Northwest Observer / May 21-27, 2020

May 21 - 27, 2020

bringing the local news home to northwest Guilford County since 1996

Photo by Chris Burritt/NWO

Gavin Taylor earns significantly less money carrying takeout orders to customers of Uptown Charlie’s than he did last summer as a waiter in the sports bar.

Still, he says, “It’s what I’ve got to do to make some money.”

Restaurants play Planning advances for new ‘waiting game’ town hall in Summerfield on return of Council member presented her indoor seating DeVaney vision for a community

Your Questions ............................... 4 News in brief ................................... 6 .......... 8 Calendar | Incident Report..........

NWO Business/Real Estate ............ 9 10 Sadie’s: A local institution ............10 12 Housing market ticking up ..........12 14 Parade of Homes sneak peek ....14 Student Profile............................... 23 Kids’ Korner ................................... 24 Grins and Gripes .......................... 25

has had since its strategic retreat in February about a new town hall and community meeting space. DeVaney said a permanent town hall and meeting space could be paid for from the town’s reserve funds and with no property tax increase.

Owners await governor’s decision on easing restrictions to allow resumption of sit-down dining amid COVID-19 risks

meeting place while critics question the need for new space and spending of taxpayer dollars

by CHRIS BURRITT

by CHRIS BURRITT

NW GUILFORD – Abbey Morgan, general manager of Uptown Charlie’s, is planning for the return of sit-down dining in the northern Greensboro sports bar. She’s just not sure when it’s going to occur.

SUMMERFIELD – Earlier this week Town Council member Lynne Williams DeVaney laid out her vision for “Summerfield’s Forever Home,” advancing discussions the council

“It’s like a waiting game,” Morgan said in an interview on Tuesday. “We do plan to reopen, but we’ve gotten no

Council members wrestle over budget shortfall, spending authority

...continued on p. 2

IN THIS ISSUE

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Letters/Opinions ....................... 26 Classifieds ........................... 28 Index of Advertisers.......31

This Memorial Day, May 25 we pay homage to those who have died while serving in the armed forces of the United States of America.

by PATTI STOKES STOKESDALE – When the current fiscal year ends June 30, the Town of Stokesdale’s expenses may exceed its revenue by about $90,000 – or more. That amount was confirmed by the town’s contract licensed accountant, Kimberly Thacker, last Thursday when the council met via Zoom.

“I’m concerned. I think we all

“We do not need to borrow money and we do not need to raise taxes,” DeVaney said during the council’s meeting this past Tuesday, May 19. ...continued on p. 5

are,” Stokesdale Town Councilman Derek Foy said of the anticipated budget shortfall. He then asked Thacker, “Back in the March (2020) town council meeting, the council voted for an $80,000 budget amendment. Do you think that will be enough (to cover the shortfall)? … Will our revenue fall below $400,000?”

...continued on p. 6

RESTAURANTS PLAY ‘WAITING GAME’

Congratulations Molly & Thomas Scott

...continued from p. 1

guidelines from the governor.”

Class of 2020

Love, Mom

Molly Scott

UNC-Greensboro

Thomas Scott

UNC-Charlotte

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Later this week, Gov. Roy Cooper is expected to announce modifications of his stay-at-home order aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19. If he enacts Phase 2 of his plan for reopening businesses statewide, restaurants and bars reliant strictly on takeout and delivery orders would be able to reopen dining rooms on a limited seating capacity basis, as long as they practice social distancing and other precautions to minimize health risks.

“I want to reopen,” said Frank Giaimo, who operates Luigi’s Pizza in Summerfield with his wife, Grace. Whether it makes financial sense for him to resume sit-down dining will depend upon how many people he can seat inside at one time, he said.

setting, he said, he’d be required to abide by social distancing rules.

Some restaurants don’t plan to reopen even if Cooper relaxes restrictions.

“We’re so small,” said Misty Joyner, one of three sisters who runs Parker’s Home Cookin’ Restaurant in Stokesdale for their father, Jerry Joyner.

Joyner said she believes diners might be initially limited to sitting at only two or three of Parker’s 12 inside dining tables, creating a waiting line for others.

“You realize how complicated that would be,” she said.

Similarly, Rhonda Pegram, who coowns Center Grove Grill in Summerfield with her sister, Lorie Pope, said they plan to continue filling take-out orders for customers through a window in front of the restaurant.

Even with relaxed restrictions, Pegram fears the small restaurant may be limited to serving only a few dine-in customers at a time.

Luigi’s has an indoor seating capacity of 60 and can seat another 10 on its outdoor patio. Giaimo said he hopes the governor allows restaurants to resume serving dine-in customers at three-fourths of their seating capacity.

However, the percentage of occupancy may be far lower, Giaimo and other restaurateurs fear.

“We just don’t want to take the risk,” she said, explaining that several employees are older than 60, making them especially vulnerable to the coronavirus.

It’s possible, he noted, that a group of friends wouldn’t be able to sit together if the restaurant’s capacity were severely limited.

Joyner said Parker’s plans to resume sit-down dining during Phase 3 of Cooper’s relaxing of restrictions. If the governor relaxes restrictions later this week under the Phase 2 of his plan, it would be another four to six weeks before restaurants and bars would be allowed to increase their seating.

Giaimo said he’s considering asking his landlord for permission to set up tables under umbrellas and lights in the parking lot of his restaurant, located in the Hillsdale Village retail center near the N.C. 150 and Lake Brandt Road intersection. Even in that

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Pepe Silva, owner of Rio Grande Mexican Kitchen in Oak Ridge Commons, said he plans to continue take-

Ellisboro Baptist Church of Madison

SUPPORTS and LOVES their SENIORS

Photo by Patti Stokes/NWO

Rio Grande in Oak Ridge Commons is among many restaurants that have changed their focus from serving dine-in customers to preparing meals for takeout and delivery. Owner Pepe Silva says he’s waiting to relocate the restaurant to a newly upfitted space nearby in the shopping center until he can serve dine-in customers at or closer to full capacity.

out and delivery service only until he understands the specifics of the second and third phases of the governor’s reopening plans for restaurants.

“We don’t have a clue” about Cooper’s intentions, Silva said, explaining the lack of information is complicating his decision about when to relocate his Mexican restaurant from its longtime location in Oak Ridge Commons to its recently expanded and remodeled space nearby in the shopping center.

“Depending upon what the governor says, we will most likely stay at the old location until we’re at 100 capacity” or whatever occupancy is allowed, Silva said.

Jane and Jay Hawkins are among the other restaurant owners who have taken steps to adapt their business due to inside dining restrictions. The couple has been preparing to-go meals for families after the ban on sit-down dining took a deep cut into sales at their three

Greensboro eateries – Koolies Coffee and Creamery in Gunter’s Crossing shopping center on N.C. 150 and North Church Street, Spring Garden Bakery and Coffeehouse and Rudy’s Café.

“We decided we needed to generate business in some way,” Jane Hawkins said earlier this week, as a customer wearing a face mask picked up her take-home order. “We would not have been able to ride it out.”

Nearby at Uptown Charlie’s, Gavin Taylor has gone from waiting tables in the sports bar to delivering takeout orders to customers in their cars. Last summer, he’d earn more than $200 in tips on some weekend nights. He said he works fewer days now and gets far less in tips.

“It’s not been nearly as good as it used to be,” Taylor said one evening earlier this week, pausing between customers picking up food. “But it’s what I’ve got to do to make some money.”

Photo courtesy of Denise Allman

L-R: Allison Shelton, Rylee Graham, Macy Steele, Tyler Hanes, Makenzie Steele, Peyton Carter, and Emily Shelton

We are so proud of all of you!

Congratulations Class of 2020!

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Front row: Rylee Graham, Emily Shelton, Peyton Carter, Allison Shelton; Back row: Macy Steele, Tyler Han es, Makenzie Steele

Pastor: Rev. Michael Tillman 1604 Ellisboro Road Madison, NC 27025 Phone: 336.548.4460 Website: www.goebcnow.com Facebook: Ellisboro Baptist Church

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For this answer we recently spoke to Bruce Shockley, one of the church’s six pastors.

He said he negotiated the purchase of the Oak Ridge property, which has an address of 3529 R1 Edgefield Road, in January 2019, so he’s familiar with the church’s planning for a future home.

Building on the Oak Ridge property is one of three options under consideration by the nondenominational church, according to Shockley. It may remain at its present location at 705 Sunshine Way, near N.C. 68 and I-40, or it may move to a building in northern High Point, he said.

The approximately 500-member church plans to decide how to proceed before its present lease expires in about two and a half years, Shockley said.

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The Oak Ridge location is attractive because it’s about seven miles from the church’s present location, he said, adding the property also runs along I-73, giving motorists a view of the church if it’s built.

Church leaders are negotiating with Verizon, which wants to put a cellular tower on the property, Shockley said. Leasing the space would generate income for the church while erecting a tower would provide an elevated location for a church sign, thus “good identification from the interstate,” Shockley said.

The property’s address is unusual in two ways. Even though it’s listed as 3529 R1 Edgefield Road in unincorporated Guilford County, the tract is no longer accessible from Edgefield Road. That’s because the opening of I-73 in 2018 separated the property from the road.

Second, “R1” in the address relates to the practice of assigning addresses to property without houses or other structures, according to Stephen Dew, manager of Guilford County’s geographic information system (GIS) that presents individual parcels of property

on an aerial map.

With I-73’s opening, Triad Community Church’s property is accessible from a short dead-end “stub” road in the Golden Acres subdivision. A homeowner we communicated with said she and other property owners are concerned that church traffic would lead to congestion on Golden Acres Road, the neighborhood’s primary road, and possibly hurt property values.

Shockley said if the church builds in Oak Ridge, it would prefer access to the property not go through the Golden Acres subdivision; church leaders have contacted the North Carolina Department of Transportation about constructing an access road along the interstate for entering and exiting the church property.

Since the property is zoned agricultural, which allows for the construction of churches, no rezoning of the property would be required, according to Sean Taylor, Oak Ridge’s planning director.

As a result, the town would review the site plan for the church while Guilford County would be responsible for inspecting and approving water and sewer systems on the property, Taylor said.

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Does Triad Community Church in Greensboro plan to relocate to 14 acres it purchased last year adjacent to the Golden Acres subdivision in Oak Ridge? If so, would church-related traffic be routed through streets in the neighborhood?

NEW TOWN HALL? ...continued from p. 1

Throughout her presentation, people viewing the live streaming of the meeting on Summerfield’s Facebook page debated the proposal, with critics objecting to spending of taxpayer dollars for a new building.

Posting on Facebook, former Mayor Gail Dunham and resident Dwayne Crawford said voters should decide by referendum whether Summerfield builds a new town hall.

According to Robert Joyce with UNC’s School of Government (SOG), referendums can only be held when they are authorized by the state’s constitution or by statute.

“In the absence of such authorization, any particular kind of referendum simply may not be held,” Joyce wrote on the SOG’s website, further explaining that voters in North Carolina elect their government representatives and in turn, those representatives are charged with the responsibility of making laws and other decisions on behalf of their citizens.

Dunham suggested the town consider less expensive options, such as purchasing property adjacent to the current town hall at N.C. 150 and Summerfield Road and adding parking and other amenities to the existing building.

Crawford said he favored spending to refurbish Summerfield Community Center, which the town rents for the council’s monthly meetings, special meetings, Planning and Zoning Board meetings and some committee meetings.

A new facility encompassing 8,500 to 9,000 square feet would cost less than $300 a square foot, according to DeVaney. By that estimate, the cost of the facility would come in at less than $2.7 million, assuming it would be built on land Summerfield owns. In recent months, the council has discussed possible locations for new meeting space,

including 13.3 acres the town owns across Summerfield Road from Town Hall; the property’s eastern boundary runs parallel to U.S. 220.

“You could build a town hall and do it on the interest that we’ve earned,” Mayor BJ Barnes said after DeVaney’s presentation, citing Finance Officer Dee Hall’s calculation that reserve funds have generated almost $3.9 million in interest for the town since 2003.

As of April 30, the town’s unassigned fund balance totaled nearly $7.1 million.

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“This is something we need to look at very seriously if we are going to keep up with the times,” Barnes said.

A new building would offer an opportunity for improved handicap access, restrooms, expanded and more comfortable seating, an improved audio system, video technology for presentations, and more parking for town staff and citizens, Town Manager Scott Whitaker said when asked about the potential benefits of new meeting space.

Council member Teresa Pegram has opposed building a new town hall since February when Whitaker introduced the topic during the council’s annual strategic planning retreat.

“I don’t see that we need a new town hall,” Pegram said in an interview earlier this week. “We are a limitedservice government.”

The meeting room in the current town hall is too small for the council’s monthly meetings, so the town rents space in Summerfield Community Center on Centerfield Road for the meetings.

The town is evaluating whether to accept an offer by Summerfield Community Center Inc. to deed nearly 17 acres containing the community center and a portion of the community park. If the town takes ownership of the property, it wouldn’t contain enough space for construction of a new town hall and parking, according to Whitaker.

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5

COUNCIL WRESTLES WITH BUDGET

NEWS in brief

...continued from p. 1

Draft budget earmarks $900,000 for Whitaker property

by CHRIS BURRITT OAK RIDGE – Oak Ridge is proposing to spend $900,000 in the fiscal year beginning July 1 to start development of the Whitaker property, according to a draft of the budget posted on the town’s website earlier this week.

The town’s property tax would remain unchanged at 8 cents per $100 of assessed property value under the proposed budget for fiscal 2020-21.

The budget forecasts an 8% decrease in revenues next year compared to the current year, primarily because the COVID-19 outbreak has forced the closing of businesses and reduced the town’s projected sales tax revenue.

of April 30, the fund balance totaled $3.58 million.

Oak Ridge has applied for a $450,000 grant from the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund to defray the town’s proposal to spend $900,000 for planning, engineering and the start of construction on the Whitaker property.

Grading and installation of utilities on the 58-acre tract on Linville Road could begin in the spring of 2021, followed by the construction of parking and restrooms, Bruce said.

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The Town Council has scheduled two public hearings to gather feedback about the proposed budget. The first will take place during the council’s monthly meeting Thursday, June 4. The second is slated for mid-June, with the exact date to be determined.

Next year’s budget would draw $907,045 from the town’s unassigned fund balance, or savings, to help pay for capital improvements. Due to the anticipated reduction in revenue, the town plans to defer some discretionary capital projects and eliminate increases in some operating expenses, according to Town Manager Bill Bruce.

“While we are bracing for a reduction in revenue, the town maintains a strong fund balance,” Bruce said in a May 18 memo to council members. As

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MAY 21 - 27, 2020

“I hope not ... but it may be right on the line,” Thacker responded.

Mayor John Flynt noted the town anticipates receiving an additional $228,000 in revenue for this fiscal year, most of which will come from two quarterly utility franchise disbursements for the third and fourth quarter.

“But yeah, we spent a lot of money this year. No question,” Flynt acknowledged.

Foy was elected to the council last November, along with Jim Rigsbee and Jimmy Landreth. Stokesdale is the only northwest Guilford town that does not have a property tax, and all three men maintained prior to being elected

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– and since – that they are not in favor of imposing a property tax on citizens.

To avoid that possibility, Foy is insisting the town “hone in on its spending” and adhere to its spending authority policy for non-emergency repairs/purchases.

Under the town’s existing policy, a council vote is required for any non-emergency expenditure above $2,500. During last Thursday’s meeting, Foy proposed this amount be reduced to $500 and that in the event of an emergency requiring an expenditure above that amount, an emergency meeting be called for council to vote on the expense.

Foy believes one of the contributing reasons for the town’s anticipated budget shortfall this fiscal year is “extra billable” expenditures for landscaping work performed by Beaver Outdoor Solutions and approved by former council member Frank Bruno.

He expressed concerns about not only the amount spent on the work, but his belief that Bruno was not authorized to approve the work without a council vote because it exceeded his spending authority.

In Beaver’s two-year contract with the town, dated March 14, 2019, “extra billable” items are listed as pine needle and mulch installation twice a year, irrigation services, snow removal and storm cleanup.

Prior to last week’s meeting, Foy provided fellow council members with 30 pages of printed emails, invoices and communications between the town clerk/finance officer, former council member Frank Bruno, Beaver Outdoor Solutions’ owner Vic Beaver and the company’s office manager that covered what Bruno considered

to be emergency tree cutting and clearing work in the town park after Hurricane Michael in October 2018; the town was invoiced $24,400 for the work, and numerous times afterward former council members Bill Jones and Tim Jones argued that amount was excessive and furthermore, Bruno was not authorized to approve the work without a vote of the council. Bruno later apologized for taking action

gems in

without getting fellow council members’ approval, but said he had safetyrelated concerns because the trees were lying across the walking track.

Foy also took issue with “extra billable” landscaping work performed by Beaver Outdoor Solutions in April 2019 and November 2019 that totaled about $21,000.

“It seems there was some confusion as to whether that (‘extra billable’

work) was part of the contract,” Foy said during last week’s meeting.

Referring to a $10,000 payment to Beaver Outdoor Solutions in March 2019 for mulch installation and pruning, Foy referenced an email in which the company was later asked to break the invoice down into several smaller invoices.

“Frank (Bruno) requested Vic (Beaver) break down the invoice to smaller

amounts, under his approval… And so, the reason he would request that – I guess – is that he was aware of his spending authority,” Foy said. “He wanted this done, and the way that he got this done was to break up these invoices so there was no need for a vote of council. And that’s where I have large concerns…This is a big deal to have this kind of behavior go on in our town, and I don’t want it to happen again.”

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CRIME / INCIDENT report

District 1 Sheriff’s Office has recently responded to the following incidents in northwest/northern Guilford County ...

The District 1 office, one of three district offices in Guilford County, encompasses Oak Ridge, Summerfield, Stokesdale, Colfax and northwest and northern Greensboro. It is bounded by Rockingham County on the north, runs east along U.S. 29 South, west along Forsyth County and south along the Greensboro city limits.

ASSAULT May 13 | A 56-year-old male was arrested in the 8400 block of Patricia Drive in Stokesdale (off U.S. 158) for assault on a female by a male over age 18 and assault by strangulation inflicting serious injury; he was also cited for possession of drug paraphernalia.

May 17 | A 25-year-old male was arrested in the 8000 block of Belews Creek Road in Stokesdale for assault on a female by a male over age 18 and also cited for resisting/obstructing a police officer and interfering with emergency communications.

FRAUD May 14 | An incident involving obtaining money/ property by false pretenses was reported in the

ROBBERY May 18 | A 23-year-old female was arrested in the 8600 block of U.S. 158 in Stokesdale on two outstanding warrants for robbery with firearms, one count of conspiracy to commit an armed robbery, and new drug charges for possession of a Schedule I controlled substance (heroin) and possession of a Schedule II controlled substance; she was also cited for possession of drug paraphernalia.

A 36-year-old man who was with the woman was arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle and also cited for driving without a license. The subjects were driving a vehicle that had been reported stolen in Greensboro.

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THURSDAY, MAY 21

 Budget Workshop | Stokesdale Town Council

will hold a budget workshop May 21, 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. Visit www.Stokesdale.org for a link and ID information for connecting to the Zoom meeting.

THURSDAY, MAY 28

 Blood Drives | Three American Red Cross blood drives will be held in the northwest Guilford area on May 28. One will be at Cornerstone Baptist Church, 5736 Inman Road in northwest Greensboro, 1:30 to 6 p.m.; another blood drive will be held at Spears Family YMCA, 3216 Horse Pen Creek Road in northwest Greensboro, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; and a third blood drive will be held at Summerfield Fire Department, 7400 Summerfield Road, 2 to 6:30 p.m. Appointments will be required for these blood drives due to the need for extra planning related to COVID-19 precautions.

To make an appointment, visit redcrossblood.org, enter a ZIP code in the “Find a Blood Drive” box in the upper right corner (27410 for Cornerstone Baptist Church or Spears Family YMCA; 27358 for Summerfield Fire Department) and select from the list to see available times. An appointment can also be made by calling 1-800-REDCROSS.

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The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

12 Virus concerns

Adobe Stock photo

Since initial restrictions on Realtors showing houses for sale relaxed last month, local Realtors say listings have soared and prospective buyers are eager to visit houses while also agreeable to abiding by virus-related safety precautions.

fading for homebuyers 20 In Brief

Angels Landing subdivision in Summerfield slated to begin Courtesy photo/RS Dezern Construction

10 A local institution

Sadie’s in downtown Stokesdale offers over 90 varieties of handmade soap, as well as herbal teas, handmade candles and more

Built by RS Dezern Construction and located at 8409 Peony Drive in Stokesdale, this Parade home is about 2,500 square feet and priced at $389,900.

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Local builders are pulling out all the stops to showcase their homes June 6-7 & 13-14

Herbal, soap shop a local institution

by ANNETTE JOYCE

STOKESDALE – Mike Baucom of Stokesdale can’t remember the last time he purchased shampoo, conditioner or even regular soap in a grocery store.

Since discovering Sadie’s 3-in-1 bar soap years ago, he’s been a loyal customer of the local soap and herbal shop.

As Baucom paid for his latest batch of soap, he said he comes into Sadie’s about every two months to stock up.

“It works as a shampoo, body wash and conditioner,” Baucom said of his soap purchase. “It’s really, really good and doesn’t dry my skin.”

Established more than 40 years ago, Sadie’s is a quaint little shop in the middle of downtown Stokesdale. While some customers might initially go in looking for a natural remedy to help with a particular aliment – or maybe just some really great-smelling soap – before leaving the

shop they often discover they’ve gained some new friends as well.

Jimmy Shelton purchased the store in December 2011 at the urging of his sister, Carol Richardson. Shelton has since relocated to the beach, leaving Richardson to manage the shop. Her close friend, Dianne Smith, is her right-hand assistant and her other brother, Roger Shelton, and Smith’s grandson, Michael Smith, work with the women part-time.

As Richardson has been dealing with some health issues, Dianne Smith has stepped up to keep the retail business running smoothly; both women hope Richardson will return to the shop a few hours a day in the coming weeks.

Although Sadie’s retail space has limited square footage, there’s a lot of merchandise packed into the compact space; most of the products found in the shop are made onsite from old-timey

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Sadie’s in downtown Stokesdale offers over 90 varieties of handmade soap, as well as herbal teas, handmade candles, herbs, spices and natural products to help with various ailments. recipes passed on from one owner to the next from folks who perfected the recipes decades ago.

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Sadie’s carries 90 varieties of soap, including lye and glycerin, Dianne Smith notes. Roger Shelton and Michael Smith keep the bins in the shop wellstocked with soaps they make in a small room adjacent to the retail space.

Many of these soaps do more than just cleanse – some help treat various conditions such as acne, eczema and other skin irritations, and others help relieve poison oak and poison ivy, thicken hair or simply provide a relaxing experience.

Along with the soaps, Sadie’s offers other all-natural products for dealing with common ailments – such as one of the shop’s more popular products, Four Thieves Oil. According to the label, “this is a blend of essential oils used by thieves during the 15th-century plague which protected them (from the plague)

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while they robbed and stole belongings from the victim’s home. It has a 99% success rate against airborne bacteria when diffused or sprayed into the air.”

And then there’s the Black Drawing ointment that’s used to pull out such things as splinters, metal shavings and poison from bee stings and spider bites.

For people suffering from neuropathy, there are oils, lotions and salves to help provide relief.

“We don’t guarantee (our products) are going to cure anything,” Dianne Smith acknowledged, “but they do help improve a person’s condition.”

She and Carol Richardson know firsthand, because they don’t put any product on the shelf until they have tried it themselves. For instance, Smith has been an avid user of the Four Thieves Oil for the last nine years and said she’s only been “in the bed sick one time” during that period.

One wall of the shop is dedicated to shelves filled with an assortment of herbs and spices.

“We probably have every herb you can imagine,” Smith said. “And, if we don’t have it, we can probably find it.”

Amid the common spices like cinnamon, cloves and black pepper, there are a few that have been created to kick up the taste of various dishes. Concoctions such as “Humdinger Hamburger” and “Herbal T-Bone Steak Seasoning” dress up plain meat to the point that people will be asking for the “secret recipe.”

While the shop’s unique products are a definite draw for the first-time customer, it’s the warm, friendly atmosphere that makes people feel as though they’ve found a safe place to settle in, learn more about the products from the knowledgeable staff and spend time relaxing and enjoying some good conversation.

Smith said she and Richardson share a strong Christian faith and believe God brings people into the store for a reason.

“There are many days people come in

to just sit around the table and talk for a couple of hours,” Smith said.

Sometimes people share stories about how a specific product has helped them.

Other times, they just want to share a little about what’s going on in their lives. As an example, Smith talked about a woman whose husband, a minister, was doing a tour in Iraq.

“She never bought a thing. She just needed someone to talk to,” Smith said.

At Sadie’s, that’s okay, and building relationships is just as important as selling products.

want to learn more?

Located at 8406 U.S. 158 in downtown Stokesdale, Sadie’s is temporarily operating under reduced pandemic-related hours. The shop is open for retail customers Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visit the shop in person or order products online at www.sadiesofstokesdalenc.com.

Photo by Annette Joyce/NWO

Dianne Smith spends her days at Sadie’s in downtown Stokesdale helping customers and making many of the items that this soap and herbal shop offers.

Virtual Care from Your Home All LeBauer HealthCare practices are now offering virtual care appointments with your provider through a video visit!

To control the spread of COVID-19, we are scheduling virtual visits as an alternative to in-person office visits. Connect with the healthcare provider that you know and trust from the comfort of home. Virtual appointments are billed to your insurance just like your regular office visits. To schedule a virtual visit, please call your provider’s office today!

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MAY 21 - 27, 2020

11

For homebuyers, virus concerns fading in ‘rear-view mirror’ Adobe Stock photo

Since initial restrictions on Realtors showing houses for sale relaxed last month, local Realtors say listings have soared and prospective buyers are eager to visit houses while also agreeable to abiding by virus-related safety precautions.

we’re here for you During this time of uncertainty, count on Wake Forest Baptist Health to keep you safe, healthy and informed, with: • Multiple respiratory assessment sites • Expanded online video and telephone health visits • Helpful podcasts with vital information As your routines change, our commitment won’t — we are here for you.

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MAY 21 - 27, 2020

by CHRIS BURRITT NW GUILFORD – This past weekend, Keller Williams Realtor DeDe Cunningham showed about 15 houses in northwest Guilford County, an uptick in activity that helps explain why she’s scheduled eight closings this month and another 11 in June.

When Smith Marketing Inc.’s Jason Smith arrived to set up an open house in Stokesdale this past Sunday, two couples were parked out front, waiting to go inside.

“I think people are ready to get back to business,” Smith said, pausing between prospective buyers visiting a 4 ½-bedroom house in the Charles Place at Arbor Run subdivision in Stokesdale.

In the month since Guilford County relaxed COVID-19 restrictions limiting real estate agents to online marketing such as virtual tours of houses, northwest Guilford’s housing market has snapped back. Realtors said prospective buyers are eager to visit houses and willing to abide by safety precautions recommended by Gov. Roy

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

Cooper’s stay-at-home order, such as staying 6 feet apart from one another.

“It’s like the floodgates opened,” said Cunningham, owner of DeDe’s Real Estate Group. Fears over the spread of the coronavirus have given way to urgency among homebuyers who need to find new houses. “For them, it’s in the rear-view mirror,” she said.

Listings of houses for sale have soared in northwest Guilford County since the Guilford County Board of Commissioners lifted restrictions in mid-April. New listings have more than doubled to 74 in Oak Ridge, Summerfield and Stokesdale since April 17, compared to the same period a year earlier, according to Multiple Listing Service information compiled by the Greensboro Regional Realtors Association (GRRA).

Pending sales have increased

143% to 51 from a year earlier, GRRA said; 29 transactions were closed, an increase of 16%.

“We’re getting listings and attracting new buyers,” said Dawn Stone, who owns A New Dawn Realty in Stokesdale with her son, Phillip. The firm has scheduled five closings by the end of May, an improvement from recent weeks when the COVID-19 threat made potential sellers and buyers nervous about health risks. Even now, some people who want to sell their houses are holding back because they’re concerned that a prospective buyer may be sick with the illness, Stone said.

Guilford County’s initial stay-athome order prevented Realtors from showing houses to potential buyers, except online. Open houses, house tours and other activities that typically involve “human interaction and/ or viewing the interior of residences or other structures shall be conducted remotely (online, phone, fax, email, etc.),” according to the regulations.

The county’s order also barred professional photographers hired by real estate agents from taking interior photographs and videos of houses for sale, leaving homeowners to provide images for the marketing of their houses. Typically, the owners lack the expertise to produce high-quality videos for their listings on Realtors’ websites, hurting the appeal of houses, according to agents.

As a result of the restrictions, which were in place from March 27 until April 17, housing activity slowed.

Agents added 35 new listings during the period, down 41.7 percent from a year earlier, while pending sales sank 57.1% to 21, GRRA said.

For all of April, new listings and closed sales were down as buyers were reluctant to buy houses based on virtual tours using Zoom and other software applications.

“April was a trying time,” said Gil Vaughan, a Keller Williams agent based in Summerfield. “We didn’t have people out there wanting to buy houses sight-unseen.”

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As agents have resumed showing houses and some firms are staging open houses, buyers are actively looking again. They’re also prodded by historically low interest rates that may be headed even lower, Vaughan said.

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On average, fixed rates on 30-year mortgages are declining nationwide, projected to sink to 3.2% in the second quarter from 3.5% in the first quarter, according to Fannie Mae, the government-sponsored mortgage loan company. Rates may slip below 3% next year, it said.

Falling rates spurred Marvin and Laisbeth Espinoza, of High Point, to search for a new home in northwest Greensboro. This past Sunday afternoon, they visited two houses in the Woodrose subdivision on Owls Roost Road.

While touring the houses, the couple wore face masks.

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“We’re trying to demonstrate common sense,” said Jason Smith, senior vice president of Smith Marketing, which he owns with his mother, Betty, and brother, Jeff. “With this virus, we were essentially shut down. We’re just hoping to get back to some sense of normalcy.”

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Sneak peek: 2020 Spring Parade of Homes This year’s Parade of Homes will take place June 6-7 and June 13-14

by ANNETTE JOYCE Because of the coronavirus pandemic, Greensboro Builders Association’s spring Parade of Homes will take place in June, about a month later than usual.

Unless otherwise restricted, the homes will open for tours from 1 to 5 p.m. each day. Builders are taking appropriate COVID-19 precautions and visitors are asked to follow CDC guidelines regarding social distancing, facial coverings, etc.

Even with the restrictions, builders have once again pulled out all the stops to showcase their talents, give visitors a chance to pick up some decorating tips and even better, provide someone with their dream home.

We caught up with some of the builders in our area to find out what visitors can expect to see on the Parade tour this year.

Walraven Signature Homes 3428 Owls Roost Road, Greensboro $769,900 5707 Grey Wind Court, Oak Ridge $760,000 Walraven Signature Homes has three beautiful homes on the Spring Parade of Homes tour – two in Oak Ridge and another in northwest Greensboro.

Well-known as a quality builder of high-end homes, owner Matt Walraven has established a reputation for forthrightness.

Spacious one-owner all-brick home with finished basement in popular Armfield! Master on the main with oversized bedrooms, plus unbelievable storage throughout. Perfectly appointed & well-maintained interior finishes make this home move-in ready! Spectacular views in the backyard from natural area offering premium privacy. Pre-wired for generator, 3-car garage, 2 conditioned walk-in storage areas, whole-home water softener system, newer composite decking and water heater. Off-site septic is perfect for pool! $519,000

“Walraven Signature Homes always works to provide a beautiful finished home at a good value, meaning people do not feel they have overpaid for their custom home,” he added.

Courtesy photo/Builders MD

This spacious pantry is a standout in the Builders MD house located at 3800 Eagle Downs Way in Summerfield.

To view some of the more unique features typeye-catching electric fireplace to provide additional ical of a home built by Walraven Signatures Homes, heat. During the hotter months, the windows slide in visit the house on Grey Wind Court, where you’ll find a an accordion-style to transform the area into an airy fireplace on the screened-in porch and a space for an screened porch. optional elevator.

The home also features a three-car garage.

“Having a garage this size is definitely unique to these smaller city lots,” Mills said.

5716 Woodrose Lane, Greensboro $539,900

Don Mills Builders

6367 Gumtree Road, Oak Ridge $549,900

7235 WYATT DRIVE, SUMMERFIELD

“When working for his clients, (Matt) is honest about what their money will buy, thereby setting realistic expectations about what the homeowner will be able to afford,” said Ben Walraven, the company’s marketing spokesman.

When asked what makes his Parade home unique, Don Mills, owner of Don Mills Builders, quickly points out the 14-foot-by-20-foot four-season back porch.

It’s enclosed with heavy-duty vinyl windows to help keep the warmth in during chilly weather and has an

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Disney Construction Company

8001 Honkers Hollow Drive, Stokesdale $559,000 Situated on a large lot on North Ridge’s tranquil

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...continued on p. 18

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MAY 21 - 27, 2020

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CUSTOM BUILD “My wife and I never had a house built before, but we decided to build our retirement home. Many of our friends warned us about the stress and n frustration that they experienced whe tell they built their own houses. I can you we never went through these issues because of Johnson and Lee’s communication and the quality of their workmanship. They are honest people who do what they say they onally and with such craftsmanship will do. Everything is done so professi Our house significantly exceeded our that you will be completely amazed.

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community pond, this Disney Construction Company home features a covered porch with a water view that offers a retreat-like setting.

Patti Disney, a co-owner of the family business, said the home also offers “great open living space both indoors and out.” The floorplan includes three bedrooms on the main level, a fourth bedroom on the second level, and an office, bonus room and three-car garage; the third garage is separate and ideal for a hobby area.

Gorgeous woodwork details are evident throughout the home, which also features a customized kitchen, bathrooms and carefully selected tile.

Johnson and Lee 8864 Belews Ridge Road, Stokesdale $344,900 Johnson and Lee’s Parade home is in one of Stokesdale’s newest and more affordable communities – Belews Ridge.

Located just off Belews Creek Road, the community offers a more rural setting and falls within the Northwest Guilford school district.

Commie Johnson, one of the company owners, noted that even with a lower price, this home has many of the features that homeowners of their more extravagant homes request.

With two bedrooms and a bonus room upstairs, one of Johnson’s favorite features in this home is the additional upstairs loft that can serve as an office or study area.

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MAY 21 - 27, 2020

8011 Hacker Drive, Stokesdale $474,900 While still offering the high-quality work he’s known for, Scott Naylor, owner of Naylor Custom Homes, decided to keep things clean and simple with this year’s Parade entry.

“Our home has a farmhouse theme,” he explained. “There are older

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

looking, simple moldings, a farm sink in the kitchen, a stone fireplace and lots of shiplap.”

The four-bedroom house has both a master and a second bedroom on the main level.

Other features include a separate butler’s pantry and a convenient drop zone to keep clutter to a minimum. In keeping with the farmhouse theme, there’s also a large screened-in porch for relaxing.

R&K Custom Homes 7811 Neugent Drive, Kernersville $689,900 5714 Woodrose Lane, Greensboro $574,900 With two homes in this year’s Parade, R&K Custom Homes has plenty of opportunity to show off what makes its homes stand out from others – such as the abundance of trim work including baseboards, crown molding, fancy ceilings and shiplap.

“We have the best trimmer out there,” said Kathy Dumas, who owns R&K along with her husband, Rich.

Rather than using solid interior doors, R&K likes to incorporate French doors and sliding doors here and there as a special touch.

All four bedrooms in the house on Neugent Drive in Charles Place at Arbor Run have a private bath; three of those bedrooms are located on the main level with a bedroom, bath and bonus room upstairs.

Builders MD 5705 Grey Wind Court, Oak Ridge $749,000 3800 Eagle Downs Way, Summerfield $695,000 3807 Eagle Downs Way, Summerfield $695,000 Along with his attention to detail,

...continued on p. 20

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PARADE OF HOMES ...continued from p. 18

Builders MD owner David Flanders likes to incorporate unexpected features that are not only attractive but convenient – as evidenced in his homes’ closets, pantries and abundant built-ins.

A must-see on this year’s Parade is the master closet in the home located at 3800 Eagle Downs Way in Summerfield. Featuring loads of shelves, drawers, racks and a large center island, this closet is an organizer’s dream. There’s also a drawer with double-stacked baskets to add to the ease of laundry day.

Another unique feature of this house is what the company’s marketing manager, Drew Stokes, refers to as a “pantry on steroids.” A whopping 8-foot-by-8-foot room, the light-filled pantry boasts a window and is loaded with cabinets, drawers, open shelving and counter space. This is not just a place to store food and kitchen equipment, but an additional workspace when the kitchen counters aren’t enough.

R.S. Dezern Construction

homes you’ll find in this year’s Parade,” Dezern said.

Even with the size and price, Dezern has included such items as granite countertops in the kitchen and sanded and sealed hardwoods throughout the main level.

Friddle and Company 7813 Neugent Drive, Stokesdale $749,000 With approximately 4,300 square feet, Friddle and Company’s elegant yet comfortable home offers an open floorplan with an abundance of upscale features.

“Our Parade home has so many details,” said Paige Friddle, who along with her husband, Michael, owns the company.

She listed such things as extensive molding work throughout the home, an eye-catching foyer with extra-large, diagonally placed tile complementing a beautiful staircase, loads of built-ins, desk space in one upstairs bedroom and a gaming/play space in the other.

Other unique features include laundry chutes in both upstairs bedrooms and wired sound in the family and bonus rooms and on the screened porch.

8409 Peony Drive, Stokesdale $389,900 Randy Dezern, owner of R.S. Dezern Construction, said the size of his custom-built house and its price are the most unique features of his Parade home.

Located in Treeline Trails, a new community within walking distance of Stokesdale Elementary School and the town park, this four-bedroom, three-bathroom home is about 2,500 square feet.

“This is one of the most affordable custom

want to go?

2020 Spring Parade of Homes Sponsored by Greensboro Builders Association Saturday and Sunday, June 6-7 and June 13-14 1 to 5 p.m.

Admission is free.

Virtual tours available at greensborobuilders.org. beginning the first week of Parade.

REAL ESTATE BRIEFS

Angels Landing subdivision in Summerfield slated to begin SUMMERFIELD – Angels Landing, a new subdivision on Strader Road, is getting underway with construction starting in the next three months, said Jason Smith, senior vice president of Smith Marketing, Inc. “We’re getting ready to put a lot of houses on the ground,” Smith said in an interview earlier this week. The selling price for houses in Angels Landing will be in the $500,000s, he said.

Smith Marketing, a Summerfield-based real estate company affiliated with Allen Tate Realtors, works with custom builders of new houses. Construction in Angels Landing, which contains 22 lots, will start with about five or six houses, said Smith, who owns the company with his mother, Betty, and brother Jeff.

The Summerfield Town Council rezoned the approximately 31-acre tract at 7507 Strader Road from agricultural to CU-RS-40 (Conditional Use - Residential) in June 2018, according to Zoning Board documents posted on the town’s website.

Combs Inc., an Oak-Ridge based developer, bought the property from Betty Ruth Angel and Bruce Wayne Calloway in February 2019, according to the deed.

The vacant, wooded tract is undeveloped except for a road leading into the property. It is located across Strader Road from Deerwood, a Granville Homes subdivision with houses starting in the $350,000s.

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Celebrating 28 years of building custom homes in the Triad At R&K Custom Homes, we design home plans to fit each homeowner’s wants and needs. When planning the home of your dreams, your input is critical and we’ll listen carefully before getting your project underway. While building your home, we’ll incorporate timeless architecture, inviting ambiance and fully-equipped modern rooms that Currently building in: reflect the highest quality attention to detail Birkhaven • Cedar Hollow • Wolf Ridge and craftsmanship.

Riverside • Linville Ridge • Farm at Lake Brandt Building in the Triad since 1992, R&K is Woodrose and Arbor Run at Charles Place a respected, multi-gold award-winning home Owl’s Roost • Parkers View at Bethel Ridge builder. Having built over 400 homes ranging (L-R, seated) Daughter Kristen with owners Rich & Kathy Dumas ...or on your lot! in price from the $500,000s to $2 million, our wide range of construction types separates us from the others. We’ll walk you through every detail as we show you our passion for not just crafting homes, but building memories.

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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.

NORTHERN GUILFORD Hank Dodson, baseball

by MEREDITH BARKLEY Hank Dodson can scarcely remember a time when baseball wasn’t a big part of his life.

The Northern Guilford catcher said he’s been playing the game since age 3, but he figures his infatuation with it started even earlier.

“I’ve had a ball and a bat in my hand ever since I was born,” said Dodson, a senior. His dad, Drew, played college ball in Indiana.

“My parents pushed me toward it and I fell in love with the game,” he said Of being a catcher, he said, “I just worked my way around the infield and found the spot I like. I like being involved so much in every play and being able to see the whole field. It’s a lot of responsibility and some pressure, but I really enjoy it.”

His senior season, though, came to an abrupt end in mid-March when the coronavirus pandemic swept in, forcing

school closings, sports cancellations and economic disruption.

“It’s heartbreaking just to know I’m not going to experience all the things I was looking forward to,” he said. “It’s just something I’ve got to accept and move on with my life and look into the future more.”

Although his last season of high school baseball ended before it barely began, it’s not the end of the game for Dodson. He has committed to play baseball at Dixie State University in Utah next season and in recent months has been following a workout schedule his new coaches sent him. The coaches have also kept in contact during the unsettling times.

“They’ve been with me through the whole process,” Dodson said. “They’ve been talking me through it – what the fall is going to look like, and going into the spring.”

He has family in Utah and has visited several times. He likes the mountains and other outdoor options, and thinks he’ll be particularly fond of the weather.

“The lowest it gets in the wintertime is 50 degrees and I’ll like that,” Dodson said. “It’s pretty warm year-round.”

He figures he’ll be part of history when he takes up residence at Dixie State. For the 2020-21 season, the university of 11,000 students moves from NCAA Division II to Division I and joins the Western Athletic Conference for most sports.

“I’m a part of their first Division I recruiting class,” said Dodson, who has attended a baseball camp at Dixie State. “I’m very excited about it.”

He plans to major in accounting.

“I enjoy working with math and money,” he said. “I took an accounting class in school that I really enjoyed.”

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r e n r o K ’ Kids cal kids o local fun for l

Thank you to Edgefield Plant & Stone Center for making this week’s Kids’ Korner page possible

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Work in the garden!

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MAY 21 - 27, 2020

www.edgefieldplantstone.com The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

GRINS and GRIPES

Delighted or dismayed by something in your community?

Share your thoughts in

40

words or less

online: nwobserver.com e-mail: grinsandgripes@nwobserver.com Grins & Gripes are published based on available space and editor’s discretion.

 Cathy Gauldin of Stokesdale who has made/donated over 400 face masks to local emergency centers, and some as far away as a children’s center in Arkansas. This is only one of the many acts of Christian love she performs every day.  Peking Wok on U.S. 220 in Summerfield for your cool new takeout window!  Stokesdale Elementary fifth grade teachers.  Patti Stokes, who suffers the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune with equanimity, stoicism and stolidness.

Publishing a local newspaper means half will be vexed, the other half vexatious (I’m in the latter camp). Thank you for your work and forbearance.

 Members of the police and fire departments who don’t wear protective masks. Aren’t they supposed to be examples of public safety?  Summerfield Scoop for your unsolicited junk mail piece I received in the mail last week. I do have a suggestion for a name change, however – “Lunatic Fringe.” It has a nice, accurate ring to it, don’t you think?  Teenagers just hanging out in Oak Ridge Commons’ parking lot. Shame on their parents for allowing them to

do so, and for buying them a vehicle with just a lifted front end – those squatted trucks look ridiculous!

Talent may get you on the field, but it’s effort and attitude that will keep you there. – Russell Wilson

FALL FOOTBALL FLAG / 8U / 10U / 12U

SIGN UP AT ORYA.ORG @ORYASPORTS

 People obsessed with employees and customers wearing masks.

Maybe we aren’t as fearful of stats that don’t pan out, and are flat-out lies. You don’t close down a country of 330 million people for less than 2% who may get sick.  Oak Ridge Town Council for committing millions to a water system, park and other projects in the midst of an economic downturn. With businesses closed and residents unemployed, many won’t be able to pay property taxes. Put on the brakes!

BUICK We Are Here to Help • Our Service Department is Open

 Food Lion in Summerfield for not requiring employees to wear masks, even in the meat, deli and bakery departments. How many germs are being spread in that store? I’ll be shopping at Trader Joe’s, where customer safety matters.  The driver of the dark gray Toyota Sienna traveling north on 68 around 10 a.m. May 20. You risked lives in order to cut in front of me when the road narrowed. It was raining! There was nothing behind me!  Summerfield Farms for wanting to charge $175 for a small photo shoot on their property for two high school seniors who missed their prom and wanted to at least dress up and have some special memories.

Summerfield Farms offered this

...continued on p. 27

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

MAY 21 - 27, 2020

25

LETTERS/OPINIONS Submit your editorials (maximum 350 words) online: nwobserver.com e-mail : editor@nwobserver.com mail: Opinions, PO Box 268, Oak Ridge, NC 27310

Include your name, a daytime phone number where you can be reached and name of community in which you live.

Letters from the same writer will be published no more than every 30 days.

Fire lanes not intended for convenience parking

Town’s financial state is reason for concern The Northwest Observer had some comments on page 23 of the 2020 Northwest FINDER that I find very troubling. The editor seems to take issue with the fact that Councilman Tim Jones and I voiced concern about not getting any financial information for nearly eight months. It seems to me the proper concern should be why the Town of Stokesdale’s finance officer, on her own, decided to change the operating system in the middle of a budget year. Why would (Mayor) John Flynt, (Mayor Pro Tem) Thearon Hooks and (Councilman) Frank Bruno vote three times against hiring a qualified CPA to help the town get its financials in order?

Or, why did expenses increase 70% from the year before, according to the auditor?

Four designated lanes for picking up “Food Lion to Go” orders were installed last year near the front entrance of Food Lion on U.S. 220 in Summerfield. Customers who arrive for their orders are asked to park in one of the reserved lanes, call the phone number on the sign beside each lane to let an employee know they are there, and then wait for their order to be brought out to their car.

North Carolina General Statute 20-162 addresses parking in front of a private driveway, fire hydrant, fire station, intersection of curb lines or fire lane. The statute states “(b) No person shall park a vehicle or permit it to stand, whether attended or unattended, upon any public vehicular area, street, highway or roadway in any area designated as a fire lane. This prohibition includes designated fire lanes in shopping center or mall parking lots and all other public vehicular areas. Provided, however, persons loading or unloading supplies or merchandise may park temporarily in a fire lane located in a shopping center or mall parking lot as long as the vehicle

26

MAY 21 - 27, 2020

is not left unattended.”

Summerfield Town Council member Teresa Pegram recently took issue with being called out for leaving her vehicle parked in the fire lane of Food Lion in Summerfield to pick up her grocery order, even though Food Lion has several designated parking spots for this purpose that are prominently marked.

So, is parking in a fire lane to pick up your groceries allowed by the statute? And is this standard practice at Food Lion to park in the fire lane versus in the lanes designated for picking up grocery to-go orders?

Or, why did the town spend $55,000 over the approved budget because the three councilmen who voted in a lock-step manner all year refused to do budget amendments to cover the increases?

Or, why was there over $45,000 in unauthorized spending, said amounts being approved by the mayor and Mr. Hooks, and checks written by the finance officer?

Or, why did the same finance

Stay

officer/town clerk refuse to attach preaudit certifications to contracts and invoices even after being notified by Councilman Tim Jones, myself and our auditor?

I hope the editor will show some concern this year, since it appears the town’s expenses will be over by somewhere in the neighborhood of $150,000. I do not blame the three new members of council for this budget fiasco. Unfortunately, the stage was set for this situation by Mayor Flynt, Thearon Hooks and former council member Frank Bruno. Their votes to replace nearly every vendor the town had with folks who charge two or three times as much for the same work, buying tens of thousands of dollars of equipment without competitive bids and total disregard for taxpayer money created the current financial woes.

It appears those who point out problems are often the victim of ridicule by the folks who are supposed to be keeping an eye on government officials. For the record, I do not apologize one bit for attempting to look after the interests of the town I grew up in.

William Jones The writer is a former member of Stokesdale Town Council.

distant but

not disconnected /NorthwestObserver

Beth Kaplan, SUMMERFIELD

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

Editor’s note: To clarify, the annual northwest FINDER is not published by the Northwest Observer, rather by PS Communications; the company also publishes the weekly Northwest Observer.

Regarding the writer’s claim that he and Councilman Tim Jones did not get “any financial information in eight months,” I am confused. As the one who reported on town council meetings during the time period former Councilman Bill Jones is referring to, prior to each council meeting I received a packet of documents identical to those council members received and they included financial reports, check registers and monthly balance sheets; a financial report was also given verbally at each council meeting. However, it is true that Bill Jones and Tim Jones repeatedly asked for additional financial reports during the transition period that were not made available to them, or at least not in the format they requested.

Regarding the writer’s claim that the finance officer “on her own decided to change the operating system,” the decision for the town to transition from a 2012 desktop version of QuickBooks to the 2019 online version of QuickBooks was at the advice of the town’s auditing firm, was discussed during council meetings and approved by consent of the majority of council members.

The writer states the council voted three times not to hire a CPA, and that is correct. The council instead, by a majority vote, chose to contract with Kimberly Thacker, who is not a CPA but is a licensed accountant and owner of Kimberly Thacker Accounting and Tax Services based in Stokesdale. All five members of the present town council have at least appeared to be in agreement that Thacker is a competent, trustworthy accountant who is capable of overseeing the town’s financial transactions. If any feel otherwise, they have not publicly expressed those views.

As for there being over $45,000 in unauthorized expenses, it is true that $24,400 for clearing and removing trees in the town park after Hurricane Michael swept through was authorized only by Councilman Frank Bruno, and exceeded any individual council member’s spending authority.

Discussion of this took place numerous times during council meetings, and was reported on by this writer/editor. While the validity of other invoices from the same company have since been disputed, the finance officer’s payment at the time was authorized by a majority vote of the town council.

Finally, regarding the writer’s claim that he was a victim of “ridicule by the folks who are supposed to be keeping an eye on government officials,” after re-reading “What Made the News (in Stokesdale) in 2019” in the 2020

GRINS AND GRIPES ...continued from p. 25 response to this gripe: “We give generously of our staff’s time and our meeting spaces as frequently as we possibly can. We have always charged for photo shoots, as they require the farm always look its best, and that staff members be present for the safety of our customers and our livestock. We provide a healthy, wholesome place to get outside and enjoy some sun-

light and fresh air during this unprecedented pandemic. We surely hope we aren’t perceived as being opportunistic for charging the normal fee we’ve always charged for photo shoots, as it would be grossly unfair to the many loyal customers who’ve paid for this service over the years.”

– The “farmily” at Summerfield Farms

Northwest FINDER, I disagree that it ridiculed anyone; rather, it was a brief overview of some of the issues that created rifts between the five-member

council made up of Mayor John Flynt, Mayor Pro Tem Thearon Hooks and council members Frank Bruno, Tim Jones and Bill Jones.

I am blinded… let me count the ways Since headlights now incorporate LED illumination on most all new autos, my vision has certainly been altered. Yes, the bright lights are helpful if you are lucky enough to have them carving out the darkness of the road. But if you are driving a “beater” like me, then perhaps you can join me in my blindness (yes, I eat plenty of carrots… well, maybe sometimes – but I see TV really, really good).

1. If your oncoming LEDer forgets (or maybe does so on purpose) to dim lights from bright… blindness.

2. If it’s raining and the road has not been painted recently (like many of the back roads around here), then it’s hard to find the road after the blindness. Hope the road doesn’t curve, because I may send myself to the wheat field, or pasture – or, ironically, the carrot patch.

3. When some people replace their wonderful, bright LED bulb, they somehow find a way to defeat the proper seating so the light now shines like high beams all… the… time. (I once knew someone who

took off the entire front fender to change a bulb, when all that was needed was to twist off the back of the bulb housing.)

4. If you are unlucky enough to meet an F-150 truck or similar, the high chassis puts it right at your eye level. And if you’re at McDonald’s drive-through and your mirror is lined up with the truck’s LED… blindness – so bad that you order a Happy Meal just to calm your nerves with a toy.

5. And finally, for all goodintentioned, law-abiding LEDers who turn on an incline, or even go over a bump… the light goes right into my eyes, and blindness results.

So, I guess the answer to my problem is that all cars and trucks – including yours truly – will eventually fight it out by beaming each other on the roads with powerful, daylight LEDs so that we all can “see” each other magnificently. Meantime, I’ll wear my flip-up sunglasses at night and eat plenty more carrots.

Gerald Hills, OAK RIDGE

NORTHWEST Loving care for pets ANIMAL HOSPITAL and their families

(336) 643-8984

Full service medicine, surgery and dentistry Surgical and therapeutic laser Grooming available

Wendy Camp, DVM | Karen Nasisse, DVM

1692-J NC Hwy 68 N, Oak Ridge • (336) 643-8984 nwanimalhospitalnc.com

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

MAY 21 - 27, 2020

27

 AUTO SALES & SERVICE

Luxury Service.

Southern Hospitality.

THE EUROPEAN AUTO SERVICE PROS

Now offering courtesy pickup and delivery

6716 US Hwy 158, Stokesdale Just 1/4 mile off I-73 EuroHaus.pro | 336.891.3876

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 Employment .................... 28 Home Services ........... 28-30 Misc. for Sale .................. 30 Misc. Wanted .................. 30 Pets & Animal Services .... 30 Real Estate ...................... 30

28 28

MAY MAY 21 21--27, 27,2020 2020

CHOICE TIRE AND AUTOMOTIVE. Oil changes, inspections, alignments and general automotive repairs. 1080 US Hwy 66 S, Kernersville, NC. (336) 992-9002.

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.

 HOME SERVICES

 HOME SERVICES

PAOLA CLEANING SERVICE. Residential & commercial. Insured. (336) 669-5210.

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

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

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.

ELECTRICAL 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.

Offer a home service?

Place your ad online at

 EMPLOYMENT JERSEY MIKE'S SUBS. Newest location is hiring. In-person interviews will be held 5/21, 3-6pm; 5/22, 12-5pm; and 5/23, 1-6pm.

4016 C Battleground Ave, Greensboro, NC, or fill out an application and leave on site.

(336) 202-6129 or hpizza@triad.rr.com.

PART-TME COOK needed at Bistro 150 in Oak Ridge. Experience preferred. To apply, call Jennifer at (336) 643-6359.

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

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

CLEANING CHRISTIAN MOM needs work cleaning houses, running errands. Will fit to your budget. Pet taxi/pet sitting also avail. References. Call Laura Bennett, (336) 231-1838.

Follow us on Facebook for updates! facebook/northwestobserver

GENERAL REPAIR & SERVICES

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.

GRADING / HAULING 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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

Fill dirt, asphalt millings, stone and more.

Daniel Wilson, (336) 339-0212.

OLD SCHOOL

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

“No Job Too Small”

The Northwest Observer

HOME REPAIR /IMPROVEMENTS Wood Rot Repairs • Bathroom Remodeling Painting • Decks and much more! • Insured

Keeping you connected for 23 years . . . and counting!

GUTTERS / SIDING / WINDOWS Contact us for a free estimate!

(336) 669-7252

oldschoolsjhr@triad.rr.com

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

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

 HOME SERVICES

 HOME SERVICES

 HOME SERVICES

 HOME SERVICES

LAWNCARE / LANDSCAPING

COLFAX LAWNCARE. Core aeration & seeding. Fertilizing, mowing, trimming, pine needles. Complete lawn care maintenance. Res./comm. Fully insured. Serving the Triad for 32 years. (336) 362-5860.

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

(336) 643-6427.

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.

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

TRACTOR SERVICE. Experienced and local. Bush hogging and garden tilling.

Mike, owner/operator. (336) 486-9837.

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.

Your business should be here! place your ad today at

www.nwobserver.com 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.

EXTERIOR GREENSCAPES. Lawn maintenance service. Call for a free estimate (336) 682-1456.

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.

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

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

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

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

We service all systems. Free estimates.

(336) 644-1174.

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.

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

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.

Follow us on Facebook for updates!

COX POOL SERVICE. Openings, closings, routine maintenance, weekly service. No contracts, free estimates! (336) 327-5122.

Place your classified ad online at

www.nwobserver.com

PAINTING & DRYWALL

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

EAST COAST PRESSURE WASHING & LAWN SERVICE. Soft washing, surface cleaning of driveways and patios. See us on Facebook. (336) 207-3625.

HOUSE SOFT WASHING, roof soft washing, pressure washing. Check out our 5- star reviews online! Please visit our website, MartinsPressureWashing.com.

(336) 931-0600

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

• References Available • Licensed & Insured • All Work Guaranteed

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

BEKPaintCompany.com

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

LAWSON'S PAINTING. Custom decks, pressure washing, boat docks, block fill, wood repair, stain work, textured ceilings, sheetrock repair. Call (336) 253-9089.

CARLOS & SON PAINTING. Interior and exterior. 24 hours/7 days a week. Free estimates, licensed/insured. (336) 669-5210.

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

PLUMBING

MISC. HOME SERVICES/PRODUCTS

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

JUNK & DEBRIS REMOVAL, construction, remodeling, and general cleanup, out buildings, garages, basements, yard waste, etc.

Call (336) 706-8470.

BRANSON PLUMBING & SOLAR. No job too small! Experienced, guaranteed. Lic./ Ins. Cleanliness in your home is our #1 priority. Call Mark, (336) 337-7924.

facebook/northwestobserver

PRESSURE WASHING

The Northwest Observer • Totally since 1996 The Northwest Observer • Totally locallocal since 1996

REMODELING / CONSTRUCTION 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.

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

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

Place your classified ad online at

www.nwobserver.com

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

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

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

continued on p. 30

MAY21 21- 27, - 27,2020 2020 MAY

29 29

 HOME SERVICES

 HOME SERVICES

 MISC. WANTED

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.

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

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

FABRIC NEEDED for Sew to Sow Ministry to make dresses for girls in Kenya. Cotton fabrics work best, any amount. Also need buttons, ribbon, lace trimming, elastic and thread. Call Beth, (336) 644-8155.

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.

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

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

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

BELEWS CREEK CONSTRUCTION. Lifetime shingle and metal roofing. We finance.

Free Estimates. Since 1979. Please call (336) 362-6343.

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

Got stuff?

Need stuff?

Place your ad online at

 MISC. WANTED FREE PICK-UP of unwanted riding & push mowers, tillers, ATVs, generators, power washers, go-carts, mini-bikes, golf carts, 4-wheelers, etc. (336) 689-4167. $$$ – WILL PAY CASH for your junk / wrecked vehicle. For quote, call (336) 552-0328.

Please let us know!

30 30

MAY MAY 21 21--27, 27,2020 2020

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

THE FARM AT OAK RIDGE Welcome home – build your dream home in Oak Ridge with one of our four featured builders. Call for lot availability and pricing. Hwy 150 W, L on Bridgehead Rd, L on Neugent Farm Ct.

 REAL ESTATE DeDe Cunningham

LAND FOR SALE LAND. Large tracts. Rockingham County and Summerfield. Want social distancing?! Only three 10-acre tracts left. If 10 acres isn’t enough, one 25-acre parcel remains. Perfect for a mini-estate, laying hens, and a garden too. Hurry, this land won’t last! Call (336) 430-9507 anytime.

HOMES FOR SALE

REALTOR®/Broker NC Licensed Contractor

(336) 509-1923 dedesrealestategroup.com dedecunningham@kw.com

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

Just Listed in Linville Oaks!

YARN NEEDED to make children's hats for Samaritan's Purse Shoebox Ministry. Call Beth, (336) 644-8155.

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

 REAL ESTATE

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

8500 Parkchester Place, Oak Ridge Exquisite finishes throughout, numerous custom features, immaculate condition and spectacular floor plan with 3 bedrooms on main level.

Must See! $639,900 www.sellwithsiegel.com

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!

For results, call Ramilya Siegel CRS, GRI, SRES, Chairman’s Circle Award

( 336 ) 215.9856 rsiegel@kw.com

on the

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ACCOUNTING

By the Book Accounting ..................... 7 Samuel K. Anders, CPA, MSA, PC...... 8

AUTOMOTIVE SALES / SERVICE

EuroHaus ......................................... 28 Prestige Car Wash ............................ 18 Vestal Buick / GMC ........................... 25

BUILDING / REMODELING

Disney Constructin Co. ..................... 14 Don Mills Builders ............................. 19 Friddle and Company ....................... 22 Johnson & Lee...................................17 Lansink Custom Homes.................... 14 Naylor Custom Homes ..................... 16 R&K Custom Homes ........................ 21 Ray Bullins Construction ................... 14 RS Dezern Construction.................... 20 Walraven Signature Homes .............. 20

CHILDREN’S SERVICES

Guardian Ad Litem ........................... 23

FUNERAL SERVICES

Forbis & Dick Stokesdale .................... 7

GRADUATE CONGRATULATIONS

HOME PRODUCTS & SERVICES BEK Paint Company ......................... 29

(page 63)

“Where can I find a list of local churches?” (page 70)

Edgefield Plant & Stone .................... 24 Nature’s Select ................................... 4 New Garden Landscaping & Nursery..10 Old School Home Repair .................. 28 ProStone, Inc. ................................... 14 Stokesdale Heating & Air.................... 6

LEGAL SERVICES Barbour & Williams Law ..................... 2 Scott Tippett / Hagan Barrett Law .... 18

MEDICAL CARE / SUPPLIES

“How can I contact the county commissioner for my district?”

“I want to recycle my old computer, but I’m not sure where to take it.” (page 62)

“Are there any local animal rescue groups?

I want to help.” (page 60)

(page 47)

LeBauer HealthCare ..........................11

020

Wake Forest Baptist Health............... 12

ORTHODONTIC CARE Olmsted Orthodontics ...................... 23

PET SERVICES & PRODUCTS Bel-Aire Veterinary Hospital ................ 8 Northwest Animal Hospital ............... 27

12 th annual

Find the answer to these questions and more in the northwest FINDER. It’s jam-packed with valuable information for northwest Guilford County residents.

edition

REAL ESTATE A New Dawn Realty ........................... 7 DeDe Cunningham, Keller Williams .. 30 Nicole Gillespie, RE/MAX ................. 14 Ramilya Siegel, Keller Williams.......... 30

Ellisboro Baptist Church ...................... 3 Kimberly Platt ..................................... 2

Smith Marketing / Allen Tate ............ 14

GROCERY STORE

YOUTH SPORTS / CAMPS

Southern Foods ................................ 13

“How can I find out who my school board representatives are?”

Oak Ridge Youth Association ........... 25

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MAY 21 - 27, 2020

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Your directory of need-to-know, fun-to-know and good-to-know info about northwest Guilford County Published every January

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