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No fly zone: City panel votes to remove Bird scooters

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Just a few months after they landed on street corners across the city, on Monday, Nov. 19, the Public Safety Committee voted 3-1 to remove all Bird Scooters from public sidewalks until city officials can come up with a method to regulate use.

Shortly before Labor Day, Bird, an electric scooter rental service with the mission to make cities more livable by reducing car usage, traffic, and congestion, dropped 100 scooters in various locations across the city. While the scooters have grown in popularity among teens and young adults, safety concerns have dominated the conversation since the scooters arrived in the Twin City.

According to Cpl. J.A. Henry with the Winston-Salem Police Department there have been at least three accidents in the downtown area caused by someone riding a scooter. Henry said although no one has been seriously harmed, its only a matter of time before it happens.

“When you’re riding with a Bird in comparison to a car, there is going to be potential for serious injury. We’re also getting repeated calls from the community about them riding on the sidewalks,” said Henry. “We get at least two to three calls every day, and it seems like we’re getting more calls about people doing things on scooters they probably shouldn’t.”

Although there is an ordinance in place that prohibits the use of the scooters on sidewalks, there isn’t any law that allows the scooters to be used in the streets, which can be confusing for riders because they don’t know where they can and cannot ride the scooters.

During the committee meeting, City Council Member James Taylor, chairman of the Public Safety Committee, said it is important that they find a way to balance where everyone in the community is happy. Taylor, who is a co-owner of The Chronicle, said, “Some people believe them to be a public nuisance, others, a viable form of transportation. There must be a healthy balance between the two.

“…We want all parties involved to be safe.”

Before making a motion to vote, Taylor went around the table and asked each City Council member to share his or her thoughts on what they should do. Mayor Tempore Vivian Burke said she feels the scooters should be picked up immediately.

“I’ve talked to the city manager about those Bird Scooters, and I think something needs to be done to keep citizens safe. Not only downtown, but when you’re riding down New Walkertown Road and you have someone on a scooter when its dark, anybody could get killed, and its going to cause a lot of problems, so I feel we need to look at getting those scooters off the streets tonight if we could,” Burke said.

City Council Member John Larson, who has voiced his issues with Bird in the past, said for the past three months Bird has operated in the city without license or control. He said ultimately they have to rely on the individual riders to operate within the law, and that has not happened.

“We have to find a way immediately to bring this under control. I’ve had numerous complaints about this. I know it’s all anecdotal, but I have to respond to that,” continued Larson. “I hope Bird would use the opportunity to try to control them a little better, but I don’t know if they have the capacity to do that and I certainly didn’t see the willingness when they first came to this city to aggressively address the problems they knew they were going to have with us.

“So here we are, three months later, now or whatever it has been and the problem only seems to get worse by the day.”

City Council Member and representative for the North Ward, DD Adams, said although she is acceptable to change, she didn’t like the way Bird came into the city unannounced. She said she also raised issues with the scooters being used in the streets.

“I’m with Ms. Burke because over the past two months, I’ve probably had 10 situations where I almost lost my life or I almost ended someone’s else life because of a child on a scooter coming down University Parkway or a major intersection like Northwest Boulevard, Reynolda Road, Polo Road,” said Adams. “… I think we need to remove them from the street and come up with a plan to implement them back into the system that we all can live by. Because the last thing I would want is somebody being hurt or injured or dying from these scooters.”

Representative for the Southwest Ward, Council Member Dan Besse, said, “There is a serious public safety issue with the way scooters are being used now. Hopefully we can address that with a reasonable regulation scheme, but at this point, it’s not self managing.”

The only ‘No’ vote came from Council Member Jeff MacIntosh, who represents the Northwest Ward. MacIntosh said although he has spoken out in favor of the scooters in the past, he has grown frustrated with Bird and their lack of communication. He mentioned the reason he voted against removing the scooters is because he was worried about the process for getting them back.

“The only reason I’m going to vote against taking them off the streets immediately is because I’m not sure what the process will be for us getting them back,” said MacIntosh. “I think they’re invaluable to the community, especially during the shut down period [of Business 40]. Anything we can do to take cars off the streets, we should do.”

Although a date has not been set on when the regulations will be in place, residents shouldn’t expect to see Bird Scooters back on the street before the new year.

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City Council rezones property for entertainment use

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Earlier this month the Winston-Salem City Council voted unanimously to rezone more than 20 acres of land located on the east and west sides of North Patterson Avenue between Tenth Street and Northwest Boulevard to accommodate entertainment-related uses. 

The petition submitted by The Liberty Group, LLC/Castle Rock Holdings requested that the council change the zoning of the property from LI (Limited Industrial), GI (General Industrial), and GB-S (General Business-special use) to E for Entertainment. The E District is intended to accommodate a mixture of retail, office, residential, and entertainment uses. 

The Discussion of an entertainment district began in 2012 when the City Council voted to change property near Trade Street between Seventh Street and Ninth Street from Unified Development Ordinance to Entertainment. And in 2015 Council voted to rezone nine acres of land to E-L (Entertainment Limited) in the same area. 

The property in question this time has a long history of industrial use, but for nearly a decade many of the factories and large building spaces on the land have been vacant. Current businesses in the area include the Bethesda Center for the Homeless, Crisis Control Ministry, the Alexander Beaty Public Safety Training and Support Center and The Ramkat, a music and performance space at the corner of W. Ninth Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.

When asked about the rezoning last week, Robert Pettice, a local entertainment promoter, told The Chronicle that the expansion of the entertainment district will attract more students and visitors to the area.

He said, “From my experience in the entertainment industry, this area definitely attracts college students from the apartments around, and it draws visitors and hotel guests, and they love it. Since [Business] 40 shut down, it seems like business has increased … This is now the focal point for people as they maneuver through the city.”

During the City Council meeting on Dec. 3, City-County Planning Director Aaron King said the rezoning is consistent with the Legacy 2030 Plan, which calls for entertainment venues along the northern edge of downtown. 

“It could spur redevelopment in an area that has been underutilized for quite some time and where we have public infrastructure currently available,” King said. 

King mentioned the rezoning could also call for the installation of additional lighting and crosswalks. 

Before making a motion to approve rezoning, Mayor Tempore Vivian Burke, who represents the Northeast Ward, asked for a brief presentation for those who haven’t had the opportunity to see exactly where rezoning will take place. Burke also echoed King’s statement about redeveloping the underutilized area.

“It has been a very dead area for quite some time and bringing that alive may do more to make the area look better. Those warehouse buildings have been there for ages.”

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P.I.P.A. receives grant from city, planning move

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Thanks to a $60,000 grant from the city, Positive Image Performing Arts (P.I.P.A.) will be calling a new place home in the near future.

Founded by city native Courtney Porter in 2005, P.I.P.A. started with less than 20 members and has grown into a national award-winning performance studio. From humble beginnings in a small studio on Fourth Street, over the years the P.I.P.A family outgrew their original home and had to move several times before settling in at the former site of Samaritan Ministries, 1243 Patterson Ave., in 2015.

And now with more than 100 members, P.I.P.A. has outgrown their space again and is preparing to move.

According to Porter, the grant from the City of Winston-Salem will allow P.I.P.A to purchase a new space in the downtown area that she plans to have renovated to accommodate the growth of the program. Although the building may be changing, Porter said the P.I.P.A. mission remains the same. She said she wants to set an example for every child that walks through the door.

“…I picked a hard name to live up to because I wanted to make sure that I live my life in a way kids can see as an example.” Porter said.

Porter said the process to receive the grant was long but in the end it was worth it. In order to receive the grant, Porter had to get references, make a presentation to a committee of city officials and fill out loads of paperwork. She said, “It took a long time but it is something I am grateful for. It’s something I had to do from start to finish and for that I’m proud of myself for going through the process.”

She said although they didn’t plan on the move, when the opportunity came, she jumped at the opportunity. She said in order to sustain a presence in the community, sometimes change is inevitable.

“My future thoughts and hopes is that we can always sustain and always remain what our name is. I want to sustain for a number of years and continue to have kids who start with our program and stick with our program,” she said.

While finishing up renovations at the new studio, P.I.P.A. is currently housed at the Winston Lake YMCA. For more information on Positive Image Performing Arts, visit on Facebook or stop by the Winston Lake YMCA, 901 Waterworks Road.

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Bird Talk: Public Safety Committee begins discussion to regulate scooters

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Earlier this month city officials began discussions on how to regulate use for the scooters that landed on street corners around the city last fall.

Shortly after Labor Day, Bird, an electric scooter rental service based in California, with the mission to make cities more livable by reducing car usage and congestion, left more than 100 scooters in various locations across Winston-Salem. Less than three months after the scooters arrived, during a public meeting in November, the Public Safety Committee voted 3-1 to remove all Bird scooters from public sidewalks until they come up with a method to regulate use, citing safety concerns for pedestrians and those riding the scooters.

According to members of the Winston-Salem Police Department, there were at least three accidents in the downtown area caused by someone riding a scooter. Cpl. J.A. Henry, who works in the downtown area, said when the scooters were most active they received at least two calls a day from people complaining about the scooters.

Despite concerns from the WSPD and City Council about where the scooters should be allowed, proper lighting,  and an age limit, several members of the community let it be known that they wanted the scooters to stay. Many attended city council meetings to make sure their voices were heard.

Before the motion was made to remove the scooters, City Council Member James Taylor, chairman of the Public Safety Committee and publisher of The Chronicle, said it was important that they find a balance where everyone in the community is happy.

Assistant City Manager Damon Dequenne said the city’s attorney’s office has worked diligently to create a draft ordinance for review. He said since the scooters made their appearance, the city attorney’s office has worked diligently with the Department of Transportation to come up with a reasonable solution to the issues with the scooters.

“…There’s been copious amounts of research done,” Dequenne said.

During the Public Safety Committee meeting on Jan. 14, the city attorney’s office presented an 18-page draft ordinance to regulate use of electric scooters, dockless bicycles, and other types of shared transportation vehicles. Although not yet finalized, the ordinance includes several new regulations, including a valid operating permit for the company that owns the scooter, a helmet requirement, the development of a micro-mobility selection committee, an age limit, and civil penalties if traffic laws aren’t followed, just to name a few.

Assistant City Attorney Marilena Guthold said the ordinance is a combination of similar ordinances from cities like Santa Monica, the home of Bird Scooter, Durham, Greensboro, and Raleigh.

After a brief overview of the ordinance, members of the Public Safety Committee had the opportunity to ask questions and make suggested changes to the ordinance. Chairman Taylor suggested lowering the age limit from 18 to 15 or 16.

“… I think if at 15 or 16 our young men and women can operate vehicles, it would be reasonable to believe they can operate a scooter,” said Taylor. “But other than that, I think we have a good plan.”

Council Member John Larson said he needed more time to look over the ordinance. He then raised questions about enforcement, cost, and the possibility implementing a daytime operation-only rule.

“How is this being staffed, because I see enforcement issues coming into play very quickly. I also see a lot of legal review initially for the first couple of years until we can train these operators,” said Larson. “So I’m trying to understand the cost to the city and how we plan to recover those costs. Before I approve anything that’s going to be on city streets, I want to know how we’re going to pay for it.” 

Council Members D.D. Adams, Annette Scippio, Jeff MacIntosh and Dan Besse also made suggested changes to the ordinance. In the end, Chairman Taylor suggested that staff go back and take a look at the many suggestions made by the committee.

Although he didn’t provide a timetable on when the committee would discuss the ordinance again, Taylor said he expects to have the scooters back on the streets soon.

“I think we have provided many details for staff to go back and look at. But as it’s presented, they have already put in a lot of hard work and we appreciate that and we look forward to when it comes back to committee.”

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Get Hate Out of W-S promises to keep the heat on city officials

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Last Friday members of Get Hate Out of Winston-Salem, a local organization formed to show support of the decision to remove the Confederate statue from downtown Winston-Salem, gathered at the corner of Fourth and Liberty to keep pressure on city officials to remove the statue that depicts a Confederate solider holding a rifle.

Talks about the removal of the statue began late last year after the statue was vandalized. In response to the second case of vandalism in less than two years, city attorney Angela Caron issued a letter to the United Daughters of the Confederacy, the owners of the statue, demanding the statue be removed by Jan. 31.

Less than 24-hours after the Jan. 31 deadline, more than two-dozen supporters of Get Hate Out of Winston-Salem gathered for a press conference to let city officials know they are waiting.

While standing at the foot of the statue that was erected in 1905, local activist Lillian Podlog said the statue was a symptom of hatred and white supremacy. Podlog also urged city officials to take serious strides to create more opportunities for African-Americans throughout the community.

“We are here today to keep the pressure on the city to make sure that this statue comes down. This statue is a symptom of white supremacy. White supremacy is the disease that erected it. White supremacy has kept the statue standing. And when the statue comes down, we will have dealt with a nasty side effect to this disease,” said Podlog. “‘But the systems of white supremacy will still be churning. The city and the community cannot rest until our schools are no longing failing, until we have affordable housing, until our curriculum teaches black history year-round, and until investment in black communities takes the future of those communities into account.”

Miranda Jones, another organizer for Get Hate Out of Winston-Salem, said they will remain vigilant in their pursuit to rid Winston-Salem of all forms of racism and hate.

“We plan to make it our quest to ensure that all citizens of our city receive utilization of their taxation. We plan to work to make sure the Poverty Thought Force does more than thinking. We make no claims to be the only voice of the marginalized and oppressed. We merely use our voice as a tool to tackle injustice,” Jones said.

While citizens made their point clear that they wanted the statue removed, a handful of supporters of the statue gathered at the adjacent corner armed with flags and insulting chants. Jenna Bernstein, who traveled from Florida to ensure her voice was heard, told demonstrators the statue was a war memorial and should stay.

“This is a U.S. veterans war memorial. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would have never desecrated an American war memorial like this with your ignorance and your socialism. This is America, a constitutional republic,” Bernstein said.

For more than an hour protestors and supporters shouted insults across the busy street.

Although arguments did get heated at times, protests remained peaceful.

Despite a lawsuit filed by the United Daughters of the Confederacy the week it was scheduled to be removed trying to stop the city from removing the statue, Forsyth County Superior Court Judge Stanley Allen rejected the request granting the city permission to move forward with the removal process.

Although the city officials haven’t set a date or time to remove the statue, it is expected to be removed sometime this week. It is unclear if the statue will be moved to the Salem Cemetery where several Confederate soldiers are buried or placed in storage for safe keeping.

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State of Community sheds light on city’s problem areas

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The City of Winston-Salem has made great strides in several focus areas such as poverty and economic development since 2010, but there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure equity for all citizens. That was the takeaway from the State of the Community event held earlier this week.

Hosted by the Winston-Salem Alliance, an organization of businesses in the community that promotes economic and entrepreneurial development, the event was designed to give the community a look at where the city stands and where it wants to be in the future. Throughout the event, leaders from some of the city’s most important organizations made presentations and discussed areas where we are doing well and where we need to improve.

Jobs and Employment

Mayor Allen Joines began the conversation by highlighting what the city needs to do to reach its goal of becoming a Top 50 metro area in the country by the year 2021. Joines said to make that happen, it is important that we are creating and sustaining jobs. More specifically, as Joines has said in the past, to reach that goal the city would have to produce around 5,400 jobs per year. Although the city hasn’t hit its mark consistently, Joines mentioned the city has made great strides to reduce the unemployment rate.

Numbers show in 2010 the unemployment rate was around 10 percent. In 2018 that number dropped to 3.6 percent. Over that same time period, the city created more than 28,000 net new jobs.

“When you look at 2017, we only created about 2,100 net new jobs, which is roughly about half of what we needed. But look at 2018: We created 5,300 net new jobs which is a 157 percent increase from 2017,” continued Joines. “… We feel good about the numbers. It means we are producing (jobs) at about 2.2 annual job growth rate, which is about double what we had been doing.”

Joines also noted that realtor.com named Winston-Salem as one of the “10 Next Urban Powerhouses.”  He said, “To me, this is very exciting. It says to us that we are poised to continue this strong growth over the next several years.”

Entrepreneurship was also a topic of discussion. Karen Barnes, executive director of Venture Café, said it’s time that we increase our commitment and investment in the local eco-system and local businesses. She said, “We’re applying those tools of entrepreneurship and innovation to attack these entrenched problems and provide a ladder out of poverty for people who want to start their own businesses.”

Every week Venture Café hosts conferences where local business owners can connect with other entrepreneurs and business professionals. Barnes also mentioned the launch of a M/WBE Center inside Bailey Power Plant. The purpose of the center will be to give individuals the tools to create their own businesses and jobs for other people in the community. A soft opening for the center is scheduled for March 15.

Education

The numbers on education may have been the most disheartening. When looking at educational attainment in 2017 for individuals 25 and older, 11 percent don’t have a high school diploma. Third grade reading scores show only 51.6 percent of students are reading at or above grade level.

“That has to be a number that says we have to make a change. We have to make a change and we have to do it together,” said Mark Owens, president and CEO of the Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce during his presentation.

“… Everybody cares and I promise you this, if you go into our schools and you meet our teachers, they care deeply about our children and our future and our future leaders.”

The statistics around education were all doom and gloom. The high school graduation rate is currently around 84 percent. Recent changes to the way the state calculates the graduation rate brought the number down, but Owens said it needs to be higher. He said to bring about real change in the local school system, the entire community has to get involved. 

“… We have to be able to support our Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. We need people to do that at school board meetings and get involved. There are so many different ways to get involved: There’s WS Reads, the Chamber has a senior academy where we focus on high school dropout prevention. We need to focus on this issue as a community,” Owens said.

Poverty/Affordable Housing

Despite recent reports that show Winston-Salem as one of the most poverty-stricken areas in the country, statistics presented by Assistant City Manager Evan Raleigh showed poverty has decreased in recent years.

Overall poverty in Forsyth County declined from 21 percent in 2013 to 17 percent in 2017. Poverty in Winston-Salem has declined from 27 percent in 2013 to 21 percent in 2017. Poverty for African-Americans and Hispanic/Latino residents has also declined. During his presentation, Raleigh discussed a new initiative the city is looking to launch in the near future called the Partnership for Prosperity.

“This is good news but it’s not good enough,” continued Raleigh. “Fortunately, in the very short term we will be announcing the executive director of a new organization called Partnership for Prosperity that will be leading the charge going forward.”

Affordable housing is another major issue in the city. According to a housing needs study commissioned by the city last year, data shows that if you are below 80 percent Area Median Income (AMI), you are probably having a difficult time finding affordable housing in our community. A graph of the information shows the city has a major shortage of affordable units for individuals who are below 80 percent on the AMI scale.

“The greatest shortage is represented in folks who are earning 30 percent of the Area Median Income or less and that is a striking statistic. We have a shortage of more than 16,000 affordable units,” said Raleigh “… If you look above 80 percent Area Median Income, we actually have an over supply of housing for folks who are in those income groups.”

Raleigh said by the year 2027, the city will need an additional 14,000 units for residents who make $35,000 or less.  He said, “We have a shortage today and we will continue to get demand from folks on the lower rungs of our income level.”

Raleigh also gave a brief overview of the East End Master Plan that was designed by Ayers Saint Gross, an architectural firm based in Maryland. The plan that was spearheaded by S.G. Atkins Community Development Corporation includes mixed-use spaces, greenways and park areas, and much more.

To wrap up the event, Bob Leak, president of Winston-Salem Business Inc., discussed capital investments and major economic development projects. After the final presentation, Mayor Joines gave a recap of the day and discussed what’s next.

“My opinion is that most of these indicators that you have seen today are strong indicators of a strong economy. The social indicators are good, although we have a lot more work to do in education and make sure that the poverty rate continues to trend down,” continued Joines. “But the key thing is that we make sure we have equity in our community and all segments of our community take advantage of the growth going on here.”

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City finally has Confederate statue removed

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After weeks of protest, heated conversations at City Hall, and ongoing conversations on social media, on Tuesday, March 12, the Confederate statue located at the corner of Fourth and Liberty Streets in downtown Winston-Salem was removed.

The statue, which depicts a Confederate soldier holding a rifle, was dedicated on October 3, 1905, and sponsored by the James B. Gordon Chapter #211 of the United Daughters of the Confederacy and wealthy business and landowners in the area. The dedication speech was delivered by Alfred M. Waddell, a white supremacist who served as mayor of Wilmington and led the violent race riots of 1898.

Talks about the removal of the statue have been floating around for about two years now, following two separate incidents where the statue was vandalized. In August of 2017, shortly after white supremacists marched in Virginia, two sides of the statue were defaced with a black “X”. Then on Christmas Day last year, officers with the Winston-Salem Police Department (WSPD) responded to a call that the monument had been defaced again. Upon arrival, officers found the words “Cowards & Traitors” in permanent marker.

In response to the vandalism, City Attorney Angela Carmon issued a letter to the UDOC demanding that the statue be removed by Jan. 31, 2019, or face legal action from the City. In the letter, Carmon said the removal of the statue was about public safety.

As the deadline for removal drew closer, those in support and those against the city’s decision to remove the statue met several times at the busy intersection to ensure their voices were heard. Lillian Podlog, an organizer for Hate Out of Winston, a group that was formed to keep the pressure on city officials to remove the statue, said the statue needed to come down because it represents hate. During a rally in early January, Podlog said, “… Yes it is history, but we must ask what that history is. That statue was put up in 1905 by a man who murdered black people and went on to become mayor of Wilmington. That’s the history we’re talking about here,” said Podlog. “If you want to honor history, let’s be clear on what that history is. It’s not about honoring a soldier like they say.”

Those opposed to the removal of the statue told The Chronicle that the Confederate statue in downtown Winston-Salem and others across the country had little to do with slavery and the oppression of black people. While defending the statue, an individual from Davie County said, “… I studied that time period for 18 years and the sad truth of it is there’s so much ignorance about what that war was about. It was not about slavery, it was about tariffs and money. It was a political war.”

Although January 31 came and went without much action, the City of Winston-Salem kept their promise and removed the statue before noon on Tuesday, March 12. The statue is expected to be relocated to the Salem Cemetery where more than 30 Confederate graves are located.

It is unclear if the United Daughters of the Confederacy will face any legal action.

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Winston-Salem Walk of Fame unveiled ahead of NBTF

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While the National Black Theatre Festival (NBTF) may have started on Monday, July 29, with the Opening Night Gala at the Benton Convention Center, the unofficial start of the 16th biennial celebration of African American theatre, art, and culture, may have been three days earlier when city officials unveiled the Winston-Salem Arts, Culture and Entertainment Memorial Walk of Fame, which included a star for NBTF founder Larry Leon Hamlin.

Discussions about the Walk of Fame began in June 2015 when the Winston-Salem City Council voted to approve the project. The local walk of fame, that is located on the sidewalk outside the Benton Convention Center, is similar to the stars you’ll see on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, with bronze stars embedded in the sidewalk.

During a brief ceremony before the unveiling, Mayor Allen Joines and City Council Member Denise “D.D.” Adams talked about the long process to bring the Walk of Fame to life. Joines said shortly after The “5” Royales were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, they started having discussions about ways to honor the group and others from this area who have made significant contributions to the arts.

“We’re doing this for a number of a reasons, but obviously to recognize the individuals who have played a role in the history of the arts and culture in our community,” continued Joines. “It’s been worth the wait and I can’t wait for you to see the markers themselves; they’re very striking.”

Adams, who serves the constituents of the North Ward where the Walk of Fame is located, said she was excited to see the project finally come to life. She said when you look at the contributions of the inductees, it shows that Winston-Salem is not just some run-of-the-mill place, and the best time to do that was during the National Black Theatre Festival. She also recommended that new inductees be added to the Walk of Fame bi-annually on the Friday before the festival begins.

“We wanted to coincide it with something special and unique and what better way than to connect to the hype of the Black Theatre Festival,” continued Adams. “I made the suggestion to the mayor that we do this every two years before the festival starts, just to start bringing it back into perspective how important the National Black Theatre Festival is to our community and to the great wisdom and creativity of Larry Leon Hamlin and the others we are honoring today.”

Inductees enshrined on the Walk of Fame include: Larry Leon Hamlin, Phil Hanes, William Scales, The “5” Royales, John Iuele, Chris Murrell, Dr. Robert L. Wise Sr., John Heath, Norman Johnson, and Doris Pardington.

To be inducted into the Winston-Salem Arts, Culture and Entertainment Walk of Fame, nominees have to meet certain criteria including, exhibited and sustained excellence in his or her field for at least five years; made distinguishing contributions to the community and civic-oriented participation; lived in Winston-Salem for at least five years; and made a significant contribution to the arts or entertainment industry in one or more of the following areas: music, dance, theater, writing, visual arts, motion pictures, television or radio. The nominee must also be deceased.

For more information on the Winston-Salem Arts, Culture and Entertainment Walk of Fame, visit http://www.cityofws.org/walkoffame.

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Stay-At-Home Order issued for Winston-Salem

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In response to the growing number of COVID-19 cases across the country and the state, the City of Winston-Salem has issued a Stay-At-Home Order for all residents that will go into effect at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 27. 

The Stay-At-Home-Order comes as an amendment to the state of emergency declaration issued in the City of Winston-Salem on March 13.  Under the order all “non-essential” businesses must cease operation. Non-essential businesses include but are not limited to; parks, water parks, playgrounds, recreations centers, theme parks, bowling alleys, movie theaters and other theaters, and social clubs.

Once the Stay-At-Home Order is in place, individuals may only leave their residence to complete Essential Activities such as for health and safety reasons, to purchase necessary supplies and services, to engage in outdoor activity such as running or cycling. Individuals will also be allowed to leave their residence to take care of a family member, friend or pet in another household.

All essential businesses have been encouraged to remain open while still complying with the Social Distancing requirements set by the CDC. Essential Businesses include: stores that sell groceries and medicine, organizations that provide charitable and social services, media outlets, gas stations and businesses needed for transportation, financial institutions such as banks, hardware and supply stores, mail, postal, shipping and pick-up services, laundry services, restaurants (delivery or take-out only), home-based care and services, childcare centers, hotels and motels, and funeral services. 

The order will also place new requirements on nursing homes, long-term-care facilities, and assisted living facilities relating to staff and visitors. 

As stated earlier the Stay-At-Home Order will take effect on Friday, March 27. Any person violating any of the restrictions included in of the Stay-At-Home-Order will be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. 

At the time of publication, 17 people in Forsyth County have tested positive for COVID-19. It is believed that 14 of the cases were contracted through travel outside the United States, while three cases are considered community spread. During the daily briefing held to update the community on the spread of the virus, Joshua Swift, Forsyth County Director of Public Health, encouraged the community to be proactive, practice social distancing, and stay home if you have any signs of illness. 

“With community spread, everyone should continue to be proactive and practice good social distancing and stay home with any signs of illness,” Swift continued.  “Fourteen of the cases have been associated with travel. If you have traveled to an area in the past 14 days where widespread community transmission has occurred, such as New York, you must stay home for at least 14 days after returning.”

The complete list of essential businesses, along with the full text of the Stay-At-Home Order is posted on the city’s website www.cityofws.org

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Carver High School Announces New Football Coach

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Carver High School has announced Leon Moore as the new head football coach. He is already familiar to Carver staff and families. Moore has been the defensive coordinator and line coach at Carver since 2022. He is also a Carver alumnus.

“Coach Moore is coming back home as he is a graduate of Carver High School where he played under Coach Keith Wilkes,” said Carver Principal Dr. Thyais Maxwell.  “He was also a member of the 1998 undefeated Championship winning team at Carver.”

Moore received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Appalachian State University.  He then returned to Carver in 2004 as assistant football coach.  He was a line coach at Andrews High School in High Point and returned to Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools in 2017 and served as defensive coordinator at Atkins and Walkertown High Schools.

“Revive the Hive, is what I desire to do, said Coach Moore. “I want our students to be successful on the field, in school and the community.  The quote that I live by is from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. ‘Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others?’ The opportunity to return home to Carver as the head football coach allows me to reengage at a place that had such an impact on me.”

Moore begins his new role immediately.

The post Carver High School Announces New Football Coach appeared first on WS Chronicle.





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