Northwest Observer | January 17 - 23, 2014 by pscommunications

Jan. 17 - 23, 2014

bringing the local news home to northwest Guilford County since 1996 • nwobserver.com •

Fire chief wades through icy water to save life by PATTI STOKES SUMMERFIELD – When Chris Johnson signed on to be a firefighter, he knew he would find himself in dangerous situations. He also knew he would have an opportunity to save lives. What he may not have imagined, though, was that the danger wouldn’t always come from fire, and humans wouldn’t be the only ones he rescued. On Jan. 9 at about 2:30 p.m., the sheriff’s department got a call about a baby deer that was stuck on an icy pond behind the Vineyard neighborhood that backs up to Bronco Lane. Soon afterward, the Summerfield Fire Department was asked to assist. “The deer was about 15 feet out in

If my trailer can’t be moved, we’re going to have to sell what we can and move in with my parents.” Jennifer Tucker Summerfield resident

by PATTI STOKES SUMMERFIELD – A pending sale of land that has been on the market for over two years has caused some tenants who live in a mobile home park on the land to cry foul, and the landowner and Town of Summerfield are taking the heat. On Nov. 26, 2013 the Summer-

the pond,” says Johnson, the fire department’s chief. “It just couldn’t stand up and it was looking weak.” Johnson didn’t hesitate long before deciding to bust the ice and wade into the water, hoping to get close enough to reach the deer with a long pole and help it get up. The deer kept falling, however, and that’s when Johnson decided to just go all the way out to it and carry it back to safety. “My guys were chomping at the bit to go out there, but I didn’t want to put anyone else out there, so I made a call for myself to go. I know I broke some rules, but it was the right thing to do,” Johnson said. “I couldn’t stand by and watch that deer die on the ice.”

Photo courtesy of Summerfield Fire Department

Property purchase sparks

controversy

Town and property owner come under fire for sale that will require mobile home park tenants to move field Town Council announced it had entered into an agreement to purchase two tracts of land totaling 16.01 acres. The larger of the two tracts is 15.66 acres and includes one occupied house, an unoccupied house, a barn and a mobile home park where nine families live. One tenant has lived in the mobile home park for 24 years and

another for 39 years. The second tract of land is .35 acres and is located across the street from the town hall at the intersection of NC 150 and Summerfield Road. On it rests the former Gordon Hardware building. Similar to the town hall in architectural

...continued on p. 30

IN THIS ISSUE News in brief...................................... 3 Your Questions.................................. 4 We asked, you answered................ 8 Business Notes................................ 12 Bits & Pieces.................................... 12 Looking for love.............................. 18 Community Calendar.................... 20 Student Profiles............................... 22 Crime/Incident Report................... 23 Letters/Opinions ............................ 24 Grins & Gripes................................. 25 Classifieds....................................... 26 Index of Advertisers....................... 31 NWO On The Go!............................ 32

1917 Granville Rd - $1,295,000 - Stunning hm w/ 5500+ sq ft in the heart of Old Irving Park! All the new amenities. One block from Greensboro Country Club. Open living area perfect for entertaining. 3-car gar. Outdoor frplce and kitchen. WEB ID #: 683267 Mark Yost 336-707-6275

1977 Beeson Rd - $985,000 - Incredible country estate 11+ acres w/ lg barn & pasture area. Meticulously mntnd w/top qulty fnshs. Opn pln , huge DR, grmt kit, full bsmnt perfect for guest qurtrs. 4BR/4.5BA/4Fps WEB ID #: 677539 Melissa Greer 336-337-5233

291 Darla Drive - $668,000 - Get away from it all in this 5100+sf/16+ac/4BR/4BA “low country” estate w/Mstr on mn, incredible kit, fin bsmt, salt H20 pool, hot tub on multilvl deck, wrap-around porch w/covrd wlkway WEB ID #: 680383 Waban Carter 336-601-6363

3614 Camden Falls Circle - $624,500 - Custom-built former Parade home in Gated Community. Spectacular Millwork & Detail Thruout! Top of the line kitchen w/ Viking appliances. Beautiful den w/ coffered ceiling & wet bar. Main level mst w/double walk-In closet. 2 bonus rms. WEB ID #: 686474 Mark Yost 336-707-6275

7105 Henson Farm Way - $569,900 - Custom Built 4BR/4BA Brick home in Henson Farms! 10ft ceil down, 9ft up, Open bright flr pln w/mstr on mn, rec room & exercise room, private back yard. WEB ID #: 692112 Judith Judy 336-339-2324

979 Old Greensboro Rd - $549,000 - 22 secld ac. 1-of-a-kind property! 3br/2ba, 1 lvl hm w/lots of incred views. fenced & terraced deck w/Meredith Pool (20x41ft) Open flowing rooms w/generous eating bar opening from Kitchen-Greatroom WEB ID #: 657705 Deryle Peaslee-Wood 336-601-4765

3401 Martin Ave - Great multi-family invstmnt offering! Seller will finance! Excellent income! 1 fourplex, 2 duplexes, 2 single family houses. 4-plex and duplexes are contiguous on one parcel at 3401 Martin Ave. 2 single fam houses located at 611 Sykes Ave. and 1304 Elwell Ave. Call listing agent for showings and details. $530,000 WEB ID #: 689469 Jeremiah Hawes 336-455-3997

611 Mashie Dr - $519,900 - Incredible custom home with scenic golf course veiws! Gormet kitchen w/top of the line applc, granite c-tops, tile back splash, Deluxe mstr suite w/luxurious bath, stone gas fp. WEB ID #: 662678 Melissa Greer 336-337-5233

7648 Henson Forest Dr - $495,000 Beautifully appointed 4 BR/3.5 bath hm w/ bonus rm. Gorgeous kit opens to keeping rm with stone gas log frplce. ML master BR w/ lrg bath. LR/office with built-ins & double tray ceiling. 3-car garage. - WEB ID #: 687885 Mark Yost 336-707-6275

6310 Poplar Forest - $484,500 - Fabulous flexible floor plan! 4BR/4BA former Parade Home in Henson Forest, huge Master suite w/ sitting rm, over-the-top luxury in the master bath, two story den w/stone frplc, private back yard & much more. Must See! WEB ID #: 691784 Suzanne Rock 336-272-0151

2700 Lunsford Rd - $442,500 - Beautiful 4BR/3.5BA, 1.5 Story Brick home on 1.04 ac in Lochmere Subdivison! Master w/fireplace, Meticulously maintained, Excellent school district! Great yard for a pool! Professionally decorated! WEB ID #: 685214 Jacqeline Worsham 336-937-2616

3041 Forest Vale - $409,000 - Grand Home! Prime Location! 4BR, 4.5BA on 1.5 ac cul-de-sac. Fin. basement. Bonus, playroom, office space. Lots of updates. Northern schools. WEB ID #: 688626 Annette Joyce 336-382-8629

8501 Hudon James - $349,900 - 5.12 acre mini-farm, 3300+ sq.ft 3BR/3.5BA Home, Barn, workshop, fenced yard, NW Schools WEB ID #: 677897 Annette Joyce 336-382-8629

138 Hush Hickory - $275,000 - 4BR/4BA on .92 acres. Mstr on main. Addl potential master on 2nd. Office, XL Bonus rm. Hrdwds & tile. Rocking chair porch w/ceiling fans WEB ID #: 670700 Annette Joyce 336-382-8629

9056 Mount Carmel - $250,000 - Enjoy Country Living without Sacrificing City Convenience , 3BR/3BA remodeled farmhouse on 13.85 ac. Be lulled to sleep by the sound of the rain hitting the metal roof WEB ID #: 668973 Annette Joyce 336-382-8629

2814 Norwell Ct - $244,000 - Rare find in Oak Ridge! 4BR, quiet cul-de-sac-big, pvt lot. 2-stry GR, open flr plan. Lge Mstr Suite. Granite in eat-in Kitch. 2-car grge, Fresh Pain, New Carpet WEB ID #: 675861 Waban Carter 336-601-6363

6930 Maynard Road - $177,500 - 3BR/2BA Ranch home w/ many updates that include: new SS appl, carpet, renovated master bath steam shower, tile, new vanities, fixtures, granite c-tops & hardwood floors! Come and see for yourself! WEB ID #: 685167 Beth Brannan 336-253-4693

705 Robinhood - $159,900 - Absolutely precious, TOTALLY Remodled , Brick 3bd/2ba, granite kitchen & fireplace, large lot! Strg bldg, very open! Near Monroeton Schl WEB ID #: 676125 Deryle Peaslee-Wood 336-601-4765

5811 Stoney Glen - $159,000 - Great Location! 3BR/2.5BA. Roof, Siding, Deck replaced in 2011. Master suite with dual closets & dressing area. Fenced backyard, Garden space & Patio. Basement. WEB ID #: 680081 Annette Joyce 336-382-8629

5003 Hiddenbrook Ct - $134,900 - Charming 3BR/2BA AllBrick Ranch on quiet cul-de-sac & .45 acre lot. Open den/kit features gas log frplc w/brick surround/hearth & 2 skylights. Formal LR/DR, brick patio, 1-car garage WEB ID #: 690887 Waban Carter 336-601-6363

3005 Joan Avenue - $139,500 - 3BR/2BA well maintained Ranch home in NW area! Open living room is separtaed by kitchen from the den w/fireplace in the rear of the home! Wired Storage building/workshop, Home Warranty! WEB ID #: 690512 Beth Brannan 336-253-4693

7006-7014 Summerfield Rd - $110,000 - Approx 2ac on Summerfield Rd near HWY 220 Commercial Potential. Well & septic in place. Survey on file. Below tax value. Buildings at no value. WEB ID #: 685256 Deryle Peaslee-Wood 336-601-4765

2205 Sandy Ridge - $95,000 - 3.5 ac in PRIME Loc! Hrdwds, Driveway, Well (needsl pump), Barn/Garage (electric, 5yr roof, Kennels), 2 old septic percs, 3/4 ac fncd dog lot, possible pond site & partial fencing! WEB ID #: 690181 Deryle Peaslee-Wood 336-601-4765

5538 Bunch Rd - $69,900 - Great investment opportunity! 1 ac in Smrfld/Oak Rdge area. 3 BR, 1 BA w/hrdwd. In decent condition-would make good rental, Great Land to build. WEB ID #: 682886 Deryle Peaslee-Wood 336-601-4765

3515 Oneida - $49,900 - Great Acreage to build on, NW (old house at no value) Convenient location, wooded, flat land & great NW Schools, septic & well already in place! WEB ID #: 682984 Deryle Peaslee-Wood 336-601-4765

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NEWS in brief

Stantliff honored for 50 years of service SUMMERFIELD – Friends, family members and fellow firefighters attended the Jan. 14 town council meeting to publicly honor Troy Stantliff, who was presented with a proclamation in appreciation of 50 years of service to Summerfield.

Former Mayor Mark Brown, who assisted in presenting the proclamation, said he had joined the fire departPhoto by Patti Stokes/NWO Troy Stantliff, with wife Betty beside him, was honored ment in 1969 when he was at the Jan. 14 town council meeting for 50 years of 18 years old, and had served with Stantliff for several years service with the Summerfield Fire Department. after that. Stantliff was someone that all the “kids” in the department department in Guilford County.” looked up to, Brown said. Stantliff joined the Summerfield Fire Department on Jan. 28, 1964, and rose “Fifty years of serving the Town to the rank of deputy chief. He served on of Summerfield is a true dedication,” Summerfield Fire District’s board of direcsaid Fire Chief Chris Johnson, who also tors for 36 years, 33 of which were as presihelped present the proclamation. “That dent. He makes it clear that his service to is 50 years of time away from family. the department will not end at his official He’s missed birthdays, anniversaries, and everything to make this the best fire 50-years-of-service mark on Jan. 28.

Who let the dogs in? The town did!

at Northwest Middle School

So don’t be a perfect stranger. Bring the family and your Bible this Sunday at 10 am. We think you’ll feel perfectly at home.

“This park adds a whole different dimension to a dog’s life,” says Rita Maloy as she watches her dog, Punch, race through the park after another dog.

...continued on p. 6

imperfekt church Perfect people not allowed. Perfect attendance unheard of. Perfectly acceptable attire optional. The only perfection here is our foundation, Jesus Christ.

OAK RIDGE – Local dogs and their owners have a lot to be happy about these days. The dog park at Oak Ridge Town Park is officially open and area canines are having a great time frolicking among the trees with their furry friends.

Maloy, who resides in Summerfield, jokingly refers to herself as “part of the

Photo by Annette Joyce/NWO

Mitchell Fuchs spends time at the new dog park with his poodle-mix, Shane and new acquaintance, Charlie, a black lab.

cbchurch.org | (336) 841-4480

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JAN. 17 - 23, 2014

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OUR TEAM Patti Stokes, editor/publisher Laura Troeger, associate publisher Annette Joyce, marketing manager Laura Pullins, editorial assistant Sean Gentile, art director Yvonne Truhon, page layout Leon Stokes, technology director Lucy Smith, finance manager Linda Schatz, distribution manager Helen Ledford, Sharon Neely, Annette Joyce, contributing writers

HOW TO REACH US

relevant to the northwest area

online: nwobserver.com e-mail: questions@nwobserver.com During all the recent rainy weather, I was concerned at the number of cars that didn’t have their headlights on. I thought it was a state law that when your windshield wipers were on, the headlights must be on also. Is this true? If so, is the law really being enforced?

You’re correct. The N.C. General Statute 20-129 requires the use of headlights while operating windshield wipers during inclement weather.

phone: (336) 644-7035

Amended by the N.C. General Assembly in 1990, this section of the statute reads that headlights must be turned on “when windshield wipers are in use as a result of smoke, fog, rain, sleet, or snow, or when inclement weather or environmental factors severely reduce the ability to clearly discern persons and vehicles on the street and highway at a distance of 500 feet ahead.”

fax: (336) 644-7006 mail: PO Box 268 Oak Ridge, NC 27310

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This law does not apply when windshield wipers are used intermittently in misting rain, sleet, or snow. Unfortunately, while this is a law that increases safety during harsh driving conditions, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of bite to it. The law went into effect on Oct. 1, 1990. At that point until Dec. 31, 1991, drivers who disobeyed the law received

Photo by Annette Joyce/NWO

Although it’s a law in North Carolina for vehicles to have their headlights on in the rain, many drivers do not use their headlights when driving in inclement weather.

a warning violation. Currently, the fine is a mere $5. No court costs or insurance points are involved. As far as actual enforcement is concerned, Sergeant Paul Clark of the N.C. Highway Patrol says his organization is responsible for enforcing all abuses of the law. However, there are no records or stats available that show how many citations have been written regarding this violation. “There is a law on the books but I can’t tell who is or isn’t

enforcing it,” Clark says. Lt. Cameron Piner of the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office says that the county doesn’t have a breakdown of these violations either. He did point out that other situations might impede an officer from enforcing this particular charge. “Inclement weather typically is a time when we get increased calls for service, so a lot of the officers are tied up on or are on their way to other potentially more serious calls,” says Piner.

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1715 NC 68 N, Oak Ridge (336) 643-7684 www.oakridgecbc.org

Are there any plans to bring more fast food restaurants to Oak Ridge Commons anytime soon? I’d love to see a Chick-fil-A or Taco Bell. Philip Cooke, a partner with Weyhill Commerical, LLC, which manages Oak Ridge Commons, says that his company is “always out in the market, talking to anybody who wants to talk to us.” Cooke says Weyhill has talked extensively with Bojangles’, the popular N.C. grown chicken and biscuit franchise. However, at this point no decisions have been made as to whether Bojangles’ will establish a location in Oak Ridge. Cooke is often asked about the possibility of a Chick-fil-A, but is not optimistic about that happening any time soon. “Chick-fil-A is always on our radar but unfortunately Oak Ridge isn’t on their radar,” says Cooke. “They look for more urban, high-traffic sites.” As for Taco Bell, Cooke says there’s been no contact with that company. Late last summer, Time Warner installed cable at one of the homes on Lee’s Ridge Road, a paved state-maintained road. The installers had to run a cable under the road to make their connection to a cable box.

There’s still a hump, similar to a small speed bump, where they drilled under the road. I feel this hump will deteriorate over time and need repairing. Since the installers did not do their work correctly, should Time Warner be required to fix this or is it the responsibility of DOT? Should taxpayers have to pay for work that should have been done correctly the first time? According to Darrell Ferguson, a district engineer with NCDOT, the responsibility for repairing the road in this case lies with Time Warner. “We’ve contacted Time Warner and they are going to investigate the problem,” says Ferguson. “They are responsible for making the repair and we’ll stay after them until they do.” In order to make an installation within the right-of-way, Time Warner or any utility company must be issued permission from the DOT for an encroachment. “If Time Warner doesn’t fix (this problem), we can withhold future encroachments,” says Ferguson. For quite some time the traffic light at Strawberry Road and US 220 North in Summerfield was ‘set’ so that when there was a lull in south/northbound traffic, the light changed to green for Strawberry Road vehicles. Also, the Strawberry Road light stayed green

longer every other time so more traffic could exit onto US 220. In the past two months or so, the light setup has been changed. Just this morning on the way to church there was no traffic on US 220, but the “Strawberry light” stayed red; then, when US 220 traffic started again, the Strawberry light turned green.

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Several times with no traffic coming, many of us have gone through the red light. I feel sure with the construction work on the highway and the need to temporarily change the lights, not changing them back was an oversight. Is there someone to call about getting the previous setup back in place? Kris Lorenz, senior assistant resident engineer in the DOT’s Greensboro office, has agreed to investigate the timing of the traffic light at Strawberry Road and US 220. We’ll report back to you as soon as we have an answer.

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NEWS in brief

...continued from p. 3

nagging committee” that kept asking the town for this type of facility. “I’ve watched with great anticipation as it’s been built and I think it’s absolutely fabulous,” she says.

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Mitchell Fuchs of Kernersville, who has taken his dog, Shane, to a number of different dog parks, agrees with Maloy. “Having this (facility) is great. People are very appreciative that it’s here,” he says.

Located near the park’s playground, the dog park encompasses roughly 1.5 wooded acres. There are two separate enclosed areas – one for large dogs and another for small breeds. Although there are water fountains for both dogs and humans, the water is turned off for the winter to avoid the chance of pipes freezing. A grand opening celebration will take place in the spring when the weather is warmer.

“Booze It & Lose It” campaign results in 3,164 DWI arrests RALEIGH – Law enforcement officers across the state arrested 3,164 people for driving drunk during the Holiday “Booze It & Lose It” campaign, which ran from Dec. 13, 2013, to Jan. 5.

329 DWI arrests; Mecklenburg County with 261 DWI arrests; Guilford County with 197 DWI arrests; Forsyth County with 157 DWI arrests; and Cumberland County with 103 DWI arrests.

“We thank the law enforcement officers who worked tirelessly to keep our roads safe while families and friends gathered together over the holidays,” said Don Nail, director of the NC Governor’s Highway Safety Program. “Our efforts to keep those who travel on North Carolina highways safe will continue each and every day, until we reach our goal of zero highway fatalities.”

In addition to DWI arrests, local and state law enforcement officers issued 116,423 traffic and criminal citations statewide; 6,285 safety belt and 1,086 child passenger safety violations; 32,737 speeding violations and 4,042 drug charges. In addition, they apprehended 3,232 fugitives from justice and recovered 190 stolen vehicles.

The top five counties for DWI arrests during the Holiday “Booze It & Lose It” campaign include: Wake County with

For more information regarding “Booze It & Lose It” activities and county totals, visit the www.ncdot.gov/ programs/GHSP/.

EPA recommends testing homes for radon gas

www.attorneybillbarbour.com

JAN. 17 - 23, 2014

UNITED STATES – As Americans across the country look for ways to improve their health this new year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is highlighting radon testing and mitigation as a simple and affordable step to significantly reduce the risk for lung cancer. Radon is a natural colorless, odorless

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radioactive gas, and is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. “Testing for radon is an easy and affordable way to protect your family’s health,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. ”Radon is a radioactive gas

...continued on p. 14

SNAP Fitness of Oak Ridge Grand RE-opening on Jan. 18

For many people, what’s even harder than finding the willpower to exercise is finding a place where they feel comfortable exercising. At SNAP Fitness in Oak Ridge, you won’t find a smelly, crowded gym with wait times for equipment. The intimate atmosphere allows your workouts to be more focused and effective, along with the leadership of a friendly and professional team. Owners Kimberly Stoll and Paul Benz became members of the gym in 2011 when they moved to Oak Ridge. After learning the gym was for sale, the couple bought the gym this past November from the previous owners who moved out of state. “We really liked the franchise concept, and when we heard it was for sale we were excited about the opportunity,” Kimberly says. In the last few months Kimberly and Paul have remodeled, purchased new equipment, and added their personal touch to the gym where members feel like family. Any business is only as good as its team of employees, and SNAP has a talented team of professionals who bring enthusiasm, knowledge of exercise science and motivational support to the club’s members. Club manager Denise Gann is a certified personal trainer, spin and aquatics instructor, and nutrition and weight management consultant. With a passion for fitness and an abundance of energy, she has a knack for helping members achieve their fitness and weight loss goals. Wyatt Cox is working toward a de-

Paul Benz and Kimberly Stoll owners gree in physical education. Kimberly says Wyatt displays genuine southern hospitality, and has earned a special place in the hearts of club members as he teaches them the art of exercise and using the equipment properly. Finding the time and discipline to exercise consistently is a struggle for many of us, and that’s where a personal trainer can make all the difference. Stoll herself is a testimony to the benefit of a trainer. “I need that accountability partner, because that’s when I work out the most and get the best results out of it.” Jamaal Johnson, one of the club’s trainers, has worked in sports medicine for 12 years, and adds “a spicy mix of faith-based principles and comedy to our SNAP family,” says Kimberly. Jamaal stresses to his clients the importance of setting short-term goals, then celebrating when they achieve them and go on to set new goals. Jovan Williamson, another of the club’s trainers, offers a background in athletic coaching and a degree in exer-

Denise Gann club manager

Wyatt Cox evening staff

cise science and human performance. An enthusiast at heart, Williamson’s philosophy is “progress is a process.” John Atkins is a SNAP success story. He works in Stokesdale and exercises at the gym each morning and evening before going home to Stoneville. Atkins worked out on his own for the first few months, before teaming up with Williamson. Over the last five months he has lost 56 pounds and six inches from his waistline. As a member of SNAP, you’ll have access seven days a week, 24 hours a day to not only the SNAP in Oak Ridge, but over 1,400 SNAP Fitness locations worldwide, all at the swipe of your electronic key card. Once you’ve joined the SNAP family, you’ll receive a fitness score, a personal webpage for tracking your progress, and a ‘’Basic 8” workout. The workout includes an introduction to eight different pieces of equipment, with guidance from a personal trainer on how to properly use the machines and prevent injuries.

Jamaal Johnson personal trainer

Jovan Williamson personal trainer

Join SNAP on Jan. 18 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to celebrate their grand re-opening with prizes & refreshments. It’s a great time to become a SNAP member – join now and not only will the standard enrollment fee be waived, but you’ll also get two free personal training sessions.

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We asked, you answered:

Affordable Care Act In last week’s issue we shared some of the comments we received from readers when we asked about their personal experiences with and opinions about the much-debated Affordable Care Act. As always, we thank those who took the time to respond, and in this issue we offer a second round of feedback we’ve received on this topic. ••• “From a business perspective, there’s nothing ‘affordable’ about a $1 billion incomplete and faulty website development linked to a mismanaged federal government mandate that was crammed down our throats. Obamacare, from any clear thinking perspective, has been an abject failure and is failing at an accelerated rate. This unpopular and unnecessary train wreck is a colossal waste of taxpayer money and is in the process of causing longterm pain and suffering to those forced to comply with it. The confused state of design and development, inherent security flaws, non-existent reimbursement plans, poor marketing and lousy administration all make this a total disaster that needs to be stopped and reconsidered before further permanent damage is done to our economy.” William H. Edwards, Oak Ridge “Our daughter lost her insurance due to the ACA. Her employer, a major U.S. company, reduced the majority of its employees’ hours to part time to avoid the higher costs of having to comply with the ACA. Amber was not allowed to keep her existing policy as the president promised. She now has to find her own insurance that meets the ACA requirements, which is too expensive for her to afford. She’s told that she will get tax credits at the end of the year, but if you can’t afford to pay for it each month and still pay all

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your other bills to survive what good does that do you? Kay Hagan’s office actually told her that no one has lost their insurance coverage due to the ACA. “The part of the ACA where people cannot be denied coverage for preexisting conditions is great. It should have included a stipulation that the insurance companies cannot put a price on coverage so high that it’s unaffordable. That part is missing. And that should have been the entire law. Both Democrats and Republicans would have signed that bill. “If the government wanted to get further involved, they should have focused on ways to control medical insurance premiums, the cost of medical services, and prescription drug costs. The government could have implemented an improved health care process only for low income earners that would opt in to receive a credit that could be used for medical expenses or to offset premiums. They chose to get into the business of dictating what people have to buy without providing a means to do it. That is not the solution.” Mike Stone, Oak Ridge “As a healthy, young professional who buys my own insurance, I rely on a low monthly premium. In November, I received a letter from my insurance provider offering a new ACA-compliant policy that I would automatically be enrolled in at the end of the year. The plan’s coverage was similar to my current one, except my new ‘affordable’ policy would cost me almost three times as much. “In early December, I received a second letter announcing I could keep my current plan – at least through 2014 – with a more digestible increase in cost. I would ordinarily be outraged at a 15 percent increase in my premium, but found myself relieved.” Sean Gentile, Greensboro

“To be a great country we have to help take care of our people. As with any massive undertaking, there are expected to be some hiccups and growing pains, but overall, I’ve heard positive responses, especially from those who needed this care and coverage the most. I feel it is my duty, as a good citizen, to help support the larger community, just as I do with paying for schools when I don’t have any children. I have been very lucky to have always had insurance coverage, either through my job, my parents or my husband. I have been lucky in that I am healthy and have no “pre-existing” conditions. I have never undervalued either of these. I feel it is also my duty to take the best care of my health that I can. I don’t smoke, I wear my seatbelt when I’m in a car, I exercise and I eat healthy plant-based whole foods (no processed, fast foods or meat/eggs/dairy). We need to take care of each other and ourselves too. “ Tony Cooler, Oak Ridge “The Health Insurance Marketplace Exchange was supposed to involve

more carriers than BCBS and Coventry. Coventry is a small piece of the pie compared to BCBS. Some providers question whether or not we are headed to a one-payer system in North Carolina in the near future. There are just so many “what if” questions out there right now. We won’t know those answers until things unfold next year. “I have switched my group BCBS plan over to individual BCBS plans through the Marketplace Exchange. This was a painful process for my insurance agent’s staff. I was part of this process twice and both times we worked on my application for at least 40 minutes. She kept getting a different answer each time she spoke with a representative. Interesting enough, these plans thus far are cheaper than our current group BCBS plan. I hope that other small business owners find this to be the same for them. “Unfortunately, many constituents with reinstated cancelled insurance plans have run into increased premiums. These folks have had to weigh

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whether to accept the new premiums or go through the Marketplace exchange. Many have opted for the latter. Time is going to tell how obtaining insurance through the exchange is going to affect medical access in 2014.” Shawn Dalton-Bethea, MD, Reidsville “As a financial representative with Woodmen of the World, I’ve been working with people since September to help them figure out the best plan. Because there are so many unanswered questions and changes occurring on a weekly basis, it’s very difficult to determine what’s best. Health insurance is actually a small part of my business, but that’s where I’ve been spending all of my time. “A lot of people may qualify for the plan under the government system where they get a subsidy but then they find out their doctors won’t take a plan. On the other hand, the plans that tend to be more affordable have high deductibles of $3,000, $4,000 and $5,000 a year.

government penalty rather than buy insurance that they can’t afford or that really won’t do them any good because of the high deductibles. “Originally, people thought they had to go through the government to get health care but that’s not true. You can buy insurance anywhere you want and often you can get as good, if not a better deal. “One thing’s for sure, with the Affordable Care Act, people are spending a lot more money than they need to. The goal, which was a good one, is to make sure health insurance is available to anyone who wants or needs it. Unfortunately, the government didn’t figure out the high cost of doing that before implementing the plan. “I recommend that anyone with questions consult a professional to see what their best options are. They can also go to the Kaiser Family Foundation website, kff.org for some impartial information on health insurance issues.”

“I have people opting to pay the

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JAN. 17 - 23, 2014

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Granny’s Donuts is finally open Area residents we talked to were excited about having access to these fresh donuts and pastries offered by the newly opened Granny’s Donuts. Photo by Annette Joyce/NWO

OAK RIDGE – After over a year’s wait, Granny’s Donuts and Bakery opened its doors on Tuesday, Jan. 14, and already has a fan base. “I’ve been waiting every day for (Granny’s) to open,” says Chris Van Vlack of Oak Ridge. “The men in our walking club have come by every day to see if the place is open. This is a big deal!” Van Vlack has been a patron of the Granny’s in Kernersville and is thrilled to have one open close by – so much so that he spent the morning calling people to let them know the Oak Ridge

location has opened. Andy Sek, owner of Granny’s in Oak Ridge and in three other Triad locations, says that he “really, really wanted to open” before now. Complications with trying to establish two new stores at the same time, combined with a back injury that he sustained, delayed the Oak Ridge store, he said. Granny’s is located behind the Village Store/Shell station near the corner of NC 68/150. It offers a complete assortment of donuts and other baked goods, along with coffees and soft drinks.

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Oak Ridge Elementary supports one of its own Contributed by Melissa Stallings, PTO president Jessica Murray is a mom just like all the other moms. She dotes on her children, helps them with homework, runs them to and from afterschool programs, tucks them into bed every night, all the while balancing her role as a full-time mom with being a full-time Guilford County public school teacher. She has taught hundreds, if not thousands of children in Guilford County since she began teaching in 1999. But now, Jessica Murray is adding a new ball to her already crowded juggling act – she is undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Diagnosed in November 2013, this vibrant and active third grade teacher at Oak Ridge Elementary School is in the middle of a battle. Having undergone two surgeries recently and facing chemotherapy as well as radiation treatments, her world has been completely turned upside down. Her fellow staff members and the school’s PTO are doing all they can to

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raise money for the Murray family. Jessica has touched the lives of so many Oak Ridge and Summerfield families and now it is time to give back to her. Anyone wishing to make a donation to the Murray family can buy a Breast Cancer Awareness T-shirt in support of Jessica Murray. The shirts can be purchased online at the PTO’s website, orespto.com, for $15 each. They will be hand delivered to supporters in the beginning of February.

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Nothing says lovin’ like a full belly! Continue to show your support on Feb. 22 at the Fatz Café, located at 619 S. Regional Road, for a pancake breakfast. Due to the popularity of this event, tickets are on sale now in one-hour increments of time. Choose your favorite hour to eat pancakes, celebrate the love of Mrs. Murray and leave with the warm feeling in your heart that you have helped a local

family keep up the fight. Tickets are $8 per person and can be purchased at orespto.com (a second date will be available if this date sells out). The Oak Ridge Youth Association will host its own pancake breakfast on Saturday, Feb. 8 at JP Looneys in Oak Ridge with a percentage of proceeds benefitting the Murray family. Visit the Youth Association’s website, orya.org, for more details.

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Five generations call Oak Ridge home The Tucker family goes back a long way in Oak Ridge, starting with Addison Tucker whose farm was located near the crossroads of NC 68 and Edgefield Road. Today five generations of his descendants reside in Oak Ridge or nearby Colfax. Until about a year ago, most of the family still lived on the family farm. When it was purchased by DOT, the family matriarch, Geneva Tucker, 93, and her daughter, Nancy Tuttle, 70, moved to a new home in Ashton Park. Tuttle’s daughter, Sheila Hauger, 50, and granddaughter, Jade Weaver, 23, soon followed. Hauger’s other daughter, Lauren, 27, lives with her husband Ben in nearby Colfax. The youngest generation of the Tucker clan includes five-month-old Berkley Weaver and the Donnalley children, Blake, 4, Jack, 2, and Ella, 7 weeks. Having lived together on what Tuttle jokingly refers to as the “family com-

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pound” for so long, it was natural to build homes close together. “We’re a small, very close family and we get together every day,” says Tuttle, who is the caregiver for her mother. With the exception of Tucker, the entire family attends Central Baptist Church in Oak Ridge. Tuttle says that although her mother has been unable to attend church because of health issues, she is the oldest member of Northwest Baptist Church, located on Edgefield Road.

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JAN. 17 - 23, 2014

Town to apply for $198,000 grant for Phase II of town park OAK RIDGE – In 2008, Oak Ridge received a $500,000 matching Parks and Recreational Trust Fund (PARTF) grant, which it used to develop Phase I of the town park. That phase included baseball/softball and multipurpose fields, a large playground, concession/restroom building, two picnic shelters, paved walking paths, sidewalks and parking. Additional features and necessities have been added over the years, including a maintenance/storage building, dog park, two water gardens, an aerating pond fountain, picnic tables, paved trailheads, mountain bike trails, nature trails, pedestrian bridges and horseshoe pits. In response to the park’s popularity and citizen requests, the town now plans to apply for another PARTF grant to develop the first part of Phase II.

At the Jan. 9 town council meeting, Parks and Recreation Commission Chairman Bill Edwards presented a detailed outline of what the first part of Phase II would include, along with associated costs. Since available PARTF funding is considerably less than six years ago, the commission plans to break Phase II down into two separate PARTF requests, beginning in 2014 with Phase IIA. Four main items are proposed for Phase IIA: a performance pavilion/amphitheater, additional restroom facility, additional paved parking and a small playground suitable for younger children. The Music in the Park and Movies in the Park events that were held in the park for the first time last year were extremely popular, Edwards said, and were attended by 200 to 300 or more people each time.

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A performance stage/pavilion would offer a better entertainment venue for these types of events, and at an estimated cost of $90,000, Edwards said the money would be well spent and would eliminate the need for assembling and disassembling portable stages and move heavy picnic tables for each performance. Over half of the Oak Ridge citizens who responded to a parks and recreational needs survey in 2012 said they would like to see more restrooms. The commission estimates the cost of an additional facility at $80,000. Fifty additional parking spaces near the Redmon field would cost $58,000 and provide access to Shelter 2, which is underutilized, as well as overflow parking for large events. And finally, an auxiliary playground would reduce congestion at the main playground and provide playground

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Total cost projection for the above items and site preparation, water, septic and electric utilities is $396,513, and the commission is requesting the town budget for half of that, or $198,000, in its FY 2014/2015 budget. The PARTF grant application deadline is Jan. 31, and the town will hear in either May or August as to whether it has been awarded a matching grant. If the town is awarded the grant, the commission hopes to solicit and award construction bids this fall, begin construction in Spring 2015 and complete it in Fall 2015. Once completed, the commission will turn its attention to Phase IIB of the park, which it proposes would include six lighted tennis courts.

...continued from p. 6

that can be found in homes all across the country; the only way know if your home has high levels is to test it.” Part of EPA’s radon action campaign is to remind people to “Test, Fix, Save a Life,” and to recognize every January as radon action month. All homes with or without basements should be tested for radon. Affordable Do-It-Yourself radon test kits are available online and at home improvement and hardware stores, or you can hire a qualified radon tester. EPA recommends taking action to fix radon levels at or above 4 picoCuries per Liter (pCi/L) and contacting a qualified radon-reduction contractor. In most cases, a system with a vent pipe and fan is used to reduce radon. Addressing high radon levels often costs the same as other minor home repairs.

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equipment specifically geared to younger children. The estimated cost of the playground is $50,000.

Each year, 21,000 Americans die from radon-related lung cancer. By fixing elevated levels in your home, you can help prevent lung cancer while creating a healthier home for you and your family. Radon test results are a positive selling point for those putting a house on the market and in many areas is a required part of real estate transactions. In addition, if you are looking to build a new home, there are now safer and healthier radon-resistant construction techniques that home buyers can discuss with builders to prevent this health hazard. More information on how to test, find a qualified radon professional, obtain a test kit or contact our state’s radon office is available online at www.epa.gov/radon or by calling 1-800-SOS-RADON.

Carpet Super Mart Family-owned and operated since 1977

It’s been almost 40 years since A.C. and Mildred Jordan opened the doors to their family-owned and operated business, Carpet Super Mart. The company that started small but with a big dream has found ways to thrive even during some of the most trying economic times, while expanding its flooring product line to serve the needs of its customers. Before opening their store, A.C. had spent his career as a traveling salesman for carpet. “He and Mom decided they were tired of him being on the road and they felt there was an opportunity to have a really nice flooring store in Greensboro,” recalls their son, Arthur Jordan. Arthur was a business major at Appalachian State University when his father approached him about partnering to open a retail carpet business.

marketing. Mildred is no longer living but A.C., who is retired, still drops in occasionally. The sense of family extends from the management throughout the entire employee base. Most of the employees, including full-time and contract installers, have a longevity with the company not often found these days. “All of our salespeople have been with us between 14 and 29 years. We have six installers on the payroll and our subcontractors have worked with us long enough that they know what we expect and are more than willing to meet the high standards that we require.” With so many small, locally-owned businesses being gobbled up by huge conglomerates – or going under – stores like Carpet Super Mart are a rarity. So just what is the key to this company’s long-term success? Arthur attributes it to a combination of family, loyal, highly-invested employees, and an extraordinary commitment to

customer service and satisfaction. With over 42,000 square feet of showroom and warehouse space, Carpet Super Mart carries all types of flooring including carpet, vinyl, ceramic, hardwoods, laminate and area rugs. With such an extensive inventory of flooring products, it can be a little overwhelming to walk into the showroom and survey the seemingly endless choices. This is one of the ways in which Carpet Super Mart sets itself apart from the competition. “We spend a lot of time educating our salespeople and they in turn pass this information to our customers,” says Arthur. “We’re not willing to sell our customers a product simply to make a sale. When someone comes into our store, we take the time to find out what they really need. We ask questions about their lifestyle and their preferences. By doing this, we’re able to assure that they will be happy with the final result.” Further confirming its status as a high-

The Stainmaster designation is not only an honor for the store, but an advantage for the customer. “All of the warranties on our Stainmaster carpets are much greater and last longer,” says Arthur. Although the store takes up a lot of his time, Arthur, his wife Lynn and the Mobleys remain committed to making a difference in the world outside their business. They have been involved in GMA, the Builders Association, Oak Ridge United Methodist Church, First Christian in Kernersville, Meals on Wheels and Hospice of Greensboro, and have taken many trips to Guatemala for mission work. Arthur also currently serves on the board of directors for the Greensboro Better Business Bureau. The Jordans and Mobleys have a total of five children and four grandchildren between them, all of who have attended or are currently attending northwest-area schools.

“I didn’t know much about the ‘fuzzy stuff’ back then,” says Arthur, a Summerfield resident. “I went to work for my father’s friend and learned everything I could about the business including design, installation, inventory and marketing.” As the business grew, Arthur’s sister, Joyce, and her husband, Ronnie Mobley, who also live in Summerfield, joined the company. Arthur, Joyce and Ronnie are now the owners of Carpet Super Mart, with Joyce serving as secretary/treasurer and Ronnie overseeing installation. Arthur’s youngest son Clayton, 23, is involved with sales and

quality supplier, Carpet Super Mart is one of only 250 stores in the entire country – and the only one in the Triad – to be designated as a Stainmaster flooring center. A store must be selected by this yarn manufacturer in order to obtain this coveted designation.

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Online dating grows in acceptance and popularity by JO MAEDER Dating someone at work, church, or the gym can turn awkward if it doesn’t work out. Ditto being fixed up through friends. Online dating is now a viable, acceptable way to find love, especially when you’re older, the kids are grown, and the only time you meet new people may be when you shop. “Over 40 million singles in the U.S. are looking for love on the internet. It’s never been easier,” claims Julie Spira, online dating expert and founder of CyberDatingExpert.com. “The biggest advantage to online dating, other than trolling while my Lean Cuisine cooked,” says now coupled

Karen Sommerfeld of Greensboro, “was that I met men I may not have otherwise tried to date. I’m speaking specifically about the person I fell in love with.” Readers of Sommerfield’s popular blog “Bye, Bye Pie!” know all about “Ned.”

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If I’d seen him across the room somewhere, I would have written him off as too normal. When we wrote online, I realized he was exactly who I was looking for: smart, funny, self-aware, kind, snarky, wellread,” writes Sommerfield.

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Her courtship with Ned just hit the two-year mark. As someone who just spent a year on five different dating sites, I certainly found the experience to be easy, as well as fun, interesting, and a new way to network.

It was also time-consuming, brutal, and risky. The biggest drawback I found to looking for love in Guilford County was that the middle-age dating pool is more like a puddle. Kit Rodenbough, owner of Design Archives, was matched with her brother. Rita Parham, who lives near Summerfield, was matched with her ex-husband. Then I was matched with him. Parham never met anyone online she wanted to date but she did see someone she thought perfect for a friend and introduced them. They dated for three years. Spira recommends expanding your search to 1,000 miles. “Skype dates, FaceTime, and texting keep the spark of digital courtship alive until you can be together in the same city,” she writes. Fifty miles is my limit. When I find a webcam that makes me look good, a hefty travel budget, and a lot more time, I’ll expand my search to Antarctica. Attempts to contact someone online are often met with silence. It could be they’re no longer a paid subscriber. Or they’re just not into you. Or they’re scared and don’t really want to find love. Hey, there’s a bonus – it’s like you

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never left junior high. A new study by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project says that one in 10 Americans have used an online dating site or mobile dating app and 23 percent of those people have met a spouse or long-term partner through these sites. “Public attitudes toward online dating have become more positive in recent years, but many users also report negative experiences,” the folks at Pew write. To protect not only your heart, but your investments, caution is advised. Scammers may present themselves as attractive widowers, or pretty young women, and insist on chatting (no monitoring by the site). Initially they respond in general terms because they’re using a script. Some want money or an

escape from their country. Some are even the same gender as the victim and having fun. When receiving written communication with a new online prospect, ask yourself if the person could have sent the message to anyone.

we spoke he talked about how screwed up they were.

Always, always Google your potential date when you know his/her last name. Does the age on intellius.com or whitepages.com match what is on the profile? Is he/she on LinkedIn? In every aspect of life, an internet presence puts me at ease. No presence does not.

It’s natural to conjure a fantasy when we read someone’s profile. Unfortunately, this is why most people don’t live up to our expectations. This also happens when we meet someone in person the first time, so it could be argued you initially know more about someone who you met online – other than the sound of his or her voice, table manners, and scent – all of which can be deal-breakers for me.

I believe in meeting someone as soon as possible if you think there’s a shot. Sommerfeld thinks “a good 10 to 20 email exchanges” is sufficient.

The cost of an online dating subscription varies. Figure anywhere from free to $60 a month depending on the length of the membership.

Another hazard peculiar to online dating is being hijacked. A friend had his profile photo used in someone else’s profile. I’ve found my photo used in ads for dating sites even though I thought only members could see it. If the site isn’t doing it, assume the people on the site are sharing your profile and messages with friends and their children. That’s called “vetting” and you should be doing the same thing.

Though I’ve not renewed my online dating subscriptions, I did like the way I was kept in “flirt mode” while participating. And when a friend fixed me up a while back with someone I really liked, I didn’t feel as vulnerable (after all, I had all these potential men waiting at home inside my computer). What happened with my friend’s friend? He was still reeling from his divorce. Bad timing.

Use your head. If you get one whiff of a “hinky” feeling, it will only get hinkier. If you plan to meet your online friend, pick a public place. And when you leave, make sure they don’t follow you (though they probably already know where you live from Googling). Without going on too much, make your profile more about you and less about what you’re looking for. You’re not speaking to a real estate broker. Always put a full body shot in your photos. Don’t put too many photos (self-absorbed) or those from your youth (save those for Facebook). Make sure the photos are recent. No one wants to be deceived from the start. It throws everything about you into question. All profiles, to some extent, are fantasies. I knew one gentleman who, in his online description, talked about how great his kids were. The last time

Get. Be. Stay. Connected

facebook.com / NorthwestObserver

I do wish there were more singles events in our area. Until then, I’ll be doing a lot of grocery shopping on Friday and Saturday nights. If I see an attractive male shopper not wearing a wedding band, he’s probably unattached and he can cook. A good place to start. ••••• Jo Maeder, a selfdescribed “scribe/story junkie,” was dubbed the “Rock and Roll Madame” during her days as a radio personality in South Florida and New York. She moved from the Big Apple to Oak Ridge in 2003 to care for her ailing mother, and unknowingly began a threeyear journey that transformed her life. Maeder has since authored the memoir When I Married My Mother and the novel Opposites Attack, and is working on her third book. When not writing, she loves to travel, read, and cook.

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

JAN. 17 - 23, 2014

mark your Northwest

Animal Hospital Karen Nasisse, DVM (336) 643-8984 1692 NC 68N, Suite J, Oak Ridge

Compassionate, comprehensive, state-of-the-art care

calendar Submit your events online at Click “community calendar” on the left-hand side

Carlotta Lytton

, CPA, PC

Individual & Corporate Tax Returns Specializing in Payroll & Accounting for Small Businesses 7805 US Hwy 158, Stokesdale clyttoncpa@bellsouth.net

phone: (336) 644-7033 fax: (336) 644-7038

SATURDAY, JAN. 18 Florida Citrus • Save Shipping charges

Honeybells this month only!

Plus seedless navel oranges • Grapefruits • Tangerines

Summerfield

High Point

Wed., Jan. 22 • 9 -10:30 am Golden Antiques & Treasures 4537 US 220 N. (Battleground)

( 772 ) 473-1734

Wed., Jan. 22 • 12-2 pm Oak Hollow Mall (food court parking lot)

www.citrusunlimited.com

zz Food Drive | Market America will host a food drive throughout January, with all donations benefiting the Servant Center Food Pantry. On Saturday, Jan. 18 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., donations will be collected at the following locations: Deep Roots Market in Greensboro, 600 N. Eugene St., Food Lion at 2217 Fleming Rd. and Food Lion at 4709 Lawndale Dr. Donations will also be accepted until Jan. 31, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Market America in Greensboro, 1302 Pleasant Ridge Rd. More info: call Katie Taylor, 478-4086.

This ad isn’t just right here in your hands.

It’s all over northwest Guilford County.

SUNDAY, JAN. 19

zz AA Meeting | Stokesdale Christian Church, 8607 Stokesdale Street, holds weekly AA meetings on Sundays at 6:30 p.m. More info: call Dean Peterson at 392-6676. MONDAY, JAN. 20 walks • play-dates • feeding • medication • even extra belly rubs!

Spoil-Me-Rotten ANIMAL CARE, INC.

(336) 643-5242 Nancy Brooks, PSI Member

Samuel K. Anders, CPA, MSA, PC 26 Years Experience Individual, Corporate, Partnership & Payroll Tax Electronic Tax Filing  Estate Planning Bookkeeping & Compilations 8004 Linville Rd, Suite G, Oak Ridge (336) 643-7577 or 1-800-467-8299 info@samanderscpa.com www.samanderscpa.com

JAN. 17 - 23, 2014

Church of Summerfield, 4960 U.S. 220 N., will host an AA and Al-Anon meeting on Monday, Jan. 20 at 8 p.m. More info: call 643-7667. TUESDAY, JAN. 21

zz Town Council meeting | The Stokesdale Town Council will hold its monthly meeting on Jan. 21 at 7 p.m. at the town hall, 8325 Angel Pardue Road. Among other business, the council is expected to vote on appointing a fifth member to serve the remaining two years of Randy Braswell’s council term. Braswell was elected in November to a four-year term as mayor. To view a Jan. 21 meeting agenda, visit www.stokesdale.org.

advertise with us For advertising info, contact Laura Troeger, associate publisher (336) 644-7035, ext. 10 advertising@nwobserver.com

zz Greensboro Airport Rotary Club | The Greensboro Airport Rotary Club meets every Tuesday from 7 to 8 a.m. at the Cardinal Golf & Country Club, 5400 Cardinal Way in Greensboro. More info: call Cory at 253-5353.

zz The Kiwanis Club | The Kiwanis Club of Northwest

Oak Ridge Business Center

zz AA and Al-Anon Meetings | Community Lutheran

Guilford will meet at noon on Tuesday, Jan. 21 at Bill’s Pizza, 1431 N.C. 68 in Oak Ridge. Lunch may be purchased; visitors are welcome. More info, contact Donna Ogletree, 485-1100 or donna.ogletree@allentate.com.

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

daily playtimes included large indoor/outdoor runs 7630 Royster Road • Greensboro

(336) 644-1095 www.CountryKennelBoarding.com

B.E.K. Paint Co. calendar continued Residential & Commercial

zz Veterans Of Foreign Wars | Northwest Guilford VFW

BEKPaintCompany.com

Post 7999 will meet on Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 6:30 p.m. at the Summerfield Community Center, 5404 Centerfield Road in Summerfield. More info: call Roy, 707-2451, e-mail vfw7999@gmail.com, or visit www.vfw7999.blogspot.com.

(336) 931-0600 David & Judy Long, owners

References Available • Licensed & Insured All Work Guaranteed

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 22

zz Preservation Oak Ridge Meeting | Preservation Oak

Bobbie Gardner CRS/GRI/Relocation Specialist EcoBroker

Westergaard Kennels DOG BOARDING

5719 Bunch Rd, Oak Ridge 643-5169 • jingletail@mac.com www.westbengoldens.com 25 years serving you

Ridge is a nonprofit group committed to preserving the historic structures of Oak Ridge. The group’s next meeting will be held on Jan. 22 at 5:15 p.m. at the Oak Ridge Town Hall, 8315 Linville Rd. This group is currently involved in the restoration of the historic Ai Church on N.C. 68 in Oak Ridge. More info: call Doug at 209-1999.

zz AA Meeting | Oak Ridge Presbyterian Church, 2614

(336) 382-5939

Oak Ridge Road, holds AA meetings on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. More info: call 643-3452.

www.allentate.com/bobbiegardner

THURSDAY, JAN. 23

The

Longhouse

zz Story Time | Every Thursday from 1:30 to 2 p.m. at the Benjamin Branch Library in Greensboro, 1530 Benjamin Parkway, story time will be held for children, featuring stories, songs and finger-plays.

Submitting your

calendar events online is as easy as ...

On the left side, click community calendar

Click

SPECIAL EVENTS CENTER

Planning a wedding? We can help!

(336) 707-6652 thelonghousenc.com

View the complete, detailed Community Calendar at nwobserver.com, and check the Northwest Observer each week for a selection of upcoming events

add your event

and fill in your details

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

JAN. 17 - 23, 2014

STUDENT PROFILES Thanks to the coaches and teachers at Northern and Northwest High Schools for their student recommendations and input, which make it possible to recognize these talented, dedicated students for their accomplishments in academics, athletics and cultural arts. Thanks, too, to the student reporters at Northern and Northwest who helped us compile these profiles.

NORTHERN

Wrestling

ALEX ROBERTS, sophomore

Hometown: Greensboro Toughest class: Latin Extracurricular activities: Eating Favorite food: Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich Favorite TV show: Breaking Bad Siblings: Yes Best vacation ever: Spring break Years lived in Northern area: Seven Dream job: Personal trainer Interesting/fun fact about yourself: I have dancing skills. Nickname: “Russel stover” Coach Scott Shaw’s comments: “Some kids in life just want to be good, but Alex desires to be great on the mat as well as off the mat. He has the work ethic and mentality to take him far in life. I am excited to see all the things he will accomplish in his lifetime.”

NORTHERN

Swimming COLE QUINN, senior

Hometown: Greensboro Toughest class: AP Statistics Extracurricular activities: Student Council, Interact Club Favorite food: Pizza

JAN. 17 - 23, 2014

Favorite artist: Jake Owen Favorite movie: Fast and the Furious Siblings: One older sister, Kalen Best vacation: Hawaii Years lived in Northern area: My whole life Dream Job: Nurse anesthetist Fun fact: I’m a member of the Triad Jeep Club Role on the team: Captain Pre-meet ritual: Pray and cheer Coach Richard Swor’s comments: “Cole has been a true captain to the Northern swim team this year. Leading not only by example in practice but also as a role model for how the swimmers should act as students, athletes and community members. If the boys sprint events and relays are to be successful, a large part of that will be due to the swimming talent and leadership of Cole Quinn.”

NORTHWEST

Wrestling

ALEC CLAUSEN, senior

Hometown: Summerfield Toughest class: Spanish 2 Extracurricular activities: Wrestling and swimming Favorite food: Pizza Favorite band: Red Hot Chili Peppers Favorite movie: The Blind Side Any siblings? Yes Best vacation ever: Disney cruise Years in northwest area: 7 Dream job: Business owner Interesting/fun fact about yourself: I

like to work out every day. Weight division:152/160 weight class Pre-match ritual: Making sure the team is as hyped as I am and ready to go. Coach Ron Bare’s comments: “Alec put in a lot of time in the off season and worked hard to make himself a better wrestler.”

NORTHWEST

Cheerleading BAILEY CLARK, senior

Hometown: Stokesdale Toughest class: AP Biology Extracurricular activities: YoungLife Favorite food: Pizza Favorite band: One Direction Favorite movie: The Heat or We’re The Millers Any siblings? Older sister, Chelsea Best vacation ever: Tokyo with Alicia Perry Years in northwest area: My whole life Dream job: Physical therapy Interesting/fun fact about yourself: I’m double jointed and can twist my arm all the way around Nickname? “Bay” Role on the team: Captain of varsity cheerleading team, back-spot Pre-game superstitions: Can’t be videotaped when doing a stunt Coach’s comments: “Bailey is well respected by her teammates because of her hard work and her leadership.”

NORTHWEST

Swim Team

KYLE ALDERSON, junior

Hometown: Oak Ridge Toughest class: Honors Pre-Calculus Extracurricular activities: National

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

Technical Honors Society, basketball, snowboarding, wake-boarding, volunteering and working. Favorite food: Apples and peanut butter Favorite band: Imagine Dragons Favorite movie: Top Gun Any siblings? Older sister Best vacation ever: Hawaii, Island of Kauai, where I learned to surf Years lived in the northwest area: 10 Dream job: Fighter pilot Interesting/fun fact about yourself: I used to be a lot heavier than I am now Role on the team: Captain Coach Alex Wertz’s comments: “Kyle always puts in 100 percent and is constantly looking for ways to improve himself. He always steps up to a challenge, and is a positive example to his teammates.”

NORTHWEST

Basketball

HUNTER NEWMAN, junior Hometown: Greensboro Toughest class: AP United States History Extracurricular activities: Hanging out with family and friends Favorite food: Macaroni and cheese Favorite band: The Weekend Favorite movie: Grease Any siblings? Older sister, Hayley and younger brother, John. Best vacation ever: Orlando, Fla. Years in northwest area: 8 Dream job: Spanish translator for corporate companies or the government Interesting/fun fact about yourself: I love to shop Nickname? “Hunt” Position on the team: Team captain, center Pre-game rituals: I listen to music before a game.

Sheriff’s Office Alert Network

CRIME / INCIDENT report

The Alert Network allows the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office to instantly update you about crimes, emergencies and other important information. All Alerts are delivered via e-mail and are also available via text message on your cell phone.

The District 1 Sheriff’s Office has recently responded to the following incidents in northwest Guilford County.

Cold temperatures, rain deter area lawbreakers With officers in northwest Guilford County responding to only three incidents last week, crime appears to be on the decline in northwest Greensboro. However, Lt. Cameron Piner of the District 1 Guilford County Sheriff’s Office says temperatures dipping into single digits and several successive days of rain may have been partly the reason that more people, including those with no regard for the law, stayed inside where it was warm and dry. Perhaps we’ve Mother Nature to thank for a safer northwest Guilford County. With that said, below are the incidents the District 1 office responded to last week.

the home and charged the complainant with possession of drug paraphernalia.

DRUGS JAN. 5 | A routine traffic stop on Carlson Dairy Road in northwest Greensboro resulted in the driver being arrested for felony possession of a controlled substance (prescription drugs). JAN. 7 | A traffic stop on Beeson Road in Oak Ridge resulted in the driver being charged with a misdemeanor possession of marijuana. Another passenger in the car was also charged with resist, delay and obstructing a law enforcement officer.

THEFT JAN. 7 | A resident of Crestfield Road in Summerfield reported an unknown person broke into his home and stole multiple electronic items, with a total value of $965. While investigating the theft, officers recovered paraphernalia from

District 1 Sheriff’s Office 7506 Summerfield Road (336) 641-2300 • Monday - Friday www.guilfordcountysheriff.com

Citizen Alerts inform all registered users of public safety concerns in your area. The Alerts contain information about crime trends, descriptions of suspects, missing persons, as well as advice on personal safety, and how to safeguard property. Business Alerts are targeted to specific business types, so your business will receive information about crimes that are pertinent to your business type. Case Alerts allow law enforcement to automatically disseminate information about open cases to all registered Citizen Observer users.

Possibly the biggest benefit of the Alert Network is that it makes possible two-way communication between law enforcement and the public. Law Enforcement can update citizens on situations that require their attention. And, when the public learns about fugitives, missing persons and unsolved cases, they can provide tips directly to the agency. •••••

Want to sign up? Sign up to receive Citizen, Business, and Neighborhood alerts by going to www.citizenobserver.com/registration.jsp.

Need-to-know, fun-to-know and good-to-know info for northwest-area residents, all in one place

Captain Phil Byrd

Investigators seek leads in equipment theft STOKESDALE – On Saturday, Jan. 11 at around 8:30 a.m., Steve Harrell reported to the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office that a storage building he uses for his business, located at 400 Lemons Rd. in Stokesdale, had been broken into and approximately $3,440 worth of power tools and equipment were stolen.

Watch Group Alerts allow law enforcement to send targeted alerts to specific neighborhoods with information about crimes that are happening in their immediate area.

This theft is believed to have occurred between Jan. 5 at 6 p.m. and the time of this report. Anyone with information about this break-in/theft is asked to call the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office at (336) 634-3232 or Rockingham County Crime Stoppers at (336) 349-9683.

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

COMING LATE JANUARY printed annually online 24/7 at nwobserver.com

JAN. 17 - 23, 2014

LETTERS/OPINIONS Submit your editorials (maximum 350 words) e-mail: editor@nwobserver.com Include name, phone number and community in which you live.

Property deal ... bulldozers ... low-income tenants Nine families have been given 90 days to move from a mobile home park located near the corner of US 220 and NC 150. A couple of the residents have leased the land their mobile homes are on for 20 to 40 years. For those living week-to-week, coming up with the money to move their belongings – and their mobile home – will be a hardship.

as little as 7 days to vacate. Had the newspaper writer contacted the property owner, however, he would have known they were to be given 90 days.

Last month the Town of Summerfield entered into an agreement to purchase the property. Almost one month later, a newspaper article which stated that residents might have only seven days to vacate the mobile home park spread like wildfire after it was picked up by television stations. News crews have descended upon the town ever since, and people who have lived in Summerfield for decades and barely glanced at the mobile home park at the corner of US 220 and NC 150 have cried out in indignation.

The fact is, the land has been for sale for over two years and the town has publicly discussed purchasing property for much longer than that. It has also specifically discussed purchasing property on or near Summerfield Road for over a year.

I’m not insensitive to the financial and emotional burden that moving will place on the mobile home park tenants. But had the town forced the land owner to sell the property The mobile home park is through condemnation, it would Patti Stokes located on a 15.66-acre tract have been a horse of a different publisher/editor owned by Ralph Gordon, LLC. color – just as it would have been It was listed for sale in November 2011, had the seller been secretive about selling and tenants have been on a month-tothe property or the town been secretive month lease for at least the last year. about its intentions to purchase property.

The article had all the right ingredients for grabbing attention: government ... lowincome tenants forced out of their homes ... the dead of winter ... insensitive landlord. If only headlines and news stories were written to inform rather than to inflame, and with whole truths and not half-truths. Since the tenants were on a monthto-month lease, it is true that the property owner could have legally given them

JAN. 17 - 23, 2014

Someone was going to eventually buy this property, and it was very unlikely anyone would purchase it for several hundred thousand dollars and keep the mobile home park on it – the nine tenants on the property paid about $125 each month, so at $1,125 per month of income, offset by the expense of grounds maintenance and needed septic system repairs, it just doesn’t add up. It is unfortunate that in this case tenants have to move. But that doesn’t justify exploiting them for the sake of a news story, nor does it justify blaming a willing property seller and a willing property buyer. It’s irresponsible at best, and it is exactly what gives “the media” a bad reputation.

Tractor-trailers in violation Regarding the concern of increased FedEx Ground tractor-trailer traffic on secondary roads in northwest Guilford County. Mr. Morgan’s observation and concern is quite evident and can been seen daily. The increase of FedEx tractor-trailers traveling through northwest Guilford County roads will only increase with the expansion of the Kernersville hub and Greensboro’s vision of becoming a major logistics hub, until I-73 from Rockingham County to Bryan Boulevard is completed. A good percentage of their trucks observed are local units (tractor and one trailer) working out of the local hub. However, another major concern is the twin-trailer units that come down from Interstate 81 in Virginia. These units en route to the Kernersville hub are traveling from I-81 in Roanoke, Va., down US 220 into North Carolina. Then to shorten their route miles and fuel use, are exiting off US 220 onto NC 68 through Oak Ridge to continue south to West

350

Market Street or, right onto NC 150 through the school district and on into Kernersville. What most local residents may not know or understand is, once the twintrailer units exit onto NC 68, the driver and FedEx (or any motor carrier operating twin trailer units) are in violation of US DOT regulations and NC DOT general statutes involving STAA (Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982) Dimensioned Vehicles. Twin-trailer units (tractor and two trailers) are defined as STAA vehicles and are restricted from traveling NC 68, NC 150 and any secondary road not approved by the NC DOT (state traffic engineer). The NC DOT designates a network of highway routes throughout the state, with traffic safety as the overriding concern, for the use and travel of STAA dimensioned vehicles. These routes are published, so ignorance of the regulations by a motor carrier and/or commercial driver is no excuse. Jackie Mabe, OAK RIDGE

Don’t forget, it’s the maximum word count for your editorial

War on poverty should not be over LBJ declared an unconditional war on poverty over 50 years ago. When did the government declare a cease fire? One of the things that government should do is to try to eliminate involuntary poverty. Of course the two political parties that rule our country would disagree on how to help poor people, but you think that they would at least try. Religious and non-profit groups take in billions of dollars every year.

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

One of the goals of churches and charities should be to try and eliminate involuntary poverty. Unfortunately some religious leaders think that ‘’the poor will always be among us’’. I disagree. Imagine if we lived in a world where everyone who wasn’t rich was in the middle class. Everyone would be better off. Chuck Mann, GREENSBORO

GRINS and GRIPES Delighted or dismayed by something in your community?

Share your thoughts in

40 words or less

online: nwobserver.com e-mail: grinsandgripes @nwobserver.com Grins & Gripes are published based on available space and editor’s discretion.

GRINS to...

All the Republicans for their nonpartisan suggestions and far-reaching legislation making healthcare (substitute immigration, unemployment, gun control, women’s equality, etc.) more workable, comprehensive and affordable! Wait! There are no suggestions? No plans? Make this a Gripe! My neighbors on Lawrence Road for helping me when my water pipe burst. I was away and they took care of everything. I was very moved, and am so grateful to them. Bless you all. Our Peppermill Drive neighbor, concerned enough to stop and ask if we had heat. The sleeping bags were from the car after our trip. “An unexpected kindness is the most powerful, and underrated, agent of human change.” Ms. Warren at Stokesdale Elementary for dancing while directing traffic during drop-off. It always makes me smile! The Greensboro and northwest Guilford communities, along with several local Chickfil-A stores, for supporting the Red Cross Winter Days of Giving blood drives held at the Nussbaum Blood Center Dec. 18-28. The young lady in the white SUV who took time and back-tracked on a very

cold, windy Jan. 7 to see if I needed help getting my trash out on Fox Meadow Drive (Oak Ridge). The Longhouse in Stokesdale. You have catered our family Christmas party for the past three years. Not having to worry about cooking allowed us to enjoy our gathering. Eeron Dellosa is a wonderful chef who delivers great food, reasonably priced. Dr. Pincus, High Point ENT, for being such a great doctor/surgeon and for being so personable by talking to parents and their kids and making them feel comfortable. My son has never been healthier! All Pincus employees are caring, professional, sweet. The family in Stokesdale who decorated their yard and home in red and white for Christmas. The red candy canes were cute and the white “tree” was beautiful! I miss seeing them on my way home from work at night. StokeRidge Tavern for providing a fun, decent after-hours place for adults to go without drama and for having the best Karaoke DJ ever (great enough to hire privately for my 40th birthday). Jake, you’re the best! Dr. Sacks, Dr. Taylor and the special Oak Ridge Animal Hospital staff for the wonderful care they gave our beloved Buddy. Their exceptional care gave us 15 extra months after others had given up. Our eternal gratitude to them.

GRIPES to...

Daddy Duck (Phil Robertson), whose downhome Redneck ways were amusing until they revealed not-so-funny racial prejudices. Whoever has been messing with the weather. I used to enjoy the four seasons. Now there are 38 seasons at last count, each more extreme than the last! Will somebody please fix this??? JP Looneys in Oak Ridge for not having heaters outside in their smoking area – it’s cold! All other bars have them!

Dr. Philip McGowen Dr. Stacey Blyth LEBAUER PRIMARY CARE AT OAK RIDGE

Dr. Philip McGowen

grew up in Arkansas and completed his residency in Family Medicine at Cone Health in 2004. A father of six, he enjoys seeing patients of all ages but has a particular interest in pediatrics. He and his wife Katie live in Oak Ridge.

 Same-day appointments  Patient-centered care  Pediatric primary care

LeBauer at Oak Ridge

 On-site lab & imaging

1427-A Highway 68 N

 Referrals available with other LeBauer divisions  Electronic medical records

A Member Of

LOCATION HOURS 8am-5pm | Mon-Fri (336) 644-6770

MEDICAL GROUP

www.lebauer.com

Evaluation Grades & orientation 1-8 Saturday, Jan. 25 1- 4 pm Every child must attend only one evaluation/ orientation in order to participate

1715 NC 68 N, Oak Ridge (336) 643-7684

Visit oakridgecbc.org/upward for more info

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

JAN. 17 - 23, 2014

 EMPLOYMENT

HOME SERVICES

DRIVERS: DEDICATED. Regional & OTR.

CLEANING

MARIA’S CLEANING SERVICE. Free es-

401K + bonuses. Excellent home time! CDL-A & 6 mos. exp. (877) 704-3773.

Excellent references. (336) 508-5714.

PART-TIME CUSTOMER SERVICE REP

CRYSTAL CLEAR WINDOW CLEANING,

needed for in-bound call center. Must have good communication and customer service skills. Bilingual a plus. Five hours per day, 5 days per week. Great work environment. Send resume to PO Box 8135, Greensboro, NC 27419.

 HOMECARE AVAILABLE Place online at

NEED HELP? Call (336) 644-7035 ext. 10 Mon - Fri • 9am -2pm

INDEX Employment ................................ 26 Home Care Available .................. 26 Save the Date ............................. 26 Youth Sports ................................ 26 Home Services ....................... 26-28

Misc. Wanted ............................. 29 Pets/Animals & Services ............... 29 Real Estate .................................. 29

JAN. 17 - 23, 2014

gutter cleaning, pressure washing. Fully ins. www.windowcleaningnc.com. 399-3995.

FLOORS

STRIPPED & WAXED summerfield

ELDERCARE AVAILABLE Experienced with numerous home care services. References available. Wage & hours negotiable. (336) 707-5245.

SAVE THE DATE

Something

going on

FREE PICK-UP of mowers, batteries, AC’s, appliances, grills, etc. 689-4167.

GENERAL REPAIR & SERVICES ALL ABOUT THE HOUSE. General home repair. Will take the lead on, or assist you with your home projects. 644-8710 / 708-0522.

HOME REPAIR, LLC

Home Improvement & Repairs Licensed & Insured

ences, free est., 25 years exp. 309-0747.

Lisa & Jerry Potkay, Stokesdale

(336) 669-7252

oldschoolsjhr@triad.rr.com oldschoolsjhr.homestead.com

CastleWorks WINDOW CLEANING Includes gutters, pressure washing, chande-

Bathroom Remodeler | Additions | Decks

liers and other high ladder work. Fully insured and bonded, free estimates.

609-0677.

www.castleworkswindowcleaning.com. CHRISTIAN MOM needs work cleaning houses, running errands. Will clean to ﬁt your budget. Pet taxi/pet sitting also avail. References. Call Laura Bennett, 231-1838.

Place your Save the Date online at

Professional custom cleaning for home & office

UPWARD Basketball & Cheerleading evaluations, 1st-8th grade, January 25, 1-4pm, Central Baptist Church, Oak Ridge. See display ad on page 25.

CARPET REPAIRS & RESTRETCHING Licensed & insured. 643-6500.

OLD SCHOOL

Tell northwest Guilford County

YOUTH SPORTS

FLOORING

CARPET / UPHOLSTERY / FLOORS 298-7374

ANA’S HOUSECLEANING. Good refer-

ROCK THE RUNWAY, one big night of fashion, Friday, February 21, Goodwill on Elm Street, Downtown Greensboro. See display ad on page 9 for info, or purchase tickets at goodwillrocktherunway.org.

timates, guaranteed service. 432-4483.

HOUSE & YARD HOME MAINTENANCE “Anything to improve your home and property.” Jeff Ziglar, 456-9992 or 643-9609.

ELDERCARE AVAILABLE, part-time, ﬁve years experience. (336) 643-5586.

Misc. Services.............................. 28 Misc. for Sale .............................. 28

ROSA’S CLEANING SERVICE. 11 yrs. exp.

Professional, Honest, Reliable

Start up to $.44/mi + excellent beneﬁts.

inc. , d i a M e Hom

Weekly / Biweekly / Monthly Move-Out/Move-In • Detail/Deep Seasonal • Licensed/Bonded/Insured Customized Services GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE

(336) 441-2047 | homemaid1@aol.com

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

The Northwest Observer Keeping you connected for 17 years

Want to reach our readers? Call 644-7035 for advertising info. GRADING / HAULING BRAD’S BOBCAT SVC. Grading, hauling, gravel/dirt, debris removal. 362-3647. GAULDIN TRUCKING, grading & hauling, bobcat work, lot clearing, driveways, ﬁll dirt, gravel, etc. 362-1150. ANTHONY’S GRADING & HAULING Excavating, land clearing, demolition, dirt available. Zane Anthony, 362-4035.

HOME SERVICES

GUTTERS / WINDOWS / SIDING

ONE GUY & A MACHINE LAWN CARE and hardscaping. Maintenance, design, paver patios, block walls, hedges trimmed, beds re-edged, pine needles, mulch, pressure washing, chemical applications, aerating. Licensed & insured. Free est. Call 382-4767. www.oneguyandamachine.com.

MASONRY

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

MAYS SIDING Storm damage, facia and siding repairs. 215-8776, www.mayssiding.com. VINYL SIDING REPAIRS, vinyl railings & siding, replacement windows, gutter cleaning and repair. Please call 215-8776 for your free estimate. GUTTER CLEANING & LEAF GUARDS. 5 and 6” seamless gutters. Free estimates. Call Gary the Gutter Guy. (336) 345-6518. www.a1copperrooﬁng.com.

LAWN CARE / LANDSCAPING STEVE NEWMAN TREE SERVICE. Free est. Locally owned and operated. Lic/ins. 30 yrs. exp. Bucket truck & chipper, total cleanup. 24-hr. emergency svc. OR, NC. 643-1119. WILSON LANDSCAPING, INC. Complete lawn care & landscaping. NC lic. irrigation contractor. 20 years exp. Hardscaping, fertilization & weed control. 399-7764. CAROLINA STUMP & TREE SERVICE Complete tree service, $1 million liability, workman’s comp. Rick & Judy, 643-9332. CarolinaStumpAndTreeServiceNC.com. GREENERTIMES LAWN MAINTENANCE Free quotes and affordable prices. Discounts on 1-year contracts. (336) 3123844 mobile or (336) 548-9286 ofﬁce.

STUMP GRINDING – FREE ESTIMATES Big or small, we grind them all. 382-3860. D & D LANDSCAPING & IRRIGATION Complete landscaping services. Retaining walls & patios. Member BBB. NC licensed irrigation contractor. 312-2706. LANDSCAPE SOLUTIONS 13-year anniversary special. We will beat your current written price by 15% – guaranteed! Call (336) 601-3796. GUZMAN LANDSCAPE & MAINTENANCE Pine needles, mulch, leaf removal, tree pruning, complete lawn maintenance. 655-6490. ALL-SEASON STUMP GRINDING. Owner Alan Winfree. Free est. Call 382-9875. ARBOR MASTERS TREE SERVICE Total tree removal, storm damage cleanup, shrub and tree pruning. Bobcat work and more. Free estimates. Licensed & insured. Call Joe at 643-9157. TLC LAWN CARE Lawn mowing, fertilization and weed control. General cleanup. Affordable all-season lawn maintenance. (336) 681-0097.

SOUTHERN STYLE CONCRETE and Landscape. It’s a perfect time to install a new stamped concrete patio with ﬁre pit for those cold winter nights, or to install a new driveway before the winter weather arrives. Call Tim for all your concrete needs. (336) 399-6619. MASONRY CONCEPTS, brick, block, stone, concrete & repairs. Free estimates. (336) 988-1022, www.masonryconceptsgso.com.

MISC. SERVICES & PRODUCTS

Get. Be. Stay. Connected.

facebook.com/NorthwestObserver

MULCH, single-ground, $10 per 3-yard scoop. Tandem load delivered, $100 (about 10 yards). Oak Ridge area, 803-2195. BRAD’S BOBCAT. Landscaping, driveways, patios, sidewalks, concrete work. 362-3647.

Tell our readers about your business!

Classiﬁeds are just $4/line! Place your ad online at www.nwobserver.com, or call Laura, 644-7035, ext. 10.

PAINTING & DRYWALL PAINTING INTERIOR & EXTERIOR, 32 years experience. Avg. size bedroom walls, $100. Sheetrock repair. Call Brad Rogers for your free estimate. (Local #) 314-3186.

Triad Garage Doors

SALES, SERVICE & INSTALLATIONS (336) 501-6025 www.triadgaragedoors.com LiftMaster, Amarr, and all other brands

STILL PERFECTION PAINTING Reliable, skilled, affordable. Painting, pressure washing, handyman services.

Scott

Still, 462-3683 or stillperfectionpainting.com.

Free estimates • Insured • 10 years experience

JUNK REMOVAL – appliances, batteries, mowers, cars, electronics, trash removal, etc. Call about free junk removal, 423-3006. AFFORDABLE HOME REPAIR and remodeling. Providing electrical, plumbing, carpentry, painting and handyman services. No job too big or too small. (336) 899-0772. LOW-COST GARAGE DOORS. Repair & sales. 35 years exp. (336) 215-2800.

AREA STUMP DUMP. Yard waste, concrete, etc. Fill dirt available. 602-5820. BUZZ CUTS LAWN & LANDSCAPE INC. Annual service agreements. Buzz, 509-6464.

GAS LOGS, WOOD STOVES & INSERTS, ﬁreplaces, sold, serviced and repaired. Call Don Hill, (336) 643-7183.

RIDDLE PAINTING

Specializing in interior painting, we take pride in our quality work and personalized service Free estimates References available

Residential Interiors Pressure Washing

(336) 402-4603 Serving the Triad since 1998

PLUMBING BRANSON PLUMBING & SOLAR No job too small! Experienced, guaranteed. Lic/Ins. Call Mark for savings. 337-7924.

RESTORATION SPECIALISTS DELIVERING AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE

Furniture Repair & Refinishing Instead of replacing, we can repair and restore your classic furniture to a like-new condition.

JDB PLUMBING. Repair, remodel, well pump. Lic/Ins. Accepts all major credit cards. Ofﬁce 656-0019, cell 382-6905.

CALL FOR A FREE ESTIMATE

336/404-1471 www.fmbyjh.com

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

...continued on p. 28 JAN. 17 - 23, 2014

HOME SERVICES

POWER WASHING

KEITH SMITH CONSTRUCTION 26 years experience. Specializing in room additions, garages, vinyl siding and windows, painting, ceramic tile, laminate, hardwood and linoleum ﬂoors, and remodeling of all kinds. No job too small. Free est. Call 644-1943 or cell 362-7469.

PRESSURE WASHING, gutter & window cleaning. Call Crystal Clear. Fully insured. www.windowcleaningnc.com. 595-2873.

classiﬁeds@nwobserver.com REMODELING / CONSTRUCTION RENOVATION WORKS INC. New construction, remodeling, kitchen and bath, additions, decks & patios. Call (336) 427-7391 or www.myrenovationworks.com. BELEWS CREEK CONSTRUCTION Kitchens & baths, rotted wood, decks, siding, windows, fall rooﬁng specialist. Sr. discounts, 35 years exp. 362-6343.

ON-TARGET

CONSTRUCTION SERVICES, INC. Tc. GicEes, In ARerv -Tction S OCoNnstru

Roof Replacements / Repairs Siding & Windows Custom Decks / Porches General Home Repairs Remodeling / Painting

30 yrs exp • Workmanship guarantee • Insurance specialists

(336) 644-1580

FREE Estimates Insured & Dependable

MOBILE WELDING SERVICE Residential, wrought-iron fence & gates, custom fabrication, stainless aluminium. Chuck, triadmobilewelding.com, 362-8679. TRIPP SMITH CONSTRUCTION, LLC. Licensed general contractor with college degree in construction management and 18 years of experience. Specializing in decks, garages, additions, remodels, new construction, residential & commercial. No job too large or too small. Free estimates. (336) 399-4894, trippsmithconstruction@ yahoo.com.

JAN. 17 - 23, 2014

T TNails Acrylic nails • Tip overlay • Pink & white Gel manicures • Liquid gels Nail designs • Spa pedicure • Waxing

(336) 644-8888

Located in Gunter’s Crossing (5820-C N Church St, Greensboro)

TM Construction Services, INC.

BUILDING | RENOVATIONS | ADDITIONS

Appointments or Walk-ins • GIFT CERTIFICATES

OPEN Mon - Sat, 9am - 7pm • Sun 1 - 5pm

Licensed & Insured

COMPUTER REPAIRS $99.

644-8615 (office) 508-5242 (mobile)

Used computers, website design. Info at ITBASICS.COM – (336) 643-0068. Inside Mailboxes & More, Oak Ridge Commons.

NC General Contractor License #72797

Your business should be here! If you’d like to reach our readers,

The Northwest Observer is mailed to over 10,500 homes in Oak Ridge, Summerﬁeld and Stokesdale every week, and is available at 70+ locations in northwest Guilford County.

call 644-7035, ext. 10 or email advertising@nwobserver.com.

RED RHINO ROOFING, based in Oak Ridge, NC. Storm damage specialist experienced with all types of rooﬁng. BBB accredited A and listed with Angie’s List. Call 662-7980, or visit redrhinorooﬁng.com.

What’s going on around town? Find us on facebook for updates! facebook.com/northwestobserver

Residential rooﬁng, rubber ﬂat roofs, roof coating, metal roofs. 30 years experience. Now accepting all major credit cards. Call 643-8191 or 580-3245.

ALL NEW MATTRESS SETS. Still in plastic, w/ warranty. Twin, $99; Full, $109; Queen, $129; King, $191. Can deliver, layaway available. Mattress Outlet. 992-0025. LAMP SALE, January 13-19, Golden Antiques, 4537 Hwy. 220, Summerﬁeld. Great prices! M-Sat. 10-6, Sun 12-6. 2007 12-TON EQUIPMENT TRAILER, tandem axle, electric brakes, new paint/new tires. $6,800. (336) 669-0621.

Come on! Clean out that garage! Sell your unused treasures here!

FIREWOOD

LOCALLY OWNED & OPERATED

Gated access with 24/7 camera surveillance

SEASONED FIREWOOD, delivered & stacked. 1/2 cord, $80. Call 686-6373.

We carry moving & shipping supplies

(336) 643-9963 • 8207 B & G Court, Stokesdale FREE PICKUP of appliances, batteries, junk mowers, air conditioners, grills, electrical items, metal items, etc. 689-4167.

Got stuff? Sell it here in the

classifieds submit your ad at

Res. rooﬁng specialist serving Guilford Cty. A+ rating. cormanrooﬁnginc.com, 621-6962.

MOVING SALE! Reclining loveseat, dining set, computer desk, king-size bedding, dishes, gas dryer, chairs and more. Must be picked up by Jan. 27. (336) 644-0124.

SEASONED FIREWOOD, all hardwood, free delivery. Wood splitting avail. 543-3664.

A.L. CORMAN ROOFING INC. area since 1983. Member BBB 25+ years w/

 MISC. FOR SALE

FIREWOOD, seasoned hardwood, no pine. Pick up or delivery. 253-7615, 643-5744.

ROOFING

CLINARD & SON ROOFING, LLC. JLB REMODELING INC. Licensed and insured. Free estimates. Remodeling, additions and home repairs. 681-2902, www.jlbremodeling.com.

MISC. SERVICES

small group fitness  personal training  RealRyder® indoor cycle  TRX training 

Cathy Gold ( 336 ) 549-6460 4446 US Hwy 220 N, Summerfield

www.goldstandard4fitness.com

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

 MISC. WANTED

 PET / ANIMAL SERVICES

FRUSTRATED THERE’S NO YOGA in Oak Ridge? Email if you’d like to take or teach a class: reachout2jo@gmail.com.

PET SITTING & BOARDING

$$$ – WILL PAY CASH up to $200 for your junk or wrecked vehicle. 552-0328. WILL PAY CASH for riding lawn mower needing repair or free removal if unwanted. Also free pick-up of appliances, batteries, air conditioners, grills, metal items, computers, gas & electrical items. 689-4167.

Your NWO on the Go photos! Where do you take your Northwest Observer? Email your vacation photos to photos@nwobserver.com.

 PET / ANIMAL SERVICES LOST & FOUND

 REAL ESTATE

SPOIL-ME-ROTTEN ANIMAL CARE Motto: love, compassion, respect for your pets. Professional pet sitter for 18 years. Bonded/Insured. Member, Pet Sitters Intl. Provide food, exercise, play, meds/shots,

123 Dream Lane

much TLC. 1-3 trips/day. $15/trip (30 min). Call 643-5242. Oak Ridge/Summerﬁeld.

Motivated Sellers! Super curb appeal, great yard, open floor plan and granite countertops. 3 bedrooms plus bonus. Level rear yard for play and Fido! Offered now at $224,500

 REAL ESTATE HOMES FOR RENT STOKESDALE, 3BR, 2BA, 1-acre lot in Rockingham

County

school

(336) 215-1820

Place your real estate showcase today

(336) 644-7035, ext. 10

district.

csmith0314.cs@gmail.com.

HOMES FOR SALE

We’ll help you get the word out! Place your Real Estate classiﬁed online at www.nwobserver.com, or email classiﬁeds@nwobserver.com.

Is there one place I can go to find businesses, services and organizations in my area?

OPEN HOUSES Sun, Jan 19 • 2-4pm

Yes!

The FINDER is the only local directory specific to northwest Guilford County.

FOUND – Beautiful adult male cat found on Murphy Road in Summerﬁeld. Neutered and very sweet. White with unusual markings. 643-4689.

Found a pet and need help ﬁnding its owner? We can help! Call Laura to place your Found Pet ad, (336) 644-7035, or email classiﬁeds@nwobserver.com

Real estate showcase ads in the NWO get seen! Include a photo and description for your listing, Realtor photo, logo and contact info all for only $75!

NANCY HESS, Realtor ®

Stokesdale subdivision, $1,100/month.

Selling or Renting?

FOUND DOG, beagle/hound mix, brown & black, brown collar, no tags. Hwy. 150 near Williard Road, Oak Ridge. Call (336) 643-6218.

 REAL ESTATE

8520 Springbirch Terrace, Stokesdale 4BR / 2.5BA / 4-car garage $283,500 • $1,500 closing costs paid

7816 Athens Drive, Stokesdale 3BR / 2BA • Only $119,500

DeDe Cunningham Realtor ® / Broker NC Licensed Contractor Chairman’s Circle Award

(336) 509-1923 allentate.com/DedeCunningham

printed annually • online 24/7 at nwobserver.com

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

JAN. 17 - 23, 2014

PROPERTY PURCHASE

have to move eventually, as the property had been for sale for quite a while.

...continued from p. 1

“I think everybody should have known they would have to move (when the property sold),” Stevens said. “It was possible that someone could have bought it and kept the trailer park, but it didn’t work out that way. It is pretty expensive to move; but then again, it’s been up for sale for over a year and everyone has had time to prepare for it. I feel sorry for some of the people there, and some of them are not going to see things like I do because they are going to want to blame someone. At the end of the day, the property sold and we are going to have to move.”

style, the historic two-story brick building, built in 1911, has been vacant for as long as most people can remember. The two tracts of land are owned by Ralph Gordon, LLC. They were listed together through Hagan Properties in November 2011, with an asking price of $598,000. Within a few weeks of the property going on the market, a large “Available” sign was placed at the corner of US 220 and NC 150 and a smaller sign was placed in the upstairs window of the Gordon Hardware building. Though some showed interest in purchasing the property, no one made an acceptable offer. Two years after listing it for sale, the Gordon family agreed to sell the two tracts of land and the permanent structures on them to the Town of Summerfield for $399,000. The mobile homes, which are owned by the tenants, were not part of the purchase. The purchase agreement is contingent upon completion of a satisfactory structural examination of the Gordon building and an environmental assessment of the entire 16.01 acres. The town has 60 days to perform its due diligence before the sale becomes final. The Summerfield Town Council has been openly discussing purchasing additional property for meeting and administrative office space for the last several years, as well as land for trails and open space. Town meetings are currently held in the Summerfield Community Center on Centerfield Road and administrative office space in the town hall building, at the corner of Summerfield Road and NC 150, is maxed out. Summerfield’s 2013/2014 FY budget includes a $600,000 line item for “Facilities Land Acquisition/Improvements,” which is 50 percent of the $1.2 million annual budget. As far back as 2011 the Northwest Observer reported that Summerfield Road landowners with suitable property for sale

JAN. 17 - 23, 2014

Photo by Patti Stokes/NWO

This sign was placed at the corner of US 220 and NC 150 after the Gordon family listed 16.1 acres for sale in November 2011.

were invited to contact the town; council members and town staff have considered several properties since then, before settling on the Gordon property after discussions in two closed sessions which were advertised to the public. Minutes from the Nov. 26, 2013 closed session meeting, in which the purchase decision was made, were posted on the town website in early December. The negotiation of the price or terms of a contract concerning the acquisition of real property are ordinarily conducted in closed session. The Star, which published its first monthly newspaper in October, made a fast name for itself after reporting earlier this month that tenants of the mobile home park, who own their mobile homes but lease land from the Gordon family on a month-to-month basis, could be given as little as seven days to move. The headline, “Summerfield Homes could be bulldozed, families displaced,” understandably had residents reeling. Meanwhile, local television stations swarmed in and joined The Star in portraying residents of the mobile home park as helpless victims of government strong arming who are not only financially unprepared to move, but totally unaware that they would have to.

Both the town and the property owner deny The Star’s insinuations of secret discussions and heartless tactics of strong arming “at least 10 low income families who are likely going to have their homes bulldozed as a result of the deal … and will have to find a new place to live in the middle of the winter with as little as a week’s notice.” In a response to The Star’s article, Summerfield Town Manager Scott Whitaker stated via a press release, “ … the seller has indicated that residents were given a 90-day notice, effective January 3, that the mobile home park would be closing. The newspaper further claimed that the homes ‘will possibly be bulldozed down and removed before the property is officially transferred to the town,’ which has never been discussed by town officials.” Whitaker said the Gordons had been honorable in the town’s dealings with them, as expected. “Both town leadership and the family want to do right by the residents. Everyone wants a smooth transition if the purchase closes following the assessments.” Ricky Stevens has lived in the mobile home park for about 24 years and says he wasn’t surprised to find out he would

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

Moving not only themselves but their mobile home is a burden and expense that some tenants feel they shouldn’t have to bear alone. Roy Taylor of Taylor Mobile Home Movers in Eden says he charges an average of $1,300 to move a single-wide trailer and set it back up. Trailers manufactured before July 1976 can be moved, but the law prohibits hooking them back up with electricity. Several of the mobile homes on the Gordon property were manufactured before 1976. For those with older trailers, Taylor offers a teardown and disposal service for $700. A single mother of two kids, Jennifer Tucker said Bill Gordon told her when she purchased her mobile home several years ago that it would be too old to move if she ever wanted to do so. That was okay with her, because she planned on being there for a long time. Soon after the property was listed for sale, Tucker says she called Betty Gordon, who owns the property along with her husband, and was told the sale wouldn’t affect the mobile home park. “I assumed from that that we wouldn’t have to move,” Tucker said. She was surprised when she read in The Star that she might have as little as seven days to get out. As for the notification letter, Tucker

says neither she nor any of her neighbors got it until after the article appeared in The Star. “I asked Bob (Gordon) if they were going to help us and he said they didn’t have the funds to help us out,” she said. “If my trailer can’t be moved, we’re going to have to sell what we can and move in with my parents.” Speaking on behalf of Ralph Gordon, LLC, Bob Gordon says his parents, who have owned the property in its entirety since Bill’s death, have been very up front with the tenants about the property being for sale. Gordon says when his Uncle Bill was alive, he personally took care of the property and “loved to piddle” with it. Since Bill’s death in March 2011, however, responsibility for maintaining the property has fallen on his brother and family, none of whom live nearby. After placing the property under contract with the Town of Summerfield on Dec. 2, Bob Gordon says he decided not to give tenants in the mobile home park a notice about moving until after the holidays. The town has 60 days to undergo the due diligence process; during that time period the sale is pending but not final. In a letter to tenants dated Jan. 3, Gordon stated they had 90 days from that date to move their homes. “I understand that this is probably not the news you were wanting,” the letter stated. “However, I have made every effort to be up front with everyone on our desire and need to sell the property. I will send everyone an update at the end of this month.” Gordon included his cell phone number and home phone number at the end of the letter, and says he has heard from several of the tenants since. “One lady has been there for about 40 years, and she’s the nicest lady. I do understand their (tenants) position. It’s a major change. I’m willing to do what I can to help, whether it’s to make phone calls for them, help them find a place to go, or be a reference for them. If I would be in their position, I think that would be fair.”

display advertiser index Home ProduCts & serviCes thanks to all the advertisers who partnered BEK Paint ......................................... 21 ProStone Inc. ................................... 12 with us to bring you this free community resource insurAnCe Triad Insurance................................. 12

A/C & HeAting Stokesdale Heating & Air.................. 14 Velocity Air, Inc. .................................. 6

legAl serviCes Attorney Bill Barbour .......................... 8

mediCAl

ACCounting Carlotta Lytton, CPA, PA .................. 20 Kimberly Thacker Accounting........... 11 Samuel K. Anders, CPA, MSA, PC.... 20

Eagle Physicians at Brassfield.............. 3 Eagle Physicians at Oak Ridge .......... 13 LeBauer HealthCare......................... 25

CHurCHes

misCellAneous

Central Baptist Church .................4, 25 Community Bible Church.................... 3 Fellowship Presbyterian Church ........ 13

fitness Snap Fitness ................................... 5, 7

funerAl serviCes Forbis & Dick Brooke Chapel ............ 11

ROADS............................................. 11

PublisHing Co / newsPAPer The Northwest FINDER .................... 23 The Northwest Observer................... 19

reAl estAte / mortgAge A New Dawn Realty ......................... 11 Berkshire Hathaway / Yost & Little ...... 2 Bobbie Gardner / Allen Tate ............. 21 Dede Cunningham / Allen Tate ........ 29 Nancy Hess / Keller Williams ............ 29

retAil BiRite Food Center ..................... 10, 11 Carpet & Flooring Super Mart .... 15, 16 Citrus Unlimited................................ 20 Goodwill Industries ............................. 9

sCHools / PresCHools Mt. Pisgah Weekday School................ 5

Pet serviCes Country Kennel ................................ 20 Northwest Animal Hospital ............... 20 Spoil-Me-Rotten Animal Care, Inc. ... 20 Stokesdale Veterinary Hospital.......... 11 Westergaard Kennels........................ 21

sPeCiAl events Center The Longhouse ................................ 21

vACAtion PlAnning Cruise Planners................................. 18

reasons to advertise

in the Northwest Observer

For advertising info, contact Laura Troeger, associate publisher

1 The NWO is personally relevant to our readers, so they actually read it

The NWO is hand-delivered to northwest Guilford County homes, so you know exactly who you’re reaching

(336) 644-7035, ext. 10 advertising@nwobserver.com

The NWO is distributed in northwest Guilford County for free pick-up

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

JAN. 17 - 23, 2014

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

Postal Patron

Oak Ridge, NC Permit No. 22

PO Box 268, Oak Ridge, NC 27310 • (336) 644-7035

Ava Troxler took her Northwest Observer to Disney World and read it with Cinderella!

ECRWSS

Charlotte Williams, her daughter Alisha Pugh and granddaughter Jamison Pugh took the NWO to New York City’s Times Square. They experienced the Christmas tree lighting in Rockefeller Center, the 9/11 Memorial and much more, reporting that it was “lots of fun but no place is like home in northwest Guilford County!”

Where do you take your Northwest Observer? Email your photo to photos@nwobserver.com

The NWO was part of the spirit of the season during the Summerfield Christmas Store held at Summerfield United Methodist Church.

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