Northwest Observer / May 20 - June 2, 2021 by pscommunications

May 20 - June 2, 2021

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Lessons from Mom, Part 2 In honor of Mother’s Day on May 9, earlier this month we asked readers to share some of the things they learned from their mom, and from being a mom themselves. We got so many touching, humorous and memorable responses we couldn’t fit them all into our May 6-19 issue, so we’re back again to share the rest in this issue. “My Mum was not a fan of people complaining. Her usual response to a complaint was ‘well, it’s better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick,’ and there’s not really much you can say to that! Consequently, I learned that complaining doesn’t really help…” Eileen Dick, SUMMERFIELD “My mom taught me not to be somebody I’m not in order to fit into a particular group of people, but find the group of people that fits me best.” Annette Joyce, STOKESDALE

...continued on p. 37

One storefront at a time, downtown comes back to life MCM Resourcing has purchased two more buildings in downtown Stokesdale and plans to renovate them for retail use by ANNETTE JOYCE

Photo by Annette Joyce/NWO

A large trash dumpster sits outside one of the historic buildings on Stokesdale’s main street. Matt Mooreﬁeld, owner of MCM Resourcing, has purchased two additional buildings and is setting plans in motion to give downtown Stokesdale another facelift.

STOKESDALE – Storefront by storefront, Matt Moorefield is poised to remake the once-thriving strip of historic buildings across U.S. 158 from Stokesdale Fire Department. Moorefield owns MCM Resourcing, a national retail contractor

...continued on p. 20

IN THIS ISSUE News in brief ............................................2 Your Questions ........................................4 Towns united in opposing bills..............5 Summerfield Town Council meeting ...6 ‘Best find of the day’ ..............................9 Oak Ridge Town Council meeting ....10 Stokesdale Town Council meeting.... 14 NWO Business & Real Estate ............... 17 Schools waiting their turn ....................18 Business, Real Estate Questions/News .22 NWO Kids’ Korner .................................28 Student Profiles .....................................30 Youth are rockin’ it! ..............................34 High school sports roundup ...............35 Crime/Incident Report ........................36 Community Calendar .........................38 Grins and Gripes ..................................40 Classifieds .............................................43

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OAK RIDGE – Oak Ridge Military Academy (ORMA) plans to graduate 11 seniors this coming Saturday, May 22, and anticipates increasing enrollment in the next school year, according to Maj. Robert Forde, the academy’s admissions director.

Councilman Doug Nodine said the school’s staff has “done a great, great job. Just a few years ago, we were thinking it wasn’t going to make it.”

“Things are looking pretty good,” Forde told the Oak Ridge Town Council May 6, explaining that all of the graduating seniors have been accepted by at least one of their three top choices for college. ORMA anticipates enrolling “well over 100” students for next school year, after enrolling 113 students in the current year, according to Forde. Seven in 10 current students have decided to

When he joined ORMA in 2019, Forde said he encountered skepticism about the school’s prospects after years of slumping enrollment. Since then, it has relied on billboard advertising, online sites such as Boarding School Review and open houses on campus to recruit new students. Since last August, 145 families have visited the school, Forde said. “The school needs to survive,” he said. “It is a great institution. It is a great leadership academy. And it’s a big part of Oak Ridge.’’

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Summerfield Town Council member Lynne W. DeVaney is working on identifying areas within the town limits where residents do not have access to broadband (highspeed) infrastructure. Residents of the Town of Summerfield who do not have access to high-speed internet are asked to email DeVaney at ldevaney@summerfieldnc.gov and provide their street address, or call Summerfield Town Hall at (336) 643-8655 and leave the information with the town clerk.

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Residents ask for help with Summerﬁeld seeks public input loud mufﬂers, speeding drivers for proposed land use plan

Photo by Chris Burritt/NWO

At left, Town Manager Scott Whitaker talks to Cheryl Baisey, one of about 35 Summerﬁeld residents who attended a meeting last week to learn about the town’s proposed land use plan. Photo by Chris Burritt/NWO

The town of Oak Ridge plans to ask the North Carolina Department of Transportation to relocate this ﬂashing speed limit sign on N.C. 150 at Oak Ridge Military Academy. Concerned about noisy, speeding trafﬁc, nearby residents suggested that the sign be moved further east to lengthen the distance of the 25-miles-per-hour zone.

by CHRIS BURRITT SUMMERFIELD – Summerfield leaders are seeking the views of residents as they prepare a plan to designate areas

for residential and commercial growth, open space, parks and other development over the next decade and a half.

...continued on p. 20

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your QUESTIONS www.nwobserver.com /northwestobserver @mynwobserver @northwestobserver

OUR TEAM Patti Stokes, editor/publisher Laura Reneer, marketing manager Kelli Jessup, publisher’s assistant Rene Collins, administrative assistant Yvonne Truhon, graphic designer Leon Stokes, IT director Lucy Smith, finance manager Linda Schatz and Tom McCoy, distribution Chris Burritt, staff writer; Helen Ledford, Meredith Barkley, Lily Pierce and Annette Joyce, contributing writers

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I heard the Jumping Bean coffee drivethrough is leaving the Summerfield Square shopping center on U.S. 220 – is that true? We reached out to Kevin Murray, owner of the Jumping Bean, and he confirmed reports of his departure from the shopping center are true.

Photo by Chris Burritt/NWO

Jumping Bean owner Kevin Murray hands a cup of coffee to a customer as he prepares to relocate his business from Summerﬁeld Square shopping center after Kotis Properties, the center’s owner, terminated his lease, effective May 30. “If they want me to go, you know what, I will ﬁnd another place,” Murray said earlier this week.

After more than nine years selling coffee, fruit smoothies and pastries through a sliding window, Murray said he plans to vacate the U.S. 220 shopping center by the end of May. The center’s owner, Kotis Properties, informed Murray in an April 20 letter that it was terminating his long-term month-to-month lease, citing “planned changes in the center.” The Jumping Bean’s sales have never been stronger, according to Murray, who plans to relocate elsewhere in Summerfield as soon as a new location has been secured. “If they want me to go, you know what, I will find another place,” Murray said in an interview earlier this week as he prepared beverages for customers stretching back six car lengths. “I believe our best and brightest days are ahead of us.” Murray said he believes Kotis terminated his lease because it’s considering leasing the center’s last unrented

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MAY 20 - JUNE 2, 2021

storefront for a coffee shop. The vacant space is the last unit on the end of the building occupied by Dollar General and Golden Antiques and Treasures, and sits beside the recently

COMMUNIT Y

opened Clouds Tobacco. In recent months, Murray said one of his employees suggested he open a traditional coffee shop, but he preferred to

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Towns united in opposing proposed bills Oak Ridge, Summerﬁeld and Stokesdale all pass resolutions opposing proposed state House and Senate bills that would require local governments to include residential duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes and townhouses in residentially zoned areas by PATTI STOKES NW GUILFORD – Sebastian King, a former policy advisor in the N.C. General Assembly who currently serves as a government affairs representative in the assembly, spoke at Oak Ridge and Stokesdale town council meetings recently about HB 401, which would assume more control over zoning in

small communities.

The proposed bill would require local governments to include residential duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes and townhouses in residentially zoned areas, including those specifically designed for detached single-family dwellings. “It’s safe to say I have seen good legislation in the state and I have seen bad legislation in the state,” King said when addressing Stokesdale Town Council members at their May 13 meeting. “House Bill 401 would be a monumental mistake for the N.C. General Assembly to pass. This would attack local governments and attack local planning boards that normal citizens serve on to control the direction

of their town. I believe this is a separation-ofpowers issue that really redefines how we do zoning in small towns across North Carolina. “If the sponsors of this bill want the bill so Adobe Stock photo desperately, then In their introductory language, HB 401 and SB 349, which were they should have ﬁled March 25, state the proposed legislation’s primary goal is to pilot programs increase housing opportunities in all residential zones in North or they should Carolina. To accomplish this goal, local governments in North have local bills Carolina would be required to allow all “middle housing” types that have it in – duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes and townhouses – in areas their backyard,” zoned for residential use, including those residential zoning areas King continued. currently deﬁned as being for single-family homes only. “There shouldn’t done through our state. I think those be mandates coming all across North Carolina because a few legislators want powers should be saved for the local

...continued on p. 20

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SUMMERFIELD town council

May 11 / MEETING HIGHLIGHTS as reported by CHRIS BURRITT Mayor BJ Barnes called the monthly meeting to order, with Mayor Pro Tem Tim Sessoms and council members Lynne W. DeVaney, Teresa W. Perryman and Reece Walker present. Councilman John O’Day was absent. Sessoms offered the invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

CONSENT AGENDA  3  1 (Perryman opposed) to

adopt the consent agenda, which included a resolution to recommend the North Carolina Department of Transportation adopt two Summerfield roads, Westfield Village Circle and North Scamper Grey Court, for state maintenance.

ANNOUNCEMENTS Upcoming meetings

 The council will hold a special called meeting and public hearing at 6:30 p.m. next Tuesday, May 25, to gather feedback about the proposed unified development ordinance (UDO), a set of regulations governing residential and commercial development in Summerfield. The meeting will be held at Revolution Academy, 3800 N.C. 150 (Oak Ridge Road).  The council will also hold a special called meeting at 6:30 p.m. next Thursday, May 27, to hear a presentation of the town’s proposed budget for the fiscal year starting July 1. The

WHAT they voted on, and HOW they voted: Mayor Pro Tem Tim Sessoms and council members Lynne Williams DeVaney, Teresa Winfree Perryman and Reece Walker voted on the following items during the May 11 council meeting. Councilman John O’Day was absent. Mayor BJ Barnes was present, but in Summerfield the mayor votes only to break a tie.

 3  1: Adopt (Perryman opposed) the consent agenda, which included a resolution to recommend the North Carolina Department of Transportation adopt two Summerfield roads for state maintenance

 4  0: Transfer $10,000 in the Parks and Recreation Department’s budget for spending on the open space master plan  4  0: Appoint John “Jennings” White III to the Historical Committee for a two-year term  3  1: Approve (Perryman opposed) an agreement requiring developer

David Couch to reimburse Summerfield for legal and other fees incurred during the town’s investigation of his proposed residential and commercial expansion of Summerfield Farms

 3  1: Instruct (Perryman opposed) town staff to prepare a resolution urging the General Assembly to vote against a bill giving the state legislature authority over local zoning and land use planning

 4  0: Allow the operators of a weekly dog training class held in Summerfield Community Center to continue meeting for the current rental fee of $25 a night meeting will be held at Summerfield Community Center, 5404 Centerfield Road.

PUBLIC SAFETY Summerfield Fire District. The fire district reported it responded to 82 calls in April, including 39 EMSrelated calls, 23 fire-related calls and 20 other calls. Firefighters installed 11 child safety seats.

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Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s District 1 office, which is based in Summerfield, reported it responded to 91 calls in Summerfield in April. Among them were 20 burglar alarms and 10 reports of suspicious activity.

MANAGER’S REPORT Budget amendment

 4  0 to transfer $10,000 in the Parks and Recreation Department’s

MAY 20 - JUNE 2, 2021

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budget for spending on the open space master plan. The money is currently earmarked for trail development.

Committee appointment

 4  0 to appoint John (Jennings) White III to the Historical Committee for a two-year term. ETJ update. Whitaker said town staff has submitted a draft resolution to the Guilford County Board of Commissioners seeking consideration of Summerfield’s request to create an extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) in some areas adjacent to the town’s boundaries. One of the areas is east of town limits and includes Northern Guilford middle and high schools on SpencerDixon Road, as well as large tracts of undeveloped land around Lake Brandt and Plainfield roads.

TOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS

Tim Sessoms

BJ Barnes

mayor pro tem

mayor bbarnes@summerfieldnc.gov

tsessoms@summerfieldnc.gov

agreement precipitated a sharp exchange between Walker and Perryman and the mayor’s criticism of people he said were spreading inaccuracies about the conduct of town business by staff and the council. Walker urged Perryman to recommend that former Councilman Todd Rotruck send his questions to the town’s planning staff, rather than requesting Perryman to ask them on his behalf. “I don’t appreciate you looking over my shoulder,” Perryman said, her statement apparently referring to Walker seeing an email Perryman had

John O’Day joday@

summerfieldnc.gov

Reece Walker rwalker@

summerfieldnc.gov

If approved, homeowners in the ETJ would be regulated by Summerfield’s zoning rules, but unlike annexation, they would not pay Summerfield property taxes or vote in Summerfield elections. In North Carolina, municipalities aren’t allowed to annex land without the permission of property owners.

COUNCIL’S REPORT Deposit and reimbursement agreement.

 3  1 (Perryman opposed) to

approve an agreement requiring developer David Couch to reimburse Summerfield for legal and other fees incurred during the town’s investigation of his proposed residential and commercial expansion of Summerfield Farms. The deposit and reimbursement agreement requires an initial deposit of $20,000 by Couch, followed by additional deposits when the balance drops to $5,000. The town will keep the money in a separate account. The council instructed Town Attorney Bob Hornik to contact Couch’s

Teresa W. Perryman tperryman@ summerfieldnc.gov

printed out from Rotruck and referenced during the meeting. “You sit next to me,” Walker responded. Whitaker said town staff would gladly answer questions from the public. Barnes said the council and staff are performing their due diligence investigating Couch’s proposal. He then criticized the Summerfield Scoop and other parties who he said are spreading misinformation about efforts by the staff and the council to

...continued on p. 8

Lynne W. DeVaney ldevaney@ summerfieldnc.gov

lawyer and request a change to the agreement. The council wants Couch to reimburse the town for legal fees it incurred since September when Couch unveiled plans for the project. The town spent about $6,700 on legal expenses related to Summerfield Farms Village between September and March 31, according to Dee Hall, the town’s finance officer. Hornik said the agreement doesn’t encumber the Town Council to support or take any other action related to Couch’s proposal, which hasn’t yet been formally presented to the town as a development plan. Perryman suggested the town require Couch deposit more than $20,000 – possibly $50,000 – considering the proposed size of the project and complicated negotiations to determine its feasibility. Barnes said Couch will replenish the money as it’s drawn down. “It’s an unending well,” the mayor said, later adding he thought Perryman was seeking to “gouge” Couch. The council’s discussion of the

Public Hearing: Unified Development Ordinance Tuesday, May 25, 6:30pm Revolution Academy 3800 Oak Ridge Rd., Summerfield Citizens are invited to a special called Council meeting and final public hearing regarding the proposed UDO. This meeting will be conducted in person and audio recorded instead of being streamed. Council is expected to consider adoption at its 6/8 meeting. Project details and all relevant files can be found within “News & Notices” on the Town website under the “Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Rewrite” link.

Check the website and Facebook page for potential updates.

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SUMMERFIELD TOWN COUNCIL ...continued from p. 7

UPCOMING MEETINGS/PUBLIC HEARINGS  The council will hold a special called meeting and public hearing at 6:30 p.m. next Tuesday, May 25, to gather feedback about the proposed unified development ordinance (UDO), a set of regulations governing residential and commercial development in Summerfield. The meeting will be held at Revolution Academy, 3800 N.C. 150 (Oak Ridge Road).  The council will also hold a special called meeting at 6:30 p.m. next Thursday, May 27, to hear a presentation of the town’s proposed budget for the fiscal year starting July 1. The meeting will be held at Summerfield Community Center, 5404 Centerfield Road.

conduct town business.

Opposition to proposed bill

OTHER BUSINESS File photo

Renovating Summerﬁeld Community Center, which the town took ownership of last year, is going to cost “a lot more” than the $30,000 budgeted by the council earlier this year, Council member Lynne DeVaney reported at the May 11 council meeting. Waterprooﬁng the foundation to prevent moisture in the basement is needed, and renovating the bathrooms at a cost estimate of $22,000 are among the planned improvements.

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Summerfield Community Center costs. Renovating the community center on Centerfield Road is going to cost “a lot more” than $30,000 budgeted by the council earlier this year for the most urgent repairs, according to DeVaney. DeVaney said she’s gathering cost estimates for various improvements so the council can consider how much to budget for repairs next fiscal year. Waterproofing the foundation to prevent moisture in the basement is needed, she said.

Earlier this year, replacing the roof and gutters cost about $14,000, according to Whitaker. Concrete work to improve handicap access to the center is going to cost about $1,400, he said. Repairing the bathrooms and making them compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act will cost about $22,000, DeVaney said.

Stay

 3  1 (Pegram opposed) to instruct town staff to prepare a resolution urging the General Assembly to vote against a bill giving the state legislature authority over local zoning and land use planning. Earlier in the meeting, Sebastian King, who served as campaign manager for Rep. Jon Hardister (R-District 59) and a policy advisor in the state General Assembly, urged the council to adopt a resolution opposing the legislation. The town councils in Oak Ridge and Stokesdale recently adopted such resolutions.

Dog training class

 4  0 to let the operators of a weekly dog training class held in the community center on Wednesdays continue meeting for the current rental fee of $25 a night. The council agreed to the arrangement until its monthly meeting Sept. 10, when it plans to revisit the issue. With no further council comments, the meeting was adjourned at 7:43 p.m.

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‘Best ﬁnd of the day’

Photos courtesy of Myra Blackburn

U.S. Army Air Corpsman Ralph F. Meadows (far left). Myra Blackburn holds the dog tag lost by her father decades ago.

A metal detecting club’s discovery – a World War II dog tag – is united with the soldier’s daughter, Myra Blackburn of Oak Ridge by CHRIS BURRITT OAK RIDGE – Ralph F. Meadows was discharged from the U.S. Army Air Corps at the end of World War II. Afterward, he and his wife, Reggie, moved from South Carolina to his hometown of Oak Ridge with their 3-month-old daughter, Myra. Three-quarters of a century later, Myra Blackburn has reclaimed her father’s Army dog tag, lost during the 13 years the family lived in a small white house and farmed property on what’s now Scoggins Road, behind the Oak Ridge Fire Department. “I take it out and look at it,” Blackburn said in an interview earlier this week. Oak Ridge Town Clerk Sandra Smith gave the sliver of metal with short chain to Blackburn before the Town Council’s meeting May 6. A metal detecting club found the tag last summer and gave it to

Smith, who informed Blackburn of the discovery. The two delayed getting together until recently, due to COVID-19 concerns. Holding the tag during the meeting, Blackburn thanked the council for buying and developing her childhood home place as an extension of Town Park. She’s also pleased that a veterans’ site is going to be built on the property. The recent naming of the two projects – Heritage Farm Park and Veterans Honor Green – carries

special meaning for Blackburn because they recall her past as a farm girl and growing up as the daughter of a soldier. Her father died 50 years ago, and her mother passed away in 2016. Blackburn and her husband, Gary, live on N.C. 150, just a few blocks east of Oak Ridge Military Academy. She wasn’t aware her father had lost his dog tag. Inscribed with his name and military identification number, in the dirt for decades until its NEitWlayLburied o c a t ion Short, a member of the discovery last July by Floyd

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OAK RIDGE town council

May 6 / MEETING HIGHLIGHTS as reported by CHRIS BURRITT Mayor Ann Schneider called the monthly meeting in Town Hall to order, with Mayor Pro Tem Jim Kinneman and council members George McClellan, Doug Nodine and Martha Pittman present. The meeting was livestreamed on the town’s YouTube channel, which is linked to its website and Facebook page. The invocation was offered by Sebastian King, who served as campaign manager for Rep. Jon Hardister (R-District 59) and a policy advisor in the state legislature. Ethan Hartman, a member of Scouts BSA Troop 600 in Oak Ridge, led the Pledge of Allegiance.

PROCLAMATION Boy Scout award. Schneider read a proclamation honoring Stewart Chipman, an Eagle Scout and member of Troop 600. For his Eagle Scout project, Chipman collaborated with the Oak Ridge Parks and Recreation Advisory Board to design and construct a flag collection and retirement center

at Oak Ridge Town Park. The project won the 2020 Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award for the Old North State Council’s eight-county service area.

 5  0: Approve “Heritage Farm Park” as the new name for the Whitaker property on Linville Road

 5  0: Contract with accounting firm Dixon Hughes Goodman to audit

PUBLIC SAFETY

giving the state legislature authority over local zoning and land use planning

Sheriff’s Office. Lt. Nathan Trish reported deputies responded to 56 calls in Oak Ridge in April, including an auto theft and three larcenies. Trish advised residents to be wary of rising thefts of catalytic converters from vehicles, especially ones left parked for extended periods of time. Thieves sell the converters for scrap, he said.

Oak Ridge Fire Department. Chief Ken Gibson said firefighters responded to 49 calls in April, mostly related to emergency medical situations. The burning of yard debris by homeowners also resulted in several brush fires, Gibson said. He urged

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 5  0: Reappoint Jason Streck to the Planning and Zoning Board and appoint Pat Fiorentino as a full member of the board

the town’s finances for the current fiscal year

EXCEPTIONAL CARE

Mayor Ann Schneider, Mayor Pro Tem Jim Kinneman and council members George McClellan, Doug Nodine and Martha Pittman voted on the following issues during the May 6 council meeting.

Later, the mayor recognized other members of Troop 600 in attendance.

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WHAT they voted on, and HOW they voted:

 5  0: Adopt a resolution urging state legislators to vote against two bills  5  0: Conduct a study to determine the feasibility of installing water tanks and hydrants for fighting fires

homeowners not to dump burning embers from fire pits into the woods.

Loud vehicle mufflers. McClellan said some homeowners in Oak Ridge’s historic district and on Peeples Road have complained of vehicles with loud mufflers “going all hours of the night.” Trish recommended that people who are disturbed by the noise write down a vehicle description and license number. Reporting the information to the sheriff’s office will help identify vehicles repeatedly creating noise, which may lead to citations or conversations between deputies and drivers, he said. Trish said people can also call 911. He cautioned, though, that the vehicle may be gone before deputies arrive. If deputies arrive in time to find the vehicle, he added, “a single call isn’t necessarily going to result in having a blue light turned on.” Schneider said it’s often difficult for people to write down the tag numbers of passing vehicles, especially ones going fast. “There are a good number of these loud-muffler guys who are also speeding,” she said. “You can always pull

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them over for speeding.” Later in the meeting, Miles Foy and Myra Blackburn, who live on N.C. 150 near Oak Ridge Military Academy, and Maj. Robert Forde, the academy’s admissions director, said they’re disturbed by loud mufflers as early as 6:30 a.m. Some motorists are speeding, according to Blackburn. Foy and Forde urged the town to ask the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to extend the length of the 25-mph zone on N.C. 150 in front of the academy to encompass athletic fields at the eastern end of the school’s campus. Reducing the speed limit for a greater distance would help “make traffic calmer and quieter,” Foy said, adding he believes the volume of traffic has increased over the past year. Schneider said town staff plans to contact NCDOT about extending the reduced-speed zone.

MANAGER’S REPORT  5  0 to reappoint Jason Streck

to the Planning and Zoning Board and appoint Pat Fiorentino, who currently

serves as an alternate, as a full member of the board.

NEW BUSINESS

And the park name is…

 5  0 to name the Whitaker

property “Heritage Farm Park,” based upon the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board’s recommendation for naming of the tract that is slated for an extension of Town Park. “I love that it recognizes that park land was historic farm land for well over 100 years,” Schneider said.

FY 2021-22 budget Town Manager Bill Bruce presented a proposed budget of $2.62 million for

the fiscal year starting July 1, projecting property tax receipts of $865,000 and a balance transfer from reserves of $809,587 as the biggest sources of revenue. The spending plan proposes no increase in property tax, currently 8 cents per $100 of assessed property value, Bruce said. If adopted by the council, the budget would increase stipends for council members from $100 to $200 a month. Kinneman and Nodine said they oppose the pay raise for council members, which would be the first in 15 years. Increasing pay would be

inappropriate after the COVID-19 outbreak created financial difficulties for some people, Nodine said. Schneider countered that increasing the stipend would amount to “a small token of appreciation” for council members.

Despite financial challenges caused by the pandemic, she said, “Optimism is the order of the day. That’s the core of our budget message.” The budget projects capital expenditures totalling $1.04 million, with

$855,000 earmarked for the first phase of development of Heritage Farm Park. The town has applied for a $450,000 matching grant from the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund to defray development costs for the park. The proposal “recognizes fiscal conservatism for the town of Oak Ridge,” Finance Committee Chair John Jenkins said. The council has scheduled a public hearing during its June 3 meeting to gather feedback on the budget proposal, with a vote to approve the budget to follow.

...continued on p. 12

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OAK RIDGE TOWN COUNCIL ...continued from p. 11 Schneider recognized Stuart Mease and Jim Harton, new members of the Finance Committee, who both said they’re enjoying their volunteer work on the committee.

authority over local zoning and land use planning.

“This is a clear and present danger to every small and medium-sized town in North Carolina,” McClellan said. “It will create chaos in land use plans. It will subvert everything, for instance, that Oak Ridge has done” in terms of land use planning.

Audit contract

 5  0 to contract with account-

ing firm Dixon Hughes Goodman to audit the town’s finances for the current fiscal year; the firm’s fee is $19,600.

Dixon Hughes has performed Oak Ridge’s audit in recent years, prompting Kinneman to ask Sam Anders, the town’s finance officer, whether the town should hire a new auditor for the year ending June 30. Municipalities sometimes hire new auditors to ensure a fresh inspection of their finances. Anders recommended hiring Dixon Hughes again, noting the firm rotates staff members to perform audits while imposing internal controls to monitor the auditing process; audits of municipalities are also reviewed by the state’s treasury department, he said.

Opposition to proposed bills

 5  0 to adopt a resolution urging state legislators to vote against two bills giving the General Assembly

Later in the meeting, Ron Simpson, a member of the Planning and Zoning Board, and Sebastian King commended the council for supporting the resolution. Specifically, one of the bills would require local governments to include residential duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes and townhouses in areas zoned for residential use, according to the resolution. It lays out Oak Ridge’s objection, stating the town’s zoning ordinance and future land use plan “allow for a diversity of housing types and lot sizes” and the legislature’s “one size fits all” approach undermines

local authority over issues of land use. The second bill would require that all local ordinances regulating the removal of trees be permitted only with the express authorization of the General Assembly. The town’s resolution states the council, Planning and Zoning Board and Historic Preservation Commission value trees, and the council believes “any state legislation restricting local tree ordinances will damage local efforts to preserve our rural and historic character, hamper economic development and lower residents’ quality of life.”

Water for fire protection

 5  0 to proceed with a study to

determine the feasibility of installing water tanks and hydrants for fighting fires.

Town Manager Bill Bruce recommended the council approve the proposed scope of work for a fire suppression system, based upon recent discussions between the town’s Water Advisory Committee and Fire Chief Gibson. “The system may include land acquisition, well drilling/wellhead construction, and engineering and construction of a storage facility for fire department access,” Bruce told the council in an April 30 memo. Providing a new source of water is increasingly important, Kinneman said, as more houses are built in Oak Ridge

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while the number of ponds from which fire tankers are filled is decreasing. “I can see the value of a fire suppression system,” said Nodine, adding he remains opposed to a proposed municipal water system that would ease the town’s reliance on well water for homeowners and businesses. Schneider said the establishment of a system for fire suppression could “possibly create a structure for future water development in Oak Ridge. We want to look at all of those options and weigh them very carefully.” Exploring the fire suppression system is one option for the $1.1 million the state General Assembly gave Oak Ridge for water-related projects. Last year, Oak Ridge, Summerfield and Stokesdale each got $1.1 million from $3.3 million left unspent on a feasibility study of a regional water system for northwestern Guilford County. Citing costs, the towns opted not to proceed with the regional system. The Water Advisory Committee modeled its proposed scope of work for a fire suppression system on a similar study the Wooten Co., a consulting firm, prepared for the town of Summerfield in 2016 and updated in 2020. Town and fire department leaders plan to explore the effectiveness and costs of placing tanks and hydrants for filling tanker trucks in various locations around Oak Ridge. Putting an elevated tank and

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hydrants on the fire department’s property on Linville Road at Scoggins Road is a possibility, according to Bruce. Another possible site is the vicinity of N.C. 68 and N.C. 150 – or, ground-level or buried tanks and hydrants may be placed in various locations around town. The scope of work will also evaluate possible sources of water, Bruce said. They include ground water or water purchased from the city of Winston-Salem, assuming water lines were extended to Oak Ridge along N.C. 150 or Haw River Road.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

As quoted earlier, Miles Foy, Myra Blackburn, Sebastian King and Maj. Robert Forde offered comments during this portion of the meeting.

COMMUNITY UPDATES Historic Preservation Commission. Chair Debbie Shoenfeld reported the commission met last month with

representatives of Hill Studio, a Roanoke, Virginia-based design firm hired by the town to develop an illustrated design guidebook for enhancing the town core’s “village feel.”

Planning and Zoning Board. Chair Nancy Stoudemire reported the board also met with Hill Studio representatives to discuss how the firm’s ideas for improving the village feel could be incorporated into future development. Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) Committee. Vice chairs Anne Steele and Bill Royal reported that 13 volunteers participated in a workday in April, as part of completing construction of a bridge crossing a tributary of the Haw River northwest of town. Special Events Committee. Chair Patti Dmuchowski reported the committee decided on a name for the veterans’ site: Veterans Honor Green. The name recognizes veterans living and deceased and the farmland on which it will be located.

Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. Co-chair John Browning reported the board approved two requests by Oak Ridge Elementary School for use of the Town Park amphitheater: the performance of “The Princess and the Pea” play and the fifth-grade promotion ceremony. Finance Committee. Chair John Jenkins praised the contributions of fellow committee members and town staff in preparing the proposed budget for next fiscal year. Oak Ridge Military Academy. Maj. Robert Forde, the academy’s admissions director, reported the academy plans to graduate 11 seniors, all of whom have been accepted by at least one of their three top choices for college. (See related article in News Briefs.) Oak Ridge Elementary School. Principal Penny Loschin said third, fourth and fifth grade students and teachers are preparing for state-mandated

end-of-grade testing. June 3 is the last day of school.

COUNCIL COMMENTS  McClellan urged residents to express their opposition to proposed legislation that would infringe upon the town’s land use planning.  Kinneman said “he had the privilege of standing in the river” as part of constructing the new bridge for the MST.  Nodine and Schneider said they were impressed by Forde’s report about enrollment at Oak Ridge Military Academy.  The mayor said two traffic circles and other improvements planned for N.C. 68 and N.C. 150 will help slow traffic through the town’s commercial district, helping address homeowners’ concerns about noise and speed of motorists. With no further council comments, the meeting was adjourned at 9 p.m.

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STOKESDALE town council

May 13 / MEETING HIGHLIGHTS as reported by PATTI STOKES Mayor John Flynt called the monthly meeting to order with all council members present. Also in attendance were the town attorney, interim clerk, finance officer and two citizens. The meeting could also be viewed virtually via the Zoom app and it was livestreamed on the town’s YouTube channel. Councilman Jim Rigsbee led attendees in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, which was followed by a prayer. Sebastian King, a former policy advisor in the N.C. General Assembly who currently serves as a government affairs representative, spoke to the council about HB 401 and SB 349, which would require local governments to include “middle housing” options – duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes and townhouses

– in residentially zoned areas. (See article on p. 5 for more details.)

 5  0 to approve a revised

agenda.

 5  0 (in separate votes) to approve minutes from the March 22 and April 20 council meetings. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Interim Town Clerk Dale Martin thanked the council for supporting her since coming on board last month and said she looks forward to the challenges ahead as she works with the council through changes.

BOARDS/COMMITTEES Planning Board. Mark Nadel announced the board will meet again May 27, 7 p.m., at Town Hall.

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Events Committee. Councilman Derek Foy invited citizens to join the committee, which hopes to soon start planning the annual Christmas parade. Those interested were asked to email stokesdale@stokesdale.org.

FINANCE REPORT

Finance Officer Kim Thacker reported the town has a combined $2,993,474 in its general fund checking, CDARS and petty cash accounts, with an additional $27,611 to be received from the water enterprise account for shared payroll and administrative expenses. In the water enterprise account, the town has $1.6 million in checking, CDARS, capital reserves and savings. Thacker said the town is operating within its budget for the general fund account. Foy noted budget amendments will be needed in June for increased federal payroll taxes, legal fees, and planning and zoning fees, but those will be offset by other expenses coming in under budget. Foy also noted the proposed budget for FY 2021-22, which was drafted after three budget workshops, will be presented at the June 10 meeting; copies are available at Town Hall.

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“Why don’t we just throw our development book away?” Flynt fired back.

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At the suggestion of Bill Greco, owner of Land Solutions, a proposed text amendment to the town’s development ordinance would revise the definition of a major subdivision. Town Planner Oliver Bass explained the revision, if approved by council, would remove a requirement that a waiver or variance on a minor subdivision automatically changes it to a major subdivision.

PROPONENTS

Tracy Williams, attorney

“This (current) definition, if applied literally, would require a rezoning and would automatically turn a couple of lots into a major subdivision (five or more lots). It’s unfair to citizens not to apply this consistently. A waiver or variance still has to go before somebody (in Stokesdale, waivers go before the Planning Board; variances go before the Town Council). “There is no reason to force a landowner to rezone their property and declare it a major subdivision because they, for example, need to extend their driveway,” Greco said. Mayor Flynt responded that he saw “all kinds of inherent dangers” in making the change to the town’s development ordinance, saying it would be providing special treatment and open a Pandora’s box. Waivers must meet specific criteria, Foy argued; Councilman Jimmy Landreth agreed, saying there have always been waivers in Stokesdale.

 Greco advocated for the change, citing as an example a situation in which Tracy Williams, attorney a landowner requests a waiver or variance to create one or two lots for family members.

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ordinance, which the current definition of subdivisions does not encourage. “The focus is, does a waiver or variance request mean you are automatically a major subdivision?” he asked. “Yes (to Flynt’s point), you can ask for a waiver for anything – but you have to make your case.” Flynt insisted that anyone granted a waiver or variance is getting special treatment and removing the requirement that waivers would come before the town council (because they automatically convert a property to a major subdivision), would mean it bypasses the council, which is directly accountable to citizens.

“This rule hurts the small guy,” Landreth said.

fall after requesting a waiver for where a driveway was placed).

(Rigsbee, Landreth and Foy opposed to the motion by Flynt).

“Well, it surely doesn’t protect that little guy’s neighbor,” Flynt responded. As the discussion continued, he added, “I’m not inclined to change the rules and regulations that have been in place for 30 years just to help out one person (referring to Land Solutions’ client, a builder who was required to transition from a minor to a major subdivision last

Mark Nadel, a Planning Board member, said he was inclined to agree with Flynt and asked what benefit changing the ordinance would have to the town.

 3  2 to approve the proposed text amendment (Flynt and Hooks opposed).

“Something doesn’t feel right to me,” he said.

Proposed amendment to Section 4-2.1 Once again, the text amendment was proposed by Greco, who said it would clean up verbiage in the ordinance and eliminate unintended consequences

gems in

 2  3 to deny the proposed text amendment to the town’s ordinance

to property owners in RS-30 zoning. As written, Greco said owners are required to connect to the town’s water system if they “develop” their property, which is a very restrictive term. “So, someone with property zoned RS-30 who wants to subdivide for a couple of lots, this (proposed) language would allow them to be grandfathered (not have to connect to the water

...continued on p. 16

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STOKESDALE TOWN COUNCIL ...continued from p. 15 system),” Greco said. Greco emphasized the problem with the current ordinance is with the word “development, which, without clarification, encompasses any man-made change – including building a detached garage, repaving a driveway or drilling a new well. “What this change would do is leave alone all the folks who are already RS-30. This is just a tweak that accomplishes what the council is trying to accomplish,” he said. Town Attorney Tom Medlin confirmed that Greco’s proposed language change would “clean up” the ordinance.

 5  0 to approve a revised ver-

sion of Greco’s proposed language change to safeguard against unintended consequences on property owners in RS-30 zoning who want to make a change to their property.

Proposed text amendment No. 3 …

 5  0 to adopt the proposed text,

with the attorney’s suggested deletion of a phrase. The change affects only new subdivisions in the RS-30 zoning district, which are required to connect to the town’s public water system.

NEW BUSINESS  5  0 (in separate votes) to

approve a resolution adding streets within the Old Moores Mill and the

North Ridge subdivisions to the NCDOT’s secondary road maintenance system.

 5  0 to approve an ordinance establishing a 25-mph speed limit on seven additional streets within the Arbor Run subdivision.  5  0 to approve Stewart Hom-

mel as a full voting member on the Planning Board (moving from an alternate).

 5  0 to approve Yates Construction Company’s proposal for installing meter connections.

 5  0 to increase the ¾-inch residential/commercial tap fee from $3,902 to $4,700; to increase the ¾-inch residential infrastructure fee (paid by the developer) from $1,145 to $1,200; to increase the 1-inch meter fee from $5,193 to $6,200; and to increase the 2-inch meter fee from $10,085 to $12,100, based on cost increases passed on to the town.  5  0 to approve a resolution

opposing SB 349 and HB 401 (per earlier discussion by Sebastian King).

 5  0 to approve a service agree-

ment with B&B Service Solutions to clean the front of Town Hall, restrooms and drains in the town park for $400.

 5  0 to authorize Blaney Electric to replace lights outside Town Hall. Advertise for full-time clerk. After discussing the qualifications the town

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wants in a permanent town clerk and the salary range, the council agreed to have Rigsbee, Foy and interim clerk Dale Martin finalize wording before advertising the position. Martin recommended the town seek either a certified clerk or someone who is willing to obtain their certification within two years. The salary range will be $45,000 to $50,000. Martin, a retired clerk with the Town of Kernersville, has agreed to remain with the town for up to two years while mentoring a new clerk and working on improving administrative functions.

 5  0 to have Foy, Rigsbee and Martin finalize an employment ad, which will be posted through the League of Municipalities.

 5  0 to approve an invoice from Treeline Landscaping & Nursery for $2,800 to extend pipes to tie into Northwest Meadows’ water line. Lakeside development. Council discussed whether to grant permission for a developer along Belews Lake to tap onto the town’s water line; the development does not fall within Stokesdale’s town limits. “We’ve got water right now, but we’re also growing,” Landreth noted. “There are a lot of questions I don’t know the answers to … we’re going to

LOST DOG TAG

...continued from p. 9 Old North State Detectorists, a club for metal detecting enthusiasts. Club member Frank Engel of Oak Ridge got permission from the town to search the Whitaker property, the 60 acres slated for expansion of Town Park. The center of the property was under cultivation with crops, so the metal detectors were confined to the stretch along N.C. 150 and the area where Blackburn grew up. Aside from the dog tag, the searchers found nails, other pieces of

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have a lot of houses here before too long and I don’t want to see us at a disadvantage.” Flynt said the town has 608 customers on its water system and is a long way from using the 308,000 gallons per day it can get from Winston-Salem. Foy argued the town is already selling water to residents outside its jurisdiction and cautioned about exceeding the town’s water supply, especially in light of so many new houses on the horizon. “If we can sell water outside our jurisdiction and capacity isn’t a problem, that could be a good thing. But we need assurance of increase in supply,” he said. Council continued debating the issue before agreeing to pause, noting a special called meeting to hear a presentation from the town’s engineering firm, Hazen & Sawyer, on water system capital improvements was scheduled for May 17.

CITIZEN COMMENTS  Stokesdale resident Bert Schmitz agreed the council would be wise to confirm water availability for the long term before making water available to anyone else outside the town’s limits. With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:16 p.m.

metal and a Walking Liberty half dollar, according to Engel. At the end of the day’s hunt, the group, along with Smith and Historic Preservation Commission Chair Debbie Shoenfeld, declared the dog tag as “the best find of the day,” Engel said. “It is what we consider a nice find,” he said. “We don’t find dog tags all of the time.” Blackburn said she’s not decided whether to frame or otherwise display the tag after she cleans dirt from the inscription. For now, she likes touching it. “It is precious,” she said.

18 Northwest, Northern

Guilford schools on waiting list for repairs, improvements Photo by Chris Burritt/NWO

The villages of mobile classrooms at Northwest Guilford Middle School (shown in photo), and at neighboring Northwest Guilford High School won’t be removed any time soon, as neither school made the priority list of facility improvements or replacements to be addressed with the sale of $300 million of bonds which voters overwhelmingly approved last fall. Elected ofﬁcials say they started with a long list of high-need school facilities and prioritized those in the worst shape when determining which to repair, renovate and replace ﬁrst.

acreage in 22 Increased agreement prompts questions Porch is 22 Pineapple on the move

26 ‘Busting at the seams’

Northwest, Northern Guilford schools on waiting list for repairs, improvements $300 million spending plan earmarks money for land acquisition for a new school, but no appropriations for repairs and upgrades by CHRIS BURRITT NW / NORTHERN GUILFORD – Schools in northwestern and northern Guilford County didn’t make the list of facilities slated for $300 million in repairs and upgrades from the sale of bonds. The spending plan recommended by the county’s Board of Education and approved by the Board of Commissioners last month does earmark nearly $10.7 million for the acquisition of land, including for a new school in the northwestern section of the county, said District 3 commissioner Justin Conrad, who represents Oak Ridge and Stokesdale. Expenditures on improvements for northwestern and northern Guilford schools aren’t slated for the next few years, according to the $300 million spending plan. “We are starting with the schools in the worst shape and working up to the schools with the least need,” school

DeDe Cunningham

Photo by Chris Burritt/NWO

Mobile classrooms at Northwest Guilford High School, built in 1962, have occupied the school’s campus for decades. The 23 units, which are more than 20 years old, are there to stay, at least for the foreseeable future, as the school did not make the priority list for improvements slated for funding from the $300 million bond voters approved last November. Northwest High School serves over 2,100 students, the highest enrollment of any school in the Guilford County Schools system, and hundreds more new houses feeding into the school’s district are on the horizon.

board member Deborah Napper said in an interview last week. She represents District 5, which includes Summerfield Elementary School and Northern Guilford middle and high schools. The county is preparing to sell the bonds approved by voters in last November’s general election. Actual spending of the $300 million “is going to be a several-years process,” Napper

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said. “No matter where you are located in Guilford County, it may be years before you see the benefit” of spending. Spending on other projects – such as the replacement of Northwest Guilford Middle School and the construction of a new northwest-area aviation high school – is going to take even longer because of their dependence upon future bond sales. Nora Carr, chief of staff of Guilford County Schools (GCS), told the school board in March that the district’s staff is talking to county commissioners, community leaders and others about putting another bond issue on the ballot. Conrad said he’d be open to the idea of placing another school bond on the ballot “in a relatively short amount of time,” depending upon how the economy recovers from the COVID-19 outbreak.

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The economic lockdown last spring due to the pandemic figured into the county commissioners’ decision to limit the bond referendum to $300 million, Conrad said. The Board of Education requested a $1.6 billion referendum.

“Nobody knew what was going to happen in the middle of a pandemic,” Conrad said in an interview earlier this week. “To move faster than that, I thought was irresponsible.” Easing of overcrowding of schools in northwestern Guilford County is a priority of commissioners, said Conrad, explaining the appropriation of $10.66 million for land acquisition for construction of new facilities is a first step.

“That money is set aside for northwest Guilford,” he said.

them. I appreciate the process we used to pick the projects. It is based upon the need.”

Oak Ridge Mayor Ann Schneider said while she appreciates GCS’ commitment to buying land for a new school in northwestern Guilford County, she would like district officials to address immediate needs, such as replacing the deteriorating mobile units at Northwest High School.

Aside from buying land, the spending plan spreads costs across a dozen projects countywide. They include rebuilding Kiser Middle School, at a cost of $55.5 million, and Brooks Global Studies, at a cost of $22.2 million, according to the plan.

“My issue as a parent of a recent high school student and a member of the community is that they need to address some of the problems in the short term,” Schneider said in an interview this week. Mobile classrooms are in poor condition in many schools across the county, according to District 5 commissioner Carly Cooke, who represents Summerfield. “We can all agree there is a need,” Cooke said in an interview earlier this week. “I wish we were doing more in the first phase, but with the dollars that we have, I think it was a fair way to allocate

per system

All of the elementary, middle and high schools in northwest Guilford County are operating “at or over capacity,” according to a report by Cooperative Strategies, the school district’s consultant. A spreadsheet posted on GCS’ website lays out the projects and their estimated costs. They include $47.6 million for the replacement and relocation of Northwest Guilford Middle School and $68.5 million for construction of Northwest Area Aviation High School.

“This isn’t a three-year thing,” District 3 school board member Pat Tillman said during the school board’s meeting March 9. “This is a five-, 10-, 15-, 100-year effort that we can look back and be proud of.”

Construction of an elementary school is recommended for northern Guilford County, at an estimated cost of nearly $26.8 million. Recommended repairs to Stokesdale Elementary total nearly $3.1 million; $2.56 million at Summerfield Elementary; $1.44 million at Oak Ridge Elementary; $793,150 at Northern Guilford High School; $574,717 at Northern Guilford Middle School; and $298,665 at Pearce Elementary, according to the spreadsheet.

Tillman didn’t respond to a request for an interview. His district includes Northwest middle and high schools and Oak Ridge, Pearce and Stokesdale elementary schools. The spending plan resulted from a 2019 countywide study that proposed a mix of new construction, renovations and demolition of schools in Oak Ridge, Summerfield and Stokesdale. The recommendations were aimed at relieving overcrowding

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his business and is in the process of obtaining permits to renovate his latest investments.

SUMMERFIELD LUP

which relocated to downtown Stokesdale last year after the company purchased and renovated the building that had been home to Southern Hardware for decades; it had been vacant since former owner Ted Southern retired and closed the store in December 2017.

“We purchased the two buildings from (the Dr. Mervyn King family) and they’re getting their stuff out,” he said, explaining why there has been a dumpster sitting outside the buildings in recent weeks.

A public meeting at Revolution Academy last Thursday, May 13, drew about 35 residents seeking to learn about the proposed land use plan. They asked questions of Town Manager Scott Whitaker, Planning Manager Chris York and several council members, along with representatives of the Piedmont Triad Regional Council (PTRC), hired by the town to prepare the plan. Town staff asked residents to complete a survey expressing their opinions, which will help shape recommendations in the plan. PTRC plans to complete a draft of the document by the end of the year, according to Jesse Day, the council’s regional planning director. The plan will guide long-term land development and preservation, reflecting priorities in the town’s comprehensive plan. Development recommended

...continued from p. 1

Six months after he retired, Southern sold the three-story Southern Hardware building to Moorefield, who subsequently purchased three more buildings from South Rich LLC, a partnership owned by Southern, Mark Richardson and Garfield Apple. After renovating space for his own business, Moorefield got to work on renovating the building now occupied by Pineapple Porch; he also owns the building leased to Gonzalez Contractors, LLC. Now, Moorefield has purchased two more buildings to the west side of

The King family owns Countryside Village Retirement Community and had used the two buildings as storage space. At this point, Moorefield said he has had a lot of inquiries from people interested in possibly leasing the buildings, but hasn’t made any commitments. He is hoping to bring in more retail business. Besides working on renovating the buildings, Moorefield has been in contact with Duke Energy and hopes to further enhance their appearance by eliminating the unsightly electrical wires which extend across U.S. 158.

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...continued from p. 3

King urged the council to pass a resolution opposing HB 401, then noted that May 13 was the crossover deadline for the general assembly; the crossover deadline is the date by which all bills must have passed either the House or the Senate chamber in order to be eligible for consideration throughout the remainder of the 20212022 legislative session. But, he noted, “this is where the idea starts. So just because we’ve made it clear during this session that it’s something North Carolina doesn’t want, we’re going to have to continue to keep an eye on it as small

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by the land use plan will be regulated by the unified development ordinance (UDO), which is under review by the Town Council. “The land use plan is a guide that’s going to specify where desired future land uses would go, whether it’s different types of residential, commercial, office or industrial,” Day said in an interview during the meeting. “The UDO is the document that would put the land use plan into gear.” Summerfield resident Cheryl Baisey attended the meeting, saying she wants to understand which tracts of undeveloped land may be targeted for residential and commercial development. Summerfield has about 2,800 acres of undeveloped land, Day said. Some of it will be filled by residential growth, based upon projections that the town’s population will grow by about 3,000 people to 14,922 by 2035, according to PTRC’s presentation. towns and ensure nothing like this ever passes in the N.C. General Assembly. “Let’s continue to keep control locally,” he urged. “Local knows best for their community; let’s keep politicians out of it.” When asked if any towns in the state were in favor of the proposed bill, King answered, “Not in Guilford County, at least.” Despite some towns having ordinances prohibiting duplexes, King said the proposed bill would mandate towns allow them. Towns without municipal water or sewer could also be required to allow “middle,” or higherdensity housing in residential areas. At their May meetings, Oak Ridge, Summerfield and Stokesdale town councils all passed resolutions opposing HB 401 and the proposed parallel Senate bill, SB 349, citing their “onesize-fits-all” approach would undermine local authority over issues of land use.

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REAL ESTATE Q&A I heard discussion during the Summerfield Town Council’s meeting earlier this month that developer David Couch has increased the acreage he wants to develop as part of his residential and commercial development around Summerfield Farms. What’s going on? The larger number of acres came up during the council’s discussion of a draft agreement requiring Couch to reimburse the town for legal and other expenses it incurs exploring the feasibility of the proposed Summerfield Farms Village. The agreement covers “approximately 1,030 acres of land,” according to new wording in the proposed deposit and reimbursement agreement. A previous version of the document showed 650 acres, the amount of land in Couch’s initial presentation to the

council last September. In an interview earlier this week, Couch said he actually owns 1,040 acres in Summerfield. He said he wants all of his property listed in the agreement on the chance that he may develop all of his land. Couch said the 650 acres he originally listed surround Summerfield Farms, the wedding and events venue, market store and cattle farm on Pleasant Ridge Road. The additional property includes about 86 acres rezoned by the town of Summerfield for the proposed Henson Village shopping center on N.C. 150 at Interstate 73, the developer said. Couch said he plans to discuss the other parcels as he advances his plan for Summerfield Farms Village. The project isn’t a certainty because, as proposed, it’s dependent upon the extension of water and sewer lines from the city of Greensboro to Summerfield. Couch has not yet submitted a formal development plan to the town of Summerfield. In recent weeks, Couch said he has hosted two events to share initial ideas and gather feedback from the homeowner association boards of Henson

Farms and neighborhoods adjacent to Summerfield Farms. He also invited individual homeowners who abut his property. Elected officials in Summerfield, Greensboro and the county also attended the presentations, along

with law enforcement, fire and North Carolina Department of Transportation officials, according to Couch. He said he plans to seek the input from a wider audience as he fine-tunes his development plan.

Pineapple Porch is on the move The home décor and gift store is moving from Oak Ridge to Summerﬁeld OAK RIDGE / SUMMERFIELD – Due to foundation problems at its location on N.C. 150 in Oak Ridge’s commercial core district, Pineapple Porch is moving to Hillsdale Village shopping center at the corner of Lake Brandt Road and N.C. 150 in Summerfield.

Photo by Kelli Jessup/NWO

Pineapple Porch, a home décor and gift store, has occupied this former house-turned-business on N.C. 150 in Oak Ridge for just over a year. It is moving to Summerﬁeld’s Hillsdale Village shopping center and will re-open at the new location Thursday, June 1.

Tammy Cobb and Deanna (Dee) Privette opened the Oak Ridge store a little over a year ago, just after the pandemic outbreak. Several months later, they opened a second location on U.S. 158 in downtown Stokesdale. Although limited by COVID-related restrictions, both stores, which offer a

variety of home décor and gift items, have gained a loyal following.

...continued on p. 26

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“Forty years ago, we signed an offer to purchase our first home in Oak Ridge at a 17.5-percent interest rate, found out we were expecting our first child and began a small business. Today we are moving toward Disney Construction Co. being owned and operated by the next generation,” said Patti Disney, who along with her husband, Francis, and son, Mark, own and operate this thriving company. Since 1981, Disney Construction Co. has built countless homes across the Triad. More importantly, the company has established a time-tested reputation of excellence in quality home building that continues to attract buyers who want to work with a builder they can trust and who they know will be personally committed to their vision for a new home. Just as when they founded the company four decades ago, the Disneys remain focused on their craftsmanship, which is paramount to the construction of their homes. “Our hope is to gain your family’s confidence by giving you the opportunity

to see our craftsmanship and dedication to our customers,” Patti said. “We pride ourselves on providing our homebuyers with hands-on, personal attention.” It’s this philosophy that has made Disney Construction Co. one of the most trusted and respected builders in the northwest Guilford County area and beyond. And, their well-earned reputation has brought recognition from both inside and outside the building industry. The company received the Triad Business Journal’s 2019 Family Business Award; it has also been a past recipient of Greater Greensboro Builders Association’s “Builder Member of the Year” and the Eugene Gulledge Award for Distinguished Service – all recognitions that reflect the company’s commitment to its customers and the communities it serves. Since joining his parents’ company 10 years ago, Mark has been honored to serve as past president of the Greater Greensboro Builders Association and was one of the Triad Business Journal’s 2018 “Forty Under Forty.” Outside the industry, the Disneys have

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d-wife team Francis (left) and Patti Disney launched Disney Construction Co. in 1981; their ght) joined them in the business 10 years ago. sought to give back to the community and have been especially supportive of Christ-centered organizations that focus on the family such as Room at the Inn and Amy’s House. Based on their unique skills and contributions, Francis, Patti and Mark have divided up the company’s day-to-day operations to give their customers the optimal homebuilding experience. Although they are at the helm of the company, the Disneys know a successful construction business depends on a partnership between subcontractors, sales representatives and suppliers to turn truckloads of building supplies into a beautiful home. Because of this, they’ve found some of the best folks in the industry to partner with and have held on tightly. “Over the years, we have developed strong relationships with most of our subcontractors and suppliers,” Patti said. “In fact, they’re more like our extended family. We rely on these partners to help us provide our customers with personal attention and walk the homebuyer

through the process of building their custom home. In the end, our partners take as much pride in the finished home as we do.” As a custom home builder, Disney Construction Co. offers the flexibility of choosing from a long list of allowances, making it easy to individualize homes based on the unique wants and needs of each homebuyer.

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Homeowners also value the personal attention they receive throughout the building process and knowing they can be as involved as they want to be.

“We’re there along the way to assist the homeowner in every aspect of the project,” Patti emphasized. With the experience Francis and Patti have gained over the years and the youthful energy and leadership provided by Mark and his wife, Jennifer, the family business is well-positioned to stand on solid ground for generations to come.

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PINEAPPLE PORCH

...continued from p. 22

Cobb says she regrets leaving her customers and friends in Oak Ridge, but is excited about the challenges and opportunities that come with opening at a new location. “The house had so much charm and we’re moving into a retail setting,” she

YOUR QUESTIONS

...continued from p. 4

continue operating from his orange hut on wheels. “If it’s not broken, why fix it?” asked Murray, adding the employee no longer works for him. David Swift, chief financial officer for Kotis, said the company hasn’t entered into a lease agreement for the vacant storefront, although it has talked to

said. “I’m doing my best to add a little bit of charm and warmth to our new space.” By moving farther away from the Stokesdale location, Cobb said she will be able to better differentiate the stores and offer her customers more variety. Pineapple Porch will open at its new location in Hillsdale Village on Thursday, June 1, and will welcome customers Tuesdays-Fridays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

‘Busting at the seams’

potential tenants. Based upon its square footage, Summerfield Square is 97.5-percent occupied, according to Swift. That’s the highest occupancy rate since Kotis bought the center in 2015, he said. The company’s termination of the Jumping Bean’s lease “has been our only little hiccup,” Swift said. “People may not be 100% happy, but we are doing what we think is best for the center and the town.’’

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Demand for more space prompted two Summerfield couples to expand their businesses in town. Pictured here, GreenGo Buggies owners Brian and Nikki Price have relocated from space on Summerfield Road near Pleasant Ridge Road to the former site of Purgason’s Western Wear on Auburn Road at U.S. 220. The company manufactures lowspeed vehicles powered by batteries. Referred to as “street-legal golf carts,” the vehicles can lawfully travel on public roads with speed limits posted at 35 mph or less. “We were busting at the seams” in the previous location GreenGo Buggies shared with Sport Auto on Summerfield Road, Brian said. Nearby on Summerfield Road, Suzanne and Garland Vandergrift,

26 MAY 20 - JUNE 2, 2021

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owners of Greensboro Performing Arts (GPA), are the new owners of nearly six acres containing the former Cathedral of Faith Christian Center. Since buying the property in February, they’re preparing to renovate the new space in an expansion beyond their dance, music and arts studio at the Cardinal Crossing shopping center at Inman and Fleming roads to the former church. The church property contains two buildings with a gymnasium and an outdoor stage. After the COVID-19 lockdown forced GPA to switch to virtual classes, the couple now views their larger space as an opportunity to offer more classes for more people as the pandemic wanes. “Bottom line, the driving force was figuring out how to rebuild the arts community,” Suzanne said. “It is so vital.”

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Help the bees get to the flowers

Kids’ Korner Protect the Honey Bee!

Learn about these very needed and very fascinating creatures. • Bees transfer pollen between flowering plants, which is what helps plants grow, breed and produce fruit. If you’ve ever tried to garden, you know just how important it is to have bees! • About 1/3 of the food we eat is the result of honey bee pollination. • Honey bees are the only insects that produce food (honey) eaten by humans. • To make just one pound of honey, a hive of bees must tap about two million flowers and fly about 55,000 miles. A single hive produces between 60-100 pounds of honey each year... those bees are doing a lot of flying! • Honey bees are not born knowing how to make honey. They are taught in the hive by older bees. • A hive is perennial. That means it is inactive in the winter and “awakens” in the spring. • There are three kinds of bees in a hive: worker bees, drones, and the queen bee. The worker bees are female and they do all the work. The drones are male and their only job is to mate with the queen. And, the queen’s job is to lay eggs. • Bees are being used to study dementia. When a bee takes on a new job, usually done by a younger bee, its brain stops aging!

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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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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.

by MEREDITH BARKLEY

Marcus Harnarain, senior Sport: wrestling Marcus Harnarain said when he announced during seventh grade that he was giving wrestling a try, his parents “were pretty surprised.” “I did a lot of other sports when I was younger, but I never found one that would stick,” said the Northwest Guilford senior, who wrestles as a heavyweight. “They didn’t think wrestling would stick either. But here we are, six years later.” Along the way, Harnarain has gotten pretty good at the sport. Last year he surprised some people by making it to the state championship match. He hopes to win it all this season. Next year he wrestles at Belmont Abbey, an NCAA Division II program.

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He expects to study marketing or sports management. “I’m pretty excited for it,” he said of his transition to college. Pro wrestling on television whetted Harnarain’s appetite for the sport. When he began trying it for himself, he fell in love. “I think it was the teammates and the mental aspect of it,” he said. “It got me out of my comfort zone, and the coaches I’ve had have been amazing. “There’s a huge adrenaline rush when you step on the mat,” he added. Part of his success, he said, comes from techniques which he developed over the years that have given him an edge over many heavyweights who are not as nimble. He has also worked at building endurance so he can compete in the late stages of often grueling matches. Teammates, he said, have noticed, and have given him a nickname: the “CEO of Overtime.” “I can push through those overtime matches pretty easily,” Harnarain said. He tries to keep his weight around

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265, although he could go 20 pounds heavier. At 265, he says, he’s “light enough on my feet” for quick moves, yet heavy enough to “keep pressure on them and hold them down and pin them.”

“If you make a mistake, the ball can go anywhere,” Tyler said.

A lot of heavyweights, he said, are afraid to go after an opponent’s legs. Not Harnarain. He aims for size and agility that allows him to “do what I can during the match.”

“We all share techniques and methods, and encourage each other, and I like that,” she said.

He keeps his weight in check by shunning carbs after 5 p.m. most days, opting for healthy options over sweets and fast foods, and working out.

“You’re not relying on anyone else,” she noted.

NORTHWEST GUILFORD Brooke Tyler, freshman Sport: golf Brooke Tyler, a Northwest Guilford freshman, says golfers need to tend to the “little things” if they expect to play well. One of those things is definitely concentration. The Vikings golfer describes golf as “more of a mental sport than physical,” and said, “If you’re not right in the head you won’t do well.” Technique is also critical, especially when developing the all-important swing, she said.

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

One of the things she has enjoyed about playing golf in high school is being part of a supportive team.

But her score is hers alone, and that’s something she also likes.

Her golf interest, Tyler said, started as more of a “joke.” She was 6 years old at the time and her dad was often on the golf course. She wanted to go along, so he’d take her. She didn’t play during those early outings, but she did get in lots of practice. Before long she was good enough to join her dad and older sister. By age 8 she was playing in golf tournaments. “When I first started, my sister would always beat me,” Tyler said of Kendall, a Northwest sophomore who is also a Vikings golfer. “But playing with her helped me get better.” When her sister gave up golf for several years, though, Tyler caught up. “It kind of gave me a bit of leverage,” she said. “When she came back, I was beating her.” Her favorite subject at Northwest: civics and economics, which she said has helped her better understand global

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events “like conflicts between two countries and how it affects trade.” COVID left little opportunity to volunteer with school organizations this past year, but as life gradually returns to something resembling normal, she hopes to join one that works with the homeless, like those she and a friend interacted with recently. Talking with them made her thankful for what she had, she said. “You really don’t need all the expensive stuff that everybody wants,” Tyler said. “You really just need food and stuff that keeps you going.”

NORTHWEST GUILFORD Drew Pepin, sophomore Sport: wrestling When Drew Pepin was 4 years old, one of his football coaches suggested he also try wrestling. Might make him a better tackler, the coach said. So Pepin, now a Northwest Guilford sophomore, did. And perhaps to the coach’s surprise, the youngster found something he liked even more than football.

“I fell in love with it,” Pepin said. He eventually gave up on football and is now wrestling year-round. “I don’t regret that decision at all,” he said. After 11 years in the sport, he considers himself a veteran. “Last year I was a freshman, but it didn’t feel like it,” he said of his first year at Northwest. His record: 37-2. He was wrestling at 120 pounds then. He’s at 138 pounds this year. Maintaining weight is key in the sport. If wrestlers are too heavy for their weight class, they can’t compete. So Pepin limits what he eats, especially carbs and sugars, and drinks only water during key times. He sometimes sweats off pounds by running three miles wearing a trash bag with cutouts for head and arms. “I’ve lost 4 or 5 pounds in just one run,” he said. Many folks have a misconception about wrestling, Pepin said. They think it’s all about strength. While that’s important, he believes being successful at wrestling relies on strategy and technique. He has learned a lot about both over the years, he said. A stretch during sixth and seventh grade was his darkest in the sport. He remembers “getting beat up a bunch” by older guys during practice, and begging his parents to let him quit. “It just wasn’t an amazing time,” Pepin said. But it was an important time, he reflected. His parents urged

him to hang with it. He did, and not only came out a better wrestler, but learned key life lessons, he said. “There are lots of struggles in life, and that’s preparing me for them,” he said. He hopes to attract the attention of college coaches over the next couple years. But if not, he said, he’ll fondly remember the good times and “take that (wrestling) mindset with me the rest of my life.”

NORTHERN GUILFORD Sam Emerick, senior Sport: tennis Northern Guilford’s Sam Emerick, who stands 6-foot-3, enjoyed using height to his advantage on the Nighthawks tennis court. “I love my service game and I love going to the net,” said Emerick, a senior. He figured his towering presence gave him the edge in both areas, and also added some heft to his overhead shots. It surely helped, as the Nighthawks went 12-0 for the season and were conference champs; Emerick and teammate Daniel

...continued on p. 32

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6161-A Lake Brandt Road • Summerfield • 336 .643.1440 • SummerfieldDentist.com Ferree went on to represent the Nighthawks on a doubles team in regionals. “I’ve always been competitive,” said Emerick, who followed his older brother and sister into the sport. “I feel like I’m more natural at tennis than any other sport I’ve tried.” Emerick also played basketball all four years at Northern. So, which does he like best? “That’s a question I get asked a lot,” he said. “I can’t really answer that. I love them both. They’re completely different.” He gives a thumbs up to basketball coaches Kellen Parrish, Derek Hodge and Kent Phillips, and tennis coach Andrew McDowell, all of whom, he said, taught important “life lessons” along with sports fundamentals. Next fall he heads to NC State, where he plans to major in accounting. That’s a field of study that showed up as a good fit through career testing at GTCC, where he’s dual enrolled and

has already racked up college credits. “It (career testing) was great for me because I had no idea what I wanted to do,” Emerick said. “I did more research into accounting and realized it was something I’m really interested in.” He has a personal reason for being drawn to NC State – his sister is enrolled there and his brother lives nearby. “It’ll be fun following them around,” Emerick said. His favorite high school class: micro economics, which probes how people, companies and organizations function in an economy. “I learned a lot,” he said. “I wasn’t too familiar with how the economy really worked.” During his high school years he has participated in a number of volunteer activities, including BackPack Buddies, which provides food to hungry children,

and a St. Pius X Catholic Church work camp, where he painted houses and schools in a low-income Charleston, South Carolina, neighborhood. “You could tell they really appreciated it and it made us feel really good we were able to help them out,” Emerick said.

NORTHERN GUILFORD Cami Rivas, senior Sport: golf For Cami Rivas and others on Northern Guilford’s girls golf team, this year’s COVIDadjusted season meant playing in the spring rather than the fall and sharing coaches with the boys team, which practiced at the same time.

“It was a little more difficult this year,” said Rivas, a senior. Still, she said, “I’m really grateful we got to play.” She credits the team’s coaches, led by Ted Bonham, with “doing a really good job” guiding both teams through overlapping schedules. She also gave a nod to teammates, whom, she said, were “enjoyable to play with” throughout “very different” practices. Rivas started playing golf after her mom, who took up golf when she moved from Venezuela years ago, introduced it to her and her younger brother when they were very young. “It was something she thought was very exciting,” Rivas said. For her, though, it was little more than a hobby – until freshman year, when she started playing competitively. She joined Northern’s team and played community tournaments during off season. “It has its ups and downs,” Rivas said. “It’s very mental, and it’s hard to

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play. But it’s so captivating. There are so many things that can go wrong. But there are so many things that go right.” And it’s a game she can play for decades. “It’s definitely something I think I’ll always be able to do, and will be fun for me also,” she said. She heads to UNC-Chapel Hill in the fall. She doesn’t expect to play for the university, but she may join a club golf team.

At Northern, she founded a chapter of The Menstrual Movement, which addresses a need among poor women for menstrual products. She learned of

it from a competing golfer, who had started a chapter at her school. “I was very inspired by that,” Rivas said.

NORTHERN GUILFORD Chloe Templeman, senior Sport: softball Northern Guilford’s Chloe Templeman, a softball player since age 4, has found inspiration as one of her church’s leadership

She plans to study political science and sustainability, headed toward a career in environmental law. “I’m very concerned about climate change and related issues,” Rivas said. “Becoming more aware of that has caused me to want to take a more active role in where we’re going.”

June 7-10 June 14-16 June 21-23 June 28-30 July 12-14 July 19-20 July 26-28 August 2-4

interns. Through that program, she said she has learned to be “more of a courageous leader” and has developed skills she believes will help her both as a teammate and throughout work life. “I’d love to do it every day of

the year if I could,” Templeman, a senior, said of the program at Definition Church on Merritt Drive in Greensboro. Among the leadership principles that have stuck with her: lead from the front, and don’t make excuses, make adjustments. Her Nighthawks softball team struggled this season, but she hopes some of what she’s picked up may have helped encourage her teammates and draw them closer. She played center field most of her career, and said her height – 5-foot-9 – gave her an edge when it came to chasing down and snagging fly balls.

Camper at a 2020 Summer camp working on his catching skills. baseball player. “I had more connections with it and it was more fun. I could release more anxiety and stress from throughout the day,” she said of the sport. She heads to Guilford Technical Community College in the fall for a twoyear dental hygienist program. She wore braces for several years, and said she has been fascinated by teeth. “That’s the first thing I notice about people – their teeth,” she said. “I just think they’re super cool and a unique feature about everybody.” She also likes some of the demands of the job.

“I love making diving catches,” Templeman said. “That makes the game exciting.”

“I’m the type of person who can’t sit still,” Templeman said. “I love being on my feet and having things to do all day.”

She gave volleyball a try freshman year, but she found softball to be a better fit. She was encouraged to give the sport a try by her father, a former

Another thing she likes about the GTCC program – it’s only two years. She’s looking forward to “being done with school.”

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The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

MAY 20 - JUNE 2, 2021

s n o i t a l u t a r g n Co

it ’ in k c o r e r a o h w th u o y l a to our loc Matthew Thomas of Oak Ridge has been a competitive gymnast for eight years. Competing as a Level 9 gymnast, Thomas recently placed second in the 2021 NC Men’s State Championships and is a 2021 Men’s National Championships qualifier.

Photo courtesy of Holly Baum

Summerfield resident Sarah Baum, 18, was the first-place female finisher in her age category (female 15-19) and sixth-place overall female finisher of 418 female participants in the Blue Ridge HalfMarathon race of the Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon in Roanoke, Virginia, last month. The Blue Ridge Marathon is advertised as one of “America’s Toughest Road Races.” The half-marathon (13.1 miles) climbed two peaks with a total elevation gain of 1,897 feet. Shown in photo, Baum holds her trophy for first-place female finisher in her age category with Mill Mountain in the background.

Oak Ridge Elementary’s fifth grade graduating class recently left their mark on the school by putting their handprints on the new spirit rock installed this past spring. “The kids were so happy to do this, as simple as it was!” wrote Amy Hall, parent of a fifth grader, who emailed photos to the Northwest Observer. “I think it was one of the first special events all year.” In keeping with a tradition started over 20 years ago, the students also added their handprints to the hallway wall inside the school.

Photos courtesy of Amy Hall

Youth Sync OOPS! In our May 6-19 issue, we incorrectly spelled the name of Sam Emerick, a senior who played on Northern

Guilford’s men’s tennis team. Emerick and Daniel Ferree made up one of two doubles teams that continued the Nighthawks’ 12-0 regular season to compete in regionals on May 7.

High School Sports Roundup by MEREDITH BARKLEY Northern Guilford girls soccer team’s undefeated season came to a disappointing halt in the state semifinals last week when Chapel Hill’s Tigers bounced them 1-0 to advance to the 4A state championship game. There, the Tigers lost 1-0 to Cox Mill. “We had plenty of depth,” said Nighthawks coach Frank Tamborino. “We couldn’t find the goal.” It was the second time in three years his team has bowed out one win shy of a shot at the state title. Interrupted by COVID last season, the Nighthawks finished 17-1 overall, 14-0 in the Mid State 3A Conference. “It was the first time all season we were behind,” Tamborino said of the recent semi-finals game. “It got into our heads. I hope we’ll learn from it.” Junior goalie Abby Mulry, who had eight saves, “kept us in the hunt,” he said. “We were evenly matched. We should have finished and we didn’t.” After graduating eight seniors last year, the Nighthawks brought in five

freshmen, who along with several sophomores got a lot of playing time this season. Tamborino sees defense as a potential weakness next season and said he’ll be looking for a center back.

BASEBALL

Northwest (7-1, 6-0) lost 4-2 at nonconference Carlisle of Martinsville, Virginia, but has since defeated Ragsdale 3-0 at home and has handily managed High Point Central twice as well as Dudley and Page. Next up: at Ragsdale (6-2, 5-2) on May 21. Northern (7-0) has made it look easy so far, outscoring opponents 71-6. Four of the six runs the Nighthawks have allowed came at Morehead in late April. They have since taken down Person and Rockingham County twice and Northeast Guilford. They’re scheduled for a rematch against winless Northeast at home on May 21.

5-4. They were scheduled to be home against McMichael (1-3) on May 19. Northwest (3-4, 1-3) lost earlier this month to Page, Grimsley and Ragsdale, but defeated Southwest Guilford, High Point Central and Western Guilford. The young squad – 13 of the 17 are freshmen or sophomores – were scheduled at Southwest Guilford (4-3) on May 19.

WRESTLING

Northern is 8-0 and has sailed easily through most of its schedule so far. Its only close match: a 39-31 win over Southeast Guilford on May 11. The Nighthawks easily won matches earlier this month against Eastern Alamance, Williams, Southern Alamance, Page and Providence Grove. On May 20 they take on Western Alamance and Rockingham County. Northwest is 12-0 for the season, having defeated Lake Norman 42-30 earlier this month before easily handling Elkin, Morehead, Southern Guilford,

Page, South Central, Southern Nash and Ragsdale. They were scheduled to take on Davie and West Forsyth on May 20.

TRACK AND FIELD Northwest’s girls finished first in a recent meet with conference rivals Page and High Point Central, and the boys finished second. Event winners for the Vikings included distance runners Nick Hamilton, Haley Irwin and Liam McWhorter, and high jumper and long jumper Sheldon Ulmer. In a recent 1600-meter race, Northern’s Jack Dingman bested his school record time, completing the run in 4:15.50. He is now ranked first in the state at that distance. Katrina Ford, running in her first-ever track meet, broke Northern’s 11-year-old 1600-meter time with a 5:07.81. She is now ranked 13th in the state.

WOMENS TENNIS

Northern (3-0) picked off Rockingham County 8-1 earlier this month before squeezing by Western Alamance

Coming June 17

Class of 2021 Onward & Upward A PS Communications special publication that celebrates high school graduates in our readership area

For details about placing a business or personal ad in this publication, please see ads on back cover and p. 42 The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996 published by pscommu

nications

MAY 20 - JUNE 2, 2021

CRIME / INCIDENT report

District 1 Sheriff’s Ofﬁce

has recently responded to the following incidents in northwest/northern Guilford County ... an unknown suspect left her door ajar ASSAULT May 14 | A resident of the 7700 block of Eversfield Road in Summerfield (off Oak Ridge Road) reported she and a known suspect assaulted each other. May 15 | A resident of the 5000 block of Carlson Dairy Road in northwest Greensboro reported she and her spouse pushed each other.

BURGLARY

May 7 | A resident of the 8100 block of Leabourne Road in Colfax reported an unknown suspect bent in a back window to unlawfully gain entry to his residence sometime between 12:51 and 2:51 p.m.; no items were reported stolen. May 11 | A resident of the 9000 block of Ellisboro Road in Stokesdale reported

between 8:30 a.m. and 5:45 p.m.; no items were reported stolen.

DISCHARGING A FIREARM

May 16 | A resident of the 8100 block of Shoeline Road in Stokesdale (near U.S. 158) reported her neighbor accidentally discharged a firearm on May 15 between 12 noon and 3 p.m. The bullet struck her porch railing and caused $5 worth of damage.

DRIVING WHILE IMPAIRED

May 6 | A 38-year-old male was arrested in the 100 block of I-73 N in northwest Greensboro for driving while impaired.

DRUGS

May 9 | A 23-year-old male was arrest-

ed at the I-73 N ramp on U.S. 220 N in Summerfield for possession of a Schedule II controlled substance with intent to manufacture/distribute, possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance with intent to manufacture/distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia; a 25-year-old male was also cited for carrying a concealed weapon without a permit.

dale reported an unknown suspect impersonated a federal representative in September 2019 and scammed her out of $26,000. May 14 | A resident of the 7400 block of Hadleigh Court in Oak Ridge (near Haw River Road) reported an unknown suspect fraudulently purchased $599 worth of items with his debit card on May 10.

EMBEZZLEMENT

OBSTRUCTING AN OFFICER

May 5 | The owner of L&T Small Engine Service in Oak Ridge reported a known suspect sold $1,020 worth of items belonging to the business to National Pawn and Jewelry in Greensboro between April 12 and April 30.

FRAUD

May 4 | A resident of the 6700 block of Buckley Drive in Summerfield (off Strawberry Road) reported an unknown suspect fraudulently purchased $1,062.72 worth of items with her debit card on May 3 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. May 14 | A resident of the 8500 block of Oak Level Church Road in Stokes-

May 11 | A 34-year-old female was arrested in the 8100 block of N.C. 68 N/ Seagraves Drive in Stokesdale for two outstanding warrants, and for obstructing a police officer after giving the officer her sister’s name and date of birth when she was pulled over.

THEFT May 5 | A resident of the 7200 block of Summerfield Road in Summerfield reported an unknown suspect stole a Coleman Mini Bike valued at $650 on May 3 at 5:17 a.m. May 5 | A resident of the 7200 block of Summerfield Road in Summerfield

There’s so much to

CELEBRATE We’ve got 26,000 readers ready to cheer you on in all life’s big events Let’s CELEBRATE together!

Interested in a celebration ad? Call or email Laura for details. (336) 644-7035, ext. 11 advertising@nwobserver.com

MAY 20 - JUNE 2, 2021

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

reported an unknown suspect stole his trailer and lawn mower, with a combined value of $2,000, between May 3 at 11 a.m. and May 5 at 2 p.m. May 7 | An employee of Southern Exposure Landscape Management in Summerfield reported an unknown suspect stole $2,100 worth of landscaping tools from a company vehicle between May 6 at 6 p.m. and May 7 at 7 a.m. May 14 | A resident of the 2800 block

of Pleasant Ridge Road in Summerfield reported an unknown suspect removed the lock on his shed and stole $1,024 worth of items between May 13 at 5 p.m. and May 14 at 5 p.m. May 15 | An Oak Ridge resident reported an unknown suspect stole his 2020 Volkswagen Jetta while it was parked in the 7600 block of Henson Forest Drive in Summerfield (off Oak Ridge Road) between 2:30 and 7:35 a.m.; the vehicle has since been recovered.

ORTHOPAEDICS & SPORTS MEDICINE

District 1 Sheriff’s Office

7504 Summerfield Road Main number: (336) 641-2300 Report non-emergency crime-related incidents by calling:

(336) 373-2222 8 a.m.–5 p.m., M-F

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LESSONS FROM MOM ...continued from p. 1

“My grandmother Teena taught me how to laugh, chat and have fun while doing everyday things. She was a hoot! My mom, her daughter, was like her in so many ways. But my mom also taught me how to appreciate the natural joy of children – she could connect almost immediately with any child she met, and she was a wonderful and loving mother. “She also taught me to stop and look at the beauty that we can find in almost everything around us, if we just take the time.” Ann Schneider, OAK RIDGE “I grew up lower middle class in a small town in Vermont, the youngest of four girls. Both my parents worked very hard to provide a stable foundation for my life. I think that is probably one of the first and most significant life lessons I learned from my mother – hard work and responsibility. My parents instilled this work ethic from my early years by making all of us girls responsible

for cleaning the house, cooking and making sure our rooms were in order. “Growing up in the ‘70s, my mother was such a strong, confident woman. She not only worked and was an equal to my dad, but she was a very strong lady who advocated for everyone. She spoke her mind often and was not worried about causing friction if it was for a good cause. “My mom taught me about women’s equality, or feminism, and instilled the love of sports and competition. My parents both played softball and were umpires. In fact, my mom was the very first woman umpire in our town in the ‘70s and ‘80s. She would not falter when criticized, and she stood her ground when making calls the men didn’t agree with. It taught me so many life lessons regarding dealing with equality, toughness and confidence.

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...continued on p. 42

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

MAY 20 - JUNE 2, 2021

mark your

calendar

EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY

 Farmers markets | Fruits of the Spirit Farmers

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

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

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

Submit your events online at Click “community calendar” on the left-hand side

Deadline for inclusion in each week’s issue is

9 a.m. on Mondays 11:30 a.m. on the lake at Summerfield Community Park, 5404 Centerfield Road. This free event is limited to 50 kids, ages 6-12, and includes a free T-shirt. Bring your own rod and reel or use one provided; bait will be provided. To register, visit summerfieldnc.gov, scroll down the homepage to the calendar and click on the June 19 event. More info: Cheryl Gore, (336) 643-8655 or cgore@summerfieldnc.gov.

FRIDAY, MAY 21  Teenage Republicans | Teenage Republicans will

hold an initial meeting May 21, 5 to 7 p.m. in the medical office building at 5500 W. Friendly Ave., Greensboro (go around back to the basement). Dinner will be provided. More info: (336) 525-7467.

MAY 22 & 23

 Fishing Derby | NC Wildlife Commission is once

 The Princess and the Pea | Oak Ridge Elementary School Drama Club, aka The Colt Players, will add a modern twist to the classic tale “The Princess and

again sponsoring the Town of Summerfield’s annual fishing derby on Saturday, June 19, 8:30 to

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the Pea” on Saturday, May 22, starting at 6 p.m., and Sunday, May 23, starting at 2 p.m. at Oak Ridge Park amphitheater, 6231 Lisa Drive. Tickets for the play cost $5, and raffle tickets cost $1; there will also be a bake sale. All proceeds will go toward future Colt Players productions. To purchase tickets, visit ores.ptboard.com or call (336) 643-8410.

SUNDAY, MAY 23  Pentecost cookout | Crossroads Community Church will host a free Pentecost cookout May 23, starting at 12:30 p.m. at 8212 B & G Court in Stokesdale. Hot dogs and hamburgers will be served, and there will be yard games. Attendees will get a preview of the coming Keith Street Memorial Dream Pavilion. For more info, visit facebook.com/stokesdalegoodsamaritans or call (336) 643-5887.

MAY 25 & 27  Special called Town Council meetings | Summer-

field Town Council will have special called meetings May 25 and May 27, both starting at 6:30 p.m. The May 25 meeting pertains to the Unified Development Ordinance and will be held at Revolution Academy, 3800 Oak Ridge Road in Summerfield. The proposed budget for FY 2021-2022, which begins July 1, will be presented at the May 27 meeting, which will be held at Summerfield Community Center, 5404 Centerfield Road. More info: (336) 643-8655.

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The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

8400 Hwy 158 • PO Box 469 Stokesdale, NC 27357 kim@kimberlythacker.com

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

 Community trail workday | Oak

Ridge Mountains-to-Sea Trail Committee will oversee a community trail workday May 26, 9 a.m. to noon; volunteers will meet at the end of Shields Drive in Oak Ridge for instructions, then divide into teams to focus on the wet area on the Headwaters Trail (along the Haw River). Tasks include ditching and moving dirt into this lower wet area to raise the footpath and scraping back active spring growth. For more details on sign-up and what to wear/bring, visit facebook.com/oakridgenc, scroll until you see the event ad and click on it. More info: email bill_royal@yahoo.com or call (336) 644-7009.

SATURDAY, MAY 29  Food pantry | Good Samaritan

Ministries’ food pantry in Stokesdale will open for those in need of food on May 29, 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.  Pet parade | Centerfield United Methodist Church youth will host a pet parade May 29 at Summerfield Community Park, 5404 Centerfield Road. Registration begins at 11 a.m., and the parade runs from 12 noon to 1 p.m. All friendly pets are welcome to participate; awards such as “best smile” will be given afterwards. There will also be a bake sale with human and pet goodies and Chick-fil-A combos available for purchase. Visit centerfieldyouth.com or call (336) 423-8091 to learn more.

SUNDAY, MAY 30  The Honor Ride | The Greensboro

Velo Club will host a bike ride to benefit Triad Honor Flight (a local non-profit that offers veterans a free one-day trip to Washington, D.C., to visit memori-

als) May 30, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; the route begins and ends at Village Beverage Co., 1015 N.C. 150 W Suite A in Summerfield. Sign-in starts at 7:30 a.m. Seventeen-, 30-, 40- or 56-mile routes leave in stages starting at 9 a.m., and a 5-mile ride leaves at 10 a.m. The cost is $40 per adult until May 29 at 7 p.m. or $45 at the door. There will be maps, marked turns, GPS links, rest stops and a sag wagon plus post-ride music, food, drinks and door prizes. All proceeds benefit Triad Honor Flight. Visit bikereg.com/Triad-Honor-Ride to learn more and sign up, and visit triadhonorflight.org to learn more about the organization.

MONDAY, MAY 31  Memorial Day celebration | Oak

Ridge Special Events Committee will host a Memorial Day veterans ceremony featuring local Scouts, town representatives and Oak Ridge resident/ veteran Gary Blackburn as the guest speaker on May 31, 10 to 11 a.m. at Oak Ridge Park amphitheater, 6231 Lisa Drive. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. More info: (908) 334-2370 or patriciadmuchowski@hotmail.com.

TUESDAY, JUNE 1  Merchants Association | Sum-

merfield Merchants Association invites business professionals who live in Summerfield or operate a business in Summerfield to a meeting hosted by doctors Ben and Jenny Weston of Summerfield Family Dentistry on June 1, 6:30 to 8 p.m. More info: info@summerfieldmerchant.com.

THURSDAY, JUNE 3  Town Council meeting | Oak Ridge

Town Council will meet June 3, beginning 7 p.m. at Oak Ridge Town Hall, 8315 Linville Road. There will be a public hearing during the meeting to get citizen input on the proposed budget for FY2021-2022. The meeting will be livestreamed on the town’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.

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The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

www.piedmonttrucktires.com MAY 20 - JUNE 2, 2021

GRINS and GRIPES

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

words or less

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

 Tire Max in Summerfield. Had a set of tires mounted, balanced and alignment checked on a specialty vehicle. Brian, the store manager, and Jack, the alignment specialist, were terrific. Great customer service – efficient, knowledgeable and professional!

system) and your “extensive” knowledge of vaccines and fly to India? We are not out of the woods yet.

 The griper who lives on Merriman Farm Road. We appreciate you keeping it so tidy and making it the most scenic cut-through in Oak Ridge.

 Residents of Flatrock Road who continuously blow grass clippings in the roadway. This is hazardous to motorcycles and bicyclists. If grass was meant to be on roadways, they wouldn’t have paved them!

 Jim, driver of the pretty blue truck, for changing my tire while everyone zoomed past on U.S. 158. You made this “granny” proud!

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

 The gentleman with the stuck SUV in the car wash in Oak Ridge who gave me his token for a free deluxe car wash.

detailed info before we left them, and then sent texts and photos during visits to let us know how they were doing.

 Our citizens who are vaccinated and removing their masks. The data shows that vaccinated people are not transmitters. I’m happy to see more faces and overjoyed to join the ranks of the unmasked!

 David Couch for the time and care put into planning his Summerfield Village concept. It is a beautiful example of the kind of thoughtful and controlled development Summerfield needs. I would love to live there one day!

 Northern Guilford High School parents for putting on a prom for the students! They deserved this normalcy after months of virtual hard work. P.S. Fantastic theme!  Wendy Collins Pets Sitting. Recently cared for our dogs for the first time and was wonderful. Gathered very

 Gripers in the Northwest Observer’s last edition. Why don’t you take your internal mask (aka your immune

 The FedEx delivery van driver who sped through the Woodvale neighborhood, Friday, May 7, and flipped me off when I asked him to slow down. Real professional. It’s a neighborhood, not a race track.  The person who thinks their immune system is protecting them from COVID. Look up herd immunity and start thanking the people who are wearing their masks. Educate yourself.  Oak Ridge Town Council and P&Z Board for indicating how important trees were to the rural and historic

Begin your journey

PREPARED

MAY 20 - JUNE 2, 2021

May 29 at 3 pm | Stokesdale Tire Max

FREE opportunity for 30 young drivers to work with three Tire Max technicians and learn basic car maintenance, including how to check fluids, check air pressure and install a spare tire. Gift bags for participants will include air gauge, tire pressure gauge and rag for fluid checks. Parents welcome to attend!

Call or email Jonathon to reserve your spot! 336.441.8066 | tiremaxauto1@gmail.com

Stokesdale

7705 Highway 68 N (336) 441-8066

Summerfield

4420 US Highway 220N (336) 793-5391

Madison

706 Burton Street (336) 548-6674

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

High Point

619 Greensboro Road (336) 885-4321

High Point

2410 Eastchester Dr (336) 841-6553

character of Oak Ridge, yet approved a subdivision behind ORUMC which meant two very old trees were cut down at the entrance.  The young man driving a white Mercedes and following a friend on N.C. 150 in Oak Ridge on Saturday, May 8, passing in curves on double lines. Hope you made it safely to your destination. Reckless driving causes accidents, loss of life!  The person who griped about people getting the COVID-19 vaccine but ended with “Think for yourself.” I did think for myself when I chose to protect myself and my family, thanks!  The “masks on the inside” griper last week. The ignorance of their statement is beyond belief.

Outside the

…

The following reader-submitted GRIPES express opinions about state and/or national topics, and have been

separated from the other grins and gripes as a courtesy to those who do not want to read others’ opinions on state and/or national political and other non-local topics in a local newspaper.

GRIPES to...

 Conservatives who don’t understand that voting is a right protected in the Constitution and flying is a contract between consumer/company. Likewise, speech cannot be silenced by the government, but Facebook is a company and can do what it wants.  Republicans who don’t understand the difference between the right to vote (voting acts and amendments) and a choice to fly on a plane. They ain’t the same. Not everyone has the ability to obtain an ID.  The person complaining about liberals and voter ID. I’m sure you would consider me a liberal because

I voted against Trump, but I think we need voter ID. I also think early voting should be extended to make it easier for everyone to vote. Just my humble opinion.  The breathtaking stupidity of politicians who halted construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, keeping the whole East Coast totally dependent on the one Colonial Pipeline.  Science deniers and the NWO for enabling them. If you’re not wearing a mask, your immune system doesn’t protect you and others around you. Without a vaccine or a mask, you are potentially endangering yourself and those around you.

We’re all ears. Grins to people who wear masks in stores and restaurants.

Gripes to the lady driving the gray/black Bentley through Summerfield – it’s not a speedway.

Gripes to dog owners who let their mutts poop in my yard.

Tell us how you feel. (but please, keep it to

40 words or less)

 Hapless Harry and his wife, claiming to pine for privacy while clamoring for media attention. The more they speak, the more they display their self-pitying solipsism and vacuous shallowness. They admit to mental health issues. I believe them.

E-mail

grinsandgripes@ nwobserver.com

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The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

MAY 20 - JUNE 2, 2021

LESSONS FROM MOM ...continued from p. 37

of the most important life lessons I’ve tried to instill in my children include: being inclusive, loving our neighbors and helping those in need or less privileged. “When my kids were little, they would often ask why we had to be the volunteers, and I would always reply `because if everyone had that mentality, then nothing would get done.’” Debbie Sivret, GREENSBORO “Mom taught me to always try to see all sides of something – you might say, to put yourself in other’s shoes.” Jim Davis, OAK RIDGE “Mother often expressed herself in aphorisms or clichés. Things like ‘Haste makes waste,’ ‘It takes two to tango,’ ‘Check and double check,’ etc. One

of her favorites was ‘Two wrongs don’t make a right.’ “So shortly after we moved to North Carolina, I got her a Carolinablue sweatshirt and had a local screen printer emblazon it with this quip: ‘Two Wrongs don’t make a right, but two Wrights made an airplane.’ She got a big kick out of it! “Mother died in 1999, but I still wear that sweatshirt occasionally. “I used to call her ‘Square,’ because she wasn’t hip to the happenings when I was a kid. As an adult, I’ve come to realize more and more that she was a lot smarter and much more in style than I thought, and those ‘old saws’ still have a great deal of relevance even now, a century after her birth in 1920.” Yvonne Truhon, WINSTON-SALEM “My mom has always been very creative with gift giving for birthdays and

Coming

June 17 A PS Communications special publication that celebrates high school graduates in our readership area

Reserve your ad space tions published by pscommunica

by June 7

Business, church, non-profit and individual senior celebration ads available

Individuals contact

Businesses contact

(336) 644 - 7035, ext. 10

(336) 644 - 7035, ext. 11

celebrations@nwobserver.com

laura@nwobserver.com

MAY 20 - JUNE 2, 2021

holidays. When I was about 10 years old, she created an adorable Christmas train out of boxes and colorful wrapping paper and set it across the floor in front of the tree. Each car was full of presents for each of her five children – it was magical! “Another memory is of one Valentine’s Day when my mom gave us each bath towels on which she had handsewn our names in yarn. I still have them! “My mom was very supportive and always encouraged us to try everything. She let us try any crazy idea we came up with and always said, ‘Give it a try, you never know what will stick!’ “As for being a mom, I have learned to be incredibly flexible. You tend to have these lofty, ambitious dreams about what your kids will do, but they almost never align with theirs. I’ve had to learn to allow them be who they are, not who I want them to be. When I got to college, I realized that’s what my mom did for me!” Stephanie Brady, OAK RIDGE “My life lesson from my mom is to pray and trust Jesus. She has done so through dark and disappointing days, with miraculous answers. My faith today is in answer to her sweet prayers.” Terri Hawkins, SUMMERFIELD “My Mom taught me a lot of things and I learned a lot from her. There is a difference. “For example… She taught me how to fold a napkin for the table. “But what I learned from her was that welcoming someone in your home, no matter what the circumstances, warms not only their heart but yours also. “I learned that you can hate to cook but still be a really great one.

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

“I was taught how to knit but learned how much joy can come from a simple ball of yarn or a spool of thread. “I was taught how to read but learned that a book can take you on an amazing journey without ever leaving your comfort zone. “I learned that some of the best presents can just be a roll of bubble wrap. “I learned that humor trumps sadness and is so good for the soul. “I learned that no matter how old or young you are, you can try new things and make a difference in someone’s life. “I was taught how to feed my pets but I learned that all of God’s creatures deserve to be cared for and loved. “I was taught that you always give two cookies – one for each hand. “I learned that you can be a rebel when being a rebel is not fashionable. “She taught me how to fly, but the most important thing I learned from my Mom is that when you fly and you fall flat on your face, it is through your family that God helps to pick you up, dusts you off and sends you on your way to try again. “God, through your family, celebrates your laughter and He becomes joyous. “When you think that the tears will never stop it is through your family that God dries your tears and holds you in His arms. “And most of all, when you can’t seem to find yourself and you don’t seem to fit anywhere, it is through your family that God gives you the courage to keep on searching for the beauty and perfection in your soul that only He can give you. “Family is one of God’s greatest gifts to all of us.” Chris Brown, OAK RIDGE

 AUTO SALES & SERVICE

 EMPLOYMENT

FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT Farmers Market. Open April 27 - Oct. 26, 4-7pm. Located at Stokesdale UMC, 8305 Loyola Drive, Stokesdale.

SAM'S AUTO BODY SHOP. Any type of body work. 45 years exp. (336) 965-7955. CHOICE TIRE AND AUTOMOTIVE. Oil changes, inspections, alignments and general automotive repairs. 1080 US Hwy 66 S, Kernersville, NC. (336) 992-9002.

Place online at

DEADLINE: Monday prior to each issue

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

INDEX Auto Sales & Service ........ 43 Employment .................... 43 Save the Date.................. 43 Summer Camp ................ 43 Yard Sales ....................... 43 Home Services ...........43-46 Misc. Services .................. 46 Misc. For Sale .................. 46 Misc. Wanted .................. 46 Pets & Animal Services .... 46 Real Estate ...................... 46

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.

 EMPLOYMENT BAKER & ASSISTANT BAKER, Stokesdale commercial bakery. Days, 5am1pm. Call (336) 949-4802 or contact mcusato@kalofoods.com. NEW HOMESCHOOL CO-OP starting in the Summerﬁeld/Bethany area. We are looking for teachers of all grade levels who might be interested in teaching classes on Thursdays starting in September. If interested, please contact Tatum McBryde at NLHG.reidsville@gmail.com. NOW HIRING. Part-time Lead and Assistant teaching positions at Mt. Pisgah Weekday School. mpws@mtpisgahgso.org. NOW HIRING all positions in group home. No experience necessary; will train. Call (336) 427-2562, ext. 4. FULL & PART-TIME hours available. Apply today! Doss' Grill, 406 North Main St., Kernersville.

 SAVE THE DATE

YOUTH/SPORTS WRITER (PT) 5 to 10 hours per week

Northwest Observer has been fortunate to have Meredith Barkley on our editorial team for the past few years, and we appreciate him coming out of retirement to write part-time for us after he had ended a long career with Greensboro News & Record. Meredith is ready to again put a period after his writing career and we’re looking for someone to take his place. The ideal person would be a skilled writer with a broad knowledge of sports, and one who enjoys relating to young people. In addition to sports, our youth/sports writer records the accomplishments of students in diverse areas such as cultural arts, academics and community service. We prefer someone who has experience writing for a newspaper, and attention to details, accuracy and meeting deadlines are critical. Our youth/sports writer works an average of 5 to 10 hours a week, on a very flexible schedule (while occasionally being available to cover a sports game or youth event on a late afternoon, evening or Saturday). We offer our writers a competitive hourly pay rate.

COMMUNITY MOVIE NIGHT, sponsored by The Summit Church of Oak Ridge, featuring "The Croods: A New Age." Fri., June 4; food vendors starting at 6:30pm; fun and games at 7pm; movie to start at dark. Oak Ridge Town Park. Free admission. Free concessions. Reserve your spot at thesummitchurch.net.

 SUMMER CAMP Northwest Lady Vikings LACROSSE CAMP. June 22-24, 9am-12pm. $100. For info email kirwanc@gcsnc.com.

 YARD SALES Polo Farms COMMUNITY YARD SALE. Saturday, May 22, 8am-noon. 6500 Polo Farms Drive, Summerﬁeld. HUGE TWO-FAMILY YARD SALE. Sat., May 22, 8am. 8411 Southard Rd., Stokesdale. MOVING/GARAGE SALE. Sat., May 22, 9am-4pm. 4405 Liguria Ct., Summerﬁ eld, "The Vineyards." Furniture, toys, tools, clothing, house accessories, books. Hickory Woods COMMUNITY YARD SALE. Saturday, June 5, 7am-1pm. 4601 Hickory Woods Drive, Greensboro. Hope to see you there!

 HOME SERVICES

Having skills with sports photography is definitely a plus (but finding a professional WRITER is our top priority).

AIR CONDITIONING & HEATING

If interested in this position, please send resume including professional writing experience, writing samples and references to patti@nwobserver.com.

CLEANING

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

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

ANNASARAH'S CLEANING. Excellent references. Trustworthy. Family owned business. Free estimates. (336) 543-3941.

continued on p. 44

MAY 2020 - JUNE 2, 2, 2021 MAY - JUNE 2021

43 43

HOME SERVICES

MAID-2- SHINE. Excellent ser vice, 15 years experience. Free estimates, excellent references. (336) 338-0223.

FLOORING

GRADING / HAULING

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.

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

WILSON LANDSCAPING, INC. Lawn maint., landscaping. Irrigation/ landscape contractor. Hardscaping & landscape lighting. 26 years exp. (336) 399-7764.

PAOLA CLEANING SERVICE. Residential & commercial. Insured. (336) 669-5210 CRYSTAL CLEAR WINDOW CLEANING Gutter cleaning, pressure washing. Fully ins. windowcleaningnc.com (336) 595-2873 CHRISTIAN MOM needs work cleaning houses, running errands. Will fit to your budget. Pet taxi/pet sitting also avail. References. Call Laura Bennett, (336) 231-1838. THE CLEANING TECHNICIAN LLC. Back in business. Spring cleaning time is here. I would like to offer my cleaning services. I do detailed cleaning. I also offer carpet cleaning and floor steaming. Licensed, bonded, insured, and vaccinated. Call Lisa, (336) 207-0770.

DECORATING EXPERIENCED INTERIOR DECORATOR & personal furniture shopper will help you with style, color, shopping & furniture placement. E-mail appeninc@gmail.com or call Ann Appenzeller, (336) 314-1411. BLISSFUL ART & FRAMING. SHOP LOCAL! Framing, gifts, graphic design. 4533 Hwy. 220 N., Summerfield. (336) 298-4502.

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

www.nwobserver.com or call (336) 644-7035, ext. 10

ELECTRICAL Do you have ELECTRICAL NEEDS? Call Coble Electric LLC at (336) 209-1486. CKH ELECTRIC, LLC. Give us a call for your next residential, commercial, or industrial project. Free estimates, licensed, insured, & BBB accredited. (336) 944-4820. BALEX ELECTRICAL COMPANY, LLC. Got Power? Residential, commercial and solar electrical services. (336) 298-4192.

44 MAY MAY - JUNE 2021 2020 - JUNE 2,2, 2021

GENERAL REPAIR & SERVICES 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. L & T SMALL ENGINE SERVICE "We get you mowing!" Comm./res., all models. 2103 Oak Ridge Rd., Oak Ridge. Call (336) 298-4314, LandTsmallengineservice.com.

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

(336) 669-7252

oldschoolsjhr@triad.rr.com

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.

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

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. TRACTOR WORK. Garden prep, loader work, brush hogging, core aeration, finish grading, mowing, etc. Call or text (336) 908-0890. BRAD'S BOBCAT & HAULING SVCS. LLC. Debris removal, grading, gravel/dirt, driveways, concrete work. (336) 362-3647 GAULDIN TRUCKING, grading & hauling, bobcat work, lot clearing, driveways, fill dirt, gravel, etc. (336) 362-1150. H&L GRADING, LLC. No job too tough or too small. Call us first! We are a full-service grading company that specializes in residential projects. Owner/ operator Timmy Hart has more than 30 years of grading and equipment experience. Fully licensed and insured. Land clearing, debris removal, driveways, French drains and much more. (336) 543-7867. E&W HAULING & GRADING INC. Driveways, fill dirt, demolition, lot clearing, excavating, bobcat work, etc. (336) 451-1282.

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

LAWNCARE / LANDSCAPING HILL LAWNCARE & OUTDOOR SERVICES. Free est. Call (336) 669-5448.

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

COLFAX LAWNCARE. Core aeration & seeding. Fertilizing, mowing, trimming, pine needles. Complete lawn care maintenance. Res./comm. Fully insured. Serving the Triad for 33 years. (336) 362-5860. ARBOR MASTERS TREE SERVICE Total tree removal, storm damage cleanup, shrub and tree pruning. Free estimates. Licensed & insured. (336) 643-9157. ATCHISON LAWNCARE. Honest, dependable, local. Mike Atchison, owner. (336) 486-9837. 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. AQUA SYSTEMS IRRIGATION. Quality irrigation systems. NC licensed contractor. We service all systems. Free est. (336) 644-1174. 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. 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.

 HOME SERVICES

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

ON EAGLE'S WINGS residential home design/drafting. Call Patti, (336) 605-0519.

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

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.

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.

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. NEW PHASE CONCRETE. Here for all your decorative concrete needs. Specializing in decorative stamp, stained, epoxy and all other concrete poured finishes as well. Also offering refurbishment of existing stamped concrete. Make your existing stamped look like new again! (336) 399-1474 or (336) 595-4654. SOUTHERN STYLE concrete & landscapes. How about a new patio or fire pit? We can help with all of your outdoor living and entertainment spaces! Fire pits, driveways & sidewalks, patios and more! Give us a call at (336) 399-6619 for all your concrete and landscape needs. MASONRY CONCEPTS, brick, block, stone concrete & repairs. Free est. (336) 988-1022, www.masonryconceptsgso.com.

Your HOME SERVICES

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

PAINTING & DRYWALL LAWSON'S PAINTING. Custom decks, pressure washing, boat docks, block ﬁll, wood repair, stain work, textured ceilings, sheetrock repair. Call (336) 253-9089.

BEK Paint Co.

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.

PRESSURE WASHING

David & Judy Long, owners

CUTTING EDGE PRESSURE WASHING Aﬀordable, dependable. Please call anytime for free estimate. (336) 706-0103.

BEKPaintCompany.com

HOUSE and ROOF SOFT WASHING. Martin's Pressure Washing. (919) 931-0856.

Residential & Commercial

(336) 931-0600

• References Available • Licensed & Insured • All Work Guaranteed

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

PLUMBING

Wilson Ain’t God Good

company should be here!

Septic Pumping & Repair

www.nwobserver.com

(336) 643-6427

Place your classiﬁed ad online at

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

Family owned & operated since 1972

MISC. HOME SERVICES/PRODUCTS

Tank pumping, repairs, clogs, advice – ALL WITH A SMILE!

COX POOL SERVICE. Openings, closings, routine maintenance, weekly service. No contracts, free estimates! (336) 327-5122.

Discounts: mention this ad, veteran, senior citizen, cookies & milk Find us on Google, neighborhood.com, FB

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

REMODELING / CONSTRUCTION

Of The Triad

The Bathroom of Your Dreams in as Little as a Day

(336) 497-0765 NCGC License #84330

www.BathPlanetTriad.com KEITH SMITH CONSTRUCTION. 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.

JLB REMODELING, INC. Remodeling and additions. Fully insured. NC GC license #69997. Free est. Call (336) 681-2902 or visit www.jlbremodeling.com. 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. AMERICAN BUILDER CONSTRUCTION. Repairs & remodeling, kitchens/baths, additions, decks, attics, basements. Licensed & insured. Short wait list. NC General Contractors. (336) 225-7478. BELEWS CREEK CONSTRUCTION. Kitchens/baths, custom decks, garages, dock work, siding, windows, rooﬁng, rotted wood. Sr. disc., 41 yrs. exp. (336) 362-6343. RENOVATION WORKS, INC. New construction, remodeling, additions, kitchen, bath and decks. We are a locally owned, full-service design and build company, A+ accredited with the BBB. Visit www.myrenovationworks.com or call (336) 427-7391 to start your next project.

Construction Services, INC

BUILDING | RENOVATIONS | ADDITIONS

Outdoor living spaces | Fire pits

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

What’s going on around town?

Check in with your neighbors at facebook.com/northwestobserver

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

continued on p. 46

MAY 2020 - JUNE 2, 2021 MAY - JUNE 2, 2021

 HOME SERVICES

 MISC. FOR SALE

ROOFING

HOMES FOR SALE

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

BEAUTIFUL OAK RIDGE HOME

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.

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

Nancy J. Hess

nancy.hess@bhhsyostandlittle.com

HEXAGON, UPRIGHT FISH AQUARIUM. Beautiful. Includes all operating equipment and stand. $165. Call (336) 644-7035 or email info@nwobserver.com.

 MISC. WANTED

6705 US Hwy 158, Stokesdale

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

 MISC. FOR SALE HONDA 6KW PORTABLE GENERATOR. 120/240 volt., 11 HP. On wheeled cart. Used only 90 hours. $950. (336) 644-2714.

Got stuﬀ? Need stuﬀ?

Place your ad today: www.nwobserver.com

46 MAY - JUNE 2021 46 MAY 2020 - JUNE 2,2, 2021

(336) 215-1820

1616 NC 68 North WALRAVEN SIGNATURE HOMES CUSTOM BUILD

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

 PETS & ANIMAL SVCS.

locally owned & operated

OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT

5807 Bison Drive, Oak Ridge

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

 MISC. SERVICES

 REAL ESTATE

Beautiful and serene 1+ acre lot with mature greenery for privacy, landscaped waterfall and pond in the rear, owner’s suite on main. $869,000

DUSTIN CLINARD ROOFING. Shingles, metal, and leak repairs. Call (336) 268-1908.

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

 REAL ESTATE

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

 REAL ESTATE LAND FOR SALE NEW EXCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT. Bring your own custom builder. Pre-development discount oﬀering for a limited time. Beautiful 1+ acre homesites, wooded and open. Call for appt. to see your new homesite. (336) 430-9507. Anytime! 2 LARGE TRACTS, 12+ acres each. Can be combined to make 1 tract of 25 acres. Wooded, serene and quiet. Summerﬁeld area, Rockingham County taxes. These are awesome tracts with large running creeks. Absolute Paradise! Call, (336) 430-9507.

7502 Grey Wind Court, Oak Ridge

5 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, 3-car garage, screened porch, oversized great room and bonus room. $840,000

Nancy J. Hess

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

Jake Letterman

jake.letterman@bhhsyostandlittle.com

(336) 338-0136

SELLING OR RENTING? We can help you reach ALL of northwest Guilford County! Place your ad online at

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

OAK RIDGE

Furnished and unfurnished offices for rent on upper floor of two-story building located on 6 wooded acres in Oak Ridge’s commercial core district. $700 to $1,100 monthly rent per office includes all utilities and WiFi as well as shared use of professionally decorated conference/sunroom and large kitchen with appliances. Formerly a residence, the building was converted for commercial use in 2008 and has since been the home of PS Communications, which partially occupies the building. For more information or to view available offices for rent, call Patti Stokes (336) 340-3763

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

By the Book Accounting .....................15 Carlotta Lytton, CPA.......................... 38 Kimberly Thacker Accounting............ 38 Samuel K. Anders, CPA, MSA, PC......16

AUTOMOTIVE SALES / SERVICE

GROCERIES / SUPPLIES

Southern Foods ................................... 5

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Elvis Mendoza In-Home Massage...... 38

HOME PRODUCTS & SERVICES

Fidelity Bank .......................................13

BEK Paint Company .......................... 45 Carpets by Direct ................................. 2 Eanes Heating & Air ...........................19 New Garden Landscaping & Nursery ..20 Rymack Storage ................................ 46 Stokesdale Heating & Air................... 26 Wilson Septic & Pumping .................. 45

BUILDING / REMODELING

INSURANCE

Beamer Tire & Auto ............................ 9 EuroHaus .......................................... 43 Piedmont Truck Tires ......................... 39 Tire Max ............................................ 40

BANK

Bath Planet ....................................... 45 Disney Construction Company........... 23 Don Mills Builders .............................. 29 Friddle and Company, Inc. ................. 21 Johnson & Lee LLC............................ 25 Naylor Custom Homes ...................... 24 Old School Home Repair ................... 44 R&K Custom Homes ......................... 27 R.S. Dezern Construction Inc. ............ 22 Ray Bullins Construction .................... 22 TM Construction Services .................. 45 Walraven Signature Homes ............... 23

CHILDREN’S SERVICES

Gladwell Insurance Agency.................. 6

LEGAL SERVICES

Barbour & Williams Law .....................14

MEDICAL CARE

LeBauer HealthCare............................ 3 Wake Forest Baptist Health ............... 37 Wake Forest – Summerfield ................. 8

ORTHODONTIC CARE

Olmsted Orthodontics ........................31 Reynolds Orthodontics ...................... 33

PET SERVICES & PRODUCTS

Guardian Ad Litem ............................ 32

Bel-Aire Veterinary Hospital ............... 38 Northwest Animal Hospital .................12

CHIROPRACTIC CARE

REAL ESTATE

Oak Ridge Chiropractic ..................... 10

COMMUNITY COLLEGE

GTCC .................................................41

DENTAL SERVICES

Summerfield Family Dentistry ............ 32

EYE CARE

Summerfield Family Eye Care ............ 30

EVENTS

Summerfield UDO Public Hearing....... 7 Summit Church Movie in the Park ....... 4

FUNERAL SERVICES

Forbis & Dick Funeral Services ............15

Isn’t it nice to know exactly where you’re going?

A New Dawn Realty ...........................15 DeDe Cunningham, Keller Williams ... 18 Nancy Hess, Berkshire Hathaway ...... 46 Nicole Gillespie, RE/MAX .................. 28 Smith Marketing, Allen Tate .............. 23

RESTAURANTS

Bistro 150 ...........................................11

RETAIL

Cass Jewelers .....................................31

Serving Northwest Guilford County since 1996 direct-mailed to 12,000+ homes online 24/7 • 14,000+ followers on Facebook 1,200 copies for free pickup Contact us today to begin your

TARGETED marketing program (336) 644-7035, ext. 11 | advertising@nwobserver.com

YOUTH SPORTS / CAMPS

Greensboro Parks & Recreation......... 35 NC Baseball Academy ....................... 33 Oak RidgeThe Youth Association Observer .............12 Northwest

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MAY 20 - JUNE 2, 2021

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Oak Ridge, NC Permit No. 22

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

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Coming June 17

Class of 2021 Onward & Upward

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tions published by pscommunica

A PS Communications special publication that celebrates high school graduates in our readership area

Businesses, Churches, Non-Profits

Congratulations C lass of 2020 Share your SMIL E wherever you ar e, and wherever yo u go, go with all your heart.

we’ve got the perfect way for you to show your support for this year’s graduating class For advertising information and rates, contact Laura (336) 644-7035, ext. 11 | laura@nwobserver.com Congrats,

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School Northern Guilford High GTCC, Fall 2020

Design Advertising and Graphic dible young We are so proud of the incre has great God woman you have become. will always be here plans for your life and we h for the stars Reac you. ort supp to love and cles happen. and continue to make mira a Love, Mom, Dad and Emm

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celebrate your graduate’s milestone by placing a personal ad in Onward & Upward For advertising information and rates, contact Kelli (336) 644-7035, ext. 10 | celebrations@nwobserver.com

Recognition of Northwest and Northern Guilford seniors ● Interviews with student body and senior class presidents ● Recognition of summa cum laude graduates Special recognition for seniors who receive end-of-year awards ● Highlights of 2020/2021 senior year ● Seniors’ passing thoughts ● And more... Over 12,000 copies directly mailed to all households in the Oak Ridge (27310), Summerfield (27358) and Stokesdale (27357) zip codes

plus over 2,000 copies available for free pickup throughout northwest Guilford County

Online year-round at nwobserver.com and shared with over 14,000 fans on Facebook

Northwest Observer / May 20 - June 2, 2021

Articles inside

Community Calendar

Crime/Incident Report

Youth are rockin’ it

Schools waiting their turn

Oak Ridge Town Council meeting

Best fi nd of the day

Towns united in opposing bills

Student Profi les

Your Questions

News in brief

NWO Business & Real Estate