WS Chronicle

By Jess Schnur 

The Chronicle 

Community Features 

Over the weekend, The Chronicle shared the stories of four Winston-Salem local politicians as they navigate their careers in public service alongside their duties in parenthood. (https://wschronicle.com/balancing-parenthood-and-public-service-inspiring-stories-from-winston-salems-local-politicians/ ). In conversations with City Council Members Scott Andree-Bowen and Regina Ford Hall, District Court Judge Carrie Vickery, and Mayor Allen Joines, we took a deeper dive into the lives of those in office to get a better look at who represents the City of Winston-Salem. 

This past Saturday, two youth organizations, New Cool Movement and Next Level of the Triad, held their first Youth and Adult Financial Literacy Camp, which was sponsored by Lincoln Financial Group and Truliant Federal Credit Union. (https://wschronicle.com/new-cool-movement-youth-and-adult-financial-literacy-camp-sparks-financial-confidence/ ). The event held panels and interactive activities that allowed attendees and parents alike insight into real-world financial skills, from budgeting, scholarships, careers and credit. Featuring speakers such as Kemontra Richmond, an audit analyst with Lincoln Financial, Demetrius Noble, an operations manager with Lincoln Financial, and Ja’Net Adams, who is a financial strategist, author and speaker, the event helped foster positive planning for a better financial future among the youth attendees. 

Weekend Wellness 

On Saturday, The Chronicle explored new studies surrounding the struggles of those with glaucoma. (https://wschronicle.com/research-studies-for-new-treatments-offer-hope-for-glaucoma-patients/ ). As the leading cause of blindness, glaucoma is a largely overlooked disease. Over three million Americans have glaucoma, but over half are unaware of their diagnosis. Everyone over 60 is at risk of glaucoma, as well as a higher risk for African Americans, Hispanics, diabetics, and those with a family history of the disease. However, education about glaucoma is the best way to prevent vision loss as diagnoses are increasing because of the rising awareness of this disease. New treatments and research that is being conducted seeks to explore new delivery systems for dispensing medication to help prevent patients from being poorly compliant with their treatments, such as forgetting to keep up with prescriptions, struggles with eyedrops, and expensive insurance co-pays. 

On Sunday, for those looking to gain a new healthy hobby during the week, The Chronicle showcased the various running and walking clubs around Winston-Salem that are free and open to all who are looking for a group to join. (https://wschronicle.com/a-city-in-motion-building-community-through-exercise-with-winston-salem-running-and-walking-clubs/). With interviews from the Run Like a Fish Club, The Run Club, the Wise Man Running and Walking Club, and the Winston Walkers, each of these different groups fosters a community surrounding healthy lifestyles and forging friendships to offer support every step of the way. But walking and running not only provide physical benefits, as highlighted by Dr. Shannon Mihalko and Kristy Wood of Wake Forest University’s health programs, but can also help to support mental wellness as well. 

City Initiatives 

Over the weekend many new city implementations have been set to go into effect in the near future. 

One of those was the establishment of PayByPhone as the city’s new mode for street parking payments, set to start on May 1. (https://wschronicle.com/paybyphone-mobile-payments-for-downtown-parking-begins-may-1/ ). As downtown begins to say goodbye to its coin-fed meters, paying for parking is now as simple as installing an app on a smartphone. Alongside this change in methodology, street parking rates are also set to increase to $1.50 per hour on the PayByPhone implementation date. PayByPhone is set to take effect for city-owned parking decks this upcoming fall. 

Over the past weekend, The Chronicle also reported on the city’s newly established Affordable Housing Development (AHD) program, alongside its $10 million fund to supplement the initiative. (https://wschronicle.com/city-set-to-launch-10m-affordable-housing-push-with-new-developments-and-1-lot-projects/ ). Before the council votes in May, discussions were held surrounding the Community Development/Housing/General Government Committee proposals for Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) projects and available $1 lots. After applications had been received back in January for the AHD program, for both LIHTC multi-family units and city-owned single-family parcels, six proposals have advanced through the city’s vetting process to be considered for approval next month. Some of these proposals under consideration come from Greenway Residential Development LLC, Workforce Solutions LLC, and Poplar Development Group LLC. All of the proposals were approved unanimously by the Community Development/Housing/General Government Committee, and the city council is expected to vote on Monday, May 5. 

The city also approved two economic development projects, Project Renaissance and Project Beaver, projected to help create 70 jobs and millions of dollars in taxable capital. (https://wschronicle.com/project-renaissance-and-project-beaver-expected-to-create-70-jobs/ ). Project Renaissance, led by GMAX Industries, would open a facility in Winston-Salem for the manufacturing of medical gauze and disposable syringes, proposing 42 jobs and $306,270 in tax revenue over five years. Project Beaver, led by an international non-woven manufacturer of materials for the automotive, geotextiles, and construction industries, is considering opening a facility in Winston-Salem near the Union Cross site, projecting 28 jobs and $582,366 in tax revenue over five years. 

The city will also be hosting a free online training course for local businesses looking to become certified or re-certified as Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB) with the State of North Carolina. (https://wschronicle.com/city-of-winston-salem-hosts-free-hub-certification-training-for-minority-and-women-owned-businesses-on-april-29/ ). Set for tomorrow evening, April 29, at 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., interested businesses will learn about the certification process and be able to ask questions during the interactive session. Registering in the State of North Carolina as a HUB allows businesses to gain greater exposure to ventures via the Vendor Link system. Interested businesses must register through the city’s Eventbrite page for the event. 

Arts and Entertainment Calendar 

On Friday, April 25, The Chronicle posted the upcoming Arts and Events Calendar to highlight local happenings around town and information on how to attend. This weekend it featured art exhibitions such as “Andrew Wyeth at Kuerner Farm: The Eye of the Earth” through May 17 at Reynolda, and festivals such as the second annual Blooming Together Arts Festival, May 17 at the Generations Center, as well as performances such as “Southern Harmony! The Martha Bassett Show” with the Piedmont Wind Symphony, May 31 at Wait Chapel, Wake Forest University.