Aug. 16 - 22, 2013
bringing the local news home to northwest Guilford County since 1996 • nwobserver.com •
Stone marker stands as a historical reminder Town Manager Scott Whitaker hopes to put a maintenance plan in place for Bugler Boy memorial
by MIKE SHAW SUMMERFIELD – Sunlight peeks through trees along Oak Ridge Road in Summerfield each morning, gracing the weathered stone that marks the spot where James Gillies lost his life to British soldiers.
Gillies, a bugler, was just 14 when he was killed during the American Revolutionary War. Most likely, his job was to rally troops and communicate orders in the field like most buglers in the 1700s. On the morning of Feb. 12, 1781, a local farmer, Isaac Wright, rode his farm horse into the American camp at Bruce’s Crossroads to warn them he had seen British soldiers just a few miles down the road. Col. Henry “Light Horse Harry” Lee, the father of Confederate general Robert E. Lee, assembled a patrol to investigate the claim and instruct-
IN THIS ISSUE News in Brief ............................. 3 We asked, you answered ....... 4 Growing field hockey.............. 6 In Service to Others ................. 7 Celebrations ............................ 8 Bits & Pieces ............................. 9 Community Calendar............11 Crime/Incident Report ...........14 Around Town ..........................15 Letters/Opinions ....................16 Grins & Gripes .........................17 Classifieds ...............................18 Index of Advertisers .............. 23
...continued on p. 22 This memorial on Oak Ridge Road in Summerfield was erected in 1941 by the Joseph Kerner Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The memorial marks the spot where bugler James Gillies was killed in Feb. 1781.
Photo by Mike Shaw/NWO
Town gets national nod In “Best Places to Live” feature, Summerfield ranked No. 13 in “Least Crowded towns” category
by PATTI STOKES SUMMERFIELD – To outsiders, it may seem like just another sleepy little town – and some of the town’s residents are quick to say they don’t mind that perception at all. In fact, they like their sleepy little town and want to keep it that way. But this little town, which encompasses just over 26 square miles and
Photo by Mike Shaw/NWO
Through clinics, camps and recreation leagues, the Greensboro Youth Field Hockey League hopes to grow the popularity of field hockey in northwest Guilford County. See story on page 6.
has a population of about 10,500, has just come to the national forefront after being included in the current issue of Money Magazine’s “Best Places to Live” feature article. In the magazine’s Aug. 12 issue, Summerfield was ranked No. 13 in the Top 20 towns in the country for “least crowded places to live.”
...continued on p. 22
It’s back to school on Monday, Aug. 26 for thousands of local students.