Northwest Observer l May 23-29, 2019 by pscommunications

May 23 - 29, 2019

bringing the local news home to northwest Guilford County since 1996

Development edging forward at I-73 and N.C. 68 An annexation this week paves the way for GTCC to add new meeting space while construction of apartments is getting underway nearby

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IN THIS ISSUE Mayor appoints self to committee ... 2 Council takes next step on water ....3 Your Questions ...................................4 Stokesdale Town Council ..................8 Summerﬁeld Town Council .............10 Calendar Events ...............................15 Founders’ Day 2019..........................16 Crime/Incident Report ....................18

by CHRIS BURRITT

Grads do the walk ...........................20

NW GREENSBORO – A year after the opening of Interstate 73 in northwest Guilford County, Guilford Technical Community College

Northern girls lose soccer semiﬁnal 21 Photo by Chris Burritt/NWO

Across the street from GTCC’s Donald W. Cameron campus on N.C. 68, earth movers prepare a tract for construction of 240 apartments, the ﬁrst tenant in the ...continued on p. 5 development that’s also seeking a grocery store, medical ofﬁces and retail shops

Owners of ‘junkyard’ face cleanup deadline

It’s ‘a disaster over there,’ Town Attorney Bill Hill said by CHRIS BURRITT

Photo by Patti Stokes/NWO

Property owners beside Summerﬁeld Feed Mill on Summerﬁeld Road have agreed to remove two truckloads of trash, junked vehicles and any other possible health hazards from the property each month between now and Aug. 31. They were required to remove seven of 14 junked vehicles on the property by May 15.

SUMMERFIELD – The owners of 7208 Summerfield Road have created “a junkyard” that’s partly hidden by a 6-foot-tall wooden fence, Town Attorney Bill Hill said last week. He urged the town council to hire a contractor to clean it up if the property owners don’t.

...continued on p. 6

Northern track teams win 3A titles..22 Student Proﬁle...................................23 Grins and Gripes ..............................24 Letters/Opinions ...............................26 Classiﬁeds .........................................27 Index of Advertisers .....................31 NWO on the Go! .....................32

This Memorial Day, May 27 we pay homage to those who have died while serving in the armed forces of the United States of America.

Summerﬁeld mayor appoints herself to airport committee Objection by council members O’Day, Walker and Barnes leads to posting of committee opening on town’s website by CHRIS BURRITT SUMMERFIELD – Mayor Gail Dunham recently appointed herself to a committee studying airplane noise around the Piedmont Triad International Airport, drawing criticism from fellow council members who said she didn’t have the authority to act on her own.

“Sorry, mayor, you have no authority to appoint anybody to anything,” councilman John O’Day told Dunham during the council’s monthly meeting May 14. “I sure do,” Dunham said. “I would represent the town.” The mayor informed the council that she had responded to an April 25 letter from Kevin Baker,

executive director of the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority, asking her “to appoint members to a citizens committee” that would help airport officials, local governments and the Federal Aviation Administration in an effort to reduce the number of people exposed to excessive airport noise. “They were very interested in my technical expertise,” said Dunham, who serves as executive director of the National Air Disaster Alliance/Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based group founded by air crash survivors and victims’ relatives who work to improve aviation safety and security. “This letter is to the mayor and it says ‘we want you to appoint someone.’” Dunham said. The Greensboro-based airport authority also sent letters to elected officials in Greensboro, Oak Ridge, Kernersville, High Point, Winston-Salem and Guilford and Forsyth counties, asking them to select a total of 20 people to serve on the committee. The letter to Dunham asked her to provide the name of a single Summerfield resident by May 10. Since the deadline was four days before the council’s meeting, Dunham said, “We didn’t have time to

ask for volunteers and appoint someone.” Mayor Pro Tem Dena Barnes and Councilman Reece Walker challenged Dunham, along with O’Day. Town Attorney Bill Hill sided with them. “The council has to appoint somebody,” Hill said. “The (airport authority’s) letter is not the law.” “The mayor is unilaterally trying to represent the town without the blessing of the council,” O’Day said. Since the committee hasn’t met yet, Barnes suggested the council could recommend a resident other than Dunham to represent Summerfield. Despite Dunham’s insistence that the matter was closed, Walker introduced a motion instructing town staff to post the committee opening on the town’s website. “You can recommend yourself if that is the way you feel,” said Walker, who voted in favor of the motion along with O’Day and Barnes. Council member Teresa Pegram voted against it, council member Dianne Laughlin was absent, and the vote carried 3-1 (in Summerfield, the mayor votes only to break a tie). “You don’t quite know what’s going on here,” said Dunham, adding that she plans to attend the committee meeting next month. “We are moving ahead.”

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Mayor addresses questions, skeptics of water plan Town will evaluate feasibility of starting a municipal water system a week after Mayor Sullivan unveiled the proposal by CHRIS BURRITT OAK RIDGE – Oak Ridge Town Council voted 4-1 Tuesday night to evaluate whether it would make sense for the town to establish a municipal water system that would initially serve new subdivisions relying on community wells. During a special called meeting, the council adopted a resolution of intent to establish a municipal water system consisting of a collection of community wells in new subdivisions with at least 30 houses. As proposed, developers of those subdivisions would deed the community wells to Oak Ridge, at no cost to the town. To help the council determine the feasibility for the town to operate a water system, the resolution of intent requires town staff to evaluate the “financial, legal, operational and administrative considerations” of the project. To examine those considerations, the council voted 4-1 to spend $13,750 for water system operator Envirolink to prepare a proposal to assist Oak Ridge in developing and implementing a water system. Councilman Doug Nodine voted against adopting the resolution of intent and contracting with Envirolink. He said he believes a water system owned by the town would provide few new benefits to homeowners and may wind up costing taxpayers. Sullivan countered that oversight of a water system by the town would improve the quality and delivery of water to homeowners at possibly lower costs than they now pay. Sullivan, Mayor Pro Tem Jim

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Kinneman and council members Ann Schneider and George McClellan voted in favor of the resolution of intent and paying Envirolink to prepare a proposal. Seven people in the audience asked questions, building upon a flurry of comments posted on social media since Sullivan proposed the creation of the municipal water system last week.

Below are some of the residents’ questions and the mayor’s responses.

The idea for Oak Ridge to start its own water system seemed to come out of nowhere. Why now? Oak Ridge leaders have discussed the pros and cons of establishing a municipal water system since the town’s incorporation 20 years ago, Sullivan said. He added he’s been part of the discussion for the past 13 years, starting with his service on the town’s Water Committee. “The Town has considered many options in the past,” he said. “In 2005 we entered into a contract with Aqua America to provide a full municipal water system to serve all our citizens. That contract fell through. We next hired a consulting engineer to design the first phase of a similar municipal system in an attempt to take advantage of the Obama-era ‘shovel-ready’ infrastructure improvements to help the economy. We were unsuccessful.”

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...continued on p. 9

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This past March, Summerfield Mayor Gail Dunham finally released town business-related emails sent from her private email account, with the oldest Public Records Request for those emails dating back to April 2018.

However, those of us who submitted PRRs for the mayor’s emails sent to and from her private email account still haven’t seen many of them – what is the holdup? When Mayor Dunham released town businessrelated emails this past March that had been sent to and from her mayorgail@yahoo.com email account, she included commentary on many of them apparently explaining why she wrote what she wrote in the emails, and/or why someone else addressing her in an email did so.

After almost 11 months since the first Public Records Request was submitted for her town business-related emails, Summerfield Mayor Gail Dunham released 700-plus pages of emails in March. However, the emails included comments which are still being reviewed by the town manager to ensure no confidential information pertaining to the town is released. Once done, Whitaker said the Public Records Requests submitted by numerous citizens over the past year will at last be fulfilled.

We’re told the town attorney did a preliminary pass through the 700-plus pages of emails and comments, and

the town manager is now combing through them to ensure they do not

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DEVELOPMENT

president Donald W. Cameron, in 2014. It is anchored by a 94,000-square-foot building housing classrooms, conference space and programs in supply chain management and business and industry training. As the school eventually adds buildings on its 105-acre campus, it has the opportunity to develop a village-like feel that “would create a walkable environment and enhance both the college and commercial experience,” the city’s report said.

...continued from p. 1 (GTCC) is adding new meeting space at its campus on N.C. 68, just outside the Town of Oak Ridge limits; across the street, a developer is getting ready to break ground on 240 apartments. Tuesday night, the Greensboro City Council annexed a former private residence and surrounding acreage on GTCC’s Donald W. Cameron campus at Leabourne Road and Highway 68. In a second vote, the council also voted unanimously to zone the newly annexed property for public and institutional use, its classification when it was part of unincorporated Guilford County. The annexation will allow the city to extend water and sewer lines to the house, which the school named the “Clubhouse at Cameron” and plans to rent to groups for meetings and events. On the opposite side of N.C. 68, bulldozers are moving dirt in preparation for construction of the apartment complex. The opening of the 7.4-mile stretch of I-73 from its southern juncture with N.C. 68 to its convergence with U.S. 220 to the north brightened prospects for development. At the southern end, planners believe the proximity of

Photo by Chris Burritt/NWO

Guilford Technical Community College has renovated a former private residence on its N.C. 68 campus into a meeting place for conferences and events. The Greensboro City Council voted on Tuesday to annex the property into the city limits, which will allow the city to extend water and sewer lines to the house.

Piedmont Triad International Airport and aviation-related training at GTCC to the new highway will serve as a catalyst for the creation of jobs. In turn, that growth will boost demand for housing and businesses catering to homeowners and renters. “This area has the unique locational advantage to become a destination of choice – a village of shops, restaurants and services nestled within the larger community college campus and

existing and future residential areas,” according to a report by the City of Greensboro’s planning department. Property owners in the vicinity of GTCC recently received letters from the City of Greensboro notifying them of the rezoning request. GTCC also mailed letters to nearby residents, said Charles Melvin, a Greensboro lawyer representing the school. GTCC opened its campus on N.C. 68, named after former school

So far, the apartment complex across the street is the only planned tenant announced by East Wind Development Co., the Greensboro-based developer of the 51-acre tract. Greensboro annexed the property last year and zoned it for mixed-use development. Since then, as a condition of the zoning, the developer has erected a wooden fence to shield nearby houses from the development. Earlier this week, trucks dumped loads of dirt into a low area of the property. The apartments are slated for completion in about a year, said Robbie Perkins, a commercial real estate broker for listing agent NAI Piedmont Triad in Greensboro. He’s seeking a grocery store to anchor the commercial development along with other tenants such as medical offices and retail shops.

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‘JUNKYARD’

...continued from p. 1

Council member Teresa Pegram objected to a crew going inside of the fenced property to remove old vehicles, tires and debris.

“We’re basically going to take their land,” Pegram told fellow council members during the council’s May 14 monthly meeting. Hill disagreed with Pegram, as did the town council which voted 3-1 to approve a Guilford County Superior Court consent order and judgment between the town and property owners Harold and Lonnie Daniel and their sister, Jewel Hopkins. Mayor Gail Dunham echoed Pegram’s criticism of Hill’s handling of the case, leading to a

shouting match that ended only when the lawyer left the meeting briefly. The dispute centers on how far Summerfield should be willing to go to force the Daniel family to remove abandoned cars and lawn mowers and flat tires. Initially, town staff determined that vehicles parked along Summerfield Road violated the town’s ordinance prohibiting “the display of junked motor vehicles” that lack valid license plates or won’t run. The property owners are allowed to park four cars between the fence and the road, said Hill, adding he saw more than that when driving past recently. After going behind the wooden plank fence, town staff found possible health hazards. “Having 10 vehicles or so and having other debris appearing to be in some cases rotting trash” may threaten groundwater, according to Hill.

Pegram asked whether the town had conducted any studies to determine whether water in the vicinity had been tainted. “I don’t know that they need to do that,” Hill responded. “I wouldn’t want to be drinking out of a well (nearby). The oil sucked from the cars is going somewhere.” The town and the owners agreed to resolve all of the town’s complaints in a single order, rather than separately, Hill said.

“We’re doing what we said we would,” Jewel Hopkins said in an interview last week as she stood along Summerfield Road with her son, Danny Hopkins. He grew up in the house and lives there with his brother Joseph.

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At the recommendation of the family’s attorney, Chuck Winfree of Greensboro, Danny Hopkins said he didn’t want to talk about the legal agreement, partly because he didn’t want to “stir things up” with the town. At the May 14th meeting, Hill presented a copy of the consent order to council members. It had been signed by the property owners and their lawyer and awaited signatures by town representatives. Hill recommended the council approve the agreement, which states the property owners will remove two truckloads of debris and/or junk from the property monthly, starting in March and ending Aug. 31. They were required to remove seven of 14 junked vehicles on the property by May 15. The property owners do have some wiggle room in exactly what they haul away. Removal of one vehicle counts as one truck load of debris, according to the order. One load of old tires

counts as a load of debris. The property owners agreed they wouldn’t put any more junked vehicles or debris on the property. They’re required to keep a list of items they’ve removed and be prepared to show the list to town staff to prove that they’re in compliance with the order. After Sept. 1, according to the order the defendants have agreed to allow town staff to inspect the property, excluding the interior of the house, to determine “whether the unsafe conditions have been significantly abated.”

town if we have to.” Standing outside of the fence with his mother, Danny Hopkins, 44, said he’d lived in the house his whole life. The family had collected a lot of stuff, most appearing to be discarded, judging by a view looking over the fence from atop a stack of fertilizer bags in the parking lot of Summerfield Feed Mill next door. A sports utility vehicle was parked between a tree and the fence. An old fan and bicycle were among dozens of items, covered by a combination of blue tarps and vines. A race car that Danny and his brother had run a decade ago was parked there, too.

Asked by Pegram to explain how abatement would work, Hill said, “That would allow us to go on their property, fi xing it ourselves and charging them for it. Would we do that? I don’t know. The council would have to decide that.”

A dog barked from somewhere on the property. A hound dog in a pen momentarily looked up with big eyes and then put its head back on the ground. Though it didn’t make an appearance, a pinkish white pig named Bacon lives there, too.

“What statute gives us the right to go behind the fence and start taking?” Pegram said. “We’re going to end up with their property. They live there.” “I can look it up,” the lawyer said. “We can fix any health problem in the

“We’re going to fix the problem,” said John O’Day, who along with fellow council member Reece Walker and Mayor Pro Tem Dena Barnes voted to approve the consent order. Pegram voted nay and council member Dianne Laughlin was absent. Mayor Gail Dunham, who only votes if there is a tie, criticized Hill, saying he

had filed a lawsuit against the property owners last year without discussing it with council members beforehand. Hill countered that he had emailed members, asking them whether they wanted to proceed with the lawsuit and advising them that he needed to file the suit promptly due to a statute of limitations on legal action. Hill remains the town’s attorney despite submitting his resignation earlier this month. At the council’s request, he

agreed at last week’s meeting to remain in the position, at the same rate of $185 an hour, until the town hires his replacement. As Dunham was publicly criticizing him last week, Hill stood up, walked through the kitchen of the Summerfield Community Center and disappeared into a back hallway before emerging and returning to his seat. Earlier he said, “I’m not getting any joy out of it.”

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STOKESDALE town council Picking up where we left off in last week’s issue, here are the remaining highlights from Stokesdale Town Council’s May 9 meeting. as reported by PATTI STOKES Councilman Tim Jones said he saw no competing quotes for the sign at Stokesdale Elementary which the town had purchased with state grant money, or for the town clock that will soon be installed downtown. “We’re basically a one-quote deal here,” Jones said. “I can’t even monitor what you all are spending. You’ve done a very good job of keeping me in the dark.” Councilman Frank Bruno said Stokesdale Elementary had selected the school sign and a citizen group selected the downtown clock. Eileen Thiery spoke up, saying she was part of that citizen group which had done a

lot of research on clocks and they had selected a very reputable manufacturer.

Door locks. Tim Jones asked why the bathroom door locks in the park’s concession building had still not been fixed. Town Clerk Alisa Houk said the town is waiting for the business that has worked on the locks twice already to come back. After more discussion, Flynt agreed to contact a locksmith and get a written quote to either repair or replace the door locks. Tree work. Tim Jones again voiced concerns about the town paying $24,400 to cut down and remove 15 trees in the park after the second

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The situation had not constituted an emergency, he said, adding he had ridden through the park after the hurricane and thought the damage to be so minor that he hadn’t even stopped. Afterward, he said two other companies he talked with estimated they would have charged $3,800 to $4,100 to do the tree work. Jones also said he could only find eight stumps where 15 trees had supposedly been taken down. “This is the most egregious case of overcharging I have ever seen,” he said. When Flynt asked if Jones had talked with the company who did the tree work, Jones said no. Flynt then explained again that when the hurricane came through he and Mayor Pro Tem Thearon Hooks were dealing with a damaged municipal water line. “So, when you (Tim Jones) say that Thearon, Frank and I were involved in that (the tree work), that is a boldfaced lie,” Flynt said. “We (Flynt and Hooks) were not there.” Flynt then asked if Tim Jones had asked any questions when he saw the tree work being done in the park and Jones answered no. “We have beat this issue to death,” Flynt responded. Bruno acknowledged he had not gotten a quote for the tree work upfront and said he would do things differently next time.

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CITIZEN COMMENTS, 10 P.M.  Mark Nadel said he felt Flynt, Hooks and Bruno were going above and beyond to “make this town the best it can be” while Bill and Tim Jones had “an agenda.” “We sound like Summerfield,” he said, adding the “local paper” only reports one side of the story. Nadel encouraged the council to be professional and recognize everyone makes mistakes.  “What I’ve seen here tonight is toxic,” Jim Greene said. “We don’t have a five-man board, we have a three- and a two-man board. You are smart enough to straighten this thing out.” Regarding spending $24,400 for tree work, Greene said he had cut down many trees in his life and “What has been described would have been a two-hour job for me – and I’m crippled. To put it plainly, we were gouged. Somebody should sit down and talk with Beaver, have the two invoices and say, ‘Look, we’re getting a lot of flak and we think we were charged too much.’”  Jimmy Landreth said he didn’t mind debate and if all five council members agreed, it would be bad. “I’m glad somebody wants to do the job,” he added.  Kathryn Bunthoff, representing Friends of Stokesdale, gave a history of the general store John King built in 1860 on Ellisboro Road, when the town was known as Green Pond. A post office was later assigned to the store, she said.

Events Committee. An Events Committee meeting was set for May 20 to start planning the 9/11 ceremony in September and other town events.

Anyone with historical information or photos to share about Stokesdale was asked to contact Bunthoff at k.bunthoff@gmail.com.

ADMINISTRATIVE

CLOSING COMMENTS

Houk highlighted administrative accomplishments in April, which included work on the town’s financial records.

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 Tim Jones said the town would be losing a conservative with almost eight years of council experience when Bill

Jones steps down after his Stokesdale home sells and he moves to Kernersville.

WATER Q&A

 Bill Jones said he does have an agenda, the same as he had almost eight years ago when he came onto the council.

Sullivan said. “We have just recently received the final pieces of information that were requested by our (town) manager’s group on that study. And quite honestly, the numbers (initially estimated at $50 million) did not change. At this point, pending a final meeting to end that study, it is extremely unlikely that anything will come of it because of the cost.” As a result, the mayor said, the town needs to explore ways to improve the quality of the water and address shortcomings, such as weak water pressure, in some of Oak Ridge’s neighborhoods served by Aqua America.

“I want to do what’s right for the town and feel I’ve done that,” he said. Acknowledging he may “rub some people the wrong way,” he said people never have to wonder what he thinks. “Somebody else could have served better … I hope they’ll come down here and serve,” he said.  Bruno thanked Bill Jones for his service and said he had been a “fantastic asset” on the council. “We’ve had some differences the past few months, but I do appreciate what you’ve done,” Bruno told Jones.  Hooks also thanked Bill Jones for his service and said making decisions that affect everyone in the community is tough. “We have 500 or so homes coming in next year,” Hooks said, then invited the community to “Come out here and help us… give us some input on what we need to do.”  Flynt said he was reminded of what the late Jesse Joyce and Powell Shelton, former council members, used to say, “We leave our friendships at the door and we pick them up on the way out.” The mayor then thanked Gene Yates with Yates Construction for coming within 30 minutes of being called to figure out why the town’s water pressure had gotten so low the week before. “He (Yates) rode all our water lines trying to find a leak. The problem was with Burlington Industries. They left a line open and 600,000 gallons of water leaked out,” Flynt said. With no further business, the meeting ended at 10:32 p.m.

...continued from p. 3

How would the water system proposed by the mayor work? The system would be “very limited” in scope, Sullivan said, since the town wouldn’t engage in any construction, such as running new water lines to existing neighborhoods and individual houses. In other words, homeowners who now rely on community wells and private wells would be unaffected by a system operated by Oak Ridge, he said. At least initially, the system would provide water to newly built subdivisions with at least 30 houses, based on the idea that serving fewer homes may not be financially viable. “The proposal simply follows the development model used for many years by developers in Oak Ridge, who install community wells and distribution piping to provide water to the houses that will be built,” Sullivan said. “Instead of the water system being turned over to a licensed utility company (such as Aqua America), it would be turned over to the town to own and to operate as part of a water system. “If the town is operating the system,

the decisions that are made are going to be based on what’s best for our citizens,” he said.

“It boils down to local control and accountability. A municipal government is charged with providing for the health, safety and welfare of its citizens. Water falls in all three categories.”

Won’t all Oak Ridge taxpayers wind up paying for the system? “The proposal we are considering tonight is a very limited and modest approach that has little cost to the town,” said Sullivan, explaining that state law requires municipalities to pay for water and sewer services from user

fees, not tax receipts. “Water and sewer is always separate,” he said. “It has to be run in a separate enterprise fund. There’s no co-mingling of operating funds and the enterprise fund. The enterprise fund is funded by the users of the system, not using general tax dollars.”

to learn more Visit www.oakridgenc.com to read Mayor Sullivan’s message about the proposed municipal water system and the resolution of intent to establish a system passed Tuesday night by the Town Council.

questions? comments? We’ll publish more questions which were raised at Tuesday’s meeting in next week’s paper, and will be happy to address additional questions. Email your questions – or your comments – about the water system to editor@nwobserver.com.

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MAY 23 - 29, 2019

SUMMERFIELD town council Tuesday, May 14 / MEETING HIGHLIGHTS as reported by CHRIS BURRITT Mayor Gail Dunham called the monthly council meeting at the Summerfield Community Center to order at 6:30 p.m. Mayor Pro Tem Dena Barnes and council members Teresa Pegram, John O’Day and Reece Walker were present; council member Dianne Laughlin was absent. Of the town staff members, Town Manager Scott Whitaker, Town Clerk Lance Heater and Town Planner Chris York were also present; Finance Director Dee Hall was absent because she was on vacation.

Tuesday at the Sportman’s Wildlife Club on Winfree Road.

Rev. Bill Young, pastor of Piedmont Cowboy Church, offered the invocation and church member Steve Neal said the congregation meets at 7 p.m. each

The sidewalk will extend the A&Y Greenway, which starts in Greensboro and presently ends just inside the Summerfield town limits at a pedes-

The remarks were followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and the introduction of council and town staff members. The council approved the agenda with one change, which was to remove from consideration the awarding of a bid for construction of a sidewalk along U.S. 220, due to an insufficient number of bidders. Whitaker said new bidding is underway.

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MAY 23 - 29, 2019

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trian tunnel under U.S. 220, to Summerfield Road. The council also approved minutes from the April 9 council meeting.

ANNOUNCEMENTS Founders’ Day. Whitaker briefed the council on preparations for the Founders’ Day celebration Friday and Saturday, May 17-18. The first town-sponsored Movies in the Park of the summer season will feature the Disney movie “Zombies,” which will be shown in the Community Park amphitheater at 8:45 p.m. Friday, May 24. Music starts at 8 p.m.

Draft budget. Town staff plans to present a final draft of the proposed budget for the fiscal year starting July 1 during a special called meeting to be held at Summerfield Community Center at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 30, Whitaker said. The council will hold a public hearing during its monthly meeting Tuesday, June 11, for residents to provide input on the proposed budget, after which it will consider adopting the budget. UDO. The town’s Zoning Board plans to meet Tuesday, May 28, and Monday, June 10, to continue its work on a draft of the unified development ordinance (UDO), a set of rules governing residential and commercial construction and other development within the town limits. Later in the meeting, Zoning Board Chair Dick Feulner gave an update of the board’s work on the UDO. Speed limit. In response to the town’s request last month that the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) reduce the speed limit on Lake Brandt Road, Walker said NCDOT has declined, based on a study the department conducted in October that didn’t justify lowering the speed limit. Whitaker noted the agency is considering adding a turn lane on Lake Brandt Road at Plainfield Road.

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EMERGENCY SERVICES Public Safety: Summerfield Fire District. Chief Chris Johnson said Summerfield Fire District responded to 96 calls for service in April, including 53 emergency calls and 19 fire-related calls. Firefighters also installed 24 car seats. Pegram asked Johnson for the number of fire-related calls within the town limits (since the fire district encompasses more than Summerfield) and he said he couldn’t provide the exact number. “Most everything we run is within our district,” he said. On a safety note, the chief advised residents to use caution when grilling food outside and always place grills away from houses and other flammable structures.

Sheriff’s Office. Eric Gordon, a patrol supervisor for Guilford County Sheriff’s District 1 Office, said deputies responded to 158 calls for service in Summerfield last month. Five people were arrested for thefts from construction sites, he said, adding there were no reports of violent crimes during the month.

COMMITTEE REPORTS Finance. Due to Hall’s absence, Whitaker updated the council on the Finance Committee’s work and said the committee plans to amend spending plans for parking lot improvements at Summerfield Community Park and construction of the U.S. 220 sidewalk to reflect how much the town expects to spend on the projects by June 30, the end of the current fiscal year. Dunham requested that town staff post on Summerfield’s website the latest version of next year’s proposed budget before the May 30 budget presentation. Whitaker made no promises, saying “it depends upon how far we get” in completing revisions before the meeting.

Historical. Chair Gary Brown said

after the Founders’ Day celebration the committee plans to schedule a work day for the clean-up of Roost Cemetery before turning it over to the neighborhood’s homeowners association.

Town Attorney Bill Hill said the town is justified in paying for defense of Rotruck’s suit since Laughlin represents the council in an official capacity.

Trails and Open Space. Dunham asked Chair Jane Doggett whether she could share the latest version of the trails and open space map with town council, since the committee had been working on it for “a couple of years.” Doggett said the committee had worked on the map for a few hours this year and planned to display at Founders’ Day the same foam-board version it showed at last year’s celebration.

Crawford also said the council owes residents “a clear justification for the manager’s compensation package.”

Founders’ Day. Final preparations for the upcoming celebration were almost complete, Whitaker said. There was still room for more parade entries, noted Walker, who organized the parade. Zoning. Chair Dick Feulner said the Zoning Board met three times in April and plans to meet four times in May to continue its work on the unified development ordinance. Fuelner said he expects the board to produce a printed version of the document by mid-June, but asked that two public hearings tentatively scheduled in June be delayed. He recommended the council schedule the public hearings on the UDO sometime after Labor Day. In the meantime, he suggested the town conduct a legal review of the document. “We can see the light at the end of the tunnel,” Walker said.

PUBLIC COMMENTS  Dwayne Crawford asked town staff to identify in writing the statute authorizing Summerfield to pay legal bills in the lawsuit brought by former councilman Todd Rotruck against Laughlin, who was appointed to fill Rotruck’s seat last October. Crawford had raised the same issue during previous meetings.

“That, in my opinion, is a claim against the town,” Hill said.

Later in the meeting, the council met in closed session to review Whitaker’s performance over the previous year. In open session, the council voted 3-1 to give the manager a 3 percent annual pay raise starting June 12, which begins his seventh year of employment with the town. Whitaker said his salary would increase from about $99,000 to about $102,000. (See related article in our May 16-22 issue.)

BUSINESS FROM MANAGER Parking lot. At Whitaker’s recommendation, the council voted to hire Barr Construction Co. of Greensboro to pave and make other improvements to the parking lot at Summerfield Community Park. The $143,214 contract provides for 17 marked parking spaces, including two for handicap parking, and access for fire trucks and other service vehicles to the lake’s dam, Whitaker said. He said designated parking spaces will replace “random parking” in the gravel lot. Pegram asked whether there’s a gate across Centerfield Road to secure the parking area, saying the improvements could attract more motorists and “might be inviting more crime.” Whitaker said no gate is planned. At the request of town staff, the Sheriff’s Office patrols parking areas owned by the town, he said. Walker added that a homeowner who lives near the parking lot objected to installation of a gate, saying motorists who

...continued on p. 12

Photo by Patti Stokes/NWO

Barr construction Co. has been awarded a $143,214 contract to pave and mark this parking lot at Summerﬁeld Community Park.

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MAY 23 - 29, 2019

TOWN COUNCIL MEETING encountered a gate would turn around in his driveway.

Picnic shelter. Whitaker reported that construction of the $89,635 shelter at Summerfield Athletic Park is “progressing slower than we would like” due to a delay in delivery of timbers. The project is still due to be completed before the end of June, he said. Historic banners. The town has erected new historic banners on poles along Summerfield Road, N.C. 150 and at Summerfield Athletic Park, Whitaker said.

...continued from p. 11

When Dunham asked how much the banners cost, Whitaker said the town paid about $3,700 for about 30 banners and about $1,600, or $53 each, for installing them. The manager then commended Chris York, the recently hired town planner, for “doing a really great job for us.”

BUSINESS FROM MAYOR & COUNCIL Debris removal. At the recommendation of the town’s attorney, the council approved a consent order and judg-

ment requiring the owners of property at 7208 Summerfield Road to remove junked vehicles and debris. If the owners don’t abide by the order, Hill said, the town has the authority to hire a contractor and charge the property owners for the work. (See related article on front cover.) Pegram questioned whether the town has the right to go behind the fence of the property owned by Harold and Lonnie Daniel and their sister Jewel Hopkins to remove debris. Hill countered that abandoned vehicles may pose a health risk if they’ve leaked oil into the ground, giving the town the right to act to protect the public’s health.

Legal settlement. Hill informed the council that an agreement had been reached to pay $10,000 to settle a lawsuit brought by former Town Clerk Valarie Halvorsen, who left her position in 2017 after taking an extended leave of absence. Pegram said she wants to see Halvorsen’s employment files, based upon her understanding that council members could view the files after the case was resolved. Hill said a majority vote of council members would be required for the files to be released. “Personally, I don’t see any benefit to doing it,” Walker said. If Halvorsen were to give signed, notarized permission for council members to view the files, O’Day said he’d reconsider his opposition to council members viewing the documents. “I don’t see the gain,” he said. “This is somebody’s private life.” Pegram’s motion to open the files to council members failed for lack of a second.

Self-appointment. Dunham said she received a letter dated April 25 from the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority asking her to select a Summerfield resident to serve on a committee studying

MAY 23 - 29, 2019

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NEXT MEETING Tuesday, June 11 • 6:30pm Summerfield Community Center

CONTACT YOUR TOWN (336) 643-8655 clerk@summerfieldnc.gov www.summerfieldnc.gov

airplane noise. The mayor said she appointed herself, based on her aviation expertise and a lack of time to search for another resident for the committee. (See related article on p. 2.) Mayor Pro Tem Barnes and council members O’Day and Walker objected to the mayor’s self-appointment. The council voted 3-1 to instruct town staff to post the committee opening on Summerfield’s website, with Pegram casting the opposing vote.

CLOSED SESSION

Following a closed session, the council voted 3-1 to increase Whitaker’s pay 3 percent to about $102,000 a year (with Pegram casting the opposing vote). The council also doubled the town manager’s severance pay to 12 months from six months in the event he were fired by the council. “I want to say congratulations, Scott,” Dunham said. “You won the lottery.” (See related article in our May 16-22 issue.) After the closed session, the council also voted to post a job opening for the town attorney, based on Hill tendering his resignation earlier this month. During the closed session, Hill agreed to stay in the job, at his current rate of $185 an hour, until his replacement is hired. With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:50 p.m. with two residents still in attendance.

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 Movie in the Park | The Town of Summerfield

will host its first Movie in the Park of the summer season on May 24 at Summerfield Community Park Amphitheater, 5404 Centerfield Road in Summerfield. Music will begin at 8 p.m. and the movie “Zombies” will begin around 8:45 p.m. (dusk). Kona Ice will be on site. Free popcorn will be available as well. Bring a blanket and friend(s). More info: www.summerfieldnc.gov.

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About 75 businesses and organizations participated in the annual Founders’ Day parade on May 18, with lifetime Summerfield resident Linda Southard (shown above left) serving as the grand marshal. Summerfield Charter Academy won the “Most Creative” float award; EuroHaus won “Most Patriotic” and Reynolds Orthodontics won “Best Overall.”

Photos by Patti Stokes/NWO

See more Founders’ Day photos at facebook.com/ nwobserver

Sunny skies and temperatures in the high 80s marked the Town of Summerﬁeld’s 23rd annual Founders’ Day celebration last weekend. Activities during the two-day festival included carnival rides and games, inﬂatables, face painting, a caricaturist, petting zoo, performances by students from Northwest High and Northern High schools, Greensboro Academy and Greensboro Performing Arts – and of course, the annual Founders’ Day parade on Saturday.

With these bright red T-shirts Summerfield resident Lynne DeVaney and her two children wore while riding in the parade, DeVaney made an official announcement that she’s running for Summerfield Town Council this fall.

Northwes evening du and North

16-month-old Logan Snyder of Charlotte, who was visiting his uncle in Summerﬁeld, just might be a musical prodigy. Shown here, Logan demonstrates his drummer’s skills at Highland North Music School’s tent.

May 17-18

Photos by Patti Stokes/NWO

Best friends Autumn Shands (left) and Zaharia Joseph show off the beautiful face painting creations they got at Founders’ Day on Saturday.

Kyle Edgell, caricaturist, humor therapist and laughter yoga instructor who was sponsored by the Northwest Observer, drew caricatures of attendees throughout the day on Saturday. Shown here, Edgell reveals a family caricature she drew of Summerﬁeld residents Will and Deborah Napper and their three daughters.

st High School band director Brian McMath conducts the school’s jazz band, which performed Friday uring the kickoff of Founders’ Day. The school’s honors vocal ensemble also performed Friday evening hern’s band and vocal ensemble performed on Saturday.

Inﬂatables, games, carnival rides and a petting zoo were among the many Founders’ Day activities kids enjoyed.

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CRIME / INCIDENT report

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

ASSAULT

MAY 20 | A resident in the 7000 block of Toscana Trace in Summerfield reported that her husband grabbed her and pushed her down. There were no signs of assault and legal process options were discussed.

BURGLARY

MAY 16 | The owner of Pick N Go at 7700 N.C. 68 N. in Stokesdale reported someone broke into his business and stole multiple tobacco items with a retail value of about $2,020; additionally, repairs to the glass door were estimated at $1,000. MAY 17 | A resident in the 8000 block of Oak Creek Drive in Stokesdale reported that sometime between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. an unknown person attempted to enter the residence while she was home. The suspect did not make entry and no damage was observed.

FRAUD

MAY 16 | A resident in the 6000 block of Trotter Ridge Road in Summerfield reported he received a phone call from a person posing as a Verizon customer service agent, who told him that someone had tried to purchase iPhones on his account. While on the phone, the suspect(s) texted the resident a number, gained access to his account and then ported his number to another account. The resident said he contacted Verizon afterward and was advised to file a police report in order to have his phone number reinstated. MAY 17 | Goodwill Industries in Oak Ridge reported a fraudulent incident which occurred sometime between March 30 and May 15.

MISC. ARRESTS/CITATIONS MAY 16 | A 32-year-old male known

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offender was arrested at 8:09 p.m. near the intersection of N.C. 68 N./ Seagraves Road in Stokesdale for an outstanding out of county order for arrest. The man was also charged with driving 15 mph over the speed limit, possession of marijuana, possession of marijuana paraphernalia, and driving with a suspended license. MAY 18 | Three suspects were arrested at 2:42 a.m. near Full Gospel Worship Center at 7315 Summerfield Road in Summerfield for attempting to steal merchandise left overnight by merchants who had set up their spaces for Summerfield Founders’ Day. An 18-year-old male known offender was arrested for attempted larceny and carrying a concealed weapon without a permit; a 21-year-old male known offender was arrested for attempted larceny, carrying a concealed handgun on city property and resist/delay/obstructing a police officer; and an 18-year-old male known offender was arrested for attempted larceny.

SHOPLIFTING

MAY 15 | The assistant manager at Tractor Supply, 8005 Marketplace Drive in Oak Ridge, reported an unknown suspect stole merchandise with a retail value of about $370.95. The suspect was captured on video while stealing the merchandise.

VANDALISM

MAY 15 | Two residents in the 5200 block of Bunch Road reported a known suspect damaged the front door of their home, causing estimated damage of $350, and then damaged the rear windshield of their vehicle, causing another $300 in damage. The residents were advised of the warrant process.

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Seniors take graduation walk at elementary schools

Northwest and Northern High School seniors, dressed in their graduation caps and gowns, visited local elementary schools on May 21 and 22 as part of an annual “graduation walk” tradition. As the seniors walked up and down the studentlined hallways and gave high fives, the elementary students held up handmade “Congratulations” signs and cheered words of encouragement.

Photo courtesy of Melissa O’Dell-Yates

On May 22 Northwest High School seniors who had attended Stokesdale Elementary School did their graduation walk for the students there. Photos by Patti Stokes/NWO

(Right) Northwest High School seniors, clad in their graduation caps and gowns, did a graduation walk at Oak Ridge Elementary School on Tuesday. (Below left) Fourth grade teacher Kelly Harger, surrounded by some of her current students, holds a fourthgrade class photograph from 2010-2011 which included some of the Northwest High School seniors who visited the school on Tuesday.

Photos by Patti Stokes/NWO

April Hairston, who now works at Oak Ridge Elementary School where she volunteered when her four children were students there, greets her twin sons, Northwest High School seniors Joshua and Jordan, as they arrive at the school Tuesday morning.

(Below) Oak Ridge Elementary teacher Michelle Cole (center) poses with some of the visiting Northwest High School students whom she taught several years ago.

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

Welcome to

Northern girls’ soccer team loses semiﬁnal game in overtime by MEREDITH BARKLEY

up two goals in overtime.

Northern Guilford’s girls’ soccer team fought valiantly on Tuesday but came up short in its shot at the high school’s first state soccer title.

“We had it with seven minutes left, but couldn’t hang on,” said Frank Tamborino, wrapping up his first year as Northern girls’ head soccer coach. “They just sort of ran out of gas at the end.”

The fifth-seeded Nighthawks (20-2-1) lost 5-3 in overtime to third-seeded T.C. Robertson of Asheville (23-4) in the semifinals of the NCHSAA’s 3A state championship match on May 21. Northern took the lead twice in the second half on a goal by Ellie Grove and two goals by Christina Layton, but couldn’t hold on and settled for a 3-3 tie at the end of regulation play. Goalie Claire Marion had 17 saves for the evening, but the Nighthawks lost the game after giving

It was, however, the deepest Northern has gone in post-season play, Tambornio noted. “I’m really proud of my girls,” he said. “They did pretty well. We look forward to next season – it’ll be our time next year.” After a season opening 3-1 loss to Page, Tamborino reworked his team’s lineup and saw immediate results that paid off for the remainder of the season. Before the semifinal match on Monday, they had

reeled off 20 straight wins, including a 14-0 finish to win another Mid State 3A title. Along the way they outscored opponents 108-12. Northern girls have dominated the 3A conference in recent years, losing only two regular season conference games in the past six seasons. According to MaxPreps.com, Northern’s Haley Magnussen, a junior, led the conference in scoring with 40 goals; sophomores Taylor Malloy had 16 goals, Layton had 13 and Grove had 11. The Nighthawks will graduate a chunk of its defensive lineup which shut down offenses all season and yielded 18 shutout wins. But the team has lots of young talent, most who learned and developed their soccer skills on travel teams.

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Northern track teams win conference, rack up team and individual awards by MEREDITH BARKLEY Both Northern Guilford’s boys’ and girls’ track teams won Mid-State 3A Conference titles again this year and many of the Nighthawks’ athletes won individual honors. The girls’ team continued on to take third in the 3A Midwest Regionals and fourth in the state. “They are great, hard-working kids,” said coach Thanh Ngo, who won conference Coach Of The Year for both boys’ and girls’ track. “They make us look good. It’s really all on the kids.” Conference titles have become a matter of “business as usual” for Ngo’s track teams. During the past 10 years Ngo has coached at Northern, his teams have won titles most of those seasons. “It was a rebuilding year for the boys, but the girls were expected to be strong this year and they held true to that,” Ngo said. The girls’ team won 13 events during the conference tournament and secured the win with a dominant 201 score. Eastern Alamance, its closest competitor, placed second with 166. Northern’s Alyson Davis, who won the 100 and 200 meter races and was

a member of the winning 4x100 and 4x400 meter relay teams, was named conference Most Valuable Runner. The boys also won their conference meet in dominating fashion, winning 10 events and collecting 174 points compared with Eastern Guilford’s second place total of 108. Northern’s Jack Dingman, who won the 1,600 meter and 3,200 meter races, was named conference Most Valuable Runner. Rashawn Pleasant, who won the high jump and long jump, was named

conference Most Valuable Field Athlete. In regional competition, Alyssa Hernandez, Emma Fredericks, Dingman, the 4x400 meter relay team (Katie Howell, Jordayne Daye, Miracle Scott, Alyssa Hernandez) and 4x800 meter relay team (Emma Fredericks, Abbie Boone, Howell, Hernandez) were winners. At states, Hernandez and the 4x400 meter relay team (Alyson Davis, Daye, Scott, Hernandez) took second. Davis took third in the 100 meter run. Finishing fourth in the state were Dingman in the 3,200 meter race and the

4x800 meter relay team (Fredericks, Boone, Howell, Hernandez). Northern Guilford boys’ track All Conference selections were: Benny Melville, Ernesto Barrios-Zavala, Gu Ribando, Dingman, Jacob Barlow, Mate De Lisa, Nate Williams, Parker Stewart, Pleasant, Sam Angiulli and Tobe Fawole. Northern Guilford girls’ track All Conference selections were: Boone, Davis, Hernandez, Amaya English, Fredericks, Daye, Howell, Layla Hooks, Mikayla Penn and Scott.

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MAY 23 - 29, 2019

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

NORTHWEST GUILFORD Logan Farrelly, soccer by STEWART MCCLINTOCK Logan Farrelly, a senior captain on Coach Terry Murphy’s Northwest Lady Vikings soccer team this year, played the attacking midfielder role. Farrelly’s impressive play on the soccer field and strong academics off the field will take her to Queens University next fall, where she will continue her soccer career. “I have an attacking mentality, I defend, set the ball forward, connect up

top and play well in the air,” Farrelly said when asked to describe her playing style and strategic approach to the game. Of Coach Murphy, Farrelly said he faced some big challenges this year when figuring out how to fill positions vacated by last year’s seniors – “But he made sure we stayed positive when we had a couple tough losses early in the season and he was a great motivator in us coming back and going 6-2 in conference play.” For her stellar play on the soccer field, Farrelly was named Metro 4A All-Conference her sophomore and junior years, named All-Region as a junior, and was named to play in the East West All-Star game this July. A straight-A student, Farrelly has been named Academic All-Conference for three years. She enjoys volunteering at sum-

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mer YMCA camps and received Guilford County Schools’ service-learning diploma for volunteering 250 or more hours during her high school career. While continuing to play soccer at Queens University, Farrelly plans to major in exercise sports science and go on to become a physical therapist.

On a side note… Q: What is your favorite food? A: “Watermelon.” Q: Favorite movie? A: “Five Feet Apart.” Q: Favorite professional athlete? A: “Julie Ertz – she plays soccer for team USA.” Q: What was your favorite cartoon growing up? A: “The Smurfs.” Q: Favorite musical artist? A: “Billie Eilish.” Q: Do you have a role model? A: “My dad. He’s always been there for me, he pushes me hard in soccer, and we have a really fun, goofy relationship.” Q: Do you have any pets? A: “A golden doodle named Charley.” Q: If you could interview one person, living or dead, who would it be?

A: Ellen (DeGeneres). She’s so fun and sweet and caring, and I would love to spend time with her.” Q: Where would you go on a dream vacation? A: “Naples, Italy. I’d love to experience the culture and explore the countryside. I’ve also heard the food is delicious.” Q: What could each of us do to make the world a better place? A: “We could all start putting ourselves in other people’s positions. Realize that each of us struggles and some of us don’t have it as easy as others, so show more respect for each other.” Q: What is an invention the world needs? A: “A robot that cleans your room!” Q: What is something about you that not many people know? A: “I love to sing anything on the radio – random songs. I also love to cook.” Q: How do you spend your free time? A: “Hanging out with friends, online shopping, being with my sisters.” Q: Do you have any siblings who play sports at Northwest? A: “My sister Lauren is a freshman on the varsity soccer team.”

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GRINS and GRIPES 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.

GRINS to...  Karen Ellis, Northern Guilford Middle School principal, for being a very courageous, dedicated and caring leader for our children. May God bless you, Ms. Ellis and staff, for continuing to do what is right even when it’s tough!  Coach Giordano for coaching my son’s ORYA soccer team. We appreciate all your hard work and look forward to next season. Shout-out to ORYA for putting together a great soccer program for our kids to practice and play locally.  Oak Ridge mayor and town council for considering a town water system. It shows forward thinking and a moral commitment to our children and those who come after us.  Supporters of security at Oak Ridge Town Park. As a victim of assault as a child, I’m horrified that council is splitting hairs over whether hikers are a risk. The risk is more broad. Let’s simply protect children and families.  Summerfield staff, firefighters, law enforcement and volunteers who put many hours into planning another great Founders’ Day – and to all those who stayed to the very end of a very hot day to clean up, help vendors and sponsors load their vehicles, etc.  The person who griped about gripers griping on their gripe. There should be a grin in there somewhere.  Our neighbors in Trotter Ridge for

MAY 23 - 29, 2019

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

not complaining (yet) while we try and teach our rescue coonhound not to howl early in the morning. He’s still young and dogs will be dogs. Thanks!  Summerfield Town Councilman Reece Walker for following in his grandfather’s footsteps and organizing another Founders’ Day parade. So fun to see how excited the kids (and parents, grandparents, etc.) get when parade participants go by!  Oak Ridge Councilman George McClellan for working with our legislators to get funding for our park’s security system.  Food Lion for coming out to Founders’ Day and offering free water when it was 94 degrees!  The sweet clerk at Belco in Summerfield for the kindness shown to our son when he accidentally told you the wrong gas pump number and paid for someone else’s gas. We appreciate your help and patience shown to him.  Scott Whitaker, Summerfield town manager. Your 3 percent raise is a bargain, especially based on the pig slop you often have to wade through to get anything accomplished. Thanks for staying the course and serving our town well through it all!

GRIPES to...  Town of Oak Ridge for allowing a pet breeder/ store to operate in town. Puppies are not merchandise and should never grow up in cages inside storage build-

 “Nice” drivers who stop to let cars turn left over two lanes of traffic. This is a dangerous movement which causes accidents and there is nothing “nice” about this, so please stop!  The man in the Food Lion off Fleming Road who told me and my 12-year-old sister that “This is America” because we were in his way. Your racism makes me grieve for the future of this country.  Parents and coaches of kids playing recreational baseball who cheat, allow illegal bats, batting out of lineup and metal cleats – and then get angry when caught. What have your kids learned from this?

 People who request home services and then will not pay for them. Small businesses depend on your payments to continue to survive.  Big government Little Napoleons who want to force their water down our throats. My final monthly Greensboro water bill was $75, in 2004. I got an Oak Ridge well/septic which has since cost $350, total. That’s why I moved here.  Stokesdale Councilman Frank Bruno. If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, swims like a duck, and looks like a duck, it’s not a chicken! You should be ashamed of yourself. Might want to consider resignation.  The female Mitsubishi driver who needs a reality check on safety procedures for driving through our neighborhood at appropriate speeds. All negative actions have consequences, so think about that the next time you get behind the wheel.

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ings or be placed in “shopping carts” on a website. Editor’s note: Oak Ridge Town Planner Sean Taylor invites the reader to contact him at (336) 644-7009 to discuss the categories of businesses and property uses allowed in each zoning district.

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LETTERS/OPINIONS Submit your letters (maximum 350 words) online: nwobserver.com

e-mail : editor@nwobserver.com

mail: Opinions, PO Box 268, Oak Ridge, NC 27310 Include your name, a daytime phone number where you can be reached and name of community in which you live. Letters from the same writer will be published no more than every 30 days.

I support the trail, hikers – and added security in park Grins to the Mountains-to-Sea Trail and to everyone who has worked together to make bringing the trail through Oak Ridge possible. During a recent town council meeting, I voiced the concerns of some mothers I had spoken with regarding overall security at Oak Ridge Town Park. Although I mentioned the out-

of-town hikers staying in the park’s campsite, the concerns I raised were not based on a fear of MST hikers nor were they meant to imply that hikers on the MST are unsavory human beings. The issue I discussed with the town council was simply meant to help the MST and all visitors of the town park with suggestions for making the

Join the community conversation! Chat with your neighbors about trails, BJ Barnes running for

mayor, a Trader Joe’s coming to Battleground Avenue, Oak Ridge’s intent to develop a municipal water system ... and more at facebook.com/NorthwestObserver

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that A community is a d e rm fo in is well ; ity safer commun ! u yo again, thank

park more secure. The mothers’ concerns I brought up weren’t based on paranoia, rather on incidents that have occurred in the park over the last few years – one of which involved an older man seen running naked through the park on numerous occasions a few years ago (as reported in this newspaper) and several car break-ins. A $100,000 video camera system such as that proposed by Councilman George McClellan would only assist after the fact rather than providing assistance to campers, mothers and

children needing immediate help. During the council meeting I proposed emergency poles to provide quicker police and medical response and act as a deterrent to would-be assailants. The essence of my recommendation to council was that Blue Light emergency poles cost between $5,000 and $7,000, with service costing $200 a year. Just two or three placed at strategic locations could provide an alternative to a $100,000 video camera system that is helpful only after an unfortunate situation has occurred. Van Tanner, OAK RIDGE

Vendor selection policy is not corrupt “Corruption comes to Stokesdale!” That’s what some members of Stokesdale Town Council want you to believe. They manipulate the facts and try to convince you we are spending all of the town’s money and we are going broke. They tell you we have somehow corrupted the policy we use to choose vendors and we must be benefitting financially from the vendors we choose. All of this is far from the truth. Last August the council approved a new vendor policy because the old one discriminated against some businesses wanting to be town vendors. Now, when something needs to be purchased or repaired, the clerk looks in the vendor book and calls one of the approved vendors. It’s as simple as that. As far as the vendors we’ve contracted with, all contracts have been reviewed by the town attorney and approved by the council. And, all of these contracts have saved the town money and put vendors in place who live up to the high standards that Stokesdale citizens should expect. When Mayor Flynt asked me to take over the Property Committee,

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

no one else wanted the job. The town park had been neglected for the past several years and we went about the task of cleaning up the park and making it safer for our citizens. The neglected playground area and volleyball courts were repaired and we added a shelter that had been in the works for two years – all within our current budget. With 11 1/2 years of cash reserves in the bank, the town’s financial position remains strong. It’s disappointing when people believe what they hear from a few individuals – whose motives they never question – without confirming the facts for themselves. I have repeatedly offered to meet with anyone to answer any questions and discuss any issues, but no one has contacted me directly. Instead, people complain among themselves and submit anonymous gripes in the paper without knowing the facts. My offer still stands. Also, I will be at Town Hall the third Monday of every month from 3-5 p.m. if you would like to meet. Frank Bruno STOKESDALE TOWN COUNCIL

AUTO SALES & SERVICE

EMPLOYMENT

YARD SALES

2013 HARLEY DAVIDSON SPORTSTER, burnt red, 650 miles, 1,200cc five-speed w/ windshield, crash bar, sissy bar. $11,500. (336) 427-7852.

HOUSE CLEANING BUSINESS looking for WORKERS. Must be honest, dependable, and have own transportation. To apply call (336) 541-5164.

MULTI-FAMILY YARD SALE Fri., May 24, 1pm-6pm & Saturday, May 25, 8am-5pm. 2307 Scalesville Road, Summerfield. Everything priced to sell. Lawn mower, bike, king size bedspreads, gently used children’s toys, household goods and appliances.

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DEADLINE: Monday prior to each issue

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

INDEX

Auto Sales & Service ................... 27 Employment ............................... 27 Event Registration........................ 27 Save the Date ............................. 27 Yard Sales ................................... 27 Home Services ....................... 27-29 Misc. for Sale .............................. 29 Misc. Services.............................. 29 Misc. Wanted .............................. 29 Pets & Animal Services ................ 29 Real Estate.................................. 30

EXPERIENCED SMALL ENGINE MECHANIC needed in Oak Ridge. Contact Tom, (336) 202-3256. FULL-TIME RECEPTIONIST position open at a small family-friendly eye care practice. We are passionate about our patients and are looking for someone to join our amazing team! Prior optometry or relevant medical office experience preferred; excellent customer service, attention to detail, and multitasking skills required. Email resumes to drbarts@summerfieldfamilyeyecare.com. VENDORS WANTED. Stokesdale Marketplace is accepting new vendors. Booths are available now. Come pick yours. 341 Ram Loop, Stokesdale. (336) 949-9269. We are growing fast. PART-TIME HOST/HOSTESS. Do you like HGTV? Enjoy touring homes? Become a host/hostess! Part-time employment hosting open houses in New Construction. Works with your schedule, Sunday after afternoons. Desired qualities: customer ser service/sales, gather information, punctual/ reliable. Call us today! (336) 485-1881. TIRE MAX TOTAL CAR CARE in Stokesdale and Summerfield is seeking top talent. If you or someone you know has experience in the industry, we’d love to talk with you. Call (336) 441-8066 in Stokesdale; (336) 793-5391 in Summerfield, or just stop by. ARBOR MASTERS TREE SERVICE. Help wanted. Call (336) 643-9157.

Carson Dellosa Education is now hiring SEASONAL WAREHOUSE ASSOCIATES for June, July and August. Must be able to lift 50 lbs. Great pay and flexible hours. Perfect opportunity for students. Conveniently located off Pleasant Ridge Road at 657-A Brigham Road Greensboro. Please contact human resources at (336) 808-3225 for a tour.

EVENT REGISTRATION RUN THE RIDGE–GLOW at RIDGEFEST Friday , May 31, 8:30pm in Oak Ridge Town Park, 6231 Lisa Drive. Register in advance to get your FREE T-shirt. More info and to register: merchantsofoakridge.com. SUMMERFIELD FISHING DERBY Saturday, June 15, 8:30am-11:30am at Summerfield Community Park Lake, 5404 Centerfield Road. Space is limited to 50 kids ages 6-12. For registration form visit www.summerfieldnc.gov. More info: Summerfield Town Hall (336) 643-8655.

SAVE THE DATE MOVIE IN THE PARK. The Town of Summerfield will host Movie in the Park, featur featuring “Zombies,” May 24, 8:45pm at Summer Summerfield Community Park Amphitheater, 5404 Centerfield Road in Summerfield. Gates open at 8pm. Kona Ice will be available for purchase and there will be free popcorn. More info: www.summerfieldnc.gov.

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

HOME SERVICES AIR CONDITIONING & HEATING A-ACTION AIR. Repair and service. Checkup special $39.95. Call (336) 382-3750.

CLEANING ANNASARAH'S CLEANING SERVICE Integrity, honesty, detail-minded. Refer References available. (336) 543-3941. OLGA'S HOUSEKEEPING SERVICE If it needs to be done, I'll do it. If it needs to be clean, I'll clean it. You will be satisfied. References provided. (336) 289-0008. 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. Refer References. Call Laura Bennett, (336) 231-1838. MAIDS OF HONOR HOME CLEANING $25 off! Locally owned, bonded staff. 40 years in service. BBB A+ rating. (336) 708-2407. 708-2407 KOONTZ CLEANING SERVICE, serving Summerfield and surrounding areas since 1985. Quality carpet and upholstery cleaning, tile and grouted floors, leather furniture, Oriental rugs. Ask about our hardwood floor deep-cleaning system and finish application. Spring specials. Please call (336) 643-6323 or (336) 392-8802.

... continued on p. 28

MAY 23 - 29, 2019

HOME SERVICES 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. Have a business you want to advertise? Place your ad at www.nwobserver.com.

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ELECTRICAL BALEX ELECTRICAL COMPANY, LLC. Got Power? Residential, commercial and solar electrical services. (336) 298-4192. Need an electrician? Call BLACKMON ELECTRICAL, INC. Free estimates. Commercial & residential. Licensed & insured. Call (336) 430-5018. Do you have ELECTRICAL NEEDS? Call Coble Electric LLC at (336) 209-1486.

GENERAL REPAIR & SERVICES FIX YOUR MOWER. Free pickup & delivery. Call Rick, (336) 501-8681. 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. 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. MOWER DECKS WELDED & REPAIRED. Pickup and delivery available. Call or text Morris at (336) 880-7498. APPLIANCE REPAIR – Call Mr. Appliance A step above the rest! (336) 609-5707. 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. AFFORDABLE HOME REPAIRS. One call fixes all! A+ with BBB. For a free estimate, call (336) 643-1184 or (336) 987-0350.

HOME SERVICES

MAY 23 - 29, 2019

GRADING / HAULING BRAD'S BOBCAT & HAULING SVCS. LLC Debris removal, grading, gravel/dirt, driveways, concrete work. (336) 362-3647. PEARMAN QUARRY HAULING Fill dirt, gravel, sand rock, mulch & more. Joel Richardson, (336) 803-2195. GAULDIN TRUCKING, grading & hauling, bobcat work, lot clearing, driveways, fill dirt, gravel, etc. (336) 362-1150. ANTHONY’S GRADING & HAULING Excavating, land clearing, demolition, dirt. available. Zane Anthony, (336) 362-4035. E&W HAULING & GRADING INC. Driveways, fill dirt, demolition, lot clearing, excavating, bobcat work, etc. (336) 451-1282.

LAWNCARE / LANDSCAPING COLFAX LAWNCARE. Core aeration & seeding. Fertilizing, mowing, trimming, pine needles. Complete lawn care maintenance. Res./comm. Fully insured. Serving the Triad for 28 years. (336) 362-5860. DELIMA LAWNCARE. 24 hours/7 days a week. Free estimates, licensed/insured. Commercial & Residential. (336) 669-5210.

HOME SERVICES

SOUTHERN CUTS LAWN CARE, complete lawn maintenance services. 13 years experi-

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.

ence. Nathan Adkins, (336) 430-6086. ATCHISON LAWN CARE. Dependable. Honest. Local. Call (336) 486-9837. STEVE NEWMAN TREE SERVICE. Free est. Lic/Ins. 40 yrs. exp. Lots & natural area thinning and cleanup. Large shrubbery jobs, chipping. Oak Ridge, (336) 643-1119. ORTIZ LANDSCAPING, complete lawn care. Trimming, cleaning, planting & mulch, gutter cleaning, patios & pavers, waterfalls, retaining walls, sidewalks, stonework. Residential and commercial. (336) 280-8981. ARBOR MASTERS TREE SERVICE Total tree removal, storm damage cleanup, shrub and tree pruning. Bobcat work and more. Free estimates. Licensed & insured. Call Joe at 643-9157. STOKESDALE LAWN. Mowing & weedeating. $45 minimum. (336) 423-2692. GUZMAN LANDSCAPE & MAINTENANCE Pine needles, mulch, leaf removal, tree pruning, complete lawn maint. (336) 655-6490. ALL-SEASON STUMP GRINDING. Owner Alan Winfree. Free est. Call (336) 382-9875. FAY'S LAWNCARE & LANDSCAPING Complete landscape maintenance & hard-

MASONRY MASONR CONCEPTS, brick, block, stone MASONRY concrete & repairs. Free est. (336) 988-1022, www.masonryconceptsgso.com. SOUTHERN STYLE concrete & landscapes. How about a new patio or fire pit? We can help with all of your outdoor living and entertainment spaces! Fire pits, driveways & sidewalks, patios and more! Give us a call at (336) 399-6619 for all your concrete and landscape needs.

MISC. SERVICES & PRODUCTS GRILLS, FIRE PITS, gas logs, heaters, gas inserts, tankless water heaters. General home repairs. Call Don Hill, (336) 643-7183. ON EAGLE'S WINGS residential home design/drafting. Call Patti, (336) 605-0519. COX POOL SERVICE. Openings, closings, routine maintenance, weekly service. No contracts, free estimates! (336) 327-5122.

PAINTING & DRYWALL

scaping. Tree work. Reasonable & honest. Call Taylor, (336) 458-6491. AQUA SYSTEMS IRRIGATION Quality irrigation systems. NC licensed contractor. We service all systems. Free est. (336) 644-1174. CAROLINA STUMP & TREE SERVICE Complete tree service, $1 million liability, workwork man’s comp. Rick & Judy, (336) 643-9332. www.carolinaStumpAndTreeServices.com.

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

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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.

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LAWSON'S PAINTING. Custom decks, pressure washing, boat docks, block fill, wood repair, stain work, textured ceilings, sheetrock repair. Call (336) 253-9089. PAINTING – INTERIOR & EXTERIOR 32 yrs. exp. Sheetrock repair. No job too small. Insured. Brad Rogers, (336) 314-3186.

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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.

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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.

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PRESSURE WASHING HOUSE SOFT WASHING, licensed & insured. Free estimates. (919) 931-0856. www.MartinsPressureWashing.com.

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JLB REMODELING, INC. Remodeling and additions. Fully insured. NC GC license #69997. Free est. Call (336) 681-2902 or visit www.jlbremodeling.com.

Ridge, NC. Storm damage specialist experiited A and listed with Angie’s List. Call (336) 944-6118, or visit redrhinoroofing.com. KEITH SMITH CONSTRUCTION & metal roofing. Free est. (336) 362-7469. PREMIER ROOFING, LOCALLY OWNED. Catering to all your roofing needs. Call (336) 430-9507 for free assessments. BEST PRICES IN TOWN! Shingle and metal roofing. Top-notch quality. Res./comm., licensed & insured. Financing available.

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

REMODELING / CONSTRUCTION

ROOFING

BELEWS CREEK CONSTRUCTION Kitchens/baths, custom decks, garages, dock work, siding, windows, roofing, rotted wood. Sr. disc., 39 years exp. (336) 362-6343.

CLINARD & SON ROOFING, LLC. Residential roofing, rubber flat roofs, roof coating, metal roofs. 30 years experience. Call (336) 643-8191 or (336) 580-3245.

Gated access with 24/7 camera surveillance 6705 US Hwy 158, Stokesdale • (336) 643-9963 (affiliated with Stokesdale Storage)

Belews Creek Construction, (336) 362-6343.

MISC. FOR SALE

Got

stuff? Sell it here in the

classifieds submit your ad at

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.

Locally owned & operated

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

FIVE-ACRE STORAGE LOT. Convenient and clean. RVs, campers, boats, trailers. (336) 486-9837.

MISC. WANTED FREE PICK-UP of unwanted riding & push mowers, tillers, golf carts, ATVs, generators, power washers, chain saws, mini-bikes, gocarts, and most grills. (336) 689-4167. $$$ – WILL PAY CASH for your junk or wrecked vehicle. For quote, call (336) 552-0328.

PETS & ANIMAL SVCS. PET PRODUCTS SARDEX is the greaseless & odorless way to treat mange. Kills fleas, too! At Tractor Supply (www.kennelvax.com).

PET SITTING WENDY COLLINS PET SITTING. Registered & Insured. Follow me on Facebook! Call or text, (336) 339-6845. Send in your pet photos to photos@nwobserver.com for our Pets & Critters section.

...continued, p. 30

MAY 23 - 29, 2019

REAL ESTATE

HOMES FOR RENT

NORTHERN SCHOOLS, wooded 1.5+/- acre

HOMES FOR SALE

CONVENIENT ONE-LEVEL TOWNHOUSE, no stairs, 2BR/1BA, $795, (336) 392-1454.

lot. No HOA, no dues. Approved for 4BR sep-

NEWLY REMODELED MH FOR RENT in clean, quiet MHP. 2BR/1BA near 158/220. $500/mo. (336) 908-6553.

SUMMERFIELD, AWESOME LOCATION.

ONE-BEDROOM BASEMENT APARTMENT IN OAK RIDGE. Lots of natural light, large space. $750/month, all utilities and WiFi. Family home. (336) 501-3222.

ty. Magnificent estate/horse farm site. Call

HOME FOR RENT. 3BR/2BA. Large yard. Well water. Electric heat and A/C. $850/ month. Background/tenant screening required. (336) 707-6652.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

We Help Everyone! SELLERS & BUYERS

tic. Priced to sell. Call (336) 430-9507.

10 ACRES - SUMMERFIELD

Fantastic piece of property with open & wooded acreage, creek on back of proper proper-

The Northwest Observer reaches over 11,800 mailboxes

(336) 430-9507 anytime!

left your NWO behind? read our e-edition online at

nwobserver.com

The best of both worlds. 10 acres in Northern school district. Private land that is still close to neighborhoods. Perfect for a large family estate, farmette or equestrian property. Offered at $250,000

Nancy J. Hess

nancy.hess@bhhsyostandlittle.com (336) 215-1820

(336) 643-4248

Place your real estate ad today (336) 644-7035, ext. 11

5602 Feather Court

Otey Construction offers this versatile floor plan w/ 3,600+ sq. ft. well situated on approximately 1 acre. Main level impresses w/ 10’ ceilings & conveniently includes master bedroom suite, second BR w/ full bath and office. Large greatroom w/ fireplace, covered porch w/ grilling deck. Two more BR, second office and large bonus space on second floor. Add’l storage in unfinished basement. 3-car attached garage with people door to back yard.

Jake Letterman (336) 338-0136

45 +/- ACRES AVAILABLE in southern Rockingham County. Gorgeous property, call (336) 430-9507.

REACH OUT TO

IN S OUR DER 26,000 REA

special-focus section. 30

MAY 23 - 29, 2019

We’ll help you reach northwest Guilford County!

74-ACRE SANCTUARY

www.ANewDawnRealty.com

ACREAGE, Summerfield address in Southern Rockingham County. 15 mins. to Greensboro airport area. 5 to 25 acre tracts. Gorgeous trees, creeks, pond and gentle terrain. No HOA or dues. Paved road frontage. Call (336) 430-9507 anytime.

in Summerfield, Oak Ridge and Stokesdale every week. Plus, it’s available for free online and at local restaurants, grocery stores, post offices and more.

HOMES FOR SALE VERSATILE FLOOR PLAN

LAND FOR SALE

Selling or renting?

A true estate in the Bethany area. Superior craftsmanship in this arts and crafts home, 12+ acre lake, fenced pasture, barns, trainer’s apartment, and a historic and functional 1820’s log cabin. Home has been featured in commercials and movies. Offered at $1,995,000

Nancy J. Hess

nancy.hess@bhhsyostandlittle.com (336) 215-1820

To reserve your space in the third issue of each month, email advertising@nwobserver.com, or call (336) 644-7035, ext. 11.

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

advertising@nwobserver.com

index of DISPLAY ADVERTISERS

Please support our advertisers, and tell them where you saw their ad! ACCOUNTING

HOME PRODUCTS & SERVICES

Samuel K. Anders, CPA, MSA, PC...... 15

Eanes Heating & Air ........................... 21

AUTOMOTIVE SALES/SERVICES Piedmont Truck Tires .......................... 25 Tire Max ............................................... 2 Vestal Buick GMC .............................. 12

BUILDING / REMODELING TM Construction Services .................. 29

CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS Alice Programming for Girls.................. 3 Guardian Ad Litem Program .............. 22

CHURCH Oak Ridge United Methodist Church .... 7

DENTISTRY Summerfield Family Dentistry ............ 11

New Garden Landscaping & Nursery ...24 Old School Home Repair ................... 28 Prostone Inc. ....................................... 4 Rymack Storage ................................. 29 Stokesdale Heating & Air ................... 25

INSURANCE Justin Fulp, Farm Bureau Insurance .... 15

LEGAL SERVICES Barbour & Williams Law ....................... 3 Scott Tippett, Hagan Barrett PLLC ....... 8

MEDICAL CARE LeBauer Healthcare ...................... 13,23

ORTHODONTICS Olmsted Orthodontics ........................ 23

EVENTS

PET SERVICES & PRODUCTS

RidgeFest 2019................................... 19

Bel-Aire Veterinary Hospital ............... 15

Run the Ridge GLOW ......................... 14

Northwest Animal Hospital ................ 24

Summerfield Founders’ Day ................. 6

Westergaard Kennels ......................... 24

HEALTH/FITNESS

REAL ESTATE

Snap Fitness ......................................... 9

A New Dawn Realty ..........................30

HOME PRODUCTS & SERVICES BEK Paint Company ........................... 29 Budget Blinds .................................... 15 Calderon Painting & Remodeling........ 28

Reserve yo ur ad

Bob Brodie, Brodie Real Estate ........... 15 Jake Letterman, Berkshire Hathaway .30 Nancy Hess, BHHS Yost & Little .........30 Nicole Gillespie, RE/MAX ..................... 7

Carpets by Direct ............................... 18

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

Culligan of the Triad ............................. 5

Summerfield First Baptist Church........ 10

space toda y!

A special insert in the Northwest Observer featuring home-grown articles about facing health-related challenges, fitness trends, the benefits of healthy lifestyles, and more. Contact us at advertising@nwobserver.com or (336) 644-7035, ext. 11 to secure your spot

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

MAY 23 - 29, 2019

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

Postal Patron

Oak Ridge, NC Permit No. 22

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

ECRWSS

John & Angela Campbell took their Northwest Observer with them to Maui, second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands. Geologically, Maui is a “volcanic doublet, ” formed from two shield volcanoes that overlapped one another, creating an isthmus between them.

Oak Ridge residents Lilly Gullickson (grade 6 at Northwest Middle School) and McKenna Gullickson (grade 10 at Northwest High School) took the Northwest Caye, Observer with them to Pirate’s Beach Bar and Grill at Secret Beach, Ambergris break. Belize (a country on the northeastern coast of Central America), over spring Their mom, Erica Gullickson, shared this photo.

Email your photo to

photos@nwobserver.com