May 22 - 28, 2015
bringing the local news home to northwest Guilford County since 1996
RidgeFest, May 28-30 3-day festival kicks off with carnival rides by GERRI HUNT OAK RIDGE – The Merchants Association of Oak Ridge is once again partnering with the Town of Oak Ridge as it finalizes plans for the seventh annual RidgeFest, a three-day event to be held May 28-30 at Oak Ridge Town Park on Lisa Drive. Thursday evening, visitors can “Ride the Ridge” all evening for $20, with carnival rides from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Head back to the park on Friday, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., for more carnival rides as well as games, classic cars, the JP Looneys’ corn hole tournament, the Precision Golf longest drive, and an Oak Ridge Youth Association sponsor
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appreciation parade. Allen Tate will present The Fabulous Flashback Party, a Greensboro band that performs beach, Motown and current hits. “We try to use local vendors and talent as much as we can,” said Randy Floss, chairman of MAOR’s RidgeFest Committee. “Just like the Merchants Association, we draw from all around the area.” Floss said food offerings on Friday and Saturday “will be taken up a notch.” ORYA’s concession offerings will include hot dogs, hamburgers and chicken, and Domino’s and JP Looneys will also serve food. “And each day, three to five food trucks will serve everything from tacos to Asian to Greek. There are
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IN THIS ISSUE File photo
Head to Oak Ridge Town Park Thursday-Saturday, May 28-30, for the seventh annual RidgeFest.
Council considers 5-year capital improvement plan Proposed projects range from parking lot expansions to intersection beautification by PATTI STOKES SUMMERFIELD – For the first time in its 19-year history, the Town of Summerfield is taking steps to develop – and ultimately, adopt – a capital improvement plan. Capital projects, which typically require the use of significant financial and labor resources to complete, are usually budgeted separately
from the ordinary operating expenses of organizations and municipalities. At the May 12 town council meeting, Town Manager Scott Whitaker presented a five-year CIP to the council for its consideration. “A CIP will provide better direction for future budgeting; however, changes in needs, costs, emergencies, etc. will necessitate re-prioritizing items annually,” Whitaker said in his written recommendation to the council. The draft CIP lists projects in four
Having a starting place is where we needed to get to ... it’s something that had never been done.” Scott Whitaker Summerfield town manager categories: Parks, Planning/UDO, N.C. 150/Oak Ridge Road and Summerfield Road intersection, and other “around and throughout town” projects. In the parks category, identified capital improvements and needs include replace-
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News in brief ....................................3 Your Questions ................................4 Founders’ Day 2015 ........................6 Business Notes ................................8 Celebration .....................................8 Bits & Pieces ....................................9 Summerfield Town Council .........12 High School Sports .......................18 Student Profiles..............................19 Crime/Incident Report ................20 Community Calendar .................21 Grins & Gripes ...............................22 Classifieds .....................................26 Index of Advertisers .....................31
This Memorial Day, May 25, we pay homage to those who have died while serving in the armed forces of the United States of America.