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The film ( “AMERICAN YAKUZA”) was a co-production between Overseas Filmgroup and Tohokushinsa Film, the latter a Japanese film consortium determined to break into the American marketplace while showcasing Japanese culture and talent. In addition to Mortensen, the film starred Michael Nouri, Robert Forster, Franklyn Ajaye, and Japanese actors Ryo Ishibashi and Yuji Okumoto.

4 The title tells all in “ AZTEC DEATH WHISTLE,” a well-mounted supernatural shocker whose makers — particularly Corin Hardy and screenwriter Owen Egerton — evince an unmistakable affinity and affection for the genre.

7 I don’t want to be on the highway next to someone who is UNQUALIFIED to drive, and I don’t want to be at the polls next to someone who is too uninformed to vote. Both scenarios have dangerous consequences.

8 According to the Greensboro Police Department, VIOLENT CRIME is not more prevalent downtown than elsewhere in the city. Some who live, work, or regularly visit there agree.

11 “ STRAIGHT NO CHASER Beach Bash” plays an Appalachian Summer Festival July 10 at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets on Sale This Spring.

12 It is a known fact that Quakers (Society of Friends) were at the forefront of ABOLITIONISM AMERICA primarily in the 18th and 19th centuries. Abolitionists believed in ending slavery and liberating enslaved individuals, not just in the United States, but around the world.

The resurrection of ‘American Yakuza’

Mark Burger

Richard Clabaugh never saw this day coming. The Florida-born filmmaker, who taught cinematography at the UNCSA School of Filmmaking from 1999-2009 and made the sci-fi blowout “Eyeborgs” (2009) — “the best killer-robot movie ever shot in Winston-Salem,” he likes to say — was just beginning his Hollywood career when he made “American Yakuza” (1993), a sleek crime drama starring a pre-stardom Viggo Mortensen. The film premiered on HBO and released on VHS shortly thereafter. And then … nothing.

For as long as yours truly has known Clabaugh (more than 30 years), he always lamented that “American Yakuza” was never released in the proper format. It was therefore a pleasure to inform him that Arrow Video, which specializes in special editions of cult ﬁlms in all genres, would be releasing the ﬁlm this month. The limited-edition “American Yakuza” ($39.95 retail) includes audio commentary, a collectible booklet, retrospective and vintage interviews, original trailer, and more. For more information, visit https://mvdshop.com/products/ american-yakuza-limited-edition-bluray.

Although it wasn’t the first film he made after moving to Los Angeles, “‘American Yakuza’ is the first movie that I took real pride in shooting and consider it the first one that was really mine to shoot — start to finish,” he said. “We wanted to prove ourselves, and this was our chance to establish our careers and be exceptional.”

Clabaugh speaks also of ﬁrst-time director Frank Cappello and composer David C. Williams, whom he’d previously worked with making commercials and short ﬁlms in Florida. The three moved to California at roughly the same time, attempting to make a name for themselves in mainstream movies. “American Yakuza” was that opportunity.

The film was a co-production between Overseas Filmgroup and Tohokushinsa Film, the latter a Japanese film consortium determined to break into the American marketplace while showcasing Japanese culture and talent. In addition to Mortensen, the film starred Michael Nouri, Robert Forster, Franklyn Ajaye, and Japanese actors Ryo Ishibashi and Yuji Okumoto.

In the ﬁlm, Mortensen plays an undercover FBI agent masquerading as an ex-con who inﬁltrates a high-powered Japanese crime ring and becomes one of its most trusted members, which compromises his integrity. He’s torn between his assignment and his loyalty to the Yakuza, particularly Ishibashi’s character, whose life Mortensen saves early on. It’s only a matter of time before Mortensen’s cover is blown and an allout gang war explodes on the streets of Los Angeles.

Cappello issued the edict that he wanted the ﬁlm to be “gritty but slick,” and that’s precisely what Clabaugh went for, but the full impact of his cinematography was lost on HBO, VHS, and later on DVD because the ﬁlm was shown in a standard “pan-and-scan” format. “We were told letterboxed [widescreen] movies didn’t sell, so it wasn’t even framed correctly,” Clabaugh sighed.

The new Blu-ray has rectiﬁed that. “By and large, I’m very pleased,” he said. “I was the DP [director of photography], so I could nit-pick, and I wish I could’ve been part of the [transfer] process, but

I’m just so glad to see it in high resolution. People now get the chance to see it as we originally intended. I couldn’t be happier about that.”

In addition to the impact it had on his career — he would soon reunite with Overseas Filmgroup/Tokokushinsha Film for “No Way Back” (1994), which featured another up-and-coming superstar, Russell Crowe — Clabaugh has many great memories of “American Yakuza,” particularly working with its leading man.

“You’ve heard of actors giving 100 percent? Well, Viggo gave it 1,000 percent,” Clabaugh said. “Viggo never wanted to be a star; he wanted to be an artist. From the moment we said go, he threw himself into it in every way, shape, and form. He played his part with quiet strength. He delivered. He was a complete professional.”

Not long after, Clabaugh was working on the supernatural thriller “God’s Army,” was later released by Dimension/ Miramax as “The Prophecy” in 1995, and when discussing who could play the small but pivotal role of Lucifer opposite Christopher Walken’s fallen angel Gabriel, he supported Mortensen, whose performance was widely hailed and continued his career upturn, which later included playing Aragorn in Peter Jackson’s blockbuster “Lord of the Rings” trilogy and Oscar nominations for Best Actor in “Eastern Promises” (2007), “Captain Fantastic” (2016), and “Green Book” (2018).

“Viggo deserves every bit of success he’s had and frankly, much more than he’s had,” Clabaugh stated. “He’s got the talent in droves, and I only wish every actor was as thoughtful, considerate, humane, and easy-going as he was to work with. Just a good man.”

He still vividly recalls the screening for cast and crew. “Nobody thought that movie would be as good as it was,” he said. “Expectations were so low, and people were just blown away. Robert Forster, who only worked half a day, shook Frank’s hand and said, ‘Sir, you are an artist.’ We made the movie the producers wanted, and we made it better than they expected! We made work what we didn’t have. Frank had the vision for it, and he trusted me to execute it. Ingenuity, creativity, stylishness — that’s what we brought to it.”

Clabaugh currently works in production and post-production for feature films, including Rod Lurie’s upcoming World War II drama “Lucky Strike” starring Scott Eastwood and Colin Hanks. He’s also got a YouTube channel, The Kinetic Image (https://www.youtube. com/thekineticimage), an online tutorial for aspiring filmmakers in which he also discusses his previous film work (he’ll be doing an “American Yakuza” retrospective shortly). His o cial website is www.richardclabaugh.com !

Contributor

[WEEKLY ARTS ROUNDUP]

VALENTINE’S LATIN DANCE NIGHT AT REYNOLDS PLACE THEATRE

This Valentine’s Day, trade the ordinary dinner date for something a little more electric. Valentine’s Latin Dance Night with SonCaribe featuring West End Mambo invites couples, friends, and dance lovers of all levels to experience a night filled with rhythm, romance, and irresistible Latin energy. Taking place Saturday, Feb. 14 from 7 to 11:30 p.m., this special event transforms the Reynolds Place Theatre, located on the first floor of the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts, into a vibrant dance floor pulsing with live music and passion. Whether you’re celebrating love, friendship, or simply your love of music and movement, this is a Valentine’s night designed to be unforgettable.

The evening kicks o at 7 p.m. with an hour-long Latin dance class, perfect for beginners and seasoned dancers alike. Led by experienced instructors, the class will guide you through essential steps and partner techniques, helping you feel conﬁdent and ready to dance the night away. No prior experience is required just bring comfortable shoes, an open mind, and a willingness to move.

After the class, the lights dim, the energy rises, and the social dance begins. Enjoy a dynamic blend of live music from the acclaimed West End Mambo alongside recorded Latin favorites, creating a rich soundtrack for an evening of salsa, mambo, and more. The live band brings an infectious energy that turns every dance into a shared experience, making it easy to connect with your partner or meet new ones on the dance ﬂoor.

This event is proudly presented by SonCaribe, known for curating welcoming, high quality Latin dance experiences that bring the community together. Whether you arrive with a longtime partner, a ﬁrst date, or a group of friends, you’ll ﬁnd an atmosphere that’s warm, inclusive, and full of life.

The celebration runs for four and a half hours, giving you plenty of time to dance, socialize, and soak in the magic of Valentine’s night done right. Tickets are $24 plus taxes and fees, and can be purchased online at intothearts. org/events.

So grab your Valentine, lace up your dancing shoes, and make this Feb. 14 one to remember. Romance, rhythm, and live Latin music await you in the heart of Winston-Salem. !

Give a little ‘Whistle’

The title tells all in “Aztec Death Whistle,” a wellmounted supernatural shocker whose makers — particularly Corin Hardy and screenwriter Owen Egerton — evince an unmistakable affinity and a ection for the genre. It’s a film by horror fans for horror fans, replete with in-jokes and more than enough gore to satisfy aficionados.

The titular object has found its way into the conﬁnes of Pellington High School, where the star basketball player (Stephen Kalyn) spontaneously combusts in the shower after hitting the game-winning shot. This is just a warm-up, so to speak. Chrys (Dafne Keen), the new girl in town, soon ﬁnds the ancient artifact in her locker, which had previously belonged to the ill-fated hoopster, and the horrors promptly begin anew. Those who hear the whistle blow are doomed to meet a dire fate. Needless to say, someone blows into it — and in doing so, they’ve really blown it.

Stock characters populate “Aztec Death Whistle,” be it the brooding Chrys (short for “Chrysanthemum”), her slacker cousin Rel (Sky Yang), cocky jock Dean (Jhaleil Swaby), blonde bombshell Gracie (Ali Skovbye), or pensive Ellie (Sophie Nélisse), but Egerton has given each character a little more depth and dimension than expected. Most of them, of course, will die — often in spectacular fashion — but they’re likable and wellplayed by an attractive cast. They’re not just fodder for the slaughter.

Hardy and cinematographer Bjorn Charpentier neatly establish the setting and o er some elaborate sequences that are further enhanced by CGI e ects. Pellington, undoubtedly named for “The Mothman Prophecies” director Mark Pellington, is a grim steel town perennially shrouded in mist and shadows, and the local mill (named for “RoboCop” helmer Paul Verhoeven) where the gruesome climax takes place is something out of

“Dante’s Inferno.” Given what transpires there, that’s only fitting. Chrys and Ellie are the principal protagonists here, and their relationship develops in refreshing ways that are best not divulged here. They manage to piece together the origins of the Aztec Death Whistle, as befits traditional horror heroes, and attempt to figure out a way to reverse the curse. Everything is set up in succinct, engrossing fashion, and even if the third act concedes to convention to deliver a slam-bang climax and obligatory twist ending, there’s still much to enjoy here.

Keen and Nélisse have an appealing, low-key chemistry, and there’s a showy turn by Percy Hynes White as Noah, Pellington’s youth minister, the sort of cleric who wields a switchblade and dispenses drugs along with spiritual guidance. Rest assured, he’ll get what’s coming to him. The action focuses exclusively on its youthful characters, although “Game of Thrones” alumnus Michelle Fairley provides exposition as the whistle’s previous owner and Nick Frost appears as the smug teacher Mr. Craven (“Wes,” anyone?), who sees dollar signs when he comes across the whistle. In due time, he’s not seeing anything at all. !

Mark Burger

Contributor

SUBMITTED BY ALISHA GASKINS

The Arts Council of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County

“REVENGE OF THE PINK PANTHER” (Kino Lorber Studio Classics): The ﬁnal Edwards/Sellers collaboration (discounting 1982’s patchwork “Trail of the Pink Panther”) was released in 1978, and although their relationship had become fractious they still managed to turn out a worthy sequel, even if the comic set-pieces (more disguises, more stunts) were a bit more predictable this time around.

French tycoon Douvier (Robert Webber) fronts the international narcotics ring “The French Connection” and has Clouseau assassinated as an example of his power, but in fact the detective has survived and is now intent on taking Douvier down, aided and abetted by Douvier’s former mistress (Dyan Cannon as “Simone Legree”) and the ever-faithful Cato (Kwouk enjoys his biggest stint in the entire series), while Lom’s Dreyfus — having survived disintegration in the last film — takes up the chase, obsessed with the notion that his nemesis is still alive. With Henry Mancini again providing the jaunty score, this boasts some of the franchise’s funniest moments, including Dreyfus’ eulogy at Clouseau’s funeral, the priceless introduction of Clouseau’s crime-fighter car “The Silver Hornet,” and the finale where Clouseau is again decorated by the president of France. At the end, Sellers and Cannon walk away together as the credits roll — a fitting conclusion for Sellers’ greatest comedic creation.

Kino Lorber Studio Classics has released these and “The Pink Panther” (1964) and “A Shot in the Dark” (1965) on special-edition Blu-rays (each $29.95 retail) and 4K Ultra HD combos (each $44.95 retail), each boasting audio commentary, theatrical trailers, and more.

“EXORCISMO: DEFYING A DICTATOR & RAISING HELL IN POSTFRANCO SPAIN” (Severin Films): A very large and self-explanatory 10-disc Blu-ray collection ($219.95 retail) of vintage Spanish shockers that took advantage of the more permissive attitudes during the ﬁnal years and death of dictator Francisco Franco (1892 — 1975): Writer/producer/director Alberto Sedano’s 2024 documentary feature “The Transgressive Legacy of Clasiﬁcada ‘S,’” narrated by Iggy Pop; 1973’s “Bell from Hell” (originally titled

[VIDEO VAULT]

BY MARK BURGER

DVD PICK OF THE WEEK: “THE PINK PANTHER STRIKES AGAIN”

(Kino Lorber Studio Classics)

Following the smash success of “Return of the Pink Panther” the year before, Blake Edwards and Peter Sellers immediately reunited for this 1976 comedy extravaganza that some — including this critic — consider the pinnacle of the “Pink Panther” franchise, as Inspector Clouseau is targeted for extermination by his former boss, police commissioner Charles Dreyfus (Herbert Lom), whom Clouseau has driven insane (more than once!).

Taking a page from the James Bond franchise, this globe-trotting misadventure ﬁnds Clouseau repeatedly

avoiding the world’s greatest assassins while Dreyfus — in his castle lair — has devised a doomsday device to blackmail the world into doing his bidding. The pre-credit and climactic confrontations between Sellers and Lom are sidesplittingly funny, with Clouseau blithely causing disaster while Dreyfus fumes and twitches. Burt Kwouk is back as Clouseau’s aggressively dutiful manservant Cato while Lesley-Anne Down adds sex appeal as the resident femme fatale. Tom Jones croons “Come to Me,” which earned an Oscar nomination for Best Song, and “The Pink Panther Strikes Again” cleaned up at the box-o ce. A happy ending, indeed. Rated PG.

“La campana del inferno”), 1974’s “Creation of the Damned” (originally titled “El refugio del miedo”), 1975’s “The Devil’s Exorcist” (originally titled “El juehgo del diablo”), 1983’s “After: Part One … Can’t You Be Left Alone?” (originally titled “Despues de … Primera parte: No se os puede dejar solos?”), 1976’s R-rated “The People Who Own the Dark” (originally titled “Ultimo deseo”) starring genre icon Paul Naschy, 1978’s “Battered Flesh” (originally titled “Carne apaleada”), 1978’s “The Priest” (originally titled “El sacerdote”), 1979’s tastefully titled “Sins of a Nympho” (originally titled “Bacanal en directo”), 1980’s “Dimorfo,” 1981’s “Bloody Sex” (originally titled “Sexo sangriento”), 1983’s “Morbus,” 1978’s “Faces” (originally titled “Rostros”), 1978’s “Triangle of Lust” (originally titled “Desnuda ante el espejo”), 1980’s “That House in the Outskirts” (originally titled “Aquella casa en las afueras”), 1981’s “Supernatural” (originally titled “Sobrenatural”), 1984’s “Poppers,” and 1983’s “After … Part Two: Tied Up and Tied Up Well” (originally titled “Despues de … Segunda parte: Atado y bien atado”). Bonus features include original Spanish (with English subtitles) and Englishdubbed audio options on some ﬁlms, audio commentaries on some ﬁlms, ret-

between director Michael Winner and Charles Bronson, this memorable 1972 thriller sees experienced killer-for-hire Bronson taking on Jan-Michael Vincent as an acolyte, leading to an unforgettable twist ending, with Keenan Wynn and Bronson’s real-life wife Jill Ireland in support. This was a hot property in the late 1960s, going through various directors and stars, before Winner and Bronson signed on, and Bronson fans consider this one of his quintessential performances, with Vincent also in top form. Both the special-edition Blu-ray ($29.95 retail) and 4K Ultra HD combo ($44.95 retail) include multiple audio commentaries, retrospective interview with screenwriter Lewis John Carlino (who died in 2020), and theatrical trailer. Rated PG.

rospective featurettes and interviews, trailers for selected ﬁlms, the 168-page book “Exorci’S’ Mo!” and more.

“LOVE IN THE TIME OF MONSTERS” (Indican Pictures): Originally released in 2014, director/associate producer Matt Jackson’s splashy debut feature stars Gena Shaw and Marissa Skell as sisters whose visit to a “Bigfoot” theme park unexpectedly becomes a fight for survival when the costumed actors (including genre icon Kane Hodder) fall into a polluted swamp and emerge as bloodthirsty zombies who prey on the guests and sta . This high-spirited, lowbrow horror send-up often recalls Troma Films in its outrageousness and self-aware mockery, overflowing with goofy sight gags and plenty of gore to satisfy genre addicts. A surefire cult contender, the enthusiastic ensemble cast also includes Doug Jones, Michael McShane, Shawn Weatherly, Hugo Armstrong, Danny Vasquez, Ben Palacios, Jade Carter, and Playboy Playmate Heather Rae Young. The DVD ($24.99 retail) includes audio commentary, deleted scenes and outtakes, music video, and trailers.

“THE MECHANIC” (Kino Lorber Studio Classics): The second collaboration

“O.C. AND STIGGS” (Radiance Films/MVD Entertainment Group): The limited-edition Blu-ray bow ($39.95 retail) of Robert Altman’s wildly uneven comedy based on characters created by story writers Tod Carroll and Ted Mann (also a screenwriter) in National Lampoon, starring Daniel H. Jenkins (in his feature debut) and Matt Barry as the titular duo, who strike a blow for independence by wreak havoc on the middle-class Schwab family in Phoenix, featuring a star-studded ensemble cast including Jane Curtin, Paul Dooley (an Altman regular), Ray Walston, Jon Cryer, Dennis Hopper, Tina Louise, Martin Mull, Melvin Van Peebles, Tina Louise, Louis Nye, Nina van Pallandt, Bob Uecker (as himself), and scene-stealer Cynthia Nixon. Originally ﬁlmed in 1983, this gathered dust on the shelf until a perfunctory release four years later. Altman, who openly expressed his hatred for teen comedies, intended this as a satire, resulting in arguably the most cynical ﬁlm of his illustrious career and likely the least e ective, although it has its moments and its fans. The quintessential example of an interesting failure, and one problem is that the leading characters are so obnoxious that one is hard-pressed to root for them. Bonus features include the feature documentary “The Water is Finally Blue: The Untold Story of Robert Altman’s ‘O.C. and Stiggs,’” collectible booklet, photo gallery, and more. Rated R. !

of yore, archaically

Americans need a voting license

There’s no doubt that our nation is ruled by elites, but then, it always has been.

The founding fathers were all highly educated men with (pardon the expression) revolutionary ideals, but they also believed that only landowners should have the right to vote and hold office. Today, that way of thinking would disenfranchise tens of millions of people who pay rent instead of a mortgage. Still, there should be some criteria for being able to participate in the political process. As it stands now, there are only a few restrictions on voting privileges, among them: you must be registered, you must be a citizen, you must not be a felon, and you must have voted in a recent election. The problem is that these criteria have everything to do with procedure and nothing to do with competence.

To that point, Georgetown University professor Jason Brennan believes that most voters are ignorant, biased, and

We want to hear from you!

misinformed. His solution is for our democracy to operate as an “epistocracy” whereby the right to vote is conditional on knowledge. Brennan suggests we establish some type of national competency exam to determine whether an individual is capable of casting an informed vote. Under his proposal, we could either use the United States citizenship test, or develop something new, so long as it is drafted in a nonpartisan manner and not based on the ideologies of any one political party or group. It’s a sound approach, and one that party hacks in Georgia should have heeded.

Not long ago, the Republican Party of Catoosa County, Georgia, required all potential GOP candidates to answer a series of ideological questions in order to get on the ballot under the party banner. However, candidates whose responses were rejected by party leaders and who were kept off the ballot as a result ended up suing the county. The rejected candidates prevailed, the GOP paid hefty fines, and their loyalty test was scrapped. Today, political parties require candidates to sign a loyalty oath, but that doesn’t ensure a competent slate of candidates, just as registering to vote doesn’t ensure a competent electorate, and that brings me back to the concept of a national voting license.

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According to a survey by the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, only one in three Americans would be able to pass the U.S. citizenship test, and according to goodparty. org, “Americans can’t even pass a standard civics test” adding, “Voter education is not just an accessory to the democratic process, but rather the cornerstone upon which a thriving democracy is built.”

Voter ignorance wasn’t much of a problem a hundred years ago because civics education was required at every grade level. The Heritage Foundation recalls a textbook from 1928, which stated that civics classes “strive to develop character in the student and produce an effective citizen.” Today, 30 states require only one semester of civics in order to graduate high school, while 11 states require no civics at all. Only nine states require a full year of civics in order to graduate. Clearly,

we need to do a better job of teaching students how to understand and navigate our system of government, but until then, we shouldn’t be content to let millions of uninformed voters determine the outcome of local, State, and federal elections. That’s why every state should require its citizens to pass a basic knowledge exam before being issued a voting license, which, like DMV licenses, would have to be renewed periodically.

I don’t want to be on the highway next to someone who is unqualified to drive, and I don’t want to be at the polls next to someone who is too uninformed to vote. Both scenarios have dangerous consequences. !

JIM LONGWORTH is the host of Triad Today, airing on Saturdays at 7:30 a.m. on ABC45 (cable channel 7) and Sundays at 11 a.m. on WMYV (cable channel 15) and streaming on WFMY+.

Jim Longworth Longworth

Police, business owners say downtown not dangerous

Ian McDowell

Contributor

According to the Greensboro Police Department, violent crime is not more prevalent downtown than elsewhere in the city. Some who live, work, or regularly visit there agree.

In 2025, only four violent crimes were reported on the section of South Elm

Street between Market and Gate City Boulevard, which city leaders and business promoters routinely call “the heart of downtown,” as the majority of shops, o ces, and apartments are located there. These six blocks contain roughly half of downtown retail businesses, including 38 restaurants, bakeries, bars, and co ee shops. These four crimes, all aggravated assaults, occurred between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. There were no murders, sexual assaults, or robberies.

GPD statistics for 2025 show 34 violent crimes in the 99 blocks of the downtown business district. There were 52 in 2024, 27 in 2023, 18 in 2022, and 40 in 2021. The majority occurred in the

late night or early morning, although the only downtown homicide in 2025 was discovered in the early afternoon on Church Street in front of the library.

In 2025, there were 1,636 violent crimes within Greensboro city limits, including 1,083 aggravated assaults, 425 robberies, 86 sexual assaults, and 42 homicides. Downtown accounted for 2% of all violent crimes in the city.

Greensboro Police Department Violent Crime Analysis: Downtown Greensboro versus Citywide (2021-2025), a report sent by Andrea Harrell, assistant city manager for public safety, to Mayor Marikay Abuzuaiter and Greensboro City Council on Jan. 30, states:

“Across the ﬁve-year period reviewed, violent crime occurring within the Central Business District accounted for a relatively small proportion of the City of Greensboro’s total violent crime. Depending on the year and o ense category, downtown incidents generally represented approximately 1% to 5% of citywide violent crime.”

This, wrote Harrell, “does not indicate that violent crime is disproportionately concentrated in the downtown area compared to the rest of the city.” Instead, it suggests downtown safety concerns “are inﬂuenced more by visibility and activity levels than by a dispropor-

tionate concentration of violent crime.”

Kit Rodenbough, who moved Design Archives Vintage & Handmade Emporium to 342 S. Elm St. in 2011 and sold it to her nephew, Ryan Ray, when she retired in 2023, never felt unsafe downtown.

“It’s an area where, like most cities across the country, the unhoused gather during the day and sometimes ask for money. To the sheltered, uneducated and unfamiliar, this may frighten, but to those of us who are familiar, it is not dangerous. I think that there have been instances of late-night violence, but that could happen anywhere. It doesn’t happen during the day and should not cause someone to feel unsafe in downtown.”

Angelina Esposito, owner of Find Your Flow Fitness & Wellness Studio at 506 S. Elm St., agrees.

“We’ve owned a business in downtown Greensboro for four years, ﬁrst inside the old Greensborough Gateway Center, and now in the former Boho Salon space closer to the center of downtown. Everyone’s experience is di erent, but speaking only for myself, I haven’t felt unsafe being here. I genuinely love downtown Greensboro. The history, the diversity, the small businesses, the parks, and the people who make this area what it is.”

She said that being at the salon every day has given her a better chance to know some of her neighbors who are experiencing homelessness.

“From what I’ve seen, most are not a threat; they’re people who need more support, compassion, and acknowledgment. Sometimes that can be as simple as asking if they need anything. A meal, a blanket, a clean shirt. And if you can’t o er something tangible, even eye contact, a smile, a nod, or a wave lets someone know they’re seen. Everyone deserves kindness and respect. Downtown Greensboro is a special place, and I hope more people will take the time to experience it for themselves and

support the businesses that are working hard to make it even better.”

Writer and movement coach Nicole Lungerhausen, who walks downtown several times a week, agrees.

“I’ve never felt in danger or threatened walking around by myself downtown, and I’m always amazed when I hear people say that it’s dangerous. Admittedly, I lived and worked in San Francisco for 20+ years before moving to Greensboro, so what feels threatening or dangerous to me is likely di erent from someone who grew up here. I’m also a middleaged woman, which automatically makes me invisible to most of the public, and I encounter far less harassment now than when I was in my 20s and 30s. When I’m walking downtown, most of my interactions are with unhoused folks asking for spare change or food, and it’s all very low-key and never rises to the level of being threatening or dangerous.”

Lungerhausen is married to Tal Blevens, owner of Machete restaurant at 600 Battleground Ave. Blevins said they were just talking about the claim that downtown is dangerous.

“We think it’s ridiculous. We live in Westerwood and walk downtown all the time. Never had an issue or felt unsafe. I feel more unsafe at Friendly Center, but that’s mainly being afraid of someone running into me with their car because that parking lot sucks and people don’t pay attention.”

Musician Ben Singer also sco ed at the idea that downtown is unsafe. Singer, who as Modern Robot writes soundtracks and performs them live at ﬁlm screenings, lives on South Elm Street and works from home when not at a nearby co ee shop or Scuppernong Books.

“Downtown is not a dangerous part of Greensboro. I don’t feel threatened or nervous to walk around here. When I hear people talk about it being dangerous, I think they are uncomfortable with our unhoused population.”

In her email to Abuzuaiter, Harrell wrote that GPD is responding to the perception that downtown is dangerous by increasing the number of o cers there.

“Our downtown has its own patrol squads that only service the downtown area. Those squads are referred to as ‘CCRT’: Center City Resource Team. We have two squads that rotate to provide a near-constant presence. These squads work closely with Allied Security and the Downtown Ambassadors to keep a close watch on safety within the downtown area. Between the two squads, there are a total of 18 o cers, including four supervisors (two per squad).”

Harrell acknowledged that “there is currently no daytime Saturday coverage.” She stated that, “within the next few weeks,” the total number of o cers serving downtown will be increased from 18 to 22. This will include “a traditional patrol schedule” operating 6 a.m. to 3 a.m. Monday through Sunday, with “a minimum of four o cers on duty every day of the week” and “an evening squad of nine o cers.” !

IAN MCDOWELL is an award-winning author and journalist whose book “I Ain’t Resisting: the City of Greensboro and the Killing of Marcus Smith” was published in September of 2023 by Scuppernong Editions.

The Sportscenter Athletic Club is a private membership club dedicated to providing the ultimate athletic and recreational facilities for our members of all ages. Conveniently located in High Point, we provide a wide variety of activities for our members. We’re designed to incorporate the total fitness concept for maximum benefits and total enjoyment. We cordially invite all of you to be a part of our athletic facility, while enjoying the membership savings we offer our established corporate accounts.

Photos by Natalie Garcia

PHOTO BY JIMMY FONTAINE

Vince Gill returning to Tanger Center on Aug. 13

PRESS RELEASE

Straight No Chaser dives into summer tour with a stop in Boone

proaching 10 million across their social platforms.

RIAA Gold Certiﬁed a cappella group Straight No Chaser today announced their summer tour titled “Straight No Chaser Beach Bash.” The nine-member group, seen above manifesting summer beach vibes this winter, will perform iconic songs of summer from the last six decades, including Pharrell Williams’ “Happy” and Walk the Moon’s “Shut Up and Dance.” Appalachian State University’s annual multi-disciplinary summer arts celebration, An Appalachian Summer Festival, will host the celebrated ensemble on July 10 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the Boone engagement will go on sale with the full festival season later this spring.

Straight No Chaser Summer Beach Bash kicks o June 16, 2026 at Count Basie Center in Red Bank, New Jersey and runs through July 12, 2026, with the ﬁnal stop being at Oxford Performing Arts Center in Oxford, Ala. Most stops on the tour will be the group’s only local performance of 2026.

The “Summer Beach Bash” announcement follows the group’s 2025 marathon fall tour, “Holiday Road,” where they played 63 shows in the last three months of the year. Their newest holiday album, also titled Holiday Road, featured guest appearances from Mickey Guyton, John Splitho , and Hunter Hayes, whose collaboration “Christmas is Di erent” landed on holiday playlists from Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Vevo. With all nine members being rabid football fans, the group decided to try their voices at all the major NFL network theme songs, a post which is now ap-

The 42nd season of An Appalachian Summer Festival runs June 27 through Aug. 1 and features a diverse lineup of music, dance, theatre, ﬁlm and visual arts programming. The full season lineup and on sale date will be announced in the coming weeks. Visit AppSummer.org for the most updated information.

TICKETS FOR AN APPALACHIAN SUMMER FESTIVAL 2026

On-sale date TBD. Prices are structured for multiple artistic tastes and budgets, with several free events and discounts for both children, students, and App State faculty/sta . Tickets are available in person at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts Box O ce (733 Rivers St), online at AppSummer.org, or by phone at 828-262-4046.

Presented by Appalachian State University’s O ce of Arts Engagement and Cultural Resources, this annual celebration of the performing and visual arts is held every summer in venues across the university campus, and features a diverse mix of music, dance, theatre, visual arts, and ﬁlm programming. An Appalachian Summer Festival began in 1984 as a chamber music series and retains strong roots in classical music, combined with a variety of other programming geared to varied artistic tastes, preferences, and price points. The festival has become one of the region’s leading arts events, attracting more than 27,000 visitors to the High Country each summer. Southern Living Magazine called App Summer “a cultural hotspot [and] one of America’s biggest summer arts celebrations.” !

One of the most popular artists in modern country music, Vince Gill is returning to the Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts on Aug. 13, 2026.

Tickets are on sale Friday, Feb. 13 at 10 a.m. at TangerCenter.com and Ticketmaster.com.

As always, Musicians Hall of Fame member Gill will be joined on stage by a stellar cast of musicians — Moose Brown (keyboards), Eddie Dunlap (steel guitar), Jedd Hughes (guitar/vocals), John Jarvis (keyboards), John Meador (guitar/vocals), Wendy Moten (vocals), Jimmy Sloas (bass), Billy Thomas (drums), Je White (guitar, vocals), Charlie Worsham (guitar).

Vince Gill has spent much of the last nine years as a touring member of the Eagles. The iconic band is currently amid a lengthy run of performances before sellout crowds at Sphere in Las Vegas,

and Gill will continue to perform with them. He is famous for his top-notch songwriting, world-class guitar playing and warm, soaring tenor, all wrapped up in a quick and easy wit. Gill achieved his big breakthrough in 1990 with “When I Call Your Name,” which won both the Country Music Association’s (CMA) Single and Song of the Year awards as well as a Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance, Male. In total, Gill has won 18 CMA Awards, 22 Grammy Awards, and 8 Academy of Country Music Awards and in 2025 was presented with the CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award. 2025 marked the 50th anniversary of Gill leaving home to pursue a career in music. To honor that milestone, he signed a lifetime recording contract with his longstanding label MCA and is releasing an EP series of brand-new music every month for a year, titled 50 Years from Home. !

Local writer pens biographies of Quaker abolitionists

BY CAROL BROOKS | cab1hp@gmail.com

It is a known fact that Quakers (Society of Friends) were at the forefront of abolitionism America primarily in the 18th and 19th centuries. Abolitionists believed in ending slavery and liberating enslaved

individuals, not just in the United States, but around the world.

According to the “History Detectives” website, “The Quaker campaign to end slavery can be traced back to the late 1600s, and many played a pivotal role in the Underground Railroad. In 1776, Quakers were prohibited from owning

slaves, and 14 years later they petitioned the U.S. Congress for the abolition of slavery.” Both male and female Quakers worked to this end.

Writer Linda Willard, a Quaker herself, became interested in the subject through her research for other writings.

“I’m so opposed to the idea that a person can be owned that I refused to allow my father to ‘give me away’ when I got married,” she told a local newspaper. “I told him that he could present me, but he could not give me away because that implies ownership.”

This interest led to her newest book, “Quaker Abolitionist: Breaking the Chains of Oppression.” In it, she o ers biographies of 60 Quakers who were active, many behind the scenes, not only in abolishing slavery but involvement in the Underground Railroad and women’s su rage.

“Finding information on abolitionists has proved to be rather di cult, particularly if they were also associated with the Underground Railroad,” she told the group gathered Jan. 27 at the High Point Museum. There are few, if any, speciﬁcs available on the Underground Railroad.

“North Carolina was fortunate that we did not have a large slave population, thanks in part to the Outer Banks which made it di cult for large ships to come directly into [the state]. I would like to think was also due to our fairly large Quaker population. I could only ﬁnd three abolitionists with a North Carolina connection.”

Those three abolitionists could be found in Guilford County, the New Garden (Guilford College) area to be speciﬁc. All three abolitionists are from the same family group: Levi Co n, his cousin Vestal Co n and Vestal’s son Addison. Perhaps the most famous of the three was Levi.

LEVI COFFIN

“Levi Co n is often referred to as the president of the Underground Railroad,” Willard said. Co n was born in 1789 in New Garden.

“About 1819 Co n joined the ﬁrst manumission society of Guilford County. In about 1821 Co n and his cousin, Vestal Co n, organized a school for slaves. There was a great deal of in-

terest from the slaves and a great deal of opposition with the white residents of the area. At this time, slaves were forbidden from attending school.

“In 1824 Co n and his wife Catherine moved to what is now Fountain City, Ind. The Co ns determined that their home was on the route of the Underground Railroad. His home is often referred to as the Grand Central Station of the Underground Railroad. Co n opened a store in Newport, Ind., and quickly became a wealthy business leader.”

“In 1842 Co n’s Quaker meeting advised all members to cease any membership in the abolitionist society. Co n refused and was removed from membership in his local meeting.

“In 1847 Co n moved to Cincinnati where he opened a warehouse selling goods produced by labor, not slave goods.”

After slavery was abolished, Co n traveled the world, forming societies to provide food, clothing and funds to assist in educating former slaves. He retired in the 1870s and spent the last year of his life writing his autobiography. He died in 1877.

“Co n’s grave was unmarked until 1902 when African Americans and

Cincinnati Friends Meeting erected a monument in his honor,” Willard said. Co n once estimated he helped approximately 3,000 slaves to freedom.

VESTAL COFFIN

“As early as 1819, Vestal Co n (17921826) established an Underground Railroad station in Guilford County,” Willard said. “The ﬁrst mention of Vestal Co n as an abolitionist was when he assisted John Dimery, a former slave. Dimery was supposed to have been freed upon the death of his master. The heirs of the master refused to honor the terms of the will. The heirs kidnapped Dimery who managed to escape and made his way to the Guilford Woods, at the back of present-day Guilford College. [The woods were known to be an Underground Railroad station.] He requested aid from Vestal Co n who used the Underground Railroad to get Dimery to freedom in Wayne County, Ind.

“Co n was active in the Underground Railroad from 1819 until his death in 1826. After his death, his wife Alethea and son Addison continued to work in the abolitionist movement.”

ADDISON COFFIN

Addison Co n (1822-1897) also was born in New Garden.

“Co n was well-known for his abolitionist activity as well as for the establishment of Sabbath schools, temperance societies and the promotion of women’s rights. He farmed in the summer and forked for abolition and women’s rights in the winter. He lectured on temperance and women’s rights. In 1843 Co n walked 500 miles from Guilford County to Cincinnati where he visited North Carolina emigrants and attended the ﬁrst National Abolition Convention in 1845.

“Co n moved to Indiana permanently in 1845 where his home became a haven for widows, orphans and conscientious objectors.”

“[The biographies] demonstrate the many ways in which these people committed to rightening their world and recognizing the humanity of oppressed people,” said Benjamin Briggs, president and CEO of Preservation North Carolina. “This book is an inspirational exploration of important stories of our history that have not always been represented with such a full and comprehensive voice.”

Willard’s talk was part of the High Point Historical Society’s monthly schedule of free educational programs. !

CARBORRO

Cat’S CradlE

300 E Main St | 919.967.9053

www.catscradle.com

Feb 11: longhorn Slim, laney Jones and the Spirits

Feb 13: Blue Cactus, Skylar Gudasz

Feb 13: Margo Price, Sean thompson’s Weird Ears

Feb 13: the Connells, Early Exit

Feb 14: amelia day, Maia Kamil

Feb 15: Knock On Wood

Feb 19: the Jack Wharff Band, Max alan

Feb 20: Chris Chism, Nicole tester, lonnie rott, Omar ruiz-lopez

Feb 20: Vincent Neil Emerson, William Prince

Feb 21: Peter McPoland, dUG

Feb 21: Vacation Manor, rhineland

ChARlOtte

BOJaNGlES COliSEUM

2700 E Independence Blvd | 704.372.3600

www.boplex.com

Feb 12: Molotov

Feb 25: los angeles azules

thE FillMOrE

1000 NC Music Factory Blvd |

704.916.8970

www.livenation.com

Feb 14: lauren Spencer Smith

Feb 18: ruel

Feb 18: Monaleo

Feb 19: redveil

Feb 20: Zarna Garg

Feb 20: Joey Valence & Brae

Feb 21: descendents & Frank turner

PNC MUSiC PaViliON

707 Pavilion Blvd | 704.549.1292

www.livenation.com

Feb 19-Mar 3: Garden Bros Nuclear Circus

duRhAm

CarOliNa thEatrE

309 W Morgan St | 919.560.3030

www.carolinatheatre.org

Feb 12: drum tao

Feb 14: Big love with Stormie daie

Feb 19: drew and Ellie holcomb

Fe 24: Keb’ Mo’

Feb 26: Chris Botti

dPaC

123 Vivian St | 919.680.2787

www.dpacnc.com

Feb 11: diana Krall

Feb 12: Joe russo

Feb 13: david Foster & Katharine McPhee

Feb 14: NEEdtOBrEathE

Feb 15: trey Kennedy

Feb 17-22: hell’s Kitchen

elKIN

rEEVES thEatEr

129 W Main St | 336.258.8240

www.reevestheater.com

Wednesdays: reeves Open Mic

Fourth thursdays: Old-time Jam

Feb 13: Ji lauderdale

Feb 14: Yard davis

Feb 21: Presley Barker

Feb 27: dr. Bacon

gReeNsBORO

BarN diNNEr thEatrE

120 Stage Coach Tr. | 336.292.2211 www.barndinner.com

Feb 14: September — a tribute to Earth Wind & Fire

Feb 28: how Great thou art

COMEdY ZONE

1126 S Holden Rd | 336.333.1034 www.thecomedyzone.com

Feb 13-14: Chris Wiles & Janet Williams

Feb 15: r&B Bingo

Feb 18: Carolanne Miljavac

Feb 19: Peter antoniou

Feb 20-22: Chad Prather

Feb 27-28: Jackie Fabulous

Flat irON

221 Summit Ave | 336.501.3967

www.flatirongso.com

Feb 11: laurelyn dossett

Feb 13: Joe troop’s Whirlwind

Feb 15: amelia day w/ Maia Kamil

Feb 18: laurelyn dossett

Feb 19: deaf andrews w/ the Barons

Feb 20: Moonroof, transeunte Errante, Grace lucia, liam Martin

Feb 26: J roddy Walston and the automatic Band

Feb 27: andMoreagain: hammer no more the Fingers + the Bronzed Chorus

home grown mu S ic S cene | c ompiled by Shane h art

GrEENSBOrO COliSEUM

1921 W Gate City Blvd | 336.373.7400

www.greensborocoliseum.com

Feb 14: Winter Jam 2026

Feb 26: New Edition: Boyz ii Men & toni Braxton

haNGar 1819

1819 Spring Garden St | 336.579.6480

www.hangar1819.com

Feb 20: resistor & Yosemite Black

Feb 21: Fake happy — a tribute to Paramore w/ 2nd tody, 30 is dead, Get Back!

Feb 23: Foxy Shazam

Feb 27: Five iron Frenzy w/ the Pietasters

Feb 28: the riverbreaks

StEVEN taNGEr CENtEr

300 N Elm Street | 336.333.6500

www.tangercenter.com

Feb 12: the Electric light Orchestra Experience

Feb 13: Killers of Kill tony

Feb 17: david Foster & Katharine McPhee

Feb 18: dirty dancing in Concert

Feb 19: Mark twain tonight! with richard thomas

Feb 20: Sal Vulcano

Feb 24-Mar 1: hell’s Kitchen

thE idiOt BOx

COMEdY ClUB

503 N. Greene St | 336.274.2699

www.idiotboxers.com

Feb 13-14: Sean Patton

Feb 22: alex Cureau

hIgh pOINt

GOOFY FOOt taPrOOM

2762 NC-68 #109 | 336.307.2567

www.goofyfoottaproom.com

Feb 21: Beth turner

jAmestOwN

thE dECK

118 E Main St | 336.207.1999

www.facebook.com/TheDeckJamestown/

Feb 13: terminally Chill

Feb 14: Carolina rattler

Feb 20: Karaoke with tony tone

Feb 21: radio revolver

Feb 27: Spindle 45

Feb 28: Second Glance Band

KeRNeRsvIlle

BrEathE

COCKtail lOUNGE

221 N Main St. | 336.497.4822

www.facebook.com/BreatheCocktailLounge

Wednesdays: Karaoke

Feb 20: aMBUSh

RAleIgh

liNCOlN thEatrE

126 E. Cabarrus St | 919.831.6400

www.lincolntheatre.com

Feb 12: high June

Feb 13-14: Zoso — the Ultimate led Zeppelin Experience

Feb 18: railroad Earth

Feb 19: Monaleo

Feb 20: Stop light Observations

Feb 21: Jupiter Coyote w/ Barefoot Manner / Old habits

Feb 27-28: Far too Jones

lENOVO CENtEr 1400 Edwards Mill Rd | 919.861.2300

Feb 13: Kat Williams Feb 20: andrea Bocelli

tuesdays: trivia

Feb 13: Mardi Gras Party ft. red Umber

Feb 20: tyler dodson

Feb 27: that 90s duo thE raMKat

170 W 9th St | 336.754.9714 www.theramkat.com

Feb 13: GoryanGO, doug davis & radio Silence

Feb 20: tell Me lies

Feb 21: Cash Bash 2026 with redd Volkaert & the bo-stevens

Feb 26: Shadowgrass, Songs from the road Band

Feb 27: tuba Skinny

Feb 28: Wayne henderson & Friends, Ettore Buzzini

[SALOME’S STARS]

Week of February 16, 2026

[ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Yours is one of the most potent good-luck signs of the Zodiac. And this week you’ll get some news that reinforces why this is so. A loved one shares in the good tidings.

[TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) There’s an underlying sense of anger that makes the Divine Bovine see red. Deal with it now before it explodes so that you can avoid more problems from the fallout.

[GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Even if you don’t expect to make a career move anytime soon, investigating an upcoming o er will certainly pay o . Travel arrangements also need to be made soon.

[CANCER (June 21 to July 22) A friend from the past returns and makes an unsettling demand. Don’t allow your emotions to take over. Deal with the situation openly and honestly.

[LEO (July 23 to August 22) A workplace problem needs more attention before it can be settled. Meanwhile, your ﬁnancial picture improves, and someone’s surprise revelation creates an unusual reaction.

[VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Being the sixth sign of the Zodiac makes you more selective than most folks. But you might need to be a mite more ﬂexible about a long-deferred matter.

[LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) The blame game could get out of hand. All accusations need to be weighed care-

fully in order to determine what is true and what is potentially harmful innuendo.

[SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) A new job could be within your grasp. Be patient and allow the decision-making process to work itself through. On another note, spend more time with loved ones.

[SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Sometimes you might feel like you’re not getting your share of life’s good things, but prospects open up this week that could make you feel otherwise.

[CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Patience and understanding ﬁnally enable you and a loved one to work out your pesky problems once and for all. Good luck!

[AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Expect good news from someone whom you thought had forgotten you. This could lead to a change that you had earlier considered but then set aside.

[PISCES (February 19 to March 20) A romance that seems to be ﬂoundering needs tender, loving care if you hope to rescue it. In addition, be prepared to change travel plans as new information emerges.

[BORN THIS WEEK: You can bring various elements together to create something new and wonderful. No wonder you’re considered the Celestial Chemist!