Northwest Observer / July 29 - Aug. 4, 2021 by pscommunications

July 29 - Aug. 4, 2021

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Board delays vote on whether to Catalytic converters – recommend amendment to UDO a ‘hot item’ among crooks Rising thefts of the devices are grounding church vans and daycare buses and costing owners hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars to replace by CHRIS BURRITT Photo by Chris Burritt/NWO

Victor Dover, 1a designer working for developer David Couch, shares renderings and sketches of ideas for building higher-density housing, including apartments, while preserving open space in the proposed expansion of Summerﬁeld Farms. “Show us the density,” said Summerﬁeld resident Priscilla Olinick, one of more than 50 people who attended the informational meeting at Revolution Academy on July 15. The meeting was organized by Couch.

...continued on p. 26

IN THIS ISSUE

Community Calendar .............................. 14

News in brief .............................................................3

Youth sync: 12U champs, Eagle Scout ......... 19

Your Questions .........................................................4

NWO Kids’ Korner .........................................20, 22

Summerfield Town Council meeting ....................6

That’s something to cheer about! ..................... 21

Veterans site fundraising kicks off ......................10

Grins and Gripes ...............................................24

Taking the fitness challenge – virtually .............. 11

Classifieds ...............................................27

The games we played, and the joys of recess...12

Index of Advertisers ........... 31

...continued on p. 2

Crime/Incident Report ................................. 16

IS T SU HI E S

by CHRIS BURRITT

SUMMERFIELD – Two hours of divergent, sometimes tense viewpoints centering on developer David Couch’s proposal to expand Summerfield Farms ended with the Planning Board’s decision to delay recommending whether to

After two hours of clashing viewpoints, town’s Planning Board decides to wait two months to resume consideration of an amendment to UDO

NW GUILFORD – When youngsters at the Laugh & Learn Child Care Center in Stokesdale were heading out on a recent field trip, they thought they were riding in a race car, not a bus. “It was so loud,” recalled Amanda Swearingen, the center’s director. It turns out that a thief had slid underneath the bus and removed the catalytic converter, an increasingly popular target among crooks. Next door at Morris Dentistry, the owner of a Dodge Ram truck reported the

theft of the device from his vehicle. “It is a hot item,” said Lt. Jeremy Fuller of Guilford County Sheriff’s District 1 office, which is investigating a growing number of catalytic converter thefts in Stokesdale, Summerfield and Oak Ridge. Local incidents mirror national trends showing that converter thefts have risen during the COVID-19 pandemic as the shutdown of mining operations overseas led to a shortage of precious metals which are found in the devices. In turn, thieves can pocket several hundred dollars selling stolen converters to unscrupulous and sometimes unknowing metal processors.

‘HOT ITEM’

...continued from p. 1

As of this week, the sheriff’s office had received reports of four thefts in July, the highest monthly number in 2021, according to Fuller. Eleven of the 13 reported thefts so far this year occurred since April. Officers have identified suspects in the thefts, but haven’t made any arrests, Fuller said. The targets of the crimes are often buses, vans and trucks because they’re higher above the ground, allowing thieves to slide underneath the vehicles without using jacks to lift them

up, according to Jimmy Landreth, who lives next door to Landreth Auto Sales & Service in Stokesdale. His son, J.P., now owns the business on N.C. 68. “If they’ve got a sharp blade, they can be gone in a minute or two,” said Landreth, who serves on Stokesdale’s Town Council. One night earlier this year, Landreth heard the vibrating sound of metal being cut. He didn’t learn until the next day that a thief had taken the catalytic converter from a truck parked in the auto shop’s lot. He said his son has replaced several stolen converters this year. The converter is an anti-pollution device that’s part of the exhaust

Adobe Stock photo

Thefts of catalytic converters, which are anti-pollution devices that are part of a vehicle’s exhaust system, are on the rise in the northwest Guilford County area as well as nationwide.

system. Thieves use battery-powered saws to cut the two ends of the converter, separating it from the muffler. The gap creates the engine roar that signals to unlucky vehicle owners they’re the latest victims of theft.

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Crime reports posted by the sheriff’s District 1 office show that churches have been frequent targets. Earlier this month, Center United Methodist Church on Lake Brandt Road reported the theft of two converters worth $2,000, while Union Grove Baptist Church in Oak Ridge and Shady Grove Wesleyan Church in Colfax reported thefts in May.

Stokesdale Church of God put a value of $1,000 on a converter stolen from its bus in late April. Around the same time, Oak Ridge United Methodist Church reported the theft of the catalytic converters on two buses, a loss valued at $3,000. “Any more, pretty much any time you’ve got to put a lock on things,” said Jimmy Long, who serves on the grounds committee of Union Grove Baptist Church. The church has ordered hardenedsteel fencing to encircle the covered parking for its two buses, as part of

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efforts to improve security on the property since the theft of the converters, Long said. Meanwhile, church members are parking the vehicles at their homes, figuring they’re less likely to be targeted by thieves there. As a precaution, law enforcement agencies recommend motorists park in well-lit places and install anti-theft devices to safeguard converters. Individuals have also been victims, according to crime reports. In April, a Greensboro resident reported the theft of the converter from his truck parked along U.S. 220 in Summerfield. An Oak Ridge resident posted on Nextdoor.com in February that the

converter on his pickup truck was “stolen today in broad daylight.” Jim and Sue Krasula of northwestern Greensboro gave their 2000 Honda Accord to their son, Matthew, to drive in Cary. Earlier this year, a thief took the converter from the car, leaving the family to decide whether to install a new device costing more than $2,000 or find a used converter. Their Greensboro mechanic found a used converter for $600. Matthew drove the car from Cary to Greensboro, with engine roaring and vehicle shaking. “Sue and I were sitting on the deck,” Jim Krasula said, “and we heard him coming.”

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NEWS in brief ORTHOPAEDICS & SPORTS MEDICINE

NW GUILFORD – The filing period for mayor and town council candidates in Summerfield, Oak Ridge and Stokesdale closed July 16 at noon. The following citizens filed to run for office:

Oak Ridge’s mayor is elected every two years by his/her fellow town council members; the vote is taken in December, following the previous month’s election. In Summerfield, former mayor Gail Dunham and former mayor/current council member Tim Sessoms have filed for mayor, which is a two-year term. Summerfield’s mayor does not vote on matters that come before the council except in the case of a tie vote. Newcomers John Doggett, Greg

In Stokesdale, current mayor John Flynt and newcomer Mike Crawford have filed for mayor; Stokesdale’s mayor serves a four-year term and votes on all matters that come before the council.

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ST BAPTIS Former council members Frank T RE O Bruno and Tim Jones (currently serves COVID-19 as Planning Board chair) and newcomPROTECTED ers Alisa Houk (former town clerk) and Mark Nadel (currently serves on Planning Board) have filed for the only open seat on Stokesdale’s town council (consisting of four members and the mayor, who is elected separately); the open seat is being vacated by Thearon Hooks, the town’s mayor pro tem, who is not running for reelection. Council members in Stokesdale serve four-year terms. For info about registering to vote, Early Voting dates and times, polling locations and more, visit www.guilfordcountync.gov/our-county/ The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996 board-of-elections.

ALTH HE

In Oak Ridge, current council members Ann Schneider (mayor) and Jim Kinneman (mayor pro tem), former council and Planning Board member Mike Stone, and newcomer Rachel Dawn Cowder are running for two open seats on the five-member town council; Oak Ridge council members are elected to a four-year term.

Fox and Janelle Robinson, and current council member Teresa W. Perryman have filed for two open seats on Summerfield’s town council, which consists of five members and the mayor; Summerfield council members are elected to four-year terms.

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The pond in Oak Ridge Town Park was engineered to hold water for the irrigation system. Years after it was installed, an Eagle Scout approached the town about constructing a pier there; unfortunately, because of the elevation of the slope from the parking lot to the pier, no reasonable solution to enable wheelchair access to the pier could be found.

Why is there no wheelchair access to the pond at Oak Ridge Town Park? It seems to me there is some way they can make a wheelchairaccessible path to the little dock so people in chairs can get to the dock.

Thanks to Terry Lannon, Oak Ridge Parks & Recreation director, for providing this detailed response to our reader’s question… “There was discussion about this when the Eagle Scout project was proposed for the pond. Unfortunately, that pier would only work in its current location due to the fact that we were advised not to build into the dam itself and only the north and south portions

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of the pond were found suitable for the construction itself. “It was evident to us that this obviously would be a problem for wheelchairs,” Lannon continued. “The ADA requires ‘reasonable accommodations’ and in this instance the site did not lend itself to any reasonable solution to enable wheelchair access to that pier. It was a different situation than the amphitheater since we were able to grade that slope to meet slope requirements which then would allow stage access to wheelchairs. At the pier, the pond was engineered to hold water for the irrigation system years before we were approached by the Scout and his project. It would have been impossible to change the footprint of that water body. “The distance from the elevation of the paved surface at the top of the slope to the pier would require

engineering and constructing of ramps down to the pier. I’m not an engineer and have only a casual knowledge of ADA construction requirements, but I would guess it would require a ramp design with at least four to five switchbacks to be able to legally descend that grade. These 36-foot-wide ramps would require guardrails and the max recommended slope would have to be between 1:16 and 1:20 with 6-footwide level landing areas at the beginning and end of each ramp segment. It was just not feasible to retrofit that area to allow that access.

Is Oak Ridge Fire Department no longer offering fire prevention programs and installing children’s car seats?

department speak to your class or group, call Oak Ridge Fire Department at (336) 643-3783.

Oak Ridge Fire Department Chief Ken Gibson confirmed the department still offers fire safety and prevention programs. “We do things at Oak Ridge Town Park and at preschools and other schools, especially during Fire Prevention Week in October,” Gibson confirmed. Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 3-9 this year, but Gibson said the department is happy to speak to groups at other times as well. If interested in having the fire

“While not an elevated pier over the water, there is accessibility on the north end of the pond. The walkway there extends from the parking lot to there. It is relatively flat and free of encumbrances and less than 10 feet from the asphalt,” Lannon noted.

As for installing and inspecting children’s car seats, Gibson said Oak Ridge Fire Department no longer does that due to potential liability issues (Greensboro Fire Department and many other departments also no longer install children’s car seats). However, Oak Ridge residents are welcome to contact Summerfield Fire Department, which can install car seats (by appointment) every Tuesday and the first Saturday of every month at Station 9, 7400 Summerfield Road. To make an appointment, call (336) 643-4341.

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SUMMERFIELD town council

July 13 / MEETING HIGHLIGHTS as reported by CHRIS BURRITT Mayor BJ Barnes called the monthly meeting to order, with Mayor Pro Tem Tim Sessoms and council members Lynne Williams DeVaney, Teresa W. Perryman, John O’Day and Reece Walker present.

injury in March, Cotter pitched for the Wolfpack. The team advanced to the semifinal round of the NCAA’s College World Series in June when its season ended unexpectedly due to several players testing positive for COVID-19.

Sessoms offered the invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Cotter recalled the start of his baseball career – playing T-ball on the fields at Summerfield Elementary School – and said he hopes to play professional baseball.

RESOLUTION N.C. State baseball. The council adopted a resolution recognizing Summerfield’s Cameron Cotter, a Northern Guilford High School alumnus, and North Carolina State University’s baseball team for its successful 2021 baseball season. Until suffering a season-ending

PUBLIC SAFETY Summerfield Fire District. The district reported it responded to 22 fire-related calls and 69 EMS-related calls in June. It handled 19 other calls for a total of 110 responses during the month.

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WHAT they voted on, and HOW they voted: Mayor Pro Tem Tim Sessoms and council members Lynne W. DeVaney, Teresa W. Perryman, John O’Day and Reece Walker voted on the following items during the July 13 council meeting. Mayor BJ Barnes was present, but in Summerfield the mayor votes only to break a tie.

 4  1: Instruct (Perryman opposed) the Planning Board to consider ways to improve the definition of multi-family dwellings in the recently adopted UDO

 5  0: Adopt a resolution supporting Guilford County’s efforts to collect

an estimated $23 million for opioid remediation programs, as part of a national settlement of prescription opioid litigation

 4  1: Hire (Perryman opposed) auditor Wade Greene to conduct the town’s annual audit at a cost of $11,000

 4  1: Approve (Perryman opposed) an annual update of the town’s capital improvement plan (CIP) for projects costing more than $30,000

 5  0: Approve the town’s annual contract with Guilford County for animal shelter and control services

Firefighters installed 25 child safety seats. Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s District 1 office reported it handled 99 incidentrelated calls in Summerfield in June; 22 of those calls were related to burglar alarms that were set off and two were about residential burglaries.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Daniel Feinstein urged council members to provide more opportunity for public input on proposed developments, including plans by developer David Couch to expand Summerfield Farms. Later in the meeting, Perryman care for life concurred with Feinstein’s suggestion. “We need to be thoughtful about Our primary care providers have one goal in common: keeping you and your family healthy. As this,” Feinstein said, or risk “openpart of a world-class academic medical center, we have access to a broad range of services care for life focused on high quality, affordable care. ended, do-whatever-you-want” Our primary care providers have one goal in common: keeping you and your Sameand next-day appointments often available. development. care for life

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Sean Dwyer said council members broke reelection promises in 2019 to embrace responsible spending and maintain Summerfield’s rural charm. Instead, he said, the council is building a new town hall, estimated to cost $3.5 million, and last month approved changes to the unified development

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ordinance (UDO) that allow higherdensity development. Danny Nelson and Don Wendelken concurred with Dwyer, criticizing the council for its vote to amend the UDO after the Planning Board had unanimously approved a draft of the document that regulates Summerfield’s residential and commercial development. “Why do we have committees?” Nelson asked. “You’re going to do exactly what you want.” Jolinda Babcock said more than 1,800 people have signed a petition opposed to Couch’s proposals for expanding Summerfield Farms and extending water and sewer services from the city of Greensboro to his property. Those people “want to be heard,” she said. Carolyn Williams said she and her family recently moved to Summerfield for “its rural character and large (areas of) open land.” She urged the council to vote against amending the UDO as requested by Couch, who is seeking

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SUMMERFIELD TOWN COUNCIL ...continued from p. 6 a text amendment to create a Master Planned Village District. The proposed district constitutes planned development (PD), a classification that council members seeking reelection in 2019 opposed, Williams said. “We are counting on you to keep your campaign promises,” she asserted. Dwayne Crawford, Priscilla Olinick and Bill Triplett urged the council to rescind its higher-density amendments to the UDO and remand consideration of the changes to the Planning Board. Triplett called the council’s decision last month “a serious error in judgment. I think it has shaken the trust of people in Summerfield,” he said. Many people live in Summerfield or moved to the town “for what the town is, not for what you’re trying to turn it into,” Crawford said. Apartments and other high-density development or water and sewer services are not wanted by many people in Summerfield, Olinick said. Richard Ringler said efforts by Guilford County leaders to use funding by the American Rescue Plan to expand water services to municipalities such as Summerfield aren’t aligned with the

federal program’s goal to provide relief from the COVID-19 pandemic. The plan’s funding priorities include improving public education, public safety, infrastructure, broadband internet and the quality of water, Ringler said, noting a focus of the plan is helping minorities and other needy communities.

“There are thousands of people out there who need that money much, much more than we do,” he said. Later in the meeting, O’Day said the town is seeking financial help to extend water for fire protection, not to provide drinking water. “Water is the No. 1 priority” for municipalities countywide, Barnes said. Gail Dunham said more than 2,000 people signed a Summerfield Scoop petition opposed to higher-density development in Summerfield. She added she opposes plans for constructing a new town hall. Beth Kaplan recalled that opposition to development of Henson Farms about two decades ago mirrored criticism

of Couch’s proposal for Summerfield Farms. If approved, she said, the expansion would “once again bring wonderful families into our communities.”

RESPONSE TO PUBLIC COMMENTS Town Attorney Bob Hornik noted the town received Couch’s request for the UDO text amendment the day after the council adopted the revised UDO June 8. Town Manager Scott Whitaker echoed comments by Hornik, Barnes and Sessoms that the town is legally required to explore Couch’s request. He added that it was inaccurate to say town staff and the council are endorsing Couch’s request for the amendment because they’re considering it. “We can’t pick and choose,” Barnes said. “We can’t say ‘not in my backyard.’” “Let’s just follow the process,” Sessoms said. “Now we have to go through the process of entertaining the application,” Hornik said, noting that if the council were to approve the text amendment, it wouldn’t change the zoning on any property. “What it does is create the district

with no property in it,” Hornik said. Then a developer such as Couch would be required to ask for his property to be rezoned for the new district, a process requiring two public hearings and consideration by the Planning Board and the council. Summerfield “is a special place to all of us,” Walker said. “It is always hurtful to hear that we don’t care.” “I have to give it a fair hearing,” O’Day said, noting he’s not for or against the proposed amendment.

MANAGER’S REPORT Revisiting multi-family housing rules

 4  1 (Perryman opposed) to direct the Planning Board to consider ways to improve the definition of multifamily dwellings in the UDO. The vote also instructed the board to recommend an approach for calculating how many multi-family dwellings can be built on a lot. The move responded to several weeks of criticism by some residents who had objected to the council’s decision June 8 to amend the Planning Board’s draft UDO, effectively easing density requirements. (See related article in our July 15-28 issue.) One of the amendments reduced

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the minimum lot size for quadplexes. After reviewing the consequences of the move, Sessoms said he and other council members realized such density would be greater than they had realized. Construction of quadplexes “should be very limited” and “only in certain places,” DeVaney said, noting, “There was never an intent” to allow a concentration of quadplexes over a large area. In an email following the meeting, Perryman said, “We should not be playing tennis with the Planning Board” as an explanation for her nay vote. “If the majority of the council wanted to make sweeping changes, they should have sent everything back to the board for review and given the public an opportunity for input,” Perryman said.

Opioid litigation settlement

 5  0 to adopt a resolution supporting efforts by Guilford County to

collect an estimated $23 million for opioid remediation programs, as part of a national settlement of prescription opioid litigation.

Jane Doggett, Trudy Whitacre, Paul Lambrecht and Neala Jones to the Trails and Open Space Committee.

North Carolina may get $750 million over 18 years, Whitaker told the council in a memo. Aside from the county, the cities of Greensboro and High Point are entitled to funds, while municipalities with fewer than 75,000 people, including Summerfield, aren’t likely to get much, if any, money, Whitaker said.

 4  1 (Perryman opposed) to

Even so, he said, “the proposed settlement plan still needs approval by a majority of the population for Guilford to get any dollars.”

Committee reappointments. The council voted to reappoint: Vicky Phelps, Millie Hoffler-Foushee and Wendel Parks to the Finance Committee; DeVaney, Walker and Kelly O’Day, wife of Councilman O’Day, to the Founders’ Day Committee; and

Audit contract

hire auditor Wade Greene to conduct the town’s annual audit at a cost of $11,000. The Whiteville, North Carolina-based accounting firm conducted the town’s audit last year.

CIP

COUNCIL BUSINESS

Animal services agreement

 5  0 to approve the town’s annual contract with Guilford County for animal shelter and control services. The vote also increased the budgeted amount of $30,000 to $33,598 to help cover higher expenses for personnel and vehicle and technology replacement by the county’s animal control department. COUNCIL COMMENTS

 4  1 (Perryman opposed) to

approve an annual update of the town’s capital improvement plan (CIP) for projects costing more than $30,000, such as construction of the new town hall and improvements to Summerfield Community Center.

Town hall update. Whitaker told the council that efforts to reduce development and construction costs for the new town hall are on track, with updated estimates close to the $3.5 million budgeted for the project.

DeVaney thanked residents Danny Nelson, Betsy Kutz and her daughter, Priscilla Olinick, for their suggestions regarding the town’s plans for renovating the community center.

CLOSED SESSION

The council recessed the meeting and went into closed session to discuss a legal matter. After reconvening, the council took no action. With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at about 9:35 p.m.

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JULY 29 - AUG. 4, 2021

Veterans site in Oak Ridge gaining ﬁnancial support

Architectural renderings courtesy of Revington Reaves

Above, An overview of the veterans site planned in Oak Ridge. Right, monuments recognizing the six military branches are at the center of the veterans site planned in Oak Ridge.

by CHRIS BURRITT

She and Vice Chair Caroline Ruch are leading efforts by other committee members to start contacting local businesses and residents for donations.

OAK RIDGE – As boosters prepare to raise money for Oak Ridge’s new site honoring military veterans, they’re The population of veterans and starting $10,000 ahead of schedule. their families in Oak Ridge will spur Earlier this month, a $10,000 gift donations, Dmuchowski said in an from Oak Ridge’s Bernard and Anna N E W interview Locatearlier Walraven pushed fundraising for ion this week. The town is in home to about K e r nersville 400 veterans, accordthe Veterans Honor Green to about Q u ic ing tobestimates by the U.S. Census k Lu $18,400, as of June 30. e no appointmen Bureau agencies. t nand eedeother d “That is an awesome donation,” for oil chang e s & st a thinkte the military holds a said Patti Dmuchowski, who chairs inspe“We ctions the town’s Special Events Committee. special place in everybody’s heart,

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especially in Oak Ridge,” she said. “These donations are going to be so meaningful. People get to be part of this history.” In February, the Town Council committed to providing $68,000 in matching funds over two years for construction of the veterans site. The pledge covers nearly half of the estimated $150,000 cost of the project. Three years ago while helping plan the 20th anniversary celebration of Oak Ridge’s incorporation, Dmuchowski suggested to town leaders they should pursue a site honoring veterans, like ones already established in Summerfield and Stokesdale. She

took the lead, as the Special Events Committee and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board selected a site in Heritage Farm Park on Linville Road and hired Greensboro-based landscape architectural firm Revington Reaves to design the site. Renderings show a curved concrete boardwalk leading to the circular site with granite monuments honoring the different military branches. The walkway will continue into the pine trees, providing shade and a tranquil setting for visitors. The lawn will be large enough to host events, such as Veterans Day celebrations and visits by schools.

... continued on p. 17

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Taking the fitness challenge – virtually by ANNETTE JOYCE Every winter, when cold weather sets in, I forget about exercising and basically go into hibernation. February is the worst month, when my favorite place is on the couch, buried under a stack of blankets while I wait for spring to arrive. The results of that behavior are always the same – depression, lethargy and many unwanted pounds. Figuring things would only get worse in the midst of the pandemic, I decided last December that I needed an extra push. Ads for a virtual challenge – “Running from 2020” – kept popping up on my social media. I was intrigued. The idea behind a virtual challenge is that you log your mileage from any location you choose. Most challenges give you the option of running, walking or biking and some offer other alternatives. Miles are logged online, where not only can you track your progress, but you’re usually able to virtually compete against others. Although “Running from 2020” started early last October, I didn’t sign up until December. I was able to choose from several distances, starting with a 5K and going up to 250 miles. Needing a heavy-duty challenge to get me through the winter, I went with 250 miles and started walking. I finished March 30, managing to log in over 100 miles in February alone. For me, the virtual challenge was the motivation I needed to keep moving. In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I joined another one – the “Blue Ridge to Beach Challenge” – this past March. For this challenge I have six months to walk 475 miles, which is the distance from Asheville to Wrightsville Beach. Along the way I’ve acquired virtual trophies as I pass through different cities, the first one being Charlotte. As I write this, I’m just outside of Wilmington and plan to hit my destination in early August. Taking on these challenges has kept me moving and motivated, which has positively impacted both my physical

and mental health – so much so that I’m already searching for the next challenge to keep me going. While virtual events have been around for a while, they became even more popular during the pandemic, when onsite races from 5Ks to ultramarathons were cancelled. Besides the challenges that extend over several weeks, there are also races, such as 5Ks, 10Ks and marathons, that mimic the actual event day minus the hordes of people. A member of Kernersville’s Burn Boot Camp, Val Kepley of Oak Ridge became interested in virtual challenges when the center put together a team of about 30 women to complete “Run OBX,” a 300-mile distance that virtually traverses the Outer Banks beginning at Bald Head Island, North Carolina, and ending in Sandbridge in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Participants in the OBX challenge could travel the 300 miles only on foot – running, hiking or walking – or they could choose the freestyle option, which allowed other exercise possibilities. Kepley chose the latter category and opted to include paddling and biking. Her challenge started in April and ends Aug. 1. Although she was able to log in some miles on the Outer Banks in Corolla, North Carolina, most of her mileage was done at Oak Ridge Town Park, where she recently finished her trek. “I joined the challenge for the accountability it gave me, but mostly for the swag,” Kepley said with a smile. As for the swag, most challenges offer a medal, T-shirt and racing bib. Not to be outdone by the medals presented at actual events, the people producing these virtual alternatives have come up with heavy-weight, brightly colored medallions that are both impressive and brag-worthy. OBX went one step further and threw in a summer survival kit that included sunscreen, lip balm and towels. Kepley also liked that OBX partnered with North Carolina Aquariums to give participants a glimpse of the sea life and Northwest wildlife thatThe inhabit the area. Observer •

“As we reached different milestones, we were able to learn more about the coastal inhabitants and the type of work that goes on at the aquariums,” Kepley said. “It was an interesting aspect to the experience.” One thing Kepley said she didn’t enjoy about the virtual challenge was logging in her mileage, especially since she kept procrastinating. Photo by Annette Joyce/NWO

“It was not fun when I sat down at the beginning of July and realized I hadn’t entered anything for nearly a month,” she said.

Val Kepley committed to her ﬁrst virtual ﬁtness challenge for the accountability – and the swag.

Martha Pittman and her husband, Benny, who live in Oak Ridge, did the “21 for 21 Workout” challenge this past January in which participants committed to completing 21 miles in the first month of 2021. “Greensboro Parks and Recreation sponsored the challenge to encourage people to get outside,” said Pittman,

who has a passion for the outdoors. The 21 challenge was a relatively low-key, low-tech production that allowed participants to walk wherever and whenever they wanted. Rather than relying on computers or phone apps to log their mileage, the Pittmans simply tracked it

...continued on p. 23

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‘Red Rover, Red Rover’ The games we played, and the joys of recess by HELEN LEDFORD Ah, those early school day memories… It was then called “Drop the Handkerchief,” a popular game elementary school children played in which youngsters sat in a circle while the one chosen to be “it” ran around outside the arrangement of

little ones carrying a cloth handkerchief (probably from the teacher’s purse!). The “it” child would take his/her time, keeping an eye on someone in the circle while running slowly, then surprising the chosen one and quickly dropping the handkerchief behind them.

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Picking up speed, “it” would sprint faster while the “victim” grabbed the handkerchief and chased “it,” whose intent was to reach the vacant spot, sit in it, and not be tagged by the pursuer. Later, the cherished and simple game would evolve into “Duck, Duck, Goose” (and other variations). I often wonder if kids today play any of the games we enjoyed when I was growing up (or if they have even heard of them), when Hopscotch, “Red Rover,” “Farmer in the Dell,” “London Bridge,” etc., were some of the mainstays at everyday recess time.

The Northwest Observer • Totally localwas since 1996 Our school small, and we lived

in an era when money did not pour like golden syrup from a jar – America was recuperating from World War II, and school budgets were not full to overflowing. Playground equipment consisted of a metal slide, a merry-goround and a few swings. On rainy days,

elementary classes congregated in the gym/ auditorium along with high schoolers, since our building also housed the cafeteria and home economics department. There we played vigorous games, made new friends and socialized with both classmates and older students. Jumping rope was a favorite activity for all younger children, especially the girls. Who doesn’t remember the nonsensical rhymes we mouthed as we emptied our youthful energies into vigorous jumping? “Cinderella, dressed in yellow, came downstairs to see her fella. How many kisses did she get?” And “Teddy bear, teddy bear, turn around, teddy bear, teddy bear, touch the ground.” These two popular poems were only a few of dozens that we quoted in staccato rhythm as we got more and more proficient in our quest to be the best jump ropers in our class. In that era, most children were happy with simple toys, playground

equipment and physical activities (I suppose it was because that’s all we had!). I recall a time right after the war was over, when a couple of huge sausage-like, air-filled pontoons – holdovers from battle duty – were dumped on our school’s play yard/ballfield. We rode, pushed, rolled and lay on those big babies with youthful vigor. Working as teams, it took a bunch of kids to even move one. It was good exercise and lots of fun, but our mamas were puzzled as to why we were coming home so dirty (we practically “ate” mud in those early days!). At home, we had great fun playing card games like “Authors,” “Movie Starts, “Birds” and “Old Maid,” plus we had a fine set of USA war-time airplanes. From the latter, we learned to spot and identify planes that flew high over of us by their silhouettes against the sky. And since there were pilots who trained from a nearby airport, we were lucky enough to watch them carry out maneuvers directly over our farmhouse. It was definitely a valuable first-hand learning experience, but often hair-raising and downright scary! I loved to “jump plank” with my sisters and our friends. To play this game, we had to first find a wide and sturdy wooden board that was about 6 feet long. Then, we searched for a log or heavy chunk of wood (anchoring it so it would not roll!). With the board or plank laid over the wooden base, we were ready for hours of fun! As one sister stood on one end of the board, another jumped on the other end, propelling the other into the air. And so it was up, down, up, down, until somebody got tired or jumped off the plank, causing her partner to spill off and land on the ground. It was a good exercise in balancing while learning to keep that plank from twisting sideways. If that happened, both participants might be dumped off and end up with mighty sore backsides! We never tired of playing Hide and

Seek at home with our brothers and sisters. Once, when I was about 6 and my brother Bill had been chosen to be “it,” he counted to 100 while leaning against a tree outside with his face hidden so as not to see where any of us siblings scurried. I chose to hide upstairs and tiptoed up the staircase, detecting faint noises of others furtively sneaking into secret hiding places. Spotting a winter coat hanging over a ledge, I bounded behind it, fully intending to jump down and scare my brother as he came up the stairs. I heard him yell, “Ready or not, here I come!” and then the sound of his footsteps as he searched for others. When Bill’s feet hit the top step, I suddenly jumped out, hitting my head on the sharp edge of an old iron bed in our log house. Mama was frantically called from picking wild strawberries and all I knew was that my head was hit somewhere and everybody was crying, afraid I was badly hurt. Let’s just say I still carry a deep scar on my forehead to this day (our mother always said her children all had hard heads!). Bill was akin to John-Boy of “The Waltons” TV series fame and “sort of” had to take charge of his three younger sisters and keep us out of mischief (that was a tall order, since he got into quite a bit of mischief himself!). He was smart, creative and could make almost anything with his hands. He once fashioned a set of tall stilts from sturdy tobacco sticks and heavy blocks of wood, and then accomplished the feat of traveling on those contraptions from our front steps all the way up the long road to our mailbox and back (he called them Tom Walkers)! Yes, we had our favorite games, contests and other activities that kept us occupied when we weren’t helping with family chores in the crop fields. And when we went to bed at night, we slept peacefully as soon as our heads hit our pillows. We were so blessed….

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EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY  Farmers markets | Oak Ridge Farmers Market,

held at Oak Ridge Military Academy, 2317 Oak Ridge Road, is open every Thursday evening now through October, from 4 p.m. to dusk. Fruits of the Spirit Farmers Market, held at Stokesdale United Methodist Church, 8305 Loyola Drive, is open every Tuesday evening from 4 to 7 p.m.

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 Grab N Go | Guilford County Schools is offer-

ing free “grab n go” meals for students age 18 and under Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 12 noon, now until Aug. 12 at several locations including Northwest Guilford High School, 5240 Northwest School Road. More info: Wanda Barber, (336) 370-3261, or Kim Best, (336) 370-3300.  Relay for Life | Relay for Life of the Triad will

EVERY SUNDAY, TUESDAY  Cub Scouts | Oak Ridge United Methodist

SATURDAY, JULY 31

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 Vacation Bible School | Faith Baptist Tabernacle

FRIDAY, JULY 30 hold its annual fundraiser July 30, beginning 6 p.m. at Western Guilford High School, 409 Friendway Road in Greensboro. Cancer survivors and teams are invited to participate. Learn more and register at relayforlife.org/triadnc.

Church at 2424 Oak Ridge Road is host to Cub Scout meetings every Sunday from 4 to 5:15 p.m. Visit oakridge130.mypack.us or email 130cubmaster@gmail.com for more info. Oak Ridge Presbyterian Church at 2614 Oak Ridge Road also hosts Cub Scout meetings every Tuesday, starting at 7 p.m. Visit pack600rocks.com or call Kathryn Bunthoff, (336) 655-9781, for more info. Cub Scouts are open to boys and girls age K-5.

Click “community calendar” on the left-hand side

 Food pantry | Good Samaritan Ministries’ food

pantry in Stokesdale will open for those in need of food on July 31, 9 to 10:30 a.m. at Stokesdale Business Center, 8500 Ellisboro Road. The usual checkin procedure will be followed, and boxes of food will be placed in cars without recipients getting out. To make a financial donation or request emergency assistance, contact Terri Johnson, (336) 643-5887 or terrij1957@yahoo.com.

at 7923 Lester Road in Stokesdale will host its annual Vacation Bible School July 31, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch will be served, and there will be games and prizes for participants. More info: (336) 416-3904 or fbtstokesdale@yahoo.com.  Cub Scout extravaganza | Cub Scout Pack

103 will hold a recruitment extravaganza July 31, 12 noon to 2 p.m. at Summerfield First Baptist Church, 2300 Scalesville Road. Summerfield Fire Department will be onsite with a fire hose and there will be a Guilford County sheriff’s department vehicle and a Mack truck the kids can get inside and explore. Hot dogs, chips, drinks and Kona Ice will be available for purchase. At 1:45 p.m. Cubmaster Phil Messinger will take a pie in the face from any new Scout recruit. More info: Phil Messinger, (610) 7510657 or summerfield103cubmaster@gmail.com.

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The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

View the complete, detailed Community Calendar at nwobserver.com, and check the Northwest Observer in print the first, third and fifth Thursday of each month for a selection of upcoming events

TUESDAY, AUG. 3

 Hotdog drive-thru | Gideon Grove United Meth-

 SMA anniversary celebration | Summerfield

Merchants Association will hold its fifth-anniversary celebration Aug. 3, 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Summerfield Farms, 3203 Pleasant Ridge Road. Summerfieldbased business owners (those who live in Summerfield and/or live outside the town but own a business in Summerfield) are invited to attend as guests and enjoy food, desserts and music; drinks and Kona Ice will be available for purchase. Attendees are asked to bring donations of food items for the Backpack Ministry. To learn more about SMA or to RSVP (required), visit summerfieldmerchant.com.

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 4  Blood drive | Morehead United Methodist

Church, 3214 Horse Pen Creek Road in northwest Greensboro, will host a blood drive Aug. 4, 2:30 to 7 p.m. All blood types are needed. Appointments appreciated, but walk-ins are also welcome. Sign up at redcrossblood.org. More info: Donna Somers, (336) 288-9399.

odist Church at 2865 Gideon Grove Church Road in Stokesdale will host a free hotdog drive-thru Aug. 4, 5 to 6 p.m. All items will be prepared and packaged following COVID-19 safety guidelines. More info: (336) 643-6042.

THURSDAY, AUG. 5  Town Council meeting | Oak Ridge Town Council

will hold its next monthly meeting Aug. 5, beginning 7 p.m. at Oak Ridge Town Hall, 8315 Linville Road. The meeting will be livestreamed on the town’s YouTube channel and will later be available for viewing on the town’s Facebook page. Visit www.oakridgenc.com for a complete meeting agenda. More info: (336) 644-7009.

FRIDAY, AUG. 6  Movie in the Park | “Raya and the Last Dragon”

will be the featured movie for Summit Church - Oak Ridge’s free community “Movie in the Park” night Aug. 6 at Oak Ridge Town Park. Food and drink vendors will be onsite at 6:30 p.m. and games and

activities will be offered at 7 p.m. The movie will start at dark. Bring a blanket and/or chairs. See ad on this page for more info and an RSVP code to scan.

SATURDAY, AUG. 7  YMCA job fair | Spears Family YMCA at

3216 Horse Pen Creek Road in northwest Greensboro will host a job fair Aug. 7, 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Those attending the job fair will learn about open positions at several YMCA of Greensboro branches and can apply for jobs onsite. More info: Sherri Self, (336) 854-8410 or sherri.self@ymcagreensboro.org.

MONDAY, AUG. 9  Northwest Guilford Woman’s Club | Northwest

Guilford Woman’s Club (NGWC) is a non-profit whose members include women from all walks of life who share a commitment to community service. The group will hold its monthly meeting Aug. 9, beginning at 7 p.m. To learn more about NGWC or to attend the meeting as a guest, contact Terri Johnson at (336) 671-8613 or terri.johnson@allentate.com.

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Calendar What’s happening?

When is it happening? Where is it happening? And who do I contact for more details? Check out our online Community Calendar at

www.nwobserver.com for a list of upcoming local events and event details (non-proﬁts are also invited to post your event/details at this site)

Stay connected to your neighbors at

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CRIME / INCIDENT report

District 1 Sheriff’s Ofﬁce

has recently responded to the following incidents in northwest/northern Guilford County ... ASSAULT July 24 | A resident of the 8400 block of Haw River Road in Oak Ridge reported at 5 a.m. a known suspect punched him in the face and threw potatoes at him.

BURGLARY July 21 | A resident of the 7000 block of Toscana Trace in Summerfield (off N.C. 150) reported at 2:59 a.m. an unknown suspect was captured on surveillance footage unlawfully entering his residence; another resident in the same block reported at 3:53 a.m. an unknown suspect unlawfully entered his attached garage and set off the security system; investigations are ongoing. July 25 | A resident of the 7000 block of Belford Road in Summerfield (off Oak Ridge Road) reported the rear door of his detached garage had been opened and items that weren’t there before were left inside between 6 p.m. and 11:53 p.m.

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July 21 | A resident of the 5000 block of Robdot Drive in Oak Ridge (off Stafford Mill Road) reported an unknown suspect stole and forged checks from his mailbox totaling $23,548.

THEFT July 14 | A Reidsville resident reported an unknown suspect stole the catalytic converter off his Dodge Ram truck while it was parked at Morris Dentistry on Athens Road in Stokesdale between July 2 and July 11; the damage to his truck was estimated at $3,500, and the converter is worth $200. July 17 | A resident of the 7900 block •ofTotally local since 1996 Lester Road in Stokesdale (off

N.C. 68 N) reported an unknown suspect stole a black and white Taga vehicle trailer worth $2,000 on July 13 at about 8 a.m.; the trailer was later recovered. July 19 | A resident of the 5700 block of Inman Road in northwest Greensboro reported an unknown suspect stole a blue ESP electric guitar and a black PRS guitar case on July 13 between 2 and 3 p.m. July 19 | Someone with Center United Methodist Church in northwest Greensboro reported an unknown suspect stole two catalytic converters worth a total of $2,000 on July 17. July 20 | A resident of the 8000 block of Lake Brandt Road in northwest Greensboro reported at 8:15 p.m. an unknown suspect stole three fishing rods and tackle bait from near a pond on his property; the stolen items were later found. July 22 | A Kernersville resident with property in the 5500 block of Murphy Road in Summerfield (near the intersection of I-73 and U.S. 158) reported an unknown suspect stole two gray and orange Husqvarna chainsaws worth $2,500 each from his outbuilding between June 25 and July 22. July 23 | Two Stokesdale residents in the 9000 block of U.S. 158 in Stokesdale reported an unknown suspect cut a chain to gain access to the property and stole catalytic converters from a 1995 Ford and a 1991 BMW between July 21 at 4:30 p.m. and July 22 at 10:24 a.m.; the total loss was estimated at $1,700.

TRESPASSING July 25 | A 43-year-old female was arrested in the 8000 block of Marketplace Drive in Oak Ridge for first-degree trespassing and also cited for disorderly conduct and communicating threats.

VANDALISM July 25 | A customer at Summerfield Veterinary Hospital reported the rear

passenger window of her vehicle was broken into while she was parked there between 4:15 and 4:45 p.m.; the damage was estimated at $400.

DEAD BODY INVESTIGATIONS On July 13 at 6:45 a.m., a resident of the 5000 block of Rambling Road in northwest Greensboro (off Alcorn Road) reported a possible dead body; the victim, who had last been seen alive in the same block at 4 a.m., was given medical treatment but died at the scene. Details have not been made public at this time. On July 22 at 3:48 p.m. two non-local residents driving through Summerfield pulled off the road in the gravel lot at the intersection of Witty Road and Lake Brandt Road. After smelling a bad odor and looking around to find the source, they called 911 and reported finding a dead body. Investigators later identified the body as 19-year-old Alan Aidan Tran of Jamestown. His family, who’d last seen him July 19 around 2 p.m., reported him missing on July 21 after his white 2020 Dodge Charger was found burned in Timbercreek Apartments off Glendale Drive in Greensboro (near Wet N’ Wild Emerald Pointe Water Park) on July 20.

VETERANS SITE GAINS SUPPORT ...continued from p. 10 Signage along the boardwalk will identify major U.S. military conflicts, giving opportunities for students to learn about the nation’s wartime history. “The younger generation needs to know what all of these people sacrificed,” Dmuchowski said. Organizers are describing the venue as a site, as opposed to a memorial honoring the dead.

“We did not want to honor just the people who have been lost in three conflicts,” Dmuchowski said. “We also wanted to honor the veterans who are still alive today.” A groundbreaking ceremony for

Happy 50

the site is slated for Veterans Day on Nov. 11. It may prove to be symbolic, according to Dumuchowski, because the schedule for constructing the site hasn’t been determined. The schedule for the development of the site will depend upon when the town starts development of Heritage Farm Park, Dmuchowski said. Exactly when development of the 60-acre tract will start hinges partly on whether Oak Ridge is awarded a matching grant from the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund to help defray the town’s costs. The state program plans to identify the winning applications as soon as late summer. Meanwhile, fundraising for the site will get into full gear next month, according to Dmuchowski. Organizers are seeking different levels of

donations – from $250 to $10,000 and above – and honoring donors in a variety of ways, such as with plaques, trees and pavers at the site. Casting its net as wide as possible, the fundraising brochure says, “Donations of any amount will be accepted at any time.”

want more info, or to donate? For more info about Veterans Honor Green or to make a donation, call Oak Ridge Town Hall at (336) 644-7009, or pick up a veterans site brochure with a donation form attached from Town Hall at 8315 Linville Road during business hours, 8:30 a.m.4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Donations made be made in cash, by credit card or check; checks can be mailed to Town of Oak Ridge, P.O. Box 374, Oak Ridge, NC 27310.

Anniversary,

Steven and Elizabeth Kingsbury

The children of Steven and Elizabeth Kingsbury happily announce their parents’ 50th wedding anniversary. Steve and Beth were married August 6, 1971, at Marquis Memorial United Methodist Church in Staunton, Virginia. Their greatest blessings have been their daughters, Janet Sumner (Chris Sumner) and Lisa Stewart (Brad Stewart). They have four grandchildren, Kaitlyn Sumner, Jacob Sumner, Jack Stewart and Kinley Stewart. Steve worked most of his career in the textile industry and retired from Unifi in 2018. Beth worked as a hairdresser and retired from Well-Spring Retirement Community in 2017. Through the years, both have volunteered to serve their community in various ways including Summerfield Town Council and Northwest Guilford High School Band Boosters. If their kids were involved in an activity, most likely Steve and Beth were involved as well! Currently, Steve and Beth reside in Stokesdale. They can be found most days at Oak Ridge United Methodist Church where they volunteer their time serving on committees and doing numerous tasks around the church. They enjoy spending time together and appreciate their close circle of friends.

Steve and Beth have been an example of love, endurance, commitment, and generosity for their family. Congratulations! The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

JULY 29 - AUG. 4, 2021

Coming

August 19

Back-to-school special publication • New principals, traffic routes, teachers, bell schedule, policies … a lot

can change from the end of one school year to the beginning of another! Check out our Back to School pub to find out what’s new at our northwest/northern public schools for the 2021-2022 school year.

• Meet some of the administrators and front-office staff, teachers, athletic coaches, student leaders, and more.

• Our public school facilities – what condition are they in, and are there any plans on the horizon for upgrades, repairs, additions and eventual replacements?

• Hear from some of the coaches and band leaders about how they’re preparing for the upcoming fall sports season.

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Eagle Scout Hodgin earns 12U boys’ traveling baseball team wins prestigious National Medal for championship after eight undefeated games Outdoor Achievement Summerﬁeld SUMMERFIELD – Troop 600 Eagle Scout Landon Hodgin has earned Scouts BSA’s highest recognition for outdoor achievement. A Summerfield resident, he is the first in his troop and among only a small percentage of scouts nationally to receive the National Medal for Outdoor Achievement. To qualify, Landon earned three National Outdoor Achievement Awards, became a Leave No Trace Trainer and certified in Wilderness First Aid, and led outdoor activities. “One of the most challenging requirements was earning the hiking segment,” says Landon, who received National Outdoor Achievement Awards for camping, conservation and hiking. “I had to hike 200 miles on many extended trips.” After becoming a Scout in second grade, Landon completed his Eagle Scout project, a brick paver path adjacent to Oak Ridge Presbyterian Church’s fellowship house, in 2018. During his time in scouting, Landon has served in many troop capacities, including as senior patrol leader and quartermaster. In addition, he has held diverse

leadership roles with Order of the Arrow, scouting’s honor society, including chapter vice chief, ceremony Landon Hodgin team member and as a peer leader who helps induct new members. His scouting highlights have included being an assistant patrol leader for the World Scout Jamboree and serving as a staff member at Cherokee Scout Reservation summer camp. This summer, he went to Philmont Scout Ranch, Scouts BSA’s largest National High Adventure Base. Landon, who is the son of Chris and Heather Hodgin, recently graduated from Caldwell Academy in Greensboro. He has been accepted into the honors program at NC State University where he plans to study engineering.

For more info about Scouts BSA Troop 600, visit www.scoutdude.com. Troop 600 meets Monday evenings at Oak The Northwest Ridge Presbyterian Church.

Stars Majors 12U team members (not in photo order): Levi Ponder, Caleb Hinnant, Simeon Moore, Riley Gladwell, Nathanael Lorczak, Quentin Joyner, Alex Broyles, Grayson Shelton, Carter Sheridan, Parker Daniels and Mason Skelding. The team is coached by Gooch Gladwell, David Lorczak and John Sheridan

SUMMERFIELD – Summerfield Stars Majors 12U, a travel baseball team comprised of boys “who love baseball,” battled heat, rain delays and other challenges along the way to clinching the Cal Ripken Blue Crab Week-Long Experience

Photo courtesy of Ana Lorczak

championship in the 12U division the week of July 12-16. The tournament was held in Aberdeen, Maryland. “From Monday to Friday, they competed against teams from across the country and bonded together as a team, stronger after every

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win!” wrote Ana Lorczak, mother of team member Nathanael Lorczak, on the team’s Facebook page. “Five straight days of baseball, eight games, and they ended the tournament undefeated! It was truly an incredible experience.”

JULY 29 - AUG. 4, 2021

Kids’ Korner

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NWHS cheerleaders have done it again For the third consecutive year, Northwest Guilford High School’s cheerleaders are state champions in their division by PATTI STOKES NW GUILFORD – “It was a completely different experience this time,” Jennifer Loveday-Donovan, Northwest Guilford High School’s varsity cheerleading coach and head competition cheer coach, said of her cheerleaders’ third consecutive state championship win in late May. This year’s team placed first in NCHSAA’s (North Carolina High School Athletic Association) Small Varsity Non-Tumble D1 competition while scoring 86.80 points, the most points ever scored by a NWHS cheerleading team. While the thrill of the win was equal to previous years, both preparing for the competition during the pandemic and the competition experience itself were starkly different. “The kids had already had a terrible year because of COVID, and

we struggled so much to practice… We didn’t know how to have Zoom practice or use any of those major platforms,” LovedayDonovan said. “And then when we did start practicing in-person, we couldn’t practice touching for a long time. And then finally we could tumble. And then finally we could stunt, but they had to wear masks and tape them to their faces… there were just so many obstacles. The pressure of the environment was more than just the pressure of winning.” Traditionally, cheerleading teams travel to Raleigh to compete in the state competition each year.

“We compete, and then “you wait until the end of the night, and they call everyone up on stage and announce the winner… that part was missing this year,” LovedayDonovan said.

Instead, the cheer teams competed at Southern Alamance High School in Graham. As the teams arrived, they were taken to different checkpoints and kept socially distant from other teams.

“Fans had specific times to arrive and you only watched your own team compete – that made it interesting, because you have no idea (of how the other teams are performing),” Loveday-Donovan said. “And then once you compete, literally, you leave,” she said. “That was a majorly different experience and we were like, ‘okay, that was great – but now what?’” Fortunately, one of the parents’ church allowed the girls to congregate there later in the evening and they made S’mores and “hung out together,” Loveday-Donovan said. Then the girls went inside and did karaoke, while waiting to watch the recording of the winners being announced.

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

“It was definitely different,” Loveday-Donovan said. “It was nice to have the kids be relaxed for the evening, but also slightly disappointing because we didn’t get to be in the auditorium with all the other teams we competed against… To be honest, I’m probably not going to remember the announcement (that we won). I’m genuinely going to remember that they were all pretending to play instruments and singing karaoke together and having a great time.” As for what it feels like to win a state championship for the third time, Loveday-Donovan said, “The first one was completely unexpected, and the second one was kind of like, ‘okay, if we don’t win it will be okay, but let’s go get it.’ With this one, there was a lot more pressure. “This group of kids was the group affected the most by COVID – they didn’t get the normal part of their junior year or their senior year. They were extremely dedicated,” she said, adding, “I am blessed that we have had this evolution of our program and have so much support from our parents, our Boosters Club and our coaching staff.”

JULY 29 - AUG. 4, 2021

r e n r o K ’ s Kid

Use the photo to the left to color each Olympic ring its designated color

DID YOU KNOW? Olympics Fun Facts •

The modern Olympic Games were originally held in Athens, Greece, in 1896.

•

Since 1912, gold medals have actually mostly been made of silver. In the Tokyo games, 80,000 tons of recycled electronics were used to make the medals. Each gold medal given in Tokyo weighs about 556 grams, and only 6 of those grams are actually gold. If the Tokyo gold medals were made of pure gold, each one would have cost around $32,000.

3. okyot _______________________________________ 4. mnsictgasy __________________________________ 5. lsmaed ______________________________________ 6. ebznro ______________________________________

rings

medals gymnastics

Thank you to Ultimate Kids for sponsoring this issue’s Kids’ Korner page

bronze

Entering the Tokyo games, the United States had won more than 2,800 medals. No other country had won more than 1,000.

Answers 5.

11,000 athletes from 205 countries are competing in the Tokyo Olympics.

•

Michael Phelps, USA swimmer, is the most decorated Olympian of all time with a total of 28 medals (23 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze). The next most decorated Olympian is Larisa Latynina, Soviet Union gymnast, with 18 medals.

2. wgsmmini ___________________________________

swimming

•

1. ginsr ________________________________________

tokyo

•

Karate, sports climbing, skateboarding and surfing were added to the 2020 Olympic Games and baseball/softball returned after 13 years.

Can you unscramble these Olympic-themed words?

•

The Olympic rings represent solidarity and unity among the continents of Africa, North America, South America, Asia, Oceania, and Europe. The creator of the five-ringed symbol, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, chose the different colors because at least one of the colors appears on all the national flags of the world.

•

VIRTUAL CHALLENGE ...continued from p. 11

expected to do the marathon straight through. No way that could happen, she said, but since supporting the organization and remembering Conner were her primary motivations, she wasn’t too concerned.

the old-fashioned way – with pen and paper. Once they completed their mileage, they photographed their records and “In the spirit of completing the maraemailed them to the P&R Department to thon, I decided I would log in mileage be entered into a prize drawing. from my walks, so I’m committed to the Pittman is friends with Oak Ridge 26.2 miles,” she noted. resident Casey Crossan, who lost her Like this particular challenge, many 11-year-old son, Conner, in 2018 to of the virtual challenges seek to raise osteosarcoma, a predominantly funds for charities. For instance, the childhood cancer. So, when Pit“Blue Ridge tman later heard to Beach about the “OutChallenge” running Osteosarsupports coma 2021” virtual local North race, she was all in. Carolina Outrunning food banks, Osteosarcoma is a hunger fundraiser for MIB relief proAgents, an orgagrams and nization that seeks animal to “Make It Better” welfare. for kids with canThe cer by providing OBX chalitems of comfort lenge is and entertainment working during treatment, with Eden offering peer-toVillage peer support for of Wilmkids and their families and arranging Photo courtesy of Martha Pittman ington, a future end-of-life wishes Martha Pittman enjoyed completing her ﬁrst for kids when treat- virtual marathon with her canine walking buddies, community of tiny ment options are Dakota and Kyra. homes for no longer available. the homeless, and North Carolina The race offers a 5K, half-marathon Aquariums. and marathon (participants may choose Besides the charity aspect of the to do one event, or multiples). Pittman virtual event, Pittman appreciates the elected to go with the full marathon. accountability. Because the event is open from June 1 through Aug. 31, she figured she “I do better when I have a goal to had plenty of time to log in 26.2 miles, reach,” she said. “Other people seeing just as she had done with the workout what you’re doing provides accountability.” challenge back in January. As I’m nearing my own finish line, I’m “I really thought because you had already looking for another challenge that until August, I could do segments,” Pittprovides that dose of accountability and man laughed. motivation. An Amerithon? That’s 3,521 miles across America. You might just see Imagine her surprise when she me on the West Coast – at least, virtually. opened the app and realized she was

want to give it a go? Check out these sites: www.blueridgetobeach.com; www.runsignup.com/ Race/NC/Wilmington/RunOBX; and www.mibagents.org/outrunning – or The Northwest Observer search for “virtual fitness challenges,” where you’ll find no shortage of other opportunities to get moving and be held accountable.

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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.

The woman and her son in the back Suburban who stopped on 1-73 to check on me after I had blown out my tire. That was very kind of you, and you put a smile on my face! Jessie, who found my driver’s license, which apparently dropped out of my pouch while I was on the A&Y Greenway, and mailed it to me. I had been looking all over for it, and am super appreciative to have it back. All the people who stopped to see if my husband was OK after he had come off his bicycle on Witty Road on

the morning of Friday, July 16. We are both very grateful. Oak Ridge Fire Department for clearing the entrance to my driveway when a big limb fell across it Saturday (July 17). Elizabeth at Bugle Boy Farm. We love your eggs and blueberries – and they’re even delivered to our door! Thank you for serving our community with your working farm. You are what makes Summerfield special. All my neighbors on Brookbank Road who are proudly flying those beautiful American flags. Oak Ridge Fire Department’s Captain Wyatt and the crew he sent to our

home to install two additional smoke detectors in two rooms with very tall ceilings. They were thorough and very respectful of our home during the installation. GreenGo Buggies. Congratulations on your expansion! Thank you, also, for revitalizing a building in our Summerfield community and bringing life back into that section of U.S. 220 that needed some TLC. The nice man who stopped his car to help me when I turned my cart over and fell at the Lowes Foods’ shopping center. Your kind gesture meant so much to me! The cyclist gripe from the last issue, “Cyclists who... well, just cyclists.” I’ve been reading this paper for eight years and I’m a cyclist myself. That was the funniest gripe I have ever read!

The lousy person who stole the catalytic converters off of the Laugh & Learn Child Care Center bus. Those children rely on field trips four days a

week and you took that from them. Shame on you! Banks that try charging a fee for cashing their own checks! Just say: “I’m sorry, I do not consent to that. I require the full amount I’m due, as specified in the check that I have presented.” Works every time! Summerfield Fire District and town council. Do you think building a new water tank system in town will be less expensive than using the hydrant at Creative Leadership to fill the water trucks, as you do now? Editor’s note: We reached out to Summerfield Fire Chief Chris Johnson to give him an opportunity to respond to this gripe and here is what he wrote: “The money that would be used to build these water tanks would be money already allocated by the state to the towns and not all from Summerfield taxpayers. There are other factors that must be considered. Because fire grows so rapidly, the goal is to get water and personnel on scene ASAP. The reason we utilize the hydrant at Creative Leadership is because it only

takes one person to fill the truck, which allows more personnel on the fire scene; but, depending on the location of the fire, that hydrant may be impractical due to distance and tanker turnaround time to keep water flowing. That is the reason we feel water tanks at key locations within Summerfield would greatly benefit homeowners and make for a safer community. As far as expense, we choose to put the cost of human lives over dollar bills.” People of all ages who I see crossing white and yellow lines on the road because they are looking at their cell phone. It’s unfair that you get to risk my life. Please, pull over or put it away. Oak Ridge Town Council for giving 6% raises when the rest of the business world is giving 2 to 3%. Government spending our money again. Northwest Observer. Your headline, “Northwest Guilford’s housing scarcity,” is deceiving. This is not a problem unique to Northwest Guilford, but a nationwide problem. After a year of

COVID this shouldn’t be a surprise. Editor’s note: While it was certainly not our intent to be deceiving, we regret if after reading the headline the reader felt we were implying this situation is unique to our area. As for whether this situation is a surprise, we agree, and given the circumstances it certainly isn’t. But, surprise or not, we maintain that the housing scarcity warrants our research and reporting on how it has affected Realtors, builders, homebuyers and home sellers in our area. Summerfield residents who think $250,000 homes will bring in lowclass people or heaven forbid, minorities. Most people in Guilford County can’t even afford $250,000. Before all you folks from other areas came and moved into your $500,000 homes, homes were normally priced. Oak Ridge Fire Department’s board of directors for changing your bylaws and restricting community involvement. The obscene extravagance of Guilford County Schools, providing

a $20,000 “signing bonus” for new teachers. Don’t whine about underpaid schoolteachers as you flip off us taxpayers. And don’t even bother with the “It’s for the children” spiel. What a nerve. The person who said it’s only people in $800,000+ homes who don’t want Summerfield over-developed. You’re so wrong. FOX8 spent hours trying to find anyone who actually wants the development. It doesn’t take an $800,000+ home to have common sense. Subway in Oak Ridge Commons for their rusted outdoor tables and chairs. Who wants to sit outside and eat on them, and ruin their clothes? They are also blocking the walk. Please renovate or replace them! Electric company scammers. I almost fell for it when someone who said they were a representative of the local power company called asking for a large amount of money in order to keep my power on. Beware! Owners of the white picket fence along N.C. 150 in Oak Ridge. Are they

waiting for the cost of wood to come down before replacing? The fence has been damaged for over a year. Editor’s note: We assume the fence this reader is referring to is the one running along Oak Ridge Plantation’s perimeter on N.C. 150, just west of Oak Ridge Elementary; that fence was damaged by trees toppled in the ice storm our area experienced in mid-February. During that storm, thousands of trees throughout our area were damaged and toppled. Randy Floss, president of Oak Ridge Plantation’s HOA, said it initially took six weeks to get the HOA’s insurance company to assess the damage, get three bids and complete the clean-up. After the insurance company approved the initial cleanup, Floss reached out to Duke Energy as well as to three arborists to discuss the state of the trees. Meanwhile, the HOA put a committee together to represent the property

...continued on p. 31

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JULY 29 - AUG. 4, 2021

VOTE DELAYED

...continued from p. 1 amend the town’s unified development ordinance (UDO). The board voted 3-1 on Monday, July 26, to delay for two months its decision on whether to recommend approval of Couch’s request for a text amendment to Summerfield’s recently adopted UDO. The developer is seeking changes, including higher density for apartments and other multi-family housing, for his proposed residential and commercial expansion of Summerfield Farms. The board’s meeting in Revolution Academy drew more than 70 people, including 20 who spoke in support of or opposition to Couch’s plans. Critics said the developer’s proposal for the creation of a Master Planned Village District as a new zoning district lacks details – particularly a proposed housing density – for the project spanning about 1,000 acres from Summerfield Road to Interstate 73. “The biggest issue is the uncertainty,” said Planning Board Chair Dick Feulner, explaining he’s opposed to making a recommendation to the Town Council for “a district with no density at all.” He joined board member Clark Doggett and Clint Babcock, a board alternate, in voting to delay discussion until the board’s Sept. 27 meeting. Board member Cathy Rooney voted against the motion. Couch said he’s not yet determined density for his project. The developer, his lawyer Tom Terrell and designer Victor Dover said repeatedly that amending the UDO wouldn’t give the project the green light. “It does not approve the plan,” Dover emphasized. Instead, if the council were to vote to amend the UDO to create the village district, it would enable Couch to seek rezoning of his property. At that point, negotiations between the developer and town staff, the Planning Board and the council

JULY 29 - AUG. 4, 2021

would determine density, acreage set aside as green space, building standards and other requirements.

“You have absolute control over density from beginning to end,” Couch asserted. If council were to approve the amendment, both the council and Planning Board would hold public hearings to help them determine whether to approve Couch’s plan for developing his property and imposing regulations. “I can promise you it would be stricter by a high factor than what the current UDO has,” Terrell said. Couch is seeking higher density and other development requirements less stringent than currently allowed by the UDO for his proposed expansion of Summerfield Farms, where he raises cattle and operates a wedding venue and retail market. After hearing Couch’s proposal, the town would have “the authority to turn it down,” Terrell said. Town Attorney Bob Hornik affirmed Terrell’s position. Approval of the text amendment “doesn’t mean you’ve got to approve anything they bring in front of us,” Hornik told the Planning Board. Couch, Terrell and Dover told the board they’re in the process of determining density and other specifics of the project. Reflecting opponents’ skepticism, former council member Elizabeth McClellan said she believes Couch has determined density, but isn’t willing to share it because residents would “freak out.”

“What we have tonight is zero facts,” McClellan said. Several speakers expressed support for Couch and urged the Planning Board to recommend approval of the developer’s request for the text amendment.

“All you are doing is allowing those details to come forward,” said John Van Kemp. “It is not a commitment to approve.” Church Brown said he favors approval of the new zoning district proposed by Couch because it “would allow us to create a community that allows my children the opportunity to come back to Summerfield to live.”

It would also allow “empty nesters to downsize in Summerfield and allow our parents to move closer to us as they age and allow police, teachers and artists and other important service folks to live in our community,” Brown said. On July 15, an informational meeting organized by Couch drew more than 50 people along with differing views on his plans. Asked to provide an estimate of density for the project, Dover said he and his design colleagues at Dover, Kohl and Partners of Coral Gables, Florida, are still mapping the proposed layout of the development, conducting a traffic impact analysis and taking other steps to determine density. Determining which areas to preserve as open and community space precedes the placement of houses and the calculation of density, Dover said.

“The wrong way to do it is to pick out a number at random ahead of time and do planning by the numbers,” the designer said. “If you do it that way, you are going to wind up with conventional suburban sprawl.” During this week’s meeting, viewpoints during roughly two hours of public comments veered from the board’s consideration of the text amendment. The composition of the board itself led to sparring between Couch and Jolinda Babcock, an organizer of Stand Up For Summerfield. The group is leading opposition to the developer’s expansion plans and proposal to extend water and sewer services from the city of Greensboro to his property. Couch pointed out that Babcock’s husband, Clint, serves as a Planning Board alternate. Later in the meeting, Clint Babcock voted to continue the discussion for two months. Jolinda Babcock told Couch that board member Doggett’s daughter, Beth Kaplan, has expressed public support for Couch’s development. “So don’t call me out without calling him out,” Jolinda Babcock told Couch. As she abruptly left the meeting, she said, “That was a jerky thing to say, David.” Discord spawned by the debate “has pitted neighbor against neighbor,” said Kevin Kenjarski, a supporter of Couch’s proposal. “And some of these relationships I don’t believe will ever be mended.’’

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27 27

EMPLOYMENT

SAVE THE DATE

HOME SERVICES

OAK RIDGE PHYSICAL THERAPY. Physical Therapist Aide. Two positions available, one each at Oak Ridge and Eden clinics. Part-time aide position. Mon.-Fri., 1:30-6:15pm. Perform a variety of tasks including: laundry, cleaning, scheduling patients, calling patients, assistance with patient care as directed, misc. Must be CPR certified. Background criminal, drug & financial check will be done. Mail resume to PO Box 875, Oak Ridge, NC 27310.

CUB SCOUT PACK 103 is holding a recruiting event on Saturday, July 31, at Summerfield First Baptist Church in the parking lot from noon-2pm. Come on out and learn about Pack 103 and the adventure of Scouting! Troop 103 will be present to conduct Scouting activities. Summerfield Fire Department will be on hand to keep you cool with the fire hose while you enjoy the Guilford County Police Department vehicle and a Mack truck that you can get up inside and check out. Hot dogs, chips and drinks will be available for a donation and Kona Ice will also be there for you to make lunch and the journey complete! The main event will happen at 1:45pm when our Cubmaster Phil Messinger will take a pie in the face from any new Scout who signs up at our event! Come on out and plan to get lunch and have fun and join Scouting. It's a lifetime journey!

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AFTER-SCHOOL GROUP LEADER for after-school program at Revolution Academy in Summerfield. 3-6pm, M-F. pacesafterschool.com. (336) 669-5590. CUSTOMER SERVICE/ACCOUNTING. 8am-5pm, M-F. Experience preferred but not required. Please call (336) 992-2166. EMBROIDERY MACHINE OPERATOR/ trimmer/ professional seamstress. Experience preferred but not required. 2nd shift, 1-9pm. Please call (336) 992-2166. SUMMERFIELD VETERINARY HOSPITAL is currently seeking a full-time Kennel Assistant. Weekends and holidays a must. Drug test and background check required. Please apply in person, 4318 Hwy. 220 N., Summerfield, NC 27358, or email Lydia@ summerfieldvet.com. (336) 643-6326. P/T MORNING or AFTERNOON NANNY needed for two children in Summerfield. Monday-Thursday with flexibility. Must have clean driving record and reliable transportation. Please send information to info@orchiro.com.

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COMMUNITY MOVIE NIGHT, sponsored by The Summit Church of Oak Ridge. Featuring "Raya & The Last Dragon". Friday, Aug. 6, food vendors starting at 6:30pm; fun and games at 7pm; movie to start at dark. Oak Ridge Town Park. Free admission. Free concessions. Reserve your spot at thesummitchurch.net. STOKESDALE COMMUNITY CHOIR resumes Monday, August 23, 9:30-11:30am. No requirements to join. Contact Sondra to register. (336) 453-8017.

VBS VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL. Saturday, Aug. 7, 10am-1pm. Gideon Grove UMC, 2865 Gideon Grove Church Rd., Stokesdale. Theme: Jesus Loves Me. Stories about children in the Bible, games, crafts, box lunch. Everyone invited.

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28 JULY JULY - AUG. 2021 2929 - AUG. 4,4, 2021

A-ACTION AIR. Air conditioning checkup, $49.95. Call (336) 268-6768 or (336) 382-3750.

CLEANING MAID-2- SHINE. Excellent ser vice, 15 years experience. Free estimates, excellent references. (336) 338-0223. PAOLA CLEANING SERVICE. Residential & commercial. Insured. (336) 669-5210 CRYSTAL CLEAR WINDOW CLEANING Gutter cleaning, pressure washing. Fully ins. windowcleaningnc.com (336) 595-2873 CHRISTIAN MOM needs work cleaning houses, running errands. Will fit to your budget. Pet taxi/pet sitting also avail. References. Call Laura Bennett, (336) 231-1838. THE CLEANING TECHNICIAN LLC. Back in business. Spring cleaning time is here. I would like to offer my cleaning services. I do detailed cleaning. I also offer carpet cleaning and floor steaming. Licensed, bonded, insured, and vaccinated. Call Lisa, (336) 207-0770. ANNASARAH'S CLEANING. Excellent references. Trustworthy. Family owned business. Free estimates. (336) 543-3941.

DECORATING BLISSFUL ART & FRAMING. SHOP LOCAL! Framing, gifts, graphic design. 4533 Hwy. 220 N., Summerfield. (336) 298-4502. 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.

FLOORING MONTERO'S HARDWOOD FLOORING Installation of hardwood, laminate & tile; hardwood sanding & finishing. Commercial & residential. Insured, 17 yrs. exp. Free est., exc. references. Call (336) 215-8842 or visit Monteros-hardwood-flooring.com.

GENERAL REPAIR & SERVICES CLOCK DOCTOR. Free house calls for sick clocks. (336) 643-9931 or (336) 392-4124. 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. MCGEE'S HANDYMAN SERVICES. Water-damaged wood replacement, bathroom remodel, decks and much more. Call (336) 423-1259. APPLIANCE REPAIR – Call Mr. Appliance A step above the rest! (336) 609-5707.

“No Job Too Small” Wood Rot Repairs • Bathroom Remodeling Painting • Decks and much more! • Insured

(336) 669-7252

oldschoolsjhr@triad.rr.com

ELECTRICAL

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.

CKH ELECTRIC, LLC. Give us a call for your next residential, commercial, or industrial project. Free estimates, licensed, insured, & BBB accredited. (336) 944-4820.

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.

BALEX ELECTRICAL COMPANY, LLC. Got Power? Residential, commercial and solar electrical services. (336) 298-4192.

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

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since The Northwest Observer • Totally local1996 since 1996

 HOME SERVICES

GRADING / HAULING

LAWNCARE / LANDSCAPING

MISC. HOME SERVICES/PRODUCTS

TRACTOR WORK. Garden prep, loader work, brush hogging, core aeration, ﬁnish grading, mowing, etc. Call or text (336) 908-0890.

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

STEVE NEWMAN TREE SERVICE. Free est. Lic./Ins. 40+ years experience. All phases of tree work. Lots & natural area thinning and cleanup. Large shrubbery jobs, chipping. Oak Ridge. Call (336) 643-1119. Hire a local with references.

BRAD'S BOBCAT & HAULING SVCS. LLC. Debris removal, grading, gravel/dirt, driveways, concrete work. (336) 362-3647 GAULDIN TRUCKING, grading & hauling, bobcat work, lot clearing, driveways, fill dirt, gravel, etc. (336) 362-1150. H&L GRADING, LLC. No job too tough or too small. Call us first! We are a full-service grading company that specializes in residential projects. Owner/ operator Timmy Hart has more than 30 years of grading and equipment experience. Fully licensed and insured. Land clearing, debris removal, driveways, French drains and much more. (336) 543-7867. E&W HAULING & GRADING INC. Driveways, fill dirt, demolition, lot clearing, excavating, bobcat work, etc. (336) 451-1282. ANTHONY’S GRADING & HAULING Excavating, land clearing, demolition, dirt, available. Zane Anthony, (336) 362-4035. DTW GRADING & HAULING, INC. Offering a sum of aggregates, including but not limited to: fill dirt, stone, asphalt millings, and crushed concrete. We also offer full bobcat services. Driveways, minor clearing, drainage solutions and snow removal. Daniel Wilson, (336) 339-0212.

GUTTERS / SIDING / WINDOWS S&M SEAMLESS GUTTERS. Install new gutters. Repair and clean old gutters. Free estimates. Fully insured. (336) 587-8223 or (336) 709-5944. WILSON SEAMLESS GUTTERS, new construction, repairs, replacement, leaf guards. Free estimates. (336) 420-0200 .The

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Keeping you connected to your community since 1996!

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

AQUA SYSTEMS IRRIGATION. Quality irrigation systems. NC licensed contractor. We service all systems. Free est. (336) 644-1174.

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

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

DELIMA LAWNCARE. Commercial & Residential. Free estimates. (336) 669-5210.

CAROLINA STUMP & TREE SERVICE Complete tree service, $1 million liability, workman’s comp. Rick & Judy, (336) 643-9332. www.carolinastumpandtreeservices.com. GUZMAN LANDSCAPE & MAINTENANCE Pine needles, mulch, leaf removal, tree pruning, complete lawn maint. (336) 655-6490. HILL LAWNCARE & OUTDOOR SERVICES. Free est. Call (336) 669-5448. WILSON LANDSCAPING, INC. Lawn maint., landscaping. Irrigation/ landscape contractor. Hardscaping & landscape lighting. 26 years exp. (336) 399-7764.

Residential & Commercial Mowing • Trimming • Overseeding Fertilizing • Plugging Pine needle distribution • HOA

(336) 362-5860

www.colfaxlawncare.com

ARBOR MASTERS TREE SERVICE Total tree removal, storm damage cleanup, shrub and tree pruning. Free estimates. Licensed & insured. (336) 643-9157. ATCHISON LAWNCARE. Honest, dependable, local. Mike Atchison, owner. (336) 486-9837.

D S L DRAIN SYSTEMS & LANDSCAPING. Complete lawn service & drain systems. Mowing, pine needles, mulch, leaf removal, fertilization, trimming and more. Also providing drain systems solutions. (336) 362-4354. Place your classiﬁed ad online at

www.nwobserver.com

MASONRY MASONRY CONCEPTS, brick, block, stone concrete & repairs. Free est. (336) 988-1022, www.masonryconceptsgso.com. COLONIAL MASONRY. 40 yrs. exp. Specializing in outdoor living spaces; dry-stack natural stone and flagstone. Let us help you plan your patio, fire pit, fireplace, kitchen – or anything else you would like! Call (336) 949-9019. www.colonialmasonry.com. NEW PHASE CONCRETE. Here for all your decorative concrete needs. Specializing in decorative stamp, stained, epoxy and all other concrete poured finishes as well. Also offering refurbishment of existing stamped concrete. Make your existing stamped look like new again! (336) 399-1474 or (336) 595-4654. 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.

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

ON EAGLE'S WINGS residential home design/drafting. Call Patti, (336) 605-0519. JUNK & DEBRIS REMOVAL, construction, remodeling, and general cleanup, outbuildings, garages, basements, yard waste, etc. Also can haul mulch. Call (336) 706-8470. COX POOL SERVICE. Openings, closings, routine maintenance, weekly service. No contracts, free estimates! (336) 327-5122.

PAINTING & DRYWALL

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

(336) 931-0600

BEKPaintCompany.com • References Available • Licensed & Insured • All Work Guaranteed

STILL PERFECTION PAINTING. Reliable, skilled, aﬀordable. Painting, pressure washing, handyman services. Scott Still, (336) 462-3683, stillperfectionpainting.com. LAWSON'S PAINTING. Custom decks, pressure washing, boat docks, block ﬁll, wood repair, stain work, textured ceilings, sheetrock repair. Call (336) 253-9089. CARLOS & SON PAINTING. Interior and exterior. 24 hours/7 days a week. Free estimates, licensed/insured. (336) 669-5210. PAINTING INTERIOR & EXTERIOR, 40 yrs. exp. Sheetrock repair. Average BDRM walls $100. Insured. Call Brad Rogers, (336) 314-3186.

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

continued on p. 30

JULY 2929 - AUG. 4, 2021 JULY - AUG. 4, 2021

 HOME SERVICES

Wilson

Ain’t God Good

Septic Pumping & Repair Family owned & operated since 1972

(336) 643-6427

Tank pumping, repairs, clogs, advice – ALL WITH A SMILE! Discounts: mention this ad, veteran, senior citizen, cookies & milk Find us on Google, neighborhood.com, FB

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.

 HOME SERVICES

 MISC. FOR SALE

AMERICAN BUILDER CONSTRUCTION. Repairs & remodeling, kitchens/baths, additions, decks, attics, basements. Licensed & insured. Short wait list. NC General Contractors. (336) 225-7478.

ROOFING

IMPEX POWERHOUSE HOME GYM. #WM 1403. Very good cond. $229 obo. (336) 643-4445.

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

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

PRESSURE WASHING TEENAGER FOR HIRE! Pressure wash houses, sidewalks, driveways; clean gutters; spread mulch & pine straw, and more! Free estimates & great prices! (336) 549-0490 or mbaloga64@gmail.com. HOUSE and ROOF SOFT WASHING. Martin's Pressure Washing. (919) 931-0856. PRESSURE WASHING, gutter & window cleaning. Fully insured. Crystal Clear, www. windowcleaningnc.com or (336) 595-2873. CUTTING EDGE PRESSURE WASHING Aﬀordable, dependable. Please call anytime for free estimate. (336) 706-0103.

Your HOME SERVICES company should be here!

Place your classiﬁed ad online at

www.nwobserver.com

REMODELING / CONSTRUCTION ORTIZ REMODELING – Total restoration & home improvement. Drywall, painting, kitchen cabinets, interior trim & more. Free estimates. (336) 280-8981. PAINTING, DECKS AND MORE. Call Premier Construction for free estimates. (336) 430-9507.

30 JULY - AUG. 2021 30 JULY 2929 - AUG. 4,4, 2021

Of The Triad

The Bathroom of Your Dreams in as Little as a Day

(336) 497-0765 NCGC License #84330

www.BathPlanetTriad.com KEITH SMITH CONSTRUCTION, LLC. N.C. General Contractor with 30 years experience. Specializing in new homes, room additions, kitchens & baths, garages, decks, vinyl siding and windows, painting, tile, laminate and vinyl plank, and remodeling of all kinds. Quality for the right price. Free est. Please call (336) 362-7469. DOUGLAS Construction & Remodeling, LLC. Custom Builder, sunrooms, garages, additions, kitchens, baths. Licensed & Insured, BBB A+ accredited. Free est. Visit www.douglascr.com or call (336) 413-5050. JLB REMODELING, INC. Remodeling and additions. Fully insured. NC GC license #69997. Free est. Call (336) 681-2902 or visit www.jlbremodeling.com.

BELEWS CREEK CONSTRUCTION. Lifetime shingle and metal roofing. We fi nance. Free Estimates. Since 1979. Please call (336) 362-6343. RED RHINO ROOFING, based in Oak Ridge, NC. Storm damage specialist experienced with all types of roofing. BBB accredited A, and listed with Angie's List. Call (336) 944- 6118, or visit redrhinoroofing.com. DUSTIN CLINARD ROOFING. Shingles, metal, and leak repairs. Call (336) 268-1908. CLINARD & SON ROOFING, LLC. 40 + years experience. (336) 643-8191. PREMIER ROOFING. Commercial/residential. Providing service for all of your roofing needs. Locally owned. Please call (336) 430-9507 for free assessments.

 MISC. SERVICES

Use HAPPY JACK KENNEL DIP as an area spray to control ﬂeas, ticks, stable ﬂies & mosquitoes where they breed. Available at Tractor Supply. www.kennelvax.com. PureWick Female EXTERNAL CATHETER System. Includes pump, collection tank, tubing and 13 external catheters. $495 new; asking $275. (336) 549-6806.

Got stuﬀ? Need stuﬀ?

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 MISC. WANTED FREE PICK-UP of unwanted riding & push mowers, tillers, generators, power washers, go-carts, mini-bikes, 4-wheelers, ATVs, golf carts, and yard equipment. (336) 689-4167.

PIANO LESSONS, all ages and levels, Summerﬁeld area. Patti, (336) 298-4181.

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

PORTABLE WELDING SERVICE. Welding & fabrication services. Call (336) 908-6906

 PETS & ANIMAL SVCS. WENDY COLLINS PET SITTING LLC. Certiﬁed, bonded & insured. (336) 339-6845. wendycollinspetsitting.com.

locally owned & operated

 REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

6705 US Hwy 158, Stokesdale

(336) 643-9963 (affiliated with Stokesdale Storage)

FAT RABBIT FURNITURE RESTORATION. Need a precious heirloom or antique restored? Call us! Want to have your dining room table painted or need the seats reupholstered? Call us! Check us out on Google to see our rating, reviews and tons of pictures of our work. (336) 816-3641.

We Help Everyone! SELLERS & BUYERS

(336) 643-4248

www.ANewDawnRealty.com

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since The Northwest Observer • Totally local1996 since 1996

SELLING

 REAL ESTATE LAND FOR SALE ROCKINGHAM COUNTY/SUMMERFIELD address. Wooded, creeks, secluded and private. 25+/- acres can be subdivided. No HOA! Call (336) 430-9507. Anytime! SUMMERFIELD. Custom homesites for the distinguished buyer. Excellent large building lots. Choose or bring your own builder. One phase only, 12 tracts remain. Call anytime for a private showing. (336) 430-9507.

10.13 ACRES FOR SALE

0 Water Side Trail, Reidsville

Come see these beautiful 10+ heavily wooded acres with mature trees, winding creek and private gravel road. Trust Fund is in place for road maintenance. $80,000/10.13

Debbie McDonald

debbie.mcdonald@bhhscarolinas.com

O: (336) 996-4256 C: (336) 817-5462

index of DISPLAY ADVERTISERS

Please support

our advertisers,

and tell them where you saw their ad. Without their partnership, the Northwest Observer could not be free to you, our readers! Kimberly Thacker Accounting.............14

BEK Paint Company .......................... 29

Samuel K. Anders, CPA, MSA, PC..... 10

Carpets by Direct ............................... 23

AUTOMOTIVE SALES / SERVICE

Colfax Lawn Care .............................. 29

Beamer Tire & Auto .......................... 10

Eanes Heating & Air .......................... 24

EuroHaus .......................................... 27

Rymack Storage ................................ 30

Piedmont Truck Tires ..........................16

Stokesdale Heating & Air..................... 5

Quartermaster Auto Detail .................. 4

Wilson Septic & Pumping .................. 30

Outside the

Tire Max ............................................ 25

LEGAL SERVICES

BUILDING / REMODELING

Barbour & Williams Law .....................11

Bath Planet ....................................... 30

Scott Tippett – Hagan Barrett Law ...... 5

Old School Home Repair ................... 28

MEDICAL CARE

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

CHILDREN’S SERVICES

Guilford Cty. Dept. of Public Health ....12

DENTAL SERVICES

Wake Forest Baptist Health ................. 3

Summerfield Family Dentistry .............19

Wake Forest – Summerfield ................. 6

EMPLOYMENT

ORTHODONTIC CARE

Thursday, Aug. 5

Ruger ................................................ 27

Olmsted Orthodontics ....................... 21

EVENTS

PET SERVICES & PRODUCTS

To place a DISPLAY AD in our next issue or a future issue, contact Laura:

Greensboro Performing Arts: Shrek ... 20

Bel-Aire Veterinary Hospital ................14

Summit Church Movie in the Park ......15

Northwest Animal Hospital .................. 4

EVENT VENUE

REAL ESTATE

(336) 644-7035, ext. 11 advertising@nwobserver.com

The Gardens at Gray Gables ............... 2

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

GROCERIES / SUPPLIES

Debbie McDonald, BHHS...................31

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

Nicole Gillespie, RE/MAX .................... 8

HEALTH & WELLNESS

YOUTH SPORTS / CAMPS

Elvis Mendoza In-Home Massage.......14

Oak Ridge Youth Association .............. 8

YMCA of Greensboro .......................... 2

Ultimate Kids / Tumblebees ............... 22

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G OR RENTING?

owners in the development. The committee worked on a plan of action and presented it to the HOA, which has since approved it. The fence will be removed very soon, Floss said, noting it must be taken away before the process of removing the dead trees, dying trees and the trees growing into the power lines can begin next Wednesday. In total, 180 Leyland cypress trees will be removed. Since Oak Ridge Plantation is in the town’s historic district, the development’s HOA must present a landscaping plan to Oak Ridge’s Historic Commission, which it will do in August. Pending the commission’s approval, Floss said the HOA hopes to get the tree work and landscaping completed by mid-October.

HOME PRODUCTS & SERVICES

LeBauer HealthCare............................ 9

To place a CLASSIFIED AD:

...continued from p. 25

ACCOUNTING

Guardian Ad Litem ............................ 26

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GRINS & GRIPES

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

…

GRIPES to...

The griper in the last edition comparing a stabbing in London to gun control. Think of the hundreds of children around the country dying in school shootings because you don’t want to give up your guns. Have some sympathy. The griper on gun violence who cited stabbings in London. New Jersey has a comparable population; maybe you should look up how many people were killed by guns there on July 5? Thanks for being responsible with your firearms. People whose life ethos is: I wish to be controlled, so as to free myself from personal responsibility, therefore you too must be controlled. The totalitarian instinct is strong in such people.

JULY 2929 - AUG. 4, 2021 JULY - AUG. 4, 2021

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Northwest Observer / July 29 - Aug. 4, 2021

Articles inside

Index of Advertisers

Grins and Gripes

Classifi eds

That’s something to cheer about

Youth sync: 12U champs, Eagle Scout

Veterans site fundraising kicks off

The games we played, and the joys of recess

Taking the fi tness challenge – virtually

Your Questions