Northwest Observer / August 20 - September 2, 2020 by pscommunications

Aug. 20 - Sept. 2, 2020

bringing the local news home to northwest Guilford County since 1996

IN THIS ISSUE No ORYA football at Town Park, for now.............. 2 ‘We love you, Mr. Sasser’ .................................. 3 Summerfield Town Council meeting ................... 6 Oak Ridge Town Council meeting ....................... 8 New advertiser introductions.............................10 NWO Business & Real Estate ............................13 Your questions about local businesses ..............14 Summit Church blends rural with tech ...............16 Bi-Rite breaks ground for new store ................. 22 Bi-Rite owner David Wrenn, with his wife Kathy at his side, addresses those who gathered Aug. 9 for a groundbreaking at the store’s future location. Photo by Patti Stokes/NWO

NWO Kids’ Korner ......................................27, 29 Community Calendar | Crime/Incident Report ... 28 Obituary ......................................................... 32 Letters to the Editor | Grins and Gripes ............. 32 Classifieds.............35 | Index of Advertisers ... 39

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Plunging into ‘the unknown’ The start of the academic year amid the COVID-19 outbreak creates uncertainties and challenges by CHRIS BURRITT NW GUILFORD/GREENSBORO – In a practice run for the start of the school year, eight students at Revolution Academy listened as instructional coach Jaime Gaulden recited rules for the classroom, such as raising their hands for permission to speak. Another rule went without saying: wear a mask. The COVID-19 pandemic has spurred changes in the new school year that would have been hard to imagine just 5 ½ months ago before the virus outbreak forced the closing of schools. This past Monday, Guilford County Schools (GCS) began the fall semester with remote learning, requiring many parents to set up home workspace for their children and oversee their online learning. The postponement of football and other fall sports is just one of the casualties in an academic year turned upside down. “I love being around friends, so I’m really upset,” said Caitlin Ahearn, a senior at Northwest Guilford High School.

“I wish I could experience my senior year like a normal senior would, but with virtual learning I know it’s not going to happen,” she added. For at least nine weeks, GCS is holding classes remotely, with the possibility of students returning to classes later this fall if coronavirus risks moderate. Changes in procedures are going to be “frustrating but inevitable,” Sharon Contreras, the district’s superintendent, told the school board earlier this month. “This is the unknown,” said Stacy Garner, chair of Northwest Guilford High School’s counseling department. Her daughter, Grace, is a 10th grader at the school and her son, David, is a seventh grader at Northwest Guilford Middle School.

“We have to be patient with educators,” Garner said in an interview last week. “It’s a new process for everyone, from administrators to counselors to teachers to parents to students.” Even as public schools in the

Photo by Chris Burritt/NWO

Jones Chavis, a fourth grader at Revolution Academy, recites the Pledge of Allegiance during a trial run for the start of the school year during which students and teachers are required to wear masks. GCS system opted for remote learning, some charter and private schools, including Revolution Academy and Caldwell Academy, are starting the year with in-person instruction.

...continued on p. 30

No ORYA football games at Town Park, for now Town Council backs town staff’s decision based on the state’s public gathering restrictions by CHRIS BURRITT OAK RIDGE – Oak Ridge Youth Association (ORYA) football teams can practice – but not play games – on Town Park fields. That’s the decision of Town Manager Bill Bruce and Terry Lannon, the town’s parks and recreation director, based on their interpretation of the

state’s public gathering restrictions. The Town Council sided with staff’s decision after hearing an appeal from Blake Mitchell, ORYA’s co-director of football, during its meeting Aug. 6. Oak Ridge allows ORYA football teams to practice in Town Park on the condition that no more than 25 people participate in each practice. That’s the maximum number of people allowed by Gov. Roy Cooper’s executive order regulating mass gatherings during the COVID-19 outbreak. Mitchell asked Bruce and Lannon for permission for the football teams

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to play games in the park starting in September. They told him no, figuring that a competition between two teams, with coaches, players, and two referees would result in a gathering of more than 25 people.

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Oak Ridge Youth Association football coach Michael DeHart runs the practice of his team of 8-year-old players at Oak Ridge Town Park earlier this week.

AUG. 20 - SEPT. 2, 2020

In a letter to council members seeking permission for ORYA to play football games in the park, Mitchell said players, coaches and referees would comply with 10 safety precautions. They include requiring temperature checks for the participants before entering the playing fields and sanitizing the areas around

benches before and after games. Another proposed safety measure would ban parents from standing inside of the fenced area or gathering along the outside edges during the games. Mitchell relied upon an ambiguity in guidance from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to argue his case. Issued in June as a supplement to the governor’s executive order, the guidance stated that a team “may have up to 25 individuals participate in an outdoor sports practice

...continued on p. 4

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‘We love you, Mr. Sasser’ Students, parents, co-workers rally to show support for middle school math teacher diagnosed with terminal cancer

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by PATTI STOKES Known for his quirky sense of humor, love of teaching, music, Johnny Cash trivia and his alma mater, N.C. State, Jeff Sasser has touched the lives of thousands of students, parents and coworkers during his teaching career. After the seventh grade Northwest Middle School math teacher and single father of two sons got a grim diagnosis of cancer last January, he leaned on his faith and a wealth of supporters while clinging to the hope that he would return to the classroom this month, cancer-free. Sadly, after detecting mature lymphoma cells in Sasser’s bloodstream a few weeks ago, doctors informed him that his chemo regime, which had become increasingly intense and painful, was not keeping the non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma at bay. After prayerful consideration, Sasser made the difficult decision to end the treatments and transition to a pain management program.

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Jeff Sasser, who has taught seventh grade math at Northwest Middle School for the last 11 years, was diagnosed with cancer in January. After recently learning his chemo treatments were not keeping the cancer at bay, Sasser decided to forego further treatment and prioritize spending quality time with his two sons and ﬁnalizing his end-of-life plans. “I fully realize the gravity of that decision,” Sasser wrote on his GoFundMe page Aug. 7. “My oncologist tells me that I will have ‘weeks, perhaps months to live.’ Quality of life, time with my boys

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Summereld wants to hear from residents about

parks, trails, and open space!

Help develop a 12-year master plan ——3 ways to access the survey: 1) Link from our Facebook page. 2) Visit www.summereldnc.gov (in “News & Notices”). 3) Use the shown QR code.

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AUG. 20 - SEPT. 2, 2020

“

NO ORYA GAMES

This place is about ready to bust at the seams.”

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Stokesdale Mayor John Flynt, on future residential and industrial development in and bordering Stokesdale. ...

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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

...continued from p. 2

With 56 lots recently approved for residential development on the west side of Coldwater Road in Forsyth County and an industrial park planned at I-73 and N.C. 65 in Rockingham County, both just outside the Stokesdale town limits, plus 93 acres on Treeline Drive off U.S. 158 in Stokesdale rezoned last month for residential development, the town is rapidly growing, Mayor John Flynt said in his closing comments at the Aug. 13 town council meeting. “This place is going to grow, and

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“Organized sports in which participants cannot maintain social distancing are not recommended,” the guidance said. Therefore, it said the playing of such sports should be limited to conditioning and practice where “athletes are not playing the actual sport itself.” In an interview earlier this week, Mitchell said he concluded that Lannon and Bruce interpreted the guidance “as allowing 25 people maximum, the more restrictive interpretation.” The town’s policy “is to closely follow the guidelines set by the governor and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services,” Lannon said in an email last week. “With those are gathering limits. Any activity at the park will be required to follow those guidelines.”

“They’re making the best decision for Oak Ridge,” the mayor said in an interview last week. “What we don’t want to do is barely follow the guidelines. It is better for us to take a cautious approach.”

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Elsewhere, the guidance offered a contradictory recommendation. It said the mass gathering limit of 25 people applies to “groups of people who gather together in a park,” including outdoor sports fields. The state agency listed football as one of the sports where maintaining social distancing is difficult and close contact is “frequent and/or prolonged.”

Schneider, who spoke to Mitchell, said she and other council members trusted the judgment of Lannon and Bruce.

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or competition.” The document also said as many as 25 people per team may play on a field, spurring Mitchell’s argument that as many as 50 people on two teams could participate in a game.

Mitchell, who co-directs ORYA’s football program with Kelly Hayes, coaches his 12-year-old sons Austin and Anders. He said the organization’s teams will play games in other locations.

SUMMERFIELD town council

Aug. 11 / MEETING HIGHLIGHTS as reported by CHRIS BURRITT Mayor BJ Barnes called the monthly council meeting to order, with Mayor Pro Tem Tim Sessoms and council members John O’Day, Lynne Williams DeVaney, Teresa Pegram and Reece Walker present. Sessoms gave the invocation, which was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. The council limited attendance to the meeting held in Summerfield Community Center due to public gathering restrictions related to COVID-19. Consequently, Walker read out loud reports from Summerfield Fire District and the sheriff’s District 1 office in lieu of agency representatives attending in person.

CONSENT AGENDA  4  1 (Pegram opposed) to

approve the meeting agenda after deleting an item; the open-session minutes of the July 14 meeting; and the reappointment of Jim Brady, Bill North and Ron Willis to the Board of Adjustment. At Town Manager Scott Whitaker’s request, the council removed from the agenda consideration of a proposed memorandum of understanding

between Piedmont Land Conservancy and Summerfield, Oak Ridge, the city of Greensboro and Guilford County. With financial contributions from the four governing bodies, the conservancy plans to buy the 113-acre Bandera Farms tract on Bunch Road in Summerfield for the creation of a public trails preserve. Whitaker asked the council to delay consideration of the memo until the council’s next meeting Sept. 8 to give county officials the opportunity to change some of the language in the document.

ANNOUNCEMENTS Town business. Whitaker urged residents to conduct business with town staff via email and phone whenever possible to limit in-person visits to Town Hall. Parks survey. Whitaker encouraged residents to complete an online survey for a master plan for developing Summerfield’s parks, trails and open space over the next 12 years. The survey is posted on the town’s Facebook page and at www.summerfieldnc.gov under

WHAT they voted on, and HOW they voted: Mayor Pro Tem Tim Sessoms and council members John O’Day, Lynne Williams DeVaney, Teresa Pegram and Reece Walker voted on the following issues during the Aug. 11 meeting, which was accessible to the public via Facebook Live. Mayor BJ Barnes presided over the meeting, but in Summerfield the mayor votes only to break a tie.

 4  1: Approve (Pegram opposed) the consent agenda consisting of the

revised meeting agenda, open-session minutes of the July 14 meeting and three reappointments to the Board of Adjustment

 3  2: Approve (O’Day and Pegram opposed) tabling developer Rob

Jessup’s request to rezone nearly 46 acres abutting Birkhaven from agricultural to RS-40 (residential) for the proposed construction of 27 houses

 5  0: Reappoint Elizabeth Ingram as an ex-officio member of the

Historical Committee, appoint Troy Stantliff to the committee and reappoint Bill King to the Trails and Open Space Committee

 5  0: Approve an agreement enabling Guilford County to distribute to Summerfield federal funds earmarked for reimbursing municipalities’ coronavirus-related expenses

 5  0: Approve a policy governing remote town meetings during state of emergencies declared by state leaders

the News & Notices tab. Committee vacancies. The town is seeking volunteers on the Historical and Trails and Open Space committees and the Board of Adjustment. To learn more or apply, visit www.summerfieldnc.gov or contact Town Clerk Lance Heater at (336) 643-8655 or clerk@summerfieldnc.gov. 2020 Census. Whitaker urged residents to complete the 2020 Census online or by mail, email or phone. Census workers plan to complete door-to-door visits to people who haven’t responded by the end of September, he said.

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Intern appreciation. Whitaker thanked Brad Rentz, an Appalachian State University graduate student, for serving the town as a summer intern. Later, Barnes gave Rentz a drink tumbler in appreciation. The Summerfield resident

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is pursuing a master’s degree in public administration.

EMERGENCY SERVICES Fire District. Whitaker read a report from Summerfield Fire District stating it responded to 135 incidents in July, including 32 fire-related calls, 49 EMSrelated calls and 34 others. Firefighters also installed 15 car seats and three smoke detectors. Sheriff’s office. District 1 officers responded to 149 calls in Summerfield last month, including 13 reports of suspicious activity, three larcenies and 35 burglar alarms, Walker said.

COMMITTEE REPORTS Historical. Whitaker read a report from committee Chair Gary Brown saying that when the committee next meets (meeting date to be determined), members plan to elect new officers for the coming year and discuss the collection of relics that preceded the demolition of the historic, collapsing Saunders Inn on N.C. 150.

Trails and Open Space. The committee is exploring how it can “beautify” the inside and entrances to the tunnels underneath U.S. 220 and Interstate 73, Whitaker said. Also, walking sticks crafted by Clark Doggett and sold for $30 at Town Hall have sold out; proceeds will benefit committee activities, Whitaker said.

PUBLIC HEARING: REZONING  3  2 (O’Day and Pegram

opposed) to table developer Rob Jessup’s request to rezone nearly 46 acres abutting Birkhaven from agricultural to RS-40 (Residential) for the construction of 27 houses. The delay will give town staff the opportunity to research fire protection for the proposed development at 3016 Rear Oak Ridge Road. In a meeting last month with Summerfield Fire District officials, Jessup raised the prospect of constructing a 30,000-gallon water tank to aid firefighters. In a memo to the council, fire chief Chris Johnson said a tank would give firefighters “access to much-needed water” for fighting fires in the proposed subdivision as well as the 72 houses in Birkhaven. A letter from Birkhaven’s homeowners association signed by 59 homeowners urged the council to deny the rezoning request, partly because the construction of new houses would increase traffic on the single road in and out of the neighborhood. Scott Muthersbaugh, the HOA’s president, reiterated homeowners’ concerns in remarks during the public hearing. Representing Jessup, engineer Ethan Creed said the developer understands the concerns and wants to address them. Town Attorney Bob Hornik advised council members to consider whether the developer’s request meets zoning requirements while urging them not to delve into the possible location of lots and streets and other details that would be addressed later during the subdivi-

sion plat approval process. Even so, council members discussed concerns about traffic, rainwater runoff and fire protection for the proposed development. Walker, a Summerfield fireman, said he wants to know whether the tract is located within five miles of the nearest fire stations in Summerfield and Oak Ridge as a factor in determining the availability of fire insurance in the proposed subdivision. Most of the property is located in Summerfield, with a small section located in Oak Ridge. “My concern would be voting on something that we’re not sure about,” said Walker, who seconded DeVaney’s motion to table a decision on the rezoning request until the council’s meeting next month. “I don’t like kicking it down the road,” said O’Day, who joined Pegram in voting against tabling the issue.

the money would pay for internet connection in the homes of students.

Summerfield Community Center. Walker said the Summerfield Community Center could provide “an incredible opportunity for the town,” joining other council members instructing Whitaker to provide an estimate of general repair costs for the building if the town should take ownership of it. The building at 5404 Centerfield Road sits on 16.8 acres owned by Summerfield Community Center Inc. (SCCI), which leases a portion of the property to the town for its park facilities, amphitheater and usage of the center for meetings. Last year, the non-profit SCCI offered to deed the property to Sum-

merfield on the condition that Guilford County doesn’t exercise its right-of-firstrefusal to take the land. Whitaker asked the council for guidance on whether town staff should continue preparing for the possibility that the town may accept the property. “The consensus is that we are interested,” Barnes told Whitaker. “Let’s see what the county is going to do.”

Emergency remote meeting policy

 5  0 to adopt a policy governing remote meetings of the council, committees and boards during the COVID-19 outbreak and other states of ... continued on p. 12

Send them back to school with a healthy smile

BUSINESS FROM MANAGER

Committee assignments

 5  0 to reappoint Elizabeth Ingram as an ex-officio member of the Historical Committee and appoint Troy Stantliff as a new member of the committee. The council also reappointed Bill King to the Trails and Open Space Committee. COVID-19 relief

 5  0 to approve an agreement

enabling Guilford County to distribute to Summerfield federal funds earmarked for reimbursing expenses directly linked to the coronavirus. Based upon its population, Summerfield would be eligible for a reimbursement of up to $110,440. However, the town has only incurred costs of about $1,800 for cleaning supplies and expenses tied to the virus, according to Dee Hall, the town’s finance officer. Barnes instructed Hall to explore whether the town could spend the federal funds to provide laptop computers for students. DeVaney asked whether

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OAK RIDGE town council

Aug. 6 / MEETING HIGHLIGHTS as reported by CHRIS BURRITT Mayor Ann Schneider called the meeting to order with Mayor Pro Tem Jim Kinneman and council members Doug Nodine and Martha Pittman present; Councilman George McClellan was absent. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the meeting took place virtually, via the Zoom software platform.

MANAGER’S REPORT

Committee appointments

 4  0 to instruct town staff to

write a policy about the appointment of residents to committees and boards. Council members concurred the council is responsible for filling committee vacancies, although they agreed they may ask committee members for their opinions about applicants seeking appointments. Kinneman and Schneider said Town Attorney Michael Thomas had recommended creating a formal policy for committee appointments after recognizing they had been informal and lacked consistency among committees. “I agree the buck stops with the council,” Pittman said.

Town Clerk Sandra Smith said she had reached out to other municipalities in North Carolina to ask for insight on their policies for committee appointments. She heard back from about 10 towns, including Summerfield, Stokesdale and Greensboro, which said their councils fill committee appointments. Oak Ridge’s council plans to consider adopting the policy during its monthly meeting Sept. 3.

ORYA appointment

serve as the council’s representative on the Oak Ridge Youth Association’s board of directors. The position is nonvoting, according to the town’s annual agreement with the association governing the usage of athletic fields at Town Park. The council approved the agreement last month after Kinneman and Pittman served on the council’s youth athletics subcommittee to explore ways to improve the town’s relationship with ORYA.

Envirolink contract Town Manager Bill Bruce said he will

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Mayor Ann Schneider, Mayor Pro Tem Jim Kinneman and council members Doug Nodine and Martha Pittman met Aug. 6 via Zoom; Councilman George McClellan was absent. Below are some of the key items they voted on:

 4  0: Instruct town staff to write a policy about the appointment of residents to committees

 4  0: Appoint Kinneman to serve as council’s representative on the Oak Ridge Youth Association’s board of directors  4  0: Approve an agreement for the town to seek reimbursement for coronavirus-related expenses from Guilford County

 4  0: Appoint former Mayor Spencer Sullivan and four other residents to a newly created Water Advisory Board  3  1: Approve (Nodine opposed) a contribution of $50,000 towards the purchase of 113 acres on Bunch Road for the creation of a public trails preserve

 4  0 to appoint Kinneman to

Since 2008

WHAT they voted on, and HOW they voted:

provide council members with a spreadsheet of Envirolink Inc.’s projected costs for establishing and operating a proposed municipal water system. Nodine and Pittman said they’d like a better understanding of Envirolink’s proposal after Bruce was instructed last month to negotiate a contract to operate a system; in response to questions by council members, the contractor provided additional information about costs. Nodine, who opposes the proposed system, asked for cost projections for subdivisions with varying numbers of lots to determine whether the system would generate positive cash flow. Explaining that she’s had trouble “putting all of the pieces together,” Pittman said she’d like to see a statement projecting financial results of a system.

COVID-19 relief aid

 4  0 to approve an agreement

for Oak Ridge to seek reimbursement for coronavirus-related expenses from Guilford County. After getting $97.3 million from the federal government to cover expenses related to the COVID-19 outbreak through the end of the year, the county is offering some of the money to towns, based on their populations.

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On that basis, Oak Ridge would be eligible to receive about $68,000, according to Bruce. However, he said the town qualifies for “much, much less” because its spending so far on disinfectants for public spaces, information technology enabling staff to work from home and other virus-related expenses does not total the full reimbursable amount. At the suggestion of Kinneman, Bruce and Thomas said they’ll investigate whether the town could qualify for additional money by creating an economic development program to aid small businesses in Oak Ridge forced to shut down or curtail operations because of the virus. While expressing support for small employers, Schneider cautioned the town may not want to make an ongoing commitment to establishing a program that may be short-lived.

NEW BUSINESS

Water Advisory Board appointments

 4  0 to appoint former mayor

Spencer Sullivan and four other residents to a newly created Water Advisory Board. Sullivan, Erin English, Brian Hall, Francis Disney and Phil McNamara will

advise the council “on matters related to public water,” Schneider said.

and horseback riders. A future agreement will address those costs, he said.

The board will offer advice on how Oak Ridge should spend an estimated $1.1 million state appropriation for water-related projects, as well as how the town would oversee a possible municipal water system, Schneider said.

According to the memo, the property at the northern corner of Bunch Road and I-73 in Summerfield may eventually be deeded to the town of Summerfield.

Bandera Farms

 3  1 (Nodine opposed) to approve the town contributing $50,000 towards the purchase of 113 acres on Bunch Road southeast of the town limits for the creation of a public trails preserve. The Piedmont Land Conservancy agreed in February to pay $575,000 for the Bandera Farms tract, based upon its hope/expectation to get $50,000 from Oak Ridge, $100,000 from Summerfield and $200,000 each from the county and the city for a total of $550,000, or $25,000 shy of the agreed price. The conservancy committed to make two earnest-money deposits totaling $10,000 and agreed to cover the remaining costs. The Oak Ridge council approved the conservancy’s proposed memorandum of understanding laying out the financial commitments by the four governing bodies. While committing $50,000 towards purchasing the property, Bruce told the council that signing the document doesn’t commit Oak Ridge to pay for development or maintenance costs for the proposed park for runners, bikers

Thomas said he’s confident Oak Ridge can satisfy its statutory requirement to obtain a legal interest in the tract – possibly as a co-holder of a conservation easement on the property – as part of its spending on real estate outside of its jurisdiction. Citing legal concerns, Nodine voted against the approval of the agreement despite the town attorney’s opinion.

PUBLIC COMMENTS  Blake Mitchell, an Oak Ridge Youth Association volunteer, urged the council to allow football teams to play games on fields at Town Park after providing a list of COVID-19-related safety steps that players, coaches and families would follow. (See related article on p. 2.)

Planning and Zoning Board. Chair Ron Simpson reported a subcommittee of the board is nearing completion of a proposal to reduce the number of business classifications in the town’s code of ordinances. Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) Committee. Co-chair Bill Royal said the committee reviewed plans for an Eagle Scout project to construct a wildlifeviewing platform along the trail. Special Events Committee. Chair Patti Dmuchowski said the committee is reviewing elements such as lighting, the use of flags and placement of benches in veterans’ memorials in other towns, as it develops two designs for a proposed memorial in Oak Ridge. It plans

to present the designs during an open house Nov. 10 as it seeks input from residents.

COUNCIL COMMENTS  Kinneman urged people to wear face masks, wash their hands often and practice social distancing to reduce the spread of COVID-19.  Pittman said the MST Committee is seeking additional volunteers.  Schneider said she understands “the frustration” by residents upset about the closing of playgrounds and restricted use of fields at Town Park due to the COVID-19 outbreak. She urged people to respect one another’s opinions and “give each other some grace.” “We can only do what is best for Oak Ridge and what is very clearly in compliance” with state regulations, the mayor said. With no further council member comments, the meeting was adjourned about 8:30 p.m.

COMMUNITY UPDATES Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. Vice Chair Phyllis Anders reported that organizers of RidgeFest are deciding whether to proceed with plans for the festival Thursday, Sept. 10, through Saturday, Sept. 12, after rescheduling the event from May due to the coronavirus. Historic Preservation Commission. Chair Debbie Shoenfeld reported the

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On public safety, Lawson says he will fight for adequate pay and proper training for those in uniform. Although he says the current board of commissioners has done a “stellar job” in stabilizing the county’s property tax rate over the past several years, Lawson notes the tax rate is still above the state average and he pledges “to work to keep property taxes in line with other counties our size.” On economic development, Lawson says he will work to attract companies and corporations that bring high-paying, long-term jobs to Guilford County.

See ad on p. 29

Friends of Troy Lawson

On a personal note, Lawson has a degree in Communications from Boston College and an MBA from Strayer University. His career has spanned the fields of higher education, consulting and non-profit management. He has been a lifelong activist and for over 40 years he has worked to promote the conservative issues he is passionate about.

Troy Lawson has been a Republican candidate for Guilford County Commissioner, District 5, since Lawson was elected to be the December 2019; first African-American chairman of District 5 encomthe Guilford County GOP, serving in passes parts of that role from 2017 to 2019. He has northern and continued to lead the GOP in fundrais8004 Linville Road, Suite E-3, Oak Ridge central Guilford ing, candidate recruitment, promotion Troy Lawson County. and outreach to young and minority “The quality of a child’s educabarbourwilliams.com conservatives. tional opportunities should never be

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appropriate funding for our schools.”

Lawson and his wife, Stephanie, relocated to Greensboro in 2015. They have two grown daughters, Melissa and Olivia. The Lawsons enjoy finding new restaurants in Greensboro and spending time with their two rescue dogs, Oscar and Winnie.

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‘WE LOVE YOU’ ...continued from p. 3

and planning for the end are my priorities. I feel the Lord in this choice and am working my way to ok.” While grappling with the latest news, a faithful friend and co-worker at Northwest Middle School, teacher Beth Rickerts, came up with a way to help lift his spirits. As students and teachers prepared to return to school this week, she organized an impromptu parade to include him in the back-to-school excitement and give supporters a chance to let him know how much he is loved. Over 40 cars paraded by Sasser’s home the afternoon of Aug. 9, all decorated and filled with co-workers, students, parents and friends. As they streamed by the front yard of his home where he sat watching, they held out handmade posters while waving enthusiastically and shouting words of encouragement. “Teachers often wonder if they made a difference. Mr. Sasser’s humor, unwavering commitment to his career and students, and his patience in teaching what many consider to be a sometimes difficult subject, makes him a phenomenal educator. His heart and concern for others makes him a phenomenal human,” Rickerts recently wrote on the GoFundMe page she helped set up for Sasser in April. “Mr. Sasser, his mother and his two sons, Adam and Daniel, all were able to be outside to witness the spectacle that was the ‘Sasser Parade.’” In an email to the Northwest Observer, Chloe Cole, a 15-year-old sophomore at Northwest Guilford High School who had Sasser as a

math teacher in seventh grade, wrote, “He is the kind of teacher who loves his students and loves what he does, he’s known for his sense of humor and for holding daily tutoring sessions to help any student, which he definitely did for me almost every day of the week for probably eight months.”

Happy 90th Birthday Jill Strader!

On Sept. 1, 1930, God sent Ollie and Birch Neal a beautiful little girl named Jill Smothers Neal; she was surrounded by her older sister, Sybil, and brother, Jack, and later God sent two more sisters, Barbara and Judy.

After recently learning of Sasser’s decision to end his chemo treatments, Chloe quickly organized a bake sale and raised $550, which she contributed to his GoFundMe page. Donations made there will be used to help offset her former teacher’s medical bills and add to his two sons’ college funds. Others were equally as giving of their heartfelt comments as their donations, with former students posting messages to Sasser that included, “Not only would you explain math topics perfectly, and give us tons of practice problems to make sure we understood, you were funny and made sure math class was fun;” “Thank you for always having a smile when we walk into your classroom. Your jokes always make us laugh;” and “I have never enjoyed a math class more than I did yours, even if I had no idea what I was doing.” “I have been so blessed since January by your love and support,” Sasser wrote in return. “I thank God daily for it. I would love to wrap my arms around each and every one of you.” And in an email to the Northwest Observer last week, Sasser asked that we pass along this message: “Thank you to the Viking Nation who has loved and supported me through the past 11 years. It is a great day to be a Viking!”

Jill loved attending Bethany school and would often go home and spend the night with her teachers. She enjoyed drama, cheerleading, and was secretary of the senior class of 1948. On June 13, 1948, Jill (our mom) married the “love of her life,” Paul H. Strader, Jr. (our dad). They were blessed with five children: Tommy, Johnny, Susan, Ann and Joy. Little Joy went to heaven when she was only 17 days old. Mom and Dad were later blessed with 28 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Mom is well known, respected and loved throughout the Summerfield and Stokesdale communities and has been an embodiment of love and service to her friends, neighbors and acquaintances for many years. She has baked thousands of egg custard pies and taken them to shut-ins and friends. She enjoys making phone calls to wish her friends and family a happy birthday, or just to encourage them. Mom sees life as a “blessing from God” and everything she does and every word she speaks is “seasoned with love.” Some have referred to her as an “angel on earth.” To us, her children, we are so blessed to call her “our mother”!

To donate to Jeff Sasser’s GoFundMe page, visit GoFundMe.com and search for “Jeff Sasser.”

WE’LL BE BACK IN PRINT THURSDAY, SEPT. 3 To place a DISPLAY AD in our next issue or a future issue, contact Laura: (336) 644-7035, ext. 11 | advertising@nwobserver.com To place a CLASSIFIED AD: www.nwobserver.com | (336) 644-7035, ext. 10 | classifieds@nwobserver.com

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

AUG. 20 - SEPT. 2, 2020

TOWN COUNCIL

committee, which is slated to start meeting in January. As proposed, Barnes and the five other council members would each select two members.

...continued from p. 7

emergency declared by state leaders.

Town Hall architect search. Twenty firms have expressed interest in designing a new town hall, Whitaker said; the deadline for architectural firms to respond to the town’s request for qualifications was Aug. 6.

BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL Tomorrow Committee. The council tabled discussion of how to create a committee composed of residents who would recommend ideas to improve the quality of life in Summerfield. In February, Barnes proposed the creation of the Tomorrow Committee consisting of 12 members handpicked by council members. Exactly how the committee would be formed sparked disagreement during the council meeting. Council members struggled to find common ground on the formation of the

Pegram said the appointments could turn political while Barnes said he wanted to appoint members who would advise him about the community’s view on varied issues, such as whether the town should build a dog park.

Whitaker gave council members a report by Raleigh-based Wooten Co. which updated its July 2016 study that projected costs for supplying water to firefighters.

NEXT MEETING

Barnes recommended delaying discussion of the CONTACT YOUR TOWN topic until the council explores (336) 643-8355 the possibility of clerk@summerfieldnc.gov building a new town www.summerfieldnc.gov hall, a potential site for a water tank. If the council were to decide to erect tanks, it would have almost two years – until June After tabling the discussion, 2022 – to spend an estimated $1.1 milthe council instructed Whitaker to finelion state appropriation earmarked for tune proposed changes to the comwater projects, Whitaker said. mittee ordinance based on the views council members had just expressed. UDO update. DeVaney asked town Tuesday, Sept. 8 • 6:30pm

Fire suppression discussion tabled. At the mayor’s suggestion, the council tabled discussion of updated costs for using water tanks to help fight fires.

staff for an update on the Zoning Board’s walk-through of the draft unified development ordinance (UDO), a set of regulations governing commercial and

Meet Dr. Timberlake

residential development in Summerfield. Completing a UDO draft has taken longer than anticipated, Whitaker said. The ordinance has been undergoing revisions for several years while town officials attempt to align development regulations with goals of Summerfield’s comprehensive plan. Adopted by the council a decade ago, the plan embraced a dozen objectives, such as limiting commercial growth, encouraging historic preservation and building a system of sidewalks, bikeways and trails. The Zoning Board is “getting very close to having their substantive work done” on the UDO, Whitaker said. After completion by the board, the draft will undergo legal and environmental reviews, followed by the public’s and the council’s review. “We’re just going to keep working on it,” Whitaker said. With no further discussion, the council adjourned the meeting at 10:17 p.m.

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Summit Church blends rural past with futuristic technology Photos by Chris Burritt/NWO

Summit Church’s facade of brick, stone and wood gives a nod to Oak Ridge’s rural history. Workers and church volunteers are putting the ﬁnal touches on the 31,000-square-foot building on N.C. 68 in Oak Ridge and hope to begin holding services there in the near future. (Inset at left) “We wanted it to look like a modern horsefarm lodge,” said Pastor Andy Cook, standing between sliding barn doors in the entry to a meeting room.

14 Your Business Questions Did Down 420 Lane in Stokesdale go out of business? What’s going into the building once occupied by Stokesdale Veterinary Hospital?

Oak Ridge Physical Therapy expands into Summerfield with third location

breaks ground for 22 Bi-Rite new store at the corner of N.C. 65 and Ellisboro Road in Stokesdale

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Down 420 Lane recently moved to the corner of U.S. 158 and Newberry Street in downtown Stokesdale.

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What happened to Down 420 Lane, the store located in the same strip center as the Stokesdale Post Office, Atlantic Outdoors and BJ’s Grill? I noticed their sign is gone and the store is empty. Did they go out of business? Down 420 Lane is still open for business but it recently moved a few blocks away, into the building vacated by Stokesdale Family Pharmacy, at the corner of U.S. 158 and Newberry Street. Owner Gary Jones opened the smoke shop three years ago at its original location on U.S. 158, between Atlantic Outdoors and BJ’s Grill, and decided to make the recent move for several reasons. “It’s $400 cheaper to own the building than it was to pay rent (at

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

the other location),” he said. “We also have a drive-thru now, and better parking.” Jones said he had lost several customers because of the parking situation at the old location, especially at lunch and dinner times when the adjacent restaurant attracted more customers. The store opened at its new location in late July and sales are already better than before, he said. Jones owns another smoke shop in Winston-Salem and has plans to open two more in the future, but isn’t ready to disclose their locations. The shop’s former location at 8214 U.S. 158 is available for rent through RE/MAX Realty Consultants. For more information, contact Tonya Brady at (336) 707-4986.

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Oak Ridge resident Kathy Edwards plans to open a training facility for golden retrievers in the building formerly occupied by Stokesdale Veterinary Hospital.

has moved elsewhere, but it looks like there’s some remodeling taking place at their old location.

“Training dogs full-time is what I would love to do,” she said, but added she would still maintain her nursing career.

Stokesdale Veterinary Hospital moved last March to a larger location at 7823A U.S. 158 in Stokesdale; the building was formerly occupied by Pampered Paws Village, which is no longer in business.

Edwards has been training dogs for about five years and has experience in showing her own dogs and participating in performance trials. For now, she’s limiting her training to goldens, but may someday consider expanding to other breeds. She may also add show grooming to her business at some point.

Another animal-related business is set to take over the vet’s longtime location in downtown Stokesdale, between Stokesdale Post Office and Fidelity Bank. Oak Ridge resident Kathy Edwards owns Summer Oaks Golden Retrievers, a breeder of performance and show dogs, and is in the process of transforming the building into a training center specifically for golden retrievers.

Training at the new facility, located at 8208 U.S. 158 in downtown Stokesdale, will be “lowkey” and by appointment only. The number of dogs Edwards will work with at any time will be limited to eight, and she said she’s working on creating an environment that will be comfortable and relaxing for both dogs and their owners.

Edwards, who works full-time as a nurse, said she has a passion for training dogs.

Edwards is still finalizing a name for her business and hopes to open by Sept. 15.

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The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

AUG. 20 - SEPT. 2, 2020

Summit Church blends rural past with futuristic technology Nearing completion, the church’s lodge-like building on N.C. 68 honors Oak Ridge’s farming roots while the auditorium rocks with lights, sound and purple haze by CHRIS BURRITT OAK RIDGE – Sliding barn doors and a mural depicting horses grazing in a pasture indicate that Summit Church leaders followed through with plans to recognize Oak Ridge’s rural past when designing its new building on N.C. 68. Natural light fills the soaring lobby bolstered by stout wooden beams; inside the auditorium that will seat about 530 worshipers, there’s a different, more futuristic feel that’s designed to provide a seamless transition from the rustic entranceway.

Photo by Saul Johnson, Summit Church

Lights and sound in Summit Church’s auditorium create an atmosphere more expected of a concert than a traditional church service.

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Home-grown stories about everything from maintaining and improving your home, to housing trends, history and humor of life in northwest Guilford County

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The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

One afternoon last week, production director Saul Johnson transformed the dimly lit auditorium into a setting suitable for a music concert. Spotlights punctuated the purplish color in the wide space as wavy graphics squiggled across overhead screens. Next to the stage, set up with a keyboard and drum set, a machine called a hazer emitted a fine mist that accentuated the light rays. A half dozen computers in the back of the auditorium control the setup, which Johnson equated to “what you would need to stage a medium-size concert tour.” Combined with the nondenominational church’s informality – worshipers dress casually and drink coffee during Sunday morning services – the “gee-whiz” light show aims to create an environment that will pleasantly surprise newcomers.

Ridge Elementary School’s gymnasium about 7 ½ years ago.

Summit Church “is seeking unchurched people or people who are looking for something different than they grew up with,” said Pastor Andy Cook, explaining the church’s mission since it began meeting nearby in Oak

Attendance at Sunday services grew from about 130 people to about 700 in March when the COVID-19 outbreak forced services to shift online. Leaders of the church, which also operates campuses in High Point and Kernersville,

Photos by Chris Burritt/NWO

(Left) “We wanted it to look like a modern horse-farm lodge,” said Pastor Andy Cook, standing in a meeting room where a big-screen TV and ﬁrewood illustrate the mix of technology and rural roots in the church. (Above) A mural of horses in a pasture greets children going to classrooms.

will decide when to resume in-person services based upon their evaluation of statistics such as the number of virus cases in Guilford County. “We just want to be wise,” Cook said. “We want to make a decision for all people.” Until then, workers and church

volunteers are putting the final touches on the 31,000-square-foot building. The church bought nearly 15 acres on N.C. 68 just south of Fogleman Road in 2017 and broke ground about 15 months ago. It has spent about $6.1 million on the project.

...continued on p. 26

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Don Mills has been at the forefront of providing beautiful custom homes in Guilford County since the early 1980s. As owners of Don Mills Builders, Don and his wife, Annette Mills, have established a solid reputation for fairness, high quality and a willingness to go the extra mile to build their customers the home of their dreams at a price they are comfortable with. “We build in a wide variety of price points and neighborhoods to ensure customers can get what they are looking for in the area they want to call home,” Don said. “We’re flexible and can give advice on substitutions or design changes to make a home more affordable.” Don and Annette each bring their unique talents to the homebuilding process; while Don concentrates on the construction of the company’s houses, Annette focuses on design of their spec houses as well as serving as a design consultant for homeowners of the company’s custom-built houses.

“We have folks visit our homes on the Parade of Homes tour every year just to see what new ideas she has come up with,” Don said. “Annette guides our customers throughout the process of building their custom dream home as well, working hard to give them what they want and at the same time stay within their budget.” As the demand for their homes has continued to grow, the couple decided they needed to add more people to their team. Last year, Lee Whitt joined the company as a full-time project manager to handle the hands-on, day-in and dayout communicating with homeowners and subcontractors. “Lee has given us the ability to continue working one-on-one with our custom homeowners and he helps to ensure timely completion of construction and smooth transitions,” Don said. Whitt, who has an impressive background in the building industry, has framed custom homes in Guilford County

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Don Mills Builders takes pride in offering custom features that result in a standout, yet comfortable home. Since the early 1980s, Don Mills (right) has been building custom and spec homes that meet customers’ desires, expectations and budgets.

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ce the early ‘90s. Combined, Don and e offer over 65 years of home building owledge and experience, a huge benefit customers who select Don Mills Builders build their custom home. Besides adding Whitt to their team, on Mills Builders has also brought on two ministrative staff members. Rachel Hill d Ivy Baker handle the office needs and eep everything straight,” as well as help th customer support. “Every addition to this business has one mary purpose: to serve the customer tter,” Don said. “There has never been ything more rewarding in the building ocess than a satisfied customer!” Don Mills Builders builds homes all er Guilford County and currently has mes underway or available in Wolf dge, Charles Place at Arbor Run, Bethel dge, Woodrose, Angels Landing, Cedar ollow, The Reserve at Owls Roost and nights Landing

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Bi-Rite breaks ground for new store

Photos by Patti Stokes/NWO

Bi-Rite owner David Wrenn, with his wife Kathy by his side, addresses those who gathered Aug. 9 for a groundbreaking at the store’s future location at the corner of N.C. 65 and Ellisboro Road in Stokesdale. In photo at right, some of the Wrenn family members pose for a groundbreaking photo. STOKESDALE – Plans for a new Bi-Rite have been in the works for several years, the last three of which have been especially “intense” with phone calls, emails and texts, owner David Wrenn told friends and family members Aug. 9 at a groundbreaking for the store. The new store will be perched atop a hill, on roughly seven acres Wrenn owns at the corner of N.C. 65 (Belews Creek Road) and Ellisboro Road. At about 27,000 square feet, it will be more than three times larger than the Bi-Rite that has operated from leased space at the corner of U.S. 158 and N.C. 65 since the 1960s, when the grandfather of Wrenn’s wife, Kathy, opened the store. Wrenn

went to work bagging groceries in 1978 and has worked there ever since, becoming as much of a downtown icon over the last 42 years as the building itself. “I’m excited about having a little bit more room for other things,” Wrenn told those who gathered earlier this month to celebrate what is to come. Those “other things,” Wrenn said, include ample parking; an expanded meat department and “a lot of smoked meat”; a seating area for about 22 people to eat items purchased from the store’s hot bar and cold bar – and clean restrooms. Construction of the new store is expected to be completed in about nine months.

want more? See a video from the groundbreaking at Facebook.com/Northwest Observer, posted Aug. 11.

Oak Ridge Physical Therapy opens at third location SUMMERFIELD – Oak Ridge Physical Therapy opened at its newest location on Monday, Aug. 17. Having successfully established practices in Oak Ridge and Eden, owner Andy Michels, PT, MS, said he had set his sights on opening a practice in Summerfield some time ago and is excited to see his plans come to fruition. Chad Parker, MPT, LAT, ATC, CSCS, is the Summerfield practice’s lead physi-

cal therapist, and Michels said he is pleased to have a person with Parker’s expertise and leadership skills overseeing the new location. Parker joined Oak Ridge Physical Therapy just over a year ago, but Michels said the two men have known each other for 19 years; in fact, Michels hired Parker when they both worked for

...continued on p. 24

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NEW LOCATION ...continued from p. 22

Photo by Patti Stokes/NWO

Alloy Personal Training co-owners Kathy Mazzoli (left) and Lara Gallert (right), with full-time trainer Matt Guthrie, stand inside their new facility in Summerfield’s Hillsdale Village, at the corner of Lake Brandt Road and N.C. 150. The business offers customized workout plans for clients of all ages and fitness levels with the benefits of personalized training and accountability in a small group setting. While waiting for Phase 3 of the governor’s COVID-19 restrictions to take effect, the facility is pre-selling no-contract memberships. Learn more at www.alloypersonaltraining.com/ locations/summerfield.

another physical therapy practice. Oak Ridge Physical Therapy focuses on providing physical therapy in three primary areas: orthopedic, sports and balance (including vestibular rehabilitation and fall prevention). The new practice is located at 1007 N.C. 150 West, Suite D, in Summerfield’s Hillsdale Village – you’ll find it at the corner of Lake Brandt Road and N.C. 150, near Godino’s Bakery and Luigi’s Italian Restaurant. For more info, see Oak Ridge Physical Therapy’s ad on p. 5 of this issue, or visit www.oakridgept.com. Photo by Patti Stokes/NWO

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SUMMIT CHURCH

...continued from p. 17

Oak Ridge Mayor Ann Schneider, who toured the new facility along with other council members several weeks ago, said it “turned out beautifully,” with its façade of brick, stone and wood facing the highway respecting the town’s rural past. Church leaders followed that course on their own, without guidance from the Historic Preservation Commission, since the property is located outside of the town’s historic district, she noted. “They clearly made an effort to reflect what’s best about Oak Ridge,” Schneider said in an interview last week.

Tony and Mollie Perez, of Summerfield, and their three children look forward to the change of venue from the elementary school. Tony plays drums in the worship band and Mollie volunteers in the children’s ministry. “When you start a church, you don’t want to be in an elementary school forever,” Mollie said last week. “So it’s a dream come true, more than we ever imagined.” Mollie grew up attending a Moravian church, so when her family began attending Summit Church five years ago, its casual, contemporary worship with an emphasis on music was new to her. “It’s a feeling, an environment that’s so special that you feel comfortable,” Mollie said.

From the start, Cook said, “We wanted it to feel like a modern horsefarm lodge. It’s the greatest compliment to hear people say it fits this community.”

“It’s humbling to see a concept that’s in your head for so many years, dream about what could be and see it now and physically sit in the space,” he added.

“They’re really trying to take down all of the road blocks to worship. They try to make it comfortable and inviting,” she said. A big screen in the center of the stage can be lowered to allow for a remote broadcast by the church’s other ministers when Cook doesn’t preach. Doorways in the front and back of the building open to a wide lobby with

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three big fans and a ceiling reaching 32 feet high. Administrative offices for staff are located in the rear of the building. Directly across the lobby from the auditorium is a large meeting room called the Gallery. Furnished with tall tables and leather and upholstered chairs, it’s a place for newcomers to learn more about the church or for people to gather to talk or pray, Cook said. A pair of sliding barn doors separates the space from a kitchenette where coffee and food are prepared. “The gallery is about connection,” Cook said last week during a tour of the church. Children will attend services on the opposite side of the lobby from the auditorium. A hallway mural depicting horses in a pasture greets younger children as they enter their section of the building. Older kids will meet in an area with its own stage equipped with lights and sound like the auditorium, as well as an adjacent

hangout for the student ministry. Called the Garage, the area offers games and a frozen slushy machine and opens to an area outdoors with a basketball goal, patio furniture, grill and television mounted on the wall. It is surrounded by a wrought iron fence, part of security measures that also include 54 cameras and a system for parents to check in on and pick up their children. About 1,000 people consider Summit Church their place of worship, according to Cook. He hopes the new facility will help double that number by attracting people “looking for something a little bit different than what they grew up in.” “What we have is a generation of people who grew up in church and then slipped away at some point in their lives,” he said. “What we’re seeing is couples starting their own families wanting that church dynamic back in their lives, to raise their children in a way that honors God.”

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AUG. 20 - SEPT. 2, 2020

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Match the Tools

Match each of these tools commonly used in home building and repairs by drawing a line from their picture to their description

r e n r o K ’ s d Ki

MEASURING TAPE: flexible ruler used to measure size or distance HAMMER: a tool with a heavy piece of metal at the end of a handle often used to hit nails into a piece of wood or a wall, or to break things into pieces

8 Find the differences

DRILL: an instrument with an edged or pointed end for making holes in hard substances by revolving or by a succession of blows

CIRCULAR SAW: a power-saw with a sharp round blade which is spun quickly by a motor; used to cut many materials such as wood, masonry, plastic or metal and may be hand-held or mounted to a machine HARD HAT: worn by workers at a building site to protect their heads from falling objects

SCREW DRIVER: a tool, manual or powered, used for installing and removing screws

LEVEL: a device for determining true horizontal or vertical directions by the centering of a bubble in a slightly curved glass tube or tubes filled with alcohol or ether PLIERS: small pincers with long jaws used for bending or cutting wire or handling small things

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SATURDAY, AUG. 22

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Carolina, a non-profit therapeutic riding program, will host a volunteer sign-up/training session Aug. 22, 9 to 11 a.m. at Still Water Farm, 7169 Strawberry Road in Summerfield. Come out to learn about the volunteer opportunities and tour the farm. Sidewalkers must be at least 13 years old, and horse leaders must be at least 15 years old and have two years of horse handling experience. Interested volunteers are asked to visit www.horsefriendsnc.org/volunteer prior to the meeting to watch a virtual training video, read about the COVID-19 safety guidelines, and sign an agreement. More info: Sue Parker, sueparker@horsefriendsnc.org.

SATURDAY, AUG. 29

food pantry in Stokesdale will open for those in need of food on Aug. 29, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at Stokesdale Business Center, 8500 Ellisboro Road in Stokesdale. Due to COVID-19 safety guidelines, cars will be directed to enter the parking lot and drive by the entrance area to the pantry; boxes of food will be placed in cars without recipients getting out. To make a financial donation or request emergency assistance, contact Terri Johnson at (336) 643-5887 or email terrij1957@yahoo.com.

Aug. 13 | A 24-year-old female in the 8200 block of Quail Creek Drive in Colfax (near Pleasant Ridge Road) reported a known suspect assaulted her between 12:30 and 3:45 a.m.

Aug. 9 | A 55-year-old male known offender was arrested in the 7800 block of Gardner Court in northwest Greensboro (off Edgefield Road) for driving while impaired. Aug. 15 | A 43-year-old male in the 1000 block of N.C. 150 W in Summerfield was arrested at 3:34 a.m. for driving while impaired.

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Aug. 9 | A 39-year-old female in the 7300 block of Winchester Trail Loop in Summerfield (near Strawberry Road) reported a known suspect grabbed her and threw her phone in the woods.

Aug. 8 | A 22-year-old female was arrested in the 300 block of N.C. 68 N in northwest Greensboro for driving while impaired.

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Aug. 6 | A police officer in the 8300 block of Lakedale Circle in Colfax (near Sandy Ridge Road) reported a known suspect assaulted him while he was carrying out official duties.

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Aug. 5 | A 40-year-old female was cited at 12:22 a.m. at Gene’s Early Times Bar in Stokesdale for misdemeanor disorderly conduct after she became intoxicated and started physical altercations with multiple patrons.

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DRUGS Aug. 5 | At 3:30 a.m. in the 8900 block of Ellisboro Road/ Gideon Grove Church Road in Stokesdale, a 36-year-old female, a 38-year-old female and a 40-year-old male were all arrested for possession of a Schedule I controlled substance; the 36-year-old female was also charged with maintaining a vehicle/dwelling for controlled substances and cited for driving with a revoked license and using fictional tags; the 40-yearold male was also cited for possession of drug paraphernalia. Aug. 7 | A 22-year-old female was arrested in the 8600 block of U.S. 158 in Stokesdale for possession of a Schedule II controlled substance (methamphetamine), possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance (marijuana) with intent to sell, possession of a Schedule I controlled substance with intent to sell and maintaining a vehicle/dwelling for controlled substances; she was also cited for misdemeanor larceny, possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance (marijuana), possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting a police officer, driving with a revoked license and using fictional tags. Aug. 15 | An 18-year-old female was cited in the 5500 block of Centerfield Road in Summerfield for possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance (marijuana) and possession of drug paraphernalia.

FRAUD Aug. 15 | A resident of the 3400 block of Edgefield Road in northwest Greensboro reported an unknown suspect used his debit card information to purchase $69.10 worth of groceries at Food Lion on S. Holden Road in Greensboro on Aug. 12.

THEFT Aug. 7 | A member of Piedmont Saddle Club in Colfax reported an unknown suspect stole a golf cart, cut a hole in a metal fence and removed a gate between May 10 and Aug. 7; the golf cart has an estimated worth of $1,500, and the damage to the fence was estimated at $250.

VANDALISM Aug. 8 | A resident of the 1100 block of Stallion Court in Summerfield (near Strawberry Road) reported an unknown suspect hit their mailbox with a blunt object and knocked it off its post between 2 and 4:30 a.m., causing $30 worth of damage.

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Back - to- School WORD SEARCH

r e n r o K ’ s Kid What goes into the bookbag?

NOTEBOOK

BOOKBAG

GRADE

VIRTUAL

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EDUCATION

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TEACHER

SUBJECT

PRINCIPAL

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PLUNGING

...continued from p. 1 Revolution Academy is newly formed, starting its first academic year temporarily in the Church on 68 in Greensboro while construction of the charter school’s permanent campus on N.C. 150 in Summerfield is underway. Its preparation for the arrival of students this Thursday, Aug. 20, offers lessons in navigating public gathering and social distancing requirements such as wearing masks and taking temperatures of students and staff. “Can you smile behind the mask?” Gaulden, the instructional coach, asked the students who assembled earlier this week to learn rules for the new school year and give staff the opportunity to test new procedures. “We like students having a routine and being able to come to school every day,” Principal Mary Catherine Sauer said in an interview last week. “We’re trying to be as parent-friendly as possible.” Revolution Academy students will attend classes five days a week, with kin-

dergartners and first graders gathering in a large classroom for team teaching from 7:40 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sauer said. Second- through sixth-graders will study in two tracks, alternating between classroom instruction from 8-11 a.m. and music, PE and other special activities in the auditorium from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Free play is being replaced by structured activities, such as children dancing on their own spot and drawing with chalk in certain sections of the sidewalk, Sauer said. Parents who don’t want their children to attend special activities in person can log on from home and participate remotely, she said. For working parents, the after-school program runs until 6 p.m. About 60 of the school’s 400 students opted for remote learning from the start of the year, the principal said. Plans by Revolution and Caldwell academies to offer in-person instruction attracted many new students whose parents were seeking a return to the classroom for their children. At the same time, it led some families to withdraw their students to teach them at home

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or make other arrangements. “We saw quite an uptick in interest and applications,” said Tim Holland, Caldwell Academy’s head of school. “We have received modest concerns from families about in-person learning.” Caldwell’s staff placed one-way directional signs around campus to minimize crowding while constructing additional outdoor classrooms and expanding Courtesy photo WiFi coverage At left, Northern Guilford High School seniors Ashleigh Wilborn to broaden the and Haley Davis painted a parking space even though the school reach of instrucis closed for in-person instruction for at least nine weeks. tion, according to Steve Wilson, the school’s president. the school’s 24-page reopening guide. Jump rope and wiffle ball are among “A lot of parents are not happy with “low impact/minimal contact activities” virtual learning,” Wilson said in an interallowed during physical education. view earlier this week. The school staff is addressing the conThe school lost some recruits cerns of some families with remote instruc- because their parents weren’t comforttion while “others have indicated they may able with them attending classes in withdraw for now, but plan to return,” person, he said; however, the recent Holland said in an email last week. increase in enrollment of boarding and “We’ve seen turnover,” among studay students has offset those losses. dents enrolled at Revolution Academy, The school hired a contractor to fog Sauer said. But overall, applications have classrooms, dormitory rooms and other exceeded departures, leading to waiting public spaces with a chemical that kills lists in all grades. viruses, according to Wilson. Instructors wear face shields while students are “It’s a snapshot of the famrequired to wear masks. ilies changing their minds,” Cadets have been assigned to single rooms whereas they lived two to a room she said. in previous years, Wilson said. They’re also practicing social distancing in An influx of students who want classrooms and the mess hall and during to attend in-person classes has also marching and other drills. boosted Oak Ridge Military Academy’s In the event that in-person classes enrollment to about 70, up from about are canceled, the school is providing stu45 students a year ago, according to

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olmstedorthodontics.com We are OPEN and accepting new patients dents with laptop computers so they can switch to remote learning, Wilson said. Returning to the classroom isn’t an option for Guilford County Schools’ students until Oct. 20 at the earliest. Until then, students are taking classes remotely, mostly working from home as they did when the spread of the virus forced the abrupt closing of schools in mid-March. Schools remained closed for the rest of the academic year, leading to drivethrough graduation ceremonies and other impromptu planning for traditional activities derailed by the virus. When school district leaders were forced to institute remote learning, the process came together so quickly that it had limited

success due to a lack of online resources and teacher training and preparation. Students’ grades were frozen in place, further hampering participation in remote learning. The summer break gave district leaders, school administrators and teachers the opportunity to learn online tools and improve remote instruction programs for the fall. Students will listen to pre-recorded lessons for core academic subjects during the first few weeks of school, followed by online instruction by teachers who returned to their classrooms last week. “Last spring, students did not have to do any school work,” said Karen

Ellis, Northern Guilford Middle School’s principal. That’s no longer the case, she told her students in an online assembly this past Monday, Aug. 17, the first day of school. “School is happening, and you have to attend,” she said. “We are implementing plans and setting class schedules,” Ellis said in an interview earlier this week. “The biggest thing is providing the structure that students and families and teachers can adhere to.” Class schedules will allow students to feel connected even though they’re going to be physically apart, according to Annie Badger, a Northern Guilford High School junior and president of the student body.

Annie plans to study upstairs in her home in Summerfield, in a different part of the house from her brother Henry, who is in eighth grade. “We try to stay separated because sometimes I try to help him and he doesn’t want my help,” she said, laughing. For Northwest High School senior Caitlin Ahearn, studying from her Summerfield home is going to put her across the dining room from the office of her mother, Ashley. “That way she can keep an eye on me and make sure that I’m staying on track,” she said. “Who could have ever foreseen

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OBITUARY Yolonda Valley, 95, died peacefully in March. Yolonda was born in Brooklyn, New York, to parents who came to this country from Italy through Ellis Island. Yolonda was the youngest of eight siblings.

She was married to Walter Valley, Sr. for 67 years; the couple had four children, 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Yolonda and Walter lived in Oak Ridge for 35 years and co-owned Best Bagels in Town in Greensboro for 19 years. Yolonda loved to dance and had a very full life. A celebration of her life will be held Aug. 29, at noon, at her home.

LETTERS/OPINIONS Submit your letters (maximum 350 words)

the wagons in defense of “The town of Oak Ridge.” In doing so she unintentionally displays the one true allegiance of the Left – to government, not the governed. • She even trots out the old liberal canard that government employees are underpaid. Yeah, right. As our incomes collapse, as our businesses die, as we risk losing our homes, government employees enjoy being perfectly insulated from economic reality. In fact, it’s time for a pay raise! What a tin ear. But hey, if you’re a tax-andspend council, you have to spend that money somehow.

• The first excuse for a 2.5% pay raise for employees was as a cost-of-living adjustment, but the CPI for May 2019 to May 2020 actually declined by 0.1%, so that lie wouldn’t fly (Bureau of Labor Statistics). Red-faced but undeterred, the raise is now justified because of... “leadership.” Really? There’s more, but in the interests of brevity and comity, let me conclude by saying something positive about our dear “leader,” the mayor. She certainly is a good politician. Christopher Rees, OAK RIDGE

GRINS and GRIPES

online: nwobserver.com e-mail : editor@nwobserver.com Include your name, daytime phone number and name of community. Letters from the same writer will be published no more than every 30 days.

Keep wearing masks I am writing to express my opinion about people wearing face masks in our community. The past five months, I believe people have been following the rules about wearing face coverings while out in public. It is important to prevent the deaths, cases, illnesses and

spread of the virus to the people. Only one person has died in Summerfield from COVID-19. Keep it from spreading by continuing to wear masks and social distancing in public. Dobin Williams, SUMMERFIELD

Mayor’s allegiance is to government, not the governed The Lady Mayor (of Oak Ridge) and I have one thing in common; we cannot abide the promulgation of misleading information. So... • Her spurious imputation that I characterized government employees as parasites is offensive, and untrue. Police officers, firemen and soldiers are among the bravest people you’ll meet, and have no choice but to join the public sector if that is their chosen profession. But the public sector draws wealth off the private sector to fund itself and is, in purely economic terms, indisputably parasitic. That’s just a fact.

• It’s also a fact that Oak Ridge residents suffer a property tax burden nearly three times that of neighboring Summerfield, and have done so for decades. To claim this is fair and that the tax was even reduced one time is a classic politician’s prevarication. The rate was trimmed by less than 5% in the same year that all Guilford County properties were revalued. So, your property tax bill probably increased. Some tax cut. Oak Ridge’s own Marie Antoinette expresses not a scintilla of empathy for her subjects, choosing instead to circle

AUG. 20 - SEPT. 2, 2020

Delighted or dismayed by something in your community? Share your thoughts in

words or less

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

 Dr. Meredith Chandler, Stokesdale Elementary’s principal, for your thorough, reassuring welcome-back message for families last week. Thank you for your caring and steadfast leadership as we move forward!  My friends who shine a light in the darkness, and turn requirements for masks and PPE to protect during COVID-19 into a better thing. Look for websites that print messages, funny faces, smileys, etc., on face masks. Please support them!  Maureena Shepherd with Allen Tate Realty, for donating tablets for Oak Ridge Elementary students to help with their virtual learning. We are so thankful for the community support!  Matt Moorefield, owner of MCM Resourcing, for renovating the two buildings in downtown Stokesdale –

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

they look fantastic! Hopefully this will jump-start renovations on all the other buildings and bring new life to downtown.  Local teachers, educators and support staff in our schools. Your contributions in these days prove your dedication to children and learning. You are redefining the way schools educate in tough times and you are pioneers, in school classrooms and online.  Luigi’s owners Frank and Grace Giaimo for providing weekly meals to families in need throughout the summer. Your heart for those less fortunate and your generosity are inspiring!  Kelly Grau with Kelly’s Pet Services for observing that our 14-year-old English setter, Penny, was exhibiting signs of a bladder infection. Her instincts proved accurate and because of her early detection the time Penny was in discomfort was reduced.  The average “Joes and Janes” in our

Outside the The following reader-submitted GRINS and GRIPES express opinions about state and/or national topics, and have been separated from the other grins and gripes as a courtesy to those who do not want to read others’ opinions on state and/or national political and other non-local topics in a local newspaper.

GRINS to...

 The State of Oregon, which has allowed a complete mail-in ballot system for all elections, and managed it successfully for 22 years! They created official ballot drop boxes where voters deposit their marked ballots for secure pickup and counting.

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 Latter-day Luddites who agitate to get their neighborhood speed limit cut to a crawl while they whiz around elsewhere. Speed limits should be set by traffic engineers, not busybodies. And you’ll be the first to be ticketed.  Oak Ridge Town Council for wanting to purchase community wells that the

water company cannot operate in the black. You thinking you can do better – with our tax dollars – is pure arrogance.  The people not wearing masks in Summerfield/Oak Ridge restaurants. If you want to kill someone, go somewhere else. Contractors probably shouldn’t have the name of your business on your trucks. None of my business for you.  Teachers with Guilford County Schools who are complaining about having to report to their school for four hours per day for virtual student instruction. Not much of a chance to contract COVID-19 in an empty classroom!  Those who criticize others for not wearing a face mask in public. Google EVENT201 (a global pandemic exercise conducted Oct. 18, 2019) —and don’t be a sheep!  Oak Ridge mayor, a statist if ever I saw one.

WAKE F

community who persevere, keep trying to do their best in hard times, and share smiles and a positive outlook with others. You uplift and help countless others just by being yourselves.  Stonefield Cellars Winery in Stokesdale for going out of their way to allow their Friday Night live music to proceed during a rainstorm, putting up canopies for everyone in attendance while still complying with the COVID-19 requirements. A great event!

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AUG. 20 - SEPT. 2, 2020

G&G ...continued from p. 33

PLUNGING INTO ‘UNKNOWN’ ...continued from p. 31

 Trump. Last election I voted for the man Trump had become and not the boy (2005 tape with Billy Bush) he was. Glad I did. Biden and Dems are turning us over to the looters and rioters.

this?” asked Stephanie Brady, parent of twins Caden and Harper, who are seniors at Northwest Guilford High School. Brady is president of the school’s Parent, Teacher, Student Organization (PTSO) and, like her counterparts at Northern Guilford High School, is trying to normalize the school year for students.

 Federal District Judge Nicholas Ranjan, who ordered the Trump campaign to cease and desist with lies and fearmongering about mail-in ballots. If they allege fraud exists, they now must prove it or quit spreading unsubstantiated fear to voters!

They’re also giving special attention to making the year special for the Class of 2021, which faces the prospect of missing out on a final year of sports, homecoming week and socializing if the risks of COVID-19 persist.

GRIPES to...

 Trump, who criticizes mail-in ballots as risky and fraudulent, yet has used them repeatedly himself when voting from his Mar-a-Lago home base in Florida.  Trump and the Department of the Interior for opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to bids for oil drilling. Their greed and indifference threatens caribou, foxes, owls, polar bears that have been protected for over 60 years! Write your Congressperson!  Participants in the Democratic National Convention. I listened to them and their democratic “truth telling” – now there is an oxymoron for you.

“We are trying to lift up their spirits in the middle of all the chaos,” said Brady, who hopes the school’s marching band, where her son plays trumpet, will be allowed to perform in the spring. “To say we’re disappointed would be an understatement.” Last spring, Northwest’s PTSO gave seniors a group photo of the class and yard signs congratulating them on their graduation after the closing of schools ruined plans for the senior picnic and other activities. Planning is underway for the coming year, with activities dependent upon how much money the organization raises, Brady said. “My hope is that come spring we may be able to offer some activities, such as the senior picnic,” she said.

At Northern Guilford, the Parent, Teacher, Student Association (PTSA) hosted a back-to-school breakfast for the school’s staff last week in the outdoor atrium of the high school. In years past, it served lunch inside of the school, said Debbie Sivert, the organization’s president. “It was a great way to connect and see familiar faces,” she said. “It was an effort to create a little normalcy.” In keeping with another tradition, some Northern Guilford seniors are painting their parking spaces, even though there’s no guarantee they’ll park in them any time soon. “It brought a little bit of hope and normalcy to a very unsettled start of their senior year,” said Fiorella DeLisa, mother of senior Mateo DeLisa. “It was great to see all the kids working so hard and be able to be together.”

Please share your back-to-school experience & photos PS Communications is working on a Back to School publication, to be inserted into our Sept. 3 issue of the Northwest Observer. Parents, students of all ages, teachers and staff, we’d love to have your input on the challenges of this new school year, as well as any “bright spots” – and, photos from your first day or week of school! To respond, email editor@nwobserver.com

Oak Hollow Tire Max in High Point is NOW OPEN GET UP TO $180 OFF with Michelin/BFGoodrich plus Tire Max rebates! $120 reward card + $60 gift card = $180 total savings Stokesdale

Located at Kings Crossing

7705 Highway 68 N (336) 441-8066

Madison

706 Burton Street (336) 548-6674

AUG. 20 - SEPT. 2, 2020

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

Summerfield

4420 US Highway 220N (336) 793-5391

High Point

619 Greensboro Road (336) 885-4321

NEWEST LOCATION High Point 2410 Eastchester Dr (336) 841-6553

 AUTO SALES & SERVICE  EMPLOYMENT CARPET CLEANING TECHNICIAN needed for residential carpet cleaning every Saturday. Saturdays only. Will train. No experience necessary. Commission pay. Inquire by email, carolinasteam@aol.com.

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

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

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 ........ 35 Employment .................... 35 Public Notices ............ 35-36 Consignment Sale............ 36 Yard Sale......................... 36 Home Services ........... 36-38 Misc. Services .................. 38 Misc. for Sale .................. 38 Misc. Wanted .................. 38 Pets & Animal Services .... 38 Real Estate ...................... 38

 PUBLIC NOTICES

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

THE TOWN OF OAK RIDGE is currently accepting applications for a full-time Parks & Recreation Groundskeeper II. Applicable experience required. Starting pay $13/hr. with generous beneﬁt package. Applicants must have clean NCDL and be able to pass background check. Candidates should submit an application or resume to tlannon@oakridgenc.com or Oak Ridge Town Hall, M-F, 8:30am-4:30pm. LEAD TEACHER/STAFF POSITION open in childcare center. Credentials required. Assistant staﬀ position open in childcare center. Experience preferred. (336) 643-5930.

Hiring?

Place your ad online at

 EMPLOYMENT Endura Products is proud to be a U.S. American-made manufacturer of parts for entry door systems. We have several employment opportunities available for immediate hire in our Stokesdale, NC, operation.

Open Positions:

Production Crew Members (1st & 2nd Shift) Machine Operators (1st & 2nd Shift) Maintenance Technicians (1st & 2nd Shift) Machinist (1st Shift) Production Supervisor (2nd Shift) Maintenance Supervisor (1st Shift with ability to flex hours)

Hours:

First Shift: Monday – Friday, 6:30am – 3:00pm, possible OT on Saturdays, 5:00am-1:00pm Second Shift: Monday – Thursday, 3:30pm-2:00am, possible OT on Fridays

Preferred Skills for Production Roles: Use of tape measure/reading calipers Machine operation to include set-up and troubleshooting Previous carpentry experience or wood-working knowledge

Physical Requirements:

Must be able to lift up to 35/lbs repetitively Comfortable working in a non-climatecontrolled environment Ability to stand for 8-10 hours

Apply at https://www.enduraproducts.com/careers/ or call (336)665-4048 to schedule a time to come in and complete an application

Why work for Endura?

Join an established organization with a great team Weekly pay • Affordable, Competitive Benefits Package Safe Working Environment Created to Maintain Social Distancing in the Workplace • Overtime Opportunity Willing to train those with no prior manufacturing experience, but who are ready to work and eager to learn!

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

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING. The Town Council of the Town of Oak Ridge and the Town of Oak Ridge Planning and Zoning Board will hold separate public hearings to consider requests to amend the Oﬃcial Town of Oak Ridge Zoning Map. The Planning and Zoning Board and Town Council may also consider requests for subdivisions and other matters. Any zoning decision of the Oak Ridge Planning and Zoning Board is forwarded as a recommendation to the Oak Ridge Town Council. PLANNING/ZONING BOARD – Aug. 27, 2020, 7:00 pm, virtually using the Zoom platform (For meeting link, visit www. oakridgenc.com) TOWN COUNCIL – Sept. 3, 2020, 7:00 pm, virtually using the Zoom platform (For meeting link, visit www.oakridgenc.com) PUBLIC HEARING: RZ-20-01: AG (Agricultural) to RS-40 (Residential). The property is located on the south side of Oak Ridge Road bordering Williard Road to the west and bordering Billet Road to the east, approximately 750 feet south of the intersection of Oak Ridge Road and Billet Road, in Oak Ridge Township. Owned by Charles M. Benbow Co. RZ-20-02: PD-R (Planned Unit Development-Residential) to Amended PD-R (Amended Planned Unit DevelopmentResidential) (addition of 1 lot). The property is located on the south side of Haw River Road bordering Linville Road to the west, approximately 800 feet east of the intersection of Haw River Road and Linville Road, in Oak Ridge Township. Being Guilford County Tax Parcel 166301. Located in the Greensboro (GW-III) Watershed. Owned by Agency Partners LLC. RZ-20-03: AG (Agricultural) to CU-RS-40 (Conditional Use-Residential). The property is located north of Bentridge Forest Drive, approximately 1,150 feet north of the intersection of Vanhoy Road and Bentridge Forest Drive, in Oak Ridge Township. Being Forsyth County Tax Parcels 6990-301268.00, consisting of approximately 35.6 acres. Owned by Mary A. Leight.

continued on p. 36

AUG. - SEPT.2,2,2020 2020 AUG. 2020 - SEPT.

35 35

PUBLIC NOTICES

CONSIGNMENT SALE

HOME SERVICES

Text amendment: Amendments proposed to Chapter 30 (Land Development) of the Oak Ridge Code of Ordinances to amend portions of the zoning ordinance. Proposed amendments include Article VII- Zoning.

ENCORE KIDS CONSIGNMENT. Check out our fall & winter items, premiering Friday, August 28, 305 W. Mountain Street, Kernersville. Shop with us online ANYTIME. www.encorekidsconsignment.com.

CUSTOM FRAMING, BLISSFUL STUDIOS. Private framing appointments available. Local art & gifts. 4533 US Hwy. 220, Summerfield. Located across from Golden Antiques. (336) 298-4502.

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

All citizens will be given an opportunity to be heard at these meetings.

YARD SALE

Ron Simpson, Planning & Zoning Board Chair Ann Schneider, Mayor PUBLIC NOTICE. In order to comply with Governor Cooper's Executive Order No. 147 and to promote and protect the safety and well-being of our community, the Annual Meeting of the Oak Ridge Fire and Rescue Co. Inc., scheduled for Monday, August 10, 2020, at 7:30pm, will be postponed until September 14, 2020, at 7:30pm. This meeting is being rescheduled to this date in anticipation of Phase 3 re-opening and may be subject to further postponement as necessary to comply with any Executive Orders or to preserve public health and safety. The purpose of the meeting includes the election of corporate officers and directors, the presentation of the annual performance and financial reports for the fiscal year ending June 8, 2020, and other business of the corporation. Anyone interested in seeking a position on the Board should contact Administrative Assistant Gale Long to obtain and file the required candidate forms. Due to this postponement, the previous filing period has been re-opened as of August 7, 2020, and will now close on August 14, 2020. Those desiring to vote at the meeting must be registered voters in the Oak Ridge Fire District and be listed on the voter registration rolls as maintained by the Guilford County Board of Elections effective as of August 14, 2020. Those seeking additional information or candidate forms may contact Gale at 8325 Linville Road, Oak Ridge, NC 27310 or by telephone at (336) 643-3783.

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

36 36

MULTIPLE FAMILY YARD SALE. Friday, Aug. 21, and Saturday, Aug. 22, 8am-1pm. 5368 NW School Rd., Greensboro. Tools, pressure washer, lawn mower, 4-wheeler, bicycle, planters, and other misc. items.

HOME SERVICES AIR CONDITIONING & HEATING A-ACTION AIR. A/C Spring checkup, $49.99. Call (336) 382-3750 or (336) 268-6768.

Your business should be here! Place your classified ad online at

www.nwobserver.com

CLEANING MAID-2- SHINE. Excellent ser vice, 15 years experience. Free estimates, excellent references. (336) 338-0223. PAOLA CLEANING SERVICE. Residential & commercial. Insured. (336) 669-5210. CRYSTAL CLEAR WINDOW CLEANING Gutter cleaning, pressure washing. Fully ins. windowcleaningnc.com (336) 595-2873 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. THE CLEANING TECHNICIAN LLC. With the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be a little overwhelmed. I would like to offer my cleaning services at a discount. 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.

AUG. AUG.20 20--SEPT. SEPT.2,2,2020 2020

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.

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 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. 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. LAWN MOWER SERVICE & ATV REPAIR in the Colfax area. Please call Jason, (336) 456-4914. 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.

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

OLD SCHOOL

HOME REPAIR /IMPROVEMENTS “No Job Too Small”

Wood Rot Repairs • Bathroom Remodeling Painting • Decks and much more! • Insured

(336) 669-7252

oldschoolsjhr@triad.rr.com

GRADING / HAULING BOLENS TRANSPORT & GRADING SERVICES. We are a licensed & insured business with a great reputation. We specialize in grading, tree removal, lot clearing, driveway installation, and much more. We also offer towing services for everything from cars to heavy equipment. We deliver mulch, sand, gravel, asphalt milling, rock screenings, top soil, fill dirt, river rock and more. Please contact us today at (336) 579-4584 for quotes and availability! 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, asphalt millings, stone and more. 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.

 HOME SERVICES

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

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

MISC. HOME SERVICES/PRODUCTS

PLUMBING

GUTTERS / SIDING / WINDOWS

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

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

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

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

LAWNCARE / LANDSCAPING DELIMA LAWNCARE. Commercial & Residential. Free estimates. (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. 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. 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.

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

Oﬀer a home service? Place your ad online at

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.

WILSON SEPTIC PUMPING & REPAIR. Family owned since 1972. Mention you saw this ad in the NWObserver for a discount. (336) 643-6427. JUNK & DEBRIS REMOVAL, construction, remodeling, and general cleanup, out buildings, garages, basements, yard waste, etc. Call (336) 706-8470. COX POOL SERVICE. Openings, closings, routine maintenance, weekly service. No contracts, free estimates! (336) 327-5122.

Your business should be here! Place your classiﬁed ad online at

www.nwobserver.com

PAINTING & DRYWALL

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

(336) 931-0600

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

PRESSURE WASHING PRESSURE WASHING, gutter & window cleaning. Fully insured. Crystal Clear, www. windowcleaningnc.com or (336) 595-2873. CUTTING EDGE PRESSURE WASHING. Aﬀordable, dependable. Please call anytime for free estimate. (336) 706-0103. HOUSE SOFT WASHING, roof soft washing, pressure washing. Check out our 5- star reviews online! Please visit our website, MartinsPressureWashing.com.

BEKPaintCompany.com

REMODELING / CONSTRUCTION

• References Available • Licensed & Insured • All Work Guaranteed

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

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

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

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

continued on p. 38

AUG. - SEPT.2,2,2020 2020 AUG. 2020 - SEPT.

37 37

 HOME SERVICES

 MISC. WANTED

 REAL ESTATE

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

CLINARD & SON ROOFING, LLC. Residential rooﬁng, rubber ﬂat roofs, roof coating, metal roofs. 30 years experience. Call (336) 643-8191 or (336) 268-1908.

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.

HOMES FOR SALE

ROOFING PRO PROFESSIONAL SVCS. Roofing, siding, windows and gutters. $500 discount for first-time buyers. Not valid with any other offers. Call Ray, (336) 419-6245.

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

AMERICAN BUILDER CONSTRUCTION INC. Repairs & remodeling, kitchens/baths, additions, decks, attics, basements. Licensed & insured. Short wait list. NC General Contractors. (336) 225-7478. BELEWS CREEK CONSTRUCTION. Kitchens/baths, custom decks, garages, dock work, siding, windows, rooﬁng, rotted wood. Sr. disc., 41 yrs. exp. (336) 362-6343.

Services TM Construction , INC

BUILDING | RENOVATIONS | ADDITIONS

Bathroom and kitchen

(336) 644-8615 office (336) 508-5242 cell Licensed & insured

The Northwest Observer

Keeping you connected since 1996!

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.

NC Gen. Contractor #72797

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.

 MISC. SERVICES

Locally owned & operated

Gated access with 24/7 camera surveillance

Offer a home service?

6705 US Hwy 158, Stokesdale • (336) 643-9963 (affiliated with Stokesdale Storage)

Place your ad:

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.

ROOFING RED RHINO ROOFING, based in Oak Ridge, NC. Storm damage specialist experienced with all types of rooﬁng. BBB accredited A, and listed with Angie's List. Call (336) 944-6118, or visit redrhinorooﬁng.com.

38 38

 MISC. FOR SALE GREAT HOBBY. Four large containers of basket weaving strips, handles, a tote bag of tools, & instruction books for making all kinds of baskets. $120, price negotiable. Also, container of white material, $25. (336) 897-0096.

 MISC. WANTED 1/4-1/2 WIDE ELASTIC, at least 7 inches long needed to make masks for school teachers. Please call Beth, who lives in the Oak Ridge area. (336) 644-8155.

AUG. AUG.20 20--SEPT. SEPT.2,2,2020 2020

BELEWS CREEK

 PETS & ANIMAL SVCS. WENDY COLLINS PET SITTING LLC. Bonded & Insured. Follow us on Facebook. Call or text (336) 339-6845. PAWSITIVELY PAMPERED PET SERVICES. Pet sitting and dog walking for your furry friends. Insured. Call Emily, (336) 497-7392.

 REAL ESTATE

7540 Aspen Grove Dr. Amazing 3BR/2BA brick home w/bonus room! Open floor plan with granite counters, SS appliances, beautiful vaulted ceiling dining room and huge fenced lot and garden area! Great walk-in storage. No HOA. Bring your boat - just minutes to Belews Lake! $325,000

Gail Kerber CDPE, ABR, SPS, SLS Realtor®/Broker/Owner

(336) 327-1165 kerbappeals@gmail.com

HOMES FOR SALE RIVER OAKS CLASSIC BRICK HOME. 1799 Ridge Oaks Drive, Oak Ridge, NC. For sale by owner. Two-story brick home with attached garage. Over an acre wooded lot. Abundant square footage. Three bedrooms with playroom/4th bedroom, 2 ½ baths, living room/oﬃce, family room, kitchen with eat-in area, dining room, ﬂoored attic. $410,800. Call for an appointment/ questions. (336) 337-0285.

LAND FOR SALE

Belews Landing

220 Leeward Drive, Stokesdale

51 ACRES. Rockingham County, Bethany area. Mostly wooded. (336) 580-2452. SUMMERFIELD ADDRESS, Rockingham County taxes. Gorgeous, beautifully wooded. 4+ acre homesite priced below tax value! Call (336) 430-9507 anytime. LARGE TRACTS of land, Summerﬁ eld address, Rockingham County taxes. Call (336) 430-9507 anytime!

One of a kind lake front property. An entertainer’s dream home with direct lake access for kayaks/paddle boards and more! No detail overlooked with three levels of living/playing options. Two home offices. Private showings only! - $2,150,000.

DeDe Cunningham REALTOR®/Broker NC Licensed Contractor

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

SELLING OR RENTING?

We can help you reach ALL of northwest Guilford County!

Call (336) 644-7035, ext. 11, or place your ad online at

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

index of DISPLAY ADVERTISERS

Please support our advertisers,

Coming

and tell them where you saw their ad!

September 3

ACCOUNTING

HOME PRODUCTS & SERVICES

By the Book Accounting .................. 40 Carlotta Lytton, PCA ........................28 Samuel K. Anders, CPA, MSA, PC......9

BEK Paint Company .........................37 Carpets by Direct ..............................15 Eanes Heating & Air .........................31 Nature’s Select ...................................4 Old School Home Repair ................. 36 ProStone, Inc. ...................................17 Rymack Storage .............................. 38 Stokesdale Heating & Air..................12

Back-to-school special publication

AUTOMOTIVE SALES / SERVICE EuroHaus .................................... 2, 35 Piedmont Truck Tires Inc. .................14 Prestige Car Wash ..............................6 Tire Max .......................................... 34 Vestal Buick / GMC ...........................24

BUILDING & REMODELING Disney Construction Company......... 20 Don Mills Builders .............................19 Friddle & Company...........................25 Johnson & Lee, LLC..........................21 Naylor Custom Homes .....................18 Ray Bullins Construction ...................22 R&K Custom Homes ........................23 RS Dezern Construction....................22 TM Construction Services ................ 38 Walraven Signature Homes ..............18

CANDIDATE Friends of Troy Wilson .........................2

CHILDREN’S SERVICES Guardian Ad Litem ...........................26

CHIROPRACTIC SERVICES Oak Ridge Chiropractic ......................8

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

 Remote learning; pros, cons and challenges

Gladwell Insurance Agency.................9

 Meet the administrators at our local schools

LEGAL SERVICES Barbour & Williams Law ...................10 Scott Tippett – Hagan Barrett Law ...30

MEDICAL CARE Eagle Physicians at Brassfield............12 LeBauer HealthCare ...........................3 Oak Ridge Physical Therapy ...............4 Wake Forest Baptist Health.............. 33

MUSIC LESSONS / INSTRUMENTS Moore Music Company ................... 29

ORTHODONTIC CARE Olmsted Orthodontics ......................31

PET SERVICES & PRODUCTS Bel-Aire Veterinary Hospital ..............28 King’s Crossing Animal Hospital .......28 Northwest Animal Hospital .................4

REAL ESTATE

Endura Products .............................. 35

FUNERAL SERVICES

YOUTH SPORTS / CAMPS

Forbis & Dick Stokesdale ................. 40

Oak Ridge Youth Association ...........26

DENTISTS Summerfield Family Dentistry .............7

EMPLOYMENT

 Interviews with coaches, teachers, students and parents to learn how they are coping with all the changes to the 2020-2021 school year

INSURANCE

A New Dawn Realty ........................ 40 DeDe Cunningham, Keller Williams ..38 KerbAppeals – Gail Kerber .............. 38 Nancy Hess, Berkshire Hathaway .....16 Nicole Gillespie, RE/MAX ...........27, 33 Ramilya Siegel, Keller Williams..........17 Smith Marketing, Allen Tate Realtors..18

Town of Summerfield .........................3

 An extensive look at the upcoming school year, with a focus on the differences and challenges COVID-19 has brought

Direct-mailed to over

12,000 homes

Every household within the Oak Ridge (27310), Summerfield (27358) and Stokesdale (27357) zip codes

t Curren t e w s North r ve Obser get isers advert

FF 10% iO s ng rate

is advert published by

published by pscommunicat ions

Available for free pickup 2,000 additional copies placed at 70+ locations throughout northwest Guilford County

Online year-round at nwobserver.com and shared with over 14,000 Facebook fans

Reserve your ad space by Aug. 21 Contact Laura at (336) 644-7035, ext. 11, or advertising@nwobserver.com.

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

AUG. 20 - SEPT. 2, 2020

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Postal Patron

Oak Ridge, NC Permit No. 22

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

gems in

ECRWSS

downtown

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.

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

Stokesdale

8320 US Highway 158 | (336) 643-3711

A New Dawn Realty Tea m !

Greensboro

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

(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! direct-mailed to

12,000+ homes

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Contact Laura to start your targeted ad campaign (336) 644-7035, ext. 11 | advertising@nwobserver.com

14,000+

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Locally owned and operated • forbisanddick.com

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