More) Lessons from our fathers

from Northwest Observer / July 1 - 14, 2021

Four athletes are state champs

In our June 17 issue we had more responses to our Father’s Day survey than we could fit, so we promised to share the remaining responses in this issue. We again thank the readers who contributed such heartwarming thoughts and memories of their fathers.

“I’ve learned so many things from my dad, Dan Priddy. It’s hard to single out one, but I’ll go with something I try to live every day. Daddy is a man of great faith and has lived his life based on that faith. He always thanks God before any meal and it’s always sincere – not for show or out of habit. By being privy to thousands of these blessings I’ve learned gratitude, humility and the importance of taking nothing or no one for granted.” Robin Priddy, STOKESDALE

“One of the most important lessons I learned from my dad is that hard work Ridge – in a “David-and-Goliath” story – defeat a multi-state, corporately owned landfill, and was the first elected mayor of Oak Ridge. Most kids in Oak Ridge knew him because he drove their activity bus on field trips, and along with several civic and church positions, for years he was known to many children at Christmas as ‘Santa.’ “He lived a good life, and in the end, he died as we would probably all like to – at home in his recliner, the newspaper opened peacefully across his lap, a fitting ending to a life of hard work. I loved him, and I was very proud of him.”

and dedication will get you further in life than just about anything. My dad grew up on a farm, and as an adult he was a truck driver. Besides his full-time job, we always had a huge garden (my mom canned and froze vegetables for us to eat all winter), we grew tobacco, and sometimes we had a few cows or chickens.

“Even though he only had a high school education, my dad had many varied interests and took time to learn all he could about them.

“After he retired, he helped Oak

Sandra Smith, OAK RIDGE

Sandra serves as town clerk for the Town of Oak Ridge

“My father-in-law, Anthony Truhon, never met a sale he didn’t like. When I first visited my future in-laws 40 years ago, I noticed toilet paper filling an entire shelf unit in their basement (boy, could we all have used such a stash during the first throes of COVID-19). After all, it’s not like it’s going to go bad, right?

“But Dad is no Scrooge; he just likes to save money with BOGOs and coupons so he can share his ‘wealth’ by hitting the back-to-school and Black Friday and after-Christmas sales to purchase school/art supplies for the poor kids in his parish.

“Dad is so thoughtful – he loves taking family and friends out for meals or dessert (ice cream at Papa Clyde’s is a favorite!). He always sends us coupons for cat food, products and treats, even though he’s never owned a cat, and often there’s a gift card so we can enjoy a human treat at Panera or Dunkin.

“Thank you, Dad, for being an example of thoughtfulness and caring for others throughout your life, and for welcoming me as your daughter, not merely your daughter-in-law.”

Yvonne Truhon, WINSTON-SALEM

Yvonne is a graphic artist with PS Communications

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Tim Sessoms and Mayor BJ Barnes are up for election Nov. 2.

The meeting at the Henson Farms clubhouse put Babcock face to face with developer David Couch, who is proposing residential and commercial expansion of Summerfield Farms, which abuts the Henson Farms subdivision. Couch wants to extend water and sewer services from the city of Greensboro to his property, a prospect that Babcock and some others attending the meeting said would imperil Summerfield’s rural character.

“Water and sewer opens the gate for development,” Babcock told the audience of more than 50 people. “It opens the gate to have more development, more houses, more commercial.”

Couch interrupted Babcock when she said she understood from an acquaintance of the developer that “he’s in it for the short haul, that he’s going to develop a few sections and sell.”

“Ma’am, I’ve got to stop you right there,” Couch said. “ at is incorrect.”

Since announcing his development plans last September, Couch has stressed his ties to Summerfield, where he owns more than 1,000 acres. For more than 20 years he has owned Summerfield Farms on Pleasant Ridge Road, where he operates a wedding venue, The Market at Summerfield Farms, and raises cattle. He lives on the property with his wife, Stephanie Quayle.

Even so, Babcock insinuated that development of the property may outlast Couch’s involvement.

“I don’t know if he’s in it for decades,” she said. “Maybe he is.”

Referring to Couch, Babcock said “this developer seems to want an awful lot from the town” and cited his request for an amendment to the UDO the day after its approval by the council.

Couch proposed a text amendment that would create a master planned village district. If approved by the council, it would allow him to develop 750 or more acres of his property. He has proposed building a range of housing on it, from townhouses to luxury homes priced from $250,000 to $2 million.

Providing a mix of housing is one of the goals of Summerfield’s comprehensive plan that’s not adequately addressed in the UDO, Couch told Town Manager Scott Whitaker in a letter dated June 9, a day after council members Walker, DeVaney, John O’Day and Mayor Pro Tem Tim Sessoms voted to adopt the document. Council member Teresa Perryman voted against it.

Babcock questioned the legitimacy of Couch’s position that he’s seeking to adhere to the comprehensive plan in expanding Summerfield Farms.

Adopted 11 years ago, the citizen-driven comprehensive plan endorsed 12 goals for Summerfield, such as guidance for commercial and residential development, building of sidewalks and trails and preserving the town’s rural character.

Couch has cited the section addressing “appropriate housing and residential development” in saying that his plan for Summerfield Farms aligns with several recommendations of the comprehensive plan. They include the preservation of open space, woodlands and pastures and creation of walkable, bikeable neighborhoods.

The housing section also addresses what Couch has identified as the need for more affordable

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