At Home | Spring 2015 by pscommunications

Spring 2015

6 “You’re not from

around here, are you?”

8 Tales from a vanished lake

10 Can you identify these northwest-area photos?

12 Local parks in the spotlight

14 Learning by doing 18 Making treasure out of trash

22 Beekeeping: not just a hobby

27 Know your yard

pests: moles vs. voles

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At home in northwest Guilford County As we planned the editorial content for this spring’s at Home publication, we wanted to touch on as many aspects of “life in northwest Guilford County” as possible, from local history to practical home-related topics to offering a sense of our area’s “personality.” Offering a glimpse into times past, within these pages you’ll find an article on Carolina Lake, a 5-acre lake that was once a popular social gathering spot and fishing hole for locals. Have problems with moles – or voles – or not sure which? I personally requested this article be written after experiencing these pests at both our home in Summerfield and our office property in Oak Ridge. (I’m getting the feeling we might have to just live with them, but let me know if you have a solution for how to

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send them on their merry way). Read about some hidden treasures right here in northwest Guilford County – our community parks – beginning on page 12. Test your observation skills by looking at zoomed-in photos on page 10 and seeing if you can identify where they came from. Meet a former teacher who is constantly finding new ways to ﬂex her creative muscles, learn about the popular hobby of beekeeping, hear what some “transplants” think about living in North Carolina, and read about one of our own writer’s experience with building a “tiny house” that he’s admittedly “more proud of than he has a right to be.” Enjoy the beautiful spring season, and happy reading! Patti Stokes, president/owner PS Communications

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Spring 2015

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not from around ‘You’re here, are you? by Annette Joyce Just for the fun of it, we talked to some of our friends and neighbors who didn’t grow up here but decided to make the northwest area their home. We asked them lots of questions. What differences do they notice in comparison to their former hometowns? What do they find most appealing about the area? Have they developed any cravings for traditional Southern foods? Are there local sayings that they find confusing or amusing? We hope you enjoy their responses as much as we did.

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 A native of the Midwest, Lisa Campbell moved to the Summerfield area in 2011 when her husband’s employer, Procter & Gamble, relocated him. Having been through four relocations, Lisa has found a lot to love about the area.

’

As to what unique treasures the area has to offer, Lisa has unearthed some of those as well. She mentions Gold Standard Fitness, the Stokesdale Bi-Rite meat department and Brent Schroyer, the insurance agent at the Bank of Oak Ridge.

 Having family in the area and more reasonable home prices motivated Laura Mulcahy and her husband to move from Long Island, New York, to Oak Ridge 10 years ago. The lifestyle has kept them here.

“All four seasons in the Triad are considerably more pleasant,” says Lisa, who compares the winters here to a midwestern spring. “There is definitely a much broader choice of fresh produce at the local farmers markets, as the growing season here is 10 months versus the midwest growing seasons which were four months at best.”

“The pace is much less ragged here. People are far more patient and not in so much of a hurry,” File photo says Laura. “It took a little The Piedmont Triad while for me to appreciAlong with enjoying the Farmer’s Market in Colfax ate the slower pace and fresh produce, Lisa has also is open year-round. expecting to ‘get things acquired a taste for some done yesterday,’ but once I of the state’s favorites – realized how much calmer “North Carolina barbecue a way of life it was, it became easy to with cole slaw, collards and Southern settle into and accept.” sweet tea.” Of course, there are those Southern sayings that even Southerners poke fun at. “Bless your heart,” “That’s pitiful” and “I’m gonna get me some” are some of her favorites.

An avid biker, one of the things Laura likes best about the area is the recreational options. “We have over 40 miles of great wooded trails, plus greenways, community parks, etc., with even

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more planned to be built,” she says. “With the combined great year-round weather and the beautiful biking/hiking trails, we couldn’t ask for a better place to live. This area makes it really easy to take advantage of the outdoors and enjoy nature without having to get in a car to drive somewhere else.” Laura has found quite a few area attractions that locals might take for granted – like Summerfield Farms. “They have some of the best organic and grass-fed beef and other meat and poultry around and they are so close,” she says. “I love having that as an option.” She also mentions the Greensboro Science Center and the Piedmont Triad Farmers Market. And, of course the Old Mill of Guilford, where she loves “their fresh scone mix and (its) quaint charm and beauty.”

some” food in New Jersey, Nancy has replaced it with some Southern favorites including low country boil, Brunswick stew and pimento cheese, something she never thought she’d like.  Before Steve Spalding and his wife settled in Oak Ridge 11 years ago, Steve had changed addresses 20 times in 18 years. Most of his life was spent in Indiana, but there was a short stint in Ohio and a couple of years on a boat on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway in Georgia. “The North was too cold and the South too hot,” says Steve. “North Carolina has the most equal parts of all four seasons. I’m an outdoors person. I love the close proximity to the mountains and the ocean... all in one state!”

File photo

After being sent by his The Old Mill of employer to Winston-Salem Guilford has operated to evaluate why a particular since 1764.  Nancy Crane moved trucking company had a to Summerfield when her higher accident ratio than husband took a job with their other northern and The Fresh Market 14 years ago. Although southern companies, Steve quickly realshe’s a native of Iowa, Nancy and her ized that there was something different family had lived in Wantage, New Jersey, about North Carolina drivers. “People in prior to her last move – a town so little North Carolina drove like they took their that “even people in Jersey don’t know NASCAR to the highway,” says Steve. where it is,” says Nancy. “Yet, if you needed (to get) out into trafFor the Cranes, the northwest Guilford fic they were the most courteous.” area turned out to be a perfect choice. Then, there’s that Carolina blue color. “We have mountains, and the beach is “Living in Indiana, I watched a lot of baseasy to get to,” says Nancy. “The people ketball. I never understood the name beare great. When we first moved here the hind the Carolina blue,” says Steve. “Once neighbors brought us treats and welI moved here I was, and still am, amazed comed us to the neighborhood.” at the big beautiful light blue skies almost every day of the year. I now understand.” Nancy says she loves “all the accents you come across when talking with There are a bunch of Southern saypeople from all over North Carolina.” ings that Steve has heard but his favorite Like most people who haven’t grown up by far is the habit of people using “Mr.” in the South, she has her own Southern or “Miss” followed by a person’s first sayings that she finds particularly amusname, rather than their last name. ing. Along with that all-time favorite,  Last July, Jennifer Harkey and her family “Bless your heart,” there’s also “make” a moved from Seymour, Connecticut, to their picture and “you doin’ alright?” Although she left behind some “awe-

continued on page 30

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Lake Carolina: Gone but not forgotten Lake which mysteriously disappeared was site of good times and tragedy by KRISTIN KUBLY In the early part of the twentieth century, the town of Oak Ridge was once host to swimming and boating parties, lakeside picnics and some great fishing at a spot known as Lake Carolina. During its heyday, Lake Carolina, located about 500 yards south of Oak Ridge Military Academy, was a popular spot for students as well as locals looking for a place to cool off on a hot summer day. Unfortunately, the lake is no more. So how can a lake just disappear? The answer to that question remains a mystery.

Construction of the 5-acre lake began in 1921, on private property owned by Earle P. Holt, an instructor at what was then known as the Oak Ridge Institute. An article from the Greensboro Patriot dated June 13, 1921, describes the site of the lake as it was being created: “The lake will be filled by a stream ﬂowing through wooded land, with water from a dozen springs. Its depth will be about sixteen feet. It is considered one of the finest recreational enterprises in the state and is expected to prove mighty popular with the Oak Ridge boys.” The following summer, students used

Photo courtesy of Oak Ridge Military Academy

The 5-acre Lake Carolina was once a popular Oak Ridge recreation area. the lake at “Camp Carolina,” the summer session at Oak Ridge Institute. By then, the lake had a bath house, a raft with diving boards and row boats. Word of the new lake brought in outside groups as well.

In August 1922, 600 children from a Sunday school in High Point picnicked at Lake Carolina. The following year, 85 Boy Scouts from High Point and Lexington camped in the wooded hillside surrounding the lake.

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Oak Ridge Institute President T.E. Whitaker proclaimed in the summer of 1923 that Lake Carolina was growing in popularity with locals, “who visit the resort in large numbers daily for swimming, boating and other sports.” At the closing of the season in 1923, The Greensboro Daily Record announced that “thousands have enjoyed the bathing and swimming, and scores of picnics have been held under the oaks of the surrounding hillsides.” Local resident Marie Lowrey Stewart remembers going to the lake in the late 1920s and early 1930s with her parents and brother Sam, a student at the institute. “When we went to the lake, there were crowds and everyone seemed to be having fun,” she said. Unfortunately, Lake Carolina was the site of some mishaps and tragedies as well. In July 1930, the Greensboro Daily Record reported that Judge D.H. Collins parked his Buick on the hillside above the lake, only to have it crash down the hill and smash into some trees. “Judge Collins was of the opinion that someone had monkeyed with the brakes, allowing the car to get away,” the paper reported. In 1933, the lake was dragged while searching for W.W. Bennett, a 52-yearold farmer from Pleasant Ridge who had disappeared from his home. He had last been seen walking toward the lake, prompting the fear of suicide. Fortunately,

Bennett had simply left town due to worry over an impending lawsuit and was found safe in Danville, Virginia. A local legend has it that some students of the institute drowned at the lake, which caused the owner to break the dam and let the lake drain away. However, no written evidence of any students drowning or a deliberate breaking of the dam could be found.

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Former Town Councilman and lifelong Oak Ridge resident Roger Howerton said he remembers some drownings and believes the dam was dynamited shortly after. He also said trespassers were a problem. “There were some complaints about unauthorized people going in and using it, and there were no lifeguards,” he said. Howerton’s memory is accurate – two tragic drownings did occur at the lake in the 1940s, although they were not students. The first drowning happened on July 5, 1942. James Paul George, 16, was a local African-American boy and son of a tenant farmer. Although he could not swim, he went to the lake with some friends. The water level of the lake was shallow for about 50 feet from the shore, and then suddenly became deep. George was trying to get to a log some distance from shore when he stepped into the deep water. One of his friends, Gilmer Nugent, tried to save him, but was unable to rescue him as they struggled in the water. George’s body was pulled from

continued on page 20

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by GERRI HUNT As springtime settles in and summer waits around the corner, what better place to spend time under the Carolina blue sky – or watch the setting sun – than at one of the local parks? From pristine walks through nature and serene benches on which to relax and soak in fresh air, to children interacting on playgrounds and cheering crowds from the borders of athletic ﬁelds, northwest Guilford County has much to oﬀer. Come, let’s take a stroll …

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Seven-year-old Joel Germeroth makes his way across the monkey bars in the playground at Oak Ridge Town Park.

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Nearly 80 acres at the corner of Linville Road and Lisa Drive offer a bevy of activities, whether you’re an athlete, stroller, parent or dog-lover. Oak Ridge Town Park opened in 2008; it was partially funded by a $500,000 Parks and Recreation Trust Fund grant from the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation.

Music in the Park concerts on the third Saturdays of June through September. Each spring, Canine Capers, a celebration of our furry, four-legged friends, raises funds for its venue, the 1.5-acre Bark Park which opened in 2014. In late May/early June, the town and the Merchants Association of Oak Ridge partner to sponsor RidgeFest, a three-day event featuring carnival rides, food, classic cars, dance contests, live music and a corn-hole tournament.

The park received the National Softball Association Outstanding Park Award in 2014, which was the second time it was recognized for its wellmaintained facilities.

With so many amenities and ongoing activities already offered at Oak Ridge Town Park, there are still more to come.

Open grassy areas in the park are adequate to hold large community activities and events like Movies in the Park and

After hitting a few bumps along the way – namely not getting a $400,000 matching PARTF grant applied for last

year, and construction bids coming in much higher than budgeted – the first part of the park’s Phase II is expected to get underway soon. Parks and Recreation Commission Chairman Bill Edwards says the next phase of the park will feature a performance stage/amphitheater, additional restrooms and paved connecting paths; expected completion date is this summer. The second part of Phase II, which has not yet been budgeted, calls for a small playground suitable for younger children and additional parking. Edwards says the park’s master plan also includes a swinging bridge, tennis and volleyball courts, a small spray park, a third covered shelter and more landscaping. Additional picnic tables, benches and information signage will be placed in the park as well. In the meantime, Oak Ridge Town Park rents out its shelters, athletic fields and tent canopies.

WHAT’S THERE • Two lighted multi-purpose football/soccer fields • Two lighted baseball/softball fields and scoreboards • Paved and unpaved walking trails • Two picnic shelters • Large playground • Pond

STOKESDALE TOWN PARK

• Concession stand • Restrooms • Park maintenance/storage facility • Picnic tables and park benches • Doggie stations and birdhouses • Ball park

MORE INFO • Located at 6234 Lisa Drive • (336) 644-7009 (Oak Ridge Town Hall) • tlannon@oakridgenc.com • www.oakridgenc.com

File photo

What used to be a serene meadow owned by the Martin family of Stokesdale has been transformed into the gently rolling Stokesdale Town Park at Martin’s Meadow. Located just behind Town Hall on Angel Pardue Road, the 25-acre park attracts sports teams, walkers and runners, and youngsters who can enjoy a playground with climbing equipment. The town plans to install a swing set by this spring.

Two sand volleyball courts provide fun, exercise and competition at Stokesdale Town Park. Stokesdale Town Park also offers a unique attraction for this area, a ninehole disc golf course. It opened in 2011, and is enjoyed by novices and experienced players alike. While future plans are in the works,

continued on page 24

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Oak Ridge Historic District Promoting historic preservation in Oak Ridge

My little

outbuilding (and what I learned in the process of building it)

by STEVE HUFFMAN So, I built myself a little building. It’s down by the end of the pond. And it turned out cute, even if I say so myself. I’m pretty lucky. My wife, Meg, and I live off the beaten path. We’re down in the woods about a quarter-mile from the road, with a few acres, a pond and a house. We’ve even got a small cabin on the property.

Considering a spring remodel or landscaping? Before starting, find out if your property is located in the Historic District.

The Oak Ridge Historic District is a 400-acre area spanning nearly 2 miles of Highway 150 (between Williard Road & Bastille Lane) and extending northwest along Linville Road. It includes historic structures as well as homes and businesses. Visit www.oakridgenc.com for a full-size map of the district.

If the answer is yes, you need to consult the Historic District Design Guidelines!

Changes to the structure’s exterior, site, or landscaping require approval before work begins. These types of changes (as well as new construction) within the Historic District must follow the Design Guidelines. For more information, visit www.oakridgenc.com or call Bruce Oakley, Town Manager at (336) 644-7009.

None of it is fancy, but we like it. When the sun sets, it’s not unusual for barred owls to serenade us to sleep. We’ve lived here about five years. When I describe my property, I tell people I sometimes feel as if I’ve died and gone to the good place. None of this has anything to do with my outbuilding, but I wanted to set the scene. I decided the other year to build myself a building. I didn’t need it so much as I wanted to construct something that would afford me a sense of accomplishment. I’m 57 and not getting younger, my days of learning to build slipping away.

Oak Ridge Historic Preservation Commission

My paternal grandfather was a carpenter, but until about 15 years ago, I’d built next to nothing. Since then I’ve built privacy fences, decks and a screened porch or two. I’ve also installed replacement windows and learned to do a little plumbing.

PO Box 374, Oak Ridge, NC 27310 Tel. (336) 644-7009 | Fax. (336) 644 7012 | www.oakridgenc.com

As they say, necessity is the mother of invention. The house where Meg and I live sat empty for the better part of a decade

Spring 2015

before we bought the place; it was in need of some serious repairs. I couldn’t afford to pay someone to do all the work, so I grabbed a hammer and paint brush and went at it. I’m a firm believer in learning by doing. Joseph Cataldo, my former next-door neighbor, once described my limited construction skills as “Fred Flintstone carpentry.” I’m still far from a finished carpenter, but I’ve gotten better, regardless of what Joseph says. When I decided to build an outbuilding, I didn’t want one with the faux Dutch barn look. Frankly, I think we’ve got plenty of those around (and if there’s a faux Dutch barn outbuilding in your backyard, I apologize for what I just said). I wanted something unique. I love tiny houses – those little residences that typically measure 200 square feet or less but look much larger. (Google “tiny houses” and have a look if you don’t know what I’m talking about.) Anyway, I wanted my outbuilding to resemble a tiny house. I also had a goal of finishing this grand project for under $1,000. I think I came close to doubling that amount, but I look at the investment as my way of helping get the economy back on track. Plus, the finished product is mine. And I built it. The core of my building measures 12-by-12. I used cinder blocks for the foundation and tried my best to level every-

(We’ve also been known to knock back a bottle of wine while sitting there, but that’s not what makes it idyllic.) I’ve finally got a place to hang my old license plates and those Ford Mustang and Dodge Dart hubcaps that were going to waste being boxed away. Inside the building I put an old couch on which I nap on rainy afternoons.

Photos by Steve Huffman |

Steve Huffman continued honing his carpentry skills as he constructed this outbuilding (aka “tiny house”).

thing. I used 2-x-8 boards for the perimeter and 2-x-6 boards for the ﬂoor joists. I didn’t have construction plans, instead sort of winging it as I went. That was part of the fun. I built walls (along the way I learned what “16 on center” means) and installed windows. Wherever possible, I used items I found on clearance at Lowe’s Home Improvement. I couldn’t convince anyone to offer me

a hand, so I wound up building everything myself, which was a bit of a trick when it came to installing the ceiling rafters. The structure is finished in HardiePlank and topped with a tin roof.

On the front I built a 5-x-9 porch (another framing project) that I screened. The porch overlooks the pond.

If you’d like to stop by and have a glass of wine with me and Meg one evening, you’re more than welcome. I’ll try not to bore you with construction details.

I wouldn’t admit this to just anyone, but I’m prouder of the finished product than I have any right to be.

(The day I installed the tin, a thunderstorm came along not long after. I wrote on Facebook that standing underneath and listening to the rain pinging off the new roof gave me a feeling the building was coming to life, that I’d created something.)

At night, Meg and I sometimes walk to the pond, have a seat on the screened porch and listen to the frogs and owls. We’ve seen deer and even coyotes. It’s fairly idyllic.

When he’s not tackling home projects or volunteering, Steve Huﬀman, a retired newspaper journalist, occasionally writes for the Northwest Observer.

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Looking for a full-time agent that puts your best interests first? Look no further! I’m originally from small-town PA but have lived in the Triad for over 25 years. I live, work and volunteer in the northwest area, and proudly give back to the community that has given me so much. With technical expertise to know a home ‘from the ground up,’ I can advise my clients in making savvy decisions in buying and selling. A Consistent Achiever and Top Performer for 2014, my priority is simple –YOU!

Keeping everyone in the loop – that’s the difference between a successful real estate transaction and a stressful one. That’s why I work extra hard to keep the communication lines open. Having lived in the northwest area my entire life, I know the area and enjoy helping my clients find exactly what they’re looking for. As a Realtor, my goal is to provide the best possible service from start to finish. You can count on me to be with you every step of the way.

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If you are looking for a real estate agent, simply ask yourself: ‘Do I want someone who... 1) is a “full-time” real estate broker; 2) will work hard for me and put my interests first; 3) is thorough and will walk me through the entire process step by step; 4) is on time, honest and accountable; and 5) will provide me with professional, positive and satisfying results?’ If so, then feel free to contact me whether you are buying or selling. Then sit back and relax!

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As your experienced real estate broker, it is my duty to predict possible problems and solve them before they create stress. I’ve been in the business many years, but I need and appreciate the questions or suggestions my clients may have, as I feel communication is imperative to a successful business relationship. My career is such a rewarding, positive experience, and I feel lucky to be able to work with clients who rely on me. Whether buying or selling, it would be my pleasure to assist you.

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You could say I acquired my passion for real estate early. My mother, Johnnye Greer Hunter, was a successful Realtor in Greensboro. A recipient of numerous awards and a top producing agent, I make sure my clients have a rewarding and most profitable experience. I have deep roots in the northwest area – my family, Jacob & Claudia Letterman, and I are active and committed to our community and schools. Please call me for your real estate needs.

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From

trash to

Former school teacher creates business around repurposing weathered wood

by ANNETTE JOYCE “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” Taking that old adage to heart, Janelle Robinson creates freshly unique home furnishings and accessories from items most people simply discard. In the process, she’s also established a thriving business, Simply Janelle Designs. The 37-year-old Summerfield resident refers to her home, which she shares with her husband, Scott, and their three children, Reese, Nick and Ace, as her showroom and actually sells the pieces that decorate her rooms and walls. A trip through her home reveals her innate talent for repurposing what others consider unusable. A conversation starter and centerpiece in her living room is the dog kennel she designed and built for the family’s goldendoodle, Ollie. Using an old corner mantel, she painted it, added screened doors to the front and personalized

it with Ollie’s name. The bottom is open to the room’s hardwood ﬂoor and the top serves as a display area. While it looks like a piece of furniture, it actually keeps the friendly canine contained close by when visitors pop in. On further inspection, you’ll see the vintage suitcase shelves that Robinson created by cutting a hard shell suitcase in half. And there’s the beat-up wire basket she transformed into a charming hanging light fixture. Many of the items that decorate her home are made from weathered wood from old barns. A popular piece is the “established” sign that features a couple’s name and the year they were married. Robinson says a lot of people order these for wedding and anniversary gifts. In the kitchen you’ll see more of Robinson’s masterpieces. She gave the room a fresh look by using chalk paint on the cabinets and countertops and replacing the island countertop with an

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Prior to starting Simply Janelle Designs about eight years ago, Robinson worked as a language arts teacher at Northwest Middle School. When Reese was born in 2004, she decided to fulfill her dream of being a stay-at-home mom and housewife. With time on her hands and a desire to ﬂex her creative muscles, Robinson began sewing clothes for her baby girl. It wasn’t long before other moms noticed Reese’s cute outfits and Robinson found herself making clothing for other children. Although an accomplished seamstress, she soon gave up that venture.

Photos provided by Simply Janelle Designs

This throwaway (left) has found new life as a charming garden bench. The stylish dog kennel (shown at the right) was created from a corner mantel. old barn door. Two dairy farm metal milk cans serve as stools for the island. The massive kitchen table features another barn door resting on an elegant chalk-painted table base. It’s that unique juxtaposition of style that gives Robinson’s work its appeal. “Most of my tables have fancy bases with a barn wood top,” says Robinson. “The barn wood island tops also go well with granite.” Robinson uses barn doors again in Nick and Ace’s room. Two large weathered doors decorate the wall behind

These days, 10-year-old Reese does the sewing. She’s currently working on a line of throw pillows that will be available at Gifted, the Oak Ridge shop that’s slated to open in August when Josie’s Boutique closes. Ace’s crib. In her daughter Reese’s room, the doll house Robinson built is the focal point. No ordinary doll house, this one is eight feet tall and six feet wide and features some handmade furniture. It’s great for American Girl doll tea parties and even has enough room for 18-month-old Ace to crawl in and take a nap. Throughout the house are tables and cabinets that had seen better days until Robinson removed and replaced rotten wood to bring new life to these throwaways. Adept at do-it-yourself projects, Robinson is quite comfortable in her basement woodworking shop. Handy with power tools, she also enjoys teaching other women the same skills. Once a month, she hosts a workshop to teach women how to use tools such as the pneumatic air gun, jig saw, sander and drill. During the two- to three-hour

class, each woman completes a specific project selected by Robinson. In April, she’ll show her students how to pull apart a pallet, reconstruct it and paint it to make an American ﬂag. Robinson supplies the tools and materials and charges a nominal fee of $20.

Setting her sewing to the side, Robinson began making photo charms consisting of miniature photos or designs with a soldered frame. She has since produced hundreds of these unique pieces; her personal collection includes favorite vintage photos

continued on page 20

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Naylor (aka “The Shooter’s Wife”), and hit the back roads in search of … well, junk.

Trash to Treasure from p. 19 of her grandparents, shots of her children and reproductions of their artwork. While her custom photo charms are still in demand, the home furnishings and accessories side of Robinson’s business has exploded. She gets her weathered wood by finding old abandoned barns and tearing them down. But there’s only so much wood she can use, so she sells the surplus to other people who want to do what she’s doing or, on a larger scale, to folks who will use the wood to remodel their homes. Although she has someone else do the installations, Robinson has worked with numerous homeowners to put in barn wood ceilings and ﬂoors. Others have added authentic barn doors to their homes, complete with rusty hinges. Some have paneled their walls with the wood.

“We go driving and start knocking on people’s doors when we see big farms,” says Robinson. “We never know what we might find.” At the end of the day, they’ll return with a truck filled with items just begging to find a new purpose. The pair will often unload everything at Naylor’s place, and then do a Facebook post to announce a sale of surplus items. Other times, Robinson is content to take what she’s found and give it new life and purpose, all while creating something that will make herself or someone else happy. At Simply Janelle Designs that’s simply what it’s all about.

Want to know more? Simply Janelle Designs (336) 312-5170 • janelle@SimplyJanelleDesigns.com www.SimplyJanelleDesigns.com

Finding the items for her designs is almost as much fun as the actual creation. A self-proclaimed “picker,” Robinson likes nothing more than to join up with pal and fellow Summerfield resident, Trish

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Finding Your Roots

Spring 2015

Lake Carolina from p. 9 about 20 feet of water the next day. The second drowning occurred on April 30, 1948. The body of J.C. Nance, 45, a World War II veteran from Oak Ridge, was found by a group who had been looking for him since he disappeared from home two days before. The Greensboro Daily News said the coroner ruled his death a suicide, noting that Nance had been in poor health for some time. By the 1940s, the lake was considerably reduced in size, said lifelong resident Frank Whitaker, who grew up on property adjoining the lake. He would walk along a dirt road that ran through the academy property and wound through a stand of mature hardwoods to reach the lake. “In those days, the lake dam had been partially breached by storms and muskrats and was approximately onehalf its original surface area, but still large enough to hold quality fish (bass, bream and crappie) that attracted local anglers,” said Whitaker. Whitaker remembers fishing at the lake with his grandmother. “We would dig a batch of worms or raid wasp nests of larvae, grab a couple of cane poles and walk to the lake,” Whitaker recalled. “The day’s catch was cooked that evening.” By that time, all that was left of the boat houses were some pilings. So what happened to the lake? The dam may have been deliberately destroyed as some believe, but a lack of historical record indicates that theory may be a legend.

Another more likely explanation comes from Brenda Wright, whose husband, Ted, grew up next to campus as the son of the headmaster. She said the dam was washed out during Hurricane Hazel in October 1954. “All of the buildings were gone by then, and only the poles supporting the raft were still visible,” Wright said. It’s also possible the lake simply started to slowly dry up over the years. Man-made lakes tend to build up silt and sediment as time goes by. Lake Katherine at the Reynolda House in Winston-Salem is another example of a large lake that slowly turned into wetlands. The land where the lake once existed was sold in 1974 to Oak Ridge resident Jerry Cooke, who said all that remained when he purchased it was some marshy land near the dam. A display about Lake Carolina at Oak Ridge Town Hall was put together by Town Clerk Sandra Smith and Mac McAtee, a member of the Oak Ridge Historic Preservation Commission. The display features newspaper clippings, yearbook photos, an old postcard of the lake and various artifacts, including a number of bullets found on the site by McAtee and Jim Spivey using a metal detector. Wright said the academy used the area as a riﬂe range for a time, shooting across the water into the steep hillside for a bullet stop. The bullets on display likely came from that era. Although you can no longer visit Lake Carolina, be sure to stop by Oak Ridge Town Hall on Linville Road to view the display.

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Honey, won’t you let us bee? Honeybees, critical to our ecosystem, are dwindling in population by STEVE HUFFMAN

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Spring 2015

relays the story of the important role they play in the grand scheme of things. Recently, he led a beekeeping seminar at Southern States Cooperative on Lake Brandt Road in Summerfield.

One of the topics Bettini covered in If you’re thinking about starting to his seminar is the dwindling honeybee raise bees – be it as a hobby or for a population. business – one He has discussed the problem with important the Guilford County Beekeepers Asissue must sociation, and said the group is be conAnother word for as perplexed as anyone about sidered, beekeeping is “apiculture,” what is going on with the advises derived from the Latin word apis bees. Randy (the biological name for the Bettini. honeybee). A beekeeper, “They scratch their then, is an apiarist. “The heads,” he said. “They biggest don’t really know.” thing is, Through A study from you’ve got to get the efforts of Harvard University over the fear,” Bettini said. the N.C. State which was com“You’ve got to make sure you can take Beekeepers Associapleted a year ago a sting without having a reaction.” tion (NCSBA), the concluded that Bettini and his wife Debbie own N.C. General Assembly pesticides appear Bettini Farm, a fourth generation Italiancreated its ﬁrst to play a key role American family farm located on Lees full-time apiculture in killing off the Chapel Road in Browns Summit. position at North honeybee populaBesides raising a variety of crops (inCarolina State tion. Authors of the cluding their specialty crop, shiitake and University in study said pesticides oyster mushrooms), Bettini also raises 1975. might lead to “imbees. In fact, he finds the creatures pairment of honeybee downright fascinating. neurological functions, specifically memory, cognition or behavior.” “They’re both interesting and mysSome believe bees are often exposed terious,” he said. “One year, they’ll be mak- to pesticides when chemically treated ing honey as hard as they can and they’re plants such as corn release pollen into happy. The next couple of years, they’re the air. While bees do not pollinate corn, angry and don’t want anything to do with the corn’s pollen makes its way onto anyone. It’s hard to figure out why.” ﬂowers and other crops, by which the bees are exposed. Bettini not only raises bees, but he also preaches the wonders of the little An article in Time magazine stated that creatures to anyone who’ll listen as he pesticides can be harmful to honeybees

even at levels previously thought safe.

The couple and their three sons have always had what they call a “homestead mentality,” and beekeeping fits in with that lifestyle.

Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) has been devastating the honeybee population since at least 2006 and some believe the probThe honeybee lem has been around far is the only insect that longer. Possible reasons humans raise for food and for CCD include medicine (as well as cosmetic uses). disease, parasites, habitat destruction, stress and lack of Bees pollinate one-third of the access to food fruit and vegetables that we eat. sources.

People keep honeybees for various reasons, Morphies explained. Some do it to make a profit – either by selling the honey, the bee The varA colony of bees consists of colonies or just roa mite, a tiny 20,000-60,000 honeybees and one the queen bees. external parasite queen. Worker honeybees are Others do it simthat sucks the female, live for about six ply because they blood from the weeks and do all the work. enjoy it. Operating bee and shortens size depends upon a its life span, appears Only the female honperson’s goals. to be killing off entire eybees possess At one time Morphies colonies of bees and stingers. had as many as 23 hives, but spreading deadly dishe sold most of those a couple eases among their of years back. For him, beekeepranks. ing is definitely a hobby rather than a money-making venture. All of this “We’re not totally self-sufficient is bad news for humans but we like the idea of living because bees, which poloff the linate one-third of the fruit and vegetables we land and keeping According eat, play a critical role things simple,” Morphies said. to the NCSBA’s in our ecosystem. website, additives Trista Munson’s father Despite the or adulteration are worked in the landscaping decline in the honprohibited in North business. She remembers him eybee population Carolina’s honey (based talking as far back as 20 years in recent years, on this, there is no ago about the decline in the beekeeping as a difference between number of honeybees. hobby has sighoney labeled as nificantly gained “He kept shaking his head “honey” versus in popularity and saying ‘They’re going “pure honey”). across the nation. away,’ ” Munson said. Guilford County is no exception, with beekeepers located in all corners of the county.

Stokesdale resident Mark Morphies, 49, is one of an estimated 15,000 beekeepers in North Carolina. He became interested in beekeeping about five years ago when his wife Lisa signed them up for a beekeeping class.

Munson, 41, began raising bees at her residence on Pleasant Ridge Road last year. Her bees have already produced enough honey for her to start selling the product. Munson is taking beekeeping classes through Forsyth County Community College and has passed the test to become a certified beekeeper – the first of five steps to becoming a master beekeeper.

She credits George Page for much of her love of honeybees. Page (Munson refers to the 73-yearold as “Papa George”) is a member of the Forsyth County Beekeepers Association.

Want to learn more?

Much has been learned – and shared – about beekeeping in recent decades. If you’re interested in learning more, here are just a few of the many In June 2009, resources available: the Honeybee Exhibit opened at the N.C. Zoo. • guilfordbeekeepers.org NCSBA, N.C. Farm Bureau, • forsythbeekeepers.org Syngenta and Zoo Society donors raised $243,507 • ncbeekeepers.org to make the exhibit possible.

“This is all through George right now,” Munson said of her first steps into beekeeping. Though beekeeping is relatively new to her, it has already given her a feeling of satisfaction. A neighbor, who is convinced Munson’s bees are pollinating ﬂowers at her house a half-mile away, has purchased some of Munson’s honey.

Munson said the woman believes her ﬂowers are contributing to the honey she’s buying. “That’s her honey, in a sense,” Munson said.

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Spring 2015

File photo

Parks from p. 13

Each June, the Town of Summerﬁeld hosts a ﬁshing derby, which draws families to the banks of Schoolhouse Lake. This year’s event will be on Saturday, June 13.

Stokesdale Town Councilman Frank Bruno began reviving park discussions in February 2015. He said the park’s fields could be used for football, baseball and lacrosse, and additional shelters and a hard court for multiple uses including basketball were suggested.

off to the west past a communications tower and back. A nature trail meanders through the northern edge of the park.

The ball fields, concession stand and picnic shelter are available for rent.

Permanent fitness equipment is sprinkled along the trails at six stations. In 2011, Northwest Guilford Memorial VFW Post 7999 dedicated a veterans memorial.

WHAT’S THERE • Two multi-purpose fields

An amphitheater is perfect for concerts, such as the town’s Music in the Park events each summer. Jeff Goard, Summerfield Parks and Recreation manager, said future plans call for a covered shelter over the amphitheater and a connection of the park’s trails to the A&Y Greenway Trail when it extends from Greensboro through Summerfield.

• Two sand volleyball courts • A paved walking trail • A playground • A nine-hole disc golf course

MORE INFO • Located at 8329 Angel Pardue Road • (336) 643-4011 (Stokesdale Town Hall) • stokesdale@stokesdale.org • www.stokesdale.org

SUMMERFIELD COMMUNITY PARK It’s hard not to smile when you approach the pedestrian entrance of Summerfield Community Park, where a large artistic sun face smiles down from a wide wrought-iron gate, almost as a reminder that the park is open from sunrise to sunset. But whether you take that stroll, or park at Summerfield Community Center and make your way downhill, you will find a local gem nestled in 52 acres on Centerfield Road.

OAK RIDGE Tim Frazier, owner

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Spring 2015

The passive recreation park was established in 2006, with a second phase opening in 2009. The tree-canopied park centers around the five-acre Schoolhouse Lake, which includes a ﬂoating-dock fishing pier and wildlife overlook. A half-mile “Loop Trail” hugs most of the lake, and a quarter-mile “Tower Trail” shoots

The amphitheater, an outdoor classroom, shelters and other facilities may be rented. The nearby Summerfield Community Center, which is not town-owned, can be rented as well.

WHAT’S THERE • Playgrounds • Picnic shelters • Orienteering course • Handicapped-accessible trails • Wildlife overlook • Exercise stations • Fishing pier • Veterans memorial • Outdoor amphitheater • Wildﬂower field • Butterﬂy garden • Rain garden

MORE INFO • Located at 5404 Centerfield Road • (336) 643-8655 (Summerfield Town Hall) • jgoard@summerfieldgov.com • www.summerfieldgov.com

SUMMERFIELD ATHLETIC PARK If your windows are rolled down as you’re traveling through Summerfield on U.S. 220 on any given evening or weekend, you’re bound to hear cheers – and maybe even the crack of a bat – emanating from behind gates along the east side of the road. That’s because a 29-acre athletic facility opened there in 2010. The Summerfield Athletic Park draws several youth sports organizations and other leagues, which practice, play and hold tournaments there long into the evening hours thanks to the lighted fields. The two-story concession building includes a press box and restrooms, and the second ﬂoor is available for rent. Jeff Goard, Summerfield Parks and Recreation manager, said future plans include two more fields – either soccer fields or a soccer field and a baseball field. “We know soccer has grown, so we can definitely use more fields,” he said. In 2014, Summerfield Athletic Park was File photo

Summerﬁeld Athletic Park has three baseball/softball ﬁelds, frequently used by organizations and leagues.

the site of about 16 tournaments. This year, tournament reservations have doubled. More immediate plans include paving an overﬂow parking lot, which the Summerfield Town Council has said may also include curbs and gutters. Some of the organizations that use the park include Summerfield Recreation Association, Got Game! Fastpitch Softball, Dynasty Baseball, Greensboro United Soccer Association and Triad Youth Rugby Association.

WHAT’S THERE • Three baseball/softball fields • Multipurpose field • Concession building with restrooms • Fieldhouse room • Playground • Paved parking

MORE INFO • Located at 5200 U.S. 220 North • (336) 643-8655 (Summerfield Town Hall) • jgoard@summerfieldgov.com • www.summerfieldgov.com

continued on page 26

Saturday & Sunday, April 25-26 & May 2-3 • 1-5 pm Admission is FREE Parade of Homes magazines are available at the Parade homes as well as area Harris Teeter and Lowe’s Home Improvement stores

Use our smart phone app or the mobile website to map your tour

Sponsored by:

Spring 2015

obelisk surrounded by a jetted water fountain, ﬂags and granite stones representing the five branches of the armed forces, a walkway composed of donor bricks and a parade field. A steel beam salvaged from the World Trade Center is on permanent display after being dedicated at the park on Sept. 11, 2014.

Parks from p. 25

TRIAD PARK Whether you’d like to walk, hike or skate, toss burgers on the grill, try your foot at rock climbing or your hand at fishing, Triad Park has the accommodations. Or perhaps you need a 5,000-squarefoot indoor rental space, want to pay respect to military veterans, or you’re looking for a team-building activity in the treetops. Triad Park can take care of all of that, too.

Mike Anderson, director of Forsyth County Parks and Recreation, said the park is almost complete, aside from a bit of extra work on the trails. Several features will be unveiled on March 28:

Guilford and Forsyth counties purchased 426 acres and transformed them into Triad Park, a centerpiece cradled in the woods and meadows and straddling their county line. A master plan was created in 1994, with the first phase opening in 1997.

• A 4,300-square-foot wood and stone amphitheater boasts a seating capacity of 3,400, with 400 on a concrete plaza in front of the stage and the rest on three acres of sloped lawn.

The Carolina Field of Honor is a shining star of the park, and was dedicated in May 2014.

• An 18-hole disc golf course has two tee locations per hole – long and short – making the course enjoyable and challenging for players of all skill levels.

The $5 million tribute to veterans, erected by the War Memorial Foundation, sits on eight acres and features a 60-foot

• A new large shelter can accommodate

Putting

you first It’s all about you! Your wants. Your needs. Your dreams.

300 people and has an air-conditioned and heated restroom nearby.

WHAT’S THERE • Paved path system for walking, biking and skating

Whether you’re selling or buying, give me a call and I’ll help transform your dreams into reality.

• Natural hiking trails • Three playgrounds

Photo courtesy of Triad Park

The Great Heights Challenge Course provides interactive, engaging programming to build upon strengths and address challenges through the promotion of leadership development, individual growth and group cohesiveness. A private company operates it within Triad Park, and more info can be found at www.greatheights.us.

• Nine horseshoe pits • Seven sand volleyball courts

Donna Smith

Realtor ® / Broker / CSP

donna@donnastriadhomes.com www.donnastriadhomes.com

(336) 549-0214

Spring 2015

• Softball and soccer fields

• Vendor area with shelter and area for inﬂatables

• Indoor banquet facility

• Catch-and-release fishing pond

• Seven picnic shelters • Four gazebos

MORE INFO

• Picnic tables with grills

• Located at 9652 W. Market St., Kernersville

• Rock-climbing playground

• (336) 703-2500

• Great Heights Challenge Course

• www.forsyth.cc/Parks/Triad

Moles versus voles: what’s the difference? (and more importantly, what can you do about them?) by STEVE HUFFMAN Though moles and voles do most of their work underground and are rarely seen, their presence is evident. The yard pests are both mouse-like varmints known for doing damage to lawns and gardens. But they’re vastly different creatures. Though moles lurk in their subterranean fortresses throughout the year, gardening and lawn-care enthusiasts are keenly aware of them mainly during the spring and fall, especially after periods of rain, when they push mounds of dirt up to the ground surface. A mole lives off a carnivorous diet – eating grub worms and adult insects. It’s not a rodent so it doesn’t gnaw. A vole is a rodent and gnaws at the bases of trees and shrubs. Its diet is vegetarian. They’re both hard as the dickens to get rid of. “I’ve fought voles my entire career,” said Rett Davis, a certified arborist and retired Alamance County extension director. “I’ve given up. They’ve won.” A vole lives primarily by eating the stems and blades of lawn grass. The runways they leave behind in the process make for unsightly lawns. Voles can also damage plants by burrowing into the root systems of trees and shrubs, causing young specimens to experience dieback or to begin to lean. Davis said one of the signs of voles are holes about the size of quarters in a yard. “Roses will fall over and they love tulips,”

Davis said. “Tulips are like candy to them.” He said he knew a homeowner who trapped and killed 32 voles in a single year. Unfortunately, the efforts to get rid of the creatures didn’t do a lot of good – in the absence of voles in his yard, those from the neighbor’s tract simply moved in to fill the void. The best way to get rid of voles, Davis advised, may be to plant plants they don’t like. Narcissus is a genus that includes ﬂower bulbs like daffodils, jonquils, paperwhites and more. The bulbs of the ﬂowers are poisonous, so the voles avoid them. In the grand scheme of things voles do little damage to yards, so it may be easier to simply learn to live with them. “They’re nothing but field mice, basically,” Davis said. “You can set traps, but get rid of one bunch and there’s another bunch right behind them.” Putting out poison for them is illegal in North Carolina, Davis warned. The situation is much the same with moles, which live underground. Their cylindrical bodies and powerful front claws are ideal for digging. Moles create a complex network of interconnected chambers by burrowing both deep and close to the surface where they often leave visible ridges. The primary nuisance complaint concerning moles deals with their rigid tunnels, which they can leave all over a lawn. Davis said he’s heard a number of suggested cures for mole problems. Some deal with leaving chewing gum in their tunnels so they’ll swallow it. Supposedly, the gum expands in their stomachs and they die. There are similar tales involving leaving broken glass in the tunnels and waiting for the moles to chew it.

Voles (left) are rodents; the creatures live on a vegetarian diet (primarily stems and blades of grass). Moles are not rodents; they live underground and eat grub worms and adult insects.

Take the stories for what they’re worth, Davis warned. “I’ve heard every old wives’ tale there is,” he said. There are also commercial products such as Mole Away advertised as a sure cure for the creatures. “People say, ‘Rett, they don’t work,’ ” Davis said. “I tell them, ‘I know.’ “(Moles) just keep going their merry way. I say, let them go their merry way.” Davis said that like voles, the damage done by moles is relatively minor. Homeowners can easily invest hundreds of dollars in cures in hopes of getting rid of the creatures, but the end result will likely be disappointing. “The best way to get rid of them is, you don’t,” Davis said. Maybe and maybe not, countered

Christie Steele, owner and operator of A All Animal Control in Greensboro. The company serves Guilford and surrounding counties. Steele said her business gets calls throughout the year from homeowners wanting help battling moles. The calls increase in spring, she said. The only way to get rid of moles is to trap them, then put down a repellent that keeps them from returning, Steele said. “We try to prevent that from happening,” she said of the cycle of different moles migrating to a yard once the previous occupants have been trapped and removed. Steele’s company charges a base rate of $399 for mole removal. That covers the cost of four weeks of trapping, plus a repellent.

Before you make a move... Visit me online at allentate.com/RoseannStaaf to find out how I can help you For the exceptional service you deserve, contact me today!

Roseann Staaf 2215 Oak Ridge Road Oak Ridge

Realtor/Broker (336) 613-7925

Spring 2015

Here I am! 1 On page 10, we asked if you could identify eight small photos taken from around the northwest Guilford County area. Well, here are the answers – how did you fare?

 1. This large sun has shined on pedestrians arriving at the entrance of Summerfield Community Park since 2008. It sits in the center of a stately, arched gate that measures 26-feet-by-9-feet, and is the handiwork of Summerfield welder and blacksmith Randy Huffman. Michael Brandt, who was Summerfield’s town manager at the time the gate was installed, said it was “intended to be a welcoming symbol for the community.”

2  2. This turret graces the top of the historic Taylor-Edwards home, located near the central business district of Stokesdale. The home is believed to have been built around 1865, perhaps as a hospital. Later, Dr. C.W. Taylor and his wife lived in the downstairs and he practiced medicine upstairs. The property served as home to A New Dawn Realty from 2008 until 2011.

 4. This little canine fellow graces the sign at Furry Friends and Company Pet Grooming, located at 7207 Alcorn Road in northwest Greensboro.

Spring 2015

3  3. This silo stands at Pleasant Ridge Golf Course at 1518 Pleasant Ridge Road in northwest Greensboro.

 5. This decorative scroll work can be found on a wrought iron fence that borders the Oak Ridge Military Academy campus along N.C. 150.

 7. This cross is embedded in the brickwork on the side of Central Baptist Church, which faces N.C. 68 in Oak Ridge.  8. Two poles sporting bird houses made of gourds stand in the grass by Courtyards of Summerfield on Summerfield Road, located across from Summerfield Elementary School. Did you notice the bird in the house at the top?

8 6

 6. Have you spotted this “Buddha belly” … and have you rubbed it? This sculpture is one of five that have been placed throughout Bur-Mil Park in northwest Greensboro over the last three years. Todd Moore, park supervisor, says a grad student at UNC-Greensboro approached park officials about displaying his works and the park accepted the pieces “as an experimental deal.” “I can’t say I’m pleased with all of them, but I do like the Buddha belly,” Moore says. We shared the photo on the Northwest Observer’s Facebook page, and observant friends pinpointed the Buddha belly’s location as attached to a tree in a curve between the fishing pier and the pond on the A&Y Greenway.

Spring 2015

Neighbors’ Responses from p. 7 home in Summerfield. When asked why they moved, Jennifer had several reasons. “We had too many years of high taxes with not much return, tough winters, heavy traffic, attitudes, unfunded education… and did I say tough winters?” she says. Two of Jennifer’s favorite things about our area are the people and the weather. “Here people actually welcome you, make eye contact and say hello, ask how you are and mean it,” she says. “Within two days of moving in, the welcome committee was at our door. We have had non-stop fun with our new friends and neighbors.” Then, there’s the North Carolina weather. “You cannot beat this weather, just beautiful,” says Jennifer. “All our friends in Connecticut have had the worst winter they can ever remember. It’s 65 degrees and sunny today, but 40 degrees with 6-foot-high piles of snow in Connecticut.” The variety of restaurants is another selling point for living here. “There are a lot of fantastic restaurants within a short distance and they are not all Italian,” she says. “We do miss New Haven-style pizza though, but really, I will live.”  Originally from the Boston area, Nancy Osborne has endured five relocations and moved to Oak Ridge after living in the university town of Cedar Falls, Iowa, 10 years ago.

 Chief E. Daryl Duff left the Washington, D.C., area and moved to Oak Ridge last August to take on the role of music instructor for Oak Ridge Military Academy. Though not that far away, the nation’s capital and Oak Ridge are a world apart. “The people are so friendly here. It seems everybody knows everybody,” says Chief, who is quickly gaining notoriety himself. “Just to be honest, there are not that many black people here in Oak Ridge, so being black, 6-foot-5-inches and 300 pounds, I kind of stick out. Add to that, I am retired Navy. So living at and working for an Army JROTC college prep school… again, I stick out.” When asked about the weather here, Chief has found it to be a disappointment. “It’s cold here,” he says. “I thought I moved to the South!”

Photo by Gerri Hunt

Oak Ridge Town Park offers many amenities, including a wooded bike trail.

One of the biggest differences she sees between the Triad and her last hometown is the diversity of activities. She says there are a wider variety of things to do here both cultural and recreational wise. From the Triad area, both the mountains and beach are equally accessible. Plus, she doesn’t have to travel far to enjoy what she considers to be one of the area’s hidden treasures – Oak Ridge Town Park.

Since living here, Nancy has developed a taste for the different kinds of seafood and peaches. One thing puzzles her, though. “I don’t understand the love of banana pudding,” she confesses.

Getting used to the local colloquialisms and accents is an ongoing challenge. “For instance, I asked for directions to WalMart from the Academy,” he says. “I was told to ‘go straight down 150 to Kernersville and you’ll run right into it.’ To this D.C. area transplant there was no ‘straight’ down 150…but I eventually did ‘run into’ it.

“I absolutely love the hand waving and horn blowing of trucks and cars as they drive by just to say ‘hey,’” he adds. “(And, when) I hear a local woman’s accent, it makes me smile and feel all warm inside.” Acknowledging he may be a bit partial, Chief believes the military academy is definitely an area treasure. He recalls a recent conversation he had with a campus visitor. “I remember her words exactly because

Spring 2015

they stuck with me,” he says. “She was so impressed with the campus and she said ‘this is a real jewel in the community.’” He couldn’t agree more.  Nancy LaDore and her husband left Milford, Connecticut, and set up house in Summerfield. Since they’ve been here, Nancy’s found a lot of things to enjoy about the area including friendly people, a slowerpaced lifestyle, four seasons with little snow shoveling, year-round golf and a lower cost of living than in the Northeast. “The weather here is great,” she says. “(There’s a) longer spring and fall and I’m loving the mild winters.” Overall, she finds the local food to be good, but she does miss her favorites. “The Italian food, pizza, bread and bagels are not as good as in the Northeast,” she says.

state. “The weather, oh, the weather in California is much nicer and I miss the cool evenings and warm days with no humidity,” says Nicole. She also finds the people to be very different here. “Moving to North Carolina was a major culture shock for me,” she admits. “When I first moved to Greensboro it was a lot smaller and it took me awhile to fit in. People were not as accepting of ‘non Southerners.’” The landscape and season changes are two of the things Nicole has found appealing. “I really love the land and the green grass,” she says. “(I love) the beauty of the changing seasons and the spring and fall here.” She misses the food from her home state. “I’m not crazy about the food here,” she admits. “I was not raised on fried foods, barbecue or grits. Oh, but biscuits! I never had biscuits until I moved here! Those are delicious!”

File photo However, Nancy has managed to acquire a Blooming redbud trees taste for some Southare a sure sign of spring in North Carolina. ern fare – vinegar-based barbecue, pickled okra and moonshine. (We’re not sure  Sarah Smith, who recently left her native where she’s getting her moonshine and state of Ohio and relocated to the Sumwe didn’t ask.) merfield area, has found a lot to like about Along the way, Nancy has also found her new home. “There truly is ‘Southern a couple of places she considers to be hospitality,’” says Sarah. “I’ve heard this hidden treasures – Iron Hen and Giaall my life but moving here confirmed it. como’s Italian Market. My new neighbors and friends have been  Originally from Rancho Santa Margarita, wonderful. They really made this transition California, Nicole Fahnestock has spent much easier for me and my family. half of her life in Summerfield but she “We are very excited to have the doesn’t feel she’s been ‘Southernized.’ ocean much closer. We are an outdoor, “Once a Southern California girl, always a adventurous family and there is just so Southern California girl,” says Nicole. much more to do and explore… moun-

Nicole and her former husband and two sons ended up in North Carolina after visiting his family in Kitty Hawk. “We loved the openness and the idea of actually raising our boys in a house with a big yard they could play in,” says Nicole. “We divorced and I remarried and raised my boys here. This was home.” This West Coast girl sees a lot of differences between here and her native

tains, oceans, parks, etc. Not to mention my kids are actively involved in sporting activities and in North Carolina you can play almost year-round.” She’s still working on getting accustomed to the Southern expressions. “I would say the phrase I’m having a hard time adjusting to is ‘Bless your heart,’” she says. “I can’t decide if people use it sincerely or sarcastically.”

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