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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 of local, national and international scope, and opinion grounded in reason, as well as providing the most comprehensive entertainment and arts coverage in the Triad. YES! Weekly welcomes submissions of all kinds. Efforts will be made to return those with a self-addressed stamped envelope; however YES! Weekly assumes no responsibility for unsolicited submissions.
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Anchored by a Brendan Fraser performance on par with his Oscar-winning turn in The Whale (2022), writer/producer/director Hikari’s RENTAL FAMILY is a lovely film — one of the loveliest and best of the year.
4 The Little Theatre of Winston-Salem’s annual production of “ A CHRISTMAS CAROL” will open Thursday, Dec. 11, at the Reynolds Place Theatre, 251 N. Spruce St., Winston-Salem.
5 This year, CHRISTMAS FOR THE CITY returns to the Benton Convention Center for our 18th annual year. On Saturday, Dec. 20, from 1 to 6 p.m., we will host a free Christmas party for the whole city to come together to enjoy.
7 On June 19, 2009, I had the honor of producing and hosting “A Father’s Day Salute to TV Dads” at the Television Academy’s Leonard Goldenson Theatre in Los Angeles, speaking with DICK VAN DYKE.
8 It’s time to sleigh the season for good as bar crawlers take over downtown Greensboro for a “nice” cause. The Otis & Wawa 10th Annual SANTACON BAR CRAWL will be held on Saturday, Dec. 13, from 3 to 9 p.m. Registration and the official kick-off party will be held at downtown Greensboro’s Boxcar Bar + Arcade, located at 120 W. Lewis St., from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.
11 Bring the family to celebrate the holiday season with the Greensboro Symphony’s FREE HOLIDAY CONCERT on Friday, Dec. 12, 7 p.m. at Westover Church, located at 505 Muirs Chapel Rd, Greensboro, NC 27410.
12 SECOND HARVEST fills a unique role in the state’s network of groups fighting food insecurity. As a food bank, they supply food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and meal programs with bulk goods, which in turn directly supply the community.
Rental Family gets to the heart of the matter
Anchored by a Brendan Fraser performance on par with his Oscarwinning turn in The Whale (2022), writer/producer/ director Hikari’s Rental Family is a lovely film — one of the loveliest and best of the year. It’s a heart-warming tearjerker that never overplays its hand and gets o to a rousing start by immersing the viewer in the sights and sounds of contemporary Japan in flashy, fast-moving fashion.
Fraser’s Phillip Vanderploeg is an expatriate American actor who’s been eking out a living during his time in Japan, where his greatest claim to fame was a toothpaste commercial seven years before. Work’s been rather hard to come by, but Phillip is about to receive an opportunity to rejuvenate his career in a way he never thought possible. He’s recruited by “Rental Family,” a small outfit run by Shinji Tada (Takehiro Hira) that caters to clients’ needs for a friend, a bridegroom, or a mourner, to attend such events as a wedding or a funeral. Shinji needs a “token white guy,” and Phillip fits the bill. “We sell emotion,” Shinji explains.
He’s initially and understandably unsure about joining “Rental Family,” but the money’s good and the opportunity to portray so many di erent characters — even under such unusual circumstances — is too tempting to pass up. When Phillip observes how the clientele responds, it rejuvenates his love for acting, but it’s not long before he starts getting too close to the clientele, his emotions getting the better of him. Phillip is tapped to play the longestranged father of Mia Kawasaki (newcomer Shannon Mahina Gorman), who is about to enroll in a new school, and soon finds himself bonding with her, their relationship mirroring his own fractious relationship with his father. He also “plays” a reporter doing an in-depth interview with ailing, retired actor Kikuo
Hasegawa (Akira Emoto) and quickly becomes a trusted friend, one in whom Kikuo shares memories of his past.
In classic comedy tradition, it’s only a matter of time, of course, before Phillip’s ruse finally comes to light and causes considerable consternation, but Rental Family o ers an irresistible blend of heart and humor. If the concept of the film seems contrived, it should be noted that there are actual “rental family” agencies in Japan. As fellow actor Aiko (Mari Yamamoto) sagely observes, after
seven years, Phillip is well-versed in the Japanese language but still unfamiliar with its family customs.
The screenplay, co-written by Hikari and first-timer Stephen Blahut (also an executive producer), confidently shifts from comedy to pathos without missing a beat, and although the film is predicated on sentiment, it doesn’t wallow in sentimentality. The characters are well-drawn and well-acted, and their relationships and problems are rendered in believable terms. There’s a genuine sweetness at its core.
In addition to the first-rate performance by Fraser (also an executive producer), the film’s ensemble is impeccable. Yamamoto and Bun Kimura (in his feature debut) are as delightful as “Rental Family” performers, and wisely the film refrains from manufacturing a romance between Phillip and Aiko. Emoto brings a lovely, wounded dignity to a faded — and fading — actor who’s
basically been forgotten by the industry, which adds an interesting parallel between him and Phillip, and young Gorman sparkles in her feature debut as Mia.
Hira’s fast-talking, persuasive Shinji comes on so strong at the outset that it’s almost a shame he only appears sporadically in the film’s second half, yet there’s a late-inning plot twist that adds an extra, possibly unexpected dimension to his character. Like many of the characters in Rental Family, he’s seeking something seemingly out of reach but unmistakably emotional and heartfelt. How he finds and attains it is at the heart of Rental Family, a film brimming with imagination and ingenuity, and one to be savored for its message of redemption and reconciliation — as much with oneself as with others. !
Little Theatre’s ‘A Christmas Carol’ spreads holiday cheer
BY MARK BURGER
The Little Theatre of WinstonSalem’s annual production of “A Christmas Carol” will open Thursday, Dec. 11, at the Reynolds Place Theatre, 251 N. Spruce St., Winston-Salem. Subsequent performances will be presented Dec. 12 -14 and 17-21. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday performances are at 7:30 p.m., with 2 p.m. matinees on Saturdays and Sundays. Ticket prices range from $13.50 - $28.50 for adults, with discounts for students (with a valid ID), senior citizens, and groups of 10 or more. For advance tickets or more information, call 336-725-4001 or visit https://www.ltofws.org/.
Based on the immortal 1843 novella by Charles Dickens, the Little Theatre’s production has been adapted — with a ection and respect — by best-selling author Charlie Lovett (“The Further Adventures of Ebenezer Scrooge”) and
directed by Jim McKeny, with Chuck King following in the footsteps as such illustrious predecessors as Alastair Sim, Albert Finney, George C. Scott, and Patrick Stewart as the pivotal character of the embittered, miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, whose disdain for the holiday season takes a 180-degree turn when he is visited by three specters on Christmas Eve, each of whom shows him the true meaning of Christmas.
“To me, ‘A Christmas Carol’ is at its heart a story of redemption and one of the ideas I’ve tried to tease out in this adaptation is that ‘It’s never too late,’” explained Lovett. “Don’t we all want to believe that it’s not too late to make up for the mistakes of our past and believe that we can turn over a new leaf? If Scrooge can do it, anybody can do it — right?
“One way in which this adaptation differs from others is that we get to spend more time with Scrooge after his trans-
formation; we get to revel in the new person he becomes after the visits of the ghosts. And I hope the joy that we see on his face and on the faces of all those he touches will resonate in the hearts of audience members and maybe even help them on their own journeys (in life).”
“I believe there is a bit of all the characters in ‘A Christmas Carol’ in each of us,” observed McKeny. “Even on a subliminal level, we realize this. We look back on our lives, our years — just as Scrooge is compelled to do. While often not attaining the level of dramatics involved with the Christmas ghost story, we still seek the same redemption, forgiveness, and love as Scrooge, whether it be in a secular or a religious form.”
Having directed last year’s Little Theatre production, “each production and each cast are unique in itself,” he said. “While some things I implemented last year do transfer, some others do not. It’s a balancing act to see what needs to change to take advantage of the cast’s talents and abilities. I’m pleased to say that this year’s production will push the ‘comedic envelope’ even further than our 2024 production.”
Like many people, McKeny was first exposed to “A Christmas Carol” via one of its many screen adaptations. “I could not say what version of “A Christmas Carol” was the first one I saw … perhaps it was the 1938 film starring Reginald Owen as Scrooge,” he said. “All I know is that it immediately became synonymous with the holiday for me and to this day remains my favorite of all Christmas tales, though the Leslie Bricusse musical
film (1970s Scrooge) starring Albert Finney is my favorite interpretation.” McKeny enjoyed his first stint directing the production and was delighted to return for an encore this year. “I am very fortunate to have Eppie Jo Torres as my stage manager,” he said. “She works with and teaches dramatics to younger people, and with a lively handful of kids in the show, one needs that expertise to help communicate. Eppie was my stage manager last year and she figured out quickly what I like or may want in a scene, and she works very hard to make the production as good as it can possibly be. I do enjoy the rehearsal process … much more as a director than I usually do as an actor!”
There will be an opening night reception, replete with wine and hors d’oeuvres, beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 11, and the Little Theatre of Winston-Salem has again partnered with the Second Harvest Food Bank for the production, so audience members are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items for donation to this organization that assists those in need throughout the community.
The production’s running time is approximately two hours and 15 minutes, including one 15-minute intermission, and is recommended for all ages. For more information, call 336-725-4001 or visit the o cial Little Theatre website: https://www.ltofws.org/. !
Christmas for the City to present 18th Annual Christmas Gathering for the Whole Community
Since 2008, local churches, organizations, and members of the arts community have come together to throw a free citywide Christmas party pulling out all the stops: live music performances, interactive arts, a make-your-own toy workshop, Santa Claus and the three wise men, warm drinks and desserts, and many other interactive experiences for all ages. In 2024, over 1,000 volunteers welcomed more than 10,000 guests for an afternoon of celebration and community at the Benton Convention Center in downtown Winston-Salem.
This year, Christmas for the City returns to the Benton Convention Center for our 18th annual year. On Saturday, Dec. 20, from 1 to 6 p.m., we will host a free Christmas party for the whole city to come together to enjoy. Now more than ever, our community needs a space to welcome one another and experience hope together. This year’s event will feature the traditions you’ve come to love, with new surprises throughout the building.
Christmas for the City will feature a variety of dynamic experiences for the community to enjoy:
Dance Party — New this year will be a dance party for everybody! Five di erent DJs and dance teachers will demonstrate line dancing, hip-hop, salsa, swing dance, and funky/disco. And there will be plenty of time for free dancing in any style you choose (including no style at all). Dance brings joy, community, and connection.
Holidays Around the World — An international celebration that showcases how cultures across the globe honor the season through unique traditions, music, and decor. The event invites residents to explore a vibrant display of international holiday customs, fostering unity and appreciation for the Triad’s rich cultural diversity.
Faith Elements CFTC has always been grounded in Christ and powered by believers seeking to be the hands and feet of Jesus, loving on our community. In addition to longstanding elements like
the Prayer Room, Christian music groups, and a contemplative and relational version of the Love Feast, this year’s experience will also include an impromptu Christmas pageant, a listening room, and Church in the Streets — literally out on Fifth Street.
Performing Arts — Several locations around the building and out on 5th Street will feature staged performance spaces for music, dance, drama, and other forms of performing arts by members of our community.
Interactive Arts — This year will feature a heightened level of semiinteractive arts around the building and a designated “Arts + Nonprofit Experience” room with participatory activities.
Santa’s Workshop — Santa and his elves will bring their toy workshop to the Benton, where kids will be able to meet Santa and make their own wooden toy car to take home.
Main Stage — Provided by SES, we’re ready to bring knockout performances of Estrellas Latinas Mexican Folk Dance, Michael Thomas & Co., Academy of Dance Arts, and other groups to main stage.
For more info, check out: www.christmasforthecity.com, www.facebook.com/ christmasforthecity !
[WEEKLY ARTS ROUNDUP] NEW COMEDY SERIES OPENS AT THE ARTS COUNCIL
BY KATE CARSON-GRONER
“Tonight’s Special Comedy Special” is Winston-Salem’s new comedy variety show. Featuring stand-up, improv, sketch, and musical comedians, Tonight’s Special brings a new group funny friends together every month to make you laugh and build a comedy community.
“I stumbled into improv in college, and later in Chicago, because it was a mostly male space where friends were actively seeking out female performers, and I was a theater kid constantly auditioning and hoping to find some validation. I quickly found my people, and loved the fundamental improv concepts of “Yes, and,” collaborative world-building, and supportive play. Later, musical improv become my passion, as I finally had an outlet for the musicals and songs I would make up for fun. After moving back to N.C. from Chicago, I found a lot of joy in teaching and coaching improv, and introducing performers to musical improvisation.
“I hope this monthly show provides a performance opportunity for comedians in multiple disciplines including stand-up, improv, sketch, drag, and musical comedy. I also hope to help build a community of comedians and comedy enthusiasts that will help serve as an incubator for creative collabora-
tion. I’ve found that comedy can be one of the best ways to change minds, open hearts, and connect people, but that some comedy spaces can be exclusive, cliquey, and toxic. Our goal is to break those stereotypes and be a welcoming and innovative home for comedic artists.
“The arts separate humanity from other life forms. Our creativity allows us to find empathy, explore new ideas, imagine di erent realities, and learn from our mistakes. Specifically with comedy and music, I think finding ways to come together in joy and laughter is integral to being human.
“I’m thrilled to find a collaborative partner in the Arts Council of WinstonSalem and Forsyth County. I think having a centralized source for arts events is extremely helpful in building a creative community of artists and audiences.
“I hope the audience will get some joy, some laughter, a bit of escapism, and maybe even a spark of creativity.” — Kate Carson-Groner !
WANNA go?
“Tonight’s Special Comedy Special” will open Dec. 13 at 8 p.m. at Mountcastle Forum, Second floor of the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts, 251 N. Spruce St., Winston-Salem. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at intothearts.org.
Woodbridge Holdings has an opening at its wholly owned subsidiary, Olympic Products, LLC, in Greensboro, NC, for a Process Engineer position.
Follow all general safety regulations and use provided safety equipment as required. Understand ISO 9001 requirements / Olympic Quality Policy. Always follow work instructions and procedures as established through Olympic Quality Policy. Modify existing reporting systems for new methods, new material specifications and new products. Recommend methods for improving utilization of personnel, material, and utilities. Create new machinery and process systems. Implement process improvements. Plan and establish sequence of operations to fabricate and assemble parts or products. Coordinate and implement quality control objectives, activities, or procedures. Write and update standard operating procedures. Train personnel. Develop and modify foam formulations that meet customer and organization expectations. Keep area neat, organized and clean as well as follow 5S principles as they are appropriate. Cross train in other positions as required. Review KPI metrics such as yield and scrap reports.
Position requires a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or an equivalent foreign degree plus two years of experience in manufacturing, at least one year of which was in the polymer industry; thermodynamics, heat and mass transfer, process controls and fluid flow phenomena; and manipulation of production numbers to calculate yields, usages, and various other process indicators.
Qualified applicants should apply online by going to https://jobs.woodbridgegroup.com/job/ Greensboro-Process-Engineer-NC-27406/594268617/ requisition #3603, or by sending resumes and cover letters to Brandon Brace, HR Manager at Brandon_Brace@woodbridgegroup.com.
ACROSS
Has a snooze
Workout unit
Anti-DUI ad, maybe
The Maltese Falcon hero
Conical-bore woodwind
Log chopper
Possess
Former airline to Rome
Composer of the 1938 ballet “The Incredible Flutist”
Squirrel-sized monkeys
Super-cold
Podded plant
What a dieter may reduce
Pressure-reducing elastic stockings
Mork’s home planet
German city
Ordinal su x
Yvette’s “yes”
Gremlins actress Cates
Prefix with treat or trust
Cleans up, as code
Director Preminger
Heater along the bottom of a wall
Ending for Gator
CIO partner
Greek vowels
Bracing wear for a bodybuilder
Happy 100th Birthday Dick Van Dyke!
On June 19, 2009, I had the honor of producing and hosting “A Father’s Day Salute to TV Dads” at the Television Academy’s Leonard Goldenson Theatre in Los Angeles. Aside from the Emmys and the Television Hall of Fame awards, it was the largest gathering of stars for any academy event and the highlight of my broadcasting career.
On that special evening, I gathered together nine iconic TV dads to discuss their lives and careers. Panelists included Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), Patrick Du y (Dallas), Michael Gross (Family Ties), Stephen Collins (7th Heaven), Reggie Vel Johnson (Family Matters), the late great Dick Van Patten (Eight is Enough), Jon Cryer (Two and a Half Men), and my friend Bill Paxton (Big Love) who sadly would only see seven more Father’s Days. But the undisputed star of the evening was Dick Van Dyke who played a Dad on two hit series, The Dick Van Dyke Show and Diagnosis Murder, and who I introduced as being 84 years old. “I’m only 83,” he jokingly corrected me. Sixteen years later, he would publish his eighth book, “100 Rules for Living to 100,” and this Saturday he will realize the milestone of which he wrote. Dick was born Richard Wayne Van Dyke on Dec. 13, 1925, in West Plains, Mo. to Hazel, a stenographer, and Loren, who was a traveling salesman. While still in high school, Dick worked parttime at a radio station in Danville, Ill., then left before graduation to enlist in the Air Force. After the war, he formed a comedy team called the Merry Mutes, but struggled financially. He served a short stint as host of the CBS morning show in New York before working on the stage and eventually landing a starring role in “Bye Bye Birdie,” for which he won a Tony award. That landed him the same role in the film version as well as a string of successes on television beginning
with The Dick Van Dyke Show, for which he won three Emmys. He would go on to win three more, the last of which came in 2023 at the age of 97. His role as Bert in 1964’s Mary Poppins made Dick an international film star and cemented his reputation as a bankable performer in all genres whose talents remained in constant demand throughout his life. What follows are highlights from my conversation with Dick during our TV dads event.
Jim: On The Dick Van Dyke Show, Rob and Laura slept in separate beds. Did they ever fool around?
Dick: Of course. It was implied. We had a kid didn’t we? [laughs]
Jim: How did you learn about the facts of life?
Dick: Well, I didn’t know what puberty was until I was almost past it. But I learned a lot about sex from the Sears and Roebuck catalog.
Jim: I thought that was a hardware magazine.
Dick: Not in those days. Actually, though my wife taught me most of what I know.
Jim: Dick I understand that your dad’s nickname was “Cookie” because he worked for the Sunshine Biscuit company.
Dick: How’d you know that?
Jim: ’cause I did my homework. Tell me about him.
Dick: He was a traveling salesman, so he was only home on weekends. My association was mainly with my mother because Dad was very distant. But I grew up during the Depression, and times were really tough. We were constantly in debt and worried about money. I was 4 years old when the stock market crashed, and I lost everything [audience laughs]. But my dad’s saving grace was that he had a great sense of humor about his condition in life and about himself, and I can remember laughing until I had tears in my eyes. My mother was the same way, and they could both laugh about their poverty. My brother Jerry and I have often talked about it because we didn’t know we were poor. We had a wonderful childhood, I think much better than kids today, because we weren’t micromanaged. Our summer vacation was ours, and we did what we wanted to. Those were great days.
Jim: I read somewhere that your first
acting role was when you were 4 years old, and you played the baby Jesus.
Dick: That’s right, and I got laughs [laughter].
Jim: What was your first paid acting job?
Dick: I loved magic as a child, and at age 12, I was doing Kiwanis Club luncheons and things like that for $3. So, I liked performing right from the beginning. In high school, I was in all the shows, and I never really thought it was a chance to be in show business; I just loved it so much, but I got all the breaks.
Jim: I heard that when filming the pilot for The Dick Van Dyke Show, you sweated through six dress shirts because you were uptight.
Dick: Yeah, but not only that. I was doing “Bye Bye Birdie” on Broadway, and they gave me a week o to film the pilot and I was so nervous, and it meant so much to me that I developed five fever blisters on my mouth, and I had to kiss Mary Tyler Moore like that [he cringes].
Jim: When you start any new project do you still get butterflies?
Dick: No, these days I just have a wonderful time. All the nerves stopped years ago because I did a lot of stu that I had never done before. I auditioned for “Bye Bye Birdie” for Gower Champion when I couldn’t even sing and dance, so I got up and did a little soft shoe, singing “Once in Love with Amy,” and they gave me the job. And I thought, “Oh great. Now
I gotta learn how to sing and dance.” [laughs].
As we wrapped up our discussion, I asked each panelist to name their favorite TV dad, and Bryan Cranston spoke for everyone, saying, “When I first started to work on Malcolm in the Middle, I really didn’t know where my character was going, but I knew all I had to do is look to my hero Dick Van Dyke. I adore you. You know that. You have always been my idol and every stitch of comedy that I’ve ever attained has come from you [audience applauds and they shake hands].
“I also owe you a lot of commission money, by the way.”
At the end of the event, I summoned co-stars and family members to come up on stage and say a few words about the TV dads, then I pressed Dick into service to perform with his quartet, Dick Van Dyke and the Vantastix. Not surprisingly, they garnered an enthusiastic standing ovation from the capacity crowd.
A few weeks ago, Dick graced the cover of PEOPLE magazine, proclaiming, “I’m having the time of my life!” I felt the same way, being able to work with Dick on that memorable summer evening 16 years ago. Happy 100th birthday to everyone’s favorite TV dad. ! 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 at Large
SantaCon is Coming: Cheerful Bar Crawl returns downtown
It’s time to sleigh the season for good as bar crawlers take over downtown Greensboro for a “nice” cause.
The Otis & Wawa 10th Annual SantaCon Bar Crawl will be held on Saturday, Dec. 13, from 3 to 9 p.m. Registration and the official kick-off party will be held at downtown Greensboro’s Boxcar Bar + Arcade, located at 120 W. Lewis St., from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.
“SantaCon is a themed social event that we put together for downtown bars and restaurants that choose to participate. It is a way to bring the young professionals or people of all ages down to help support those businesses,” said co-organizer C.W. Durrette. “We have been doing this event for 10 years now.”
Attendees are encouraged to dress up in their favorite holiday costumes, ugly sweaters, and gear while crawling. There will be a Santa costume contest during the event. Attendees are encouraged to post their photos on a public social media account and tag Otis & Wawa or @otisandwawa on Facebook or Instagram and hashtag #DGSOSantaCon and #OtisandWawa for a chance to win. The winner will receive gift cards totaling $100 to local downtown businesses. The crawl garners at least 350 people on average.
“You can plan on meeting new people or seeing new bars and restaurants that you’ve never visited. The goal is to draw more people to downtown, as well as grab some people out of the Greensboro area to come and participate,” he explained. “People should come and participate if they are looking for something new and unique to do in the city. It is a chance
to experience something festive, without having to go to Raleigh or Charlotte. If you are new to the city and trying to get acclimated to downtown, here’s a way to do that. If you want to support local business, this is another way to do so.”
The bar crawl is also a fundraiser with proceeds and donations benefitting Junior Achievement of the Triad. The organization teaches children “lessons in financial literacy, work and career readiness, and entrepreneurship.” The organization’s focus is to ensure that students in grades kindergarten through eighth have the skills needed for “future success in life and career.”
“A portion of our proceeds each year for this event goes back to Junior Achievement. They start programs for children from elementary school all the way up to high school,” Durrette said. “They teach them financial literacy and provide programs for them. This is just one of many events that we do throughout the year, and at each one of our events, we do give back to a local nonprofit.”
Durrette said he and fellow organizers are glad to offer this event to those wanting to patronize downtown and the businesses that call the area home.
“I feel like we’re just doing our part. We like to try and build those things that we would like to see in Greensboro and in the Triad,” he said. “It’s always great when you can have a social event that’s fun, but you’re also able to give back at the same time, and provide opportunities for the next generation.”
Stops for this year include: Boxcar Bar + Arcade, Southend Brewing Co., Vintage to Vogue Boutique, The Bearded Goat, The Quarter, and Bourbon Bowl. The official after party with karaoke will be held at Stumble Stilskins from 8 p.m. until midnight.
Organizers said that residents and their families look forward to the annual event that caters to all ages.
“We’ll get families that come out and dress up. Seeing that is always good, and we get people of all ages, ranging from people in their mid-20s all the way up to their 60s.”
Tickets for the event are $20 and include a Santa Beard and hat, an event mug, a bag, a bracelet, and free admission to all participating bars. To buy tickets visit, https://www.tickettailor.com/events/otisandwawa/. For more information or events, visit www. otisandwawa.com . !
CHANEL DAVIS is the current editor of YES! Weekly and graduated from N.C. A&T S.U. in 2011 with a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications. She’s worked at daily and weekly newspapers in the Triad region.
Bring the family to celebrate the holiday season with the Greensboro Symphony’s Free Holiday Concert on Friday, Dec. 12, 7 p.m. at Westover Church, located at 505 Muirs Chapel Rd., Greensboro, NC 27410. Doors open at 6 p.m. The concert will feature vocalist Ken Kennedy, plus beautiful holiday music with sing-alongs and a special appearance by Santa Claus!
From his gospel roots growing up in North Carolina, performing in Memphis and Nashville studios, to traveling the world as a big band vocalist, Ken Kennedy is known as the “entertainer’s entertainer.” He has performed on the Grand Ole Opry stage and created and performed “Ken Kennedy Sings Sinatra” with the Greensboro Symphony. A multiinstrumentalist, Ken is recognized for his remarkable voice, diverse musical palette and the natural ability to connect with audiences of all ages and genres. He has shared the stage and the recording studio over the past 50 years with
a who’s who of musical greats from the fields of rock, R&B, jazz and country.
Admission is free with the donation of non-perishable food items for the benefit of the Greensboro Urban Ministry. Registration is required. To register for free tickets, visit https://www.itickets.com/ events/484783.
Donated non-perishable items needed the most include:
• Canned fruits and vegetables — low sodium and low sugar, sweet peas, green beans, spaghetti sauce, fruit, mixed beans, mixed vegetables, corn, and applesauce.
• Proteins/entrée — canned chicken, canned soups/ stews, mac & cheese, tuna, chili with meat.
No glass containers, #10 cans, or expired items will be excepted.
Many thanks to sponsors, Dean and Marilyn Green. !
Vocalist Kenn Kennedy
‘The people make it a good place’: A look at Second Harvest Food Bank
BBY ELIZA BENBOW
efore retiring, Rick Adelman traveled the world as a manufacturing executive, where he witnessed the global e ects of food insecurity. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he volunteered with Second Harvest Food Bank for outdoor distributions, using his ability to speak Spanish to help people driving through.
Working to direct cars that would sometimes wait for hours in line, Adelman said, you could see the need of the people he was directing.
“It just tugs at your heart,” he said. For the past three and a half years, Aldeman has used his experience in the drive-through line to motivate the volunteers he trains at Second Harvest’s Greensboro Distribution and Nutrition Education Center, a completely volunteer-run operation. To date, the Greensboro warehouse has processed more than 1.3 million pounds of food for the food bank’s main warehouse in Winston-Salem.
Founded in the early 1980s, Second Harvest Food Bank both advocates for and meets the immediate needs of people facing food insecurity. The food bank
connects close to 500 food assistance programs across 18 counties, including Guilford and Alamance, with between 35 and 40 tons of food every day.
Second Harvest fills a unique role in the state’s network of groups fighting food insecurity. As a food bank, they supply food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and meal programs with bulk goods, which in turn directly supply the community.
Volunteers with Second Harvest don’t always get to see the final destination
of their work, or how it supports the more than 1.6 million people facing hunger in N.C. today. For Adelman, contextualizing the ways that volunteers’ e orts are impacting their community is an important facet of his role.
“I believe people want to do good things,” he said. “Sometimes inertia stops you from getting o your butt and actually doing something, so you think about it, but you don’t actually do it. I think the people who actually get to do it enjoy doing it, and they like the feeling that it gives them.”
Since September, Asia Thompson, a senior at North Carolina A&T University, has traveled nearly every week to Second Harvest’s Winston-Salem warehouse. As members of the group Lewis Serves, she and her peers participate in another of Second Harvest’s programs: cooking community meals.
The Providence Community Meals program provides thousands of hot meals to seniors and students every week, but the seeds of the community meals have been around even longer than the program itself. Nicole Caudill, the director of Community Meals, said that in the early days, Second Harvest volunteers would hand out chili at food distributions to provide people with a hot meal to put on the table along with ingredients to cook on their own.
Thompson’s volunteering is motivated by a simple belief: everyone deserves
to eat. For a time during her life, her own family experienced food insecurity, and she watched her mom take advantage of resources like those that Second Harvest helps supply.
“In the time that we’re in now, where things are politically changing, and we’re not sure what’s going to happen with people being able to access food, it’s important to have places like Second Harvest trying their best to fill the gap of people not being able to have access,” Thompson said.
While volunteers like Thompson don’t always get to see the final destination of the food they help sort and process, Aldeman said connecting the process to the community it supports is important for motivating volunteers to complete tasks he wouldn’t be able to do otherwise on his own.
Throughout December, neighbors in Sunset Hills collect food and monetary donations for Second Harvest and various local food pantries from visitors driving under lighted Christmas balls hung throughout the neighborhood. This Saturday, hundreds of people will run under the lights during the 14th annual Running of the Balls 5K. Since 2011, the race has provided more than 5 million meals through Second Harvest through race sponsorships, registration fees, and non-perishables donated by race participants.
Supporting Second Harvest beyond
Rick Adelman
the race can look di erent for everyone: it might mean making community meals like Thompson or helping sort in the Greensboro warehouse with Adelman, but it might also mean hosting food drives or advocating for funding and legislative support towards foodsecure communities in North Carolina. Ultimately, Adelman said, volunteers are a small part of a very big operation, but everyone’s support is welcome and important. If people want to help, they’ll find ways to let them help, he said.
“The people make it a good place,” he said. “The people you’re helping make it a good mission, and the people you’re doing it with make it an enjoyable place. I just can’t say enough good things about the organization.”
For people facing food insecurity across North Carolina, financial barriers and the fluctuating nature of food pantries’ stock can a ect their ability to regularly access fresh produce and nutritious options.
During any given day at Second Harvest’s Winston-Salem warehouse, volunteers are preparing and portioning meals that are sent out to senior living facilities and schools as part of the community meals program.
Caudill said the ready-to-eat meals fill a gap that isn’t otherwise met. The meals, while not medically tailored to specific needs, are made from scratch with consideration of healthier choices.
“What we eat influences our health,” Caudill said, “and these meals provide a di erent kind of nourishment to more vulnerable neighbors experiencing food insecurity.”
This mindset is shared by another of Second Harvest’s programs, Farm Fresh Nourish, which began in 2020 as a way to connect local farmers and
fresh produce to food pantries in their community.
Currently active in nine counties, the program contracts local farmers and food hubs — collectives made up of smaller farmers — to provide a weekly supply of produce boxes to food pantries in their community. These food boxes are specifically designed to provide a regular supply of fresh produce from a local source to people who have or live with someone who has diet-related conditions.
“A lot of the farmers that we use — and food hubs, for that matter — are very invested in the local community,” Sheri Cordell, Policy, Systems, & Environmental Change project manager, said. “They want to do this sort of community outreach, food insecurity work.”
Pantries like Helping Hands High Point Inc. rely on sources like Second Harvest for their supply of produce. The bulk of the food they receive from food drives and donations tends to consist of shelf-stable, non-perishable foods.
Steve Key, executive director of Helping Hands, said the pantry’s goal is to have a balance in the food they give out to the community. Through Second Harvest, Helping Hands is connected to the Growing High Point food hub, which is made up of urban farms planted in under-resourced neighborhoods across the city.
Connecting to Helping Hands through Second Harvest has provided farmers in the food hub with a consistent market and allowed them to build closer relationships with food pantries, Jodi Sarver, executive director of Growing High Point, said.
While Second Harvest provides the initial connection, pantries and farmers often build connections beyond the contract. Sometimes, Cordell said,
farmers will donate excess or misfit produce to pantries, or farmers who already donate to pantries on their own become part of the contracted program.
“Whenever you have a chance to meet an organization, get involved with them, partner with them, it’s going to sprout something,” Key said. “It’s better for the community for us to know what each other does, ways we can collaborate with each other, ways we can grow relationships and have access
to resources — for us and for them — to serve the community in a di erent way.”
Beyond meeting immediate needs, Second Harvest provides resources like cooking classes, recipes, and nutrition tips to help people make healthier choices, including with how they use the ingredients they receive from pantries.
“The food bank is very interested in not only just providing food, but also providing a hand up,” she said. !
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The Providence Community Meals Program
Running of the Balls 5K
CHARLOTTE
THE
FILLMORE
1000 NC Music Factory Blvd | 704.916.8970
www.livenation.com
Dec 10: Raekwon & Mobb Deep
Dec 12: Nightrain
Dec 16: One Tree Holiday
Dec 19: Alyssa Edwards
ELKIN
REEVES THEATER
129 W Main St | 336.258.8240 www.reevestheater.com
Wednesdays: Reeves Open Mic
Fourth Thursdays: Old-Time Jam
Dec 11: Luke Mears & Friends
Dec 19: Chamomile & Whiskey
GREENSBORO
CAROLINA THEATRE
310 S. Greene Street | 336.333.2605 www.carolinatheatre.com
Dec 12: Jayne Trinette
Dec 19: Chad Eby and Friends
CHAR BAR NO. 7
3724 Lawndale Dr. | 336.545.5555 www.charbar7.com
Dec 11: Jim Mayberry
Dec 18: The Good Watts
COMEDY ZONE
1126 S Holden Rd | 336.333.1034 www.thecomedyzone.com
Dec 11: Kelsey Cook
Dec 12-13: Shelly Belly
Dec 19-20: Carlos Mencia
FLAT IRON
221 Summit Ave | 336.501.3967 www.flatirongso.com
Dec 10: Spencer Lajoye
Dec 11: Bob Fleming & Camrbia
Dec 12: Idol Talk, Feyleux, Corpse Dust
Dec 13: HR & The Human Rights Movement
Dec 14: Majoun, Cakes ov Light, and Bloc
GARAGE TAVERN
5211 A West Market St | 336.763.2020 www.facebook.com/GarageTavernGreensboro
Dec 13: Salem Smoke
Dec 20: Wristband
Dec 27: RetroVinyl
GRAPES & GRAINS
2001 Yanceyville St | 336.601.9292 www.grapesandgrainstavern.com
Dec 10: Richard Valitutto
Dec 12: Nonprofits Band
Dec 13: Patrick Rock Duo
Dec 14: Mistletoe Murder Mystery Men Productios Show
HANGAR 1819
1819 Spring Garden St | 336.579.6480 www.hangar1819.com
Dec 12: Omnium Gatherum
Dec I Love R&B
Dec 14: Fifth Floor
STEVEN TANGER CENTER
300 N Elm Street | 336.333.6500
www.tangercenter.com
Dec 10-14: The Outsiders
Dec 16: Ji brickman
Dec 17: Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol
503 N. Greene St | 336.274.2699
www.idiotboxers.com
Dec 12: JT Cole & Madison Bergstedt
Dec 13: Kenyon Adamcik
Dec 20: Dan Treadway
Dec 13:
JAMESTOWN
Dec 11: I, Anomaly, backteeth, Feel Something
Dec 18: Morgan Wade
Dec 19: Will Easter, Nick Bullins
Dec 20: Killer Antz, Drat the Luck
Dec 27: Cosmic Charlie
Thursdays: Music Bingo
Dec 12: Anne & the Moonlighters
Dec 13: Barefoot Modern Trio
Dec 19: Gipsy Danger
Dec 20: Red Umber
Dec 27: Jacob Vaughan & Friends
Dec 28: Rivas Ranch
[SALOME’S STARS]
Week of December 15, 2025
[ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Handle that potentially awkward situation by warming up your confidence reserves and letting it radiate freely. Also, expect an old friend to contact you.
[TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) It’s not too early for the practical Bovine to begin planning possible New Year workplace changes. A recent contact can o er some interesting insights.
[GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) A request for an unusual favor should be carefully checked out. Also check the motives behind it. Your generosity should be respected, not exploited.
[CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Party time beckons, but for some Moon Children, so do some workplace challenges. Deal with the second first, then you’ll be free to enjoy the fun time.
[LEO (July 23-August 22) A warm response to an earlier request might be a positive indicator of what’s ahead. Meanwhile, Cupid could pay a surprise visit to single LEOs looking for love.
[VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) How you respond to a proposed change in a project could a ect your situation. Be prepared to show how well you would be able to deal with it.
[LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) The revelation of a secret could cause some changes in how to deal with a work-
place matter. It very likely also validates a position you have long held.
[SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) An attempt to get too personal could upset the very private SCORPIO. Make it clear that there’s a line no one crosses without your permission.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to [December 21) The savvy Sagittarian might be able to keep a family disagreement from spilling over by getting everyone involved to talk things out.
[CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Be careful not to push people too hard to meet your ideas of what holiday preparations should be. Best to make it a cooperative, not a coerced, e ort.
[AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) An unexpected request could make you rethink a position you’ve had for a long time. Meanwhile, plan a family get-together for the weekend.
[PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Someone might find that it was a fluke to try to use your sympathetic nature to get you to accept a situation you’re not comfortable with. Good for you.
[BORN THIS WEEK: You like challenges that are both mental and physical, and you enjoy always beating your personal best.
