Northwest Observer l Feb. 18 - March 3, 2021 issue

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Feb. 18 - March 3, 2021

bringing the local news home to northwest Guilford County since 1996

IN THIS ISSUE

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Back to the drawing board

News in brief .............................................2 Your Questions .........................................4 Summerfield Town Council meeting ....6 Oak Ridge Town Council meeting .......8 Happy 85th, Helen Ledford!.................10 Bits & Pieces ...........................................12 Welcome to McDonald’s new owners..12 NWO Business & Real Estate ................13 Developer: UDO is discriminatory ......14 Gyms battle to stay fit during pandemic

A Snap Fitness employee disinfects exercise equipment between uses. ........22

NWO Kids’ Korner ..................................25 Crime/Incident Report .........................26 Community Calendar ..........................27 Student Profiles.......................................28 Congrats to Eagle Scouts ....................29 High School sports update ..................30 Grins and Gripes ...................................32 Letters/Opinions ....................................34 Classifieds ..............................................36 Index of Advertisers ..............................39

Schematic courtesy of Creech & Associates

This preliminary town hall design created by Creech & Associates has drawn mixed reviews from council members and citizens since it was presented at last week’s Summerfield Town Council meeting; the schematic shows the prominent use of stone, planks and timbers on the single-level building’s exterior; tall rectangular windows would offer views of U.S. 220 to the east and undeveloped land elsewhere on the property. Michael Supino, Creech & Associates’ project manager, assured the council that revisions to the exterior building design concept will incorporate their recommendations. Supino told the Northwest Observer this week that additional schemes incorporating brick and other exterior details consistent with the existing town hall are being studied.

The withdrawal of a proposed rezoning for Summerfield’s new town hall will require submitting a new proposal to the Zoning Board and the Town Council by CHRIS BURRITT

SUMMERFIELD – Planning for Summerfield’s new town hall isn’t going as smoothly as town leaders had hoped. Last week, the Town Council voted 3-2 to withdraw town staff’s request for the rezoning of 13.4 acres on U.S. 220 proposed

for the new building. A majority of the council concurred with the Zoning Board’s earlier opposition to rezoning the tract for general business out of concern it might invite unwanted commercial development along the highway.

...continued on p. 5

‘Why are we still talking about this?’ Council members at odds over whether actions of former council member and landscaping contractor were intentionally fraudulent, or just an innocent mistake (this article is a continuation of one appearing on the front cover of our Feb. 4-17, 2021 issue, titled ‘It reeks of wrong’)

by PATTI STOKES STOKESDALE – Mayor John Flynt expressed his frustration when asked about a $10,000 payment in early March 2019 to Beaver Outdoor Solutions. The payment was initially applied to what a Beaver employee later described in an email to the

former town finance officer as an “estimate invoice” for work performed beyond the scope of the company’s monthly contractual property maintenance responsibilities. When the company was subsequently asked to break the estimate down, it sent five

...continued on p. 35


NEWS in brief

Zoning Board member spars with Mayor Barnes, O’Day by CHRIS BURRITT SUMMERFIELD – After publicly criticizing plans for Summerfield’s new town hall, alternate Zoning Board member Ryan Moats drew a rebuke from Mayor BJ Barnes and Councilman John O’Day. Moats fired back, sticking by his assertion that Summerfield doesn’t need a new $3.5 million town hall to conduct its business professionally. “Just because you’ve got a dollar in your pocket doesn’t mean you need to spend it,” Moats said during the Zoning Board’s meeting Jan. 25. It conducted a public hearing to gather feedback about the town’s request to rezone 13.4 acres along U.S. 220 for the new town hall.

The board voted 3-2 against recommending that the council rezone the property. Voting with the majority, Moats questioned whether the town had tried hard enough amid COVID-19 restrictions to inform the public about the rezoning request, even though town staff followed notification procedures. During the Feb. 9 meeting of the Town Council, Barnes and O’Day said an expression of personal opinions by the Zoning Board member was inappropriate. If the applicant for the rezoning were a private developer – instead of the town – the developer could sue the town if the rezoning request were denied, according to O’Day. “This can’t happen during a public

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hearing,” O’Day said. “That kind of mistake can’t be made.”

Barnes added that “personal bias has no place in these meetings. We’re going to get in a situation where we are going to get sued.” In an interview earlier this week, Moats was unapologetic. He said he understands that committee members aren’t supposed to express personal

FEB. 18 - MARCH 3, 2021

“I didn’t make these comments to a private developer,” Moats said. “I was speaking to the town.” The Zoning Board meets in the current Town Hall and the Summerfield Community Center, where Moats said the board has conducted itself professionally despite the outdated surroundings. “Yes, I know the community center isn’t very lavish,” Moats said, “but in my opinion professionalism is a state of mind, not a fancy building.”

Oak Ridge council earmarks $855,000 for Whitaker property by CHRIS BURRITT

OAK RIDGE – Oak Ridge Town Council plans to spend $855,000 next fiscal year on improvements to begin turning the Whitaker property into an extension of Town Park.

forward in pretty much the same way whether we get the PARTF grant or not,” Mayor Ann Schneider told the council during the CIP work session. Council member Martha Pittman recommended the town commit to the three projects to lay the groundwork for future projects.

The council voted unanimously during a special called meeting last The CIP calls for the construction Wednesday, Feb. 10, to spend on three of two lighted multi-purpose fields and projects during the fiscal year starting trails during the fiscal year starting July 1, as part of the town’s five-year July 1, 2022, at an estimated cost of capital improvement plan (CIP). It plans 8004 Linville Road, Suite E-3, Oak Ridge $800,000. to grade and install utilities on the 58-acre Whitaker property that abuts The plan also envisions a 1.2-mile barbourwilliams.com Town Hall on Linville Road while contrail circling the Whitaker property, with structing restrooms and a parking lot. a playground, picnic shelters, tennis courts, a basketball court and a veterThe council delayed those projects ans memorial to be built over the next from the current fiscal year after it four years. learned last September the town was not awarded a $450,000 matching Oak Ridge faces a May 3 deadline grant from the North Carolina Parks to apply for the PARTF grant. The town and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF). is pursuing the same projects in the new

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The council decided last fall to apply for the grant again this year, while moving ahead with site planning and design for the Whitaker property improvements. The preparation will enable town staff to seek bids for the work this Tracy Williams, attorney fall, regardless of whether the town receives the grant. “My gut feeling is that we move

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opinions related to private development.

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application, which also contains letters of support from local civic groups, Town Manager Bill Bruce said. Even though Oak Ridge’s earlier application noted the support of several organizations, town staff wasn’t able to obtain letters because the groups’ boards didn’t meet due to COVID-19 public gathering restrictions.


Summerfield Community Center to get $30,000 in upgrades by CHRIS BURRITT

SUMMERFIELD – The days are numbered for the avocado refrigerator and two stoves (only one works) in Summerfield Community Center after the Town Council decided to spend $30,000 to upgrade the circa-1970s kitchen, bathrooms and doors. As the new owner of the center on Centerfield Road, the council plans to replace the roof on the building and decided during its annual strategic planning retreat last Saturday, Feb. 13, to proceed with additional improvements over the next few weeks. The council concurred with Mayor BJ Barnes’ suggestion to replace the doors, upgrade the bathrooms so that they comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and remodel the kitchen. Barnes said he’d like for the work to be finished by April 1 so the center can be rented for graduation parties and other events. Dee Hall, the town’s finance officer, cautioned that replacing appliances and completing the work may take longer than the town would like because of high demand for remodeling during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Photo by Chris Burritt/NWO

Summerfield Town Council recently voted to allocate funds to upgrade the circa-1970s kitchen in Summerfield Community Center, as well as upgrade the bathrooms and doors. Last December, Summerfield Community Center Inc. transferred ownership of the community center building to the town, along with 16.8 acres on Centerfield Road containing the core of the town’s park, a lake and parking lots.

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What’s going on with the construction of the Triad Hindu Temple on Alcorn Road in Oak Ridge? The drawing I saw on a website a long time ago showed a large, ornate building that looks nothing like what’s currently under construction. Have the plans changed?

Photo courtesy of Hindu Society of North Carolina (Triad)

An artist rendering of the future Triad Hindu Temple on Alcorn Road in Oak Ridge. The temple will be built in phases, with the first phase nearing completion.

No, the plans haven’t changed. Maran Namasivayam, a member of Triad Hindu Temple’s board of directors and the construction leader, told the Northwest Observer last week that “construction of the temple is divided into multiple phases.” The team is currently working on the first phase of the project, which includes the parking lot, septic system, well, toilet and water retention system. The building that’s nearing completion is the Balalayam, a smaller assembly hall with an occupancy of 200 people.

Photo by Annette Joyce/NWO

Members of Triad Hindu Temple hope to have an occupancy certificate for the first phase of their temple by the end of this month.

$500,000 by June 2021 to keep up with the phases.”

“This phase is 80 percent complete and (we’re) trying to get the occupancy certificate before the end of February 2021,” said Namasivayam, adding that weather and resources could delay the timeline. Phase 2 is divided into subphases involving the larger structure. Some of the work has already started or will be starting soon. Weather and funding will determine how quickly the temple will be completed. According to Triad Hindu Temple’s website, organizers hope to raise at least $150,000 this month, “on the occasion of Balalayam opening, and

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To view a project video, visit www. triadhindutemple.com.


BACK TO THE BOARD ...continued from p. 1

As part of its motion during the Feb. 9 meeting, the council instructed town staff to come back with a rezoning proposal that would place restrictions on how the town uses the property. At the recommendation of the Zoning Board, staff plans to propose a general business district with conditions, according to Chris York, the town’s planning manager. The conditional zoning would restrict development to uses such as government offices, a library, a museum and a public park or recreational facility, York told the council. Staff plans to present the new request to the Zoning Board Feb. 22 and bring it back to the council March 9, delaying the rezoning of the property by a month. “It is frustrating to have to go back through the whole process, but I do think the Zoning Board made the right call,” Councilman Reece Walker said. “The Zoning Board did a great job with that catch.” The rezoning request was unusual in that the town of Summerfield owns the property at 7818 Summerfield Road where it plans to build the town hall. As a result, the town applied for the rezoning, whereas most rezoning requests originate from individual landowners or developers seeking to build subdivisions or commercial projects. Council member Teresa Pegram asked York and Town Manager Scott Whitaker why they hadn’t consulted with the council before initially proposing rezoning the property from two residential classifications – RS-30 and Town Core District – to General Business. “You would be asking staff to propose an appropriate district, and we did that,” Whitaker said. “Ultimately, you’re going to be asking staff anyway ‘where do you think we need to go here?”’ Mayor Pro Tem Tim Sessoms said Whitaker made “a great point. You would ask us and then we would ask you” how to proceed with the rezoning. In the end, Sessoms said he appreciated the Zoning Board’s vote against recommending rezoning the tract for general business. “We look to you and your expertise

to make the best call,” Mayor BJ Barnes told Whitaker. “In this particular one, this is something that fell through the cracks. It will be rectified hopefully in the March meeting.” York said rezoning the property for public-institutional (PI) use wouldn’t be appropriate because of the size of town hall, estimated at roughly 9,000 square feet. The PI classification is typically suitable for “very large public institutional facilities, something like you’d find at the coliseum complex or a school,” York said. Councilman John O’Day said he thinks submitting a new rezoning request “is just a waste of time” because he doesn’t believe the council would ever sell or subdivide or develop the property, even if it were zoned for general business use. O’Day joined Pegram in voting against withdrawing the rezoning request. In an interview, Pegram said she voted nay because she opposes construction of the new building, estimated to cost $3.5 million. During last week’s meeting, architectural firm Creech & Associates presented its initial renderings of the town hall, showing a single-level building made of stone, planks and timbers. The building would be located on a hill, with tall rectangular windows giving views of U.S. 220 to the east and undeveloped land elsewhere on the property. “It is a very prominent site; it gives good visibility,” Creech principal Michael Supino told the council. “Hopefully this is a building the community is proud of. It gives you a good way to show it to people passing by on 220.” The design drew mixed reviews from council members. Lynne Williams DeVaney objected to the predominance of stone and wood, saying she’d prefer the use of bricks prevalent in historic Summerfield buildings, such as the current Town Hall just west of the site. “This doesn’t tie in,” DeVaney said. “I really, truly think it needs to look more in keeping with what we have.” Sessoms pointed out that the historic rock gym at Summerfield Elementary School is made of the same materials The Observer proposed for theNorthwest new town hall. O’Day •

said he likes the idea of “natural elements” in the building. “It reminds me more of our parks,” he said. “The difference is really nice and refreshing.” Supino, who is managing the Summerfield project for Creech, said revisions of the design will incorporate town leaders’ recommendations such as the choice of building materials. After looking at the renderings, Pegram asked, “Is that a government building or is that a church?” Mayor Barnes said he likes that the building will open to two courtyards – one at the front entrance and a second accessible from the council chambers – and he envisions hosting outdoor activities on the property.

The council resumed discussions about the design of the town hall during its annual strategic planning retreat last Saturday, Feb. 13. It decided to enlarge the council chambers by 75 square feet, adding the space behind the raised dais where the council members will sit. The additional space will accommodate a conference room exclusively for the council to meet for closed sessions. Council members decided they want a separate conference room for executive sessions instead of using a conference room for public meetings planned for the back of the chambers. Giving the council its own room creates “a professional setting,” Barnes said. “It’s not to try to avoid the public by any means.”

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SUMMERFIELD town council

Feb. 9 / 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 John O’Day, Lynne Williams DeVaney, Teresa Pegram and Reece Walker present. Sessoms offered the invocation, which was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. The council limited inperson attendance to the meeting in Summerfield Community Center due to public gathering restrictions related to the COVID-19 outbreak. The meeting was livestreamed on the town’s Facebook page.

VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION

The council presented a plaque of appreciation to Jennie Taylor for serving on the town’s Trails and Open Space Committee since March 2018; most recently, Taylor has served as chair of the committee.

PUBLIC SAFETY, COMMITTEE REPORTS Summerfield Fire District. The fire district reported it responded to

111 calls in January, including 62 EMSrelated calls and 23 fire-related calls. Firefighters installed eight child safety seats.

Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s District 1 office reported it responded to 106 calls in Summerfield last month; of those, 25 related to activated burglar alarms, one was a residential burglary and another was robbery of a person. Historical Committee. Town Manager Scott Whitaker reported on some of the committee’s recent activities, which have included historical research and documenting and exploring possible uses of the historic Gordon Hardware building and the Martin House at Summerfield Road and N.C. 150.

AUDIT REPORT

Summerfield’s cash reserves topped $7 million in the fiscal year that ended last June 30, according to the town’s financial audit. Cash totaled $7.01 million last fiscal year, compared to $6.94 million a year earlier. The audit by accountant Wade

PLANTS SEEDS BULBS POTS

 3  2: Withdraw (Pegram and O’Day opposed) the town’s request to rezone 13.4 acres at 7818 Summerfield Road for a new town hall

 5  0: Drop consideration of creating the Tomorrow Committee  5  0: Authorize Town Manager Scott Whitaker to appoint as many as nine members to the new Land Use Plan Committee

 5  0: Reappoint Dick Feulner and Trudy Whitacre to the Zoning Board for three-year terms  5  0: Proceed with construction of a “Welcome to Summerfield” sign on U.S. 220 at Strawberry Road

 4  1: Enter (DeVaney opposed) into a legal agreement with Revolution Academy to allow a limited number of students and staff to begin using the charter school’s new building on N.C. 150 Greene of Whiteville, North Carolina, showed available funds of $6.87 million, enough money to cover almost five years of operating expenses; Greene noted available funds were up slightly from $6.84 million the previous fiscal year. “Your audit is clean; you’re in great shape,” Greene said. He added that the town’s financial record keeping was “perfect,” drawing applause from council members for Dee Hall, the town’s finance officer. Representing architectural firm Creech & Associates, Michael Supino and Natalie Stenger presented first renderings for Summerfield’s new town hall. The proposed design for the estimated $3.5 million project shows a single-level building made of stone, timber and glass on 13.4 acres owned by the town along U.S. 220 and N.C. 150. (See related article on front cover.)

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Mayor Pro Tem Tim Sessoms and council members John O’Day, Lynne Williams DeVaney, Teresa Pegram and Reece Walker voted on the following items during the Feb. 9 council meeting. Mayor BJ Barnes was present, but in Summerfield the mayor votes only to break a tie.

TOWN HALL UPDATE

New Items

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WHAT they voted on, and HOW they voted:

DeVaney said she’d prefer a design using bricks prevalent in historic Summerfield buildings such as the current

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

Town Hall. O’Day said he likes the design using “natural elements” in the building.

PUBLIC HEARING  3  2 (Pegram and O’Day

opposed) to withdraw the town’s request to rezone 13.4 acres at 7818 Summerfield Road for a new town hall. (See related article on front cover.) During a public hearing, Chris York, the town’s planning manager, explained the request to rezone the property along U.S. 220 at N.C. 150 from two residential classifications – RS-30 and Town Core District – to General Business. No residents spoke for or against the rezoning request during the hearing. Rezoning the property for general business raised the possibility for a wide range of commercial development along U.S. 220 – from a pool hall to a convenience store with gasoline pumps to a bowling alley. A few weeks ago, the town’s Zoning Board voted 3-2 against recommending the council approve the


rezoning request, largely based on concerns for the wide range of businesses a GB zoning would allow. After withdrawing the rezoning request, the council instructed town staff to prepare a new request seeking to rezone the tract for general business with conditions which would limit the types of uses permitted on the property. Town staff plans to present the new rezoning request to the Zoning Board Feb. 22 and to the council March 9.

MANAGER’S REPORT Tomorrow Committee

 5  0 to drop consideration of

creating the Tomorrow Committee, which would advise town leaders on immediate needs and long-range planning. After endorsing the proposal over the past year, DeVaney suggested the council “take it off the table permanently” while encouraging volunteers to share ideas with town leaders. Earlier, council members had disagreed about how they’d select committee members. They also struggled to define the committee’s mission and how it would interact with the council and other committees.

Appointments: LUP Committee

 5  0 to authorize Whitaker to

appoint as many as nine members to the new Land Use Plan (LUP) Committee. It will work with the Piedmont Triad Regional Council to develop a plan to regulate land development, with primary goals being to protect the environment, restrain congestion and minimize conflict among property owners.

Appointments: Zoning Board

 5  0 to reappoint Dick Feulner and Trudy Whitacre to the Zoning Board for three-year terms.

Welcome signs

 5  0 to proceed with construction of a “Welcome to Summerfield”

sign on U.S. 220 at Strawberry Road, while delaying plans for erecting a sign along Interstate 73 north of town. Whitaker said town staff has struggled to secure a suitable site for the I-73 sign after talking to the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) about a possible easement along the highway. NCDOT would require installation of a guardrail estimated to cost $10,000 at one possible location, which isn’t easily accessible for electricity to light the sign, the manager said. Council members discussed the possibility of eventually erecting a second sign on U.S. 220, near the new town hall.

Founders’ Day. Whitaker said town staff decided not to hold Founders’ Day, the town’s biggest event, again this May due to public gathering restrictions related to the coronavirus. The outbreak also forced the cancelation of Founders’ Day festivities last May.

COUNCIL’S REPORT

Revolution Academy opening

 4  1 (DeVaney opposed) for the

town to enter into a legal agreement with Revolution Academy allowing a limited number of students and staff to begin using the charter school’s new building on N.C. 150. NCDOT’s widening of the road isn’t slated for completion for another few weeks, Principal Mary Catherine Sauer said. However, the school building is near completion, which has prompted Revolution Academy to request the town’s permission to use the building for students needing tutoring and academic assessments, staff and staff’s children who attend the school. “I expect that these activities will have little to no impact on Oak Ridge Road (N.C. 150) traffic,” Sauer told the council, referencing concerns expressed by Henson Farms homeowners and others living near the

campus that the drop-off and pick-up of students will lead to congestion on N.C. 150, which runs along the front of the charter school. Since commencing operations last August the school has been renting temporary space in the Church on 68 as it awaits the opening of its Summerfield campus. “Staff isn’t comfortable allowing early access to the building based on traffic and public safety concern,” according to Whitaker’s memo to the council. He explained that a legal agreement between the town and the school would be required for occupancy of the building. Sauer offered to limit to 20 the number of students in the building at one time, which addressed Barnes’ concern that the proposed agreement didn’t specify the number of students. In an interview, DeVaney said she opposed the limited return of students because construction of the building

isn’t yet finished, creating potential safety risks. She added she’d prefer for students to use the building only after construction and road improvements have been completed.

UDO update The council instructed Whitaker to recommend the date for an open house for residents to learn about the town’s proposed Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), a set of regulations governing development in Summerfield. Whitaker plans to investigate the best way to inform residents of the meeting, as required by state law, before recommending an open house date.

COUNCIL COMMENTS

Barnes congratulated DeVaney for her appointment to the Piedmont Triad Regional Council’s executive committee. Following comments by other council members, the meeting was adjourned at 9:55 p.m.

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OAK RIDGE town council

WHAT they voted on, and HOW they voted:

Feb. 4 / MEETING HIGHLIGHTS as reported by CHRIS BURRITT Mayor Ann Schneider called the monthly meeting to order in Town Hall and was joined in person by Councilmen George McClellan and Doug Nodine; Mayor Pro Tem Jim Kinneman and council member Martha Pittman participated remotely. The meeting was recorded and livestreamed on Oak Ridge’s YouTube page, which is linked to the town’s Facebook page. Oak Ridge Lions Club president Frank Kelleher offered the invocation; it was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Sophia Soto of Girl Scout Troop 40085.

PUBLIC SAFETY Sheriff’s Office. First Lt. Jeremy Fuller reported the sheriff’s District 1 office responded to 90 calls in Oak Ridge in January; they included five larcenies and two “smash-and-grab” burglaries from motor vehicles at Town Park. Noting reports of vehicle break-ins at Triad-area parks by a group known as the Felony Lane Gang, Fuller urged motorists to lock their vehicles and put valuables out of sight.

“If they see valuables inside in plain sight, they’re bashing the windows out and they’re taking the property,” Fuller said. The Felony Lane Gang originated in Florida a decade ago and has been targeting mothers across the U.S., according to an article in USA Today in January 2020. Men in the gang break car windows to steal purses while women use stolen IDs and credit

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FEB. 18 - MARCH 3, 2021

cards “to commit more crimes, like cashing bogus checks or going on shopping sprees with stolen credit cards,” the article said. The gang gets its name from the method the women use to cash fake checks, according to the newspaper. Trying to avoid detection, they often wear wigs while going through the “felony lane,” the drive-through lanes at banks farthest away from tellers.

Oak Ridge Fire Department. Lt. Caleb Eller said the department responded to 56 calls last month; of those, 24 were fire-related and 32 were medical calls. Firefighters completed 538.5 hours of training.

PUBLIC HEARING  5  0 to approve a request to

rezone nearly 98 acres on the south side of Bunch Road east of N.C. 150 from agricultural to CZ – RPD (Conditional Zoning – Rural Preservation District). (See related article on p. 14.)

MANAGER’S REPORT Board appointments

 5  0 to appoint Jim Harton to

the town’s Finance Committee and reappoint John Garrett to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.

Mayor Ann Schneider, Mayor Pro Tem Jim Kinneman and council members George McClellan, Doug Nodine and Martha Pittman voted on the following items during the Feb. 4 council meeting.

 5  0: Approve a request to rezone nearly 98 acres on the south side of Bunch Road east of N.C. 150

 5  0: Appoint Jim Harton to the Finance Committee and reappoint John Garrett to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board  5  0: Approve a resolution for Oak Ridge to adopt Guilford County’s multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan

 5  0: Adopt ordinances reducing the speed limit in Linville Oaks subdivision

 5  0: Approve increasing the fees for shelter rentals at Town Park, starting Jan. 1, 2022

 5  0: Approve the second reading of a proposed ordinance to renew the town’s waste collection franchise agreement with GFL Environmental Services

 4  1: Hire (Nodine opposed) Hill Studio, a Roanoke, Virginia-based

design firm, to help develop a plan for renovating the historic Redmon house

 5  0: Hire Hill Studio to develop an illustrated design guidebook for enhancing the town core’s “village feel”

Hazard mitigation

 5  0 to approve a resolution for

Oak Ridge to adopt Guilford County’s multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan. It requires state and local governments to coordinate efforts to reduce the risks and impacts of future natural disasters and emergencies.

Speed limit reduction

 5  0 to adopt ordinances

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reducing the speed limit in the Linville Oaks subdivision from 35 mph to 25 mph.

 5  0 to approve increasing

the fees for shelter rentals at Town Park, starting Jan. 1, 2022. Town staff recommended adopting the increase immediately, but Pittman and McClellan suggested delaying the increase until next year to ease rental costs for nonprofit groups and other organizations during the pandemic. The council also decided to waive shelter rental fees for documented nonprofit groups for the rest of this year. Doing so will encourage organizations to meet outdoors amid public gathering restrictions, Pittman said. As an example of the fee increase that takes effect next year, the cost for Oak Ridge residents to rent a


shelter for half a day (or four hours) will increase from $30 to $40 under the new schedule. It will be the first increase since the park was constructed in 2007, Town Manager Bill Bruce said.

OLD BUSINESS Waste collection

 5  0 to approve the second reading of a proposed ordinance to renew the town’s waste collection franchise agreement with GFL Environmental Services (formerly Waste Industries); the agreement runs through March 31, 2024. NEW BUSINESS

Redmon house planning

 4  1 (Nodine opposed) to hire

Hill Studio, a Roanoke, Virginia-based design firm, for a fee of $18,500 to work with a steering committee of town leaders to develop a plan and estimated costs for renovating the historic Redmon house next to Town Park. Council members and residents suggested numerous possible uses – bridal showers, birthday parties, senior citizens’ gatherings, among them – for the white clapboard house if it were renovated. Councilman Doug Nodine voted against the action, saying he thinks it would be a waste of taxpayers’ money. Mayor Pro Tem Jim Kinneman urged fellow council members to plan carefully to avoid pursuing the project with “a blank check.” As an example, adding an additional bathroom to the house may require improvements to the septic system, Kinneman said, noting the cost of adding parking and landscaping improvements are other considerations. Kinneman stressed he wants clear direction from the steering committee about the cost of improvements and how the house would be used.

The firm will gather ideas from roundtable discussions and a public workshop or open house to determine preferences of town leaders and residents in guiding development within Oak Ridge’s commercial business district.

“It’s a good cause to renovate it, but I just don’t want it to be renovated and not used,” he said. Not only would restoring the house on Linville Road at Lisa Drive provide community meeting space, it would also show Oak Ridge’s commitment to historic preservation, Schneider said. A 2019 survey of residents about future park improvements found support for renovating the Redmon house, the mayor pointed out.

“Taking on the hard work of finding a new use for this building is at the heart of what our historic district is all about,” Schneider said. “We need to model as a town what caring for a historic structure actually looks like.” Town core design guidelines

FINANCIAL UPDATE

Operating profit from Oak Ridge’s ABC store has generated revenue of $159,613 so far this fiscal year; that total is just $3,387 shy of projected revenue from the ABC store for the entire fiscal year that will end June 30, according to Sam Anders, the town’s finance officer. Sales of alcoholic beverages for athome consumption have risen as the coronavirus pandemic has curtailed consumption in bars and restaurants, Anders said in an interview after the meeting. McClellan said he’s “very impressed” by the ABC store’s financial performance.

 5  0 to approve paying Hill Stu-

dio $21,500 to develop an illustrated design guidebook for enhancing the town core’s “village feel.”

The guidebook will instruct property owners and developers on how to proceed with projects, Nodine noted.

“We just want to tell folks ‘thank you for drinking,’” he said.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Five residents spoke in support of preserving and renovating the Redmon house: Aleksandra Gill, who is helping organize a 4-H club in Oak Ridge; Debbie Shoenfeld, chair of the town’s Historic Preservation Commission; Caroline Ruch, vice chair of the commission; Phyllis Anders, a member of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board; and Courtenay Benbow Harton.

COMMUNITY UPDATES Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. Co-Chair John Garrett reported the board has begun to seek citizen input on naming the Whitaker property, the future site of the Town Park expansion. Finance Committee. Chair John Jenkins said the committee plans to begin working next month on Oak Ridge’s budget for the fiscal year starting July 1. Historic Preservation Commission. Chair Debbie Shoenfeld said the commission is contacting owners of historic houses in Oak Ridge to let them know about the historic heritage grants program. Planning and Zoning Board. The board reported it elected Nancy Stoudemire as chairperson and Jason Streck as vice chair for 2021. Mountains-to-Sea Trail. Co-Chair Bill Royal and Anne Steele reported volunteers are preparing to install emergency locator signs in Cascades Preserve and the Headwaters Trail northwest of Oak Ridge.

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Placed every quarter of a mile along the trails, the diamond-shaped signs will be marked with a four-digit number, allowing hikers who need help to give their exact location when they call 911 for emergency assistance.

Special Events Committee. Chair

...continued on p. 34

FEB. 18 - MARCH 3, 2021

9


Happy 85th birthday, Helen Ledford! prologue by PATTI STOKES I first met Helen Ledford when our son, who recently turned 34, was in kindergarten at Oak Ridge Elementary School. She was the assistant teacher in his classroom and did a very commendable job of working with boisterous 5-year-olds; as a wonderful bonus, her artistic creations were always on display throughout the classroom, in the arts and crafts items the students enjoyed making with her guidance, and in the hand-drawn “badges” awarded to those students who managed to go the entire school day without requiring any disciplinary action (I still have some of those treasured badges our son earned). I can’t say what prompted me three years later, not long after I had launched what was then the Oak Ridge Observer, to ask Helen if by chance

she enjoyed writing as well as drawing. I’ll just chalk it up to my good fortune, because I had no idea back then what a gifted writer she was, and how much our readers would come to enjoy her homespun stories in the years to follow. Besides appearing in the Oak Ridge Observer, and what later evolved into the Northwest Observer, Helen’s writings and illustrations have been published in her hometown newspaper, the Caswell County Messenger, and many other newspapers over the years. And, she’s written and illustrated two books – “Helen Jean Stories” and “The Mistletoe Tree and other stories” – comprised of her memories of

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Northwest Observer contributing writer Helen Ledford celebrated her 85th birthday Feb. 16. Helen has written for several newspapers during her lifetime, including for the Northwest Observer for the last 20+ years. She has also published two books comprised of stories from her childhood and two children’s books.

growing up on a Caswell County, North Carolina farm in the 1930s, ‘40s and ‘50s with her Mama Allie Farthing, “a passel of siblings, and the Lord only knows how many dogs, cats, ducks, and other beasts.” She’s also written and illustrated two children’s books, “The Amazing Mr. Boggle-Dy.Woogle” and “Toby: The Little Duck who Liked to Climb” (her books can be purchased online at www.lulu.com – search for “Helen Ledford”).

It’s been a privilege to share Helen’s stories and articles with our readers in northwest Guilford County over the last 20+ years. Whenever one arrives in my email inbox, I always wait to read it until I can get a fresh cup of coffee and take a deep breath while preparing to let my imagination sink into the world that she grew up in. As the youngest of 10 children, Helen and her siblings lacked an abundance of material possessions but never wanted for love and laughter. I thank Helen for bringing this simple world to our readers and to me – her touching accounts of a time, a place, and cherished loved ones long since gone have truly been a gift, and I hope her stories will continue to grace this newspaper for many more years to come.

Happy birthday, ‘Mama,’ friend, teacher

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The following comments and birthday wishes were compiled by Helen Ledford’s daughter, Lenore Morales, and posted on the Northwest Observer’s Facebook page by our readers “What do you give someone who has so much? This question came up as my mother’s landmark 85th birthday recently approached,” Helen Ledford’s daughter, Lenore Morales, wrote. “Helen Ledford certainly has

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

one of the largest collections of people to whom she is utterly special of anyone I know. She has always been one to ‘see,’ connect with, and encourage people in her path. So, for her ‘quarantine’ birthday, I wanted her to read thoughts from some of the local people who appreciate her so much. Many know her as the life of the party; others would say she changed their lives. Happy birthday, Mama!”


“What an honor to celebrate a woman who has touched my life,” Dalton wrote. “I have called her ‘Mom’ for many, many years and am thankful for her friendship.” San Juana Ramirez – aka “Janie” – met Helen the first year her grandparents had become her legal guardians.

“When I was handed to my grandparents I was loved and never singled out as a grandchild or adopted,” Ramirez continued. “Helen came into our lives and did more. She was nice, funny, and gave me a chance to continue striving for more. She didn’t just let me be ‘another Hispanic girl in her traditions and ways.’ I continued those values my stepdad had implemented in me and I feel that is why I am who I am. I won a beauty contest, and took trips I might not have gone on. My husband, Samuel, and I are so grateful for Helen and her family. (I want to) let her know she was placed in my life by my father and stepdad, and that I love her.” Oak Ridge Elementary School teacher Carl Cockman describes Helen as a “classic!” “She has the unique ability of being a wise sage of many years and a youthful adolescent filled with the wonders of being alive. I will always cherish

Sandy Moskel, owner of Sandy’s Beauty Shop in Oak Ridge, said it’s been a delight to know Helen since Sandy’s son was in the second grade (in 1979). “Since then, it has been an inspiration to watch her draw her cartoons and all the things she has done and the books that she has written,” Moskel wrote. “I have enjoyed being able to purchase them for my nieces and nephews.” Luci Milam wrote on the Northwest Observer’s Facebook page that she still remembers “Mrs. Ledford ‘pinning’ us with ‘good’ badges every afternoon before school let out!” Other Northwest Observer readers wrote of the angel ornaments “Mrs. Ledford” made for her students long ago when they were in kindergarten. “Each year I place my kid’s Christmas angels on the tree that you made for them when they were in kindergarten!” wrote Sue Piver-Lewis. “I still have the T-shirt with the red teddy bear you painted for my son! Not only have your stories been a blessing, but (so has) all the love you gave to our children!” Another Oak Ridge Elementary School teacher, Michelle Cole, remembers meeting Helen when she first came to the school in 1994 as a new teacher. “She greeted me with warmth and a helping hand,” Cole wrote. “To my delight, I had the pleasure of having her as my assistant in our kindergarten class the year that she retired. She amazed the children with her ‘magic scissors’ as she turned an ordinary

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“I will never forget that time in my life when I was brought to a new state and to the people who cared for me,” Ramirez said. “I had just lost my stepdad, who had told me one day he would take me to see a place where trees lost their leaves and they changed colors. A place where there were hills and sometimes snow would cover the ground. He was my lifesaver and had protected me from my abusive mother.

the times I spent with Helen, Jack (Helen’s late husband), and the rest of the ORE gang! Happy 85th birthday, dear friend! May God bless you!”

WAKE F

Katrena Dalton of Oak Ridge is one of Helen’s former kindergarten students and is considered by her mentor to be an honorary daughter.

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FEB. 18 - MARCH 3, 2021

11


BUSINESS note

Photo courtesy of Calvary Triad Church

BITS & PIECES

Calvary Triad Church to hold Food Giveaway Feb. 27

Welcome to our new advertiser! Thank you to the businesses, organizations and individuals who advertise in the Northwest Observer and make it possible to provide this community resource at no charge to our readers.

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Board seeks suggestions for park name OAK RIDGE – The Oak Ridge Parks and Recreation Advisory Board is seeking citizens’ suggestions for naming the town’s 58-acre park to be developed on the “Whitaker property,” which fronts N.C. 150 and abuts the Town Hall property on Linville Road. A proposed town park expansion on the former agricultural property will include over a mile of walking trails, multipurpose fields, a playground, a picnic shelter, a restroom building, veterans memorial and parking areas. Centrally located on the park site is green open space that will preserve viewsheds sur-

rounding the future park. According to the board, property improvements will create a central outdoor meeting place for recreation, while preserving and enhancing the site’s natural beauty and highlighting the historical past of the town. Property highlights include grassed rolling hills framed by stands of pine and mixed hardwoods. Suggestions for park names should be mailed to Oak Ridge Town Hall, attention Ashley Royal, P.O. Box 374, Oak Ridge, NC 27310, or emailed to aroyal@oakridgenc.com before March 5.

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e-mail: communitynews@nwobserver.com FEB. 18 - MARCH 3, 2021

“We are very fortunate and proud to be McDonald’s franchisees,” the Britts said. They see McDonald’s as a “people business serving food, its community and others to promote strong relationships and goodwill in the community.”

The Britts are very involved with the Ronald McDonald House in WinstonSalem and enjoy working with the community partners where they conduct business. In their free time, DJ and Terri enjoy watching their son, Caleb, play soccer and are excited to continue watching him play at HPU in 2022. They also enjoy going to the gym and spending time together as a family.

DJ and Terri take pride in their restaurant’s team members and their focus on serving others, which they feel is one of the things that makes their family-owned business unique. Their business philosophy is: “Focus your energy and attitude around being

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DJ and Terri Britt, new owners of the McDonald’s in Oak Ridge, have been in the restaurant business for over 30 years. After starting their career in the Raleigh area, they relocated to the Triad in 2001. They now own and operate 11 restaurants in three counties.

On a personal note, DJ and Terri have been married 25 years and have three sons, Austin, Carson and Caleb. The family has lived in Kernersville for the last 20 years.

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22

Gyms battle to stay fit during pandemic

Photos above left/below right by Finley Skelton Photography

| Center photo courtesy of Snap Fitness

At left, Jill Thomas was eager to return to Proehlific Park where she works out with instructor Emma Skelton. Below right, exercise classes have moved to the gymnasium of Proehlific Park to create space between members. Center, a keep-your-distance circle at Snap Fitness.

calls 14 Developer Summerfield’s draft

development rules discriminatory

Ridge council approves 14 Oak smaller lots, more open space for new subdivision near 15 Plan Birkhaven wins initial approval Homes to 16 Granville start construction in Boone Meadows


Developer calls Summerfield’s draft development rules discriminatory A lawyer for David Couch said the proposed rewrite of the town’s unified development ordinance ‘encourages segregation based on income’ by CHRIS BURRITT SUMMERFIELD – A proposed rewrite of Summerfield’s development regulations imposes such strict standards that it discriminates against people seeking affordable housing, a lawyer for Summerfield Farms owner David Couch said. Couch shared the legal assessment by Greensboro lawyer Tom Terrell along with his own letter with Summerfield leaders last week. The correspondence was intended to bolster the developer’s argument that the prevalence of subdivisions with roughly one house per acre violates the town’s mandate for a range of housing options, including his own plans for expanding Summerfield Farms. In an interview last week, Mayor BJ Barnes said the Town Council will examine Couch’s concerns about the draft unified development ordinance (UDO), which the Zoning Board has turned over to the council for revisions and final approval. Town staff is planning an open house March 15 to begin gathering residents’

viewpoints about the proposed rules. Couch is pushing for a relaxation of density requirements and zoning rules as he proposes to develop 700 acres around Summerfield Farms on Pleasant Ridge Road with a range of housing, from $250,000 townhouses to single-family homes costing as much as $2 million. He unveiled his plans for Summerfield Farms Village to the Town Council last September. Last week’s letters by Couch and his lawyer raised potential legal stakes for Summerfield. “The low densities, large minimum average lot sizes, the lack of flexibility and high land cost make it economically impossible to provide moderately priced housing, as required in the comprehensive plan,” Couch said. “We feel this will cause serious legal challenges to our town’s fair housing compliance.”

Terrell’s letter said “it is difficult to describe (the draft UDO) as anything but official governmental policies that discriminate against affordable housing and encourages segregation based on income.” Summerfield’s current zoning

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regulations are having the same effect “to some extent,” according to Terrell, citing “demographics in Summerfield” where more than 91 percent of residents are white and the median household income is $103,769. Couch sent Terrell’s letter and his letter to the Town Council as well as Town Manager Scott Whitaker and Chris York, the town’s planning manager. The developer expressed “serious concerns” that the draft UDO conflicts with policies of the comprehensive plan, such as the preservation and protection of the town’s rural character. “Under the proposed UDO, we are concerned about how we would design and build a master planned community that protects rural vistas, farmlands, woodlands and environmentally sensitive areas and be done in an economically feasible way that provides the variety of housing

types and price points as envisioned in the comprehensive plan,” Couch said. The plan that the developer unveiled for Summerfield Farms Village last fall envisions the preservation of open spaces bisected by public bike trails and grazing land for his beef cattle. The mix of residential and commercial development would rely upon the extension of water and sewer lines from the city of Greensboro, with property owners in the development – not other Summerfield taxpayers – paying for the utilities, according to Couch. His plan would require the cooperation of the city of Greensboro in providing water and sewer services and Guilford County in creating the special tax district. If Greensboro, the county and Summerfield decide to proceed with the proposal, it would require final approval by Summerfield Town Council.

Oak Ridge council approves smaller lots, more open space Developer Kevan Combs plans Bunch Road subdivision with 20,000-square-foot lots, 60 percent of property left as open space by CHRIS BURRITT OAK RIDGE – Oak Ridge Town Council approved a request to rezone nearly 98 acres on the south side of Bunch Road east of N.C. 150 from agricultural to a residential classification allowing smaller lots in exchange for more open space. While most lots outside of Oak Ridge’s town core average 40,000 square feet or more, rezoning of the agricultural property to CZ – RPD (Conditional Zoning – Rural Preservation District) will allow developer Kevan Combs to create 20,000-square-foot lots; in exchange, 60 percent of the

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

property will remain undeveloped. The council voted 5-0 to rezone the tract last week, following the Planning and Zoning Board’s unanimous vote to recommend the rezoning. Town planner Sean Taylor also recommended approving the rezoning, saying it complied with the town’s future land use plan. The council held a public hearing for the rezoning request during its Feb. 4 meeting. It heard from a representative of applicants Lisa Honeycutt, Bonnie Mills and Tonia Mills, members of an extended family planning to sell the property for the development. One nearby homeowner spoke in opposition to the rezoning. The council postponed its vote on the rezoning until a special called meeting Monday, Feb. 8, to comply with state law requiring the town to accept public comments for 24 hours after conclusion of the public hearing. Three conditions accompanied the


rezoning request: a maximum of 67 lots, an entrance to the development on Bunch Road and a 20-foot wide easement on the southern and eastern boundaries of the property for possible trail development. Placing a condition on the maximum number of lots allowed will alleviate concerns by nearby homeowners that the developer may eventually seek to increase the number of houses in the subdivision, according to Bill Greco, president of Land Solutions, an Oak Ridge-based land surveying and design firm representing the applicants. He’s working with Combs on the project. Creating the main entrance to the subdivision from Bunch Road addressed another worry of adjacent homeowners, Greco said. Without that entrance, the extension of two stub streets would provide the only access to the new development, creating more traffic in the Oak Ridge Lake and Ashton Park neighborhoods. Third, granting an easement for potential trails meets the town’s goal of encouraging the development of public greenways throughout Oak Ridge, according to Taylor, the town’s planning director. Even with an entrance on Bunch Road,

Plan for new subdivision near Birkhaven wins initial approval

Ashton Park homeowner Paul Partyka said his “primary concern revolves around traffic.” He explained that he and his three daughters run, bike and walk their dog in the neighborhood, which doesn’t have sidewalks. As a result, motorists using the two stub streets will create a safety risk for his family and others who live in Ashton Park, he said. Connecting one – instead of two – of the stub streets to the new subdivision would limit traffic in his neighborhood, Partyka said. Greco countered that Oak Ridge’s development rules require that stub streets connect to new neighborhoods. The developer could actually create more lots under RS-40 zoning, which requires lots of 40,000 square feet, by reducing the acreage dedicated to open space, according to Taylor. Council members said they supported the developer’s commitment to preserve trees and scenic views while dedicating land for public trails. “I like the open space,” said Mayor Ann Schneider, helping explain her preference for the Conditional Zoning – Rural Preservation District classification over RS-40.

by CHRIS BURRITT SUMMERFIELD – A plan for building 27 houses in a new subdivision abutting Birkhaven won approval by Summerfield’s Zoning Board despite concerns about increasing traffic in the residential area. The board voted 4-1 vote Jan. 25 in support of the preliminary plat for Shadow Creek, a subdivision planned on nearly 46 acres adjoining the western boundary of Birkhaven. Developer Rob Jessup agreed to install an underground water tank for firefighting, responding to worries expressed by Birkhaven residents. Birkhaven Drive is the only road connecting N.C. 150 to Birkhaven. Shadow Creek will be served by the same road, raising concerns among Birkhaven

homeowners and Zoning Board members that increasing traffic may impede emergency vehicles responding to fire or other calls. “Now we are putting more people back there who are going to be part of the concern,” said Ryan Moats, a Zoning Board alternate who voted against the subdivision plan. He contradicted the view of Amanda Hodierne, a lawyer representing Jessup, who noted that the property is zoned for residential development. Last September, Summerfield’s Town Council approved Jessup’s request to rezone the property from agriculture to RS-40 (Residential). Two so-called stub roads in Birkhaven are “platted and approved and built and waiting

...continued on p. 16

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Granville Homes to start construction in Boone Meadows

STOKESDALE – Construction on homes in Stokesdale’s newest neighborhood, Boone Meadows, is set to begin. “We have a recorded lot map and we’re ready to come out of the ground,” said Cara Buchanan, a Realtor with Keller Williams. Located near the intersection of Ellisboro and Gideon Grove Church Roads, Boone Meadows will have 28 homes on ¾-acre lots. Buchanan said four lots have

SHADOW CREEK ...continued from p. 15

to serve this property,” Hodierne said. “That die has been cast that this property does get to develop in keeping with its zoning.”

Photo by Annette Joyce/NWO

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The Shadow Creek tract abuts undeveloped property bounded by N.C. 150. If that land is eventually developed for houses, roads in that neighborhood would create a second access road for Shadow Creek and Birkhaven, according to the lawyer. “You have to consider the concept of incremental progress,” Hodierne said. She argued that potential safety risks associated with the development of Shadow Creek may eventually be offset by the creation of a second entrance into and exit from the neighborhoods. Hodierne said “it’s a matter of time” before the agricultural property adjacent to Shadow Creek will be developed. Jessup tried unsuccessfully to negotiate an easement or buy enough of the land to build a road into Shadow Creek, she said. Approval of the preliminary plat was an interim step in the development of the new subdivision. Last June, the Zoning Board recommended the rezoning request be denied due to their concerns about increased traffic on Birkhaven Drive. The council voted in favor of the rezoning in September after Town

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

been sold and several more have been reserved. Houses in the Granville Homes neighborhood will sell for between $310,000 and $400,000. Granville Homes is offering several different floorplans ranging from 750 to 2,500 square feet with three- and four-bedroom options. For more information on Boone Meadows, contact Buchanan at (336) 543-4812.

Attorney Bob Hornik pointed out council members were voting to decide whether the agricultural property is appropriate for residential development at the density of roughly one house per acre, as proposed by the developer. Homeowners’ specific concerns, such as increased traffic, will be addressed when Jessup presents his subdivision plan to town staff and the Zoning Board, Mayor BJ Barnes noted. Last month’s Zoning Board meeting provided an opportunity for Birkhaven residents to reiterate their concerns. An email from 59 homeowners pointed out that Summerfield’s comprehensive plan recommended that development of larger neighborhoods incorporate plans for at least two points of access and egress. Town policy recommends that new subdivisions with 50 or more houses be developed with two access roads, according to planning manager Chris York. However, that recommendation isn’t mandated by Summerfield’s development ordinance, he said. In coming months, Jessup plans to prepare a more detailed plan for Shadow Creek, giving town staff the opportunity to address other concerns raised by Zoning Board members and Birkhaven homeowners. They include the creation of a plan to handle storm water runoff from the new subdivision into Birkhaven and the location of a turnaround for fire trucks getting water from the underground tank.


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Smith Marketing Jason Smith and Tonya Gilbert have developed long-term relationships with new and custom home builders, which helps them guide their clients through the new home buying process

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BUILT CUSTOM“We cannot say enough about their pride in workmanship and attention to detail. They were very involved in every aspect of our build and we always felt they treated our project as if it were their own. We commend Johnson & Lee for their work ethic and quality of service. We would definitely work with them again.” - Brandon & Paula Payne, Oak Ridge

Johnson & Lee completed this custom-built home in Oak Ridge at the end of 2019.

Mike Lee (336) 362.4462 Rick Lee (336) 362.4461

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Smith Marketing enjoys operating in a unique, bucolic office setting in Summerfield that’s convenient to I-73 and N.C. 68.

Being involved in bringing your new home from vision to reality presents both opportunities and challenges. Fortunately, Smith Marketing is based right here in the northwest area of the county and stands ready to help you enjoy the building experience while getting the most value for your money. For over two decades, Smith Marketing has devoted itself to becoming the experts in new construction while developing and maintaining relationships with the area’s premier home builders – a fact that not only sets this real estate group apart but has enabled the company to be involved in developing some of the most prestigious neighborhoods in northwest Guilford County and Greensboro. In partnership with its builders, Smith Marketing has helped establish such notable neighborhoods as Lake Jeanette in northwest Greensboro,

Riverside and Knight’s Landing in Oak Ridge, North Ridge and Dawn Acres in Stokesdale and The Farm in Summerfield. The group is currently preparing to launch its newest Oak Ridge community, Pemberley Estates. Located along N.C. 150, the approximately 52-acre farm was previously home to former Oak Ridge mayor Spencer Sullivan and his wife, Linda. “It’s a beautiful piece of property and we wanted to do something different with it,” said Jason Smith, vice president of Smith Marketing. “Something different” is evolving into a community with larger lots for estate-type homes. There will be 25 lots, ranging from one to three acres. Rather than including a community clubhouse or pool, lots will be large enough that families can enjoy those and other amenities on their own private mini estates.

Brought t


Photo courtesy of Smith Marketing

eam, Jason Smith (left) and Tonya Gilbert e become specialists in new construction.

As the developer of Pemberley Estates, Oak Ridge resident Kevan Combs is excited about being involved with this type of community. “We really think there’s a demand for more estate-style neighborhoods,” Combs said. “By providing bigger lots we’ll be able to give homeowners more flexibility in the layout of their homes and their surrounding property.” Depending upon weather, home construction is set to begin this summer. Five local builders – Building Dimensions, Combs Custom Homes, Don Mills Builders, Friddle and Company and R&K Custom Homes – have been selected to build homes in the community. Smith, along with his Realtor teammate Tonya Gilbert, are available to help guide future homeowners

in choosing the best builder or newly constructed home to fit their lifestyles. Having spent countless hours working with custom home builders and new construction, these two experienced Realtors know the local market and the uniqueness of each builder. While Smith and Gilbert work closely with the builders they represent, Smith noted they can also be very valuable in helping buyers purchase any new construction. “We know what to look for and the questions to ask to make sure our clients get the home of their dreams,” Smith said. “It’s important to have someone you can trust working for you.” Smith can be reached at (336) 451-4921 or Jason.Smith@allentate.com. Gilbert can be reached at (336) 215-7138 or Tonya.Gilbert@allentate.com.

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‘Adjusting on the fly’ A year after the COVID-19 outbreak, fitness centers have survived by offering creative programs, social distancing and lots of disinfectant spray by CHRIS BURRITT NW GUILFORD/GREENSBORO – After the COVID-19 outbreak shut down gyms last March, Jill Thomas felt lucky she was able to find a set of exercise equipment for the garage of her Summerfield home. She feels even more fortunate now, after returning to Proehlific Park where she’s resumed lifting weights five or six days a week. Over the past year, few industries have been harder hit than fitness centers. After riding out a governmentmandated shutdown and navigating public gathering restrictions, centers have adapted for the safety and peace of mind of members such as Thomas. “It’s been a world of adjusting on the fly,” said Ricky Proehl, owner of Proehlific Park in northwestern Greensboro. Like other fitness centers, Proehlific has gradually regained members since September when an executive

order by Gov. Roy Cooper allowed the reopening of gymnasiums, yoga and dance studios and other exercise facilities at 30 percent capacity. Over the past year, revenue for fitness centers has tumbled along with the loss of membership fees. Since reopening, the facilities have incurred additional expenses for cleaning supplies to meet public safety requirements and recommendations of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. In December, additional measures by the agency required the wearing of masks inside of gyms, even during strenuous exercising; that, fitness center owners said, discouraged even more members from returning. “No one would have ever thought we’d have to go through all of this,” said Kimberly Stoll, who owns Snap Fitness in Oak Ridge with Paul Benz. The center returned to profitability in January. “We’re just starting to get back,” Stoll said. Last summer, Snap Fitness trainers worked with clients outside before returning inside the gym over the past six months. When members enter the club, they grab bottles of disinfectant spray to sanitize equipment. The floor is

Photo by Finley Skelton Photography

Group fitness classes are held in various places within the Proehlific Park facility, including the gymnasium, to allow for social distancing. marked with keep-your-distance circles. Starting next month, Snap Fitness trainer Jamaal Johnson plans to offer strength, conditioning and agility training for teenagers in classes limited to six people. The program is targeting youngsters training for sports teams as well as seeking social interaction after nearly a year of attending school virtually. “You just have to get creative and come up with new ideas to do things

differently than you did in the past,” Stoll said. After closing last March, about 200 of Snap Fitness’ 800 members canceled or froze their memberships, she said. About half of the 200 have rejoined the club. The others represent senior citizens and others who are “just being very cautious,” she said. “With the rollout of the vaccine, we’re

...continued on p. 24

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‘ADJUSTING ON THE FLY’ ...continued from p. 22

going to see more people feeling more comfortable and safer about going out,” Stoll said. At Proehlific Park, staff moved exercise classes to the parking lot during the warm months and then to the gymnasium and indoor football field as weather turned cold. “We can spread out and do it safely,” said Micheala Amidon, assistant director at Proehlific. “When they come back, they talk about how much they missed the place, how much they needed the park for their physical and mental stability,” Amidon said. For Thomas, lifting weights at Proehlific Park “is my one hour of the day that I do not sacrifice. With four kids, my day is crazy.” Aside from the exercise, Thomas said she had missed staff and friends at the fitness center. “It was like returning home to family I hadn’t seen for months and months,” she said, adding she wasn’t concerned about COVID-19 because she was comfortable with cleaning procedures and social distancing in the facility. Returning members “talk about how much they need the park for their physical and mental stability,” Amidon said. “People have embraced coming back here.”

about four miles a day and lifts weights in the garage of her home. Several times a month, she swims in a recreation center. The YMCA’s temporary closing “caused me to think twice about my expenses,” said Guthrie, explaining she’s not yet prepared to resume paying monthly membership dues. CrossFit Oak Ridge has regained about 75 percent of its members, according to co-owner Chad Gimbert. It has slowed efforts to recruit new members during the virus outbreak while stepping up cleaning procedures and placing red Xs on floor mats to separate people. Some members have refrained from rejoining not only because of health concerns for themselves, but also for parents, spouses and co-workers, he said. “It’s been a struggle, but I’m pretty positive,” Gimbert said. “People always want to be fit. Staying at home doesn’t meet their needs.” Gimbert and fitness center operators said they’ll maintain cleaning procedures even after the threat of the virus retreats. “We are changed forever,” said Proehl, owner of Proehlific Park. “People are so conscious of everything they touch now. I don’t think the mentality is going away. It is going to take some time for people to feel comfortable again.’’

Proehlific Park has regained about three quarters of its members since the onset of the coronavirus, according to Mike Kennedy, the facility’s director. Strict adherence to the state’s cleaning requirements and recommendations has helped bring people back, he noted. “COVID-19 has taught us a lot of things,” Kennedy said. “We’ve had to learn how to adjust to the different rules and meet people where they’re comfortable.” On the average day, about 700 members are visiting the Spears Family YMCA, accounting for roughly half the number of people who visited the northwestern Greensboro facility before COVID-19, according to Executive Directoer Joe Hennigan. “People are looking for things other than working out,” he said. Shortly after the outbreak, the Spears YMCA provided emergency child care for first responders when the outbreak forced the closing of schools. It now provides accommodations for about 70 children a day for online schooling and after-school care. “Our biggest takeaway is how deeply the Y is rooted in the community,” Hennigan said. Membership is recovering, although “a lot of people are not 100 percent comfortable coming back,” he added. Kristin Guthrie hasn’t rejoined the Spears Y, partly for financial considerations. Instead, she walks or runs

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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

Whitaker Court in Summerfield (near Oak Ridge Road) both reported assault after the second male chased the first male in a vehicle and the first male fired a shotgun at the second male; the first male was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and possessing a firearm as a felon, and the second male was arrested for assault attempting serious injury and resisting/ obstructing a police officer.

Feb. 7 | A resident of the 1400 block of Scalesville Road in Summerfield reported a known suspect assaulted her and prevented her from leaving her residence between Feb. 6 at 10 p.m. and Feb. 7 at 6:49 a.m. Feb. 7 | A resident of the 8400 block of Chartwell Drive in Oak Ridge (near Beeson Road) reported she and a known suspect had assaulted each other. Feb. 14 | A 70-year-old male was arrested in the 4100 block of Brynwood Drive in Colfax (near Leabourne Road) for assault on a female. Feb. 15 | A 37-year-old male and a 40-year-old male in the 7400 block of 704-251-4501

DRIVING WHILE IMPAIRED Feb. 14 | A 31-year-old male was arrested at 12:20 a.m. in the 5200 block of U.S. 220 N/Winfree Road in Summerfield for driving while impaired and also cited for driving NationalFlagFootballNC.com

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15 mph over the speed limit.

FRAUD Feb. 2 | An employee of State Employees Credit Union in Oak Ridge reported a known suspect cashed a check for $1,324.68 on Dec. 14, 2020, that was later found to be fictitious. File photo Feb. 3 | A resident The Guilford County Sheriff’s Office reminds citizens to not of the 7700 block only lock your vehicle when it is unattended, but if you must of McAllen Drive in keep your valuables inside, remove them from sight. northwest Greensboro (near Alcorn obstructing a police officer. Road) reported an unknown suspect THEFT used his personal information to open Feb. 1 | An Oak Ridge resident bank accounts and buy a vehicle reported an unknown suspect broke between Nov. 1, 2020, and Feb. 3, the rear passenger window of her 2021; the total loss is $16,800. Feb. 4 | A resident of the 600 block of vehicle and stole a purse inside while she was parked at Oak Ridge Town S. Bunker Hill Road in Colfax reported an unknown suspect used her personal Park between 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.; the total loss is $550. information to apply for unemployment benefits on March 30, 2020. Feb. 5 | A resident of the 4400 block of Hamburg Mill Road in Summerfield Feb. 8 | A resident of the 6400 block reported an unknown suspect stole of Lake Brandt Road in Summerfield a chainsaw worth $150 from his yard reported an unknown suspect listed her house for sale earlier that day between Feb. 1 and Feb. 5. using her identity. Feb. 9 | An employee of Bi-Rite

KIDNAPPING Feb. 5 | An 18-year-old male was arrested in the 7500 block of Center Grove Court in northwest Greensboro (at the intersection of Lake Brandt Road and N.C. 150 W) for kidnapping, robbery with firearms, maintaining a vehicle/dwelling for controlled substances, possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance with intent to manufacture/distribute and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

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RESISTING/OBSTRUCTING A POLICE OFFICER Feb. 11 | A 21-year-old male was arrested in the 8300 block of U.S. 158 in Stokesdale for resisting/

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

Galaxy in Stokesdale reported an unknown female suspect stole items on Feb. 4 at 6:11 p.m. and Feb. 8 at 4:42 p.m. Feb. 11 | An employee of Vermeer Mid Atlantic on Norcross Road in Colfax reported an unknown suspect entered the business property through the gate and stole a Vermeer BC1000XL wood chipper on Jan. 23; the total loss is $42,300.

VANDALISM Feb. 10 | A resident of the 6100 block of Trotter Lane in Oak Ridge (near N.C. 68 N) reported at 4:48 a.m. a possible known suspect spray painted her vehicle.


mark your

calendar

FRIDAY, FEB. 19

 Food Giveaway | Calvary Triad Church, 1665

Pleasant Ridge Road in northwest Greensboro, gives away food to those supported by social services or in need of help every fourth Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the church parking lot. The next food giveaway will be Feb. 27.

SATURDAY, FEB. 27  Trail workday | Oak Ridge Mountains-to-Sea

 Drive-thru cookie booth | Girl Scout Troop 2469

will have a drive-thru cookie booth set up at Rio Grande in Oak Ridge on Feb. 19, 5 to 8 p.m. Cookies are $5 per box and can be ordered and paid for in advance at Bit.ly/2X7ZwM6 for faster curbside pickup.

SATURDAY, FEB. 20  ORYA Charity 5K | Oak Ridge Youth Association’s teen

volunteer team is hosting a 5K charity walk/run at Oak Ridge Town Park Feb. 20, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Participants will walk/run in groups of 25 and time slots will be spaced out over the course of three hours in order to adhere to social distancing guidelines. Proceeds from the event go to Little Pink Houses of Hope. Participants must register in advance – register for the event through the youth association’s website at www.orya.org or at www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0e4ea4a923a3fe3-5krace.

MONDAY, FEB. 22, & MONDAY, MARCH 1  Blood drives | Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden will

host Red Cross blood drives Feb. 22, noon to 4:30 p.m.,

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and March 1, 2:30 to 7 p.m., at 215 S. Main St. in Kernersville. To schedule an appointment, visit redcrossblood.org and use sponsor code “Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden,” or call (336) 996-7888.

(336) 644-2741 office (336) 644-2743 fax

TUESDAY, MARCH 2

Trail Committee will host a community trail workday Feb. 27, 9 a.m. to 12 noon, starting at Shields Drive in Oak Ridge (park at end of street). Tasks will include grooming and building up ramps, rerouting and building up low wet areas, trail grooming/maintenance and installing signs. Tools will be provided, but feel free to bring your own loppers or hand shears if helping with trail maintenance. Also, bring water and wear work gloves, a hat, long pants and long sleeves. Volunteers will be divided into smaller teams in accordance with COVID-19 safety guidelines. Visit facebook.com/ oakridgenc for more information and the link to sign up, or call Oak Ridge Town Hall, (336) 644-7009.

 Merchants Association | Summerfield Merchants

Association invites business professionals who live in Summerfield or operate a business in Summerfield to a Zoom meeting March 2, 6:30 to 8 p.m. This non-profit organization promotes awareness of local businesses and finds ways to give back to the community. To access the meeting information, email info@summerfieldmerchant.com.

THURSDAY, MARCH 4  Town Council meeting | Oak Ridge Town Council

will hold its next meeting on March 4, beginning 7 p.m. In light of social gathering guidelines, inperson attendance by citizens will be limited. The meeting will be livestreamed on the town’s YouTube channel. Once posted, the meeting agenda can be accessed at www.oakridgenc.com.

 Food pantry | Good Samaritan Ministries’ food pan-

try in Stokesdale will open for those in need of food on Feb. 27, 9 to 10:30 a.m. at Stokesdale Business Center, 8500 Ellisboro Road. The usual check-in 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.

WE’LL BE BACK IN PRINT MARCH 4 for DISPLAY ADVERTISING info, call (336) 644-7035, ext. 11, or email advertising@nwobserver.com

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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

FEB. 18 - MARCH 3, 2021

27


Youth

welcome to ... Sync A regular section in the Northwest Observer focused on our local youth and the adults who positively impact them.

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

NORTHWEST GUILFORD

have to be doing, and having fun with my friends,” said the 6-foot-1 senior shooting guard. “I just have a love for the sport.” Kawalec, who figures he averaged about 12 points during early season games, makes some of those from 3-point range, which really gets him energized. “When I put up a three and see it go in, that’s when it starts being fun,” he said. From his guard position, he said, “I get a good number of open threes. Every time I’m open, I look to knock down a three.” Four 3-pointers in a game is about the most he’s hit, he said. That hap-

Jake Kawalec, senior Sport: basketball by MEREDITH BARKLEY In basketball, Northwest Guilford’s Jake Kawalec has found an outlet for releasing stress that builds up during the day. “I see it as a way of relaxing, putting away school and everything that I

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FEB. 18 - MARCH 3, 2021

pened earlier this season. “Once I started (hitting them) I was like, ‘It’s going to be a good season, going to be a lot of fun,’” Kawalec said. He said he’d be open to taking it to the next level and playing in college if he gets any interest. Kawalec started playing basketball when he was around 5. He played junior varsity at Northwest his freshman year before stepping up to varsity as a sophomore. His coaches have urged players to put themselves in position to take charges when possible, he said. That gives the Vikings the ball, can lead to easy baskets and is often “a good momentum switch.” While he is not often in a position to take a charge, he drew one during a recent game, “and I looked over and everyone on the bench was going crazy,” Kawalec said. In the classroom, his favorite subject this year has been psychology. He said he’s found it fascinating to “just learn about everything that happens and goes through our brain.” In college he hopes to focus on something involving sports medicine, perhaps physical therapy. “I just think it would be really cool to have a career with a college team,” he said.

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

NORTHERN GUILFORD Taylor Haynes, senior Sport: basketball by MEREDITH BARKLEY Wearing a face mask for basketball has taken some getting used to for Northern Guilford’s Taylor Haynes. “It keeps falling down,” the 5-foot-9 senior said. But, she said, the Covid-19-required change “that’s most different to me is not having a jump ball to start the game, because that sets the tempo for everything.” Nevertheless, she and her teammates have adjusted to those and other changes brought on during this pandemic-altered season. “It didn’t matter what we were going to have to go through,” she said. “It just matters that we’re all together as a team.” As the Nighthawks’ point guard and shooting guard, Haynes seems to have settled into a rhythm despite it all. She led the team with 15 points per game during early contests and is one of the top 3-point shooters in the


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olmstedorthodontics.com We are OPEN and accepting new patients conference. She had 14 threes through the first five games. She loves “hearing the net swish” when she scores, she said. “It’s just something about the feeling I get.” Haynes, who has played basketball since age 3, has been playing for varsity teams since her freshman year of high school. She played her first two years of high school for Mid State 3A Conference rival Rockingham County’s Cougars. She’s been a Nighthawk since her family moved to Summerfield before her junior year, and has worn No. 22 on her jersey for both teams. Haynes has verbally committed to play at the University of Mt. Olive, a NCAA Division II school in Mt. Olive, North Carolina. “It’s very exciting,” she said. “It’s like I finally made it. It’s a big accomplishment for me and my family.” She credits her parents for supporting her “all the way.” Her father was one of her early coaches. Haynes expects to study chemistry, with the goal of becoming a pharmacist focused on researching and developing new drugs. Her favorite classroom subjects are math and chemistry. Of math, she said: “It just comes easy for me.” In the community, she has volunteered at Camp R.E.A.C.H., which serves children and young adults with severe language challenges. The smiles on their faces, she said, bring “so much joy to me.”

Congrats, Ethan Hartman and Sullivan Trahan The two local youth recently earned the rank of Eagle Scout

COLFAX – Ethan Hartman, a 17-year-old junior at Northwest Guilford High School, recently achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. Ethan is the son of Kale and Kathy Hartman of Colfax and a member of Ethan Hartman Scout Troop 600, which meets at Oak Ridge Presbyterian Church. He is the first member of his family to earn the rank of Eagle Scout. For his Eagle Scout project, Ethan designed and led the construction of two 8-foot by 12-foot wooden planter boxes, four 2-foot by 4-foot wooden planter boxes and a balance beam for Trinity Covenant Preschool, a Montessori-inspired preschool in Greensboro where young children learn through hands-on activities. Nine volunteers worked for three workdays to complete the project. “My grandmother is a member of

Photos courtesy of Troop 600

For his Eagle Scout project, Ethan Hartman, 17, led the construction of six wooden planter boxes and a balance beam for Trinity Covenant Preschool on W. Friendly Avenue in Greensboro.

Trinity Church, and she was the one who told me about how the preschool wanted to expand their outside play area,” said Ethan, a 17-year-old junior at Northwest Guilford High School in Greensboro. “While the planters give preschoolers a chance to plant bulbs and watch them grow, the balance beam is a fun way for them to work on gross motor skills.” “Being outdoors is such a big part of Scouting,” added Ethan,

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

who especially enjoys camping and backpacking with his troop. “Helping others enjoy nature while giving back to my grandmother’s church made this project a great fit for me.” “I really appreciate how much my family supported my project,” he said. “I especially want to thank all my grandparents for donating materials.” Ethan was recently elected to serve as senior patrol leader for Troop 600,

...continued on p. 30

FEB. 18 - MARCH 3, 2021

29


CONGRATULATIONS, EAGLE SCOUTS! ...continued from p. 29

which has more than 80 scouts. Previously, he managed the troop’s equipment as quartermaster for two years. OAK RIDGE – Sullivan Trahan, a 16-year-old junior at Northwest Guilford High School, recently earned his Eagle Scout rank. Sullivan is the son of Kyle and Bonnie Trahan of Oak Ridge and a member of Troop 139, which meets at Oak Ridge United Methodist Church. Sullivan volunteered at the Adventure Sail Camp, part of the YMCA of Northwest North Carolina, for several summers; for his Eagle Scout project, he decided to give back to the camp that had opened his eyes to the fundamentals of sailing. His project was to create visual displays to assist the camp counselors in teaching the campers about sailing points, navigation, knot tying, boat set-up, etc. His project took about six months to complete. Sullivan extends his appreciation to his Scout leaders Tom Needham and Brian Eichlin for their dedication and leadership. He would also like to extend special thanks to Holt Environ-

For more information about Scouts BSA Troop 600, visit their website, www.scoutdude.com.

by MEREDITH BARKLEY Northern Guilford swimming and diving boasted a pair of state champs during competition earlier this month and Northwest Guilford volleyball a pair of all-staters as pandemic-delayed high school sports finally gathered steam.

without pool space,” wrote Coach Mary Caldwell in an email. “Still, the team came together for ‘dryland’ workouts and persevered through mask and distancing protocols once we finally got in the water. I am so proud of my swimmers.”

Meanwhile, basketball’s regular season is drawing to a close and lacrosse and boys soccer are underway.

VOLLEYBALL SWIMMING For his Eagle Scout project, Sullivan Trahan, 16, created visual displays to assist Adventure Sail Camp counselors in teaching the campers about sailing points, navigation, knot tying, boat set-up, etc.

ments for their generous support of his Eagle Scout project as well as the volunteers who assisted him in completing it.

REGISTER FOR SPRING SPORTS! BASEBALL SOFTBALL SOCCER LACROSSE Give Back to the Community... Join Our Board of Directors! – Girls Lacrosse Director – Girls Basketball Director – E-Sports Director – Facilities Director If interested, email President@ORYA.org

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Northwest volleyball, which finished 16-2 and advanced to the third round of the state playoffs, had seniors Avery Dole and Grace Hammond named to the NC Volleyball Coaches Association’s all region and all state teams. Both were also picked for the all region team by WRAL-TV and Hammond for all state second team.

Maura Schoppa

At the NCHSAA 3A State Swimming and Diving Championships, Nighthawks senior Jess Paul won the 1-meter diving competition and junior Maura Schoppa the 100-yard backstroke. Northern’s girls’ team, which was regional champion, finished fifth in the states and the boys finished fourth. The boys 200 medley relay team took third, the school’s best relay finish. Team members were Matt Wachendorfer, a junior; Ethan Pollina, a junior; Christopher Schillling, a freshman; and Chris Glebus, a junior.

Current Open ORYA Board Positions:

30

High School sports roundup

“Uncertainty definitely plagued our season, as we spent the first month

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

BASKETBALL Northern’s boys (13-0, 13-0) have won most of their games this season by wide margins. Northern and Northwest girls each have one loss and are hoping that doesn’t eliminate them from the post season in this weird COVID world. Northwest’s boys – who had to pause all activities for 17 days when a player tested positive for COVID – are left hoping for a winning season. Regular season play wraps up this week. “The guys are playing well,” said Northern boys’ coach Kellen Parrish.


“They like playing together.” Northern’s 68-58 home win over Person earlier this month is the closest the Nighthawks have come to a squeaker. Most wins have been by 30 points or more, and a couple by 50. Still, Parrish says he remains vigilant.

“We’re not taking anything for granted,” he said. “They (upcoming opponents) are going to give us their best shot.” Northwest’s boys (4-6, 1-5) were 3-1 when COVID hit, sidelining them for more than two weeks. They’ve been 1-5 since. “Obviously it’s not been anything close to normal,” Coach Lee Reavis said. “It (the unexpected break) threw a monkey wrench into it. But the guys continue to work hard.”

The Vikings are scheduled to finish up at home against Grimsley (9-2, 5-2) this Thursday, Feb. 18, and against Ragsdale (8-3, 4-2) on Friday. Northwest’s girls team (10-1, 6-1) and Northern’s girls (11-1, 10-1) fell to second place in their conferences with their single losses. And in a season in which only one team automatically advances to post season, they’re hoping for a lucky break or a wild card invite.

Northwest girls’ coach Haley Hackett called her team’s 36-24 loss at Ragsdale “probably our worst showing we had all season” and “an humbling experience, one we needed.” Northern’s one loss: a disappointing 58-57 setback to conference

leading and undefeated Eastern Alamance (9-0, 9-0). “We hope we can finish strong and make it to the state playoffs as one of the wild cards,” Coach Kim Furlough said.

Northwest boys lacrosse is 2-2 overall and 0-1 in Conference 12. Northern girls lacrosse is 3-2 overall and 3-1 in Conference 9.

SOCCER Northern soccer, playing a Mid State 3A Conference-only schedule, dropped to 6-1 after a 2-1 loss Tuesday evening to conference-leading Western Alamance (5-0-1).

LACROSSE

Northwest boys soccer is 3-2 overNorthern boys lacrosse and North- all and 1-1 in the Metro 4A Conference. west girls lacrosse are both undefeated midway through their seasons. look for more youth/ Northern boys lacrosse is sitting at 4-0 overall, 3-0 in Conference 11. school/sports coverage Northwest girls lacrosse is 5-0 overall and 4-0 in Conference 9. NEW in our March 4 issue!

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GRINS and GRIPES

Delighted or dismayed by something in your community? Share your thoughts in

40

words or less

online: nwobserver.com e-mail: grinsandgripes@nwobserver.com

Grins & Gripes are published based on available space and editor’s discretion.

GRINS to...

 Joey Blackburn at Blackburn Insurance in Stokesdale for being the most patient and best insurance agent around.  NWHS senior parents and the PTSO for the recent scavenger hunt – the kids had such a fun time and the challenges were so creative!  Everything the local restaurants and businesses do to support our local communities and high schools. Stay local and give them a second chance.  The lady ahead of me in the checkout line at Food Lion who kindly paid for part of my grocery purchase.  The gent with the white Ford pickup and Stihl chainsaw who was out on N.C. 68 Saturday morning, cutting fallen trees that were blocking the road. Thank you! You’ll never know how much your efforts are appreciated!

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 The Scouts who came out on a cold, rainy, icy Saturday morning to pick up food. Thank you for helping our community!

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 Jason Moody, Nate Adkins and Duke Energy. Amazing job during the power outages. Many of us are thankful for being at home with power and trees cleared thanks to you.

in Stokesdale. Food Lion has kept the shelves stocked and our families fed throughout the COVID-19 pandemic while wearing facemasks and encouraging the health and safety of employees and customers with social distancing and sanitization.  All the linemen who risked their lives in this horrible weather to restore our power. You are to be commended for what you do. May God bless and watch over each and every one of you.  The neighbors who checked on neighbors and offered assistance during the recent ice storm. Politics and other differences were set aside and people just showed concern for others – can we get a little more of that?

GRIPES to...

 “Stand Up for Summerfield” for spreading lies pertaining to Summerfield Farms. Summerfield Proud elected officials campaigned on “it’s the responsibility of the builder, not the citizen” to put in water and sewer and the developer will be responsible for water/ sewer installation.

 The quality and professional service provided by Tire Max in Summerfield.

 The people who have started their own version of “Oak Ridge Easter Horse Show.” The original nonprofit has been working diligently on planning and just because you don’t like those plans doesn’t mean you can steal their show!

 All the volunteers, neighbors, firefighters, Duke Energy crews, utility crews and others who worked in the frigid, wet temperatures to clear the roads of downed trees and restore our power and internet.

 All the drivers who do not turn their headlights on while driving in rain, fog or inclement weather. You are hard to see and make driving dangerous for all. You should be ticketed.

 Our beloved hometown grocery store

 People who toss cigarette butts out

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996


Outside the

their car windows – and, it is probably a good idea to not throw them out in the heart of Oak Ridge when you have your company name all over your vehicle.

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

 The towing company that caused damage to my fence and denied any responsibility. If your chains break and you cause a car to damage a fence, make it right!  The man in a blue Subaru who got out of his car at a red light and confronted my wife who was stopped behind him at the light for “following too close.” We have video.

GRINS to...

 The leadership at a local elementary school for using Spirit Day activities to bully children into donating to charity. Peer pressure and pay-to-participate tactics do not build a charitable spirit. You might victimize the same children you aim to help.  People who don’t know what to do at an intersection when traffic signals aren’t working, and then make obscene gestures at others for treating it like a four-way stop like they’re supposed to.

 Sen. Burr for his courageous condemnation of the former president’s attempted violent coup. Unlike others, Burr did not hide behind unproven Constitutional technicalities. He voted country, not party.

GRIPES to...

 MSM brainwashed about Jan. 6. I was there. For the record, BLM and Antifa breached the Capitol, not Trump supporters. Media is finally reporting that. But let’s look at liberals rioting and breaching SCOTUS during Kavanaugh

hearings. Hypocrisy much?

cases. Stop being brainwashed.

 Republicans not accepting the outcomes of the 2020 election. Us “snowflakes” didn’t storm the Capitol building when Hillary lost. It’s immature and borderline concerning how dedicated you are to a man who only cares about himself.

 The Stalinist purge of Trumpists from the military. Suddenly, conservative comments on social media (speech) constitute “extremist behavior.” But a Muslim army Major in Fort Hood murdering 13 colleagues produced no such witch hunt. I wonder why...

 The griper who quoted statistics. MSM lies. Of those statistics, they included car/motorcycle victims, gunshot victims, anything to boost their numbers. So where did the flu go?! Even the CDC admitted masks increased catching COVID. Wake up, people!

 Our new president. Forty-plus executive orders in two weeks does not sound like there is a consensus. The difference between World War II Germany and now is that we don’t have an America to save us.

 Those who want the racist “woke” agenda taught in schools. If you want to abuse your children that’s on you, but don’t dare tell my black children they gotta work five times harder than white kids for the same success.  Our government for fooling us all. COVID numbers are greatly exaggerated. So all of a sudden, there is no more mention of flu? If masks worked, all of the U.S. should not have surged in

 People who disrespect other people’s views on all the pandemic issues. Don’t go into the stores and businesses if you are going to be rude to other people who don’t share your Socialist views. Stay home and be a sheep.  Sen. Tillis for his failure to hold Trump accountable for provoking violent supporters to overturn the election, the Constitution, Congress, and the U.S. Government by attacking the Capitol Jan. 6.

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The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

FEB. 18 - MARCH 3, 2021

33


OAK RIDGE TOWN COUNCIL ...continued from p. 9 Patti Dmuchowski said the committee wants to hold a groundbreaking ceremony on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, for the veterans’ memorial planned for the Whitaker property. The committee is narrowing down the list of potential names for the site, she added.

Oak Ridge Elementary School. Principal Penny Loschin thanked Summit Church for providing water and soft drinks to the school’s staff.

COUNCIL COMMENTS  McClellan said the forthcoming arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine to drugstores is going to be “a big game changer” in overcoming the disease.  Kinneman urged fellow council members to resume holding town

meetings virtually; the council decided last month to give council and committees the option to meet in one of three ways: in person, remotely, or using a “hybrid” model that allows people to choose between attending in person or virtually.  Pittman thanked people for picking up litter around town. “Let’s all remember to keep Oak Ridge beautiful,” she said.  Schneider thanked residents for volunteering on committees and speaking at public hearings. “It’s a wonderful characteristic of our town,” she said. With no further council comments, the meeting was adjourned at 9:10 p.m.

HAPPY 85TH BIRTHDAY, HELEN LEDFORD ...continued from p. 11

piece of paper into one of her marvelous creations. In less than 30 seconds, she created wonderfully made, developmentally appropriate sheets that were just what the children needed. “Thank you, Helen, for your years of service, gift of wisdom and all that you gave and continue to give to those you meet,” Cole wrote. Christy Hartzogue, a retired Oak Ridge Elementary kindergarten teacher, wrote words of appreciation to Helen, her former assistant, “for teaching me how to teach. God blessed me with 12 years of your exceptional talent, humor and your devotion to children!” And many others thanked Helen for the stories she’s written for the Northwest Observer over the years.

34

FEB. 18 - MARCH 3, 2021

“As a farm girl myself, I’ve always loved Helen’s stories!” wrote Laura Reneer, Northwest Observer’s marketing manager. “Brings back great memories of growing up in the country in simpler times. Happy birthday, Helen! Thanks for sharing your wit and wisdom with us all these years!” In closing, Morales passed along a message from someone she said is one of Helen’s favorite TV actors: “Helen, I am reaching out to you today with a special request… I would love to ask you to be an honorary Walton for your birthday. Is that all right? ‘Helen Walton’ – I love it! Welcome to the family, Helen! I’d also like to say, ‘Good night, John Boy, good night, Mary Ellen… and good night, Helen. Happy, happy birthday, with lots and lots of love!’”

LETTERS/OPINIONS Submit your letters (maximum 350 words)

online: nwobserver.com e-mail : editor@nwobserver.com Include your name, daytime phone number and name of community. Letters from the same writer will be published no more than every 30 days.

Development, property owners’ rights must be balanced With respect to the sequence of informational articles in the Northwest Observer regarding Summerfield Farms Village, I have read enough about the proposal for Summerfield Farms Village; I have heard enough about how such a development will harm the Town of Summerfield; and I have experienced enough to make the following comments about Summerfield Farms Village and the citizens of Summerfield. First of all, have those who are complaining about Summerfield Farms Village lived in Summerfield all their lives, seen farm after farm turned into one development after another, and had their children sent to other schools because Summerfield Elementary has too many students? And what about the environment? North Carolina is one of few states in this country with prime soil for agriculture. We all know that working farms are disappearing. Farming is hard work. My parents were farmers all of their lives and I live on that same farm. I hope they are proud of me for doing my best to preserve what they worked so hard to acquire.

People need a place to live. However, if those who are complaining have been part of the development process, do they really believe that someone else should not have the same ability to develop their land? What former farm is their house on? Were hundreds of acres divided up for the houses they live in while they enjoy the amenities of the Town of Summerfield? If so, what right do they have to complain about yet another development in Summerfield? Summerfield Village Farms is going to create more traffic on roads and more use of open land in Summerfield for development. I am not for or against the development. Property owners should have the right to do whatever they want with their land. And every citizen of this country has a right to voice opinions about everything. I am not implying there is anything political about Summerfield Farms Village. Residents of the Town of Summerfield should consider the sacrifices other farms have made so that they can live in a peaceful place we can all call home. Molly Byrd, SUMMERFIELD

WE’LL BE BACK IN PRINT THURSDAY, MARCH 4 To place a DISPLAY AD in our next issue, contact Laura: (336) 644-7035, ext. 11, or advertising@nwobserver.com

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996


‘WHY ARE WE STILL TALKING ABOUT THIS?’ ...continued from p. 1

separate invoices; each came in under the $2,000 spending limit council members had without requiring review by the entire council. At the time the payment was made, former council member Frank Bruno, who belonged to the same business networking group as Vic Beaver, owner of Beaver Outdoor Solutions, served as the sole member of the town’s Property Committee; in that role, he was responsible for working directly with town vendors that provided property-related services. Shortly after the incident involving the $10,000 payment, Flynt, Mayor Pro Tem Thearon Hooks and Bruno voted to approve a two-year contract with Beaver, effective April 1, 2019, through March 31, 2021. The action was opposed by then council members Bill Jones and Tim Jones, but passed with a 3-2 vote. Within a few months after newly elected council members Derek Foy, Jimmy Landreth and Jim Rigsbee were sworn into office in December 2019, the issue of the $10,000 payment to Beaver resurfaced. According to recently released minutes from a March 12, 2020, closed session, Foy and Landreth questioned whether Bruno and Beaver’s previous actions were a deliberate attempt to circumvent town policy. In that closed session, Town Attorney Tom Medlin confirmed breaking the invoices down into smaller amounts deprived other council members of the opportunity to discuss and/or approve the services, and citizens from knowing about them. When Foy said he felt the town was intentionally deceived by a vendor, Medlin agreed it appeared Beaver was aware of council members’ $2,000 spending limit and had intentionally submitted smaller, separate invoices that would come in under that limit.

“Is that fraudulent?” Foy asked the attorney. Landreth interjected and said, “Yes, that’s fraudulent.”

Mayor Flynt then asked if that meant it would also be fraudulent on Bruno’s part, to which the attorney responded, “Well, Frank was outside his spending limit.” As council members debated whether fraud had been committed, Rigsbee suggested Beaver may have been simply breaking down one large invoice into smaller ones and the council could be making a “big assumption” that anyone was intentionally defrauding the town. When the closed session eventually ended, Flynt stormed out and announced he was resigning as mayor. A few days later, he said he had changed his mind and he has since continued to serve as the town’s mayor. Meanwhile, Foy has remained steadfast in his determination to change town spending policies and ensure that “nothing like this happens again.” At the May 14, 2020, council meeting, he made a PowerPoint presentation that centered on Beaver Outdoor Solutions’ performance. It included an email dated July 17, 2019, in which Beaver’s office manager/bookkeeper explained to the town clerk/finance officer that the company had sent the town an “estimate invoice” in March 2019 for $10,000 and Bruno had later requested it be broken down into smaller amounts “under his approval.” “In between that discussion with Vic (Beaver, owner) and Frank (Bruno), your AP sent a check for the full $10,000,” the office manager continued. “After that discussion, I created five small invoices :-).” “In my opinion, this incident was much worse than the unauthorized $24,400 expense from the removal of a few blown-down pine trees in the park (October 2018),” Foy wrote in an email to the Northwest Observer last week. “In an arranged scheme to circumvent town policy and avoid a vote of the town council, former council member Frank Bruno requested the vendor to mask the large dollar value of one scope of work by submitting a bunch of smaller invoices under his spending limit. “The vendor confirmed via email that Northwest Observer they wouldThe comply with this request and •

included a smiley face emoji with their response,” Foy continued. “… The vendor and Bruno are in the same business networking group. You can’t make this stuff up.” On numerous occasions, Flynt has stated in council meetings and recently, to the Northwest Observer, that representatives from the state auditor’s office and the treasurer’s office have examined the town’s financial records during the period in question and found nothing amiss. To that, Foy said, “No authorities have investigated this specific scheme discussed by council in the (March 12, 2020) closed session meeting, nor has anyone been exonerated in this matter. I trust our citizens understand this fact even if others are informing them differently. In my opinion the town is due back money from someone.” Flynt maintains that as far as he is concerned, the matter should be closed. “Why are we still even talking about this?” the mayor recently asked. “It’s been investigated and everybody has

been found innocent, so there is nothing there… The matter, as far as I’m concerned, is closed, and Frank is as clean as a whistle.” Flynt’s comments conflict with a letter the Northwest Observer recently obtained via a public records request; it was dated the morning after the March 12, 2020, closed session. In it, the town attorney wrote to Vic Beaver: “… This council is aware that in March 2019, you sent an estimate for work for $10,000 that required council approval which was not obtained, and you were paid for this invoice. However, you participated in a scheme to avoid council approval by later voiding this invoice and issuing five separate invoices to get the work within the authority of the property committee chairman. This type of conduct is fraudulent and denies the council and residents of Stokesdale the opportunity to review and approve such contracts.” Vic Beaver and former council member Frank Bruno were invited to comment for this article but declined.

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DEADLINE: Monday prior to each issue

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

INDEX Auto Sales & Service ........ 36 Employment .................... 36 Public Notice ................... 36 Yard Sale......................... 36 Home Services ........... 36-38 Misc. Services .................. 38 Misc. For Sale .................. 38 Misc. Wanted .................. 38

CHOICE TIRE AND AUTOMOTIVE. Oil changes, inspections, alignments and general automotive repairs. 1080 US Hwy 66 S, Kernersville, NC. (336) 992-9002. KNIGHT IMPORT SPECIALTY SERVICE. European Auto Service & Repair, 4559 US Highway 220, Summerfield (across from Food Lion). Specializing in factory-scheduled maintenance and repairs. BMW, Audi, Volvo, Mercedes, Volkswagen, Mini and Porsche. 32 years experience. (336) 337-0669. SAM'S AUTO BODY SHOP. Any type of body work. 45 years exp. (336) 965-7955.

 EMPLOYMENT BI-VOCATIONAL WORSHIP PASTOR/DIRECTOR wanted for Sharon Baptist Church in Reidsville, NC. Must love Jesus. Send resume to office@sharon-church.net. THE TOWN OF STOKESDALE is now taking bids for lawn maintenance for Town Hall, Town Park, water tower, and pump station grounds. For a scope of the work that’s to be included in the bid, please contact the Town Clerk at (336) 643-4011 or stokesdale@stokesdale.org. SUMMERFIELD VETERINARY HOSPITAL is currently seeking a full-time kennel assistant. Weekends & holidays are a must. Drug test required. Please apply in person, 4318 Hwy 220 N, Summerfield, NC 27358, or email Lydia@summerfieldvet.com. (336) 643-6326.

Pets & Animal Services .... 38 Real Estate ...................... 39

36 FEB. - MARCH 2021 36 FEB. 1818 - MARCH 3, 3, 2021

HIRING?

Place your classified ad online at

www.nwobserver.com

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT to Pastor/ Church, Treasurer at Center UMC, 6142 Lake Brandt Rd., Greensboro, NC. Job is part-time, 30 hrs./week. Requirements: Computer proficiency in MS Office, ICON Financial Software & Simple Church Online Giving. Knowledge of accounting principles to manage the finances of the church. Experience in website maintenance a plus. To apply, please send resume to cdonahue@center-umc.com and jmccormick2@triad.rr.com. For info., email cdonahue@center-umc.com. Website: www.center-umc.com. AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM needs After-School Group Leader for PACES, located at the new Revolution Academy in Summerfield. 2-6pm, M-F, school year only. Email paces.revolution@gmail.com. Call (336) 669-5590.

 PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF DESTRUCTION, DONATION, OR AUCTION OF ARTICLES IN THE POSSESSION OF THE PIEDMONT TRIAD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT POLICE DEPARTMENT. Notice is hereby given that the Piedmont Triad International Airport Police Department have in their possession small electronics (cell phones, tablets, laptops), watches, jewelry, wallets, purses, clothing, keys, knives, etc., that have been collected through seizure, confiscation or Found Property. These items have been in the possession of said Police Department for more than the statutory number of required days. All persons who have or claim any interest therein are requested to make and establish such claim or interest to the Piedmont Triad International Airport Police Department’s Evidence and Property Section no later than 30 days from the date of this publication. All claims for said property must be made to Piedmont Triad International

TheThe Northwest Observer • Totally locallocal sincesince 19961996 Northwest Observer • Totally

Airport Police Department, (336) 665-5642, or at 1000A Ted Johnson Parkway, Greensboro, NC. The Police Department will offer all unclaimed items for donation, destruction, or auction after the 30 days. This notice is given in accordance with Section 15-12 of the General Statues of North Carolina.

 YARD SALE MOVING SALE. Saturday, Feb. 20, 8am. 7607 Blue Sage Ct., Summerfield. Items for garden, workshop, home decor, toys (in/outdoor), furniture, electronics, up-cycle potential item.

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ARBOR MASTERS TREE SERVICE Total tree removal, storm damage cleanup, shrub and tree pruning. Free estimates. Licensed & insured. (336) 643-9157.

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.

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

Need an electrician? Call BLACKMON ELECTRICAL, INC. Free est. Comm. & res. Licensed & insured. Call (336) 430-5018. Do you have ELECTRICAL NEEDS? It's generator season. Call Coble Electric LLC at (336) 209-1486.

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.

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AFFORDABLE HOME REPAIRS. One call fixes all! A+ with BBB. For a free estimate call (336) 643-1184 or (336) 987-0350. CLOCK DOCTOR. Free house calls for sick clocks. (336) 643-9931 or (336) 392-4124.

SMALL ENGINE AND MOWER REPAIR is back at a new location. Welding available. Call or text Morris at (336) 880-7498. FIX YOUR MOWER! Service and repairs. Spring specials. "We do it right." Free pickup & delivery. Call Rick, (336) 501-8681. APPLIANCE REPAIR – Call Mr. Appliance A step above the rest! (336) 609-5707. 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. 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.

GRADING / HAULING 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. 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.

ANTHONY’S GRADING & HAULING Excavating, land clearing, demolition, dirt, available. Zane Anthony, (336) 362-4035.

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.

LAWNCARE / LANDSCAPING 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. ORTIZ LANDSCAPING, complete lawn care. Trimming, cleaning, planting & mulch, gutter cleaning, patios & pavers, waterfalls, retaining walls, sidewalks, stonework. Residential and commercial. (336) 280-8981. SOUTHERN CUTZ LAWN CARE, offering complete lawn maintenance services & bush hogging. Nathan Adkins, (336) 430-6086. ALL-SEASON STUMP GRINDING. Owner Alan Winfree. Free est. Call (336) 382-9875. 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.

The Northwest Observer • Totally 1996 The Northwest Observer • Totally locallocal sincesince 1996

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. EXTERIOR GREENSCAPES. Lawn maintenance service. Call for a free estimate (336) 682-1456. PECHES LANDSCAPING & LAWNCARE. Tree service, brush cutting & clearing, mulching, landscaping & lawncare, deck, fence and retainer wall building, land clearing, wood chipping and snow removal.. Call John, (336) 451-6941, or call Brad, (336) 453-6180. DELIMA LAWNCARE. Commercial & Residential. Free estimates. (336) 669-5210.

MASONRY 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. 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. MASONRY CONCEPTS, brick, block, stone concrete & repairs. Free est. (336) 988-1022, www.masonryconceptsgso.com.

MISC. HOME SERVICES/PRODUCTS ON EAGLE'S WINGS residential home design/drafting. Call Patti, (336) 605-0519. Promote your business: nwobserver.com

continued on p. 38

FEB. 1818 - MARCH 3, 2021 FEB. - MARCH 3, 2021

37 37


 HOME SERVICES

 HOME SERVICES

JUNK & DEBRIS REMOVAL, construction, remodeling, and general cleanup, out buildings, garages, basements, yard waste, etc. Call (336) 706-8470.

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

PAINTING & DRYWALL

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.

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.

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

(336) 931-0600

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

Your company should be here! Place your classified ad online at

www.nwobserver.com

PLUMBING

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

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

PRESSURE WASHING PRESSURE WASHING, gutter & window cleaning. Fully insured. Crystal Clear, www. windowcleaningnc.com or (336) 595-2873. HOUSE and ROOF SOFT WASHING. Martin's Pressure Washing. (919) 931-0856.

Follow us on Facebook and keep up with all the northwest-area news!

REMODELING / CONSTRUCTION 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. KEITH SMITH CONSTRUCTION. 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. 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.

38 FEB. - MARCH 2021 38 FEB. 1818 - MARCH 3, 3, 2021

 HOME SERVICES

 MISC. SERVICES

Services TM Construction , INC

BUILDING | RENOVATIONS | ADDITIONS

Screened porches | Sunrooms | Patios

(336) 644-8615 office (336) 508-5242 cell Licensed & insured NC Gen. Contractor #72797

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.

Locally owned & operated

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

RESTORE, REPAIR & CUSTOM BUILD! Give us a call today for your free estimate! Check us out on Google to see our rating, reviews and tons of pictures of our work. Fat Rabbit Furniture, (336) 816-3641.

 MISC. FOR SALE

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

FEATHERLITE TRAILER. Electric winch. Like new. $5,500. (336) 441-8395.

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

SEASONED FIREWOOD, delivered & stacked, 1/2 cord, $80. Call (336) 686-6373.

ROOFING PREMIER ROOFING. Commercial/residential. Providing service for all of your roofing needs. Locally owned. Please call (336) 430-9507 for free assessments.

SEASONED FIREWOOD. $80/pickup truck load delivered & stacked. (336) 253-7615.

Got stuff? Need stuff? Place your ad today:

www.nwobserver.com

BELEWS CREEK CONSTRUCTION. Lifetime shingle and metal roofing. We finance. Free Estimates. Since 1979. Please call (336) 362-6343.

 MISC. WANTED

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.

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

CLINARD & SON ROOFING, LLC. 40 + years experience. (336) 643-8191 or (336) 268-1908.

The Northwest Observer

Keeping you connected since 1996!

TheThe Northwest Observer • Totally locallocal sincesince 19961996 Northwest Observer • Totally

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

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


 REAL ESTATE

 REAL ESTATE

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY

HOMES FOR SALE

SPACE AVAILABLE. 350 sq. ft. Located at Haircraft, 2601 Oak Ridge Rd. Separate entrance. Great for nail tech. or office space. $500/mo. Available now. Call (336) 609-1300.

LIVE ON THE LAKE!

BEAUTIFUL WOODED 4+ ACRE HOMESITE. (336) 430-9507.

342 Leeward Drive, Stokesdale Luxury lakefront living in a gated community, quiet cul-de-sac, amazing views and ample entertaining areas. Spend your summers on the water! $869,900

DeDe Cunningham REALTOR®/Broker NC Licensed Contractor

(336) 509-1923 dedesrealestategroup.com dedecunningham@kw.com

INVENTORY IS LOW - TIME TO BUILD!

Why wait when you can build your dream home now with one of our featured builders? Homes from $500K and up, lots priced at $79,900. SPEC

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

advertisers,

and tell them where you saw their ad.

LAND FOR SALE. 25+ acres. Gorgeous wooded tract. Has 2 creeks. Quiet & serene. Possible owner financing. (336) 430-9507.

Selling or renting?

Please support

our

LAND FOR SALE SOUTHERN ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, Summerfield address. Create your own custom tract of land. You can decide if you want 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 or more acres. Beautifully wooded, very private. Call (336) 430-9507 for your appt.

index of DISPLAY ADVERTISERS

Only 8 lots left!

DeDe Cunningham REALTOR®/Broker NC Licensed Contractor (336) 509-1923 dedesrealestategroup.com dedecunningham@kw.com

WE’LL BE BACK IN PRINT THURSDAY, MARCH 4 Place your CLASSIFIED AD online at nwobserver.com, or call (336) 644-7035, ext. 10 Place your DISPLAY AD: (336) 644-7035, ext. 11, or advertising@nwobserver.com

Without their partnership, the Northwest Observer could not be free to you, our readers! ACCOUNTING

By the Book Accounting .................... 40 Carlotta Lytton, CPA.......................... 27 Kimberly Thacker Accounting............ 27 Samuel K. Anders, CPA, MSA, PC......12

AUTOMOTIVE SALES / SERVICE Beamer Tire & Auto ...........................31 EuroHaus ...................................... 4, 36 Piedmont Truck Tires ......................... 32 Prestige Car Wash ............................... 9 Tire Max ............................................ 24 Disney Construction Company............19 Don Mills Builders .............................. 23 Friddle and Company, Inc. ..................17 Johnson & Lee, LLC........................... 20 Naylor Custom Homes ...................... 21 R&K Custom Homes ......................... 18 R.S. Dezern Construction .................. 22 Ray Bullins Construction .................... 22 TM Construction Services .................. 38 Walraven Signature Homes ................19

INSURANCE

Carlos Gomez – Insure the Triad ......... 7 Gladwell Insurance ............................ 10

LEGAL SERVICES MEDICAL CARE

LeBauer HealthCare............................ 3 Wake Forest Baptist Health ................11 WF Baptist Health – Summerfield.......16

ORTHODONTIC CARE

Olmsted Orthodontics ....................... 29

PET SERVICES & PRODUCTS

Bel-Aire Veterinary Hospital ............... 27 Northwest Animal Hospital .................. 8

REAL ESTATE

CHILDREN’S SERVICES

Guardian Ad Litem ............................ 28

DENTAL SERVICES

Summerfield Family Dentistry ............ 28

FUNERAL SERVICES

Forbis & Dick Funeral Homes ............ 40

GROCERIES / SUPPLIES

A New Dawn Realty .......................... 40 DeDe Cunningham, Keller Williams ... 39 Nicole Gillespie, RE/MAX .................. 25 Ramilya Siegel, Keller Williams ...........14 Smith Marketing – Allen Tate .......19, 20

RESTAURANT JOBS

McDonald’s Oak Ridge ....................... 5

Southern Foods ................................. 33 BEK Paint Company .......................... 38

The Northwest Observer • Totally The Northwest Observer • Totally locallocal sincesince 19961996

Eanes Heating & Air ...........................15 New Garden Landscaping & Nursery .. 6 Old School Home Repair ................... 37 Rymack Storage ................................ 38 Stokesdale Heating & Air................... 35 Wilson Septic & Pumping .................. 38

Barbour & Williams Law ...................... 2

BUILDING / REMODELING

HOME PRODUCTS & SERVICES

HOME PRODUCTS & SERVICES

YOUTH SPORTS / CAMPS

National Flag Football ....................... 26 Oak Ridge Youth Association ............ 30

FEB. 1818 - MARCH 3, 3, 2021 FEB. - MARCH 2021

39 39


PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

Postal Patron

Oak Ridge, NC Permit No. 22

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

gems in

ECRWSS

downtown

Stokesdale At A New Dawn Realty, our team is passionate about serving the needs of our local community. We strive to offer top-notch service and have always been willing to go the extra mile to achieve our clients’ best interests. Our team combines exceptional energy and experience, and you’ll feel confident you made the right decision if you allow us to assist you! Visit our website or Facebook page to view our clients’ testimonials.

Trust. Compassion. Respect.

Proudly serving generations of families in northwest Guilford County and beyond for over 75 years.

Stokesdale

8320 US Highway 158 | (336) 643-3711

A New Dawn Realty Tea m !

Greensboro

1118 N Elm Street | (336) 275-8408 5926 W Friendly Ave | (336) 299-9171

(336) 643-4248

8500 Ellisboro Road, Suite B, Stokesdale

www.ANewDawnRealty.com

Own a business in downtown Stokesdale? Let us help spread the news about what you have to offer! direct-mailed to

12,000+ homes

1,400 copies

online 24/7

free pickup

Contact Laura to start your targeted ad campaign (336) 644-7035, ext. 11 | advertising@nwobserver.com

14,000+

followers

Locally owned and operated • forbisanddick.com

Accounting & Tax Accounting Bookkeeping Payroll Tax Preparation Notary Public Copy Center

Anne M. Garner, EA 8304-C Hwy 158, Stokesdale (336) 441-8325 • annegarner605@gmail.com


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