Northwest Observer I Aug. 16 - 22, 2018 by pscommunications

Aug. 16 - 22, 2018

bringing the local news home to northwest Guilford County since 1996

Vote on speaker’s fee leads to heated exchanges

Unveiling of A&Y Trail extension maps draws fans, skeptics

… and other business at the Aug. 9 town council meeting

Doug Canavello (left) talks to Ed Lynch, a planner for design ﬁrm Stewart, and Summerﬁeld Town Council member Teresa Pegram during an open house Tuesday. For details, see story on page 3.

by STEVE MANN

Photo by Chris Burritt/NWO

Second opioid crisis forum slated for Aug. 19 Meeting at Stokesdale Town Hall will feature social worker specializing in helping those with substance abuse problems by CHRIS BURRITT / STEVE MANN STOKESDALE – A second community forum focused on the opioid crisis will feature a presentation by Chase Holleman, who runs a state-funded project aimed at reducing opioid overdoses and deaths in Guilford County. The project, called Guilford County Solution to the Opioid Problem (GCSTOP), is responding to the rising abuse of the addictive painkillers that led to more than 700 overdoses last year in Guilford County. More than 100 people died from narcotic

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overdoses in the county in 2017, according to Jim Albright, director of Guilford County Emergency Services. GCSTOP launched in March with $250,000 allocated by the N.C. General Assembly to design, implement and evaluate a rapid-response program to decrease the mortality rate from opioid overdoses. It partners law enforcement, EMS, medical professionals with Cone Health and psychologists with UNCG. The upcoming community forum will be held at Stokesdale Town Hall, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 19, Stokesdale Mayor John Flynt said. After a brainstorming session in May, community representatives including Flynt, Rev. Jerry Walker of Oak Level Baptist Church, Mayor Pro-

...continued on p. 7

STOKESDALE – What normally would be considered a rubber-stamp agenda item turned into a 13-minute discussion before the Stokesdale Town Council voted 5-0 to spend $150 for a speaker at an upcoming forum on the opioid crisis. The second of a series of planned forums will be held Sunday, Aug. 19, at Stokesdale Town Hall and will feature Chase Holleman with the Guilford County Solution to the

...continued on p. 6

IN THIS ISSUE Case remanded, meeting cancelled .................2 Unveiling of A&Y Trail extension maps ...............3 Your Questions ......................................................4 Crime/Incident Report .........................................8 Community Calendar ........................................10 Making Oak Ridge more pedestrian friendly...12 Real Estate Transactions.................................... 20 Real Estate Briefs ................................................ 22 Bella’s Blessings.................................................. 23 Worlds apart but close at heart ....................... 24 Grins & Gripes..................................................... 26 Classifieds ............................................................27 Index of Advertisers ............................................31

Judge remands case, council cancels meeting

In the midst of uncertainty, Aug. 14 town council meeting cancelled

not eligible to vote in Summerfield because he had been residing on Lewiston Road in Greensboro since January. Rotruck and his wife, Aimee, sold their Lewiston Road home in December 2017; Rotruck testified April 17 that after the sale he and his family rented the home back from the purchaser and were living there while major renovations were underway at their Summerfield house.

by PATTI STOKES SUMMERFIELD – For the second time in three months a regularly scheduled town council meeting has been cancelled on the advice of Summerfield Town Attorney Bill Hill. Late Tuesday afternoon Scott Whitaker, Summerfield’s town manager, issued a press release announcing the council meeting scheduled for 6:30 p.m. had been cancelled due to sensitive matters relating to Todd Rotruck’s status as a council member. Rotruck was sworn into office Dec. 12, 2017; his council seat has been vacant since April 17, when the Board of Elections (BOE) determined that he was

“Currently we have a temporary rental house (on Lewiston Road) as of January of this year,” Rotruck told the BOE. When later asked to confirm where he was currently living, Rotruck responded, “At 3629 Lewiston Road on a temporary basis.” And when asked how long he had been living there he said, “Since January of this year.” To BOE member Eugene Lester’s question about where he was presently

sleeping at night, Rotruck said, “Right now I sleep at Lewiston Road.” The BOE stated in its Findings of Fact that Rotruck had not fulfilled residency requirements set forth in N.C. General Statute 163-A 842, which states, in part, “…In the event that a person’s habitation is divided by a State, county, municipal, precinct, ward, or other election district, then the location of the bedroom or usual sleeping area for that person with respect to the location of the boundary line at issue shall be controlling as the residency of that person.” In North Carolina, you must live in a precinct 30 days prior to an election day to vote in that precinct. Since Rotruck testified he was not living in Summerfield 30 days prior to the May 8 primary election, the board determined he was ineligible to vote in Summerfield on that date and directed staff to change his voter registration address to Lewiston Road. Based on the BOE’s decision, Hill and County Attorney Mark Payne agreed Rotruck was ineligible to hold office in Summerfield and his council seat was immediately declared vacant.

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Rotruck filed an appeal to the BOE’s decision on April 26, naming the BOE and voter registration challenger Janelle Robinson as defendants, and his appeal was heard by Judge John O. Craig on Aug. 6. On the evening of Aug. 13, Craig notified attorneys for Rotruck, the BOE and Robinson that he was remanding

the case to the BOE “with the requirement that the Board examine whether Mr. Rotruck was domiciled in Summerfield over a specific period of time, between 28 March 2018 and 8 May 2018.” In response, Rotruck’s attorney, Marsh Prause, sent a letter to Hill requesting Rotruck be allowed to serve on the town council while attorneys for all parties involved worked out the wording of an order for the judge to sign which would return the case to the BOE. “Differing interpretations and media reportings are evidence that some confusion exists about the judge’s comments. An order has not been issued and elected officials want to be cautious and defer to legal counsel and postpone this evening’s business,” Whitaker’s subsequent press release stated. “… Mr. Rotruck’s residency status remains in limbo for the short term and the majority of Council prefers to avoid the potential legal risks of seating an ineligible member. The town acknowledges that all Council members and the mayor are not in agreement with the cancellation. “The advice of legal counsel is to delay tonight’s planned business until there is further clarity regarding Mr. Rotruck’s appeal of the ruling of the Board of Elections (BOE),” Whitaker wrote. The BOE meets again Aug. 21, but BOE director Charlie Collicutt said the board will likely not review the Rotruck case until its Sept. 18 meeting.

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Unveiling of A&Y Trail extension maps draws fans, skeptics More than 50 people attended an open house Tuesday to view latest design plans for the trail’s extension through Summerﬁeld by CHRIS BURRITT SUMMERFIELD – The unveiling of the latest design plans for the extension of the southern portion of the A&Y Trail through Summerfield drew more than 50 people who expressed both support for the project and skepticism about its cost. “It is healthy, first and foremost,” said Nancy Hess, a member of Summerfield’s Trails and Open Space Committee and one of numerous supporters who attended an open house Tuesday. “It is a way of connecting the community.” “The trail would be nice; however, I’m very much of a fiscal conservative,”

said Jan Hunter, a resident of Summerfield for more than 40 years. “So it depends on the cost. We don’t have unlimited money.” Summerfield Town Council member Teresa Pegram declined to express her views about the trail. For the open house, Stewart, the Raleigh-based design and engineering firm hired by the Town of Summerfield for the trail project, laid out maps and engineering plans on tables in the Summerfield Community Center at 5404 Centerfield Road. If the town decides to proceed with the project, acquisition of right of way for the trail would occur in 2022, followed by the start of construction two years later, said Carrie Spencer, the town’s planning director. “It’s a long slog,” said Summerfield resident Doug Canavello, a trail supporter. “We just have to keep going. We’ve got to convince people.”

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OUR TEAM Patti Stokes, editor/publisher Laura Reneer, marketing manager Marilyn Grubbs, admin/editorial assistant 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

Who owns the abandoned house next to Bi-Rite, and why would the Stokesdale Town Council not impose ordinances for that house like they might, for example, in Dorsett Downs?

It is a terrible eyesore, given you have to drive by it whether going to or leaving Main Street.

The house at 8624 U.S. 158 is owned by the family of Tim Jones, a member of the Stokesdale Town Council and the town’s Ordinance Review Committee. The property is not abandoned, Jones said in an email. He also noted that all property taxes have been paid. The nuisance ordinance the reader refers to is Ordinance 67, which was adopted in 2007. The ordinance popped up on the radar early in 2017 when a formal complaint was filed about a property in the Dorsett Downs subdivision that neighbors said had been vacant the better part of four years.

far as they know. Stokesdale doesn’t have an enforcement officer, and there is no outside agency to enforce it. The ORC spent several months last year rewriting the ordinance after the complaint was filed. However, Katy Gregg – then the town attorney – said the ordinance was “unenforceable” and presented a draft rewrite to the ORC in July. In all, the ORC spent the better part of eight months reviewing and revising Ordinance 67 and Gregg’s draft rewrite. In February of this year, 16 residents of Dorsett Downs filed a formal complaint in Kentucky where the owner of the disputed property in the subdivision lives, claiming he had neglected to maintain the property “in a reasonable manner” in violation of Stokesdale’s Ordinance 67 and the Dorsett Downs covenant. During a hearing in early May at the Guilford County Courthouse, the owner agreed to keep the property in compliance with Ordinance 67 and the covenants, conditions and restrictions in Book 3891, Page 1152 in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Guilford County.

Later in May, the ORC voted 6-0 to recommend the town council repeal Ordinance 67. It hasn’t come up before the council for a vote since then. Tim Jones said the adoption of Ordinance 67 in 2007 seemed to be in response to a specific complaint and last year’s emphasis on it was a “knee-jerk reaction to a perceived problem.” “I just contend the whole thing has to be comprehensive so we’re not driven by some particular event,” he said. “Plus, we have widely divergent viewpoints of what constitutes a nuisance.” Council member Bill Jones said he didn’t know of any town that doesn’t have a nuisance ordinance. “To say you don’t need one at all I think defies logic because if you look at that settlement (about the Dorsett Downs property), they referred to Ordinance No. 67,” he said. “So it already did help that man make a decision to comply with the covenants and Ordinance 67, whether people want to admit it or not.”

Several council members say Ordinance 67 has never been enforced, as

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VOTE

...continued from p. 1

Opioid Problem (GCSTOP). Holleman, a social worker specializing in the needs of those affected by substance abuse, is an overdose survivor. He has been recognized in Guilford County for his work with people who have overdosed and those at high risk for death from opioid use. When Mayor John Flynt made a motion to approve the $150 speaker’s fee, council member Bill Jones said it was a good cause but he had a problem with setting a precedent for the town to start paying for motivational speakers. Flynt’s response that Holleman’s recommendation came through a committee planning the forums prompted council member Tim Jones to ask about Holleman’s expertise. When Mayor Pro Tem Thearon Hooks mentioned Holleman worked with the county as part of GCSTOP, Tim Jones suggested the county pay the $150 since it no longer returns sales and use tax distribution money to Stokesdale. Hooks then said he would pay for the speaker out of his pocket if Flynt wanted to withdraw his motion. Tim Jones said he would also pay a portion of the cost, and suggested a budget item to cover future speakers if it is what the council wants to do. “My question is, if we’re starting down this road, where’s the end at?” Tim Jones asked. “When we don’t have people in this town whose children are dying,” responded Hooks, who said he had two family members who formerly had an opioid problem. Flynt said the opioid crisis is a public health issue, adding that Stokesdale Fire Chief Todd Gauldin said the fire department is averaging a call about an overdose every two weeks in Stokesdale. “If we save one life, if we get one person to break the habit, that’s the

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best money the Town of Stokesdale will ever spend,” Flynt said. Eileen Thiery of Meadow Springs Place, speaking from the audience, said it wasn’t about motivation but education. “This is a fellow trying to give some input on what’s happening out there so maybe as adults, Tim, we’ll recognize it,” Thiery said to Tim Jones. Jones responded: “That’s why I feel so strongly about alcohol when I cast those votes against some of these ABC (resolutions).” “Don’t do it, Tim,” Thiery said. “I have a right to my opinion, Ms. Thiery,” the councilman responded. That was followed by three bangs of the gavel from Flynt. Flynt later withdrew his motion and said he would pay the $150 himself. Hooks suggested two motions: The first was to cover the $150 speaker’s fee for the Aug. 19 forum and for the town to host the forum at Stokesdale Town Hall; that motion was approved 5-0. His second suggested motion, for discussion at the Sept. 13 meeting, is for a budget amendment setting aside money for future potential speakers. Bill Jones said the council needs to develop a policy about paying for and hosting speakers. In other action, the Stokesdale Town Council: • Voted 5-0 to purchase an additional “No Off-Road Vehicles or OffRoading” sign, an additional “No Trespassing” sign and two posts for $134.80; and voted 5-0 to buy two “Danger: Confined Space, Enter Permit Only” signs for the chlorination station and the water tank and two diamond placards required by OSHA warning of chemicals for the building and fence at the meter vault on U.S. 158 at a cost not to exceed $350; • Voted 4-1, with Tim Jones voting

nay, to purchase two automatic flushers for the water system for $2,165.02 each. The equipment had been recommended by engineering firm Hazen and Sawyer during a July 18 special meeting to report its analysis of the Town’s water system; • Voted 5-0 to clean the chlorine out of the old chlorine pump and send it off to be evaluated and get a price

OPIOID CRISIS ...continued from p. 1

Tem Thearon Hooks and Vicki WhiteLawrence, a past Stokesdale council member who now serves as president of the League of Women Voters of the Piedmont Triad, decided to hold public forums. The first forum on July 15 at Oak Level Baptist Church in Stokesdale drew about 100 people. Afterward Flynt distributed compact discs of Albright’s

on doing repairs, and voted 5-0 to purchase two backup injector valves for the new pump for about $150; • Voted 5-0 to switch from Paychex to PrimePay to handle paychecks for town employees and to pay employees biweekly instead of monthly. The change will save about $4 a month; • Voted 3-2, with Bill Jones and Tim Jones voting nay, to approve a con-

forum presentation to local ministers and civic organizations to build community support for addressing what the U.S. Centers for Disease Control calls a “fast-growing epidemic” caused by the over-prescription of opioids. In many cases, users satisfy their addiction by obtaining medicines illegally and turning to illicit drugs such as heroin. “It’s a problem in many communities,” Flynt told the Northwest Observer. “…We’re hoping to build on the turnout from the first forum. I think it’s really important to the town. The numbers (of

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tract with One Step Computer Solutions for a service agreement for the town’s email system at $90 an hour with a cap of 40 hours for a total of $3,843, including taxes; • Voted 5-0 to approve a task order for engineering firm McGill Associates to review design plans for North Ridge subdivision Phase 4 at a cost not to exceed $6,900.

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people affected by the opioid problem) are mind-boggling.

“This is a mission for me,” he continued. “There have been a lot of families in this town who have had their lives ruined and a lot of people who have had their financial situation and their families destroyed because of drugs.”

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“A big part of all of this is meeting folks where they are and getting out into the community and talking to those directly impacted,” Holleman said in an audio on GCSTOP’s website.

It was Albright who suggested Holleman, Flynt said. Holleman, in long-term recovery from drug abuse and an overdose survivor with the help of Narcan, will share his story with forum attendees. The navigator and case manager for GCSTOP, Holleman is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate (LCSWA), a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist (LCAS) and has a master’s in social work from UNC-Chapel Hill. Holleman developed a naloxone distribution program in High Point that received state recognition for its success, according to the GCSTOP website. He also has served as a consultant to a statewide technical assistance project and founded CURE Triad, a local coalition dedicated to the problem of substance abuse.

want to go? The forum will be held at Stokesdale Town Hall, 8325 Angel Pardue Road, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 19.

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

BREAKING & ENTERING Aug. 8 | An employee of Vermeer Mid Atlantic located at 8424 Norcross Road in Colfax reported a burglary occurred at the business shortly after 4 a.m. An unknown suspect entered the building by breaking the glass front door; once inside, the suspect stole tree climbing equipment valued at $6,450. The stolen equipment includes: 12 Weaver arborist saddles, eight Samson ropes and three Buckingham climbers.

ARRESTS/CITATIONS Aug. 7 | A 51-year-old male known offender from the 7600 block of Royster Road in Greensboro was arrested at 6:17 p.m. in the 1000 block of Lashley Road in Greensboro for driving while impaired, having an open container and

possession of drug paraphernalia. Aug. 7 | A known juvenile was cited and released at 11:05 p.m. in the 2900 block of Oak Ridge Road in Oak Ridge for simple possession of marijuana (up to 1/2 ounce) and possession of marijuana paraphernalia. Aug. 8 | A 59-year-old male was cited at 10:24 p.m. at the intersection of U.S. 220/ Crestfield Road in Summerfield for having an expired inspection certificate. Aug. 9 | A 25-year-old male was arrested at 12:04 a.m. in the 1800 block of N.C. 68 N. and East Harrell Road in Oak Ridge for assault on a female and two counts of failure to appear on a misdemeanor charge. Aug. 9 | A 26-year-old male from the 2000 block of Bracyridge Road in

Greensboro was arrested at 1:14 a.m. in the 4200 block of Battleground Avenue/ Leadership Place in Greensboro for driving while impaired; he was also cited for a rear lamp violation, displaying an expired inspection sticker and expired registration tags. Aug. 9 | A 20-year-old female was arrested at 1:04 p.m. in the 4000 block of Oak Ridge Road in Summerfield for driving while impaired, driving while impaired and under 21, possession of marijuana (up to 1/2 ounce), possession of drug paraphernalia, simple possession of a Schedule IV controlled substance, and for driving too slowly in the left lane (per North Carolina law, slower drivers in the left lane can be cited for obstructing traffic). Aug. 9 | A 23-year-old male was arrested at 1:45 p.m. in the 6400 block of Burnt Poplar Road in Greensboro for two counts of assault on a government official, felony possession of a firearm, maintaining a dwelling/vehicle for controlled substance trafficking (opium or heroin), and altering,

destroying or stealing evidence. Aug. 9 | A 35-year-old female was cited at 10:39 p.m. at the intersection of U.S. 158/N.C. 68 N. in Stokesdale for driving with a restricted license. Aug. 9 | A 53-year-old female was cited at 11:50 p.m. at the intersection of U.S. 158/N.C. 68 N. in Stokesdale for displaying an expired license plate. Aug. 10 | A 20-year-old male known offender from the 600 block of Grasswren Way in northwest Greensboro was arrested at 2:40 a.m. near the intersection of U.S. 220/N. Strawberry Road in Summerfield for possession of marijuana (up to 1/2 ounce) and possession of drug paraphernalia. Aug. 10 | A 26-year-old female was cited at 3:35 a.m. near the intersection of I-73/U.S. 158 in Summerfield for failure to carry a valid driver’s license. Aug. 13 | A 31-year-old male was arrested at 10:28 p.m. near the 4400 block of U.S. 220 N. in Summerfield on three counts of failure to appear on a misdemeanor charge.

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has moved to a standardized open house schedule for schools operating on a traditional calendar. High schools will hold open houses Aug. 20, 5:30 p.m.; middle schools will hold open houses Aug. 21, 5:30 p.m.; and elementary schools will hold open houses Aug. 22, 5:30 p.m.

FRIDAY, AUG. 17

 Free Movie Night | Join the Summit Church on

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

Aug. 17, 6:30 p.m. at Oak Ridge Town Park, 6231 Lisa Drive, to watch the movie “Wonder.” Bring chairs or a blanket and come early for a spot. Free concessions offered before the show. Movie begins at dark. More info: amy.loflin@thesummitchurch.net or (336) 298-4194.

SATURDAY, AUG. 18

 Walk with a Doc | Join this month’s “Walk with a

Doc” free community walk on Aug. 18, 8 a.m. at Oak Ridge Town Park, 6231 Lisa Drive. You’ll take a few minutes to learn about a current health topic, then enjoy a healthy walk and conversation with a doctor. More info: walkoakridgenc@gmail.com.

SUNDAY, AUG. 19

 Opioid Crisis Forum | The second community opi-

oid crisis forum will be held Aug. 19, 3 p.m. at Stokesdale Town Hall, 8325 Angel Pardue Road. The forum will feature a presentation by a social worker specializing in helping people with substance abuse problems. More info: www.stokesdale.org or (336) 643-4011.

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WEDNESDAY, AUG. 22

 Preservation Oak Ridge | Preservation Oak Ridge will meet Aug. 22, 5:30 p.m. at Oak Ridge Town Hall, 8315 Linville Road, Oak Ridge. More info: Doug Nodine, (336) 209-1999.  Trails and Open Space Committee | Summerfield

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THURSDAY, AUG. 23

 Planning & Zoning | Stokesdale Planning Board

will meet Aug. 23, 7 p.m. at Stokesdale Town Hall, 8325 Angel Pardue Road, Stokesdale. More info: www.stokesdale.org or (336) 643-4011.  Planning & Zoning | Oak Ridge Planning and

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Trails and Open Space Committee will meet Aug. 22, 6 p.m. at Summerfield Town Hall, 4117 Oak Ridge Road, Summerfield. More info: summerfieldgov.com.

Zoning Board will meet Aug. 23, 7 p.m. at Oak Ridge Town Hall, 8315 Linville Road, Oak Ridge. More info: www.oakridgenc.com or (336) 644-7009.

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12 Making Oak Ridge more

pedestrian and cyclist friendly To assist with the process of developing Oak Ridge’s streetscape vision plan, residents and business owners were invited to an open house at Town Hall earlier this month to offer their input on ways to improve the town core, which encompasses the collection of businesses at N.C. 68 and N.C. 150 and many of the town’s historic properties. The Town Council could decide by year’s end how to proceed on making pedestrian-friendly improvements at the town’s main intersection – which may include sidewalks and pedestrian crossing signals – over the next year or two, in conjunction with plans NCDOT has for road and safety improvements in the area. Photo by Chris Burritt/NWO

20 Real Estate Transactions 22 Business/Real Estate Briefs The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

AUG. 16 - 22, 2018

Making Oak Ridge more pedestrian and cyclist friendly Town’s streetscape project in conjunction with improvements to N.C. 68 and 150 are aimed at slowing down trafﬁc and attracting more customers to businesses

Ristorante and Bar in Oak Ridge Commons, says improving access to the shopping center would draw more customers to her restaurant and other businesses. Phil Ray, who owns Best 4K9 in Oak Ridge Commons, says replacing the stop lights at N.C. 68 and 150 with a traffic circle would force motorists to slow down and encourage them to patronize town businesses.

by CHRIS BURRITT

These are among suggestions that will shape discussion and decisions by the Oak Ridge Town Council and the North Carolina Department of Transportation in coming months. How town leaders and highway officials decide to control traffic will determine

OAK RIDGE – Cyclist Mike Kimel believes reducing speed limits and building more sidewalks in Oak Ridge would increase safety for bikers and pedestrians. Carol Shina, who owns Bella Luna

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AUG. 16 - 22, 2018

whether Oak Ridge enhances its family-friendly, village atmosphere or evolves into a place where motorists zip through, stopping for gas and fast food, according to business owners and residents.

The leaders of Oak Ridge are trying to create a vibrant community that respects its rich history. As part of that, the commercial sector becomes prosperous from a high level of activity among the people who live and pass through here,” Kimel said. Kimel, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, is among residents taking part in Oak Ridge’s efforts to improve its town core, which encompasses the collection of businesses at N.C. 68 and 150 and historic areas. Earlier this month, he attended an open house at Town Hall, where residents were invited to offer their preferences for park benches, flower planters, bike racks, garbage cans, street lights and design of additional sidewalks the town may build. Making these improvements is part of the town’s streetscape project that began earlier this year, said Kelly Larkins, a regional planner for the Piedmont Triad Regional Council which is helping Oak Ridge with the project. The Town Council may decide by year’s end how to proceed

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Carol Shina, owner of Bella Luna Ristorante and Bar in Oak Ridge Commons, says making it easier for motorists to enter and exit the shopping center will help increase business for the tenants there.

and make actual improvements over the next year or two, he said. Over the past decade, Oak Ridge’s population has increased by about 200 to 250 residents a year, reaching 7,200 in 2016, Town Manager Bill Bruce told council members in a strategic planning meeting last month. “Oak Ridge businesses continue to serve primarily Oak Ridge residents,” council member Ann Schneider said during the meeting. Creating a wider audience would require attracting more destination businesses such as antique stores, ideally walkable from other businesses, Mayor Pro Tem Jim Kinneman said. “When you come up here, it’s not like you can walk from store to store to store,” he said. Town leaders are proceeding in conjunction with planned road improvements by NCDOT. Under con-

sideration is reducing speed limits on roads coming into Oak Ridge, said Brian Ketner, a project engineer for the state agency. Entering Oak Ridge on N.C. 68 and 150 and Linville Road, the speed limit slows from 45 mph to 35 mph. It slows to 25 mph in the vicinity of Oak Ridge Elementary School and Oak Ridge Military Academy during school hours. Pedestrian-friendly improvements at N.C. 68 and 150 may include sidewalks and pedestrian crossing signals, Ketner said. “We don’t have a solution for 68,” Kinneman said at last month’s strategic planning session. “It makes it difficult for the two sides of the town to be walkable.” Road improvements are also being evaluated at N.C. 68 and Linville Road and N.C. 150 and Marketplace Drive near the Sherwin-Williams and Tractor Supply stores, Ketner said.

NCDOT plans to hold public meetings to gather suggestions late this year and in early 2019, Ketner said. Construction of improvements is scheduled to start in the spring of 2021. Meanwhile, traffic in Oak Ridge is projected to keep growing. According to NCDOT forecasting, annual daily traffic in both directions on N.C. 68 will increase from its current figure of 18,900 to 29,400 in 2040. For N.C. 150, the traffic count is projected to rise from 10,700 to 16,600 in that same time period. “We have country roads with a lot of traffic,” said Shina. Without steps to slow traffic, she said Oak Ridge’s business district along N.C. 68 is at risk of becoming “like Wendover Avenue (in Greensboro) with bricks.” Among road improvements at Oak Ridge Commons, Shina said she’d like for motorists traveling north on N.C. 68 to be able to turn left across traffic into the shopping center. At the same place, she’d like for motorists

exiting the center to be able to turn left onto the highway. Kimel said construction of bike lanes and additional sidewalks along N.C. 68 and N.C. 150 would encourage families to bike from nearby neighborhoods to stores. It would also improve safety for cycling groups who regularly travel through Oak Ridge, he said. “People are flying through here,” said Ray, owner of Best 4K9. “How do you slow it down?” Worth considering, he said, is replacing traffic lights at N.C. 68 and N.C. 150 with a traffic circle. “A traffic circle is one way to bring the two sides of the town together, but I don’t think it’s going to happen,” Town Council Member Doug Nodine said at last month’s strategic planning meeting. In the end, improvements by the town and NCDOT “will help Oak Ridge create a sense of place,” Larkins

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Phil Ray, owner of Best 4K9, says replacing trafﬁc signals at N.C. 68 and 150 with a trafﬁc circle could slow motorists and encourage them to patronize Oak Ridge businesses.

said. “With slower traffic, there is more of an opportunity for people to see what Oak Ridge has to offer. And as people walk around, they’re more likely to shop in local stores.”

AUG. 16 - 22, 2018

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It’s a balancing act for Don and Anne Husband and wife split duties early on, paving the way for 15 years of custom home construction based on listening to customers and working with skilled subcontractors by CHRIS BURRITT

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Don and Annette Mills set the course of their professional relationship soon after they started dating back in 2001. At the time, Annette was building a home for herself and two young children on her family’s 60-acre farm on Sandy Camp Road between Colfax and High Point and Don offered some recommendations for tweaking the project. It worked out. Annette agreed to some of Don’s recommendations – such as changing the width of garage doors – and he paid the extra costs. After three months of dating, the couple married. They began building custom homes two years later. Don Mills Builders has flourished with the husband-and-wife team dividing responsibilities, each focusing on their strengths – building for Don and finances and design for Annette. With over 15 years of experience in building custom homes, they make recommendations to buyers without being pushy. “When I’m building a custom home, I tell them up front that ‘I’m going to give you my advice,’” Don said. “‘I will give you the pros and cons and we will do whatever you want.’ “They need to hear my advice because sometimes they get led astray and they want to do something they’re going to regret, in my opinion,” Don said. The couple currently has six home projects underway – including four spec homes – with prices starting in the low $500s. “We’re especially excited about our newest neighborhood, Woodrose, off Owls Roost Road (off U.S. 220, in northwest Greensboro),” Don said. “It’s right up the street from the swim club, walking trails, a golf course, and so many other perks at

Bur-Mil Park. And the new highway makes it a very convenient location.” Tom Singh hired Don Mills Builders a few years ago to build a 4,500-square-foot home in the Birkhaven subdivision in Summerfield. “Don worked with us closely throughout the process,” Singh said. After construction was underway, Singh said he and his wife, Kathy, decided they wanted a larger screened porch; no problem – Don made that change and was also very responsive when the Singhs asked for other changes. The Singhs recently moved to Greenville, South Carolina, due to a job transfer. “We would love for Don to build a home for us down here,” said Singh. “Unfortunately, Don doesn’t work here.” Don began framing houses 35 years ago in West Virginia, where he grew up. After graduating high school in 1975 he went to work in the coal mines. Mining pay was good, but work was sporadic. “They kept you rich and poor at the same time,” said Don, who also grew tired of laboring in cramped, water-filled shafts. After mining jobs dried up in the early ‘80s, Don switched to framing houses. With relatives living in High Point and more plentiful work opportunities in the Triad, he moved to the area in 1986. He started his own framing company two years later, and in the 30-plus years since, he has become known as one of the most accomplished framers in the area. “Don has framed some of the largest and finest houses in the area – including the 26,000-square-foot Harmony House in Kernersville, which has three kitchens, nine bathrooms and 11 half-baths – plus a 5,000-foot garage and servants quarters,” Annette said proudly. Annette had a career before meeting Don, and she’s kept it going even after they started building homes together. She mows 31 lawns a week in the Irving Park neighborhood of Greensboro. Growing up, she earned money for college by helping her grandfather with lawn work and now she and her daughter, Rachel, mow lawns a couple days a week. “We’re going to do 18 today,” Annette said last Friday morning while sitting at the

Brought t

ette Mills of Don Mills Builders

Photo by Chris Burritt/NWO

Annette and Don Mills, with their dog Rocky, at their home on Sandy Camp Road. Don and Annette married in 2001 and began building custom homes two years later.

glass-topped dining table in her northwest Guilford home. “And we’re supposed to get our nails done at 2:00.” Annette is also responsible for designing and for selecting fixtures and surfaces for the spec homes Don is building – and she manages the company’s finances. “I can handle money,” she said. “I am a saver, not a spender.” Don and Annette say they follow basic financial rules. When they obtain loans to build homes, they don’t spend any of the money for living expenses. Builders who slip into that habit often wind up running out of money to finish the house, forcing them to borrow for the next house until lenders refuse to extend more credit, Don said. A home construction loan “looks like your money,” Annette said. “It’s in your bank account. But it’s not your money.” The couple has worked with many of the same subcontractors for several years, always following the practice of paying them fairly and quickly. In return, the Mills expect – and receive – an honest day’s work. Don and his nephew Lee Whitt, the company’s superintendent – and also an accomplished framer – work closely with their subcontractors and are on the job sites daily

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to oversee the construction process and make sure work stays on schedule. “The framing expertise Don and Lee have is what separates us from other builders,” Annette said. The current shortage of skilled laborers puts pressure on builders to coordinate schedules and keep their subs working or risk losing them to other contractors, Don said. “It’s a dance of schedules – to get one sub to come in and do his job so the next one can come in to do their job,” Annette said. “Time is money on the job site,” she added. “If somebody gets behind – if you don’t get a permit or you don’t get an inspection – everything bogs down.”

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Ask the

BUILDER

compiled by CHRIS BURRITT/NWO

How do you handle requests from homebuyers who want you to replicate ideas they see on Pinterest, Houzz and HGTV? R&K Custom Homes

Don Mills Builders

“This new social media trend has changed the industry. The plus is Kathy and Rich Dumas the buyer has a keener sense of what they want and a way to express it.

“Pinterest is a nightmare for builders. They will set up showrooms Annette and Don Mills and model homes that don’t have to pass code because nobody is living there,” Don Mills said.

“However, it can at times prove challenging to integrate all of their wants into a home. In addition, it can add to their timeline for completion. We typically ask them to narrow their wants down to a few special items. “Social media has been both a blessing and a curse. We love all the new ideas, but it has definitely made the custom home building industry more difficult. But that’s OK. Bring on the challenge.”

“I recently built a house for a customer who wanted a certain cooktop and hood. They had the pictures from Pinterest. What was set up in that picture won’t pass code. Depending upon the cooktop you buy, the manufacturers tell you what these clearances have to be. That’s what the county goes by. “This customer says, `I’ve got it right here on the picture. It can be done.’ “But it was in a showroom. We had

a heck of a time. We had a custom hood built which cost several thousand dollars.”

all of those costs. It ranges from light fixtures to crown molding. Beyond the basics, those costs can add up.

Annette Mills added, “One of the things people have loved about the white-kitchen craze is the vases and all the other beautiful accessories they see in the pictures. But none of the appliances like your coffee pot and your toaster oven are in there.”

“Most of the shows you see on television were filmed months ago. Since then lumber and other costs have gone up.”

Naylor Custom Homes

Scott Naylor

“People don’t realize the actual costs of what they see on television. The prices that are quoted on the fixerupper shows for kitchen cabinets and other improvements aren’t close to actual costs.

“You have customers who think the house they’re building is going to cover

Coming this fall

Featuring homegrown stories about everything from maintaining and improving your home to housing trends, history and humor of life in northwest Guilford County

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TRANSACTIONS The following are recent new and existing home sales for the northwest- and northern- Guilford County area. Home sales in and near your neighborhood impact the current market value of your home.

SUMMERFIELD

1482 Bethan Drive (Lennox Woods) $470,000 5408 Deer Trail Road (Pleasant Ridge Run) $765,000 5 Willow Ridge Court (Highland Grove) $235,000 7508 Shadow Creek Drive (Birkhaven) $700,000 5417 Cedar Field Drive (Highland Grove) $191,000 7309 Autumn Lake Drive (Autumn Lake) $900,000 5903 Mary Hall Court (Henson Farms) $651,000 6308 Blue Aster Trace (Henson Forest) $420,000 5005 Lindenwold Drive (Keston Downs) $393,000 7001 Belford Road Tract (10.01 acres) $200,500 7090 Wyatt Drive (Armfield) $570,000 3317 Annry Drive (Stable Ridge) $274,000 8151 Rob Roy Drive (Lennox Woods) $517,000

3209 Pasture View Drive (The Farm at Lake Brandt) $670,000 5309 Brookstead Drive (Highland Grove South) $275,500 4300 Vinsanto Way (Vineyards at Summerfield) $697,000 5209 Torney Court (Highland Grove South) $303,500 5312 Brookstead Drive (Highland Grove South) $294,500 3802 Eagle Downs Way (Eagle Ridge) $570,000 3303 Tanner Court (Caleb Place) $435,000 6111 Gwynedd Road (Gwynedd) $450,000 5415 Cedar Field Drive (Highland Grove) $177,000 7207 Henson Farm Way (Henson Farms) $449,000 3903 Waterton Road (Hillsdale Lake) $190,000 5214 Helsley Court (Riley Village) $291,000 6098 Windsor Farm Road (Trotter Ridge) $365,000

5213 Torney Court (Highland Grove South) $306,000 5314 Brookstead Drive (Highland Grove South) $302,000 5607 Asheview Court (Woodvale) $326,000

OAK RIDGE

1743 Diercrest Street (Trenton) $375,000 1921/2035 Oak Ridge Road (58.316 acres) $1,800,000 8302 Southern Springs Court (River Oaks) $426,000 5006 Robdot Drive (Stafford Farm Estates) $565,000 7911 McCreedy Drive (Huntcliff) $292,500 5806 Scarlett Court (Twelve Oaks) 4 $415,000 6903 Matzinger Court (Riverside at Oak Ridge) $650,000 2812 Oak Ridge Road (Fox Glen) $285,000

5700 Fox Hound Drive (Foxbury) $360,000 5204 Harley Stafford Drive (Stafford Forest) $573,500 2906 Oak Ridge Road $202,000 6015 Beckenham Way (Staffordshire Estates) $353,500 1810 Wild Fern Drive (River Oaks) $433,000 7994 Fogleman Way (Estates at Oak Ridge Lake) $450,000 6611 Ashton Park Drive (Ashton Park at Oak Ridge) $450,000 8404 Oakchester Court (Linville Oaks) $620,000 8209 Daltonshire Drive (Weatherstone) $178,500 8001 Daltonshire Drive (Weatherstone) $260,000 8313 Stafford Mill Road $454,500 8406 Case Ridge Drive (River Oaks) $345,000 5922 Tarleton Drive (Oak Ridge Plantation) $755,000 5501 Gray Leigh Drive (Stafford Farm Estates) $476,500 5704 Cape Fox Drive (Foxbury) $455,000 8827 Colt Road $472,000

STOKESDALE

8003 Laffin Court (Old Moore’s Mill) $430,000 8201 Poplar Bluff (Northridge) $488,000 8205 Patterdale Court (Northwest Meadows) $392,000 1004 Eastshore Circle (Windy Point Townhouses) $250,000 7605 Shelby Rae Court (Blue Water Cove) $407,500 8004 Southern Meadows Court (Southern Meadows) $205,000 8009 Helison Court (Angels Glen) $380,000

NW/NORTHERN GREENSBORO

1007 Canonero Drive (Hamilton Forest) $412,500 3003 Duffield Drive (Starmount Forest) $475,000 601 Woodvale Drive (Starmount Forest) $346,000 1612 Fox Hollow Road (Carriage Hills) $310,000 7139 Pleasant Oaks Road (Pleasant Oaks) $465,000 3700 Moss Creek Drive (Cardinal Manor) $221,000

5413 Pigeon Cove Drive (Cardinal Woods) $257,000 6818 River Hills Drive (River Hills Plantation) $225,000 4705 Ridgefall Road (Pleasant Ridge Farms West) $250,500 3406 Northbrook Court (River Hills Plantation) $201,000 3006 Duffield Drive (Starmount Forest) $687,000 6305 Bonnybrook Court (Pleasant Ridge Farms) $167,000 3729 Cardinal Downs Drive (Cardinal Downs) $235,000 6010 Thistle Trace (Owls Roost) $363,000 6420 Rock Springs Road (Pleasant Ridge Farms West) $235,000 4205 Quail Canyon Court (Cardinal Woods) $298,000 3655 Cherry Hill Drive (Cardinal Manor) $169,000 1305 Westminster Drive (Westridge Forest) $360,000 4002 Dogwood Drive (Starmount Forest) $318,000

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AUG. 16 - 22, 2018

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

Every home is valuable. Get an instant home value estimate, comparable properties, market trends, and more for free at BHHSYostandLittle.com

BHHSYostandLittle.com/MLS

5805 Mashoes Court

5809 Henson Farm Road

1616 Highway 68 North Oak Ridge $918,000 MLS 855234 Nancy Hess 336-215-1820

Stokesdale $849,000 MLS 726218 Mark Yost 336-707-6275

Polo Farms $789,000 MLS 887146 Beth Brannan 336-253-4693

7500 Green Ash Court

7110 Lake Henson Drive

4000 Brass Cannon

7005 Mustang Court

3905 Eagle Downs Way

209 Yardarm Court

7744 Chesterbrooke Drive Stonebridge $579,000 MLS 850922 Michelle Porter 336-207-515

Foxbury $565,000 MLS 892388 Nancy Hess 336-215-1820

1308 Flat Rock Road

Henson Farms $1,495,000 MLS 798373 Kay Chesnutt 336-202-9687

Henson Forest $789,000 MLS 887158 Joe Tomlinson 336-362-9336

Belews Landing-Crows Nest $580,000 MLS 886401 Ashley Meredith 336-339-7285 Kim Vaughan 336-430-5595

Henson Farms $1,150,000 MLS 814407 Nancy Hess 336-215-1820

Henson Forest $749,500 MLS 896992 Jaree Todd 336-601-4892

0 Friddle

6808 Polo Farms Drive

Carlson Farms $699,900 MLS 888151 Melissa Greer 336-337-5233

Polo Farms $689,000 MLS 892854 Kelly O’Day 336-541-2011

Summerfield $680,000 MLS 858099 Johnnye Letterman 336-601-6012 Jacob Letterman 336-338-0136

5403 Red Fox Drive

5904 Crutchfield Farm Road

1983 Cedar View Drive

6747 Phillip Court

4218 Shoal Creek Drive

Crutchfield Farm $475,000 MLS 886691 Nancy Hess 336-215-1820

Nantucket Village $450,000 MLS 892657 Nancy Hess 336-215-1820

Reidsville $449,900 MLS 885954 Eddie Yost 336-272-0151 Mark Yost 336-707-6275

8402 Crichton Court

River Oaks $445,000 MLS 889680 Mark Yost 336-707-6275 Kathy McClelland 336-314-5637

1987 Cedar View Drive Nantucket Village $419,900 MLS 879674 Nancy Hess 336-215-1820

Auburndale $399,900 MLS 886303 Joyce Norris 336-327-3650

Prestwick $374,900 MLS 885043 Melissa Greer 336-337-5233

7007 Pearson Run Court

4915 Gold Crest Drive

6998 Bethesda Court

Wilson Farms $369,000 MLS 895996 Sandy Leib 336-339-7285

8308 Richardsonwood Road Pearson Farm $289,900 MLS 892308 Leslie Turner 336-202-8130

Golden Acres $364,000 MLS 882651 Jamie Harrelson 336-889-9192

531 Sylvania Road

Stokesdale $359,000 MLS 726225 Mark Yost 336-707-6275

7819 Wilson Farm Road Wilson Farms $349,900 MLS 888052 Nancy Hess 336-215-1820

Wilson Farms $345,000 MLS 882397 Michelle Porter 336-207-0515

Lot 99 Cleek Drive

0 Piney Grove Church Road

5803 Crutchfield Farm

6601 Bobwhite Road

Greensboro National Golf Course $98,500 MLS 852709 Johnnye Letterman 336-601-6012 Jacob Letterman 336-338-0136

Adams Farm 336—854—1333

Danbury $85,000 MLS 897470 Linda McClary 704-519-6666

• Elm Street 336—272—0151 •

Oak Ridge $61,500 MLS 858023 Susanne McIntire 336-601-5929

Friendly Center 336—370—4000 •

Summers Pointe $59,900 MLS 757050 Nancy Hess 336-215-1820

Kernersville 336—996—4256

©2018 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently operated subsidiary of HomeServices of America, Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate, and a franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of HomeServices of America, Inc.® Equal Housing Opportunity.

REAL ESTATE BRIEFS

Photo (left) by Chris Burritt / Photo (right) courtesy of Range Properties

(Left) Construction of Tire Max’s third store, located on U.S. 220 in Summerﬁeld, is underway beside a strip of retail spaces suitable for smaller tenants such as pizza and sandwich shops. (At right) An artist’s rendering shows the completed building beside Tire Max that will accommodate up to ﬁve businesses.

Tire Max opening new location on U.S. 220 in Summerfield Construction of the company’s third store is slated for completion later this year; it will be adjacent to a building accommodating up to ﬁve other commercial tenants by CHRIS BURRITT A new Tire Max store will anchor a shopping center on U.S. 220 in Summerfield after the widening of the highway left only a few parcels of land available

for commercial development. The auto repair and tire shop will be owner Max Gardner’s third location, with stores now operating at 7705 N.C. 68 in Stokesdale and 706 Burton St. in Madison. It is slated to open in late October, Gardner told the Northwest Observer Tuesday. Potential tenants from national chains to mom-and-pop operators have inquired about leasing space adjacent to Tire Max, though none have committed, according to Mark McCracken, a broker with Range Properties in Greensboro. The strip will

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consist of five 1,250-square-foot bays suitable for pizza and sandwich shops and other businesses catering to northwest Guilford residents and motorists on U.S. 220. It’s possible a tenant could occupy more than one bay, he said. “Retail options in Summerfield are limited,” said McCracken, noting that nearby Summerfield Village is fully occupied. Tenants of that center include a LeBauer HealthCare practice, Wilson & Sons Termite & Pest Control, Subway, Peking Wok Chinese Restaurant and a dry cleaner.

A relatively small number of tracts along U.S. 220 in Summerfield remain available for commercial development after the North Carolina Department of Transportation completed its highway widening project, which was aimed at improving traffic flow, said Carrie Spencer, Town of Summerfield planning director. Gardner said he purchased his 6-acre tract last December after he was certain that road improvements would allow motorists traveling in both directions of U.S. 220 to turn into the Tire Max center.

Rezoning of 5.7 acres unanimously approved STOKESDALE – A request to rezone approximately 5.7 acres from AG (agriculture) to RS-40 (residential singlefamily, minimum 40,000 square feet) was unanimously approved by the Stokesdale Town Council during a public hearing at the Aug. 9 council meeting. No one spoke in favor or in opposition to the request. The AG zoning district is primarily intended to accommodate uses of an agricultural nature but not major residential subdivisions; the RS-40 district is intended to accommodate single-family detached dwellings on large lots with an overall gross density of one unit per acre or less.

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

The parcel, at 8601 Fulp Road at the intersection of Osage Road, is designated residential on the Stokesdale Future Land Use Plan with recommended minimum lot sizes of 40,000 square feet, according to Oliver Bass, town planner. It had been platted as part of a major subdivision in the late 1980s, he said. Dividing the parcel into four lots takes it into the major subdivision category, Bass said, which is why it needed to be rezoned. The applicant was April Garris. The Planning Board recommended approval at its July 26 meeting. Each lot will have a well and septic system.

Welcome to A weekly section in the Northwest Observer focused on our local youth and the adults who positively impact them.

Bella’s Blessings Rising third-grader ﬁnds ways to help those in need by PATTI STOKES Being only eight years old hasn’t stopped Bella Marshall from looking for – and finding – ways to help others. When the Oak Ridge Elementary student observed a few of her classmates go through the lunch line without lunch money last school year, she felt bad for them. “Sometimes kids make fun of them and they get embarrassed and teased,” Bella told the Northwest Observer. “It just made me feel bad, so I talked to my mom and told her there are people who don’t have lunch and I thought we could help.” After coming up with the idea of hosting a kids craft show this summer, Bella and her family began reaching

out to friends and neighbors in Oak Ridge and surrounding communities through phone calls, emails and flyers. Kids participating in the craft show were asked to make or grow their own craft to sell, and to donate a portion of their proceeds back to Bella’s Blessings to help other kids in need. The response from kids and their families was gratifying, and on July 28 six booths were set up at Bella’s house with homegrown produce, handmade pottery and crafts, homemade zucchini bread, tie-dyed T-shirts – and, as Bella’s big brother Jack, 11, pointed out, “lemonade and homemade cookies!” (Jack, by the way, helped set up tables and assisted Bella with calculating the financial transactions during the craft show.) A week before the craft show, Bella’s mom, Stephanie Marshall, helped her set up a GoFundMe page with the goal of raising $500. That goal was reached – and

...continued on p. 25

Photo courtesy of Stephanie Marshall

Bella Marshall of Oak Ridge stands beside a sign advertising the Kids Craft Fair she recently initiated to raise money for classmates in need.

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The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

AUG. 16 - 22, 2018

Worlds apart but close at heart Two teenagers who live in countries nearly 7,000 miles apart form a friendship thanks to the Rotary Club’s student exchange program by PATTI STOKES Shoko Aono, 17, lived in California before moving with her family to Sakura, located in Chiba Prefecture in Japan, when she was 9 years old. Emilie Morton, 16, is a rising junior at Northern Guilford High School who has grown up on a farm off N.C. 150 in northern Greensboro, surrounded by farm animals, tractors, horses and lots of extended family members. Thanks to Rotary International, a non-profit which seeks to bring people from all continents and cultures together to exchange ideas and form friendships and professional connections, a special friendship has been forged between the two teenagers this summer, along with an appreciation of each other’s country and culture. It all started when Emilie was selected by a panel of Rotarians with the Airport Rotary Club in Greensboro last fall as the chapter’s ESSEX (Eastern States Student Exchange) Youth Ambassador to Japan. The Rotary’s short-term exchange program allows students to advance their knowledge and world understanding by having them stay with a matched host family in another country for four to five weeks in the summer. “It is the intention of the program for young people to observe, firsthand, the challenges and accomplishments of other people of different colors, creeds and cultures,” said Emilie’s mother, Melinda Morton. Emilie was paired with Shoko and her family after Shoko went through a similar application and interview

process with the local Rotary Club in her city and “the planets lined up.” After preparing for her trip by reading books about Japan and the Japanese culture and learning some basic Japanese phrases, Emilie left on June 20 and flew into Tokyo’s Narita International Airport. There, she was greeted by Shoko’s mother and a member of the local Rotary Club. Emilie said Shoko’s mother was very welcoming and immediately helped her settle into her temporary new home in the city of Sakura, which has about half the population of Greensboro. Many things about the Japanese people she met made an impression on Emilie. For one, “They don’t talk about politics that much,” she said. “I kind of enjoyed that, because there was peace between the people.” In a practical vein, she also noted the Japanese travel mostly by train and bus. “There aren’t that many cars, and the cars are really small,” she said. “Everyone I met there was very kind and very respectful,” she added. One of the more impactful experiences Emilie had in Japan was to observe the life of a Japanese high school student. The educational system in Japan is structured very differently than that of most American towns or cities, including that students have fewer days off for vacation, they ride trains rather than buses to school, and they take entrance exams to be granted the privilege of attending high school. While visiting Funabashi High School, where Shoko attends, Emilie participated in many classes. “Here in America, there are two groups of students – one half is much more serious about schoolwork and the other half, not so much,” Emilie said. “At Shoko’s school, everyone was very focused on their schoolwork. And everyone was so nice to each other and respectful

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Noon–6 Friday • 9–3 Saturday

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(across from Farmers Market entrance)

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AUG. 16 - 22, 2018

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Emilie Morton (left), a 16-year-old rising junior at Northern Guilford High School, stands with Shoko Aono, a 17-year-old student at Funabashi High School in Sakura, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, after the two teenagers spoke at the Airport Rotary Club meeting on July 28 about their experiences visiting each other’s country.

compassionate

personal caring responsive

Noon-6 Friday

Colfax 2913 Sandy Ridge Rd.

Photo by Patti Stokes/NWO

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

toward the teachers. When the teachers walk in, everyone is quiet.” Math, science, history and language are requirements for Japanese students, but “life classes,” such as cooking, physical education, finance management and art are also a necessity, Melinda noted. Almost everyone at Shoko’s school participates in afterschool club activities, ranging from track and field and baseball to tea ceremonies and making flower arrangements, Shoko said. Part-time jobs are discouraged, but allowed in special circumstances. Most of the Japanese people Emilie met had healthy daily eating and exercise habits – “They walk a lot and they eat healthy,” she said. “I lost a lot of weight while I was there – not because I didn’t eat, but because of what I was eating. It was delicious and it made me feel good.” Although Shoko had spent her early years in California, coming back to our country as a teenager – and to North Carolina – with Emilie when she returned home on July 23 was quite different than she had envisioned. She’s quickly adapted, though, and has already picked up some “Southernisms,” such as “full as a tick,” “I reckon,” and “Hey y’all.” One difference Shoko has noted between her culture and Emilie’s is that she finds people here to be more open. “One of the first things I noticed was that people at the airport hugged each other,” she said. “And American people are more confident in what they say – they have their own opinions and beliefs.” Shoko has enjoyed the large gatherings she has experienced with Emilie’s family. “My family is distant from each other so it is hard to gather,” she said. “Here, they live close to each other.” In fact, Emilie and her family live on farmland her father grew up on, with two other families of relatives living on the same property and several cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents nearby. While she is accustomed to eating healthy foods, Shoko loves sweets – ice cream is her favorite food and she said, “Yum Yum’s (on Spring Garden Street in Greensboro) was the best!” When we spoke for this story she was looking

forward to going to Krispy Kreme doughnuts, and had already been treated to an authentic Southern meal at the Mortons’ home consisting of “Mac & Cheese” (she was surprised at how much cheese went on it!), homegrown vegetables from the family garden and cornbread. Climbing halfway up Mount Fuji with Shoko was one of Emilie’s favorite experiences in Japan, as was visiting Irumagawa Air Force Base, where her grandfather was stationed in the ‘60s. Shoko looked forward to touring Washington, D.C., and seeing the memorials of presidents and soldiers. “I am excited to see them with my own eyes,” she said. “I think it’s important to know the history of America.” “It’s amazing to me that in World War II our countries were on opposite sides,” Melinda noted. “Since, there has been healing and energy and intent for people of those two countries to be on the same side and understand one another and be friends… Here, we have this beautiful person from Japan and the friendship Emilie and Shoko have forged is wonderful. They love each other very much.” Emilie encourages anyone wanting to visit another country to go to Japan. “There is so much beautiful nature and beautiful people there who are so kind,” she said. “I love America but I also want to learn about other countries – I want to tell people they should go and learn more about other people.” Shoko admits that before coming to North Carolina, California was her image of America. “I was able to learn there were a lot of differences even in the same country,” she said. “Through this Rotary exchange I learned about same-age students from different countries and how confident they talk – I want to go into the world and work with them in the future.” Before returning to Japan next week, Shoko – who has been fully stocked with Northern Nighthawks apparel – will go with Emilie to the school’s first home football game of the season this Friday, when she looks forward to cheering on the home team. “I think their friendship will last a lifetime,” Melinda said.

BELLA’S BLESSINGS ...continued from p. 23

surpassed – in less than one day and as of Aug. 13, $755 had been raised. Combined with the proceeds from the craft show – which in many cases represented a donation of the entire amount kids brought in rather than just a percentage – Bella and her supporters were able to donate $1,100 to Oak Ridge Elementary School to help kids in need and Bella presented a check in that amount last Wednesday to the school’s principal and assistant principal. The Marshalls have been touched by all the support they’ve received, from those who donated items for and participated in the craft show to the many GoFundMe contributors. “And the GoFundMe donations are still coming in – from all over!” Stephanie said. The family is currently working with the school to figure out how people can sponsor a child for the upcoming school year. “We’d like to open it up to everyone,”

Stephanie said. “We’ve figured it costs roughly $430 to pay for a child’s lunch, yearbook, field trips and school supplies for a year.” Jack admits to being “very proud” of his little sister for her giving spirit and David Marshall, Bella’s father, jokingly said, “It shows me she is spending a lot of time around her mother,” then on a serious note added, “Bella is a very sweet girl … we stress to our kids to treat others like they want to be treated.” “We try to teach them to be good, decent human beings,” Stephanie added. “And to know that this world is bigger than them.” As for Bella, she has this piece of advice: “Keep your eye out for people who need something … because they’re out there.”

want to help? Donations may be made at GoFundMe.com/3g679v-bellas-blessings. Look for info on other ways you can contribute to Bella’s Blessings in future issues.

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

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

SUMMERFIELD 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. 16 - 22, 2018

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 United Methodist Church for hosting an excellent Vacation Bible School. Thanks to the volunteers and staff. My kids loved it!  Homeowners who blow their grass clippings out of the road when they

finish mowing. Every motorcyclist in the area thanks you – and your neighbors probably appreciate it as well!  Parker’s Home Cookin’ for celebrating 60 years of business. Not surprising considering their quality of food and customer service is always delightful! Our family is grateful to have such a

Welcome. Grow. Love. Join us!

Sunday services:

8:15am | Worship in Sanctuary 9am | Contemporary Worship in Family Life Center 10 am | Discipleship classes for all ages 11:15 am | Worship in Sanctuary

First Wednesday each month:

2:30 pm | Precious Memories (Sanctuary)

gem in the community. Many blessings to the hardworking staff!  Scott Whitaker and Bill Hill for your commitment to Summerfield despite the mayor continually attacking you both. Please know the vast majority of Summerfield folks appreciate you! The “inner circle” is a small group. Stay strong!  The person who generously donated the Brooks Brothers trench coat to Goodwill Oak Ridge. It was a great find, in perfect condition and a beautiful addition to my coat closet!  Stokesdale Service Center. Great quality service! Highly recommend Glenn, Dexter and Greg!  Everyone who stopped to offer aid to my wife on the A&Y Trail near Bur-Mil on Aug. 5. I didn’t get anyone’s names, but know that we truly appreciate your efforts and concern. Lesson learned – hydrate!  Shell station in Oak Ridge for selling gas 10 cents less a gallon than stations in Stokesdale.  Janelle Robinson of Summerfield, a concerned citizen who forced a “councilman” (incorrectly elected last year) to become accountable for his actions. I hope you will consider running for a future Town Council seat – you would get my vote!  Chilton’s Landscaping & Tree Service for taking down several leaning trees and one fallen tree. Their workers cut the trees and hauled away the debris, leaving our property much safer and neater.  NWO, for, as a Griper put it, being on the “back of our mayor” (even though you are not). NWO, you are the best for keeping up the great work to get the mayor to respond to PRRs. Don’t stop!

2424 Oak Ridge Road, Oak Ridge • (336) 643-4690 www.oakridgeumc.org

AUG. 16 - 22, 2018

 Anne Garner, owner of By The Book Accounting and Tax, for sponsoring the Stokesdale Community Choir.  Todd Shipley at Pizza Hut for always being nice and providing good cus-

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

tomer service.  Kids riding their motorbikes/ATVs respectfully down West Harrell Road in Oak Ridge. Thanks for riding responsibly!

GRIPES to...  Summerfield “Scoop” and a small group of people criticizing Janelle Robinson for doing the right thing. She is a Christian, great mom and friend, and loves Summerfield. Sad that the “inner circle” has made her the demon. God bless her.  Those who pretend to care so much about Summerfield – will these same people repay the legal fees the town has spent to defend itself from an outsider? Not!  Last week’s griper who mentioned “blond, blue-eyed Norwegians” for pushing the cheap lie that people who oppose illegal immigration are racist. Maybe you would wise up if MS-13 moved into your neighborhood.  The griper last week suggesting Mayor Dunham of Summerfield has it hard. She made her bed, let her lie in it. She is unfriendly, not forthcoming as a public official, hides emails – and wouldn’t even participate in Founders’ Day parade!  Teachers who give out summer homework assignments. Students work hard enough during the school year and deserve to fully enjoy summer break. Use your classroom time wisely and stop imposing on our vacation!  The person who complained about residents of Old Moores Mill driving through an unnecessary stop sign which happens to affect only two houses in their own neighborhood but all of OMM. I haven’t seen anyone “fly through” the stop sign.  The griper who compares Norwegian and Central American immigrants. The former are industrious, intelligent, highly skilled – and enter our country legally. The latter, not so much.

 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, Summerﬁeld (across from Food Lion). (336) 337-0669.

COUNTRY BREAKFAST FUNDRAISER,

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.

 EMPLOYMENT

Place online at

DEADLINE: Monday prior to each issue

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

LAND SURVEYING CREW MEMBER position available. Previous experience is preferred but not required. Career opportunity. Call (336) 275-8084 to set up interview or visit www.hughcreedassociates.com. NURSERY ATTENDANT position available at Stokesdale United Methodist Church. Visit website at www.StokesdaleUMC.org for full job description and application or call the church oﬃce at (336) 643-4850. PART-TIME KENNEL ASSISTANT needed at Northwest Animal Hospital. Duties include: pet care, feeding and bathing, cleaning and organizing hospital. Must be dependable and have own transportation. Submit resume to 1692 NC 68 N, Suite J, Oak Ridge, NC 27310.

Sat, Aug. 18, 7-10:30am at Liberty Wesleyan Church, 15303 U.S. Hwy. 158 E., Summerﬁeld. We meet every third Saturday each month. Everyone is invited. (336) 643-6968. "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.

Something

going on

Tell northwest Guilford County Place your Save the Date online at

FREE MEMORY WORKSHOP. Join us for a free memory workshop, “I Wish I Could

INDEX

Auto Sales & Service ................... 27 Employment ............................... 27 Homecare Available .................... 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 ........... 29-30 Real Estate .................................. 30

INGWe? can help! HIRnwobserver .com 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. F/T GENERAL SERVICE automotive position – oil/lube tech, tire changes, etc. Competitive pay DOE. M&M Tire & Auto, at 5570 Spotswood Circle, Summerﬁeld. Apply in person only – no phone calls please.

Remember,” to teach you to remember what you read, see and hear. Thursday, Aug. 23, at 6pm. Countryside Village, 7700 U.S. Hwy. 158, Stokesdale. Save your spot by calling (336) 643-6301. CENTER UMC HOMECOMING & REVIVAL, Fri., Aug. 24, 6:30pm, Farm Hands Quartet; Sat., Aug. 25, 6:30pm, Rev. Randy Jessup; Sun., Aug. 26,10:45am, Rev. Hank Thompson, and 6:30pm, Rev. Scott Wilkinson. 6142 Lake Brandt Rd., Greensboro. 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

 HOMECARE AVAILABLE

games, prizes, food, inﬂatables for all ages

NIGHT-SHIFT CAREGIVER AVAILABLE, Experienced / excellent ref. (336) 707-5245.

www.awaken-church.org for more infor-

and take home free school supplies. Visit mation.

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

MULTI-FAMILY SALE, Fri., Aug. 17, 7-10am & Sat., Aug. 18, 7am-? at 8206 Curraghmore Ct., Stokesdale. Home goods, baby items, clothing, stereo, yard items & more. MULTI-FAMILY YARD SALE, Saturday, Aug. 18, 8am-1pm at 4532 & 4533 Peeples Road, Oak Ridge. Toys, furniture, young ladies' sm./med. clothing and more. YARD SALE, Saturday, Aug. 18, 9am -1pm at 8209 Hunting Cog Rd., Oak Ridge, NC 27310. Antiques, tools, furniture, iron gates and more.

 HOME SERVICES CLEANING NIDIA’S CLEANING SERVICE. 10 years experience. Call Nidia (336) 362-4173. MAID-2-SHINE. Excellent service, 15 years experience. Free estimates, excellent references. (336) 338-0223. 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. CRYSTAL CLEAR WINDOW CLEANING Gutter cleaning, pressure washing. Fully ins. windowcleaningnc.com (336) 595-2873.

... continued on p. 28

AUG.1616- 22, - 22,2018 2018 AUG.

27 27

 HOME SERVICES

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

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

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

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

OLGA'S HOUSEKEEPING SERVICE. If it needs to be done, I'll do it. If it needs to be cleaned, I'll clean it. References available. (336) 289-0008.

DECORATING EXPERIENCED INTERIOR DECORATOR & personal furniture shopper will help you with style, color, shopping & furniture placement. E-mail appeninc@gmail.com or call Ann Appenzeller, (336) 314-1411.

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.

OLD SCHOOL

HOME REPAIR /IMPROVEMENTS “No Job Too Small”

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

ELECTRICAL BALEX ELECTRICAL COMPANY, LLC. Got Power? Residential, commercial and solar electrical services. (336) 298-4192. Do you have ELECTRICAL NEEDS? Rodney A. Coble, licensed electrician. Monday-Saturday. Call (336) 209-1486.

GENERAL REPAIR & SERVICES

L&T SMALL ENGINE SERVICE

2103 Oak Ridge Rd. • Oak Ridge

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

(336) 298-4314 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. LAWN MOWER REPAIR & SERVICE. Free pickup & delivery. Call Rick, (336) 501-8681. WELDING REPAIR, You already broke it, how much more damage can I do? Call Morris, (336) 880-7498.

28 28

AUG. 2018 AUG.1616- 22, - 22, 2018

(336) 669-7252

oldschoolsjhr@triad.rr.com

GRADING / HAULING PEARMAN QUARRY HAULING Fill dirt, gravel, sand rock, mulch & more. Joel Richardson, (336) 803-2195. GAULDIN TRUCKING, grading & hauling, bobcat work, lot clearing, driveways, ﬁll dirt, gravel, etc. (336) 362-1150. BRAD’S BOBCAT & HAULING SVCS. LLC Debris removal, grading, gravel/dirt, driveways, concrete work. (336) 362-3647. ANTHONY’S GRADING & HAULING Excavating, land clearing, demolition, dirt. available. Zane Anthony, (336) 362-4035. E&W HAULING & GRADING INC. Driveways, ﬁll dirt, demolition, lot clearing, excavating, bobcat work, etc. (336) 451-1282.

LAWNCARE / LANDSCAPING 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. EXTERIOR GREENSCAPES, LLC Lawn maintenance service. (336) 682-1456.

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

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

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

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.

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

AREA STUMP DUMP. Yard waste, concrete, etc. Fill dirt avail. (336) 602-5820. ALL-SEASON STUMP GRINDING. Owner Alan Winfree. Free est. Call (336) 382-9875. GUZMAN LANDSCAPE & MAINTENANCE Pine needles, mulch, leaf removal, tree pruning, complete lawn maint. (336) 655-6490. 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. 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.

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

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.

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

PAINTING & DRYWALL

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

(336) 931-0600

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

 HOME SERVICES

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

REMODELING / CONSTRUCTION

ROOFING. Best prices in town! Shingle and metal rooﬁng. Top-notch quality. Res./comm., licensed & insured. Financing available. Belews Creek Construction, (336) 362-6343.

STILL PERFECTION PAINTING Reliable, skilled, aﬀordable. Painting, pressure washing, handyman services. Scott Still, (336) 462-3683, stillperfectionpainting.com. CARLOS & SON PAINTING, interior & 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. CINDY’S PAINTING Interior painting, wallpaper removal. References & free estimates available. (336) 708-9155.

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PLUMBING 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. BRANSON PLUMBING & SOLAR No job too small! Experienced, guaranteed. Lic. & insured. Call Mark, (336) 337-7924.

JLB REMODELING, INC. Remodeling and additions. Fully insured. NC GC license #69997. Free est. Call (336) 681-2902 or visit www.jlbremodeling.com. RENOVATION WORKS, INC. New construction, remodeling, additions, kitchen, bath and decks. We are a locally owned, full-service design and build company, A+ accredited with the BBB. Visit www.myrenovationworks.com or call (336) 427-7391 to start your next project. 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. 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.

ROOFING

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. 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.

Got

stuff? Sell it here in the

classifieds submit your ad at

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

 MISC. SERVICES

2221 Highway 220 N • Stokesdale (336) 560-1888 | DeepRiverSS.com |

Family owned and operated since 2011 Authorized Dealer of Old Hickory Buildings

 MISC. WANTED $$$ – WILL PAY CASH for your junk or wrecked

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

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

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.

BOAT FOR SALE. 17 ft. Pro Sport, Evinrude motor, many extras. $4,500. (336) 643-7137.

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

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

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

PRESSURE WASHING

 MISC. FOR SALE

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

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.

 PETS & ANIMAL SVCS. AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION ADOPTION. Rescued pups need homes! 12 weeks old and have had ﬁrst shots. Mixture of husky, lab and cattle dog. Text for pictures. $50. (919) 616-8645.

... continued on p. 30

AUG.16 16- -22, 22,2018 2018 AUG.

29 29

 PETS & ANIMAL SVCS.

 REAL ESTATE

PET SERVICES

LAND FOR SALE

HOMES FOR SALE

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

LOTS FOR SALE. Southern Rockingham

LOST & FOUND PETS

ADOPTION. Gryﬃn is a Shiba Inu / German shepherd / Australian cattle dog mix looking for a new home. Due to a terminal illness in the family, the owner is unable to keep him. His herding instinct is strong and he is very intelligent. Gryﬃn is socialized with both animals and people and he loves to play. He knows the commands sit, leave it, stay, wait, look and down. He is up-to-date on all shots and vaccinations. Call (336) 549-8339.

If you’ve found a pet and need help ﬁnding the owner, let us know! We can share the story with nearly 13,000 neighbors on Facebook!

 REAL ESTATE

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 oﬀered at pre-development 20% discount prices. Call now to make appointment and reserve your future dream property. Tracts starting at $29,600. Two lots also available in N. Guilford Co. Call (336) 430-9507 anytime.

LAND FOR SALE

 REAL ESTATE

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.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

BEAUTIFUL OAK RIDGE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY

OPEN HOUSE: Sat, Aug 18 • 1-3pm

Cty. with Summerﬁeld address. Bethany El-

Why is a Realtor invaluable?

Let’s talk!

3287 Minglewood Trail

Vacation at home! Enjoy a private swimming pool, home theatre, chef’s kitchen and much more! $579,900

For superior marketing, call Ramilya Siegel CRS, GRI, SRES, Chairman’s Circle Award ( 336 ) 215.9856

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

OPEN HOUSE: Sun, Aug 19 • 2- 4pm

Gil Vaughan REALTOR ®/Broker

(336) 337-4780 Each office is independently owned and operated

JustCallGil.com

8444 Alice Player Drive, Oak Ridge

Potent ial office park! 6.14-acre wooded site zoned for business/office use in the commercial core area of Oak Ridge. 1/8 mile south of the N.C. 68 and 150 intersection, with turn lanes from both directions on N.C. 68. 1/4-mile commercial driveway leads to 4,400-square-foot main house/office building which is complemented by guest house, outbuildings and tennis court plus large landscaped island with gazebo/picnic area and pasture. Established tenant is willing to stay in place. Offered at $918,000. Visit www.berkshirehathawayhs. com/nancy-hess-real-estate-agent and select “My Listings” for photos and more details.

Nancy J. Hess

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

30 30

AUG. 1616 - 22, 2018 AUG. - 22, 2018

We Help Everyone! SELLERS & BUYERS

Glamorous kitchen, immaculate condition, versatile floorplan featuring an additional bedroom on main level, office on upper floor, spacious bonus. Superb Oak Ridge location; top-notch schools! Offered at $409,000

For superior marketing, call Ramilya Siegel

(336) 643-4248

www.ANewDawnRealty.com

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

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

Realtors, get your real estate listings noticed “ by placing showcase ads in our classifieds. Contact me for more info.” Laura Reneer, marketing manager (336) 644-7035, ext. 11 • advertising@nwobserver.com

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

index of DISPLAY ADVERTISERS

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

GENERAL REPAIR & SERVICES

By the Book Accounting .................... 32 Carlotta Lytton, CPA, PA ................... 10 Kimberly Thacker Accounting............ 32 Samuel K. Anders, CPA, MSA, PC..... 10

L&T Small Engine Service .................. 28

AUTO SERVICES Vestal Buick GMC Inc. ......................... 3

BUILDERS Builders MD....................................... 13 Dezern Construction Inc. ................... 19 Disney Custom Homes ...................... 14 Don Mills Builders .............................. 18 Johnson & Lee................................... 16 Lansink Custom Homes..................... 19 Naylor Custom Homes ...................... 17 R&K Custom Homes ......................... 15 Ray Bullins Construction .................... 14 Walraven Signature Homes ............... 14

CHURCHES Oak Ridge United Methodist Church.. 26 Summerfield First Baptist Church....... 25

DENTAL SERVICES Borden Dentistry.................................. 7 Summerfield Family Dentistry .............. 4

HOME PRODUCTS & SERVICES BEK Paint Company .......................... 28 Budget Blinds ................................... 10 Carpets by Direct ................................ 6 Deep River Storage Solutions............. 29 Eanes Heating & Air ............................ 8 New Garden Select ........................... 20 Old School Home Repair .................. 28 Prostone Inc. .................................... 22 Stokesdale Heating & Air .................. 12

Barbour & Williams Law ...................... 7 Ingle Law........................................... 32

MEDICAL CARE LeBauer Healthcare ........................... 9 Novant .......................................... 5, 23 Novant – NW Family Medicine .......... 20

PET SERVICES & PRODUCTS Bel-Aire Veterinary Hospital .............. 10 Northwest Animal Hospital ............... 24 Westergaard Kennels .......................... 2

REAL ESTATE

Snap Fitness ........................................ 2

FUNERAL SERVICE

RETAIL

Forbis & Dick, Stokesdale .................. 32

The Shrimp Connection..................... 24

Town of Summerfield .......................... 3

EXERCISE ACTIVITIES/GYM

Northwest

LEGAL SERVICES

A New Dawn Realty .......................... 30 Berkshire Hathaway Yost & Little ....... 21 Gil Vaughan, Keller Williams .............. 30 Ramilya Siegel, Allen Tate ................. 30 Smith Marketing ................................ 14

EVENTS

6th annual edition coming Sept. 6

Celebrating 21 years of delivering homegrown news to northwest Guilford County

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. 16 - 22, 2018

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

Postal Patron

Oak Ridge, NC Permit No. 22

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

gems in

ECRWSS

downtown

Stokesdale Beat the next round of price increases. Pre-plan and pre-pay for your funeral

Forbis&Dick Funeral Homes

Stokesdale 8320 Hwy 158, (336) 643-3711

Individual & Small Business Bookkeeping & Payroll Individual & Corporate Tax Returns PO Box 469 • 8400 US Hwy 158, Stokesdale

(336) 644.2741 • kim.thacker@att.net

Greensboro 1118 N Elm St, (336) 275-8408 5926 W Friendly Ave, (336) 299-9171

Locally owned & operated • Serving Stokesdale, Greensboro, Oak Ridge & Summerfield

INGLE LAW, PLLC We are engaged in the general practice of law, including personal injury claims, business formation, misdemeanor criminal defense, family law, estate work and residential/commercial real estate closings.

Accounting & Tax Ronald D. Ingle, Jr. Ronnie@inglelawoffice.com

Stephen Coe

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

Accounting Bookkeeping Payroll Tax Preparation Notary Public Copy Center

Anne M. Garner, EA 8304-C Hwy 158, Stokesdale (336) 441-8325 • annegarner605@gmail.com

printed 8/16/18