Grins and Gripes

Delighted or dismayed by something in your community? Share your thoughts in 40 words or less

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

GRINS to...

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 “Mr. Anonymous” for the generous donation he made to the Oak Ridge Lions Club in honor of Carolyn Brown.  Stephanie Doby at Novant Health –Northwest Family Medicine in Stokesdale for always going above and beyond for her patients to ensure they are happy and healthy.  Oak Ridge mayor/council for their leadership and vision – i.e., steps toward a municipal water system, increased water access for ORFD, a wonderful park and another in the works, a veterans’ honor site and efforts to enhance our town’s village feel.  Frank Giaimo, his wife Grace, and the rest of the staff of Luigi’s in Summerfield for getting me out of a jam when I had car trouble. They are an asset to our community!  Rio Grande for their very generous contribution of $5,000 towards the future Oak Ridge Veterans site. Owner Pepe Silva is always so supportive of our Oak Ridge community.  Owner of the home on N.C. 68 in Stokesdale, with the 13 U.S. flags displayed in memory of the fallen Marines, Army soldiers, and Navy Corpsman who lost their lives in Kabul last week. Immense gratitude for your heartwarming gesture.  Patti Stokes, not only for the best newspaper, but for being the caring, generous person that she is. Editor’s note: Thank you for the compliment on our newspaper and the kind words for me personally. The The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996 impact of a Grin often extends far beyond its words. Correction: After our Aug. 19-Sept. 1 issue was published, a reader questioned a statistic cited in a Gripe about COVID. The Gripe stated: “Mask Mandate 2.0 – just in time for school. This is not about a virus with a 99.8% survival rate, this is about control.” According to the Centers for Disease Control, there have been 39,279,057 COVID cases reported in the United States as of Aug. 31, and 638,689 deaths attributed to COVID. Using those statistics, the survival rate is 98.3%.

GRIPES to...

 Oak Ridge ABC store’s continuous inventory problems. Most of us shop locally because it’s not only convenient but our town benefits financially. I’ve not found the same issues at the Battleground location (Guilford ABC) or the Madison location (Rockingham ABC).  The parents at Revolution Academy who lied on mask exemption forms and school leaders who allowed it. We are not all anti-maskers at the school. #lovefirst  Guilford County Schools for deciding our daughter should be a pack mule at Northwest Middle School (denied a locker), then told students will share a locker at PE with a complete stranger. Where is the logic?  Anyone who complains about “constant political debate.” Yeah, let’s stick with important things like the cost of donuts.  People who don’t want to wear a mask. If it is your child or parent hospitalized and fighting for their life, maybe then you would wear one. Also, get the shot. It is hard to see people suffer.  The majority of parents and

teachers at Revolution Academy who were not wearing masks at Open House on Aug. 17 (despite the mask mandate), resulting in the school shutting down after outbreak among staff after first day of school.  Councilman Foy pushing Stokesdale parks and recreation pet projects. Please justify building another basketball court next to the school gym? With $200k, how about an amphitheater, community garden or improving the dusty, mosquito-ridden gravel pit they call a baseball “field”? Editor’s note: Regarding the baseball “field,” just wanted to note the Town of Stokesdale does not own/operate any baseball fields in Stokesdale. The baseball field I believe you’re referring to, off Capri Drive, is owned by Stokesdale Parks and Recreation, a nonprofit that operates independently of the town.  My neighbors who keep their dog outside and let it bark all hours of the night.  Employees of businesses in Guilford County including grocery stores, home improvement stores and other retailers not wearing masks. What is it going to take for people to do what is needed?  The new traffic pattern at Stokesdale Elementary. The traffic was backed up last week past the red light at U.S. 158 and N.C. 68. Really holds commuters up.  Cyclists who do not obey NCDMV motor laws, run red lights and potentially cause major accidents/deaths. And guess who gets the blame?  Sheriff Danny Rogers for his disastrous processing delays of CCW permits. As crime spirals out of control in your county you force taxpayers to choose between being defenseless victims or risk becoming felons themselves.  Revolution Academy for allowing students and teachers to sign a mask exemption form that doesn’t require a doctor’s note. Not surprised by being out of school after only one day. The majority of people were unmasked at open house.  People who put out their garbage cans on Saturday for a Monday pick-up. It’s not only an eyesore for the weekend, it’s a hassle to avoid them sitting on the street.  Stokesdale Elementary for closing an entrance to the school and creating traffic to be extremely backed up at U.S. 158 and N.C. 68 and also at Athens and Angel Pardue roads. People need to get to work!

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...

 All freedom-loving Americans who are standing up to excessive government overreach on COVID and everything else!  The Convention of States’ volunteers hosting the virtual prayer group. It’s very comforting to know there are still true patriots out there who believe we can make a bigger difference with faith leading our way. In God We (still) Trust! Amen!  The North Carolina house legislature for passing a bill to ban the Carolina Squat. Good riddance!  The FBI for aggressively investigating, pursuing, and arresting the violent thugs who attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 on behalf of a sore loser megalomaniac. Lock ’em up! GRIPES to...

 Joe Biden and his entire administration for the way he’s handled Afghanistan and just about everything else he’s done. He is not competent to lead our country. Impeach him before it’s too late!!

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