Grins and Gripes

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Delighted or dismayed by something in your community? Share your thoughts in 40 words or less

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

GRINS to...

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4529 Jessup Grove Road, Greensboro (336) 605-0190 • northwestpeds.com

 Aaron Mendenhall, Life Scout from Troop 139 in Oak Ridge, for his Eagle Scout Project at Camp Carefree. The added pavers and landscaping look wonderful and will help prevent more water damage. Congrats on a job well done!  ORES PTO for advertising Stokesdale Elementary’s Port-A-Pit fundraiser. Appreciate the support!  Summerfield Town Council for listening to the citizens of this town. The vast majority of us clearly did not want this text amendment to pass. You all have a tough job. You probably don’t hear “thank you “ enough.  Aim Hearing, who is not exaggerating when they say they provide “advanced hearing healthcare with soul and heart.” My 95-year-old father and I highly recommend them and are so grateful for their excellent care.  Stokesdale Elementary librarian, Mrs. Wallace – we are so lucky to have you! Thank you for a fantastic family reading night to cap off our Port-A-Pit fundraiser!  My guardian angel, Morgan, who came to my rescue with my car issue at Summerfield Community Park on April 10. His kindness will be forever appreciated.  Summerfield Mayor Sessoms and the rest of the council for working late into the night to hear out all citizens’ concerns about the proposed text amendment. Thankfully, their final vote reflected the overwhelming majority of sentiment in the community.  The Growin Green truck driver who stopped, turned around and helped my husband on March 25 after he fell at the 40 APRIL 21 - MAY 4, 2022 The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996 bottom of our driveway. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for your kindness.  Summerfield Town Council, minus John Doggett, for doing what you were elected to do – representing the will of the majority of the people who put you in office. We won’t forget come re-election time!  The local churches that had sunrise services on Easter. As I was attending one, I could hear other churches’ music playing. What a wonderful community!  The Oak Ridge community for continuing the annual horse show. What a great way to bring folks together for a good time. Appreciate all the work and volunteers who made it happen!  Summerfield Town Council for doing what was right for our community, Mayor Tim Sessoms for facilitating calm and respectful meetings, and Reece Walker for making the motion to deny the text amendment. Development should fully align with our comprehensive plan.

GRIPES to...

 All the people throwing trash out of your cars or dumping it on the roadside. If you bought it and ate it or used it, throw it in a trash can, not on the ground.  The very ugly galvanized traffic signal poles at the N.C. 150 and Summerfield Road intersection. We have these beautiful historic buildings on three corners that are masked by the ugly, invasive traffic signal poles. Can the town at least paint them?  The Northwest Observer for only posting one gripe last week. That’s my favorite part of the paper... I love the ridiculous complaints people have. Keep posting them! Please! They bring me many laughs. Editor’s note: Sorry you missed your laughs – I promise I wasn’t holding back on them last week! I suspect the reason

we didn’t have more gripes to share was because we had just had an in-print issue the week before, whereas they tend to pile up over what is typically a two-week break in between issues. We’re back to our every-other week schedule now, and as you can see in this issue, folks have plenty to share about things that make them unhappy.  People who think it is okay to carry their little dogs into Lowes Foods. Please leave your pets at home. Pomeranians and Yorkies are not service dogs.  The people who drive down Summerfield Road at 60+ mph. This is a residential area with children and pets. We shouldn’t have to worry about their safety because of some reckless people who go 25+ over the speed limit.  The balding, middle-aged driver of the Audi coupe on April 9 for speeding and using the right turn lane to dangerously cut our family off on N.C. 68N. What was so important at Lowes Foods in Oak Ridge worth risking human life?  Drivers who not only don’t stop, but don’t even slow down for approaching emergency vehicles. We live on N.C. 150 and see it every time EMS goes by. The fine should be equal to a DUI.  High schools that promote a separate gay prom. If it’s important for kids to be treated equally, why the push to be exclusive and separate? Stop forcing latest trends on impressionable teens.  Waste Management. Set up a new account March 11, was billed $53.04 on March 31 and still don’t have a can. They said they didn’t know when I would get a can or service. Got my own can, still no service (as of April 12).  Parents of the teenagers who have squatted trucks and loud mufflers. Why are they allowed to loiter in Lowes’ parking lot and ruin the atmosphere of Oak Ridge?  Oak Ridge Town Council for selecting a new council member with no public discussions, and picking someone guaranteed to vote in lock-step with their agenda. So much for “transparency.”  The local Parks & Recreation association who thought it was okay to stack an 8U boys baseball team, while the other two teams suffer. Not cool.  John Doggett for “looking past,” as you said, the terrible idea of apartments in Summerfield and doing what was right for you, not the people who elected you. We’ll “look past” re-electing you when the time comes!  The Armfield HOA board for ignoring and not involving homeowners before discussions with David Couch! One board member commented, “the HOA board takes no official position on behalf of Armfield residents.” The board needs to represent the neighborhood or resign!  The political commentary at the Oak Ridge Horse Show during the Friday evening rodeo. This was a fun-filled family evening, not a campaign rally. Totally out of place and unnecessary.