5500 Adams Farm Lane Suite 204 Greensboro, NC 27407 O ce 336-316-1231 Fax 336-316-1930
Publisher CHARLES A. WOMACK III publisher@yesweekly.com
EDITORIAL
Editor CHANEL R. DAVIS chanel@yesweekly.com
YES! Writers JOHN BATCHELOR MARK BURGER KATEI CRANFORD LYNN FELDER JIM LONGWORTH IAN MCDOWELL
PRODUCTION
Senior Designer ALEX FARMER designer@yesweekly.com
Designer SHANE HART artdirector@yesweekly.com
ADVERTISING
Marketing ANGELA COX angela@yesweekly.com
Promotion NATALIE GARCIA
DISTRIBUTION JANICE GANTT ANDREW WOMACK
We at YES! Weekly realize that the interest of our readers goes well beyond the boundaries of the Piedmont Triad. Therefore we are dedicated to informing and entertaining with thought-provoking, debate-spurring, in-depth investigative news stories and features
3 Marketplace Cinemas in WinstonSalem will be launching a NEW SERIES this month while continuing another in June.
4 The SUCCESS HOPE CENTER is proud to host its Inaugural Fundraising Gala on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at the Golden Doors Event Center, located at 2025 Brentwood Street, High Point, NC.
5 FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS threaten services that keep people healthy and provide opportunities for children and families to get ahead.
6 Wearing its heart proudly on its sleeve — or apron, in this case — NONNAS is a feel-good, fact-based, warmhearted confection that’s hard to dislike. It’s pleasant, undemanding, and never for a moment is the outcome ever in doubt.
7 WEST END CAFÉ has quite a lengthy history. The original location, on the corner of Brookstown and Fourth, established in 1980, had only eight counter seats and seven booths.
8 HELLO CALENDAR SUMMER! While the Triad region is in the grips of a weird May cold snap, Memorial Day weekend is straight ahead — which means the pools are open and summer, by most accounts, is here!
11 Amythyst Kiah kicks off the Blue Ridge Music Center’s Deep Roots, Many Voices: SUMMER OUTDOOR CONCERT SERIES at 7 p.m., Saturday, May 24, in the venue’s amphitheater on the Blue Ridge Parkway just south of Galax, Va. Joe Troop’s Truth Machine will open the show.
12 At the May 6 meeting of Greensboro City Council, Mayor Nancy Vaughan and seven council members approved a motion substantially RAISING THE FEE required of candidates for city office.
13 At the May 15 work session of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners, Chair Skip Alston CRITICIZED A PRESENTATION introduced by Downtown Greensboro Inc. President Zack Matheny.
Not-so-trivial pursuits at Marketplace Cinemas
Marketplace Cinemas in WinstonSalem will be launching a new series this month while continuing another in June. These events will take place at the theater, 2095 Peters Creek Parkway, Winston-Salem, and admission is free.
The first series, “Movie Trivia Game Night,” is exactly as described: Those with an a nity for movie trivia can compete for such prizes as Marketplace Cinemas gift cards, movie posters, and other movie-related memorabilia and merchandise. The first game night will take place Wednesday, May 28 and the theme is Marvel movies. Contestants can register individually or as a team (up to six members) beginning at 6:45 p.m., followed by the first round of trivia at 7:30 p.m. The second game night is Wednesday, June 4 and the theme is action movies, specifically the Mission: Impossible and John Wick films. Each game night will feature five rounds of trivia, including those devoted to film clips, special themes, and film music.
“’Movie Trivia Game Night’ has been on our docket for a good while now, with the expansion of our beer/wine menu, comedy shows, and other special events — it fits in naturally,” said Zack Fox, Marketplace Cinema general manager, “and, frankly, I’ve got a lot of semi-useless movie trivia knowledge that needs to be put to use!
“Our trivia will feature a few fun, unique things different from other trivia nights around,” Fox revealed. “Ours will be held inside an auditorium, with general movie trivia rounds plus a movie-clip round — showing scenes on the big screen! Plus, there will be a changing special ‘themed’ round with each new trivia night. There will be a large variety of trivia for any level of trivia fan! ‘Movie Trivia Game Night’ is planned to be a regular summer event, although with summer movie release schedules requiring di erent screen counts and showtimes, we can’t make it a weekly thing just yet — so the dates will fit with the in-demand movie schedules.”
For updates to the “Movie Trivia Game Night” schedule, visit https://www.mpcws.com/trivia-nights/.
On Sunday, June 8, Marketplace Cinema resumes its “Filmed in Winston-Salem” series sponsored by the Piedmont Triad Film Commission (PTFC), with a 3:30 p.m. screening of Shifting Gears (2018), a familyfriendly comedy written and produced by leading man R. Keith Harris, with star-studded support from C. Thomas Howell, John Ratzenberger, Brooke Langton,
M.C. Gainey, and M. Emmet Walsh. Harris is scheduled to attend the screening. Admission to the ‘Filmed in Winston-Salem’ screenings is free, with tickets available on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, visit https://www.mpcws.com/filmed-inwinston-salem/.
The self-explanatory series highlights a film shot in Winston-Salem with PTFC Executive Director Rebecca Clark and, if available, a member (or members) of the cast or crew on hand for a post-screening discussion. The series kicked o in February with Leatherheads, the 2008 football comedy starring George Clooney (who also produced and directed), Renee Zellweger, John Krasinski, and Jonathan Pryce, then continued in March with the 2015 chiller One and Two, starring Timothée Chalamet, Kiernan Shipka, and Elizabeth Reaser.
“Our previous ‘Filmed in Winston-Salem’ screenings have gone great,” Fox said. “The audiences love seeing movies they may have never caught before that were filmed just outside their back door! One thing I love is that nearly the entire audience stays for the post-screening conversation with a guest and Rebecca Clark of the Piedmont Triad Film Commission. The 2015 film One and Two was especially a hit; most of
the audience hadn’t ever seen it and came to see it for Timothée Chalamet fresh o his Oscar nomination for playing Bob Dylan (in A Complete Unknown). The reception to the film was really tremendous and it felt like it was a first-time premiere screening!
“The audience was especially delighted to learn that Sinners cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw lensed the film and Marvel Thunderbolts* cinematographer Andrew Droz Palermo directed the film. So, the people who worked on these movies filmed in Winston-Salem are truly having their moment in Hollywood to shine — and it’s wonderful to help showcase this!”
“The ‘Made in Winston-Salem’ series at Marketplace Cinemas has already been such a fun and rewarding experience,” concurred Clark. “It’s been wonderful to see these films return to the big screen and to reconnect with the moments — and the people — that made them special. Each screening brings back the excitement I felt while working to recruit the productions, along with memories of the hard work, creativity, and camaraderie that went into them. It’s a true celebration of our local crews and the generous collaboration of everyone involved — from local businesses and city and county sta to location owners — all of whom help showcase the filmfriendly spirit of our region.”
As far as Clark is concerned, “these films are part of our cultural history and a testament to the strength of our local film community. Many of the filmmakers involved are still active and continue to choose Winston-Salem and the greater Piedmont Triad area as their creative home. Celebrating them not only honors their contributions, (but) it also inspires the next generation of storytellers.
“Even for someone like me, who’s been immersed in this work for decades, revisiting these projects has been a learning experience,” she said. “It’s a reminder of how our industry has evolved — across all genres and budgets — and of the many ways these productions benefit our local economy. Most of all, it highlights just how much talent we’ve nurtured right here at home. It’s been such a privilege to watch filmmakers cut their teeth on early productions made here, or work on their first feature, and then see their careers blossom. For those who’ve moved on to other states, I’d love to see them come back and film in Winston-Salem again.” !
Success Hope Center Announces Inaugural Fundraising Gala to Support Youth and Community Empowerment
The Success Hope Center is proud to host its Inaugural Fundraising Gala on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at the Golden Doors Event Center, located at 2025 Brentwood Street, High Point, NC.
The event begins with a cocktail hour at 4 p.m., followed by dinner and a program at 5 p.m. Guests will enjoy a lively evening featuring a live band, DJ, photo booth, and powerful youth and parent testimonials that reflect the center’s life-changing work.
This special event celebrates the Success Hope Center’s mission of transforming lives through educational enrichment, mentorship, and community-based support. The center’s flagship programs, the Greater Success Study Hall and it’s Summer Enrichment Camp, have supported hundreds of youth over the past seven years with academic support, cultural exposure, and family empowerment. “We’ve watched young people grow up in this program,” said Lovelle McMichael, Founder of the Success Hope Center.
“This space has become a safe haven that protects them from the streets, builds their confidence, and empowers them to pursue their purpose. We know that when youth are engaged, they’re less likely to be involved in activities that lead them down the wrong path. This center is hope in action.”
The gala will raise essential funds to help build a state-of-the-art learning space and expand the center’s
reach throughout High Point and surrounding communities. “We are growing not just our programs, but our leadership,” said Dr. Angie Williams McMichael, Interim Executive Director of the Success Hope Center. “We’re intentionally building a strong and visionary board so that this nonprofit becomes a lasting legacy — one that continues to shape lives and strengthen families for generations to come.” !
THE SUCCESS HOPE CENTER is a High Point-based nonprofit dedicated to creating pathways to success for youth and families. Through academic support, enrichment activities, and leadership development, the center equips individuals with the tools to thrive. The Center stands as a symbol of possibility and resilience for the High Point community and beyond.
WANNA go?
The event is free, but registration is required to reserve your seat. Space is limited, so attendees are encouraged to register early at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-inaugural-success-hope-center-fundraising-gala-tickets-1349677073459?a =oddtdtcreator
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.
Federal funding cuts threaten N.C. amid sobering state revenue forecast
BY ALEXANDRA FORTER SIROTA Executive Director, N.C.
Federal funding cuts threaten services that keep people healthy and provide opportunities for children and families to get ahead. These cuts will make it harder for people to make ends meet and are likely to lead to job losses as research, infrastructure, and service delivery grind to a halt.
Senate and House Republicans, along with President Trump, are proposing a budget that rewards the wealthy and well-connected, while leaving working families to pick up the tab. Their plan slashes taxes for the rich while cutting essentials like health care and food assistance for everyone else. It will drive up costs, increase hardship, and narrow the pathway for us all to thrive, while further consolidating power with the already powerful.
The push for these cuts comes from out-of-state groups like Americans for Prosperity, the conservative organization founded by the billionaire Koch brothers, who have begun buying up TV ads in North Carolina to convince you that this upside-down plan will deliver economic well-being for you.
Recent federal funding freezes are already beginning to show the ripple e ects. The initial announcements left state and local government agencies scrambling for answers, portals for major public systems went down, nonprofit and businesses engaged with government contracts assessed the risk to their operations, and families were uncertain if they could go to the doctor or pick up food.
Now we are hearing about hiring freezes, stalled progress on major research e orts to cure diseases, new
barriers to sell the food and goods produced here, and modern infrastructure advancements grinding to a halt.
Disruptions and divisions will only continue if President Trump and Congressional Republicans get their way.
Last year, North Carolina received an estimated $35.4 billion in federal funding for infrastructure development, health care services, food assistance, and childcare. If federal policymakers continue this reckless agenda, our state will pay the price.
Will state lawmakers make up the di erence? Or will everyday North Carolinians be left behind — again?
The federal costs that will shift to states is just one reason why it’s time for responsible leaders in North Carolina to pause the deep state income and corporate tax cuts scheduled through 2030. The latest revenue forecast — which shows our state revenue flatlining next year and a steep decline in 2027 — also highlights the unsustainable march to zero income taxes that our legislative leaders have our state on.
When our policymakers ensure the wealthy and corporations pay their share of taxes, we can be sure that everyone can a ord to see a doctor, put food on the table, and keep a roof over their head.
That’s not just good policy — it’s what voters demanded in the last election.
North Carolina voters are frustrated about the rising costs they face, shrinking opportunities to get ahead, and the broken promise of the American Dream.
North Carolinians know that our policymakers are rigging the rules to the benefit of those who already have it quite well. Some 77 percent oppose the current law that will cut the tax on corporate profits to zero, and 80 percent say they have seen no personal benefit from a decade of state tax cuts.
North Carolinians are still waiting on the promised benefits after state policymakers began tax-cutting with the support of out-of-state groups like Americans for Prosperity. Child care remains out of reach and una ordable for too many working families, and housing
is scarce and expensive, pushing people further away from good jobs and the neighborhoods where they have always lived. Meanwhile, wages aren’t keeping up with the cost of food, gas, and housing.
North Carolina ranks in the bottom half of states for quality of life, economic opportunity, and child well-being. And our state has become increasingly reliant on federal funding for our communities’ priorities because tax cuts for the wealthy have diverted our public money away from public investments proven to make lives better. Our public institutions and services can provide us all with stability — ensuring help in hard times and during disasters, access to a ordable quality early education, and opportunity for career training that leads to good jobs.
Federal and state policymakers must make sure that billionaires and big corporations pay their share so North Carolinians can access health care, a ordable healthy food, and stable homes and communities, secure and confident that we have the freedom to thrive.
So when you see the TV ads promoting “tax cuts” and urging you to call Congress, do it. Call Congress and say: Not one more penny for the wealthy at our expense. !
ALEXANDRA SIROTA is the Executive Director of the NC Budget & Tax Center, a non-profit, nonpartisan organization that documents and analyzes fiscal and economic conditions in partnership with community leaders and North Carolinians with lived experience of poverty to advance systemic solutions through public policy that drive anti-racist outcomes.
Budget & Tax Center
[WEEKLY ARTS ROUNDUP] FREE PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE OF “HAMLET” AT SALEM ACADEMY AND COLLEGE’S MAY DELL
This summer, the Piedmont Triad is in for an exciting treat with free, live performances of “Hamlet” at various local venues. The Piedmont Shakespeare Company (PSC) is bringing this iconic play to life across the region, from charming outdoor amphitheaters to indoor spaces. The final performances will take place at the historic May Dell Outdoor Theater in Winston-Salem on June 27 and 28, with additional showings throughout June. However, some venues have limited seating, and reservations are strongly encouraged by going to piedmontshakes.org. PSC is committed to making theater accessible to everyone, whether you’re a Shakespeare enthusiast or just curious about classic plays. “We believe theater should be for everyone,” says Co-Artistic Director Kim Shively. “’Hamlet’ is the perfect start — its themes resonate with us all.” PSC, founded by locally based seasoned theater professionals Carl Forsman, David McGraw, and Kim Shively, strives to bring high-quality performances to the community. In true community spirit, PSC invites audiences to bring their families and picnic dinners to enjoy the performance. Whether you come for the Shakespeare or just for a fun, free family outing, “Hamlet” promises to deliver an unforgettable evening. The company for “Hamlet” includes
faculty, students, and alumni from Elon University, UNCG, and UNCSA, making this not just an arts event, but a vital moment for local theater and academic communities. Reservations for performances are encouraged, especially for venues with limited seating. To reserve your spot and for more information on performances, visit PiedmontShakes.org
The full performance schedule is:
• Snow Camp Outdoor Theatre (south of Burlington): Friday, June 13 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, June 14 at 7:30 p.m.
• Arts | Theater 202 (Lexington): Tuesday, June 17 at 7:30 p.m.
• King Central Park Amphitheatre: Friday, June 20 at 7:30 p.m.
• Oak Ridge Town Park Amphitheatre: Saturday, June 21 at 7:30 p.m.
• Van Dyke Performance Space in the Greensboro Cultural Center: Tuesday, June 24 at 7:30 p.m. and ASL (American Sign Language) interpreted performance on Wednesday, June 25 at 7:30 p.m.
• May Dell at Salem Academy & College (Winston-Salem): Friday, June 27 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, June 28 at 7:30 p.m.
Support for the inaugural season of Piedmont Shakespeare Company was made possible, in part, by a grant from the Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts.
Star-studded Nonnas serves up friendly fare
Wearing its
heart proudly on its sleeve — or apron, in this case — Nonnas is a feel-good, factbased, warm-hearted confection that’s hard to dislike. It’s pleasant, undemanding, and never for a moment is the outcome ever in doubt. Little wonder it became Netflix’s top movie when released in time for Mother’s Day, because a maternal theme runs throughout.
Executive Producer Vince Vaughn plays Joe Scaravello, a blue-collar working sti mourning the recent death of his mother. Joe fondly ruminates on childhood memories wherein his mother and grandmother (his “Nonna”) would whip up fabulous Italian meals. To assuage his grief and pay homage to their memory, Joe uses his inheritance money to purchase a restaurant in Staten Island, calling it “Enoteca Maria” in honor of his mother.
The novelty is having “nonnas” prepare the food, and to this end, he procures the assistance of four women in the neighborhood — Gia (Susan Sarandon), Roberta (Lorraine Bracco), Teresa (Talia Shire), and Antonella (Brenda Vaccaro) — to join his endeavor. There is some bickering and bantering early on, but sure enough, their collective love for cooking wins out in the end. That Antonella is a close friend of Joe’s old high-school flame Olivia (Linda Cardellini) a ords him the opportunity to renew their relationship. (No surprise there.)
There are, of course, various hurdles to overcome — a kitchen fire, various dealings with city o cials, some resistance from Joe’s neighbors, etc. — but they are summarily overcome in due time. There’s a smattering of Italian songs on the soundtrack, which is only appropriate, with Billy Joel’s “Scenes from an Italian
Restaurant” capping things o at the fadeout. The score, by Marcelo Zarvos, is flavorful if a bit strident at times. An air of friendliness permeates the predictable proceedings, and that congeniality goes a long way. The principal pleasure of the film, not surprisingly, is the Nonnas themselves. It’s an unfortunate Hollywood truism that it’s harder for older actors — particularly women — to find good roles. Here, at least, that is rectified to a degree. It’s a pleasure to see Sarandon, Bracco, Shire, and Vaccaro enjoy some of the meatiest roles (no pun intended) they’ve had in quite some time. It’s therefore not surprising (again) that, despite his leading-man status, Vaughn often cedes the limelight to them. It’s their show and he gives it to them freely.
Joe Manganiello and Drea de Matteo are likable as Joe’s childhood friends, now a married couple, and there’s a funny (but all-too-brief) turn by reliable Campbell Scott as a snooty Manhattan restaurant critic. Nonnas isn’t a great film but it’s a nice one. It’s about nice people who do nice things and make nice food. Nitpicking would be futile. !
See MARK BURGER’s reviews of current movies.
Mark Burger
Contributor
SUBMITTED BY SCOTT CARPENTER CAPTURE Public Relations & Marketing
PHOTO COURTESY OF SALEM ACADEMY AND COLLEGE
Chow Down with John Batchelor at West End Cafe
BY JOHN BATCHELOR
West End Café has quite a lengthy history. The original location, on the corner of Brookstown and Fourth, established in 1980, had only eight counter seats and seven booths. This year marks the restaurant’s 28th in its current location.
As you traverse the walkway, you pass a water garden, stocked with koi. A pet watering space is provided nearby. This establishes a peaceful, welcoming ambiance before you even get to the entry. A sign in the small vestibule advises about seating procedures. Seat yourself if the restaurant is not busy, or sign in on the clipboard if it has been hung for the evening. A host marks o names and calls your name. Wait next to the pond or have a drink at the bar. Just pay attention for your announcement.
Hunter green walls are decorated with framed posters. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the noise level, even when the dining room is full, rises to only moderate levels. You can carry on a conversation here without shouting.
The menu is highly flexible, with sandwiches and burgers from the lunch menu also available at night. The dinner menu starts at five.
Bread (gratis) is available upon request. Soft, sweetish dinner rolls are topped with powder — grated Parmesan cheese.
My party started one meal with Caribbean Shrimp Skewers. The shrimp are tender, deveined, presented over coconut rice cakes, ladled with papaya coulis. The fruity flavor of the topping goes well with the natural taste of the shrimp.
Duck Toast is novel — I have not encountered anything quite like this anywhere else. A big, crisp, fried sourdough bread slice hosts duck confit and mushrooms, plated over whipped mascarpone, with pickled fennel scattered over the top. The duck and mushroom flavors marry well, the mascarpone lends mellow depth, foiled by the pickled fennel. This earns points for originality as well as flavor.
Spring Tagliatelle appears on the starters list, but it can be converted to a main course by adding a protein. To the
al dente pasta, ramp pesto is blended, thickened with provolone cream, and scattered with toasted pistachio breadcrumbs. By itself, this is a winner, primarily due to the rare appearance of ramps. My wife added shrimp to make it a main.
Main courses include a house or Caesar salad. The Caesar includes sliced boiled egg, along with the traditional ingredients, plus sliced Roma tomatoes. The Caesar-style dressing is pleasantly mild. The House goes beyond the typical Triad open-a-bag-and-dump-out-thelettuce approach, adding sliced green peppers, carrots, black olives, and croutons. It’s colorful and pleasant, with a mellow blue cheese dressing in my serving.
Seafoods looked especially appealing on the menu, and servings matched the lure of print.
Sautéed Carolina Rainbow Trout bears an unusually crisp crust, yet the fish itself is not overcooked, in spite of an unusually high level of heat as served. (I admire this kitchen. I wish I could get my fish to the table this hot without overcooking it!) Two generous slices are plated over pearled cous cous pilaf, decorated with Marcona almond sauce. I liked everything I tasted here, but this turned out to be my favorite.
Seared Atlantic Salmon is placed over shrimp and grits cakes, topped with very lightly tru ed arugula, ladled with a smoked shiitake cream sauce. The sauce is rich and mellow, an excellent complement to the salmon’s flavor.
Seafood Risotto contains mussels, clams, and shrimp, plus microgreens, augmented with a toasted baguette
slice and anchovy butter. The shrimp are large, deveined, tail on, the mussels and clams tender and fresh tasting. I said the trout was my favorite, but upon reflection, I changed my mind. That’s a compliment. I rank Café Chicken Parmesan in the top echelon as far as area chicken dishes go — actually, the best I can remember. The thick breast meat is moist and tender, the exterior crusty and delicious. Roasted tomato alfredo sauce deepens impact. The menu promised basil orzo, but my serving was mixed white and wild rice — OK, just not orzo. And in a welcome nod to nutrition, julienned carrot, zucchini, and yellow squash rounded out the presentation. My party tried one meat dish. Black and Bleu Steak Salad hosts blackened sirloin, bleu cheese crumbles, and fried onions, plus lots of black olives, as well as sliced red bell peppers and julienned carrot, zucchini, and yellow squash, over spring mix lettuces dressed in gorgonzola vinaigrette. That rich cheese dressing goes perfectly with the steak.
A chalkboard lists desserts. I would have said the Coconut Cake reminds me of what your grandmother made until Anna and my wife started comparing it to their mother’s recipes. OK, nothing can live up to that standard, but this is really good. I blew my diet on our second visit because Hot Fudge Sundae Cheese Cake just seemed too enticing. And it was. Both justify the calories.
So, in retrospect, it’s easy to understand the longevity of West End Café. I would look forward to a return visit.
The kitchen manager is Justin Vernon. General Manager is John McLemore. Both learned hands-on through the
ranks in restaurants. Stacy Gri n and David Martin are the owners. !
JOHN BATCHELOR has been writing about eating and drinking since 1981. Over a thousand of his articles have been published. He is also author of two travel/ cookbooks: Chefs of the Coast: Restaurants and Recipes from the North Carolina Coast, and Chefs of the Mountains: Restaurants and Recipes from Western North Carolina. Contact him at john.e.batchelor@gmail.com or see his blog, johnbatchelordiningandtravel.blogspot.com.
WANNA go?
West End Cafe 926 W 4th Street
Winston-Salem 27101
336-723-4774
westendcafe.com
Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday, 12-9 p.m.
Saturday Small Plates: $14-$16
Entrees: $13-$32
Desserts: $5.50-$7
Most recent visit: May 7
Seafood Risotto
Caesar Salad Bread
Spring Tagliatelle
Hspread The Sounds of (calendar) Summer
ello Calendar Summer! While the Triad region is in the grips of a weird May cold snap, Memorial Day weekend is straight ahead—which means the pools are open and summer, by most accounts, is here!
With major festivals popping o around the state for Memorial Day Weekend: Gears and Guitars in Winston-Salem, Carolina Indie Fest in Sanford, the Carrboro Bluegrass Festival, and the White Squirrel Weekend in Brevard o er a handful of options as we wind out a chillier-than-usual May.
Carolina Fear Fest, Raleigh - May 23-25
Speaking of chills, Carolina Fear Fest Fest returns to Raleigh — ringing in its fifth year of bringing all things fear to the N.C. State Fairgrounds.
A celebration of horror movies and the macabre, the annual Memorial Day horror convention features dozens of frightfully special guests — Malcolm McDowell, Bill Moseley, and Traci Lords top my personal favorites. Though the tag team e orts from Top Rope Pile Driver Promotions and Odd One Out bringing Diana Prince (aka “Darcy the Mail Girl, queen of The Last Drive-In”) to their convention corner on Saturday, and AEW’s “very nice, very evil” Danhausen on both Saturday and Sunday, make for memorable mentions.
JAWSFest, Chapel Hill - May 25
As Jaws gets rounds of special 50th anniversary releases into the summer, sharks have been circling Chapel Hill on Memorial Day weekend for a few years now. Getting to the 2025 festivities: Local 506 will host music from Make, Evil Eye, Hot Brains, Bangzz, Server, Thunder-
osa, Andy Lame, and Big Tow into the evening; with the “Jaws” movies on repeat at Lapin Bleu. The block party floods streets of “Midway Alley” with a mechanical shark, dunk tank, and vendor market through the afternoon. All proceeds from the dunk tank and the mechanical shark will be donated to the North Carolina Coastal Federation.
Static-Age 20.5 Anniversary Fest, Asheville - May 30-June 1
Moving into o cial calendar summer: StaticAge, the wonderfully scuzzy lil Asheville Record shop, celebrates its “20.5” anniversary, with a weekend of bands and electronic artists that obliterate the mountain town hippie-dominant misnomer. Tall Juan, Sunbearer, Night Beer, Echo Chamber, Jesse & the Jinx, Meow Meow and Brandon Manitoba, Terrordome, and DJ Plur Enforcer are a small sampling of artists on the celebratory three-day bill.
far to enjoy the architecture, neighborly attitudes, and music echoing throughout. While this rock’n’roller would enjoy a slightly more amplified a air, last year’s plugged-in Golden Blue (with the Wonderful Lee Wallace and Chris Micca) was porch-tastic. And the unnamed group of pre-teen guerilla guitarists commandeering a porch to play Metallica was just precious. For 2025, Rabbit Fighter, Doug Davis, the Goodbye Horses, Weeder’s Digest, Whiskey Ridge, and The Wright Ave pack out a heavier palette amongst the acoustics acts and folk stylings from folks like Doug Baker, Barry & Isabel, Blind-Dog & BuddyRo, Brown Mountain Lightning Bugs, Dean & Riley Driver, Mike Garrigan, William Nesmith, Scarlett Tantrum, J Timber, The Turkey Buzzards, Laura Jane Vincent, Danny Vago, Je “Bigdumbhick” Wall, Zara and many, many more.
Ocrafolk Festival, Ocracoke Island - June 6-8
Ocrafolk is bringing all kinds of folk to a weekend of music on Ocracoke Island.
Presented by Ocracoke Alive, an art nonprofit that develops student and community arts programs, the festival features a handful of stages along with workshops and activities.
Larry and Joe, the Je Little Trio, Wilder Flower, Josh Goforth, the Sam Fribush Organ Trio, and the Biscuit Eaters are a few of the scheduled musicians; Paperhand Puppets, Jef the Mime, and Green Grass Cloggers are among the entertainers; with storytellers like Donna Washington, Donald Davis, and Amy Howard.
Dunleath Porchfest, Greensboro - June 7
Ziggy’s and COHAB.SPACE’s WestEnd Fest, High Point - June 7 Ziggy’s expansion into Greensboro won’t leave High Point highand-dry — as the venue-promoter hybrid is keeping a full calendar in the Furniture Capital of the World. New Potato Caboose, Jupiter Coyote, and Turpentine Shine are on the early summer “blowout” party bill.
Cape Fear Blues Festival, Wilmington - June 6-8
Carolina Beach Music Festival, Carolina Beach - June 7 - 8
Bringing it home to the Triad, the residents of the Dunleath neighborhood are expanding the idea of a house show circuit, turning their porches into performance spaces, for the 8th annual Dunleath Porchfest. Running 11 a.m.-6 p.m., music and crowds spill into the streets — with attendees experiencing o erings from more than 60 performances throughout the day; culminating in a concert performance in Sternberger Park, starting at 5 p.m.
On the northeast pocket of downtown, Dunleath welcomes folks from near and
Bluegrass & Old-Time Fiddlers Convention, Mount Airy - June 6-7
On the western outskirts of the Triad, old traditions continue as the Mount Airy Bluegrass & Old-Time Fiddlers Convention celebrates its 53rd year bringing the best in old-time and bluegrass bands, fiddlers, pickers, grinners, and dancers (with a good measure of dobro, dulcimer, and autoharp to boot) together for a good time (and some good winnings), with cash-prize competitions running through the weekend.
Heading to the Cape Fear region, the Cape Fear Blues Society brings its annual blues festival to the Rusty Nail in Wilmington. And the Carolina Beach Music Festival returns — for its 39th year — bringing beach music to the actual beach.
The Tams, Band of Oz, Jim Quick and Coastline, Tropidelic, and Ballyhoo are the bands on the sand, playing the hits to drive the shaggers wild.
The Charlie Poole Festival, Wentworth - June 12-14
The Charlie Poole Festival is taking it back to the old-time tradition–and celebrating the 100th anniversary of Poole’s first recording — with “three days of music, competitions, history, food, and fun!” Families can camp on the festi-
Katei Cranford
Contributor
val grounds (at Rockingham Community College); and are invited to bring an instrument to join the jams and honor the “legacy of the groundbreaking bandleader Charlie Poole and North Carolina string bands and roots music.” Competitions, workshops and concerts run the weekend with the Lonesome River Band, Wayne Henderson, Thomm Jutz, The New North Carolina Ramblers, Africa to Appalachia w/ Riley Baugus and Cheick Hamala Diabate, John McEuen and the Circle Band, Lonesome River Band, Amythist Kiah, Tray Wellington Band; “Payday at the Mill” featuring Laurelyn Dossett, DaShawn and Wendy Hickman, Mark Dillon, Colin Cutler, Chaisaray Schenk, Tyson Baker and poet Annie Woodford; and Jesse Smathers among the scheduled performers.
beloved part of music scenes in the Triangle (and beyond), and an inductee to the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame. Celebrating in the most appropriate fashion: four days of music and reunions and strange happenings in the hallowed halls of Chapelboro venues On Thursday, Reigning Sound, Boogie Reverie, and Henri Cash & Seth Carolina’s Tribute to Dex erupts at Cat’s Cradle. On Friday, the Flat Do-over Jets will join Drunken Prayer, Southern Culture on the Skids, Lenny Kaye & Friends (Jon Wurster and Ricky Bacchus), and Bass Battery at Local 506. A special reunion from the Spinns goes down at the Cave on Saturday; along with Phatlynx, Bengt and the Walkers, Lenny Kaye, Lud, Skeeter Feeders, and Blood Red River. Sunday afternoon at Lapin Bleu will feature art exhibits, stories from Dex’s friends and family, Rich McLaughlin playing Chopin; and performances from George Terry and Onyx Club Boys.
Den, Lisa Frank, The Weasels, and Noah Daniel & the Naked Cowboys.
Greensboro Summer Solstice Festival, Greensboro Arboretum and Lindley Park - June 21 Summer hits, o cially, as the 21st annual GSO Summer Solstice Festival flows with fairy fancy into the Arboretum. Thanks to the delight of dozens of artisans, street performers, a fae squad and 5000 attendees, it’s truly a magical start to the Triad Summer. Scheduled musicians include: Martha Bassett, Sa-
hara Reggae Band, Too Phat Brass Band, Cynamon & “The Spice Rack”, and Cory Luetjen & The Traveling Blues Band. !
KATEI CRANFORD is a Triad music nerd who enjoys spotlighting artists and events.
Dex Fest 2025: A celebration of Dexter Romweber, Chapel Hill and Carrboro - June 12-15 But for the rockers out there: Dex Fest in Chapel Hill and Carrboro will deliver. The inaugural festival will celebrate the life, birthday, and impact of Dexter Romweber: a weirdo, a rocker, a
Boonerang Music and Arts Festival, Boone - June 19-21 Boone goes bonkers for Boonerang, the free musical and arts festival encompassing the downtown area.
Featured performers for the fourth annual installment include: Drew Foust & The Wheelhouse, Pressley Laton Band, Larry & Joe, The Burnett Sisters Band, Big Daddy Loves, Real Companion, Verity
Natalie Garcia
Amythyst Kiah and Joe Troop’s Truth Machine open summer concert series on May 24 at Blue Ridge Music Center
Amythyst Kiah kicks o the Blue Ridge Music Center’s Deep Roots, Many Voices: Summer Outdoor Concert Series at 7 p.m., Saturday, May 24, in the venue’s amphitheater on the Blue Ridge Parkway just south of Galax, Va. Joe Troop’s Truth Machine will open the show.
With a style that cuts across genres, Kiah brings an unforgettable voice and unique sound to her music. The Tennessee native’s songwriting explores the vast expanse of her inner world: her deep-rooted a nity for Eastern philosophies and spiritual traditions, a near-mystical connection with the natural world, the life lessons learned in her formative years as a self-described “anime-nerd mall goth.”
“With all of my music, I’d love to leave people with the feeling that it’s okay to go o the beaten path and to structure your life in a way that feels right to you,” Kiah said. “I always hope that my music will be a part of the healing process for anyone who might need it.”
In addition to her solo recordings, including her 2024 release “Still + Bright “on Rounder Records, Kiah appeared on the album “Songs
of Our Native Daughters” with with Rhiannon Giddens, Leyla McCalla, and Allison Russell. She earned a 2020 Grammy Award nomination for Best American Roots Song for “Black Myself” featured on the album.
Opening the show is Joe Troop’s Truth Machine. Troop is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter hailing from the North Carolina Piedmont. He is one half of the acclaimed Pan-American folk duo Larry & Joe and founder of Grammy-nominated string band Che Apalache. His music is deeply inspired by a decade living in Buenos Aires and traveling across Latin America and the world.
Troop has carved a niche as an “artivist,” entwining music and social justice. He has now recruited some of his favorite friends from the old-time and bluegrass festival scene to form a political protest powerhouse band, Truth Machine. The group’s members are Troop (banjo, guitar, vocals), Lu Furtado (guitar, vocals), Deb Shebish (fiddle), Olivia Fernandez (mandolin, vocals), and Jimmy Washington (bass).
Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for children 12 and younger. Advance tickets are available at BlueRidgeMusicCenter. org. Tickets can be purchased on the evening of the show at the admission gates.
Parking opens at 5:15 p.m. and is free. The amphitheater gates open at 5:45 p.m. The concert begins at 7 p.m. The Blu s Restaurant will o er food and beverages for purchase. Visitors may bring their own food and beverages. Alcoholic beverages are not permitted. !
THE BLUE RIDGE MUSIC CENTER , located at milepost 213 on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Galax, Va., celebrates the music and musicians of the mountains. The Music Center is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily May through October. It is a national park facility, a major attraction along the Blue Ridge Parkway, and a venue partner of The Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail and Blue Ridge Music Trails of North Carolina. The Blue Ridge Parkway/National Park Service maintains and operates the facility, and sta s the Music Center Visitor/Interpretive Center. The programs are managed, coordinated, promoted, and produced by the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, a nonprofi t partner organization. For more information, visit BlueRidgeMusicCenter.org.
The 469-mile BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY connects Shenandoah National Park to the north with Great Smoky Mountains National Park to the south. The route travels the crests, ridges, and valleys of fi ve major mountain ranges, encompassing several geographic and vegetative zones ranging from 600 to more than 6,000 feet above sea level. It provides visitors with many varied vistas of scenic Appalachian landscapes ranging from forested ridgetops and
mountain slopes to rural farm lands and urban areas. The Parkway o ers a “ride-a-while, stop-a-while” experience that includes scenic pullouts, recreation areas, historic sites, and visitor contact stations. It is known nationally and internationally for its designed landscape as a scenic motorway. Learn more at nps. gov/blri/.
WANNA go?
See Amythyst Kiah + Joe Troop’s Truth Machine at the Blue Ridge Music Center, milepost 213 on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Galax, Va., Saturday, May 24 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 adults and $10 for children 12 and younger. For additional information, visit BlueRidgeMusicCenter.org or call (866) 308-2773, ext. 214.
Amythyst Kiah
Joe Troop’s Truth Machine
PHOTO BY KEVIN KING PHOTO BY ANDY GLASBEAR
PRESS RELEASE
Candidates, community members object to council increasing election fee
At the May 6 meeting of Greensboro City Council, Mayor Nancy Vaughan and seven council members approved a motion substantially raising the fee required of candidates for city o ce. The motion, passed with no discussion or public comment, increased that fee from $25 to $200 for city council candidates and from $75 to $300 for mayoral candidates.
The only vote against it was by AtLarge Representative Hugh Holston, who later said that any fee increase should wait until the 2029 election. Holston also objected to the motion initially being part of the consent agenda, meaning routine and non-controversial items passed with a single motion and vote. After the other items on the consent agenda were passed, Vaughan announced “a resolution providing for the giving of notice to voters of the City of Greensboro, of the 2025 quadrennial municipal election, in establishing a filing fee in relation thereto.” She said nothing of the amount of the fee increase.
The item was moved by District 4’s Nancy Ho man and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem (and mayoral candidate) Marikay Abuzuaiter, but originated with Vaughan, as she acknowledged at a special meeting on May 1.
Fifteen minutes into that lunchtime session in the Tanger Center’s Founders Lounge, Vaughan asked council to take note of something she added to the May 6 agenda.
“It’s changing the amount when you file for mayor and council members,” said Vaughan. “The state statute allows up to 1% of what the salary is. I have proposed that we not do a full 1%, but that for mayor, it would be $300 to file, and for district and at-large candidates, we boost the fee up to $200. It is less than the statutory maximum that we could
do. I looked at Durham, where it’s in the $400 range to run for mayor. I know that the City of High Point does do the full 1%. So, if you could look at that and give me your concerns by Tuesday, so we can tweak it in advance.”
The only comment came from District 1’s Sharon Hightower, who asked “If you’re not proposing 1%, where are you getting the amount?”
“It is less than 1%,” said Vaughan. “I just thought that might be a little much. 1% would be $250 for council members and $375 for mayor, so I just went with $200 and $300. So give me some feedback, if you want to go with a full 1%, that’s fine.”
While noting fees in High Point and Durham, Vaughan did not mention the one in Winston-Salem. In 2024, the filing fee for both mayoral and city council was $5.
This brief discussion at the May 1 special meeting was longer than the 36-second one at the May 6 council meeting. Several community members in the audience later said they were troubled by how quickly the motion was introduced and passed.
“The lack of prior notice and public discussion around the increase is deeply concerning,” said Deena Hayes-Greene, co-founder of the Gorrell Street Associa-
tion, Chair of the Guilford County School Board, and co-chair of the International Civil Rights Center & Museum. “It raises questions about transparency and process, and sets a troubling precedent for how policy changes are introduced and enacted.”
Hayes-Greene also noted that several candidates had already filed for o ce before this vote took place. “One may have paid just $25 while their opponent will now be required to pay significantly more. If this change had been carefully considered, it would have been implemented in a way that ensured fairness and consistency across all candidates.”
“This is just another way for current council members to control the narrative of who is selected for the upcoming seats,” said Crystal Black, chair of grassroots advocacy organization The Southeast Greensboro Coalition. “If an increase was in discussion, included in that discussion should have been the people that have already filed and the inequity in that decision.”
Black also took exception to Vaughan’s statement to The Assembly that the purpose of the increase was to keep “unserious” candidates from filing.
“Is there a dollar amount that gauges the seriousness of people? There are current council members that I believe
are unserious. Maybe council should stop hand-selecting candidates with zero experience in community or government work and marginalizing their constituents even further.”
Vaughan said that, by “unserious,” she meant “people who pay the filing fee and then do nothing. They don’t go to public forums. They don’t answer surveys and they don’t campaign. There are people who just like to see their name on a ballot.”
In the 2022 election, there were only four names on the mayoral ballot in the July primary, with Mark Cummings, Justin Outling, and Eric Robert challenging Vaughan. In the 2022 Primary for the three at-large seats, newcomers Ta Buchanan, Melodi Fentress, Tracy Furman, Franca Jalloh, Dustin Keene, Katie Rossabi, and Linda Wilson challenged incumbents Marikay Abuzuaiter, Hugh Holston, and Yvonne Johnson. For districts 1-5, there was an average of three names on each primary ballot, and only two names on each ballot in the general election.
In this year’s election, organizer April Parker has announced her candidacy for the District 3 seat defended by Zack Matheny, and former mayor Robbie Perkins is running for his old o ce, in which there is no incumbent due to Vaughan’s decision not to run, and for which his main challenger is expected to be Abuzuaiter.
“I’m against raising the fee to file,” Perkins said. “I don’t agree with reducing the amount of people who can run or placing economic burdens on them.”
Last week, Parker expressed similar objections to The Assembly.
“Good candidates may be pushed out simply because they can’t a ord the cost of entry. That’s not democracy, it’s gatekeeping. We don’t need more money in local politics, we need more access and more real people in the process. Running for o ce should be a right, not a luxury.” !
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.
Ian McDowell
Contributor
Commissioner criticizes DGI for not promoting Civil Rights Museum
At the May 15 work session of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners, Chair Skip Alston criticized a presentation introduced by Downtown Greensboro Inc. President Zack Matheny.
The problem, said Alston, was not with what the presentation included, but what it left out.
“Every time you make a presentation about what’s happening in downtown Greensboro, you never mention The International Civil Rights Center and Museum, that brings in thousands of people across this country, more so than anything in downtown Greensboro ever does. A national historic landmark, right here in the heart of Greensboro, and you all failed to mention that.”
Although introduced in person by Matheny, the bulk of the presentation was delivered on Zoom by consultant Christopher Beynon, chief developmental o cer for the Los Angeles-based Moore Iacofano Goltsman (MIGcom.com), whom Matheny described as “an internationally known urban planner.”
Matheny stated downtown Greensboro’s tax value is $1.2 billion. “So the business community came to me in December. Some private foundations and some folks that are just interested in downtown said let’s update the plan. So, that’s what we’re trying to do and we hired the best of the best to do it. Chris, plow through it.”
Beynon called the presentation “a very special project for us,” as his company’s cofounder, the late Susan Goltsman was raised in Greensboro.
Starting his slideshow, Beynon said, “We are in the beginning stages of the Thrive 35 Process that is all about that economic hub, that core, the heart of Guilford County as we all know it, and we can see it plays a very pivotal role in the image-ability, the economic success of the region and vice-versa.”
He then described “a number of emerging ideas and concepts.”
“For example, First National Ball Park is a great facility and a great destination, not just for Greensboro but for the entire region. We think that can be leveraged even more.”
“The Youth Sports Capital is something that’s been on the radar and we want to continue to accelerate that as well as other opportunities with respect to big facilities and multi-use stadiums.”
“Things are happening in Greensboro that we’re gonna continue to build upon. You know, Greensboro does not have a major river or major water source and that is something people have remarked on. How do we get more water into the community? How do we take green Greensboro, which has a lovely tree canopy, and create this sense of live-ability?”
After citing “the incredible infrastructure” of the Downtown Greenway, Beynon called for “incentives and programs and spaces that can get people a foothold,” adding “whether it’s maker-space or new models of not having to rent a whole space ourselves for our upstart businesses, but to be able to be in shared workspaces, all of this is on the radar and something that the community has talked about.”
He said that the community has praised the Hopper Trolley. “Let’s expand it and be smart about how we expand so all of the destinations are connected, both within downtown Greensboro and out to the East Greensboro Greenway, where feasibility studies are going on. We want to ensure that we are connecting and able to connect with all parts of the community.”
After Beynon thanked the commissioners for listening to the presentation, Matheny said “If y’all have any big ideas, I’d love to hear from you.”
“I’ve got one good idea,” said Alston, “that you all continue to leave out of your presentations, and that’s the e ect of The International Civil Rights Center and Museum. “
Matheny responded the museum was “in the full presentation.”
“No, no, no,” said Alston. “You stated
what you thought was important. And Zack, even in your State of Downtown address, you didn’t mention The International Civil Rights Center and Museum. People from all over this country, from all over this world, come to the Civil Rights Museum, and you all failed to mention it and lift it up as something you’re very proud of. And that bothers me, ok? You talk about the Depot, you talk about the other activities, the vacant land in the News and Record building, but you didn’t say a word about The International Civil Rights Center and Museum. And that happens every time you all do a presentation about downtown Greensboro and that bothers me.”
“Mr. Chairman,” said Matheny, “I can tell you that, well actually today, we hosted and saw community input at The International Civil Rights Museum.”
“But you didn’t mention it in your public presentation that thousands of people might be listening to now,” replied Alston. “You might’ve brought
Lead Manufacturing Engineer
(Greensboro, NC) - Act as a lead engineer in the design & improvement of manufacturing systems & refinement of new product designs.
Reqs. incl. MS + 1 yr. exp. Mail resume w/ cvr letter to: Standard Tools and Equipment Co., 4810 Clover Rd, Greensboro NC 27405, Attn: L. Hurley.
10 people down to The Civil Rights Museum, but 10,000 people might have heard this presentation. And you failed to mention it in your proud presentation of what you’re doing in downtown Greensboro.”
Beynon took responsibility for the omission.
“Sir, I respectfully hear exactly what you’re saying. You are correct. For the sake of brevity, I did skip over it. That is absolutely on me and my presentation today. I want you to know we absolutely believe that it is not just critical to the economic development of Greensboro, it is critical to the cultural and social and cultural history of Greensboro. I am acknowledging the shortcoming there, and it will absolutely be rectified and please accept my apologies.”
Alston did not respond to this apology, but made the motion to adjourn. Before that motion was seconded, Commissioner At-Large Kay Cashion thanked Alston for bringing up the omission.
“One thing I noticed every time I come downtown is there’s at least one bus in front of the Civil Rights Museum and sometimes there are two buses of visitors there. I kept waiting for a mention as well, so we expect recognition.” !
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.
Ian McDowell
Contributor
Skip Alston Zack Matheny
ACROSS
[SALOME’S STARS]
Week of May 26, 2025
[ARIES (March 21 to April 19) You might not like some people’s ideas of surprises. But you could be in for a pleasant shock when someone finally sends a reply to a request you made so long ago that you almost forgot about it.
[TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) It’s a time to expect the unexpected. So, don’t be surprised if a decision that just recently seemed final suddenly opens up and leaves you with another chance to make an important choice.
[GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Taking a di erent tack on a work project might rankle some colleagues. But the positive results of your innovative course soon speak for themselves. Celebrate with a fun-filled weekend!
[CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Meeting new associates can be awkward, even if you’re in a high, positive phase right now. Best advice: Make them feel comfortable, and you’ll soon forget your own discomfort.
[LEO (July 23 to August 22) It’s a good time for you social Lions to blow-dry your manes, polish your claws, and look like the Fabulous Felines you are as you make new friends and influence the influential!
[VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Expectations run especially high this week, and you should feel confident in your abilities to take advantage of what might be o ered. Meanwhile, a colleague has some advice you might find helpful.
[LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) A recent flurry of activity leaves you in need of a little breathing space, and you’d be wise to take it. In other news, close family members
should have an explanation about an emergency situation that just passed.
[SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) An insensitive act makes a di cult situation more so. But try not to waste either your physical or emotional energies in anger. Move on and let others fill the clod in on the facts of life.
[SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) It’s a good time to look into a training program or college course you’ve been considering. You might have a good place to use these sharpened skills sooner rather than later.
[CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Education dominates much of your aspect during this week. You might want to start checking out summer session courses that could help advance your career plans.
[AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Making progress often comes by fits and starts. But at least you’re moving straight ahead with no backsliding! You should soon be able to pick up the pace and reach your goals in due time.
[PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Be wary of a deal that gives confusing answers to your questions. Remember, it’s always risky swimming in unknown waters, so you need all the help you can get to stay on course.
[BORN THIS WEEK: You have a way of bringing people together and creating close friendships wherever you go. You’re considered to be the rock in many of your relationships.
