Due
to a water main break, the intersection at Merritt Drive and Spring Garden
Street is closed until further notice.
Citizens are asked to take alternate routes
Wilco on Lawndale robbed by masked gunman
Tonight at 7:42 pm, Greensboro Police Officers responded to Wilco located at 3800 Lawndale Drive in reference to a robbery call.
Upon arrival, Officers spoke to the clerk who stated that a subject entered the business armed with a handgun and demanded money. After obtaining an undisclosed amount of cash, the suspect then fled the business on foot.
The suspect was described as a white male, approximately 5’4” tall, wearing a black coat, blue jeans, a covering over his face, a toboggan, and was armed with a handgun.
There were no injuries in this incident.
The investigation is ongoing.
Hanesbrands Theatre at The Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts presents The National Theatre’s Live in HD production of the international smash hit WAR HORSE
The National Theatre Live in HD presentation of
War Horse
at The Hanesbrands Theatre
Sunday, March 2nd @ 2 PM
Sunday, March 9 @ 2 PM
Thursday, April 3rd @ 7:30 PM
Since its first performance at the National Theatre in 2007, War Horse has become an international smash hit.
Based on Michael Morpurgo’s novel, and adapted for the stage by Nick Stafford, War Horse takes audiences on an extraordinary journey from the fields of rural Devon to the trenches of First World War France. Filled with stirring music and songs, this powerfully moving and imaginative drama is a show of phenomenal inventiveness. At its heart are astonishing life-sized puppets by South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company, who bring breathing, galloping, charging horses to thrilling life on stage.
Don’t miss your chance to experience this landmark production.
“ Genius isn’t too strong a word to describe this astonishing production” - Daily Telegraph
“Theatrical magic”.-New York Times
“A landmark theatre event. Thrilling!” - Time Magazine
Be sure to check out the great, short, making of video(s) – particularly the one on The Handspring Puppet Factory - on the National Theatre Live website
Tickets are $18 and $15 for students w/valid ID.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.hanesbrandstheare.org, in person at The Hanesbrands Theatre Box Office (209 N. Spruce Street, WS, NC 27101) or by calling the Box Office at #336-747-1414.
Chef Tim Grandinetti of Spring House Restaurant in Winston named King of Battledish
Chef Tim Grandinetti
The international winners of Battledish have been announced. Drum roll please....
Winston-Salem's own Chef Tim Grandinetti of Spring House Restaurant, Kitchen and Bar is on the throne as KING OF BATTLEDISH! Hooray!!! Chef Grandinetti, aka Doc Brownstone's, scores beat out other dishes in San Jose, San Diego, Rocherster and Kingston, ON as the Most Delicious Dish! We are so happy and proud!
Chef Tim's Surf & Turf of butter poached lobster on crabcake with filet alongside a nest of linguini with the herb crusted poached egg won the voters over here in Winston-Salem and they spoke loudly!
Click here for results from Dishcrawl. If you want even more detail, the blog post is up with the results and our local winners.
We look forward to seeing you at future Dishcrawl events! Check out our community page for a list of upcoming fun!
Until we eat again!
Thursday and Friday Recycling Collections Canceled, Excess Recycling Will be Picked Up with Next Collection
Blue week recycling collections that were missed on Thursday and Friday because of the winter storm unfortunately cannot be made up next week. Residents with blue week Thursday and Friday collection should bag any excess recycling that does not fit in their cart and put it out with the cart during their next collection. This is an exception to the rule against bagged recyclables and will apply only to blue week collections for Thursday and Friday, Feb. 27 -28.
Residents also have the option of using the self-service recycling stations at Hanes Mill Road Landfill, 325 Hanes Mill Road; 445 Lindsay St., Kernersville; and 6328 Yadkinville Road, Pfafftown.
Additionally, corrugated cardboard can be recycled at all city fire stations.
The Sanitation Division previously announced that Thursday and Friday garbage collections and Thursday yard-cart collections will be made up on Monday, Feb. 17. All city residents should put their garbage out on their regular day next week and leave it at the curb until it is collected. Some collections may be a day late, depending on how long it takes to complete the make-up collections. But it will be collected. The same applies to yard-waste collections.
For more information call CityLink 311.
Donations Sought for Gun Buy-Back Program
The Winston-Salem Police Department is soliciting private contributions from individuals and businesses for its upcoming gun buy-back program.
The City Council has designated $10,000 in police forfeiture funds for the program, and wants to raise $10,000 in matching funds from the community. All contributions are fully tax-deductible within state and federal limitations.
Donations may be made with Visa, MasterCard and Discover online at www.CityofWS.org/gunbuyback. Donations by check should be mailed to Gun Buy-Back Program, City of Winston-Salem, P.O. Box 2756, Winston-Salem, NC 27102. Please write “gun buy-back” on the memo line of the check.
Under the buy-back program, citizens turning in firearms will be paid $150 for automatic weapons, $100 for handguns, and $75 for rifles and shotguns. Pellet guns, BB guns and ammunition will also be accepted, but without compensation.
Two buy-back events will be held, one March 15 at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds, and another April 26 at First Waughtown Baptist Church, 838 Moravia St.
More information about the gun buy-back program is posted at CityofWS.org/
gunbuyback, or call 747-7361.
Legendary Singer Tony Bennett Coming to War Memorial Auditorium April 24
with very special guest Antonia Bennett
Tickets on sale Friday, Feb. 21 at 10AM!
Tickets on sale Friday, Feb. 21 at 10AM!
Greensboro’s War Memorial Auditorium will host legendary singer Tony Bennett, with special guest Antonia Bennett, in concert on April 24 at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets will go on sale Friday, Feb. 21 at 10 a.m. at www.ticketmaster.com, charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000, Ticketmaster outlets and the Greensboro Coliseum box office.
Tony Bennett is one of a handful of artists to have new albums charting in the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and now in the first two decades of the 21st century. He has introduced a multitude of songs into the Great American Songbook that have since become standards for pop music. He has toured the world to sold-out audiences with rave reviews wherever he performs.
With millions of records sold worldwide and platinum and gold albums to his credit, Bennett has received 17 Grammy Awards – including a 1995 Grammy for Record of the year for his “MTV Unplugged” CD, which introduced this American master to a whole new generation – and the Grammy Lifetime Award. His 2007 prime-time special, “Tony Bennett: An American Classic,” won seven Emmy Awards. His long list of chart-topping hits includes “Because of You,” “Rags to Riches,” and a remake Hank Williams “Cold, Cold Heart.” He had 24 songs in the Top 40, including “I Wanna Be Around,” “The Good Life,” “Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)” and his signature song “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” which garnered him two Grammy Awards.
Tickets will go on sale Friday, Feb. 21 at 10 a.m. at www.ticketmaster.com, charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000, Ticketmaster outlets and the Greensboro Coliseum box office.
Tony Bennett is one of a handful of artists to have new albums charting in the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and now in the first two decades of the 21st century. He has introduced a multitude of songs into the Great American Songbook that have since become standards for pop music. He has toured the world to sold-out audiences with rave reviews wherever he performs.
With millions of records sold worldwide and platinum and gold albums to his credit, Bennett has received 17 Grammy Awards – including a 1995 Grammy for Record of the year for his “MTV Unplugged” CD, which introduced this American master to a whole new generation – and the Grammy Lifetime Award. His 2007 prime-time special, “Tony Bennett: An American Classic,” won seven Emmy Awards. His long list of chart-topping hits includes “Because of You,” “Rags to Riches,” and a remake Hank Williams “Cold, Cold Heart.” He had 24 songs in the Top 40, including “I Wanna Be Around,” “The Good Life,” “Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)” and his signature song “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” which garnered him two Grammy Awards.
EVENT: Tony Bennett in concert
with special guest Antonia Bennett
DATE/TIME: April 24, 7:30 p.m.
VENUE: War Memorial Auditorium
TICKETS ON SALE: Friday, Feb. 21 at 10 a.m.
Feb. 26: Greensboro Downtown Residents’ Association Announces Annual Meeting & Celebration
MAYOR NANCY VAUGHN
Guest Speaker: Mayor Nancy Vaughan
February 12, 2014 - (GREENSBORO, NC) The Greensboro Downtown Residents’ Association (Greensboro DRA) will hold their annual meeting on Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 6:00 PM at The Community Theatre of Greensboro. Established in 2012, the Greensboro DRA is a 501(c)(3) membership organization with a mission to connect, inform and serve as a voice for its members.
“I am excited about the growth and community that is developing in Downtown Greensboro. The Greensboro DRA is committed to serving as a community organization with successful membership growth of nearly 100 members by December 31, 2013. Our membership is comprised of a group of diverse and passionate people, who care about Downtown Greensboro,” said Dianne Ziegler, President of the Downtown Residents’ Association. “Collaboration continues to be our focus for 2014. The Sip-n-Stroll fundraisers were incredibly successful and we look forward to using the funds raised in future downtown public work projects to sustain the current progress and bright future of our downtown.”
The meeting is free and open to the public and will include a progress report from The Community Theatre of Greensboro and a Greensboro DRA update on 2013 successes and future plans. Guest speaker, Mayor Nancy Vaughan will share her vision for Greensboro. A one-hour celebration with drinks and heavy appetizers will follow the presentations, beginning at 7:30 PM. Visit www.greensborodra.org to register for the meeting or to become a member of the Greensboro DRA.
Guilford Board of Education Joins Lawsuit Opposing Private-School Vouchers Board resolution addresses concerns about public money funding private schools
Greensboro, N.C. – At its Feb. 11 meeting, the Guilford County Board of Education passed a resolution opposing the state budget bill that provides vouchers for private schools. The Board also voted to join a lawsuit filed by the North Carolina School Boards Association and other plaintiffs that challenges the program.
In July of 2013, the North Carolina General Assembly passed a budget bill that included an initial $10 million appropriation to start a private school tuition-voucher program.
A fiscal note included with an earlier version of the voucher legislation indicated costs for the program could ultimately reach $50 million a year or more. To pay for the program, funds would be deducted from allocations to GCS and other public school districts.
The lawsuit filed by the North Carolina School Boards Association and other plaintiffs asserts that the voucher program uses public funds for non-public purposes in violation of the North Carolina Constitution, among other concerns.
The Board’s resolution addresses some of those concerns:
“WHEREAS, the voucher program created in the Budget Bill does not require participating private schools to provide students with the opportunity to receive a sound basic education, as required by the N.C. Constitution;
WHEREAS, the voucher program created in the Budget Bill does not require participating private schools to engage in non-discriminatory admissions practices;
WHEREAS, the voucher program requires the State Board of Education to reduce funding to each local board of education in an amount equal to the local board's per pupil allocation for average daily membership multiplied by the number of students who have received vouchers and were enrolled in the local board's schools during the prior semester;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Guilford County Board of Education hereby agrees to join as a plaintiff the pending litigation, captioned Reverend Robert Richardson, III, Michael and Delores Galloway, Steven W. Sizemore, and the North Carolina School Boards Association v. the State of North Carolina, the North Carolina State Board of Education, and the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority, and authorizes the attorneys engaged by the NCSBA and other plaintiffs to represent the Board of Education in the litigation, with the litigation costs to be borne by the NCSBA's Legal Assistance Fund.”
Guilford County Board of Education Takes Historic Vote
Greensboro, N.C. – The Guilford County Board of Education decided in a unanimous vote to take legal action rather than adhere to new legislation it considers unconstitutional. The board’s resolution is posted here.
The Appropriations Act of 2013 requires superintendents to recommend, and local boards of education to offer, four-year contracts to just 25 percent of teachers with three consecutive years of teaching experience who have met certain standards of performance.
The contracts include a $500 annual pay raise for each year of the contract in exchange for relinquishing career status (teacher tenure).The law also prohibits local boards of education from granting career status to any teacher who had not earned it as of August 1, 2013 and ends career status for those who currently have it on June 30, 2018.
The school board plans to file suit in Guilford County Superior Court.
GCS Names Director of Construction
Greensboro, N.C. – Guilford County Schools announced Samuel Masters as the new director of construction at the Feb. 11 Board of Education meeting.
Masters takes the place of Julius Monk, who became the executive director of facilities for GCS in December. Masters has worked in GCS as a construction project manager since 2010. In that position, he has provided oversight for construction projects that are a part of the 2008 School Construction Bond, including working with design teams, contractors and construction management firms throughout various phases of the projects.
Prior to joining GCS, Masters served as director of construction for Cabarrus County Schools and as a project manager for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. He has also worked with construction companies during his 29-year career.
Board Approves Title I Funds for 2014-15 School Year 66 schools, more than half of the district, will receive federal supplement
Greensboro, N.C. – Based on the thresholds approved by the Board of Education on Tuesday, 66 Guilford County schools will receive Title I funding for the 2014-15 school year. That’s an increase of five schools from the current year.
Title I funds are federal funds allocated to schools with a higher percentage of students living in low-income households. Funds are used to support students in meeting state standards. In GCS, the schools that receive Title I funds are determined by the number of students who qualify for free and reduced-price meals (FRM).
The board renewed the 2013 thresholds for FRM percentages:
- Elementary: 56 percent
- Middle: 66 percent
- High: 75 percent
Based on those numbers, 66 schools are designated as Title I schools for the 2014-15 school year, up from 61 in 2013-14. The five additional schools are Allen Jay Middle, Morehead Elementary, Pilot Elementary, Sedalia Elementary and Simkins Elementary. Simkins, which will open in August 2014, is projected to have a FRM percentage of between 71 and 76 percent, above the 56 percent threshold.
District-wide, more than 59 percent of students qualify for free and reduced-price meals, up from 57.5 percent in 2013-14.
Title I schools receive a dollar amount per student for every student who qualifies for the meal benefit. Funds are used to support school-wide strategies that enhance instruction for students so that they meet state standards. Such strategies include supplemental instructional materials, additional teaching staff, funding for field trips, parent and family engagement opportunities and additional professional development for staff.
EDM DJ sensation Steve Aoki March 22 in Winston-Salem
Kicking off
2014 with a bang we are pleased to announce Grammy nominated Electro/House DJ
& Producer Steve Aoki who will head to the Winston-Salem
Fairgrounds Annex in March for his biggest shows to date in North Carolina.
As one of America's biggest touring artists, the man
behind DIM MAK Records has been credited with launching the careers of some of
the most influential acts of the last decade including Bloc Party, The Kills,
Klaxons and MSTRKRFT. His own success through remix and production has
seen him work with the likes of Tiësto, Laidback Luke, Kanye West, AfroJack,
Linkin Park and Lenny Kravitz to name a few and has catapulted him into one of
the world's most in-demand artists.
Steve's acrobatic crowd surfing stunts, cake throwing and general dancefloor debauchery has made him renowned as one of the most energetic and entertaining dance artists on the circuit and we can no doubt expect the same fun and frolics and huge stage production at his forthcoming Winston-Salem date in March creating what is set to be one of this year's unmissable shows.
Tickets are expected to sell out so we recommend purchasing advanced tickets as soon as possible. Tickets are on sale now at www.ticketmaster.com, 1.800.745.3000, or the Fairgrounds Annex Box Office. The Front Pit is limited to 300 tickets ($53.50) and the remainder of the General Admission area ($34.50) is limited as well. Ticket prices for Day of Show sales will go up $5 per ticket.
Steve's acrobatic crowd surfing stunts, cake throwing and general dancefloor debauchery has made him renowned as one of the most energetic and entertaining dance artists on the circuit and we can no doubt expect the same fun and frolics and huge stage production at his forthcoming Winston-Salem date in March creating what is set to be one of this year's unmissable shows.
Tickets are expected to sell out so we recommend purchasing advanced tickets as soon as possible. Tickets are on sale now at www.ticketmaster.com, 1.800.745.3000, or the Fairgrounds Annex Box Office. The Front Pit is limited to 300 tickets ($53.50) and the remainder of the General Admission area ($34.50) is limited as well. Ticket prices for Day of Show sales will go up $5 per ticket.
KATIE KENNEDY EARNS GIRL SCOUTS’ HIGHEST HONOR
Girl Scout
Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont is pleased to announce that Dorothy “Katie” Kennedy, High
Point, has earned her Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award in Girl
Scouting.
Kennedy,
daughter of John and Kelley Kennedy and a member of Troop 20448, focused on the
homeless teen population in Guilford County for her project. She did a backpack
fundraiser, collecting monetary funds from the community to fill backpacks with
items such as first aid kits, ponchos, notebooks, socks, towels and shirts. She
gave the filled backpacks to Family Services of the Piedmont to distribute to
teens in need.
By earning the Girl Scout Gold Award, Kennedy has
become a community leader. Her accomplishments reflect leadership and
citizenship skills that set her apart.
“Earning the Girl Scout Gold Award
designation is truly a remarkable achievement, and this young woman exemplifies
leadership in all its forms,” said Marcia Cole, chief executive officer of Girl
Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont. “She saw a need in her community and took
action. Her extraordinary dedication, perseverance and leadership, is making
the world a better place."
The Gold Award represents the highest achievement in Girl
Scouting; it recognizes girls in grades 9 through 12 who demonstrate
extraordinary leadership through sustainable and measurable Take Action
projects. After the
minimum requirements are completed, the Gold Award project is the culmination
of a girl's demonstration of self-discipline, leadership ability, time
management, creativity, initiative and a significant mastery of skills. Each
girl must dedicate a minimum of 80 hours to planning and implementing her
project, which must benefit the community and have long lasting impact. Since 1916, girls have successfully answered the call to go gold, an act that indelibly marks
them as accomplished members of their communities and the world.
Treeson Springwater Boasts Foolproof Sustainability for Water Bottle Consumption
Treeson employs 100% eco-friendly materials
and the US Postal Service to revolutionize the way we recycle.
About 1,500 bottles are consumed in the US every second — over 250 billion each year. Yet despite initiatives to reduce deforestation, landfill area, and marine debris through recycling, less than 20% of those water bottles are actually recycled.
That means 200 billion water bottles annually, from the US alone, end up in landfills, rivers, and oceans around the world — adding to consumer waste that has been accumulating for decades.
According to Treeson CEO Carlton Solle, “It’s time to change that.”
Carlton Solle founded Treeson Springwater after taking a walk on the beaches of Costa Rica with his wife and daughter, coming across dozens of water bottles washing up on the shore.
Solle had previously been working on a waste-to-energy project to harness the chemicals in recycled products to generate sustainable energy. Yet putting normal bottles, which are petroleum-based, into his generator would still release harmful gases into the atmosphere.
So he decided to create his own water bottle company.
Treeson water bottles are plant-based, toxin free, GMO free, and are both reusable and recyclable. Their labels made with eco-friendly adhesive and 100% post-consumer paper, printed with soy ink, and laminated with beeswax. Their leaf-shape — inspired by Solle’s daughter — allows the bottle to fit in cup holders, as well as easily collapse flat.
Even the box in which the bottles are packaged is infused with tree seeds, which means you can literally rip up the box, put it in the ground, and trees will grow.
Most water bottle companies shirk the responsibility of recycling onto consumers. Treeson boasts being the first water bottle company to take complete responsibility for the sustainability of its products, while still empowering consumers to care for their environment at an affordable cost.
Treeson has crafted the most targeted recycling system yet, which they have deemed “Recycling 2.0” — commandeering the US Postal Service.
Peel back the biodegradable label on your Treeson bottle to reveal a business reply mail mark. Stick it in your mailbox, and it will travel back to Solle’s generator at Treeson headquarters, which emits only natural bi-products. Your bottle will help generate sustainable energy to produce even more Treeson products, to “guarantee your bottles don’t end up where they shouldn’t.”
To further encourage use of the zero-impact mail-back system, Treeson promises to plant “one tree for every bottle sold.” Consumers can track their very own trees, planted in the Central American rainforest, and watch them grow using Treeson’s GPS app.
And even if the bottle doesn’t’ make it back to the factory, every part of the bottle is 100% compostable, 100% biodegradable, and 100% sustainable.
Treeson plans not only to reduce negative impact on the environment, but also restore vital habitats, rainforests, and clean water sources decimated by deforestation. Filling their bottles with natural spring water from Costa Rica, Treeson drinkers will enjoy tasty water packed with natural electrolytes and infused with oxygen.
Today marks the beginning of Treeson’s crowdfunding campaign launch, which will help Solle and his staff launch the brand and concept, cover initial production and infrastructure expenses, and move toward marketing flavored waters and other beverages. View the progress of the campaign here.
Elections filing underway in Forsyth County
A slew of candidates kicked of filing season in Forsyth County today. Most notable is incumbent Sheriff Bill Schatzman picking up a challenger in the Republican primary.
Schatzman, first elected in 2002, is finishing his third term. He filed for reelection today as did challenger Clifton Kirby Jr, of Winston-Salem.
Clerk of Court Susan Frye filed for reelection as well, as did 13 other candidates for legislative and county seats.
See the full list here.
Schatzman, first elected in 2002, is finishing his third term. He filed for reelection today as did challenger Clifton Kirby Jr, of Winston-Salem.
Clerk of Court Susan Frye filed for reelection as well, as did 13 other candidates for legislative and county seats.
See the full list here.
YES! Weekly welcomes 28th Annual Carolina Blues Festival to Greensboro May 17th
The Piedmont Blues Preservation Society (PBPS) is excited to announce a partial lineup of acts secured for the 28th Annual Carolina Blues Festival in association with YES! Weekly. The all-day event is being held under the big tent at Festival Park in downtown Greensboro, NC, May 17, 2014.
Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers - California-based blues bandleader, harmonica player, and singer, Rod Piazza's stratospheric harmonica wailings owe a heavy debt to both Little Walter and George "Harmonica" Smith. During his 47-year career in the genre, Piazza, 66, has won or been nominated for almost every blues award out there. He has played thousands of gigs around the world and released more than a dozen well-known albums. Since 1973, he's also performed alongside his wife, boogie pianist Honey Piazza, which Rod says has been a big plus. Piazza's music continues to grow stronger as continues his blues odyssey with no signs of stopping anytime soon. He recently signed a deal with Blind Pig Records, one of the larger record companies for blues musicians, and expects to produce a CD with them later this year. In the meantime, his current tour schedule includes stops in Pittsburgh, North Carolina, Canada, and Belgium.
Carl Weathersby - Weathersby was Albert King's rhythm guitarist between 1979 and 1982, and then spent some 15 years with Billy Branch's Sons of Blues as lead guitarist before striking out on his own. His debut solo album on Evidence Records, 'Don't Lay Your Blues On Me', was nominated for the W.C. Handy 'Blues Album of the Year' award. Mixing Southern charm, soulful vocals, and fierce guitar-playing, Carl plays the blues, from down-and-dirty to scintillating Albert King influenced chops. This is one powerful blues performer that will leave you amazed and thoroughly entertained.
Beverly “Guitar” Watkins with The King Bees - Beverly "Guitar" Watkins is the Georgia Music Legend Award Winner. If you’ve never seen a 74 year old blues lady who can play guitar behind her head, belt out powerful songs, and lay down James Brown steps, you’ve never been in the audience when Beverly Guitar Watkins was burning down the house. As a teen she teamed up with the legendary Piano Red and has rocked venues with the best of them for 5 decades. Through the years Beverly “Guitar” Watkins has stolen the hearts and blown the minds of audiences internationally. Beverly Guitar means business!
The King Bees have been stingin' and swingin' to international acclaim for 25 years and are led by blues dynamo bassist/vocalist Penny "Queen Bee" Zamagni and guitarist extraordinaire, Rob “Hound Dog” Baskerville.
Lawyers Guns & Money – Local favorites and winners of the 2013 PBPS Blues Challenge, Lawyers Guns & Money, comprised of Terry VunCannon (guitar, lap steel), Steve Headen (bass, vocals) and Mike Thomas (drums), will get the festival started with their unique sound that is clean and balanced. They perform the blues and their own originals, showcasing guitar, lap steel, and strong vocals. LGM has one CD out, "Make Up Another Lie", and has had two singles to reach #1 on the Cashbox Magazine Roadhouse Blues Charts.
The Piedmont Blues Preservation Society also announces its anticipation of the POP! Downtown Greensboro series of temporary Art installations to appear in un-occupied storefront windows from mid-March to the end of May 2014. Downtown Greensboro, Inc., in collaboration with Open Art Society (OAS) will feature up to 10 artists from around the region responding to the theme “BLUES.”
The blues theme came to be as OAS recognized that iconic musicians developed the Piedmont Blues style right in our “backyard”, a sound that took hold in the south and influenced music around the world. The project will also celebrate the Carolina Blues Festival produced by Piedmont Blues Preservation Society held May 17, 2014. For more information: http://bit.ly/1hEAPh8
For tickets, the latest information, or festival updates, go to: http://fest.piedmontblues.org or http://piedmontblues.org.
About the Piedmont Blues Preservation Society
From our love of music and our belief that music is best shared in a community, came the founding of the Piedmont Blues Preservation Society in 1985. Our non-profit organization works to cultivate and preserve the tradition of blues music. Our mission is to help the youth of our community discover the wonder and joy of music by raising awareness and providing music education to our community.
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND THE E STREET BAND STOP IN RALEIGH AT PNC ARENA APRIL 24
The dates come on the heels of concerts in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
Tickets for the April 24 performance at PNC Arena can be purchased at the PNC Arena box office, online at ticketmaster.com or by phone at 800-745-3000 starting Friday, Feb. 21 at 10 a.m.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band made their 2014 live debut on January 26th in South Africa with "a sweat-drenched rock 'n roll spectacle" (Mail & Guardian). They're currently earning similar raves on the road in Australia - where parts of Springsteen's new album 'High Hopes' were recorded - including a 5-star live review from the Sydney Morning Herald, who said, "If you only see two shows this year, see this one. Twice. (And then see it again.)"
Springsteen's latest studio album, 'High Hopes' (Columbia Records), debuted at #1 in 20 countries last month.
Merle Haggard to Perform at MerleFest 2014 Haggard and bluegrass icon Ricky Skaggs round out the festival’s 2014 lineup
Merle Haggard (l) and Ricky Skaggs
As announced earlier today via Billboard.com, legendary country music artist Merle Haggard will perform for the first time at MerleFest as he closes MerleFest 2014 in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, on Sunday, April 27. The festival also welcomes back MerleFest favorite Ricky Skaggs, whose Saturday, April 26, evening performance will mark the 12th time that the famed bluegrass musician has appeared in the lineup. MerleFest, presented by Lowe’s and slated for April 24-27, 2014, is an annual homecoming of musicians and music fans that takes place on the campus of Wilkes Community College.
As a performer and a songwriter, Merle Haggard was one of the most important country artists to emerge in the 1960s, and he became a leading figure in the Bakersfield country scene in the '60s. While his music remained hardcore country, he pushed the boundaries of that music, drawing from all forms of traditional American music – country, jazz, blues and folk – and in the process, developed a distinctive style of his own. As a result, Haggard found his songs at the top of the charts on a regular basis. In addition to his 40 No. 1 country hits, Haggard charted scores of Top Ten songs. He has won just about every music award imaginable, both as a performer and as a songwriter, and in 1994 was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. His body of work easily places him beside Hank Williams as one of the most influential artists in country music.
Ricky Skaggs struck his first chords on a mandolin over 50 years ago, and by age 21 was already considered a master of one of America's most demanding art forms. Today, this 14-time Grammy Award winner continues to do his part to lead the recent roots revival in music and remains one of the most respected and beloved bluegrass performers in the genre. With 12 consecutive Grammy-nominated classics behind him, all from his own Skaggs Family Records label, the gifted Skaggs creates diverse and masterful tones that come from a life dedicated to playing music that is both fed by the soul and felt by the heart. The all-star lineup of Skaggs’ Kentucky Thunder includes Andy Leftwich (fiddle), Cody Kilby (lead guitar), Paul Brewster (tenor vocals, rhythm guitar), Eddie Faris (baritone vocals, guitar) and Scott Mulvahill (bass, bass vocals). Skaggs’ last appearance at MerleFest was in 2008.
The full MerleFest 2014 lineup is viewable at www.MerleFest.org/lineup; the daily stage schedules for the festival will be posted at the site on Wednesday, February 19.
Ticket purchases for MerleFest 2014 can be made on the web at www.MerleFest.org or by calling 1-800-343-7857. With more than 130 acts performing on 13 stages during the course of the event, MerleFest is an excellent entertainment value. An early bird ticket discount is available through March 10, 2014.
TEACHER RESPONDS TO GOVERNOR'S ANNOUNCEMENT; TEACHERS AND ALLIES LAUNCH INTO ACTION
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In response to today’s announcement from Governor Pat McCrory regarding a new program to increase the base salary for teachers, NCAE Organize 2020 Caucus member and Durham High School teacher Bryan Proffitt states, “After an onslaught of education policies that were passed last summer with no warning and no debate, we are now presented with another policy that responds to the legitimate concerns of parents, students, and teachers with a divisive half-measure: a fraction of teachers will see an increase in pay next year, yet our students and our schools will continue to be underfunded. As teachers work tirelessly to meet the needs of our children and our communities, the majority of them must now deal with the knowledge that next year they will continue to be paid the same salary they have since 2008, all the while coping with the impact of devastating new testing mandates, NC’s 28% child poverty rate, less money for instructional supplies, fewer teaching assistants, larger class sizes, and being robbed of our most basic due process rights before being fired at will.”
In the past year, the legislature and the Governor of NC have made sweeping changes to public education in the state that has impacted teachers, students, and communities. Legislation has included the controversial Read to Achieve program, which requires third graders to pass a battery of weekly literacy tests or risk retention; removing pay supplements for teachers who attain Master’s degrees; taking the cap off of the number of NC's charter schools; launching a draining voucher program that takes money directly from public schools and funnels it into private schools; and removing the due-process system for teachers who have demonstrated their commitment by reaching career status. However, the legislature and Governor have also repeatedly made changes to their stances based on public outcry. Although Governor McCrory created a panel of advisers on education, it is not clear how they provide input to educational policy or on what information that input is based. There has been no representative input from teachers and parents in the state of North Carolina to the recent legislation. In order to gain input on the state of our schools and to envision and plan for positive changes, Organize 2020 announces a statewide meeting of school workers, parents, and allies of public education to take place in Greensboro on March 8, 2014. The March 8 event, entitled “Launch into Action,” will provide an opportunity for those who have daily involvement in public education to work together to envision how to best improve public education. It will also include information sharing on the impact that recent legislation has had on our schools and training on effective organizing techniques. Lois Weiner, scholar, author and national educational advocate, will provide a keynote address. The event will take place 10 am - 4 pm on Saturday, March 8 at the Guilford Technical Community College Jamestown Campus in the Koury Auditorium. The event is free, with lunch provided, but is limited to 200 participants. Organize 2020 has recently been recognized as a caucus of the North Carolina Association of Educators. March 8 will be the inaugural event as a recognized caucus, although educators involved in the group have organized a number of events with teachers, parents and students throughout the state, including the November 4 Walk-In for public education. Organize 2020
Website: http://www.organize2020.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Organize2020/
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WILLIE NELSON AND FAMILY & ALISON KRAUSS AND UNION STATION FEATURING JERRY DOUGLAS at White Oak - May 10th
TOUR TO STOP AT WHITE OAK AMPHITHEATRE SATURDAY, MAY 10
Music legends and Grammy Award winning artists Willie Nelson and Alison Krauss & Union Station Featuring Jerry Douglas will be touring together throughout the spring and summer. The 35 city US tour will kick off May 1 in Murray, KY at the CFSB Center at Murray State University and run through July 17 in Interlochen, MI.
The tour will mark the first time that Willie Nelson and Family & Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas have shared the stage together. The two groups’ unique personalities combined with impeccable musicianship and decades of award-winning songs are sure to create a show full of unforgettable moments.
With a six-decade career and 200 plus albums, Willie Nelson is the creative genius behind the historic recordings of “Crazy”, “Red Headed Stranger” and “Stardust.” He has earned every conceivable award as a musician and amassed reputable credentials as an author, actor and activist. Heroes, his 2012 release and first album for Legacy Recordings, spent five weeks at #1 on the Americana Radio Chart. His book, Roll Me Up And Smoke Me When I Die, landed in the Top 10 on The New York Times' best-seller list. In 2013, Willie's albums included April's Let's Face The Music And Dance, an album of deep pop country repertoire classics performed with transformative patented ease by Nelson and Family, his long-time touring and recording ensemble; and October's To All The Girls… which features 18 duets with music's top female singers including Dolly Parton, Mavis Staples, Sheryl Crow, Loretta Lynn, Wynonna Judd, Rosanne Cash, Alison Krauss, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Emmylou Harris, Norah Jones, and Shelby Lynne.
Alison Krauss is a bluegrass virtuoso who effortlessly bridges the gap between roots music and country, rock and pop. Since signing with Rounder Records at the age of 14, Krauss has sold over 12 million albums and won 27 Grammy Awards, the most for any female and the second most of any recording artist in Grammy history. Paper Airplane is the latest masterpiece in Krauss’ illustrious career. Recorded in partnership with her remarkably skillful and renowned band, Union Station, the album debuted at #1 on the Billboard Country, Bluegrass and Folk Album Charts upon its release. Union Station – Jerry Douglas (dobro, lap steel, vocals), Dan Tyminski (guitar, mandolin, lead vocal), Ron Block (banjo, guitar) and Barry Bales (bass, vocals), with Krauss on lead vocal and fiddle – are five distinct personalities who come together to form something truly unique as a band. Each bandmate has his own bustling career, but when these singular musicians come together, they’re an airtight unit devoted to the process of making music together. Indeed, their connection is so close and deep that they’ve come to think of each other as family.
For full, up-to-date event information, including on sale and ticket info, please visit:
Mark Vega honored at Graphic Designer of the Year
Mark Vega, Graphic Designer of the local
Signs By Tomorrow business in Greensboro, was recently recognized with the
Graphic Designer of the Year Award by Forsyth County Entertainment Awards for
2013. The award is a coveted recognition
that is given to individuals and groups for their contributions to the local
entertainment and arts scene.
Those chosen to work for Signs By Tomorrow, like Vega, come
with a diverse mix of experience as professionals. Their experience – along with rigorous
company training and a commitment to creating an ongoing relationship with
clients – results in top quality signs.
Our staff is dedicated to the company’s mission of providing total
customer satisfaction, said Susan Allen, President. The company’s tagline “Imagine It….We Can Do
It” demonstrates that mission.
“We are very proud of Mark for his achievements and look
forward to his continued efforts with Signs By Tomorrow and within the local
community,” Allen said.
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