YES! Weekly — October 29, 2025 by YES! Weekly

OCTOBER 29-NOVEMBER 4, 2025 VOLUME 21, NUMBER 44

TRIAD ELECTION GUIDE 2025

4 From Nov. 6 to Nov. 9, the Lewis Carroll Society of North America will hold its 100th in-person meeting in WinstonSalem. The self-explanatory, 51-year-old organization is devoted to the study and promotion of LEWIS CARROLL (1832’98).

5 RiverRun International Film Festival will present two SPECIAL SCREENINGS in theaters during the month of November, Sunset Boulevard and We Life Each Other.

8 Arriving just in time for Halloween, writer/director Steve Hudson’s STITCH HEAD is a lovingly crafted, animated adaptation of the best-selling 2011 graphic novel (and its subsequent installments) by Guy Bass.

10 There has been much debate lately about when and how FEDERAL TROOPS should be deployed to restore order in cities with high crime rates or where violence is out of control.

11 My columns are based on evening meals. But if I eat out other times, my favorite mid-day meal is WEEKEND BRUNCH. Lots of good things can be found in these samples.

12 Take a look at ELECTIONS IN THE TRIAD: Candidates for the City of Greensboro, featuring candidates from Districts 1 through 5.

19 Happy Halloweekend, ghouls and goblins! Creatures of the night are assembling for HALLOWEEN SHOWS and costume parties all around the Triad.

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LYNN FELDER

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A “Wonderland” in Winston-Salem

From Nov. 6 to Nov. 9, the Lewis Carroll Society of North America will hold its 100th inperson meeting in Winston-Salem. The self-explanatory, 51-year-old organization is devoted to the study and promotion of Lewis Carroll (1832-’98), best known for “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” (1865) and its 1871 follow-up “Through the Looking Glass,” among the most beloved, adapted, and interpreted children’s stories in literary history. Many events are scheduled for the four-day event, several of which are open to the public and some of which are free. For a full schedule of events, see

https://www.lewiscarroll.org/ wp-content/uploads/2025/07/ LCSNA-Schedule-7-10.pdf.

Winston-Salem native, bestselling author, and acclaimed playwright Charlie Lovett, twice president of the Lewis Carroll Society, possesses the largest collection of “Carrollian” memorabilia, has written several books about the author — including “Lewis Carroll’s England” (1998) and “Lewis Carroll and the Press” (1999) — and has lectured extensively about Carroll throughout the world. He also hosts the podcast “Inside the Writer’s Studio.”

“There are so many reasons why Carroll’s work endures,” Lovett explained. “His humor and imagination, of course. Also, the fact that Alice is a child with agency, something quite radical at the time, and something that kids still understand. She comes to control herself

and the world around her and isn’t afraid to call adults out when they act foolishly or illogically — as adults, especially the eyes of children, so often do. Alice also appeals across cultures, and there is also her inﬁnite mutability; she is reinvented by every generation, re-illustrated by artists around the world, and reﬁlmed and restaged constantly. This is, in part, because Carroll knew not to tell us too much. He let the reader’s imagination complete the scene.”

Lovett’s admiration and a nity for Carroll (born Charles Lutwidge Dodgson) began at an early age, and he admits it’s been a major inﬂuence and inspiration for his own work. “I ﬁrst encountered Carroll as a child,” he said. “We had a scratchy old set of long-playing records of Cyril Ritchard reading the ‘Alice’ books. It’s still my favorite recording of ‘Alice.’ I mostly remember a feeling of lazy happiness being told a story by this grown-up I’d never met, but whose voice lulled me into relaxation on rainy days. Years later, casting around for a book to collect, I remembered those long afternoons listening to ‘Alice’ and thought I’d try pursuing her. I never guessed it would lead to a long career as a scholar, a world-famous collection, and friends and experiences around the world.

“Of course, my non-ﬁction (work) has been largely focused on Carroll, so he has certainly a ected that. But Carroll and the things he led me to — Victorian England, Pre-Raphaelite painters, the Arts and Crafts Movement, and so much more — crop up in my work all the time. Most of my novels are set all or partly in England, and I came to understand England and her culture because I was drawn there partly by my interest in Carroll, and also put little Carroll ‘Easter

eggs’ in most of my books!” Among the events scheduled are a free screening of the awardwinning 1985 film Dreamchild, written by Dennis Potter (The Singing Detective), a fictionalized account of the life of Alice Liddell, the girl believed to have inspired Carroll to write his classic novel. Coral Browne stars as the adult Alice Fairchild, who looks back on her life and her friendship with Carroll (played by Ian Holm), with Amelia Shankley (in her feature debut) portraying the young Alice. The film will be shown at 7 p.m., Nov. 6, at a/perture cinema, 311 W. Fourth St., Winston-Salem, with author/filmmaker/ UNCSA cinema professor Emeritus Dale Pollock and Dayna Nuhn, an expert on the 1932 Lewis Carroll centenary, hosting a post-screening panel discussion. On Nov. 7 at 8 p.m., there will be a live concert performance of Walter Slaughter’s music (with words by Henry Savile Clark) from the original 1886 stage production of “Alice in Wonderland,” presented at First on Fifth Baptist Church, 501 W. Fifth St., Winston-Salem. This is the first time in nearly a century that this has been performed live. Lovett himself will discuss “Lewis Carroll’s Minor Illustrators” on Nov. 8 at 2:15 p.m. at Hanesbrands Theatre, 209 N. Spruce St., Winston-Salem — one of many events scheduled that day at that venue beginning at 9 a.m.

“There is so much we can learn from Alice, even today,” Lovett observed. “She provides a window into a period of history when the whole idea of childhood as we know it was being developed. Carroll helped us see children as something other than miniature adults, and he showed us that there should be room for fun and games during childhood. We can also learn about logic and surrealism, but most of all — like children in 1865 who ﬁrst read ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ — we can engage our own imaginations to travel to that dreamworld Carroll created.”

For more information, visit the o cial Lewis Carroll Society website: https:// www.lewiscarroll.org/event/lcsna-fall2025-conference/. !

Mark Burger

Contributor

RiverRun Screenings Coming to Theaters in November

RiverRun International Film Festival will present two special screenings in theaters during the month of November.

In celebration of the 75th anniversary of the iconic classic ﬁlm Sunset Boulevard, RiverRun will host a screening of a brilliantly restored 4K edition of the ﬁlm at UNCSA’s Main Theatre on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 7:30 p.m.

Directed by iconic ﬁlmmaker Billy Wilder and starring William Holden, Gloria Swanson, Nancy Olson and Erich von Stroheim, Sunset Boulevard is considered one of the greatest movies of all time and is an unﬂinching critique of the toxic way Hollywood runs through talent and leaves behind a trail of destroyed egos and crushed dreams.

Special guests for the screening will be Dale Pollock, former dean of UNCSA’s School of Filmmaking and Wake Forest professor emeritus David M. Lubin, who has just released a new book, “Ready for My Close-Up: The Making of Sunset Boulevard and the Dark Side of the Hollywood Dream.” Moderated by Pollock, Lubin will share insights from his book and the making of the ﬁlm. Following the program, a book signing will be hosted by Bookmarks.

RiverRun will also present a free community screening on Sunday, Nov. 16 at 3:30 p.m. at Marketplace Cinemas of a new ﬁlm by RiverRun alum Lou Pepe. The documentary We Lift Each Other explores the ways in which an art form can o er much more than just entertainment. Under the guidance of founder Michelle Pearson, the dancers of Black Box Dance Theatre from Raleigh travel across North Carolina, employing modern dance as a means of building community and fostering resilience.

Working primarily with active-duty military and their families, veterans, and individuals coping with PTSD, this dance company harnesses the simple but transformative power of group movement to create a space for collective expression and the healing of trauma. We Lift Each Other follows the company through a week-long workshop with a group of veterans in Asheville, N.C., culminating in an emotional public presentation with professional dancers and military veterans in performance together.

Tickets for Sunset Boulevard are

available for purchase at riverrunﬁlm. com. Student tickets will be available for $6 with presentation of a valid Student ID and all UNCSA students, faculty and sta can attend for free with valid ID. We Lift Each Other is being presented for free, but reservations may be made at riverrunﬁlm.com.

RIVERRUN SPONSORS

The RiverRun International Film Festival’s sponsors help sustain the

organization’s mission to foster a greater appreciation of cinema and a deeper understanding of the many people, cultures and perspectives of our world through regular interaction with great ﬁlms and ﬁlmmakers. Festival sponsors include: Title & Presenting Sponsors: City of Winston-Salem, Millennium Fund, UNCSA, North Carolina Arts Council, PNC Marquee Sponsors: Forsyth County, Nelson Mullins, Arts Council of WinstonSalem and Forsyth County, Kilpatrick. !

THE RIVERRUN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL is a non-profit cultural organization dedicated to the role of cinema as a conduit of powerful ideas and diverse viewpoints. Founded in 1998, RiverRun is a competitive event that annually showcases new films from both established and emerging filmmakers around the world. Each spring, RiverRun screens new narrative, documentary, short, student and animated films, o ering both audience and jury prizes in competition categories. For more information, visit riverrunfilm.com.

Piedmont Opera presents Leoncavallo’s

We Lift Each Other

Sunset Boulevard

Ever wanted to try improv comedy but didn’t know where to start? Now is your chance to jump in, have fun, and learn the basics of improvisation in a welcoming and supportive environment. The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County is proud to present the Improv Comedy Workshop, coming to Reynolds Place Theatre on Saturday, Nov. 1 at 3 p.m.

This interactive workshop is designed for everyone, whether you’re completely new to improv or a seasoned performer looking to sharpen your skills. Participants will explore the core principles of improv through games, exercises, and group scenes, all while having a lot of laughs.

“As the city of arts and innovation, the Arts Council is proud to o er a series of interactive, Improv experiences for our artistic community. Whether you’re seasoned at tuning into your creative, risk-taking side or are looking for a new adventure, you are welcome here! Improv gives you the tools to think on your feet and bring “yes and” energy to your personal and professional teamwork environment. Give it a try and have fun!” says Joshua Ling, Director of Programming & Front of House.

The workshop is o ered on a pay-

what-you’d-like basis with options of $5, $10, $15, or $20, making it accessible. Whether you’re there to try something new or dive deeper into your craft, this is a unique opportunity to experience live performance from the inside out. This event is made possible by the Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County, committed to making the arts more accessible to everyone in the community.

ARTS COUNCIL of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County is the leading advocate of arts in our region and seeks to enhance and support the local artistic and cultural landscape. Established in 1949 as the ﬁrst arts council in the nation, the pioneering organization is celebrating its 75th anniversary. Arts Council owns and operates a campus which includes Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts and Hanesbrands Theatre. In 2024, it hosted 360 on- campus events with 66,000 attendees and distributed over $1.4 million in grants and programs, beneﬁting over 800,000 people. Additionally, Arts Council is the largest funder of Arts Education for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools.

Improv Comedy Workshop will be held Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 at 3 p.m. at Reynolds Place Theatre, 251 North Spruce St., Winston-Salem, NC. Tickets are Pay-What-You’d-Like, $5, $10, $15, or $20. To purchase tickets, visit www. intothearts.org/events

79 Android, e.g.

Always the wrong way to go about it

22 Scanned ID on a pkg.

23 “Is that something that ought to worry me?” 25 Rembrandt or Rubens 27 Arafat’s gp. 28 Thurman of the screen 29 With it, once 30 “I Got a Name” singer

(copycats) 43 Coll. dorm overseers 45 Spanish “a” 46 Young miss

“I’m stepping away for just a sec”

52 Actress Bingham

55 “... boy — girl?”

58 Gut-punch response

59 On the whole 60 Embarrassed oneself while singing, in a way

64 Spinning, archaically 65 Peru’s — Picchu

66 Su x with 29-Down 67 Fifth-cen. pope

Court-Approved Legal Notice

Thomas et al. v. Winston Weaver Co., Inc., Case Nos. 22 CVS 929, 22 CVS 683

If you are a natural person that resided, lived, or worked within the one-mile evacuation zone of the Winston Weaver facility on January 31, 2022, and sustained economic and/or nuisance-related damages caused by the fire and evacuation, excluding personal injury, you may be entitled to a cash payment from a Settlement.

A Court has authorized this notice. This is not a solicitation from a lawyer.

An $8 million settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit against Winston Weaver Co., Inc. (“Defendant”) arising out of an evacuation as a result of a fire. The lawsuit alleges damages resulting from Defendant’s negligence, negligence per se, gross negligence, private nuisance, and/or public nuisance which proximately caused the fire and subsequent evacuation. The Defendant denies any wrongdoing. Recently, notice was provided because the Court established or “certified” the lawsuit as a class action. The Parties have not settled the legal claims for business or charitable entities. This Settlement does not include losses incurred by a Business as a result of the fire. Your decision to remain in the Settlement Class or to exclude yourself will not affect your ability to participate in any future settlements for losses incurred by a Business as a result of the fire.

Who is Included? You are a member of the Settlement Class if you are a natural person that resided, lived, or worked within the one-mile evacuation zone of the Winston Weaver facility on January 31, 2022, and sustained economic and/or nuisance-related damages caused by the fire and evacuation, excluding damages arising from personal injury and individuals claiming business damages.

What does the Settlement Provide? If you are a member of the Settlement Class, you may submit a timely and valid Claim Form to receive a pro rata (a legal term meaning equal share) cash payment. You must submit a Claim Form online or by mail postmarked by January 30, 2026

Other Options. If you do not want to be legally bound by the Settlement, you must submit an opt-out postmarked by December 1, 2025. If you do not opt-out, you will give up the right to sue and will release the Defendant and Released Entities about the legal claims in this lawsuit. If you do not opt-out, you may object to the Settlement and/or attorneys’ fees, costs, and Class Representative Participation Awards by December 1, 2025. The Long Form Notice on the Settlement Website explains how to opt-out or object. If you do nothing, you will get no cash payment, and you will be bound by the Settlement and any judgments and orders. The Court will hold a Fairness Hearing on December 8, 2025, to consider whether to approve the Settlement, Class Counsel’s attorneys’ fees of up to 1/3 of the Settlement Fund and costs, and any objections. You or your lawyer may attend and ask to appear at the hearing if you object, but you are not required to do so.

This notice is a summary. Learn more at www.WinstonWeaverClassAction.com, or call toll-free 1-877-873-4578.

Stitch Head: A sweet treat for Halloween and beyond

BY MARK BURGER

Arriving just in time for Halloween, writer/director Steve Hudson’s Stitch Head is a lovingly crafted, animated adaptation of the best-selling 2011 graphic novel (and its subsequent installments) by Guy Bass. It’s so well-rendered that one could easily mistake it for a Disney movie, but although it does bear some similarity to Disney’s Oscarwinning Monsters, Inc. (2001) and has a look that could be described as “Burtonesque” (as in Tim), it stands on its own plentiful merits.

Feeling unloved and unappreciated, Stitch Head is encouraged to headline the freak show of a traveling circus run by Fulbert Freakﬁnder (voiced by Seth Usdenov), a ﬂamboyant impresario with a penchant for breaking into song. Stitch Head revels in his newfound celebrity status, but Arabella is wary, and the castle-bound creatures assume that he’s in need of rescue.

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.

Set in the bucolic burg of Grubbers Nubbin, the ﬁlm is steeped in traditional horror elements, including the dark and scary castle that looms over the village. It is there that the “Mad Professor” (voiced by Rob Brydon) toils away day and night, creating new beings that he brings to “almost life” (patent pending), before leaving it to faithful assistant Stitch Head (voiced by Asa Butterﬁeld) to tend them while he commences work on yet another experiment. That this mad medico has a shock of white hair and a pencil mustache that resembles the great Boris Karlo is undoubtedly no coincidence.

Interestingly, the Professor’s creations — who have never left the conﬁnes of the castle — are as terriﬁed of the villagers and the villagers are of them, despite the two parties never having met. Only young Arabella (voiced by Tia Bannon) views them with fascination rather than fear. It’s a nice message that permeates the proceedings, that anyone — or anything-is entitled to equal treatment, whether they are green, purple, multicolored, have three arms, or one eye in the middle of their head. It’s a gentle plea for acceptance and tolerance that never overplays its hand nor interrupts the story’s momentum.

Screenwriter/director Steve Hudson does an exemplary job keeping the narrative moving at a steady clip. There’s nary a wasted moment or scene in Stitch Head, and the splendid visual e ects are neatly balanced with the story elements. Everything jells together in assured fashion.

There really aren’t any bad guys in Stitch Head. Freakﬁnder may be greedy, and it is he who eventually rouses the villagers to storm the castle (torches optional), but he’s not necessarily evil. His eventual comeuppance, set to the 1980 Air Supply tune “All Out of Love,” is one of the more inspired and uproarious visual gags you’re likely to see in any ﬁlm this year, and over the end credits, it’s strongly hinted he’s not necessarily down for the count for good.

Perhaps there could have been a bit more of the Mad Professor, but that’s a minor quibble. Best to just sit back and savor the sweet flavor. The film is cheerful, charming, and downright irresistible. Stitch Head is one of the best animated features of the year and one of the best family entertainments this year. The youngsters will enjoy the visual razzle-dazzle and zippy pacing while grown-ups — particularly those with an a ection for classic horror trappings — will revel in that aspect of the film. This film deserves a long and healthy run into the holiday season. !

See MARK BURGER’s reviews of current movies.

THE CAT AND THE CANARY

(Kino Lorber Studio Classics): The granddaddy of “old-dark-house” mysteries, director Paul Leni’s highly inﬂuential 1927 silent adaptation of John Willard’s 1922 play ﬁnds a disparate group of heirs gathered in a decaying New York mansion for the reading of a will on a dark and stormy night, coincidentally (and conveniently) the same night that a murderer known as “The Cat” has escaped from a nearby asylum. Considered by many a classic, it has inspired numerous remakes and countless imitations over the years and remains e ectively atmospheric and fun despite a creaky storyline. The ensemble cast includes Laura La Plante, Arthur Edmund Carewe, Creighton Hale, Forrest Stanley, Gertrude Astor, Flora Finch, Martha Mattox, and Tully Marshall. Both the limited-edition Blu-ray ($29.95 retail) and 4K Ultra HD combo ($44.95 retail) include audio commentaries, Leni’s 1925 silent short Rebus-Film No. 1, and more.

DEAD OF NIGHT

(Kino Lorber Studio Classics): Having scored with Trilogy of Terror (1975), horror icon Dan Curtis unleashed this 1977 anthology originally aired on NBC and penned by fellow genre icon Richard Matheson. The trio of tales are “Second Chance” starring Ed Begley Jr.; “No Such Thing as a Vampire” starring Patrick Macnee, Anjanette Comer, Horst Buchholz, and Elisha Cook Jr.; and — the best of the bunch — “Bobby,” in which grieving mother Joan Hackett brings her dead son (Lee H. Montgomery) back to life … and soon wishes she hadn’t. That’s the one everyone remembers. Longtime Curtis collaborator Robert Cobert contributes his usual e ective score. The special-edition Blu-ray ($29.95 retail) includes audio commentary and introduction, deleted scenes, and “A Darkness at Blaisedon” (1969), an unsold pilot for a prime-time series Curtis envisioned called “Dead of Night,” starring Kerwin Mathews and Marj Dusay.

“DEAN DEMPSEY BLU-RAYS” (Anchor Bay Entertainment/MVD Entertainment Group): The respective Blu-ray bows of the ﬁrst two features made by independent ﬁlmmaker Dean Dempsey: His award-winning, R-rated 2015 urban parable Candy Apple, which he wrote, directed, and stars opposite his real-life father Texas Trash (yes, that’s how he’s billed) as a son and father struggling to

BY MARK BURGER

DVD PICK OF THE WEEK: IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS

(Arrow Films/MVD Entertainment Group)

Not John Carpenter’s best ﬁlm, but despite mixed reviews and disappointing box-o ce, this 1995 scare-fest is certainly one of his better ones and fully earns its cult status. It was also a major rebound from the big-budget disappointment Memoirs of an Invisible Man (1992), a ﬁlm even he doesn’t hold in high esteem. (Few do.)

Sam Neill, whose CIA villain was one of the bright spots of Memoirs, was fresh o back-to-back successes with Jurassic Park and The Piano in 1993 and reunited with Carpenter to portray John Trent, a cynical insurance investigator hired to locate best-selling horror author Sutter Cane

(Jurgen Prochnow), who has vanished on the eve of the publication of his latest novel, the titular In the Mouth of Madness. Trent ﬁgures it’s a publicity stunt cooked up by publisher Jackson Harglow (a neat cameo by Charlton Heston) but agrees to accompany Cane’s editor Linda Styles (Julie Carmen) to the town of Hobb’s End, the principal setting of Cane’s novels.

While Linda delves into Cane’s new book — not a healthy notion, as it turns out — and Trent delves into Cane’s past, what both ﬁnd shakes them to their very foundations. Hobb’s End is populated by residents who are not entirely human, and Cane’s legion of readers is so voracious and obsessive that he has somehow tapped into their collective subconscious, thereby opening a portal to another dimension of reality, one populated by monstrous beings. It’s heady stu , to be sure, and Carpenter plays it for all it’s worth. The special e ects are suitably grotesque and gruesome, but always in service to the story. In the Mouth of Madness is not a mindless gore-fest but a ﬁlm loaded with imaginative ideas, most of which pay o , with Carpenter in full control.

Executive producer Michael De Luca’s script owes a bit to Stephen King (“Sutter Cane,” anyone?) and a bit more to H.P. Lovecraft, seasoned with Carpenter’s trademark dark humor. Carmen brings an alluring sassiness to Linda and the imposing Prochnow is suitably mysterious as the black-clad Cane, but this is Neill’s show all the way, and the actor gives a fabulous performance. It’s fun watching his skepticism erode as he comes to recognize — and believe in — the dark forces he’s up against. Others of note in the cast include John Glover, David Warner, Bernie Casey, long-time Carpenter collaborator Peter Jason (who died in February), and look fast for Hayden Christensen’s feature debut as an inhuman paperboy.

The limited-edition 4K Ultra HD combo ($59.95 retail) includes multiple audio commentaries, collectible book and poster, retrospective and vintage featurettes and interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, theatrical trailer and TV spots, and more. Rated R.

survive on the mean streets of the Big Apple; and Deadman’s Barstool (2018), a contemporary ﬁlm noir that Dempsey wrote (with Greg Mania), directed, and plays a pivotal role. Each Blu-ray ($39.95 retail) boasts bonus features.

DUST DEVIL (Kino Lorber Studio Classics): Writer/director Richard Stanley’s 1992 sophomore feature stars Robert John Burke as a mysterious drifter in modern-day Namibia, who is actually the incarnation of an ancient evil spirit, now wreaking murderous havoc across the

edition Blu-ray ($29.95 retail) and 4K Ultra HD combo ($49.95 retail) include both the R-rated theatrical version and unrated director’s cut, audio commentary, retrospective interview, theatrical interview, and more.

THE ISLAND (Eureka Entertainment/ MVD Entertainment Group): A limited-edition Blu-ray ($39.95 retail) of director PoChih Leong’s award-winning 1985 thriller (originally titled Sang sei sin) wherein teacher John Sham takes his students to a remote, supposedly uninhabited island during summer break only to encounter a family of savages leading to an inevitable and violent battle for survival against all odds. In Cantonese with English subtitles, bonus features include audio commentaries, collectible booklet, trailer, and more.

“LONER LIFE IN ANOTHER WORLD”: COMPLETE COLLECTION (Sentai Entertainment): A self-explanatory two-disc Blu-ray selection ($69.98 retail) of all 12 episodes from the entire 2024 run of the anime fantasy series based on Shoji Gori’s light-novel franchise (and subsequent manga), following the adventures of a group of teenagers summoned to another world where each is granted a speciﬁc superpower — except one named Haruka (voiced by Shuichiro Umeda) who opts to possess all the skills his friends didn’t select. In Japanese with English subtitles.

desolate countryside, with Chelsea Field the runaway housewife who impetuously (and unwisely) gives him a lift and reliable Zakes Mokae as the homicide detective on the case. Stanley haggled with distributor Miramax Films over the length and tone of the ﬁlm, resulting in a heavily edited version that seemed to please no one. Well-made, well-acted, and atmospheric, in either version it leaves too many plot threads dangling but is again evidence of Stanley’s directorial prowess — even if his vision has been compromised periodically throughout his career. Both the special-

WEEDS (MVD Entertainment Group): Nick Nolte gives a ﬁrst-rate performance in this loosely fact-based 1987 drama about a San Quentin inmate who writes a play about his experiences, which attracts the attentions of comely reporter Rita Taggart and leads to his parole, after which he tours with fellow inmates as a performing troupe. A labor of love for director John D. Hancock, who co-wrote the script with actress wife Dorothy Tristan, this earned good reviews but was a box-o ce bust (the advertising campaign didn’t help), thereby hastening the demise of Dino’s De Laurentiis Group. A solid ensemble cast includes Ernie Hudson, Joe Mantegna, William Forsythe, Mark Rolston, Lane Smith, Felton Perry, Barton Heyman, Anne Ramsey (as Nolte’s mother), and J.J. Johnston (who had served time before becoming an actor). The “MVD Rewind Collection” Blu-ray ($29.95 retail) includes director’s interview, photo gallery, trailers, and more. Rated R. !

There has been much debate lately about when and how federal troops should be deployed to restore order in cities with high crime rates or where violence is out of control. That’s because National Guard units showed up in Washington, D.C. earlier this year, and the administration is looking to do the same in Portland, Chicago, and other cities. That begs the question: Can we envision a time and circumstance when National Guard troops would ever be sent into the Triad? The answer is “yes,” and in fact it has already happened once

National Guard in the Triad?

before. Here’s the background.

On Oct. 15, 1967, James Eller, an African American father of four, was seen staggering across a street. Mr. Eller made it to the front porch of his house, where several police o cers caught up with him and proceeded to arrest him for alleged public drunkenness. According to police, Eller resisted arrest, and the o cers tried to subdue him, ﬁrst by spraying MACE into his eyes. That didn’t work, so Patrolman W.E. Owens struck Eller on the head with a blackjack. It proved to be a fatal blow. Police didn’t release details of Eller’s death until eight days later, and it was another four days after that before Owens was suspended. Eller’s widow swore out a warrant against Owens, which, according to the Winston-Salem Journal, stated that Owens, “feloniously, with premeditation, deliberation, and malice a fore thought, did kill and murder one James Eller.” Judge Leroy Sams dismissed the

case, and that ruling triggered riots in downtown Winston-Salem.

Winston-Salem Journal and Twin City Sentinel reporters provided extensive coverage of the riots, which included descriptions of damage to stores along Liberty, North Trade, North Cherry, Claremont, Main, and Fourth Streets. Most of the businesses were looted, then burned. Mobs particularly targeted jewelry and liquor stores, as well as furniture and appliance stores. Fires broke out everywhere, cars were overturned, bricks were tossed, and shots were ﬁred.

Patrolman E.W. Thorpe described the Nov. 2 sniper fire to reporter Eugene White, saying, “Guns were reporting everywhere, and you didn’t know who was shooting at who.” Thorpe’s own patrol car was struck by sniper fire at 13th and Patterson Avenues. His partner, C.E. Crosby, who fought in the Pacific during WWII, described the rioting as a “small scale war.” Said Crosby, “We didn’t know where to take cover when there was shooting. We were afraid we might try to take cover where the shooting was coming from.”

Mobs also set a ﬁre just behind a Reynolds Tobacco factory on Chestnut Street. The ﬁre was burning near a gas tank, and had Thorpe and Crosby not arrived in time to put it out, there probably would be no Innovation Quarter today.

Twin City police chief Cornelius Tucker told his troops to “take things easy on the mob,” but he added, “Pull out the heavy stu . Don’t use it unless you have to, but display it. But STOP it.” Normally, local National Guardsmen are not called upon to defend their own city, but the 200-man Winston-Salem guard was put on alert. Meanwhile, Mayor M.C. Benton and Governor Dan Moore deployed National Guardsmen from Mount Airy. Most of them patrolled the streets, while others were given rooftop duty. Two of them, Spec 4 Tommy Hennis and PFC Rodney Cooke, were positioned atop the Robert E. Lee Hotel.

I was 13 years old at the time, and I vividly remember riding to church and seeing armed National Guardsmen positioned on tops of buildings throughout downtown Winston-Salem.

After a couple of days, all that remained of the “small scale war” were charred buildings and debris in the

streets. Order had been restored without loss of life.

The events of Oct. 15 and Nov. 2, 1967, taught us a lot about race relations, the criminal justice system, mobs, and the way Winston-Salem dealt with all of them. O cer Owens probably didn’t mean to kill Mr. Eller, but his unnecessary use of force triggered a ﬁrestorm nevertheless. Critics of the time said the o cers on Eller’s front porch that fateful day should have used handcu s instead of MACE and nightsticks. The police chief should have gone public within hours of Eller’s death. Judge Sams should have meted out an appropriate punishment for O cer Owens. And the rioters should have stayed home because burning and looting is never an appropriate or e ective response to police brutality.

The Winston-Salem police did an admirable job during the riots of 1967, but they couldn’t have restored order without help from the National Guard, proving that there are times when a military presence is absolutely necessary. Of course, such deployment should always be at the behest of the governor, and in this case, his decision proved to be justiﬁed. That was nearly 60 years ago, but we must be ever vigilant when it comes to dealing with the things that often divide us. As then Winston-Salem Journal editor Wallace Carroll wrote, “No city in America is immune from the passions of these days.”

Chow Down with John Batchelor at Brunch Spots

BY JOHN BATCHELOR

My columns are based on evening meals. But if I eat out other times, my favorite mid-day meal is weekend Brunch. Lots of good things can be found in these samples.

Print Works Bistro (702 Green Valley Rd., Greensboro 27408, 336-3790699, printworksbistro.com) is light and airy, with abundant natural light. This property was recently recognized by Michelin, elite company indeed.

Smoked Salmon Omelet folds in red onion, dill, chèvre, and capers, bistro potatoes alongside. French Toast is based on challah bread with vanilla custard and warm syrup, ﬂanked by all-natural bacon. One of my favorite selections here is Avocado Toast, also using challah bread, with avocado relish, pickled red onions, chèvre, and bacon, joined by poached eggs. Eggs Benedict are prepared the traditional way.

Green Valley Grille (622 Green Valley Rd., Greensboro 27408, 336-8542015, greenvalleygrill.com) is elegant. A two-story ceiling looks down onto the dining area. Brick walls ﬂank a large center arch.

The Brunch menu is sophisticated. Braised Lamb Shakshuka is presented over polenta, decorated with tomato ragout, sunny-side-up eggs, feta cheese, and cilantro, with crostini. Avocado Ciabatta Toasts are assembled with roasted tomatoes, poached eggs, hollandaise sauce, and arugula salad. Aleppo Marinated Mushroom Toast utilizes focaccia bread, Boursin cheese, and caramelized onions, plus poached eggs and hollandaise sauce.

A word of warning — the fried potatoes at both these places are addictive.

Lucky 32 (324 West Wendover Ave., Suite 320, Greensboro 27408, 336-3700966, lucky32.com) subtitles itself “Southern Kitchen,” which characterizes the style of cooking here. The website characterizes the property as an “upscale joint.”

Fried Green Tomato and Bacon Benedict caught my eye. An English mu n hosts poached local farm eggs with hollandaise sauce, along with crisp bacon, green onions, and creamy grits. Skillet Fried Chicken comes with

mashed potatoes, ham hock collards, gravy, and cornbread. Chicken and Biscuit sustains the southern theme with a cornmeal fried chicken cutlet, buttermilk biscuit, country ham cream, scrambled eggs, and fruit. Shrimp and Grits adds andouille sausage, onions, and Tasso ham gravy. The Sweet Potato Hash with charred cabbage, bacon lardons, caramelized onions, poached local farm eggs, and bearnaise sauce is inviting, too.

The Undercurrent (327 Battleground Ave., Greensboro 27401, 336-3701266, undercurrentrestaurant.com) is becoming a bit of an art-themed restaurant, with original creations from partner Wes Wheeler, who co-owns with brother Chris. Drinks are named for artists. The Georgia O’Keefe is appropriately decorated with leaves of fresh basil.

Biscuits are great — crusty, steamy — hot. They make a welcome appearance in the Biscuit and Gravy Skillet, with Joyce Farms sausage gravy, fried sage, and fried eggs. There’s a Wa e du Jour, plus Gumbo and Grits with shrimp and andouille sausage. Joyce Farms Fried Chicken Biscuit adds bacon-poblano jam, peppadew aioli, goat cheese, and a fried egg.

At Gia (1941 New Garden Rd. #208, Greensboro 27410, 336-9077536, drinkeatlisten.com), start with Rosemary Scones or Biscuits and Jam, followed by soups and salads. My favorites here are the Schiacciate — Sicilian ﬂatbreads, the Brunch versions decorated with Smoked Salmon or Spinach and Goat Cheese. Croque Madame uses prosciutto, Gruyère cheese, and béchamel sauce on a sourdough roll. Several egg dishes are available, as well as French Toast.

Finial (Grandover Resort & Spa, 1000 Club Rd., Greensboro 27407, 336-8344877, ﬁnialatgrandover.com) has a new Brunch menu. It will be available this weekend.

Food at The Gaslight (126 S. Main St., Suite G, Kernersville 27284, 336497-4025, thegaslightonmain.com) is top tier, with additional kudos for bar and wine service.

French Onion Dumplings garnered rave comments in my initial article about this place. Fried Apple Beignets follow the Gaslight theme. Two preparations of French Toast are o ered — Banana Brulee and Berries and Cream. I loved my recent serving of Avocado Toast with poached eggs on a toasted croissant. Eggs Benedict can be ordered in four conﬁgurations — crab cakes, beef tenderloin, lobster, or duck conﬁt. The hollandaise is exceptional. My wife and I were impressed with the crab cakes version.

Young Cardinal Café (424 4th St. N. W., Winston-Salem 27101, 336-4485188, andrewsrestaurantsws.com/ young-cardinal) has been chosen Best Brunch three times in YES! Weekly’s annual Triad’s Best voting. The bar earns commendations for its Bloody Mary, with crisp celery, plump green olives, and just the right amount of heat in the tomato juice.

Details in Avocado Toast change often. Multiple conﬁgurations of French Toast, Wa es, and Pancakes are available. Biscuits are augmented with multiple protein choices. You select from a long list of ingredients for your 3-egg omelet. Nine variations of Eggs Benedict are ﬁendishly tempting.

Betty on Burke (1016 Burke St., Suite D, Winston-Salem, 336-999-8866, bet-

tyonburke.com) has one of the prettiest interiors I have ever encountered — delicate, but not frilly.

Fried Oysters are welcome at any meal. Banana Pudding Pancakes are a novelty. Latin-inﬂuenced dishes include Frittata with cheeses, Breakfast Tacos, and Sweet Corn Arepas (grilled cornmeal patties). I am particularly drawn to the Tuna Nicoise Bowl, with hearts of palm, egg salad, caramelized fennel, and shoestring fries. Pork Schnitzel comes with salsa verde, eggs, and feta cheese. This kitchen serves up a mean Smash Burger as well.

The Katharine (401 N. Main St., Winston-Salem 27101, 336-761-0203, katharinebrasserie.com) “blends traditional brasserie fare with the culinary style of the surrounding region.” I’ll call it French-Southern.

Croque Monsieur is a traditional French hot ham and cheese sandwich. The name literally translates, “Mister Crunchy.” The version here uses shaved Black Forest ham plus Gruyère and mozzarella cheeses, sharpened with Dijonnaise. There’s also a Brioche Sandwich, encasing two fried eggs, applewood smoked bacon, aged cheddar, tomato, basil aioli, with a small arugula salad. Quiche is usually a vegetarian preparation. !

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.

Young Cardinal Cafe’s Eggs Benedict

Gia’s Schiacciate

Betty on Burke’s Tuna Nicoise

Elections in the Triad: Candidates for the City of Greensboro

DISTRICT 1 CANDIDATES

SHARON HIGHTOWER

1. Why are you running for o ce?

With more than a decade on Greensboro City Council, I bring steady leadership, institutional knowledge, and proven results. I understand how government works — from budgeting and planning to community development — and I deliver solutions that last. I’ve served in leadership roles locally and statewide, working with city, state, and federal partners to secure resources, strengthen neighborhoods, and expand housing. My experience and relationships uniquely position me to keep delivering real results for District 1. As such, I will continue to advocate for all the issues that are present before us and the future issues that keep District 1 strong and competitive. There are issues such as the need for intentional development, a ordable and attainable housing, empowering small business growth, infrastructure concerns, such as the brown water that I have indeed been working on with our Water Department because as we grow, quality water/sewer is essential, and of course, being approachable and reachable, and the list goes on.

2.What are three of the most pressing issues you plan to address if elected, and why?

My top 3 issues to address: 1) Housing: To continue to work with developers to ensure quality housing development occurs. 2) Economic development & empowerment: I will continue to recruit companies that pay a living wage and

to ensure our small businesses have the tools and support to grow to their fullest potential. 3) Transportation & Infrastructure: To improve transportation and infrastructure — investing in safe roads, sidewalks, and transit options that connect every community to opportunity.

3.If elected, what plans do you have to address the city’s disparities when it comes to housing and food insecurities?

Regarding Housing, I’ll work with developers, nonproﬁts, and city programs to expand quality housing options, repair aging homes, and promote homeownership. Regarding Food Insecurities, let me be clear: I have supported food pantries across District 1 and adjacent districts because I know how important it is to close the gap in food insecurities. I’ve also advocated for a number of local and large-scale grocery stores to come to District 1 so that there can be more fresh food options and so that we can increase the health of our citizens in District 1. It’s equally important to note that developers look at an area’s demographic and income to determine where they want to place certain grocery stores, which I have advocated for. I am glad to say that we have a major chain, Piggly Wiggly, that will be coming to District 1 in just a few short months! Regarding Economic growth, I’ll continue recruiting companies that provide living-wage jobs and align with Greensboro’s longterm workforce needs. I will strengthen small businesses by expanding access to city contracts, technical assistance, and capital. Regarding Infrastructure, I’ll continue advocating for funding of transportation options that include safer roads, sidewalks, and reliable transit — connecting residents to jobs, schools, and opportunities across Greensboro. I will also support funding for the new micro-transit system currently being developed to better serve residents and students in East GSO to access jobs, such as Toyota or at the Airport.

4.What would you do to improve the relations between Greensboro City Council and the community?

My vision is to continue building on the strong foundation we’ve established — using my institutional knowl-

edge and experience to ensure District 1 and Greensboro’s growth beneﬁts every resident. I am deeply committed to improving relations between City Council and the community. I will continue to foster open dialogue through Public Forums, Townhalls, and by attending community functions and events. I will also ensure that city resources and related sta are present at key meetings, so we can get answers and results! My commitment to advancing equitable economic development, expanding access to quality housing, and strengthening our city’s infrastructure is unwavering. Through collaboration, innovation, and accountability, I will continue working to make Greensboro a city of opportunity, stability, and lasting success. For example, I created the Youth Courier Program, giving middle and high school students hands-on experience with City Council and local government. My philosophy is rooted in service, equity, and accountability. I believe leadership means serving with integrity, listening to the people, championing fairness, and ensuring every resident has the opportunity to live, work, and thrive in Greensboro. I am dedicated to fostering a culture of continuous improvement in the relations between the Greensboro City Council and the community.

5.What are your plans to address violence and the high crime rate in the city?

I am deeply committed to public safety in District 1 and throughout the city. I have taken significant steps to address this issue, including funding a Behavioral Health Team to respond to mental health crises. I’ve also launched the Cure Violence Program in vulnerable neighborhoods. In addition, I worked with Council and the City to settle the Marcus Smith Case with fairness and accountability. I will continue to strengthen community policing partnerships to improve trust. The community wants to see that they can trust the police and that their presence in the community is one of crime prevention, not just reaction. I will continue working with nonprofits, such as my partnership with Cone Health, to enhance the Warnersville Center with furniture, fitness equipment, and a book vending machine for children. I advocate

and ﬁght for livable wages because we know that when livelihood and wages increase, some of the violent crimes that we see will be reduced. Moreover, we have to hold people accountable for their actions; we want a safe and thriving District 1, and to be a haven of safety, growth, and prosperity, everyone deserves to feel safe.

Website: www.sharonhightower.com

CRYSTAL BLACK

1. Why are you running for o ce? I am running for o ce because every resident deserves a voice in the decisions that shape their neighborhood. Too many communities in District One have been overlooked for far too long, and I’m committed to bringing attention, investment, and accountability back where they belong: to the people.

2.What are three of the most pressing issues you plan to address if elected, and why?

Environmental and Public Health Equity: Clean water and a healthy environment are not privileges. They are rights. I will demand accountability for environmental neglect in Southeast Greensboro and work to ensure that no family has to worry about brown water, industrial pollution, or unsafe living conditions in their own home.

Bingham Park Remediation: The contamination at Bingham Park has been ignored for decades, posing serious health and safety risks to nearby residents. I will prioritize full remediation and restoration of the park, ensuring transparency, community involvement, and long-overdue justice for those affected.

Infrastructure, Code Enforcement, and Neighborhood Investment: Our roads, sidewalks, and drainage systems in District One have been neglected for far too long. I will push for immediate investment in safe streets, reliable water systems, and well-maintained public spaces. Strengthening code enforcement will also be a priority. This is not to penalize residents, but to preserve property values, restore neighborhood pride, and ensure every community meets a livable standard.

3.If elected, what plans do you have to address the city’s disparities when it comes to housing and food insecurities?

Every resident deserves access to safe, affordable, and dignified housing. In Greensboro, housing disparities have widened due to years of uneven investment and outdated policies. I will advocate for equitable housing opportunities that prioritize longtime residents, prevent displacement, and encourage responsible development. By strengthening code enforcement, expanding affordable housing options, and holding landlords and developers accountable, we can ensure every family, regardless of income or neighborhood, has a fair chance to live and thrive in our city.

4.What would you do to improve the relations between Greensboro City Council and the community?

Rebuilding trust between the City Council and the community begins with transparency, consistency, and genuine engagement. I will host regular town halls and community listening sessions throughout District One, not just during election season, but year-round. These gatherings will give residents a direct voice in decision-making, provide updates on city projects, and ensure concerns are addressed in real time. I will also advocate for better communication from the city through accessible channels, including digital platforms (specific to District One) and neighborhood partnerships. Building stronger relationships means meeting people where they are and ensuring their voices shape the policies that impact their daily lives.

5. What are your plans to address violence and the high crime rate in the city?

To truly address crime, we must start by understanding its root causes. How our city is developed plays a major role. Concentrating poverty in one area has consistently led to higher crime rates. Greensboro must take a proactive, not reactive, approach by investing in

equitable development, youth programs, and community resources that prevent crime before it starts. I believe in fostering strong, collaborative relationships between the police and the community, built on mutual respect and full transparency. When everyone at the table is honest, accountable, and engaged, we can create safer neighborhoods and a stronger city for all.

Website: www.crystalblack.org

District 2 canDiDates

cecile crawforD

1. Why are you running for office?

I was born and raised in District 2, in a family of educators and small business owners. I’ve seen firsthand both the strength of this community and the lack of investment that has held it back. I’m running because I want to change that, for my neighborhood and for every community in my district that deserves more.

I believe Greensboro can be a city where everyone has what they need to thrive: safe housing, good jobs, and strong neighborhoods rooted in care, not crisis. For years, I’ve organized for housing, labor, and healthcare justice, supporting community-led solutions that have kept families housed and strengthened support systems across Guilford County.

Now, I’m running to bring that same commitment and collaboration to City Council, to make sure our policies reflect the needs and voices of the people who live here, not just developers or corporations. I want to build the city we deserve: one grounded in fairness, opportunity, and community care.

A city that puts people first.

2. What are three of the most pressing issues you plan to address if elected, and why?

a. Housing and Affordability

Thousands of Greensboro families are struggling to find or keep safe, affordable

homes. I will champion stronger code enforcement and tenant protections, support partnerships with responsible landlords to preserve existing units, and invest in mixed-income and social housing that keeps families in place and prevents displacement. Everyone deserves a home that’s safe, dignified, and affordable.

A city that puts people first.

b. Economic Equity and Small Business Support

My mother has a small business at the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market, and I’ve seen how hard our local entrepreneurs and farmers work just to stay afloat. Many Black small business owners face systemic barriers when trying to access seed funding or loans. We must intentionally support those who’ve been locked out of the dream of business ownership because of race, gender, or cultural bias.

Small businesses are the backbone of Greensboro’s economy, yet many face rising costs and limited access to resources. When we invest in local businesses, we keep our dollars right here: circulating through our neighborhoods, creating jobs, and strengthening our community. Let’s build a city where our local makers, farmers, and entrepreneurs don’t just survive, they grow and thrive.

c. Public Safety and Community WellBeing

We must invest in safety that truly works: by addressing the root causes of violence through youth employment, reentry support, and mental health services, while tackling the poverty and disinvestment that make neighborhoods unsafe. Real safety means stable

housing, access to opportunity, and trust between the city and its residents.

3. If elected, what plans do you have to address the city’s disparities when it comes to housing and food insecurities?

Everyone deserves a safe home and good food to eat. These are basic needs that help families live healthy and stable lives.

I want the city to help build mixed-income housing and a variety of homes so that people of all ages and incomes can live in every neighborhood. I also want to support community grocery stores so families can buy healthy food close to where they live. I’ll work to make it easier for local farmers and small stores to bring fresh food into neighborhoods that don’t have enough options.

When people have safe housing and healthy food, our neighborhoods become safer, more stable, and thriving. Families worry less, kids do better in school, and businesses grow stronger. That’s why I’ll keep ﬁghting for programs that protect renters and prevent evictions, because having a home helps everything else fall into place.

4. What would you do to improve

the relations between Greensboro City Council and the community?

We need to rebuild trust by being open, honest, and present in the community. People deserve to see their leaders, talk to them directly, and know that their voices matter.

I’ll hold regular community town halls and do quarterly neighborhood walkthroughs in District 2 so residents can share their ideas and concerns face-toface. I also believe in shared leadership, creating resident-led advisory groups that help shape city policies and budget priorities.

When people are part of the process, they believe in the outcome. I want City Council to feel less like government talking at people and more like a team working with the community.

5. What are your plans to address violence and the high crime rate in the city?

To make our city safer, we have to invest in prevention, opportunity, and accountability. That means expanding youth employment and mentorship programs, supporting violence interruption and mediation e orts, and strengthening partnerships with reentry and mental

health organizations. We also need to make sure city workers, including ﬁrst responders, are paid living wages and have the tools to serve our communities with care. True safety comes from stability, when people have: housing, jobs, and hope, violence goes down.

Website: www.cecilecrawford.com

1. Why are you running for o ce?

that experience home. The lessons learned from working with leaders who are willing to name and challenge the ways race, gender, class, and other factors shape inequitable results.

District 2 is rich with history, culture, resilience, and promise. Yet, it continues to lag behind every other district in Greensboro. The disparities are clear and growing…a high concentration of poverty, low median household incomes, declining homeownership, rising homelessness, environmental injustice, and concerning rates of violence. Most striking of all, there is a 15-year gap in life expectancy between residents of southeast Greensboro and those in the northwest. These are not abstract statistics; they are the lived experiences of our families and communities.

I have spent the last two decades of my life in one of the most challenged areas of Greensboro, District 2. I have dedicated my time, energy, and heart to addressing the issues that shape our community’s daily reality. For as long as I have lived here, I have worked alongside neighbors and partners to confront the barriers that limit our ability to prosper and thrive, housing insecurity, inadequate healthcare access, failing infrastructure, economic inequity, gaps in education, and community safety. These challenges are personal. They a ect me, my family, and my neighbors, and they fuel my unwavering commitment to this work.

For more than two decades, I have organized across this district with a deep belief that transformation must begin from within. My approach goes beyond surface solutions and short-term ﬁxes. It is rooted in understanding the historical forces that created today’s inequities, policies and practices that have systematically harmed communities like ours. Throughout my career, I have built and led organizations that empower residents, strengthen local leadership, and cultivate the collective power needed to achieve lasting change.

My work has taken me beyond Greensboro, partnering with systems and institutions across the country to help them confront and close the persistent gaps in opportunity and outcomes that exist everywhere. I bring

It is because of these realities, and at the urging of my neighbors, after deep reﬂection and prayer, that I have chosen to run. I am running because I believe District 2 deserves the full investment of the city’s promise. I am running to ensure that redevelopment and opportunity are not reserved for a few but extended to every corner of our district. My goal is simple yet urgent: to confront inequity head-on, to uplift and empower those most impacted, and to move District 2 and the City of Greensboro toward a future that is prosperous, equitable, and whole.

2. What are three of the most pressing issues you plan to address if elected, and why?

I am particularly committed to addressing the interconnected challenges of housing, infrastructure, economic opportunity, and public safety, because none of these issues exists in isolation. The stability and growth of District 2 depend on tackling these areas together, with intentional strategies that honor the people who call this community home.

For far too long, District 2 has been oversaturated with low-end a ordable housing developments that, while often well-intentioned, have had the unintended e ect of concentrating poverty in speciﬁc neighborhoods. This pattern has deepened inequities and limited pathways to prosperity for too many residents. To truly move our district forward, we must prioritize upgrading and diversifying the types of housing available, creating mixed-income, highquality, and sustainable communities where families of all backgrounds can thrive.

Breaking the cycle of concentrated

MONICA WALKER

poverty is essential to reducing crime and violence and improving the conditions in our schools. Safe, stable, and dignified housing lays the foundation for stronger families, better educational outcomes, and greater neighborhood pride. By coupling housing redevelopment with investments in infrastructure, local businesses, and workforce opportunities, we can build an ecosystem that supports long-term growth and shared prosperity, not just survival.

3. If elected, what plans do you have to address the city’s disparities when it comes to housing and food insecurities?

People without stable housing are often the same individuals and families facing food insecurity. Hunger and housing are urgent, interconnected needs that deserve our immediate attention and compassionate response. Yet, as a community, we have too often focused on treating the symptoms rather than addressing the root causes of these crises.

We can continue to feed every hungry person today, and we must; but if we fail to tackle the systemic conditions that create hunger and homelessness, we will wake up tomorrow to find even more of our neighbors in need. True progress requires us to move beyond crisis management and invest in solutions that break the cycle of poverty altogether.

There is great excitement about the economic growth and development coming to Greensboro, as major corporations and industries relocate to our area. This growth holds tremendous potential. However, the benefits of these opportunities have not always reached the residents of District 2. Too often, our communities are left on the margins while others reap the rewards of progress.

The next leader of District 2 must ensure that economic development translates into economic access, good-paying jobs, workforce training, small business growth, and local investments that uplift the people who have long been the backbone of this district. It will be essential to negotiate and advocate for equitable participation in the economic future of our city so that prosperity is not confined to a few but shared by all. 4. What would you do to improve the relations between Greensboro City Council and the community?

Quite frankly, I believe this is one of the simplest challenges faced by the City Council and one that requires

no complex solution. The answer is straightforward: consistent, credible, and transparent communication should never be neglected or abandoned. Transparency is not just a virtue; it is a deliberate choice, a commitment to openness and honesty in how we engage the people we serve. Effective communication builds trust, fosters collaboration, and ensures that residents feel heard, valued, and informed about the decisions shaping their daily lives. Accountability to constituents must be more than a campaign promise; it must be the foundation of leadership. Members of City Council should not only aspire to accountability; they should practice it through timely updates, active listening, and genuine dialogue with the community. This is not complicated governance; it is responsible governance. Prioritizing accountable communication is both the simplest and most powerful way to restore confidence in leadership and strengthen the partnership between City Hall and the people of Greensboro.

5. What are your plans to address violence and the high crime rate in the city?

In my work, one of our guiding principles is this: as “powerbrokers,” we have a responsibility to help create the conditions in which real change can occur. Change does not happen by chance; it happens when we intentionally design systems and environments that allow people and communities to thrive.

I firmly believe that much of the crime we see in our city is a direct function of poverty. Whether we choose to acknowledge it or not, poverty breeds desperation. Those living at the bottom of our social and economic systems are often people who feel they have nothing to lose; and people with nothing to lose will do what they must to meet their basic needs and pursue their desires with whatever limited tools are within their reach.

The most effective and the most just response to crime and violence is not more punishment or policing alone. It is the deliberate delivery of opportunity, resources, and purpose to people’s lives and their environments. Anything short of that fails to address the root cause and merely treats the symptoms. Charity, while well-intentioned, is not justice. True justice demands systemic change that gives people the means to build stability, dignity, and hope. As leaders, our duty is not to simply give charity to those who are struggling, but

to dismantle the conditions that keep them struggling in the first place.

Website: www.monicawalkerforcitycouncil.com

District 3 canDiDates

Zack Matheny

1. Why are you running for office?

Fortunately, I’ve had the honor of serving the Greensboro community for 20 years. During that time, we laid the groundwork that helped bring major employers like Toyota, JetZero, Boom Supersonic, Publix, Marshall Aviation, and many others to our region. My focus on economic development, public safety, and strategic planning has been central to that progress.

When asked about the greatest challenge facing our city and my district, my answer is clear: the core priorities remain the same — job creation, public safety, and responsible leadership. These are not just campaign points; they are the foundation of a strong, sustainable Greensboro.

Throughout my two decades of service, I’ve remained accessible, responsive, and committed to all residents. I believe leadership means being present, being prepared, and getting results — and that’s exactly what I intend to continue delivering.

2. What are three of the most pressing issues you plan to address if elected, and why?

Job creation — Greensboro is seeing the success today of the planning we did more than a decade ago. That long-term vision is paying off — but now it’s time to look ahead again. We need to be intentional about what we do now, not just for the next year, but for the next three, five, and 10 years. In my view, we’re not quite there yet in terms of strategic focus. My hope is that with the new City Council, we can reignite that forwardthinking mindset and put a clear plan in

place for Greensboro’s future.

Public safety —The City Council made important progress by increasing compensation for our police employees — a necessary step toward keeping Greensboro competitive. But we must go further. Being competitive isn’t just about pay; we need to continue with other complementary community safety areas, including the behavioral health response team. This team is a major part of helping folks who need help outside of normal public safety issues.

Community safety is one of the most critical assets any city can have. It requires both strong law enforcement and community engagement. That’s why I continue to emphasize the importance of building trust and encouraging a culture of accountability — reminding residents that “if you see something, say something.”

I’m proud to have received the endorsement of the Greensboro Police Officers Association. I’ve worked closely with our officers, and I will continue to do so to ensure we’re supporting them in every way possible — because when public safety is strong, our entire city thrives. Housing — The entire state is facing a housing crisis, and Greensboro is no exception. We must fully support the City Manager’s aggressive initiative to address this urgent need. With strong collaboration between the city, county, and state, I believe we can identify and implement meaningful incentives that will expand housing options and meet the growing needs of our community. This is not just a local issue — it’s a regional priority, and we need to treat it with the urgency and coordination it deserves.

3. If elected, what plans do you have to address the city’s disparities when it comes to housing and food insecurities?

This is an area I focus on every day. Homelessness is a global crisis — and it’s not a one-size-fits-all issue. People experience homelessness for many different reasons: mental health challenges, substance use, unsafe living conditions, unaffordable rent, and more. It’s critical that we acknowledge this complexity and focus on solutions tailored to each individual’s or family’s specific needs.

In recent years, I’ve seen real progress as organizations that once worked in silos are now collaborating more effectively. That kind of coordination isn’t optional — it’s essential. To truly make an impact, service providers must

continue building strong partnerships and sharing resources.

4. What would you do to improve the relations between Greensboro City Council and the community?

I believe there is a good relationship between the greater community and the city council; however, for improving communication, holding neighborhood meetings has proven successful. In addition, we could hold town hall meetings for larger audiences; however, these can prove challenging as not everyone gets the opportunity to ask questions in larger group formats.

5. What are your plans to address violence and the high crime rate in the city?

As a recipient of the Greensboro Police Officers Association endorsement, I will continue to work with the members of the Police Department in any way possible to help public safety. In addition, I will continue to support community policing with the non-sworn staff to work with neighborhoods for the “see something, say something” initiative.

Website: www.mathenyforcouncil. com/

April pArker

This candidate has yet to return the answers to our questions at this time. When they do, we will upload the responses.

District 4

ADAm mArshAll

1. Why are you running for office?

I am running for city council because I deeply care about this city. I was born and raised in Greensboro. I attended our public schools of Sternberger, Kiser, and Grimsley. And now, I am raising my family here. I believe that this is an extremely important election. All council seats are contested. We must elect serious candidates who can work intelligently and

collaboratively together to get things done for our community. At 43 years old, I represent generational change in leadership. We have experienced some real economic development wins over the last few years. We need council members with the vision to make decisions now that will allow us to capitalize on this momentum, and the vision to take action that will benefit us for five to ten years from now. We also have some real challenges to address in our City, including a housing shortage, food insecurity, and homelessness, to name a few.

2. What are three of the most pressing issues you plan to address if elected, and why?

My top three priorities are housing, economic development, and public safety. I believe housing is our most pressing issue at this time. It is well known that we are in a housing shortage. A shortage that isn’t just made up of one type of housing product. We need more single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums, and apartments. And we need them all over our city and at different price points. We need housing that is attainable for our citizens. That is, we need housing that folks can afford with the salary that they make.

In order to make sure we can capitalize on our economic development wins; we must make investments in our infrastructure. Particularly, our water and sewer system. I want us to work with our other municipal neighbors to make these investments as a region. We are all going to benefit from the recent growth (particularly along our city boundaries). We must deal with these infrastructure investments on a regional basis, so that the burden isn’t squarely on the shoulders of the Greensboro taxpayer.

As to public safety, we must make sure that our public safety employees are receiving competitive pay, quality training, and the resources they need to keep us safe. I have been endorsed by the Professional Fire Fighters of Greensboro and the Greensboro Police Officers Association. They know that I will be someone that can be reached to listen to their concerns. They also know that I am someone that will work to improve and strengthen relationships within the community. We are safer when there is a partnership and trust between our public safety employees and the communities they serve.

3. If elected, what plans do you have to address the city’s disparities when it comes to housing and food insecurities?

We need to increase our housing stock. Simple supply and demand principles would tell you that when there is a shortage of a product, the price for that product will be higher. Step one is to work to increase the supply of housing with a diverse array of housing products. We need to leverage public and private partnerships by encouraging developers to build housing that is attainable for our citizens. That could be achieved in some instances by working with them to commit to offering a percentage of units at market rent or affordable housing versus contract rent, or to invest in redevelopment projects. Something we should consider to incentivize this type of partnership would be to lessen the expense of connecting to our water and sewer system. Additionally, we should work to streamline permitting, inspections, and technical review, so that it doesn’t take as long to get projects off the ground. The city would see a return on this investment.

We must continue to recruit and encourage private food providers like grocery stores to invest in underserved areas. Part of doing this would be to work to strengthen housing and communities in these areas. We must not concentrate one type of housing product in just a few of our districts. We need a diversification of products so that there is upward mobility for all of our citizens. This will encourage private investment in our communities. We also must do a better job at planning for the type of industry that we are seeking to attract.

4. What would you do to improve the relations between Greensboro City Council and the community?

We need to make clear that we are here to listen to our citizens. That is our job as their representatives on Council. That seems to have been lost a bit in recent years. I want our community members to know that I am someone who listens (even if we don’t always agree), studies the issues, and who works collaboratively with his fellow council members to get things done.

5. What are your plans to address violence and the high crime rate in the city?

We must continue to put quality leadership in place for our police department. We have an excellent police chief who is committed to making our city safer. While any crime is bad crime, we have seen a 5-year downward trend in crime. In the past year, we are down roughly 20% in violent crime and 15% in property crime. We have a ways to go, but we

are trending in the right direction. The city has done the hard work of making sure our officers are receiving competitive pay. That is key to keeping our best and brightest officers working in Greensboro. When you have quality people, you are more likely to get quality results.

Website: www.electadammarshall. com/

nicky smith

1. Why are you running for office?

I’m running for City Council because I believe Greensboro needs experienced, common-sense leadership that puts citizens first. After 45 years of building businesses and creating jobs in this community, I’ve seen how decisions at City Hall directly affect families, small business owners, and our neighborhoods. Too often, those decisions have been made without real accountability or respect for taxpayers. I want to restore transparency, focus on essential services, and make sure our city government works efficiently for the people who live and work here — not for special interests.

2. What are three of the most pressing issues you plan to address if elected, and why?

The three most pressing issues are public safety, fiscal responsibility, and essential city services.

Public Safety: Greensboro cannot thrive if people do not feel safe. We must fully staff our police and fire departments, provide modern equipment, and support the men and women who serve.

Fiscal Responsibility: City spending is out of balance. Residents face one of the highest property-tax rates in the region, yet they see declining services. I’ll push for a performance audit of every department to cut waste and focus funds where they are needed most.

Essential Services: We’ve fallen behind on basic services like street maintenance, stormwater management, and the loose-leaf collection program. These

are the services residents pay for and expect. They reﬂect the quality and pride of our city.

3. If elected, what plans do you have to address the city’s disparities when it comes to housing and food insecurities?

Every family deserves a safe home and access to nutritious food. The city must strengthen partnerships with nonproﬁts, churches, and local developers to create a ordable, attainable housing without overburdening taxpayers. We should encourage mixed-income development, repurpose vacant city-owned properties, and streamline permitting for projects that meet real community needs. For food insecurity, I support expanding community gardens, mobile food markets, and small-business incentives for grocery access in underserved areas. City Council’s role is to make it easier for local organizations to do what they already do best — serve their neighbors.

4. What would you do to improve the relations between the Greensboro City Council and the community?

Trust begins with listening. City Council must return to a culture of open communication and respect for public input. I’ll advocate for more neighborhoodbased town halls, transparent online reporting of city projects, and shorter response times to citizen concerns. We should treat every resident, regardless of their viewpoint, as a valued stakeholder in our city’s success. Leadership means engaging people before decisions are made, not after.

5. What are your plans to address violence and the high crime rate in the city?

We need a balanced approach that combines enforcement, prevention, and opportunity. First, we must fully support the Greensboro Police Department with the tools and sta ng they need to keep o cers safe and visible in the community. Second, we must strengthen partnerships with schools, mentorship programs, and community organizations that steer young people away from crime and toward productive futures. Reducing violence also means investing in neighborhoods — clean, well-lit streets, youth recreation programs, and job opportunities all play a role in public safety. A safer Greensboro will come from collaboration, accountability, and leadership that puts results over rhetoric. Website: www.nickyforgreensboro. com/

DISTRICT 5 CANDIDATES

TAMI THURM

1. Why are you running for o ce?

I understand the great diversity of needs throughout our community. I’ve worked closely with residents and understand the issues they are facing. In addition, with so many of our current council members leaving, it is important to maintain institutional knowledge. We’ve improved public safety, started work on GSO’s ﬁrst permanent supportive housing (PSH) initiative, and boosted our economy with new jobs (Publix, Toyota, Boom, and JetZero) and supported our local businesses. Our work isn’t done, but I know that we can continue this progress and make GSO a more prosperous city for all. I moved to Greensboro 50 years ago to attend UNC-G, fell in love with Greensboro, and made it my home. I’m running to make sure our children, grandchildren, and our college students fall in love with Greensboro the way I did and make Greensboro their home!

2. What are three of the most pressing issues you plan to address if elected, and why?

Public Safety: I’m committed to continuing our work on improving public safety by supporting police and ﬁre, building community trust, and ensuring all of our residents feel safe, respected, and protected.

Housing: Everyone deserves a safe, a ordable place to live. I’m committed to expanding attainable housing so more people can build their lives and futures in Greensboro. In addition, we must ensure we’re helping our unsheltered population so that they can truly call Greensboro home.

Economic Development: We must continue our work to drive high-paying jobs to our area while supporting and growing our existing businesses - providing opportunities for all.

3. If elected, what plans do you

have to address the city’s disparities when it comes to housing and food insecurities?

Housing and food insecurities are intertwined. As residents are forced to spend a disproportionate portion of their income on housing costs, they have less money to spend on food. In addition, neighborhoods with a concentration of poverty frequently don’t have access to grocery stores, adding to the food insecurity. As we move forward with the Road to 10K, we need to establish measurable goals for each area of our community to ensure that we do not continue the concentration of poverty in certain areas. By encouraging the construction of attainable and a ordable homes throughout the city, access to fresh foods will improve. As we improve the quantity and quality of housing stock in underinvested areas of our city, median incomes will rise, and those areas will then meet the qualiﬁcations of grocers to invest nearby. We will also likely need to create incentives to partner with prospective grocers for those communities. Everyone in Greensboro deserves access to safe housing and fresh/healthy food. While we’ve started the work to make this a reality, we still have a lot more work ahead of us. Addressing this problem is one of my top priorities, and I look forward to continuing the progress we’ve made.

4. What would you do to improve the relations between Greensboro City Council and the community?

As elected o cials, the most important part of our role is to listen to the community. It’s critical that we always have a focus on being present and accessible to our residents. Not everyone feels comfortable or is able to attend the open council meetings on the ﬁrst Tuesday of each month to share their thoughts, concerns, and ideas. Outside of speaking at a meeting, the council needs to make itself available and easily accessible to the community. As a group, we should meet in districts each quarter for a meet and greet or “o ce hours” to listen to their constituents. Local government is where the greatest day-to-day impact on a resident is made. That’s why it’s critical that prior to making decisions, council members give the community the opportunity to discuss the matter, ensuring that input is heard from as many voices as possible. Since I was elected, I’ve always worked to be present in as many spaces where we can hear feedback and concerns. That commitment will continue to guide my work in the next four years.

5. What are your plans to address violence and the high crime rate in the city?

Through October 12th, homicides have been down 15% this year and down 35% over the past five years. In addition, aggravated assaults are down 19% this year and down 10% over the past five years. Aggravated assaults using a firearm are down 38% this year and 31% over the past five years. While we are making progress, we must continue to address violence in Greensboro.

I am proud of the work the council has done to increase compensation for our police o cers, enabling us to close the gap on police vacancies. By maintaining full sta ng levels, our o cers will continue to serve our communities with community-based policing, increase their daily visibility, and improve relations in the communities they serve.

However, we need to continue to develop relationships with residents and community organizations. Violence prevention and crime reduction cannot be solved by police alone; we must work with families, schools, churches, and other community groups to address these issues.

When we all work together, we can continue to make Greensboro a safe city for all our residents.

Website: www.electthurm.com

JEANNETTE DAVIDSON-MAYER

This candidate has yet to return the answers to our questions at this time. When they do, we will upload the responses.

WANNA know?

This article will continue to update with new candidate information at yesweekly.com.

CARBORRO

CAT’S

CRADLE

300 E Main St | 919.967.9053

www.catscradle.com

Oct 29: Kitty Craft, After

Oct 30: MAKE, Tacoma Park, Spookstina

Oct 31: Boris, Agriculture

Oct 31: Saxsquatch, Dougish

CHARLOTTE

BOJANGLES COLISEUM

2700 E Independence Blvd | 704.372.3600 www.boplex.com

Oct 31: Jesse & Joy

Nov 13: Country 103.7 Stars & Guitars

Nov 18: The Rock Orchestra

Nov 22: Air Supply

HOME GROWN MUSIC SCENE | Compiled by Shane Hart

THE FILLMORE

1000 NC Music Factory Blvd | 704.916.8970

www.livenation.com

Oct 30: Between the Buried and Me & Hail the Sun

Oct 30: Sunami & Scowl

Oct 31: Alaska’s Haunted Halloween

SPECTRUM CENTER

DPAC

123 Vivian St | 919.680.2787

www.dpacnc.com

Nov 1: Tye Tribbett

Nov 5: John Fogerty

Nov 6: The Wailin’ Jennys

Nov 7: Wanda Skyes

Nov 8: Black Violin

Nov 12: Walker Hayes

333 E Trade St | 704.688.9000 www.spectrumcentercharlotte.com

Oct 29: Renee Rapp

Nov 5: Jonas Brothers

Nov 13: Brandy and Monica

Nov 14: Playboi Carti

Nov 20-21: Nate Bargatze

DURHAM CAROLINA THEATRE

309 W Morgan St | 919.560.3030 www.carolinatheatre.org

Oct 29: Macy Gray

Nov 1: Boney James

Nov 6: Bu alo Nichols

129 W Main St | 336.258.8240 www.reevestheater.com

Wednesdays: Reeves Open Mic

Fourth Thursdays: Old-Time Jam

Oct 31: 3 Toe Possum Halloween Party with Uriah

Nov 1-2: Damon Darling

Nov 7-8: Tacarra Williams

Nov 9: Kerwin Claiborne

Nov 12: Stavros Halkias

Nov 1: Carnival of Souls

Nov 2: Sweet Dream — The Music of Led Zeppelin

Nov 5: Oceanic w/ Madwoman

Nov 6: Mutlu w/ Justin Reid Nov 7: Jacoozy

GARAGE TAVERN

5211 A West Market St | 336.763.2020 www.facebook.com/GarageTavernGreensboro

Oct 31: RetroVinyl Halloween Party

HANGAR 1819

1819 Spring Garden St | 336.579.6480 www.hangar1819.com

Oct 29: Signs Of The Swarm

PIEDMONT HALL

W Gate City Blvd | 336.373.7400 www.greensborocoliseum.com

Oct 31: Shrek Rave

Nov 14: Green Queen Bingo

Happy Halloweekend, Triad Creatures of the Night!

Happy Hal-

loweekend, ghouls and goblins! Creatures of the night are assembling for Halloween shows and costume parties all around the Triad. Drag rules the “Devil’s Night” that is Oct. 30, with drag shows and costume contests at both Ziggy’s in downtown Greensboro and at the Very Fruitcup Halloween party at Westerwood Tavern. In Winston, Halloween drag keeps rolling with the devilish “Drag Me to Hel’s” party hosted by Regina Prescott and Bubblegum Rocket at Hel’s on Nov. 1.

Contributor

When it comes to the main evening, Little Pep is doing a spooky little DJ night and costume ra e on Oct. 31, with a D’Angelo + Angie Stone set by DJ Solﬂower and the easiest ra e a ghoul could ask for: simply come dressed in costume for a chance to win a $100 gift card.

Down around Innovation Quarter, Fair Witness will become “Fear Witness” for a costume contest and Fright Night show with SCOBY and Puppy and the Dogs. Over at the Den, Winston-Salem underground is doing “Dubstep-o-ween” with 10buc2, Isodose, Tremorz, Sawced, and others joining in the dubstep rave. The Ramkat brings on the covers with Flying High Again: The Ultimate Ozzy Osbourne Tribute Experience, a tribute show spanning rock’n’roll’s crowned Prince of Darkness’s entire career catalog. “Expect powerhouse music, cheeky banter, and pure metal mayhem,” with an opening set from Love It To Death: The Ultimate Alice Cooper Tribute. And it’s naturally a monster’s holiday at Monstercade for the Devil Disco Darling’s Goth Night Monster Bash, featuring a costume contest and

“pumpkin king” DJ Akephalos joining a “very special monster” DJ Mikedropz. Around the Winston brewery scene, Joymongers Barrel Hall is hosting Halloween with the Hollirockets, who’ll deliver a few surprises and high-energy cover party antics. “Costumes are encouraged for this festive night of music and fun.” Meanwhile, Crane & Co will return to Foothills Tasting Room, “dressed in their Halloween Best” and diving into rock’n’roll from the 1970s-1990s. “Be there or be scared!”

In High Point, 1614 Billiards is hosting a cash money costume contest on Halloween night with a concert from NOVAS FADE and Cary Benjamin. And even the High Point Arts Council is getting into the spirit with a costume party and a “night of frightful fun” with DJ Tito Bennett on deck.

With Halloween on a Friday, the fun doesn’t stop — especially for film freaks — with Nomad Wine Works hosting its second-annual horror film festival on Nov. 1. “If you’re still jonesing for the macabre the day after Halloween, come on out,” they said, with promises of free popcorn and a “freaky and frightening selection of films by local filmmakers and artists!”

In Greensboro, ﬁlm lovers should head to the Flat Iron on Nov. 1 to catch Ben Singer’s Modern Robot taking on the 1962 classic “Carnival of Souls” with his own original organ rescoring.

Inspired by the abandoned Saltair Pavilion in Utah, meshed with “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge,” “Carnival of Souls” o ers a Twilight Zone twist that continues echoing throughout the genre to this day. A native of Lawrence, Kan. (where the movie was ﬁlmed), Carnival of Souls is the latest (and most close to home) in Modern Robot’s horror lineage that includes a reimagined score for Night of the Living Dead and Faust (which he performed at the Flat Iron on Nov. 1 last year). With an organ playing a prominent role in the plot and the spectral tones,

Modern Robot will take up the Hammond organ for the occasion and will be joined by Joe Dowd on saxophone.

Flat Iron ﬁnishes the Halloweekend strong with Sweet Dreams’ annual Halloween cover o ering on Nov. 2. For 2025, they’ll be joined by Ashley Virginia and Aaron Huntley in bringing the songs of Led Zeppelin to life, with Crushing Quiet in the support slot.

Backing up to Halloween night, the block is hot across downtown Greensboro. Despite the chilly temperatures, the special Halloween Edition and Season Finale of SWEAT FEST will bring the heat and horror with a two-part party for those above ground and the sti s who lurk below. Presented by Sweat It Out, “an advocacy project bringing electronic dance music into public spaces and making the culture accessible for everyone,” part one will feature an all-ages, familyfriendly Haunted Glow Party (featuring sets by Johan Yardan, Poetic Note, TANT, and XOTI) under the lights at LeBauer Park from 6:30-10 p.m. on Oct. 31.

For part two, Sweat It Out heads indoors to “one of the most haunted spots on Elm Street” for “After Dark: A Nightmare on Elm Street,” an 18+ party in a secret location organizers insist is “truly haunting.” Geared toward the “all the ghouls and fools,” featured performers include TONEM and TANTO, plus a b2b set from LACY and Flex Ariani. Folks of the foolish and ghoulish variety would do wise to slide into the Sweat It Out DMs for more info.

Meanwhile, it’s a full-on Halloween weekend in Hamburger Square with “Scare in the Square” hosting music, costume contests and haunted houses on Oct. 31; followed by a market with activities and a cornhole tournament on Nov. 1.

“Don’t miss the frightful fun — it’s going to be a scream,” organizers said, pointing to the frightfully fun music lineups popping up around the block on Oct. 31: Mystic Syndicate at Natty Greene’s and

a Scary-oke session (with photo ops) at Chandlers kick o the ﬁrst evening, followed by a costume contest and a Bloodritual metal takeover in the Square at 8 p.m. sharp. The Ends rolling into the evening at Little Brother, with a Haunted House Experience at Blacc Thumb Tattoo at 10 p.m., and a late-night costume contest at Grey’s Tavern going into the midnight hour. Heading down Elm Street, the Continental Club will take to the spooky seas with a Nautical Halloween party — think photobooths, a giant crab, tarot, a stage to siege, and bone-shakin’ shanties to sing. And on Market Street, the newly painted Stumble Stilskins will host their 4th annual Halloween Costume party with contests, prizes, and music from DJ Mike Wawa.

Just outside the downtown bands, Katie.Blvd invites the Triad to “watch Candyman and celebrate three years in Greensboro music” with a special Halloween round of Beats Batch at Oden Brewing on Oct. 31. Meanwhile, the Black Cat returns to etc with an afternoon market and Halloween night Goth show featuring DJ WWJD, Mostly Mesh, The Gramps, Solemn Shapes, and Brighter Than A Thousand Suns. And over at New York Pizza, Zob Rhombus will proudly present a Halloween night Fun Fest with a cash prize costume contest and concert featuring Milk Truck, Dead Rat Disco, and Dit.

Halloween spirits will linger into Westerwood for the 27th volume of “Saturday Night Dives” with Prez and Killmatic hosting a Halloweekend Spooktacular at Westerwood Tavern on Nov. 1. By next Monday, skeletons go back in the closet and the ghosts return to their graves. But for this magical weekend, it’s all about music and costumes and macabre across the Triad. Enjoy! !

KATEI CRANFORD is a Triad music nerd who enjoys spotlighting artists and events.

Katei Cranford

Natalie Garcia

[SALOME’S STARS]

Week of November 3, 2025

[ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Don’t feel sheepish about looking to spend more time with a special person during the upcoming holidays. Do it because it’s the right thing to do.

[TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Nevermind letting misunderstandings repair themselves. Consider speaking up while the healing process can be shorter and sweeter, and it will leave fewer scars.

[GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Romance is easily awakened in the GEMINIan heart, especially around the happy holiday season. So, go ahead and make plans with a special someone!

[CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Moon Children can glow with their own inner light as the holiday season magic takes hold. It’s a very special time for CANCERs and LIBRAs together. Enjoy!

[LEO (July 23 to August 22) It’s a good time for you fabulous Felines to take pleasure in your special gift for, well, taking pleasure! Look for this holiday season to give you every reason to purr.

[VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) This is a good time to let others who are in your life get a little closer to you. You’ll both ﬁnd out what you’ve been missing for far too long.

[LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Open up your eyes and see some welcome surprises that you’ve missed or

overlooked for too long. What you ﬁnd can lead to other favorable changes.

[SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) What you expect to be potentially troublesome might simply be especially challenging and well worth your e orts to check out. Good luck!

[SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) A friendship might not seem as trustworthy as you’d like. This is OK. Ask your questions, get your answers, and settle the matter once and for all.

[CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) A family situation moves into a new area because of (or maybe thanks to) some decisions you might have felt you could not avoid making.

[AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) You could be cutting it very close if you hope to make holiday plan changes in time to avoid problems. Get a friend or family member to help.

[PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Friends show how important you are to them. Keep these precious relationships thriving. They a ect much that will happen to the fabulous Fish in the new year.

[BORN THIS WEEK: Time spent at home alone nurtures your mystic self, while spending your time with others nurtures them. Your presence is a gift.

answers

[CROSSWORD]

crossword on page 7

[WEEKLY SUDOKU]

sudoku on page 7

[TRIVIA TEST]

by Fifi Rodriguez

[1. GEOGRAPHY: How many U.S. states are part of New England?

[2. LITERATURE: What district does Katniss Everdeen represent in The Hunger Games?

[3. ANATOMY: What is the longest nerve in the human body?

[4. COMICS: What is Captain America’s shield made of?

[5. SCIENCE: What is the process called when a solid becomes a gas?

[6. HISTORY: In what year did the Three Mile Island nuclear accident happen?

[7. MOVIES: What is Edward’s last name in the movie Twilight?

[8. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is the only marsupial found in North America?

[9. TELEVISION: Which character on The Brady Bunch is famous for saying, “Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!”

[10. ENTERTAINERS: Pop singer Taylor Swift was born in which U.S. state?

answer

5. Sublimation. 6. 1979. 7. Cullen. 8. Opossum. 9. Jan. 10. Pennsylvania.

1. Six (Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Rhode Island). 2.

District 12.

Sciatic nerve.

Vibranium.

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Hosted by internationally known author, business consultant, and High Point University

President Nido Qubein, each episode dives beneath the surface to reveal insights and inspiration from each special guest. Featuring timeless and topical themes, the program airs year-round on PBS North Carolina.

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