Oct. 7 - 20, 2021
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Summerfield wins Town closes on land $500,000 matching grant purchase for park expansion for Bandera Farms Stokesdale Town Council Pleasantly surprised by the award, town leaders must now decide how to match the PARTF grant by CHRIS BURRITT SUMMERFIELD – The town of Summerfield hit the jackpot last week, winning a $500,000 matching grant from the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) for the development of Bandera Farms Park. The award surprised some town leaders, who now need to decide how to match the grant dollar for dollar. They’re hoping to get more buy-in from the town of Oak Ridge and Guilford County to help pay for
the rest of the estimated $1.79 million project.
“Honestly, we didn’t think we’d get it,” Summerfield councilman Reece Walker said in an interview earlier this week. “I’m really hopeful we can find some help from our neighbors.” Summerfield leaders learned late last month they won the PARTF grant for Bandera Farms Park, a 115-acre horseback riding and hiking preserve planned for Bunch Road at Interstate 73.
IN THIS ISSUE
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will rely on citizen input when planning how to use a 9.8-acre tract adjoining the town park by PATTI STOKES
STOKESDALE – After agreeing in August to offer $200,000 for 9.8 acres adjoining the town park, Stokesdale Town Council struggled with the seller’s counter offer before ultimately voting 3-2 to purchase the property for $214,000. The town closed on the purchase Sept. 30. “I’d like to have the property,” Mayor John Flynt said at the Aug. 12 council meeting when the council was discussing the purchase in open session. “I just think it’s too much.”
Dog park in Summerfield?
News in brief .............................................3 Heritage Farm Park .................................8 Pets & Critters ...........................................9 Charlie and me .....................................10
Councilman Derek Foy argued the property, which appraised at $190,000, offered the town a unique opportunity because of its proximity to the town park and elementary school, and said he felt it was fairly priced.
“The potential uses are endless,” Foy said. “It opens an opportunity for our town park to be better used for our citizens.” Foy’s motion to accept the counter offer from Joyce Living Trust to purchase the 9.8-acre tract at 7901 Athens Road for $214,000 received support from council
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He reiterated that sentiment at a
Sport Auto on the move .........................2 Your Questions .........................................4
special called meeting Sept. 2, after the council discussed the purchase at length in closed session and then reconvened in open session.
Meet the candidates ............................23 Around Town photos .............................24 Autumn moons, nippy weather ..........28 Stop, Drop and Roll photos
Dunkin (left) and Lucy enjoy visits to Oak Ridge’s dog park; might Summerfield have a dog park soon? ..........13
Meet the candidates in our special election publication, an insert in the Northwest Observer’s Oct. 21-Nov. 3 issue!
Pet Adoptions.........................................15 Animal Resource Center opens Nov. 1 .15
Doxie Derby, Family Festival ................ 11
Community Calendar ..........................16
NWO Kids’ Korner ............................12, 26
Crime/Incident Report .........................22
2021
...........30 Grins and Gripes ...................................32 Classifieds ..............................................35
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