Northwest Observer / January 7-20, 2021

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Jan. 7 - 20, 2021

bringing the local news home to northwest Guilford County since 1996

COVID-19 disrupts, but doesn’t halt plans in NW Guilford Summerfield, Oak Ridge and Stokesdale advance projects even as the virus outbreak alters life for many people by CHRIS BURRITT NW GUILFORD – Summerfield is getting a new town hall. Oak Ridge is expanding its Town Park. And Stokesdale is preparing for a surge of residential construction. Northwest Guilford leaders made progress on major initiatives last year despite life being anything but normal. Even as the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines is a promising development, the coronavirus outbreak has been widely disruptive. It has altered the operations of local governments and shut down schools, forcing students to study

remotely and parents to work from home. Business owners and workers struggled amid the slowdown of the economy, hurt by stay-at-home orders and job losses and cutbacks that have crimped spending.

“We have another six months of tough haul here even with the vaccines,” Oak Ridge Mayor Pro Tem Jim Kinneman told fellow council members last month. “Hopefully, we’ll have a great new year.” Relatively few people in northwestern Guilford County have died from complications of the coronavirus, according to state statistics, but the illness complicated life for

...continued on p. 6

County commissioners to discuss Summerfield Farms Village proposal by CHRIS BURRITT

GREENSBORO – Developer David Couch’s proposal for developing his 650 acres around Summerfield Farms on Pleasant Ridge Road is the topic of a work session by the Guilford County Board of Commissioners this Thursday, Jan. 7. Greensboro lawyer Tom Terrell is slated to represent Couch during the 3:30 p.m. session, according to the meeting’s agenda. Terrell appeared with Couch at the Summerfield Town Council meeting last September when the developer unveiled his plans for Summerfield Farms Village. Since then, the lawyer has represented the developer in meetings with Summerfield, county and city of Greensboro officials. Couch’s proposal relies on the county, which would

create a special tax district to charge property owners in the proposed commercial/residential development – not other Summerfield taxpayers – for water and sewer services. According to Couch’s plan, the city of Greensboro would extend water and sewer lines to his property in Summerfield. The meeting is scheduled for the Old County Courthouse in downtown Greensboro. It is closed to the public due to COVID-19 gathering restrictions.

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IN THIS ISSUE News in brief .....................................................2 Committee recommends easements .........3 Your Questions .................................................4 Signs such as this one serve as reminders to citizens to lock their vehicles and keep valuables out of sight. “Lock it or Lose it” signs were recently placed at Oak Ridge Town Park again after three vehicles in the last two weeks were broken into while parked there. See p. 4 for details.

Pets & Critters ...................................................9 Ferret provides entertaining company ......10 Whiskey for Whiskers set for Jan. 31 ............ 11 NWO Kids’ Korner ....................................12, 20 Pet Adoptions................................................. 13 Crime/Incident Report ................................. 14 Community Calendar .................................. 15 Youth Sync: Student Profiles......................... 18 Youth / School News ..................................... 21 Early College at Guilford students tutor .....23 Grins and Gripes ...........................................24 Classifieds ......................................................27 Index of Advertisers ......................................30

want to watch, hear? Watch the session remotely using the GoToWebinar platform – to connect, type: www.attendee. gotowebinar.com/register/7942654707875270415. You can also listen to the meeting by calling 1 (877) 309-2071, using access code 913-359-288.

Had your COVID vaccine? Let us know about the process and if you had any aftereffects by emailing editor@nwobserver.com.


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