favorite room!” Emily exclaims. It’s open, features modern olive-green cabinetry and all the conveniences, including a wine rack and cooler, stainless steel appliances and expansive countertops — the paint colors blending traditional craftsman with modern finery. A bar setup at one end features a large-scale birds-of-paradise leaf wallpaper while white mosaic backsplash tile lends a reflective shine to the other kitchen walls. Here and there are touches unique to Emily’s life and career. On a shelf, a pair of her great-uncle’s gold cufflinks are nestled next to his ’60s-design ashtray — “He smoked like a furnace,” she confides. In a corner sits a modern, low-slung chair from his High Point home. The living room sofa sat untouched for years in the home of aging neighbors of Emily’s parents, who cared for them until the childless couple passed away. Emily had the sofa recovered by Seabolt Upholstery in ivory fabric. While the dining room table, chairs and light fixture are modern, the colors of the rooms are craftsman-era earth tones. Emily
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delights in entertaining her fellow supper club members when it’s her turn to host. A handsome Boston upright piano graces the sitting room. Some evenings, she’ll come home and sit down at the keyboard to play. “It’s good stress relief,” she says. Emily has lived in her Fisher Park craftsman bungalow for three years. It’s safe to say that it is now very much her home. But is it forever? I ask if she thinks she’ll live here for a long time. “Who knows where life takes you?” she responds. “But yes, I’ll be here,” she continues. “I’ve put down roots. I have a great network of friends and colleagues. I love the house. I love the neighborhood. It’s all part of the fabric of Greensboro.” OH Ross Howell Jr. is a contributing writer. The Art & Soul of Greensboro
A L M A N A C
November N
By Ashley Walshe
ovember says come to the table, come hungry, come as you are. The collards are slow cooking with onion. Aromatics sizzle on the stovetop. Outside, chickadees and titmice chatter in the underbrush. Come as you are. Through the window, a swirl of crimson leaves takes flight, stripping the maple of its autumn color. You study the tree’s thin, ascending branches; its nakedness; its graceful surrender. Your face and shoulders soften. Who are we beneath the surface, beneath the armor, beneath our own resistance? The cornbread is ready. Company arrives with casserole and pie. The children arrive as invited, sneaking cookies from the countertop before bounding back outside. Hands keep busy. Place settings and chairs are rearranged. An old guitar is being tuned on the front porch. The kitchen is a whir of movement and chatter. Through the window, the children shuffle leaves into crimson landing pads. A wren blasts his brassy song through the neighboring forest. At last, let us gather at the table with our joys and our sorrows. The heaviness of our losses. The grace of our endless blessings. Look around. Take in the beauty of these hands — all they have built and held and tended; all they have released. Study these eyes, the laugh and worry lines, the wisdom and the innocence. Are we not just like the trees, shaped, too, by wind and sun? Surrendering to life’s seasons in our own perfect timing? May we be gentle with each other. May we seek the simple wisdom of the earth and her children. May we nourish ourselves completely.
November Scavenger Hunt A buck moth on a bright autumn day. Vagrant rufous hummingbird. Red, orange, yellow and burgundy leaves. Snapdragons. A bark-stripped tree from a white-tailed buck. White-throated sparrows. Chimney smoke. Flowering witch hazel. Wood ducks on the water.
Songs of Thanks
The trees offer their leaves back to the earth that holds them. Can you hear the soil humming songs of thanks? And what of the caterpillars? Luna moths spin their silk cocoons among leaf litter, where woolly bears lie frozen until the return of spring. Firefly larvae tuck themselves beneath the thick, damp duff. Frogs, toads, turtles, snakes and salamanders nestle beneath its safety, too. Spring herself will give thanks for this humble offering; this blanket of darkness; this quiet, maternal embrace. You’re welcome, the trees sing back. And thank you. OH
It was one of those early November mornings that are as beautiful as any in spring. There was gold everywhere, drifts of it on the elm tree, flakes of gold under our feet, gold dust on the hedges, liquid gold in the refracted falling light. — Elizabeth Goudge, The Dean’s Watch
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
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GUIDE TO GIVING O.Henry magazine is pleased to present the 2026 Guide As you begin planning for the holidays, please consider how you working to make our community a better place to live. The O.Henry magazine Guide to Giving is a sampling of charitable organizations in our area that rely heavily on annual fundraising. With your help, whether it be with your time or treasure, we can support their missions and have a hand in bettering our community. We thank the local business leaders and individuals who made our Guide to Giving possible through their sponsorship. in 2026’s Guide to Giving, please call 910-693-2467.
info@doxiebyproxy.org www.doxiebyproxy.org Established 2019
flopsysfriends.org
MISSION STATEMENT
Together, we can turn heartbreak into hope.
MISSION STATEMENT
HOW TO VOLUNTEER
HOW TO DONATE
HOW TO DONATE
We are a foster home based rescue accepting shelter intakes and owner surrenders from NC. We try to counsel and offer advice to owners considering surrendering their dachshund as a way of keeping pets in loving homes to prevent the burden on rescue.
We accept donations in the following ways: Venmo - @DBPRInc • PayPal - info@doxiebyproxy.org Mailing Address: PO Box 9671, Greensboro, NC 27429-9671 Facebook Donations
KEY FACTS
• We have rescued and placed 1503 dogs since 2019 • Average cost for medical care on each rescue dog is $1,200 • Adoption Fees range from $150-$400
On the Flopsy Friends website you will click on the support our mission tab. Scroll to the bottom of the page and there are two links you can click on that say volunteer and foster. Those links will take you to an application form to fill out
Follow the given QR code or on the website go to the support our mission page and the donate link will be near the top of the page.
WHO WE SERVE The greater community
KEY FACTS
We also have wishlist links under the support our mission page. It has different lists of items we need to help keep and maintain the cats in our rescue.
This ad made possible by All Pets Considered.
PO Box 191 Summerfield, NC 27358 thehaleygravesfoundation.com
4201 Lake Cook Rd, Suite 104 Northbrook, IL 60062 pawsforpatrick.org
MISSION STATEMENT
MISSION STATEMENT
MAKE A DIFFERENCE:
HOW TO VOLUNTEER
HOW TO DONATE
HOW TO DONATE
WHO WE SERVE
KEY FACTS
The mission of Haley Graves Foundation is to provide loving care and rehabilitation to animals in need, and to find them forever homes. • Donate: Your generous donations directly support the medical care, food, and shelter for our foster dogs. Every dollar helps us save lives. • Foster: Open your heart and home to a dog in need. Fostering provides a temporary, loving environment until a forever home is found. www.thehaleygravesfoundation.com/donate The Haley Graves Foundation serves animals in need, by providing them with care, shelter, and the opportunity to find loving forever homes. We focus on rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming dogs, including those that require special attention due to medical conditions, behavioral challenges, or other needs.
Paws for Patrick improves the mental health of young people nationally through the comfort and connection of animals. Join Paws for Patrick’s Therapy Dog Team! Think you and your pup(s) would make a great fit to volunteer in your communities schools and mental health facilities? Learn more about our Therapy Dog program here: www.pawsforpatrick.org/therapy-dog-recruitment. Follow us on social media to learn more about other volunteer opportunities @pawsforpatrick. www.pawsforpatrick.org/end-of-year-26 Inspired by Patrick Roemer, a young boy who through his connection with animals, found peace and light as he navigated the challenges of depression and anxiety. Since 2020, Paws for Patrick has touched more than 40,000 lives through our ESA and Therapy Dog Programs.
This ad made possible by All Pets Considered.
24709 Canton Rd., Albemarle, NC 28001 naughtydonkeyfarmsanctuary.org
MISSION STATEMENT
Naughty Donkey Farm Sanctuary provides compassionate care for senior, special-needs and hospice companion animals and farmed animals, providing lifelong homes that honor the unique needs, personalities and stories of every animal in our care.
HOW TO VOLUNTEER
The sanctuary hosts volunteer workdays every Saturday at 9 a.m. open to volunteers ages 16+ https://www.naughtydonkeyfarmsanctuary.org/about/volunteer/
HOW TO DONATE
We accept donations via Venmo (@naughtydonkeyfarmsanctuary), PayPal (naughtydonkeyfarm@gmail.com) or checks mailed to Naughty Donkey Farm Sanctuary, 24709 Canton Rd., Albemarle, NC 28001.
KEY FACTS
• We are a volunteer-run organization and 100% of donations support the animals in our care. • The sanctuary currently cares for more than 100 animals, including goats, alpacas, pigs, chickens, ducks, geese, dogs, cats and one very naughty donkey named Waylon Jennings.
4201 Lake Cook Rd, Suite 104 Northbrook, IL 60062 pawsforpatrick.org
MISSION STATEMENT
Paws for Patrick improves the mental health of young people nationally through the comfort and connection of animals.
HOW TO VOLUNTEER
Join Paws for Patrick’s Therapy Dog Team! Think you and your pup(s) would make a great fit to volunteer in your communities schools and mental health facilities? Learn more about our Therapy Dog program here: www.pawsforpatrick.org/therapy-dog-recruitment. Follow us on social media to learn more about other volunteer opportunities @pawsforpatrick.
HOW TO DONATE
www.pawsforpatrick.org/end-of-year-26
KEY FACTS
Inspired by Patrick Roemer, a young boy who through his connection with animals, found peace and light as he navigated the challenges of depression and anxiety. Since 2020, Paws for Patrick has touched more than 40,000 lives through our ESA and Therapy Dog Programs.
This ad made possible by All Pets Considered.
Headquarters: Greensboro Satellite: 3330 Shorefiar Drive 2517 Phillips Avenue, Winston-Salem, NC 27105 Greensboro, NC 27405 336.784.5770 www.SecondHarvestNWNC.org Established 1982
This holiday season, your gift can help more neighbors across Northwest North Carolina bring nutritious food to the table and build toward a healthy future.
MISSION STATEMENT
Increase food security and create pathways to build a stronger region.
VOLUNTEER WITH US
Whether you sort food, prepare meals, tend our teaching garden, or lend a hand in the office, you’ll make a meaningful difference in neighbors’ lives.
OHenryAd_Fall2026.pdf
1
GIVE THE GIFT OF MEALS Every $10 you give helps provide 60 meals.
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY OF HELPERS
Everyone deserves to eat. Access to nutritious food creates possibilities—for children to learn, families to flourish, and communities to thrive. Across its 18-county service region, Second Harvest brings people, partners, and resources together to distribute nutritious food, strengthen local food systems, provide nutrition education, develop pathways to meaningful employment, and advocate for policies that advance food security. Together with a broad community of supporters, Second Harvest is building stronger, more food-secure communities.
WHY YOUR SUPPORT MATTERS
• Food is the foundation for a healthy, thriving community. • More families than ever are turning to Second Harvest for help.
This9:06 adAMmade possible by an anonymous sponsor.
10/6/26
EveryTable Hope for
This Season
Feed community with us.
Make a Gift at SecondHarvestNWNC.org
PO Box 13136, Greensboro, NC 27415 336.272.5003 www.PreservationGreensboro.org Established 1966
WHO WE SERVE
MISSION STATEMENT
We build thriving communities by protecting and renewing our historic and architectural treasures.
HOW TO VOLUNTEER
Call our office 336-272-5003 or visit our website https://preservationgreensboro.org
HOW TO DONATE
Guilford County
KEY FACTS:
Since 1966, Preservation Greensboro has worked to preserve historic sites, neighborhoods, and streetscapes to create a unique sense of history and place. We provide resources to enhance Greensboro’s distinctive heritage and help the community maintain a tradition of adaptive reuse, renovation, and recycling. We invite you to tour historic Blandwood, rent the Carriage House for your next event, and shop Architectural Salvage of Greensboro for vintage housewares and hardware.
Visit our website at https://www.preservationgreensboro.org/ donate
This ad made possible by Melissa Greer.
YOUR HOME, YOUR HISTORY PROUD TO SUPPORT
336.337.5233 | Melissa@MelissaGreer.com | MelissaGreer.com A member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates, LLC.
143 Bynum Church Rd. Bynum, NC 27228 919-542-5790 www.hawriver.org Established 1982
MISSION STATEMENT
Our mission is to promote environmental awareness, conservation and pollution prevention; to speak as a voice for the river in the public arena; and to put into peoples’ hands the tools and the knowledge they need to be effective guardians of the river. Our Haw Riverkeeper advocates for clean water and against threats to the river.
HOW TO VOLUNTEER
Visit our events page and find all the opportunities to engage! https://www.hawriver.org/events
HOW TO DONATE
A donation of any size provides a year-long membership with HRA. https://www.hawriver.org/donate
WHO WE SERVE
Everyone in the Haw River Watershed: people, plants and critters within the 920 miles of streams, 110 miles of river and 14,000 acres of Jordan Lake. Since 1982, we have served millions of residents across 10 counties.
KEY FACTS
Haw River Assembly is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit fighting for clean water, protecting land, and holding polluters accountable through science, organizing, and legal advocacy since 1982.
WAYS TO GET INVOLVED
We offer volunteer opportunities in conservation and restoration of the river, environmental education, and in advocacy and community building. Sign up to receive our e-newsletter (hawriver.org/emails) to learn about all our events and volunteer opportunities. You can also attend our November membership gathering or donate at hawriver.org.
This ad made possible by Compassionate Wildlife Removal.
3310 Horse Pen Creek Rd., Greensboro, NC 27410 336.282.7044 www.NobleKnights.org Established 1987
WHO WE SERVE
MISSION STATEMENT
Noble Academy empowers students with learning differences to pursue their highest potential within a comprehensive, supportive educational environment.
WHY WE MATTER
KEY FACTS
We develop self-advocacy skills. We develop reading and math confidence. We bring back a student’s love for learning.
HOW TO DONATE
Students in grades 2-12 with a primary diagnosis of ADHD and learning disabilities or primarily experiences difficulties with attention, processing speed or memory, auditory processing, executive functioning, reading, math, or writing, and academic fluency, who match our admission criteria.
• 8:1 student/teacher ratio • 100% graduation rate • 2/3 of families receive tuition assistance or grants/scholarships from NCSEAA. • Accreditations from SAIS, COGNIA, and a Wilson® Accredited Partner - Best Practice Site.
Donations are received at our website, www.nobleknights.org or directly at Noble Academy to the attention of Director of Development.
This ad made possible by After Hours Veterinary Emergency Clinic
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veterinary care at our highly competitive general practice prices. 5505 West Friendly Ave. Greensboro, NC
Call: 336-851-1990 24 HOUR Veterinary Care on Your Schedule
200 N Davie St, Box 22 Greensboro, NC 27401 336-373-7533 www.greensborodowntownparks.org
MISSION STATEMENT
Greensboro Downtown Parks, Inc. raises vital philanthropic and community support to operate, maintain, and program Center City Park and LeBauer Park, while also helping build support for Friends of the Downtown Greenway. Through these efforts, GDPI creates welcoming places for the whole community to gather, play, and connect.
HOW TO DONATE
Visit www.greensborodowntownparks.org/support to make a gift or explore options like gifts of stock or donor-advised funds. You can become a Friend of the Downtown Parks or Downtown Greenway.
WHO WE SERVE
Each year, your downtown parks welcome over 300,000 visitors who connect through free public programming, culture, and play.
KEY FACTS HOW TO VOLUNTEER
We welcome inquiries about how you or your organization can get involved. Contact Executive Director Jack Garvey Jr. at jack@gdpi.org.
• 2026 marks the 10th anniversary of LeBauer Park and the 20th anniversary of Center City Park. • We provide hundreds of free, public community events each year, including fitness classes, live music, and family activities. • Our parks remain free and open to all members of the community 365 days a year.
Free public programming made possible thanks to our Friendsgiving sponsors:
ABBA Design Cone Health Greensboro Convention & Visitors Bureau Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro • Downtown Greensboro, Inc. Fourth Elm Construction • Penny and John Lee Graves Melissa Greer • Lincoln Financial
Reid Phillips Community Leadership Award
Philanthropic Leadership Award
Randall Kaplan and the Honorable Kathy Manning
Paul H. Livingston, Jr.
Randall Kaplan and the Honorable Kathy Manning have been selected to receive CFGG’s 2026 Reid Phillips Community Leadership Award, honoring individuals whose vision, generosity and leadership have made a lasting difference in Greensboro. Kaplan, a former president of Kay Chemical Company and current leader of Capsule Group, LLC, is a business and civic leader whose philanthropy advances education, innovation and community development. Manning, an attorney, nonprofit leader and former U.S. Congresswoman, has dedicated decades to Greensboro through civic and charitable leadership, including efforts to establish the Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts.
Paul H. Livingston, Jr. has been selected to receive CFGG’s 2026 Philanthropic Leadership Award, recognizing an outstanding professional advisor dedicated to philanthropy. Livingston has practiced law in Greensboro his entire legal career and in 1987 was one of the five founding partners of what is now Schell Bray PLLC. Throughout his legal career a significant focus of his practice has been advising charitable organizations on tax and governance matters and advising families on how to best achieve their philanthropic objectives. A longtime civic leader, he has served on the governing boards of numerous community organizations across North Carolina as a volunteer, contributing to their lasting impact.
Learn how you can help make more possible at cfgg.org/more
In partnership with the Community Foundation Awareness Initiative
P.O. Box 4845 Greensboro, NC 27404 www.cefgga.org (336) 338-0463 cefgreatergso@gmail.com
MISSION STATEMENT
HOW TO DONATE
HOW TO VOLUNTEER
CEF GGA serves your church and community through CEF programs resulting in children hearing the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, being discipled in the Word of God, and established in a local church for Christian living.
The Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) Chapter of Greater Greensboro Area mission statement is to evangelize children, disciple them with the Word of God, and establish them and their families in Bible-believing churches.
As a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to reaching Children for Christ, we gladly accept and appreciate all donations. Donations received will help further the ministry throughout the Guilford and Rockingham counties. Donations may be mailed via check or money order in addition to visiting our secured giving site at: https://my.eftplus.com/app/giving/Chil9999489
WHO WE SERVE
In accordance with the Child Protection Policy of CEF Inc., all volunteers are required to complete a volunteer application process and undergo a national criminal background check. If you wish to volunteer, please contact the CEF GGA office.
KEY FACTS
CEF screened and trained volunteers share the Gospel using scripture truths presented through a missionary story, visualized songs, and Bible memory verses via such clubs as Good News Clubs, Easter and Christmas Party Clubs, and 5-Day Clubs.
This ad made possible by Merle Norman.
3741 Battleground Ave., Suite E | Greensboro, NC 27410 336-292-9396 | 336-288-8011
1200 N Elm Street Greensboro, NC 27401 336-832-6507 www.fsncc.org support@fsncc.org
MISSION STATEMENT
Our mission is to provide support, education, and caring connections to those who have a child with a disability, special healthcare needs, or who have experienced a NICU stay. We envision every child having a thriving family and are committed to fostering an inclusive, diverse, and equitable community.
WAYS TO HELP
Donate money, baby supplies, or your time—check out other ways to give at fsncc.org
WHO WE SERVE
Families experiencing a NICU stay and families raising children with disabilities or special healthcare needs in Guilford and surrounding counties.
KEY FACTS
• NICU families receive Family Navigation, bedside peer support, admission bags, weekly groups, parent mentors, and essential supplies. Through Books for Babies, families also receive hundreds of board books each year to promote early literacy. • Our Disability Support Program helps families through parent support groups, Sibshops, one-on-one parent mentor matching, resources, and community events. • Family engagement events — such as parent lunches, sibling activities, and monthly meet-ups — offer opportunities each year for parents, siblings, and caregivers to connect in community. • UNITE Greensboro Festival is our free annual event at LeBauer Park, with resource providers, live entertainment, and activities for familie
This ad made possible by Hallmark Homecare.
When It’s Time for Help at Home, Experience Matters. Led by a former hospital executive & licensed social worker, we personally match families with the top 2% of caregivers & provide ongoing expert support so your loved one has coverage when they need it.
Jeremy & Stephanie Deaver Owners
336.268.8705
hallmarkhomecare.com/336 We cover Guilford, Forsyth, Alamance and Rockingham counties
1514 N. Church St. Greensboro, NC 27405 336.275.HOME (4663)
greensborofirefoundation.org Established 2025
MISSION STATEMENT
Our mission is to enhance the well-being of the Greensboro FireFighters Foundation members by fostering a culture of recognition, strengthening community engagement, and promoting physical and mental health.
WHO WE SERVE
HOW TO VOLUNTEER
The Greensboro FireFighters Foundation aims to support and enhance the Greensboro Fire Department’s capacity to maintain operational excellence, deliver impactful fire and life safety programs to the community, and ensure that personnel have access to the highest-quality training, equipment, and wellness resources. By securing necessary funds, the Foundation enables the department to continue its legacy of excellence in service and safety for all citizens of Greensboro.
HOW TO DONATE
KEY FACTS
Call 336-574-4093
Visit our website a select “donate”
The Foundation is providing the Greensboro Fire Department support in three critical ways: THREE CORE PILLARS 1. Physical and Mental Health 2. Community Outreach 3. Recognition and Morale
This ad made possible by Hanes-Lineberry Funeral Services.
In Honor of Fire Chief Jim Robinson Helping our community in many ways, this space was donated by Hanes Lineberry Funeral Services. Please support the Greensboro Firefighters Foundation and other charitable organizations that build better communities. We are honored to serve as your local funeral experts for over 100 years. We strive to build long lasting relationships with every family we meet. We welcome your ideas and customize services to honor your traditions. From all of us at Hanes Lineberry Funeral Services, thank you for reaching out to us during your times of need.
Thank you, Greensboro, for your support since 1919!
515 N. Elm St. Greensboro, NC 27401
336.272.5157 | 336.854.9100 | www.haneslineberryfuneralhomes.com
6000 Gate City Blvd. Greensboro, NC 27407
PO Box 14608, Greensboro, NC 27415 336.632.1400 www.chsnc.org Established 1902
MISSION STATEMENT
To promote the right of every child to a permanent, safe, and loving family.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED www.chsnc.org/get-involved
HOW TO DONATE
• 800.632.1400 • www.chsnc.org/donate • Contact Caitlin Stay, cstay@chsnc.org, 336-369-3781
WHO WE SERVE
Children and families in all 100 North Carolina counties in need of foster care, adoption, family preservation, and education services so that children can thrive. CHS helped more than 22,400+ clients last year, with a statewide staff and offices in 9 cities across North Carolina.
KEY FACTS
• Since our founding in 1902, CHS has placed more than 17,000+ children with nurturing adoptive families. • We help parents be the best that they can be by providing critical tools and resources for them to build stronger families. Whether that means doing what ever we can to keep families intact and healthy, or finding the right match to create new ones through foster care and adoption.
This ad made possible by Truliant Federal Credit Union.
When you invest in a child, you’re investing in a brighter future. November is National Adoption Month. Please consider fostering or adopting. Learn more at chsnc.org.
Federally insured by NCUA.
4517 Jessup Grove Road Greensboro, NC 27410 336-665-5233 www.proehlificpark.com
MISSION STATEMENT
The P.O.W.E.R Of Play Foundation is a 501 c (3) organization. We want to provide financial assistance to at-risk children in the Triad and throughout North Carolina. We serve these children through scholarships, programming, sports leagues, after school/summer care, Christmas gifts, etc. We believe every child deserves to grow and develop in a safe and loving environment, whether that means spending time at Proehlific Park or with another non-profit in North
HOW TO VOLUNTEER
To volunteer you can reach out to Morgan Malikowski at foundation@proehlificpark.com.
HOW TO DONATE
Please go to our website at www.proehlificpark.com under the Our Foundation tab to donate.
WHO WE SERVE
We serve school age children from the ages of kindergarten to middle school for our after school and summer care. We also serve over 300 foster children each Christmas with Christmas gifts.
KEY FACTS
• Our Trunk or Treat will be held on Thursday, October 29th from 4:30-7:00pm. • The P.O.W.E.R Of Play Foundation supplies Christmas gifts for over 300 children each year in our Santa’s Helpers program. Mentoring, sports programs, and most importantly financial assistance for after school and summer care for youth in our community ranging in age from kindergarten through middle school. Santa’s Helpers/Gia private event will be held on Thursday, November 5th from 6:30-9:30pm. Tickets and sponsorships still available. Go to the website for information.
SANTA’S HELPERS Please consider being a part of something bigger than yourself this Christmas by blessing local foster children. The POWER of Play helps these children have gifts Christmas morning because of people like you. Wish lists can be picked up the week of November 5th, and all gifts need to be delivered to Morgan Malikowski no later than November 26th, unwrapped with the wish list attached.
4517 Jessup Grove Road Greensboro, NC 27410 336-665-5233 | www.proehlificpark.com
7900 McCLoud Road, Suite 100 Greensboro, NC 27409 www..KidsDreamsMatter.org (336)398-2212
MISSION STATEMENT
Evolving students’ dreams to deliver hope, discover purpose, and break generational poverty.
HOW TO VOLUNTEER
Call our office at (336) 398-2212 or visit us at www.kidsdreamsmatter.org/BikesForKidsVolunteer
WHO WE SERVE
Each year, more than 1,800 Guilford County Title I third graders spend four weeks studying the character book Dream BIG. Work HARD. Be KIND. NEVER Give Up. They write an essay explaining how these traits can help them achieve their career goals, expecting the three best essays to earn new bicycles. Instead, EVERY student is surprised with a new bike and helmet in recognition of their HARD WORK.
HOW TO DONATE
Call (336) 398-2212 www.kidsdreamsmatter.org/Donate Contact Shell Volkmann at shell@bikesforkidsfoundation.org
KEY FACTS
Since 2002, 100% of every donation has directly funded bikes, helmets, books, and wristbands—changing lives.
This ad made possible by Know A Guy Heating and Air Conditioning.
GIVING BACK TO GREENSBORO KNOW A GUY PROUDLY SUPPORTS BIKES FOR KIDS
(743) 222-5003 https://knowaguyhvac.com/ 307 S. Swing Rd, Greensboro, NC @knowaguyhvac Know A Guy Heating & Air Conditioning
CONNECTING COMMUNITY one story at a time one story at a time
PULITZER PRIZE AND THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD PULITZER PRIZE AND THE NATIONAL AWARD FOR FICTION WINNER PERCIVAL BOOK EVERETT FOR FICTION WINNER PERCIVAL EVERETT
MAC BARNETT, NATIONAL AMBASSADOR FOR YOUNG PEOPLE'S LITERATURE MAC BARNETT, NATIONAL AMBASSADOR FOR YOUNG PEOPLE'S LITERATURE
Help Help the the next next story story begin. begin.
A child meets the author of their favorite book. A reader discovers a new perspective. A child meets the author of their favorite book. A reader discovers a new perspective. A conversation continues long after the last page. Greensboro Bound makes these moments A conversation continues long after the last page. Greensboro Bound makes these moments possible through our annual festival, year-round literary events, and school programs. possible through our annual festival, year-round literary events, and school programs. With your support, the next moment is waiting to happen. With your support, the next moment is waiting to happen.
339,300 339,300++ students served students served
762 762 ++
schools served schools served
KEEP THE STORIES COMING. KEEP THE STORIES COMING. Give today at greensborobound.com Give today at greensborobound.com
13,130 13,130 ++ books gifted books gifted
500 500 ++
authors hosted authors hosted
Future Ready Triad Starts Here. The largest expansion in the nation for Boys & Girls Clubs of America is happening right here in the Greater Triad. From 6 to 14 Clubs this year | 5 new Clubs in Greensboro | 9,000+ youth served by FY2030 Every Club combines athletics with evidence-based academics, caring mentors, and leadership development. Athletics brings kids through the door. Academic excellence is where we take them. As we bring Clubs back to Greensboro and Winston-Salem and grow in High Point and Asheboro, we're building something the whole region will feel for generations.
• 1 in 6 Triad youth are at risk of not graduating high school • 1 in 5 children live below the poverty line • 40,000+ young people live in underserved communities • 2,054 Club kids served last year Greensboro and Winston-Salem kids lost their Clubs when a decades-long partnership ended in 2025 between BGCA and The Salvation Army. We’re bringing them back, and launching more. The leaders, neighbors, and partners who step up now will shape what the Triad looks like for the next generation. This is our moment.
$1,575
changes a kid’s entire year
$0
cost to their family That’s about $131 per month, or less than $4.50 a day.
Join the movment. Learn how at bgctriad.org/futureready
Better. Bigger. Bolder. This page is made possible by the generous support of The Cemala Foundation.
Contact: info@bgctriad.org
200 N Church St Greensboro, NC 27401 336.574.2898 www.mbcmuseum.com comeplay@mbcmuseum.com Established 1999
WHO WE SERVE
MISSION STATEMENT
We serve ALL children and families in the Triad and surrounding areas.
We empower young people through play.
HOW TO VOLUNTEER
We are currently working on a volunteer program to launch in the Winter. Stay tuned!
HOW TO DONATE
https://mbcmuseum.com/donate/ or contact Stephanie Clifford: sclifford@gcmuseum.com 336-574-2898 extension 313
KEY FACTS
• 20+ interactive exhibits • Outdoor Play Plaza with 30-ft climbers • Edible Schoolyard garden & kitchen classroom • Indoor Water Wonders exhibit
This ad made possible by Northwestern Mutual.
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LET’S GET STARTED 333 N. Greene St, Ste 400, Greensboro, NC 27401 (336) 275-0261
MIKE MAHONEY
Wealth Management Advisor
michael.mahoney@nm.com jeffrey.jackman@nm.com www.northwesternmutual.com
JEFF JACKMAN
Wealth Management Advisor
Northwestern Mutual is a marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company and its subsidiaries in Milwaukee, WI including The Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company, a federal savings bank.
1451 S Elm-Eugene St, Greensboro, NC 27406 336.379.5001 www.nussbaumcfe.com Supporting Local Business For 38 Years
MISSION STATEMENT
The Nussbaum Center’s mission is “Turning Entrepreneurs Into Business Owners.” We advance this mission by creating an environment where emerging and established businesses can gain the knowledge, resources, and relationships needed to build lasting success.
HOW TO VOLUNTEER
We utilize SCORE volunteers to assist our Associates and entrepreneurs with their start up needs. To volunteer go to https://www.score.org/volunteer.
HOW TO DONATE
Donations can be made through our website. https://nussbaumcfe.com/donate/
WHO WE SERVE
We serve aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners throughout the Triad, from individuals developing an early-stage idea to established companies preparing for their next phase of growth. Many face barriers such as limited capital, insufficient business experience, or a lack of professional networks. The Nussbaum Center helps them move forward with greater clarity, confidence, and resilience.
KEY FACTS
• Served 4,731 small businesses in 2025. • 10 local, regional, state and federally funded Agencies to assist start-ups and small businesses • Shared-use commercial kitchen available for hourly rental • 32,000 sq ft of Manufacturing and Warehouse space in newly renovated Steelhouse
This ad made possible by Options Home Care.
Helping Seniors Thrive wherever they call home North Carolina’s only pharmacist-owned home care agency.
The right care at home starts with the right questions.
From companionship to 24-hour care, every plan is built around the person, starting with an RN assessment. Our pharmacist owner also helps families understand their loved one’s medications, so they can have better conversations with their doctors. Licensed, bonded, and insured. Serving the Triad.
1451 S. Elm-Eugene St.,Greensboro, NC | 336-213-1467 optionscorp.com/greensboro-nc/ | greensboro@optionscorp.com
Proud supporter of the Nussbaum Center for Entrepreneurship.
OUTINGS November 2026
Greensboro Downtown Parks Friendsgiving
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!
Greensboro Renaissance Faire NOVEMBER 1
NOVEMBER 5
HEAR YE, HEAR YE. 10 a.m. –10 p.m.
A FEAST FOR A CAUSE. 6–9 p.m.
The Greensboro Renaissance Faire welcomes all knights, jesters and renaissance enthusiasts for a day of medieval merrymaking. With live music, a costume contest and a feast fit for royalty, there’s something for the whole family. Don your best medieval attire and relish in a day of renaissance revelry. Tickets: $10. Back Table, 816 S. Elm St., Greensboro. Info: facebook.com/events/s/greensbororenaissance-faire-a/1024634113360604.
Live music, good friends and some good ol’ turkey — all for a good cause? Don’t mind if we do. Spend your day with love, laughter and generosity at the Greensboro Downtown Parks Friendsgiving Fundraiser featuring a family-style meal catered by 1618 On Location. Come for the eats and entertainment and stay for the feel-good purpose: supporting our parks and free public programming. Nothing pairs better with a full plate than giving back to the community you love. Tickets: $350+. Center City and LeBauer
106 O.Henry
Parks, 208 N. Davie St., Greensboro. Info: greensborodowntownparks.org/friendsgiving. MASQUERADE, BUT MAKE IT CASZH. 6 p.m.
Pull out your favorite denim, add a little sparkle and top things off with a whimsical mask. The Greensboro Opera invites you to its Ovation Gala, where the gems shine bright and the jeans fit just right. Dining, singing and sipping await! A diamond may be forever, but a night like this? A rare opportunity. Tickets: $125. Temple Emanuel, 1129 Jefferson Road, Greensboro. Info: greensboroopera.org/tickets.
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
OUTINGS
Wizard of Oz presented by Community Theatre of Greensboro November 14, 15, 21 & 22
Merry Merry Market November 18
NOVEMBER 6 & 7 A SALE THAT SHAPES UP. Times vary.
As local potters fire up their kilns, we’re firing up our excitement for the Creative Clayworks Juried Pottery Sale. This year’s lineup features seasoned local potters alongside talented newcomers, all bringing their own unique spin to the craft. From handcrafted dishware to beautifully decorated pieces, there’s plenty to quench your clay craving. So grab a friend, discover something one-of-a-kind and get your hands on the local pottery scene. Your shelves will thank you. Free admission. Gallery 1250 at Revolution Mill, 2001 Yanceyville St., Greensboro. Info: artalliancegso.org/ creative-clayworks-pottery-sale.
NOVEMBER 7 AGED TO PERFECTION. 1–5:30 p.m.
Have a hand in preserving history — one finger of bourbon at a time. Preservation Greensboro invites you to sip, savor and support the preservation of Greensboro’s historic communities at the Blandwood Bourbon Festival. Tickle your palate with a pour of fine bourbon, dig into some savory BBQ and enjoy an evening that does more than taste good — it helps keep our city’s history alive and well. So let’s raise a little support — and a glass — to the historic communities that make Greensboro so special. And let’s make this bourbon and barbecue history. Cheers! The Art & Soul of Greensboro
Blandwood Bourbon Festival November 7 Tickets: $40+. Blandwood Mansion, 447 W. Washington St., Greensboro. Info: preservationgreensboro.org/upcoming-events.
NOVEMBER 14, 15, 21 & 22 LIONS AND TIGERS AND BEARS. 2 & 7 p.m., Saturdays; 2 p.m., Sundays.
Follow the yellow brick road to a place where good witches, bad witches and a little bit of Munchkinland magic take center stage. Click your heels three times and head to The Community Theatre of Greensboro’s annual production of The Wizard of Oz. There’s no place like home and no better way to experience this beloved classic. Whether
you travel by broomstick or car, or you ride in on a storm gale, you won’t want to miss this musical adventure. Tickets: $10+. Carolina Theatre, 310 S. Greene St., Greensboro. Info: carolinatheatre.com/events.
NOVEMBER 14 WHAT WAS COOKING? Noon–4 p.m.
Bring your culinary curiosity. In honor of Native American History Month, High Point Museum invites you to get a taste of Indigenous cooking methods and traditions, metaphorically speaking — no samples. Learn how historic dishes were prepared, discover recipes featuring plants gathered from
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OUTINGS
the land and watch costumed interpreters walk you through the steps. Come hungry for a little food education. Free. Historical Park, 1859 E. Lexington Ave., High Point. Info: highpointmuseum.org.
NOVEMBER 15 GLOW BIG OR GLOW HOME. 3–8 p.m.
Need help finding a little cultural fun? Just follow the golden glow! The India Association of the Triad lights up the night at Diwali: The Festival of Lights. Dance the evening away to live music and performances, nosh on delicious dishes and celebrate the vibrant culture and community that make Diwali so special. Tickets: $40. Meridian Convention Center, 312 W. Meadowview Road, Greensboro. Info: iatnc.org.
NOVEMBER 18 THE MORE, THE MERRIER. 9 a.m.–8 p.m.
Calling all Christmas-shopping early birds! Merry Merry Market is back and better than ever, with artisan-made goods and handcrafted finds for everyone on your list. With 90 carefully selected local businesses to shop, you’re bound to find the perfect gift — or, let’s be honest, a little something for yourself. And the best part? A portion of every admission ticket sold benefits BackPack Beginnings, so your shopping spree can give back, too. That’s what we call a winwin-win. Tickets: $5; kids under 12, free. The Colonnade at Revolution Mill. 1000 Revolution Mill Drive, G reensboro. Info: merrymerrymarketgso.com.
NOVEMBER 19 THE ART OF GIVING. 6–9 p.m.
The holidays are for giving, and giving itself is a form of art. Local artist Amy Gordon leads an evening of giving back, centered around her whimsical,
Why jingle just a little when you can jingle
all the way with
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www.OHeyGreensboro.com
108 O.Henry
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
OUTINGS
colorful artwork, which invites viewers to find beauty in movement and to celebrate the moments that make life meaningful. After a champagne reception, indulge in a chef-crafted dinner while Gordon discusses “The Lightness of Life.” A portion of proceeds will benefit a very special cause for Gordon, Joan Dancy and PALS, a nonprofit that supports people with ALS as well as their families. It’s art with heart. Tickets: $125. Grandover Resort & Spa, 1000 Club Road, Greensboro. Info: ticketmetriad.com/events/the-lightness-of-life-the-art-ofgiving-with-amy-gordon.
NOVEMBER 20 CRACKING GOOD FUN. 7:30–9 p.m.
Ring in the holidays with a show that’s sure to kick your seasonal spirit into high gear. UNCG’s Symphony Orchestra and Jazz Ensemble I bring the razzle-dazzle with a performance of The Nutcracker Suite. Featuring soprano soloists Janinah Burnett and Michaela Kelly, this take on the holiday classic originally reimagined by Duke
Ellington and Billy Strayhorn adds jazz flair to the sweet sounds of the popular ballet piece. Plus, as a bow on top this unforgettable concert also features works by Bizet and Strauss. Consider yourself officially jazzed for the holidays. Tickets: $8.78+. UNCG Auditorium, 408 Tate St., Greensboro. Info: vpa.uncg.edu/ single-event/the-nutcracker-suite. CHEERS TO THE HOLIDAYS. 6–9 p.m.
What’s better than champagne and holiday shopping? Honestly, we can’t think of anything. Grab your tote bags and raise a toast to Alamance Arts’ Champagne & Cheer Holiday Preview. Be among the first to scoop up one-of-a-kind, handmade finds crafted by 140 regional artists while sipping bubbly or a smooth glass of wine. Pop the cork on the holiday season with a little liquid encouragement. Tickets: $40. Alamance Arts, 213 S. Main St., Graham. Info: alamancearts.org.
NOVEMBER 21 A CRAFTY CHRISTMAS. 8 a.m.–3 p.m.
Looks like Christmas came early for the
The holidays are for special moments and comfort. DON’T WAIT TO ASK FOR CARE.
This holiday season - make room for the moments that matter. Familiar songs, favorite meals, and time together. If serious illness is affecting your family, embracing our care and support at home can help bring comfort and meaning to the time you share. Don’t wait until after the holidays to ask for help.
Start a confidential conversation at TrellisSupport.org or call 336-768-3972 The Art & Soul of Greensboro
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LAWNDALE SHOPPING CENTER • IRVING PAR K
DOVER SQUARE • WESTOVER GALLERY OF SHOPS
LADIES CLOTHING, GIFTS, BABY, JEWELRY, GIFTS FOR THE HOME, TABLEWARE, DELICIOUS FOOD
1738 Battleground Ave • Irving Park Plaza Shopping Center • Greensboro, NC • (336) 273-3566
110 O.Henry
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
OUTINGS
crafty connoisseurs. A rummage sale, bake sale and treasure trove of collectibles are just some of the goodies waiting for you at the Carolina Christmas Bazaar. With 75 talented craftsmen gathered all in one place, this is the perfect spot to turn a little retail therapy into some holiday happiness. Sponsored by Wesley Women, the event gives back to area nonprofits and missions, so every purchase can help spread a little more cheer. Grab your craft-loving comrade, bring your holiday-shopping spirit and come to this good-cause event with sleigh bells on. Free admission. Wesley Memorial Methodist Church, 1225 Chestnut Drive, High Point. Info: carolinachristmasbazaar.com. GLASS, GLASS AND MORE GLASS. 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Starworks Holiday Market
A market that’s sure to blow your socks off? Check! Featuring talented Starworks glass artists, the Holiday Market showcases shoppable shine. From stunning glass and
ceramics to unique metalwork, there’s something for every taste and plenty of originality to go around. Follow the glimmering way to the little town of Star, where you can discover gifts with more gleam than Santa’s twinkling eyes while supporting area artists. Free. Starworks Cafe & Tap Room, 100 Russell Drive, Star. Info: starworksnc.org/ starworks-events. A COUNTRY CAROL CLASSIC. 7 p.m.
There’s nothing like an acoustic guitar to strum you into the holiday spirit. Sing your heart out as the GRAMMY Award-winning Christian duo for KING + COUNTRY takes center stage for an evening of heartfelt harmonies, country sounds and holiday favorites. Sway along to their soulful renditions of classics like “Little Drummer Boy” and “Silent Night,” and let their signature sound put the jolly in your holly. Tickets: $51.60+. First Horizon Coliseum, 1921 W. Gate City Blvd., Greensboro. Info: gsocomplex.com/events.
November 21
LAWNDALE SHOPPING CENTER • IRVING PAR K
DOVER SQUARE • WESTOVER GALLERY OF SHOPS
At Lash & Blowout Lounge, we believe beauty should feel effortless — from perfectly styled blowouts to flawless lashes, we’re here to make every day feel like your best day.
admin@lashandblowoutlounge.com | 336-285-8699 lashandblowoutlounge.com
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
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OUTINGS
Leanne Pizio
NOVEMBER 28 BREAK THE MOLD. Noon–4 p.m.
Fill up your gas tank and spin through a crash course in ceramics. Take a peek inside the creative spaces of local potters during the Greensboro Pottery Tour. Hop from studio to studio, meet the makers, see where the magic happens behind the wheel and discover what makes each potter’s work unique. And, of course, no pottery tour is complete without purchasing a little something for yourself. Free. Greensboro. Info: www.eventbrite.com/e/ ceramic-saturday-greensboro-pottery-tourtickets-2000300948985. OH
Phil Haralam with Brett McDonough
To submit an item for consideration, please email ohenrymagcalendar@gmail.com by the first of the month prior to the month of the event.
Laura Cooke Ceramics
Thankful
Charlie Tefft Pottery
DON'T STOP AT
THE LAST PAGE!
for Care You Can Count On Offering companion and personal care, skilled medical and specialized therapy. No care minimums.
Look for our nta to Be a Secret Sa throughout es tre or ni Se a and help the community Senior a to r ee add ch ason! this holiday se
DISCOVER THE DIFFERENCE IN HOME CARE
We’ve earned The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval® which validates that we follow the highest standards of safety and care.
112 O.Henry
The Best of Home Care® — Top 100 Leader in Experience Award highlights the nation’s top-performing home care organizations, helping families identify providers that have been independently recognized for quality, consistency and trust.
KEEP EXPLORING
Independently owned and operated. Nationally Accredited
508-A Prescott St., Greensboro NC 27401 336-265-3500 www.brightstarcare.com/s-greensboro
ONLINE AT OHENRYMAG.COM
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
DECEMBER 3–6 R.J. REYNOLDS AUDITORIUM
Tickets on sale now! uncsa.edu/nutcracker 336-721-1945
PRESENTED BY
The Arts
60th Diamond Anniversary GREENSBORO BALLET PRESENTS
The Nutcracker December 10 - 13, 2026 Carolina Theatre Photo: Andrew Bowen Studios
Don’t miss our Tea with Clara events To learn more or purchase tickets visit WWW.GREENSBOROBALLET.ORG
Revolutionary Road Trip
A Conversation with Darley Newman
Sunday, November 8, 3 pm Celebrate the Season with Bel Canto!
Tickets for NOEL
At the Greensboro History Museum Learn more and register GreensboroHistory.org/ohmag
The host of PBS’s Travels with Darley discusses her new book and North Carolina’s Revolutionary history. Signing to follow.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6TH AT 3:30
Christ United Methodist • 410 Holden Ave., Greensboro NC
Free and open to the public.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 7TH AT 7:30
Christ United Methodist • 410 Holden Ave., Greensboro NC
CHRISTMAS WITH BEL CANTO MONDAY DECEMBER 14TH AT 7:30
First Presbyterian Church • 918 N. Main St., High Point, NC
https://choralartscollective.org/tickets/
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Smithsonian Affiliate
130 Summit Avenue Greensboro, NC 336-373-2043 GreensboroHistory.org The Art & Soul of Greensboro
A Carolina Christmas with
CIRQUE de la SYMPHONIE
Thanksgiving weekend, ring in the holiday season with the Winston-Salem Symphony as the high-flying acrobats of Cirque de la Symphonie will soar to your favorite carols. Two shows to choose from—bring the whole family!
NOV 28 & 29 | Reynolds Auditorium
Concert Sponsor
VIOLINS of HOPE
HANDEL'S MESSIAH
Symphony musicians perform on surviving instruments of the Holocaust in music by Mendelssohn, Gershwin, Bernstein, and more.
A Winston-Salem Symphony Christmastime tradition, the Baroque flourish of Handel's glorious Messiah features renowned soloists and the Symphony Chorus.
NOV 14 & 15 | Concert Sponsor: Novant Health
PHILIP GLASS: THE AMERICAN FOUR SEASONS Oscar-nominated film composer of The Hours and Notes on a Scandal, Philip Glass's 2nd violin concerto, "The American Four Seasons," pairs with Brahms' epic First Symphony. JAN 23 & 24, 2027
There’s no sound like home. Tickets on sale now at wssymphony.org/ohenry WIN S TO N SA L EM SYM P H O N Y
DEC 17
ACTION! The Legacy of John Williams A full concert of music that is the soundtrack of our lifetime. John Williams's scores lift the film off the screen and into our hearts. FEB 6, 2027
Season Presenting Sponsor
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Is your home ready for holiday gatherings?
Estate Services
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116 O.Henry
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The Art & Soul of Greensboro
GreenScene
Scott Ballard Art Show Reception Revolution Mill
Saturday, July, 18, 2026 Scott Ballard, Sarah Francis Wilson
Photographs by Max Define
Nick Piornack, Lisa Allen, Jenny Sloan, Scott Ballard
Miranda Taylor, Dane Rivers
Loring & Lee Mortensen, Joe Wheby
Kellie & Jerome Daley
BATHROOMS, KITCHENS, AND MORE Bathroom Design & Remodeling • Accessible Home Modifications N.C. Licensed General Contractor • Certified Aging in Place Specialist
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The Art & Soul of Greensboro
Practicing Commercial Real Estate by the Golden Rule Bill Strickland, CCIM
Commercial Real Estate Broker/REALTOR 336.369.5974 | bstrickland@bipinc.com
www.bipinc.com O.Henry 117
GreenScene Greensboro Symphony Guild Year-End Cocktail Party O.Henry Hotel
Wednesday, May 20, 2026 Photographs by Peggy Hamilton Laura Kilmartin, Lisa Simpson
Vanessa Skenes, Mary Rush
Vanessa Skenes, Deborah Friedman, Anna Caton, Jennifer Nowlin, Gigi Renauld, Heather DePontes, Holly Stewart, Brooke Fields
Mary Rush, Dot Murphy
Peggy Hamilton, Laura Green
David Hamilton, Pauletta Root, Mary Skenes
Holley Stewart, Suzy Walker, Peggy Folin
Handmade In House
121-A WEST MCGEE ST., GREENSBORO, NC 27401 WWW.JACOBRAYMONDJEWELRY.COM 336.763.9569
118 O.Henry
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
GreenScene
International Civil Rights Center & Museum Annual Gala Koury Convention Center
Saturday, July 18, 2026 Photographs by Ivan Saul Cutler
Terrence Williams, Michael Gibs, Yasmine Thigpen
Patrice Hinnant, “Trey” Davis
Byron Pitts, Robert Brown, Steadman Graham
Pat Levitin, Clarence Bryant
Agatha Grimes, Stephanie Mardis, Regina Glaspie
Melvin “Skip” Alston, Hurley Derrickson, Earl Jones
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
Don Vaughah, Earl Jones, Roy Cooper, Gene Banks, Bob McAdoo
Yasmine Regester, Joyce Taylor
Shawn Johnson, Shannon & Ray Trapp
John Easterling III, Madison Kilgore
Chandra Greene, Anne-Battiste Barnwell.
O.Henry 119
O.HENRY ENDING
Faux Money, Mo’ Problems
By David Bailey
“Don’t get arrested,”
I would teasingly tell my daughters as I handed them the keys to the family car. And now here I was, 25 years later, imagining whether I might use my only call to my wife, Anne, or to my lawyer. It was in the sixth grade that I began worrying about one day being thrown in jail. That’s when our class was taken to Central Prison in Raleigh, where the the tattooed arms of inmates extended from behind bars like tentacles as catcalls echoed down the bleak and narrow corridor. I almost peed my pants when I realized we were actually being taken on a tour of the gas chamber. These memories were among the thoughts of this law-abiding citizen after I heard these words over the phone: “Mr. Bailey, we need you to come by our office right now.” There was no doubt in my or Anne’s mind that I had broken the law and might hear the click of handcuffs within the hour. “Go ahead, face the music,” Anne told me. I never meant to pay for the four tires with “funny money.” Now, the clerk, who wouldn’t take my credit card number over the phone, was saying, “We need to take care of this right now — here.” It all began as a simple prank. My hiking buddy, Randall, gave me a stack of crisp faux $100 bills his wife bought from Amazon. They looked like the genuine article, real enough that I fooled several friends with them, handing over 10 and saying, “Here’s the thousand dollars I owe you for that bet we made.” Bets are often something we make on the trail when we have a strong difference of opinion and a weak internet signal. For instance, after one hike, I sang Johnny Nash’s famous line, “I can see
120 O.Henry
clearly now the rain is gone” instead of “I can see clearly now Lorraine is gone,” which is what Randall thought it was. “I bet you a bottle of bourbon” indicates that it’s a real challenge, payable without fail on the next hike. “I bet you $1,000” or $500 is a sure sign that the bettor is a bit unsure of his memory, but is relatively certain the other person is dead wrong. All of this to explain how an envelope of five $100 bills, admittedly marked in small letters “For Stage Use Only,” ended up buried under the piles of paper that wind up on our kitchen counter. Anne had unearthed the funny money and unwittingly put it in the same drawer where we keep spare cash. The next day when I went to buy four new tires, I took the five bills with me since the tire shop charged a premium for using credit cards. I paid with what I honestly-to-goodness thought was cash, rolling away on brand-new rubber. But now, as I pulled back into the lot on as-good-as-stolen tires, my clammy palms turning the wheel into a space, I scanned the parking lot for a police cruiser. Or worse, a Secret Service agent. The clerk from yesterday had the phone cradled between his shoulder and ear as he was typing something into his computer, but gave me a knowing nod. Sweat rolled down my back as he finished the call and turned to me with a big smile. I began my long explanation of why I had given him “counterfeit” money but he waved my explanation off as as I peeled off four real bills. “Look, I’m really sorry. I bet the mechanics really gave you a hard time.” Again, he brushed off what had been my third apology. “Look, it’s no big deal,” he said. Easy for him to say. OH Obviously Scots Irish with a name like Bailey, David does, in fact, buy tires costing less than one hundred dollars each. The Art & Soul of Greensboro
ILLUSTRATION BY HARRY BLAIR
A case of innocent mistakes
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