Queen City Nerve - March 25, 2020

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 9; MARCH 25 - APRIL 7, 2020; WWW.QCNERVE.COM

THE IMPACTS OF COVID-19 ON AT-RISK POPULATIONS, LOCAL BUSINESSES AND CREATIVES

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NEWS& OPINION

6 GIVE A DAMN BY RYAN PITKIN A look into the life of a resident at risk 7 DORMANT DORMS BY LILLIAN TAYLOR Students evacuate UNC Charlotte with concerns for their future 8 CORONA CONFUSION BY RHIANNON FIONN Lack of planningexacerbated CMS response to COVID-19 10 GET FIT WITH BRITT BY BRITTNEY PEREDA

ARTS

12 CRISIS IN A CRISIS BY PAT MORAN Can Charlotte’s art scene weather a pandemic?

MUSIC

14 COMING TOGETHER IN ISOLATION BY SHEILA WALSH Local music scene adapts to a quarantine

16 SURVIVING THE SHUTDOWN BY AMBER DONOGHUE Restaurant workers face mass layoffs and community disconnect

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ISSUE CONTRIBUTORS

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THANKS TO THIS WEEK’S CONTRIBUTORS: PAT MORAN, LILLIAN TAYLOR, RHIANNON FIONN, BRITTNEY PEREDA,

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SHEILA WALSH, AMBER DONOGHUE, LO’VONIA PARKS, THE IMPACTS OF COVID-19 ON AT-RISK POPULATIONS, LOCAL BUSINESSES AND CREATIVES

COVER DESIGN BY: JAYME JOHNSON

LIZ LOGAN, SAMANTHA PRESTA, WILL JENKINS, CARLENE ORTIZ, CHANDLER SNIPE AND JUSTIN SMITH.

EDITOR’S NOTE WHAT’S NEXT? Wherever we go from here, we go together

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BY RYAN PITKIN

What can I say that hasn’t yet been said?

Keep in mind, as I write this I just finished a last read-through of the issue that I’ve been working and re-working over and over for the last two weeks.

So you’ll have to read the whole thing cover to cover, get all the great perspectives and insights from a range of Charlotte residents on how COVID-19 is impacting them and their communities, then ask yourself: What can Ryan say that hasn’t already been said?

Not much.

I can’t even think of a fitting adjective to describe the last two weeks and what’s occurred since March 10, when we delivered our 2020 Spring Guide only to watch as each event we included was canceled within a matter of days. That was a feeling that will stick with me for some time (I spent three days on that guide!), and certainly inspired how I approached this special issue.

Rarely does one see a news story that changes as regularly as the COVID-19 crisis, with updates rolling in one on top of the other. Multiple times now I’ve posted a story on our website with info from a press conference that’s outdated because there have been two other press conferences in the time it took me to write it.

So how are you supposed to cover such a story in a bi-weekly paper, knowing that any effort to provide up-to-date information is futile? First off, you save those efforts for the internet.

For print, we decided to go a little deeper, speaking with folks who live and breathe the scenes we cover the closest — arts, music and food — to see how they’re living with the impacts of an unexpected hiatus from everything.

In the news section, I spoke with a Charlotte resident who’s living with end-stage cystic fibrosis, perhaps one of the most vulnerable people in our present situation. Our intern Lillian Taylor took to the campus at UNC Charlotte to discuss the fears and concerns of students and professors as the university ordered everyone out of its residence halls. Rhiannon Fionn took a critical look at our local board of education’s response to a crisis that left them overwhelmed and unsure of what to do next.

Taken together, all of these stories spread across

Charlotte’s different communities tell the tale of a city taken by surprise. When that happens, the cliche that many people cling to is the potential for chaos -- that the strings of society will unravel and we will eventually reach a place where it’s every person for themself.

That’s a narrative that’s built on watching too many movies, in my opinion. Sure, you see the greed and self-centered behavior of some folks come out in a time like this, hoarding groceries unnecessarily or ignoring orders to practice social distancing because it’s inconvenient or boring.

History shows, however, that these are anomalies. In times of crisis, a vast majority of humans want to help. It’s our nature that, once we believe our own families and loved ones to be safe and secure, we want to reach out and see who else needs a hand.

This is especially true in the tight-knit communities covered within our pages. In this issue, you’ll find stories about musicians helping musicians despite their own cancelations and lost wages, food and beverage workers coming together in what may be the industry’s darkest hour, artists adapting to the new normal, and so many of these doing so with an optimistic attitude.

This crisis is a little different, as being there for others means separating yourself from them as best you can, and that can be challenging for the proactive among us who feel the need to get out and help someone. Suppress that need.

Instead of sitting at home and waiting for things to pass, though, so many Charlotte residents are being proactive about working online to benefit those hurting the most.

I don’t mean for this all to sound like a naive, pie-in-the-sky ideal. Things are bleak; there’s no getting around it. The truth is, things will only get worse before they get better, and as I write this on a Monday, I can’t even pretend to know what this Friday will look like.

What I do believe, however, is that come what may, Charlotte’s creative community and the city as a whole will only continue to adapt and face the storm in lockstep, rather than letting anyone struggle alone.

All we got is us.

There are more stories we’ve reported on for the paper that couldn’t fit in this issue but will go up on our website. Be sure to visit qcnerve.com for those and more timely breaking coverage as we continue to deal with the implications of COVID-19.

RPITKIN@QCNERVE.COM

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SHE’S JUST HAD THE WIND KNOCKED OUT OF HER Artwork by Lo’Vonia Parks

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NEWS & OPINION FEATURE GIVE A DAMN A look into the life of a resident at risk

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BY RYAN PITKIN

You’ve seen the joke many times, you may have even told it. Every day on social media for weeks now, there are multiple people posting something along the lines of, “I’ve been social distancing for years,” or “Self-quarantine is something I’m used to.”

It’s good for a few likes between fellow extroverts in a pandemic, but in Cat Williams’ case, it’s no joke.

The Charlotte resident has suffered from cystic fibrosis her entire life, though she was only diagnosed in her 20s. The disorder is caused by a genetic mutation that clogs the lungs and digestive system with mucus, and patients have to take extreme precautions when interacting with others.

The social distancing aspect was depicted in a 2019 film about two cystic fibrosis patients titled Five Feet Apart, a reality we can all relate to now.

“Before people came up with the COVID-19 distancing, people with cystic fibrosis were already having to practice that,” Williams says. “The cystic fibrosis community looks at people doing social distancing now and complaining about it. I mean, our whole lives have been dealing with that.”

Williams isn’t bitter, however, at least not with the people who are actually practicing social distancing.

With COVID-19 arriving in the United States and Charlotte, she’s now more vulnerable than ever.

She’s concerned about what will happen if the local population doesn’t adhere to the advice of experts and officials in an attempt to “flatten the curve,” meaning to lessen the amount of people who contract COVID-19 in a short time so as not to overwhelm the fixed capacity of the American health-care system.

Probably the first thing that our local, state and federal governments have all agreed upon, based on the advice of experts and scientists with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is that the best way to flatten the curve is through social distancing practices, including quarantining at home with your immediate family or household members.

Williams has been alarmed to see videos of people ignoring those recommendations, behavior that could not only prolong the crisis we’re faced with but, worse, flood hospitals and lead to preventable deaths.

“I think people are really reluctant to give up their instant gratification,” she says. “It is hard to see

the images of people just out at the beach in Florida when they have so many cases there and such a large elderly population. The fact that they would be willing to kill off so many people, I just ... it’s hard to put into words at this point.”

Now, with President Trump and other Republican leaders teasing the potential to open the country back up for business as positive cases continue to rise, the plight of Williams and other vulnerable people may be just beginning.

I’m speaking with Williams over the phone following her noontime nebulizer treatment, one of nine that she takes throughout the day. All cystic fibrosis cases are different; doctors refer to it as a “boutique disease” because different medicines work for different people.

Overall, medical treatments have improved greatly since 25 years ago, which is around the time Williams was diagnosed.

Since then, the average life expectancy of a cystic fibrosis patient has stayed nearly parallel with her age. Today, that life expectancy hovers around 50 years old. Williams is 49, and considers herself in the end stages of the disease.

She has a relatively severe case, with two rare genetic mutations that make the most recent innovations in treatment ineffective on her. She’s been on supplemental oxygen tanks for three years, needing them 24/7. She only takes the tubes off when she gets dressed, and even that leaves her out of breath.

Williams needs a double lung transplant, though she’s in a difficult situation, as she’s not quite sick enough to be placed high on the wait list, and certainly doesn’t want to get sicker just for better placement.

In the meantime, she attends pulmonary rehabilitation, which allows her to exercise in ways that would be impossible with the limited oxygen supply she has at home. Her fitness is the one aspect of the wait list conundrum that she can control, as physicians also take into account how likely she is to survive the surgery.

She’s become a strident advocate for more pulmonary rehab funding, as it’s often not covered by health insurance despite its proven benefits. Williams

says the rehab is important not only because of how it’s helped her physically, but socially.

“It’s not only for the physical aspect and the safety of it, but also for the social interaction,” she says, adding that she’s lost most of her friends since transitioning to supplemental oxygen. “Most of the people in [pulmonary rehab] are people much older, but the social aspects of just being around people who understand how hard it is to live that life and to drag the tanks around just to try to do something simple like shopping for shoes that suddenly becomes this really difficult task.”

On March 16, her hospital shut the rehab center down until the end of the month, at least. Williams agrees that it was the right decision, though it will take away one of her last remaining lifelines to the world outside of her home. Her biggest concern since

CAT WILLIAMS

the arrival of COVID-19, however, is not with herself, but with what could happen more broadly if the local health care system is flooded with COVID-19 patients.

She’s spent years in and out of hospitals across the state, and she’s especially familiar with the respiratory units and intensive care units where COVID-19 patients are treated.

According to Williams, it was already extremely difficult to get an empty bed on a respiratory floor during flu season before COVID-19 struck.

“Twenty years ago there were a lot of empty beds in hospitals, but now the economic model that they’re running on, they don’t have extra spots, they don’t

have empty rooms. The hospitals stay full,” she says.

Williams says she’s also met many respiratory therapists who split their time between hospitals, working different shifts at different sites that are hours away from one another on the same day.

“So many new people are moving into our city every day … If you’re not just constantly building hospitals and bringing in more medical staff … as soon as they build a building the beds are full,” she says. “I’ve had to wait 23 days before, as sick as I am, in end-stage and on oxygen, but these places stay full, and that’s before COVID.” Williams fears that some people won’t take the recent threat seriously because they’ve heard that only elderly people and other immunocompromised people like herself are at risk, or even if they’re infected, that they’ll be treated and let go. That’s not always the case, however. Stats released by the Mecklenburg County Health Department show that, of the first 80 positive cases here, more than 80% were in people younger than 60.

In Italy, where the death rate has surpassed China, hospitals have had to choose who deserves treatment due to limited beds. No stranger to wait lists, Williams wonders what that situation could mean for her here in Charlotte.

“If resources get stretched like Italy, the worst case scenario, I’m basically Old Yeller in the hallway while you get my ICU bed,” she says. “And people will just say, ‘She was gonna die anyway from cystic fibrosis.’”

It sounds pessimistic, but Williams has experienced the realities of how people view her.

She’s gotten heckled by people assuming she’s a smoker because she’s wearing oxygen tubes, despite the fact that she’s never smoked. She’s been told she suffers from a child’s disease and, “at least you don’t have cancer.” She was even called old by someone with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, presumably meaning it as a compliment for surviving so long.

Now as COVID-19 sweeps across the country, she’s seen similarly off-putting remarks online about at-risk populations.

“They think that it won’t affect them, that it only affects those people, the others. They don’t think that everyone’s life has value,” she says.

And yet it’s not all doom and gloom for Williams.

She’s been lifted up by other online interactions — members of her neighborhood’s NextDoor page, for example, who offer to run errands for the elderly and differently abled folks like herself.

“There’s a lot of good people out there,” she says.

“Not everyone is being self-centered. There are a lot of people who are taking it seriously. It’s just, it will be sad that the rest of us are so affected by the people that don’t give a damn.”

RPITKIN@QCNERVE.COM

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NEWS & OPINION FEATURE DORMANT DORMS

students won’t be able to keep up with the curriculum given the choice to study online. Others I spoke with believe using online chat rooms and video streaming will not allow them to teach their classes as intended.

“Moving my class online will be very difficult considering it is based on discussion,” said one Students evacuate UNC professor who asked not to be named. “If we need to talk and share with one another, students will feel Charlotte with concerns less motivated on a screen.” about their future Some students had concerns that go beyond the classroom. Though no UNC Charlotte students or

BY LILLIAN TAYLOR professors had tested positive for COVID-19 by that As of 5 p.m. on March 20, UNC Charlotte’s Friday, there’s also been minimal testing. (A student campus was empty of students, and nobody knows studying abroad later tested positive but was never on campus while infected.) A UNC Charlotte when they’ll be coming back.

Following a March 17 order that residence spokesperson stated that 100 students had reported halls be vacated by that Friday afternoon, students self-quarantining before the evacuation order.

Rodriguez worried about the implications were lugging their things up and down dorm-room of sending thousands of students back to their staircases throughout the week, and on Monday, hometowns without truly knowing whether any March 23, classes resumed online with students have been exposed. spread throughout the country.

“My grandmother has recently moved in with us, so As for myself, work was my only reason for I’m afraid that going home will give her a higher risk of staying in North Carolina rather than high-tail it back catching it, ” she said. “I just received a new job and I still to my hometown of Bowie, Maryland. Soon enough, have to work, all while taking her to physical therapy.” both of my jobs shut down operations completely, S o m e and on the students have Tuesday morning started an that the order online petition to leave campus calling on the was made, I caved university to to my mother’s give students demands and the chance to made the sixPass/Fail this hour drive north semester due to so I wouldn’t the difficulties have to face this involved with pandemic alone. involuntarily MARTIN HALL AT UNC CHARLOTTE IS NOW VACANT. Before I left, I PHOTO BY JUSTIN LAFRANCOIS transitioning to spoke with some online classes late professors and fellow classmates about what the in the semester.

By Queen City Nerve’ s press deadline, order meant for them. While eliminating face-tonearly 10,000 people had signed. face class instruction is most certainly the right For many students, including myself, the thing to do, it has caused much concern among transition to online learning has caused increased students who are frustrated with how the forced anxiety and stress. I have already been faced move will impact their grades and relationships with awful connections in virtual classrooms and with professors. struggled with daunting analysis papers that I won’t “It’s hard being an Engineering major and completing classes online,” said Stephanie be able to revise with my professor during office Rodriguez, a senior. “My labs are simulations so it’s hours.

From an educational aspect, the road ahead confusing. If I have a question, it’s not like I can get looks tough, but public safety is the priority, and all face-to-face help. I was already struggling with we can do as a student population and society as a juggling my classes in person, but now I have to whole is hope to find a way through this sooner than work even harder since my teachers don’t want us to fall behind, even in the midst of this pandemic.” later.

INFO@QCNERVE.COM On their end, some professors are worried

CORONAVIRUS HELPFUL TIPS FROM THE CDC

clean your hands If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.

To learn more, visit www.cdc.gov.

CORONAVIRUS HELPFUL TIPS FROM THE CDC P E N N S Y L V A N I A

A S S O C I A T I O N

clean your house Wear disposable gloves when cleaning and disinfecting surfaces. Gloves should be discarded after each cleaning. If reusable gloves

are used, those gloves should be dedicated for cleaning and disinfection of surfaces for COVID-19 and should not be used for other purposes.

To learn more, visit www.cdc.gov.

CORONAVIRUS HELPFUL TIPS FROM THE CDC P E N N S Y L V A N I A

A S S O C I A T I O N

manage stress Try to keep up with regular routines. If schools are closed,

create a schedule for learning activities and relaxing or fun activities.

To learn more, visit www.cdc.gov.

P E N N S Y L V A N I A

A S S O C I A T I O N

NEWS & OPINION FEATURE CORONA CONFUSION Lack of planning exacerbated CMS response to COVID-19

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BY RHIANNON FIONN

On Feb. 21, CharlotteMecklenburg Schools (CMS) called a snow day, though outside the streets were dry and clear. Since then, as a global pandemic made itself visible in the Queen City, parents and students have spoken up with concerns of mixed messages when it comes to personal hygiene in schools only to receive pacifying responses that make it seem like CMS has everything under control.

However, actions, and inactions, over the past week have made it clear: The board, as a whole, didn’t understand the magnitude of the situation, and their socalled plan was thin to non-existent.

“On the day we were talking about snow we should have been talking about coronavirus,” said Sean Strain, CMS Board of Education representative for District 6. Strain was the only ‘no’ vote during the board’s emergency meeting on March 13, when instead of closing schools they voted to change the school system’s spring break schedule.

“It was complete B.S.,” said Strain, “I almost didn’t go. I was notified at 5:30 p.m. of a 7 p.m. emergency meeting with no prior conversations [about the meeting] with the entire board, and no planning.” He asked if they would receive a medical briefing for SARS-CoV-2 (a.k.a. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) and

the disease it causes, COVID-19 – so named because the virus began in 2019.

Since then, so many people have become infected so quickly, and so many die every day, that it’s pointless to state how many now because by the time you read this the number will be higher.

Its rapid spread and our lack of immunity to it has changed all of our lives.

Meanwhile, complaints about a lack of soap, hot water and hand sanitizer were met with the equivalent of a head pat: “Hi, Lauren. Thanks for contacting us. Please share this information

district’s head custodian on March 12 stating that 10 of 120 schools had broken or empty soap dispensers.

While reporting on this story, Queen City Nerve contacted every CMS board member, the CMS Superintendent, the Mecklenburg County Health Department, the governor and the N.C. Board of Education Chair, Co-Chair and regional members. Only a few responded, and, at first, CMS Board Chair Elyse Dashew, responded via fellow board member Carole Sawyer, District 4.

“What this crisis is exposing is all of the weakness in our system,” Sawyer said. “We ran

with your principal. Our Operations team is working closely with school custodial staff to ensure soap and paper towels are available,” read a Twitter response CMS copied and pasted repeatedly.

“It’s been a complaint for quite a while because the soap dispensers aren’t refilled. I retired in 2015 and the soap dispensers were never refilled,” said Judy Kidd-Henion, now president of the Classroom Teachers Association of North Carolina. She added that hot water was also not to be found in CMS classrooms.

She later referenced a tally from the

out of soap because we asked students to wash their hands and we are incredibly short-staffed and have an underfunded custodial staff.”

The lack of hot water in schools, like the lack of soap, was brought to our attention by angry parents commenting on social media.

When asked about it, Sawyer explained, “We don’t have hot water in many of our schools, and, frankly, it’s not required. When it’s hot enough to kill germs it’s hot enough to burn children.”

Kidd-Henion pointed out that CMS should be able to set a reasonable temperature on hot

water heaters so kids won’t get burned.

When asked about why teachers aren’t allowed to keep hand sanitizer in the classroom, Sawyer said, “I don’t know the actual regulation … Students do stupid things. So, no, we’re not supposed to have alcohol in our schools. That said, I know teachers are using it.”

Kidd-Henion said teachers either make hand sanitizer, buy it themselves or parents donate it.

Justin Parmenter, a teacher at Waddell Language School, said parents donate hand sanitizer so it’s never been a problem in his class. But Felicia McCray, a teacher at Garinger High School, a Title I school, buys it herself.

(McCray didn’t want her real name used for fear of retribution.)

“CMS has had a long history of retribution; very few teachers will speak out,” said Kidd-Henion.

“A d m i n i s t r a t o r s attack teachers in their evaluations.”

The lack of soap, hot water and hand sanitizer is concerning in the time of COVID-19, especially since medical advice at all levels proselytizes good hygiene, specifically handwashing, but that’s far from the only confusing thing going on at CMS during this crisis.

For example, on March 13, students were instructed to take home all of their belongings.

“Everything. Every pencil and eraser.

Everything. The teacher told them to,” said Dr. Anita Blanchard, a CMS parent and UNC Charlotte professor.

When the board called its Friday night emergency meeting, Blanchard thought for sure that the schools would close. When they didn’t, she was angry.

“The CMS school board’s decision and the process by which they came to it has ruined

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NEWS & OPINION FEATURE public trust. Their decision is worth an academic case study of what not to do,” she said.

At the emergency meeting on March 13, Sawyer said, “A calendar change allows us to take a little pause in our school year and allow some of the public health and science to catch up with us,” referring to a decision to move the schedule spring break from April to March.

She followed that up with, “Unfortunately, the science … people have not landed on one decision. Our public health partners, the people for whom this is their specialty, have presented evidence that closing schools is not the most effective way of flattening the curve.”

“They are so arrogant, and they’re not paying attention,” said KiddHenion, “All they had to do was tune into the news around the country.”

In a letter to the board that she shared in a Twitter post on March 15, CMS teacher Anna Hagans expressed her frustration with the delayed response of the board and asked that teachers not be forced to attend work during the school closures.

“We are happy to teach online and do what we need to do to continue educating our students, but I find it unethical to expect teachers and staff to leave their homes during a time of expected self-quarantine,” Hagans wrote. “We have families, some of whom are elderly and immune-compromised who will be greatly and negatively effected [sic] by the expectation to constantly expose ourselves to that which the board finds unfit for students.”

Rhonda Cheek, board representative for District 1, responded, “If you are a teacher perhaps you could just hold your criticism and realize everyone is doing their best. This email sickens me on so many levels.” Signing off, she wrote, “Be blessed. And maybe find a way to

have some patience and grace.”

Teachers were made to work through March 17, or use an annual leave day, and are now home awaiting any new orders.

Multiple medical studies and news reports have pointed out that young people worldwide have been sick enough to require treatment in Intensive Care Units, and World Health Organization Director General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus said, “This is a serious disease.

Although the evidence we have suggests that

By the end of March perhaps this whole thing will have blown through and we’ll be ready to go back to school as usual, and that’s great. If not, we’ll be prepared.”

Listening back to the meeting now, only a week later (though it feels like a century), that statement is alarming and uninformed.

What becomes clear is that the CMS board had not begun to develop a plan of action even as COVID-19 had been making headlines as a mass murderer for months.

those over 60 [years old] are at highest risk, young people, including children, have died,” busting the trope that only old people and the immunocompromised are acutely affected.

Because so many potential state and county sources did not return our request for comment, most with obvious reason, we were unable to verify what advice was originally given to the CMS Board. Gov. Roy Cooper closed schools statewide on March 14, the day after CMS’s first emergency meeting, and he and the Mecklenburg County Health Department are taking the virus so seriously that life as we know it is vastly different than it was a couple weeks ago.

At the CMS meeting on March 13, Dashew painted a rosier picture, saying, “Who knows?

When asked during a more recent call when she first became aware of COVID-19, Dashew responded, “Since it was in the news.” Informed that international news broke on the virus in December, she said she had a headache and would call back later. She didn’t.

While several board members have said in public meetings, online and in interviews for Queen City Nerve and other media outlets, that they were in “constant” contact with state officials over a period of days or weeks, Strain said that is incorrect.

Asked how much time the board spent in consultation with state officials he said, “The right answer is hours.”

After consulting his notes, Strain confirmed that the board’s first conversation about the

virus took place on March 10. He said, to his knowledge, the board’s main guidance came from Gov. Cooper’s March 13 press conference.

Strain said, for him, closing schools “is really to protect the community because we have no idea who has it. This will save lives. The board should have taken note of this earlier, as should every public entity in the U.S. because the news broke about the virus in China in December. But if I’d made that statement one week ago, I’d be laughed out of the room.”

When asked if she believes whether CMS should have acted sooner to shut down the schools, Dashew said, “We were very concerned that shutting down schools ahead of the Governor’s call could have jeopardized our ability to pay employees during the shutdown. We also felt three days would make all the difference to mobilize technology for students who needed it (and to even assess who needed it), and to allow parents to line up child care, while at the same time giving families the ability to keep their children home should they so choose.”

She followed up by stating that she has not been sleeping well at night as she worries about how the board’s decisions are affecting lives in real time.

“We are navigating uncharted waters. Every decision we make is guided by what is best for the children, and our staff and community are really stepping up to figure this out,” she said.

“I hope and pray we’re making the right calls.

Ultimately time will tell.”

During a press conference on March 19, Gov. Cooper said, “We’re going to be out of schools for a while. The order was [to close schools through] March 30 but I think people know that with community spread and the crisis increasing, we will likely be out for longer.” He later extended the order through May 15.

It appears only more tough decisions lie ahead.

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NEWS & OPINION COLUMN

GET FIT WITH BRITT THE QUARANTINE WORKOUT Don’t let your stockpile of groceries win

BY BRITTNEY PEREDA

Are you feeling hopeless, a little frightened, overwhelmed and unsure of the world surrounding you recently? All you have to do is scroll your social media feed for not even 2 minutes to get sucked into a spiral of negative thoughts. What’s happening right now globally and here at home has severely impacted all of our lives. Between the spread of COVID-19, stores being raided and emptied, businesses having to shut down and all of us being basically quarantined in our homes until further notice … shit has hit the fan in a major way!

It can be hard to keep your mental health, let alone your physical health, in a time like this, and the inherently sedentary lifestyle that comes along with a self-quarantine can be bad for both. Even with all of this chaos going on around us, there are so many ways that we can

keep moving forward — as individuals and as a community.

One of the best ways to start is simply by taking care of yourself. If your body is working for you, your immune system stays strong, and your mindset even stronger, helping you get through this brief but scary moment in our history. An even bigger benefit to keeping yourself healthy: It directly impacts the community that surrounds you. If everyone were to keep themselves in quarantine, take the necessary precautions and keep their bodies healthy, it could stop the coronavirus — or many other illnesses for that matter — dead in its tracks.

This is where I come in!

It’s been a while since I’ve written one of these columns (I’ve been working on opening

DAY 1

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FULL BODY HIIT Complete the circuit below 3-4 times through with a 1-minute rest between each round.

10 Burpees 50 Mountain Climbers 50 High Knees 20 Jump Squats (switch to a regular squat if you have bad knees) 50 Plank Jacks After completing this circuit, you can add a little bit more of a challenge by taking it outside to a nearby field or street. Complete 10 to 20 rounds of 30-second walk/30-second sprint intervals.

my new PUMP Fitness Studio … shameless plug) so allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is Brittney Pereda and I have been in the fitness and health industry for almost a decade now, and today, in light of our stircrazy circumstances, I will provide a three-day workout split for you to do from the comfort of your own home.

So grab your significant other, kids, quarantine partner or whoever’s around and willing to join you in these workouts for the next month or so while the gyms are all closed. *All you’ll need to complete these workouts is a yoga mat* After completing this circuit, you can add a little bit more of a challenge by taking it outside to a nearby field or street. Complete 10-20 rounds of 30 second walk-30 second sprint intervals.

DAY 2

The way I see it is, you have two options during a time like this: Let negativity creep in and keep you down or focus on what you can control and double down on yourself. I’d say the latter is your best bet. Most importantly stay safe … and stay inside!

Brittney Pereda is co-founder of PUMP Fitness Studio at 4500 Morris Park Drive in Mint Hill. Contact her team at 704-815-6061 or email at brittneypereda@pumpfitnessstudio. com. Find them online at pumpfitnessstudio. com and follow them on Instagram at @ pumpfitnessstudio and Facebook at facebook. com/pumpfitnessstudio.

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DAY 3

CORE Complete three rounds, with a 30-second rest between each round.

FULL BODY HIIT Complete the circuit below 3-4 times through with a 1-minute rest between each round.

1-Minute Plank 30 Bicycle Crunches 15 Lying Leg Raises 20 Toe Touches

50 Jumping Jacks 20 Side Lunges each leg 10 Push-Ups 15-20 Dips 20 Step-Ups each leg (one at a time) 50 Toe Taps

LEGS Squats 4×20 Reverse Lunges 4×40 total Bulgarian Split Squats 4×10 each leg Hip Thrusts 4×20 *superset (back to back with no rest) w/…

One-Legged Hip Thrusts 4×10-15 each leg

CDC CORONAVIRUS TIPS CORONAVIRUS HELPFUL TIPS FROM THE CDC

CORONAVIRUS HELPFUL TIPS FROM THE CDC

clean your house

manage stress Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media. Hearing about the pandemic

Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily.

repeatedly can be upsetting.

This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.

To learn more, visit www.cdc.gov.

To learn more, visit www.cdc.gov.

CORONAVIRUS HELPFUL TIPS FROM THE CDC

CORONAVIRUS HELPFUL TIPS FROM THE CDC

P E N N S Y L V A N I A

P E N N S Y L V A N I A

A S S O C I A T I O N

A S S O C I A T I O N

manage stress

stay away Put distance between yourself and other people (minimum

of 6 feet). This is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.

Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy.

To learn more, visit www.cdc.gov.

To learn more, visit www.cdc.gov.

CORONAVIRUS HELPFUL TIPS FROM THE CDC

CORONAVIRUS HELPFUL TIPS FROM THE CDC P E N N S Y L V A N I A

P E N N S Y L V A N I A A S S O C I A T I O N

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A S S O C I A T I O N

manage stress

if you’re sick

Take care of your body. Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate.

Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, and avoid alcohol and drugs.

Stay home if you are sick, except to get medical care.

To learn more, visit www.cdc.gov.

To learn more, visit www.cdc.gov.

P E N N S Y L V A N I A

P E N N S Y L V A N I A

ARTS FEATURE CRISIS INSIDE A CRISIS Can Charlotte’s arts community weather a pandemic?

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BY PAT MORAN

defeat of the arts tax on the ballot last November.

That proposal would have raised the sales tax a quarter-cent, generating $50 million a year in revenue, with 45% earmarked for arts and culture.

The measure predictably pitted “no new tax” conservatives against pro-arts liberals, but the political battle lines also proved porous, with many arts supporters questioning who would decide how to spend that $22.5 million and whether historically underserved communities would benefit.

The measure was rejected by 57% of voters.

Supporters had hoped the tax would help the Arts & Science Council overcome its fundraising shortfall.

COVID-19 wields a further blow against the city’s highest profile arts and culture nonprofit.

In November, before the current crisis was even on the radar, ASC cut expenses, then in January reduced funds available for grants by 50%, according to ASC President Jeep Bryant. Concurrently, the organization requested a funding increase from the city and county while pursuing resources in the

For many Charlotteans, COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, went from abstraction to stark reality on March 17, when Gov. Cooper ordered the statewide closure of bars and restaurants, allowing them only to serve takeout.

Before that, the Charlotte arts community saw a trickle of cancelations from touring exhibitions turn to a stream of local museum and theater closures to a deluge of shows and performances shutting down or postponing at least through March, and now longer for most venues and organizations.

If anyone doubted the severity of the pandemic, harboring hopes that venues could stay open as long as they limited the number of patrons to under 50, Cooper’s order to practice social distancing in order to “flatten the curve” of the coronavirus outbreak served as the nail in the coffin.

Flexibility in the JIM DUKES (LEFT) AND CINDY CONNELLY OF CHARLOTTE ART LEAGUE. face of the unexpected PHOTO BY CHANDLER SNIPE is part and parcel of running an arts organization, private sector. offers K. Liles, co-founder of community-centered “All of this effort is now under intense pressure nonprofit SouthEnd ARTS, but this is different. in light of the widespread community challenges we “No one expects the world to shut down,” Liles face,” Bryant says. says.

Due to the closure of facilities and prohibitions COVID-19 and Charlotte’s response to the on public gatherings, organizations and individuals disease marks an unprecedented paradigm shift for supported by ASC are now hit with the immediate the city’s arts organizations, large and small, many cessation of revenue, he continues. The sudden loss of which were already financially stressed by the

of income affects not just artists, but administrators, community development nonprofit CrossRoads, on scientists, historians and educators as well.

April 2; and a South End gallery crawl on April 3.

For their part, ASC has suspended all in-person SouthEnd ARTS, which focuses on giving events and programs, but they are not alone in the a platform to local artists who otherwise go region-wide arts shutdown. Blumenthal Performing overlooked, had planned to curate 12 juried artists in Arts Center has suspended all events through April 12. an exhibit that would show during the two events, “No one knows if that will be enough,” says giving them exposure while building cultural Blumenthal President and CEO Tom Gabbard as a caveat. “Only time will tell.”

If state officials call for a longer period of closure, Blumenthal will comply, Gabbard adds.

Compounding the economic instability triggered by the pandemic is the previous uncertainty engendered by the loss of proposed art tax revenue.

Blumenthal was already expecting a reduction of funding from the ASC. “It was uncertain how much since the city and county have been reviewing the situation,” Gabbard K. LILES (LEFT) WITH SOUTHEND ARTS ALUM ELISHA CUTTER. says.

PHOTO BY CARLENE ORTIZ At SouthEnd ARTS, Liles is also dealing with uncertainty over ASC funding, a bridges in the community. Now Liles is hoping to situation that preceded the current outbreak. In the pay the artists impacted by her canceled events, and wake of the art tax defeat, ASC told SouthEnd ARTS she’s not sure if ASC can help her out. they were working hard to provide funding for the In lieu of that funding stream, Liles is seeing cultural organizations already supported under their if she can support the artists for the next 30 days umbrella, Liles offers. on SouthEnd ARTS’ Instagram account. Virtual art “We were never told directly if this was going to exhibits may be one way out of the current health impact us,” Liles continues. crisis shutdown, Liles maintains, a way to get Based on her public health degree, Liles has exposure and revenue to the artists who need it. recommended to her board that SouthEnd ARTS Not all arts organizations have been equally shut down for April and possibly May. affected by ASC’s revenue shortfall. On Raleigh The nonprofit has already canceled two events at Street in NoDa, Charlotte Art League’s (CAL) Cindy the Charlotte Trolley Powerhouse on Camden Road: Connelly and Jim Dukes say that due to the timing of a Social Justice Speaker Series featuring Tiffany grant cycles, they won’t know about organizational Capers, executive director of affordable housing and sources of funding until July 1.

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ARTS FEATURE Regardless of how that plays out, CAL community manager Dukes says individual organizations in Charlotte’s arts community need to change and realize they can’t rely on grants.

CAL Executive Director Connelly agrees, pointing out that the League has pivoted from being a fine arts gallery when it launched 55 years ago to a more communitycentered resource, diversifying to serve the underserved, and offering classes for older adults and veterans.

“We’re [also] recontextualizing our space for healing arts [and] education,” Dukes offers.

Given that, the nonprofit’s business model relies on programs, classes and events to get people through the door. Can they pivot to survive in Charlotte’s postcoronavirus shut down?

“We’re going to see [the crisis] reflected in our revenue,” says Connelly, “but it’s exciting because we get to come up with new and creative ways on how to address these problems.”

Connelly says they’ve closed their galleries to the public, and canceled events for March and possibly April, too. Like Liles, CAL is looking to its online presence as a way to showcase creatives’ artwork.

They also plan on working with spoken word artists to disseminate product into the community, which may inspire other artists, Dukes offers.

“We have a product to sell for our artists, but we also have a unique obligation as artists to be documentarians,” Dukes maintains. “We’re in a unique time right now. Years from now we’ll look back on this through social media and say, ‘Remember how we ran out of toilet paper? How stupid was that?’”

Connelly interjects that the nonprofit has had to think outside the box since its inception.

“This is kind of par for the course for us,” she says.

Dupp & Swat is a creative studio launched

by Davita Galloway and her brother Dion nearly a decade ago. It’s an art gallery, a retail space for designers and a rental venue for photo shoots, open mics, book signings, theatre rehearsals and more.

Davita says Dupp & Swat has been unaffected by

offers. “We’ve always had to exploit nontraditional methods.”

Like Liles, Connelly and Dukes, the Galloway siblings are weighing digital options for disseminating and monetizing art, including ramping up online marketing for the products they usually sell in their studio.

While stressing the challenges of creating a new arts and commerce paradigm, Galloway doesn’t dismiss the severity of the current crisis. Several of her artist friends have lost substantial incomes, she says.

“One person in particular lost four months of income in a matter of 15 minutes due to canceled gigs, so it’s very real,” she says.

Everyone is trying to keep their heads above water at this point, Galloway believes, and that makes the reliance on community doubly important.

Counterintuitively, community gatherings are one thing we’ve all been warned against. In the meantime, social distancing, while necessary to minimize the severity of the pandemic, will increase isolation and economic stagnation.

No one knows what the ripple effects of the coronavirus will be, Gabbard says, but we can be sure they will be massive.

“Broadway, London, national tours and performances in Charlotte are interconnected,” he offers. “This is a seismic disruptor for all facets of our community, including the arts.”

Bryant points out that the economic impact of the nonprofit arts and culture sector in CharlotteMecklenburg is around $242 million annually, and the loss of revenue due to the cancellation of programming and activities in that sector will be felt across the county.

Furthermore, it may be a long time before artists and contract workers will be able to book a paying gig, he says.

“This won’t be over in two months,” Liles agrees.

“It’s a worldwide situation and we have to be fast on our feet.”

She hopes the arts community can develop a common voice to help the city understand that art is necessary, especially in times of trial.

“If we’re going to grow economically, we’re going to need the arts culture to be strong.”

PMORAN@QCNERVE.COM

DAVITA GALLOWAY PHOTO BY WILL JENKINS

ASC’s post-art tax revenue shortfall.

“We didn’t receive many grant monies to begin with,” Galloway says. “Everything that we’ve done, we’ve created by ourselves or from generous donors in the community.”

As an independent arts organization, Dupp & Swat has keenly felt the revenue loss due to government limitations on the number of people who can gather at events, Galloway maintains. She says she’s been reimbursing customers for the past several days while artists cancel or postpone their events.

“By the same token, we’re having to level up and be more creative in how we present ourselves,” she

Connect with free arts and culture experiences for all ages, close to home.

CULTURE

BLOCKS

Find upcoming events at ArtsAndScience.org/CultureBlocks

MUSIC FEATURE COME TOGETHER IN ISOLATION

Partners (CCCP) to strengthen the Queen City’s creative landscape, has turned its platform into a promotion tool with virtual tip jars to help local musicians get by in this trying time. On March 22, the team launched the #MusicAnywhereCLT Virtual Concert Series, which allows local musicians to schedule and perform livestream shows and get paid for them online.

shop for creatives to see that other people are doing these streams and plan in accordance with them.

Music Anywhere will also plug each artist’s Venmo, PayPal or other payment preference to allow fans to support from afar.

“We’ve seen success with streams at 2 a.m. and at 10 a.m., so it doesn’t always have to be in the

their own respective spaces to raise money for the Muse.

The event came as a touching surprise to Muse owner Joe Kuhlmann, who is still focused on helping others despite the dire situation his venue faces.

“Helping others right now is my go-to and, over time, seeking the best strategy,” Kuhlmann said.

Local music scene adapts to a quarantine

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BY SHEILA WARD

As the COVID-19 virus has shut down venues and kept most of us (the responsible ones) inside, local musicians are using their quarantine time wisely, dropping new music and setting up virtual events to benefit those who will be hit hardest in the scene. From a 24-hour stream-a-thon to a full lineup of local artists hosting a virtual showcase, the Charlotte community has chosen to rise to the occasion instead of surrendering.

Though participating in these live streams with some of your favorite local musicians is an enjoyable distraction, the damage the music scene is shouldering is indisputable.

Local musician Johnny Moss, formerly of Dirty South Revolutionaries and currently working as a tour manager for different acts, said it best in a Facebook post. Since March 11, Moss has lost $10,000 in income due to canceled tours. On March 16, he made the following post: “The impact has been fully felt on the music industry. If you think this is just a bunch of musicians you’re WAY off. This is managers, lawyers, drivers, techs, sound men, merchandise distribution, bouncers, roadies, bartenders, barbacks, venue owners, equipment companies, instrument companies (like guitar center), retailers, cashiers, Big truck companies and rentals, bus companies, manufacturers, landlords, rental companies, truck rental companies, security companies, staffing companies, booking agencies, photographers, videographers, T shirt and merch printers, CD and Vinyl manufacturers, DJs, record labels, alcohol companies, breweries, door people, catering, janitorial, mechanics, lighting, hospitality workers, truck part manufacturers, hotels and motels and even more jobs than I can think of. All effected.

This entire industry is basically GROUNDED from the artist on stage to the wedding DJ to the guy who fuels the buses at the garage. This is millions and millions in income for us, we are all losing weeks and weeks of work.”

It’s for the above reasons that Music Everywhere, an organization launched by Charlotte Center City

PHIL PUCCI (SECOND FROM THE RIGHT) WITH PULLOVER WHEN THEY WERE ALLOWED OUTSIDE.

“This was definitely not on the agenda, as so much of the effort has been on the spaces and people,” said Rick Thurmond, senior vice president with CCCP, currently working with Music Everywhere.

“I was seeing some things pop up in other cities … and seeing other musicians and bands do their thing. How can we amplify those efforts?”

Music Everywhere will also continue to use its newsletter to help members of the music community apply for relief funds and find links to other resources. The hope is to support musicians, gig workers, hourly workers and everyone behind the scene.

Thurmond admitted that there was clearly a need on multiple fronts to provide an outlet and help musicians any way they could.

“We were thoughtful about building [Music Anywhere] even after all of this, whatever that looks THE EVENING MUSE like,” said Thurmond. “We’re already talking about new layers for parents trying to homeschool kids, music teachers at home, that piece of the community.”

Music Anywhere is meant to be a scheduling and marketing tool for artists, who can set up a time to perform through the calendar and let CCCP promote the virtual gig. It is meant to be a one-stop

PHOTO BY SAMANTHA PRESTA

The March 22 event was one way to help The Evening Muse stay afloat, but Kuhlmann is advocating for the community’s mental and emotional health first. After all, he’s the one who launched R U OK, CLT?, a monthly event focusing on mental health in Charlotte’s creative scenes.

“Music is a huge cure of ailments, but it’s best once we’re in the thick of it, walking to the shallow end of the pool,” Kuhlmann said. “Things could get crazier and tougher; that’s when the real work begins.”

Through every possible device, Kuhlmann is advising his community “to get rest, journal, write down thoughts” and steer clear of “swimming in their heads.”

“I have avoided watching some of the live streams because it makes me want to be at the club,” admitted Kuhlmann. “Where I find my solace is doing my work, staying active, and finding things to do, and by reaching out and staying connected. Try to talk to people outside of your community, people you may not necessarily have the deepest connection with, but on a peripheral level. Those need to PHOTO BY JUSTIN LAFRANCOIS be tended to as well. Let everybody know what they mean to you. That’s the biggest lesson the virus is teaching us.” shutdowns.

A possible light at the end of the tunnel is the In an act of admiration for the Charlotte institution, local musician Dane Page coordinated creative output the recommended quarantine will the Virtual Songwriter’s Round, a live stream with produce. Musicians across the city are channeling fellow singer/songwriters Ross Adams, Alexa their restless energy into their own art, and some Jenson, George Banda and Sam Tayloe of Time are being showcased on the increasingly popular Sawyer. Each artist streamed half-hour slots from live streams. evening,” said Thurmond. “There are a lot of ways to get music out there.”

The Music Anywhere rollout came just as five local musicians were putting on a virtual concert to help benefit The Evening Muse and the employees there who will be impacted most by the COVID-19

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MUSIC FEATURE

R&B singer Autumn Rainwater has been making the most of her quarantine.

On March 20, she held an impromptu Instagram Live show for fans, the same day she dropped a three-track EP titled Cloudy with local producer Simon SMTHNG. “It was mostly for me, something to keep me sane,” Rainwater said of her flurry of activity. “I’ve been in here recording, I’ve been trying to keep busy, because it’s easy to have cabin fever in moments like this, so I’m just trying to stay as creative as possible.”

Rainwater held the “red-light show” on Instagram Live in lieu of the canceled Thuggishness show, an annual celebration of local rap and R&B scheduled for Snug Harbor on March 21.

Rainwater referenced the fact that Elevator Jay also canceled his monthly Player Made show scheduled for March 13 at Snug, but he’s been

“Each time someone bought something from our Bandcamp page, I shouted them out and played them a quick song that I thought they would like.

Phil Pucci, frontman for Charlotte indie-rock It was so fun and it was also massively successful. five-piece Pullover, has seen life as we know it shift The money we made went directly to my bandmates in multiple ways. who just lost their jobs.”

“At a musician level, I’m blown away by how It has been that attitude of generosity that has quickly the community is adapting,” said Pucci. “I’m driven Charlotte to thrive on the overarching theme seeing tons of live-stream concerts and a wave of new of helping everyone in and out of their own circles. music being released … There are a lot of people out Still, Thurmond recognizes that even with all these there, including myself, who are fortunate enough musicians coming together, that doesn’t make it to be working from home, and it’s crucial that we any easier for the people who are out of regular support the arts financially right now.” paychecks or show money.

Pullover released their latest piece of work, “It’s going to be hard,” he warned. “People are Forever, on February 7th, followed by a quick tour of hurting. The sudden stop is what’s hard, and not the U.S. Just as COVID-19 was on the rise, the band knowing when it will end. But the diversity of the was visiting cities that were seeing some of the first people involved in the scene is our strength.” hits from the virus.

Kuhlmann’s vision for the future is slightly “We found out about how different but similar in bad COVID-19 was, and how its origin. It involves likely it was to spread globally, rehumanizing the culture while we were together in and generating more the van, reading news reports communication, recognizing on our phones,” remembered that everyone has a story and Pucci. “It was like ‘Hey guys, a struggle. people have tested positive “Lead with your heart. for coronavirus in Texas,’ as Feel your emotion. [This virus] we were on our way to Dallas. reminds us all why we are And right before our show in human,” Kuhlmann believes.

Atlanta, we found out about “Ten to 15 years down the positive cases at the Atlanta road, we’ll be able to look back airport. It was eerie. I was AUTUMN RAINWATER IS STUCK INSIDE. PHOTO BY WILL JENKINS and realize this was a shift. A opening doors with my sleeve cultural shift towards looking and this was well before there were any substantial keeping his online presence up just the same. out for one another. A shift towards being kinder, talks of a quarantine.”

“He’s been posting all of his music, reminding and more human. That’s what I’m looking forward The band wrapped up their trek at the end of everybody, ‘I’ve got all these projects out,’ which I to … Being on the backside, and using this time to February, only days before the nation underwent a think is good for all artists to do for their sake and learn.” massive wave of major event cancelations. for the audience,” she said. “Keeping the consistency This underlying message will prove itself “Outside of musicians though, my friends at up is what is helping these artists keep their effective once we do reach the other side. Charlotte’s Petra’s and other Charlotte venues are also out of momentum, so when all of this is over, I already music scene, from the venues to the people who work, which is heartbreaking,” Pucci said. “There is a know Player Made is going to be nuts the first time help them operate, will be at the cusp of an healthy ecosystem in Charlotte that revolves around we get to come out the house. I just hope that the energized city once again so long as the foundation live music — bartenders, sound techs, door people, local community is looking at this as a positive thing of its rebuilding is selfless. graphic designers, security, promoters, venue and not so much a negative thing, just trying to “I feel immensely optimistic about it. However, owners, tour managers, record labels, etc. — and make sugar out of shit, I guess.”

I do have serious concerns,” said Pucci. “It would right now it’s bleeding.”

On March 20, Bandcamp waived all artist fees be devastating to lose music venues if there isn’t a Despite the dreary rhetoric in the news and the for 24 hours, allowing artists like Autumn Rainwater proper rent/mortgage freeze and they aren’t able constant reminder of our unprecedented situation, and Simon SMTHNG, who also released a three- to survive more than a month or two of this. But the band is finding ways to stay connected. Pullover track solo EP titled OBSIDIAN on the same day, to despite that, the music will never stop. Pullover is has been working on a “Tiny Desk-esque version” of drop new music and sell merch free of charge to stay fresh off of a tour where we played in great music their record — that is if Pucci can figure out iMovie. connected with fans. cities like Nashville, Austin and New Orleans, and “I haven’t learned how to do anything new since Pucci used the opportunity to cross-connect while those places were great, more than anything I was 17 so in all likelihood it will never come out,” Pullover’s online following between Bandcamp and else, I was constantly thinking about how incredible joked Pucci.

Instagram.

Charlotte’s scene is. So even when things are at their Other musicians are using the moment to their “I basically hosted a one-man telethon via most grim, I know there will always be incredible advantage as well. Temporarily out of her full-time Instagram Stories to try to drive sales,” he said. music coming out of our city.” job as a manager at Buffalo Exchange, Charlotte

Most importantly, however, Pucci reminded us that the only action we can take to try to stop COVID-19 in its tracks is to take no action at all.

“Everyone needs to stay the heck home and isolate so this has a chance of blowing over relatively soon,” he said.

And while you’re at it, take a break from the depressing news on TV and check out what your favorite local artist is up to online, you just might find yourself at a great gig from the comfort of your couch.

To learn more about how to get involved or schedule a show through Music Anywhere, visit facebook.com/musiceverywhereclt.

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FOOD & DRINK FEATURE SURVIVING THE SHUTDOWN

Restaurant workers face mass layoffs and community disconnect

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BY AMBER DONOGHUE

People who work in the service industry are accustomed to a life with less. We miss holidays, birthdays, weddings and weekends. We work in conditions that would terrify OSHA (a bar stool is a ladder, right?). Often we live alone because we can’t maintain relationships due to the hours that we work and lifestyles we keep. People who work in the service industry are accustomed to a life with less; but not a life without.

Recently our field has taken a hit never before seen in my lifetime, or for generations before that.

On Tuesday, March 17, Gov. Roy Cooper shut down bars and restaurants, limiting them to takeout service to help curb the spread of the COVID-19 virys. States around the country have made similar orders. It’s estimated that the country’s unemployment rate could reach 20% by the end of the month, and a huge amount of those people are restaurant workers and others in the food and beverage industry.

According to the North Carolina Restaurant Association, 481,900 people were employed in restaurant and foodservice jobs in 2019, accounting for 11% of employment in the state.

In the 12th congressional district, which covers all of Mecklenburg County except Matthews and Mint Hill, more than 35,000 people worked in the industry last year.

In 2018, North Carolina restaurants made an estimated $21.4 billion in sales.

And yet on March 17, we lost our ability to serve the people, and thousands are now suffering because of it. There are already rumors swirling about restaurants and bars that won’t be coming back from this stretch, and as the number of cases continues to rise, expect plenty of permanent closures to be made official.

Bartenders, servers, cooks, dishwashers, food runners, hostesses, bouncers and barbacks

everywhere are out of work. Those are the people you think of first when you think about the closing of bars and restaurants. But what about the farmer, the baker, the brewer, the fishmonger, the cheesemonger and all the others down the

enjoy providing a space for people to feel as though they can be who they are without expectations — beyond paying their bill when they leave.

Hospitality is my love language, and ever since COVID-19 has found its way to the doorstep of my

it’s heartbreaking that people have lost their venues for escape. Folks are missing out on their safe havens. They can’t get away from their jobs, children, roommates, or TVs. There is no break.

In the 50’s going out for a meal was a luxury.

Today it’s become a part of our daily lives, and it took a crisis like this to make us realize it.

Now food and beverage workers are left to sort things out on their own, but at least they have each other.

“It’s comforting to know that everyone is in the same boat,” Freshlist owner Jesse Leadbetter says with reservation.

While that may sound strange to some, it’s truly a comfort in an industry as tightknit as food and beverage, and for Freshlist, collaboration has been key since the beginning.

Since 2013, Freshlist’s mission has been to build a better food system by connecting the community with fresh, wholesome food from local farmers. They’ve done this primarily by cultivating a product list from participating farmers — a local version of larger suppliers AMANDA CRANFORD PREPARES TAKEOUT ORDERS AT PAPER PLANE. PHOTO BY RYAN PITKIN like Sysco or US Foods. But now Leadbetter is shifting the model. food production line? They work in service, too. community, I have been unable to express that in In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, Freshlist The ripple effect spreading across the industry is my workplace, which feels more like home than is looking to expand its capacity by offering a immeasurable. the four walls I’m confined to now. home-delivery service (we had a similar thought People get into the food and beverage industry I agree that we shouldn’t be going to work. here at Queen City Nerve). for a variety of Leadbetter has been reasons. Maybe they working with Dukes started working Bread, Enderly Coffee, the in high school and ABC board, and other new never left “the life.” partners to come up with Maybe a longtime creative ways to survive love for cooking in a troubled climate. turned into a “Anything to expand the profession. Some model,” he says. folks have a criminal It’s one way to keep record and can’t find his business moving after work elsewhere. orders dropped 75% in Whatever brought less than a week, and a them here, they’ve way to help bring food joined a family, within to the doors of customers their respective doing their best to social establishments and distance at home.

CHEF JAY POUND (LEFT) AND BEVERAGE DIRECTOR KEL MINTON OF SOUL GASTROLOUNGE. as part of a national “All of a sudden the PHOTO BY JUSTIN SMITH network in which way people shop has people across the country share the same struggles and The most important job in the service industry changed,” he says. “We are just going to have to get joys of the job. is to not kill anyone. We need to be proactive creative about distribution.”

I got into hospitality because I love to serve. I about the pandemic that we’re facing. However, It will take some adaptation from customers, as

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FOOD & DRINK FEATURE

well. Leadbetter points out that many of the farmers who grow specifically to supply for chef-driven plates can struggle to sell those same ingredients to your average resident cooking at home.

“We’ve got a lot of farmers in trouble. We’ve got a lot of chefs in trouble,” he says. “Some of these farmers only grow microgreens and that’s a hard sell to the average consumer. It’s time for local food to really shine!”

Paper Plane Deli & Market owner Amanda Cranford is a new business owner dealing with the challenges of COVID - 19. Cranford opened the Belmont neighborhood grab-and-go (or dine-in when we are all healthy again) on March 14th with a mission statement that we should all keep in mind: Simple. Convenient. Kind.

The order to shut down dine-in service came just three days after Paper Plane opened to the public, but Cranford is still brimming with positive energy.

“I’m new ... and the support for my little bar/ bodega/hipster stop ‘n’ shop has been amazing,” she says. The market aspect of the eatery doesn’t hurt any.

On top of takeout, there are prepackaged sandwiches, six-packs of beer, wine, bread, ramen bowls and any number of other things to choose from.

Cranford has been handing out free rolls of toilet paper with any purchase since the pandemic hit Charlotte, in light of runs on TP at the grocery store down the street. A statewide restaurant shutdown occurring just days after a grand opening could mean a short-lived business venture for some, but Cranford doesn’t plan on going anywhere.

“I didn’t want to be a part of the community just to immediately abandon it,” she says.

Cranford stands in the company of many local food service professionals in Charlotte who are doing their best to grin and bear it “It’s a bit beyond stressful,” says Kel Minton, beverage director at Soul Gastrolounge and KIKI Bistro in Plaza Midwood.

Minton is a husband and father, and his salary provides for the entire household. He says he’s prepared to make it through April, having already paid his bills and mortgage, “but once May 1 hits, I just don’t know. That’s another story.”

Bartenders are mix and pour drinks, of course, but their real talent lies in providing advice and peace of mind to those with fears, doubts, questions.

They are the therapists of the service industry, and

their insights are needed now more than ever.

During our interview, Minton kept sliding back into that role naturally. He said he wants everyone to remember that we’re all part of a community, as hard as that can be to do when we’re bunkered down in our respective homes. He pointed out that, rather than hoarding groceries, we should be considerate of those who maybe can’t make it to the store until later. Or if you see something with a WIC tag on it, choose an alternative so as not to further limit the options of folks with WIC vouchers.

“This thing is not just hitting service industry people. It’s people,” he says. “It’s all of us, ya know?

This is the time to realize that you are a part of the community and we need to do our part.”

It’s not hard to see why people like Minton end up in service.

Local restaurants continue to serve takeout and offer curbside service to survive, as is the case with renowned Charlotte chef Greg Collier and hife wife Subrina’s new restaurant Leah & Louise, which was scheduled to open in Camp North End on March 20. Those plans were shut down, quite literally, by Cooper’s order, but the Colliers and their crew have made the best of it, offering online ordering and curbside pickup in the evenings.

The community has stepped up, with a national website called ServiceIndustry.Tips allowing residents to tip out-of-work bartenders and other restaurant workers when they drink at home. The Charlotte website allows you to spread love to hundreds of local industry folks as they wait out the storm. (Find that at tinyurl.com/CharlotteTips) As I said before, people who work in service know how to live with less. We can make things, grow things, share things. We provide. We are hospitable and we’re going to take care of each other. We’re going to step up for each other and we’re going to be innovative in our tactics. All we ask is that you consider who you spend your resources on during this time.

If you need a hot meal and don’t want to cook, call the neighborhood spot for a pick-up order. If you run out of coffee, stop by the local shop and grab a bag, and maybe a latte, too. Skip the violent grocery store experiences and hit the farmers market or order from a local grocer. We still want to take care of people in the safest way possible. And as far as our financials go ... we’re used to being put “in the weeds,” as they say. We’re going to get through this.

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BUNKERED DOWN ON THE HOME FRONT

These thoughts are coming from inside the house

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BY LIZ LOGAN

This morning I laid in bed, tossing and turning as the sun slowly seeped in, fighting my hour-long battle with the snooze button because why the hell get up so early?

Groggily as I sat up and wandered into the kitchen to start the coffee, my mind picked up where the previous nights’ thoughts left off : What’s next?

In the brief stillness of the morning, before anyone else was awake, I began checking in with friends, sending tearful texts as I recounted all the times I’ve avoided interacting because I was too tired, too busy, too disinterested. Selfish, really. And now, we all sit in our separate houses, mourning the loss of routine. I messaged my dad to see how he was doing. “Shitty,” he said.

As I’m writing this, it’s been about a week since rumors began swirling about schools closing and offices going remote. A few weeks prior I’d bought plane tickets to a handful of places, cashing in on what I took to be a disproportionate COVID-19 scare. A few months before that I half-heartedly listened as the coronavirus emerged in China, largely ignoring this continents-away problem.

If I switch off NPR, it’s not real. We’ll be fine. Italy was on lockdown. China was wearing masks. European countries couldn’t travel. But we were fine. And my life kept turning.

It was perhaps my perpetual optimism (or more likely my covert belief that if I avoid it, it’s not real) that kept me believing this could never happen to us. Then the rumors became reality. Schools would close for half of the week and an entire week following. Then they would close through March. Restaurants were limited to serving takeout, with rumors of more drastic measures to come.

Yesterday, after a long day of working from home with a tired 3-year-old, we packed up the stroller drove to Freedom Park, passing hordes of bikers and runners filling their time outdoors to avoid the stir-crazy feelings of inside. We pulled in behind a long line of street-parked family cars and unloaded only to reload a few moments into our walk because being out and about with so many people left us feeling uneasy and irresponsible.

“Maybe we’ll try again tomorrow,” we told our daughter.

So this morning, after my few solitary moments, she woke up, eager to revisit our plans for the park and asked, “Is everyone better now? Are all the friends not sick anymore?” With tears in my eyes, I hugged her as I shook

my head, “I don’t know, baby.”

Admittedly I’m not good in the unknown, which is likely why in times of question I keep my head down and keep moving forward, paying attention only to what lies directly ahead. I’m afraid us being alone in our house indefinitely. I’m uneasy about the unknown timing of it all. My previous avoidance of the news has now turned into an almost morbid curiosity as I read about restaurant closings, halted businesses, and the unstable economy. Yet somehow, amidst my own internal line of questioning, I have to show up for my kids who are also seeing their routines disrupted.

In the beginning, when this felt far more benign, I was optimistic, even excited about what this could mean: Rest! Sweatpants! Remote days! A break! Now I’m in a steady cycle of panic and gratitude. I’m both encouraged and saddened by yoga instructors streaming classes online from an empty room, trying desperately to keep their remote participants in good spirits. I’m amazed at the strength of small business screaming from every platform, “Order takeout!” “Buy online!” “Grab gift cards!” and people are doing it — we are really showing up for one another, y’all, and that is a beautiful thing.

What’s kept me going and out of a spiral is the beautiful opportunity we have to be still and be supportive. How often is everyone forced inside with their families or roommates or in solitude? Though I cannot write this without acknowledging those in unsafe spaces, those of us privileged enough to self-quarantine have an amazing opportunity on our hands to reconnect. School, work, sports, sleepovers, internet, T.V. ... distraction after distraction clouds our interactions. The assumption that tomorrow will be the same as yesterday leads us into complacency as we take for granted what we have right before our eyes. And now, we have nothing else to look at but each other.

So if you’re sad, fearful, alone — meditate, pet your dog, call your therapist (or sign up for one online), journal, talk, play games, do a puzzle, binge watch British crime dramas. Do things that bring you joy. Connect to you. Connect to your kids. Those arguments over dirty dishes? They don’t matter. Annoyances at your partner?

Let that shit go.

We are all isolated together and y’all, we can come out better. This is a time for cleansing, of staying safe, of leaning into one another and connecting deeply. Drink tea, load up on Vitamin C, hop on the elderberry train.

Care for you and care for each other.

There are the jokes and the memes and the cries for help about working from home to the tune of screaming toddlers and disgruntled teens, but damn, we’re all doing it. And I’m finding some kind of solace in the communal aspect of our collective struggle; though we are all in our houses (y’all better be in your damn houses), we are not alone.

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LIFESTYLE

HOROSCOPE MAR 25 - MAR 31 ARIES (March 21 to April 19) A pesky health

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) You should be ARIES (March 21 to April 19) An unexpected

back on schedule and heading in the right direction after clearing up a misunderstanding. But there could still be some setbacks. If so, correct them immediately.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Look for Bovines to be on the move this week, whether it’s traveling for fun or for business. Other “moves” include workplace adjustments and, for some, relationship changes.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) A business TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) An unsettling

matter keeps you pretty busy, but try to squeeze in time to be with family as well as close friends. You need the good vibrations you get from people who care for you.

situation seems to be taking forever to be resolved.

Fortunately, your Bovine aptitude for patience is strong this week, so you’ll be more than able to wait it out.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) As much as you enjoy being right when others are not, show your generous side by offering to use what you know to everyone’s benefit. This way, you gain admirers and avoid resentment.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21)

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Taking a stand

against an uncalled-for situation involving a friend or co-worker isn’t easy, but somehow you’ll rise to the challenge and do it. Rely on advice from someone you trust.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) This is a good week for the Archer to aim at healing relationships. Whether it’s at home, at work or among your friends, get everyone to set things straight and make a fresh start.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) A romantic situation CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) seems to have stalled, just when the Moon Child was expecting it to go forward. Could that be a bad case of miscommunication going on. Talk it over openly and honestly.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) There are still some

Someone close to you might have an unexpected reaction to a decision you feel you’re prepared to make. Listen to his or her point of view. It could prove to be surprisingly helpful.

questions on all sides that need to be dealt with in order to allow hurt feelings to heal. Get your workplace tasks done early so that you can devote more time to loved ones.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19)

LEO (July 23 to August 22) Showing a genuine

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Don’t

LEO (July 23 to August 22) Consider a new spring

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Aspects favor positive action to reclaim your ideas from someone who might want the glory without doing any of the work. Expect to find many people rallying to support you.

Investing in an attractive prospect (business or personal) with little or no information can be risky.

Avoid future problems by getting all the facts before you act.

problem should be handled as quickly as possible so that it doesn’t cause too much of a delay.

Someone who knows what you’re facing could provide needed advice.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Creating

problem should clear up soon. Meanwhile, travel — both for personal as well as for business reasons — is strong in the Aries aspect this week, and well into the next.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Geminis who have just gone through a hectic period involving job and/ or family matters might want to take some wellearned time out to relax and restore those drained energy levels.

Pg. 19 MAR 25- APR 7, 2020 - QCNERVE.COM

APR 1 - APR 7

Although you like things done your way, this is a good time to listen to ideas from others. You might even find yourself agreeing with one or more of their suggestions.

interest in something that’s important to a friend, family member or colleague could open a communication line that had been pretty much shut down for a while.

give up yet. That once warm, personal relationship that seems to be cooling off fast could recover with some tender, loving care, and who better than you to provide it?

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Making a

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Career matters VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Some stormy, PISCES (February 19 to March 20) You might feel

potentially life-changing decision takes as much knowledge as you can gather, plus determination and patience. Take your time working it out. Don’t let anyone rush you.

are strong this week. You might want to enter a training program to enhance your skills. Also, consider getting professional help in preparing a brilliant resume.

makeover that will show all you Leos and Leonas in your best light. A new hairdo and some fashionable new clothes can help put a fresh glow on your image.

more balance in your life is especially important now so that you’re not distracted when you get into projects that will make demands on both your physical and mental energies.

emotional weather can blow up in the workplace when an irate co-worker has strong words for you.

But if you believe right is on your side, you’ll be able to ride it out.

BORN THIS WEEK: You have a way of respecting the feelings of others, which is one reason people feel comfortable having you in their lives.

uneasy about taking that step forward at work or in your private life. But who knows better than you that while treading water keeps you afloat, it doesn’t get you anywhere.

BORN THIS WEEK: You have a way of creating positive attitudes and making people feel good about themselves.

2020 KING FEATURES SYND., INC.

Pg. 20 MAR 25- APR 7, 2020 - QCNERVE.COM

LIFESTYLE PUZZLES

LIFESTYLE PUZZLES SUDOKU

BY LINDA THISTLE

PLACE A NUMBER IN THE EMPTY BOXES IN SUCH A WAY THAT EACH ROW ACROSS, EACH COLUMN DOWN AND EACH SMALL 9-BOX SQUARE CONTAINS ALL OF THE NUMBERS ONE TO NINE. ©2020 King Feautres Syndicate, Inc. All rights reserved.

TRIVIA TEST

BY FIFI RODRIGUEZ

1. TELEVISION: Which show was a spinoff of the 1970s show “The Six Million Dollar Man”?

2. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which president had a personal retreat at Warm Springs, Georgia?

3. GEOGRAPHY: Which river runs through the city of Paris, France?

4. MOVIES: Who was the young female star of the movie “Firestarter”?

5. SCIENCE: What is the largest living structure on Earth?

6. FIRSTS: Who is the first (and only so far) football player to win the Heisman Trophy twice?

7. HISTORY: How many people were officially executed in the Reign of Terror after the French Revolution?

8. BIBLE: How many proverbs did King Solomon compose?

9. BUSINESS: What is the unit of currency used in South Africa?

10. U.S. STATES: Which three states have four-letter names?

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Sop up 7 Liquor 14 Spins 20 “Amen to that!”

21 Actress Hudgens 22 Abate 23 Start of a riddle 25 Batter’s miss 26 Do wrong 27 Pol with a six-yr. post 28 Me, to Michel 29 Riddle, part 2 31 Pinchpenny 33 Sue Grafton’s “- for Noose” 35 Steak order 36 Riddle, part 3 42 Food holder 46 Goddess with a cow’s head 47 McCartney of fashion 48 Kailua Bay locale 50 Scam 51 Agree (with) 54 “Yoo- -!” (“Hey!”) 55 Paintball need 57 Circus clown - Kelly 59 Riddle, part 4 63 Big-top star 64 DiFranco of folk rock 65 More spiteful 66 “We need assistance!”

69 Used a daggerlike weapon on 73 B followers 74 Wife of Mark Antony 78 Consented to 79 “Nick and -’s Infinite Playlist” (2008 film)

83 Riddle, part 5 89 Wasp variety 90 Suffering 91 Capote, to his buddies 92 With 77-Down, does thorough research on 94 Freezer trayful 95 TV’s Spelling 97 Camera lens settings 100 Exec’s benefit 101 Ohio tire city 103 Riddle, part 6 107 Sitarist Shankar 109 Org. for teachers 110 Coin toss call 111 End of the riddle 115 Lucy of “Kill Bill: Vol. 1” 118 - League college 119 Toward a boat’s back 122 Makes glad 123 Riddle’s answer 127 Declare under oath 128 Source of licorice-flavored oil 129 More prying 130 Sports team letdowns 131 Red - (many Republicans) 132 Modus operandi DOWN 1 “Even - speak ...”

2 Atom studier Niels 3 Movie draw 4 Meal leftover 5 Putin’s land 6 Command 7 “Law & Order: -” 8 Hand part

9 - -European languages 10 Another name for vitamin A 11 Suffix with fool or owl 12 Fearsome fly 13 “Don’t - didn’t warn you!”

14 Inventor Nikola 15 Radiator hoses may lead to them 16 Haifa’s land 17 Harness part 18 Leia’s twin 19 Spurt out 24 “No - to blame” 30 “- little kindness” 31 Capital of Oman 32 Alternative to a 401(k) or a Keogh 34 Envision 36 [not my error] 37 “Time - the essence” 38 Rake part 39 Inert element 40 Pipe problem 41 Ringing sound 43 - acid (vinegar flavorer) 44 Added (up) 45 Not broken 49 Zeus’ sister and wife 52 Stage actress Hagen 53 Pirate’s quaff 56 Syllabus segment 58 Gym floor covering 60 Put in a different sack 61 Mortgage-issuing inst.

62 Ewoks’ forest moon 66 “El Cid” co-star Loren 67 Five - shadow

Pg. 21 MAR 25- APR 7, 2020 - QCNERVE.COM

PG.20 PUZZLE ANSWERS

SOUL RESCUER ©2020 King Feautres Syndicate, Inc. All rights reserved.

68 Person eyeballing 70 Pirate chant starter 71 Artist Georgia 72 Ultimately reach 75 Author Rand 76 From Hanoi 77 See 92-Across 80 Lightning 81 Heady drink 82 “We need assistance!”

84 Small branch 85 Ending for major 86 Yankees slugger, to fans 87 It’s often preheated 88 Nonflowering plant 93 Sun setting 96 Sortie, say 98 Most musty 99 Fishtank pest 102 Speaks bombastically 104 Recite ritually, as a spell 105 Large sofas 106 Air Force pilot, in slang 108 Three-piece pieces 111 Ringing sound 112 Choir range 113 Slum vermin 114 “Pretty - pretty does” 116 Notion, to Jean-Luc 117 “Deutschland - alles” 119 Landed (on) 120 Cut and run 121 Time in office 124 By the agency of 125 Football field units: Abbr.

126 Letter for Superman

LIFESTYLE COLUMN

PG.21 PUZZLE ANSWERS

SAVAGE LOVE

Pg. 22 MAR 25- APR 7, 2020 - QCNERVE.COM

HOLED UP

tive steps to lower our risk of being exposed,” said Dr. Summers, “but there’s still a maddeningly unacceptable shortage of personal protective equipment like masks, Love in the time of corona gowns and gloves nationwide. I hope he has sufficient access to these things. But is there a risk he could get

BY DAN SAVAGE exposed to the virus at work? Definitely.”

Dr. Summers lives with his husband and four My question is on managing “gray area” children and in addition to the precautions he takes at intimacies during the pandemic. I have a lover/ work — where he may be seeing patients with coronafriend that I’ve been hanging out with — fucking, virus (he doesn’t know for sure because tests still aren’t drinking tea, going on hikes, eating ice cream, available) — Dr. Summers strips down to his underwear watching movies, and other activities — for on his front porch of his home when he gets home from about nine months. He’s 36 and was married for work.

His clothes go straight into the washing machine, 10 years and due to that experience he’s been he goes straight into the shower. a bit emotionally “boundaried,” but he’s still “I’m still afraid of bringing it home,” said Dr. really sweet and a good communicator. I’m in Summers.

“But with four kids home from school, my grad school doing a double masters, so the small husband’s sanity depends on my being present as much amount of time we’ve been spending together as I can.

So for me, staying away isn’t an option. That’s has worked well for me. Here’s the issue: he’s also not the case for PDDAD. She has to decide whether the an ER doctor. Do I keep seeing him during this undefinable risk of exposure isn’t worth it. Or, alternapandemic? I just moved to the city where we both tively, she can decide the connection she has with him is live for my grad program and he’s my main source important enough to her own well-being that the risk is for connection, comfort and support here. Every worth it.

But only she can make that decision for herself.” time I see him we both feel tremendously less If you decide the risk of infection is too great — stressed and our connection feels emotionally or if your boyfriend decides the risk of infecting you is healthy. I just know he is bound to be at a huge too great — you can still be there for each other.

You risk for exposure and since he’s not a committed partner and we don’t live together, I don’t know if can Skype and Zoom, you can text and sext, you can leave groceries on his porch and wave to him from the he falls within or outside of my physical distancsidewalk. But if you decide to keep connecting with ing boundary. It seems like the best thing to do each other in person, PDDAD, you should minimize the from a logistical perspective is hole up with my amount of time you spend moving through the city to cat and not see another soul in person until a vaccine is invented or something, but I don’t know get to each other’s places. And that means — emotional boundaries be damned — picking one of your apartwhen that will happen. ments to hole up in together for the duration.

PHYSICAL DISTANCING DO’S AND DON’TS You can follow Dr. Summers on Twitter @WFKARS “This is really a matter of a personal risk/benefit and you can read him at Slate’s Outward. calculation,” said Dr. Daniel Summers, a pediatrician who I’m pro sex workers and believe adults lives and works near Boston. “What PDDAD is willing to should do whatever they consent to, but I’m curiaccept as a risk may be different from what someone ous if that applies during the current pandemic. else would.”

I know of a sex worker who’s still offering himself And there’s definitely a health benefit to getting to clients, who are apparently still hiring him. (He together — we are social animals and isolation is bad regularly posts of his exploits on certain social for us — but your lover is at high risk of infection. And media sites.)

Should the authorities be made when front-line health care providers get infected, they aware of this? tend to get sicker than the average person who gets JUST CONCERNED infected, according to CNN, which is something else you need to factor into your risk/benefit calculation.

If the authorities want to start rounding up Additionally, does your boyfriend’s workplace — I’m reckless idiots who are endangering others, JC, the going to call him your boyfriend for clarity’s sake — beaches of Florida might be a good place to start. Or have the protective gear he needs to minimize his risk of the Oval Office. And if your first impulse is to involve the exposure? authorities then you aren’t “pro sex workers,” JC, because “We’re all doing our best to take as many preventhe authorities — particularly the police — are a

TRIVIA ANSWERS: 1. “The Bionic Woman” 2. Franklin Roosevelt

3. The Seine River 4. Drew Barrymore 5. The Great Barrier Reef

6. Archie Griffin, Ohio State 9. The rand 7. Almost 17,000 10. Ohio, Iowa and Utah 8. 3,000

danger to sex workers. Instead of calling the cops, reach out to this guy on those social media sites and encourage him to see his clients virtually, i.e. instead of face-toface (or face-to-whatever) meetings, he should go full camwhore for the time being. So if you want to want to help, JC, and not just police or shame, you should hire this guy to do an online session. (And everyone should bear in mind that sex workers are suffering right now too because most are being responsible and not seeing clients. Their incomes have plummeted to zero and they aren’t eligible for unemployment benefits.)

friendship to be a priority and then ghosted me immediately after we slept together. My questions: What can I do in the future to avoid this sort of situation? And, while we’re all in lockdown, do you have any advice on how to be hot over video when you’re generally a clumsy spaz?

FEMALE RESENTS INSINCERE EFFORTS NECESSITATING DECEIT

Unfortunately, FRIEND, there’s no surefire way to prevent people from lying to you about being friends in order to get into your pants — virtually or eventually — or to prevent them from changing their minds about being friends once they’ve gotten into your pants. (The former is more likely, but the latter does happen.) Your only options are relying on your bullshit detectors to weed out people you think might be playing you and getting better at shrugging off, blocking, and forgetting the dishonest people who manage to get past your bullshit detectors.

As for tips about being hot on Zoom or FaceTime or Fox Nation or whatever, I’m afraid I can’t help you there, FRIEND, as I am the clumsiest spaz that ever spazzed. I hate having my photo taken and if a room is dark enough for me to feel comfortable getting naked in it, it’s usually too dark for someone else to see me — whether they’re in the same room with me or sitting in front of a computer on the other side of the world. But someone who’s more at ease in front of the camera (and with whom I’m currently quarantined) tells me that slightly dimmed lighting is better than harsh lighting, leaving something on is hotter than taking it all off, and — if you want to maintain your anonymity — keeping your face and any identifying tattoos out of the shot is a good idea.

I’m a queer poly woman and I have a twopart question about sexting/Skype sex. I didn’t used to think twice about shooting off a nude or a nasty text in my twenties and I’ve never have qualms about casual relations. But for me there has always needed to be a baseline of friendship.

After getting burned a bunch of times — especially by straight men (queers and other genders are generally way kinder) — I just wasn’t feeling it anymore. Fast forward a few years, after doing a lot of work I started feeling myself again.

I started talking with a man that I’d met through mutual friends and flirted with a little in the past. I was upfront with him and told him I would be down to get dirty again sometime but needed to build up some form of friendship first.

He enthusiastically agreed and started talking to me about this and that every other day or so.

We were talking about meeting up person when the coronavirus lockdown happened and now my libido has shot through the roof. We ended up exchanging photos and got off on FaceTime together. After that, crickets. I would send an innocuous question and get a two-word response.

Send your questions to mail@savagelove.net; follow I feel really disrespected and used but at the same Dan on Twitter @FakeDanSavage; www.savagelovecast. time I can see how he doesn’t owe me anything. I com was in a similar situation like this before where a man told me that no matter what he wanted our INFO@QCNERVE.COM

Pg. 23 MAR 25- APR 7, 2020 - QCNERVE.COM

THE OUTBREAK OF CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 (COVID-19) MAY BE STRESSFUL FOR PEOPLE. FEAR AND ANXIETY ABOUT A DISEASE CAN BE OVERWHELMING AND CAUSE STRONG EMOTIONS IN ADULTS AND CHILDREN. COPING WITH STRESS WILL MAKE YOU, THE PEOPLE YOU CARE ABOUT, AND YOUR COMMUNITY STRONGER. EVERYONE REACTS DIFFERENTLY TO STRESSFUL SITUATIONS. HOW YOU RESPOND TO THE OUTBREAK CAN DEPEND ON YOUR BACKGROUND, THE THINGS THAT MAKE YOU DIFFERENT FROM OTHER PEOPLE, AND THE COMMUNITY YOU LIVE IN.

 -Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones -Changes in sleep or eating patterns -Difficulty sleeping or concentrating -Worsening of chronic health problems -Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs

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Â? Â -Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media.

Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting.

-Take care of your body. Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate. Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, and avoid alcohol and drugs.

-Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy.

-Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling. Â? Â?

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ONLINE THERAPY OPTIONS

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OPEN PATH COLLECTIVE

A nonprofit that connects people with private practice therapists that choose to participate.

Digital therapy is available for a $59 membership tinyurl.com/opcollective

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PSYCHOLOGY TODAY

An interactive website where users can enter their zip code to find a counseling professional near them online with phone and video options available. tinyurl.com/psychtodayonline €€

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