March 10 - 16, 2017
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Luis Barreto, shining example to all who know him Pearce Elementary custodian recognized by Guilford County Schools for going above and beyond in every way by PATTI STOKES For the second time in just over a year, a northwest Guilford County school custodian has been named Guilford County Schools’ Employee of the Month. In February 2016, Danny Ivers, custodian at Northwest Middle School, laid claim to that honor. And last week, on March 1, Luis Barreto, lead custodian at Pearce Elementary School, received the same honor and level of appreciation from
I love the school and what I’m doing.” Luis Barreto, GCS Employee of the Month his coworkers, students and parents. “It was a big surprise,” Barreto said a few days afterward. “I was doing some work outside and Ms. Solomon (administrative assistant at Pearce) said, “We need you as soon as possible.” True to form, Barreto was there in an instant. But it wasn’t the usual custodial emergency that awaited him – rather, Principal Rich Thomae, the school’s assistant principal, a handful of teachers, Barreto’s youngest son and his two granddaughters (all three of
whom are students at the school), and “a group of wonderful students” were there, cheering and celebrating as he learned he had been named GCS Employee of the Month for March 2017. The individuals who nominated Barreto for the recognition described him as someone who, among other things, always goes “above and beyond,” has “wonderful character” and a “phenomenal attitude,” is “a treasure” and an “excellent role model.” Shelley Hunt was one of those individuals and in her nomination she wrote, “Mr. Luis is the best at what he does. He is at school every day ready to tackle the job that lies ahead. Mr. Luis always has the school, children and the staff as his top priority and always makes time to
SUMMERFIELD – In June 2014, the Town of Summerfield purchased the “Gordon property” for $399,000. The property consists of a .35-acre tract and a 15.66-acre tract formerly owned by the Gordon family. When purchasing the property, the town said it planned to
eventually use the building that was once home to Gordon Hardware for administrative and meeting space; the building rests on the smallest of the two tracts, diagonally across the street from Summerfield Town Hall at the intersection of N.C. 150 and Summerfield Road.
...continued on p. 26
Luis Barreto, Pearce Elementary lead custodian and GCS’ March 2017 Employee of the Month, is known for his positive attitude and neverfailing willingness to help in any way he can.
IN THIS ISSUE
News in Brief ........................................ 3 Your Questions .................................... 4 Town admin awaits job description... 5 ...continued on p. 15 Oak Ridge Town Council ................... 6 Capital Improvement Plan ................ 7 Youth/School News ............................ 9 Sports Highlights .............................. 12 Student Profiles ................................. 14 Business Notes .................................. 18 Bits & Pieces ...................................... 19 Crime/Incident Report ............... 20 Dayligh Community Calendar ........... 21 t Time B Savings Letters/Opinions ................. 24 egins Don’t fo Grins & Gripes .................. 25 rg forward et to set your c locks Classifieds ....................... 27 1 hour b efo Saturday night , M re going to bed Index of Advertisers ...... 31 arch 11 NWO on the Go! ............ 32
Town seeks architect for Gordon Hardware building renovation, addition by PATTI STOKES
Photo by Patti Stokes/NWO
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NEWS in brief
Draft RFQ scrapped, online payment options, drop box coming soon STOKESDALE – After two segments of discussion totaling almost 85 minutes during the Feb. 22 weekly meeting, the Stokesdale Town Council voted to scrap a formal request for qualifications (RFQ) for an engineering firm to explore Stokesdale’s options regarding a proposed regional water authority and rely instead on council members’ interviews with selected firms. The topic is on the agenda for the March 9 monthly meeting. What began with the examination of a third draft of an RFQ in three weeks ended with a motion for town staff to arrange meetings between one or two council members at a time with at least four firms. The motion was approved 4-0, with Frank Bruno absent. That third RFQ included additions to the document’s scope of services that had been suggested at the Feb. 15 meeting. During the Feb. 22 discussion, the list of the scope of services started with nine items, was expanded to 11, then seven of those were deleted. Wording in several other items also was changed. Mayor Randy Braswell reminded the council of a March 15 deadline associated with a feasibility study of the proposed regional water authority that Stokesdale, Summerfield, Oak Ridge and Guilford County voted in early January to pursue. That deadline is for the negotiation of the final scope of work and compensation for the firm selected to conduct the study, and Braswell said he hoped Stokesdale would have hired an adviser/consultant by then. Since he and Mayor Pro Tem Bill Jones had done some “fact-finding” with three of the five firms on his list and planned to talk to at least one more, Braswell suggested the other council
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members talk to those firms, too. From those interviews, the council could hire an adviser/consultant, he said. In other action, the council voted 3-1 – with Tim Jones voting nay – to authorize Town Administrator/Finance Officer Kim Hemric to work out two agreements with Govt Portal, a payment technology company that would provide automated options for residents to pay their water bills or other fees with credit cards. The agreements – one for the water enterprise fund and the other for the general fund – would then be reviewed by Town Attorney Katy Gregg before implementation. Govt Portal would provide a dedicated telephone number for customers to call at any time and pay with a credit card, and a “virtual terminal” where customers can see their water bills online and pay by credit card. Customers would incur a small convenience fee for each. Also, a drop box will soon be mounted on a steel pole in the Town Hall parking area to give residents another option to pay their water bills. Braswell said the drop box will be handicapped accessible, and citizens won’t have to get out of their vehicles.
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Stokesdale Town Council will meet again Thursday, March 9, 7 p.m. at Stokesdale Town Hall, 8325 Angel Pardue Road. Meeting agenda items include discussion of a draft resolution of merger inviting the Greensboro ABC Board to partner with Stokesdale to bring an ABC store to the town, consideration of Planning Board applicants, and discussion of an engineer firm to represent Stokesdale during negotiations with a firm to conduct a feasibility study for a proposed regional water authority.
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your QUESTIONS
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I live off of Williard Road in Oak Ridge, and lately it seems like I am seeing or smelling skunks much more often than I have in the past. The smell is clearly a nuisance, but the recent skunk in our area that tested positive for rabies is more concerning. I am wondering if there is any “official” take on the skunk population and whether anything can be done to keep it under control. To get an answer to your question we contacted Jason Allen, a district biologist with N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, and NCDOT’s Guilford County Maintenance Office. Regarding skunk behavior, Allen said the critters breed once a year; the breeding season is between midFebruary and mid-April. Skunk activity diminishes somewhat once females become pregnant, but elevates when their
MARCH 10 - 16, 2017
ior, visit www.ncwildlife.org.
Allen also told us skunks do not hibernate but stay in dens until warmer weather; often, their negative encounters with humans are due to them having poor eyesight, being slow and usually relying on their only defense mechanism – their spray – to elude danger.
NCDOT’s Guilford County Maintenance Office (West-Sandy Ridge division) is responsible for dead animal removal from state-maintained roads in the northwestern and southwestern areas of the county and parts of Greensboro.
Below are some tips NCWRC offers to help people avoid skunks and other wild animals: • Secure garbage in containers with tight-fitting lids and keep trash inside until the morning of pickup. • Feed pets indoors and seal crawl spaces. Keep shed and garage doors closed, and use chicken wire to prevent skunks from digging under porches. • Protect outdoor pets from being sprayed by using a flood light and checking for skunks before letting pets out at night. • Keep bird feeder areas clean and use feeders that keep seeds off the ground. Remove feeders if skunks are appearing regularly. For more info about skunk behav-
Antoine White of the division said NCDOT does not keep records of the number and kinds of dead animals that have been removed, but he estimated the West-Sandy Ridge division removed around 30 dead skunks from area roads in February. To report a dead animal on a state-maintained road in northwest Guilford County, call the West-Sandy Ridge division of NCDOT’s Guilford County Maintenance Office at (336) 668-2464.
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“I think it’s so complex,” Braswell said recently, noting it wouldn’t have been fair to turn things over to Hemric that the council had been working on for a while.
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The sudden nature of the promotion was presumed to have been because of responsibilities that needed to be urgently delegated to Hemric, but no additional duties were assigned to her.
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The published agenda for that meeting included an agenda item that read “Report on progress of town administrator job description.” But in advance of any discussion, Braswell moved to promote Hemric to town administrator, and then later made a motion to also appoint her as finance officer and make it retroactive to her hiring date.
“Compass Compreh State-of-the“C
__________
Hemric had no government administration experience before being hired as town clerk Feb. 9, 2016, to replace Carolyn Joyner, who served as Stokesdale’s town clerk for more than 20 years, and as finance officer for several of those years. Hemric was promoted to town administrator during the Aug. 11, 2016, monthly town council meeting.
before and so we just got a job description that we can transfer right over,” Mayor Pro Tem Bill Jones said. “We’re having to write the job description as we find out things that need to be on it.” When asked why she voted for the appointment without a job description in place, council member Vicki WhiteLawrence responded by email, “Approval as administrator seemed a good direction for the Town as it allowed for assignment of additional responsibilities.” Council member Tim Jones said in an email he voted against the promotion “to preserve the status quo in Stokesdale and against expanding government or any perception of increased services.” Council member Frank Bruno did not respond to Northwest Observer’s multiple requests for comment. Unlike the position of town manager, there are no state statutes defining town administrators or identifying their powers, and councils can define, modify or even eliminate powers of the town administrator. Hemric said when she was hired as town clerk more than a year ago, it was with the expectation of working 25-30 hours a week, but the position has required an average of 40 hours a week.
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STOKESDALE – Kim Hemric was promoted to Stokesdale’s town administrator/finance officer last August, “pending a full legal description” of the job. Almost seven months later, there still isn’t one.
Kar Karen Nasis
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I need to move forward with confidence and I need citizens to have confidence in what I do. I know it takes time, but we can’t just keep delaying. I’ve got to have some answers.”
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OAK RIDGE town council
March 2 / MEETING HIGHLIGHTS as reported by PATTI STOKES Mayor Spencer Sullivan called the monthly meeting to order at 7 p.m. and Rev. Carol Foltz of Moravia Moravian Church led the opening prayer. The meeting agenda was approved, as were minutes from the Feb. 2 monthly council meeting.
Fire Department. Assistant Chief Sam Anders reported the department responded to 71 calls in February; 29 were of a medical nature and 42 were fire/ service related. Firefighters with the department underwent 250 hours of training last month.
COMMUNITY UPDATES
On a safety note, Anders reminded everyone to keep dryer vents free of lint and turn the dryer off before leaving home or going to bed, the same as with an oven.
Sheriff’s Office. Sgt. Howell with the sheriff’s District 1 office said that crime is down 10 percent overall compared to the same period one year ago. Two burglaries were reported in Oak Ridge in February. Also, an arrest was made in the utility trailer thefts that occurred in the northwest area and other parts of Guilford County last fall and several stolen trailers have been recovered.
MANAGER’S REPORT Town Manager Bruce Oakley said there will be a free shredding and e-cycle event on March 11, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Pleasant Garden Town Hall in Pleasant Garden.
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PUBLIC HEARING Text amendments. Town Planning Director Bill Bruce highlighted proposed amendments to the town’s development ordinance, explaining several of the amendments were simply to bring the town’s ordinances in compliance with recent legislation passed by the state. One such amendment has to do with temporary family healthcare structures, which the state now says must be permitted anywhere single-family detached residences are allowed, provided they are used exclusively by an ill, physically or mentally impaired relative who lives in the primary residence.
Sec. 30-168 reflects proposed changes to Planning and Zoning Board authority, granting the board authority to approve a subdivision or site plan with a simple majority vote versus a unanimous vote.
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And last, Oakley said the I-73/220 connector is scheduled to open April 1, which will hopefully significantly reduce truck traffic on N.C. 68.
Another amendment addresses changes to environmental regulations concerning Jordan Lake and another brings the town in line with Guilford County nuisance ordinance requirements in order to be consistent and streamline abatement.
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Regarding improvements to the N.C. 68 and N.C. 150 intersection, Oakley said NCDOT is waiting to receive traffic studies before determining what kind of intersection design is appropriate.
Susan P. Greeson p.l.l.c
An amendment to increase the cul-de-sac length maximum from 800 to 1,200 feet prompted discussion among council members. Bruce said the P&Z Board voted 6-0 to approve all the proposed text amendments as presented, but had suggested his recommended cul-de-sac maximum be lowered from 1,200 feet to 1,000 feet. Also, the board requested it receive monthly reports on subdivisions and site plans approved at the staff level so it can remain up to date on what staff has approved.
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Proponent Patty Paslaru, a member of the P&Z Board, explained the board felt increasing the maximum cul-de-sac length from 800 to 1,200 was too much, so suggested a compromise of 1,000 feet.
Council discussion “If we leave it at 1,000 feet, I would think we would be right back where we started, since most of the waivers were for about that amount,” said council member Jim Kinneman. Council member Mike Stone asked for further clarification on the amendment relating to temporary healthcare structures and Bruce explained the manufactured structures can be a maximum of 300 square feet and are not on a permanent foundation. “The 300-square-feet number comes straight from the state legislature,” Bruce said, noting the unit would still have to meet required setbacks and the caregiver must live in the single-family detached home. Regarding the cul-de-sac maximum length, Mayor Sullivan said the last two waivers the town had approved were both for a cul-de-sac length in excess of 1,000 feet; the future master street plan will control and limit cul-de-sacs in the future, so he said he agreed with the 1,200 square feet. Stone said he had no problem with 1,200 square feet, but felt the council should support the P&Z Board’s recommendation.
4 1 (Stone opposed) to adopt
the text amendments as presented by Bruce, which includes an increase in the cul-de-sac maximum length from 800 to 1,200 square feet.
CITIZEN COMMENTS Ann Schneider thanked the council for supporting NWHS history teacher Ray Parrish’s We The People class as they prepared for an upcoming competition at High Point University. Also, Schneider said she had been asked to announce the
...continued on p. 22
Trail, sidewalks, tennis courts, athletic fields head capital projects’ list Continuing from our March 3-9 issue, the following article provides more details on capital projects the Oak Ridge Town Council has targeted for funding in the next four years
while also paying off $1 million in remaining debt on the town park property and funding several park projects.
by PATTI STOKES
To that end, council and staff members met on Jan. 18 and, guided by a facilitator, developed a 4-year capital budget that, if approved during a public meeting, could go into effect with the next fiscal year which begins on July 1. Each of the capital projects would be voted on separately, Mayor Spencer Sullivan said recently in an interview.
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With $2,979,843.80 in current assets as of Feb. 28, coupled with a healthy projected revenue stream for the foreseeable future, the Town of Oak Ridge has options for what, if any capital projects it wants to tackle in the coming years.
The town’s proposed capital budget includes 11 projects culled from a long list of projects that Town Manager Bruce Oakley had grouped into four categories in preparation for the Jan. 18 meeting: transportation improvements, land acquisition, infrastructure and park improvements. The project ideas and suggestions on the list came from council and staff members, citizens and committee volunteers.
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• $28,000 for two sidewalk segments along N.C. 150 in the town core • $300,000 for three lighted and fenced tennis courts at Oak Ridge Town Park • $450,000 for one additional athletic field for practice and one additional athletic field for regular play
The proposed projects are as follows (note: dollar amounts shown are estimates only, and will be individually approved after projects have been let out to bid and project costs are more firm):
“The contracts and actual expenses (for each project) will be approved
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• $170,000 related to the segment of Mountains-to-Sea Trail that will pass through Oak Ridge; some of this amount would be used to purchase trail easements for property along the identified trail route that is not in the public right of way and installing sidewalks in public rights of way, where the state requires paved sidewalks with a public trail. Note: none of the trail coming through Oak Ridge will be paved except where it has to be – such as in NCDOT rights of way, Sullivan said.
individually in regular public meetings,” he said, also noting that some funds in the “designated fund balance” may be re-designated to park projects.
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Welcome to
Read Across America Day
A weekly section in the Northwest Observer focused on our local youth and the adults who positively impact them.
Social media workshop, March 13 NORTHERN GUILFORD – Social media has its positives and negatives. To help students, parents and teachers learn more about the power of social media and how its daily usage can influence our lives, Northern Guilford High School will host a social media workshop on March 13 featuring five guest speakers who will discuss how to use social media to your child’s advantage and avoid its pitfalls. The workshop’s panel of experts will include Will Graham, vice president of Graham Personnel Services; Jennifer
Kiszely-Bressler, licensed professional counselor; Robert Lovejoy, professional soccer player; Ariel Newman, assistant volleyball coach at N.C. A&T; and Kerr C. Ramsay III, associate vice president for admissions at High Point University. The workshop will be held in the main auditorium of Northern Guilford High School, 7101 Spencer-Dixon Road in Greensboro, from 7 to 8 p.m. For more info, contact Mary Ealley, NGHS PTSA, at (336) 210-0749 or mme3120@hotmail.com.
Ballou earns Gold award Rylan Ballou of Oak Ridge, daughter of Jeff and Angela Ballou, recently received her Girl Scout Gold Award. Ballou, 16, is a member of Troop 40816 and a junior at Greensboro Day School.
For her Gold Award project, Ballou partnered with the American Red Cross to collect items for children who lost
Photo courtesy of Guilford County Schools | Sergeant
Wallace with Guilford County Sheriff’s Office participates in Oak Ridge Elementary’s Read Across America Day on March 2.
...more Youth/School News on p. 10
homes from natural disasters and donated 11 large bins of toys, games, puzzles, art supplies, crafts and outdoor play equipment. Ballou would like to thank Mary Rosa, her Gold Award advisor, Debbie Lozo, her Girl Scout leader, and Marguerite Davis, her American Red Cross representative.
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Rylan Ballou Photo courtesy of Angela Ballou
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‘Dress for Success’ Career Fair, March 22 at Northwest High Northwest High School will host its 11th annual career fair March 22, noon to 2:40 p.m. The school’s career development coordinator, Keesha Sinclair, says the purpose of this event is to try to expose students to as many careers and positive business professionals as possible. Presenters will speak with students about the presenter’s chosen profession and the industry in which they work,
the prospective job outlook for their line of work, what a typical day on the job is like, educational background and training necessary for the occupation, advice on interviewing, resume tips, job search hints, and whether their company recognizes students that have taken WorkKeys, a job skills program. For more info about the career fair, email sinclak@gcsnc.com.
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9
YOUTH news
...continued from p. 9
Students compete in FIRST Robotics Competition
‘Well done’ goes to... •••••
The varsity Science Olympiad teams at Northern Guilford High School and Northwest Guilford High School placed third and fourth respectively in the regional competition Feb. 25 at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. The Science Olympiad state competition will be at N.C. State University in April. Northern Guilford High School junior Aleah Brown received the 2017 NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing. Sponsored by the National Center for Women & Information Technology, the award recognizes high school females who are active and show potential in the technology field, encouraging them to continue pursuing their passion. Brown will be recognized in April at the awards ceremony in Charlotte.
Photo courtesy of Mike Wenig
The FRC 2655 Flying Platypi team consists of 24 students preparing for the FIRST Robotics Competition on March 10-11.
Thirty-two high school robotics teams from across North Carolina will compete in the FIRST Robotics Competition at UNC-Greensboro on March 10-11 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. each day.
Team members of FRC 1533 Triple Strange are from many area high schools, including Northern, Northwest and the Early College at Guilford. The FRC 2655 Flying Platypi team
Eleven members of Northwest Horizons, Northwest High School’s student-run newspaper, attended the 89th annual Southern Interscholastic Press Association’s convention in Columbia, South Carolina, Feb. 28-March 2. The students received several awards, including a superior rating for print newspaper and an excellent rating for website.
Robotics teams follow strict rules and limited resources within a six-week time period to raise funds, establish a team brand and build industrial-size robots that compete in field games. Mentors are industry professionals who volunteer their time to guide and advise teams. The FIRST Robotics Competition will take place in the Michael B. Fleming Gymnasium of UNC-Greensboro’s Health and Human Performance Building. For more info about the competition or the teams, visit www.firstinspires.org or www.firstnorthcarolina.org.
Meredith Boger, an eighth-grade language arts teacher at Kernodle Middle School, is one of the top five finalists considered for Guilford County Schools’ 2016-2017 Teacher of the Year.
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includes students from northwestern Guilford County who attend the Early College at Guilford, Grimsley and the North Carolina Leadership Academy, as well as one home-schooled student from the area.
The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996
GCS announces new sports policy for sixth-graders Starting in the 2017-18 school year, sixth-grade students will be allowed to play on Guilford County Schools’ middle school sports teams, with the exception of football.
Last year, the state’s Board of Education changed the policy, giving school districts the option of offering sixth-graders the opportunity to participate in team sports, except for football. GCS used the 2016-17 school year to analyze the potential impact of the change on teams and school budgets. “After careful consideration, we
determined allowing sixth-grade students to try out for teams will allow some of our schools to become more competitive, with a minimal impact to school budget,” Leigh Hebbard, athletic director for Guilford County Schools, explained. Eligibility requirements remain the same, and sixth-grade students will need to submit a medical examination and required concussion awareness form before they can join a team. For more information on the change and eligibility requirements, visit gcsnc.com.
Photo courtesy of Mitch White | The Wildcats, a boys recreational team of seniors from Northwest High School, win Proehlific Park’s winter youth league championship on March 4. (Front row, from left) Robert Beverly, Coach Mike Kiernan, Coach Brian Barker, Josh Schneider, Michael Barker, Ryan Kiernan and Evan White; (back row) Tyler Young, Luke Weaver, Patrick Clark, Wesley Barham and Nick Wirtz.
Strubinger awarded prestigious Park Scholarship by MARC PRUITT
Northern Guilford senior Ethan Strubinger felt the stars were aligned in his favor after learning he had been awarded one of N.C. State’s 39 Park Scholarships. Park Scholarships are awarded based on outstanding accomplishments and potential in academics, leadership, service and character. Strubinger initially missed the phone call on Feb. 24 letting him know he had been awarded the scholarship. “My cell phone started ringing during sixth period at school and I had to quickly shut it off,” he said. “I noticed it was a Raleigh number and they left a voicemail. Right after school, I ran out to my car and drove to the teacher lot so no one would mess with me and called them back. I was at a loss for words, for sure. I kept saying ‘this is so awesome.’” Strubinger will receive a four-year scholarship valued at up to $107,000 that includes tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, travel and personal expenses. He will also have access to grants to fund professional and personal enrichment experiences, such as service projects. For someone who has dedicated the last three summers to doing mission work in Nicaragua, that is music to his ears.
“I can do whatever I want in Nicaragua now,” Strubinger said. “The fact that I have N.C. State supplying all the resources you can dream of is really special.” The original pool of applicants for this Strubringer year’s Park Scholarships was more than 2,000; of those, 300 became semifinalists, and after phone interviews 112 went to Raleigh Feb. 17-18 as finalists. There, Strubinger was interviewed in two separate waves by people who shared a lot of his passions. “One guy ran triathlons, two approved grants for service projects, and one was the head of service projects in Central and South America.,” he said. “Another was a material science engineer, which is going to be my major. I really think it lined up pretty well for me.” Strubinger said he first became aware of the scholarship in third grade. At that time his mother, Dr. Sandra Strubinger, who teaches chemistry at Northern, had a colleague at Grimsley High School whose son had been awarded the scholarship. “I remember my mom talking about it then,” Strubinger said. “So, it’s pretty cool that it has come full circle now.”
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11
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
think we understand the process better, and that brings us some confidence and some calmness.”
Unfinished business: Northern Guilford girls back in 3-A championship game
Now, it’s all about Northern’s preparation for Hickory Ridge, the No. 1 seed from the West.
by MARC PRUITT Last season’s run to the NCHSAA 3-A state championship game as a No. 12 seed was somewhat unexpected for the Northern Guilford girls’ basketball team. This season, there has been a target on the Nighthawks’ back that went along with the expectation they would return to the state championship game. That’s not as easy as it sounds, even for a team that returned all five starters, sports a 30-1 record and will be riding a 19-game winning
streak into Saturday’s championship game against undefeated Hickory Ridge (31-0). “Being the underdog in all the playoff games last year, every win was almost shocking,” head coach Kim Furlough said. “We were confident and excited when we won, but we weren’t expected to win because we were the lower seed in all those games. This year, it has been different because of the expectations. But we still take time to appreciate every win. We’re still just as excited and I think our composure is better this year. I
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Northern played at Carmichael Auditorium in last year’s title game. This year, moving across campus to the “Dean Dome” brings its own sense of wonder. “I’m a huge Carolina fan and I’m excited I get to coach in the same place that Roy Williams coaches,” Furlough said. “And I know the girls are just excited to play there. I think we can officially say now that we have some unfinished business. We’re looking forward to it.” Game time is scheduled for 5:05 p.m. at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill.
New blood leads Northwest girls back to championship game by MARC PRUITT It would have been easy to underestimate Northwest High School’s girls basketball team this season. It would also have been wrong to do so. After having the NCHSAA 4-A state championship slip out of their grasp last season in the final seconds and having six seniors graduate, the Vikings needed to come of age with a new nucleus of younger players this season. Mission accomplished. Northwest (29-2), the winner of 25 straight games, will play Southeast Raleigh (31-0) on Saturday at Reynolds Coliseum on the campus of N.C. State with another 4-A state championship on the line. Game time is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. With sophomores Elizabeth Kitley and Cayla King and juniors Bria Gibbs and Lindsay Gauldin forming the new team core, head coach Darlene Joyner said she wasn’t surprised at how quickly things came together this season.
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“They are super-athletic,” Furlough said. “They are undefeated for a reason. They have a 6-foot-2 kid in the middle who is really good. They have solid guard play and a deep bench. We know we’ll change some things we do offensively and defensively to match up with them. We’ll prepare ourselves the
best way we can.”
“We knew the kids who were returning were very good players,” Joyner said. “They worked very hard in offseason to develop their individual games. They
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were on a mission at the start of the season. I think it’s a big statement about them to be so young and have this as one of their goals. They’re focused, determined, and ready to play.” At the beginning of the season, whispers suggesting it might be a down year surrounded the team. But they not only shook those whispers off, they used them as motivation. “We’ve had so much success the last two years, people were making comments in the paper like ‘this is the year we’re going to get them,’” Joyner said. “I think that fueled the kids a little bit. They didn’t get bitter about it. They just continued to bear down. They believed in each other and bought into what we were telling them. It was all just a matter of coming together as a team.” The Vikings will have a tall order on Saturday. Joyner said four of Southeast’s players are taller than six feet and the team is “long, lean, and athletic.” “It’s all about putting it all out on the floor when the moment is in front of you,” Joyner said. “If we play Northwest basketball on both ends, hopefully that gets us where we need to go in the end.”
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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.
NORTHERN GUILFORD Heath Gonyer, wrestling by MARC PRUITT When Heath Gonyer was in middle school, his father took him to the Greensboro Coliseum to watch the NCHSAA state wrestling championships from 2014 to 2016. This year, Gonyer, a freshman at Northern Guilford, was a participant in the event, which was a goal of his since beginning his pursuit of wrestling in third grade. Wrestling at 106 pounds, Gonyer won the Mid-State 3-A Conference tournament and captured first place at the 3-A MidEast Regional to qualify for the NCHSAA 3-A state tournament, where he finished fourth.
Pretty impressive for a freshman – but not good enough for Gonyer. “The day after the state tournament, I was back at wrestling practice with my club team, the School of Hard Knocks,” Gonyer said. “I’ll be practicing about four times a week from now until wrestling season starts again at school. Losing my last match of the season motivated me to work harder.” Gonyer won his first two matches of the state tournament to advance to the semifinals of the winner’s bracket, but lost his next match 4-2 to Nick Butler of Swansboro. “I was down 2-0 in the match and got a takedown in the third period to tie it 2-2,” Gonyer said. “Right after that, he scored a reversal on me with about 30 seconds left, to win 3-2.”
Gonyer finished his first season of high school wrestling with an overall record of 41-7. He said he was a bit nervous when the season started, but that worry soon left him. “I actually had to cut some weight before my first match,” Gonyer said. “But I pinned my opponent in the second period of that match, and I was fine after that.” Gonyer hopes to wrestle in college and eventually wants to pursue a career in law. He is active with Westover Church and went on a mission trip last summer to Mars Hill, North Carolina, where he helped clean up apartments, fixed things and packaged food for people in need.
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“He’s my drill partner at Hard Knocks; we’re good friends,” Gonyer said. “I was winning the whole match. Then with three seconds left, the referee gave him a point for an escape that sent the match to overtime. He ended up beating me 3-1.”
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Frances Obi, theatre Northwest Guilford senior Frances Obi would be the first to tell you that having the role of stage manager in a high school production is no easy job. With never a dull moment, Obi is currently managing the school’s upcoming production of “Seussical the Musical.” She is tasked with keeping up with everything in the production, including the script, props, stage – and of course, the student performers. “I love being a part of a cast that
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The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996
loves one another as family,” Obi said. “Though we all have such different personalities and perspectives, which can at times be difficult, we always find a way to laugh and have fun.” In her years on the stage, Obi has been a part of musical productions including “One Wife Too Many,” “Alice in Wonderland” and “Charlotte’s Web.” “Frances is a great performer, but she really shines as a stage manager and technician,” theatre teacher Abby Turner said. “When asked to do something she has never done, Frances commits, while seeking guidance, scheduling time after school to practice and keeping a positive attitude when she makes an error.” Despite her acumen for being both on the stage and behind the scenes, Obi took a year off from her junior year of theatre to pursue another passion. As a lifelong cooking enthusiast, she enjoys any and all cooking and for the past two years she has traveled to Weaver Academy for the second half of her school day to learn about culinary arts. She admits her creations sometimes taste good – and sometimes taste bad. Nevertheless, she enjoys the process of learning the new skills and techniques the program has to offer. While enjoying theatre and culinary arts, Obi sees her future career as being a physical therapist. She is also committed to getting to know people on both personal and professional levels as she ultimately works to help them in any way she can. With commitment and a strong sense of passion, Obi’s ventures will undoubtedly be rewarding to not only herself but anyone who meets this jack of all trades.
On a Side Note: Toughest Class: Culinary arts Favorite musical: “West Side Story” Favorite show: “Vampire Diaries,” “Grey’s Anatomy” Extracurricular activities: Northwest color guard, theatre
LUIS BARRETO
...continued from p. 1 help anyone out. Our school shines and so does his phenomenal attitude and work ethic!” “Mr. Barreto performs every task with a smile,” Cammie Berrier wrote in her nomination of Barreto. “He is willing to do anything asked of him, whether it is in the job description or not. Today, on my way to the laminator, I asked him to refill my paper towel holders and it was done before I got back to the room a minute later! He regularly checks to see if there is anything that needs to be done in classrooms. Since I have worked at 11 other schools, I am very aware of what a treasure we have in Luis. Staff and students love him!” Susan Kunar wrote, “I am new to the school this year and he has been just the best! I have needed him to help with concerts and when I had to change rooms. His most used lines are ‘Is everything OK? Can I help you with anything?’ He is amazing.” “Mr. Barreto has wonderful charac-
ter and is an excellent role model for the students,” Erin Watkins wrote in her nomination. “Not only does he fulfill all of his job requirements, but he goes above and beyond the call of duty. Mr. Barreto is a true asset to our school!” D. Michelle Hicks wrote. It only takes a few minutes with Barreto to get a glimpse of his humility and a hint as to what makes him so special and beloved. Before being hired by former Pearce principal Erik Naglee last spring, Barreto, a native of Puerto Rico, had lived in Massachusetts where he worked for many years as a machine operator for a company that manufactured medical equipment. When the company moved its operations to Mexico, Barreto, who has relatives in North Carolina, decided to head south and join them. That was in 2006. For the next 7 ½ years Barreto worked for a pharmaceutical company. But when that company merged with another company, he was among those who were laid off. For a while he worked
for a temporary agency, before deciding to apply for a position with Guilford County Schools, where his daughter works as an ESL teacher. When he got the call from Pearce last spring, he met with Naglee and was subsequently hired. Although many would find the humble work of cleaning bathrooms and floors, picking up trash – and cleaning up after a child has had an upset stomach (not an uncommon occurrence with elementary-age children) – unappealing, Barreto enjoys his work and is grateful for the opportunity to do it. “I love the school and what I’m doing,” he said, adding that he and his wife teach Bible School at their church and he loves working with kids. After standing for a few minutes in the school hallway as the children are walking by, it’s obvious that it goes both ways. Barreto said the students sometimes write him letters and put them in his school mailbox. “One of them wrote, ‘Mr. Barreto, we appreciate all you do for us. Me and my
friend want to help you.’” The two boys later went outside and picked up trash and leaves, which touched Barreto deeply. Barreto was also touched when Naglee, who is now principal at Northwest Middle School, called to congratulate him on being named Employee of the Month. “He is a wonderful person,” Barreto said of Naglee. “I give the Lord thanks first (for my job), and then Erik Naglee, because he is the one who hired me.” Once again, it’s obvious it goes both ways. Of Barreto, Naglee said, “Mr. Barreto was an awesome colleague and a phenomenal person. It was a joy coming to work every day and knowing that he would do anything to support the students or staff at Pearce Elementary. He always came to work with a huge smile on his face and was such an integral part of why Pearce was and continues to be such a special place. Having someone so strong as a lead custodian is so key in the daily operations of a school. This award is well deserved!” Need we say more? Congratulations, Luis, and well done!
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Getaway Vacay Travel Angie Fletcher customizes vacations based on the following philosophy: “Fill your life with adventures, not things. Have stories to tell, not stuff to show.” (Author unknown)
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she has been married for 15 years. Their children Bryson, 11, and Ansley, 9, attend Stokesdale Elementary, where Fletcher volunteers. Matt serves as Stokesdale Parks and Recreation’s director of baseball. Being involved in a family business started at an early age for Fletcher. “When I was in elementary school I was in a couple of commercials with my sister for my family’s business, Carpet Super Mart,” Fletcher said. “My kids think it’s so funny watching me in them.”
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Angie Fletcher’s genuine passion for travel recently motivated her to start her own business adventure helping others plan vacations. “I enjoy every stage of the planning process and love helping others make their travel dreams a reality,” Fletcher said.
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Merchants of Oak Ridge representatives were on hand for new member L&T Small Engine Services’ ribbon cutting and grand opening celebration on March 4. L&T is owned by Rick Lamb and Tom Wright, who started repairing small engines on the side before recently opening their business at 2103 Oak Ridge Road in Oak Ridge.
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Harley-Davidson of Greensboro plans to relocate Established in 1937, Harley-Davidson of Greensboro announced last month that it plans to relocate its motorcycle dealership from Farragut Street in Greensboro. In recent months the dealership owners had been searching for a location within their assigned territory that would be more central and convenient for their customers. With the bypasses nearly complete and the upward trending growth pattern in Greensboro and High Point, they targeted their search along the border of both cities where their highest density of customers reside. A desirable piece of property for the new location was identified in High Point, just 350 feet from the Greensboro city limits on N.C. 68. Pending approval of an annexation and rezoning request, along with the location change Harley-Davidson of Greensboro will also be changing the dealership’s name and said it has plans to build a state-of-theart facility that will accommodate more inventory, improve efficiency and better serve their customers both now and in the future.
BITS & PIECES
GTCC to host annual spring job fair Guilford Technical Community College will host its annual Spring Job Fair from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. March 15 at Medlin Campus Center on GTCC’s Jamestown Campus, 601 E. Main St., Jamestown. The free event is open to the public and provides the opportunity to network with more than 70 employers. An estimated 2,000 applicants typically attend the job fair. This year’s participating employers span a wide range of fields including health care, manufacturing, logistics, law, banking,
welding and more. GTCC’s career advising center suggests that attendees: • Research participating employers at www.bit.ly/gtccjobfair2017. • Bring plenty of resumes. • Create a sales pitch that highlights your talents and skills. • Be selective by meeting with preferred employers first, as some employers may be unable to stay for the entire job fair. • Dress to impress.
Hannah’s Haven makes plans to break ground on second home BROWNS SUMMIT – Bonnie Harris founded Hannah’s Haven, a Teen Challenge Center, in 2006 to provide a safe, stable environment for women recovering from substance abuse. Since then, the six-bed, minimum nine-month residential program in Browns Summit has ministered to 93 women.
Property owners in northwest Greensboro agreed to sell their property to Hannah’s Haven at a price well below tax value, and by Jan. 27 Hannah’s Haven had raised enough capital to purchase the property plus buy the original home which the organization had leased since 2006.
After recognizing the need for an additional residential facility to support women’s transition from treatment into independent living, Harris shared her vision with a local church; an anonymous builder subsequently approached her with an offer to build a second home as long as Hannah’s Haven owned the property.
Hannah’s Haven hopes to break ground on its second location within the next couple of months; meanwhile, funding is still being sought for a well, septic system, breezeway and other miscellaneous needs.
Ashley Moore, Buddy Lyons and Frankie Jones subsequently formed a property committee, and Hannah’s Haven launched the “Bridge the Gap” capital campaign last September.
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Hannah’s Haven, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization. All contributions are taxdeductible and can be mailed to Hannah’s Haven, P.O. Box 14724, Greensboro, NC 27415, or donated online at www.hannahshaven.net. For more information, call (336) 656-1066.
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We’ll miss you, Annette! We’ve loved having you as our coworker over the last several years and wish you all the best in your new job and this new chapter in life!
–the gang at PS Communications Annette Joyce, our long-time marketing manager, has accepted a new position with Countryside Retirement Community in Stokesdale. Although she’ll no longer be working in our office, she’ll continue to occasionally write for us as she has done for over 15 years.
CRIME / INCIDENT report Guilford County Sheriff’s Office, District 1 has recently responded to the following incidents in northwest Guilford County. BURGLARY March 1 | Unknown suspects entered a residence on Belews Creek Road in Stokesdale through an unlocked back door between 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on March 1. Two TVs, an entertainment center and laptop valued at $1,150 were stolen. March 2 | A resident of Winding Hill Road in Stokesdale reported that unknown suspects entered her locked residence between 7:45 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on March 2. The offenders stole one TV and three laptops valued at $1,797.98.
DRUGS Feb. 28 | A 16-year-old at Northwest High School was charged and released for simple possession of Schedule IV controlled substances after being found with four dosage units of Xanax. March 1 | A vice and narcotics deputy reported that 10 grams of cannabis/THC oil were seized around 11:30 a.m. on March 1 in the vicinity of the FedEx Ship Center in the 6000 block of Old Oak Ridge Road in northwest Greensboro. March 4 | Two known suspects were cited and released for possession of marijuana (7.1 grams), possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of Schedule II narcotics (including four dosage units of opium) and an open container of alcohol on March 4 at 8:56 p.m. in the parking lot of Citgo on N.C. 68 in Stokesdale. March 5 | A known suspect was cited and released for possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia on Pleasant Ridge Road in Summerfield at 7:26 p.m. on March 4.
FRAUD March 2 | A resident of Shadyside Drive in Summerfield reported that around
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MARCH 10 - 16, 2017
The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996
1:30 p.m. on Feb. 25 she transferred $1,530 to an out-of-state, unknown suspect to purchase a vehicle, which she did not receive. An investigation confirmed the money was wired to a fraudulent eBay account.
THEFT Feb. 27 | An employee working on a job site at GTCC’s Cameron campus on Leabourne Road in Colfax reported a known suspect stole a Glock 43 pistol worth $411 from his company’s Ford F-250 around 2 p.m. on Feb. 26. The firearm had been concealed under the driver’s seat. March 1 | A known suspect stole a purse and a checkbook valued at $50 from a residence on Saddlewood Drive in Summerfield sometime between 1 p.m. on Feb. 27 and 8:30 a.m. on Feb. 28. March 3 | An unknown suspect entered an unlocked vehicle on Coldwater Road in Stokesdale around midnight on March 3 and stole 21 pills of prescribed oxycodone medication.
VEHICLE PURSUIT March 4 | A known suspect failed to stop for an officer at 12:19 a.m. on March 4 near the intersection of Warner Road and Combs Road in Kernersville. The officer pursued the suspect, who turned his vehicle off-road into a wooded area and fled on foot. Warrants were obtained for misdemeanor speeding to elude arrest and failure to stop for a blue light and siren.
District 1 Sheriff’s Office 7506 Summerfield Road Main number: (336) 641-2300 Report non-emergency crime-related incidents by calling: (336) 373-2222 • 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., M-F www.guilfordcountysheriff.com
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Stop, Drop, and Roll 5K | Register now for Summerfield Fire Department’s second annual Stop, Drop and Roll fun run and 5K on April 1. See ad on p. 2 for details.
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Club will meet March 9 at 6:30 p.m. Susan Tillis will be the guest speaker. More info: Kathy Flanagan, (336) 254-3051. Town Council Meeting| Stokesdale Town Council will meet March 9, 7 p.m. at Stokesdale Town Hall, 8325 Angel Pardue Road. More info: www.stokesdale.org.
MARCH 10-11
Consignment Sale | Main Street United Methodist Preschool, 306 South Main St. in Kernersville, will have a consignment sale from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on Friday, March 10, and again from 9 a.m. to noon on March 11. More info: (336) 993-4089 or Consignment.mainstreetumc@gmail.com.
SUNDAY, MARCH 12
MONDAY, MARCH 13
Social Media Workshop | Northern Guilford High School
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will host a social media workshop on March 13, 7-8 p.m. in the main auditorium of the school, 7101 Spencer-Dixon Road in Greensboro. More details on page 9. NGWC | The new Northwest Guilford Women’s Club will meet March 13, 7 p.m. at Oak Ridge Town Hall, 8315 Linville Road. The local chapter will be a member of General Federation of Women’s Clubs, whose purpose is to promote education, community service, fellowship and leadership development. If joining, please bring membership application and a $75 check for annual dues. More info: Shannon Depp, (919) 909-6900 or shannondepp@yahoo.com. Northern 4-H Club | Northern 4-H, a new northern Guilford County 4-H club, will hold an information and interest meeting at Glenn McNairy Branch Library, 4860 Lake Jeanette Road, Greensboro, 6 p.m. on March 13. More info: email leah_southern@yahoo.com.
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Lunch/Silent Auction | Summerfield United Methodist Church, 2334 Scalesville Road in Summerfield, will host a spaghetti lunch/silent auction March 12, 12:30-2:30 p.m. All proceeds will benefit Children’s Christian Playschool. For advence tickets or more info: (336) 643-8120 or sumcplayschool@gmail.com.
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TOWN COUNCIL
other HPC members for working with the academy and for approving a historic grant to help fund the restoration project.
newly formed Northwest Women’s Club will meet Monday, March 13, 7 p.m. at Town Hall and all area women are welcome to attend.
Oak Ridge residents Steve and Jennifer Holmes, who live on Parkchester Place (a stub street) in Linville Oaks, stepped up to the podium next. Jennifer began by asking council members what was on the wall behind them (the town seal) and what words were on it (“God’s country”). She then quoted a scripture from Deuteronomy 19:14, which reads (NIV), “Do not move your neighbor’s boundary stone set up by your predecessors in the inheritance you receive in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess.” “You have stolen my inheritance, and my neighbors’ inheritance,” Jennifer accused the council. “How does that happen?” Continuing, she said that by approving a second entrance to an adjacent development via a stub street at the end of the road she lives on, the council had allowed the developer to plow through “a quiet, peaceful neighborhood.” Runoff from the new development had
...continued from p. 6
John Haynes, president of Oak Ridge Military Academy, said enrollment has increased and the school now has 101 cadets. The new cadets are “highquality,” and retention is also up, he said. Haynes thanked the council and community members for their “faithful support” and said the academy continues a very successful annual fundraising campaign, which has enabled it to turn its attention to some projects, one of which includes restoration work on the east, west and south porticos on Alumni Hall; two-thirds of the $24,000 budgeted for the restoration work has been raised thus far. Anyone interested in contributing is encouraged to contact the school. Haynes thanked Schneider and the
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caused flooding on her property, along with excessive traffic, including semis, coming through her neighborhood on a daily basis, Jennifer said, adding she and her husband had been asking the town to help resolve these issues for 2 ½ years. Council members should be ashamed of themselves for allowing all of this to happen while they sat behind their private gates like kings, she concluded.
FINANCE REPORT
Finance Officer Sam Anders highlighted the monthly financial transactions and said the budget process for FY2017-2018 is underway. The League of Municipalities has advised that employee insurance premiums should not be increasing next year.
5 0 to accept the finance report. COMMUNITY UPDATES
Historic Preservation Commission. Chair Ann Schneider said committee members met Feb. 8 to discuss plans for a historical celebration that will be held in partnership with Preservation Oak Ridge, Merchants of Oak Ridge and others. Future planning sessions will be held the second Wednesday of each month, 7 p.m. at Town Hall. The application deadline for this year’s historic grants is March 27. Longtime Commission member Mac McAtee has resigned after serving on the commission since 2010 and Schneider thanked him for his valuable service. Paul Wolf, who has served as an alternate on the commission, is willing to serve as a full member, pending approval. Parks and Recreation. Filling in for chair Phillip Hanks, Town Clerk Sandra Smith reported the site plan for the new parking lot at the town park has been approved by the P&Z Board; once approved by the HPC it will be let out to bid. There are several events coming up in the park, including the season’s first Music in the Park on April 8 and Canine Capers on April 29. Finance Committee. Committee member Patty Paslaru said the committee is still gathering numbers as it delves into work-
The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996
ing on the FY2017-2018 budget. Planning and Zoning. Chair Ron Simpson confirmed the board reviewed the text amendments Bruce had presented and recommended approving them, with the only change being the cul-de-sac maximum length. Merchants of Oak Ridge. MOR member Ann Schneider invited everyone to L&T Small Engine Service’s grand opening on March 4. Also, another of the organization’s newest members, Vision Source Eye Center of the Triad, will be opening in Oak Ridge Commons on March 13. April 1 is the deadline for Northwest High School students to apply for MOR’s $2,000 scholarship (more information and an application can be found at www.merchantsofoakridge.com).
COUNCIL COMMENTS Kinneman said the Lions Club is offering a $1,000 scholarship to a qualified northwest Guilford County student; the scholarship is focused on community service. Oak Ridge United Methodist Church hosted another blood drive in February and exceeded its goal by four pints; the next blood drive will be April 10. Budget meetings are open to the public, and citizen input throughout the process is welcome, Kinneman said. Also, a “Tree City” sign is in Town Hall and ready for placement. Council member George McClellan said the HPC’s historic grant program was a great concept and he understood Topeka, Kansas, is interested in modeling this program. Stone said Elizabeth’s Italian Restaurant will close for about a month, effective the following day, and after a remodeling project has been completed it will reopen under new ownership. Stone then offered words of appreciation to the town’s HPC. “I don’t know what this town would look like if it weren’t for you,” he said to HPC chair Ann Schneider. Next he explained his vote in opposition to approving the text amendments as
Bruce had presented them was merely a vote of support for the P&Z Board’s recommendation (regarding the cul-de-sac maximum length). As for the Holmeses’ plea for help, Stone asked that staff look into the situation again to see if there was anything that could be done from the town level. Oakley was then asked for an update on the water feasibility study and said he had received three RFQs. After selecting the top choice for a qualified engineer firm, a negotiation process to perform the study would follow, and after that all entities involved (Guilford County, Stokesdale, Summerfield and Oak Ridge) will be given a copy of the agreement to approve. Stone then asked Oakley to include updates to the process in his weekly reports to council. Sullivan supported Stone’s comments regarding staff determining if anything could be done to help resolve the problems the Holmeses are having in their neighborhood. The mayor also said he was “impressed and amazed” at the quality of Ray Parrish’s WTP students. “If they’re representing the next generation, we’re in really good hands,” he said of the students. In closing, Sullivan added his thanks to Mac McAtee for his years of service on the HPC. With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:51 p.m.
NO JOB DESCRIPTION ...continued from p. 5
She was assisted by two deputy clerks until Feb. 16, when Sandra Murrell’s resignation became effective. Braswell confirmed Hemric received a pay increase last May after her 90-day probationary period, which had been negotiated before her employment. Hemric is currently paid $27.25 an hour; a benefits package was not applicable at the time of her employment and has not been offered at any time since, she said. Braswell has said several times the town council’s weekly Wednesday afternoon meetings are necessary because Stokesdale has no town manager, and many decisions – especially those involving the town’s water system – can’t wait until the next monthly council meeting. Town Attorney Katy Gregg has repeatedly advised the council to begin delegating authority to the town administrator, which would eliminate 99.9 percent of the need for voting electronically via email (which she strongly discourages) and possibly cut back on the Wednesday meetings.
cer fields at the town park for 2017 and authorize the mayor to sign it. “Are you opposed to my signing this contract on behalf of the town?” Hemric asked, after which Bill Jones motioned to authorize her to sign the contract. “We got to learn to do that,” he said. “Glad you mentioned it.”
But it’s been slow going, even with Hemric’s occasional nudges. On Feb. 1, the council asked the town attorney to draft a contract for mowing and chemically treating the soc-
On Feb. 15 Bill Jones told the council it needed to make a list of what authority should be delegated to the town ad-
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At the Feb. 9 monthly council meeting, which was the one-year anniversary of her employment, Hemric gave her own annual review, detailing everything from the number of emails to which she had responded during her employment with the town to the number of faceto-face interactions at Town Hall with Stokesdale citizens.
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ministrator. To Hemric he said, “If you’ll start keeping a list for us, that keeps us honest and it lets you know what we are expecting of you. I think we do know we need to start delegating a lot more to you. …” The council later voted to give Hemric the authorization to hire a deputy clerk to replace Murrell. And on Feb. 22 Hemric told the council that citizens are confused about what she does, even though the council and staff understand she is responsible for day-to-day operations of Town Hall. “But I do feel like I’m kind of caught in a quagmire,” she said. “I need to move forward with confidence and I need citizens to have confidence in what I do. I know it takes time, but we can’t just keep delaying. I’ve got to have some answers.” Discussion about the town administrator’s job description has been an agenda item for the last two meetings, and more motions from council members include delegating authority to Hemric – from signing contracts and working out agreements with vendors to purchasing items and strategic planning. The list, for whoever is keeping it, is getting longer. “I am hopeful that noteworthy progress will be made in the near future,” Hemric said by email, adding, “but some progress has been made thus far.”
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LETTERS/OPINIONS Submit your editorials (maximum 350 words) online: nwobserver.com e-mail : editor@nwobserver.com mail: Opinions, PO Box 268, Oak Ridge, NC 27310
Include your name, a daytime phone number where you can be reached and name of community in which you live. Letters from the same writer will be published no more than every 30 days.
‘Travel’ or ‘Muslim’ ban? Regardless, there are consequences There have been a number of recent opinions published regarding President Trump’s executive order. Signed on Jan. 27, the executive order barred anyone from seven (majority Muslim) countries from entering the United States for 90 days. For refugees, this number was increased to 120 days. One of the most popular discussions regarding the executive order (and the discussion published in this newspaper’s Opinions section) involve the semantics of the issue – what do we call the order, and how does this change the meaning of it? It seems that, even if the immigration order is not technically a “Muslim ban,” is not “extreme vetting” or any other term used by the media, the consequences of the order being perceived as such are very, very real. By calling the executive order a “Muslim ban,” media outlets try to highlight potential religious discrimination
relating to the decision. By terming the executive order an attempt at “extreme vetting” for visitors, media outlets try to remind viewers to fear the potential for foreign terrorism. Regardless of the truth behind these terms, using and believing each of them leads to real consequences. There has been a significant increase in bullying in schools post-election and post-executive order. Even at the university I attend, UVA, there was a spike in hate crimes on campus. While we may argue semantics about what to call the executive order, I think the real conversation lies with how those terms have shaped our perceptions of it and how we might better empathize with individuals who see the order differently. Melissa Murphy SUMMERFIELD
Just whose interests is Sen. Berger looking out for? I hope Sen. Berger’s days of trying to slay windmills are over. The people of North Carolina were likely thrilled to see that he was unsuccessful in his at-
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tempt to shut down the wind farm near Elizabeth City in the northeast corner of our state. Jobs are needed there and the wind farm will provide them.
Berger claimed the turbines would pose a threat to military operations, despite the fact that the Navy approved the project. Sen. Berger, are you representing the interests of your constituents here in Rockingham and Guilford counties in opposing the wind farm? Can you instead devote some of your attention
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to the needs of the communities you purport to represent? Whose interests are you representing in trying to close the wind farm? I don’t think it’s ours. Sen. Berger, you are not Don Quixote. Tell Sancho goodbye. Martha Shafter SUMMERFIELD
Don’t forget, it’s the maximum word count for your editorial
Do right by the citizens, not the developers I have lived in Summerfield since June 1998, after moving here from Long Island, New York. People always say “hindsight is 20/20.” I have hindsight from the years I lived on Long Island. My parents bought their first house on Long Island when I was 1 year old. The house backed up to a rural farm with cows that grazed the property (yes, on Long Island, 59 years ago!). It was a beautiful and safe place to raise a family. No one locked their doors, and as children we played in the park at the end of our block. Seven years later a developer purchased the farm and turned it into a strip mall (grocery store, other stores, restaurants and a gas station). Citizens were told how this would benefit them and make their lives better. Developers also constructed developments close to our home with affordable “starter homes.” We had had very little crime prior to this commercial development, but within two years, crime in our neighborhood went through the roof. Everyone had to lock their doors and our park
The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996
was no longer safe for children. My parents sold their house and moved us. At age 14 our home was a 30-minute ride to Manhattan; that same ride now takes two hours due to all the traffic and all the PD (planned development) brought to Long Island. When I purchased my home in Long Island, my No. 1 criteria was to be at least 1 to 1 ½ miles off an expressway or parkway exit. Crime happens near these exits because people have easy access on and off of them to commit their crimes and get out quickly. I-73 will be well-traveled to popular beaches in North Carolina and South Carolina. The proposed commercial and residential developments at the I-73 interchange at N.C. 150 will change Summerfield and the planned development in this area will bring us higher taxes, crime, insurance premiums and a longer congested commute. Hold our elected officials in Summerfield accountable for this PD and to do right for the citizens of Summerfield, not the developers. Hindsight is 20/20. Karen Knight Elmhurst Estates, SUMMERFIELD
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...
Lori at Summerfield Family Eye Care for the wonderful service she provides. Guilford County sheriff’s deputies and all law enforcement. Thank you for your daily sacrifice. You protect, serve and make us safer by your unselfish duty and your bravery and hard work is appreciated. Our chief coffee guy, Kevin Murray, owner of the Jumping Bean, who gave away free beverages to every customer to celebrate his 5-year anniversary. We appreciate you for the friendly service, warm conversation and the best coffee, ever! The manager and service staff at Lowes Foods in Oak Ridge during the recent thunderstorm. You held umbrellas for customers as they walked to their cars and then loaded their groceries at curbside. What “above and beyond” customer service! The Northwest softball players and parents who spent their Saturday morning working to get the field and surrounding areas ready for the season. NCDOT for cleaning up the strip of property beside Stokesdale Elementary School. I emailed them about it and they had it done in no time. B.J.’s Grille in Stokesdale, which proves a hole-in-the-wall establishment does not mean holes in the quality of service and deliverables. The staff is always pleasant and helpful and the food meets or exceeds expectations.
GTCC Cameron Campus on N.C. 68 (just outside the Town of Oak Ridge limits) for finally planting some trees along the promised buffer.
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GRIPES to... Drivers who cut through Oak Ridge Elementary School so they don’t have to stop at the intersection of N.C. 150 and Linville Road. You know who you are, and you are putting the lives of many people in danger! Stokesdale Town Council for ignoring pleas of residents to clean up our town, and to Northwest Observer for not publishing the letter recently written to the town council with numerous photos of the litter problem. But Fox 8 listened! The person driving recklessly in a white Camaro on Northwest School Road. Had I not slammed on my brakes and swerved when you spun a U-turn right in front of me, I would have T-boned you. The reader who said President Trump had done a lot of good in 30 days. I know he’s “great” and all, but please, do some actual research on what kind of “good” he has done before blatantly quoting Corey Lewandowski. The person who stole my “Proud to be an Eagle Scout” magnet. You obviously don’t know the values taught by the scouting program. The self-satisfied sanguine spenders of Oak Ridge Town Council, and the bureaucrats who ask what future projects are “desirable” (i.e., “How can we spend money next?”). Cut our taxes. Cut our taxes. Cut our taxes! Our legislators for not paying teachers more. They are teaching our children right from wrong and respect for others. Who can teach them? Parents, speak out! President Trump. First, he falsely claimed that former President Obama wasn’t born in America. Now, he is claiming Obama illegally wiretapped Trump Tower, which is a felony. Another blatant lie. Shame on those who continue to defend him.
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GORDON BUILDING
...continued from p. 1
Now ready to move forward with the project, on Feb. 23 the town advertised it was seeking a qualified firm to provide creative architectural services and engineering design services for renovation of the brick, two-story building that is about 3,360 square feet, as well as an addition to the building. The building was constructed in the 1870s and used as a mercantile and hardware store. It has been vacant for several decades, but Town Manager Scott Whitaker confirmed in his RFQ (Request for Qualifications) for an architectural/engineering firm that the roof is solid and has been kept dry. Once the renovation and addition project has been completed, the town hopes to add the building to the Guilford County Historic Preservation list. As described in the “Intended Building Purpose/Conceptual Design” section of the RFQ, “The primary use of the building will be to hold public meetings. The town currently rents the Summerfield Community Center for Council, board, and committee meetings and must set up audio and video equipment, tables, and chairs for each meeting. Other meetings are at town hall and the desire is to have a distinct administrative building (town hall) and meeting hall (Gordon Meeting Hall).
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“Other building uses might include possible upstairs office space. The concept is that the downstairs would be the larger, primary Council meeting space with approximately 110 seating capacity and built-in podium/stage area for council and staff. There would be a one-story addition to the south elevation that would serve as an entryway, lobby, and access to restrooms. Upstairs renovations would create a large conference room and potential overflow seating for downstairs meetings.” The ideal firm for the job, Whitaker wrote, will have a strong background in historic preservation with demonstrated project success, along with demonstrated creative approaches to incorporating site assets into the overall design. The deadline for RFQ responses is Monday, March 20. The town council hopes to approve a firm to perform the renovation work at its April 11 meeting. On March 2, the town also sent out an RFQ for firms interested in creating a master plan for the intersection of N.C. 150 (Oak Ridge Road) and Summerfield Road; as of the fall of 2015 when the town purchased the Martin house directly across the street from Summerfield Town Hall, it now owns the properties at all four corners of the intersection.
CAPITAL BUDGET
...continued from p. 7
ing the design NCDOT presents along with the functional improvements it plans to make at this intersection. Some, all – or none – of this proposed expenditure may be spent on additional design work, depending on whether the town feels DOT’s design is adequate.
“We’re hoping by implementing this process ASAP, we can apply for and receive grants that will offset the projected expenses,” he said. “We are very much expediting the process of identifying the trail route and where we might need to install sidewalks.”
• $50,000 for Mountains-to-Sea Trail, i.e. additional trail easements and/ or sidewalk construction along the identified trail route.
Of the practice and youth athletic fields identified for funding in the first year of the four-year period the capital budget spans, Sullivan said both the local and regional organizations that use the ball fields are growing exponentially in the number of teams they have participating. Oak Ridge Youth Association has long advocated for more fields at the park, and Sullivan said the town is currently allowing regular games to be played on the practice fields in response to “a very demonstrated need.”
• $22,000 for an additional sidewalk segment along N.C. 150 in the town core
FY2019-2020 • $200,000 for additional design/ beautification of the N.C. 68/150 intersection (if needed) • $50,000 for Mountains-to-Sea Trail (additional easements, sidewalks, and any other trail-related expenses)
FY2020-2021 • $50,000 for two additional sidewalk segments along N.C. 150 in the town core • $225,000 for a suspension bridge in Oak Ridge Town Park Regarding the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, Sullivan notes the town hopes to receive some state grants to assist with trail funding.
The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996
In the two community surveys conducted over the last several years, tennis courts were ranked at the top of the list of desirable amenities, Sullivan said, noting the council initially considered building six tennis courts, but decided to start with three. The town council anticipates voting on whether to approve the proposed capital budget at its June 1 council meeting, at the same time it anticipates voting on approving the FY2017-2018 operating budget.
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INDEX Employment ............................... 27 Homecare Available ................... 27 Public Notice ......................... 27-28 Save the Date ............................ 28 Yard Sales .................................. 28 Home Services ....................... 28-30 Misc. Services.............................. 30 Misc. for Sale ............................. 30 Misc. Wanted ............................. 30 Pets & Animal Services ................ 30 Real Estate ............................ 30-31
EMPLOYMENT
EMPLOYMENT
PUBLIC NOTICE
PARKS & RECREATION ATTENDANT, (P/T seasonal). Weekend position, March 1Nov. 30, 16-20 hrs./wk.; reports to P&R Manager; duties include, but are not limited to, field preparations for tournaments, general supervision of parks, opening/closing gates, & custodial duties such as trash pick-up & restroom cleaning. Involves both parks, with a focus on athletic park. Requires high school diploma or GED, valid & clean NCDL & background check, ability to effectively & positively interact with general public, understanding of park safety policies & procedures, & physical ability to perform required duties. Salary is $11.50/ hr. Summerfield is an EOE. Submit letter of interest & town application to: Town Manager, Town of Summerfield, POB 970, Summerfield, NC 27358. Open until filled.
CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE. Well-established marketing service company looking for call center customer service representatives to join our staff. Both P/T and F/T positions available. Call center experience preferred. Interested candidates please submit resume to info@ rsvpcomm.com.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING The Oak Ridge Town Council and the Town of Oak Ridge Planning & Zoning Board will hold separate public hearings to consider requests to amend the Official Town of Oak Ridge Zoning Map. The Planning and Zoning Board and Town Council may also consider requests for subdivisions and other matters. Any zoning decision of the Oak Ridge Planning and Zoning Board is forwarded as a recommendation to the Oak Ridge Town Council.
HOUSEKEEPER NEEDED on Fridays (9am-5pm) and another nearby house every other week (10am-3pm). Position requires thorough detailed cleaning, organizing, some laundry, occasional ironing, prep of meal(s). Non-smoking home. Must be reliable, trustworthy, have solid transportation. Position is permanent for the right person. $12.50/hr. Call (336) 643-6029 before 6pm to schedule interview. PERSONAL LINES CSR Stokesdale insurance firm looking for a property/casualty licensed customer service rep. with experience. Respond to ajb@blackburnins.net. Summerfield United Methodist Church is looking for a PART-TIME NURSERY WORKER for Sunday mornings, 10am12:30pm, and occasional evenings as needed. Prior experience preferred. Email resume to: office@summerfieldumc.com. WANTED: Part-time accompanist and music director, Community Lutheran Church, Summerfield, NC. 12-18 hours per week; $12,000-$14,000/yr. salary, depending on experience. Call (336) 643-7667 or email clcchurchoffice@bellsouth.net for additional information.
KENNEL ATTENDANT NEEDED. F/T, weekends and holidays included. Please apply at Summerfield Veterinary Hospital, 4318 Hwy. 220 North, Summerfield.
Hiring? Tell our 25,000+ readers about your opportunities! To place your ad, visit www.nwobserver.com and click on Place a Classified.
HOMECARE AVAILABLE EXPERIENCED CAREGIVER AVAILABLE for home bound adults & seniors late afternoon/evening. Exc. ref. (336) 552-3917.
Planning & Zoning Board: Thursday, March 23, 2017, 7pm, at Oak Ridge Town Hall, 8315 Linville Road. Town Council: April 6, 2017, 7 pm, at Oak Ridge Town Hall, 8315 Linville Road. PUBLIC HEARINGS: REZONING CASE # RZ-17-02: RM to CU-TC-R. Located on the south side of Quiet Place, approximately 700 feet west of NC Hwy. 68, and consisting of the Village
...continued on p. 28
Advertising sales/marketing manager PS Communications, publisher of the weekly Northwest Observer, semi-annual atHome in northwest Guilford County, and annual To Your Health, Countdown to Kickoff and northwestFINDER publications, seeks a part-time advertising sales and marketing manager. Our ideal candidate will have a successful track record in advertising sales and customer service, a strong marketing background and knowledge of various forms of advertising and marketing strategies.
The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996
Job entails 10 to 15 hours per week of in-house administrative responsibilities, including advertising database entry, ad scheduling and providing marketing support to existing advertisers. Additionally, 10 to 12 hours per week will be spent identifying and following up with potential advertisers while meeting monthly advertising sales goals. Salary plus commission. Qualified candidates are invited to send a cover letter and resume to ps@nwobserver.com.
MARCH 10 - 16, 2017
27
PUBLIC NOTICE CONT.
SAVE THE DATE
HOME SERVICES
HOME SERVICES
Woods development, in Oak Ridge Township. Being Guilford County Tax Parcels #0162897, 0162915, 0162916, 0162917, 0162918, 0162919, 0162920, and 0162921, approximately 24.5 acres. Located in the Greensboro (GW-III) Watershed and Scenic Corridor Overlay Zone. Owned by PJ Village Woods LLC.
PANCAKE BREAKFAST, Sat., March 18, 7am-11am, Oak Ridge Presbyterian Church, 2640 Oak Ridge Road. Cub Scout Pack 600 invites you to join us as we raise money for the Pathways House of Greensboro Urban Ministries. All-you-can-eat pancakes, bacon and drinks for $6! Come hungry!
CLEANING
ELECTRICAL
MARIA’S CLEANING SERVICE. Free estimates, guaranteed service. (336) 552-1990.
BALEX ELECTRICAL COMPANY, LLC Residential, commercial & solar electrical services. (336) 298-4192.
REZONING CASE # RZ-17-03: AG to CURS-40. Located at the terminus of Bethel Ridge Drive in Oak Ridge Township. Being Guilford County Tax Parcel #0166410 (part), approximately 34.075 acres. Owned by Parker Family Limited Partnership.
FLAT ROCK UMC SPRING BAZAAR, Sat., March 18, 7-11am, 6720 Hwy. 158, Stokesdale. Full breakfast, vendors, gifts for all occasions, baked goods, and more.
TEXT AMENDMENT. Amendments proposed to Chapter 30-9 Definitions and Chapter 30-351 Dimensional Requirements, to amend the definition of townhouse and to amend building separation requirements in the TC-R zoning district. Applicant: Chuck Truby on behalf of PJ Village Woods LLC. Full text of the proposed revisions is available at Town Hall. All citizens will be given an opportunity to be heard at these meetings. Ron Simpson, Planning & Zoning Board Chair Spencer Sullivan, Mayor
SAVE THE DATE Wesleyan Preschool Academy CHILDREN’S CONSIGNMENT SALE, Thursday, March 9, 7-9pm; Friday, March 10, 9am-5:30pm; and Saturday, March 11, 8am-12n (many items ½ price on Sat.), 930 N. Main St., Kernersville. For more information, please email Jennifer, wpakernersville@gmail.com. Trinity Tots to Teens CONSIGNMENT SALE, Friday, March 10, 9am-7pm, and Sat., March 11, 8am-1pm (half price day!), at Trinity Church, 5200 W. Friendly Ave., Greensboro. Call (336) 299-9403, or visit trinitytotstoteens.wordpress.com for info. Boy Scout Troop 600 PINE NEEDLE SALE, Saturday, March 18, 8am-1pm, in the parking lot just south of the Shell Station on Hwy. 68 in Oak Ridge. $5/bale. Your support helps to fund troop activities.
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MARCH 10 - 16, 2017
AUCTION, Sat., March 18, 10am, personal property of Jack Arnder (deceased), 3943 Lewiston Rd., Summerfield. Auctioneer: Southern & Sons. Listed on AuctionZip. Application deadline for Oak Ridge HISTORIC HERITAGE GRANTS is March 27, 2017, at 4pm. Up to $2,000 available to preserve historic properties in Oak Ridge. Visit www.oakridgenc.com or call (336) 644-7009. FREE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS SEMINAR: SAT vs ACT – what’s the difference and how to choose. Presented by Right Fit College Consulting on Thursday, March 30, 6:30pm, at Spears YMCA. To reserve your spot, visit www.rightfitcollegeconsulting. com and select “contact us,” or email info@ rightfitcollegeconsulting.com. SEEKING CRAFTERS: If you have a talent for any type arts and crafts, and you would be interested in showcasing and selling, please contact Chris Schlosser, (336) 643-3411 or email schlosser_chris@ yahoo.com. This show will be at Summerfield United Methodist Church on Saturday, April 29, 1-4pm.
YARD SALES INDOOR YARD SALE, Sat., Mar. 25, 7am1pm, Center UMC, 6142 Lake Brandt Rd. GARAGE SALE, Saturday, March 11, 8am, 234 Sylvania Road, Stokesdale. Flea market items, misc.
CastleWorks WINDOW CLEANING Includes gutters, pressure washing, chandeliers and other high ladder work. Fully insured and bonded, free estimates. (336) 609-0677. www.castleworkswindowcleaning.com. ANA’S HOUSECLEANING. Good references, free est., 25 years exp. (336) 309-0747. CARPET CLEANING. We clean the dirt out of your carpet, not the money out of your pockets! Call David, Cleaning Solutions, (336) 989-4318, thecleaning.solutions or find us on FB at Cleaning Solutions Carpet Cleaning.
FLOORING MONTERO’S HARDWOOD FLOORING Installation of hardwood, laminate & tile; hardwood sanding & finishing. Commercial & residential. Insured, 17 years experience. Free estimates & excellent references. Visit Monteros-hardwood-flooring.com, or call (336) 215-8842.
GENERAL REPAIR & SERVICES
Your business should be here! WINDOW GENIE WINDOW CLEANING 3M Window Film – save on your energy bills and enjoy the view. Fully ins., free est. Greensboro.windowgenie.com, (336) 268-8586. MAID 2 GLIMMER. Amazon approved. (336) 441-8388 or visit Maid2Glimmer.com. STEPHANIE’S CLEANING SERVICE 10 years experience. (336) 423-9786. CHRISTIAN MOM needs work cleaning houses, running errands. Will fit to your budget. Pet taxi/pet sitting also avail. References. Call Laura Bennett, (336) 231-1838. MAIDS OF HONOR, INC. Triad’s oldest! $25 off! 40 years in service. Bonded staff. English speaking. (336) 708-2407. CRYSTAL CLEAR WINDOW CLEANING, gutter cleaning, pressure washing. Fully ins. windowcleaningnc.com. (336) 595-2873. MAID-2-SHINE. Excellent service, 15 years exp. Free estimates., excellent references. (336) 338-0223. LIVENGOOD’S CLEANING. Church, businesses. Free est., 14 yrs exp. (336) 223-5034. HOME CLEANING. Afford. rates, ref. avail., 10 years exp. Elizabeth, (336) 453-8592.
The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996
Decks | Sun & Screened Porches Roofing | Windows | Gutters REPAIRS | RENOVATIONS
(336) 643-0531 haleyhahn.com Licensed & insured
MOWER REPAIR. Any type mower, weld and repair mower decks. Free pickup and delivery. Call or text Morris, (336) 880-7498. GENERAL HOME REPAIR, bathroom repair, small/odd jobs. (336) 644-8710, 708-0522. GREENERTIMES SMALL ENGINE Sales & Service Center. All types sold and repaired; comm/res. 9428 NC Hwy. 65, Stokesdale. (336) 548-9286 or (336) 312-3844. GARY’S HANDYMAN HOME SERVICES “Providing value for the home-ownership experience.” Gary Gellert, serving NC’s Piedmont Triad area. Garygellert@gmail.com, (336) 423-8223. JLB REMODELING, INC. Home repair, maintenance & handyman service. Licensed & insured. Competitive rates. (336) 681-2902 or www.jlbremodeling.com.
HOME SERVICES
HOME SERVICES
HOME SERVICES
HOME SERVICES
L & T SMALL ENGINE SERVICE LLP “We get you mowing!” Free pickup and delivery. 2103 Oak Ridge Road, Oak Ridge. (336) 298-4314.
ORTIZ LANDSCAPING, complete lawn care. Trimming, cleaning, planting & mulch, gutter cleaning, patios & pavers, waterfalls, retaining walls, sidewalks, stonework. Residential and commercial. (336) 280-8981.
AREA STUMP DUMP. Yard waste, concrete, etc. Fill dirt avail. (336) 602-5820.
MISC. SERVICES & PRODUCTS
APPLIANCE REPAIR – Call Mr. Appliance. A step above the rest! (336) 609-5707.
OLD SCHOOL HOME REPAIR/ IMPROVEMENT
“No Job Too Small”
Jerry & Lisa Potkay, Owners • Oak Ridge, NC
(336) 669-7252
Accredited A+ Rating, oldschoolsjhr@triad.rr.com BBB of Central NC Home Repairs & Improvements • Painting Wood Rot Repairs • Bathroom Remodeling Decks and much more! • Insured
GRADING / HAULING E&W HAULING & GRADING INC. Driveways, fill dirt, topsoil, lot clearing, bobcat work, excavating, mulch, etc. (336) 451-1282. BRAD’S BOBCAT & HAULING SVCS. LLC Debris removal, grading, gravel/dirt, driveways, concrete work. (336) 362-3647. ANTHONY’S GRADING & HAULING Excavating, land clearing, demolition, dirt available. Zane Anthony, (336) 362-4035. PEARMAN QUARRY HAULING Fill dirt, gravel, sand rock, mulch & more. Joel Richardson, (336) 803-2195. GAULDIN TRUCKING, grading & hauling, bobcat work, lot clearing, driveways, fill dirt, gravel, etc. (336) 362-1150.
STOKESDALE LAWN SERVICE Reasonable rates, lawns cut, weedeating. Free est. (336) 338-5865. AQUA SYSTEMS IRRIGATION. Quality irrigation systems. NC licensed contractor. We service all systems. Free estimates. (336) 644-1174. FAY’S LAWNCARE & LANDSCAPING Snow plowing, tree pruning, general yard clean up. Pine needles & mulch. Reasonable and honest. Call Taylor, (336) 464-5215. BRAD’S BOBCAT. Mulch, landscaping, pine needles and straw. (336) 362-3647. ALL-SEASON STUMP GRINDING. Owner Alan Winfree. Free est. Call (336) 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 (336) 643-9157. WILSON LANDSCAPING, INC. Complete lawn care & landscaping. NC lic. irrigation contractor. 20 years exp. Hardscaping, fertilization & weed control. (336) 399-7764.
CUTTING EDGE LAWNCARE. Affordable. Dependable. Mowing, aeration, leaf removal and more! Please call anytime for free estimate, (336) 706-0103.
CAROLINA STUMP & TREE SERVICE Complete tree service, $1 million liability, workman’s comp. Rick & Judy, (336) 6439332, carolinaStumpAndTreeServices.com. TRACTOR FOR HIRE – Bush hogging, grading, brush/tree removal. (336) 207-6632.
MASONRY MASONRY CONCEPTS, brick, block, stone, concrete & repairs. Free estimates. (336) 988-1022, www.masonryconceptsgso.com.
FREE DELIVERY
on full-load mulch orders within 15 miles
8605 Triad Dr, Colfax (336) 996-4918 marshallstone.com Schedule Thursday delivery for 5% OFF
facebook.com/NorthwestObserver
ON EAGLE’S WINGS residential home design/drafting. Call Patti, (336) 605-0519.
PAINTING & DRYWALL STILL PERFECTION PAINTING Reliable, skilled, affordable. Painting, pressure washing, handyman services. Scott Still, (336) 462-3683, stillperfectionpainting.com. CINDY’S PAINTING – Interior painting, wallpaper removal. References & free estimates available. (336) 708-9155. PAINTING – INTERIOR & EXTERIOR 32 yrs. exp. Sheetrock repair. No job too small. Insured. Brad Rogers, (336) 314-3186.
PLUMBING 8605 Triad Dr, Colfax (336) 996-4918 marshallstone.com
Get. Be. Stay. Connected.
GAS LOGS, WOOD STOVES, INSERTS, fireplaces, sold, serviced and repaired. Call Don Hill, (336) 643-7183.
The Northwest Observer reaches over 26,000 readers every week! Come along with us!
GUZMAN LANDSCAPE & MAINTENANCE Pine needles, mulch, leaf removal, tree pruning, complete lawn maint. (336) 655-6490.
LAWN CARE / LANDSCAPING TLC LAWNCARE. Mowing, fertilization, weed control. Providing quality, affordable lawn service for 7+ years. (336) 681-0097.
STEVE NEWMAN TREE SERVICE. Free est. Lic./Ins. 30 yrs. exp. Bucket truck/chipper, total cleanup. Selective thinning & lot clearing. 24-hr. ER svc. OR, NC. (336) 643-1119.
SOUTHERN STYLE concrete & landscapes. How about a new patio or fire pit? We can help with all of your outdoor living and entertainment spaces! Fire pits, driveways & sidewalks, patios and more! Give us a call at (336) 399-6619 for all your concrete and landscape needs.
The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996
BRANSON PLUMBING & SOLAR No job too small! Experienced, guaranteed. Lic. & insured. Call Mark, (336) 337-7924. WEBSTER & SONS PLUMBING, Inc. (336) 992-2503. Licensed, insured, bonded. 24/7 service. Plumbing, drain cleaning, well pumps. Give us a call, we do it all! Go to www.webstersplumbing.com for more info.
...continued on p. 30
MARCH 10 - 16, 2017
29
HOME SERVICES
HOME SERVICES
MISC. FOR SALE
PETS & ANIMAL SVCS.
PRESSURE WASHING
BELEWS CREEK CONSTRUCTION Kitchens/baths, custom decks, garages, siding, dock work, windows, roofing, rotted wood. Sr. disc., 35 years exp. (336) 362-6343.
SEASONED OAK FIREWOOD, $80/pickup load, delivered & stacked. (336) 253-7615.
PET SITTING / BOARDING
ROOFING
Got stuff?
WINDOW GENIE PRESSURE WASHING Soft house washing. Window film, window cleaning, gutters. Fully ins., free est., Greensboro.windowgenie.com, (336) 268-8586. CUTTING EDGE PRESSURE WASHING Affordable. Dependable. Please call anytime for free estimate, (336) 706-0103. PRESSURE WASHING, gutter & window cleaning. Fully insured. Crystal Clear, www. windowcleaningnc.com. (336) 595-2873.
REMODELING / CONSTRUCTION
TM
Construction Services, INC
BUILDING | RENOVATIONS | ADDITIONS
Sidewalks | Driveways | Stamped concrete
644-8615 office 508-5242 cell Licensed & insured
A.L. CORMAN ROOFING INC. Res. roofing specialist serving Guilford Cty. area since 1983. BBB 25+ years w/ A+ rating. cormanroofinginc.com, (336) 621-6962. PREMIER ROOFING CONSTRUCTION Insurance specialist, free inspections, res/ comm., BBB A rating. (336) 430-9507. CLINARD & SON ROOFING, LLC Residential roofing, rubber flat roofs, roof coating, metal roofs. 30 years experience. Now accepting all major credit cards. Call (336) 643-8191 or (336) 580-3245. 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 (336) 9446118, or visit redrhinoroofing.com.
NC Gen. Contractor #72797
ORTIZ REMODELING – Total restoration & home improvement. Drywall, painting, kitchen cabinets, interior trim & more. Free estimates. (336) 280-8981. PREMIER CONSTRUCTION. Providing all of your home maintenance needs, remodeling and new construction. (336) 430-9507. Want to reach our readers? Call (336) 644-7035, ext. 10 for info. JLB REMODELING, INC. Remodeling and additions. Fully insured. NC GC license #69997. Free est. Call (336) 681-2902 or visit www.jlbremodeling.com. RENOVATION WORKS, INC. New construction, remodeling, additions, kitchen, bath and decks. We are a locally owned, full-service design and build company, A+ accredited with the BBB. Visit www.myrenovationworks.com or call (336) 427-7391 to start your next project.
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MARCH 10 - 16, 2017
MISC. SERVICES COMPUTER REPAIRS – ITBASICS.COM Inside Mailboxes & More, Oak Ridge Commons. (336) 643-0068. ERIE INSURANCE – IN KERNERSVILLE Long Insurance Services, (336) 992-5664. SAM’S AUTO BODY SHOP. Any type of body work. 45 years exp. (336) 347-7470.
MISC. FOR SALE 3-wheel ELECTRIC HANDICAP SCOOTER w/ vehicle lift. Excellent condition, needs battery. (336) 427-3487.
SEASONED FIREWOOD, delivered and stacked, 1/2 cord, $80. Call (336) 686-6373
Sell it here in the
NWO classifieds submit your ad at
www.nwobserver.com MISC. WANTED FABRIC NEEDED for Sew to Sow Ministry to make dresses for girls in Kenya. Cotton fabrics work best, any amount. Also need buttons, ribbon, lace trimming, elastic and thread. Call Beth, (336) 644-8155. $$$ – WILL PAY CASH up to $200 for your junk or wrecked vehicle. (336) 552-0328. GOLDEN ANTIQUES & TREASURES in Stokesdale is always seeking vendors who have antiques, vintage, repurposed and collectible items. Booth spaces are 10 x 12 feet and are $200 per month, plus 10% commission. Come check us out and reserve your spot! (336) 949-4958. FREE PICK-UP of unwanted riding & push mowers, any and all gas items, tillers, gocarts, ATVs, generators, power washers, grills, chain saws, metal and electrical items, most appliances, etc. (336) 689-4167.
PETS & ANIMAL SVCS.
2 FREE DOG HOUSES, need some work, heavy, you move. (336) 644-1979.
AVAILABLE ANIMALS
ALL NEW MATTRESS SETS. Still in plastic, w/ warranty. Twin, $99; Full, $109; Queen, $129; King, $191. Can deliver, layaway available. Mattress Outlet. (336) 992-0025.
LOVING HOME DESPERATELY NEEDED for loving, spayed, vaccinated, funny ninemo.-old kitty. Text (336) 549-6017 or email safe_havin@aol.com.
The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996
KPS – KELLY’S PET SERVICES Professional in-home pet sitting. Bonded & insured. Member Pet Sitters International. Pet sitting while you are away, daily walks or runs, play, pet taxi, and more! KPS gives a portion of profits to animal charities. Call, email, or Facebook message for a free consultation: (336) 706-6706, kpsforyourpets@ gmail.com, www.facebook.com/kpspets, or kpspets on Instagram.
REAL ESTATE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OFFICE SPACE AVAILABLE in Oak Ridge. Mini suite available; 450 sq. ft. For more info, call (336) 643-7577.
HOME FOR RENT OAK RIDGE, 3BR, 2BA, office/den, deck, large yard. (336) 644-8710, 708-0522.
Selling or Renting? We can help you reach all of northwest Guilford County! Place your classified ad online at www.nwobserver.com.
LAND WANTED LOOKING FOR ABOUT 2 ACRES to build single-family home for us. No subdivision or HOA. Professional couple. Not a developer. Email oakridgeland@gmail.com.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
We Help Everyone! SELLERS & BUYERS
(336) 643-4248
www.ANewDawnRealty.com
REAL ESTATE
REAL ESTATE
index of DISPLAY ADVERTISERS
HOMES FOR SALE
Roseann Staaf
A/C & HEATING Stokesdale Heating & Air.......................9
Realtor®/ Broker
ACCOUNTING By the Book Accounting .....................21 Carlotta Lytton, CPA, PA ....................21 Kimberly Thacker Accounting .............21 Samuel Anders, CPA, MSA, PC .............5
allentate.com/RoseannStaaf
(336) 613-7925
Gail H. Kerber REALTOR /BROKER ®
(336) 327-1165
kerbappeals@gmail.com
5238 Creed Drive, Summerfield Custom brick home on 1-acre lot in Trotter Ridge cul-de-sac. Northwest schools. 4 BR, bonus and play room. Luxurious, paneled family room. Renovated kitchen overlooking private lot. Neutral colors throughout. 3,660 sq. ft.
Jake Letterman (336) 338-0136
ART / DANCE / KARATE Northern Arts LLC ..............................12
AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES Piedmont Truck Tires, Inc. ....................7
BUILDER
HOMES FOR SALE
Our spring At Home special publication comes out March 31. For advertising info, call (336) 644-7035.
7372 Henson Forest Drive Lots of space for everyone! Freshly painted in neutral decor, main-level master with sitting room, keeping room, two gas fireplaces, 4 full baths, bonus and 4 bedrooms up. 3-car garage and large stamped concrete patio with built-in grill. 1+ acre with 4,200+ SF. Offered at $539,000.
Nancy J. Hess nancy.hess@bhhsyostandlittle.com (336) 215-1820
Custom-built, one-owner home with 4 full baths and master on main. 2-story great room with stone fireplace and wall of windows. Granite countertops in kitchen. Finished basement with full kitchen, full baths and private patio. $609,900
Ramilya Siegel CRS, GRI, SRES, Chairman’s Circle Award ( 336 ) 215.9856
ramilya.siegel@atcmail.com www.allentate.com/RamilyaSiegel
SELLING OR RENTING? Get the word out in 13,300 copies of the Northwest Observer! In print weekly, online 24/7, direct-mailed to over 11,300 mailboxes and available at 70+ business locations. Place your ad online at www.nwobserver.com
A New Dawn Realty ............................30 Jake Letterman, BHHS Yost & Little ...31 KERBAPPEALS – Gail Kerber .............31 Nancy Hess, BHHS Yost & Little .........31 Ramilya Siegel, Allen Tate ..................31 Roseann Staaf, Allen Tate ...................31 Walter Anderson, Keller Williams ........21
RETAIL
CHIROPRACTIC CARE
SCHOOL SPORTS
CHURCH Summerfield First Baptist Church ........23
EVENT HOME PRODUCTS & SERVICES
5905 Autumn Gate Drive, Oak Ridge
REAL ESTATE
TM Construction Services ...................30
SFFD Stop, Drop & Roll ........................2
SUMMERFIELD • FORMER PARADE HOME
Bel-Aire Veterinary Hospital ................21 Northwest Animal Hospital ...................5 Veterinary Hospital at Oak Ridge.........21
BiRite Food Center ...............................8 Colfax Furniture & Mattress ................26
Summerfield Family Chiropractic ........23
www.kerbappeals.com
PET SERVICES & PRODUCTS
BEK Paint Company ..............................3 Carpets By Direct ................................25 Carpet Super Mart .........................16-17 Creative Garden Spaces .....................21 Furniture Medic ..................................29 Haley Hahn Home Solutions ..............28 Marshall Stone ...................................29 New Garden Landscaping & Nursery .10 New Garden Select ............................19 Old School Home Repair.....................29 ProStone................................................4
NWHS Baseball Boosters ....................13
SUMMER CAMPS
YMCA of Greensboro ......................... 11
TRAVEL SERVICES
Getaway Vacay Travel ........................21
LAST
CHANCE to secure your ad space
LEGAL SERVICES Attorney Bill Barbour ..........................18 Law Office of Susan Greeson ...............6 Scott Tippett Law .................................5
MEDICAL / EYE CARE Bethany Medical Center .......................3 Carolina Priority Care .........................19 LeBauer Healthcare ...........................22 Novant – Northwest Family Medicine .14 Vision Source Eye Center of the Triad .15
The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996
Spring 2017 edition coming March 31 advertising@nwobserver.com (336) 644-7035, ext. 10
MARCH 10 - 16, 2017
31
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Postal Patron
Oak Ridge, NC Permit No. 22
PO Box 268, Oak Ridge, NC 27310 • (336) 644-7035
ECRWSS
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Oak Ridge resident Erin Joyce checked out the Northwest Observer while on a mission trip in Manta, Ecuador.
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A stay in the hospital didn’t keep reader Brenda Campbell away from her Northwest Observer!