Northwest Observer | July 28 - Aug. 3, 2017 by pscommunications

July 28 - Aug. 3, 2017

Area highway projects near completion Crews are putting the ﬁnishing touches on road projects near Oak Ridge

rels have been removed from Pleasant Ridge Road on the east side of the intersection.

by JOE GAMM

Photo by Joe Gamm/NWO

Crews have removed concrete barriers from the median along N.C. 68 near Pleasant Ridge Road and poured concrete curbing. The highway will contain concrete or grass islands in the median.

And they’re oﬀ!

Ordinance Review Committee holds ﬁrst meeting July 20 by PATTI STOKES

SUMMERFIELD – Schools, work, the people, rural charm, low taxes, solitude and safety, and a sense of community were some of the reasons 13 citizens recently gave for why they were attracted to Summerfield and why they choose to continue living in the community. The group of citizens from all walks of life met for the first time on July 20 as Summerfield’s newly formed Ordinance Review Committee. The ORC members were selected from among 24 applicants who indicated

they wanted to be proactive rather than reactive, and to use their knowledge, experience and love of Summerfield to impact the Town’s future direction. The 13 voting committee members are: • Amber Best, a stay-at-home mother of five and active community volunteer • Church Brown, a commercial real estate banker with Suntrust Bank • Millie Hoffler-Foushee, an education consultant, professional tax adviser and member of the Town’s Finance Committee • Andrew Broom, executive director of an aircraft owner-pilot organization • Deborah Proehl-Moser, a former TV reporter/anchor, 10-year Summerfield resident and a real estate consultant • Annie Cockcroft, a stay-at-home

NW GUILFORD – There’s been a change in the orange barrel arrangement near the intersection of Pleasant Ridge Road and N.C. 68, just about a mile outside the Oak Ridge town limits. Many of the bar-

You will probably be questioned in the community – please discuss the process with everyone. We’re here to learn and to do as much as we can to help this town.” Andrew Broom, ORC chair mother of two children who holds a master’s degree in community leadership; she and her family moved to Summerfield six months ago from Utah. • Bob Jones, a 14-year Summerfield resident and a senior consultant in the animal health and nutrition business who has a Ph.D. in animal science

Instead, they now stretch along the median of N.C. 68 near I-73, where Flatiron/ Blythe Development crews have shifted their focus. With the 9.7-mile stretch of I-73 from Greensboro to Summerfield and the taxiway bridge at Piedmont Triad International Airport virtually complete, the company can polish up other

...continued on p. 6

IN THIS ISSUE News in Brief ............................. 3 Your Questions ......................... 4 Stokesdale Town Council ....... 8 Tobacco sticks ....................... 12 Summerfield Town Council ... 14 Youth Sync ............................. 18 Community Calendar ........... 22 Crime/Incident Report .......... 23 Business Notes ....................... 24 Grins & Gripes ........................ 25 Letters/Opinions .................... 26 Classifieds .............................. 27 Index of Advertisers .............. 31 NWO on the Go! .................... 32

bringing the local news home to northwest Guilford County since 1996

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ORC plans special meeting to ﬁnalize work on nuisance ordinance STOKESDALE – The Stokesdale Ordinance Review Committee will hold a special meeting Tuesday, Aug. 1, to continue its review of the Town’s nuisance ordinance, which seeks to address the “prevention and abatement of public nuisances on private property.” The ORC has been discussing Ordinance 67 – which was approved in November 2007 – since the beginning of this year. At the committee’s Jan. 17 meeting, members determined that Stokesdale’s nuisance ordinance, covering such property blight conditions as growth of weeds and grass, accumulations of rubbish, and storm- or erosiondamaged structures and resulting debris should be rewritten. Most of the discussion at that meeting centered on Part II, Section A of the ordinance, which reads: “Upon a determination that conditions constituting a public nuisance exist, the town clerk shall notify, in writing, the owner,

the occupant or the person in possession of the premises in question of the conditions constituting such public nuisance and shall order the prompt abatement thereof within 15 days from the receipt of such written notice.” The committee concluded, however, there is no clear procedure in the ordinance for filing a complaint or defining a nuisance. After months of discussion, the committee met with Gregg July 18 and continued its discussion July 25. Proposed changes to the ordinance include adding a clear procedure to initiate a complaint, an appeals process and extending the abatement period. According to the upcoming meeting notice, the purpose of the Aug. 1 meeting is to continue review, and ultimately to approve the committee’s and town attorney’s rewrite of the ordinance.

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The meeting, which is open to the public, will be held at 4 p.m. at Town Hall, 8325 Angel Pardue Road.

Filing deadline closed 16 candidates running for town council seats in northwest Guilford County this November

Zoning Board, Thearon Hooks, chair of the Town’s Public Safety Committee, and Eric Lowe, a longtime Stokesdale resident and community volunteer, have all filed for the open council seat.

NW GUILFORD – The filing period for the Nov. 7 election closed July 21, and 16 local residents will appear on the ballot as candidates for town council and mayor in the towns of Oak Ridge, Stokesdale and Summerfield.

The four-year term of the mayor, who is elected directly by the citizens of Stokesdale, will also expire this fall; Mayor Randy Braswell will not be running for re-election. Frank Bruno, a current council member, and John Flynt, a former council member and one-term mayor, are both running for mayor in Stokesdale.

In Stokesdale, council member Vicki White-Lawrence’s four-year term will expire this fall; White-Lawrence did not file for re-election. Jaycee Spruill, a longtime member of the Town’s Planning &

In Oak Ridge, the four-year council

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Yes, there is a pergola at the far end of the parking lot and it is part of Summerfield Winfree Park. The park was developed as a tribute to the Jess Winfree family, who donated the property on which the Winfree store once stood to the Town of Summerfield. When donating the land for the parking lot, the Winfree family had included directions that a small area of land be set aside from the parking lot to honor their donation. Summerfield Town Manager Scott Whitaker said he and staff have been checking records to find agreements concerning the property. The parking lot came up in discussions in 2007 and 2008, records show. And in 2009, the town approved a scaled-back budget for the park. The pergola was a gift to the park on

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JULY 28 - AUG. 3, 2017

Photo by Joe Gamm/NWO

I heard something about a memorial structure being in the Summerfield Town Hall parking lot on the northeast corner of the intersection of Summerfield and Oak Ridge roads. Can you tell us more about that?

A pergola sits at the far end of the parking lot at the corner of Oak Ridge and Summerﬁeld roads. The structure is part of Winfree Park, which was created after the Jess Winfree family donated land for the parking lot and a small park.

which it sits. Dennis and Julie Willis, from Oak Ridge, made the in-kind donation of the pergola around 2009. At the same time, Jerry Friddle paid for some soil and decorative stone for the park and Paul Milam, a developer and former Summerfield resident, also made donations to the park. Summerfield Historical Committee Chair Linda Southard grew up near the site. “There were three stores in that little square when we were growing up,” she said. “We could walk up and get groceries.” Briefly, the town used to hold its annual Christmas tree-lighting ceremony at Winfree Park, but with nearly 300 people attending, it quickly outgrew the parking lot. That ceremony has since moved to Summerfield Athletic Park. The town and engineers with WithersRavenel are beginning to look at how

all four corners of the intersection will work together as the town prepares to refurbish and add onto the Gordon Hardware building, which is south of the parking lot and will be used as a town meeting site. As the plan develops, the officials know they are going to need additional parking. “The little park area where the pergola sits would potentially be a spot for expanding that parking lot,” Whitaker said. “We really don’t need to gain a whole lot. If we gain several spaces, that would be significant.” It’s too soon in the process to say if the town will need to create additional parking on the grassy site, Whitaker said. “It may not be a problem, if they identify a solution for additional parking for the Gordon Hardware building,” he noted.

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Dr. Tev Barros carries on long tradition of compassionate care at ORAH Growing up, Dr. Tev Barros had no idea that the backward spelling of his first name – vet – would someday indicate his profession. “My dad (who is Brazilian) liked the Apollo missions and wanted to give me a space-age name,” Tev explained. “Time, space and velocity” in Por Portugese, his father’s native language, is translated “Tempo, espaço e velocidade” – that would have been a bit much for a name, so fortunately, his parents settled on “Tev” for short. Born in New York City, Tev was a toddler when he and his parents moved to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, where his father returned to his career as a geologist. At age 14 he moved back to the United States with his mother, but spending his earlier years in a country with such a diverse ethnic and cultural mix left its mark on him (among other things, Tev is fluent in Portugese and embraces the Brazilian culture and traditions). Although Tev grew up with a menagerie of animals, from domestic to more exotic, he didn’t decide to bebe come a veterinarian until his early 20s.

Photo by Patti Stokes/NWO

Dr. Tev Barros holds the animal love of his life. Mookie, now 17, was just a kitten when Barros adopted him.

High school and college at James Madison University kept Tev in northern Virginia, and afterward he spent two years doing research in entomology (study of insects) for the USDA. During this time, he observed his boss spending a lot of time writing grants. “I figured I would go crazy if I ended up doing that because I’m somewhat ADD (attention deficit disorder),” Tev said. “So I had to decide at that point, ‘What do I do with my life?’” He enjoyed working with his hands, and that led him to contemplate three possible careers – airplane mechanics, human medicine and animal medicine. He ruled out airplane mechanics, and after volunteering at a medical surgical department turned him away from human medicine for a variety of reasons, he decided to study animal medicine and enrolled in the Virginia–Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine School at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. As he was graduating from veterinary school, he took an opportunity

to go with nine other classmates to England for two months and train in emergency disease outbreak control. Most of his time was spent in northern England, where he especially enjoyed inspecting some of the farms where James Alfred “Alf” Wight, a veterinary surgeon, had practiced. Wight became widely known for a series of semi-autobiographical books he wrote under the pen name of James Herriot, which included “All Creatures Great and Small.” Tev launched his veterinarian’s career at a small animal clinic in Port Angeles, Washington. A few years later he went to work for an animal clinic in Sequim (pronounced “Skwim”), Washington, where the vets there also worked for a local petting game farm. Besides working with domestic animals he also got to work with wild animals like bear, wolves, cougars and elk –and even had the unique experience of occasionally being dropped from a helicopter to place tracking devices inside bear and elk. In 2011, Tev accepted a position with a practice in Hickory, North Carolina, and soon afterward met the love of his life, Jennifer Evans. In time, they talked about buying their own veterinary practice – five years passed before they learned Oak Ridge Animal Hospital, founded and operated by Dr. Denise Sacks, was for sale. Sacks’ approach to animal care mirrored that of Tev and Jennifer’s, and as a bonus, the practice on Edgefield Road off N.C. 68, just outside the Oak Ridge town limits, was only a few miles from Jennifer’s parents’ home in Colfax. The idea of having grandpar grandparents so close by for their 2 ½-year-old

son, Luca, cemented the deal. Tev officially took over the reins at Oak Ridge Animal Hospital on May 19, but Dr. Sacks continues to work at the practice two days a week. “She can do that as long as she wants to be here,” Tev said. “I really like Denise’s approach and I want to carry on the spirit of how she ran this clinic… I feel I have some big shoes to fill and intend to carry the torch that she started – the level of care that she practices is yards above.” When not caring for patients, Tev enjoys spending time with Jennifer, their son, and extended family and friends – and, he and Jennifer love to climb the side of a mountain any chance they get; they also thoroughly enjoy introducing other people to their hobby. “Everybody has a whimsy – ours is rock climbing,” Tev said.

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HIGHWAY UPDATE ...continued from p. 1

parts of the $176.5 million project. In the N.C. 68 median, crews are replacing temporary concrete barriers with the final curbing, according to N.C. Department of Transportation construction engineer Patty Eason. Workers are building up the islands and preparing them for grass. Some areas will have concrete islands. “Pleasant Ridge Road and a service road on the west side (of N.C. 68) are the final pieces,” Eason said. “Their efforts are focused on getting 68 and Pleasant Ridge into the final pattern.” The service road that is to be added will extend into undeveloped property across N.C. 68 from the southbound I-73 off-ramp and will provide access for several properties. Collett, a Charlottebased commercial real estate firm, owns about 106 acres just south of the Guilford Technical Community College Campus at Leabourne Road, and Blue Ridge Companies, whose CEO is Summerfield resident David Couch, also owns property nearby.

Some additional acceleration and deceleration lanes for entering and exiting the interstate need to be added in the area, Eason said. “It is really getting down to the final details,” she said. “We’re hoping to have it done in about a month.” The project is close enough to being complete that the highway department has a “punch list” for final touches. For example, some grading needs to be finished on the connector near the airport and there is a pipe that doesn’t appear to be draining well near the N.C. 150 intersection. In Summerfield, the contractor for the U.S. 220 widening project has agreed to concentrate on finishing a stretch of the highway between Horse Pen Creek Road and the south end of Summerfield Road before school starts. That’s a little farther than the NCDOT requested earlier this month. Officials anticipate the entire I-73 project will be completed sometime in November.

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ORC MEETING

...continued from p. 1 manager of a soil and environmental consulting company • Gary Brown, a retired business owner and CEO, former Summerfield Town Council member and community advocate who has served on multiple non-profit boards • Jeff Livaudais, an Information Technology professional who has lived in Summerfield for 14 years • Ryan Moats, a transportation engineer with Greensboro DOT • Billy Tesh, a 25-year resident of Summerfield and owner of Pest Management Company • Jason Webster, a former professional athlete and consultant, and a stay-at-home father of two sons who is pursuing his MBA Andrew Broom will chair the committee, Jason Webster will serve as vice chair and Annie Cockcroft will serve as secretary. The ad-hoc committee will meet on the first and third Thursday over the next several months. The committee is charged with reviewing and recommending updates to Summerfield’s draft development ordinance, which has been in a state of revision for five years. The committee’s ultimate goal is to recommend a citizensupported UDO that is better aligned with the comprehensive plan adopted in 2010. “At times the UDO Committee will be going through things fairly quickly and at other times it may feel like a snail's pace ... they will be going through things that really need to be thought through," said Summerfield Town Council member Mike Adams, who will serve as one of two committee liaisons. “At times we will have to tear it apart and make sure it fits well with the comprehensive plan. We’ll probably have to hash and rehash.” Dick Fuelner, who chairs the Town’s Planning & Zoning Board, will also serve as a committee liaison. The Town has contracted with Piedmont Triad Regional Council for facilitation services; Bill McNeill, a senior associate at PTRC, will serve as the group's facilitator.

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Town Manager Scott Whitaker and Planning Director Carrie Spencer attended the committee’s first meeting, although Whitaker does not plan to attend every meeting, nor will he or Spencer have a vote in committee decisions. “This committee’s charge is to be focused on those substantive issues that have come out of this contentious PD (Planned Development) process and while it’s not about planned development, that was really the impetus for the formation of this committee,” Whitaker told committee members, adding, “A lot of eyes are watching this committee… this committee is an advisory one, but a critical advisory one for our growth.” Town Attorney Bill Hill reminded committee members that they were a public committee and everything they do must be done in public. “Outside the meeting room, speak as a board,” he added. “And please do not publicly undermine the integrity of the board. If there are conflicts, we can resolve those.” “There are a lot of myths and rumors out there, so make sure you include supporting evidence when offering an opinion about something…We are community ambassadors,” Broom told his fellow committee members. “You will probably be questioned in the community – please discuss the process with everyone. We’re here to learn and to do as much as we can to help this town.” Quoting from the N.C. Institute of Government’s citizen planning manual, Spencer noted, “It is important to remember that the goal of good planning is to get out in front of potential problems and prepare for quality growth, not to stifle it or remove any individual’s rights.”

want to go? The committee meets again Thursday, Aug. 3, 6 p.m. at Summerfield Station 9 on Summerfield Road. At that meeting the committee will work on identifying 8 to 10 “substantive issues” relating to the Town’s development ordinance that they want to focus on over the next several months.

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STOKESDALE town council

July 13 / MEETING HIGHLIGHTS as reported by STEVE MANN

 Mayor Randy Braswell called the monthly council meeting to order at 7 p.m. Bill Jones, mayor pro tem, and council members Tim Jones and Frank Bruno were present, as were the town administrator/finance officer, budget officer, deputy clerk, planner and attorney. Council member Vicki WhiteLawrence was absent. Agenda/minutes. The council voted 4-0 to approve the agenda, and voted 3-1 – with Tim Jones voting nay – to approve minutes of the May 2 budget committee meeting; the weekly Wednesday meetings May 31, June 14, June 21 and June 28; and the regular monthly meetings May 11 and June 8.

PUBLIC COMMENTS  Tom McCoy of Springbirch Terrace asked the council to consider waiving a fee for Stokesdale Community Choir to use the community room in Town Hall for rehearsals. McCoy, a member of the choir, said he remembered the council “exuberantly” inviting the group to use Town facilities at no charge when the choir was formed about three years ago. The group represents Stokesdale at numerous events within and outside Stokesdale boundaries, has never asked the council for any money and never charges a fee or admission to its performances, he said. Later in the meeting, during council

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Attorney Katy Gregg reminded the council of her past advice not to give waivers without a policy explaining when they are appropriate.

“Government has laws it has to follow, and government can incur liabilities if it doesn’t follow those laws,” Gregg said. “Government has to understand that sometimes government cannot run by being big-hearted.” Braswell asked the council to prepare to vote on a waiver policy at the weekly July 19 meeting. (UPDATE: At the Wednesday, July 19, weekly meeting, Bill Jones suggested creating a Cultural and Public Events Committee, with the choir and the Parade Committee as subcommittees. He said the committee’s mission would be to provide music at community events and help organize public events on Town property. “There’s a need there to be filled,” Jones said, noting the rehearsals would serve as committee meetings and allow the choir to circumvent the fee. If handled this way, however, each choir member would have to apply to join the committee and the group would have to follow the Town’s committee policy, which includes appointing officers and taking minutes.

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comments, Braswell noted the council is working on a policy defining when fees can be waived or discounted. He asked that council consider granting the choir a temporary fee waiver until a policy can be adopted.

Bruno asked what the council would do if another group wanted to form a committee and meet at Town Hall for free. Bill Jones replied the council would have to decide if that committee

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would benefit the Town. Braswell then asked if the Town could charge a rental fee of $15 per hour for the community room (based on the current usage rate of $120 per day or $60 per half-day). Bill Jones said there would need to be a minimum of more than an hour because of the staff’s setup time. Sondra Beene, the choir’s director, said the group does its own setup and cleanup. Tim Jones motioned to waive the fee through Sept. 10 – covering only the first day of the 11 requested – until either a waiver policy is crafted or other arrangements were made. The motion was approved 4-1, with White-Lawrence voting nay. Bill Jones then motioned to create a Cultural and Public Events Committee, which would help advertise and organize public events at the park and perform music at community events. Jones’ motion was approved 5-0. Bill Jones said the council would work to have a solution by the July 26 weekly meeting. Beene said she wants to let the community know by Aug. 1 when the choir is meeting and where. She also said she has received an offer of free practice space elsewhere.)

NEW BUSINESS Sheriff’s report. No representative from the Guilford County Sheriff’s Department was present to give a report.

PUBLIC HEARING

Financial report. Budget Officer Phillip Pulliam presented the town’s financial report for the fiscal year ending June 30. Assets in the general fund total $2,774,228.33, including $2,771,542.16 in checking and savings. To date, the town has received three of four utilities franchise tax distribution payments, its largest revenue source; the fourth payment for the fiscal year 2016/17 will be received in September, Pulliam said. Revenues from planning and inspection fees was 73.4 percent more than budgeted. There are some outstanding bills still to be posted for June, but thus far expenses in both the general fund and the water enterprise account appear to be significantly less than what had been projected for the fiscal year ending June 30.

Rezoning. Town Planner Oliver Bass presented a request by James G. Apple to rezone about 14.82 acres at 8511 Belews Creek Road from RS-30 (single-family residential, 30,000 square feet minimum) and Agriculture to RS-40 (single-family residential, 40,000 square feet minimum). The Planning Board voted July 6 to recommend the request be approved, saying it was consistent with the Town’s land use plan and would enable expansion of the Town’s water system in the area. For details, see the Northwest Observer’s July 21-27 edition.

40

(UPDATE: At the July 19 weekly meeting, the council looked at examples of different emergency warnings that would be printed on yellow envelopes and hung on the doors of water system customers. Bill Jones said the town needs to budget money for bottled water in case of an emergency affecting the water system.)

buyer that is a possibility.

to approve the rezoning

request.

Ted Southern asked whether a prospective lot buyer would need to be told the property is in the path of the proposed U.S. 158 bypass’ Alternate 2 route. Gregg said it would be in the seller’s best interest to inform the

 4  0 for staff to send a letter from Gregg to Hassel Moran, general manager of Pump, Pipe, Sales & Service, in response to his request for information about voluntary annexation. The business is just off U.S. 158, outside the Stokesdale town limits and west of U.S. 220. 40

COMMITTEE/BOARD REPORTS

to approve a contract with Yates Construction Co. in the amount of $1,200 to move a water meter at 8208 Wendy Gale Drive. Braswell said the state has made several efforts to fix the problem; the meter is under water, possibly because of a nearby natural spring.

Public Safety. Chairman Thearon Hooks said he has picked out two possible days in August to run the Town’s portable generator; the generator will be taken from its storage place at the fire department to Stokesdale United Methodist Church, which is the designated emergency shelter. Hooks said the generator will allow the church to house and feed many people in the event of an emergency.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS Emergency Access Water Usage Policy. Braswell said he and the staff continue to work on crafting a policy for emergency water usage; his motion to continue the discussion was approved 4-0.

...continued on p. 10

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Property. Bill Jones said he and WhiteLawrence will be taking measurements for a possible shelter location at Town Park. He also said dead spots in the grass are filling in.

 Applications are being accepted for positions on the Planning Board and committees; applications can be obtained at Town Hall and online at www.stokesdale.org.

Administrative report. Hemric reminded citizens of the Town’s Facebook page, which is updated periodically.

 Citizens who want to be informed of public meetings can be added to the Sunshine List by emailing Stokesdale@ Stokesdale.org.

Seven water meters were sold in June.

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The Govt Portal system for paying water bills by credit card was opened April 17 and 111 transactions have been recorded, Hemric said.

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Library. Bruno said the library has received new donations, and new items will be for sale.

Hemric said she will meet with a representative from Paychex Inc., which provides payroll, benefits and human resources services, to confirm the town is in compliance with OSHA laws and FICA regulations. The annual consumer confidence report for the water system is complete and an online link is listed on the back of water bills. Hemric said she will announce details of a citizens academy at the Aug. 10 council meeting. Water Authority Comments. Braswell said he signed an agreement with the Timmons Group for Stokesdale to participate in a feasibility study (along with Oak Ridge, Summerfield and parts of Guilford County) for a proposed regional water authority; the firm will come to Stokesdale to discuss the Town’s master plan. Citizen input is critical, Braswell said, and the item will be on the weekly Wednesday meeting agendas.

ANNOUNCEMENTS  The Planning Board will meet Aug. 3 at 7 p.m. to consider a text amendment to the Stokesdale Development

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COUNCIL COMMENTS  Tim Jones thanked the 16 people who attended the meeting, then recognized all those working on the highways. “Sometimes we don’t give them enough credit,” he said. As he has stated before, Jones repeated that he favors small government and opposes a property tax for Stokesdale.  Bruno also thanked those who attended the meeting and said committee volunteers are needed. A Community Day is being planned for October and Bruno said he would appreciate help with organizing it.  Bill Jones echoed Braswell’s earlier request for prayers for the military and law enforcement. Jones then said he received a complaint about a rumor someone had heard and urged anyone with questions about what the council is doing to call his cell phone, which is listed at www.stokesdale.org.  Braswell said he and his wife’s second grandchild, Iris, was born July 4, weighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces, and was 20 inches long. The meeting was adjourned at 8:17 p.m.

Tobacco sticks – past functional and recreational uses by Helen Ledford They can still be found in musty and spidery corners of old farm barns or storage sheds. Local museums, craft stores, curiosity or antique shops may even feature some of these aged pieces of Americana. They are tobacco sticks – once an essential for successful production of the golden leaf when it reigned supreme as king of crops in our state. These worn-smooth hardwood shafts are tangible and gentle remind-

ers of forgotten farm living. The long, slender pieces of hardwood may bring a bit of nostalgia to those native to southern rural areas in the ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s. However, with diminishing demand for the once-popular tobacco crop, modern technology and farms giving way to booming development, tobacco sticks have outlived their original purpose. The earliest tobacco sticks were hewn by hand from 5-foot logs, with the help of a “froe,” or type of wedge, and a mallet. Some farmers became

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JULY 28 - AUG. 3, 2017

true artisans, producing as many as 250 sticks per day. The painstaking process was rewarding, but extremely tedious. Later, when gas-powered saws came into existence, the job became easier. Thousands of the sticks were essential for just one tobacco growing season. Enterprising landowners with heavily wooded property produced extras, selling them to neighbors for three or four cents each. As children growing up in a rural area, my siblings and I knew all too well the important process of planting and harvesting tobacco. In the hottest days of June, July and August, we were reminded that those yellow fields contained our livelihood and as part of the family, we were expected to do our part. It was no fun to roll out of bed in early morning and work often till after sunset, but we did it without argument; in those days, a work ethic was instilled at a young age. Large sleds of tobacco were brought to the barn shelter. There we stood and bunched bundles of justpicked tobacco leaves, handing them to the “stringer” who rapidly and expertly tied each bundle onto tobacco sticks. It was a team effort and the process moved quickly, as there was always another sled of tobacco on its way from the field.

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The heavily laden, strung tobacco sticks were handled carefully and later carried into the barn. There we helped hoist them to men inside who stood on high log-tier poles. The fruits of our labor filled the barn to capacity, and the tobacco would later be cured with intense heat, after the barn’s old tin wood-burning flues were fired up. When it was a desired saleable color, it would be taken to the market. As youngsters, my siblings and I discovered our own pleasurable uses for tobacco sticks. What fun it was to contort our bodies while executing the “limbo” as the stick was gradually

lowered. We of the short-legged variety probably always won! And the reverse – to see how high we could jump over the slim obstacle held by two siblings, without falling and breaking our craniums! We also developed “javelin-throwing skills,” sending tobacco sticks airborne and measuring the distances traveled (with much bragging!). There were lively games of “jump the brook,” with sticks placed on the ground and moved apart until we participants realized that only the nimble legs of a young deer could easily cover the last remaining distance (long-legged family members were the usual victors in this lively sporting event!). A hefty armload of the long wooden stakes thrown onto the ground offered a larger version of an old vintage game called “pick-up sticks.” One favorite diversion was to hold a stick firmly in each hand, and with a running start, sail with great gusto over gullies and ditches. One of the best things was making crude stilts, or “tom-walkers,” by nailing a scrap block of wood onto each of two tobacco sticks. My brother Bill remembers walking once on stilts all the way up (and back) the long, long

path to our mailbox on the “big” road without stopping (no doubt he suffered sore feet afterward!). In our community, countless housewives, including my mother, used tobacco sticks to stake tomato plants and bean vines in the garden. Those versatile lengths of wood also made quite handsome cages for old hens being fattened for the dinner table! Admittedly, when we youngsters quarreled, it sometimes ended with stick “sword fights” and painful knots on our “noggins.” I recall one occasion when I used that serviceable piece of wood to knock those ugly green hornworms off tobacco plants (I was squeamish about the conventional method of picking them off by hand). In the process, I punched holes in some of that priceless growing green commodity (Mama didn’t like that at all…).

NEWS in brief

...continued from p. 3 seats of Jim Kinneman and Mike Stone will expire this fall. Kinneman and Stone both filed to keep their seats; Ann Schneider, chair of the Town’s Historic Preservation Commission, and Patty Paslaru, a member of the Town’s Planning and Zoning Board, have also filed for the two open seats. In Summerfield, the mayor is elected directly by citizens every two years and Mayor Mark Brown’s two-year term will expire this fall; Brown is not running for re-election. Dwayne Crawford, a former town council member and longtime

community advocate, Gail Dunham, an outspoken critic of the town council and staff, and Tim Sessoms, who served one term as mayor, are all running for mayor. The four-year terms of Summerfield Town Council members Dianne Laughlin and Mike Adams will also expire this fall. Adams and Laughlin have both filed to keep their seats; Todd Rotruck, a Realtor/broker with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, and Teresa Pegram, a lifetime Summerfield resident and co-chair of the Save our Summerfield Committee, are also vying for the two open seats. Look for more coverage on the town council and mayoral candidates this fall.

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Tobacco sticks are now mostly sought after for creating lovely polyurethane-coated canes or other walking apparatuses, ornamental stars or wooden Christmas trees, etc. And yes – for the right price, those once-necessary items may be purchased on eBay (do I hear many long-passed farmers spinning in their graves?).

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JULY 28 - AUG. 3, 2017

SUMMERFIELD town council

July 11 / MEETING HIGHLIGHTS (continued from our July 21-27 issue) as reported by PATTI STOKES

PUBLIC HEARING Town Planning Director Carrie Spencer presented a rezoning request for 61 acres near the intersection of Scalesville Road and Lake Brandt Road, from AG to OSRD (Open Space Residential Development); if approved, up to 45 single-family homes will be built on the property. Spencer highlighted conditions the

developer placed on the rezoning, which include the style of architecture and provision for a natural, undisturbed buffer to remain along Strawberry Road. Amanda Hodierne, an attorney, was on hand to represent the current property owner and LD Equity, which plans to purchase the property pending approval of the rezoning request.

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Hodierne said LD Equity held an open house to present the development plan to neighboring property owners and the primary feedback received related to the subdivision’s access points, which are proposed to come off Strawberry Road (versus Scalesville Road). Hodierne said this decision was based on feedback from NCDOT, which said there are sharper curves and more people traveling at higher speeds on Scalesville Road than Strawberry Road. To support that, NCDOT said in the last five years there were 62 accidents in the vicinity of the proposed subdivision and Scalesville Road, which the department characterized as “more than normal.” Compared to that, there were zero accidents along the frontage of Strawberry Road where the access points are being proposed, Hodierne said. Councilman Mike Adams asked if there were any plans for public trails in the subdivision and Spencer said that based on the Town’s comprehensive plan, “Every time a property comes up for development, I look for those opportunities.”

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Buddy Lyons of LD Equity said the company tries to offer trails as amenities to residents of its developments and it would be willing to work with the Town on a possible public trail. In answer to a question by Adams, Lyons said most lots in the development will have their own private well and septic system.

At this point Mayor Brown opened the floor for public comments. A resident of Strawberry Road, who said she was neither for nor against the development, asked if any kind of environmental impact study had been done, and if 200 more cars on Strawberry Road might wipe out the zero accident rate. With no one else wishing to speak, the public comments section of the hearing closed at 7:36 p.m. Spencer confirmed the applicant had submitted an environmental impact inventory which met the Town’s requirements. When NCDOT reviews the development plan, they will look at road capacity, said Spencer, noting that DOT has already said Strawberry Road is not at full capacity; the Town has asked DOT to review all the development in this area, she added, and to “look at it before something happens.” Council member Reece Walker said he would like to see the portion of Scalesville Road from Lariat Drive to its intersection with Lake Brandt Road straightened, and Hodierne suggested that be addressed in the site plan review process. Spencer was asked to make it clear to the developer’s engineer that there are concerns about the access points to the subdivision being off Strawberry Road. Council member Dianne Laughlin said the Town wasn’t discussing the segment of Strawberry Road to U.S. 220, but traffic

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and speeding in that area is “bad.” “We have to look at the whole picture,” she said. Going back to the issue of straightening a segment of Scalesville Road, Walker said, “My concern is that NCDOT wouldn’t decide ahead of time (before more accidents occur there).”

 3  2 to approve the rezoning re-

quest (with Laughlin and Walker opposed). Spencer said staff would address as many citizen and council concerns as possible, and council member Dena Barnes, who represents Summerfield on the Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Transportation Advisory Committee, said she would also email an NCDOT District 7 engineer to make him aware of the Town’s concerns. Continuity of Government Plan. Rachel Faucette with GC Emergency Management presented the COG plan, which was written to ensure governing bodies can continue functioning when incidents interrupt normal operations.

fice provides in Summerfield, which include routine fire inspections and investigating fires and fire code complaints. Thomas said this year the county commissioners directed the fire marshal’s office to review how it was doing “everything,” and in the process the department discovered it had not been equitable in how it charged municipalities for services. Consequently, the office is increasing its hourly fee from $25 to $50 and will no longer place a cap on the amount of fees municipalities pay each year.

 5  0 to approve an updated contract with the fire marshal’s office.

Committee Reappointments. Whitaker presented a list of 13 volunteer committee members whose terms on the Finance, Historical and Trails and Open Space committees were expiring.

 5  0 (in separate votes) to reappoint

 5  0 to approve the COG plan as

the 13 volunteer committee members whose terms were expiring. There is one vacancy on the Trails & Open Space Committee, and anyone interested in serving can get an application from Town Hall.

Fire inspections. Whitaker said the Town has contracted with the county fire marshal’s office for business fire inspections since it incorporated in 1996 and contract terms have not changed during this time. Stephen Thomas, deputy fire marshal, highlighted services the fire marshal’s of-

Investments. Hall presented the Finance Committee’s recommendations to move a CDAR that will mature in July ($1,554,919) to Bank of Oak Ridge with a 1.65 percent interest rate for three years and a CDAR that will mature in August ($363,330) to Bank of North Carolina with a 1.55 percent interest rate for two years.

presented.

 5  0 to accept the Finance Com-

some people have said.”

mittee’s investment recommendations.

OTHER BUSINESS SAP Parking Lot. Whitaker said the parking lot project at Summerfield Athletic Park is underway. Piedmont Greenway. Whitaker also said he attended a stakeholders’ meeting for the Piedmont Greenway, which will extend from Greensboro through Summerfield (via the pedestrian tunnel under U.S. 220) and all the way to Triad Park in Kernersville. Contract. The contract with Cube Design & Research for architectural services for the Gordon Hardware building and Martin House renovations was approved at a special called council meeting on June 19. Whitaker said the firm requested a cost consultant be brought in at the front end so there would be no surprises at the back end. Public Records Requests. Whitaker said the Town continues to fill public records requests as they come in, “contrary to what

Annual Audit. Rouse, Rouse, Penn & Rouse has performed the Town’s annual audit for the last several years and after discussing the wisdom in getting a “fresh set of eyes” on the Town’s financial records, the Finance Committee narrowed a list of six potential firms to perform the annual audit down to two and ultimately recommended Gibson & Company.

 5  0 to contract with Gibson &

Company, at a one-year contract price of $9,500. Firearms in Parks. Based on ongoing discussions (dating back to April) about a portion of the Town’s park ordinance which regulates guns at both Summerfield Athletic Park and Summerfield Community Park, the issue was back before the council at this meeting. “The attorney sent us something earlier that basically banned everything everywhere,” Mayor Brown said of changes the town attorney had suggested in April.

...continued on p. 26

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GCS students leave legacy at new HorsePOWER site by JONATHAN WILLIAMS HIGH POINT – The months of summer vacation normally conjure up images of sitting by the pool, relaxing on a beach or climbing some mountain trail. But for some local youth, this summer meant giving back to their community and getting their hands dirty as part of the Volunteer Center Service-Learning Leadership Camp. Students from seven Guilford County high schools organized a community service day July 11, which began Phase One of a sensory trail for HorsePOWER Therapeutic Learning Center’s new site at 4537 Walpole Road in High Point. The nearly milelong trail will feature activities and areas that engage the five senses. Participants can use the trail in a variety of ways based on their needs, such as learning objectives or hand-eye coordination. “When we first walked the would-be trail in the woods, all I could think to myself is, ‘How are we going to do this?’ because of how overgrown it was,” Northwest senior Britt Carruthers said. “It’s exciting to now see an actual trail that we worked hard to plan and finally work on clearing. I know I’ll be staying with HorsePOWER as they continue expanding and going forward with the trail’s potential.” While Phase One is focused on the creation and clearing of the trail, students researched activity stations. These include colorful signs of shapes and animals for participants to identify and gardens of lavender and mint to stimulate their sense of smell. The project is just one of four opportunities the leadership camp offers. The camp’s mission is to give students

Photo by Jonathan Williams/NWO

Students and volunteers at the entrance to the new sensory trail created for HorsePOWER include Nolan Carr, Parker Hopkins, Peyton Hopkins, Josh Auger, Montana Mears, Audra Mosley, Renata Diaz, Carrington Lea, Britt Carruthers, Leslie Castillo, Jesse Auger, teacher Carrie Hopkins, Caley Butler, Bryan Castillo, Noah Auger and Jazmine Munn. real-world experiences and skills through service to local nonprofit organizations. “We wanted to give this project 100 percent,” Grimsley senior Leslie Castillo said. “Not only did we want to give it our all, we wanted to make sure it was done well. Though we are all different and come from different schools, it’s exciting to see people come together to help their community.” After formal presentations, drafting letters for donations

and fundraising with local businesses, the students were ready to turn their projects and plans over to those who will follow in their footsteps. Many of the students say they plan to continue working on the HorsePOWER project. “At the end of the day, these students really want to be here,” said Carrie Hopkins, a service-learning leader and Northwest Middle School teacher. “Through their research, planning and work, they’re leaving a legacy that will be useful for a lot of people.”

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The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

Summer brings change of focus for school administrators, staff

Coming Sept 8

Although the pace is a little slower, principals ﬁnd plenty to do when students aren’t around by JOE GAMM NORTHWEST/NORTHERN GUILFORD – Students are gone and classrooms are empty, but school administrators in northwest and northern Guilford County stay busy during the summer months. The job for most administrators just shifts focus during the summer, Northwest High School Principal Ralph Kitley said. “It’s definitely a different pace,” he said. “You’re not under the gun. There’s no real formula for what you do every day.” Although the principals get to move a little slower during the summer months and even take some days off, multiple tasks demand their attention. Interviewing and hiring teachers, assistant principals and other staff members to replace any who left at the end of the school year is one demand on their time. Principals also work with department heads during the summer to create and fine-tune curricula. And, they have to make certain their schools will be prepared inside and out when students return late August. “I think it’s funny that people ask, ‘Are you working this summer?’” said Denise Francisco, Oak Ridge Elementary School principal. Especially in older schools like Northwest Guilford High, which opened in August 1962, facilities need to be regularly checked when they aren’t in use to be certain things remain in working order. For instance, during the summer Kitley checks the air conditioning in the 22 mo-

Ralph Kitley

Denise Francisco

5th annual Michelle Thigpen

Karen Ellis

bile units the school uses for classrooms. He said it would be a disaster if a teacher returned from summer break and tried to work in a room without air conditioning. “When things aren’t being used regularly, you don’t know (how they’re functioning),” he said. “You have to go around checking things.” During a basketball camp early this summer, several air conditioning units in the high school’s gym failed, which made the court begin to sweat and created a safety issue for players. The air conditioning had to be repaired before the gym could be used. Crews also used this summer’s down time in the school to repair a hole in the cafeteria’s kitchen floor, Kitley said. And he had to move out of his office for two weeks while workers removed asbestos tile from beneath the carpet and installed new carpet.

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...continued on p. 21

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JULY 28 - AUG. 3, 2017

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Capri D'Souza awarded gold medal

OAK RIDGE – Oak Ridge resident Capri D’Souza, a rising senior at Northwest High School, was recently awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, one of the two highest civilian awards in the United States. Capri set her sights on earning the gold medal the summer before her freshman year of high school. To do so, she met requirements in four categories: 400 hours of voluntary service; 200 hours of physical fitness; 200 hours of personal development; and 4 nights/5 days of expedition or exploration.

Capri’s voluntary service has included collecting food for Greensboro Urban Ministry, volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House and Brenner Children’s Hospi-

PRINCIPALS

tal, and creating the “Girls for a Change” club at Northwest High School, in which club members mentor middle and high school girls and help women in need. Capri will travel to Ghana this summer to volunteer and personally deliver funds the club has raised for a school there. To stay physically fit, Capri has played year-round soccer, which is her passion, and works out at the gym.

Capri is very active in NWHS’s Speech and Debate Club and will be captain of the club in the upcoming school year.

As part of her personal development, Capri practices her violin every day and is a member of the Greensboro Symphony Youth Orchestra.

Capri is especially appreciative of her counselor and “Girls for a Change” club sponsor, Mrs. Stacy Garner, who she said has spent countless hours attending meetings, helping the club members with coordinating volunteer opportunities and offering advice and support.

And finally, to fulfill her expedition/ exploration requirement, Capri planned a two-week trip to China with her family.

Photo courtesy of Diane D'Souza

...continued from p. 19

Part of a principal’s summer job is organizing professional development for staff, according to Colfax Elementary Principal Michelle Thigpen. Thigpen, who has been at Colfax for 10 years, said she’s organizing professional development for her staff based on “The Hard Hat,” a book by Jon Gordon. “You’ve got to plan what you’re going to do,” she explained. “It’s all about team-building and motivating and working together.” Some of her staff’s professional development will be done face-to-face and some will be done online. “Technology is helping,” she said. The biggest part of the summer is preparing for the upcoming school year, Thigpen said. Administrators also have to stay connected with families who will send their children to the school. “It’s all the networking, all the PR,” she said. “We’re trying to cultivate a sense of community.” The challenges will be a little different than most for Karen Ellis, the only new principal in northwest or northern Guilford County this year. Ellis has taken over at Northern Middle School, after serving as Southern Guilford Middle’s principal since

“A lot of her success has come from Northwest High School,” Diane D’Souza, Capri’s mother, said. “The principal, counselors and teachers have gone way above and beyond – they work very hard to make sure the kids who want to achieve success can do so.”

2013. One advantage she enjoys is having some familiarity with the staff at Northern Middle, where she was an assistant principal for more than four years. Ellis will rely on staff to help her get to know rising seventh- and eighth-graders enough to put them in a schedule that works best for them, she said. She hoped to open up the school this summer to allow rising sixth-graders and their families to get to know her and said she’d do the same for the older students a little later. “When I get data from fifth grade, I get this group of incoming students who I don’t know beyond their test scores,” Ellis said. For example, she doesn’t know if the student is shy and may be best suited to a teacher who will help pull that student out, or if the student needs a nurturing teacher or one who is a little more demanding. “As a family, you know your children best. If you give me a little bit of knowledge, then I can put together a schedule that’s going to be best for them,” Ellis said. “So, I always open it up for the rising sixthgraders to come and meet with me.” We'll continue this article in next week's issue.

Capri D'Souza, a rising senior at NWHS, wears the Congressional Gold Medal she was awarded on June 21.

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WEDNESDAY, AUG. 2

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dents over age 60 are invited to a monthly program and lunch on Aug. 2, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Oak Ridge United Methodist Church, 2424 Oak Ridge Road in Oak Ridge. A catered lunch is served at no cost to participants. RSVP to Rural Outreach Coordinator Amanda Clark at (336) 373-4816 or ruraloutreach@senior-resources-guilford.org.

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cil will hold its weekly meeting Aug. 2, 4 p.m., at Stokesdale Town Hall, 8325 Angel Pardue Road in Stokesdale (unless prior cancellation notice is posted). The meeting is open to the public; an agenda is not available prior to the meeting.

THURSDAY, AUG. 3  Town Council Meeting | Oak Ridge Town Council will hold its monthly meeting Aug. 3, 7 p.m., at Oak Ridge Town Hall, 8315 Linville Road. More info and agenda: www.oakridgenc.com.

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 9  Explore Historic Oak Ridge | Explore Historic Oak

facebook.com/NorthwestObserver

Ridge Committee, a subcommittee of the Oak Ridge Historic Preservation Commission, will meet again Aug. 9, 7 p.m. at Oak Ridge Town Hall, 8315 Linville Road, to continue planning the upcoming Explore Historic Oak Ridge event on Saturday, Sept. 16 (more details about this event in future issues). Citizen volunteers are welcome throughout the planning phases of the event as well as on the day of the event.

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dents – just a friendly reminder that if you haven’t yet started on your summer reading list, now is the time! Visit your school’s website for the required summer reading list and details about any assignments (depending upon class/grade) due over the summer or on the first day of school.

MONDAY, AUG. 28  First Day of School | Guilford County Schools’ students on a traditional school year calendar will start back to school Aug. 28. Schools will be closed the following Monday, Sept. 4, for the Labor Day holiday.

JULY 28 - AUG. 3, 2017

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Located at 4551 US Hwy 220 N, Summerfield • (336) 686-0466

CRIME / INCIDENT report Guilford County Sheriff’s Office, District 1 has recently responded to the following incidents in northwest Guilford County.

ASSAULT July 19 | A woman was arrested in the 8000 block of Meadow Springs Place in Stokesdale after a male reported having been assaulted in her home between 10:45 and 11:45 a.m. The woman was charged with simple assault.

BURGLARY July 19 | A home in the 7800 block of Brisbane Drive in Summerfield was reportedly broken into sometime between 8:20 a.m. and 12:55 p.m. Unknown suspects entered the home through the unlocked back door and took numerous items, including two pillow cases, five laptop computers, two tablet computers, a Samsung TV, a Sony camera, costume jewelry, a culinary knife set, a baking set and $70; the total value of stolen items was estimated at $8,480. July 19 | An unknown person entered an unlocked outbuilding of a home in the 2100 block of Beeson Road in Oak Ridge between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on July 19 and took socket wrenches and a Tupperware bowl with a total value of $90.

DRUGS July 15 | A man was charged with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia at 10:47 p.m. in the 3200 block of Steepleton Way in north Greensboro after deputies seized a bookbag, a telephone, a glass canning jar containing marijuana buds, a glass water pipe, a water bottle containing a marijuana bowl, a silver grinder (used to grind marijuana into a fine powder), Visine eye wash, mango-scented air spray, digital scales and about an ounce of marijuana. July 22 | A Greensboro woman was arrested at 7:20 p.m. in the 8600 block of Oak Level Church Road in Stokesdale after a deputy conducting a traffic stop

found her to be in possession of cocaine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

DWI July 21 | At 8:30 p.m., a Summerfield man was arrested in the 1400 block of N.C. 68 North in Oak Ridge for driving while impaired after he submitted to a blood test. In North Carolina, if drivers refuse to comply with a breath or blood alcohol test, they can lose their licenses. A deputy may request a blood test if the driver is suspected of being under an impairing substance other than alcohol, according to Lt. Fred Antonelli with the Guilford County sheriff’s District 1 office. July 23 | A woman who was pulled over for erratic driving at 3:24 a.m. in the 6900 block of U.S. 158 in Stokesdale was arrested and taken to the Guilford County jail; there, she submitted to a chemical breath test that indicated a .14 breath alcohol content. The woman was fingerprinted and released on a written promise to appear in court. In North Carolina, it is illegal to drive a private passenger vehicle while noticeably impaired or while having a blood alcohol concentration of .08 percent or higher. When driving a commercial vehicle, the limit is .04 percent.

FRAUD July 18 | A Stokesdale woman who lives in the 9000 block of U.S. 158 told investigators a known person used a stolen Discover credit card to make numerous charges totaling $959 between June 3 and June 21. July 19 | A resident of Arden, North Carolina, reported an unknown person used his credit card information between 6 and 7 p.m. to buy items at Food Lion on N.C. 68 in Stokesdale. The value of the items charged was $154.60.

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1510 North NC Hwy 68 | 336 644 0111 | eaglemds.com

...continued on p. 26

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

JULY 28 - AUG. 3, 2017

Three reasons to advertise in the NWO: The NWO is personally relevant to our readers, so they actually read it. We’re all over northwest Guilford County covering everything from the town meeting rooms to the hometown parade. The NWO is hand-delivered to northwest Guilford County homes and available throughout the area for free pickup, so you know exactly who you’re reaching. Our readers are always connected. We bring the hometown news to over 26,600 readers in print each week, and to over 12,400 community members on our Facebook page.

BUSINESS notes Welcome to our new advertiser! Please support the businesses and organizations which make our newspaper possible and tell them you saw them here!

Tanya Hill, Realtor Tanya Hill was a real estate paralegal for 14 years before becoming a licensed Realtor about a year and a half ago. “I decided to pivot into this side of the transaction because I felt my knowledge base and work ethic could provide an exceptional experience for my clients,” Hill said. Committed to ensuring a positive experience in every aspect of her clients’ real estate transaction, whether buying or selling, Hill said she embraces new technologies and looks for innovative ways to market her clients’ homes. “I offer the latest in high resolution 3-D tours to each of my listings and work in conjunction with the growing social media networks and real estate websites to advertise my properties,” she said. “Honesty and integrity are two characteristics that have helped me build an exceptional reputation,” she said. “My goal

is to make the buying and selling process a seamless and enjoyable experience for my clients, who can expect a knowledgeable, professional and outstanding level of service. Hill is an affiliate of Homes for Heroes, which was established shortly after the tragic events of 9/11 as a way to give back and say “thank you” to our nation’s heroes. “We are the largest nationwide network of affiliate real estate specialists and local businesses providing easy ways for heroes to save significant money when buying, selling or refinancing a home, or when making everyday home-related purchases,” Hill explained, noting that “heroes” include firefighters, teachers, law enforcement, military and healthcare workers. Hill is married to Billy, her “wonderful husband,” and the couple has three grown children, Billy, Kristin and Austin, and two spoiled dogs. In her free time, Hill enjoys reading,

The right for you cooking,Realtor playing golf and traveling to new places.

Tanya Hill See ad on p. 22

Care where you need it most. Nearby. conehealth.com/medcenters

CH_MedCenters-CareNearby_Northwest Observer_10.25x2.85.indd 1

JULY 28 - AUG. 3, 2017

3/21/17 10:14 AM

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

GRINS to...

 Deputy Elliot and Megs for helping with the rescue of a starving stray puppy on N.C. 150. The pup is happily placed in a loving home!  Bella Luna. The food was fantastic! I’ve been twice since they opened and Tony cooked everything to perfection! The Shrimp Toscana, Eggplant Parmigiana and Oak-a-Ridgie shrimp were amazing!  The ladies at Subway in Oak Ridge for greeting me with a smile every day. They have perfected the art of reading my

 The owners of Bella Luna and all the staff, including Tony Coppola, who has returned to Oak Ridge as a chef. I was there last week. The service was great, the atmosphere was awesome and the food was excellent!

“C C

compassionate

“Compass State Compreh State-of-the-

personal caring

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responsive

Ph 33 Fax 33 1692 NC 68N, Su

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NOW OPEN UNTIL 3pm ON SATURDAYS Karen Nasisse, DVM • Jessica Young, DVM

GRIPES to...

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1692-J NC Hwy 68 N, Oak Ridge • (336) 643-8984 northwestanimalhospitalnc.com

KarenState Nasis

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 The young woman driving a dark gray van last Tuesday morning on N.C. 150, headed to Oak Ridge. I was going 5+ miles over the speed limit the whole way – you tailgating me didn’t get either of us there any faster.

1692 N

 Summerfield’s town manager and

______________________________________________

Grins & Gripes are published based on available space and editor’s discretion.

 Whoever dropped the $10 bill I found on the sidewalk in Oak Ridge. I know you didn’t do it on purpose, but I promise your money didn’t go to waste and it was a highlight of my day!

______ _______________ _________________________________ Has an appointment Date Time

e-mail: grinsandgripes @nwobserver.com

_________________________________

online: nwobserver.com

 Great Clips in Oak Ridge for paying someone to stand out in 100-degree heat with an arrow sign. Are you that

 The developer of property on Strader Road. I do not live off that road, but occasionally use it in my travels. What an eyesore at Strader Court – transfer trucks, large heavy equipment, etc.

__________

40 words or less

 Summerfield’s UDO Review Committee members – as a citizen, I very much appreciate your willingness to take on this challenging task. It won’t be easy and it won’t be glamorous, but you seem well qualified and have my best wishes.

 North Carolina officials who are still wasting our money on fighting marijuana when we have kids dying daily of heroin and drunk drivers. These issues kill more people in one day than pot has ever killed anyone! Mixed priorities!

Time ________________________________________________________ Has an appointment

Share your thoughts in

mind, too. I don’t even have to say a word and my sandwich is always just right.

 The woman who was too preoccupied with her phone on July 19 to pay attention to driving. Then, in left turn lane at U.S. 220 and N.C. 150, she drove straight and my husband had to swerve to avoid her hitting us.

_________________________________ Time

Delighted or dismayed by something in your community?

desperate for sales?

_____________________ Date

GRINS and GRIPES

finance officer for their responses to citizens on Summerfield News’ Facebook page on July 12.

________________________________________________________ Has an appointment

_________________________________ Time

______________________________________________ Has an appointment

• Serving Claxton, General Greene, Guilford, Jefferson, Jesse Wharton, Pearce & Summerfield Elementary, Kernodle Middle, Caldwell Academy, Cornerstone Charter, Greensboro Academy and Summerfield Charter • Open most teacher workdays, snow days & school breaks. • Homework time, snacks, arts and crafts, character building, sports & fitness, games and swimming.

SPEARS Y: 3216 Horse Pen Creek Rd. | 336.387.9622 | SpearsYMCA.org The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

__________

AFTER SCHOOL CARE

JULY 28 - AUG. 3, 2017

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.

Government should not be in healthcare business It appears to me the Affordable Health Care Act has caused nothing but chaos for the health care of Americans. During its inception you could see the big players jockeying for position – the pharmaceutical companies, the insurance companies and even the healthcare industry. Guess who won? The insurance companies. They have made so much money that they now own the hospitals and medical practices. They even set prices to be charged. The fox is already in the hen house! We might be better off going back to preAHCA days. Sure, some people would be left out, but people are left out now who had insurance but can’t afford the premiums and the deductibles are out of reach.

CRIME/INCIDENTS ...continued from p. 23 THEFT July 18 | Employees with the Dollar General store in the 4500 block of U.S. 220 North in Summerfield told Guilford County deputies that a known woman stole items from the store and later returned them to exchange for other items. The woman, who is accused of taking Little Debbie Pe-

Do we really want the government overseeing our healthcare? Look at the Veterans Administration, a prime example of why the government should stay out of healthcare. I’ve heard of good results at the VA, but considering the volume, sometimes something has to go right. It seems the government is bound and determined to stay involved, and the one person I believe has good understanding of the predicament is Sen. Rand Paul. If there is a solution to the problem I hope it presents itself soon. At least so far the Republicans aren’t going to pass legislation so they can see what is in it. Charles Isennock, SUMMERFIELD can Spinwheels, sweet tea, a black dress, a skirt, a T-shirt, four batteries, a telephone charger, four dog collars, Ripple potato chips and Doritos nacho chips with a total value of $18, was charged with obtaining money or property by false pretense. July 19 | Deputies obtained arrest warrants for a woman after it was alleged surveillance cameras recorded her shoplifting at 1:56 p.m. at the Dollar General Store in Summerfield. The woman is accused of taking two bottles of Zest Fruitboost

JULY 28 - AUG. 3, 2017

TOWN COUNCIL ...continued from p. 15

Those changes were rejected by the council, and the attorney was asked to re-review the ordinance and the council’s intent in updating it.

tickets to the Greensboro Grasshoppers game; additionally, each volunteer has been given a $10 voucher for food/drinks. Last year the voucher amount was reduced to $9, but with 119 volunteers signed up to attend this year, the budgeted amount would only cover $4 for each voucher.

Volunteer Appreciation. For the last several years the town has held an annual Volunteer Appreciation event and purchased

 5  0 to approve a $650 budget amendment for additional per-volunteer voucher amounts at the annual event. Walker asked about a citizen’s earlier claim that the Town had turned Save Our Summerfield Committee’s $1,500 application fee over to the state and Whitaker said that wasn’t true – the Town tried to return the $1,500 check to the SOS Committee but it was rejected. If the check hasn’t been cashed within three years, it has to be returned to the state, Whitaker explained. Walker also asked about a citizen’s claim that two citizens appointed to the UDO Review Committee also serve on other Town committees. Whitaker said Ryan Moats, who was an alternate on the Zoning Board, resigned from that position after being appointed to the UDO Review Committee. The other person referenced, Millie Hoffler-Foushee, serves on the Town’s Finance Committee (Reporter’s note: UDO Review Committee member Jason Webster also serves on the Town’s Trails and Open Space Committee). Walker’s final question to Whitaker was about fulfilling public records requests and Whitaker emphasized the Town was still fulfilling public records requests and it would be illegal not to so so. With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at about 9:45 p.m.

shower gel (one red and one purple), with a total value of about $6. She faces a charge of misdemeanor larceny.

District 1 Sheriff’s Office

After further discussion, it was agreed the attorney (who was not present) would be asked to highlight the portion of the Town’s ordinance relating to guns on government-owned property that he felt was not in compliance with state statute.

“I am trying to understand why we are trying to limit the rights of our citizens if they have been through the (concealed carry) classes and taken the training,” Barnes said. REPORTS, UPDATES Gordon building. Brown said there was a lot of “stuff” in the Gordon Hardware building that needs to be sorted through before construction gets underway. “When we purchased the property we identified fixtures,” Whitaker said. “Part of the architectural contract deals with some of that. We certainly were going to make sure we dealt with it somehow.”

July 22 | A Summerfield woman told investigators that between 9:30 and 9:45 p.m. a man who is known to her took $10,000 from a bedroom in her home, which is in the 6100 block of Lake Brandt Road. According to the incident report, the man went toward Greensboro after taking the money; Guilford County deputies obtained an arrest warrant for the suspect.

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

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

AUTOS / CYCLES

EMPLOYMENT

HOME CARE AVAILABLE

CLASSIC CARS WANTED! Sport Auto in Summerfield will buy your classic car. Contact Steve, (336) 643-9595.

(CONTINUED)

CNA AVAILABLE FOR HOME CARE, 17 years exp. References. (336) 456-9377.

EMPLOYMENT

Place online at

DEADLINE: Monday prior to each issue

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

INDEX Autos / Cycles.............................. 27 Employment ............................... 27 Home Care Available .................. 27 Save the Date ............................ 27 Yard/Garage Sales ...................... 27 Home Services ....................... 27-30 Misc. Services.............................. 30 Misc. for Sale ............................. 30 Misc. Wanted ............................. 30 Pets & Animal Services ................ 30 Real Estate ................................. 30

DO YOU LOVE STAYING BUSY? Are you outgoing, friendly, and want to make a dif difference in people’s lives? If so, we are looking for you! Our growing audiology practice is seeking a motivated individual to join our team as a full-time front office staff member. Our ideal candidate has experience with insurance verification, is organized with great time management skills, detail-oriented, a wiz on the computer, versatile, able to multitask in our busy work environment, and is looking to be part of our team long term. If this is you, give us a call! (336) 541-4659. PT CLEANING ASSISTANT NEEDED, weekdays 8:30am-2pm, background check, exp. helpful. Leave msg., (336) 549-2474. Help Wanted: GOLF COURSE MAINTENANCE. Experience preferred. Part-time, 20-25 hours weekly. Heavy weed eating required. Call (336) 644-7991 for appointment. Carson-Dellosa Publishing is looking for a FULL-TIME REPLENISHING LEAD. Essential duties & responsibilities include: •Replenishing. •Review reports set by E-WMS and distribute to stockers. •Work with production planner to insure high order to the floor percentages. •Inventory. •Maintain Rotating Cycle Count. •Work with purchasing team on discontinued and obsolete items. •Review all inventory discrepancies with supervisor before adjusting. •Inspect scanners and forklifts. •Work with lift drivers on forklift inspection before and at the end of shifts. •Remain knowledgeable of E-WMS and ERP systems. •Handle search and log files that pertain to orders in E-WMS and ERP.

•Review and update forklift maintenance sheets. •Review weekly watering of batteries. •Quality Control products as needed. •Adjust pick and overstock locations. •Work with supervisor on frequency report for rotation of items. •Assist and lead in the replenishment departments, training and providing direction for employees in their assigned job positions. •Responsible for the accuracy, efficiency, and quality in all areas of E-WMS. •Position may require flexibility to change positions as needed and may require overtime and/or flexible work shifts. •Other duties as requested, directed, or assigned. Education, Experience and Abilities: •High School Diploma or equivalent combination of education and experience. •2-5 years of related experience. •Maintain forklift certification. •Ability to operate forklift equipment including narrow aisle reach lift, cherry picker, and power hand jacks. •Ability to read and comprehend instructions and correspondence. •Frequent light to moderate physical effort required; ability to lift up to 50 pounds. Candidates may send resumes either of the following ways: P.O. Box 35665, Greensboro, NC 27425; fax (336) 808-3271; or email agoas@carsondellosa.com.

Hiring? We can help! BELEWS CREEK CONSTRUCTION seeks a skilled carpenter with experience in remodeling. Transportation/DL a must. Pay commensurate w/skill set. (336) 362-6343. Bill’s Pizza Pub is looking to hire a DAYDAY TIME COOK. Come and join our crew! HOUSEKEEPERS NEEDED to provide a variety of general housekeeping and laundry services. 1st, 2nd, & 3rd shifts available. Part-time. Some benefits. Apply in person at Countryside Manor, 7700 U.S. Hwy. 158, Stokesdale.

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

RELIABLE HOME CARE SERVICES Discount rates at $15/hr. (336) 510-9393.

SAVE THE DATE STONEFIELD CELLARS Summer Concert Series, Friday evenings through August. See display ad on page 9 for complete schedule of performers and food providers.

Something

going on

Tell northwest Guilford County Place your Save the Date online at

YARD/GARAGE SALES HUGE YARD SALE, Fri., July 28, 12n-5pm; Saturday, July 29, 7am-12n, 1145 Quail Hollow Road, Kernersville. ESTATE YARD SALE, Saturday, July 29, 6am-until, 424 Hwy. 150 West, Greensboro 27455. Furniture, collectibles, etc.

It’s YARD SALE season! To place your Yard Sale ad, visit www.nwobserver.com and click on Place a Classified. The deadline is Monday!

HOME SERVICES CLEANING 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.

...continued on p. 28

JULY 28 - AUG. 3, 2017

HOME SERVICES

CARPET CLEANING. We clean the dirt out of your carpet, not the money out of your pockets! Member BBB. Call David, The Cleaning Solutions, (336) 989-4318, or visit thecleaningsolutions.org.

GENERAL REPAIR & SERVICES

APPLIANCE REPAIR – Call Mr. Appliance.

GRADING / HAULING

HOME CLEANING. Afford. rates, ref. avail., 10 years exp. Elizabeth, (336) 453-8592. ANA’S HOUSECLEANING. Good references, free est., 25 years exp. (336) 309-0747. 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.

SMALL ENGINE & MOWER REPAIR. Any type mower, weld and repair mower decks. Free pickup and delivery. Call or text Morris, (336) 880-7498 or Rick, (336) 501-8681. 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.

CRYSTAL CLEAR WINDOW CLEANING, gutter cleaning, pressure washing. Fully ins. windowcleaningnc.com. (336) 595-2873. $25 OFF CLEANING SPECIAL Maids of Honor. Bonded staff. 40 years in service. Call (336) 708-2407. MAID-2-SHINE. Excellent service, 15 years exp. Free estimates., excellent references. (336) 338-0223.

Shouldn’t your business be HERE? (336) 644-7035, ext. 10.

ELECTRICAL BALEX ELECTRICAL COMPANY, LLC Residential, commercial & solar electrical services. (336) 298-4192.

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. It’s A CARPET thing! Repairs, restretch, replace. (336) 643-6500.

JULY JULY28 28- -AUG. AUG.3,3,2017 2017

A step above the rest! (336) 609-5707. 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. L & T SMALL ENGINE SERVICE LLP “We get you mowing!” Free pickup and delivery. 2103 Oak Ridge Road, Oak Ridge. (336) 298-4314.

Decks | Sun & Screened Porches Roofing | Windows | Gutters REPAIRS | RENOVATIONS (336) 643-0531 haleyhahn.com Licensed & insured

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

Jam-packed with valuable info for northwest Guilford County residents

Keep it handy, use it often In print e ve and onli ry January ne at nwob year-round server.co m The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996 The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

PEARMAN QUARRY HAULING Fill dirt, gravel, sand rock, mulch & more. Joel Richardson, (336) 803-2195. 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. GAULDIN TRUCKING, grading & hauling, bobcat work, lot clearing, driveways, fill dirt, gravel, etc. (336) 362-1150. E&W HAULING & GRADING INC. Driveways, fill dirt, topsoil, lot clearing, bobcat work, excavating, mulch, etc. (336) 451-1282

LAWN CARE / LANDSCAPING DELIMA LAWNCARE. Licensed and insured. Free estimates. (336) 669-5210. WILSON LANDSCAPING, INC. Complete lawn care & landscaping. NC lic. irrigation contractor. 20 years exp. Hardscaping, fertilization & weed control. (336) 399-7764. SITE LINES LANDSCAPE DESIGN, LLC Professional planting, hardscape, and outdoor living design. 20+ years exp. Check us out on Facebook. (336) 601-5981. BRAD’S BOBCAT. Mulch, landscaping, pine needles and straw. (336) 362-3647. CAROLINA STUMP & TREE SERVICE Complete tree service, $1 million liability, workman’s comp. Rick & Judy, (336) 6439332, carolinaStumpAndTreeServices.com. ALL-SEASON STUMP GRINDING. Owner Alan Winfree. Free est. Call (336) 382-9875. COLFAX LAWNCARE Complete lawn care maintenance. Fertilizing, mowing, trimming, pine needles. Res./ comm., HOA & annual agreements. Fully insured. Serving the Triad for 28 years. (336) 362-5860.

HOME SERVICES

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.

AQUA SYSTEMS IRRIGATION. Quality irrigation systems. NC licensed contractor. We service all systems. Free estimates. (336) 644-1174.

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

REMODELING / CONSTRUCTION

STOKESDALE LAWN CARE Reasonable rates, lawns cut, weed-eating. $55 minimum. (336) 338-5865.

MASONRY

CARLOS & SON PAINTING, interior & exterior. Free est., lic/ins. (336) 669-5210.

ORTIZ REMODELING – Total restoration & home improvement. Drywall, painting, kitchen cabinets, interior trim & more. Free estimates. (336) 280-8981.

CINDY’S PAINTING – Interior painting, wallpaper removal. References & free estimates available. (336) 708-9155.

PREMIER CONSTRUCTION. Providing all of your home maintenance needs, remodeling and new construction. (336) 430-9507.

BEK Paint Co.

JLB REMODELING, INC. Remodeling and additions. Fully insured. NC GC license #69997. Free est. Call (336) 681-2902 or visit www.jlbremodeling.com.

FAY’S LAWNCARE & LANDSCAPING Spring lawn care & general yard clean up. Pine needles and mulch. Reasonable and honest. Call Taylor, (336) 458-6491. TRACTOR FOR HIRE – Bush hogging, grading, brush/tree removal. (336) 207-6632.

Outdoor kitchens

PAINTING & DRYWALL

Residential & Commercial

8605 Triad Dr, Colfax (336) 996-4918 marshallstone.com

David & Judy Long, owners

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.

(336) 931-0600

BEKPaintCompany.com

Get. Be. Stay. Connected.

facebook.com/NorthwestObserver 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. ORTIZ LANDSCAPING, complete lawn care. Trimming, cleaning, planting & mulch, gutter cleaning, patios & pavers, waterfalls, retaining walls, sidewalks, stonework. Residential and commercial. (336) 280-8981.

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. MASONRY CONCEPTS, brick, block, stone, concrete & repairs. Free estimates. (336) 988-1022, www.masonryconceptsgso.com.

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Bringing your community news home for 20 years, and still going strong!

MISC. SERVICES & PRODUCTS GRILLS, FIRE PITS, tankless water heaters. General home repairs. Call Don Hill, (336) 643-7183.

AREA STUMP DUMP. Yard waste, concrete, etc. Fill dirt avail. (336) 602-5820.

STILL PERFECTION PAINTING Reliable, skilled, affordable. Painting, pressure washing, handyman services. Scott Still, (336) 462-3683, stillperfectionpainting.com. PAINTING – INTERIOR & EXTERIOR 32 yrs. exp. Sheetrock repair. No job too small. Insured. Brad Rogers, (336) 314-3186

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.

PRESSURE WASHING, gutter & window cleaning. Fully insured. Crystal Clear, www. windowcleaningnc.com. (336) 595-2873.

336/404-1471 www.fmtriad.com

CUTTING EDGE PRESSURE WASHING Affordable. Dependable. Please call anytime for free estimate, (336) 706-0103.

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996 The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

BELEWS CREEK CONSTRUCTION Kitchens/baths, custom decks, garages, siding, dock work, windows, roofing, rotted wood. Sr. disc., 38 years exp. (336) 362-6343.

Want to reach our readers? Email advertising@nwobserver.com or call (336) 644-7035 for info.

PLUMBING

PRESSURE WASHING

GUZMAN LANDSCAPE & MAINTENANCE Pine needles, mulch, leaf removal, tree pruning, complete lawn maint. (336) 655-6490. CUTTING EDGE LAWNCARE. Affordable. Dependable. Mowing, aeration, leaf removal and more! Please call anytime for free estimate, (336) 706-0103.

• References Available • Licensed & Insured • All Work Guaranteed

ROOFING 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. PREMIER ROOFING CONSTRUCTION Insurance specialist, free inspections, res./ comm., BBB A rating. (336) 430-9507. 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.

...continued on p. 30

JULY JULY28 28--AUG. AUG.3, 3,2017 2017

HOME SERVICES

MISC. FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE

A.L. CORMAN ROOFING INC. Res. roofing specialist serving Guilford Cty. area since 1983. BBB 25+ years w/ A+ rating.

GYM EQUIPMENT for sale: Hoist fold-up Olympic bench press; includes bar, clips, 350 pounds of plates, weight tree stand. $800. (336) 314-1423.

HOMES FOR SALE

cormanroofinginc.com, (336) 621-6962.

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for just $4 per line Deadline is the Monday before each Friday’s issue MISC. SERVICES

POOL TABLE, Brunswick “Contender,” like-new condition. Accessories, 6 pool cues, wall mount rack included. $1,200. (336) 314-1423. Something to sell? We’ll help you reach over 25,000 readers right here!

MISC. WANTED $$$ – WILL PAY CASH up to $200 for your junk or wrecked vehicle. (336) 552-0328. FREE PICK-UP of unwanted riding & push mowers, any and all gas items, tillers, gocarts & golf carts, ATVs, generators, power washers, chain saws. (336) 689-4167.

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COMPUTER REPAIRS – ITBASICS.COM Inside Mailboxes & More, Oak Ridge Com-

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mons. (336) 643-0068.

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MISC. FOR SALE Gary Blackburn’s Beadyeye .925 STERLING AND NATURAL STONE JEWELRY, formerly sold at Fat Cat, Ltd. In Oak Ridge, now on sale at Cooper’s Vintage Village, 305 E. Bodenhamer St., Kernersville – 60% off! GUILFORD MEMORIAL PARK section 17, four plots, monument rights, $6,900/all four. (336) 668-7335. PEACHES, FRESH PRODUCE, FLOWERS. Knight’s Produce, 14809 Highway 158, Summerfield. (336) 708-0485. GYM EQUIPMENT for sale: BodySolid Cable Crossover machine with pull-up bar and accessories, $1,200. (336) 314-1423.

BELEWS LAKE VILLA – Pristine! Furnished, double loft, W/D, Trex deck, boat slip, Lot 511, $109,000. Please call (317) 450-8996.

LAND FOR SALE

7798 Polar Drive, Oak Ridge Located in Bear Creek with all the bells and whistles. Calling all car buffs – amazing 4-car garage! Oversized kitchen, family room, office, hobby room, media room plus 4 bedrooms. Like-new condition; built in 2015 and move-in ready! $569,900

BUILDING LOT for sale in Summerfield, $30K. Call for info, (336) 662-5787.

Ramilya Siegel

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

ramilya.siegel@atcmail.com www.allentate.com/RamilyaSiegel

We Help Everyone! SELLERS & BUYERS

CRS, GRI, SRES, Chairman’s Circle Award ( 336 ) 215.9856

COME SIT AND SIP

photos@nwobserver.com.

body work. 45 years exp. (336) 347-7470.

Northwest Guilford area. (336) 993-3190.

SUMMERFIELD, brick home, 3BR, 1.5BA, fireplace, full w/o basement, 2-car carport, 1.77 acres, $194,700. (336) 643-6188.

with our readers! Email photos to

SAM’S AUTO BODY SHOP. Any type of

PIANO & BEGINNING BAND lessons.

BELEWS LAKE VILLA – loft, large deck, electric lift, W/D, includes furniture. $149,000, Lot 115. Call (336) 899-6556.

PETS & ANIMAL SVCS. PET SITTING / BOARDING 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

(336) 643-4248

www.ANewDawnRealty.com

Gail H. Kerber REALTOR®/BROKER

(336) 327-1165

kerbappeals@gmail.com

Nancy J. Hess

nancy.hess@bhhsyostandlittle.com (336) 215-1820

www.kerbappeals.com Realtors, get your listings noticed with

HOME FOR RENT

WANT TO BUY – HOUSE/LAND

STOKESDALE, 3BR, 2 full BA, double-wide carport, wash room, living & dining room, sunroom. Hwy. 158, Stokesdale, NC. Call (336) 707-5493.

LOOKING TO BUY a house or land in Stokesdale/Guilford County with Seller willing to finance. Fixer-upper a plus! Please call or text Molina at (336) 337-5268.

JULY JULY28 28- -AUG. AUG.3,3,2017 2017

Rocking-chair front porch and white picket fence. Charming, immaculate Jobe-built home. 4BR/3.5BA; 3-car garage. Wonderful backyard oasis with koi pond, outdoor kitchen, patio, spa and garden shed. Sealed crawl space and loaded with upgrades. Northern schools, watershed trails and marina under a mile. Country living close to everything.

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996 The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

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in the Northwest Observer. Just $80 per issue! Call or email for more information. (336) 644-7035, ext. 10 or advertising@nwobserver.com.

index of DISPLAY ADVERTISERS

Support our advertisers, and tell them where you saw their ad. Without them, the Northwest Observer could not be free to our readers! ACCOUNTING Samuel Anders, CPA, MSA, PC .............. 4

ARTS / DANCE / KARATE Northern Arts Studio ........................... 21

AUTOMOTIVE SALES & SERVICE Foreign Cars Italia ................................11

BACK TO SCHOOL YMCA of Greensboro .................... 14, 25

CHILDREN’S SERVICES

HOME PRODUCTS & SERVICES BEK Paint Company ............................. 29 Carpets by Direct ................................... 3 Carpet Super Mart .......................... 16-17 Furniture Medic ................................... 29 Haley Hahn Home Solutions ............... 28 Marshall Stone .................................... 29 Old School Home Repair ..................... 28 ProStone............................................... 13 Stokesdale Heating & Air........................ 8

Oak Ridge

Tricia McCormick ................................. 10

LEGAL SERVICES Attorney Bill Barbour ............................. 6 Law Office of Susan Greeson .............. 15

MEDICAL Carolina Priority Care ........................... 13 Dove Medical Supply .............................. 2 Eagle Family Medicine at Oak Ridge ... 23 LeBauer Healthcare .............................. 7 Northwest Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery .. 14 Novant – Northwest Family Medicine .....18 MedCenter High Point ......................... 24

ORTHODONTIC CARE Mitchell, Bartlett & Bell Orthodontics .....20

PET SERVICES & PRODUCTS Almost Home Boarding & Grooming ......15 Bel-Aire Veterinary Hospital ................. 22 Northwest Animal Hospital .................. 25 Oak Ridge Animal Hospital ................... 5 Veterinary Hospital of Oak Ridge.......... 22 Westergaard Kennels ........................... 10

Advertise in a relevant, widely-read publication The NWO is direct-mailed to over 11,300 homes, with an additional 2,000 copies available for free pickup throughout northwest Guilford County every week. Plus, it’s online 24/7 at nwobserver.com and shared with over 12,400 community members on Facebook.

REAL ESTATE

Summerfield First Baptist Church ......... 10

EVENTS

RETAIL

Stonefield Cellars Summer Concerts ...... 9

Bella Brazil Brazilian Market ................ 22

CHURCHES

Summerfield

INSURANCE

A New Dawn Realty ............................. 30 KERBAPPEALS – Gail Kerber .............. 30 Nancy Hess, BHHS Yost & Little .......... 30 Ramilya Siegel, Allen Tate ................... 30 Tonya Hill, Realty One ......................... 22

Guardian Ad Litem .............................. 18

Stokesdale

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JULY 28 - AUG. 3, 2017

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 (From left) Walt and Barbara Byrd of Dunn, North Carolina, Fran and Tom Hardy of Summerﬁeld and Phil and Jean Louzon of Palm Bay, Florida peruse the Northwest Observer on the MS Allure of the Seas cruise ship in the Caribbean.

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 This adorable group of devoted readers from Kernersville Moravian Montessori Preschool took a moment to pose with the Nor thwest Observer while visiting Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden.

Skeen of ictured) and Lisa  Ginny Soyars (p bserver their Northwest O Summerﬁeld took ed this uisiana, and captur to New Orleans, Lo Creole eril’s Delmonico, a photo in front of Em Charles Avenue. restaurant on St.  Former Northwe st High School ba nd director Tommy Sm ith (back row, left) and his sister Elicia Dela pp (in pink jacket along with former ), NWHS teachers Carolyn Hopper (front row, second from right ) and Kay Fulp (front ro w, right) caught up on the news from ba ck home while tra veling with friends in Glas gow, Scotland.