Northwest Observer / March 16-29, 2023

Neighboring towns rally around Summerfi eld

Elected officials in Stokesdale and Oak Ridge united in opposition to a potential bill that would allow up to 974 acres to be de-annexed from Summerfield

by PATTI STOKES

NW GUILFORD – “If it could happen here, it could happen in any small town,” Derek Foy, Stokesdale’s mayor pro tem, stated during his town’s March 9 council meeting. The “it” he referred to is the potential de-annexation of up to 974 acres in Summerfield owned by Summerfield resident and developer David Couch.

The topic of de-annexation was added to the council’s meeting agenda for discussion, and several of the council members shared their opinions.

For Foy, who grew up in Summerfield, the idea of de-annexing any – and certainly such a significant amount – of acreage against the will of the town’s citizens and elected council members is beyond frustrating.

“This is such a big deal,” he said. “I get pretty emotional about it, too. I grew up in Summerfield and it’s still very near and dear to my heart. And this could happen here and it could happen in any small town. All it takes is enough money to get to a state legislator.”

While a bill to de-annex Couch’s property has not yet been introduced in the state legislature, council member Jimmy Landreth said if such a bill were to be passed, it would affect every town in the state.

Foy noted Couch’s property in Summerfield, at almost 1,000 acres, is over 5% of that town’s total acreage. That’s far more than any acreage approved for de-annexation in other towns and cities across the state. Plus, he noted that in those instances,

there was no widespread opposition from citizens.

“It’s 100% fact that one of the largest donors for Mr. Berger (N.C. Sen. Phil Berger, who also serves as the Senate’s president pro tempore) is the developer in Summer eld,” Foy added. “ ere’s nothing illegal about that. But just because you have a tremendous amount of money shouldn’t a ord you the opportunity to completely change the rules of a local municipality – and by extension, change the town forever.”

“It feels like ‘crony capitalism,’” Stokesdale council member Tim Jones added. “A man who

ATTENTION Northwest High School Seniors

has enough money to take all the necessary steps to make this happen over a local governing board that was elected by the citizens of that town… I certainly think it takes away from the individuality of each town. I would like to think that if Stokesdale wants to be different and allow certain things, or not allow certain things, that would be fine… This just doesn’t feel right.”

Foy gave kudos to Summerfield’s citizens and town council, who he said had “done it right” by organizing and flooding their state representatives with phone calls and emails to voice their opposition to what they fear may be coming down the pike.

As for Couch having ample opportunity for his development plan to be considered, Foy said, “They (Summerfield’s town council) gave it due process. The town held two large public hearings and allowed almost 100 speakers to speak for up to three minutes a piece. They gave the citizens an opportunity to speak, and they listened to citizens. What they also did was to update their UDO to create more affordable housing options to avoid a situation like we’re seeing now. The developer has options – they are good options, including multi-family units.”

“What’s happening is a shame. It’s also almost insulting that whenever the subject of affordable housing comes up, you always hear about nurses and teachers and firefighters,” Foy continued. “I think the need for affordable housing is much more widespread than that. Half of the Summerfield Town Council is made up of teachers and firefighters, and they live in Summerfield.

“The whole thing stinks,” he concluded.

Oak Ridge Mayor Ann Schneider shared her thoughts on Northwest Observer’s Facebook page last week.

“Here in Oak Ridge, we have battled this kind of interference as it relates to tree preservation policies and our historic district zoning overlay against state representatives’ intent on eliminating them,” she wrote. “To allow such interference would destroy our town’s ability to preserve its historic fabric and natural resources.

“Similarly, allowing a developer’s dissatisfaction with a rezoning decision to lead to the de-annexation of nearly 1,000 acres would represent a significant blow to local zoning policies and enforcement, as well as the basic continuity of the community. Pursuing this strategy will only further polarize the situation,” she continued.

“Rather than supporting such an e ort, I urge state legislators to encourage the developer to work with the residents he hopes to serve and the elected o cials in the community of which he is a part, to seek a reasonable resolution,” she added. “I also urge state legislators to actually visit towns like Summereld and Oak Ridge. In order to represent us, they need to see our towns and understand who we are.”

Oak Ridge council member George McClellan also shared his thoughts on the Northwest Observer’s Facebook page and concurred with Schneider.

“The legislature should not interfere with municipalities’ zoning matters. De-annexation would set a dangerous precedent for all of our towns,” he wrote. “Mr. Couch needs to continue to work with the Summerfield Town Council. De-annexation is not the answer.”

Olinick, who attended Stokesdale Town Council’s March 9 meeting, thanked council members for the support they have shown to this point. Should a bill be introduced in the legislature to approve the de-annexation of Couch’s property, she asked that the council draft a resolution stating its opposition.

Site prepared for airport rental car service center, parking lot

NW GUILFORD – The draining of a pond and removal of trees and undergrowth are underway on 57 acres of old farmland on Inman Road where the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority plans to relocate the service center and parking lot for rental car companies. The COVID-19 pandemic and financial difficulties for some of the rental car agencies delayed the project by three years, Kevin Baker, the authority’s executive director, said in an email earlier this week. Rental car companies are currently located near the airport terminal.

The site is bounded by Inman Road to the northwest at Highview Road, an entrance to the Cardinal subdivision. Commercial development, including the Food Lion shopping center, abuts from the northeast.

Recently, contractors began clearing trees and other vegetation and installing erosion and sedimentation control devices. One of the two ponds on the property is nearly drained. Dirt will be moved to a site on PTI property near Honda Aircraft Co.’s operations. Further work for the project hasn’t been scheduled at this time, according to Baker.

Photo by Chris Burritt/NWO

A pond is being drained on 57 acres of old farmland on Inman Road in northwest Greensboro as part of site preparation for relocating the airport rental car service center and parking lot.

Summerfield resident Priscilla

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Several weeks ago, you addressed a reader’s question about why SROs (Student Resource Officers) don’t direct traffic at any of our local schools. That leads me to another question –why

This is especially a concern on Northwest School Road, where more and more houses are being built and the combined student/parent, bus and neighborhood traffic creates downright gnarly conditions during student arrival and dismissal times.

Northwest High School principal Ashley Young told us that administrators are not allowed to ask staff members to direct traffic due to safety and liability concerns.

“Directing traffic in the middle of the road can’t be a requirement for a teacher or administrator,” she said. “I know the traffic situations are frustrating, and many of us have reached out to NCDOT to get support (flashing lights, stop lights, sidewalks, etc.). Specifically, there have been multiple traffic studies here on Northwest School Road, but DOT has not followed through on any of the above options.”

Nora Shoptaw, communications manager for Guilford County Schools, confirmed in an email that “employees do not have the legal jurisdiction to direct traffic in public roadways. Employees are on campus early each day to assist with getting students safely into the building and to make sure they are supervised once inside the building.”

Northwest Middle School principal Denise Francisco noted that while NWMS does not allow staff members to direct traffic on Northwest School Road,

Northwest High and Middle School principals say they understand the safety concerns about traffic on Northwest School Road during student arrival and dismissal times. NCDOT has done studies of the area, but as of yet has made no recommendations.

staff does work the car rider line in the area that is located on campus.

Francisco said DOT representatives met with school administrators and representatives of Guilford County Schools several months ago to discuss safety concerns related to the traffic conditions on Northwest School Road

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during student arrival and dismissal periods. Like Young, she said the department has not yet offered any recommendations based on its observations.

“We appreciate our families for their patience and commitment to safety during arrival and dismissal times,” Shoptaw wrote.

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Photo by Patti Stokes/NWO

can’t administrators or teachers help out by directing traffic in front of our schools during the most congested times of the day?

March 2 / MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

as reported by CHRIS BURRITT

OAK RIDGE – Mayor Ann Schneider called the monthly meeting to order, with council members George McClellan, Martha Pittman and Spencer Sullivan present. Mayor Pro Tem Jim Kinneman was absent, as was Town Manager Bill Bruce.

Oak Ridge resident Gina Carter offered the invocation and then she and her husband, Charles, and their children Olivia, Grant and Harrison led the Pledge of Allegiance.

RECOGNITION

On behalf of the town, Schneider recognized Oak Ridge resident Payne Stafford, who celebrated his 100th birthday on Feb. 15. Stafford, a WWII veteran, was among the earliest volunteers with Oak Ridge Fire Department when it formed in the 1950s, and he helped build the department’s first fire engine; in the years since he has continued to touch the lives of many in the Oak Ridge community.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Sheriff’s Office. Sgt. N. Southern reported the sheriff’s District 1 office

handled about 200 calls for service in Oak Ridge in February. Fifteen of the calls resulted in formal reports, including a “smash-and-grab” vehicle break-in at the Cascades Preserve parking lot on Goodwill Church Road.

“With the warmer weather coming and everybody getting out, just keep your cars locked and keep all of your valuables put away and not visible in the car,” Southern advised.

Oak Ridge Fire Department. Firefighter James Sechrist reported the department responded to 70 calls for service last month, including 32 EMSrelated calls. Personnel obtained 607 ½ hours of training.

MANAGER’S REPORT Board appointments

and name Tara Tillman as an alternate to the board.

Park shelter fees



4  0 to reappoint Patrick Fiorentino to the Planning and Zoning Board

 4  0 to increase the fee for Town Park shelter rentals for the first time since Oak Ridge established its rental fee structure in 2007.

For Oak Ridge residents, the fee for renting a shelter for half a day (up to four hours) increases from $30 to $40, and full-day rental (four hours or more) increases from $50 to $60; the fees are higher for non-residents and less for nonprofit groups.

The increases take into consideration shelter rental rates charged by Summerfield, Stokesdale, Kernersville and Guilford County, according to Sandra Smith, assistant town manager.

Urban archery season

 4  0 to approve Jan. 13-Feb. 18, 2024, as the dates of the urban archery season in Oak Ridge. The Wildlife Resources Commission requires that municipalities submit letters of intent to participate in the program.

Meeting date change. The council plans to hold its April meeting on Thursday, March 30, instead of the first Thursday in April to avoid possible conflicts during Holy Week (April 2-8), Smith said.

NEW BUSINESS Property preservation grant

 4  0 to approve $40,000 in matching funds to support the Piedmont Land Conservancy’s application for a federal grant to buy 42 acres along the Haw River at the corner of East Harrell Road and N.C. 68.

The tract is located along the town’s proposed Haw River Trail corridor and “offers an outstanding opportunity for trail development and open space preservation,” Bruce told the council in a Feb. 27 memo.

If the conservancy’s application for the Land and Water Conservation Fund grant is successful, it plans to buy the property and then transfer ownership to the town with a conservation easement in place, according to Bruce.

Photo by Chris Burritt/NWO

Oak Ridge residents Gina and Charles Carter and their children (from left) Harrison, Olivia and Grant lead the Pledge of Allegiance at Oak Ridge Town Council’s meeting on March 2. The Carters attended the meeting at the invitation of Mayor Ann Schneider, after Olivia contacted her and asked questions about local government for a thirdgrade Social Studies class project she and her brother were working on.

WHAT they voted on, and HOW they voted:

Mayor Ann Schneider and council members George McClellan, Martha Pittman and Spencer Sullivan voted on the following issues during the March 2 meeting. Mayor Pro Tem Jim Kinneman was absent.

 4  0: Reappoint Patrick Fiorentino to the Planning and Zoning Board and name Tara Tillman as an alternate to the board

 4  0: Increase the cost for Town Park shelter rentals for the first time since Oak Ridge established its rental fee structure in 2007

 4  0: Approve Jan. 13-Feb. 18, 2024, as the dates of the urban archery season in Oak Ridge

 4  0: Approve $40,000 in matching funds to support the Piedmont Land Conservancy’s application for a federal grant to buy 42 acres along the Haw River

 4  0: Update Oak Ridge’s strategic plan

 4  0: Approve the town’s $8.25 million capital improvement plan for next fiscal year

The conservancy intends to buy the land for its appraised value of $189,000, he said. Closing costs and other fees would bring the total cost to $223,950.

The property consists of floodplains and wetlands and about eight acres of upland that would be suitable for parking, a picnic area or another use if Oak Ridge develops a trail on the property, Schneider said.

The wetlands are part of the headwaters of the Haw River, meaning that preservation of the land will benefit not only Oak Ridge but also the river and downstream communities, Sullivan noted.

Strategic plan update

 4  0 to update Oak Ridge’s strategic plan. The proposed changes include policies and goals reflecting earlier initiatives discussed by the council, such as evaluating the feasibility of renovating the historic Redmon house for use as a community center.

The changes also embrace plans for capital spending, such as exploring the development of water infrastructure and expanding trails in Oak Ridge.

Pittman described the strategic plan as a “dynamic” guiding document for Oak Ridge leaders to pursue the town’s major goals.

Capital improvement program

 4  0 to approve the town’s $8.25 million capital improvement plan (CIP) for the fiscal year beginning July 1, with the biggest spending earmarked for the development of Heritage Farm Park.

The CIP appropriates $3.91 million for the portion of park improvements planned for next year, along with $150,000 in administration and contingency expenses and $280,000 for playground equipment with a shade structure. Another $200,000 is set aside for development of Veterans Honor Green, which is being funded by private and corporate donations and matching funds from the town.

The plan earmarked another $2.68 million for construction of an elevated water storage tank behind Town Hall on Linville Road and anticipates spending $235,000 for engineering of a water main along

...continued on p. 8

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N.C. 150 from the Forsyth County line to Oak Ridge’s elevated tank.

Oak Ridge also plans to spend $150,000 on improvements for the entrance to Town Park, $65,000 on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail and $30,000 on park equipment.

A total of $3.45 million in federal and state funds will help cover the capital costs. The funding includes $1.8 million in federal pandemic relief, a state legislative appropriation of $1.16 million for water infrastructure and a North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund grant totaling $490,000.

In addition, the council voted last month to borrow $3 million from Truist Financial for developing the 62-acre Heritage Farm Park.

The CIP looks ahead five years, putting a priority on projects deemed as most important by the council and postponing some others.

“We are moving forward on a lot of different fronts,” Sullivan said later in the meeting.

McClellan described the development of the CIP as “a delicate balancing act” that appropriates money for major expenses while delaying some other projects, such as the construction of tennis and pickleball courts in the new park.

“We had to make some tough decisions,” said McClellan, explaining that the spending plan keeps the town’s fund balance above $1 million. “We feel like that is a good comfort level, financially.”

PUBLIC COMMENTS

 Michael Logan, a Republican seeking to fill the vacant District 3 seat on the county’s school board, defended his social media posts after some of them were criticized by board chair Deena Hayes-Greene in a column in the Greensboro News and Record last month.

FINANCIAL UPDATE

Rising interest rates had a positive impact on Oak Ridge’s finances last month, generating about $12,000 in interest, according to town finance officer Sam Anders. By contrast, he said, in recent years of historically low interest rates, the town did well to earn $12,000 in interest annually

COMMUNITY UPDATES

Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. Co-chair John Browning reported the board is in the final stages of planning the upcoming Music in the Park series. Starting in April, the six monthly concerts will feature two local bands – as in years past – and four regional bands in events backed by sponsors, he said. Historic Preservation Commission. Chair Debbie Shoenfeld reported the commission approved a site plan for the commercial development on N.C. 150 at Linville Road where Sam Anders plans to construct a new building for his accounting firm. (See related article on p. 24.)

Planning and Zoning Board. Chair Jason Streck reported the board approved the site plan for Anders’ project.

said volunteers working on the eastern section of the trail near the Pemberly Estates subdivision on N.C. 150 crossed from Oak Ridge into Summerfield.

Special Events Committee. Vice Chair Ben Walraven reported the committee is nearing its fundraising goal of $200,000 for the Veterans Honor Green. A recent gift of $1,000 boosted the total to about $185,000. That leaves a gap of about $15,000; of that, the committee will need to raise another $7,500, which in turn will be matched by the town, Walraven explained.

Oak Ridge Elementary School. Interim principal Jim Smith expressed appreciation to the community, the town, Oak Ridge Youth Association and Summit Church for its support of the school and its more than 700 students.

Smith also said the school’s PTO (parent teacher organization) recently purchased picnic tables and when they’re in place, parents will have more options for places on the school grounds to eat lunch with their children.

COUNCIL COMMENTS

 “This is a great night for me because of our new sound system” in the council’s chambers, Sullivan said. He explained that he can now hear speakers clearly, rather than occasionally resorting to lip reading as he did before.

 Recognizing that North Carolina has declared 2023 as “the year of the trail,” Pittman urged residents to get outdoors and volunteer to help with building the town’s Mountains-to-Sea Trail. The committee lists upcoming workdays and other activities on its Facebook page.

 “This is a year of big things happening,” said McClellan, noting that construction of Heritage Farm Park and the erection of a water supply tank may get underway in 2023.

 “It is a very busy season here in Oak Ridge,” Schneider said. “We are juggling; we are moving a lot forward.”

Mountains-to-Sea Trail Committee.

Committee member Stephanie Farrell

With no further comments, the meeting was adjourned at 8:03 p.m.

“All of the projects we selected were worthy,” Pittman said. “ ey support and are compatible with our long-term strategic plan.”

Schneider thanked Anders for “beautifying that prominent corner in our town and moving forward on what’s hopefully going to be a great project.”

STOKESDALE town council

March 9 / MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

as reported by PATTI STOKES

Mayor Mike Crawford called the monthly council meeting to order at 7 p.m. Mayor Pro Tem Derek Foy and council members Jimmy Landreth and Tim Jones were present; Jim Rigsbee arrived around 7:15 p.m.

Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Jones offered the opening prayer. The meeting agenda was approved after deleting a discussion item regarding an intergovernmental water services agreement and adding two other discussion items: hiring a part-time administrative assistant and the potential de-annexation of up to 974 acres in Summerfield.

 4  0 (in separate votes) to approve minutes from the March 10 regular council meeting, June 9 closed session and regular council meeting, and Oct. 13 regular council meeting (all in 2022) as well as the March 2, 2023 budget workshop.

Minutes from the Feb. 9, 2023 regular council meeting were continued per Jones’s request to either include his verbatim comments relating to Stokesdale providing water to homeowners in the Coldwater subdivision, which is

outside the town’s jurisdiction, or to attach a copy of a letter on the subject written by then-mayor John Flynt.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Stokesdale Fire Chief Todd Gauldin reported the department had 53 calls for service in February (31 medicalrelated, 17 fire-related and five miscellaneous), and noted it had been an unusually slow month for calls.

On a safety note, Gauldin encouraged residents to call 911 for emergencies rather than the fire department.

“We still get a lot of (emergency) calls,” he said, and then explained that calling the fire department rather than the county’s 911 call center could delay response times.

Sheriff’s Dept. The District 1 sheriff’s office provided a written report, stating there were 225 calls for service in February, of which 15 formal case reports were filed. One of the cases, which occurred on Feb. 7, involved a larceny in progress at a house under construction on Dovefield Drive; a 41-year-old man was arrested on the

scene and charged with felony larceny from a construction site.

Another case involved a residential burglary in the 7700 block of Honkers Hollow Court during the evening hours of Feb. 14. Numerous valuables were taken and the interior of the home was heavily damaged. The case remains under investigation.

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Town Clerk Dale Martin reported the number of water meters installed in February, as well as 15 applications for transfer of service, 35 water meters placed on hold, 18 work orders and (48) 811 requests. Martin also reported 735 water bills were mailed out last month.

NCDOT will soon install speed limit reduction signs on Athens Road, Angel Pardue Road and Adano Road, Martin said, while also noting staff is working on submitting several required reports to the state.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Property Committee. A mirror in a public restroom in the park will be replaced. Deputy Clerk Priscilla Hunsucker was praised for unplugging the refrigerator in Town Hall and plugging it back in, which got both the refrigerator and ice maker working again.

Town Park Improvement. Tee Stephenson reported that sealed bids for playground equipment were opened by staff on Feb. 23, and all proposals came in under the $95,000 established cap. On March 2 staff opened sealed bids for basketball and pickleball courts. The committee is currently vetting the companies that submitted bids and reviewing options.

FINANCE REPORT

Town Finance Officer Kim Thacker presented a budget-vs.-actual report for both the general fund and water enterprise accounts. The town’s current balance in the general fund is $3,578,875, which includes $723,965 of federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

CITIZEN COMMENTS

 Tyler McGee, a resident of N.C. 68, addressed the council regarding a certified letter he had received after installing a pipe to re-route wastewater on the residential property he recently purchased. McGee said he contacted the state before taking the mitigation step. The certified letter the town sent warned that he would be responsible for any damage to his water meter box.

“Why was I sent a certified letter when there was no damage to my box?” he asked.

Crawford explained the certified mail was not intended to be a threat, rather sending correspondence via certified mail guarantees it is delivered and received. The town wanted to ensure McGee had sufficient room between his driveway and his water meter box so that he wouldn’t be in jeopardy of losing water at any point.

 Eddie McGee, Tyler’s father, emphasized that his son had made no modifications to his driveway, and communication from the state and the town about the concerns could have been better.

 Priscilla Olinick of Pleasant Ridge Road in Summerfield thanked the town council for its support regarding Summerfield landowner David Couch’s efforts to potentially de-annex almost 1,000 acres from the town.

“Nearly 1,000 acres is unprecedented,” Foy said, adding he had written a letter to state representatives as a council member of Stokesdale.

Landreth asked about the status of the legislation and Olinick answered it

“ e threat of de-annexation of 1,000 acres would be very detrimental and be very impactful for all of our small towns. I think it’s a gross overreach of legislative power to reach into our selfgoverned towns,” she said.

is Summerfield Town Council’s understanding that a bill is in the works and if it reaches the legislative floor for a vote, it may be too late.

“We’re an active community and are just trying to get ahead of this,” she said.

“This is the craziest thing I’ve ever heard. It will open up the biggest can of worms …” Landreth said, to which Olinick responded, “Money talks in Raleigh.”

 Stokesdale resident Mark Nadel said a thorough review of the town’s UDO (unified development ordinance) had not been done since it was adopted in 1998.

“Why would something that has such a huge impact on our town’s future be ignored by this council?” he asked. “… A lot has changed since 1998. It’s incredible that this issue has been sidelined… it seems more

important to spend time discussing pickleball courts and a soda machine.”

Nadel went on to claim that builders and “profit-seeking developers” were being allowed to run uncontrolled in the town.

Foy said he didn’t recall any discussion about updating the UDO, but he did recall that the future land use plan had been updated.

Landreth said the town has

development regulations in place and he wasn’t aware of anything being outdated other than the map, which is a “living thing.”

“A map is never written in stone,” he emphasized.

Referring to a statement Nadel made about the council allowing developers to strip away the town’s resources,

Rigsbee asked Nadel for clarification on what resources they are.

Nadel said a local land planner who represents several developers often begins his presentations to the planning board and council with, “According to your development plan….”

for from federal funds (ARPA) and if the town doesn’t use that funding, it will lose it.

 5  0 to adopt Thacker’s request to move $4,500 of items within budget categories, with no net effect on the budget.

Auditing services. Thacker reported she had sent out RFPs (Requests for Proposals) for the annual audit and received two responses back; one accounting firm wrote that it was not able to submit a proposal at this time. The other firm, W. Green, has performed audits for Summerfield and Madison and submitted a proposal for three years, at $14,000/year, although the request was for a one-year proposal.

complaints about the company’s service and noted the rates are still far less than what Republic Services had bid.

Town Park improvement projects.

Foy said the Town Park Improvement Committee received seven proposals for playground equipment and has honed them down to two. It also received “impressive proposals” for the basketball and pickleball courts and will present proposals to council members at their April meeting.

Regarding the amphitheater, Foy said the committee did not receive any bids.

“I was pretty excited about it, but I am losing my appetite for the amphitheater. It’s becoming cost-prohibitive,” he said, noting the cost of the roof structure had gone up by “$20,000ish.”

adding another person.

“I believe there is enough work here… there is a lot of day-to-day work and no one is helping you all look at what’s coming down the pike,” she told the council.

 5  0 to approve the job description for an administrative assistant and move funds within budget line items to cover the cost of hiring a person for the position as soon as next week. De-annexation. Jones, who requested this discussion topic be added to the agenda, said the potential de-annexation of almost 1,000 acres in Summerfield felt the same as involuntary annexation.

Development is “steamrolling,” Nadel added, acknowledging it can’t be stopped but the council could take steps to make sure it is controlled

Landreth noted Summerfield citizens are not trying to stop someone from developing property, rather to develop it within the town’s UDO guidelines.

It was also noted the pickleball and basketball courts in the park will be paid

 5  0 to resubmit the RFP with a deadline of April 7 in the hopes of receiving at least two proposals. GFL rate increase. Foy said GFL Environmental has been serving the town’s garbage and recycling needs since last July. Per the franchise agreement, the company has notified the town it will increase rates by 5% on July 1, 2023.

“Hats off to Jimmy (Landreth) for requesting the increase be capped at 5%. Otherwise, it would have been 7% because it ties in with the consumer price index,” Foy said, then confirmed with the town clerk that there have been no

“A lot of my friends don’t share my excitement for it, and there are other things we probably need to do,” Foy continued, adding he’s received a lot of positive feedback on offering pickleball courts in the park.

Rigsbee said he agreed with tabling the amphitheater, especially in light of not receiving any bids for it.

“Let’s use that money for other smaller park projects,” he said, suggesting some of it could be used to upgrade the soccer fields.

“I’m ready to take my ball and go home on that one (amphitheater),” Landreth added. “The cost just kept going up and up. It started at about $150,000, then went to $400,000.”

Administrative assistant. Crawford suggested the council approve a job description for an administrative assistant, at $16/hour and 20 hours a week (9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday – Friday), for a probationary period of 90 days. The assistant’s primary role would be to provide clerical support to Martin, the town clerk, and free her up to work with deputy clerk Robbie Wagoner, who will take over when she retires.

When asked, Martin confirmed the workload at Town Hall warrants

“I feel like it’s government from the top down, and I was a little surprised to find out this has been occurring across the state at the level it has been. And surprised that Summerfield could possibly lose that much land, and in the middle of Summerfield,” he said.

See more council comments on this topic in article beginning on FC.

CITIZENS’ COMMENTS

 Olinick addressed the council again, saying that if a bill to de-annex property in Summerfield makes it to the legislature, she hoped Stokesdale Town Council would write a resolution stating its opposition.

“Mr. Berger is our representative … Summerfield doesn’t move the needle, but all of us do,” she said.

CLOSED SESSION

Council recessed the open meeting at 8:54 p.m. to go into closed session. After reconvening at 9:10 p.m., a motion was made and unanimously approved to hire Lynn Callahan as an administrative assistant. Callahan, a Kernersville resident, has extensive administrative and research experience and for 18 years worked for Wake Forest University School of Medicine in various positions.

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m.

“I want to make sure the ordinances are in place so we don’t end up with what’s going on in Summer eld and in Rockingham County,” he said. “Start to review the ordinances so we don’t get blindsided. Big companies are bringing in tens of thousands of jobs and their employees are going to need a place to live.”

Potential de-annexation properties

As of the time this issue went to press, there was no bill before the legislature requesting de-annexation of any of the parcels on this map that are outlined in red. The parcels, all owned by Summerfield resident David Couch, total 974.2 acres, or 5.5% of the Town of Summerfield’s total acreage.

974.2 acres owned by David Couch

Map courtesy of Dover Kohl Partners

A fight over the ‘heart of Summerfield’

The inclusion of 600 apartments in the Villages of Summerfield Farms’s development plan has been one of the main points of contention for opponents of the plan. Landowner/developer David Couch and his team argue that a small number of garden-style apartments such as those depicted in this artist’s rendering will offer more affordable housing options and help make Summerfield a more inclusive community.

by CHRIS BURRITT

SUMMERFIELD – Summerfield Town

Council is girding for a de-annexation fight with landowner David Couch after twice denying his request for a change to the town’s development rules that would allow construction of apartments.

Even though no legislation has yet to surface in the state General Assembly, the council decided this past Tuesday, March 14, to hire a lobbyist to bolster its opposition to Couch’s de-annexation efforts. By unanimous vote, the council also approved a resolution urging state lawmakers to oppose potential legislation sought by Couch, the owner of 974 acres within the town’s limits, including Summerfield Farms.

Some of the property is “in the heart of Summerfield close to its Town Core,” stated the resolution, reinforcing the council’s previous statements in the week and a half since Mayor Tim Sessoms said he had learned about Couch’s plans. “A de-annexation of this magnitude would result in isolated tracts and create complex town boundaries that would complicate functions of Summerfield’s limited-services government.”

By rejecting his requests for an amendment to the town’s unified development ordinance (UDO) last month and before that, last April, Couch said in an interview that “Summerfield has left me no option other than to dictate my property rights. I believe this ordinance tramples all over those property rights. I’m appealing to state law.”

Sessoms called an emergency meeting of the council on Saturday, March 4, after saying he had learned that Couch had talked to state Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger about the potential for de-annexing his property.

...continued on p. 16

An effort by landowner David Couch to de-annex his property in Summerfield has mobilized the Town Council and opponents of apartments in town

Artist’s rendering courtesy of Dover Kohl Partners

In an interview earlier this week, Berger said he talked to Couch several weeks ago and was still making up his mind whether to support legislation de-annexing the developer’s property. The Republican represents Summerfield in the Senate’s District 26.

“I’m not going to take any action until I’ve got a better understanding of the facts,” Berger said. “Given what appears to be the temperature, I think sooner rather than later would be preferable. I feel a responsibility to sift through the rhetoric and the emotions to get to where the facts are.”

Berger said his office has gotten about 250 telephone calls and emails from Summerfield residents opposed to de-annexation of property in the town.

State House Majority Whip Jon Hardister (R-District 59), House deputy Democratic leader Ashton Wheeler Clemmons (D-District 57) and Rep. John Faircloth (R-District 62) didn’t reply to requests for comment.

Berger said he’s trying to determine how much of Couch’s property “is in the middle of Summerfield. That seems to be one of the things that opponents of Mr. Couch state as a fact (but) turns out not to be totally accurate if you look at a map.”

Berger said he also wants to determine whether the council’s denial of Couch’s text amendment request represents “an infringement of property rights.”

While elected officials are entitled to use zoning and other methods to determine property uses, he said, “there are some limits as to what the majority through the zoning police power can do to infringe on those property rights. Is there an absolute prohibition in Summerfield on apartments? Is that something that is an infringement on property rights?”

If Couch’s property is de-annexed, it would fall under the jurisdiction of Guilford County, giving Couch the opportunity to build apartments currently not allowed in Summerfield.

“Guilford County has all of the tools needed,” said Couch, explaining that he would pursue extending water and sewer services to his proposed development, the Villages of Summerfield Farms.

Even though his plan to build about 600 apartments – down from the almost 1,200 apartments he proposed in his plan a year ago – has drawn the sharpest criticism in Summerfield, Couch said he’s unwilling to develop his property without them.

“ ere would be a wide array of housing options here,” he said in an interview earlier this week. “It is important for me to become inclusive, for everyone to be able to come to this land, not just the limited few. e ‘public’ means everyone, despite the color of your skin, despite your income and despite your political views.

“To make this inclusive versus exclusive, you need a small number of garden apartments,” Couch said.

Providing more affordable housing would also help solve the area’s housing shortage, said Couch, adding that demand is going to grow with the arrival of major employers such as Boom Supersonic at Piedmont Triad International Airport.

As news of Couch’s de-annexation plans has spread, criticism by opponents has sharpened. On social media, he’s been called greedy. Some have called for a boycott of Summerfield Farms.

“Being insulted is irrelevant,” he said. “I don’t pay any attention to that.”

In a recent letter, Sessoms said Villages of Summerfield Farms “does not focus on affordability.”

“ e proposed Villages of Summer eld Farms project begs this question: How do you de ne a ordable housing?” Sessoms wrote. “Are $1,600and-up apartments a ordable? Houses ranging from $350K to $2M? Would the apartments proposed really serve an unmet need given that three large apartment complexes are within two or three miles of our town limits?”

Sessoms, Mayor Pro Tem Lynne Williams DeVaney and council members Jeff Davis and Reece Walker face reelection in November. According to Couch, that helps explain why they’ve sided with critics of his plans.

“This handful of very vocal citizens – and they’re motivated by exclusivity –have convinced our leadership that they will lose their positions if they allow for any form of housing beyond” what’s in the UDO. “There’s a silent majority that

knows we’re in the middle of a housing crisis and that we need housing options to bring back our youth and retain those who want to downsize in Summerfield.”

The fight in Summerfield has drawn a national audience. Earlier this week, a Forbes magazine article titled “State Lawmakers Take On Local Regulations That Inflate Housing Costs” said the town’s leaders “have repeatedly rejected proposed development.”

“Legislators consider the matter of statewide interest because Summerfield sits in a part of North Carolina where the housing supply needs to be increased in order to accommodate multiple massive economic development projects that are scheduled to bring many newcomers to the area,” the article said.

Closer to home, Mayor Ann Schneider of Oak Ridge and Stokesdale Mayor Pro Tem Derek Foy have expressed support for Summerfield council’s opposition to de-annexation by the legislature.

“The greatest threat to our small towns is government overreach at the state level,” Schneider wrote on the Northwest Observer’s Facebook page.

“Threats to our communities arise when, on the one hand, developers try to convince legislators to homogenize local zoning by stripping its requirements to meet their needs.”

Schneider continued that “allowing a developer’s dissatisfaction with a rezoning decision to lead to the de-annexation of nearly 1,000 acres would represent a significant blow to local zoning policies and enforcement, as well as the basic continuity of the community. Pursuing this strategy will only further polarize the situation.”

During this week’s council meeting, Sessoms explained that Summerfield leaders are waiting to hear if – and when – a de-annexation bill has been filed in the General Assembly. It may be attached as a rider to separate, unrelated legislation, Town Attorney Bob Hornik said.

“All we can do is get up every day and work and wonder,” the mayor said. “It will probably happen before we know about it.”

Efforts by landowner David Couch to de-annex his property in Summerfield have generated questions about how the legislative process works and how it would impact the town. Below are some of the most frequently asked questions we’ve heard and received over the past week and a half since Summerfield Mayor Tim Sessoms called an emergency meeting of Town Council on March 4 to address Couch’s de-annexation proposal.

your QUESTIONS about de-annexation

Can you briefly explain how de-annexation works?

A property owner can ask the state General Assembly to de-annex property from a town or city. The ultimate authority rests with the state legislature, not with the municipality where the property is located.

The property owner typically contacts state representatives for his/

her district to request the introduction of a de-annexation bill. In some instances, lawmakers attach the de-annexation legislation as a “rider bill” to a separate, unrelated piece of legislation.

The de-annexation process is “essentially a political one” since there are no statutory procedures or requirements for the process or any minimum standards related to the characteristics or location, according to a 2013 blog post by Frayda Bluestein, professor of public law and government at the UNC School of Government in Chapel Hill.

“Legislators often request proof of support for the requested bill, but there is no legal requirement for a petition or any other approval by the property owners or anyone else,” according to the post, which is still viewed as the authoritative source on de-annexation in North Carolina. “A city governing board may adopt a resolution in favor of or against a de-annexation as a way of providing information to the legislative delegation about the city’s position, but there is no legal requirement to do so, and such a resolution has no legal effect.”

If it chooses, the legislature can require that de-annexation receive the support of the town’s voters in the form of a referendum or the approval of the town’s governing board, the post said. But this also is not a requirement.

In short, when it comes to de-annexation, the General Assembly calls all of the shots because it has “independent constitutional authority

to establish the boundaries of cities,” the post said.

Are de-annexations common in North Carolina?

If legislation to de-annex Couch’s property is introduced in the General Assembly, it would be the fourth de-annexation bill considered by state lawmakers so far this year, according to Jim Joyce, assistant professor of public law and government at the UNC School of Government.

The three de-annexation bills already introduced are for property in Wake County – Raleigh, Fuquay-Varina and Holly Springs.

That number represents “the handful” of de-annexation bills typically introduced during the legislation session, Joyce said. Most are sought by property owners seeking to develop their land or reduce property tax payments, he noted.

Joyce added that the de-annexation of Couch’s 974 acres in Summerfield would far exceed the acreage of the typical de-annexation. As an example, the de-annexation bill in Holly Springs involves two acres, according to Wake County tax records for the property.

How would Summerfield be affected by the de-annexation of Couch’s property?

Should Summerfield lose its de-annexation fight against Couch, the two major consequences to the town would be

...continued on p. 22

Walraven Signature Homes

Question: is the pandemic over?

Answer: Yes… no… maybe – actually, one could argue all of these answers are correct.

Throughout COVID-related lockdowns, school closings and vaccine mandates, demand for custom homes surged. Consequently, Walraven Signature Homes (WSH) was one of several custom home builders in the Triad area that faced the joys – and challenges – of record numbers of homeowners wanting a custom-built home.

Supply chain issues, labor shortages and extended wait times for building permits and inspections, however, were just some of the things that created a bit of angst for builders and homeowners alike over the past few years. Yet, while our area has been recovering from the pandemic hangover, a semblance of normalcy is slowly returning.

By the end of 2022, demand for new builds was finally beginning to slow down a bit, with many would-be buyers being nudged out of the market due to increasing interest rates. With the slowdown, pressure on builders to respond to the wants and needs of the marketplace began to lessen.

What does all this mean for homebuilders

in the year ahead?

Danielle Walraven, co-owner of WSH with husband Matt, remarked, “The business booked in 2022 will sustain us and other builders well into 2023.

Oak Ridge area,” she concluded.

Matt noted that a handful of new developments underway in Oak Ridge are offering large, scenic lots in excellent locations. The area continues to attract people relocating because of their jobs,

For Walraven Signature Homes, custom-built homes are still in high demand.

Danielle Walraven homeowners’ build throughout

“Orders for new homes are substantial, especially in the

Photos courtesy of Walraven Signature Homes

Walraven Signature Homes is known for building

Homes

A sure sign that people want to put the pandemic in the rearview mirror is their demand for more lavish outdoor living spaces.

Even more popular among homeowners these days are swimming pools and outdoor kitchen packages to accommodate social gatherings and neighborhood parties.

Golf course living is also hot, with homeowners having specific visions about what they want to see looking out their rear bay window.

Koi ponds also add serenity and interest to daily “down” time.

“Generators are a big thing, too,” Matt noted. “People want a greater sense of security against electrical grid failures and natural disasters.”

“We’re relieved that 2021 and 2022 are behind us,” Danielle said. “The pandemic put everyone under a lot of pressure, but we all worked our way through it.”

building beautiful, high-quality homes.

and retirees who want to be close to their children and grandchildren. Beautiful public park and trail systems and excellent schools add to the appeal of the northwestern Guilford County area.

Throughout the building process, WSH remains committed to providing excellent service to its homeowners, which includes communicating with them every step of the way. Matt and Danielle say they’re grateful for the patience their clients have shown in the last few years, and they take satisfaction in knowing that despite having to work through so many challenges, their homeowners are now settled into beautiful homes that they’ll enjoy for years to come.

The WSH team is optimistic about interest rates coming down later this year, making it feasible for even more people to build their dream home.

Danielle and Matt Walraven, owners of Walraven Signature Homes, seek to fulfi ll homeowners’ dreams by giving each home they their full attention, and offering fl exibility throughout the building process.

DE-ANNEXATION Q&A

...continued from p. 18

1) the loss of property tax revenue and, (2) the loss of zoning control over Couch’s property, which for many citizens is the more critical of the two consequences.

“Once the de-annexation of the property becomes official, it goes back under the jurisdiction of the county,” Joyce said. County staff has 60 days to add the de-annexed property to its zoning map, putting its development under county regulations.

In the case of Guilford County, Couch could seek rezoning of his property to permit construction of apartments, which aren’t allowed by Summerfield’s unified development ordinance.

Property owners in Summerfield pay property taxes to the county, the town and the Summerfield Fire District. If Couch’s property were de-annexed,

he’d stop paying taxes to the town (its current tax rate is 2.75 cents per $100 property valuation) and continue paying taxes to the county and the fire district, according to Jim Roland, assistant tax director in the county’s Tax Department.

What options do developers such as Couch have for building multifamily housing in Summerfield?

The unified development ordinance (UDO) adopted by Summerfield Town Council in June 2021 allows various types of multifamily housing – but not apartments – in the two open space districts: open space residential (OSR) and open space mixed use (OSM).

Those districts allow duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes and townhouses.

“Duplexes are even permitted in agricultural (AG), both residential districts (RS and RR), as well as neighborhood business (NB),” Brad Rentz, the town’s planning manager, said in an email earlier this week.

To encourage a variety of moderately priced housing, the UDO allows for the overall maximum density of one unit per acre to increase to an overall density of 1.15 units per acre in the open space districts. To qualify for the so-called 15% density bonus, a developer must agree to build singlefamily residential homes, including duplexes and twin homes, defined as “moderately-priced housing,” according to the UDO. The town and the developer would agree on price ranges as part of a development agreement.

During public meetings, Couch and his design team have described the UDO as unworkable in their plans for the Villages of Summerfield Farms, a collection of 11 villages consisting of small businesses and a range of housing from apartments to $2 million estate homes.

Twice in the past year, the council denied Couch’s application for a text amendment to the UDO to accommodate his plans for higher-density housing. The amendment would have created a new zoning district called open space mixed use – village.

If the council had approved the text amendment, Couch would have sought the rezoning of his property to the new classification while negotiating a development agreement for his project with town leaders.

The denial of his text amendment request leaves Couch in the same situation as other developers – working within the regulations outlined in the UDO. Couch said they don’t work for his project.

“If you want to build townhouses, the rules do not tell you enough about

what you can and can’t do,” according to a document prepared by Couch’s team. “The UDO is convoluted when it comes to building anything other than large lot single-family, and not simple to understand.”

As most of us know, rising inflation and pandemicrelated shortages of building materials and labor have increased costs for housing. Opponents of Couch’s plan to build apartments cite the monthly rent of apartments in the vicinity of Summerfield and question whether the costs represent “affordable” housing.

Couch, meanwhile, has committed to subsidizing rents for 5% of apartments he’d build in Summerfield. In an interview earlier this week, he said he’d base the subsidy on the median income of county residents, not the higher median income of Summerfield residents.

As a result, he said, Summerfield could “check a box for having affordable housing in its area.”

Couch’s development company, Blue Ridge Cos., recently completed an apartment complex called 4 Farms at Horse Pen Creek in northwestern Greensboro, just two miles from Summerfield’s town limits. Monthly rents start at $1,385 for a onebedroom, one-bathroom unit (781 square feet) with a patio, according to the complex’s website. At the high end, the monthly rent is $1,934 for three bedrooms, two bathrooms (1,319 square feet) with a patio.

If Couch were allowed to construct apartments in Summerfield, would they actually qualify as “affordable” housing, as he says he wants to build in town?

30 years

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Affordable Home Repair

Owner: Thomas McGee

Why move when you can improve?

Thomas McGee has a passion for working on houses and has owned his business, Affordable Home Repair, since 1989.

The company provides a wide array of home repairs and remodeling services, which includes repairs to foundations and sagging floors.

Of the company’s business philosophy, McGee said, “It’s simply this: we are not happy unless our customer is happy.”

The most rewarding part of his job,

Site plan approved for accounting office

he said, is “seeing a well-done finished job.”

Besides offering his company’s services for a fee, McGee said he also helps elderly customers when needed. On a personal note: McGee grew up in Greensboro. He and his wife have been married for 37 years and have two sons who also are in the construction business.

In his downtime, McGee said he enjoys “spending time with my three lovely granddaughters.”

AFFORDABLE HOME REPAIR

Why move when you can improve?

See ad on p. 36

(336) 643-1184

The two buildings on this 4.7-acre tract at the corner of N.C. 150 and Linville Road in Oak Ridge will soon be demolished, making way for a new office building that will house property owner Sam Anders’ accounting practice and a second building where Anders hopes to secure a tenant such as a medical practice or other professional service. Over time, Anders plans to restore the historic two-story Moore house at the corner of the lot.

by CHRIS BURRITT

OAK RIDGE – Oak Ridge land owner

Sam Anders won the town’s approval of a site plan for the development of his nearly 4.7 acres at N.C. 150 and Linville Road.

Approval of the plan last month by the Planning and Zoning Board and the Historic Preservation Commission pushed demolition of two commercial buildings at 2101 Oak Ridge Road (Highway 150) a step closer. One of those buildings was a former gas station (until recently it was leased by L&T Small Engine Service) and the other, a two-story brick building, at one time housed the W.D. Grocery store.

Anders plans to build a 4,200-squarefoot building on the site, where he’ll relocate his accounting practice from nearby in Oak Ridge. The site plan shows the

new single-level structure facing N.C. 150, with parking, a sidewalk and landscaping providing a buffer along the road.

Later, Anders plans to subdivide the property into two lots, according to the site plan prepared by Greensboro-based engineering firm Hugh Creed Associates. He also plans to eventually restore the historic Moore house at the corner of N.C. 150 and Linville Road, diagonally across from Oak Ridge Elementary School.

Anders, who serves as Oak Ridge’s finance officer and as an assistant chief with Oak Ridge Fire Department, bought the property last June. He set a goal of completing construction of the office building and relocating his accounting practice there before the start of the tax season in early 2024.

File photo/NWO

Brassfi eld Shopping Center gets second wind

by PATTI STOKES

NW GREENSBORO – Brassfield Shopping Center in northwest Greensboro is getting a new lease on life after attracting several new tenants to some of the center’s retail spaces that had been vacant for months, and even longer. Constructed in 1987, the shopping center at the corner of Battleground Avenue and New Garden Road was once home to several big-name companies including SteinMart, Michaels, Pizza Hut, Rack Room Shoes, Blockbuster Video and Chick-Fil-A.

It was also home to Brassfield Cinema, which opened in 1989 and was among the center’s earliest tenants; the cinema closed in March 2020 due to COVID and it was announced in May 2021 that it would not reopen.

As with most shopping centers, businesses in Brassfield came and went over

the last 36 years, but as some of the larger retailers and longtime tenants moved out, the shopping center failed to attract enough new tenants to fill all the vacated spaces.

Things began to turn around when Deep River Partners, a development/property management company based in Greensboro, oversaw a major update to the center in 2019

Since undergoing a major renovation in 2019, Brassfield Shopping Center has attracted multiple new tenants, including Trader Joe’s, Biscuitville and a pet supply store. Several other businesses plan to open in the shopping center by this summer; among them is a movie theater, a Lowe’s Home Improvement Outlet store and a restaurant specializing in charburgers.

in conjunction with the opening of Trader Joe’s. The subsequent opening of Biscuitville, Pet Supplies Plus, New Garden Eye Care, and most recently, Crumbl Cookies and a nail salon, have kept the momentum going.

Deep River announced in January that several new businesses will be opening in the center this spring and summer. Among them is the Habit

BURGER GRILL, a fast-casual chain restaurant specializing in charburgers cooked over an open flame.

After undergoing a major renovation, a movie theater, Golden Ticket Brassfield 10, plans to open by early this summer in the space formerly occupied by Brassfield Cinemas. Also opening within the next few

Photo by Patti Stokes/NWO

SECOND WIND

...continued from p. 25

months will be Lowe’s Home Improvement Outlet Store. The first-of-its-kind outlet in North Carolina will sell appliances with minor cosmetic damage, as well as discontinued and out-of-season items from Lowe’s Home Improvement at a discount. The store will occupy the 36,000-squarefoot space formerly occupied by SteinMart.

Trek Cycling plans to open a corporate store next to Trader Joe’s, and Indigo Art Studio also plans to open soon.

With more new tenants on the horizon, Deep River Partners reported last month that Brassfield Shopping Center has less than 10,000 feet of available vacant space for lease.

GreenGo Buggies wins rezoning approval

by CHRIS BURRITT

SUMMERFIELD – The owners of GreenGo Buggies have won approval to rezone nearly 6.1 acres at 7620 Deboe Road where they plan to construct a building for their business.

Summerfield Town Council voted 4-1 during its meeting this past Tuesday, March 14, to approve the rezoning request submitted by Nikki and Brian Price, owners of GreenGo Buggies, the maker of lowspeed battery-powered vehicles.

Due to rising demand for their “street legal golf carts,” the couple plans to buy the Deboe Road property, located off N.C. 150, construct a building, and then relocate their business from its present location in the former Purgason’s Western Wear store on Auburn Road at U.S. 220.

The council’s vote followed a 3-2 vote by the town’s Planning Board last month to recommend denial of the couple’s request to rezone the property from single-family residential (RS-30) to conditional zoning business district (CZ-BN).

The owners of GreenGo Buggies won Summerfield Town Council’s approval on March 14 to rezone 6.1 acres on Deboe Road from single-family residential (RS-30) to conditional zoning business district (CZ-BN). After purchasing the property, the owners plan to construct a building on it to accommodate their business, and then relocate from their current site in the former Purgason’s Western Wear store on U.S. 220.

In a Feb. 28 letter to the council explaining the board’s recommendation, Chair Dick Feulner said the denial reflected that “inappropriate limited commercial development…could substantially hurt

Virtual Care from Your Home

adjoining or abutting property value.” Deboe Road exits N.C. 150 directly across from the entrance to Revolution Academy, a K-8 charter school.

Photo by Patti Stokes/NWO

Kids’ Korner

Did you know...

Although the shamrock – which is a three-leaf clover – is sometimes mistakenly associated with luck, it is actually the unusual four-leaf clover that is widely seen as a symbol of luck. Clover is the common name for various species of plants in the Trifolium family. It is estimated that there are around 300 different species of clovers found throughout much of the world, and most are easily identified by their heart-shaped leaves.

While trying to convert the Irish into Christians, Saint Patrick, Ireland’s patron saint, is said to have used the three-leafed shamrock as a way of explaining the Holy Trinity, with each leaf representing the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

A four-leaf clover is a rare genetic clover mutation, and its unusual appearance has led to it’s being associated through folklore with good luck.

The proposed site for GreenGo Buggies is across from the entry drive to Smith Marketing, a real estate firm, and Winter Farm, a nonprofit off-track thoroughbred horse rescue organization. Single-family housing is located to the north and east of the location, according to a staff report about the rezoning request.

Before the council’s vote on March 14, the Prices agreed to several conditions, including one that limits the number of items, including vehicles and trailers, that may be displayed in the front yard of the property to no more than 10.

Mayor Pro Tem Lynne Williams DeVaney opposed the rezoning request. Before the council’s vote, she asked the couple to agree to eliminate several business uses from the proposed zoning district. They agreed to eliminate some uses, including a convenience store with gasoline sales, but not others, such as a hotel or motel.

Business, civic associations, PTA offer scholarships

Summerfield Merchants Association will award two $2,500 scholarships this spring to high school seniors living within the Town of Summerfield limits.

Qualified applicants may be graduating from a public or private high school, or state accredited homeschool program; must be enrolled in a two-year or four-year postsecondary education program this fall; and graduate with an unweighted GPA of 3.0 or greater.

Interested students should email scholarship@ summerfieldmerchant.com for a list of requested documents and a link to the online scholarship application.

Merchants of Oak Ridge invites Northwest High School students to apply for the organization’s 2023 scholarship, a one-time award of $5,000 toward college costs.

Guidelines and application are available online at merchantsofoakridgenc.com/scholarshipfund or at the NWHS counselor’s office.

Oak Ridge Lions Club will award a $2,500 scholarship in May to a high school senior who lives in the Northwest High School district and will be enrolled in an institute of higher learning in the fall.

To be eligible, the senior must live within the Northwest

High School district, but may attend Northwest High School, a private or other public school, or be homeschooled. Application deadline is April 4.

For more info, or to request an application, email OakRidgeLionsClubNC@gmail.com.

NWHS PTA invites graduating NWHS seniors who plan to attend either a two-year community/technical college or a four-year college/university to complete the application for one of five $1,000 NWHS PTA scholarships. Eligible students must have a weighted GPA of 3.0 or higher and be a member of the NWHS PTA as of Jan. 1. An unofficial transcript or letter verification from your guidance counselor should be emailed to northwesthspta@gmail.com; the subject line of the email must say “your name - PTA Senior Scholarships.” Other eligibility criteria include participation in extra-curricular and community activities.

Students must also write a 500-word essay explaining how they embody and demonstrate leadership, service, community and volunteer/service learning in school and community.

For more info, visit www.nwhsptso.org/classof2023 and scroll down to “PTA Scholarship Application.” Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

mark your calendar

REGISTER NOW

 Oak Ridge Easter Horse Show | The annual Oak Ridge Easter Horse Show will take place Friday and Saturday, April 7-8, starting at 9 a.m. both days at Hardin Farm and Stables, 8201 Millrun Road in Stokesdale. New to the show this year is a Ranch/Working Western division to showcase a horse and rider’s ability to work with cattle. There will also be more vendors and more kid-friendly activities including a Kids’ Zone with Guilford County Fire Department’s smokehouse, a petting zoo and a visit from the Easter Bunny. Purchase tickets at www.oakridgehorseshow.com.

SATURDAY, MARCH 18

 Clothing sale fundraiser | Oak Level Baptist Academy at 1569 Oak Level Church Road in Stokesdale will host a used clothing sale for kids and adults March 18, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the academy’s gym. All clothing is clean and in good condition. There will also be a pancake breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m.; cost is $10 per plate. All proceeds will benefit the school. More info: (336) 643-9288 or olbaconquerors@gmail.com.

 MST workday | Oak Ridge Mountains-to-Sea Trail committee will host a workday March 18, 9 a.m. to 12 noon, starting at 7805 Grey Fox Road in Oak Ridge (park at the cul-de-sac with all four wheels on pavement). Standard trail maintenance tools will be provided, but bring loppers if you have them. Gloves, hats and long sleeves/pants are recommended. Sign

up to volunteer at www.facebook.com/oakridgenc (click on the link for the workday). More info: Town Hall, (336) 644-7009.

 Fish fry fundraiser | Oak Ridge Fire Department at 8325 Linville Road will host a drive-thru fish fry to help raise funds for the nonprofit Triad Honor Flight on March 18, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. More info: (336) 643-3783.

MONDAY, MARCH 20

 Performance/fundraiser | The nonprofit Summerfield Stage Company will present “Little Bit of Bloomin’ Luck,” a fun evening of tunes and stories that celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, on March 20, 7 to 9 p.m. at Village Beverage Co., 1015 N.C. 150 W, Suite A. The performance is free, but a $10 donation is suggested. More info: (336) 509-6768 or summerfieldstage@gmail.com.

SATURDAY, MARCH 25

 Food pantry | Good Samaritan Ministries’ food pantry in Stokesdale will open for those in need of food on March 25, 9 to 10:30 a.m. at Stokesdale Business Center, 8500 Ellisboro Road. To receive assistance or to make a donation to the ministry, contact Terri Johnson, (336) 643-5887 or terrij1957@yahoo.com.

 Pigskin For Hodgkin’s | The 5th annual Pigskin for Hodgkin’s charity flag football game will take place March 25, starting at 1 p.m. at R.L. Billings Stadium, 5240 Northwest High School Road in northwest Greensboro. This event raises money for Hodgkin’s lymphoma cancer research and organizations like Make-A-Wish that support patients and their families. More info: www.pigskinforhodgkins.org, @pigskinforhodgkins on Instagram or see ad on p. 7 for more details.

 Trivia night | Seven Homes, a family foster care agency, will host a free TV show trivia night to share info about the foster care community on March 25, 3 to 5:30 p.m. at Craft & Vine, 2205 Oak Ridge Road (near Lowes Foods in Oak Ridge Commons shopping center). Register as individuals or as teams of two to six players – but feel free to join even if you don’t register. Purchase drinks from Craft & Vine, and cupcakes from Cult Cakes (one free glass of wine and a cupcake to the first 20 people to register). Sign up at www.7homes.org/event-details/ trivia-saturday-craft-vine. More info: (336) 455-0693 or impact@7homes.org.

 Nighthawk Nite | Northern High School Boosters will sponsor Nighthawk Nite, an event to benefit the school’s athletic programs, on March 25, 6 to 10 p.m. at Bur-Mil Clubhouse, 5834 Bur-Mil Club Road in northwest Greensboro. There will be items and gift baskets for auction, food, drinks, dancing and raffle prizes. More info: (862) 432-5045 or email fiorelladelisa@gmail.com.

MONDAY, MARCH 27

 Lions Club | Oak Ridge Lions Club will meet March 27 in the Oak Ridge Room, 2205 Oak Ridge Road (next to Bistro 150). Come at 6 p.m. to socialize and order dinner if you would like; the business meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. More info: Frank Kelleher, president, (336) 327-7786 or frankxk95@gmail.com.

TUESDAY, MARCH 28

 Red Cross blood drive | Stokesdale United Methodist Church at 8305 Loyola Drive will host a blood drive March 28, 2 to 7 p.m. To sign up, visit www.redcrossblood.org and search by zip code “27357.”

District 1 Sheriff ’s Offi ce has recently responded to the following incidents in northwest/northern Guilford County

ASSAULT/DOMESTIC INCIDENT

Feb. 28 | Officers responded to a reported domestic incident in the 6100 block of Trotter Lane in Oak Ridge (near N.C. 68 N) which resulted in a fish tank and an antique clock getting damaged; the next morning, a person from the same residence reported his/her vehicle was used without authorization; the vehicle was later returned.

March 3 | Officers responded to a reported domestic disturbance in the 7700 block of Alcorn Road in Oak Ridge.

March 7 | A 23-year-old female was arrested in the 6400 block of Old Oak Ridge Road in northwest Greensboro for simple assault.

March 11 | Officers responded to a reported assault in the 5500 block of Tanyard Court in Oak Ridge (near Oak Ridge Road).

March 11 | Officers responded to a reported assault involving cocaine in the 7600 block of Royster Road in northern Greensboro (off N.C. 150 W).

March 12 | Officers responded to a reported assault involving a physical altercation in the 7700 block of Front Nine Drive in Stokesdale (off Haw River Road).

DEATH INVESTIGATION

March 6 | Officers conducted a death investigation in the 6900 block of Bronco Lane in Summerfield (near Strawberry Road).

DRIVING WHILE IMPAIRED

March 11 | A 39-year-old female was arrested in the 2200 block of Beeson Road in Oak Ridge for driving while impaired.

March 12 | A 45-year-old male was arrested in the 1400 block of N.C. 68 N in Oak Ridge for being intoxicated while instructing a driver with a learner’s permit.

FOUND PROPERTY

March 1 | Officers discovered 3.5 grams of marijuana, 30 Xanax pills and a pipe

...

for smoking marijuana in the 2000 block of Beeson Road in Oak Ridge.

March 1 | A citizen in the 4700 block of Melissa Road in northwest Greensboro (near Lewiston Road) turned in one Alprazolam pill to officers.

FRAUD

Feb. 28 | A resident of the 4500 block of Peeples Road in Oak Ridge (off Alcorn Road) reported an unknown suspect defrauded him of $129,685.49 in cryptocurrency.

PROBATION VIOLATION

March 6 | A 30-year-old male was arrested in the 2300 block of Oak Ridge Road in Oak Ridge for a probation violation.

SCHOOL FIGHT

March 3 | Officers responded to a student fight at Northwest Guilford High School at 12:20 p.m.

THEFT

March 3 | An employee of Lomax Construction on Norcross Road in Colfax reported an unknown suspect stole $500 worth of decking wood and a $50 UsoGood trail camera.

March 4 | A citizen at Circle K gas station in Colfax reported between 1:55 and 2:17 p.m. an unknown suspect entered his motor vehicle and stole his wallet containing several ID and banking cards.

UNCLASSIFIED

March 6 | Officers responded to a resident in the 8300 block of Linville Oaks Drive/Parkchester Place in Oak Ridge (off Linville Road) who had a cardiac emergency.

March 10 | Officers responded to a report of trash dumping in the 7000 block of Summerfield Road.

VANDALISM

Feb. 28 | An employee of Greensboro Auto Detailing on Pleasant Ridge Road in northwest Greensboro reported an unknown suspect vandalized three vehicles at 3:39 a.m.

The Most Trusted Hearing Care Experts in The Triad

 Summerfield Recreation Association and Stokesdale Parks and Recreation Association for giving our youth a great experience in sports!

 Ms. Greta Martin, amazing assistant principal at Northwest Middle School. Thank you for a powerful and inspiring Black History Month program. Your support and dedication to our students is appreciated more than you know!

 Tire Max for going above and beyond to solve an unexpected problem on a simple repair and maintaining the price.

 The Hallmark at Friendly Center. They know what customer service is and will always be my favorite store to shop!

 The person who found the debit card I left in the bank ATM and placed it in the night box. Had it not been for your honesty and kindness, my situation could have been horrible.

 Stokesdale Elementary principal Allison Bennett and Mr. Bowden for their wonderful partnership with Stokesdale Parks & Rec this basketball season. Couldn’t have done it without them!

 All the residents on Brookbank Road and surrounding area who signed the petition to stop the burning of the old house by the developer of the Ashford subdivision.

 Mailboxes & More in Oak Ridge for their attention to detail and great

customer service. They are wonderful to work with, so efficient, and they make things so easy when you go there. Thank y’all so much!

 Nick Southern and JR Pearson for their incredible help in repairing the basketball goal to keep the Stokesdale Parks & Rec basketball season alive.

 Oak Ridge McDonald’s for nickel-anddiming repeat customers on sauce! I own several businesses and we all deal with inflation, but daily customers are more important than charging 30 cents for sauce! What awful business management!

 Youth basketball coaches of 5- and 6-year-olds who don’t give kids equal playing time. This age is about learning and not winning. Check your ego at the gym door. These are their glory days, not yours.

 The Summit Church for leaving your lighted balls up year-round. It takes away from the beauty of that old tree and the wonder of seeing it all lit up at Christmas. Please take them down.

 David Couch. It’s quite simple: just develop per the existing UDO and stop making it a mess.

 Oak Ridge Town Council for having a budget three and a half times that of Summerfield, with just two-thirds the population. And to council members who claim to be conservatives before every election! Don’t be fooled next time.

 John Doggett for voting in favor of David Couch’s destructive overpopulation plans for Summerfield.

 The person who shoots guns near or in the River Oaks neighborhood in Oak Ridge. This past week it was at 9:30 p.m.! I’m all for Second Amendment rights, but have some courtesy.

 The developer of Thrasher Woods. So sad to watch all the trees being removed in the development. I understand trees need to be removed, but new homebuyers would prefer more trees be left standing rather than completely trashing the woods.

 The house on N.C. 68 N in Stokesdale, across the highway from Food Lion. It’s going to soon be falling in. Would the owner please fix it or tear it down? It looks awful!

 David Couch, for suggesting Summerfield is racist to get his way. We just don’t want urban life. We

don’t all have a ranch in Montana to get away to like him. This is our home and we work hard for it.

 Northwest Observer for referring to the Christian Life Center at Summerfield Baptist as a “community life center.” They let the community use it but its proper name is the Christian Life Center.

Editor’s note: I take full responsibility for not confirming the name that was used in a legal advertisement for the public hearing held in the center. We do understand the importance of using the correct names of people and places, and for future reference, we’ll make a note that it is “Christian Life Center” and not “Community Life Center.” P.S. For future reference, the reader might want to note that the proper name of the church is “First Baptist Church Summerfield,” not Summerfield Baptist.

 People who ride in the left lane

of U.S. 220, all the way from Battleground Avenue, before turning left onto N.C. 150. U.S. 220 was finally four-laned, but if you block the left lane, what good is it?

 Bojangles in Oak Ridge for being the most consistent poorly operated restaurant in modern history. It’s quite astonishing how consistently bad it is.

 Subway restaurants in Summerfield, Stokesdale and Oak Ridge. All three locations in the northwest area do not accept coupons now. Why do they even send the coupons out? Such a waste.

 The people who fail to stop at the crosswalk on Linville Road in front of Oak Ridge Town Hall. Please do better – it is there for a reason!

 David Couch, for running to his buddies in Raleigh to try and enact legislation meant to override Summerfield’s decision not to approve his text amendment.

DE-ANNEXATION…

Here are just a few of our posts and reader responses over the last few weeks regarding Summerfield resident/landowner David Couch’s potential efforts to de-annex up to 974 acres from the town.

Posted March 9

In a letter released late this afternoon, Town of Summerfield, NC Mayor Tim Sessoms expresses appreciation to citizens who have reached out to legislators and voiced opposition to efforts to de-annex almost 1,000 acres in Summerfield. Sessoms also urges citizens to continue speaking their voice (Sessoms’s letter was included with this post).

“Mayor Sessoms has my full support. The greatest threat to our small towns is government overreach at the state level. North Carolina has over 532 towns and cities, the vast majority of which are small or mid-sized communities. Each of these towns has a unique identity, history, and governance, offering North Carolina residents a wide range of choices of where to live. This variety is an essential feature of our wonderful state.

“While planning and zoning options in each of these communities adhere to the same state statutes, they also vary by community, based on the desires of each community’s residents and elected officials. This is a good thing, because it allows each town to pursue its own unique vision for the future…

Mayor Ann Schneider, Oak Ridge

“Thank you for organizing efforts to prevent a very troubling event in our town. I am in total agreement with your assessment of his proposed plans.”

Judy B.

“The legislature should not interfere with municipalities zoning matters. De-annexation would set a dangerous precedent for all of our towns. Mr. Couch needs to continue to work with the Summerfield Town Council. De-annexation is not the answer.”

George McClellan, Oak Ridge Town Council

Posted March 10

What Summerfield stands to lose if property is de-annexed...

Summerfield would lose property tax revenue and zoning control of landowner David Couch’s 973 acres if he’s successful in persuading the state legislature to de-annex his property from the town.

Those are two major threats to Summerfield if it loses its de-annexation fight against Couch, according to Jim Joyce, assistant professor of public law and

government at the UNC School of Government in Chapel Hill.

“Once the de-annexation of the property becomes official, it goes back under the jurisdiction of the county,” Joyce said in an interview earlier today. County staff has 60 days to add the de-annexed property to its zoning map, putting its development under county regulations.

In the case of Guilford County, Couch could seek rezoning of his property to permit construction of apartments, which aren’t allowed by Summerfield’s unified development ordinance.

“Very few of us opposed to Couch’s proposal give a hoot about the taxes. We are concerned about our rural character and the cohesiveness of our community. We do not need or want apartments here. They are available 5 minutes up 220. Mr Couch must abide by the same rules of our UDO as everyone else.”

Detra M.

Posted March 6

N.C. Sen. Phil Berger (R) has released the statement below in response to questions about David Couch’s request to de-annex property he owns in Town of Summerfield, NC:

“I don’t know if the plans submitted by a local developer should or should not be approved by the local board. What I do know is the Summerfield Town Board has refused to consider housing options that are needed for our citizens. That is an untenable position for a community that is surrounded by billions of dollars in economic development to take. As our area continues to grow, additional housing is urgently needed so the nurses, teachers, first responders, and construction workers our area relies on can live in the places they serve.”

Do you agree with Sen. Berger’s statement?

“Absolutely not!! Senator Berger’s quote should be alarming to everyone in Summerfield! If he actually wrote that, he’s either misinformed or uneducated on the topic and I don’t know what’s worse. This is what we’re up against!! We’ve been fighting this for years, but most everyone outside our town is not aware, which is evident from Senator Berger’s clearly uneducated opinion on the matter. What is this Summerfield ‘Town Board’ anyhow?? Never heard of it.”

Robbie G.

“I’d like to know what the definition of ‘affordable housing’ is for the average citizen in NC. There are lower price options available in the NW area (if you can find them as soon as they hit the market), but

they will not be new construction. I think we need to be more clear in exactly what is meant by affordable.”

Nancy S.

“We do not agree. Clearly his proposals have been considered in great detail. This matter has taken up countless resources and probably hundreds of hours by our Mayor, Town Council, and Town Staff. Now that his proposal has been rejected (again) he is looking to storm off with his tax dollars. It is laughable that a luxury mixed use community is being proposed to provide ‘affordable housing’. The rent of these apartments will absolutely be higher than our mortgage.”

Amy C.

“From Mr. Berger’s, quote, I can see that he has been woefully misinformed. The Summerfield ‘Town Board’ recently updated its UDO to accommodate additional housing options. Referencing nurses, teachers, first responders, and construction workers. Did someone else write his quote?”

Derek Foy, Stokesdale Town Council member

“If you think Phil Berger is uninformed, well, there’s a fool born every minute. Never been a fan, but he probably got a few points from me. Landowners have traditionally been supported by the courts. Just because a few locals think they know best for a burgeoning community doesn’t mean they do. I expect Summerfield is fixin’ to find out. It was enough to send council into an emergency session. Guilford County will be most happy to be the recipient of those gazillions of tax dollars. Summerfield town council would be wise to reconsider a compromise. Slamming the barn door after the cow is out is pointless.”

Sheila M.

“Follow the money.” – Keith B.

AND ON THE LIGHTER SIDE…

Posted March 5

Congrats to Virginia Tech Women’s Basketball and Northwest Guilford High School graduates and basketball standouts Elizabeth Kitley and Cayla King (both seniors at Virginia Tech this year) for helping their team capture the Women’s ACC championship this afternoon!

“I have been watching Elizabeth since her first game at NW Middle and Cayla since her 9th grade year and am so proud of their careers. Congratulations on your win today!”

Robin G.

Call

 AUTO SALES & SERVICES

KNIGHT IMPORT SPECIALTY SERVICE

European Auto Service & Repair. Specializing in factory-scheduled maintenance and repairs. BMW, Audi, Volvo, Mercedes, Volkswagen, Mini, and Porsche. 32 years experience. 4559 US Hwy. 220, Summerfield (across from Food Lion). (336) 337-0669.

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

(336) 891-3876

EUROHAUSAUTO.PRO

 EMPLOYMENT

SUMMERFIELD VETERINARY HOSPITAL

is seeking a full-time Kennel Assistant. Weekends and holidays a must. Drug and background check required. Please apply in person at 4318 US Hwy 220N, Summerfi eld, NC, or email resume to lydia@summerfieldvet com.(336)643-6326

JOB OPENING. $15.75/hr.; Monday, Wednesday, Friday; 9am to 5pm. Paid training. Must be at least 18 yrs. old with valid DL and reliable transportation. Caring, motivated person needed to provide oneon-one direct care services to an individual in the community who has a disability. Please leave message at (336) 453-8017

STAFF POSITIONS available in childcare center. Please call (336) 643-5930

WEBSTER & SONS PLUMBING. Hiring experienced service plumbers. Vacation and holiday pay. Truck provided. Please call (336) 992-2503

 EMPLOYMENT

The TOWN of OAK RIDGE is accepting applications for a part-time Parks & Recreation groundskeeper. Up to 25 hours weekly. Hourly pay is $15. Very flexible schedule, with occasional weekends. Applicants must have clean NCDL and ability to pass background check. Candidates should submit an application (can be found at oakridgenc.com under Our Town/Employment tab) to tlannon@oakridgenc.com or at Oak Ridge Town Hall, 8315 Linville Road (M-F, 8:30am-4:30pm).

OAK RIDGE SWIM CLUB is currently accepting applications for seasonal employment for the 2023 swim season. Visit www. orcaswim.org for more information and/or to submit an application.

HIRING?

Place your classified ad online at www.nwobserver.com

 HOME CARE AVAILABLE

CAREGIVER. Kernersville and NW Guilford County area. Several shifts open. 19+ years experience. Excellent references. Business license. Not an agency. (276) 206-9275

SENIOR HELPERS. Homecare for seniors and others including: companion, personal needs, transitional, chronic disease, VA, respite, post-surgery assistance. Can provide house chores as part of service at no extra charge. Knowing your loved one is happy, safe and cared for is your priority and ours too! Locally owned and operated. Call (336) 554-2187

 PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE OF DESTRUCTION, donation or auction of articles in the possession of the Piedmont Triad International Airport Police Department. Notice is hereby given that the Piedmont Triad International Airport Police Department have in their possession bicycles, small electronics (cell phones, tablets, laptops), watches, jewelry, wallets, purses, clothing, keys, knives, etc., that have been collected through seizure, confiscation or as Found Property. These items have been in the possession of said police department for more than the statutory required days. All persons who have or claim any interest therein are requested to make and establish such claim or interest to the Piedmont Triad International Airport Police Department's Evidence and Property Section no later than 30 days from the date of this publication. All claims for said property must be made to the Piedmont Triad International Airport Police Department (336) 665-5642 or at 1000A Ted Johnson Parkway, Greensboro, NC. The police department will offer all unclaimed items for donation, destruction, or auction after the 30 days. This notice is given in accordance with Section 15-12 of the General Statutes of North Carolina.

The Northwest Observer

Keeping you connected since 1996!

 SAVE THE DATE

BEST PANCAKES in Oak Ridge! This Sat., March 18, 7-11am. Oak Ridge Presbyterian Church, 2614 Oak Ridge Rd. $6 breakfast and silent auction. Cub Scout Pack 600’s 17th annual all-you-can-eat charity event benefits Greensboro Urban Ministry’s Pathways Center. Buy tickets from a Pack 600 Cub Scout or at the door. Email jgunterii@gmail.com for more info.

STOKESDALE FIRE DEPARTMENT annual BBQ sale. Saturday, March 25, 11am2pm (unless sold out). 8401 US Hwy. 158, Stokesdale. Drive-thru/take-out only. BBQ, $9 per lb. and 6-oz. slaw, $2. Sorry, no preorders will be taken.

continued on p. 36

 HOME SERVICES

AIR CONDITIONING & HEATING

A-ACTION AIR. Air conditioning check-up, $79.95. (336) 268-6768 or (336) 382-3750

CLEANING

CHRISTIAN MOM needs work cleaning houses, running errands. Quality cleaning/ budget friendly. Pet sitting also avail. References. Call Laura Bennett, (336) 231-1838

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

KC CLEANING & PAINTING. Google us! Please call (336) 604-3249

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

PAOLA CLEANING SERVICE. Residential & commercial. Insured. (336) 669-5210

CRYSTAL CLEAR WINDOW CLEANING

Gutter cleaning, pressure washing. Fully ins. windowcleaningnc.com. (336) 595-2873

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., Summerfi eld. (336) 298-4502

The Northwest Observer

Keeping you connected since 1996!

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, and BBB accredited. (336) 414-4899

BALEX ELECTRICAL COMPANY, LLC.

Residential, commercial and solar electrical services. (336) 298-4192

 HOME SERVICES FLOORING / TILE

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.

GENERAL REPAIR & SERVICES

AFFORDABLE HOME REPAIR

Why move when you can improve?

construction well pumps ● plumbing ● foundations sagging floors...and much more!

licensed general contractors

One call fixes all!

(336)

643-1184

GENERAL HANDYMAN. Repairs, installations, assemblies, etc. Light electrical and plumbing. Yard work and power washing. Insured. No job too small. Give Gordon a call, (336) 253-7700.

APPLIANCE REPAIR – Call Mr. Appliance

A step above the rest! (336) 609-5707.

LOW-COST GARAGE DOORS. Repair and sales. 35 years exp. (336) 207-1003

CLOCK SERVICE. Free house calls for sick clocks. 8103 Windspray Dr., Summerfield. (336) 643-9931

L & T SMALL ENGINE SERVICE

“We get you mowing!” Comm./res., all models. Oak Ridge, NC. Please call (336) 298-4314 Ltsmeng16@gmail.com

 HOME SERVICES

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

 HOME SERVICES

GUTTERS / SIDING / WINDOWS

S&M SEAMLESS GUTTERS. Install new gutters. Repair and clean old gutters. Free estimates. Fully insured. (336) 587-8223 or (336) 709-5944

Follow us on Facebook for updates!

facebook.com/northwestobserver

WILSON Seamless Gutters

Installation, repair, replacement, Leaf Guard

GRADING / HAULING

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. Call Bobby Lipstreu, (336) 543-7867

ANTHONY’S GRADING & HAULING

Excavating, land clearing, demolition, dirt, available. Zane Anthony, (336) 362-4035

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

GAULDIN TRUCKING, grading & hauling, bobcat work, lot clearing, driveways, fill dirt, gravel, etc. (336) 362-1150

E&W HAULING & GRADING INC. Driveways, fill dirt, demolition, lot clearing, excavating, bobcat work, etc. (336) 451-1282

BRAD'S BOBCAT & HAULING SVCS

Stokesdale

336-420-0200

LAWNCARE / LANDSCAPING

AQUA SYSTEMS IRRIGATION. Quality irrigation systems. NC licensed contractor. We service all systems. Free est. (336) 644-1174

GOSSETT ' S LAWNCARE. Complete lawn care and maintenance. Res./comm. Fully insured. In business for 33 years. (336) 451-5216

WILSON LANDSCAPING, INC.

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

ARBOR MASTERS TREE SERVICE

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

COLFAX LAWNCARE. Core aeration & seeding. Fertilizing, mowing, trimming. Complete lawn care/maintenance. Res./comm. Fully insured. Serving the Triad for 34 years. (336) 362-5860

handyman

● painting

● free estimates

● kitchen & bath residential & commercial

336.554.5007

kjhomeservices4u@gmail.com

LLC Debris removal, grading, gravel/dirt, driveways, concrete work. (336) 362-3647

Place your classified ad online at www.nwobserver.com

AUGUSTA GREEN LANDSCAPES. 15+ years experience. Complete lawn care. Landscape design, pine needles/mulch, aeration, & more. Fully insured. Free estimates! (336) 708-6150

 HOME SERVICES

STEVE NEWMAN TREE SERVICE. FREE EST. Fully insured. Topping, pruning and removal. Natural area thinning and cleanup. Oak Ridge. (336) 643-1119

DILLON TREE SERVICE. Certified arborists. BBB accredited. Fully insured. Familyowned. Tree removal and trimming. Available for emergency removals 24/7. Free estimates. (336) 996-6156. www.dillontreeservice.com. info@dillontreeservice.com.

DSL DRAIN SYSTEMS & LANDSCAPING (336) 362-4354.

INTEGRITY TREE SERVICE, LLC Tree removal, risk assessment, tree pruning, dead wood removal. Affordable/competitive pricing. Fully insured. Owner-operated. Call for free estimate, (336) 210-8310

Your HOME SERVICES

Place

 HOME SERVICES

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

MASONRY

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, LLC & Outdoor Living can design any concrete project you need, from stamped patios, sidewalks, driveways, basketball courts and fire pits. Our workers are experienced craftsmen who can customize any project to exceed your expectations. Call us at (336) 399-6619

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.

 HOME SERVICES

PEARMAN QUARRY LCID. Inert debris landfill. Yard waste, concrete, etc. Mulch and fill dirt available. (336) 803-2195 or (336) 558-7673.

PAINTING & DRYWALL

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

KC CLEANING & PAINTING . Google us! Please call (336) 604-3249

 HOME SERVICES

PRESSURE WASHING

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

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

The Northwest Observer

Sharing news of your community since 1996!

REMODELING / CONSTRUCTION

KEITH SMITH CONSTRUCTION, LLC

Residential • Commercial • Licensed & Insured

Owner: Carlos Ruiz 336.669.5210 ● carlospainting14@live.com

CM STUMP GRINDING, LLC. Family owned and operated. Commercial/residential. Free quotes! (336) 317-4600

EXTERIOR GREENSCAPES. Lawn maintenance service. Call for a free estimate (336) 682-1456.

ORTIZ LANDSCAPING, complete lawn care. Trimming, cleaning, planting & mulch, gutter cleaning, patios & pavers, waterfalls, retaining walls, sidewalks, stonework. Residential and commercial. (336) 280-8981

SOUTHERN CUTZ LAWN CARE. Offering complete lawn maintenance services, landscaping, bush hogging, privacy fence installation/repair/staining, and stump grinding. Nathan Adkins, (336) 430-6086

STRAIGHT EDGE LAWN CARE. Free estimates. Please call (336) 306-0274

GUZMAN LANDSCAPE & MAINTENANCE

Pine needles, mulch, leaf removal, tree pruning, complete lawn maint. (336) 655-6490

CONCRETE COATINGS

Flake Epoxy Systems

Garage Floor and Concrete Resurfacing

Decorative Concrete Overlays

Stamped Concrete Rejuvenation

Eric Sauls, Owner ● (336) 970-3543

Call for your free estimate

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MISC. HOME SERVICES/PRODUCTS

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

JUNK & DEBRIS REMOVAL, construction, remodeling, and general cleanup, outbuildings, garages, basements, yard waste, etc. Also can haul mulch. Call (336) 706-8470

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

PAINTING INTERIOR & EXTERIOR , 40 yrs. exp. Sheetrock repair. Average BDRM walls $100. Insured. Call Brad Rogers, (336) 314-3186

PLUMBING

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

SIGNATURE PLUMBING. Discount hotwater heater and toilet installation and plumbing. Insured. 20 years experience. Guaranteed work. Call Craig, (336) 279-6196

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.

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. Please call (336) 362-7469

PAINTING, DECKS AND MORE. Call Premier Construction for free estimates. (336) 430-9507.

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.

AFFORDABLE HOME REPAIRS. One call fixes all! A+ with BBB. For a free estimate call (336) 643-1184 or (336) 987-0350

continued on p. 38

 HOME SERVICES

AMERICAN BUILDER CONSTRUCTION, INC. Remodeling/repairs/decks. Any size job. Short wait. (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

ORTIZ REMODELING – Total restoration & home improvement. Drywall, painting, kitchen cabinets, interior trim & more. Free estimates. (336) 280-8981

ROOFING

 HOME SERVICES

SAME-DAY FREE INSPECTIONS

Roof Replacement • Roof Repairs

NEW! Roof Rejuvenation

www.5StarROOFINGUSA.com

336-780-7800

customerservice@5starroofingnc.com

 MISC. SERVICES

NEED A HAIRSTYLIST? Please contact Sonya Burns. 20 years experience. Fleming Road, GSO area. Text to set up appointment at (336) 500-7075

 MISC. FOR SALE

SEASONED FIREWOOD. Any size load delivered or you pick up. Steve Newman Tree Service. Call (336) 643-1119

SEASONED FIREWOOD. $90/pickup truck load, delivered & stacked. (336) 253-7615

 MISC. WANTED

Wanted: FARM EQUIPMENT to buy. All kinds. Please call (336) 430-9507

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

FREE PICK-UP of unwanted riding & push mowers, tillers, generators, power washers, 4-wheelers, mini-bikes, golf carts, bikes, other gas-powered items, tools, air conditioners, computers, most metal items, etc. (336) 689-4167

 REAL ESTATE

HOMES FOR SALE

NEW BUILD IN OAK RIDGE

Roofing, Gutters, Leaf Guards Oak Ridge Based. Free Quotes.

(336) 310-4133

WWW.VILLAGEROOFS.COM

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

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

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

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

BOAT N RV STORAGE. $70/$100 monthly. Located on Brigham Rd., Greensboro, near Pleasant Ridge Road. Call (336) 663-3051

PORTABLE WELDING SERVICE. Welding & fabrication services. Call (336) 908-6906

WELDING AND TRAILER REPAIR Call Tim, (336) 402-3869

locally owned & operated

6705 US Hwy 158, Stokesdale (336) 643-9963

(affiliated with Stokesdale Storage)

 PETS/ANIMAL SERVICES

FREE. 3-year-old male Guinea pig. Includes cage, feed, bedding, everything. Call (336) 553-8993.

SPENCE CANINE ACADEMY. Dog training. Call/text Sarah at (336) 355-0774 for more information.

 REAL ESTATE

HOME FOR RENT

DUPLEX. 2BR, 1BA. NW and Stokesdale schools. Appliances included. $1,200. Call (336) 706-1887.

LAND FOR SALE

LAND & LOTS. Two acres up to 20 acres available for sale in southern Rockingham County (land has Summerfield address). For more info, call (336) 314-3773 anytime.

13 ACRES for multi-family or commercial development. Madison water/sewer at the property. Awesome piece of property. Call (336) 430-9507

LAND WANTED

WANTED: LAND. Any size or shape. Vacant or with dwellings. Matters not. We pay CASH! Quick closings! Call (336) 430-9507

8112 Falcon Trail

4 Bedroom, 4 Bath

$1,049,000 Building Dimensions Inc.

NEW

6394 Whitaker Trace

4 Bedroom, 4.5 Bath

$879,000

C&R Builders of NC

SELLING or RENTING? Get the word out to over 28,000 readers! Call (336) 644-7035, ext. 10. or place your classified online at

BUILD IN OAK RIDGE

The Northwest Observer was the perfect addition to Susan and Alan Thompson’s trip to Aruba, where they celebrated their 40th anniver sary along with 16 other family members.

Summerfield residents Clancy Laizure (far right) and Jennifer Mun (not shown) enjoyed sharing the Northwest Observer with Jennifer’s family when the couple traveled to South Korea last November.