Northwest Observer / March 19 - 25, 2020

March 19 - 25, 2020

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bringing the local news home to northwest Guilford County since 1996

Stokesdale mayor verbally resigns, then reverses his decision After Mayor Flynt’s indecision created nearly a week of uncertainty for the town, Councilman Jimmy Landreth said he’s ready to ‘move on down the road’ File photo

Mayor John Flynt looks toward Councilman Derek Foy during a recent council meeting. Flynt emerged from a closed session last Thursday visibly upset and announced he was resigning from his role as mayor.

He has since said he is reconsidering.

by CHRIS BURRITT STOKESDALE – Stokesdale Mayor John Flynt said late Wednesday afternoon he’s decided not to resign, reversing his position from six days earlier when he turned in his key to Town Hall and said he planned to

clean out his desk.

The uncertainty left the council in “limbo,” Councilman Jim Rigsbee said earlier this week. He concurred with fellow council members Derek Foy and Jimmy Landreth in saying it was up to Flynt whether to resign or remain as mayor.

“I’m going to carry on with him like nothing happened,” Landreth said after learning of Flynt’s decision to remain on the council. “We just move on down the road.”

In an earlier interview, Flynt said he hadn’t submitted an official letter of resignation. Supporters urged

Amidst Coronavirus pandemic, community is rising to the occasion

by PATTI STOKES Social distancing. Hand-washing reminders. Men’s ACC tournament cancelled. High school spring sports season suspended. NBA season suspended. More hand-washing reminders.

Elderly and health-compromised at highest risk.

March Madness emotional withdrawals. Schools closed. All major sports suspended. Masks, respirators needed. Travel bans. More hand-washing reminders.

Stock market plummets. Citizens asked to avoid gatherings of more than 10 people. Recession looms.

Restaurants and bars closed for in-house dining.

Fears of hospitals being overwhelmed. Empty grocery shelves. And more hand-washing reminders.

With the announcement last week that the Coronavirus was now a pandemic, millions of people absorbed

the severity of the situation while national, state and local officials sprang into action. Acknowledging they are on unfamiliar footing, officials have been transitioning from one phase of emergency plans to the next, sometimes on a daily, even hourly, basis.

Meanwhile, many private citizens are also doing what they can to not only prevent the spread of the virus, but to find both small and large ways to assist those most impacted by daily closures and events.

After learning schools would be closed as of March 16 for at least two weeks, Oak Ridge resident Patricia Annunziato and her two teenagers came up with an idea to help keep children in low-income families occupied while they are out of school. Through word-ofmouth and social media, in less than a day they collect-

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IN THIS ISSUE Investigation: ‘Spread of disease’ a risk .... 2 Mayor calls lawsuits ‘irresponsible’ ...........3 Summerfield Town Council meeting .........6 Calendar Events ..........................................8 Business Notes .............................................9 Crime/Incident Report .............................. 10 NWO Business & Real Estate ..................... 11 New life for Bandera Farms ...................... 12 Real Estate/Business Briefs ....................... 19 Coaches, players share disappointment....24 Youth/School News .................................. 25 Grins and Gripes ...................................... 26 Classifieds ................................................. 28 Index of Advertisers ................................. 31

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‘Spread of disease’ a risk, according to Happytail investigation findings Overcrowded cages, improper doses of medicine are among problems uncovered during surprise visit by state inspector last month, according to final investigation report.

Owner said she will take corrective steps.

by CHRIS BURRITT OAK RIDGE – A state inspector who conducted an unannounced investigation of Happytail Puppies LLC’s operations on N.C. 150 last month found overcrowded cages and the inconsistent dispensing of medicine to dogs.

The findings, released earlier this week by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture in a full report, described conditions that help explain complaints by owners and veterinarians who said Happytail sold sick puppies despite that the retailer knew, or should have known, they were possibly ill.

The Agriculture Department released the report a week after the Northwest Observer had been given preliminary findings indicating the investigation had found no violations

by Happytail. Although the report had not been completed, agency spokeswoman Heather Overton said last week the inspector had found that dogs in the N.C. 150 facility were under the care of a veterinarian and that owner Sonya Mackovic had agreed to

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

fix problems found by the inspector.

“Overcrowding can play a part in the spread of disease,” especially when dogs from different breeders are confined in the same cages, according to the report by inspector Christie Shore, who said she relayed her concerns to owner Sonya Mackovic during a Feb. 14 tour of the N.C. 150 facility.

Happytail was licensed by the state late last year to house up to 300 dogs.

While last month’s investigation didn’t find puppies showing “signs or symptoms of illness,” the inspector did determine that “overcrowding was an issue” in various buildings on the property.

A Feb. 13 article in the Northwest Observer quoting the owners of sick puppies purchased from Happytail prompted the state’s investigation the next day, the report said.

“We were expecting to see you,” the report quoted Mackovic as telling Shore when she arrived for the investigation.

Mackovic didn’t reply to a voicemail or text message earlier this week seeking comment for this article.

As Shore examined the kennel sheds last month, she found “multiple” instances in which cages confined more than four dogs from different litters, a violation of the Animal Welfare Act, a federal law that regulates the treatment of animals.

“In the intake room I noticed the biggest problem was overcrowding,” Shore wrote in her report. Mackovic explained the puppies had arrived in recent days and were waiting for

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Mayor calls lawsuits against the town ‘irresponsible’

by CHRIS BURRITT SUMMERFIELD – Summerfield Mayor BJ Barnes said lawsuits against the town were “irresponsible” and cost taxpayers $157,523 that could have helped pay for recreational facilities.

“There is a handful of citizens that have cost this town an exorbitant amount of money on litigation,” Barnes said during the town council’s meeting March 10. “The citizens are not going to be able to enjoy a trail, a park or a ball field. To me, that is irresponsible.”

Barnes criticized lawsuits filed by former council member Todd Rotruck and residents Dwayne Crawford, Don Wendelken and Danny Nelson since 2018. He also said former mayor Gail Dunham, whom he replaced in December, had supported the litigation, though she wasn’t a direct party to it.

In interviews after the meeting, each of the five people questioned why Barnes had brought up the contentious issue after pledging during the campaign last year to restore civility to town affairs – and reiterating the position after taking office.

“I think he is breaking one of his campaign promises about being civil,” Wendelken said.

“He’s doing damage to himself by slamming people.

It’s not becoming of the mayor,” Nelson added.

Barnes didn’t identify the five people by name in his comments during the meeting, but in an interview afterwards he said he was referring to Rotruck, Crawford, Wendelken, Nelson and Dunham.

The mayor’s remarks about Summerfield’s legal expenses were made during a discussion among council

members about the town’s standoff with Dunham over her request for two years’ worth of emails.

Late last November, Dunham requested all town-related emails distributed between Oct. 1, 2017, and Nov. 19, 2019, roughly spanning her two-year term as mayor.

Dunham was informed in January the town would comply with her request as long as she pays $9,400 for staff time to review the documents and remove confidential, non-public information. She was told she needs to pay half of the payment up front.

In the interview, Dunham cited a state statute that she said entitled her to the emails without paying for them, whereas Town Attorney Bob Hornik told the council state law allows municipalities to seek payment to cover “extraordinary expenses” responding to public records requests.

“I want our citizens to have everything they ask for if it’s legitimate,” Barnes said.

“If you want to come to my house and you want a drink of water, I will give you a drink of water. If you want to water your horse, you can water your horse. But if you want to fill up your pool, we’ll talk about it.”

The council agreed by consensus to stick with its demand that Dunham pay for the emails she’s requested.

“I think we have a responsibility to protect our interests,” Councilman Reece Walker said. “Our interests are to keep the taxpayer money where it belongs.

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MARCH 19 - 25, 2020

3

CORONAVIRUS

...continued from p. 1

www.nwobserver.com /northwestobserver @mynwobserver @northwestobserver

OUR TEAM Patti Stokes, editor/publisher Laura Reneer, marketing manager Kelli Jessup, publisher’s assistant Rene Collins, administrative assistant Yvonne Truhon, graphic designer Leon Stokes, IT director Lucy Smith, finance manager Linda Schatz, distribution Chris Burritt, staff writer; Helen Ledford, Meredith Barkley, Lily Pierce and Annette Joyce, contributing writers

HOW TO REACH US email: info • celebrations • photos communitynews • realestatenews calendarevents • grinsandgripes opinions • editor • questions ... @ nwobserver.com phone: (336) 644-7035 fax: (336) 644-7006 office: 1616 NC 68 N, Oak Ridge mail: PO Box 268, Oak Ridge, NC 27310 hours: M-Th 9am-noon (or by appt.)

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MARCH 19 - 25, 2020

ed 50 board games, which they delivered to Gillespie Park Elementary School in Greensboro for families to receive when picking up their children’s school supplies.

“Your generously donated games, puzzles and art kits went home with deserving elementary schoolers in lowincome families today,” Annunziato wrote to those who donated.

Taika Sorjonen, a Northern Guilford senior, is dual-enrolled at GTCC where her favorite class is political science; her professor is a single mom, which got Sorjonen thinking about the stress working parents might have with their children being out of school for a prolonged period of time. That led to an idea that ending up going viral.

“Even before Gov. Cooper’s announcement about schools closing I formed this system and contacted all the people I needed to contact regarding service learning hours,” she said.

That system involved coordinating volunteers to babysit younger school-age children while their parents were working.

“I figured I needed to use Facebook to reach parents, so I got on Facebook and was shocked by the response. I had almost 150,000 interactions to my first post, from people all over the state,” she said.

A few people commented how good this would look on her college application, but Sorjonen said she isn’t doing it to meet service learning hour requirements.

“I finished all my requirements months ago,” she said. “This is just to help people out, and actually that makes it feel a little more genuine. I was just worried about how working parents, single parents and people who work hourly jobs would handle all this. If you don’t go to work, how are you going to make a living?”

So far, Sorjonen and her fellow volunteers have been able to keep up with the requests for babysitting in northern Greensboro, but after requests came in from other areas, she decided to reach out to local colleges and solicit their help.

“This is a really nice opportunity for

me to take care of myself and to take care of people around me,” she said.

Need a volunteer babysitter while kids are out of school due to the Coronavirus? Send a private message through Facebook.com/CoronavirusVolunteer BabysittingServiceForWorkingParents and you’ll be sent a request form.

Other individuals and organizations are collecting food for those in need, especially mindful that many low-income children depend on getting free and reduced-price breakfast and lunch at school. With that in mind, Boy Scout Troop 600 is collecting food to stock a food pantry in Greensboro.

Those wishing to donate are asked to drop off food in the covered area at the back of Oak Ridge Presbyterian Church, 2614 Oak Ridge Road in Oak Ridge.

The Northwest Guilford Area Backpack Ministry (NWGABP Ministry) at Oak Ridge United Methodist Church managed to pack and deliver almost 600 bags of food to over 200 children before local schools closed this week.

“Our goal was to provide the families in our program with as much food as we could during the closure,” Beth Waterfield wrote in an email. “Even with school district plans to provide breakfast and lunch, we recognized that families will still need food at home for dinners and weekend meals and snacks. This was a tremendous feat that could not have been accomplished without the community.

“God put all the pieces in place for this accomplishment. Our inventory volunteers happened to have the pantry stocked with a full month’s worth of food, Target happened to donate 1,500 plastic bags (which was a big deal because we didn’t have to double up bags), our snack team had 200 snack bags ready to go, Lowes Foods in Oak Ridge had just finished a register push with key items for us to include in the bags, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints just made a significant food donation,” Waterfield said.

Want to help the NWGABP Ministry?

Visit www.oakridgeumc.org/give-now, select “Giving” at the top of the homepage, then “Click Here to Give Online.” Make sure to select “Backpack Ministry.” For questions or to volunteer with the program, email NWGABPMinistry@gmail.com.

Guilford County Schools has set up several satellite meal sites throughout the county for children 0 to 18 years of age to pick up a breakfast and lunch, Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to noon; locations so far in our readership area are at Northwest Guilford High School on Northwest School Road in northwest Greensboro, Oak Ridge Commons shopping center in Oak Ridge, and at the mobile home park at 172 Turfwood Circle in Stokesdale.

Look for more details and other giving/ volunteering opportunities in this week’s Calendar Events, at Facebook.com/ NorthwestObserver, and in our next issue.

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FLYNT WILL STAY ...continued from p. 1

him to remain in office, encouraging him to keep fighting for his position on issues on which he differed with other council members, he said.

Voters elected Rigsbee, Foy and Landreth in the Nov. 5 election. Tensions have surfaced between the three new members and Flynt in recent weeks, hitting a crescendo during the council’s meeting last Thursday. After arguing could be heard from the room where council members were meeting in closed session, the mayor emerged from the room and told Town Clerk/ Finance Officer Alisa Houk, “I just resigned.”

Minutes later, Flynt turned in his Town Hall key to Houk, telling her, “I’ll clean out my desk tomorrow.”

The next morning, Flynt told the Northwest Observer he had gone to the Bank of Oak Ridge and withdrawn his authorization to sign town checks.

This past Sunday, March 15, Flynt said in a follow-up interview he was going to postpone his decision until he had talked to Town Attorney Tom Medlin and asked council members to hold another closed session to revisit topics discussed privately during last week’s closed session.

Mayor Pro Tem Thearon Hooks, who was absent from last week’s meeting, and Medlin didn’t return telephone messages prior to the newspaper’s printer deadline Wednesday afternoon, March 18.

Earlier this week, the mayor and other council members wouldn’t discuss specifically the topics they addressed during the closed session last Thursday. A contractual agreement and new staffing opportunities were the topics listed on the closed session agenda.

Generally, Flynt said he’s concerned by “the direction that they (new

council members) want to go with the budget.”

As an example, he said, he’s opposed to Foy’s recommendation to shift “profit” from the town’s water enterprise fund into its general fund. “I think they should remain separate,” Flynt said.

Foy disagreed, saying it’s “Cost Allocation 101” to split costs for accounting and other services the town incurs for managing the water enterprise and general funds. The same goes for “indirect costs” such as attorney fees and the electricity bill for Town Hall, Foy said in an interview earlier this week.

with his original decision to resign.

Another individual cited a legal principle known as estoppel. In basic terms, it prevents a person from arguing a point or asserting a right that contradicts what he previously stated or agreed to by law, according to financial education website Investopedia.

Whether the principle is relevant to Flynt’s actions – such as turning in his key to Town Hall and withdrawing his check-writing authorization – isn’t clear to council members. Rigsbee said he and other council members haven’t discussed “the what-ifs. We are more in limbo than we are anything.”

“I believe that John is accountable for his own actions and I’ll respect the decision he makes,” Foy wrote in an email. “Repeat temper tantrums and erratic behavior make it impossible for our town council to discuss, debate and have civil discourse on the town’s business.”

“What I want is irrelevant,” said Landreth, describing himself as a friend and acquaintance of Flynt for more than 50 years. “But I will not be voting to go into closed session to iron this out. I’ll lay it right out on the table and talk it out in public. I said I was going to be open and transparent and I will be that.”

“As for a closed session to discuss financial disagreements, I prefer to discuss them in public,” Derek Foy said.

Rigsbee told the Northwest Observer he’s also opposed to holding another closed session to air out disagreements.

“It’s an accounting issue,” he said, referring to the disagreement over transferring of money between town accounts. Flynt “is making it out to be something that’s nefarious, and it’s not.”

Rigsbee said Flynt’s exit from the closed session “came out of the blue.

We were as shocked as everybody else was.”

Posts on the Northwest Observer’s Facebook page have drawn mixed reaction to the mayor’s action and subsequent indecision. One person who posted said Flynt is a “good man” frustrated by the behavior of fellow council members, while others expressed little tolerance for what they described as “a temper tantrum” and the behavior of a “4-year-old” and said he should stick

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

MARCH 19 - 25, 2020

5

SUMMERFIELD town council

March 10 / MEETING HIGHLIGHTS as reported by CHRIS BURRITT Mayor BJ Barnes called the monthly meeting to order, with Mayor Pro Tem Tim Sessoms and council members John O’Day, Lynne Williams DeVaney and Reece Walker present.

By a 4-0 vote, the council excused the absence of fellow council member Teresa Pegram.

Rev. Dennis Nunn, organizer of Every Believer a Witness ministry, offered the invocation. Capt. George Moore, commander of Guilford County Sheriff’s Office District 1, led the Pledge of Allegiance.

February. Firefighters installed 14 child safety seats.

Daniels discussed the department’s plans for its fifth annual Stop, Drop and Roll 5K Saturday, April 4, followed by its annual Easter egg hunt at Summerfield Farms the next day. (The 5K has since been postponed until August and the Easter egg hunt has been cancelled.)

CONSENT AGENDA  4  0 to approve the meeting

Daniels urged residents to take precautions to prevent getting and spreading the coronavirus. People showing emergency-warning signs such as shortness of breath and persistent chest pressure should seek immediate medical attention, she said.

EMERGENCY SERVICES

Sheriff’s Office. Moore reported the sheriff’s District 1 office responded to 117 calls in Summerfield in February; about 34 percent of the calls were related to burglar alarms.

Fire District. Assistant Chief Jenna Daniels reported Summerfield Fire District ran 21 fire-related calls, 61 EMSrelated calls and 30 other calls in

Deputies responded to the report of a robbery of a pizza delivery man, he said, adding the circumstances of the case were “very suspicious” and still

agenda and the open-session minutes for the council’s strategic planning retreat Feb. 1 and its monthly meeting Feb. 11.

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WHAT they voted on, and HOW they voted: Mayor Pro Tem Tim Sessoms and council members John O’Day, Lynne Williams DeVaney and Reece Walker voted on the following issues during the March 10 meeting. Council member Teresa Pegram was absent; Mayor BJ Barnes presided over the meeting, but in Summerfield the mayor votes only to break a tie.

 4  0: Excuse the absence of Pegram from the meeting  4  0: Approve the meeting consent agenda  4  0: Appoint Dean Martin and Cary Gentry to the Trails and Open

Space Committee

 4  0: Approve the hiring of Archive-Social, a Durham-based company, to archive the content of the town’s Facebook page

 4  0: Approve spending up to $3,000 to hire the Wooten Group, a Raleigh-based consultant, to update its 2016 study that estimated costs for erecting water tanks around Summerfield

under investigation.

Moore cautioned residents to refrain from providing financial and other information to people calling them on the telephone.

“We get fraud after fraud after fraud,” he said.

COMMITTEE REPORTS Finance. Finance Officer Dee Hall said the Finance Committee is beginning its work on the budget for the fiscal year starting July 1.

Historical. Chair Gary Brown reported that Benjamin Briggs, executive director of Preservation Greensboro, discussed with the board opportunities for refurbishing and using historic buildings at the intersection of Summerfield Road and N.C. 150.

Trails and Open Space. Chair Jane Doggett said trails advocates in Summerfield and Oak Ridge recently met to discuss common goals, such as eventually connecting each town’s section of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail.

“They’re just as trail crazy as we are,” Doggett said of the trail enthusiasts in Oak Ridge.

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

Founders’ Day. Town Manager Scott Whitaker said preparations are going well for the annual Founders’ Day activities, scheduled for May 15-16.

BUSINESS PROFILE

At the invitation of the Town Council, a Summerfield business owner speaks about his or her business during the monthly meeting.

The Jumping Bean. Selling coffee is “only part of what we do,” founder Kevin Murray said, explaining he’s established friendships with customers whom he serves through the window of his orange hut in the parking lot of Summerfield Square on U.S. 220.

The business is entering its eighth year and plans to open a second location in Stokesdale, Murray said.

“We all have a vested interest in each other’s success and wellbeing,” Murray said, noting he personally supports local charitable activities and also does so through his business as a member of Summerfield Merchants Association. He said he shares a portion of Jumping Bean’s revenue with local schools and supports the activi-

TOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS

Tim Sessoms

BJ Barnes

mayor pro tem

mayor

John O’Day

Reece Walker

Teresa Pegram

ties of local churches and nonprofits, the town’s Christmas tree lighting and the fire department’s annual Stop, Drop and Roll 5K.

REVOLUTION ACADEMY

In response to the council’s request last month, Bobby Norris, district engineer for the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), discussed the agency’s plans for road improvements to handle increasing traffic from Revolution Academy, a public charter school planned for N.C. 150 east of Brookbank Road.

Lynne W. DeVaney

Brian Dick, with Freese and Nichols, the town’s contract engineering firm, reviewed the school’s plans for handling stormwater runoff from the areas where the buildings will be located and paved areas such as parking lots.

Bordering the campus to the east and south is Henson Farms. Residents of that neighborhood expressed their concerns to the council about possible flooding of their yards and septic fields.

Bob Jones, president of Henson Farms’ homeowners association (HOA), also conveyed the neighbor-

A+

hood’s worry that heavy rainfall could potentially overwhelm a drainage pipe in Henson Lake, causing water to breach and damage the earthen dam.

Deboe Road where the entrance to the school will be located; he said the signal will be installed before the opening of the school, slated for December.

Revolution Academy’s plans for handling stormwater comply with town regulations, according to Dick. Instead of draining one of two ponds on the property and filling it with dirt, the contractor may use it as a retention basin to slow down the flow of runoff, the engineer said.

The agency also plans to build two turn lanes to accommodate school traffic traveling in both directions on N.C. 150, which currently handles about 7,800 vehicles, Norris said.

Leigh Swanson, who lives on Snow Hill Drive in Henson Farms, said runoff already backs up in his backyard where it abuts the Revolution Academy site. If that runoff were to increase it could flood his septic field and potentially shut down his septic system, making his home uninhabitable, he said.

Jones raised a broader threat from runoff flowing into Henson Lake.

“We’re worried about the speed and the volume of water,” the HOA president said, explaining that excessive runoff could overwhelm the lake’s drain pipe and threaten the dam.

“There are consequences if too much volume of water comes down too fast.”

Norris said NCDOT is making preparations for increased traffic from Revolution Academy. The agency plans to install a traffic signal on N.C. 150 at

The right-turn lane on N.C. 150 would accommodate as many as 100 vehicles turning into the school, he said. A center lane would handle 300 vehicles turning left across traffic into the campus.

The school’s entrance will consist of four lanes, with a median separating two lanes in and two lanes out, according to Norris.

The improvements are aimed at getting “all the parents off the road (N.C. 150) and into the school site” as they drop off and pick up their children, he said.

NCDOT also plans to install a traffic signal where Brookbank Road deadends into N.C. 150, eventually easing delays for motorists from Henson Farms and other areas driving north on Brookbank. Norris said it’s possible a signal won’t be installed at that intersection when the school opens, leading civil

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TUESDAY, MARCH 24

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in Stokesdale United Methodist Church’s fellowship hall, 8305 Loyola Drive in Stokesdale, March 24 from 2:30-7 p.m. Walk-ins okay, but appointments recommended; to make an appointment, call Randy Southard, (336) 908-1301, or visit www.redcrossblood.org and enter the sponsor code “Stokesdale UMC.” Due to a number of blood drive cancellations in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, “We are way short and need lots of blood, so please, please come out and donate blood,” Southard urged.

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SATURDAY, MARCH 21

CANCELLATIONS

 Donation Drive | Donations of needed items

 Because of steps being taken to prevent the

for Backpack Beginnings, which provides food for children in need, will be collected March 21 from 2-4 p.m. at Cardinal Swim and Tennis Club parking lot, 4108 Windlestraw Drive in northwest Greensboro. This is a drop-off event only. Needed food and hygiene products include microwaveable oatmeal, healthy cereals and snacks, canned tuna, peanut butter, shampoo, soap and toothpaste. Questions: email tonyamurray137@ yahoo.com

spread of the coronavirus, most events, meetings, fundraisers, etc., previously scheduled for mid- to late March have been cancelled or are on hold until further notice. If you are planning on attending such an event, town-related meeting or other function, please confirm it is still taking place before you go.

SATURDAY, MARCH 28  Food Pantry | The Good Samaritan food

pantry will open Saturday, March 28, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at the Stokesdale Business Center, 8500 Ellisboro Road, Stokesdale. Because of concerns over COVID-19 and the need to maintain social distancing, cars will be directed to enter the parking lot and drive by the entrance area to the pantry. The usual check-in procedure will be followed, and boxes of food will be placed in cars without recipients getting out. Please do not park at the back of the building – follow the instructions of those directing traffic, and thank you for your patience. The clothing closet will not be open this month.

RESCHEDULED  Stop, Drop & Roll | Summerfield Fire District’s

fifth annual Stop, Drop & Roll 5K walk/run, initially scheduled for Saturday, April 4, has been rescheduled for Saturday, Aug. 29 – so, there is more time to break in your spiffy walking/running shoes and prepare!

Submit your events online at Click “community calendar” on the left-hand side

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TOWN COUNCIL MEETING ...continued from p. 7 engineer and Henson Farms resident Richard Ringler to point out that Brookbank is a “major collector” road where backups during peak traffic hours will worsen without a stoplight.

“It is growing pains – everybody’s going to have to deal with that,” Norris said.

“If there is a problem, we are not just going to walk away.

It may take a little bit of time.

We will get it worked out.”

PUBLIC COMMENTS

There were no comments from citizens.

BUSINESS FROM MANAGER Committee appointments. By a 4-0 vote, the council appointed Summerfield residents Dean Martin and Cary Gentry to the Trails and Open Space Committee.

Purchasing ordinance. At the recommendation of Town Manager Scott Whitaker and the town’s Finance Committee, the council voted unanimously to adopt a new ordinance to improve Summerfield’s purchasing procedures.

The council’s vote rescinded a purchasing policy and procedures adopted by the council in 2008 and revised in 2017.

Social media archiving. The council voted 4-0 to spend $2,388 to contract with Archive-Social, a Durham-based company that backs up social media content for public agencies and municipalities. It will digitally capture the content of Summerfield’s Facebook page and archive it, according to the contract running from April 1 through June 30, 2021.

BUSINESS NOTES

“It seems like pretty good insurance to back up at least the social media that we have in a very comprehensive way,” Whitaker said.

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MAYOR/COUNCIL BUSINESS Water study update. In a 4-0 vote, the council decided to spend as much as $3,000 to hire the Wooten Group, a Raleigh-based consulting firm, to update its 2016 study that estimated costs for installing water tanks in key locations around Summerfield.

Providing a supply of water for fighting fires in town has reemerged as a topic among council members after discussions of a proposed regional water system for northwest Guilford ended last year.

Public records requests. The council instructed Whitaker and Town Attorney Bob Hornik to hold firm to their demand that former Mayor Gail Dunham pay $9,400, including half up front, to provide her with roughly two years’ worth of town-related emails. Town staff would review the documents and remove confidential, non-public information.

business that believes in investing in its employees.

“They are the backbone of our company and having long-term employees provides our customers with a more personal experience,” the Rigsbees said.

“We also believe in being upfront with our customers about their expectations and then try to exceed them.”

On a personal note: Jonathan and Cathy have three daughters and a son, Nathan, who was adopted from Mongolia. The family also has five rescue dogs and two rescue cats.

Jonathan and Cathy Rigsbee, owners

GrowinGreen was started in 1999 by Jonathan and Cathy Rigsbee, who had a Jonathan Rigsbee passion to provide customers with personal lawn care service focused GrowinGreen has traveled to Aron North Carolina’s unique climate. lington National Cemetery numerous The company specializes in giving lawns and plants the nutrients they need while managing weeds and other pests in a responsible manner.

Of what makes their company unique, the couple said, “All of our programs are based on the soils and climate in the Piedmont of North Carolina, unlike our national competitors, who have a one-size-fits-all approach.

We do our best to have the same person service your property each time to build consistency and in-depth knowledge of your lawn and any specific problems.”

times to donate time and equipment to maintain the cemetery.

“Our daughter, Erin, had the honor of laying the wreath at Arlington National Cemetery on one of our volunteer visits,” Jonathan said.

As part of its investment in the community, GrowinGreen donated the sod and labor to Oak Ridge Town Park for the main entrance to the ball fields.

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Last November, Dunham requested all town-related emails distributed between Oct. 1, 2017, and Nov. 19, 2019, roughly spanning her two-year term as mayor.

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Following comments by council members, the meeting was adjourned at 8:58 p.m.

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MARCH 19 - 25, 2020

9

MAYOR ON LAWSUITS

Laughlin’s appointment. Nelson withdrew from the suit weeks before last November’s election in which he ran for mayor.

We’ve already let $150,000 of that disappear.”

In December, Superior Court Judge David Hall dismissed the suit. Crawford and Wendelken filed an appeal last month.

...continued from p. 3

As of Feb. 29, Summerfield had spent $157,523 defending itself against lawsuits related to the removal of Rotruck from his council seat in April 2018, Finance Officer Dee Hall told the council.

Four months after Rotruck had taken office in December 2017, the Guilford County Board of Elections ruled he had not established permanent residency in Summerfield. Rotruck sued to regain his seat in April 2018 and sued again in January 2019 after the council had appointed Dianne Laughlin to replace him. Rotruck asked the Guilford County Superior Court to unseat Laughlin and restore him to the council.

Last May, Crawford, Wendelken and Nelson sued the town and four council members, claiming they had unlawfully spent taxpayer money in defense of

The town is obligated to defend itself, according to Barnes.

“The average citizen should know there are certain citizens here that are costing them their tax dollars,” he said during the March 10 meeting.

“It was used basically on something that has not been successful,” the mayor continued, referring to the legal rulings that have gone against the plaintiffs.

“This is money that is gone.”

In interviews, Rotruck and Dunham said the town could have avoided the legal expenses if the council had waited for Rotruck to exhaust his appeal options before appointing Laughlin.

“They are the ones running up the legal bills,” Dunham said.

CRIME / INCIDENT report

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has recently responded to the following incidents in northwest/northern Guilford County ...

ASSAULT March 11 | A 47-year-old male in the 8100 block of Shoeline Road in Stokesdale (near U.S. 158) reported at 5:42 a.m. his minor daughter’s boyfriend, also a minor, struck and grabbed the right side of his face; though injuries were evident, he refused medical treatment.

COUNTERFEITING March 11 | An unspecified incident involving a counterfeit $10 bill was reported in the 5200 block of Northwest School Road.

DRUGS March 9 | A 19-year-old-male known offender was cited in the 4100 block

of Castleford Drive in Colfax (near N. Bunker Hill Road) for possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance (marijuana) and possession of drug paraphernalia.

March 10 | A 22-year-old-male known offender was cited in the 8900 block of Ellisboro Road in Stokesdale for possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

District 1 Sheriff’s Office 7504 Summerfield Road Main number: (336) 641-2300 For non-emergency incidents: (336) 373-2222 • 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., M-F https://www.guilfordcountync.gov/ our-county/sheriff-s-office

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12

New life for Bandera Farms Photo courtesy of Diane Thompson/Allen Tate Realtors

A 113-acre tract on Bunch Road is characterized by grassy, wooded terrain – and dormant kudzu growing over several acres of the tract. Piedmont Land Conservancy had entered into a contract to purchase the property and hopes to use it for walking, hiking, and possibly horse trails and mountain bikers.

19 MOR holds

ribbon cutting Merchants group, mayor show appreciation for Domino’s owner Mickey Tingen.

19 PTI Airport

Authority preps for aerospace Earth-moving machines transform one-time golf course to make way for prospective companies.

19 Signs of

old times Summerfield erects several historic district signs.

20 Banner year

Stokesdale unveils banners to be displayed throughout town’s business district.

New life for Bandera Farms

An abandoned, overgrown tract of 113 acres on Bunch Road may become a public trails mecca in northwest Guilford County

by CHRIS BURRITT SUMMERFIELD – A stream trickles across the 113 acres where Bonnie Henson Gallo once rode horses. More than 40 years later, it’s grown into a mucky thicket of briars that’s going to become even more impassable when several acres of kudzu spring back to life this summer.

The terrain is steep and is prone to flooding by Reedy Fork Creek. In other words, it’s unsuitable for build-

ing a subdivision – but ideal for what Piedmont Land Conservancy (PLC) envisions.

The nonprofit organization has entered into a contract to buy the land, part of what’s known as Bandera Farms. It is preparing to ask the towns of Summerfield and Oak Ridge, as well as Guilford County, to help pay for it.

If the sale takes place, the property, which is located in Summerfield, would become a recreation area with trails for hikers and runners and possibly mountain bikers and horseback riders, according to Palmer McIntyre, PLC’s conservation planner.

“These kinds of opportunities are rare, and incredibly important,” McIntyre said in an email earlier this week, explaining that acquisition of the tract would provide low-impact

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recreational opportunities for the public while preserving and protecting the watershed from development.

For Gallo and other children of Dr. Joe Henson, a deceased Greensboro doctor who bought the property in the early 1970s, redeveloping the property for recreation would bring its use full circle.

“We used to have so much fun,” she said.

In an interview last week, Gallo recalled riding horses, motorcycles and a dune buggy, as well as crosscountry skiing, on the land. In her 20s, she raised horses and rounded up her father’s cows. Over four decades, her three sisters and brother also lived there, as did Dr. Henson and his wife, Carolyn, who hosted pig pickings and family reunions on the property.

“It’s perfect, it couldn’t be better,” Gallo said of the proposed sale, adding that northwest Guilford “needs a recreational area.”

The asking price is $785,000, according to the listing by real estate agent Diane Thompson, of Allen Tate Realtors in Greensboro. Kevin Redding, PLC’s executive director, wouldn’t disclose how much his organization agreed to pay. He said he expects the transaction to close by the end of this year, as long as PLC can raise enough money from local governments and state and federal grants.

Summerfield Town Manager Scott Whitaker said he plans to ask the town council to consider discussing the Bandera Farms proposal during an upcoming meeting.

“It’s a regional opportunity to

12

MARCH 19 - 25, 2020

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

partner with others for open space and trails,” he said in an email earlier this week, adding that “financial involvement is a council decision.”

If a majority of the council supports the project, Summerfield could appropriate money to help buy the property from its current budget or wait until next fiscal year starting July 1, Whitaker said.

In Oak Ridge, the town council hasn’t formally discussed the proposal, but it probably will talk about it “as the proposal comes into better focus,” Town Manager Bill Bruce said in an email earlier this week. There has been discussion among town staff members about the project and how it might be funded, he noted.

The Guilford County Board of Commissioners hasn’t gotten “a formal ask” from PLC seeking financial support, said Commissioner Justin Conrad, who represents District 3 which includes Oak Ridge and Summerfield.

The board could support the Bandera Farms project with proceeds from an earlier bond sale supporting preservation of open space, he said.

“It would make some sense to use the proceeds for a public-private project,” Conrad confirmed in an interview earlier this week.

The original tract purchased by Dr. Henson consisted of approximately 200 acres fronting Bunch Road. He named it Bandera Farms after visiting Bandera, Texas, which calls itself the “Cowboy Capital of the World.”

“That name stuck with him,” Gallo said.

Construction of Interstate 73 split Bandera Farms, requiring Dr. Henson to sell some of his property for the North Carolina Department of Trans-

...continued on p. 14

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Over the years, members of the Henson family lived on the smaller tract in two houses sitting amidst fenced pastures, barns and other buildings for horses and cows.

Dr. Henson and his wife were living there when he died in 2013, according to Gallo.

The next year, developer Kevan Combs proposed building a subdivision with 36 homes on the property.

He abandoned the project after Summerfield’s Planning Board recommended the town council reject his request to rezone the property from AG (agricultural) to OSRD (open space residential district). Nearby homeowners objected to the new zoning because it would have allowed for construction of houses on lots smaller than typically allowed by town regulations; in exchange for smaller lots, the classification requires that half or more of the property remain as open space.

Later, Bandera Farms Inc., an entity representing Dr. Henson’s heirs, sold the tract, which remains undeveloped.

Until PLC emerged as a buyer, efforts to sell the 113 acres had been hampered by the property’s steep terrain and limited access from Bunch Road, according to Thompson.

Reedy Fork Creek runs along the northern side of the tract, putting 30 of the 113 acres in the floodplain and making the land unsuitable for development. Sandy stretches strewn with fallen trees rise to the marshy thicket of briars. Deer trails cut across the property, which climbs through hardwood trees before running into the concrete of I-73.

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

PLC was initially interested in taking an easement on a portion of the property for the proposed Piedmont Greenway, according to McIntyre. The 19-mile trail would run from Greensboro to Winston-Salem through Summerfield, Oak Ridge and Kernersville.

The greenway would cross the Bandera Farms property, providing recreational benefits beyond the 113 acres, Thompson said.

“The ability to connect the greenway all the way through is a huge win for the community,” she said in an interview last week.

As PLC’s staff looked at the Bandera Farms property last year, they decided to pursue the entire tract, not just the easement for the Piedmont Greenway, McIntyre said.

Developing the property “is a huge opportunity to create a tremendous recreational resource in this community,” she said. “We are envisioning trails on all of the property.”

Trails would probably open a year or two after PLC bought the property, McIntyre said. Deciding whether to allow horseback riding will depend upon the potential impact of horses on water quality, since the property is located in the drinking watershed for the city of Greensboro, she said.

PLC envisions the eventual construction of a parking lot for users of the property, McIntyre noted. Picnic tables, restrooms and other amenities are also possible, although plans are preliminary and not PLC’s short-term focus.

“Our priority right now is to secure the property,” she said. “So for the time being we are primarily focused on fundraising.”

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Because of this belief, Dezern has kept his business small and limits the number of homes he builds to three to five a year, a volume that enables him to remain on-site and hands-on.

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home as if he was building it for himself, giving attention to every detail, while always keeping us in the loop along the way,” she added. “Sometimes I think he’s pickier than we are!

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Photo by Chris Burritt/NWO

Earth-moving equipment flattens the former Pleasant Ridge Golf Course in northwest Greensboro and a truck dumps dirt in a low area of the former front nine holes of the course for bulldozers to spread, as Piedmont Triad International Airport Authority prepares a nearly 1,000-acre tract for prospective aerospace companies. In the background is the new Federal Aviation Administration tower under construction at the airport.

Merchants of Oak Ridge (MOR) held a ribbon cutting for the new Domino’s store in Oak Ridge Marketplace on the morning of March 12. Shown in photo, Oak Ridge resident and franchise owner Mickey Tingen (center) cuts the ribbon after Mayor Ann Schneider (in red jacket, to Tingen’s right) offered a few words of appreciation for his contributions to the community and MOR. Photo by Chris Burritt/NWO

A sign erected last month on Summerfield Road at Medearis Street marks Summerfield’s nationally recognized historic district.

The town recently put up three other historic district signs approaching the intersection of Summerfield Road and N.C. 150 at Town Hall.

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...continued from p. 2

an examination by Dr. Michael Cotton, Happytail’s contract veterinarian, before being moved into “the general population,” the report said.

Shore told Mackovic that “these puppies need to be divided in smaller groups even if that meant bringing in wire pop-up crates to be able to house less puppies in one enclosure,” the report said.

The inspector found that puppies with different illnesses were confined together in the isolation room where dogs showing signs of sickness are kept. The practice created the possibility the dogs could spread illnesses to one another, according to the report.

During the investigation, 17 puppies were in isolation, the report said. It said Mackovic told the inspector that “some of them were in there due to coughing and some of them were moved in there for gastrointestinal and/or eating issues and then were exposed to coughing puppies, causing them to cough as well.”

Mackovic told Shore she planned to rearrange space in one of the buildings to reduce the risk of illnesses being spread among puppies, according to the report.

The investigation found “the

animals were under veterinary care,” Heather Overton, a spokeswoman for the state Agriculture Department, said in an interview last week before the release of the final report. Even so, the inspector found inconsistencies in care that necessitated procedural changes

by Happytail, according to the report.

The death of a puppy named Lucille revealed that dogs were getting inconsistent doses of medicine. In late January, Happytail staff took the sick puppy to King’s Crossing Animal Hospital in Stokesdale where, after an examination, Dr. Angel Fuller euthanized the dog. An autopsy found that Lucille had contracted a strain of Bordetella, the report said. These contagious bacteria can cause respiratory infections.

Afterwards, Mackovic reviewed how breeders were administering drugs before shipping puppies to Happytail, which buys dogs from breeders in Ohio.

The report said Mackovic found “that some breeders were giving two doses before the puppies were shipped and some were only giving one dose.”

“It was also determined that one of the breeders has been splitting the Bordetella vaccine into three doses and administering it to three individual puppies,” the report said.

As a result, Mackovic is “working with” the vets who examine and treat dogs at the breeders’ facilities to ensure

they’re all following the same protocols, according to the report.

In addition, Dr. Cotton and Happytail’s vet tech decided to instruct breeders’ vets to administer one dose of the Bordetella medicine to dogs before they’re shipped to Happytail, where they will get a second dose, according to the report.

It added that Dr. Cotton told the state inspector that Happytail is establishing new protocols to allow “the facility to begin immediate treatment on puppies that begin to show signs (of illness) rather than waiting on the veterinarian’s site visit.”

According to the report, Mackovic is working with a private vet who suggested ways to improve care and reduce the spread of sickness. The vet recommended Happytail staff move fans off of the floor inside a building while moving kennels away from an exhaust fan in another building.

The fans “may have been pulling germs through these kennels,” the report said.

The report also indicated the state Agriculture Department is ending its licensing of the N.C. 150 facility now that the U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to take over licensing of the operation. The federal agency’s pre-application process is underway, according to the report.

BRIEFS

...continued from p. 19

Photo by Chris Burritt/NWO

Elliott Bunthoff holds one of Stokesdale’s new town banners. Elliott attended the Stokesdale Town Council’s meeting at Town Hall last week during which Town Clerk/Finance Officer Alisa Houk unveiled the banner. The town ordered 20 of them, and they will be displayed along U.S. 158 through the town’s business district, Houk said.

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Student Profiles brought to you by

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olmstedorthodontics.com STUDENT PROFILE Thanks to the coaches and teachers at Northern and Northwest High Schools for their student recommendations and input, which make it possible to recognize these talented, dedicated students for their accomplishments in academics, athletics and cultural arts.

Oops! In last week’s issue we misspelled Kaylen Ayres’ last name throughout her student profile. We apologize for that error and have chosen to re-run the profile, with her name spelled correctly.

NORTHWEST GUILFORD Kaylen Ayres, student newspaper

by MEREDITH BARKLEY As sports editor for Northwest Guilford’s student-run newspaper, junior Kaylen Ayres says she does a little of everything, from writing stories to taking

pictures to laying out pages.

“I like being able to create and do something I enjoy more than all the textbook-heavy classes,” said Ayres of the newspaper class which meets first thing in the morning. “It’s such a teamoriented thing. You get to build relationships with your classmates.”

Melanie Huynh-Duc, the high school’s journalism teacher who advises the newspaper staff, called Ayres “a rising star” in the class.

“She has taken every front-page photo we have used this year,” HuynhDuc noted.

The newspaper, Northwest Horizons, comes out four times a year and has a website that’s updated daily.

Ayres said she decided to give the newspaper a try last year because she liked Huynh-Duc as a teacher and because she had family in journalism.

Her mother, Annette Ayres, works for the News & Record of Greensboro and her older sister Madison, who graduated last year, was on the high school’s newspaper staff.

Being on the newspaper’s staff with her sister “was really cool,” Ayres said.

Her sports photography has won recognition – she picked up an honorable mention nod from the National Scholastic Press Association for best sports reaction photo.

She is also a member of the high school’s National Honor Society and National Latin Honor Society chapters, as well as an athlete.

She played soccer for several years when she was younger, and then grew

tired of it – so, she took up lacrosse as an eighth-grader. She enjoyed the newness of it, and also found it to be a good way to meet people.

That led her to field hockey, since a lot of her lacrosse teammates played that as well. She played on the field hockey’s junior varsity team her freshman and sophomore years before moving up to varsity last fall; she was the team’s leading scorer, according to MaxPreps.com, and earned second team all conference recognition.

So, which is her favorite?

“I’m definitely leaning toward field hockey,” she said, noting moving up to the varsity level helped her quickly develop as a player. “I think that (growth) gave me a lot of confidence. It was a big learning year.”

As for journalism and her work on the school newspaper, Ayres said, “I’m extremely thankful for the opportunity journalism has given me and I’m very proud to be a part of this team.”

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A weekly section in the Northwest Observer focused on our local youth and the adults who positively impact them.

Welcome to

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS

Coaches, players share disappointment in season being suspended ‘I’ve been looking forward to this (senior season) my whole career. And now it’s over,’ said Northwest Guilford lacrosse player Blake Lett

by MEREDITH BARKLEY Northwest Guilford managed to squeeze in one final lacrosse game last Friday before the season was interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.

The Vikings (1-4, 1-1) were at Metro 4A Conference foe Page (2-2, 1-0) on Friday, hours before a NCHSAA-ordered suspension of all high school athletic competitions began at midnight that day. Northwest lost 13-7.

Photo by Meredith Barkley/NWO

Northern Guilford’s Dalton Wilkins (#12) in action against Reagan High last Thursday in the team’s final game before a NCHSAA-mandated statewide suspension of high school sports activities took effect the following night. The governing body ordered the suspension as a precaution against COVID-19.

Who will be the VOICE for this child?

ORYA and NW Guilford Families, We were saddened to have to push the pause button on our spring sports season, but we are inspired on how quickly our community pulled together. ORYA is committed to providing our local youth with ways to stay connected, be active and have fun during this unique situation.

Please stay tuned for more details soon.

Remain strong and remember, we’re better together!

Follow @ORYASPORTS and visit ORYA.ORG

Over 250 children in Guilford County will go to court alone. Learn how to be an advocate for an abused or neglected child by becoming a Guardian Ad Litem.

– ORYA Board of Directors

24

MARCH 19 - 25, 2020

“They’re going to do what is in the best interest of everybody,” Vikings Coach Dan Tichy said of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s (NCHSAA) decision.

“I just feel bad for these seniors. It may be our seniors’ last game.”

The state’s high school sports governing body announced on its website March 12 that it was suspending all sports activities from midnight March 13 through April 6. The association said its board of governors would be “reassessing the situation regularly over the next few weeks.”

The suspension includes athletic contests as well as workouts, skills development and practices, the statement says.

Coaches and players throughout the Triad and across the state are grappling with fallout from the

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announcement and hoping play will resume later in the season.

To that end, many coaches are encouraging players to gather informally for practices and workouts so they can be ready if play does resume.

Those informal workouts can’t include coaches, several coaches pointed out.

“I’ve gotten 35 texts from kids wanting to get their equipment,” Northern lacrosse coach Anthony Meley said last Friday.

“It’s not a good situation,” he said of the suspension of activities. “I think we have to do what’s best for the community. I hope they get cleared up and we can resume April 6.”

While the suspension currently lasts through that date, there are no assurances play will start up afterward.

“It would be careless to speculate on that,” said NCHSAA assistant commissioner James Alverson. “Everything is on the table at this point.”

He said any decision on future contests would come from the association’s board of directors.

Undefeated Northern’s last game was Thursday. They downed nonconference foe Reagan (0-3) 15-3 at home. The Nighthawks’ first conference game of the season was to be against Western Alamance (1-2) last Friday, but was called off when Northern was closed for a thorough cleaning out of “an abundance of caution.”

“We have the best team we’ve ever had,” he said. His team is 4-0, having outscored opponents this season 67-9.

Northwest Viking co-captain Blake Lett said the suspension of play felt like “a punch in the face. So unexpected.

I’ve been looking forward to this (senior season) my whole career. And now it’s over.”

“It’s already a short season,” he said of lacrosse. His team’s last scheduled game is April 17. “I hope they extend the season, but I don’t know they will.”

Robbie Boulton, another Viking senior, said he was “almost absurdly disappointed” by the halt in play.

Logan Dingman earns Eagle Scout Award As part of his Eagle requirements, Logan chose to restore and improve the Sensory Garden area at Northern Guilford Middle School, which was allocated for students with special needs.

His project included pressure washing existing concrete structures, planting sustainable vegetation and installing a fountain, gazing balls, chimes, and benches for peaceful

Meley said he was particularly disappointed about the suspension because he felt this year’s team could make a deep post season run.

The closure was prompted when the school system learned that “someone in the school may have come into contact with someone who may have been exposed to the virus,” Janson Silvers, a Guilford County Schools media relations specialist, wrote in an email.

youth / school NEWS

Logan Dingman, a member of BSA Troop #214 in Greensboro, earned the Eagle Scout Award, Boy Scouting’s highest rank advancement, on Feb. 11.

“It’s just a shame,” Boulton said, “I’ve been playing with these guys since first grade, a lot of them. It’s sad to think this may be the last one.”

outdoor seating for students and teachers.

Logan is a freshman at Logan Dingman Northern Guilford High School. In addition to being a leader in Boy Scouts, he is an excellent student, a strong contributor on the NGHS cross country and track teams, and a dedicated drummer, recently earning All-District band honors.

Logan is the son of Frances and Lee Dingman of Summerfield.

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Tichy said he hopes that if play does resume the NCHSAA will lengthen seasons so teams will have the chance to play a fuller schedule.

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MARCH 19 - 25, 2020

25

INTRODUCING NEW Large Luxury Apartments YOUR CORNER OF PARADISE

GRINS and GRIPES

Delighted or dismayed by something in your community?

Share your thoughts in

Grins & Gripes are published based on available space and editor’s discretion.

GRINS to...  Jeff Goard, Town of Summerfield Parks & Recreation director, for helping coordinate my son’s recent birthday party (pre-Coronavirus pandemic) with park and shelter rental.

Fun day for all!

WILDFLOWER SQUARE 24 APARTMENTS Features Include: Four units per floor – all corner units Starting at 1700 SF Open floor concept Covered balconies Covered ground-level parking Close proximity to our dining venues, Resident Activity Center, The Well•Spring Theatre and Aquatics & Fitness Center

 Jenna Daniels and Reece Walker from Summerfield Fire Department for coming to Summerfield Merchants Association’s March meeting to tell us about the 5K Stop, Drop & Roll. Thank you for putting this great event together for our community!

Editor’s note: Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the fire department’s fifth annual Stop, Drop & Roll 5K that was scheduled to take place April 4 has been rescheduled to Aug. 29 – so, you’ve got almost five extra months to get in shape and sign up to participate!  Countryside Manor/Village for their superior care and decision-making to keep their residents safe during the COVID-19 response. Banning all visitors is the right thing to do in spite of the inconvenience. Visiting through the windows works!  The Summit Church for bringing Oak Ridge Military Academy cadets soap, toilet items, snacks and socks to help our boarding cadets cope with the Coronavirus pandemic restrictions. We cannot begin to express our gratitude.

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MARCH 19 - 25, 2020

words or less

online: nwobserver.com e-mail: grinsandgripes@nwobserver.com

OPENING EARLY 2022

• • • • • •

40

 Summerfield Fire Department. All of their firefighters who are EMT-certified passed the Emergency Medical Technician Protocol test, which they have to take every three years to keep their

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

EMT certification with Guilford County.  Northwest Observer staff. I look forward to reading this paper every week and appreciate you providing a great source of local news!  People who have risen to the occasion in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic and reached out to those severely impacted by it, including working parents with young children out of school, low-income families and local restaurants and other businesses.

GRIPES to...  Happytail Puppies, which keeps too many dogs in cages for too long.

Also, if you are running a legitimate business versus a puppy mill, then take the fence down that hides what you are doing.

We received several responses to the gripe in last week’s paper about developers’ choice of names for their subdivisions, and have grouped them together below:  The griper who complained about not seeing druids in Stonehenge.

Clearly, he/she has not been looking hard enough.  The person who griped about our neighborhood names. We happen to love our names and the druids aren’t very happy with what you said. They’ll be discussing it with the wolves and pheasants at the annual Las Vegas Bellagio Neighborhood Conference.  The person complaining about no druids in Stonehenge. Just because you aren’t invited to their rituals, parties and

baking competitions doesn’t mean you have to be a sore loser. But Wolf Ridge?

I’m with you. Maybe it should be Coyote Milieu.  SkyZone Greensboro for not issuing a refund for a birthday party scheduled this weekend, amidst concerns of social distancing!  The father who insisted his teen go to school last week with a temperature of 103. Then, after being sent home, the student stopped at Subway in Oak Ridge to get something to eat. Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.  GTCC for staying open and exposing students and staff to the Coronavirus.

Editor’s note: We received this gripe Saturday, March 14. Just as with Guilford County Public Schools, GTCC suspended on-campus classes (including hybrid classes) from Monday, March 16, through Sunday, March 22, and announced it would provide an update this Friday.  Summerfield Scoop for putting in print all your anti-town, anti-staff misinformation and sending it to Summerfield households. Everyone, please keep it in case you run out of toilet paper!  People who make a bad situation worse by buying up all the toilet paper and milk at the grocery stores. I wonder what the expiration date is on all this milk?

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 Our liberal “educators” who indoctrinate our children with false information.

Typewriters, elevators and air conditioning were invented by William Burt, Elisha Otis and Willis Carrier respectively. All white males – not black.

Editor’s note: According to what we were able to find online after checking several sources, the first working typewriter was invented in 1808 by an Italian. Several European and U.S. inventors worked on versions of the typewriter over the ensuing years; William Burt of Detroit, Michigan, received the first patent in the U.S. for “what might be called a typewriter” in 1829. Christopher L. Sholes, a Milwaukee newspaperman, poet, and part-time inventor, is credited along with three other white men with creating the first “practical” typewriter which appeared on the market in 1874.

Matthias Schwalback, a white machinist, is said to have presented Sholes with a version of the QWERTY keyboard for that typewriter; the QWERTY keyboard is still used today.

As for elevators, rudimentary versions date back to 336 B.C. and dedicated passenger elevators date back to 1743, when King Louis XV is said to have used them to travel from his apartments on the first floor to visit his mistresses on the second floor. According to Gizmodo. com, in 1823, two British architects – Burton and Hormer – built a steam-

Wa t e r

f r on t H

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ome !

cient Egyptians and, as with other inventions, many are credited with improving upon that system over the centuries.

Willis Carrier is credited with the birth of the modern air conditioning system after designing a system of “chilled coils that maintained a constant, and comfortable, humidity of 55 percent inside the Sackett-Wilhelms printing plant – the equivalent of using 108,000 pounds of ice daily to cool the plant,” in 1903. According to Wikipedia, around 1938, Frederick McKinley Jones, a black machinist and Army veteran who taught himself electronics, designed a portable air-cooling unit for trucks carrying perishable food, and received a patent for it on July 12, 1940.

powered crude elevator they referred to as an “ascending room” to take tourists up to a platform for a view of London.

Several years later, their invention was expanded upon by architects Frost and Stutt who added a belt and counterweight to the steam power. Earlier elevators had safety issues, however, and the man credited with solving the elevator safety problem by creating brakes was Elisha Otis, in 1853. The first electric elevator was built by the German inventor Werner von Siemens in 1880. A black inventor, Alexander Miles, patented an electric elevator on Oct. 11, 1887.

According to livescience.com, the first known systems of using water to cool inside spaces were used by the an-

Regarding Stokesdale Mayor John Flynt announcing his resignation last Thursday evening, turning in his key to Town Hall, removing himself as an authorized town check signer – and then later saying he was reconsidering his resignation…

Bert S: Is it his decision at this point? His actions to turn in his key and remove his signature authority are objective evidence that he resigned. In legal terms this is called “estoppel,” and it precludes him from asserting something contrary to what is implied by a previous action or statement.....Put it this way. An employee for a company on Thursday shouts “I quit,” leaves their employee ID (or key) on the table, cuts up their corporate credit card (or other form of spending authorization), and leaves. The following Tuesday, they come back and say, “I still work here.” How many companies recognize this as the former employee’s sole decision and right?

Share your views:

/NorthwestObserver

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27

 AUTO SALES & SERVICE

 EMPLOYMENT

 HOME SERVICES

SAM'S AUTO BODY SHOP. Any type of body work. 45 years exp. (336) 347-7470.

HELP WANTED. Lawn maintenance/landscaping. Driver's license required. Call Tony Owens, (336) 482-8947.

ELECTRICAL

KNIGHT IMPORT SPECIALTY SERVICE. European Auto Service & Repair, 4559 US Highway 220, Summerfield (across from Food Lion). Specializing in factory-scheduled maintenance and repairs. BMW, Audi, Volvo, Mercedes, Volkswagen, Mini and Porsche.

32 years experience. (336) 337-0669.

 BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

Place online at

DEADLINE: Monday prior to each issue

NEED HELP? Call (336) 644-7035, ext. 10 Mon - Fri • 9am -12:30pm

INDEX Auto Sales & Service ............28 Business Opportunity..............28 Employment ........................28 Public Notice............................28 Home Services .............. 28-30 Misc. for Sale ..................... 30 Misc. Wanted ..................... 30 Pets & Animal Services ....... 30 Real Estate ......................... 30

28 28

MARCH MARCH19 19- -25, 25,2020 2020

ENTREPRENEURIAL OPPORTUNITY. Business needs a strong salesperson to learn unique internet marketing business, selling automotive and industrial equipment. Learn the business from owner with possibility of owning business. Excellent for someone semi-retired with sales background looking for a challenge. All sales are inside, handling quotes from website leads. Office located in Reidsville. Please call Buddy Turner, (336) 314-0454, or send email to wbtm1m@yahoo.com.

 EMPLOYMENT STAFF POSITIONS open in childcare center.

Lead teacher and assistant teacher positions available. Call (336) 643-5930 for info.

BILL'S PIZZA PUB. Energetic & responsible individuals wanted. We are looking to hire daytime hosts, as well as nighttime cooks, servers and hosts, immediately. We will keep you busy and work with your goals. Come work with a company who has been serving this area for 50 years! If you would like to work for a company who values you, please apply in person today: 1431 NC Hwy 68, Oak Ridge.

GREAT PAY. Starting $12, plus benefits.

Maid 2 Glimmer Premier Cleaning. Call (336) 441-8388.

SMALL ENGINE MECHANIC needed.

Small engine/lawn mower repair mechanic with minimum 1 to 2 years experience for full-time summer work. Only experienced mechanics need apply. Please call Tom, (336) 202-3256.

 PUBLIC NOTICE DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS, many previously scheduled events, yard sales and fundraisers in our area have been postponed or cancelled. We will keep you posted in future issues as to if/when they are rescheduled.

 HOME SERVICES AIR CONDITIONING & HEATING A-ACTION AIR. A/C Spring checkup, $49.99.

Call (336) 382-3750 or (336) 268-6768.

CLEANING MAIDS OF HONOR HOME CLEANING. $25 off! Locally owned, bonded staff. 40 yrs. in service. BBB A+ rating. (336) 708-2407.

MAGIC MAIDS, LLC. Good references. Fully insured and bonded. Free estimate. MondaySaturday. Call today and get $25 OFF on your first visit. Call Patty, (336) 932-0245.

MAID-2-SHINE. Excellent service, 15 years experience. Free estimates, excellent references. (336) 338-0223.

CRYSTAL CLEAR WINDOW CLEANING Gutter cleaning, pressure washing. Fully ins. windowcleaningnc.com (336) 595-2873.

STEPHANIE'S CLEANING SERVICE. 10 years exp. (336) 423-2239.

THE CLEANING TECHNICIAN INC. For a one-time clean or bi-weekly, I can fit your schedule. Licensed, bonded and insured. Call Lisa, (336) 207-0770.

DECORATING EXPERIENCED INTERIOR DECORATOR & personal furniture shopper will help you with style, color, shopping & furniture placement. E-mail appeninc@gmail.com or call Ann Appenzeller, (336) 314-1411.

The Observer • Totally local since 1996 TheNorthwest Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

Do you have ELECTRICAL NEEDS? Call Coble Electric LLC at (336) 209-1486.

BALEX ELECTRICAL COMPANY, LLC. Got Power? Residential, commercial and solar electrical services. (336) 298-4192.

Need an electrician? Call BLACKMON ELECTRICAL, INC. Free est. Comm. & res.

Licensed & insured. Call (336) 430-5018.

FLOORING MONTERO'S HARDWOOD FLOORING Installation of hardwood, laminate & tile; hardwood sanding & finishing. Commercial & residential. Insured, 17 yrs. exp. Free est., exc. references. Call (336) 215-8842 or visit Monteros-hardwood-flooring.com.

GENERAL REPAIR & SERVICES APPLIANCE REPAIR – Call Mr. Appliance A step above the rest! (336) 609-5707.

GARY’S HANDYMAN HOME SERVICES “Providing value for the home-ownership experience.” Gary Gellert, serving NC’s Piedmont Triad area. Garygellert@gmail.com, (336) 423-8223.

OLD SCHOOL HOME REPAIR – See display ad on page 8.

GREENERTIMES SMALL ENGINE Sales & Service Center. All types sold and repaired; comm./res. 9428 NC Hwy. 65, Stokesdale.

(336) 548-9286 or (336) 312-3844.

CLOCK DOCTOR. Free house calls for sick clocks. (336) 643-9931 or (336) 392-4124.

L & T SMALL ENGINE SERVICE "We get you mowing!" Comm./res., all models.

2103 Oak Ridge Rd., Oak Ridge. Call (336) 298-4314, LandTsmallengineservice.com.

FIX YOUR MOWER! Service and repairs. Spring specials. "We do it right." Free pickup & delivery. Call Rick, (336) 501-8681.

 HOME SERVICES

 HOME SERVICES

 HOME SERVICES

GRADING / HAULING

AFFORDABLE LANDSCAPING for all your landscaping needs, including irrigation, installation and repair. Call Joe at J. Gibson Landscaping, an Americanowned and operated small business. Built on capitalism, not socialism. In God we trust. (336) 419-7236.

ORTIZ LANDSCAPING, complete lawn care. Trimming, cleaning, planting & mulch, gutter cleaning, patios & pavers, waterfalls, retaining walls, sidewalks, stonework. Residential and commercial. (336) 280-8981.

ANTHONY’S GRADING & HAULING Excavating, land clearing, demolition, dirt, available. Zane Anthony, (336) 362-4035.

DTW GRADING & HAULING, INC. Offering complete bobcat services and hauling.

Fill dirt, gravel, asphalt millings and stone.

Daniel Wilson, (336) 339-0212.

BRAD'S BOBCAT & HAULING SVCS. LLC. Debris removal, grading, gravel/dirt, driveways, concrete work. (336) 362-3647.

GAULDIN TRUCKING, grading & hauling, bobcat work, lot clearing, driveways, fill dirt, gravel, etc. (336) 362-1150.

H&L GRADING, LLC. No job too tough or too small. Call us first!

We are a full-service grading company that specializes in residential projects. Owner/ operator Timmy Hart has more than 30 years of grading and equipment experience.

Fully licensed and insured. Land clearing, debris removal, driveways, French drains and much more. (336) 543-7867.

E&W HAULING & GRADING INC. Driveways, fill dirt, demolition, lot clearing, excavating, bobcat work, etc. (336) 451-1282.

GUTTERS / SIDING / WINDOWS WILSON SEAMLESS GUTTERS, new construction, repairs, replacement, leaf guards. Free estimates. (336) 420-0200.

Place your classified ad online at

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LAWNCARE / LANDSCAPING ALL-SEASON STUMP GRINDING. Owner Alan Winfree. Free est. Call (336) 382-9875.

HENLEY LAWN & HOME SERVICE LLC. A premier provider of lawn care and landscaping. Call today to schedule a free estimate. (336) 601-6420.

AQUA SYSTEMS IRRIGATION. Quality irrigation systems. NC licensed contractor.

We service all systems. Free estimates.

(336) 644-1174.

CAROLINA STUMP & TREE SERVICE Complete tree service, $1 million liability, workman’s comp. Rick & Judy, (336) 643-9332. www.carolinaStumpAndTreeServices.com.

GUZMAN LANDSCAPE & MAINTENANCE Pine needles, mulch, leaf removal, tree pruning, complete lawn maint. (336) 655-6490.

EXTERIOR GREENSCAPES. Lawn maintenance service. Please call for a free estimate.

(336) 682-1456.

HILL LAWNCARE & OUTDOOR SERVICES. Free est. Call (336) 669-5448.

WILSON LANDSCAPING, INC. Lawn maint., landscaping. Irrigation/ landscape contractor. Hardscaping & landscape lighting. 26 years exp. (336) 399-7764.

ARBOR MASTERS TREE SERVICE Total tree removal, storm damage cleanup, shrub and tree pruning. Free estimates. Licensed & insured. (336) 643-9157.

STEVE NEWMAN TREE SERVICE. Free est. Lic./Ins. 40+ years experience.

All phases of tree work. Lots & natural area thinning and cleanup. Large shrubbery jobs, chipping. Oak Ridge. Call (336) 643-1119. Hire a local with references.

DELIMA LAWNCARE. 24 hours/7 days a week. Free estimates, licensed/insured.

Mowing, pruning, mulch/pine straw and much more. Commercial and residential. delimalawncare@live.com. (336) 669-5210.

FAY'S LAWNCARE & LANDSCAPING Complete tree removal & trimming. Storm damage clean-up. Landscaping & hardscaping. Insured. Taylor, (336) 458-6491.

SOUTHERN CUTZ LAWN CARE, offering complete lawn maintenance services & bush hogging. Nathan Adkins, (336) 430-6086.

MASONRY MASONRY CONCEPTS, brick, block, stone concrete & repairs. Free est. (336) 988-1022, www.masonryconceptsgso.com.

COLONIAL MASONRY. 40 yrs. exp. Specializing in outdoor living spaces; dry-stack natural stone and flagstone. Let us help you plan your patio, fire pit, fireplace, kitchen – or anything else you would like! Call (336) 949-9019. www.colonialmasonry.com.

SOUTHERN STYLE concrete & landscapes.

How about a new patio or fire pit? We can help with all of your outdoor living and entertainment spaces! Fire pits, driveways & sidewalks, patios and more! Give us a call at (336) 399-6619 for all your concrete and landscape needs.

MISC. HOME SERVICES/PRODUCTS ON EAGLE'S WINGS residential home design/drafting. Call Patti, (336) 605- 0519.

WILSON SEPTIC PUMPING & REPAIR. Family owned since 1972. Mention you saw this ad in the NWObserver for a discount.

(336) 643-6427.

WARREN'S DRYER VENT / DUCT CLEANING. Prevent dryer fires. Clothes dry faster. Save on energy. Bonded, insured, and licensed. Call (336) 207-2338.

PAINTING & DRYWALL STILL PERFECTION PAINTING. Reliable, skilled, affordable. Painting, pressure washing, handyman services. Scott Still, (336) 462-3683, stillperfectionpainting.com.

The Northwest Observer • Totally The Northwest Observer • Totally locallocal sincesince 19961996

 HOME SERVICES

Carlos & Son

PAINTING

Residential • Commercial Licensed & Insured

FREE ESTIMATES

Owner: Carlos Ruiz Cell: 336.669.5210 carlospainting14@live.com LAWSON'S PAINTING. Custom decks, pressure washing, boat docks, block fill, wood repair, stain work, textured ceilings, sheetrock repair. Call (336) 253-9089.

PAINTING INTERIOR & EXTERIOR, 40 yrs. exp. Sheetrock repair. Average BDRM walls $100. Insured. Call Brad Rogers, (336) 314-3186.

BEK Paint Co. Residential & Commercial David & Judy Long, owners

(336) 931-0600

BEKPaintCompany.com • References Available • Licensed & Insured • All Work Guaranteed

PLUMBING FREEMAN PLUMBING – new construction, remodel and repair. For ALL your plumbing needs! (336) 580-4525.

BRANSON PLUMBING & SOLAR. Cleanliness in your home is our #1 priority. No job too small! Experienced, guaranteed.

Lic./Ins. Call Mark, (336) 337-7924.

WEBSTER & SONS PLUMBING, Inc. (336) 992-2503. Licensed, insured, bonded.

24/7 service. Plumbing, drain cleaning, well pumps. Give us a call, we do it all! Go to www.webstersplumbing.com for more info.

continued on p. 30

MARCH1919 - 25,2020 2020 MARCH - 25,

29 29

 HOME SERVICES

 HOME SERVICES

 HOME SERVICES

 PETS & ANIMAL SVCS.

PRESSURE WASHING

RENOVATION WORKS, INC. New construction, remodeling, additions, kitchen, bath and decks. We are a locally owned, full-service design and build company, A+ accredited with the BBB. Visit www.myrenovationworks.com or call (336) 427-7391 to start your next project.

BELEWS CREEK CONSTRUCTION. Lifetime shingle and metal roofing. We fi nance. Free Estimates. Since 1979. Please call (336) 362-6343.

WENDY COLLINS PET SITTING LLC. Bonded & Insured. Follow us on Facebook. Call or text (336) 339-6845.

CUTTING EDGE PRESSURE WASHING. Affordable, dependable. Please call anytime for free estimate. (336) 706-0103.

HOUSE WASHING, roof cleaning, driveway cleaning. Let us do the dirty work for you.

MartinsPressureWashing.com

KEITH SMITH CONSTRUCTION 30 years experience. Specializing in room additions, kitchens & baths, garages, vinyl siding and windows, painting, ceramic tile, laminate, hardwood and linoleum floors, and remodeling of all kinds. No job too small. Free est. Call (336) 362-7469.

PRESSURE WASHING, gutter & window cleaning. Fully insured. Crystal Clear, www. windowcleaningnc.com or (336) 595-2873.

REMODELING / CONSTRUCTION JLB REMODELING, INC. Remodeling and additions. Fully insured.

NC GC license #69997. Free est. Call (336) 681-2902 or visit www.jlbremodeling.com.

AFFORDABLE HOME REPAIRS. One call fixes all! A+ with BBB. For a free estimate call (336) 643-1184 or (336) 987-0350.

ORTIZ REMODELING – Total restoration & home improvement. Drywall, painting, kitchen cabinets, interior trim & more. Free estimates. (336) 280-8981.

DOUGLAS CONSTRUCTION & REMODELING, LLC.. Custom Builder, sunrooms, garages, additions, kitchens baths. Licensed & Insured, BBB A+ accredited.

Free est. Visit www.douglascr.com or call (336) 413-5050.

PREMIER CONSTRUCTION for all your remodeling/renovation needs. (336) 430-9507.

ROOFING

BELEWS CREEK CONSTRUCTION. Kitchens/baths, custom decks, garages, dock work, siding, windows, roofing, rotted wood. Sr. disc., 41 yrs. exp. (336) 362-6343.

PREMIER ROOFING, LOCALLY OWNED. Catering to all your roofing needs. Call (336) 430-9507 for free assessments.

Didn’t get your NWO? Please let us know!

Direct-mailing the NWO is one of our largest expenses, and one of our most important commitments to our readers!

30 30

If you live in zip code 27310, 27357 or 27358 and didn’t receive your copy on Thursday/Friday, please email info@nwobserver.com.

MARCH MARCH19 19- -25, 25,2020 2020

CLINARD & SON ROOFING, LLC. Residential roofing, rubber flat roofs, roof coating, metal roofs. 30 years experience.

Call (336) 643-8191 or (336) 268-1908.

KEITH SMITH CONSTRUCTION 30 years experience. Residential shingle & metal roofing. Free est. (336) 362-7469.

Got stuff?

Got stuff?

Sell it here in the Sell it here in the

classifieds classifieds submit your ad at submit your ad at

Like us on Facebook and keep up with all the northwest-area news!

 REAL ESTATE LAND FOR SALE LOTS, LAND, ACREAGE Gorgeous property! Nothing else like it!

Wooded, open and water. Creeks and pond. 4 acres up to 23 acres. You choose.

Call (336) 430-9507 anytime.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Call for Buyer or Seller Representation

Gil Vaughan, REALTOR®/Broker (336) 337-4780 JustCallGil.com gilvaughan@gmail.com

 MISC. FOR SALE 4 CEMETERY PLOTS for sale in the Fountain Section of Westminster Gardens, 3601 Whitehurst Rd., Greensboro. Worth $20,000; will take $15,000 plus transfer fee.

Please call (336) 643-7077.

HOMES FOR SALE

SEASONED FIREWOOD. $80/pickup truck load, delivered & stacked. (336) 253-7615.

 MISC. WANTED $$$ – WILL PAY CASH for your junk / wrecked vehicle. For quote, call (336) 552-0328.

FREE PICKUP of unwanted riding & push mowers, tillers, ATVs, generators, power washers, go-carts, air conditioners, computers, grills & metal items, etc. (336) 689-4167 YARN NEEDED to make children's hats for Samaritan's Purse Shoebox Ministry. Call Beth (336) 644-8155.

The Observer • Totally local since 1996 TheNorthwest Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

123 Dream Lane Real estate showcase ads in the NWO get noticed! Include a photo and description of your listing, Realtor photo, logo and contact info – all for only $85!

Place your real estate showcase today (336) 644-7035, ext. 11 advertising@nwobserver.com

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ACCOUNTING

HOME PRODUCTS & SERVICES

By the Book Accounting ................... 32 Carlotta Lytton, CPA ........................... 8 Kimberly Thacker Accounting............. 8 Samuel K. Anders, CPA, MSA, PC...... 9 EuroHaus ......................................... 22 Vestal Buick / GMC ............................. 5

Carpets by Direct ................................ 2 GrowinGreen Inc. ............................... 4 Nature’s Select ................................... 7 New Garden Landscaping & Nursery .27 Old School Home Repair .................... 8 ProStone, Inc. ..................................... 7 Stokesdale Heating & Air.................. 12

BUILDING / REMODELING

LEGAL SERVICES

AUTOMOTIVE SALES / SERVICE

Disney Custom Homes ..................... 15 Don Mills Builders ............................. 21 Friddle & Company........................... 18 Johnson & Lee LLC............................17 Lansink Custom Homes.................... 15 Naylor Custom Homes ..................... 16 R&K Custom Homes ........................ 22 Ray Bullins Construction ................... 15 RS Dezern Construction.................... 19 Walraven Signature Homes .............. 19

CHILDREN’S SERVICES

LeBauer HealthCare ......................... 10 Wake Forest Baptist Health................. 3

PET SERVICES & PRODUCTS Bel-Aire Veterinary Hospital ................ 8 Northwest Animal Hospital ............... 14

REAL ESTATE

Forbis & Dick Funeral Service ........... 32

Well-Spring Retirement Community .. 26

HOME PRODUCTS & SERVICES

YOUTH SPORTS / CAMPS

BEK Paint Company ......................... 29 Budget Blinds ..................................... 8 Carlos & Son Painting ....................... 29

s

Olmsted Orthodontics ...................... 22

RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

ENTERTAINMENT

2020 edition

nication published by pscommu

ORTHODONTIC CARE

FUNERAL SERVICES

High Point Pediatric Dentistry ........... 25 Summerfield Family Dentistry ............. 8

Spring

MEDICAL CARE

The Wright Stuff ................................. 8

DENTISTRY

March 26

Barbour & Williams Law ................... 14

A New Dawn Realty ......................... 32 Berkshire Hathaway Yost & Little ...... 12 Dede Cunningham, Keller Williams... 14 Gil Vaughan, Keller Williams ............. 30 Jason Smith, Smith Marketing .......... 15 Nicole Gillespie, RE/MAX ................. 27 Ramilya Siegel, Keller Williams............ 6

Guardian Ad Litem ........................... 24

Coming

Northern Arts / Mike Carr Karate...... 25 Oak Ridge Youth Association ........... 24 YMCA of Greensboro ....................... 20

Home-grown stories about everything from maintaining and improving your home, to housing trends, history and humor in northwest Guilford County In print every spring and fall and online year-round at nwobserver.com

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

MARCH 19 - 25, 2020

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Oak Ridge, NC Permit No. 22

PO Box 268, Oak Ridge, NC 27310 • (336) 644-7035

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Stokesdale At A New Dawn Realty, our team is passionate about serving the needs of our local community. We strive to offer top-notch service and have always been willing to go the extra mile to achieve our clients’ best interests.

Our team combines exceptional energy and experience, and you’ll feel confident you made the right decision if you allow us to assist you! Visit our website or Facebook page to view our clients’ testimonials.

Accounting & Tax Accounting Bookkeeping Payroll Tax Preparation Notary Public Copy Center

Anne M. Garner, EA 8304-C Hwy 158, Stokesdale (336) 441-8325 • annegarner605@gmail.com

Trust. Compassion. Respect.

Proudly serving generations of families in northwest Guilford County and beyond for over 75 years.

Stokesdale

A New Dawn Realty Tea m !

(336) 643-4248

8500 Ellisboro Road, Suite B, Stokesdale

www.ANewDawnRealty.com

Own a business in downtown Stokesdale?

Let us help spread the news about what you have to offer!

8320 US Highway 158 | (336) 643-3711

Greensboro

1118 N Elm Street | (336) 275-8408 5926 W Friendly Ave | (336) 299-9171

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