Northwest Observer | August 9 -15, 2018

Aug. 9 - 15, 2018

bringing the local news home to northwest Guilford County since 1996

Rotruck, defendants, town eagerly await judge’s decision Superior Court Judge John O. Craig III tells attorneys he will email his decision in the Todd Rotruck vs.

Board of Elections and Janelle Robinson case later this week

by PATTI STOKES SUMMERFIELD – After attorneys for Todd Rotruck and co-defen-

dants Guilford County Board of Elections and Janelle Robinson argued their sides of the case for nearly three hours in Guilford County Superior Court on Monday, Judge John O. Craig III said he would email his decision sometime this week.

The case is rooted in an appeal filed on April 26 by Rotruck, who was elected to Summerfield Town Council last fall and sworn into office Dec. 12. In his lawsuit,

www.nwobserver.com

Feasibility study on regional water system delayed … again September is estimated study completion date

to take 6-8 months and be completed by February.

by STEVE MANN NW GUILFORD – The final draft of a feasibility study regarding a potential regional water authority in northwest Guilford County won’t be finished until September at the earliest, according to Scott Whitaker, Summerfield’s town manager.

During a Feb. 14 meeting in Stokesdale, Timmons’ Mike Solomon said he expected the study to be completed by the end of March. During the April 10 meeting of the Summerfield Town Council, however, Whitaker announced the target date had moved to May or June. Now it could be September or October.

...continued on p. 25 The original timeline called for the $175,000 study – conducted by the Timmons Group for Oak Ridge, Stokesdale, Summerfield and some unincorporated areas News in Brief...................................................3 ...continued on p. 2 of northwest Guilford County – Your Questions...............................................4 Town’s water system contract sold..............5 Photo by Chris Burritt/NWO Public Records Request survey, Part 2........8 Anna Leonard, a planner with the Piedmont Triad Regional Council, Business Notes..............................................10 reviews a map of Oak Ridge’s town Bits & Pieces.................................................. 11 core with N.C. Rep. John Faircloth, On a Mission with Operation: 336.............12 who represents District 61, during Camp KidSummit 2018................................ 13 an open house at Oak Ridge Town On a Mission with Chris-Robin Dawes....... 14 Hall Aug. 2. As part of planning for streetscape improvements aimed at Santa comes to Summerfield.....................18 making the community more pedesClose encounters of the slithering kind....20 trian friendly, residents who attended Crime/Incident Report................................22 the open house marked the map with Community Calendar.................................23 suggested biking and walking routes.

Grins & Gripes...............................................24 In our Business & Real Estate section of next week’s issue, we’ll share comLetters/Opinions...........................................26 ments we received from Oak Ridge Classifieds.....................................................27 business owners on efforts to slow Index of Advertisers..................................... 31 down traffic and draw more customNWO on the Go!...........................................32 ers to the town core.

IN THIS ISSUE

Carpet Vinyl Tile

Hardwood Laminate Area Rugs

(336) 288-6643

(336) 288-6643

LOWEST PRICES

PERIOD

Solid 2¼” Hardwood

2

$

12mm 8mm Laminate Laminate

99

1

(pad attached)

$ 69

sq. ft.*

sq. ft.*

*limited supply

69 ¢ sq. ft.*

*limited supply

Carpet

99 ¢ sq. ft.* *limited supply

1 YEAR

PROFESSIONAL INSTALLATION

interest free financing with approved credit

Cannot be combined with any other offer

Call today and we’re on our way!

SERVING NORTH & SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE 1960 Greensboro • Wilmington • Myrtle Beach

(336) 288-6643

2837 Battleground Avenue, Greensboro Mon - Fri 8 am - 6 pm • Sat 10 am - 4 pm

carpetsbydirect.com

2

AUG. 9 - 15, 2018

ROTRUCK

...continued from p. 1 Rotruck disputed the Board of Elections’ unanimous decision on April 17 that he had not established permanent residency in Summerfield, which subsequently led to the board directing staff to change his voter registration from Summerfield back to Greensboro.

With that decision county attorney Mark Payne and Summerfield town attorney Bill Hill agreed Rotruck was no longer qualified to hold office in Summerfield.

“This was fairly easy, because there is a statute that speaks to this issue directly,” Payne told the Northwest Observer after the board’s decision.

Prause wasted no time in jumping in, and for the next hour he repeatedly stated the BOE had exercised “errors of law” when reaching its decision on April 17.

Rotruck purchased property on Strawberry Road in Summerfield in July 2016. Prause said Rotruck, his wife and their two daughters moved into the home two months later.

Rotruck “slept at the Strawberry Road residence for 15 months” – even when his family moved back into the home they maintained on Lewiston Road in Greensboro, Prause claimed.

N.C. General Statute 160A-59 reads, “...When any elected city officer ceases to meet all of the qualifications for holding office pursuant to the Constitution, or when a council member ceases to reside in an electoral district that he was elected to represent, the office is ipso facto vacant.”

“Just because your spouse and kids live somewhere else, that doesn’t mean you live where they live,” the attorney argued. As for documents Robinson presented to the BOE in April showing Rotruck’s Lewiston Road address appeared on tax bills and other official paperwork long after he supposedly moved to Summerfield, Prause said Rotruck wasn’t required to give his home address on those documents, just his mailing address.

“The BOE made their decision that he did not qualify as a voter (in Summerfield),” Payne said. “At that moment the office became vacant.”

Prause also argued Rotruck was entitled to two residences and later said, “The Board’s order grossly mischaracterized the evidence presented.”

In Rotruck’s appeal to the BOE’s decision, his attorney and business partner Marsh Prause claimed the board failed to make adequate findings of fact to support its decision, “failed to address applicable rules for determining legal residency,” and “failed to follow proper quasi-judicial procedures.”

“We’re not disputing Rotruck and his family were in transition (in the time between when he filed to run for Summerfield Town Council in July 2017 and for several months afterward),” Prause said. “Things were in ‘flux,’ but not his residency… between September 2016 and January 2018 he slept there (in Summerfield).”

Nevertheless, following the advice of Hill, the majority of Summerfield Town Council members agreed Rotruck could no longer serve on the council and his council seat was declared vacant and has remained so since the BOE’s April 17 decision.

At Monday’s hearing Craig told the attorneys, “In all the years I’ve been a judge, I don’t think I’ve ever had before me an election challenge.”

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

Taking his turn before the judge, Payne emphasized the issue to be decided upon was whether the BOE’s decision was free of legal error and based on substantial evidence.

“That someone can have two residences … that is the whole crux of this issue,” Payne said. “Yes, your spouse can have a separate residence. But (when testifying in April), Mrs. Rotruck referred

to Lewiston Road as ‘our home’ and that can be taken into consideration.

“Was his (Rotruck’s) residency (in Summerfield) ‘fixed,’ and when absent, was that the place he intended to return to?” Payne asked. “It’s clear what his plan was … his family home was on Lewiston Road.”

Payne explained to the judge that Rotruck purchased the property on Summerfield Road with intentions of undergoing major renovations after he sold his home in Greensboro, which he assumed wouldn’t take long.

However, “what happened was actually very different,” the attorney said.

Reading from the April 17 BOE hearing transcript, Payne quoted Rotruck as saying, “We were trying to get permits, and trying to close (the sale on the Lewiston Road home) – until we closed on the Lewiston Road house we couldn’t start on our Strawberry Road property…”

Rotruck and his wife closed the sale of their Lewiston Road property in December 2017, but afterward continued to lease it back from the developer who purchased it while extensive renovations and additions were underway at their home on Strawberry Road.

“We hope the renovations will be finished by July (2018) because I will be kicked out of my home (on Lewiston Road),” Rotruck told the BOE in April.

During the three years it took to sell their home in Greensboro, the Rotruck family continued to maintain that property as their primary residence, Payne said.

“What is relevant in a voter challenge?” Payne asked, and then answered, “Where do you live?”

To Prause’s argument that there should be no problem with Rotruck confirming his home address was on Lewiston Road in Greensboro – after he supposedly moved to Summerfield – when he participated in Early Voting in October 2016, Payne said that was

a problem because the address you give when you vote is supposed to be your current home address.

Representing Robinson, Marshall Hurley emphasized that Rotruck’s “original home” on Lewiston Road was never abandoned and he did not move to Summerfield “lock, stock and barrel.”

“His (Summerfield) habitat was not ‘fixed,’” Hurley said. “His family got in and got out and Mr. Rotruck got in and got out.”

Hurley went on to emphasize the BOE voted 4-0 that Rotruck had not established permanent residency in Summerfield.

“Not one member believed he lived in Summerfield,” he told the judge.

Later, Hurley directed Craig’s attention to the deed Rotruck signed over when he sold his home on Lewiston Road in December 2017. Signing as the grantor, Rotruck attested that the property included his primary residence.

NEWS in brief

Deadline for signatures draws near SUMMERFIELD – Two petitions circulated by Summerfield resident Dwayne Crawford in recent months will likely fall short of the minimum 819 signatures needed to have them placed on the Nov. 6 ballot. On Wednesday, Aug. 8, Board of Elections deputy director Chris Duffey told the Northwest Observer petitions circulated by Crawford which seek to change Summerfield’s form of government and limit the term of any non-elected appointment to a vacated council seat to be “as short as possible” were about 150 names short of the required number of signatures, which is 10 percent of the number of registered voters in Summerfield.

Duffey said the Board of Elections has certified all the signatures

Crawford has turned in to date and his office needs about three days before the Summerfield Town Council meets on Tuesday to verify and certify any additional signatures.

“But I’m not aware of any additional pages that are left to come in,” he said.

“We are able to check them relatively quickly and then certify them. I would say by the end of this week he needs to have any remaining signatures.”

If the petitions don’t garner the required number of certified signatures before the town council’s Aug. 14 meeting, when the council would need to formally approve placing the petitions on the Nov. 6 ballot, Crawford can try again for the November 2019 election.

...continued on p. 6

“Your honor, he is a Realtor,” Hurley said. “These aren’t foreign terms to him.”

Before concluding, Hurley referenced Duke Energy bills that had been subpoenaed for Rotruck’s Greensboro and Summerfield properties between November 2016 and December 2017.

“In July 2017, when he registered (to vote in Summerfield, and subsequently to run for town council) and said ‘Strawberry Road is my home and I want to run for office,’ he used one kilowatt (at his Strawberry Road home).”

According to the Duke Energy bills, in that same month the Rotrucks used 2,168 kilowatts at their Lewiston Road home (which was about 75 percent the size of their house in Summerfield).

“Yet he was asking the board to believe he was living in Summerfield,” Hurley said. “He must have been hot and he must have been in the dark!”

As of Wednesday afternoon at 5 p.m., Judge Craig’s decision on Rotruck’s appeal was still pending.

Are you unhappy with your Trustee?

Call Susan for help

(336) 298-7196 Estate Planning

Estate Settlement

8004 Linville Road

Trust Beneficiary Suite A-1, Oak Ridge Representation

THE LAW OFFICE OF

SUSAN P. GREESON, P.L.L.C.

Learn more at greesonlegal.com

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

Susan P. Greeson p.l.l.c.

AUG. 9 - 15, 2018

3

your QUESTIONS www.nwobserver.com /northwestobserver @mynwobserver @northwestobserver

OUR TEAM Patti Stokes, editor/publisher Laura Reneer, marketing manager Marilyn Grubbs, admin/editorial assistant Jorge Maturino, art director Yvonne Truhon, page layout Leon Stokes, IT director Lucy Smith, finance manager Linda Schatz, distribution manager Steve Mann, staff writer Chris Burritt, Marc Pruitt, Helen Ledford, Nora Murray and Annette Joyce, contributing writers

HOW TO REACH US email: info • celebrations • photos communitynews • realestatenews calendarevents • grinsandgripes opinions • editor • questions ... @ nwobserver.com phone: (336) 644-7035 fax: (336) 644-7006 office: 1616 NC 68 N, Oak Ridge mail: PO Box 268, Oak Ridge, NC 27310

I understand voters will consider several proposed amendments to North Carolina’s constitution in this November’s election. Apparently the General Assembly didn’t complete action on some of these, so voters will not know details about how the amendments would be enforced when they are being asked to vote on them.

Isn’t that risky, like buying “a pig in a poke,” as the old saying goes?

Would you list the amendments and sources to educate us about them?

Before adjourning in June, the General Assembly approved six amendments for voters to consider on the Nov. 6 ballot. Three of them deal with wide-ranging topics: hunting and fishing rights, crime victims’ rights and a cap on the state income tax. The other three address the legislature’s power over judicial vacancies, stripping the governor’s role in appointing state boards including elections, and voter ID.

amendments they will be voting on, according to Gerry Cohen, a retired legislative staff member who spent 30 years directing the drafting of legislation for the General Assembly. The one exception is the amendment capping the state income tax at 7 percent (North Carolina’s state income tax rate is 5.49 percent, and currently is capped at 10 percent). A July 3 article

by NC Policy Watch quoted Cohen as saying that a new tax cap of 7 percent wouldn’t require language on the ballot to explain it.

The other five amendments “have no implementing legislation – not in the body of the bills that put them on the ballot and not in any other bill that was passed this session,” Cohen said.

As an example, the voter ID amendment would require voters casting ballots in person to show photographic identification before voting. It goes on to say the General Assembly shall enact laws governing the requirements of photo IDs, with possible exceptions.

“But what are the exceptions?”

Colin Campbell, editor of the Insider State Government News Service, wrote in an article July 20. “And what

You are correct that voters will likely lack details about five of the six

hours: M-F 9am-2pm (or by appt.)

WANT TO ADVERTISE? Contact us at (336) 644-7035, ext. 11 display: advertising@nwobserver.com classified: classifieds@nwobserver.com Independently owned & published by

Curious about something?

Submit your questions about topics relevant to the northwest area

online: nwobserver.com e-mail: questions@ nwobserver.com

4

AUG. 9 - 15, 2018

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

would be a legit photo ID for voting? Would I need an official driver’s license or passport, or could I get by with a Costco membership that has my picture on it?”

The issue is politically charged.

Last week the legislature called a special session and passed a bill that gives it control over the ballot captions for the amendments. The move prevented plans by a bipartisan commission (consisting of two Democrats and one Republican) to write descriptions for the amendments that would appear on the ballot, according to an NC Policy Watch blog post.

Democrats have criticized the voter ID amendment as an attempt by the Republican-dominated legislature to shift power from Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper to legislators currently in office.

To learn more, we suggest you visit the Secretary of State’s website at sosnc.gov and type in “NC Constitutional Amendments” in the search field. Also, a search on the internet for “proposed amendments to N.C. constitution” will provide a variety of articles written about the amendments, from varied perspectives.

Meritech sells last three months of Stokesdale water system contract The town received a 12-hour notice that Envirolink would be taking over the remainder of company’s contract with Stokesdale

by STEVE MANN STOKESDALE – Meritech Inc. of Reidsville – which performed all required sampling, testing and monitoring of Stokesdale’s water distribution system – sold most of its operations effective Aug. 1, including the last three months of its contract with Stokesdale.

Meritech, the operator in responsible charge (ORC) for Stokesdale’s water system since the system’s inception in 2003, sold all its operations except for its lab to Envirolink Inc. with just a few hours’ notice to Stokesdale officials.

Bill Merritt, Meritech’s president, called late in the day July 30 to set up a meeting the next morning with Mayor John Flynt and Mayor Pro Tem Thearon Hooks “without topic or agenda” for the meeting, Hooks said in an email.

Hooks said Merritt gave Stokesdale 12 hours’ notice of the transaction during the July 31 meeting at Town Hall. The other council members were notified by email later that day, and the sale went into effect at midnight.

“The contract change was a total surprise,” council member Bill Jones said in an email.

There’s nothing in the contract that prohibits such a sale, or even requires

FREE CONSULTATION

advance notice. Meritech’s contract with Stokesdale would have expired Oct. 31. The annual cost was $18,000.

Flynt said the issue will be on the Aug. 9 council meeting agenda.

Merritt said the deal had been in the works for several months, but he didn’t mention anything to Stokesdale officials because “we weren’t sure it was going to happen.”

“They (Envirolink) have been wanting to buy and we wanted to sell,” Merritt said. “They wanted to take over the whole operation. This is when they wanted to do it.”

SPEND MORE, SAVE MORE... purchase of $100 OFF (with $500 or more) (with purchase of or more) $250 OFF $1,000 (with purchase of $500 OFF $1,650 or more) offer expires 9/10/18

(336) 383-1715 budgetblinds.com

Blinds • Shades • Shutters • Drapes • Home Automation

Council member Frank Bruno said he was disappointed there wasn’t more notice, but he said he’s also disappointed Meritech won’t be the ORC. “They have been with us from the start of our water system and have done an excellent job,” Bruno said by email.

“The good news is that we have an operator in place until the end of October so it gives us time to put it out for bids and make sure we hire the right company for the job.”

Stokesdale’s water system was the only one for which Meritech was the ORC. Among its services, Meritech conducted tests for residual chlorine levels Monday through Friday at rotating sample sites and three times a week at the chlorine booster station off U.S. 158 where the waterlines from Winston-Salem and Stokesdale join.

During the July 12 council meeting, council members argued whether Stokesdale needs a routine flush-

...continued on p. 6

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

AUG. 9 - 15, 2018

5

MERITECH

as surprised as anyone about the sale.

...continued from p. 5

ing program. Bill Jones said flushing at sample sites where the residual chlorine level is low isn’t the same as flushing at the ends of the system to maintain water quality.

Flynt said he had talked to several experts – including Merritt, who has been in the industry 61 years – and all said additional flushing isn’t necessary and a routine flushing program isn’t required by the state.

Flynt accused Bill Jones and council member Tim Jones of not trusting Meritech’s test results, and when Tim Jones later made a motion to hire a temporary, part-time employee to conduct a best management practice flushing program, Flynt said he felt that was second-guessing Meritech’s integrity, professional ability and license.

Merritt said “that had nothing to do” with the sale.

“Stokesdale just happened to be part of that (transaction),” he said.

“Stokesdale is just one of our clients. If it had just been Stokesdale, we would have waited until the contract was up.”

Envirolink has offices in Raleigh and Bailey, and also operates in Virginia, South Carolina and Ohio.

Tim Jones said in an email he was

He had considered Envirolink a possible option for the operation of the town’s water system and had set up a tentative informational meeting for July 11 that was to include an Envirolink project engineer and council members.

However, the meeting never happened. Tim Jones said there were scheduling conflicts for Envirolink and the timing wasn’t good for council members since it was the day before a council meeting.

“Hopefully this will be a positive change overall,” he said, “but I am sure some adjustments will have to be made. Given the circumstances, I think Envirolink is going to have to prove itself and deliver value to the town.”

Hooks said Monday the council had not received written notice from either Meritech or Envirolink regarding the transaction, nor had there been any verbal communication from Envirolink.

Alisa Houk, Stokesdale’s town clerk/finance officer, said Merritt told Flynt and Hooks that Merritt’s son would bring an Envirolink representative to Town Hall this week.

Grief Share • For individuals dealing with the loss of someone close • Biblical teaching on grief and recovery topics • 13 weeks of sessions • Video, discussion, and workbooks

Grief Share begins on

Sept. 4, 2018 at 6:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Summerfield.

Visit summerfieldfbc.com for more information. Call (336) 643-6383 to register.

SUMMERFIELD FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH

AUG. 9 - 15, 2018

...continued from p. 3

Upcoming council meetings STOKESDALE – Stokesdale Town Council will hold its monthly meeting Thursday, Aug. 9, 7 p.m. at Stokesdale Town Hall on Angel Pardue Road. Several items on the meeting agenda include discussions about purchasing needed items for the town’s water system. The council is also expected to discuss sending out RFQs for a licensed water operator for the water system, town policies and hosting a 9/11 ceremony in September.

SUMMERFIELD – Prior to the monthly Summerfield Town Council meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 14, an open house will be held at Summerfield Community Center, 5404 Centerfield Road, from

4:30 to 6:30 p.m. for Stewart, a design and engineer firm, to present a design plan for the southern portion of the A&Y Trail extension through Summerfield. The town council will meet in the same location immediately after the open house ends.

Besides committee and staff reports and other routine business, the council is expected to discuss a date for WithersRavenel to present a master plan for the N.C. 150 (Oak Ridge Road) and Summerfield Road intersection and, potentially, the town council seat that has been vacant since April. A closed session to consult with the attorney is also on the agenda.

Town unveils new website STOKESDALE – After problems with its website that included the inability to even update it at one point last year, the Town of Stokesdale unveiled a new site July 20.

Council member Frank Bruno said there are still a few items that need to be updated, including the News & Notes page, to make it more organized. The staff is working to post the remainder of the 2017 meeting minutes and those that have been approved in 2018, as well as the 2018-19 budget, Bruno said.

A couple of problems surfaced July 22 when the Town’s water customers were without water for about four hours after a lightning strike blew apart a residential waterline. Citizens complained they could not find emergency contact information on the

(336) 643-6383 summerfieldfbc.com

/summerfieldfirstbaptist/ •

6

2300 Scalesville Road Summerfield

NEWS in brief

@summerfieldfbc

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

website and that phone numbers listed for council members were wrong.

The information for reporting a water system emergency had been on the old website but was not transferred over to the new website by the web company, according to Town Clerk/Finance Officer Alisa Houk. A tab for emergency contact numbers has since been created, and instructions to report a water emergency are under the News & Notices tab.

An incorrect phone number for one council member has been corrected.

For the 2017-18 fiscal year, $2,500 was budgeted for website design and hosting; $2,869.50 was spent.

View the new website at www. stokesdale.org.

...News Briefs continued on p. 21

One team…

Care for all ages

Dr. Renee Kuneff LeBauer Oak Ridge Now accepting new patients!

We have expanded our practice to better meet your family’s needs.

We are taking new patients and we have same-day appointment availability.

Our office gives your whole family access to: • Family Medicine • an online patient portal • On-Site lab services • Behavioral Health You will also have access to our entire LeBauer specialty network including: • Gastroenterology • Sports Medicine • Neurology • Physical Therapy • Pulmonology • Health Coaches

LeBauer Healthcare at Oak Ridge 1427 NC-68 • Oak Ridge, NC 27310 (336) 644-6770

lebauer.com

Public records: property of the people? ...continued from our Aug. 2-8, 2018 issue It’s now been 3 1/2 months since Summerfield Mayor Gail Dunham received her first public records request for copies of email communications relating to town business since she was sworn into office on Dec. 12; at least 10 similar requests have been processed by the town clerk since then, with none yet fulfilled.

In this issue we share more of the comments we received recently after we reached out to citizens in northwest Guilford County, including past and present town council members, and asked 1) Do you feel elected officials’ communications regarding the business of the communities they represent should be considered public records?; and 2) If so, should there be any consequences when those communications are not provided upon request?

Oak Ridge Mayor Spencer Sullivan responded, “It is a fact that both the public records laws and public meeting laws define elected officials’

responsibilities to the public in the execution of their work. Any elected official must accept those responsibilities upon taking office, and act in accordance with both the intent and spirit of those laws. It is critical to maintaining the trust and confidence of our citizens, and as mayor I am vigilant in assuring our council does so.

“Our town council and staff make every effort to respond very promptly and complete any PRR we receive, and ensure we are in full compliance,” Sullivan continued, explaining the town has a standard form that those submitting a PRR are asked to complete.

“But it is a very simple form that asks which records are being sought, what media form is desired, and for a contact name and phone number – the reason we ask for a name and phone number is twofold: in case we need to clarify what records are being requested; and to notify the requester the records are ready to be picked up.

“Everything we do on behalf of the town is subject to public records requests (with specific exemptions, as outlined by N.C.G.S. 132),” Sullivan continued. “…As part of the required training for elected officials that we go through with UNC School

compassionate

personal caring responsive

20% OFF DENTALS IN SEPTEMBER Karen Nasisse, DVM • Jessica Young, DVM 1692-J NC Hwy 68 N, Oak Ridge • (336) 643-8984 nwanimalhospitalnc.com

8

AUG. 9 - 15, 2018

of Government, we were instructed on how to handle our communications and that has been reinforced by our attorney.”

“100 percent yes to both questions!” Summerfield resident John Van Kemp responded.

Oak Ridge resident Mike Stone, a former town council member, responded: “All, all, ALL emails and other communications’ records are public records and should be available to anyone who requests them. I’ll add that all means all emails, voicemail, texts, and even social media posts that pertain to town business… If someone is concerned about keeping their discussions and communications private, they do not need to be elected officials or serving in a volunteer capacity for the town – or – if they don’t want their communications public, they need to learn the art of verbal communications.

“I believe that all records should be turned over to the town attorney within 72 hours of the request,” Stone continued. “That’s a fast turn-around, I know, but I maintained every email and text so that as soon as it was requested I could pull the information and forward it. It’s irresponsible as an elected official to not have the public’s records in order.

“My personal opinion is that no public records request should take more than 10 business days (three days to assemble and send to the attorney and seven days for him/her to review and forward to the town manager so it can be presented to the requestor). If a request for public records goes unfulfilled for more than 15 business days, I could easily support a law or ordinance that removes/

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

The best penalty is imposed at the voting booth, by citizens not reelecting those individuals.”

Stokesdale Town Council member Frank Bruno suspends the elected official, employee or volunteer from any town activities until such time as they comply with the law/ordinance.”

Stone added that the town/city should also do its part to respond to citizens seeking information via a public records request.

“I’ve made requests for information only to be told where I can go to get the information myself,” he said.

“I’m sorry, but my tax dollars pay for employees to fill my request, not provide instructions on how to search the town’s website for the information.”

Responding via the Northwest Observer’s Facebook page, Judi Bastion said, “…Town employees and elected officials need to use established means of communication. Since there have been numerous record requests in the past and (Summerfield) candidates ran on this issue, transparency that was promised needs to be delivered.”

Oak Ridge Town Council member George McClellan had this to say: “All communications pertaining to the town’s business are a matter of public record regardless of whether it is between me and the staff, me and another council member, or between me and a constituent.”

With regard to any recourse for not fulfilling a public records request, McClellan said it should be “Whatever

the law allows. Whenever our clerk informs me of a public records request I do my best to have everything requested to her within 48 hours.”

Stokesdale Town Council member Frank Bruno responded, “If a member of council is discussing town business with a member of the public then this should be information that is made public if and when requested.

“As far as making these available, there should be a reasonable time to reply as long as the request is not vague. Specific requests for a specific item should be responded to within a week of when the request is made and the proper paperwork is filled out. There may be times where the request needs to be reviewed by the town attorney to make sure the requested information can be released to the public, but this should not take an unreasonable time to accomplish,” Bruno continued.

“What I mean by a vague request is if someone requests all of the emails that have been written by a specific council member without specifying what the subject of the emails are. While this could be provided, it would take an inordinate amount of time to accomplish and we do not have the manpower or budget to have an employee spend their time

on this type of request.

“As far as a penalty for not supplying records, deleting, or being selective in what is provided, there should be a penalty imposed on the individual or town that does this. As far as what that should be, I’m not sure how you could impose the penalty. I know the person requesting the records can file a court action to get them, but there doesn’t seem to be any penalty to recover attorney fees. You could censure that member of council, but they would still be able to conduct their council business. Repeated offenses could be dealt with more harshly, maybe with a monetary penalty – but who would impose the penalty and who would collect it?

“The best penalty is imposed at the voting booth, by citizens not reelecting those individuals.”

“Absolutely, emails relating to public business should be considered public record,” said Oak Ridge Town Council member Doug Nodine. “The only exception might be when the official is negotiating on a personnel matter or the purchase of real property.

“With respect to recourse I am not sure what you have in mind, but public flogging might be on the extreme side,” Nodine added. “Of course, the ultimate recourse should take place at the voting booth.”

6801 Bugle Run Drive Oak Ridge Immaculate and ready to move into! NEW driftwood hardwood flooring, fresh interior paint, new light fixtures, numerous built-ins, great kitchen, sunroom and a fabulous backyard. $379,000

Ramilya Siegel CRS, GRI, ABR, CDPE Realtor®

ramilya.siegel@allentate.com

(336) 215-9856

/RamilyaSiegel

Your friend in real estate

And Oak Ridge Town Council member Ann Schneider had this to say: “Transparency in government is essential to maintaining trust and keeping communication open with the residents we serve. I fully support both our open meeting laws and our public records laws that make all aspects of our work accessible to the public.

“Having served on the Historic Preservation Commission for several years, I brought experience complying with both of these laws to my current role on the Oak Ridge Town Council,” Schneider continued. “While on the HPC, I had no difficulty complying with even a broad-ranging public records request (PRR), since the majority of my emails included town staff. The others were easily located using simple search tools within my email program. I have also submitted a PRR myself at the state level. I was grateful that my request was treated seriously and responded to promptly – it really increased my confi-

dence in our state government.

“Public servants at all levels need to take their responsibilities seriously. There are already some consequences in place for those who don’t. For example, PRRs that aren’t fulfilled in a timely manner can lead to media attention and an erosion of confidence – as we are already seeing. I understand that North Carolina statutes also allow residents to sue in civil court when PRRs aren’t fulfilled in a reasonable time period, but I would hope that this won’t ever be necessary in our northwest community.”

•••••

want to share your opinion?

We welcome your thoughts on the issue of public records requests – please email them to editor@nwobserver.com.

REGISTRATION BEGAN

June 3, 2018 First evaluation: August 11 First game: September 15 Finish date: November 10 2300 Scalesville Road, Summerfield Ages 4 - 6th grade • Registration $70

SUMMERFIELD

Players must turn 4 years of age by 8/31/2018

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH

All players must attend one evaluation Co-ed league • Games and practices held on Saturdays

For more info, call (336) 643-6383 or visit summerfieldfbc.com

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

AUG. 9 - 15, 2018

9

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!

Calderon Painting & Remodeling “Where quality and customer satisfaction come first” Business Owner: Filiberto Calderon Filberto Calderon started working in the painting business about five years ago with the man who later became his father-in-law. When his father-in-law retired in 2016, Calderon decided to start his own company.

Calderon Painting & Remodeling offers interior and exterior painting, stain and pressure washing services.

“Customer satisfaction is our main focus,” Calderon said. “We are so confident in our work that we always tell our customers they do not need to give us a deposit. Once they are happy with the final work, we get paid. If they are not happy, we take the time necessary to make them happy. We do not leave a job until they are satisfied and will refer us to another person.”

On a personal note: Calderon said his parents migrated to the U.S. from Mexico and he grew up in a family of five.

“I was born in Florida, but at the age of 3 we moved to North Carolina.

I grew up in Asheboro and after high school I attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,” he said.

Calderon and his wife were married last year and “We are hoping that God blesses us soon with a baby,” he told the NWO. Calderon, whose father is a pastor, said he is very involved in his church and through that, does several things to help around the community. He also plays drums in his church band.

“I am a ‘family guy,’” he added.

“I like to spend time with my wife and both of our families. Traveling and exploring different places is one of my favorite things. When it comes to sports, I love to play volleyball.”

See ad on p. 29.

Oak Ridge Merchants boost giving after RidgeFest’s success The three-day event on May 31 through June 2 was held at Oak Ridge Town Park

by CHRIS BURRITT Merchants of Oak Ridge increased charitable giving by $5,000 after RidgeFest 2018, an annual event which it helps organize and sponsors each year in partnership with the Town of Oak Ridge, brought in a record amount of proceeds.

MOR’s donations went to six organizations, with Next Step Ministries getting $2,000. The Kernersville-based non-profit provides emergency housing and services to victims of domestic abuse and their children.

Oak Ridge United Methodist Church received $1,000, $500 each for its teen and youth program and BackPack Ministry, which sends food home with needy children for weekend meals.

The remaining four groups received $500 each. The gift to Summit Church went for Oak Ridge youth and com-

munity outreach. The donation to the Oak Ridge Youth Association will help fund underprivileged kids’ participation in ORYA programs.

Preservation Oak Ridge also received $500, as did Good Samaritan Ministries, which provides food, clothing and other necessities to those in need in northwest Guilford County and other nearby areas.

Strong participation by youth in the three-day event figured into giving to their organizations.

“The youth are not only our future community leaders, but were also an integral part of the event,” said Phillip Hanks, MOR president. “That’s what drove many of our charitable contribution decisions.”

MOR had already planned to give two $2,000 scholarships to students at Northwest Guilford High School and Oak Ridge Military Academy.

The merchants decided to donate the additional $5,000 after “our members paid a record amount to sponsor the event this year,” said Hanks, a financial advisor and CEO of Black Oak Wealth Management based in Oak Ridge.

SERVICES Pressure wash | Deck Interior & Exterior Paint | Drywall

Samuel K. Anders, CPA, MSA, PC 30 Years Experience

Individual, Corporate, Partnership & Payroll Tax Electronic Tax Filing  Estate Planning  Bookkeeping & Compilations

info@samanderscpa.com

10

AUG. 9 - 15, 2018

community news with your neighbors

Oak Ridge Business Center

8004 Linville Rd, Suite G, Oak Ridge

(336) 643-7577 or 1-800-467-8299

Share your

www.samanderscpa.com

e-mail: communitynews@nwobserver.com

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

BITS & PIECES

Fun Day!

HorseFriends to host open house Aug. 18 Photo courtesy of HorseFriends

HorseFriends, a nonprofit that offers therapeutic horseback riding to special needs families free of charge, invites residents to an open house Aug. 18 at its new facility off N.C. 150 in Summerfield.

Photos by Laura Reneer/NWO

Northwest Pediatrics hosted a free Community Fun Day Aug. 2 to celebrate youth and introduce its newest pediatrician on staff, Dr. David DeWeese. Firefighters with Summerfield Fire Department were on hand with a fire truck for little ones to explore and to provide checks for proper installation of car seats. There was also a bounce house, face painting, popcorn and shaved ice treats – and, a big hit, Looney Lanny’s balloon animals and magic show. See more photos from this event at Facebook.com/NorthwestObserver.

Residents are invited to an open house on Aug. 18 for HorseFriends, a nonprofit in operation since 2005 which helps kids and adults with special needs such as autism, Down syndrome and cerebral palsy by offering therapeutic horseback riding free of charge. For the last seven years HorseFriends has operated out of Flint­rock Farm in Reidsville, but it recently moved to a lovely piece of property at Khaki Run, 5920 Khaki Place, just off N.C. 150 and Deboe Road in Summerfield (near the new Summerfield exit off I-73).

The open house will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and feature pony rides, games, food, prizes and an opportunity to meet the HorseFriends therapy horses

and volunteers and learn more about the free therapeutic riding program.

With over 20 kids on its waiting list, HorseFriends looks forward to expanding its program at its new location in Summerfield.

Khaki Run, formerly owned by Paul and Virginia Milam, is now owned by David Couch of Blue Ridge Companies.

“We are so thankful to David,” said Sharon Neely, HorseFriends’ president and instructor. “He has been so gracious to let us lease this beautiful piece of property, and by this fall we hope to be serving more special needs kids in the community.”

More info: www.horsefriendsnc.org.

Lisa Bunch, a board member and instructor with HorseFriends, paints the organization’s sign at N.C. 150 and Deboe Road a few weeks ago in preparation for an open house on Saturday, Aug. 18, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at its new location at Khaki Run, 5920 Khaki Place in Summerfield.

Photo by Chris Burritt

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

AUG. 9 - 15, 2018

11

Operation: 336 with Operation:

336

mission project for teens helps needy, elderly

Week at United Methodist Church’s Camp Guilrock in Reidsville mixes fun, friendship and insights on ‘how others live’

by CHRIS BURRITT The youth work crew from Operation: 336 arrived at the fire-damaged home of a mother and five children in Reidsville. Their mission: clean up the charred debris in hopes that the house could be repaired and the young family would still have a place to live.

“It opened my perspective on how others live,” said 15-year-old Aubreigh Duits, one of about 20 area teens who spent the second week in July volunteering at Operation: 336, a mission project for youth who attend Center, Summerfield Peace, Flat Rock and Bethel United Methodist churches.

It was the fourth summer for the camp, started by Keith Bradley, previ-

Courtesy photo

(From left) Caroline Raper, project organizer, Annabelle Raper, Celeste Morris and Lillie Moon take a break from painting signs at Camp Guilrock, one of the assigned activities during Operation: 336 work project.

Ready to move?

JUST RENT IT! “Your Property Management Partners”

(336) 617-5720

piedmontrentalhomes.com rent@piedmontrentalhomes.com

7231-A Summerfield Rd., Summerfield

12

AUG. 9 - 15, 2018

Understanding Medicare Turning 65?

Confused about ABC and D? Tired of the confusing mail or phone calls?

Have a local reputable licensed agent with 11 years experience help you.

Tricia McCormick

co-owner EAAA Enterprises, Inc.

Call (336) 817-8497 for a private consultation

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

ously youth director at Center and Summerfield Peace churches. Bradley created the camp as a way for youth to understand challenges faced by the needy and elderly and to organize projects to help them.

“We are the light” is the theme for the mission work, named for the 336 area code for this part of North Carolina. The cost to participate in the weeklong camp is $100, including meals and cabin accommodations at the United Methodist Church’s Camp Guilrock in Reidsville; the camp is open to rising sixth- through 12th-graders.

This summer’s teens worked in three groups and tackled a variety of assignments – some, such as making vanilla ice cream with residents of Countryside Retirement Village in Stokesdale, were easier and more pleasant than others.

Gleaning vegetables at Summerfield Farms was one of the campers’ assignments.

Another was painting cabins and signs and replacing the mailbox at Camp Guilrock.

Painting flowers and other colorful images on sidewalks at Stokesdale Elementary School brought back memories for rising high school seniors Celeste Morris and Annabelle Raper, who had attended school there years earlier.

Other projects were eye-opening.

An elderly woman returning from the hospital needed help cleaning her Reidsville house. It was so filthy and soiled by her puppy that the youth

cleaned in rotation to avoid prolonged exposure to the odor. They gave up on the stack of dirty dishes in the kitchen when they discovered maggots in the sink.

Camp KidSummit 2018

“With Operation: 336, you’re working really hard,” said Morris, 17. “You’re walking away with that really good feeling that you’re helping people.”

It wasn’t all work, though. There was music, games and s’mores before lights out at 11 p.m. And some of the fun took unexpected twists.

Raper had looked forward to kayaking all week. Halfway across the lake at Camp Guilrock, a mouse ran across her foot. She screamed and paddled as fast as she could back to shore, with her feet on top of the kayak.

The camp ended with a trip to Hanging Rock State Park in Danbury.

In some ways, the week was too short. When the teens departed, they didn’t know whether their efforts to clean up fire damage had been enough to save the Reidsville home.

They did know the family was grateful for their help salvaging picture books and other belongings not destroyed by the fire, said 12-year-old Lillie Moon, a rising seventh-grader at Northern Middle School.

“The message for the kids was for them to leave camp being the light for the world,” said Caroline Raper, mother of Annabelle and youth coordinator at Center United Methodist Church in Greensboro. “They’re helping people in a dark place.”

want to share your

“On a Mission” story?

Please email: editor@nwobserver.com

Photo courtesy of The Summit Church Oak Ridge

“Mad Scientist Doc,” played by Stephen Chambers, performs science experiments for campers attending Camp KidSummit 2018 last month that supported the camp’s theme of letting go and relying on God.

by PARKER KNIGHT, guest writer “Great I Am” with everything we have Camp KidSummit 2018, which took place in mid-July, is in the books as our largest camp yet! Over 250 kids and 98 volunteers were in attendance this year at our Oak Ridge location; the camp was also going on at our other two locations in Jamestown and Kernersville, with other 400 campers and 200 volunteers.

Thank you is simply not enough. We are super grateful for each and every person who made our annual camp possible. Camp KidSummit is our summertime camp where kids who attended K-fifth grade during the 2017-2018 school year get to experience God’s truth in amazing ways! Kids took part in energizing worship each night along with educational activities, exciting sport and extreme amounts of fun!

And there was lots of slime – in fact, the week ended with our very own Pastor Andy Cook getting slimed.

Trusting God with everything we have and everything we do does not come naturally to us. Often times, especially in the midst of stressful situations, we fool ourselves into believing that we know best, we can do it all and the only person we can trust is ourselves. It’s only when we finally let go and trust the

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

and everything we do that He is magnified. This was the message we focused on all week. To tell the story each night, the main characters, “Mad Scientist Doc” and his assistant, “Kimmy,” took part in engaging science experiments to capture the minds of the campers.

Another unique element of our camp is wishes – parents and campers posted wishes on social media throughout the week and lab assistants, our KidSummit director and coordinator granted wishes each night that were focused on doing something for others.

Examples of granted wishes included cookie trays for the Oak Ridge Fire Department and Guilford County Sheriff’s Department, funky hats for a child going through chemo, gift cards for family outings to trampoline parks and the movies, milkshakes from Cookout, Frostys from Wendy’s, and large stuffed animals.

Hundreds of wishes were posted on social media and many were granted!

We are thankful for the opportunity to host KidSummit each year at Oak Ridge Elementary School, where our church currently meets each week.

Visit thesummitchurch.net for more info on the church and its kids’ programs.

AUG. 9 - 15, 2018

13

with Chris-Robin Chris-Robin Dawes seeks to find homes for homeless children in India and give hope to the hopeless

Dawes

much joy and excitement to see us…

They called every female they met ‘Auntie’ and every male ‘Uncle’ and were so thankful that we would spend time with them.

by MARC PRUITT Northwest Greensboro resident Chris-Robin Dawes said her life was forever changed after visiting India in December of 1999 with a group from Liberty University to volunteer at an orphanage in the city of Rajasthan.

“It was a program called ‘Christmas with an Orphan’ and I can’t begin to describe the shift that happened inside my spirit during that trip,” Dawes said.

“As a college student I was pretty blind to what goes on in the world. Seeing children, in what I would consider to be such difficult circumstances, to have so

“Seeing their perspective that they were open to love, open to happiness – they showed us a level of joy that I had never experienced before,” Dawes continued. “It showed me that I have nothing to complain about. They loved us instantly. I didn’t know what to expect, but I didn’t expect them to have such a love of life under the circumstances they were in. I thought I was going to help them, and in reality, they helped me. They helped changed the way I look at the world and the way I look at others. And they changed the way I look at how I can use my resources and gifts to help other people.”

Photo courtesy of Chris-Robin Dawes

Chris-Robin Dawes (center) with Nathaniel Das (right) and his wife in Pune, India.

Through the magic of technology and Facebook, Dawes has since reconnected with a few of the children she met on her initial trip almost 20 years ago.

One whom she said she especially bonded with, Nathaniel Das, told her he felt that it was his calling to open his own orphanage.

“I’ve been supporting him for about eight years now in doing that,” Dawes said. “The orphanage we met at has since closed down. It had close to 2,000 children there and it became too much of a safety concern for the kids. Our ultimate goal is to open a girls’ home there, so on my trips we’ve

been looking for property, schools we can serve, and doing legal documentation. We decided to focus on opening a girls’ home because of the significant risk to younger females in India – they face a high risk of sex trafficking and they don’t have the same educational opportunities that most of the boys have. It really slaps you in the face when you see some of the things the girls deal with over there.”

Dawes’ first trip back to India was last October. She also went in March this year and plans to go back in October. She and Nathaniel are coordinating their work in the city of Pune, which is about three hours east

A+

Visit our showroom for FREE estimates!

(336) 574-2755 Greensboro: 312 Dougherty Street prostoneusa.com

14

Reserve now for your summer vacation!

Granite

Quartz

$29.95/sq. ft.

$45/sq. ft.

starting at

installed

Westergaard Kennels DOG BOARDING

starting at

installed

FEATURED ON

Locally owned and operated

AUG. 9 - 15, 2018

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

Celebrating 29 years of caring for your dogs 5719 Bunch Road, Oak Ridge (336) 643-5169 • jingletail@mac.com

www.westbengoldens.com

Photo courtesy of Chris-Robin Dawes

Chris-Robin Dawes (far left), along with her parents, Tammy and Richard Jenkins, and Nathaniel Das, having fun with a group of children on a recent trip to Pune, India.

Jam-packed with valuable info for northwest Guilford County residents

Keep it handy, use it often In print every January and online ye ar-round at nwobserve r.com

ION

EDIT

tesy of photo cour illy Sandi O’Re

of Mumbai, and some of its surrounding villages.

“Nathaniel is now a college graduate and is married,” Dawes said. “I think the reason I was so drawn to him on my first trip is because he has a twin brother and they were just the sweetest kids. I also bonded with another male named Hegin, and that’s who I named my oldest son after.”

Dawes started a non-profit organization, the Straight Arrows Foundation, with 100 percent of the money that is raised going directly to their efforts in India.

“On my last trip there, we took about 75 pairs of flip-flops because so many of the kids there don’t have shoes, or the ones they do have are always too small,” Dawes said. “We’ve done medical and dental clinics and we have taken soccer balls and games for the kids to play. We want to spend as much time building those relationships as we can and helping out as

much as we can. Every time I have to leave, I feel like there is so much more that needs to be done and I feel a little guilty. It gets harder and harder to walk away.”

Dawes said she spends about 10 days in India on each trip and that her parents, Richard and Tammy Jenkins, have also supported her efforts.

“India is an amazingly beautiful place, but also a very hard place because there is so much you see that just doesn’t register with what we’re used to here,” Dawes said. “The culture is different, and the poverty is like nothing we see here. For the last several years, I have just been so focused on wanting to help as much as I can. Reconnecting with Nathaniel on Facebook was the first step and the timing was essential. It’s been an amazing collaboration. And now that my children are older, I feel like I can contribute more time to help over there. It’s been a real blessing to see

it all fall into place.”

•••••

want to help?

To learn more about or to contribute to Dawes’ non-profit, which helps orphaned children in India, visit www.straightarrowsfoundation.com

k Ridge | nor kesdale | Oa | Colfax | Sto Summerfield by

boro thwest Greens

published

Our classes build honor, bravery, respect, and help achieve good overall health. That’s why our program has been #1 for years!

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

CLASS LOCATION Northern Arts

1011-D Hwy 150 W, Summerfield (336) 681-3255 • info@mikecarrkarate.com

Try one class free before registering Only $60/mo. – never any belt or testing fees

Pre-register online at mikecarrkarate.com

AUG. 9 - 15, 2018

15

Locally

CARPET SUP CARPET S Est.

Est.

1977

1977

&

YourRedefining Total Flo valu

Your Total F

CARPETING CARPET • AREA RUGS • CUSTOM RUGS & RUNNERS

The Triad's only provider of STAINMNASTER's® most comprehensive warranty - The Platinum PromiseTM.

4114 Spring Garden St., Greensboro • (3

y Owned

PER MART SUPER MART

&

Lifetime Installa Home of the tion Wa rranty

ooring Source ue in flooring since 1977

Flooring Source

FLOORING HARDWOOD • LAMINATE • VINYL • CERAMIC

CSM Exclusive

Finally no seams!

16-foot-wide wall-to-wall wool s tarting at

$3.29/sq. ft.

336) 292-0724 • CarpetSuperMart.com

Santa Claus comes to town Relocating from northern Virginia, Chuck Welke reunites with old friends and looks forward to spreading holiday cheer

The two faces of Santa Claus: (Left) Chuck Welke, in his role as Santa, shares a quiet moment with a young visitor; (right) Welke relaxes in his Summerfield home.

by CHRIS BURRITT SUMMERFIELD – A large, bronzecolored reindeer stands tall in the front yard of the brick split-level, the first sign that Santa’s come to town.

There are other clues that this is Santa’s home – a plastic Santa and reindeer perched on the porch and a stout red rocking chair among unpacked items in the garage.

A pair of red-nosed reindeer in the back yard casts aside any doubts that Santa lives here. Then he emerges from the house, dressed for July, not the holidays: deck shoes the color of Rudolph’s fur, white socks, white shorts and a short-sleeved white shirt with an image of Santa in a grass skirt dancing under a palm tree.

His spectacles rest near the tip of his nose, surrounded by bushy white eyebrows and beard. His white hair is thick and flowing, but it can’t cover

Photo by Chris Burritt/NWO

Santa is actually Chuck Welke. The 60-year-old retiree moved to Summerfield last November, after discovering the Photo courtesy of Santa Claus neighborhood where his broad smile. he now lives while visiting Shanahan and his wife, Shirley.

“One day he decided he was going to do the Santa thing, and he’s been Santa ever since,” said Tim Shanahan, a friend of Santa’s for 20 years.

Welke and his wife, Suzanne, were friends of the Shanahans when they all lived in Woodbridge, Virginia, a suburb

Helping smiles for generations and generations to come!

(336) 643-1440 Healthy Smiles. Happy Patients.

6161-A Lake Brandt Rd. Summerfield

Learn more about our care at SummerfieldDentist.com

18

AUG. 9 - 15, 2018

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

of Washington, D.C. After the Shanahans retired and moved to Summerfield, Welke and his wife visited them while she was battling brain cancer. The neighborhood off N.C. 150 is secluded and quiet, with woods and a small private lake.

“We loved sitting on the water and taking walks,” Welke said.

When he started playing Santa 13 years ago, Suzanne always played

Santa’s wife. During her illness, Welke told her, “Babe, I can’t do this without you. You are my Mrs. Claus.”

Suzanne finally told her husband she wasn’t up to playing the role any more, but before she died three years ago she also told him, “You need to be the best Santa you can be.”

That’s when Welke’s hobby took a serious turn.

“When she said that, I stopped cutting my hair and stopped cutting my beard,’’ he said. “I’ve never had my hair this long. Until I trimmed my beard a few days ago, I hadn’t cut it since she passed away.”

Welke first played Santa at a family gathering and then on the Santa Train, a holiday event sponsored by Virginia Railway Express, a commuter train service in northern Virginia.

“When I come out, it’s show time,” Welke said. He was so authentic in his role as Santa Claus that children on the train gave him letters to deliver to Santa. He collected so many that he had to stuff some of them in his boots.

As his reputation spread, so did demand for his services.

Embracing the slogan, “No charge for a good cause!” he played Santa

free of charge at events for nonprofit and charitable organizations such as The ARC, an organization for people with disabilities such as Down syndrome, the Coming Home program for families in Boston receiving welfare and Journey’s End Animal Sanctuary in Deland, Florida.

When Welke performs at noncharity events, such as holiday parties, he charges $250 an hour and donates that money to charities such as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.

Once, while holding a 2-year-old girl in Boston, she fell asleep on his shoulder. When he’d put her down to talk to other children, she’d want to climb back in his lap.

“Some of the moments I’ve had,” Welke said. “Talking to special-needs children is the best. They are so innocent.”

Welke said his hair began turning white in his 30s. He’s not sure why.

It did turn a lighter shade of brown during summers hanging out on the Jersey shore. He was born in North Cape May, New Jersey, and later served as president of his senior class in high school.

During his career as a federal

government employee, he served as a White House photographer during the presidential administrations of Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan in the late 1970s and early ‘80s. He retired last year.

With Welke now settled in his new home in Summerfield, he’s turning his attention to the Christmas season.

He’s told neighbors he plans to become “the King of Christmas” in terms of decorating his yard.

As for playing Santa, Welke plans to limit his out-of-state travels and instead focus on local events. He’s already played Santa during a food drive at Rody’s Tavern at Battleground

Avenue and Horse Pen Creek Road in Greensboro and he’s taking holiday bookings now, on a first-come, firstserve basis.

Welke’s daughter, Elizabeth, has pitched in as Mrs. Claus since her recent move to the area, but he’s also looking for others who would like to play the role during the holidays.

•••••

want to learn more?

Want to book Santa for your Christmas event or assist him as “Mrs. Santa?” Email Chuck Welke at christmasclaus60@gmail.com.

Photo courtesy of Santa Claus

Chuck Welke, aka Santa Claus, and his wife Suzanne, who played Mrs. Santa Claus before her death three years ago.

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

AUG. 9 - 15, 2018

19

Close encounters of the

by HELEN LEDFORD

deck’s bannister. But a few proddings sent the trespasser on to parts unknown, possibly weak from fright!

Recently, while sitting on my front deck with a friend, she suddenly screamed, “There’s a snake! There’s a snake!” Turning, I caught sight of a long, slim, pea-green reptile near the bottom of my storm door.

My first eyeball-to-eyeball meeting with a snake was years ago, when I was about 4 years old. I was playing outside when I saw a small, brown spotted critter lying almost at my feet.

I don’t remember being afraid, just fascinated, as the creature lay lazily, flicking out its tongue.

My friend excitedly shouted, “What do we do?”

I suggested we get a stick and “knock the rascal off the deck!”

She did this expertly, although with some fear and trembling, and the lively little intruder landed in a nearby bush.

We proceeded to resume our conversation about the weather, goings-on in the world, etc., but sometime later we discovered our banished “scaley one” had returned, curled in an intricate love knot and wound around the

It did not coil, or threaten me, and momentarily just slid away into some tall grass. When I ran inside to tell Mama, she (of course) was concerned, and asked, “Well, what did you do?”

I innocently replied, “Well, he kept poking his tongue out at me, so I poked mine out at him!” (Hence the ancient saying, “God takes care of fools and children.”)

WARM

WEATHER

IS HERE

Make sure your A/C system can handle the job

Ask about special financing Subject to credit approval, see store for details

7101 US 158, Stokesdale • (336) 643-7397 NEW SYSTEM INSTALLATION • SERVICE • REPAIR

AUG. 9 - 15, 2018

On the farm, we had chicken houses with many feathered residents that supplied our eggs. Trouble was, there were devious black vipers that knew exactly where those eggs were, and often stealthily slithered silently into a nest, hoping for a free “hen fruit” meal.

It is rather shocking when, as you are retrieving eggs, your hand touches not a hen’s warm backside but the dark, cold coils of a very unwelcome marauder.

www.trane.com

20

slithering kind

Though we knew the black snakes were harmless, Mama would sometimes annihilate the thieving serpent and hang its carcass over a tree limb.

There was an old belief that if you hung up a snake, it would rain before sundown. If there was a drought, the

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

rainstorm that sometimes followed that custom was very much welcomed!

And then there was the time my husband and I lived with our young son in an old house, renovated into two duplex apartments. On a lazy Saturday morning I arose to prepare breakfast, leaving my “men folks” in bed. I took notice that somehow, my “better half’s” belt had landed behind our oil circulator heating apparatus. Alas, when I reached for the “belt,” it wiggled!

To say the least (after that fellow was extricated from the house), for the rest of the day, and for sometime afterward, I nervously watched out of the corner of my eye for any unexpected movement!

This year it has been indicated that snakes are more plentiful in our area.

Heretofore, I have seen several each summer, mostly of the black racer variety. These guys are fearless and feisty, and though their bite contains no venom, I’m told, it is painful. Anytime I have encountered a black racer in my yard, I have given it a wide berth, for they are fast movers and may challenge anyone who gets in their path.

I realize that black snakes are valuable to farmers and homeowners because of their usefulness in keeping spaces clear of rodents and other pests. Usually, I never kill any snake of this variety, but several years ago, on a warm December day, while passing through my front door I laid my arm over on the deck railing and found it resting on an uninvited serpentine varmint sunning itself. I retrieved a hoe and attempted to drag the fellow over to a wooded area, but it was somewhat uncooperative and proceeded to travel up the hoe handle to get at my hand. Reluctantly, I eradicated my adversary, conceding that he was just a little too combative for my taste!

Memorable is that cold, but sunny, afternoon in February when my daughter and I were skipping over rocks at a nearby creek. As my offspring jumped into the dead leaves at the creek’s perimeter, I followed suit, but fell forward on my hands and

knees. My blood ran cold as a hibernating snake rose up not six inches from my face, opened its mouth (white as cotton inside), and struck at me. I fell back on a rock, and then took off in another direction pronto!

I have heard that cottonmouth moccasins are not indigenous to the Piedmont, but I am sure that I met with one on that particular day. Had that snake not been drowsy from winter napping, I probably would not be here to share this article with you today.

Other encounters with crawling reptiles include meeting up with a hognose snake, famous for its ability to “play dead” when feeling threatened.

And there was once a colorful garter snake who took up residence in my flower garden, lolled in one of my largest flower pots, and enjoyed morning sprinklings from my garden hose.

Strangest of all, some years back, a baby black snake fell on my head as I exited my back door – it was as startled as I was!

I suppose if I have any words of caution concerning snakedom, (since any of that realm’s inhabitants can be unpredictable), I would draw from President Teddy Roosevelt’s wisdom concerning foreign policy – “Speak softly, and carry a big stick!”

Welcoming new patients Hours

Monday- Friday 7:30 am - 5:30 pm Existing patient walk-ins welcome Accepting most insurance plans

Kip Corrington, md Patients of all ages

Ashley Michaels, pa-c Marsha White, agnp-c Patients of all ages Patients ages 13+

NEWS in brief

...continued from p. 6

Council approves paving, septic contracts for $177,000 OAK RIDGE – The Oak Ridge Town Council voted 4-0 to hire P&S Grading of Greensboro to resurface the parking lots at the town park and Town Hall.

The council approved the $110,580 contract at its regular monthly meeting Aug. 2 at the request of Town Manager Bill Bruce; council member Ann Schneider was absent from the meeting.

P&S was the only bidder for the project. The company agreed to complete the asphalt repair work by November and to ensure that parking lots are accessible during weekend events.

The council also voted unanimously to hire Overbey’s Septic Tank of McLeansville for improvements to the town park’s septic system. The $66,431

contract provides for installation of a new 12,000-gallon flow equalization tank, new supply lines and a new septic field just north of the woods on the park property, Bruce told council members in a memo. In addition, a third PVC supply line will be installed to accommodate possible expansion.

The town’s staff recommended Overbey’s after the company submitted the low bid.

The town is paying Hugh Creed Associates of Greensboro $15,926 for design, engineering and construction management of the project, bringing its total cost to $82,357. The town’s capital improvement plan allocated $95,000 for the septic upgrade.

Barbour & Williams Law 8004 Linville Road, Suite E-3, Oak Ridge

(336) 643-4623

barbourwilliams.com

Your Hometown Lawyer

LABOR DAY SPECIAL

Northwest Family Medicine

$50 OFF Your estate planning package

(Now through Sept. 5, 2018)

(336) 643-3378 • 7607-B Hwy 68 N, Oak Ridge

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

AUG. 9 - 15, 2018

21

Check fraud warning Sgt. T.P. Popek of Guilford County Sheriff’s District 1 Office advises residents to be very careful about putting envelopes with personal checks for payment in their mailboxes.

“There has been a recent crime trend where suspects have been stealing the outgoing mail when they see the little red flag left up to alert the mailman,” Popek wrote on nextdoor.com. “The suspects then bleach out the name on the check and fill it in with someone else’s

name. Many times they will just approach someone uninvolved and ask them if they want to make a little money by cashing the check. The suspects will then fill in the information on the check and they will split the proceeds.”

Popek advises residents to hand outgoing mail with checks or other payment information directly to their postal carrier, or place the payment envelope in a mailbox at the post office.

Who will be the voice for these children?

Over 250 children in Guilford County will go to court alone.

Learn how to be an advocate for an abused or neglected child by becoming a Guardian Ad Litem.

(336) 412-7580 | volunteerforgal.org

22

AUG. 9 - 15, 2018

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

THEFT Aug. 6 | An employee of Tractor Supply in Oak Ridge filed a report for a shoplifting incident which occurred between 8:45 and 9 p.m. on June 27; the report states that an unknown suspect came into the store on that date and stole a Husqvarna chainsaw valued at $455.

ARRESTS/CITATIONS July 31 | A known male offender and resident of the 1300 block of Shields Road in Kernersville was cited around 11:25 p.m. on Pleasant Ridge Road in northwest Greensboro for carrying a concealed weapon without a permit, possession of drug paraphernalia, and multiple traffic charges.

Aug. 2 | While being apprehended on an outstanding order for arrest, a 53-yearold male known offender was charged with possession of cocaine and drug paraphernalia that included a glass crack pipe, lighter, Q-tip and a $10 bill with cocaine residue. The man was arrested at 4:31 p.m. in the 6400 block of Old Oak Ridge Road in northwest Greensboro.

Aug. 2 | An 18-year-old male known offender was arrested at 2:54 p.m. at his residence in the 4400 block of Hollow Hill Road in Kernersville for possession of marijuana (up to 1/2 ounce) and drug paraphernalia.

Aug. 3 | A man was arrested at 10:49 a.m. near the 8000 block of National Service Road in Colfax for possession of firearms by a felon.

Aug. 3 | A 21-year-old male was arrested at 3:35 p.m. in the 800 block of Quail Meadow Lane in Colfax for breaking and entering.

Aug. 3 | A 34-year-old female known offender was arrested at 7:38 p.m. in the 6400 block of U.S. 158 in Summerfield for possession of methamphetamine and

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

drug paraphernalia during a traffic stop.

Aug. 3 | A 31-year-old woman was arrested at 9:20 p.m. in the 6400 block of U.S. 158 in Summerfield for resisting, delaying or obstructing a public officer.

Aug. 3 | A 34-year-old man was arrested at 10:25 p.m. in the 6400 block of U.S. 158/Hudson James Road in Summerfield and charged with: identity theft; possession of a firearm by a felon; carrying a concealed weapon without a permit; resisting, delaying or obstructing a public officer; providing false information to an officer; driving with a revoked license; driving without required vehicle lighting equipment; and using a fictitious driver’s license.

Aug. 4 | A 54-year-old male was arrested at 4:25 p.m. in the 7100 block of U.S. 158 in Stokesdale on one count of failure to appear on a felony charge and five counts of failure to appear on a misdemeanor charge.

Aug. 4 | A 34-year-old male and same offender as the above Aug. 3 incident was additionally charged at 10:37 p.m. in the 6400 block of U.S. 158 in Summerfield with burning of personal property, fraud, identity theft and seconddegree trespassing.

Aug. 5 | A 31-year-old male known offender from the 1400 block of Browns Avenue in Charlotte was cited and released at 3:38 p.m. at the intersection of Belews Creek Road/U.S. 158 in Stokesdale for misdemeanor possession of marijuana.

Aug. 6 | A 53-year-old male on probation was arrested at 5:37 p.m. in the 8000 block of N.C. 68 N. in Stokesdale for failure to notify the sheriff’s department of a change of address.

Aug. 6 | A 31-year-old male was cited at 9:20 a.m. in the 7700 block of New­ haven Drive in Oak Ridge for having an expired inspection certificate and a cancelled/revoked/suspended license tag.

Submitting your

calendar

events online is as easy as ...

mark your

calendar

THURSDAY, AUG. 9

zz Town Council Meeting | Stokesdale Town Coun-

cil will meet Aug. 9, 7 p.m. at Stokesdale Town Hall, 8325 Angel Pardue Road. More info: stokesdale.org.

SATURDAY, AUG. 11

Ronnie@inglelawoffice.com Steve@inglelawoffice.com

Stokesdale office located at: 8512 US Highway 158 Kernersville office: P.O. Box 2474, Kernersville, NC 27284 Danbury office: 603 Main Street, Danbury, NC 27016

(336) 497-1680 • www.IngleLawOffice.com

will hold a free school supplies giveaway event Aug. 11, 10 a.m. to noon at 8430 Southard Road, Stokesdale. zz Music in the Park | The Town of Oak Ridge will host

The Tyler Millard Band on Aug. 11, 6 to 8 p.m. at Oak Ridge Town Park, 6321 Lisa Drive. Kids’ games start at 6 p.m.; music begins at 6:30 p.m. Free admission, but donations for the band are appreciated. Bring a lawn chair or blanket; food will be available for purchase or bring a picnic. zz Work Session | Summerfield’s Zoning Board will

community calendar

Ronald D. Ingle, Jr. Stephen Coe

zz School Supplies Giveaway | Heritage Baptist Church

MONDAY, AUG. 13

On the left side, click

INGLE LAW, PLLC

meet Aug. 13, 6 p.m. at Summerfield Town Hall, 4117 Oak Ridge Road, to continue its review of the town’s Unified Development Ordinance. More info: summerfieldgov.com.

For community updates, breaking news and more, visit: facebook.com/NorthwestObserver

TUESDAY, AUG. 14

zz Trail Life Open House | Trail Life Troop N.C. 0249

add your event Click and fill in your details

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

will host an information and registration open house on Aug. 14, 7 p.m. at Heritage Baptist Church, 8430 Southard Road, Stokesdale. Trail Life is an outdoor adventure program for boys in grades K-12.

More info: traillifeusa.com. zz Open House/Council Meeting | The Town of

Summerfield will host an open house Aug. 14, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., at Summerfield Community Center, 5404 Centerfield Road, for Stewart (engineering and design firm) to present a design plan for the A&Y Trail extension through Summerfield. Following the open house, the town council will hold its regular monthly meeting. More info: summerfieldgov.com.

THURSDAY, AUG. 16

zz Oak Ridge Lions Club | Oak Ridge Lions Club will

meet Aug. 16, 6:30 p.m. at Bill’s Pizza, 1431 N.C. 68, Oak Ridge. More info: Danny Yanusz, (336) 643-6424. zz Senior Program | Senior Resources, in partner-

...where over 12,800 of your neighbors are connected

Laser and Acupuncture SERVICES

ship with the Town of Summerfield, invites senior citizens to activities and lunch on Aug. 16, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Summerfield/Peace UM Church, 2334 Scalesville Road. You do not need to be a church member to attend. More info: Amanda Clark, (336) 373-4816, ext. 265.

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

(336) 665-1286 www.bel-airevet.com

Serving the NW Triad area since 1991

AUG. 9 - 15, 2018

23

most importantly, your honesty and integrity. Keep up your spirits even during these tough times. God bless you!

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

Share your thoughts in online: nwobserver.com

40 words or less

e-mail: grinsandgripes@nwobserver.com

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

GRINS to...

Oak Ridge Mayor Sullivan, Mayor Pro Tem Jim Kinneman, Councilman George McClellan and Councilwoman Ann Schneider for attending the Safety and Security Tour at NWHS. You all are great advocates!

since I’d been there the transformation from hard clay to near-carpet is stunning. Well done!

The boaters at the Belews Lake boat ramps who seamlessly get their boats in and out of the water without holding up the line. Thank you for being aware of others around you.

Town of Stokesdale for doing an amazing job with the soccer field turf at Stokesdale Town Park. In the years

Dee Hall, Scott Whitaker and the rest of the Town of Summerfield staff for your dedication, hard work – and

Northwest Observer, for not giving up on the Public Records Requests from our mayor. Your excellent reporting is so needed these days to offset a small group of people trying to ruin Summerfield. #NWObserveristruth.

GRIPES to...

Those spreading falsehoods about “illegal immigrants” on the voter rolls with zero evidence. It’s one of those “alternative facts” pushed

by Russian cyber trolls to stoke hatred and division in America. Ah, if only the immigrants were blond, blue-eyed Norwegians!

NWO... Get off Mayor Dunham’s back. She is new and has been under fire since Day 1. You’d be confused if people treated you the way they have her, you and staff included. She’s struggling, but give her a break.

Bill Hill (town attorney) and Scott Whitaker (town manager) of Summerfield. As “town staff” your job is to serve your mayor and council as well as the citizens. Stop making this a competition – unify and help instead of being mean-spirited.

Duke Energy for how it has implemented smart meters. Changing meters without letting customers know is dangerous. Website says it won’t bother anything in your house – that is false. It trips all your GFIs (or GFCIs – Ground

The young male driver (with two passengers in the car) who hit my car at Harris Teeter on New Garden Road at 12:30 a.m. Aug. 1, assured me he would cover the damage, then gave me a fictitious name and left.

People driving in and out of Old Moores Mill who fly through the STOP sign in the Oak Creek subdivision.

Please respect the laws and have some consideration for those who live and walk in the neighborhood.

LeBauer Healthcare at Horse Pen Creek 4443 Jessup Grove Road Greensboro, NC 27410 (336) 663-4600

lebauer.com AUG. 9 - 15, 2018

Angry drivers who, traveling north on N.C. 68, use the right-turn-only lane as a merge lane. Get in the correct lane (straight or right turn) way before the lane ends. It’s not a merge lane!

Editor’s note: Please don’t confuse “being on the mayor’s back” with holding the mayor, as an elected official, accountable for her behavior. Specifically with regard to public records requests, the mayor has submitted more PRRs (at least 100) in the last six years than any other citizen in Summerfield, so she of all people should not be confused about the laws governing what is public record and an elected official’s moral duty and legal obligation to provide records that are public property in a reasonable time period.

Frankly, I question why anyone would encourage the Northwest Observer to “back off” and leave the mayor alone – unless they are participants in some of the email communications the mayor refuses to provide?

Accepting new patients of every age.

24

Fault Circuit Interrupters).

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

Summerfield Mayor Gail Dunham who supports – and blatantly promotes – Summerfield Scoop, a media source that bans citizens of Summerfield. These are the very citizens that the mayor took an oath to serve.

NCDOT for allowing bicyclists to clog up the roads and create traffic jams. With all the greenways and trails

available, it seems there are far better options than adding to the already numerous traffic problems.

The local restaurant that raised its prices before updating its menus, but charged the higher price instead of the printed price. When that happens at the grocery store federal law says you get that item free!

FEASIBILITY STUDY

“was basically through,” but several people felt more information was needed.

“It’s taken longer than anticipated,” Whitaker said.

One thing discussed was pricing, including what the cost might be if 50 percent of the water involved was purchased water and 50 percent was groundwater, he said.

...continued from p. 1

“I know people are anxious to hear about it. There are lots of moving pieces and a lot of questions,” he acknowledged.

Whitaker said the core group of managers, mayors and council members from the four entities met July 31 in Oak Ridge for what was intended to be the last time before public meetings on the feasibility study are held.

However, the meeting ran longer than expected and a follow-up meeting will be held Aug. 17 in Oak Ridge, he said. The meeting is not open to the public.

“There were questions and recent developments that left the group saying, ‘Let’s finish this discussion,’” Whitaker said.

He said the approach for the public presentation of the feasibility study could be determined at the Aug. 17 meeting. Several members of the core group have suggested Timmons hold public meetings with each municipality.

Task 12 in Timmons’ contract includes “a final presentation/public meeting.”

However, one member of the group recommended meeting with the entities all at once, saying it would be difficult for the same information to be presented four different times.

Bill Jones, a Stokesdale Town Council member, said the scope of the study

6th annual edition coming Sept. 6

Northwest

“But before you can consider 50 percent from groundwater, you’ve got to make sure it’s there,” Jones said.

Jones said a more detailed study could be done by a geologic company to see “what we can get from wells and where tanks would be.” He said that was outside the study’s original scope and the group is looking at the cost of adding another task.

The study’s scope included developing: A preliminary design of a water system; estimates for construction and operational costs; funding options; potential water sources and their capacity and willingness to sell water; and rate/ fee structure analysis.

The scope of the study is for water only; sewer is not included.

Whitaker said a public meeting involving the full governing bodies of the four entities is tentatively scheduled Sept. 5 or 6, but the presentation of the feasibility study isn’t expected then.

“It will be more of a work session between jurisdictions to fine-tune things before the feasibility study is presented to the public,” Whitaker said.

The cost of the study is covered under $14,548,981 that was appropriated in the state’s 2015-16 budget.

Your in-depth preview of Northern and Northwest Guilford High Schools’ fall 2018 football season Reserve your ad space today Contact Laura Reneer at (336) 644-7035 ext. 11 or advertising@nwobserver.com

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

AUG. 9 - 15, 2018

25

A simple message on full display in Greensboro

LETTERS/OPINONS

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.

Mayor is stalling, avoiding fulfilling public records requests Thank you Northwest Observer for your article regarding the failure of Summerfield’s Mayor Gail Dunham to fulfill any of the 10 or more public records requests that have been submitted to her, with the earliest request dating back to April 25. I too have requested all of her sent and received emails for all town business conducted on the known personal email accounts she uses (gadunham@aol.com and mayorgail@yahoo.com) from/ to Todd Rotruck and from/to Teresa Pegram from Nov. 7, 2017, to the present.

According to the mayor, some of the requests for her email communications required more information to process, which is inaccurate according to the town attorney, who indicated all requests are complete and valid according to N.C. state statutes. However, even though I was not required to do so I took the time to submit a second request with all the information she requested.

The mayor continues to throw up roadblocks to delay – or worse, avoid – fulfilling these requests. One can

26

AUG. 9 - 15, 2018

only suspect that she has damaging emails and does not want to disclose these to the public. Since these emails are not stored on the town server, the town does not have her emails and she is the only one who can release the information requested.

Government officials at any level are not allowed to delete or otherwise destroy emails or other correspondence relating to government business just because they may be damaging or embarrassing to the person(s) involved, and such public records requests must be fulfilled in a reasonable amount of time. It has been over 90 days since the April 25 request and as of last week it had not been fulfilled. I think 90 days is beyond reasonable.

I am calling on the mayor to release these public records without further delay. Mayor, if you are incapable of releasing them the town has offered their IT person to assist. Please take advantage of this resource.

Steve Sumner

I was honored to be part of a movement this week that required a little side trip to Greensboro. On Wednesday (Aug. 1), the March for our Lives group of activists from Parkland, Florida, made their only stop in North Carolina at the vibrant city’s downtown LeBauer Park. What I saw and experienced deeply moved me simply for its authenticity and pure emotion, made all the more powerful because the rally lacked the highly produced finishes that a professionally organized event would have.

Make no mistake – this is a movement of high school students. The organizers were sophomores, juniors and seniors from Greensboro area schools and they hosted the visiting activists from Florida – who are also high school students. Together, they stood on stage and shared their trauma, their fear and their hopes that our public officials would take action – any action – to protect them.

Some spoke through tears and oth-

ers with voices cracking. Many of them didn’t speak directly into the microphone, yet everyone present heard every word and captured every meaning, because these students were equal parts bold and vulnerable, and at all times authentic. And their message for everyone was simple – do something.

That something for their teenage peers is to register to vote and then show up on Election Day. That something for public officials is to make or change laws that once again make mass shootings in school a shockingly rare occurrence.

That something for everyone else is to follow their lead because they are the future and they are not going to be quiet anymore.

John Balla RALEIGH John Balla is an active member of the Wake County Democratic Party in Raleigh.

This space available for

YOUR

OPINIONS

Send your letters & opinions to editor@nwobserver.com

[

Maximum word count 350

]

Letters from the same writer will be published no more than every 30 days

SUMMERFIELD

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

 AUTO SALES & SERVICE

 SAVE THE DATE

 YARD SALES

EUROPEAN AUTO SERVICE & REPAIR We specialize in factory-scheduled maintenance and repairs. Mercedes, BMW, Volkswagen, Audi, Volvo, Mini and Porsche. 32 years experience. Knight Import Specialty Service, 4559 US Highway 220, Summer-field (across from Food Lion). (336) 337-0669.

FREE SCHOOL SUPPLIES! Sat., Aug. 11, 10am-12n. Join us at Heritage Baptist Church at 8430 Southard Road, Stokesdale for a giveaway of school supplies.

YARD SALE, Fri. & Sat., August 10 & 11, 8am-2pm at 7008 Will Lee Rd., Summerfield. Tools, collectibles & antiques.

 EMPLOYMENT

Place online at

DEADLINE: Monday prior to each issue

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

INDEX

Auto Sales & Service ................... 27 Employment ............................... 27 Save the Date ............................. 27 Yard Sales ................................... 27 Home Services ....................... 27-29 Misc. Services.............................. 29 Misc. For Sale ............................. 29 Misc. Wanted .............................. 29 Pets & Animal Services ................ 30 Real Estate .................................. 30

OFFICE ASSISTANT POSITION available at Oak Ridge law firm. The perfect candidate will have a pleasant demeanor, be good with people, be very detail-oriented, and have prior customer service experience. QuickBooks experience also required. Job duties include client file maintenance, billing, checkbook reconciliation, receptionist and other duties as assigned.

Associate's degree or at least 2 years of college preferred. Position will start as parttime, with possibility of full-time for the right person. References and background check are required. Fax resume to (336) 644-6908.

Operation Xcel – AFTER-SCHOOL TUTOR needed in Stokesdale. Hours are MondayFriday from 2 to 6pm; starts Aug. 22, 2018.

Email resume with subject STK Tutor to jobs@operationxcel.org.

STAFF POSITIONS AVAILABLE in August at local childcare. Assistants, teachers, cooks and substitutes. Call (336) 643-5930.

 SAVE THE DATE SUMMER CONCERT SERIES at Stonefield Cellars, Friday, Aug. 10, 6:30pm at 8220 NC Hwy. 68 N., Stokesdale, featuring Caribbean Cowboys. Food can be purchased from Liberty Oak Restaurant.

Concert tickets are recommended to be purchased in advance at (336) 644-9908 or www.stonefieldcellars.com.

COMMUNITY YARD SALE, Saturday, August 11, 7am at Golden Antiques & Treasures. Vendor space available for $10; bring your own table. Register by Friday, Aug. 10, by stopping by the store, 341 Ram Loop, Stokesdale, or call (336) 949-4958.

MUSIC & GAMES IN THE PARK, (every second Saturday). Sat., Aug. 11, 6-8pm, at the Oak Ridge Town Park amphitheater, 6231 Lisa Drive (located just past the playground), featuring The Tyler Millard Band.

Kids' games start at 6pm; music begins at 6:30pm. Free admission, but donations will be taken to pay the band. Bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on. Hot dogs and hamburgers available, or bring a picnic.

Rain date: Sunday, 2:30-4pm.

WANT TO GET HEALTHY? "The NEXT 56 Days" is offering a FREE intro. meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 14, at Central Baptist Church, 1715 Hwy. 68, Oak Ridge. Registration starts at 5:30pm and meeting at 6pm. Contact Daniel at (336) 485-8218 or Daniel56days@gmail.com.

TRAIL LIFE OPEN HOUSE for Troop NC 0249, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 7-8pm at Heritage Baptist Church, 8430 Southard Rd., Stokesdale. Information & registration event for boys K-12. Visit traillifeusa.com for additional information.

"WALK WITH A DOC." Join this month's free community walk on Sat., Aug. 18, 8am, at Oak Ridge Town Park. You'll take a few minutes to learn about a current health topic, then enjoy a healthy walk and conversation with a doctor. Every walk is FREE and preregistration is not required. Email any questions to walkoakridgenc@gmail.com.

BACK TO SCHOOL BASH, hosted by Awaken Church, Sunday, August 26, 4-7pm at Northwest High School, 5240 NW School Rd., Greensboro, NC 27409. Come enjoy games, prizes, food, inflatables for all ages and take home free school supplies. Visit www.awaken-church.org for more information.

Have an event coming up?

Add it to our Save the Date section by visiting www.nwobserver.com.

The Northwest Observer • Totally since 1996 The Northwest Observer • Totally locallocal since 1996

TEN-FAMILY NEIGHBORHOOD GARAGE SALE, Fri. & Sat., Aug. 10 & 11, 9am-4pm at Elmhurst Estates, Summerfield.

TWO-FAMILY GARAGE SALE in Polo Farms, Saturday, August 11, 8am-12n at 6502 Horseman Trail, Summerfield, near Hwy. 220 & Strawberry Rd. intersection.

YARD SALE, Saturday, Aug. 11, 8am-12pm at 101 Devonshire Rd., Summerfield. Rain or shine; everything must go.

YARD SALE, Saturday, Aug. 11, 8am-12n at 642 Haynes Rd., Summerfield. Misc. household, motorcycle gear and other items.

GCUMC CHILDREN'S CONSIGNMENT SALE, Thurs., Aug. 16, 5:30-9pm, Fri., Aug. 17, 9am-7pm, Sat., Aug. 18, 9am-1pm at 1205 Fleming Rd., GSO, kidznmore.net.

 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.

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.

MAIDS OF HONOR HOME CLEANING $25 off! Locally owned, bonded staff. 40 years in service. BBB A+ rating. (336) 708-2407.

SANDRA'S CLEANING SERVICE. 10 years exp., good refes. (336) 423-3196.

CLEANING SERVICES. I have 18 years of experience. Free quotes done in home and references gladly provided. Call Kristan at (336) 908-0850 for a sparkling home.

... continued on p. 28

AUG.99- -15, 15,2018 2018 AUG.

27 27

HOME SERVICES CRYSTAL CLEAR WINDOW CLEANING Gutter cleaning, pressure washing. Fully ins. windowcleaningnc.com (336) 595-2873.

DREAM AND CLEAN. Cleaning services for commercial and residential homes with 17 years experience. Call (336) 491-1203 or visit www.dreamandclean.com.

NIDIA’S CLEANING SERVICE. 10 years experience. Call Nidia (336) 362-4173.

Olga’s

Housekeeping Service If it needs to be clean I’ll clean it; if it needs to be done I’ll do it!

References Available

(336) 289-0008 ELECTRICAL

HOME SERVICES

OLD SCHOOL

HOME REPAIR /IMPROVEMENTS “No Job Too Small”

Wood Rot Repairs • Bathroom Remodeling Painting • Decks and much more! • Insured

Contact us for a free estimate!

(336) 669-7252

oldschoolsjhr@triad.rr.com

APPLIANCE REPAIR – Call Mr. Appliance 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.

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.

Do you have ELECTRICAL NEEDS? Rodney A. Coble, licensed electrician.

Monday-Saturday. Call (336) 209-1486.

L&T SMALL

BALEX ELECTRICAL COMPANY, LLC. Got Power? Residential, commercial and solar electrical services. (336) 298-4192.

2103 Oak Ridge Rd. • Oak Ridge

FLOORING MONTERO'S HARDWOOD FLOORING Installation of hardwood, laminate & tile; hardwood sanding & finishing. Commercial & residential. Insured, 17 yrs. exp. Free est., exc. references. Call (336) 215-8842 or visit Monteros-hardwood-flooring.com.

GENERAL REPAIR & SERVICES

ENGINE SERVICE

landtsmallengineservice.com Pickup and delivery available Owners: Tom and Laura Wright

(336) 298-4314

PEARMAN QUARRY HAULING Fill dirt, gravel, sand rock, mulch & more.

Joel Richardson, (336) 803-2195.

DELIMA LAWNCARE Free estimates. Licensed & insured. (336) 669-5210.

LAWNCARE / LANDSCAPING WILSON LANDSCAPING, INC. Lawn maint, landscaping. Irrigation/ landscape contractor. Hardscaping & landscape lighting. 26 years exp. (336) 399-7764.

BUSH-HOGGING. Call (336) 707-2272 for estimates.

SOUTHERN CUTS LAWN CARE Affordable and dependable, complete lawn maintenance services. 13 years experience.

Mowing, pruning, pine needles, mulch, aeration, seeding, leaf removal and more! Call Nathan Adkins, (336) 500-1898.

Affordable HOME REPAIRS. One call fixes all! A+ with BBB. For a free estimate, call (336) 643-1184 or (336) 987-0350.

E&W HAULING & GRADING INC. Driveways, fill dirt, demolition, lot clearing, excavating, bobcat work, etc. (336) 451-1282.

FORESTRY MULCHING Cheaper and eco-friendly alternative compared to your traditional land clearing! (336) 362-6181, www.ncforestrymulching.com.

CLEAN CUT LAWN CARE. For your lawncare needs. Quality service at a low price.

Call Donnie at (336) 671-9940 for a free estimate.

CAROLINA STUMP & TREE SERVICE Complete tree service, $1 million liability, workman’s comp. Rick & Judy, (336) 643-9332. www.carolinaStumpAndTreeServices.com.

COLFAX LAWNCARE Core aeration & seeding. Fertilizing, mowing, trimming, pine needles. Complete lawn care maintenance. Res./comm. Fully insured. Serving the Triad for 28 years. (336) 362-5860.

STOKESDALE LAWN Mowing & weedeating. $45 minimum. (336) 423-2451.

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

GUZMAN LANDSCAPE & MAINTENANCE Pine needles, mulch, leaf removal, tree pruning, complete lawn maint. (336) 655-6490.

ANTHONY’S GRADING & HAULING Excavating, land clearing, demolition, dirt. available. Zane Anthony, (336) 362-4035.

ARBOR MASTERS TREE SERVICE Total tree removal, storm damage cleanup, shrub and tree pruning. Bobcat work and more. Free estimates. Licensed & insured.

Call Joe at 643-9157.

WE DO IT ALL WITH PRIDE! For low rates on lawn service, call (336) 404-3983.

GAULDIN TRUCKING, grading & hauling, bobcat work, lot clearing, driveways, fill dirt, gravel, etc. (336) 362-1150.

WELDING REPAIR, You already broke it, how much more damage can I do? Call Morris, (336) 880-7498.

FAY'S LAWNCARE & LANDSCAPING Complete landscape maintenance & hardscaping. Tree work. Reasonable & honest.

Call Taylor, (336) 458-6491.

CUTTING EDGE LAWNCARE. Affordable.

Dependable. Mowing, aeration, leaf removal and more! Please call anytime for free estimate, (336) 706-0103.

GRADING / HAULING

BRAD’S BOBCAT & HAULING SVCS. LLC Debris removal, grading, gravel/dirt, driveways, concrete work. (336) 362-3647.

AUG. - 15, 2018 AUG.9 9 - 15, 2018

HOME SERVICES

ALL-SEASON STUMP GRINDING. Owner Alan Winfree. Free est. Call (336) 382-9875.

FIX YOUR MOWER. Pickup and delivery.

Call or text Rick, (336) 501-8681.

28 28

HOME SERVICES

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

AQUA SYSTEMS IRRIGATION. Quality irrigation systems. NC licensed contractor.

We service all systems. Free estimates.

(336) 644-1174.

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

STEVE NEWMAN TREE SERVICE. Free est. Lic./Ins. 30 yrs. exp. Bucket truck & chipper, total cleanup. Selective thinning & lot clearing. 24-hr. ER. (336) 643-1119.

MASONRY 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 est. (336) 988-1022, www.masonryconceptsgso.com.

MISC. SERVICES & PRODUCTS ON EAGLE'S WINGS residential home design/drafting. Call Patti, (336) 605-0519.

 HOME SERVICES

 HOME SERVICES

 HOME SERVICES

GRILLS, FIRE PITS, tankless water heat-

PLUMBING

DOUGLAS CONSTRUCTION & REMODELING, LLC. Custom Builder, sunrooms, garages, additions, kitchens baths. Licensed & Insured, BBB A+ accredited. Free est.. Visit www.douglascr.com or call (336) 413-5050.

ers. General home repairs. Call Don Hill, (336) 643-7183.

PAINTING & DRYWALL

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

SERVICES Pressure wash | Deck Interior & Exterior Paint | Drywall

STILL

PERFECTION

PAINTING

Reli-

able, skilled, affordable. Painting, pressure

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

JLB REMODELING, INC. Remodeling and additions. Fully insured.

NC GC license #69997. Free est. Call (336) 681-2902 or visit www.jlbremodeling.com.

Services TM Construction , INC

BUILDING | RENOVATIONS | ADDITIONS

Outdoor living spaces | Fire pits

(336) 644-8615 office (336) 508-5242 cell

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

Licensed & insured

washing, handyman services. Scott Still,

NC Gen. Contractor #72797

(336) 462-3683, stillperfectionpainting.com.

REMODELING / CONSTRUCTION

CARLOS & SON PAINTING, interior &

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.

exterior. Free est., lic/ins. (336) 669-5210.

LAWSON'S PAINTING. Custom decks, pressure washing, boat docks, block fill, wood repair, stain work, textured ceilings, sheetrock repair. Call (336) 253-9089.

Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/northwestobserver CINDY’S PAINTING Interior painting, wallpaper removal. References & free estimates available. (336) 708-9155.

PAINTING – INTERIOR & EXTERIOR 32 yrs. exp. Sheetrock repair. No job too small. Insured. Brad Rogers, (336) 314-3186.

BEK Paint Co. Residential & Commercial David & Judy Long, owners

(336) 931-0600

BEKPaintCompany.com • References Available • Licensed & Insured • All Work Guaranteed

 MISC. SERVICES

BELEWS CREEK CONSTRUCTION Kitchens/baths, custom decks, garages, dock work, siding, windows, roofing, rotted wood.

Sr. disc., 39 years exp. (336) 362-6343.

KEITH SMITH CONSTRUCTION 30 years experience. Specializing in room additions, kitchens & baths, garages, vinyl siding and windows, painting, ceramic tile, laminate, hardwood and linoleum floors, and remodeling of all kinds. No job too small. Free est. Call (336) 362-7469.

HAMMERSMITH WOODWORKING LLC. Carpentry, custom cabinetry, built-ins, stairways, exterior & deck repairs. Over 30 years experience. Call Carlton, (336) 404-3002.

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

ROOFING ROOFING, ROOFING, ROOFING! Best prices in town! Shingle and metal roofing.

Top-notch quality. Res./comm., lic. & ins.

Belews Creek Construction, (336) 362-6343.

KEITH SMITH CONSTRUCTION 30 years experience. Residential shingle & metal roofing. Free est. (336) 362-7469.

A.L. CORMAN ROOFING INC. Res. roofing specialist serving Guilford Cty. area since 1983. BBB 25+ years w/ A+ rating. cormanroofinginc.com, (336) 621-6962.

Is your business here?

Call us for advertising info: (336) 644-7035, ext. 10

CLINARD & SON ROOFING, LLC Residential roofing, rubber flat roofs, roof coating, metal roofs. 30 years experience.

Now accepting all major credit cards. Call (336) 643-8191 or (336) 580-3245.

RED RHINO ROOFING, based in Oak Ridge, NC. Storm damage specialist experienced with all types of roofing. BBB accredited A and listed with Angie’s List. Call (336) 944-6118, or visit redrhinoroofing.com.

The Northwest Observer • Totally since 1996 The Northwest Observer • Totally locallocal since 1996

LOCALLY OWNED & OPERATED

&

Gated access with 24/7 available here camera surveillance We carry moving & shipping supplies

(336) 643-9963 • 8207 B & G Court, Stokesdale PIANO LESSONS, all ages and levels, Summerfield area. Contact Patti, (336) 298-4181.

QUICKBOOKS PROADVISOR QuickBooks desktop or online company file review. $350. Visit www.alignVB.com.

SAM’S AUTO BODY SHOP. Any type of body work. 45 years exp. (336) 347-7470.

Oak Ridge Cleaners (336) 298-4246

2205 Oak Ridge Rd., Suite EE • Oak Ridge (Lowes Foods Shopping Center)

Best Quality In Town!

Mon.-Fri. 7:30am – 6:30pm | Sat. 9am – 5pm

New Customers 10% Off

 MISC. FOR SALE PROFORM 995i TREADMILL FOR SALE. Excellent condition, hardly used, $500. Text me at (336) 671-8176.

 MISC. WANTED $$$ – WILL PAY CASH for your junk or wrecked vehicle. For quote, call (336) 552-0328.

FREE PICK-UP of unwanted riding & push mowers, all gas items, tillers, go-carts & golf carts, ATVs, generators, power washers, chain saws and most grills. (336) 689-4167.

... continued on p. 30

AUG.99- -15, 15,2018 2018 AUG.

29 29

 PETS & ANIMAL SVCS.

 REAL ESTATE

 REAL ESTATE

 REAL ESTATE

PET PRODUCTS

HOMES FOR SALE

HOMES FOR SALE

HOMES FOR SALE

HAPPY JACK. Use DD-33 to control fleas

EXCELLENT LOCATION!

LIVE WHERE YOU PLAY!

& ticks on dogs & cats topically. Quicker kill.

Longer residual. Biodegradable! At Tractor Supply or visit www.kennelvax.com.

PET SERVICES WENDY COLLINS PET SITTING. Parrots, cats, and dogs. 16 years exp. Call or text for more information, (336) 339-6845.

 REAL ESTATE LAND FOR SALE LOTS FOR SALE. Southern Rockingham

8111 Dorsett Downs, Stokesdale 3,700+ sq. ft. 4 BR/3 BA + Office + Bonus/Theater Room. Master suite with sitting room/kitchen/office on same level.

Previous builder’s personal residence w/ 1.35-acre level and functional yard.

Northwest Schools! For-Sale-By-Owner.

Offered at $429,999.

Greensboro National Golf Club Lots available on and off the course. Located right off HWY-158. North Guilford County. greensboronational.com/real-estate/

Nancy J. Hess

Jake Letterman

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

(336) 338-0136

Cty. with Summerfield address. Bethany El-

In beautiful Nantucket Village – just outside city limits with lower tax rate. Well maintained and great floor plan! Master suite & 2nd bedroom with full bath on main level. 3 BR/2 BA upstairs. Minutes to Lake Brandt Marina & Watershed Trail System. Northern school district.

Offered at $450,000

ementary School. Large 2- to 4-acre home sites. Eight 10-acre estate sites. Beautifully wooded and open land with gentle terrain.

Ponds, streams on some tracts. Now being

OPEN HOUSE: Sun, Aug 12 • 2-4pm ing! $ 25 cash draw

offered at pre-development 20% discount prices. Call now to make appointment and reserve your future dream property. Tracts

A NEW ENGLAND CHARMER!

starting at $29,600. Two lots also available in N. Guilford Co. Call (336) 430-9507 anytime.

BUILDING LOTS FOR SALE. One+ acre lot in Chandler Glen SD (Highway 158), Stokesdale; city water available, perked.

One+ acre lots on Highway 770, Madison, $15,000 each. Contact John Flynt, Owner / Broker, (336) 687-6019.

 REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

We Help Everyone!

SELLERS & BUYERS

(336) 643-4248

www.ANewDawnRealty.com

30 30

AUG. 99 - 15, 2018 AUG. - 15, 2018

8207 Fortana Court • Kernersville Brick home with 12-ft. ceilings & arched doorways. Guest/in-law room with private bath & walk-in. Kitchen with granite countertops and premium appliances. Breakfast area perfect for farm table & keeping room w/gas logs.

2 more beds, 3 full baths & bonus with walkout storage over 3-car garage.

BE IN BY START OF SCHOOL – Check out the benefits of this Healthy, Energy Efficient, Eco-Friendly & Comfortable ENERGY STAR 4BR/3.5BA, 3000+sq. ft. home. ML Master, NW County Schools & many great features.

New price $450,000

GIL VAUGHAN

Art Reenstra

Nearly new home in Nantucket Village, a sidewalk neighborhood. Great floor plan, excellent function, generous storage. 2-car garage and fencing already installed.

Close to Lake Brandt Marina, Watershed Trail System & just outside city limits for lower taxes! Northern school district.

Offered at $419,900

8174 Sanfords Creek Drive, Colfax

Nancy J. Hess

Realtor ® /Broker • (336) 337-4780

(336)423-7635 soldbyart@gmail.com areenstra.cbtriad.com

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

Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated.

REACH OUT TO

IN S OUR DER 26,000 REA

special-focus section.

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

To reserve your space in the third issue of each month, email advertising@nwobserver.com, or call (336) 644-7035, ext. 11.

index of DISPLAY ADVERTISERS

Please support our advertisers, and tell them where you saw their ad!

ACCOUNTING Samuel K. Anders, CPA, MSA, PC..... 10

ART/DANCE/KARATE Northern Arts Studio ......................... 15

AUTO SERVICES Vestal Buick, GMC Inc. ...................... 19

CHILDREN’S SERVICES Guardian Ad Litem Program ............. 22

CHURCH Summerfield First Baptist Church..... 6, 9

DRY CLEANERS

Olga’s Housekeeping Service ............ 28 Pest Management Systems, Inc. ........ 24 Prostone Inc. .................................... 14 Stokesdale Heating & Air .................. 20 Stokesdale Storage ............................ 29 TM Construction Services .................. 29

INSURANCE Tricia McCormick............................... 12

LEGAL SERVICES Barbour & Williams Law .................... 21 Ingle Law........................................... 23 The Law Offices of Susan Greeson...... 3

MEDICAL CARE

Oak Ridge Cleaners........................... 29

LeBauer Healthcare ......................7, 24 Novant – NW Family Medicine .......... 21

DENTAL SERVICES

MOTORCYCLE

Summerfield Family Dentistry ............ 18

EVENTS Town of Summerfield ........................ 18

GENERAL REPAIR & SERVICES L&T Small Engine Service .................. 28

HOME PRODUCTS & SERVICES BEK Paint Company .......................... 29 Budget Blinds ..................................... 5 Calderon Painting & Remodeling....... 29 Carpets by Direct ................................ 2 Carpet Super Mart.........................16-17 New Garden Select ............................. 4 Old School Home Repair .................. 28

Riding High Harley-Davidson .............. 5

PET SERVICES & PRODUCTS Bel-Aire Veterinary Hospital .............. 23 Northwest Animal Hospital ................. 8 Westergaard Kennels ........................ 14

REAL ESTATE A New Dawn Realty .......................... 30 Art Reenstra, Coldwell Banker ........... 30 Gil Vaughan, Keller Williams .............. 30 Jake Letterman, Berkshire Hathaway... 30 Nancy Hess, BHHS Yost & Little ........ 30 Nicholas Watts .................................. 30 Piedmont Rental Homes, LLC............ 12 Ramilya Siegel, Allen Tate ................... 9

Celebrating 21 years of delivering homegrown news to northwest Guilford County

...to the following new advertisers who joined us in July: Art Reenstra, Coldwell Banker Dezern Construction L&T Small Engine Service Olga’s Housekeeping Service Riding High Harley-Davidson

...and welcome back: Oak Level Baptist Academy ...and to the following returning advertisers who have chosen to continue delivering their message to our readers:

Disney Custom Homes Don Mills Builders Johnson & Lee, LLC Lansink Custom Homes LeBauer Healthcare Naylor Custom Homes Northern Arts R&K Custom Homes Ray Bullins Construction Walraven Signature Homes

| | | | | | | | | |

since 2009 since 2014 since 2011 since 2017 since 2011 since 2015 since 2015 since 2011 since 2015 since 2017

Come with us to more than 13,400 homes each week.

Contact us for advertising information (336) 644-7035, ext. 11 | advertising@nwobserver.com

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

AUG. 9 - 15, 2018

31

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE

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

PAID

Oak Ridge, NC Permit No. 22 ECRWSS

Email your photo to photos@ om nwobserver.c u Charles and Delys Reyes enjoy a great read while visiting Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany. u (L-R) Sean Luther, Robbie Shepherd, Jacob Sauer and Alex Hooijschuur pose in the photo booth at Spears YMCA during the senior picnic with the best prop ever, the Northwest Observer!

p (L-R) Drew, Brittani, Kelli and Mike attend a Chicago White Sox home game vs. the Minnesota Twins on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. Brittani shared that she is an avid Cubs fan and needed something of quality to read during the game.

t Livi Shepherd Gray, Northwest High School’s school health nurse, and Patsy Long, Northwest High School’s health careers teacher, pose in the photo booth during the senior picnic at Spears YMCA. Patsy is retiring this year and is thanked for all her wonderful years of being an awesome nurse and teacher!