PS Communication / At Home

fall/winter 2023

IN THIS ISSUE Oak Ridge celebrates 25th anniversary............. 6 Treasured memories of Laughlin School............ 8 Home design trends: what’s hot, what’s not..... 10 Move, or stay put and renovate?....................... 12 Y’all aren’t from ‘round here, are you?.............. 14 Home pickleball courts........................................ 18 Home decorating for all seasons....................... 24 Index of Advertisers............................................... 30

published by pscommunications

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Fall/Winter 2023

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Celebrating Oak Ridge’s 25th anniversary Since the town incorporated in 1998, town leaders have sought to preserve history while adding amenities from parks to municipal water for its growing population

by CHRIS BURRITT OAK RIDGE – As it celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, Oak Ridge is honoring its history while looking ahead to a promising future.

Over the next several months, the development of Heritage Farm Park and the renovation of the historic Redmon house in Oak Ridge Town Park into the Farmhouse Community Center are slated for completion. A 250,000-gallon water storage tank is going to rise behind Town Hall as the most visible sign of progress for the town’s new water system.

“There’s a lot that’s going to be completed next year,” Town Council member Spencer Sullivan noted during the council’s meeting in September.

These major projects are advancing because of efforts of present and

past Oak Ridge leaders, stretching back to the town’s incorporation in November 1998.

Threatened by possible annexation by Greensboro on its eastern border and Kernersville to its west, Oak Ridge leaders spearheaded incorporation efforts, winning support from the state legislature and the town’s residents.

“We wanted to be able to make our own decisions and to not be taken over by somebody else,” said Roger Howerton in an interview for an article about Oak Ridge’s 20th anniversary in 2018. An Oak Ridge native, Howerton has seen many changes in the primarily agricultural community he grew up in. He served on the first appointed town council and went on to be elected and served 14 years as a town council member and mayor pro tem.

“I personally supported the effort because I knew without incorporation, the ‘town’ of Oak Ridge would cease to exist within a very few years,” Oak Ridge resident Gary Blackburn said. He served as director of public relations at Oak Ridge Military Academy at the time Oak Ridge incorporated and was appointed mayor pro tem of the first town council.

“I believed it was the last chance to save the town, and I believed it was worth the fight,” he said.

Jerry Cooke, a former and longtime Oak Ridge resident, was also involved in helping Oak Ridge incorporate. Cooke had purchased a large farm in 1975 that encompassed three of the corners at the intersection of N.C. 68 and N.C. 150.

“It was just a sleepy crossroads,” he recalled of Oak Ridge at that time.

In the 1990s, Cooke tried three times to rezone the northwest corner of the intersection to allow for what is now Oak Ridge Commons shopping center. Each time, he tried to meet individually with the 11 Guilford County commissioners to explain what he wanted to do. Meeting with that many people and trying to get a favorable vote on an area they knew or cared

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The mayor served on the town’s Historic Preservation Commission and Future Land Use Planning Committee before her election to the Town Council in 2020. Her progression reflects the role of many others in Oak Ridge who voluntarily serve on committees and boards such as finance, special

1998

“People who come to Oak Ridge say this is a beautiful town,’’ Schneider said. “Some can’t tell you why. It’s because we have a historic district and a land use plan and ordinances that we enforce. It’s beautiful because we have strategically planned for it.’’

1998

little about was draining.

“It was a non-entity as far as they were concerned,” he said of Oak Ridge at that time. “I thought it was important that locally, we make our own decisions. We needed local government.”

A community meeting at Oak Ridge Elementary School in September 1996 drew an estimated 350 residents despite “Hurricane Fran coming in like a lion,” according to an article in the inaugural issue of the Oak Ridge Observer, predecessor to the Northwest Observer.

Support for incorporation was overwhelming in the general election on Nov. 3, 1998, with 95% of Oak Ridge residents who cast ballots favoring the move.

“People living in Oak Ridge had a sense of the area’s unique identity, and they wanted local control over that,’ Schneider said in a recent interview.

Since its incorporation 25 years ago, Oak Ridge’s population has climbed from about 2,500 residents to more than 7,500 today. The town’s popularity is due in part to the quality of area schools, large lots for homes and its ability to preserve some rural views, despite the disappearance of farm land due to landowners selling their land to residential and commercial developers.

As an illustration, the development of Heritage Farm Park is going to preserve scenic views along N.C. 150. But just to the east, Oak Ridge’s major intersection – at N.C. 68 and 150 – is anything but rural.

Starting next year, the North Carolina Department of Transportation plans to upgrade the intersection and build two roundabouts aimed at easing rush-hour traffic congestion and improving pedestrian safety in the town’s commercial business district.

Additionally, the town is planning to invest in its own improvements – such as sidewalks and street lamps – as part of efforts to enhance Oak Ridge’s “village feel’’ as much as possible in an area dominated by vehicle traffic.

“We’re continuing to look for ways to protect the town’s unique identity and livability – the things that people really love about Oak Ridge,’ Schneider said.

A few miles south of the town core, the juncture of N.C. 68 and I-73 is attracting a flurry of development, with commercial, distribution, retail and apartment construction sprouting on both sides of the highway. According to Schneider, Oak Ridge prepared for such development with zoning regulations and development rules aimed at protecting the town.

2023

1998 – 2023

Twenty-five Years of Appreciation2023 1998 2023 Thank you to the many volunteers who have served on our town’s resident-led committees!

Beautification Committee ● Board of Adjustment Canine Capers Committee ● Building Committee Land Use Plan Committees Conservation Easement Committee Light Up the Night Committee ● Finance Committee Heritage Day Committee ● Ordinance Review Committee Historic Preservation Commission Pedestrian Transportation Plan Committee Mountains-to-Sea Trail Committee Planning and Zoning Board ● Schools Committee Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee Special Events Committee ● Tree Board Streetscape Vision Committee Water Advisory Committee

Thanks also to the Town Council members and staff who have served our town during the last 25 years!

continued on page 21

Fall/Winter 2023

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Former co-workers treasure unique bonds developed while at Laughlin School Thanks to the Town of Summerfield and Guilford County Schools for providing the history of what began as a sabbath school in 1866 and remained a cherished educational institution until 2011

By PATTI STOKES SUMMERFIELD – Once or twice a year, staff members of the former Laughlin Primary School in Summerfield meet during lunch to catch up on life. Inevitably, there is much laughter as they share fond memories of working together years ago.

I appreciated the opportunity to join the group this past August at Rio Grande in Summerfield and hear them talk about what a special place Laughlin was to work…

Sue Quate worked at Guilford Mills in Greensboro for 31 years before the plant closed; with the economy being in a downturn at that time, she felt it was risky to stay in the textile industry, so she applied for and got a job as a custodian with Guilford County Schools in 2002.

“I was hoping my job with the school system would be established for a long time – and it worked out,” Quate said. Of her time at Laughlin, which at that time served students in kindergarten and first grade, she said, “God put me there to make the students as well as the staff have a better place. The staff welcomed me with open arms and as time went on, I knew that my job was just as important as any others.”

Quate was at Laughlin for five years before Guilford County Schools closed it in 2011 and merged the school’s K-1 grades with Summerfield Elementary.

“That was hard on all of us,” Quate said.

Emily StirewalI, who organizes the semi-annual lunches with her former Laughlin co-workers, was the school’s counselor for 16 years.

“I always felt a part of the staff and that wonderful community was like family,” she said.

Cynthia Brown is a retired school art specialist and professional story teller. Like her co-workers, she treasured her time at Laughlin.

“We knew Laughlin was special, and we talked about it all the time. We didn’t take it for granted,” she said. “I’ve worked at a lot of places, and Laughlin is still one of my favorites.”

The late Peggy Joyce was Laughlin’s principal when Linda Reavis started working there in 1976; Reavis continued teaching at the school until her retirement 30 years later.

“Laughlin was an awesome school,” Reavis said. “We had really good principals.

When teachers would come to Laughlin after having taught at other schools, they

continued on page 22

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Home design trends Warmer, earthy tones, various textures and mixing old with new are the latest rage

By ANNETTE JOYCE Whether you’re in the market for a newly constructed custom home, embarking on a home renovation project, or just sprucing up a couple of rooms, staying abreast of current design trends can aid in rejuvenating your living space and infusing it with your unique style.

We recently spoke with local builders to find out if national home design trends are emerging in homes they’re building, and to find out what other preferences buyers in the northwest Guilford County area are expressing.

Rustic with a modern twist

On both the national and local levels, homes have taken on more of a rustic look and feature a variety of natural elements including wood

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cabinets, stone countertops and backsplashes.

Kathy Dumas, who co-owns R&K Custom Homes with her husband, Rich, said this style is definitely being incorporated into the custom homes her company is building.

“Natural wood cabinets have become popular again,” she said. “The difference is that the new woods have a smoother, flatter finish and cleaner lines than the ones we saw a few years ago.”

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At Walraven Signature Homes, Danielle Walraven is seeing a similar trend.

“We have seen a rise in natural material use for exterior stone, wood beam accents, wood mantels and cabinets,” said Walraven, who owns the Oak Ridge-based company along with her husband, Matt.

“Also, as the trend of natural wood flooring has continued, we have noticed a shift from darker hardwood flooring to a more natural look,” she noted.

Casey Flanders is the interior designer for Builders MD, which is owned by her husband, David. These days, she said, she’s incorporating a lot of natural elements into home

designs. In addition to the usage of more natural wood, Builders MD homes feature an abundance of hand-crafted tiles and natural stone.

“Our clients are looking for more of an organic feel,” Flanders said.

When it comes to stone and tile, Walraven and Dumas said their homebuyers are less interested in taking the natural route.

“We haven’t had many customers looking for natural tile or countertops, mainly due to the maintenance of these types of products,” Walraven said. “Our homeowners are looking for less maintenance in the long run.”

A “cleaner look” is what Dumas said R&K Custom Homes’s clients are trending toward.

“We’re using smoother marble designs, not the rough, more Old World stone that was so popular years ago,” she said.

Wallpaper is making a comeback Over the past few years, designers at the national level have been touting the revival of wallpaper, and while it took some time to gain

continued on page 26

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Move, or stay put and renovate?

Increasing mortgage rates and a low housing supply are spurring some homeowners to remodel instead of move

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NW GUILFORD – The combination of rising mortgage rates and the shortage of houses for sale is fueling demand for renovations by homeowners deciding to stay put.

Ray Bullins, owner of Ray Bullins Construction, is working with the owners of a Summerfield home who decided to spend about $200,000 on “basically a whole house renovation’’ – including a theater – instead of buying a new house for $1 million or more.

Aside from building new houses, Bullins has booked four renovations for homeowners through the middle of next year.

“Interest rates are deterring them from moving,’ he said in a recent interview.

Mortgage rates have more than doubled in recent years, making some homeowners unwilling to give up low rates for the higher interest they’d pay if they bought new houses, according to Realtors we’ve spoken with in northwestern Guilford County. In turn, that reluctance to sell is suppressing the availability of houses on the market, helping fuel remodeling.

Nationally, home improvement spending is projected to increase to $485 billion this year, according to the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University. That’s up from $472 billion in 2022 and $328 billion in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic spurred spending on home remodeling.

On the other hand, increasing mortgage rates, coupled with higher prices, is dampening sales nationally. Existing home sales sank 2% in September from August, according to the National Association of Realtors.

Compared to a year earlier, September sales sank 15.4%.

“As has been the case throughout this year, limited inventory and low housing affordability continue to hamper home sales,” Lawrence Yun, the association’s chief economist, said in a statement.

Mortgage rates approaching 8% are “further impacting affordability,” Freddie Mac’s chief economist Sam Khater said in a statement last month.

Meanwhile, the tight supply is pushing home prices higher. Nationally, the median price for existing homes — which include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops — rose 2.8% to $394,300 in September from a year earlier.

When Stokesdale Realtor Phillip Stone meets for the first time with prospective sellers, he asks them where they plan to move. For those who haven’t investigated the impact of higher rates on their monthly payments, they’re typically in for a shock, he said.

continued on page 20

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Thanksgiving is a time for family, food and gratitude.

Many local households this year will struggle to enjoy the holiday.

Can you fill a #BlessingBasket or 2?

Maybe with your family, your neighbors, your co-workers or your church, you could unite to fulfill the list provided to bring a "Happy Thanksgiving" to a member of your community in need -

HOW MANY CAN YOU COMMIT TO? The baskets will be distributed to families in need in our community.

We will have a drop off for the baskets at Bistro 150 at 2205 Oak Ridge Rd # R, Oak Ridge, NC 27310 on Monday, November 13 from 4:30 - 7:00.

EVERY BASKET WILL RECEIVE A GRATITUDE CERTIFICATE for 10% off for a future visit. (Valid until 12/31/2023)

To sign up to donate a blessing basket and see list of items please go to

bit.ly/BlessingBaskets-Ramilya or scan the qr code.

Y’all aren’t from ’round here, are ya?

From ‘Southernisms’ to grits, humidity and changing seasons, those who moved to northwest Guilford County from other areas of the country have found much to like and other things that required some adapting

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Just for fun, we recently surveyed some of our friends and neighbors who didn’t grow up in northwest Guilford County but have made this area their home. We asked them lots of questions, like what brought them to the area; what are some of the differences between here and where they lived before; what are some of the things they enjoy most about their new community; have their palates adjusted to Southern-style cuisine; and, are there any local words or expressions they have found confusing or amusing? We enjoyed hearing their responses, and hope you will also!

When her husband, Kerry, took a job with Honda Aircraft Company, Theresa Davis-Wilson packed up their home in Arlington, Texas, in preparation for their move to North Carolina. After spending some time driving around the northwestern area of Guilford County, the couple settled in Summerfield.

Davis-Wilson considers the seasonal changes to be one of the best things about living in the area.

“I love having four seasons,” she said. “The cooler summers are great.

In Arlington, we have 60-plus days of 100-degree-plus temperatures!

The fall foliage is also much prettier here.”

As for some of the differences that took a little more adjustment, Davis-Wilson said, “Big city takes on a whole different qualification here.

Streets do not run straight in any direction, nor stay in any one direction.

I still can’t tell if I’m driving north, south, east or west if I’ve been in the car for 10 minutes.”

Adapting to the slower pace of life this area offers compared to bigcity life took a while, but Davis-Wilson said that over time she discovered “it’s not a bad thing.”

One thing she still has trouble with is that Texas barbecue and Carolina barbecue are completely different.

“Here, ‘barbecue’ does not mean brisket,” she lamented.

Since Texas is also a southern state, Davis-Wilson said she hasn’t had any problems understanding the dialect. That is, except for one word – “Durham,” which she said locals pronounce as “Durm.”

“I never could find ‘Durm’ on the map,” she joked.

Lorraine Entz and her husband moved from Olympia, Washington, to Oak Ridge a little over five years ago to be closer to their daughter, son-in-law and granddaughters.

“We were fortunate that our son got transferred to WinstonSalem after we moved, so we are now close to both of our children and just gained a daughter-in-law as well,” she said.

When asked about the biggest differences between her former home and her new home, Entz answered “the weather and political climate.”

“Washington is gloomy a lot of the time due to the rain – or drizzle, as I call it. But it is the prettiest place we have ever lived,” she said. “North Carolina is pretty, but Washington is so lush and green, and the temperature is cooler, like I like it!”

Entz said she also misses the natural beauty and all the animals that surrounded her Olympia home.

“We could see Mt. Rainier from our home and every day we had eagles in the trees right outside of our house,” she said.

Joshua Emly and his family made their way down to Oak Ridge from Cincinnati, Ohio, in 2016.

Emly said he and his wife wanted their children to experience a “slower-paced, suburban lifestyle” as opposed to growing up in a city. They also were drawn to this area because of its proximity to both the mountains and the ocean.

Being able to enjoy nature has been one of the best aspects of living in Oak Ridge, Emly told us.

“It’s relatively quiet and at night, I can view the stars with little light pollution. Also, we love seeing deer and hares running outside around the house.”

Emly said he also appreciates having less traffic and that overall, people are more friendly here than in Cincinnati.

Of course, nothing is perfect, and Emly and his family have had to make some adjustments.

“There aren’t many businesses such as grocery and department stores near our house, so we go to Kernersville or Greensboro frequently,” he said. “Also, the summer heat and humidity take time to get used to. And, no snow during the Christmas season is a bummer for the kids.”

As far as “Southernisms,” go, Emly said “y’all,” “’mater sandwiches” and sweet tea took some getting used to, but he admits he has developed a hankering for Krispy Kreme donuts and Southern-style biscuits.

some land where she and her friends could spend time playing with their dogs, so she purchased a small farm in Colfax.

“I love the outdoor space and that it’s not crowded,” Sowell said. “It’s very pretty country and super dog-friendly. It’s convenient to anything I want, but not squished into a cookie-cutter suburb or tiny lot near the city.”

For Sowell, the Southern culture is definitely different from other areas where she has lived, and there is less diversity with regard to race, religion, food, etc.

“Culture-wise, Southerners are just more outwardly friendly and ‘up in your business’ – and I say that lovingly,” she chuckled. “My Northern friends would visit and complain about how everyone wanted to talk to you, when they just wanted to get through the grocery checkout ASAP. Up North, there was definitely less eye contact.”

On the other hand, Sowell pointed out that Connecticut was much more diverse.

“There are lots of different cultures, religions, races. And the food! So much variety,” she said.

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We had the absolute pleasure of building with “Walraven Signature Homes. Matt and his team were great to work with and the design of our home is fantastic. We have the combination of style, functionality and quality, which we have come to know is consistent for Walraven Signature Homes. We have many friends who have also chosen to build with Matt and his team and they have the same rave reviews. We consistently get wonderful compliments on our home and the different details.”

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Well designed custom homes require careful thought and excellent craftmanship. The five-star rating given to us by our homeowners compels us to do our utmost to sustain high standards and superior attention to detail.

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‘Portable’ pickleball A lack of public courts is spurring homeowners to pop up temporary courts in driveways and on neighborhood streets while a few are spending big bucks to build permanent courts at home

By CHRIS BURRITT

published

NW GUILFORD/GREENSBORO – Steve and Lee Nowlin are embracing pickleball as a cherished Thanksgiving tradition.

On Thanksgiving morning after they eat breakfast, watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV and put the turkey in the oven, three generations of the Nowlin family will spill out of the retired couple’s house in the Cardinal subdivision in northwestern Greensboro. They’ll take turns playing pickleball on a cul-de-sac court marked with chalk and blown free of sticks, leaves and acorns.

by

Keep it handy, use it of ten

“It’s portable and it’s such an easy game to learn,” Nowlin said in a recent interview. “There are a lot of silly things that occur during the course of the game that put a smile on your face. And it doesn’t matter whether you win or lose as long as you’re having fun.”

In print

As pickleball’s surging popularity outpaces the construction of public courts, an increasing number of people in northwestern Guilford and Greensboro and elsewhere across the country are staying at home to play the game. A drive through neighborhoods reveals nets strung across driveways or even streets, such as the cul-de-sac where the Nowlins live.

“With the lack of public courts, everybody’s looking for somewhere to play,” said Katie Allegro, Proehlific Park’s pickleball director.

and online year-round nwobserver.com 18

Fall/Winter 2023

A hybrid of tennis, badminton and pingpong, pickleball continues to be America’s fastest growing sport. USA Pickleball said 130 new locations were added per month in 2022 and estimates another 25,000 courts are needed to keep up with growing demand, according to a recent USA Today article. The paper reported that 36 million people played pickleball last year, with growth of 158% over the past three years, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association.

The Nowlins and their children and grandchildren are among the growing number of participants. Until about five years ago, the family played kickball on holidays.

Then pickleball became their game of choice after Steve and Lee began playing regularly.

They’re now part of a group of two dozen or more people who play five mornings a week at Proehlific Park’s sports facility in northwestern Greensboro.

Even as some private clubs and subdivisions are adding pickleball courts for their members and residents, the number of public courts in Guilford County totals only 20, according to Chris Kepco, owner of Triad Pickleball. The organization operates from the county’s Bur-Mil Park located off U.S. 220, just outside the Summerfield town limits.

Ten of the public courts are located at Bur-Mil where about 1,000 people “brand new to the game” have begun playing in the past year, Kepco said.

“The sport is growing so fast, especially on this side of town where a majority of the players are coming from Summerfield and northern Greensboro,” Kepco said.

continued on page 21

During a recent tournament at Bur-Mil Park in northwestern Greensboro, players crowd the 10 pickleball courts which account for half of the public pickleball courts in Guilford County. | Photo by Chris Burritt/NWO

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RENOVATE

continued from page 12 “You don't want somebody to put their house on the market and then all of a sudden they go and check with the lender and find out, ‘oh my goodness, what we're interested in buying is going to cost us this much more money than we’re paying now,’’ said Stone, who owns A New Dawn Realty with his mother, Dawn Stone.

For some homeowners, it makes financial sense to stay put and possibly renovate to add amenities they’re seeking in a new house, according to Stone. However, for owners who need to borrow money, renovating isn’t always an easy decision because home equity loans also carry higher interest rates, he noted.

In addition, some homeowners are struggling to line up remodeling contractors, Stone said, adding that homeowners fear remodelers may be juggling several renovation projects at once, which will stretch out their project completion.

Adobe Stock photo

According to Today’s Homeowner, 55% of homeowners reported renovating a part of their home in the past year. Kitchen renovations and bathroom remodeling are the most popular home improvement projects

Bullins said he renovates one house at a time, reducing the number of projects he could take on if he did multiple jobs at one time.

That’s stressful on homeowners and Bullins and his crew because “you’re basically living with that family for a period of time,’’ he said. “That’s one of the biggest differences in new construction versus remodels.’’

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Some buyers aren’t detracted by increasing rates and higher prices reflecting the tight supply of houses, according to Greensboro Realtor Karen Bolyard who sells in the northwestern section of the county.

Bolyard said she’s working with buyers “who are moving regardless’’ of higher rates and prices. “There are other things in life besides those two things,’ she said, explaining some are relocating here due to new jobs and a desire to downsize or live closer to grandchildren.

Bolyard added, however, that some houses are staying on the market longer than before – in some cases for a week instead of a day or two.

“Some buyers are deciding to wait so there are not as many buyers out there as before,’ she said. “It's still a seller's market, but I think that it’s definitely equalizing a little more than it used to be.’

PICKLEBALL

continued from page 18 “Based on that demographic, people are either putting courts in their cul-de-sacs or building courts in their backyards, and HOAs are putting courts in their neighborhoods.”

During a weekend tournament last month, teams of four players rotated on and off the courts at BurMil. The pop-pop-pop of rackets striking hollow, perforated plastic balls ricocheted across the blueand-green courts as players sat on a hillside waiting for their turn to play.

Across the U.S., the repetitive noise has led to neighborhood squabbles, lawsuits and even 911 calls, according to USA Today. At around 70 decibels, the noise isn’t dangerous for humans, according to experts, but it’s about twice as loud as tennis, the newspaper reported.

The lack of courts is a more pressing concern than noise to players such as Laura Peoples of Oak Ridge.

She and her sister, Susan Phillips, won approval from the town to play pickleball in the parking lot of Oak Ridge Town Park during certain hours.

Lacking a driveway that would accommodate a pickleball court, Peoples and Phillips play regularly with others in Town Park, where they’re noticed by walkers and other passersby. The sisters hope their efforts may speed up construction of pickleball courts at the town’s new Heritage Farm Park, which is under development across Linville Road from the parking lot where they play.

Two pickleball courts are currently being installed as part of improvements at Stokesdale’s Town Park, with construction slated for completion by mid- to late November. Tee Stephenson chairs the town’s Park Improvement Committee and he said he’s asked almost daily when the courts will be ready for play.

picnic shelter, playground, the veterans’ site, parking lot, restrooms and walking trails to the town’s park offerings.

Fifteen years ago, Oak Ridge leaders completed the first phase of Town Park. Six years later, it added a playground, restrooms, a dog park and trails. Since its opening, the park has hosted a growing list of activities headlined by seasonal Music in the Park events and the annual RidgeFest, Heritage Day, Light Up the Night and Canine Capers events. Oak Ridge Youth Association is the park’s biggest user.

The opening of the town park “further solidified Oak Ridge as a place because we had this 80 acres of park that preserved historic farmland and open space 2023 1998 for recreational use,’ Schneider said.

Some of the town’s boards are relatively new, such as the Water Advisory Committee that’s in charge of events and parks and recreation, among a total of 10 planning the municipal water system and the Tree listed on Oak Ridge’s website.

Board, responsible for maintaining and enhancing one “This town runs on committees,’ Mayor Pro Tem Jim of the most visible elements of Oak Ridge’s rural roots.

Kinneman noted at the September council meeting.

Similarly, the Conservation Easement Committee Councilman George McClellan agreed, saying citizen is seeking to protect historic properties and structures volunteers are responsible for Oak Ridge’s successes. with easements, augmenting nearly two decades of As advisers to the council, the committees have efforts by the town’s Historic Preservation Commission. provided the impetus and guidance for Oak Ridge’s Oak Ridge’s historic district was established in 1994, major projects in recent years. four years before incorporation.

Rallying dozens of volunteers, Oak Ridge’s The town’s Special Events Committee has raised Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) Committee has built the almost $240,000 for the Veterans Honor Green to Headwaters Trail northwest of town. To the southeast, be located within Heritage Farm Park. The 63-acre the committee is constructing another trail leading to park will add two multi-purpose playing fields, a

25TH ANNIVERSARY

continued from page 7

Kepco and Allegro said they’re aware that a few local players have built courts in their backyards.

“At the cheapest, you can get it done for about $15,000, but you’re probably looking at closer to $20,000,” said Kepco, noting the addition of lights increases costs beyond the asphalt court and fencing.

As municipalities build new courts for public use, homeowners may have to wait as long as a year for construction of their home courts, Kepco said. He predicted the sport will still be in vogue after the wait.

“It’s so social and shows no signs of slowing down, because people want to socialize at home on their courts,” he said.

Bandera Farms Park, the roughly 115-acre equestrian and hiking preserve that’s being developed by Piedmont Land Conservancy (PLC) in cooperation with the Town of Summerfield, Town of Oak Ridge, Guilford County, and the City of Greensboro.

The MST Committee “has started making us a leader in trail development’’ in North Carolina, Schneider said.

“Overall, we've become a leader in recreational opportunities through our parks and through the trails.’’

This coming Friday, Nov. 3, the U.S. flag flying at the state capitol in Raleigh will honor Oak Ridge’s incorporation. To educate citizens on the town’s historic district, Schneider led guided walking tours through the district on two Saturdays in October. Among other planned activities to celebrate the town’s history is a 25th anniversary volunteer appreciation dinner, to be held this coming January. Citizens may purchase a 25th anniversary T-shirt at Town Hall during business hours.

Learn more about Oak Ridge at www.oakridgenc.com

Fall/Winter 2023

21

“One of the best things about Laughlin was, we were just a family,” Petersen said. “They were an amazing group of people – plus, it was fun to just have the little kids there.”

LAUGHLIN ELEMENTARY...continued from page 8

Traci Browning began working at Laughlin in her second year of teaching and said she appreciated her co-workers warmly welcoming her and taking her under their wing as she settled into her teaching career.

Special education teacher Elizabeth Spencer said, “I loved being at Laughlin, because not many people get to just serve kindergarten and first grade.

“One of my fondest memories was that I shared a classroom with many speech Photo by Patti Stokes/PS Communications therapists,” Spencer said. “In my last years there, Staff members who worked together at Laughlin School before its closing in 2011 still get together once or we were in a tiny room with pretty wood floors, a twice a year for laughter and memory sharing. Shown here are those who were able to gather at Rio Grande stove and an oven, and we had radiator heat. In in Summerfield this past August. the winter it was so cold that we had frost in our windows. Those were good memories to laugh would tell us, ‘Y’all don’t know how good you have it here. It’s like heaven compared to where we came from.” about.”

Jane Holland was a teacher’s assistant at Laughlin for 27 years, during which time she worked with over 20 teachers.

Leslie Davis did her student teaching at “What made Laughlin so good was the people… I was near home when I was at work, and I felt at home while I was there,” Laughlin at 1992.

Holland said.

“I had no idea what kind of school it was For eight of the nine years she was at Laughlin, Tina Hammond Petersen was a kindergarten teacher. until I got there, because it was way out there,”

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Fall/Winter 2023

Davis said. “But then when I got there, it was precious.

With just kindergarten and first grades, it made it so sweet. I didn’t realize just how sweet that small school was until years later, after I had left. It truly was a family, more so than any school I’ve ever been at.”

Laughlin School, now Laughlin Professional Development Center, opened in 1866 as a Quaker sabbath school in Peace Church on Scalesville Road. At that time, local churches were used as places to teach people of color after slavery was formally abolished.

According to research documented by historian Linda S. Zenns with Guilford County Schools, “The children were taught the alphabet, spelling, reading, geography, arithmetic, and writing by two Quaker women from Pennsylvania who traveled south for the primary purpose of teaching the Freedmen’s children.

Unfortunately, the two ladies returned to Pennsylvania after the Ku Klux Klan made a disturbing visit to the home in which they were boarding. After they left Summerfield, records for the Sabbath School remained scarce until the early twentieth century.”

The local sabbath school evolved into Summerfield School in the early 1900s and served students through the seventh grade. They met in a two-room building with wood stoves and no electricity. The male students

split the wood for stoves and the female students carried the wood to the front porch. The school house was located on the land that is now the parking lot for Summerfield Town Hall, on the corner of Summerfield Road and Oak Ridge Road.

According to Zenn’s research, in April 1928, a delegation from Summerfield took a petition to the Guilford County Schools Board of Education, asking for a new, improved, larger school for African-American students in Summerfield. After visiting locations in Summerfield and Oak Ridge, the Board announced the school would be built in Summerfield and in 1934 Summerfield Colored School opened with five teachers and 190 students. One of the five teachers was Duella M. Laughlin, who taught fifth, sixth and seventh grades.

She later served as the school’s principal from 1936 to 1950, and the school was renamed Laughlin School in her honor a few years after she retired.

A fire on the evening of Jan. 5, 1942, destroyed Summerfield Colored School; while it was being rebuilt, its students attended classes in a nearby old factory and an old mill, both of which had been graciously renovated by the owners for the students.

A few years later, in March 1950, an addition to the school was approved by the State Board of Education which included four classrooms and a multipurpose

room. In 1953, a cafeteria and four more classrooms were added.

As Laughlin School facility continued to grow, a third and final classroom building was added adjacent to the cafeteria in 1955.

In 1962, all area schools were consolidated into one school, Northwest Senior High School. However, Laughlin School chose not to join the consolidated school until 1965. More change came to Laughlin School in 1968 when seventh, eighth and ninth grades were moved to the newly constructed Northwest Middle School. Laughlin then consisted only of grades one through six.

In 1970, when integration fully transitioned into Guilford County Schools, Laughlin was paired with Summerfield Elementary School, and grades 3-5 were transferred to that facility, leaving Laughlin as a K-2 school.

In 1987, the second grade was moved to Summerfield Elementary School; Laughlin remained a K-1 school until it closed in 2011. The school sat empty for about a year and a half until the school system decided to repurpose it. After renovations, it was renamed Laughlin Professional Development Center and opened in May 2012 as a training facility for educators.

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Local residents and professionals offer budget-friendly tips for decorating your home with a fun, festive flair

By ANNETTE JOYCE Huge potted mums are strategically placed by stacks of multicolored pumpkins lining the front porch steps. In the front yard, there’s a cheerful display of dried cornstalks and hay bales, accented with more pumpkins and a cute scarecrow.

When you see these decorations popping up all over northwest neighborhoods, it’s a sure sign that fall is in full swing and the winter holidays aren’t too far behind. In recent years, it seems more and more people are pulling out all the stops to make their homes and places of business showcases of warmth and cheer.

After speaking with some local residents to find out how they decorate for the season, we picked up a few tips that might inspire you to dress up your home a bit differently this year.

Change is good

Although Sandy Stewart isn’t as enthused about fall decorating, signs of Christmas usually come to this Stokesdale resident’s home around the first week in November.

“I do a big Christmas,” said Stewart, who has always enjoyed decorating and worked as an interior design assistant before retiring.

It all starts on the outside, when Stewart adds lights to the shrubbery and places sparkling reindeer in the front yard. She admits that her husband, Randy, does most of the exterior work but she “still supervises him.”

The big transformation takes place inside, starting with the 9-foot Christmas tree that sits by the front door. Unlike many people who treasure tradition and enjoy having the same holiday décor theme every year, Stewart thrives on change and loves redoing her tree.

She likes to use a different color scheme each year, usually centering on two or three colors – one year it might be red and silver, and another year, gold and white. Ornaments are selected from her extensive collection and she fills areas in with inexpensive items such as ribbon and sprigs of beads and flowers.

Despite not having any formal training in decorating, Stewart has the ability to visualize what she wants to create and gets inspiration from her shopping expeditions. She encourages people not to be afraid of trying new things, regardless of budget restrictions.

“You don’t have to spend a lot of money to make something look

24

Fall/Winter 2023

Photo by Annette Joyce/NWO

Colorful mums and pumpkins in various sizes go a long way in dressing up a home for the fall season.

good,” she said. “You can decorate on a small scale as well as a larger scale.”

Budget-friendly decorating

Barbara Engel, who lives in Oak Ridge, enjoys decorating her home for the different seasons and has a knack for coming up with creative and budget-friendly ideas.

A member of the Oak Ridge Garden Club, Engel recalled one of her favorite fall table decorations which her group did for a club event.

The centerpieces featured pumpkins that had the insides removed and wet florist foam packed into the bottom. Greenery and flowers were collected from

members’ yards and arranged using the pumpkins as a container.

The pumpkins were then arranged on chargers (although Engel said any type of plate will do), and artificial fall-colored leaves were placed on the plate surrounding the pumpkins. “We got so many compliments and just wowed everyone,” she said, noting that these centerpieces would be great for Thanksgiving tables.

“Go out into your yard and look around,” Engel advised. “You’ll be surprised at what you can find – and it doesn’t cost anything.”

Many of the decorating ideas Engel gets come from the internet, HGTV and various magazines. One of her favorite sources is the catalog from Frontgate, a provider of high-end home décor. She uses the photos as inspiration and tries to replicate something similar but less expensive.

“Nothing has to be fancy or over the top,” she noted. “It can be simple and still be elegant.”

Like Stewart, Engel touts the impact of adding ribbon.

“Ribbon makes it look like something special,” she said. “Curl wired ribbon around items placed on a table runner or wind it through some garland. It just brightens everything up.”

When you can use a pro…

Sometimes decorating a home or business requires help from a professional. At Brooks Home and Farm in Stokesdale, owner Eli Forehand and his crew have been helping people dress up their homes for the last three years.

Forehand said his clients rely on his company’s services for various reasons.

Photo courtesy of Sandy Stewart “Some just don’t have the time, equipment or know-how. Others need our help for a party or special event,” he said, adding that some older people Sandy Stewart likes to just aren’t physically able to handle the tasks but still want their homes to look change her Christmas décor festive. by using a different colored theme on her tree each year. continued on page 31

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HOME TRENDS

continued from page 11 traction, this trend is gradually surfacing in the northwest region.

Lisa and Ray Bullins own Ray Bullins Construction, and while Ray focuses on the homes’ construction, Lisa oversees their interior design.

She particularly likes using wallpaper as an accent wall, and mentioned that some homeowners are also opting to use wallpaper as a background for bathroom mirrors or as a backdrop for floating shelves within their living spaces.

“It adds a bit of depth and dimension,” she said.

At Builders MD, Flanders has embraced the latest trend and enjoys going retro with grass cloth wallpaper, saying the natural look of this textured paper adds to the rustic décor that is popular right now.

All about color

Neutral colors are still the mainstay for today’s homes, with everything being light and airy, and some accent colors thrown into the mix to add interest to a room.

However, “light and airy” doesn’t equate to all white, or bright white. Homeowners’ preferences are veering toward more of a tinted off-white or soft, earthy tones.

Bullins confirmed that white has turned more toward a soft beige.

“It’s a softer, warmer look with a hint of tan,” she said.

Dumas agrees, saying her company’s homeowners have been veering toward mostly warm whites or creams for their wall colors.

While neutral wall colors might seem boring, local builders told us they’re jazzing it up with touches of color added through built-ins, accent walls, doors or a standout island in the kitchen.

“We have done a lot of blue over the past five years,” Dumas said. “Trendsetters tried to bring in green as the new color two years ago, but that didn’t hold in this market. We are still seeing darker gray and black for accent walls with geometric wood designs on the walls.”

Homes built by Ray Bullins Construction often

26

Fall/Winter 2023

Photo courtesy of Ray Bullins Construction

This farmhouse-style home built by Ray Bullins Construction uses wallpaper with a rooster print to add interest to the powder room. Wallpaper has been making a comeback, and is expected to become even more popular in 2024.

feature a splash of color on at least one wall. In a recently constructed home, Lisa Bullins said she introduced a blue accent wall in the kitchen, defining the dining area with a striking contrast.

homes,” Dumas confirmed, adding that these rooms typically get used less than five times a year.

“I’m seeing a lot of built-ins with pinks and greens,” she said. “I’ve done bright green cabinets in the laundry room, bathroom and offices. It’s a fun look.”

And with many employees still working from home, space previously used as formal dining rooms is being converted to much-needed office space.

Flanders said Builder MD’s clients are “all over the place” when it comes to accent colors.

Say good-bye to formal dining rooms

With home prices on the rise, homeowners are looking for better, more efficient ways to use their space. As a result, the formal dining room is becoming obsolete.

“Formal dining rooms have become a thing of the past in the majority of our

“We are doing larger breakfast/dining areas in most homes, which allows families and their guests to all gather in one area rather than separating dining rooms and breakfast rooms.”

Uniquely you

While trends come and go, homeowners are encouraged to make their home their own by incorporating their individual personality and style into the building process.

Bullins sums it up best.

“It seems to be whatever anybody likes is in style,” she said.

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“I was introduced to Ethiopian food, Greek, real Japanese food and so much good Indian food, plus Jamaican pulled pork and plantains,” Sowell added.

“But on occasion, I’d walk into someone’s house, or more often their grandma’s house, and just get hit with a wave of nostalgia because sure enough, they’d have bacon grease frying in a cast-iron skillet. I could always tell who came from the South.”

Although she is originally from the South, Sowell joked that she may be the worst Southerner ever.

“The idea that a ‘box’ cake is what you make for folks you don’t like all that much is still funny to me,” she said. “And, I can’t stand grits, chitlins, liver, greens or okra.

“But almost anything else, cook it with bacon drippings and I am there for it. The best chicken, biscuits and barbecue are definitely found in the South. And sweet Lord, Southerners sure do desserts properly!

“I’m so glad for my experiences in other states, but it’s hard to imagine settling down anywhere other than the South – just not so far down I have to worry about gators and flying cockroaches, or so far up I’m digging out of snow. Colfax hits the sweet spot.”

Origin+ally from Grand Rapids, Michigan, Amy Carrickhoff and her husband took a detour through Atlanta and Charleston before landing in Oak Ridge.

Carrickhoff said they moved to Oak Ridge “because it is beautiful, the people are so nice and the taxes were lower.”

Over the years, Carrickhoff has grown even fonder of the lifestyle the northwest area offers.

28

“It’s the sense of community. It feels like family here,” she said. “I know everyone on my street, and we really look out for each other.”

The weather here is more pleasant as well.

“In Michigan, we sometimes had snow from October to April,” she said.

One of the things Carrickhoff found it hardest to adapt to?

“For a while it was difficult to find ‘unsweet’ in the restaurants,” she joked.

It also took her a while to get used to some of the Southern sayings, i.e., “I carried Mama to the store,” “I might do that today,” and that all-time favorite “bless her heart.” And there’s one other – “Where I’m from, barbecue is a verb,” Carrickhoff said.

Since living in this area, Carrickhoff said she has developed a craving for fried chicken – more specifically, the fried chicken served up at Little Creek Diner in Walnut Cove.

“It’s amazing,” she said.

Early on, she did have a surprise with one food that Southerners hold dear.

“The first time I was served grits at a restaurant I put sugar on them,” she said. “I thought it was Cream of Wheat. I was almost asked to leave.”

Danny Yanusz moved his family from St. James, Long Island, to the middle of Oak Ridge nearly 37 years ago. He relocated here because of a job transfer but ironically, the day he and his wife closed on their house he lost his job due to a corporate takeover.

“We decided to stay anyway,” he said. “It was the best move we ever made!”

Yanusz said the rural landscape he left behind was similar to what he found in Oak Ridge, but it is much less densely populated here.

Fall/Winter 2023

“I think our previous county was about 300 square miles larger than Guilford County and its current population is about 1.5 million people,” he said.

“Guilford County is only about 500,000 people, so there are a lot less people around here. With that many people concentrated up there, you could do anything 24 hours a day.

“I remember one time going out for diapers for our young children at 1 a.m. and having to wait in the checkout line with about 10 people in front of me. There were eight registers open with lines – at 1 a.m.!

I don’t miss the crazy,” he said.

Yanusz soon found a lot to like in his new hometown, beginning with the first person he met – Carolyn Brown, who at the time was the school secretary at Oak Ridge Elementary. Over the years she endeared herself to countless people in the community and before her death last November at age 88, she was often lovingly referred to as the “Queen of Oak Ridge.”

“Carolyn set a standard of kindness and a welcoming feeling that the community has always shown us,” Yanusz said.

He also found the peacefulness in the northwest area to be very appealing.

“We are lucky that we have no houses directly around us, with lots of private property on each side and across the street,” he said. “The sound of silence amazes me sometimes. I often stand in the garden late at night just looking at the stars and listening to the stillness – except during cicada season!”

Like many others, Yanusz said the Southern pace of talking was one of the hardest things for him to adapt to.

“I used to train people (in a former job) and they had a hard time keeping up with my direction because I talked so fast,” he chuckled, adding he wasn’t sure if

they were “just listening slower.”

As for Southern expressions, Yanusz is still puzzled by that popular saying, “bless your heart.”

“What does that really mean?” he asked. (True Southerners know there are many, and quite different uses for those three words.)

Along the way, Yanusz also picked up a love for some Southern favorite foods.

“Chopped barbecue with vinegar slaw. Love it!” he said. And while he said he doesn’t understand ketchup on hot dogs, he is “down with” Carolina dogs.

Originally from Pennsylvania, Barbara Engel and her husband, Frank, moved to Oak Ridge over two decades ago after having lived in several states throughout the South.

They decided to settle in Oak Ridge because their youngest son and his daughter lived in the town.

While having family here was a big motivator, the couple was also attracted to the laidback lifestyle the area offered.

“We love this community, its small-town feel and how the town has blossomed,” Engel said. “So many amenities have been added – like the town park – and there are lots of opportunities to volunteer and get to know people.

“I like that the historic areas and the history of our town are being preserved,” Engel added. “Plus, it’s a much slower pace of life here. Of course, we are retired, which makes a huge difference.”

The town’s convenient location is a bonus.

“We are between Greensboro and Winston-Salem and are able to get to either city easily,” she said. “We also like being close to the beach and the mountains.”

Before coming to Oak Ridge, the Engels lived in Atlanta and were happy to leave behind that city’s nightmarish traffic.

“We think we have traffic, but Atlanta traffic is horrible,” Engel recalled. “I did not leave our home until after 9:00 in the morning and was home by 3:00 before the real rush hour started.”

While she was glad to be rid of the heavy traffic, leaving behind the vast array of shopping and restaurant choices wasn’t so easy.

“When we moved here, the Commons (Oak Ridge Commons shopping center) had just opened, and there were not a lot of amenities or restaurants nearby yet.

And, it was very dark at night – no streetlights and no ambient light from businesses,” she said. “Things have certainly changed since then.”

A job relocation brought Jim Kinneman and his wife, Carol, to Oak Ridge from Long Island, New York, several years ago and Kinneman said he has found a lot to like about his hometown.

“It’s a little less hectic,” he said. “(There are) still four seasons, but none are that extreme. (It’s) very easy to get around (and there’s) a wide range of outdoor activities.

Regardless of stereotypes between our previous home and here, people are the same when you get to know them.”

Of course, there are things he misses, such as having convenient access to high-end entertainment.

“We do miss being able to jump on the train and see a Broadway play on the spur of the moment, but the Tanger Center is bringing them here, so it works out,” he said.

When asked about any Southern habits that he found strange or crazy, Kinneman zeroed in on driving habits.

“I truly believe if there was a sign that said ‘Left Lane Closed 100 miles Ahead,’ and you didn’t get over immediately, other drivers wouldn’t let you in.”

Originally from Youngwood, Pennsylvania, just outside Pittsburgh, Terry Lannon moved to Oak Ridge in 2007 to take on the position of Director of Parks and Recreation for Oak Ridge Town Park.

“My mom came down with terminal cancer, so I looked for a job where I could be closer to her,” Lannon noted.

He appreciates that Oak Ridge is a rural community, similar to his hometown, and a bonus is that winters are

much milder here.

Lannon works long hours and is okay with that.

“I enjoy my co-workers and the volunteers I get to work with,” he said. “I also like the variety of challenges my job presents almost daily.”

As for the differences?

“In regard to my job, there’s a difference in philosophies regarding revenue, expenditure, and economic impact,” Lannon said. “On the personal side, there’s a lack of easy access to the type of places where I commonly like to recreate myself.”

Although Lannon has become accustomed to Southern expressions, there is one thing that still bothers him.

“The continued use of the word ‘y’all’ instead of using the proper pronoun, ‘yinz’,” he joked.

Ben Walraven and his wife left their home in Northport, Michigan, in 2017 and headed south to be closer to their children and grandchildren, who were already living in the area. Oak Ridge seemed like the perfect place to establish their new home.

Over the years, the Walravens have found a lot to like about their chosen community, including being close to their family, a dynamic local economy, and lower real estate taxes.

Oh, and the climate.

“We like the pleasant weather, especially in the late autumn through late May,” Walraven said. “Michigan winters begin around mid-November and last through early April.”

Even so, Walraven said he still has a hard time adapting to the hot and humid Southern summers.

“The summer heat is tough for a native Michigander, whereas the Michigan winters are tough for those from the South,” he said.

Although the Walravens live on a rural road with beautiful views of hay fields and green forests, it doesn’t quite measure up to what they left behind.

“In Michigan, we lived on a beautiful spot on Grand Traverse Bay, which is part of Lake Michigan. The views were breathtaking,” Walraven said. “My wife especially misses the view of the water, which is deep blue and crystal clear.”

Over the years, Walraven has developed a liking for quite a few Southern delicacies including pulled pork, Brunswick stew, fish muddle (which he discovered in Northampton County, North Carolina), collard greens, turnip greens and fried okra. He also gave stewed okra a chance but decided it was just too slimy.

Fall/Winter 2023

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for making this publication possible BUILDERS

Budget Blinds.......................................................... 8

HOSPITAL/MEDICAL SERVICES

Disney Custom Homes............................................3

Dillon Tree Services................................................31

Novant Health - Kernersville Medical Center............9

R&K Custom Homes...............................................5

Hedgecock Builders Supply Co..............................19

Walraven Signature Homes..............................16-17

Madison Flooring...................................................22

MISCELLANEOUS

North Star Moisture Solutions.................................. 4

Town of Oak Ridge..................................................7

BANK Bank of Oak Ridge..................................................6

Priba Furniture.......................................................27 Pro-Care Restoration.............................................23

HOME PRODUCTS & SERVICES

Stokesdale Heating & Air Conditioning..................10

Ace Handyman Services........................................20

Superior Outdoor Spaces.......................................14

Amanzi Marble & Granite......................................11 BEK Paint Company..............................................15

HEALTH INSURANCE (MEDICARE)

Bob Rents..............................................................12

Health Team Advantage........................................25

REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS Bobbie Maynard – Allen Tate.................................15 Nicole Gillespie – RE/MAX Realty Consultants..........2 Ramilya Siegel / Keller Williams Realty...................13 Smith Marketing – Allen Tate.................................32

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Fall/Winter 2023

DECORATING FOR ALL SEASONS

Photo courtesy of Brooks Home and Farm

continued from page 25

During a consultation with clients, Forehand establishes an idea of what they want and how to align those wants with their budget. Fall installations can range from $150 to over $3,000, he said, while Christmas decorations usually start at about $500 – but, some of the most elaborate setups can exceed $20,000.

Brooks Home and Farm has been busy with fall displays since mid-September, so much so that Forehand added a second crew to meet demand.

Having designed and completed untold numbers of fall displays, Forehand has a good feel for what works best and offered our readers a few tips.

“If you’re doing pumpkin stacks, put some hay between the pumpkins,” he said. “It adds character and helps prevent rotting from dew.”

He also suggests adding inexpensive props such as the scarecrows and skeletons that can be found at dollar stores.

If you’re putting cobwebs on shrubs, try adding lights underneath to make them pop.

In fact, Forehand suggested stringing lights among the pumpkins to make them show up at night.

Forehand and his crew set up their first Christmas display in midOctober and are hard at work accommodating requests for the upcoming holiday season.

One client turns their lawn into a North Pole village that features, among other items, about 40 blow-ups, silhouettes and thousands of lights throughout. Although Forehand personally prefers silhouettes to blow-ups, he said kids love them and the overall result is amazing.

His company is presently working with a Charlotte-based client with hopes of turning her square-shaped home into an enormous Christmas package featuring a massive bow centered on the roof and streamers coming down the sides.

Forehand offered some advice to help those doing their own decorations: • First, put everything on timers.

• For hanging lights on tall trees and rooftops, invest in extender poles.

• Zip ties are extremely handy when it comes to securing items.

• Over the years, Forehand has seen many people simply clip their light strings if they’re too long and he said this is a big no-no, especially outside.

“If string lights are too long, don’t cut the wires,” he advised. “Wrap them with tape and lay them in a gutter.”

While each decorator has their own tricks of the trade, they all agree on one thing – do what brings you enjoyment of your surroundings.

And, if you don’t like the end result, don’t be afraid to modify it until you get it the way you want it.

Eli Forehand, owner of Brooks Home and Farm, suggests adding inexpensive props, such as this scarecrow and ghost, to add fun to any fall display.

Call BEFORE THE FALL!

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