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 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. See display ad on p. 15.

THURSDAY, MARCH 30

 ORTC meeting | Oak Ridge Town Council will meet March 30, starting at 7 p.m. at Oak Ridge Town Hall, 8315 Linville Road. The monthly council meeting, normally held on the first Thursday of the month, is taking place one week earlier to prevent potential scheduling conflicts due to Holy Week being April 2-8. Attend the meeting in person or watch it in real time or at a later time on the town’s YouTube channel (a link to the recorded meeting will also be posted on the town’s Facebook page). Visit www.oakridgenc.com for more info or a meeting agenda.

SATURDAY, APRIL 1

 Easter egg hunt | Gideon Grove United Methodist Church at 2865 Gideon Grove Church Road in Stokesdale will host an Easter egg hunt for kids of all ages April 1, 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Come to hear the Easter story, hunt for eggs, eat snacks and do crafts. More info: (336) 643-6042.

 “Welcome to Middle School” | Girl Scout Troop 30045 will host a free event for fifth grade girls to discuss the challenges of entering middle school, with topics like making friends, sports and self-care, on April 1, 10 a.m. to 12 noon at Lewis Recreation Center, 3110 Forest Lawn Drive in northwest Greensboro. There will also be door prizes and giveaways. Visit www.eventbrite.com, select “Greensboro” as the location and search “Welcome to Middle School” to register. More info: robinnjudge@gmail.com.

TUESDAY, APRIL 4

 Kiwanis Club | Kiwanis Club of Northwest Guilford, a nonprofit committed to projects focused on children in our community, will meet April 4, starting at 12 noon at Bill’s Pizza, 1431 N.C. 68 in Oak Ridge. More info: nwgkiwanis@gmail.com.

 SMA meeting | Summerfield Merchants

Association (SMA), which focuses on supporting local businesses, nonprofits and the Summerfield community, invites professionals who live in Summerfield or operate a business or nonprofit in Summerfield to its monthly meeting on April 4; social/ networking time is from 6:15 to 7 p.m., followed by a business meeting. Learn more about SMA or RSVP to attend the meeting at www.summerfieldmerchant.com.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5

 Senior program | Senior Resources of Guilford County will sponsor a senior program including activities and a take-home lunch on April 5, 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon at Oak Ridge First Baptist Church, 2445 Oak Ridge Road. To learn more and/or RSVP, contact (336) 373-4816, ext 265.

 Preservation Oak Ridge meeting | Preservation Oak Ridge, a nonprofit committed to preserving historic structures in Oak Ridge, will meet April 5, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the historic Ai Church, 1306 N.C. 68 N in Oak Ridge. More info: www.preserveoakridge.org or call (336) 644-1777.

 Friends of Stokesdale meeting | Friends of Stokesdale, a nonprofit committed to preserving Stokesdale’s history and downtown charm, will hold its monthly meeting April 5, 7 to 8 p.m. at Stokesdale Town Hall, 8325 Angel Pardue Road. For more info, visit www.facebook.com/ friendsofstokesdale or call Joe Thacker, president, at (336) 708-0334.

STIHL chainsaw, a floor jack, a diamond ring and other pieces of jewelry, worth about $5,000 altogether.

March 19 | A resident of the

7700 block of Chesterbrooke Drive in northern Greensboro (off N.C. 150) reported that between March 16 and March 19 an unknown suspect stole a pair of diamond earrings worth $3,000.

March 21 | A resident of the

8400 block of Southard Road in Stokesdale (off N.C. 65) reported an unknown suspect stole four new orange traffic cones with Tractor Supply stickers from her property.

Unclassified

March 20 | An employee of Countryside Village Retirement Community in Stokesdale made a call for service.

Vandalism

March 22 | A resident of the 6200 block of Tether Court in Summerfield (near N.C. 150 W) reported a known suspect damaged her vehicle with a blunt object; on March 23, officers responded to the same residence regarding the violation of a protection order; on March 24, the resident reported the known suspect did $1,400 worth of damage to her yard and a window.

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8201

• 2023 show events will include jumping, western pleasure, English, draft horse pull and mini-draft horse pull.

• SRA sanctioned rodeo on Friday and Saturday evening presented by Double Creek Pro Rodeo with bull riding, calf roping, steer wrestling, team roping, barrel racing and more.

• All new Kids’ Zone with a mechnical bull, petting zoo, smoke house for fire safety, bounce house and face painting on Saturday.

• Kids 10 and under sign up for Mutton Bustin’ by April 6! Register online.

See ad on p. 21

GRINS and GRIPES

5945 N. Church St. Greensboro

(1/4 mile north of Hwy. 150)

Sunday: Worship at 10:00 AM, Bible Studies 9 AM & 6 PM

Mid Week, Wed. at 7:00 PM

You’re Invited

April 7: Good Friday Communion, 7:00 PM

April 9: Easter Sunday, 9:00 & 10:45 AM

May 7: Homecoming

May 14: Mother’s Day

May 28: Memorial Day

Remembrance Service

336.338.1548

 Rio Grande in Oak Ridge and all other restaurants that use paper takeout boxes instead of adding more Styrofoam to the landfill. Small decision with a big impact!

 Central Baptist Church in Oak Ridge and Awaken Church in northwest Greensboro for their hospitality and assistance with Stokesdale Elementary’s annual Girls Sweetheart Dance last month. The venue and accommodations were wonderful, and we appreciate you being a great community partner!

 The person who wrote about the debit card they left in an ATM being returned. You’re welcome. More Americans need to be guided by truth, integrity and principled values, not greed and taking advantage of others. (Philippians 2:3, Luke 6:32).

 Town of Stokesdale, for building pickleball courts. Pickleball is a great activity for everyone!

 Dustin Clinard Roofing for repairing a leak in my roof and providing prompt, quality repairs with a smile.

 NCDOT. Had a pothole at Spotswood and Horse Farm Road in Summerfield. Reported it on the DOT website and it was repaired the next day. That’s your tax dollars at work and excellent service!

 Luigi’s Restaurant Bar & Pizzeria in Summerfield. Servers were very nice and very quick, and even though it was packed on the night we were there, we still got our food on time.

 Oak Ridge Fire Department for the fast response when a brush fire got away from me and was out of control. I’m so grateful for the fire department’s help!

 Oak Ridge Elementary student June Wilson (shown in above photo, left), for initiating the idea to get her third grade classmates and teacher, Mrs. Petrella, to deliver a large, signed Valentine’s Day card to To the Moon and Back Frozen Treats in Oak Ridge last month.

 Augusta Green Landscapes. Owner Brandon McMichael went over and above in transforming my very large back yard into paradise. I am beyond impressed. It’s now ready for the huge events I am hosting this spring and summer.

 The handful of Summerfield residents who are opposed to letting Couch build what he wants on his own property. How long have you lived in

Summerfield, and whose former farm are you living on? There is no “country” left in Summerfield.

 NWHS for holding prom in May again this year. Families are juggling college graduations, weddings, etc. Go back to April. If worried about weather, move it back inside. This is madness to work around!

 David Couch. Twice denied, now you cut and run to the state legislature. Do you not have any shred of decency, sir? We live in a democracy, but apparently you and Sen. Phil Berger are okay with changing that!

 Neighbors who let your dog pee on flowers at other neighbors’ mailboxes. Also, don’t need your dog peeing on shrubs and trees we spent money on planting. Dog urine kills plants and grass. Let them pee on your plants and grass!

 Town of Oak Ridge for putting off building pickleball courts. Stokesdale can build them with a much smaller budget and Oak Ridge can’t??

 David Couch. Imagine what you could accomplish if you spent your time and resources doing something productive.

 The blatantly avaricious GFL Environmental, for imposing yet another hike in trash fees. If you want to display your woke environmental bona fides by changing your name and painting your trucks green, pay for it yourself.

 Companies and corporations that boast about being named “most ethical” to work for, yet treat their employees with no respect – especially older employees who have seniority. Woke doesn’t make you ethical, nor does it mean that you have integrity.

 People who personally attack those they disagree with. Either you are for or you are against an issue. Summerfield is looking more like our federal government every day, and issues are being replaced by hate.

 The man walking on the asphalt of N.C. 68 South. Cars have to swerve into the oncoming lane to avoid hitting you. You are going to end up killing someone or getting killed. Please walk in the grass.

 David Couch. The community has spoken. No apartments. One acre minimum per house for developments. Keep the rural country feel of the area.

 Contractors charging exorbitant prices, Realtors who list homes for way above what they are worth, and people who sell and buy them at those prices. Stop paying ridiculous prices and they will go down. Just wait one year.

 Oak Ridge council members and the town’s Historic Commission, who conflate historic with old. That

Outside the …

92-year-old decrepit (Redmon) house is old, not historic. FDR never slept there. It’s a wreck that needs demolishing –before it becomes a money pit.

 The driver of the local construction company dump truck that drove past a stopped school bus. Pay attention –that’s so illegal and unsafe!

 Summerfield Athletic Park for having disgusting restrooms. Always unsanitary and never a bottle of soap to be found. Summerfield can do better!

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

GRIPES to...

 The chutzpah of government and media, peddling that COVID came from a seafood market, or raccoon dogs! Don’t mention the lab! Or that the surge in cardiac arrest and stroke is due to... artificial sweetener! Don’t mention the “vaccines”!

 The government gun grabbers. It’s not going to happen. The Constitution gives us the right to bear arms, and it was given to us for exactly what we’re seeing today – to protect ourselves from a corrupt government. Term limits on the way.