Today’s Forecast

74º | 50% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:53 a.m. | Sunset 7:50 p.m.

Getting the ball rolling

Meet Forsyth Tech’s first athletic director

Person in cream coat with blonde hair and glasses standing at a black podium with a microphone. A blue background is behind them.

Barnes is comfortable on the court and in front of crowds. | Photo courtesy of Forsyth Tech

Forsyth Tech has chosen the person who will lead the launch of its athletics program. Shelly Barnes started her position as Athletic Director in March. She discussed the new role with City Editor Cambridge.

Returning to her roots

Barnes grew up in Randleman (~45 minutes from Winston-Salem) and played volleyball and basketball in college. She taught and coached in the K-12 system and at Lenoir Community College, where she was also the athletic director. Barnes says she’s excited to come home to the Piedmont Triad.

“The opportunity to build something from the ground up is an exciting challenge for me and one I look forward to doing here.”

Selecting sports

Barnes will lead the membership application process into the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). By Aug. 1, she must also determine which sports the school will participate in. When making that decision, the school will look at local facilities that can support competition. The school will also consider which sports locals are excited to watch.

“Obviously basketball and volleyball because we have a facility [the West Campus gymnasium] that we can use there. [...] I think there’s some other hot sports in the area. There’s soccer, there’s cross country, there’s baseball, there’s golf.”

Basketball court with person standing in gray suit on left. A fox mascot is in the middle and a person in a gray jacket with blonde hair is on the right. — Chris Haley, of the National Junior College Athletics Association, (NJCAA) and mascot, Blaze, helped welcome Barnes to campus.
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Photo courtesy of Forsyth Tech

The work ahead

Barnes anticipates sports being rolled out in phases. The goal is to recruit students and coaches in time for the 2025 fall or winter season. Barnes’s background as a coach means she has high expectations.

“I’m looking for a polished student-athlete that can come in here and can help us be competitive immediately. I’m not really looking for our athletic program to be glorified intramurals, you know. I want us to be highly competitive and a regional contender and even maybe a national presence.”

Barnes says believes sports bring people together. She says Forsyth Tech’s athletics program will be an extension of its education mission.

“We’re all about [...] bringing opportunities and so I hope that the community embraces that.”

Asked

Which Forsyth Tech sports would you be most excited to watch?

A. Basketball
B. Volleyball
C. Soccer
D. Baseball

Take a swing

Events

Wednesday, April 10

Picnic in the Park | Wednesday, April 10 | 6-8 p.m. | Bailey Park, 445 Patterson Ave., Winston-Salem | Free | Bring your picnic blanket or lawn chair and grab a spot in the grass to enjoy the sounds of DJ iKeem while eating dinner — food will be available for purchase.
Winston-Salem Dash vs. Greensboro | Wednesday, April 10 | 7 p.m. | Truist Stadium, 951 Ballpark Way, Winston-Salem | $13-$53 | Who doesn’t love wings? Enjoy $0.50 wings specials during the game every Wednesday.*

Thursday, April 11

Penny University with Vikki | Thursday, April 11 | 7-9 p.m. | D.O.S.E. Artist Collective, 606 Trade St. NW, Winston-Salem | Free | Dive into the art of producing top-notch prints for your digital and physical artworks so you’re ready to showcase your work at its best.

Friday, April 12

Fitness Fridays | Friday, April 12 | 5:30-6 p.m. | The Coalpit, 486 N. Patterson Ave., Winston-Salem | Free, RSVP | Get a healthy start to the weekend with an intense workout from F45 Fitness.
“Life After Death” | Friday, April 12 | 7-9 p.m. | Double Tree by Hilton Hotel, 5790 University Pkwy., Winston-Salem | $45 | Enjoy this dinner theater production about a family that learns there is more to life than money.

Saturday, April 13

Spring Plant Sale and Tulip Bloom | Saturday, April 13 | 8 a.m.-2 p.m. | Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden, 215 S. Main St., Kernersville | Free entry | Buy native plants and bushes for your garden until 12 p.m. and marvel at the grounds in bloom.

Plan Ahead

SummerLark featuring Barenaked Ladies | Saturday, May 11 | 7-10 p.m. | Bailey Park, 445 Patterson Ave., Winston-Salem | $45-$50 | Jam to the Barenaked Ladies and enjoy food, bevs, and whole-family fun while supporting cancer patients at this annual benefit concert.*

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Festival

🌸 Fayetteville’s famous bash is back

It’s Dogwood Festival time, and everyone is invited to join the fun. | Photos provided by the Dogwood Festival, gif by 6AM City

Grab the fam or your best buds and plan your trip to Fayetteville, NC, because the annual Dogwood Festival is back Friday, April 26 to Sunday, April 28.

During the 42nd year of this spring tradition, downtown will bloom with exciting entertainment, fabulous food finds, a craft fair, and more family-friendly fun.

🎶 Entertainment

The event kicks off Friday night with a concert by the 82nd Airborne Division’s official rock band, Riser Burn, at Festival Park.

Continue your weekend at the carnival, featuring thrilling rides, games, and other attractions.

🌷 Shop

On Saturday and Sunday, browse arts and crafts from local vendors during the expansive craft fair. From handmade jewelry and portraits to tie-dyed T-shirts and bandanas, you never know what treasures you may find along the historic cobblestone streets.

Pro tip: Explore local shops, too.

🌭 Food + Drinks

Come hungry, because area food trucks + vendors will be set up at Festival Park Plaza. Beer vendors will be pouring tasty favorites from local breweries and restaurants.

More April adventures in Fayetteville

News Notes

Shop

Support local creators at the Spring Artist Pop-Up at BYGood Coffee (301 Brookstown Ave.) on Sunday, April 14. The event will happen rain or shine from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Seasonal

Saturday, April 13 is your last chance to get free leaf mulch. Bring a tarp and come early to load your truck at the Forum 52 Yard Waste Facility (180 Northstar Dr. in Rural Hall) — mulch will be available from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. or until supplies run out.

Arts

Learn strategies to advance your career as an artist at a free Artists Thrive workshop on Tuesday, April 23. Triad Cultural Arts will host the interactive event that includes dinner from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Enterprise Center (1922 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr.) — RSVP by Monday, April 15. (Yes! Weekly)

Cause

UNC School of the Arts’ Days of Giving campaign is underway. The 48-hour fundraising event goes through tomorrow, April 11 and commemorates 60 years since the “Dial For Dollars” campaign brought the school to Winston-Salem.

Stat

The Carolina Thunderbirds are welcoming an average of 2,954 fans per game. That’s ~98% of the Fairgrounds Arena’s seating capacity. The hockey team will play the Columbus River Dragons at home on Thursday, April 11 and Friday, April 12 — both games start at 7:35 p.m. (Winston-Salem Journal)

Sports

Tommy Green is the new head football coach at Glenn High School. He has been an assistant coach at the school for the past nine seasons — he succeeds Antwon Stevenson, who stepped down last month. (Winston-Salem Journal)

Announced

Dr. Roxie Cannon Wells has been named Novant Health’s new chief physician executive officer. As a member of the C-Suite, Wells will lead the Winston-Salem based health care system’s patient experience strategy. (Triad Business Journal)

Asked

This Sunday, April 14 is the last day you can submit a poem for our WStoday Poetry Contest. Using words from our Wednesday, April 3 newsletter, create an original poem of 75 words or less — we’ll narrow down the finalists and allow you all to vote on the winner.

Seasonal

A trip to Reynolda Gardens is a great way to celebrate spring in Winston-Salem. From the beauty of the Cherry trees to tulips, daffodils, and the many other beautiful spring flowers in the historic garden, you won’t believe your irises (pun intended). Plan your visit.*

Eat

That mid-week dinner slump is real. If you’re itching for inspiration, try cooking up this taco casserole or easy cheesy lasagna. Bon appétit.*

Finance

Cue drum roll. 2024 is here, and the personal finance experts at The Ascent have sorted through hundreds of credit cards to do the work for you. Presenting: These four credit cards, among the best bonus cards the experts have ever seen.*

Arts

🎨 All hands on deck

Mural that welcomes visitors to the Generations Center showcases community effort

Green grass with a brick wall that is painted with different scenes in blue, green, and yellow.

Senior Services, Inc.'s logo colors of green, yellow, and shades of blue were used throughout the 8-ft mural. | Photo by WStoday

A unique technique — and lots of neighbors — helped bring a multicolored mural to life at the entrance to the Generations Center (114 W. 30th St.). Raman Bhardwaj invited residents to help paint-by-number.

The Greensboro mural artist started “Together Through the Ages” during a community engagement session late last year. Many residents came out to help him paint the 41-ft outdoor installation. His wife helped him complete it.

The mural captures the Generations Center’s central purpose of connecting people of all different ages. The mural also acknowledges the history of the nearby neighborhood.

“This piece holds a special place in my heart as it pays homage to the historically African American Boston-Thurmond neighborhood and captures its rich intergenerational character,” Bhardwaj said.

The mural also depicts seniors enjoying sports and creating art while interacting with young characters. Butterflies are floating throughout — Bhardwaj says they symbolize the beauty of transitions that come with aging.

The Buy

The Buy 4.10.24 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

This under-cabinet pots and pans organizer. We love how it actually utilizes the vertical space in kitchen cupboards and (bonus) can be turned on its side to use as a lid organizer.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Cambridge

From the editor

Today is National Siblings Day. I’m the oldest of three and lucky to have a brother and a sister who helped shape who I am. We have plans to spend time together next week and I can’t wait to see them both.

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