Dec. 18, 2015 - Jan. 7, 2016
Happy Holidays from all of us at the Northwest Observer! We’ll be back Jan. 8
Longtime council member, mayor thanked Ray Combs retires from council after 14 years by GERRI HUNT OAK RIDGE – Stepping down after 14 years on the Oak Ridge Town Council, with a dozen of those as mayor, Ray Combs has surely left a mark on his beloved town. Mayor Spencer Sullivan says he is fortunate to have Combs as a great friend and mentor. “He has always led by example, with integrity, grace, vision and wisdom. During his 12-year tenure as mayor, his strategic vision and leadership have brought the town through a period of
tremendous growth while maintaining its historic character, charm and appeal,” says Sullivan. “His dry wit, collaborative approach and determination have brought people together on a wide range of issues, and our town looks the way it does because of his efforts. As a result, we have become one of the most desirable places to live in North Carolina.” Oak Ridge Town Clerk Sandra Smith has known Combs since volunteering with him on the Oak Ridge Horse Show Committee in the late 1990s. “He’s always been a really good leader, but does it in such a way
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Guilford County Animal Shelter: The buck stops nowhere? by ANNETTE JOYCE
though) the shelter had a crematorium.”
GUILFORD COUNTY – Last July the Guilford County Sheriff’s Department began an investigation into complaints against the Guilford County Animal Shelter, uncovering some of the most horrific cases of animal abuse imaginable.
From a legal point of view, there were issues of financial misappropriation. In addition, rescue groups and volunteers reported excessive difficulty in working with shelter management, and Marsha Williams, the former executive director for both the Guilford and Davidson County shelters, was accused of nepotism.
Seriously injured dogs and cats sat for days in pens without medical treatment. In a post on Facebook, Sheriff BJ Barnes spoke of “broken bones, open wounds and some missing body parts.” He also mentioned that “dead animals (were) stacked five-foot-high in the shelter freezer with no explanation as to why (even
IN THIS ISSUE
As a result of the investigation findings, Guilford County took over operation of the shelter and dismissed the United Animal Coalition, the organization that had been operating the facility since 1998. Three former employees, Williams, her daughter
File photo
Dana Williams-King and Marissa Studivent faced misdemeanor animal cruelty charges. While the investigation uncovered all kinds of wrongdoing, the Guilford County District Attorney’s Office has announced that it will not file charges against the three former employees due to a lack of sufficient evidence. Meanwhile, Davidson County is moving forward with its prosecution of felony charges against the three. At a hearing on Nov. 30, that case was continued. In Guilford County, the sheriff’s office is continuing to investigate potential misappropriation of donations and county funds, and charges may be forthcoming. “The only thing for sure is the shelter is in better shape now under the control
News in Brief ................................3 Your Questions ............................4 Summerfield Town Council ........8 Community Calendar .............. 11 Stokesdale Town Council ........ 12 NWO Real Estate ....................... 15 Real Estate Briefs....................... 19 Real Estate Transactions ..........22 Real Estate Q&A .......................22 Grins & Gripes ...........................26 Holiday Event Photos.......... 26-27 Christmas memories ................29 High School Sports ...................30 Student Profiles ......................... 31 Letters/Opinions .......................32 Crime/Incident Report .............34 Classifieds .................................35 Index of Advertisers .................39
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www.nwobserver.com of the county and things have been put back in order,” concludes Barnes. “Someone should have to be held accountable for the pain and suffering of the animals at both shelters.” As the story continues to play out,
...continued on p. 28
Annette Joyce advertising manager/ contributing writer
Gerri Hunt associate editor Sean Gentile art director
Lucy Smith finance manager
Patti Stokes editor/publisher
Laura Reneer associate publisher Linda Schatz distribution manager
L.A. Logan sports/community writer
Yvonne Truhon page layout
Merry Christmas and Happy News Year
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Not pictured: IT manager Leon Stokes and contributing writers Emily-Sarah Lineback and Helen Ledford
We’ll be taking a 2-week break ...but look for us back in print on Jan. 8
ed nnect ays at o c y Sta holid Oberver e h t r ove west to us om/North ok.c o b e c fa
NEWS in brief STAIRLIFTS, ELEVATORS, & MORE!
Taking a break, but we’ll be back! NW GUILFORD – Our staff at PS Communications, publisher of the Northwest Observer, will take a break from deadlines and production over the weeks of Christmas and New Year’s, so this will be our last printed issue in 2015. The Northwest Observer will resume its weekly in-print schedule on Friday, Jan. 8, 2016.
The council approved a resolution at its Dec. 8 meeting which states that Summerfield was originally named Bruce’s Crossroads in honor of Charles Bruce, who settled in the community in
The Guilford County Sheriff’s Office Crime Repression Team, in conjunction with the State Bureau of Investigation, served narcotics search warrants at a residence on Williard Road, and at K&T Auto Service on Oak Ridge Road, across the Linville Road intersection from Oak Ridge Elementary School. Authorities spent a year and a half investigating Willis Ray Tuttle, 51, of the Williard Road address, and his involvement in the manufacturing and distribution of methamphetamine. During the execution of the search warrant, detec-
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1769 after moving from Virginia. “The Bruce home was the birthplace and general meeting area for a group of patriots named the Friends of Liberty; during the Revolution, Charles Bruce led this group of patriots who assisted the American Army and fought against the Tories,” the resolution states. It goes on to say that Bruce devoted his life to his family, community and nation, and will be forever associated with Summerfield.
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tives seized methamphetamine as well as evidence of its manufacture. Tuttle faces 19 felony charges: Five counts of manufacturing/sale/deliver a controlled substance; four counts of selling narcotics within 1,000 feet of a school; four counts of maintaining a vehicle or dwelling for the sale of controlled substances; two counts of maintaining a business for the sale of controlled substances; manufacturing methamphetamine; conspiracy to sell or deliver a controlled substance; conspiracy to commit a felony; and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. His wife, Sina Tuttle, 52, faces seven felony charges: Two counts of selling
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Couple faces felony drug charges OAK RIDGE – On Tuesday morning, Dec. 15, a local couple was arrested on drug charges following an 18-month investigation.
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The PS Communications office will be closed Dec. 24-25 and Jan. 1. Please call (336) 644-7035 before visiting our office Dec. 28-31, as we will have limited office hours on those days.
Council requests I-73 segment be named after founder SUMMERFIELD – The Summerfield Town Council is requesting the North Carolina Department of Transportation name the northern Guilford County portion of I-73 the “Charles Bruce Thoroughfare” in honor of the town’s founder, Charles Bruce.
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DEC. 18, 2015 - JAN. 7, 2016
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OUR TEAM Patti Stokes, editor/publisher Laura Reneer, associate publisher Gerri Hunt, associate editor L.A. Logan, sports/high school news writer Annette Joyce, marketing manager Sean Gentile, art director Yvonne Truhon, page layout Leon Stokes, IT director Lucy Smith, finance manager Linda Schatz, distribution manager Helen Ledford, Annette Joyce & EmilySarah Lineback, contributing writers
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online: nwobserver.com e-mail: questions@ nwobserver.com I’ve noticed that cars have started parking at an angle in front of stores on U.S. 158 in downtown Stokesdale. There are no parking spots marked on the road, and people have always parallel parked along the curb. Is it okay for them to change the way they park? According to Stokesdale Councilman Frank Bruno, customers of a new antique store started parking at an angle, rather than parking in a nearby lot and walking. Residents have complained to the shop owner, the town and the sheriff’s office. But the town is not sure who handles the parking method.
Inman Road in northwest Greensboro has been closed so the bridge spanning Bryan Boulevard can be replaced.
explains that there was not enough room under the old bridge to install all of the lanes for I-73, thus a new, wider bridge was needed. “At the time the original bridge was built, a location for I-73 had not been determined, thus it was not built to accommodate future widening,”
Smith says. “We have worked on a few changes with the contractor and they have promised to have the bridge open by July 4, 2016; the original contract date was Labor Day,” Smith adds. “Thus we should have it opened a little sooner than originally planned.”
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We reached out to North Carolina DOT Traffic Engineer Dawn McPherson about the issue, and here’s what she said: “Parking is the responsibility of a municipality. All we would do is review their plan to ensure it is in conformance to the standards.” Recently the Inman Road bridge crossing Bryan Boulevard at the north end of Piedmont Triad International Airport was demolished and a new bridge is being constructed in its place. Why would the state remove and replace what appeared to be a well-constructed bridge?
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...continued from p. 3
and delivering a controlled substance; two counts of maintaining a dwelling for the sale of controlled substances; conspiracy to sell or deliver a controlled substance; manufacturing methamphetamine; and conspiracy.
Willis Tuttle was jailed under a $150,000 bond, and his first court appearance was set for 2 p.m. on Dec. 16. Sina Tuttle was released after posting bond. Both have additional court dates on Jan. 21 in Guilford County.
Residents ask council to change ‘holiday’ to “Christmas” parade STOKESDALE – Terri Johnson made a simple plea to her town’s council last Thursday night, Dec. 10: put “Christmas” into the holiday parade.
“In recent years, those who do not believe in holy days have deliberately tried to take Jesus – the Christ – out of Christmas,” she said. “Stokesdale has churches on every corner… consisting of people who believe in Jesus Christ. Why have a ‘holiday’ parade to be politically correct? The holiday we’re celebrating is Christmas – please call it what it is.” “We can speak volumes to a lost world by saying Merry Christmas and sharing hope with them. Our town can make a difference,” said Johnson, pointing out that even the night’s meeting agenda referenced a “Christmas” concert and that Town Hall will be closed for “Christmas” holidays. She presented council with a petition for the name
change, containing close to 90 names. “All around the world, Christians are going into hiding to pray and fear for their lives, and I feel like that’s what’s happening here in America now,” said lifelong Stokesdale resident Ray Robinson, his voice shaky. “So please keep Christ in Christmas as long as we can.” Eileen Thiery said it would be “very divisive” and close-minded to change the name of the parade. “Jesus is in your heart. You don’t need to have a sign on you or on a parade that says Christmas. It’s a holiday parade, and I think it’s all-inclusive for everyone,” Thiery argued. “If you’re a real Christian, you understand the idea that it makes no difference what we call it; it’s still Christ’s birthday. Layton Spencer suggested calling it a “Christmas holiday parade.” “In a world where political correct-
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ness has taken over, and the Christians have fallen to the wayside, this is about standing up and being bold and representing Jesus Christ. That’s what Christmas is all about. Let’s call it what it is,” said Delores Wilkes. Following the public comments, Mayor Randy Braswell asked those in attendance to volunteer for the Parade Committee, where their discussion can
continue and the committee can make a recommendation to the Town Council regarding the name of the parade. “We don’t see a problem legally changing it back to Christmas,” he said of the parade’s name. If interested in serving on the Stokesdale Parade Committee, call (336) 707-7279 or email Pam Mick at stokesdaleparade@yahoo.com.
Stokesdale seeks administrator STOKESDALE – Carolyn Joyner, town clerk and finance officer, announced last week that she will retire at the end of February, after more than two decades serving the Town of Stokesdale. The town council called a special meeting on Dec. 4 to discuss out how to handle the many tasks Joyner has taken on through the years. Their solution is to fill the position with a part-time town administrator, and to outsource many of the tasks until the new hire can take them on.
The council voted 4-1 – with thenCouncilman Joe Thacker casting the dissenting vote each time – to draft requests for proposals (RFPs) for each of the following: finance officer, water billing, payroll, and webmaster.
“Hopefully [the new hire] will evolve into what the clerk does now,” said Mayor Randy Braswell. “You’re lightening the load for someone coming in. Carolyn had a chance to grow into the job,” explained town attorney William Trevorrow. Braswell said he hopes to find someone with a strong business background who knows the construction business, “is wellrounded and can hit the ground running.” “If you want someone coming in and doing what Carolyn has been doing, they need to be able to function and make deci-
Council also voted 5-0 to have Braswell look into the cost and procedure of bringing in a part-time temporary office manager to help Joyner in her last 90 days, “as a gesture from the town” so Joyner can “relax on the job.“
sions,” advised Trevorrow. “There needs to be a level of assurance that you want them to act independently [of the council].”
In addition, council voted unanimously to outsource the task of writing minutes from meetings. Braswell said he would like to “modernize” and offer live streaming video of meetings on the internet, and a searchable archive of meeting minutes.
As for a town administrator, Braswell said, “We want to find another Carolyn who can’t wait to get in here every day... and stay 20 years.”
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SUMMERFIELD town council
DEC. 8 / MEETING HIGHLIGHTS as reported by PATTI STOKES Mayor Tim Sessoms welcomed everyone attending the monthly meeting; a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance and staff/council introductions followed. The meeting agenda was approved after removing one item relating to The Vineyards Trail property maintenance.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Wishing our dental family many reasons to smile this holiday season!
Town Manager Scott Whitaker announced there are openings for volunteers on the following: Board of Adjustment, and Public Safety, Historical and Founders’ Day Committees. Those interested in serving are asked to call (336) 643-8655 and speak to Town Clerk Valarie Halvorsen.
PUBLIC COMMENTS Dwayne Crawford, speaking as chairman of the town’s Public Safety Committee, said the committee unanimously agreed to ask the Summerfield Fire Department to support Guilford County’s involvement in remediating and improving fire protection water resources within the Summerfield Fire District. Crawford said he would be offering a letter to that effect for the council’s approval and signature. Adrian Williamson thanked Tim Sessoms for his leadership and service over the last two years, and for “keeping everybody on track.” He then added he might apply to serve on a committee.
Dr. Beth Borden (336) 644-2770
1009 Hwy 150W, Summerfield
On a separate note, Williamson said he thought the Martin property, which the town recently purchased, was going to be another money pit for the town. “…You all own all four corners (at the Summerfield Road and Oak Ridge Road intersection), and I hope there
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DEC. 18, 2015 - JAN. 7, 2016
isn’t anything else you’re going to buy,” Williamson told the council before thanking outgoing council members Elizabeth McClellan and Alicia Flowers for their service.
COMMITTEE REPORTS Finance. Finance Officer Katrina Whitt said the committee would next meet on Jan. 11, 2016. Historical. Chair Linda Southard said the committee is establishing goals for the upcoming year, and new committee members are welcome. Public Safety. Crawford said the committee has been documenting the procedure for hooking up the town-owned generator if needed in an emergency. Also, the Red Cross has been asked to advise whether two emergency shelters in town are adequate. The committee will hold future meetings on the third Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. (rather than 5:30 p.m.), and at Town Hall (rather than the fire station). Trails and Open Space. Chair Jane Doggett said the committee continues discussions on open space and trails. The public is invited to the next committee meeting on Jan. 27, 6 p.m. at Town Hall.
AUDIT REPORT Rex Rouse of Rouse, Rouse, Penn & Rouse presented the town’s independent financial audit report, noting cash investments increased and expenses were down last fiscal year; revenue exceeded expenses by $300,000. The town’s property tax collection rate was 99.67 percent, which is near the top collection rate in the state.
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Whitt was complimented on the outstanding job she does for the town.
OLD BUSINESS Revision of Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP). Whitaker presented updates to this plan, which was created in 2012. All minutes, ordinances and resolutions are microfilmed through June 2015, and backup copies are in an offsite storage facility and other locations. Whitaker said when the town experienced issues with its computer system this summer it relied on the backup system, which worked very well.
5 0 to accept the updated COOP. REPORTS, UPDATES Recognition of outgoing council members. Mayor Pro Tem Dena Barnes recognized outgoing council members Alicia Flowers and Elizabeth McClellan, and Mayor Tim Sessoms. Sessoms said it had been an honor and a privilege to serve as the town’s mayor for the last two years, even in the midst of some troubling personal times. Two months after assuming the mayor’s role his wife was diagnosed with cancer, and he thanked all those who sent cards and shared thoughts and prayers. “To have the opportunity to follow Bill Peterson, John Wray, Dena Barnes and Mark Brown (who all served as mayors) has been a high honor,” Sessoms
NEXT MEETING Tuesday, Jan. 12 • 6:30pm Summerfield Community Center
CONTACT YOUR TOWN (336) 643-8655 clerk@summerfieldgov.com www.summerfieldgov.com
said. “All the people up here, including council members and staff, are amazing folks. They care about the jobs they do and about the town. While we have not always agreed, I never questioned that they felt they were representing what the majority of people wanted. I’m very appreciative.” Flowers said that typically outgoing council members get a plaque, but she and McClellan had asked for a certificate instead, with the money that would have been spent on their plaques donated to Summerfield United Methodist Church’s food pantry. Flowers then thanked the Summerfield taxpayers for their support over the last eight years, and closed with words of advice from the Disney character, Jiminy Cricket: “Always let your conscience be your guide.” Whitaker thanked the outgoing council members for how they approached their “thankless position.” “I can say after three and a half years that everyone who is outgoing on the council really has a heart for Summerfield. They have served with their interpretation of the best representation they could give you. Thank all three of you,” he said.
SWEARING-IN Following a short recess, the council reconvened and re-elected member Dena Barnes, and newly elected members John O’Day and Reece Walker were sworn in by Judge Stuart Albright.
5 0 to re-elect Dena Barnes as mayor pro tem.
5 0 to select council member Dianne Laughlin as an authorized check signer (in addition to the mayor and mayor pro tem). Approval of 2016 meeting schedule. The meeting in November 2016 will be held on the second Wednesday (versus Tuesday) of the month because of the election.
5 0 to reaffirm the resolution from August 2007, requesting a portion of I-73 to be named in honor of Summerfield founder Charles Bruce. See news briefs for more. Founders Day 2016 venue. Mayor Mark Brown said he wanted to discuss whether the venue for the Founders’ Day festivities should be moved back to Summerfield Road (for the last two years the festivities have been held at Summerfield Athletic Park on U.S. 220). Brown said he felt that after the morning parade on Founders’ Day, moving to the athletic park created a “disconnect.” When asked for his input, Whitaker explained how the move to the athletic park had come about (the fire department was in the middle of construction two years ago, and the town needed to find at least a temporary alternative). Though the first year at the athletic park had come with some challenges, largely involving shuttling people to and from the park, Whitaker
said the 2015 event had gone much more smoothly and the additional space at the park was a plus. As the town’s population increases, so does the attendance at Founders’ Day, he pointed out. Following a discussion about the pros and cons of holding festivities at the fire department on Summerfield Road versus the athletic park, council decided to postpone making a decision until the January meeting, at which time they hoped to have answers to several questions.
5 0 to approve a slate of Founders’ Day Committee applicants, which includes two new applicants, Danette Marlowe and Kelly O’Day, along with others who have previously served.
Council strategic planning retreat. Whitaker explained the council had held its first strategic planning retreat last January, which gave them the opportunity to focus on a longer-term, higher level view of where the town needs to move strategically; the retreat was held offsite, and a facilitator from the state’s Department of Commerce was present. Since feedback from the council was very positive, Whitaker asked about planning another annual retreat for 2016. Council members who participated in the retreat last year agreed it was very valuable, not only for long-term planning, but also to give them an opportunity to get to know each other better and try to understand what direction each was coming from when making decisions. With so much to discuss in planning for a community of over 11,000 people, council will consider adding another half day to the retreat schedule next year. Proposed dates were considered before council decided to use Doodle, an online scheduling tool, to determine a date that will work for everyone. A facilitator will be hired again to guide discussions at the retreat.
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REPORTS, UPDATES Archery season. Whitaker said Jan. 9 – Feb. 13 is urban archery season in Summerfield (visit www.summerfieldgov.com for more info about this). Athletic Park. Got Game! Fast Pitch NC ASA, a girls’ softball association, recently voted the town’s athletic park the “Park of the Year” out of 15 different facilities they use; the 2016 ASA girls’ tournament will be held at Summerfield Athletic Park in June 2016, and will bring people in from all over the state. Whitaker and the town’s Parks and Recreation staff were thanked for the effort they have put into making the athletic facility such a great one. Town planning services. Whitaker said the needs for planning services have increased greatly in the last year, and Town Planner Julie Reid is overwhelmed with the amount of work coming through her office. A search is underway for someone to assist Reid on a part-time basis, and Whitaker hopes to have someone in place by next month. The town budgeted $35,000 for additional planning staff this fiscal year. Finance officer. Whitaker then announced that Katrina Whitt would be leaving the town as finance officer at the end of February. Whitt said she had enjoyed her time in Summerfield very much, but her mother needs a lot of care, she and her husband have a new grandchild on the way, and they feel this is the right time for a transition. Ordinance re-writes. Laughlin asked Whitaker for an update on the development ordinance revisions and he said half of it had been presented to the council at the end of October, and it will take some more dedicated days to get the next half finished; he has scheduled some of those days in December, and hopes to have it completed in January. With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
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...continued from p. 1 that you don’t feel like you’re being led,” she says. “One of his favorite sayings was ‘You have to hire capable people and let them do their jobs.’ He was not a micro-manager, but would give you the big picture, and let you work out the details. It was wonderful that he trusted us enough to let us do our jobs.” While Smith appreciates Combs’ sense of humor, she says he’s the best strategist and visionary she’s ever known. “He was always thinking three or four steps ahead, saying, ‘What happens if this person does this, or if this decision is made,’” she says. “In a lot of ways, he could relate to a lot of different people or different situations.”
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Smith says that’s because Combs has garnered very diverse experiences, including serving as a school board member in South Carolina, owning a dry cleaning business, a restaurant and bar, insurance and business brokerage – not to mention serving in many leadership roles. Combs was a member of the Oak Ridge Fire and Rescue’s board of directors for 16 years, with 10 years as board chairman. He served as both chairman and vice-chairman of the Horse Show Committee, and is a long-time member of the Oak Ridge Presbyterian Church choir and the Airport Rotary Club. Town Manager Bruce Oakley says it’s been excellent working with Combs for the last 11 years. “Ray was a visionary leader for the town. He always says, ‘Don’t major in the minors,’… and ‘Let the staff look at the details… tell the staff to handle it, handle it, handle it’,” says Oakley. “Ray gave direction and then got out of the way, but he was a great motivator and inspirer. He’s been a good friend to the town staff and very supportive.” Oakley says Combs also always brought humor, fun and anecdotes to the town staff’s weekly meetings. As for the former mayor’s vision, Oak
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DEC. 18, 2015 - JAN. 7, 2016
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Ridge Town Park is a key example. “Ray saw the land was for sale and knew there was a great opportunity there,” says Oakley. “And the water system almost came to fruition under his leadership, until Aqua North Carolina backed out. He just foresaw how the town was going to grow.” Sullivan echoes Oakley, and calls the Town Park and the municipal water system – now a work in progress – Combs’ legacy. “But I expect he will be best remembered for his passion in keeping our roadways free of signs, a passion we have all come to appreciate,” says Sullivan. Councilman George McClellan can attest to that. “I remember one night we were setting up for a yard sale for Ai Church, and someone came up with the idea of putting up signs to direct [people to the sale],” he says. “We went out around 11 p.m. and put up yard sale signs all over town… and little did I know, a quarter of a mile behind me was Ray Combs,” says McClellan with a laugh. “Needless to say, I heard a lot about our sign ordinance the next morning. One thing I can always say is that it doesn’t matter who you are or what you’re doing, the laws got enforced equitably.” Councilman Jim Kinneman recognizes the vigor Combs had in enforcing the sign ordinance, while also noting that not everything Combs did for the community was so visible. “It’s just something you feel about Oak Ridge, thanks to the contributions of people like Ray,” he says. Superior Court Judge Stuart Albright became district attorney around the same time Combs came into office. “As a judge or DA, I’ve never seen Ray in my official business at the courthouse, and that’s a good thing,” Albright told Combs with a grin at his last council meeting. “From my humble observations, you served in a no-nonsense, direct, honest manner – qualities that rubbed off on me.”
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SUNDAY, DEC. 20 Cantata | The Morehead Methodist Church choir will present its “Let There Be Christmas” cantata at 5 p.m. on Dec. 20 at the church, 3214 Horse Pen Creek Road, Greensboro. The event is free, and canned good donations will be accepted. More info: (336) 708-0755 or mollybrady@bellsouth.net.
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FRIDAY, JAN. 1 Race | The North Carolina State Park System turns 100 in 2016, and what better way to start the big year than by joining us for the First Day 5K at 1 p.m. on Jan. 1 at Haw River State Park, 8305 Oak Arbor Road, Greensboro? Registration is $35 and includes a long-sleeved race T-shirt and NC State Parks Centennial hiking medallion. For schedule of events, course map and rules, visit www.triviumracing. com/events/. All proceeds go to Friends of Haw River State Park and help with educational programming. More info: (336) 342-6163 or haw.river@ncparks.gov. TUESDAY, JAN. 5 Kiwanis Club | The Kiwanis Club of Northwest Guilford will meet Jan. 5 at noon at Bill’s Pizza, 1431 N.C. 68, Oak Ridge. More info: Todd Harmon, (336) 707-1615.
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STOKESDALE town council
Dec. 10 / MEETING HIGHLIGHTS as reported by GERRI HUNT Mayor Randy Braswell called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. Following an invocation by Pastor Jerry Walker of Oak Level Baptist Church and the Pledge of Allegiance, the council unanimously adopted the meeting agenda, approved minutes from the Nov. 12 meeting, and executive session minutes from Jan. 21, March 13, April 10, Aug. 5 and Aug. 14, 2014, and June 25 and July 16, 2015.
RECOGNITION Braswell read a proclamation in appreciation of Peggy Joyce, Barbara Marshall, Juanita Southern and Betty Shelton, founding members of the Stokesdale Veterans Monument Committee, who recently retired from
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OATHS/ELECTION Town Clerk Carolyn Joyner administered oaths of office to re-elected councilmen Frank Bruno and Bill Jones and newly-elected councilman Tim Jones.
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parade to the Christmas Parade, while a handful of others said the name should remain the same. See news briefs for more. Scott Hoffman, director of soccer for Stokesdale Parks and Recreation, said his organization “wants to work hard with council” to return to using the fields at Stokesdale Town Park in the spring.
DEC. 18, 2015 - JAN. 7, 2016
Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016 • 7pm Stokesdale Town Hall
CONTACT YOUR TOWN (336) 643-4011 stokesdale@stokesdale.org www.stokesdale.org
NEW BUSINESS Sheriff’s report. Dep. Scott Casey said of 14 calls that generated reports in the last month, five were Part 1 crimes; arrests have been made in all but one case. Casey advised citizens to call 911 right away if they see suspicious activity, regardless of what time of the day or night it is. He also invited everyone to join www.NextDoor.com, where they can share all sorts of information with neighbors – and receive crime alerts. Thearon Hooks, chairman of Stokesdale’s Public Safety Committee, suggested everyone also sign up for GEANI (Guilford Emergency Alert, Notification, Information System) at www.ReadyGuilford.org, to receive text, email and phone alerts about crimes, natural disasters and more. Audit report. Richard Taylor of Cannon and Company presented the 2014-15 audit. He noted that at the end of the fiscal year, the town’s net worth was $9,332,691, an increase of $145,415 over the prior year. “You beat budget projections by $54,000 on the governmental side, and on the water/sewer side, you had a net profit of about $93,000,” said Taylor. “You took a very conservative approach on your budget, and had an improvement of $131,000 in your net fund balance. Although you missed the mark on a couple of revenue items over which you had no control, you had no budget violations on your expenditures, and you did better than budget in every category.”
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The final unassigned fund balance was $2,352,598, “and as a comparison of how strong the town is, fund expenditures only amounted to 11.2 percent of your fund balance,” he noted. Downtown parking. Bruno said a new downtown antiques store has been so busy, cars park perpendicular to the curb, rather than parallel. Residents have complained to the town, the business owner and the sheriff’s office, which sent out a deputy to ask people to move their vehicles. Bruno said DOT hasn’t responded to inquiries into the matter. Bill Jones suggested having lines painted on the pavement; Braswell said the speed limit through town should be reduced to 25 mph.
5 0 to adopt a Continuity of Government Plan developed by Guilford County Emergency Management, which outlines government contacts, responsibilities and alternate locations to meet in case of emergency conditions. PUBLIC HEARINGS 6716 U.S. 158 rezoning CU-HB (Conditional Use-Highway Business) to CU-HB Amended. Guilford County Planner Oliver Bass presented the rezoning case and said the town’s Planning and Zoning Board recommended approving the rezoning of 4.89 acres just west of Walter Combs Way. The property is owned by Matnamak Properties LLC, and it can accommodate a major auto repair shop for
engine and transmission work.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Shane Beal of Matnamak spoke in favor of the rezoning, noting that his specialty flooring company, Polished Concrete Professionals, already operates at the site, as does firearms dealer Atlantic Outdoors. Beal said an ell addition with two vehicle bays would enable Butch Knight to relocate Import Specialties from U.S. 220 at N.C. 150 to the site.
Citizen comments. Mary Maness of Tree Court asked whether, if Stokesdale sells water to Oak Ridge, profits would be used to extend water lines to more Stokesdale residents. Braswell replied that Stokesdale’s primary benefit would be more water moving through its lines and that the system is not yet operating in the black, if depreciation is taken into account.
No one spoke in opposition and the public hearing was closed.
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to approve the rezoning.
8107 Moore’s Mill Court variance Recessing as the council and reconvening as the Board of Adjustment, council members heard from Wallis Collie, who along with his wife Kristen purchased a wedge-shaped parcel on a cul-de-sac. The standard for RS40 zoning is that a lot must have a minimum width of 150 feet; however, building their house where the lot is that width would require a setback of 275 feet, and the back of the house would be 12 to 15 feet above the ground due to its slope. No one spoke in opposition, and the public hearing was closed.
5 0 to grant the variance and allow the home to be built with a setback of 100.6 feet.
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to approve Yates Construction Company as the town’s utility contractor for the NC811 system.
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to authorize the mayor to sign an N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources form stating that Dawn Acres subdivision Phase I will have a certified operator of its water system.
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to send certified letters, with a deadline for response, to five Eversfield Road residents; the letter offers a discounted rate of $1,400 plus $350 for a water meter to connect to the town’s water system during construction of the Northwest Acres subdivision across the street. Council continued an agenda item regarding establishing construction fees until the January meeting. Council continued an administrative task list review, a public records request policy, and Town Hall staffing until
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a special-called meeting they set for 3 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 17.
COMMITTEE REPORTS 5 0 to approve all new ap-
plicants for the Land Use Plan Review Committee.
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to dissolve the Trails/Paths Right of Ways Committee (Council members Vicki White-Lawrence and Bruno voted no). Watch for more coverage in a future issue. Public Safety. Chairman Hooks said the committee will continue to provide up-to-date information to residents regarding public safety issues and informational sites “that will give each of us options, advice and a better sense of security in our town.” Water. Hooks will provide an update on the Emergency and Disaster Response Plan in January. The Town is updating its customer information list and afterhours emergency contacts for water customers. A system of informational
Finance. Town Finance Officer Carolyn Joyner said assets in the General Fund are $2,465,880.23. Expenditures last month included $6,000 for the audit, and revenues included $2,785.30 from Greensboro ABC profits. The WaterSewer Fund was up $202.57 from the prior month; the Water Enterprise Account was down $8,000.77, and its expenditures included $3,000 for the audit.
ANNOUNCEMENTS Town Hall will be closed Dec. 23-25 for the Christmas holidays. Beginning Jan. 4, the Stokesdale Community Choir will practice from 9 to 11:30 a.m. on Mondays at Town Hall. The Planning Board will meet at 7 p.m. on Jan. 7 at Town Hall if there are cases to be heard. With no comments from the council, the meeting adjourned at 10:26 p.m.
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DEC. 18, 2015 - JAN. 7, 2016
13
Stay safe from carbon monoxide this winter by Tim De Stasio
Each year in the U.S. alone, an average of 170 people die from carbon monoxide poisoning. Many more are exposed to this colorless, odorless gas and experience symptoms which can leave permanent damage. Carbon monoxide, or CO, is a by-product of combustion – or the burning of a fuel source such as natural gas, propane and heating oil. It robs the body’s ability to absorb oxygen into the blood. Carbon monoxide poisoning is 100% preventable. Awareness of how this gas is formed requires a basic knowledge of how fuel burning appliances work. For simplicity, this article will use the example of a natural gas forced air furnace which is common in many houses. But the same principles apply to water heaters and gas logs, as well as other fuels like propane and heating oil.
How it works Air is drawn into a furnace and mixed with natural gas at the burners. The mixture is then ignited at the heat exchanger, which creates a tremendous amount of heat in this important furnace component. The furnace blower circulates air from the home across the heat exchanger, which warms the air. Then, the warmed air is distributed to each room through the air ducts. This air is kept completely separate from the poisonous combustion gases inside the heat exchanger – these gases are vented outside. As long as all components of this system function correctly, there is no chance of carbon monoxide poisoning. However, if the heat exchanger has a leak in it, carbon monoxide can mix with the air circulated through the house. Carbon monoxide can also leak back into your home if the vent pipe is blocked, damaged or improperly installed. Additionally, if the furnace is in need of repair, it may be producing more CO than normal, which could accumulate in your home. That’s why it is so important to have your heating system serviced every year.
Carbon monoxide levels and detectors Carbon monoxide is measured in parts per million, or PPM. The standard exposure limit is 35ppm. However, lower levels have been known to cause damage. All homes should have CO detectors near every bedroom. These are required to sound an alarm at 400ppm. But many tests have shown that cheaper and older models fail to meet that requirement. Over time, the sensor can degrade making the detector less likely to work. It is recommended to invest in good quality CO detectors with a display screen and replace them every 5 years. Some are available that will alarm at much lower levels and are safer. It is a common misconception that the “test” button on a CO detector ensures it is working properly. That button simply tells you if the battery is working but not that the sensor is working. There are test sprays available that contain small levels of CO that can accurately test a detector.
Tips to stay safe • Make sure all appliances are professionally installed, permitted and inspected. • Change the batteries in your carbon monoxide detectors every year. If your CO detector goes off or displays a level above 35 parts per million (ppm), move outside and call 911. • Never operate vent-less gas logs for long periods of time or while you sleep. Always open a window when using them. If you have an attached garage, never idle your car with the garage door closed.
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17
real estate briefs
22 Real estate questions and answers
22 See which new and
More affordable housing options for Oak Ridge? Cover photo by Annette Joyce/NWO
existing homes have sold in your area, and for how much
Though homes in the Apple Grove development, which is part of Arbor Run in Stokesdale/Oak Ridge, are on 20,000-square-foot lots, about 50 percent of the development is open space, so the average density is still about one home per acre. If the new Oak Ridge Land Use Plan is approved, homes could be developed in the town core with lot sizes of 20,000 square feet without the open space requirement.
The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996
DEC. 18, 2015 - JAN. 7, 2016
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Properties on Belews Lake
121 Gideons Mill Drive Stokesdale • $259,000 3 BR, 2 ½ BA, 2,400+ SF
8506 Kelly Lee Drive Stokesdale • $185,000 3 BR, 2½ BA, overlooks stream
2262 Reynolds Road Madison • $239,900 3 BR, 3 BA, immaculate
8041 Deer Hill Circle Belews Creek 3 BR, 2 ½ BA, 1.43 acres $396,000
6072 Marion Point Ct. Lakefront .93 acres • Forsyth Co. $238,000
315 Lake Point Lane Includes boat dock slip 2.31 acres • Forsyth Co. $109,000
319 Market Street Madison • $159,900 3 BR, 2 BA, 2,500+ SF
7702 Betsy Bruce Lane Summerfield • $196,000 3 BR, 2 BA ranch
7069 Lanier Road Summerfield • $314,900 3 BR, 2 ½ BA, one level
7610 Shelby Rae Court Stokesdale • Lakefront .64 acres • Forsyth Co. $189,000
Lot 5, Pauline Lane Lakefront 2.8 acres • Forsyth Co. $349,900
6010 Pauline Lane Lakefront 1.82 acres • Forsyth Co. $199,000
Commercial properties
8308 Deep Valley Road Summerfield • $160,000 3BR, 2BA, 1.46 acres, basement
1519 Brim Road Madison • $310,000 2 BR, 2BA, 52.93 acres rustic cabin, streams
807 Ayersville Road, Mayodan .72 acres ............................................................$25,000 8200 B&G Court, Stokesdale 3.22 acres in Guilford County ......................$149,000 NC Hwy 87, Reidsville 12.29 acres in Rockingham County.......................$1,300,000 30± acres • Hwy 220, Stokesdale Rockingham County • Potential for retail • 535 ft. of road frontage............$2,250,000
2334 Ellisboro Road Stokesdale • $137,500 Rockingham County 2+acres zoned n’hood commercial • 2,500+ SF
115 N Henry Street Stoneville • $46,900 Rockingham County Office/retail 1,000 SF
407 2nd Avenue Mayodan • $299,000 Rockingham County 15,000+ SF • Multiple rental opportunities
Land for sale Rockingham County .45 acres • Pinewood Road, Madison ............................$3,500 1.15 acres • Cartright Drive, Stokesdale .....................$16,500 1.21 acres • Shelby Lane, Madison ...............................$18,500 .64 –1.15 acres • Chestnut Oaks, Madison .......$19 –24,000 Lot 2 • Lemons Road, Stokesdale ................................. $29,000 2.88 acres • 8474 Southard Road, Stokesdale.......... $42,500 22± acres • Bobcat Road, Summerfield......................$96,475 28± acres • Gideon Grove Ch. Rd., Stokesdale......$250,000 30+ acres • Oak Level Church Road, Stokesdale ..$300,000 40.52 acres • Eden Church Road, Stokesdale .........$350,000 129± acres • Pearman Road, Summerfield ............$583,875 119± acres • Gideon Grove Ch. Rd., Stokesdale ...$775,000 Guilford County 8510 Belews Creek Road, Stokesdale .......................... $34,000 4+ acres • Self Road, Stokesdale................................... $65,000 7503 Moores Mill Court, Stokesdale............................ $89,900 8133 NC Hwy 68, Stokesdale .......................................$225,000 21+ acres • 8574 Belews Creek Road, Stokesdale ... $299,000 Stokes County 17.15 acres • Deer Tracks Lane, Lawsonville ............. $46,500
Land Use Plan Committee seeks to provide more affordable housing options by ANNETTE JOYCE It wasn’t that many years ago that Oak Ridge was a rural community of modest homes, family farms, tobacco fields and pastures. It was a place where children grew up, bought houses, raised their families and stayed after retirement. The small community was so inviting that it attracted more and more new people, many who came for the low taxes, rural landscape, excellent schools and location convenient to the airport and downtown Greensboro, Winston-Salem and High Point. As farmers retired and sold their land to developers, residential developments with spacious 4- and 5-bedroom homes on one-plus acre lots with price tags of $500,000 – and higher – became the norm. Though the community remains one of the fastest growing and most desirable in Guilford County to live in, some worry the average home price in Oak Ridge has risen to such a level that their children will not be
able to live here when they are out on their own and ready to start a family. At the other end of the age spectrum, many senior citizens and retirees don’t want the burden of 3,000-plus-square-foot homes and lots of one acre and larger to maintain. But again, the area has only a very limited selection of smaller homes on smaller lots to offer them.
younger families,” says Bill Bruce, Oak Ridge’s planning director. “And, in trying to build a walkable town core, the committee felt these slightly higher densities would be appropriate. Two units per acre could provide a different kind of moderately-priced residential product.” Commie Johnson, co-owner of Johnson and Lee, agrees. “From a builder’s perspective, we’re always looking for different options,” says Johnson. “This is an option
...continued on p. 18
Providing more affordable homes in the Oak Ridge area is one of the challenges the Oak Ridge Land Use Update Committee has tackled during the past year as it has worked to revise the town’s land use plan. To address the needs of a broader spectrum of people, the committee is proposing allowing lots with densities up to two units per acre within the town core, which is centered at the N.C. 68/N.C. 150 intersection and has a radius extending 3/4 mile. “Some folks feel there is a need for a different type of housing product that could benefit empty-nesters and
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DEC. 18, 2015 - JAN. 7, 2016
17
Make yourself at home... Homebuilding | Renovations | Additions
7709 Northern Estates Point, Greensboro $649,000 3,800+ sq. ft. • 4 BR / 3.5 BA • 2 fireplaces • Tons of natural light Natural stone, solid wood doors and granite throughout Bertazzoni appliances • Open floor plan • Bonus room upstairs One-story living at its finest • .72-acre, partially wooded lot
AFFORDABLE HOUSING ...continued from p. 17
for folks who want to live in Oak Ridge but can’t afford what’s currently available. I think it could make houses more affordable.” Rich Spiker, a member of the Oak Ridge Land Use Update Committee, has similar beliefs. Spiker and his family moved to Oak Ridge in 2000 and purchased a home in the Foxbury subdivision with a 1 ¼-acre lot. As his children grew older and he grew tired of maintaining the yard, he purchased a home in Hunters Mark, one of only a handful of Oak Ridge communities where houses have been built on smaller lots yet have enough open space to meet the average 40,000-square-foot zoning requirement. “There are a lot of people who have lived here for a long time and want to stay, but they don’t have any alternatives to downsizing,” says Spiker. “They still want a nice home and they want to stay in Oak Ridge but there are very few options.” “I think this is a great option,” says developer/builder Kevan Combs, owner of Combs, Inc. “It’s a shame that older people can’t downsize to smaller homes and that younger people can’t afford to start families in the community they grew up in. This type of zoning could make it a possibility for more of these people.” While happy to see housing options moving in what he considers to be the right direction, Paul Milam, a developer
and owner of Realty 55 Partners, doesn’t see this change having a huge impact. “I think it’s a baby step in the right direction, but we need to take bigger steps to really make a difference,” says Milam. One of the issues is that only about 375 acres of land remain undeveloped in the town core, and not all of that is available. And, even if it were, it might not be suitable for small lots. When building on smaller lots that don’t have access to municipal sewer, soil suitability for septic systems is an important consideration – one that could eliminate much of this available land. “It depends on how the land lays out,” says Bruce. “In many places the septic requirements wouldn’t allow you to have two units on an acre.” “I’ve looked at land opportunities in that area and there’s probably less than a dozen tracts suitable for residential,” adds Milam. There’s also possible opposition from those who believe that smaller lots could hurt the values of their homes. Spiker respects these people’s opinions, but doesn’t agree with them. “Housing is still market-driven,” says Spiker. “I think we’re looking at homes in the $300,000 range.” Whether this type of zoning will be approved is yet to be determined. The Oak Ridge Planning and Zoning Board will review the revised Land Use Plan at its Dec. 17 meeting and the Oak Ridge Town Council is scheduled to review the plan during its meeting on Jan. 7.
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Ramilya Siegel
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CRS, GRI, ABR, CDPE, Realtor®
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DEC. 18, 2015 - JAN. 7, 2016
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/RamilyaSiegel
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Your friend in real estate
REAL ESTATE briefs
New loan program benefits Guilford County homebuyers GUILFORD COUNTY – If you’re a first-time homebuyer or haven’t owned a home in the last three years, you may be eligible for a special program that offers a $15,000 interest-free down payment that’s completely forgiven if you stay in the house for five years. Besides being a first-time buyer, applicants must meet specific income limits and have a credit score of 640. The loan applies to existing homes under $245,000. Starting in mid-September, the U.S. Department of Treasury began offering 1,000 of these loans through the N.C. Housing Finance Agency. Designed to stabilize home prices, the program is available in only five N.C. counties: Guilford, Cabarrus, Cumberland, Johnston and Mecklenburg. These five counties were chosen because they experienced the highest rates of foreclosure in the state during the economic downturn. Frank Harris, assistant vice-president
of Residential Mortgage with Carolina Bank in Greensboro, sees this program as an “extraordinary” opportunity, especially for those buyers who lack the funds needed for a down payment and closing costs. “It’s entirely feasible for a buyer to get into a house for no money down,” Harris says. Because the number of loans is limited, interested buyers need to act quickly. Connie Helmlinger, communications project leader with the state’s housing agency, says about 600 loans are still available. For prospective homebuyers who don’t qualify for this particular program, Helmlinger says her agency offers numerous other programs that could help them obtain an affordable mortgage.
Local real estate company feeds hungry GREENSBORO – Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Yost and Little Realty recently wrapped up its fall food drive to benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina. Chrissy Shifflett, director of marketing for Berkshire Hathaway, says the company, which includes 13 offices throughout the Triad, Triangle and
Priba Furniture and Interiors furnishes 2015 Holiday House GREENSBORO – Enjoy the spectacular sights of the season at Wolfe Homes’ 2015 Holiday House. Located in Greensboro’s Old Irving Park at 527 Woodland Drive, this year’s home has been furnished by Priba Furniture and Interiors. Patra Wansley, a local interior designer and owner of the Gilded Lily by Patra in Blowing Rock, was responsible
Realtor Institute (GRI), Certified Distress Property Expert (CDPE) and Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES). In her free time, Lawson enjoys spending time with her family, which includes two adult daughters, Jennifer and Melissa, grandsons Spencer Lawson and Conner, and two dogs, Having been in the real esBaxter and Lexie. tate industry for over 30 years, Lawson Lawson can be reached by phone at has invested many hours and resources (336) 736-2705 or by email at karen. in furthering her education; she has lawson@allentate.com. completed designations for Graduate
for selecting the furnishings and using them to create the upscale casual look of this transitional home. In decorating the home, Wansley relied on the unique and unexpected. For instance, there’s the wallpapered dining room ceiling, the wall unit made from
...more Briefs on p. 24
MEET THE COLD WITH CONFIDENCE
For more information on what’s available or to find a participating lender, visit www.nchfa.com or call 1-800-393-0988.
HEATING SYSTEM SERVICE, REPAIR & NEW INSTALLATION
Lawson joins Allen Tate in Oak Ridge OAK RIDGE – Realtor Karen Lawson has joined Allen Tate Realtors in Oak Ridge. Before moving to Greensboro, Lawson lived in Oak Ridge for over 25 years and is happy to make the move back to the community in a professional capacity.
Charlotte areas, collected over 5,256 pounds of food and nearly $2,000. “This provides 18,118 meals to our neighbors in need throughout the markets we serve in North Carolina,” says Shifflett. Greensboro Urban Ministries is one of the organizations supported by the Second Harvest Food Bank.
www.trane.com
Ask about special financing 7101 US 158, Stokesdale • (336) 643-7397 NEW SYSTEM INSTALLATION • SERVICE • REPAIR See your independent Trane dealer for complete program eligibility, dates, details and restrictions. Special financing offers valid on qualifying equipment only. All sales must be to homeowners in the United States. Void where prohibited. The Home Projects® Visa® card is issued by Wells Fargo Financial National Bank. Special terms apply to qualifying purchases charged with approved credit at participating merchants. The special terms APR will continue to apply until all qualifying purchases are paid in full. Reduced Rate APR: Monthly payments of at least 1.75% of the purchase balance are required during the special terms period. No Interest if Paid In Full within 15 Months: Regular minimum monthly payments are required during the special terms period. Interest will be charged to your account from the purchase date at the APR for Purchases if the purchase balance is not paid in full within the promotional period. For newly opened accounts, the regular APR is 27.99%. The APR will vary with the market based on the U.S. Prime Rate. The regular APR is given as of 1/10/2014. If you are charged interest in any billing cycle, the minimum interest charge will be $1.00. The regular APR will apply to certain fees such as a late payment fee or if you use the card for other transactions. If you use the card for cash advances, the cash advance fee is 5.0% of the amount of the cash advance, but not less than $10.00. Monthly payment if shown based on $7,100 purchase.
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DEC. 18, 2015 - JAN. 7, 2016
19
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ilford County’s ers
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TRANSACTIONS Northwest-area new and existing home sales Recent home sales in and near your neighborhood impact the current market value of your home. The following is a list of new and existing home sale transactions in northwest Guilford County which have occurred over the last month. Look for more transactions in the Northwest Observer’s real estate section, now appearing in the third issue of each month.
SUMMERFIELD
8304 Providence North Drive (Providence North) $247,000
7504 Carignan Court (Apple Grove at Arbor Run) $500,000
7632 Frogs Leap Way (Frog’s Leap) $407,000
8210 Springdale Meadow Court (Springdale) $230,000
7614 Trebbiano Drive (Arbor Run) $412,500
1415 Kintail Court (Lennox Woods) $402,000
8320 Elbree Lane $410,000
1470 Bethan Drive (Lennox Woods) $475,000
OAK RIDGE
5517 Autumn Harvest Drive (Harvest Ridge) $321,500
6003 Dunvagen Court (25.34 acres) $460,000
5205 Winnow Court (Harvest Ridge) $324,000
5106 Golden Acres Road (Golden Acres) $305,000
4045 Ridgeline Drive (Ridgecrest) $335,000
6633 Linville Ridge Drive (Linville Ridge) $634,000
8207 Fortana Court (Warner Pointe) $388,500
7806 Spencer Brook Drive (Wilson Farm) $311,000
711 Number Ten Way (New Chartwell) $349,000
COLFAX
5882 Stanley Huff Road $160,000
603 Stafford Pointe Court (Stafford Oaks) $333,000
2600 Pleasant Ridge Road (1.05 acres) $311,500
8208 Caithness Court (Lennox Woods) $682,000 4300 Vinsanto Way (Vineyards at Summerfield) $730,000
STOKESDALE 7804 Green Pond Drive (NorthRidge) $435,000 7805 Green Pond Drive (NorthRidge) $420,000
5109 Millstaff Drive (Staffordshire Estates) $335,000
KERNERSVILLE 7435 Happy Hill Road (5.11 acres) $167,000
8894 Bakersfield Drive (Bakersfield) $374,000
4802 Legacy Drive (Legacy at Sandy Ridge) $265,000
3130 US Highway 220, Madison (336) 548-2735 • houseofstarsinc.com
22
DEC. 18, 2015 - JAN. 7, 2016
Have a question related to the local real estate market? online: nwobserver.com e-mail: questions@ nwobserver.com We’re interested in building a new home, and have been told there is a special loan available for homes under construction. Can you tell us more about how that works? First, we will confirm that you will need to apply for a construction loan rather than a regular mortgage. David Nishan with McLean Mortgage Corporation in Greensboro says that, depending on which home builder you choose, there are two options for financing new construction. With the first option – which most builders prefer – the buyer obtains the loan and pays the interest during the construction phase. “The bank will simultaneously approve the permanent financing and the
construction loan,” says Nishan. “The buyer will pay interest on the construction draws based on the builder’s schedule of completion. Usually the construction loan is disbursed over five or six installments, depending on how big the house is and the time it takes to complete.” With the other option, the builder agrees to finance the cost of construction and the buyer provides a loan approval letter from the bank for the permanent loan when the house is completed. Nishan says most builders require a 10-percent deposit in these cases. Although builders prefer the buyer to carry the cost to build, Nishan says construction loan requirements are more stringent. “Some buyers can qualify for the permanent loan but not the construction loan,” he says, adding that not all banks offer construction loans to homebuyers, so the choices are limited for buyers to get approval. “If a buyer is interested in a construction loan, the best way to get started is to call us or ask the builder if they have a lender they have used in the past for their clients,” adds Nishan.
2409 S. Tuckers Farm Court (Pheasant Ridge) $358,000 8203 Brotherstwo Road (Quail Creek North) $421,500
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REAL ESTATE Q&A
Photo by Annette Joyce/NWO
Contrary to speculation, a single-family home is being built at this site on Haw River Road. What’s being built at the corner of Haw River Road and Warner Road in Oak Ridge? The construction site looks big enough for a small apartment complex. When asked, the staff at Oak Ridge Town Hall said they have had several inquiries about this construction site, primarily because of its size. Since Oak Ridge ordinances do not
The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996
allow for multi-family dwellings, what you see being constructed is definitely not an apartment complex – rather, it is a very large home site. Located at 8505 Warner Road, the site is 5.079 acres. According to public records, James Floyd is building a singlefamily home on this lot. Floyd’s company, JF Homes, LLC built the homes in the adjacent subdivision, Warner Pointe.
Every home is valuable. Visit BHHSYostandLittle.com for your free Home Value Estimate. For more information on each listing, visit BHHSYostandLittle.com/MLS
5402 Westfield Drive
2420 Ellisboro Road
This artistic home has over 11,000 square feet on 4 levels. Elevator, 3 staircases, 8 fireplaces, 2 gourmet kitchens, 7 baths, guest quarters, pool, cabana, theater, exercise & yoga rooms. Landscaped grounds with waterfalls, gazebo, lake.
Professionally-landscaped 26-acres with mature plantings, koi pond and gazebos. 3 bed / 3.1 bath with lots of space. Basement with hair salon/workshop/hobby room and family room. 5-car garage parking and several outbuildings.
$1,850,000
MLS 718499
Ann Hardee 336-327-8440
$949,000
MLS 751001
Jamie Harrelson 336-889-9192
0 NC Highway 65
6304 Poplar Forest Drive
4000 Brass Cannon Court
Investment potential with excellent exposure/visibility to 220/65. Perfect for rezoning of multiple use and increased traffic. Borders the 220 right-of-way (future 68 connector and I-74). 3 parcels available between 21.29-62.32 acres.
4 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms on ¾-acres with stunning detail in this luxury home. Large master with 2 walk-in closets and spa bath. 3 bedrooms, bonus areas on upper level. Game room, den, and sitting areas in walk-out basement.
Custom home on 2.35-acre cul-de-sac located on the 8 th hole of the GCC Farm Golf Course. Extensive landscaping with stream, waterfall and koi pond. Renovated kitchen and bathrooms with top quality features and granite tops.
$868,000
MLS 726224
Mark Yost 336-707-6275
$849,900 MLS 769208
Joyce Norris 336-327-3650
7900 Hoskins Ridge Drive
7180 Strawberry Road
8306 Linville Oaks Drive
5803 Francis Marie Court
Custom-built home with oversized doorways, multiple laundries, charming porch and “friends door”. Rift and quarter sawn oak flooring, to an exceptional kitchen. No corner has been cut. A must see.
Private gated setting, nestled in a lush 3.74-acre wooded lot. A grand 1st floor master suite with library & spa bath. Dramatic 2-story great room enjoys a gas log fireplace and a fabulous view of the woods.
Custom home on premier secluded 1+ acre in Oak Ridge. Open floor plan, generous hardwood floors. Main level master, all bedrooms have adjoining bathrooms. Bonus room and loft area plus abundant walk in storage.
Handsome Georgian home enjoys an outstanding easy living floor plan. 2 master suites, one up, one down. This residence is filled with the best of the builder’s art. Chef ’s kitchen with a massive granite topped island.
$759,000
Nancy Hess
MLS 773206
336-215-1820
6303 Poplar Forest Drive
$ 725,000
MLS 758943
Tom Chitty 336-420-2839
8501 Billet Place
$609,900 MLS 718974
Wonderful 4 bed / 4.1 bath home. Main level master. Gourmet kitchen with stainless appliances, gas cooktop, keeping. Great room, office, dining, bonus. Home theater. Screen porch, outdoor kitchen, excellent storage.
Joyce Norris 336-327-3650
$510,500
MLS 766438
Award Wining Builder. New 5 bedroom in popular Oak Ridge. Hardwoods, heavy moldings, stainless steel appliances, coffered ceilings in great room. Almost every room has an individual charm factor.
Nancy Hess
336-215-1820
$700,000
MLS 773303
Chandra Tippett 336-749-7977
$650,000
MLS 771558
Tom Chitty 336-420-2836
8101 Lariat Drive
5005 Lindenwold Drive
Affordable horse farm in sought-after Summerfield. 5.93-acres, 2004 Craftsman style, 3 bedroom home with front porch and screened porch overlooking pastures and pond. 6-stall barn with tack/feed, shed, and 2-car garage.
Custom brick built in 2013. Generous hardwoods and crown throughout. 5 bedroom options plus bonus room and screen porch. Open floor plan. Lots of storage. Summerfield Elementary / Northern Schools.
$419,000
Nancy Hess
MLS 772865
336-215-1820
$387,000
MLS 778984
Chandra Tippett 336-749-7977
$795,000
Melissa Greer
MLS 777759
336-337-5233
6205 McKibbin
$639,000
MLS 778448
Open plan with large rooms, 10’ ceilings, plantation shutters, surround sound. Upgraded kitchen with Wolfe, Subzero, travertine backsplash. Stone patio, professional landscaped, and paradise screened porch.
Nancy Hess
336-215-1820
8204 Kandi Drive
$374,000
MLS 766966
All-brick home with walkout basement. Bonus home and private screened back porch to enjoy the private backyard. Huge main level master suite. Northwest area.
Kathy McClelland 336-314-5637
7507 William Bailey Road
7496 Bethel View Court
7825 Wilson Farm Road
1916 South Townsend Forest Lane
7776 Springdale Meadow Court
Custom-built, single level, 4 bed / 3 bath home on 1.1-acres. Welcoming front and screened porches. Spacious, bright, and open. Stone fireplace with gas logs. Extensive trim. Beautiful kitchen with granite, gas range, huge pantry.
Updated former model home with stainless and granite in kitchen, custom tile backsplash, all new hardware, crown molding, new landscaping and 2-car detached garage with 2nd floor for studio on separate 220 electric panel.
Beautiful 4 bed / 3.1 bath family home in sought-after Wilson Farm. Granite counters, double pantry in kitchen. Large master. Private main level guest suite. Storage building on property. Stokesdale/Northwest schools.
Mountain lodge, farm-styled home with red oak beams, post and beam construction, open loft area. Open floorplan, main level master, huge sunroom with lots of windows overlooking the large, well-kept backyard, gardens, and lake.
Maintenance-free, 1.5-story with 3-car garage. Neutral and immaculate on level lot in Northwest community. Plenty of room to garden and play. Come take a look.
$368,900 MLS 757652
Betty Callahan 336-403-5545
$365,000
Joe Tomlinson
MLS 770718
336-362-9336
$321,000
Caitlin Rogers
MLS 750965
336-580-6306
1200 NC Highway 150
8202 Springdale Meadow Court
3309 Cardinal Ridge Drive
Inviting front porch with attractive flagstone. Spacious living room, stone fireplace with woodstove. Kitchen with plenty of cabinets, double pantry & great center island. Master bedroom has double vanity with walk in closets.
Move in ready. 0.97-acre low-maintenance lot with large frontyard, wooded backyard on quiet cul-desac street. Northwest schools. Cable/phone wired garage. Gas fireplace, security/fire system.
Open, spacious 1-story, 3 bed / 2 bath home in Cardinal. ¾ fenced, flat, private rear yard. New updates: carpet, roof, gas/air, stainless appliances. Laminated floor in kitchen, breakfast, laundry, foyer. Garden tub in bathroom.
$225,000
Nancy Hess
MLS 771052
336-215-1820
$219,900 MLS 765665
Sandy Leib
336-339-7285
Adams Farm 336—854—1333
•
$199,900
MLS 752612
Deryle Peaslee-Wood
Elm Street 336—272—0151 •
336-601-4765
$299,900 MLS 718370
Joe Tomlinson
336-362-9336
$237,500
Nancy Hess
MLS 765899
336-215-1820
305 River Run
4506 NC HWY 150 East
3 bed / 2 bath home with privacy fence on 0.5-acres. Vaulted greatroom, laminate floors, eat-in kitchen, double garage. Storage building, crawlspace underneath home. Super condition and in an excellent school district.
Charming home known as The Smith House, probably the oldest home in Browns Summit built around 1872. All new appliances, paint, plumbing, and bath. Granicrete finishes on flagstone floor that are durable and warm in winter.
$168,900
Beth Brannan
Friendly Center 336—370—4000 •
MLS 761393
336-253-4693
Kernersville 336—996—4256
©2015 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.
$99,000
Joe Tomlinson
MLS 773952
336-362-9336
REAL ESTATE briefs ...continued from p. 19
reclaimed wood that serves as a china cabinet and the clear marble shower in the spa master bath.
Wolfe Homes’ Holiday House features furnishings from Priba Furniture and Interiors.
Attendees can expect to pick many great decorating ideas for the holidays and all year round. Plus, all the furnishings in the home are for sale (the house is under contract). Admission requires a minimum donation of $5 per person. Proceeds from the event benefit Greensboro Fellows, an organization that provides recent college graduates with a consistent environment of growth and opportunity to live a Christ-committed life.
want to go? McLean Mortgage Corporation | NMLS ID #99665 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org)
I found a new home plan online and contacted David about the possibility of building my new dream home. Most builders know how to build something that has been done many times before, but David saw my vision in what I was looking for in my new custom home.
2015 Holiday House Dec. 17-30 (closed Dec. 24 and 25) Noon to 7 p.m., 527 Woodland Drive Old Irving Park, Greensboro Admission: $5
From beginning to completion, David was there at every step. He is professional, and his craftsmanship is to be admired. The home was completed in a timely fashion and the quality of construction is top rated. David has taken the time and responsibility of ensuring the building process was of only the
Photo provided by Patra Wansley
Neighbors support rezoning of farmland SUMMERFIELD – The Guilford County Planning Board unanimously approved a request to rezone 2.2 acres at the intersection of U.S. 158 and Rumbley Road during its Nov. 18 meeting. John and Louise Powers requested their property be rezoned from AG (agriculture)
to RS-40 (residential), so they can give it to their granddaughter to build a house. The land has not been farmed in many years, although surrounding parcels are currently being farmed. The board determined the rezoning to be consistent with the adopted Northwest Guilford Area Plan.
best of quality, so I have the peace of mind that my new home will always be the home that I have envisioned. I would highly recommend Builders MD for any remodeling or the ultimate new home experience.”
–Eddie Spears
Owners Casey and David Flanders with their sons, Easton and Noah
(336) 362-2234 www.buildersmd.com facebook.com/buildersmd
24
DEC. 18, 2015 - JAN. 7, 2016
The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
Find specials and updates on our Facebook page
Individual & Small Business Bookkeeping & Payroll Individual & Corporate Tax Returns
facebook.com / StokesdaleBiRite
PO Box 469 • 8400 US Hwy 158, Stokesdale
(336) 644.2741 • kim.thacker@att.net
Located at 8632 Hwy 158, Stokesdale • www.stokesdalebirite.com
Merry Christmas
We’re moving! From 8606 Ellisboro Road to: 8302 Belews Creek Road, Suite B, Stokesdale (Beside Dollar General and Village Pizza)
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www.stokesdalevet.net Inquire about our FREE Vaccines for Life and Wellness Programs
Stokesdale 8320 Hwy 158, (336) 643-3711 Greensboro 1118 N Elm St, (336) 275-8408 5926 W Friendly Ave, (336) 299-9171
Locally owned & operated • Serving Stokesdale, Greensboro, Oak Ridge & Summerfield
GRINS and GRIPES Delighted or dismayed by something in your community?
Share your thoughts in online: nwobserver.com
Night Lights Photos by Gerri Hunt/NWO
40 words or less
e-mail: grinsandgripes@nwobserver.com
Grins & Gripes are published based on available space and editor’s discretion.
GRINS to...
The motorist on Pleasant Ridge Road on Dec. 8 who allowed our family (in six cars) out of the driveway to attend funeral visitation for our father. We were able to stay together, and appreciate your show of respect.
generous food donations, the Good Samaritan Ministries collected a considerable amount of food for the hungry. Patti Stokes for your classy and informative response to the griper in the NWO’s Dec. 4-10 edition (re: Gray Gables dropping the ball). Pat Jenks demonstrates “Scrooge”-like behavior, hiding behind the community’s disappointment and outcry.
The fine folks at TireMax, who not only repaired my aging truck, but also carefully washed and detailed the outside of it. Outstanding service!
Sandra Smith and Terry Lannon for all of your hard work organizing, setting up and cleaning up Light Up the Night. It was a great day and a beautiful night.
Guilford County and the Town of Oak Ridge for the highly successful E-Cycle event on Dec. 5 at the town park. The community response was great, with tons of electronics and appliances kept out of our landfill!
Local law enforcement officers for doing everything in their power to protect us. The citizens of this county should do more to stand behind them.
Last week’s griper who griped about the Northwest Observer having a Gripes column. Last time someone griped about the gripes column in the Gripes column, I gave him (or her) a Gripe. This time I’m giving a Grin. It’s just plain funny. The Stokesdale Parade Committee and all others involved in making this year’s parade a great success. It was wonderful to see so many smiling faces! Amy at the Pick N Go (on N.C. 68 in Stokesdale). She always greets you with a “Sugar” “Darlin’” or “Honey,” and she is always cheery even when people walk on her just-mopped floor. That is true southern hospitality! The Oak Ridge community which turned out to celebrate the inaugural “Light Up the Night” luminary event at the ORTP! And, thanks to everyone’s
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The Northwest High School chorus, as well as the Northwest band accompanists, for a magnificent and uplifting performance of holiday music. Your talents put me in the spirit of the season. Bravo!
hundreds to walk c. 12 drew a crowd of De on t gh Ni the Up olate. The event Oak Ridge’s Light crafts and sip hot choc do , ths pa ed lin ryina ritan Ministries. the town park’s lum of food for Good Sama brought in 1,160 pounds
Dylan and Reagan Ficarr otto dance in circle s as the Northw est Guilford Jazz Band performed du ring Stokesdale’s Tr ee Lighting even t on Saturday, Dec .5 at Town Hall.
GRIPES to... The drivers, most often residents, who think the stop sign coming out of Lennox Woods is optional – it’s not! I was almost hit this morning by someone who was too busy talking on their phone to stop!
Following Stokesdale’s Tree Lighting event, everyone gathered inside Stokesdale Town Hall for cookies, cider, and of course, a turn on Santa’s lap.
Summerfield Postal Service for delivering other people’s mail to my mailbox with an alarming frequency, for many years now, and for the response I received when I spoke to someone on the phone about it. The previous years’ letter-writers and
DEC. 18, 2015 - JAN. 7, 2016
...continued on p. 33
Visit facebook.com/NorthwestObserver for more photos of these events
The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996
Stokesdale Holiday Parade Dec. 12
Photos courtesy of Strawbridge Studios
Residents from near and far took to the streets on the spring-like afternoon of Saturday, Dec. 12, as the Stokesdale Holiday Parade rolled through downtown. With 15 sponsors and more than 75 entrants, the line-up included Grand Marshal Allie Dunn, who is Miss North Carolina 2016; businesses and organizations; Oak Ridge Military Academy with a banner in memory of Congressman Howard Coble; the Northwest Guilford High School Band; and of course, Santa Claus.
Thank you to the following businesses that supported the
13th annual Guilford County Challenge The Northwest High Speech and Debate Team appreciates your investment in our future! Carolina Coffee Roasting Chick-fil-A – Guilford College Chili's – New Garden Road Costco – Greensboro Elizabeth's Italian Restaurant – Oak Ridge Fatz Café Food Lion George's Pizza & Subs – Greensboro J&S Cafeteria – High Point JP Looney's Jimmie John’s – Hwy 68, High Point Logan's Roadhouse Lowes Foods – Oak Ridge New Garden Bagels The Northwest Observer Prospect Brands, LLC: Duck Head, Gyde Supply, Crittenden Clothing Rio Grande Mexican Kitchen – Oak Ridge SaladWorks – Greensboro Starbucks – Quaker Village Target The Pavilion Restaurant
Visit facebook.com/NorthwestObserver for more photos of this event
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DEC. 18, 2015 - JAN. 7, 2016
27
“Any shelter employee who had knowledge of these horrible conditions and did nothing about it should be prosecuted. I have a hard time believing that anyone could work at the shelter and not know the conditions there. I hope that Davidson County prosecutors have their case together, so they can put these awful people away. Too bad they can’t be held in the same conditions as those poor animals.”
“Although the abuse at the Guilford Country Shelter was too painful to imagine, I am thankful that we were made aware. I am thankful for Sheriff BJ Barnes and his thorough investigation which stopped this inhumanity and irresponsibility. Although there were no prosecutions, I believe it will ultimately not go well for those responsible. Lastly, I am thankful that the dog I just adopted was not residing at the shelter during that time. This dear, 11-year-old, three-legged rat terrier would very likely not have survived. Please do not lose faith in how wonderful these shelter pets can be ... make your next pet an adopted one!”
Lisa Skeen Summerfield
Bonnie Ramba Stokesdale
ANIMAL SHELTER ...continued from p. 1
we wanted to know what our readers thought about this situation.
“We, as a long-standing group of volunteers, who spend many volunteer hours and raise thousands of dollars in the rescue and rehabilitation of golden retrievers and some mixed-breed retrievers, are very disappointed in the DA’s decision. We believe the DA is amiss not to pursue charges against Marsha Williams. All the rescues who tried to work with her, knew and realized that there was little doubt that she was the ‘boss’ and she controlled everything that took place at the shelter. She should be prosecuted based on the charges in that she was the responsible person for all activities at the shelter. Williams would not work with rescues unless she had a breed-specific dog that the shelter could not place.
“I’ve been following this story and it’s rather sickening, especially to those of us who have pets. I’m not sure how reports of broken bones, open wounds, missing body parts, dead animals stacked up and financial misappropriation can lead up to statements by the District Attorney saying there is not enough evidence to prosecute. I find that madly confusing given the breadth of these two observations. Were the initial reports maliciously fabricated or does the DA feel the case does not warrant his office’s time and effort? At very best, it sounds like gross failure of the GCAS to perform their duties.”
Even First Lady, Ann McCrory, supported the effort and asked the district attorney to reconsider prosecution of the case.
“As part of a large and wonderful rescue community that is committed to fighting for the rights, safety and protection of the animals in Guilford County, we were disappointed to see that no charges would be filed.
Hopefully, action will be taken by Davidson County, so the poor decisions and irresponsibility that Williams had will be punished. When these situations are discovered and not pursued legally, it just greases the skid and makes it easier for the next group to do the same. As we look back to the wonderful news stories that came out of the Guilford Shelter the past couple years, like saving burned dogs, etc., we wonder how these fit into the picture.”
Wishing you a happy, healthy holiday season from our family to yours
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DEC. 18, 2015 - JAN. 7, 2016
Tom Gale intake coordinator, past president, board member of Triad Golden Retriever Rescue, Greensboro “It seemed very obvious that there was abuse going on, and Marsha Williams as the director is therefore responsible. Mrs. Williams had to be aware of the abuse, since her relatives were in positions of authority at the shelter and she was in charge. I was surprised to hear that no charges would be brought against Marsha Williams. At the very least, she should have been charged with negligence. Somebody abused these animals, and should be held accountable.” Carmen McGuirk Summerfield
The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996
Terry Lannon Oak Ridge
After witnessing first hand some of the neglect that happened at the shelter, we were astounded to hear that no one would be held accountable for the suffering these animals incurred. We are grateful to Sheriff Barnes, Commissioner Hank Henning and Commissioner Jeff Phillips for attempting to right a wrong, but deeply saddened that the system once again failed to protect the shelter animals. We are grateful that new shelter management is in place and look forward to better days for the shelter animals of Guilford County and a long relationship with our new shelter.” Vickie Long board member, Haley Graves Foundation Greensboro Editor’s Note: This conversation will continue in our next issue, due out on Jan. 8. If you’d like to express your opinion on what has gone on at the Guilford County Animal Shelter or about the former employees not being charged by the Guilford County District Attorney’s Office, email patti@nwobserver.com.
Christmas memories – they bless, and burn
Increased traffic, a more than chilly nip in the air, tree lots with blazing fire barrels and a breathless expectancy indicate the yearly, frantic rush we have come to know in our privileged lifetimes. As candles glow in windows, and huge plastic blow-ups of reindeer and Santas appear in nighttime yards, it all somehow gets to be too much (and I am not the “Grinch type”!). I’ve lived a lot of Christmases, and remember, with not a little wistfulness, how it used to be. I savor, in still-vivid flashbacks, running downstairs at our small farmhouse on Christmas morning to the smell of country bacon frying. Cut from nearby woods, our tree sported inexpensive dime store ornaments, and of course, no lights. Electricity was sparse in our rural community in the ‘40s.
Now that all of my nine siblings are gone except one, I look back with some sadness, especially at Christmas time. Surely, the warm recollections we have stored up in our hearts over the years bring comfort, and we revel in them all. However, those same sweet memories may painfully “burn.” A constant longing remains, to relive the joyous Christmases when family circles were intact. For some, the scars of grief are extremely fresh, and often, just Christmas carols can bring scalding tears. Some of us are drawn backward easily, to uncluttered days of country church nativity programs, caroling, and browsing the Sears Big Book. The child in me has not lost the wonder
Somewhere, though, in all the hodgepodge of notions stored up in our minds over the years of what Christmas should be, is its real significance – Mary’s little Boy Child... Merry Christmas! “The point of Christmas is not a sentimental optimism. It is an assertion that God comes to our rescue, holds our hands, and becomes, at the worst moments, our broken-hearted brother.” ~Michael Gerson
s As
With morning windows covered in frosty lace, we children bounded into the front room to discover shoe boxes filled with oranges, apples, candy, nuts and sugarplums (succulent raisins on the stem).
Christmas experiences – some satisfying, others too sorrowful to handle. Most definitely, the less joyful memories can consume us – often, to the point we would like to just pull the covers over our heads until Dec. 26.
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The season is here again – with lights strung on every avenue. Carols were being played long before roast turkey made its appearance on Thanksgiving tables and Black Friday enthusiasts camped out in store parking lots … all in the name of Christmas.
of past Christmas Eves in our house, when, at dusk, Mama’s oyster stew simmered on the old wood stove. I can almost still hear the secretive, mysterious rattle of Christmas paper upstairs as last-minute gifts were wrapped. How unforgettable is the smell of freshly baked ham, fried apple pies, and the fragrant aroma of coffee perking in the battered aluminum coffee pot! So sweet, the sound of laughter, as presents were opened while the wood heater belched its cozy warmth – the logs inside sputtering and crackling pleasingly. For all our “bejeweled” and treasured reminders of yesterday’s family yuletide celebrations, there are many that, if dwelt upon, can break the heart. They are holidays heavily overshadowed by illness or the dark burden of sad and final goodbyes. In reality, long-lost days of December merriment may not have been as perfect as we might remember. But those however-imperfect times are still our security blankets, stored deep within us. They offer solace when all around us is holiday revelry as we stand forlornly at a familiar, too-new tombstone. They sustain us as somber funeral flowers may replace the traditional holly wreath on the door.
ar
by HELEN LEDFORD
C iving & Memory
How refreshing it would be to escape a while from this, our sophisticated December world of glittering wonder. I’d once again “help” Mama make her famous fresh coconut cake, rescuing and popping into my mouth every stray smidgen of sweet coconut meat as it falls from the grater onto the table. Wrapped in quilts at midnight on Christmas Eve, we’d all watch the stars, wondering which one in the dark sky led the Wise Men to the manger. Yes, we all have our locked boxes of
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DEC. 18, 2015 - JAN. 7, 2016
29
NORTHWEST WOMEN’S VARSITY BASKETBALL
Welcome to
A weekly section in the Northwest Observer focused on our local youth and the adults who positively impact them.
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS by L.A. LOGAN
NORTHWEST MEN’S VARSITY BASKETBALL Northwest guard Tre’ Turner had 22 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals in the Vikings’ 84-52 win over
Lexington (5-1) on Dec. 9. “We battled back and forth during an entertaining first quarter, until we established control and ended the first quarter at 29-14,” said head coach Lee Reavis. “We continued to apply pressure throughout the game and forced a number of turnovers.” On Dec. 11, Reggie Davis’ 21 points and 15 rebounds helped Northwest (4-0) beat rival Western Guilford (3-4) 95-80. By the end of the first quarter, the Vikings were ahead 47-33, but the game seemed much closer than the score indicated. Though Western dropped 30 points on Northwest in the third quarter, they couldn’t keep up that pace in the fourth quarter; the Vikings closed the game on a 22-8 run and remain undefeated. “We calmed ourselves down and executed our offense during the decisive run, despite Western Guilford’s spirited effort,” said Reavis. Six Northwest players scored in double figures, a statistic Reavis hopes to see throughout the season.
Photo courtesy of Andy Gore
Northwest guard Jaylen Gore maneuvers around a Western Guilford defender to score 2 of his 19 points in the Vikings’ 95-80 win on Dec. 11.
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Jaylen Gore added 19 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds, while Jalen Spicer finished with 17 points, 12 assists and 4 steals. UP NEXT | The Vikings traveled to North Surry on Dec. 12; the 2015 Novant Health Holiday Shootout at Northwest Guilford was scheduled to be held on Dec. 17-18.
DEC. 18, 2015 - JAN. 7, 2016
Northwest Guilford forwards Morgan Pointer and Bria Gibbs scored 11 points each as the Vikings toppled Lexington (3-3) 62-18 on Dec. 9.
ing Hoggard 40-19.
Head women’s basketball coach Darlene Joyner wants her players to focus on becoming more fundamentally sound.
“They were pretty excited to get the opportunity to play at the beach. We couldn’t have asked for better weather and a lot of them made a weekend of it.”
In the 68-18 win over Western Guilford (1-6) on Dec. 11, Northwest’s defense only gave up one point in the second half. “We have a very solid group of young ladies, and we want to bring our individual strengths together for one common basketball goal on each given night, said Joyner. On Dec. 12, Northwest traveled to face Hoggard (5-1) in Wilmington; for the third straight time, the Vikings (6-0) held their opponent under 20 points, defeat-
“It was a great trip,” said Joyner. “I did not see where the travel time affected any of the girls. I think it was just the opposite.
Joyner noted Hoggard played without their leading scorer, who was injured, but had a solid, fundamentally sound team that was very scrappy and aggressive. Cayla King finished with a seasonhigh 15 points. UP NEXT | The Vikings traveled to North Surry on Dec. 12; the 2015 Novant Health Holiday Shootout at Northwest Guilford was scheduled to be held on Dec. 17-18.
NORTHERN GUILFORD WOMEN’S VARSITY BASKETBALL Northern guard Mercedes Wampler scored 13 points during the 54-40 loss to Eastern Alamance (3-0) on Dec. 15. “You can’t go into a ball game and shoot 23 percent,” said head coach Kim Furlough. “I know we’re young … but that excuse is getting old. Northern missed its leader on defense, Elissa Cunane, who is out with plantar fasciitis. Eastern’s easy buckets led to a 22-20 halftime lead.
its lead to 12 points while going on an 11-0 run. Though Northern (6-2, 2-1) tried to rally back, it was outscored in the fourth quarter 14-8 and overall went 12-23 from the free throw line. Skylar Shuford added 9 points, and Sami Furlough had 6 points. UP NEXT | Northern was scheduled to play Rockingham County on Dec. 16; Eastern Guilford at home on Dec. 18; and on Dec. 26, at the Haeco Invitational Tournament vs. No. 6 Ragsdale.
...continued on p. 33
In the third quarter, Eastern pushed
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STUDENT PROFILES Thanks to the coaches and teachers at Northern and Northwest High Schools for their student recommendations and input, which make it possible to recognize these talented, dedicated students for their accomplishments in academics, athletics and cultural arts.
NORTHERN
Art
MICHELLE BLACKWELDER, senior
Art style: Psychedelic 1960s and 1970s inspired Hometown: Summerfield Toughest class: English Plans after high school: Study art in college Extracurricular activities: Women’s Rights Club, Dead Poets Society, National Art Honor Society, Film Club and Filipino-American Association of the Triad Most admired person: Napoleon Dynamite (main character in the movie of the same name) Favorite fashion designer: Yves Saint Laurent
ments on Michelle: “Michelle Blackwelder is a wonderful art student. She is not afraid to take risks with her art, exploring new techniques and methods. It’s always interesting to see her projects develop.”
NORTHERN
Orchestra
TAYLER COLDIRON, junior
Extracurricular activities: Violin, soccer, singing and drawing Most admired person: My dad
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Favorite band: Linkin Park
Dream job: Member of the TransSiberian Orchestra
Best vacation ever: New York
Interesting/fun fact: “I shoot compound bow.”
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Favorite food: Mac-n-cheese
Favorite movie(s): “Napoleon Dynamite” or “Almost Famous”
Ritual: Meditation
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Favorite athletic team: Duke
Years lived Northern area: 16
One thing you would change about school: “More art based because we focus too much on athletics.”
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Plans after high school: Ph.D. in music
Best vacation ever: Europe
Nickname: “Spider Children”
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Toughest class: AP Chemistry
Favorite band/musicians: Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin
Interesting/fun fact: “I’m in a band (Clown Embryo).”
November 1, 2015 through January 31, 2016.
Hometown: Greensboro
Favorite movie: “The Notebook”
Dream job: Fashion designer
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Orchestra; role: concert mistress
Favorite food: Pesto
Years lived in the area: 17
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Nickname: “Tay Tay” Pre-performance ritual: Pray Orchestra director Sandra Rathbone’s comments on Tayler: “Tayler is a talented violinist and the sweetest young lady. She is absolutely committed to doing her best, not only in orchestra but in any area she pursues. I am so glad she is in orchestra – she makes my morning when she enters the orchestra room.”
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DEC. 18, 2015 - JAN. 7, 2016
31
‘Mom, is there really a Santa?’
Worship with us
by guest writer C.C. MALLOY
on Christmas Eve Family worship in the Family Life Center | 4pm Contemporary worship in the Family Life Center | 7pm Traditional worship in the Sanctuary | 9:30 pm
Regular Sunday worship: Traditional worship in the Sanctuary | 8:15am Contemporary worship in the Family Life Center | 9:45am Blended worship in the Sanctuary | 11:15am
Join us this Christmas season and in the new year. Our church is growing – come grow with us!
My young son approached me recently looking for the truth. Usually, when he approaches me it’s because he wants something tangible. But this time was different. He seemed hopeless. He looked up with sadness in his eyes, and asked, “Mom, is there really a Santa?” Instantly, my body froze. There was an eerie silence. What was this question he was asking? I expected him to ask me something I could answer; something about the “birds and the bees.” This was more than I could handle! I panicked and broke into a cold sweat. My immediate reaction was to scream out, “Of course there is a Santa! All those gifts I have hidden for the last 10 years meant something”! I thought it would change everything if he knew the truth. What was the truth? I still believe in Santa! I believe that on this one day, Santa exists for the homeless children of the world. That he will bring joy and end world suffering. Or perhaps one Christmas morning, there may even be a surprise for me. I feel that anyone with a child in their heart has a place for Santa to exist. We sat at the table. I held his hands and saw something I had not seen before. His eyes were glazed over as if to say, “Please Mom, tell me the truth.” His expression said a thousand words. He was desperate to
know the truth. I couldn’t let him look like a fool in front of his friends, yet I still could not break his little heart. There was only one thing I could do. I looked into his eyes and said, “I want to believe Santa exists and I know that someday, I will have the answers I need. But for now, I enjoy the spirit of Santa at Christmas. He represents giving and kindness and that is something I will always believe in.” My son stared at me for a few seconds then smiled. The silence was deafening but I could see his acceptance in the uncertainty. He seemed comforted knowing that at least this Christmas, his life as he knew it would not change. Quite sure I had answered his question, I still felt as if I had let him down. He trusted me and I had only given him more to think about. Did he not believe in Santa, or did he not believe in Christmas? Days passed and we continued to prepare for the holiday season. I was fairly certain he had all the answers he needed when his younger sister asked him where Santa lived. He smiled at her and answered, “In our hearts.” I knew then he understood.
We have never spoken about it since, but I am sure one day he will pass our traditions to his own children. In the meantime, we will keep leaving out the milk and cookies.
LETTERS/OPINIONS Submit your opinions (maximum 350 words) e-mail: editor@nwobserver.com Include your name, a daytime phone number where you can be reached and name of community in which you live.
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DEC. 18, 2015 - JAN. 7, 2016
‘I will pray for you’ This is directed at the individuals who referred to “the damn Yankees” in regards to the discussion at the Stokesdale Town Council meeting (Dec. 10) where I happened to voice my thoughts. I am not an-
The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996
gered by this comment, rather I will do as I was taught as a youngster – I will pray for you and try to love you as Jesus teaches us. Bless you and have a wonderful life. Eileen Thiery, STOKESDALE
GRINS and GRIPES
...continued from p. 26
other supporters of the criminal Stan Kowalewski (former Northern basketball coach). It seems you based your support on what you believed to have been his expertise with coaching basketball. Where are your “support” letters now? Republicans whose hateful, divisive rhetoric after a terrorist attack is despicable. Really sad, but predictable. I don’t recall them blaming Bush for 9/11. How about focusing on our unity and rallying around our president instead of blaming everything on Obama? Whoever keeps driving the newer model Mustang through the Oak Ridge Elementary school zone at a high rate of speed at dismissal time. (Summerfield) Fire Station No. 29 (Scalesville Road). It’s been nice every year to ride by and see your “house” decorated, so it’s disappointing to see nothing done this year. What happened to your Christmas spirit? Please know it makes a difference in the community! The griper who suggested replacing the Grins & Gripes with an “accolades” column. The world needs truth, not “rose-colored glasses” false positivity! Did you even consider that G&G allows others to vent and release anger? Worked for you, didn’t it?
The tree service (name omitted by NWO editor) we hired to do a job. They cut the tree down and filled the impact holes with sawdust. When we contacted them, they responded with cursing and we were told to shove it. Editor’s note: We received another gripe this week about a different tree company who also provided unsatisfactory service – before publishing a gripe that names a specific business, we feel a responsibility to verify as much info about the incident as we can. This week we just couldn’t provide that service due to time constraints, so we declined to print the name of the specific companies; however, we encourage the gripers to report them to the Better Business Bureau. Also, we strongly encourage all of our readers to get references on tree companies before hiring one – there are several professional, reputable tree companies who serve our area, but also some not so reputable, and we receive an average of three to four gripes a month about those in the latter category. To the crazy person in the silver pick-up who used the turning lane at the intersection of N.C. 68 and U.S. 158 in Stokesdale to pass a tractor trailer and car. I had to swerve to miss hitting you head on.
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
...continued from p. 30
NORTHERN GUILFORD MEN’S VARSITY BASKETBALL Northern forward Alec Hildreth had 14 points, but Northern Guilford fell to Eastern Alamance 69-53 on Dec. 15. “We’re struggling to find a rhythm,” said interim head coach Derek Hodge. “With Jack Emerick being out … we’re not getting Andy Pack shots in his comfort zone. We’re missing Jack.” Pack scored a season-low 8 points. Northern trailed at halftime, 28-25. Eastern pulled away in the third quarter, leading by as many as 11 points. “We can’t make any excuses,” said Hodge. “They played better than we did.”
With just under five minutes in the game, Northern pulled within seven points when Jarrett Boyd nailed a three-pointer. From that moment forward, Eastern outscored Northern 14-5.
Thank you, Dad! As a dad, Tim Sessoms taught us that values and integrity should be a part of everything you do. As the mayor of Summerfield, he brought that same philosophy to his service. His sacrifice, humility and selflessness are a testament to how he lives his life every day. Dad, thank you for your service to our community and for being a role model to so many. We are excited to see where God takes you as you continue to be a light in the life of everyone you meet.
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“We have to battle back,” said Hodge. “Hopefully, Jack is back soon and we’ll go from there.” UP NEXT | Northern was scheduled to play at Rockingham County on Dec. 16, at home against Eastern Guilford on Dec. 18, and on Dec. 26, at the Haeco Invitational Tournament vs. No. 5 Ragsdale.
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CRIME / INCIDENT report The District 1 Sheriff’s Office has recently responded to the following incidents in northwest Guilford County. ASSAULT Dec. 11 | A resident of Spicer Lane in Stokesdale reported that he was the victim of a simple assault when a known person pushed him.
BURGLARY Dec. 8 | A resident of Athens Road in Stokesdale reported that an unknown person forced open a back door and stole $40 worth of coins. The door sustained $500 in damage. A Kingsbranch Drive woman was arrested in connection with the crime. Dec. 9 | A resident of Francisco Drive in northwest Greensboro reported that sometime between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
an unknown person kicked in the front door of the home and stole two TVs valued at $1,000. Dec. 9 | A resident of Alcorn Road in northwest Greensboro reported that sometime between 8 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Dec. 1, an unknown person kicked in the front door of the home, causing $500 in damage. No items were reported stolen. Dec. 10 | A resident of Belews Creek Road in Stokesdale reported that a former boyfriend used a key to enter the home and caused $95 worth of damage to a mirror, a Winnie-the-Pooh toy and a TV.
DRUGS
THEFT
Dec. 7 | A Greensboro man was charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana, maintaining a vehicle for distributing marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and carrying a concealed handgun. This incident occurred during a traffic stop on Strawberry Road in Summerfield, when a probable-cause search was conducted, and items were found in a duffle bag in the car.
Dec. 7 | A resident of Cobblestone Walk Drive in northwest Greensboro reported that sometime between 3 p.m. on Dec. 4 and 6 a.m. on Dec. 6, an unknown person stole two DeWalt saws and a super framer power tool from a locked trailer. The items are valued at $950.
Dec. 9 | A Summerfield man was cited for misdemeanor possession of marijuana following a traffic stop. The marijuana was located during a probable-cause search.
FRAUD Dec. 8 | A Stokesdale resident reported that on Nov. 18, a known person cashed a check after altering the amount for which it was written. A resident of Oak Level Church Road in Stokesdale was arrested.
Dec. 11 | A Stokesdale resident reported that an unknown person stole the victim’s license plate from his vehicle while it was parked at Sam’s Trading Post on N.C. 65 between 11:15 a.m. and 12:05 p.m.
District 1 Sheriff’s Office 7506 Summerfield Road (336) 641-2300 Monday - Friday www.guilfordcountysheriff.com
Capt. Yousef Sansour
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Moravia Moravian Church Open now thru Christmas Eve
Mon -Sat 10 am - 6 pm | Sun 1-6 pm | Christmas Eve 10 am -2 pm Oak Ridge Commons Shopping Center (corner of Highways 150 and 68)
Moravian Cookies • Moravian Sugarcake • Ice Cream Moravian Stars and Ornaments • Gifts under $5 Gluten-free cookies available Natural Wreaths & Kissing Balls $30 ea. while supplies last 34
DEC. 18, 2015 - JAN. 7, 2016
The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996
Just a s few da!y left
Place online at
DEADLINE: Monday prior to each issue
NEED HELP? Call (336) 644-7035 ext. 10 Mon - Fri • 9am -2pm
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
EMPLOYMENT
YOUTH SPORTS
Opportunity to be an entrepreneur in the HAIR SALON BUSINESS. Upscale salons for sale. Two locations. Solid customer base and stable stylist in place (bargain!). Great opportunity for becoming an owner of well-established hair salons. Wonderful people and locations. Warm, welcoming environment. If this is of interest to you, please contact me for more specific details. Email: 5012worc@gmail.com.
WoodmenLife is seeking a PROFESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE. Generous compensation plus bonus opportunities and exceptional benefits for those who qualify. Training and professional sales tools provided. Does your income match your talents and efforts? Don’t wait for corporate America to recognize your worth. Contact Frank Bruno, recruiting sales manager, (336) 643-4115 or 337-8473.
JOIN FUTURE BASKETBALL STARS for
CHRISTMAS SERVICES
ELECTRICIAN NEEDED with strong commercial and residential experience. Must be detail-oriented, a good communicator, self-directed and have a neat/clean appearance. We are a growing business specializing in commercial and residential electrical contracting and solar renewable energy. Clean driving record and drug screen required. Must know the NEC. Call Balex Electrical, (336) 202-5758, or send resume to admin@balexelectrical.com.
CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES, Oak Ridge Presbyterian Church, 4pm Children’s and Family service; 7pm Traditional service, 2614 Oak Ridge Road. For more information, please call (336) 643-3452 or visit www.orpc.org. Please join us! Oak Ridge United Methodist Church CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES, 4pm Family worship; 7pm Contemporary worship; 9:30pm Traditional worship. See display ad on page 32 for more information.
EMPLOYMENT
INDEX Business Opportunity .................. 35 Christmas Services ...................... 35 Employment ................................ 35 Homecare Available ................... 35 Save the Date ............................. 35 Youth Sports ............................... 35 Home Services ....................... 35-37 Misc. Services......................... 37-38 Misc. for Sale ............................. 38 Misc. Wanted ............................. 38 Real Estate .................................. 38
SpringHill Suites by Marriott is now hiring for a HOTEL MAINTENANCE WORKER. Please stop by 6006 Landmark Center Blvd., Greensboro to apply. FULL-TIME FABRICATORS needed for Cooling Tower service company in Greensboro, NC. Seeking motivated individuals, experienced with CNC equipment operation, including: shears, turret punch presses and press breaks. Individual(s) must be able to read blueprints, calipers, convert fractions and have a valid driver’s license & transportation. Candidate must be physically capable of lifting and moving plate steel and able to bend, stoop and climb ladders as required for component assembly. Pay scale ranges from $16 to $22 per hour based upon experience, capabilities and/or programming proficiency. Apply at 120 N. Chimney Rock Rd., Greensboro, NC 27409.
HIRING? We can help you reach every mailbox with an Oak Ridge, Summerfield and Stokesdale zip code! Place your employment classified online at www.nwobserver.com.
HOMECARE AVAILABLE CAREGIVER / CARE COORDINATOR available to care for you or a loved one. Personal care, meals, transportation, shopping, light housekeeping. A few hours or 24/7 care offered. Call Susan, (336) 880-2594.
SAVE THE DATE CHRISTMAS PHOTOS WITH SANTA, Sat. and Sunday, Dec. 19 & 20, 11am-5pm, Tractor Supply, Oak Ridge. Pets welcome! Text or call (336) 669-8569 for info. CHRISTMAS CANTATA – Let There be Christmas, Sunday, Dec. 20, 5pm, Morehead Methodist Church, 3214 Horse Pen Creek Road, Greensboro. Free, accepting canned good donations.
The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996
Christmas (Dec. 21-24) and New Year’s week (Dec. 28-31) camps. Compete for prizes! 5-on-5 games! Everyone gets an official FBS T-shirt. All camps are staffed with former and current Division 1 coaches and players. Camps run 9am-3pm and are open to all kids grades K-9. Come for the week or daily. For information, visit www. futurebasketballstarsinc.com or call Brian Judski at (716) 517-7193.
HOME SERVICES CLEANING FREE PICK-UP of unwanted riding & push mowers, tillers, go-carts, ATVs, generators, power washers, golf carts, etc. (336) 689-4167. SANDRA’S CLEANING SERVICE, Affordable, experienced, guaranteed svc. 423-3196. ANA’S HOUSECLEANING. Good references, free est., 25 years exp. 309-0747. CRYSTAL CLEAR WINDOW CLEANING, gutter cleaning, pressure washing. Fully ins. www.windowcleaningnc.com. 595-2873. 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.
Be included in the only community directory specifically for northwest Guilford County. (336) 644-7035, ext. 10 advertising@nwobserver.com
...continued on p. 36
DEC. 18, 2015 - JAN. 7, 2016
35
HOUSE CLEANING “MAID” EASY
home services
Weekly, bi-weekly, residential, commercial,
OLD SCHOOL
new construction, move in/move out. Mature
Home Improvement & Repairs
and experienced. Free quotes! Johanna, (336) 906-8770. MARIA’S CLEANING SERVICE. Free estimates, guaranteed service. 937-5231.
Lisa & Jerry Potkay, Oak Ridge Bathroom Remodeling | Additions | Decks
(336) 669-7252
oldschoolsjhr@triad.rr.com www.oldschoolsjhr.homestead.com
MAID 2 GLIMMER – Maid Cleaning
BBB Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics 2014
Premier cleaning service with Amazon Local.
grading / hauling
CARPET REPAIRS & RESTRETCHING Licensed/insured. 643-6500. MONTERO’S HARDWOOD FLOORING Installation of hardwood, laminate & tile; hardwood sanding & finishing. Commercial & residential. Insured, 17 yrs. exp. Free estimates. Monteros-hardwood-flooring.com. Call (336) 215-8842 or 445-2002.
general repair & services LAWN EQUIPMENT SERVICE
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. 362-1150. BRAD’S BOBCAT. Debris removal, grading/ hauling, gravel/dirt, driveways. 362-3647. ANTHONY’S GRADING & HAULING Excavating, land clearing, demolition, dirt available. Zane Anthony, 362-4035.
Want to reach our readers? (all 25,000+ of them?)
Located in Oak Ridge. Free pick-up and delivery. Tune up, preventive or rebuild on all
Call (336) 644-7035, ext. 10,
lawn service/yard equipment. Commercial or
or email advertising@nwobserver.com
residential. Call or text Rick, (336) 501-8681.
for advertising information.
APPLIANCE REPAIR – Call Mr Appliance. A step above the rest! (336) 609-5707. 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. JLB REMODELING, INC. Home repair, maintenance & handyman service. Licensed & insured. Competitive rates. Call 681-2902 or www.jlbremodeling.com. GENERAL HOME REPAIR, bathroom repair, small/odd jobs. 644-8710, 708-0522.
36
lawn care / landscaping WILSON LANDSCAPING, INC. Complete lawn care & landscaping. NC lic. irrigation contractor. 20 years exp. Hardscaping, fertilization & weed control. (336) 399-7764. ORTIZ LANDSCAPING – Complete lawn care. Trimming, cleaning, planting & mulch, gutter cleaning, patios & pavers, waterfalls, retaining walls, sidewalks, stonework. Residential and commercial. (336) 280-8981. TRACTOR FOR HIRE Bush hogging, grading, brush/tree removal, food plots and more! (336) 207-6632.
Dec. 18, 2015 - Jan. 7, 2016
home services
ARBOR MASTERS TREE SERVICE
BOBCAT WORK, bushhogging, and tractor work. Brad Mills, (336) 382-1505.
shrub and tree pruning. Bobcat work and
Call (336) 441-8388, Maid2Glimmer.com.
Flooring
home services Total tree removal, storm damage cleanup,
HOME REPAIR, LLC
Professional, Honest, Reliable
home services
more. Free estimates. Licensed & insured. Call Joe at 643-9157. ALL-SEASON STUMP GRINDING. Owner Alan Winfree. Free est. Call 382-9875. AREA STUMP DUMP. Yard waste, concrete, etc. Fill dirt available. 602-5820. FAY’S LAWNCARE & LANDSCAPING Tree and leaf cleanups. Bed reconstruction, pine needles & mulch Reasonable and honest. Call Taylor, (336) 464-5215. CAROLINA STUMP & TREE SERVICE Complete tree service, $1 million liability, workman’s comp. Rick & Judy, 643-9332. CarolinaStumpAndTreeServices.com. GREGORY’S BOBCAT SERVICE Land-clearing, grading, landscape construction, debris removal. Licensed and insured and honest! “Leave the Dirt to Me!” (336) 362-6181. BRAD’S BOBCAT. Mulching, landscaping, driveways, gravel, concrete work. 362-3647.
STUMP GRINDING – FREE ESTIMATES Big or small. George Joyce, (336) 382-3860.
masonry SOUTHERN STYLE concrete & landscapes. How about a new patio or fire pit for fall? We can help with all of your outdoor living and entertainment spaces! Fire pits, driveways & sidewalks, patios and more! Give us a call at (336) 399-6619 for all your concrete and landscape needs. MASONRY CONCEPTS, brick, block, stone, concrete & repairs. Free estimates. (336) 988-1022, www.masonryconceptsgso.com.
misc. services & products GAS LOGS, WOOD STOVES & INSERTS, fireplaces, sold, serviced and repaired. Call Don Hill, (336) 643-7183. LOW-COST GARAGE DOORS – Repair and sales. 35 years exp. (336) 215-2800.
GUZMAN LANDSCAPE & MAINTENANCE Pine needles, mulch, leaf removal, tree pruning, complete lawn maintenance. 655-6490. STEVE NEWMAN TREE SERVICE. Free est. Lic/Ins. 30 yrs. exp. Bucket truck & chipper, total cleanup. Selective thinning & lot clearing. 24-hr. ER svc. OR, NC. 643-1119.
painting & drywall
Get. Be. Stay. Connected.
facebook.com/NorthwestObserver
The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996
PAINTING INTERIOR & EXTERIOR 32 years exp. Sheetrock repair. No job too small. Insured. Call Brad Rogers, 314-3186. STILL PERFECTION PAINTING Reliable, skilled, affordable. Painting, pressure washing, handyman services. Scott Still, 462-3683 or stillperfectionpainting.com.
HOME SERVICES
HOME SERVICES
HOME SERVICES
CARLOS & SON PAINTING, interior & ex-
REMODELING / CONSTRUCTION
JLB REMODELING, INC. Remodeling and additions. Fully insured. NC GC license #69997. Free estimates. Call 681-2902 or www.jlbremodeling.com.
terior, pressure washing. Free est., lic/ins. Call Carlos, (336) 669-5210. CINDY’S PAINTING – Interior painting, wallpaper removal. References & free estimates available. (336) 708-9155.
BEK Paint Co.
Services TM Construction , INC
BUILDING | RENOVATIONS | ADDITIONS
Sidewalks | Driveways | Stamped concrete
644-8615 office 508-5242 cell
Residential & Commercial David & Judy Long, owners
(336) 931-0600
Licensed & insured NC Gen. Contractor #72797
BEKPaintCompany.com
BELEWS CREEK CONSTRUCTION
• References Available • Licensed & Insured • All Work Guaranteed
Kitchens/baths, custom decks, garages, sid-
The Northwest Observer 13,200 copies every week! Direct-mailed to every mailbox with an Oak Ridge, Summerfield and Stokesdale address, and available for pick-up at 70+ area businesses. Call us for advertising info!
ing, dock work, windows, roofing specials, rot-
ORTIZ REMODELING – Total restoration
A.L. CORMAN ROOFING INC. Res. roofing specialist serving Guilford Cty. area since 1983. Member BBB 25+ years w/ A+ rating. cormanroofinginc.com, 621-6962.
kitchen cabinets, interior trim & more. Free estimates. (336) 280-8981. RENOVATION WORKS INC. New construction, remodeling, kitchen and bath, additions, decks & patios. Call (336) 427-7391 or www.myrenovationworks.com. TRIPP SMITH CONSTRUCTION, LLC.
JDB PLUMBING. Repair, remodel, well
degree in construction management and
pump. Lic/Ins. Accepts all major credit
over 18 years of experience. We special-
cards. Office 656-0019, cell 382-6905.
ize in additions, remodels, garages, decks,
(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.
POWER WASHING PRESSURE WASHING, gutter & window cleaning. Call Crystal Clear. Fully insured. www.windowcleaningnc.com. 595-2873.
Licensed General Contractor with college
sunrooms, new construction, residential & commercial. No job too large or too small. Free Estimates. Call or email, 399-4894, tripp@trippsmithconstruction.com.
ON-TARGET
CONSTRUCTION SERVICES, INC. Roof Replacements / Repairs Siding & Windows Custom Decks / Porches General Home Repairs Remodeling / Painting
T c. GicEes, In ARerv -Tction S OCoNnstru
Lic/Ins. Call Mark for savings. 337-7924.
Want to reach our readers? Call 644-7035 for advertising info.
ROOFING
& home improvement. Drywall, painting,
RED RHINO ROOFING, based in Oak Ridge. 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. CLINARD & SON ROOFING, LLC Residential roofing, rubber flat roofs, roof coating, metal roofs. 30 years experience. Now accepting all major credit cards. Call 643-8191 or 580-3245.
MISC. SERVICES MAISY DAISY FLORIST INC. 7779-B US Hwy. 68, Stokesdale (beside Oliver Diesel), maisydaisyflorist.com, (336) 441-8611. Flowers, wreaths, & gifts for all occasions, as well as free local delivery! COMPUTER REPAIRS – ITBASICS.COM Inside Mailboxes & More, Oak Ridge Commons. (336) 643-0068.
(336) 644-1580
8 th ANNUAL EDITION
COMING JAN. 2016 LAST CHANCE TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT! Reserve your ad today (336) 644 -7035, ext. 10 advertising@pscommunications-inc.com
31 yrs exp • Workmanship guarantee • Insurance specialists FREE Estimates Insured & Dependable
Want to be included?
The Northwest Observer
ted wood. Sr. disc., 35 years exp. 362-6343.
PLUMBING
WEBSTER & SONS PLUMBING, Inc.
KEITH SMITH CONSTRUCTION 30 years experience. Specializing in room additions, 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 644-1943 or cell 362-7469.
The FINDER is chock-full of local services, businesses and organizations.
...continued on p. 38
The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996
DEC. 18, 2015 - JAN. 7, 2016
37
MISC. SERVICES
MISC. FOR SALE
PETS & ANIMAL SVCS.
REAL ESTATE
SAM’S AUTO BODY SHOP. Any type of
WASHER/DRYER, 2 yrs. old, $400; leather/suede reclining sofa, $200. 312-3244.
LOST & FOUND PETS
COMMERCIAL PROPERTY
body work. 45 years exp. (336) 347-7470. DALY FLORAL DESIGN will make Christmas bows, silk flower arrangements, wreaths, wedding/prom orders. Email or call Sue at sdaly3@bellsouth.net or (336) 509-1020. NORTHWEST ART FRAMING Fine, affordable framing.
“Northwest Art
Framing is a find!” – Kate in W/S. Steve Maloy, owner. Call for appt., (336) 644-1911. WILL PICK UP MOST APPLIANCES, grills, bikes, electronics, metal and electrical items, etc. for a small fee. (336) 689-4167. MARKETING ASSISTANCE for any size business! If you’d like to reach all of northwest Guilford County in a well-read, trusted weekly publication, the Northwest Observer might be a great option for you! Call (336) 644-7035, ext. 10, or email advertising@ nwobserver.com to learn more!
MISC. FOR SALE STAR WAR LEGO sets, used, assembled. Call (336) 508-1162. PIANO – Wm. Knabe & Co. Beautiful ebony Concert Series raised-top piano w/ bench. $3,650. Original owner. (336) 643-3490. PERSIMMON PULP, jam, pudding, and
SEASONED OAK FIREWOOD, $80/pickup load, delivered & stacked. (336) 253-7615. FIREWOOD FOR SALE, oak & hickory. Pick up or delivery. (336) 643-9332. WAREHOUSE MALL, INC. NOW OPEN! Antiques, collectibles, vintage toys. New vendors welcome. 305 E. Bodenhamer Drive, Kernersville. Monday-Saturday, 10am-6pm, Sunday, 1-6pm.
Got stuff?
9-month-old American Standard Bulldog. Reward offered! Please call Dennis, (336) 362-6343, with any information.
LOOKING FOR A FAMILY
SUMMERFIELD, 3BR, 2BA on over an acre. $950/month, dep. req. (336) 423-8169.
Selling or Renting? Reach all of northwest Guilford County right here! Classifieds are just $4/line, and can be placed online at www.nwobserver.com. For assistance, call (336) 644-7035, ext. 10. HOME FOR SALE
www.nwobserver.com MISC. WANTED
SADIE is a 5-year-old female Lab mix look-
$$$ – WILL PAY CASH up to $200 for your junk or wrecked vehicle. 552-0328.
ing for her forever home for Christmas.
CASH for riding mowers needing repair, or free removal if unwanted, including go-carts, tillers, any gas equip., etc. (336) 689-4167.
at the Guilford County Animal Shelter, 4525
stacked. 1/2 cord, $80. Call 686-6373.
GROOMING
10+ years
available. Mattress Outlet. 992-0025.
grooming experience
7251 US Hwy 158 Ste. B, Stokesdale
Leslie Livengood • (336) 441-2266
DEC. 18, 2015 - JAN. 7, 2016
She would love for you to come visit her
Looking to downsize in style? OPEN HOUSE in historic Sunset Hills, Sunday, Jan. 10, 2-5pm, 1814 Madison Avenue, near Friendly Shopping Village. Elegant and updated Cape Cod, 3BR, 2BA, 2,209 sq. ft. home on .27-acre lot. Beautiful landscaping and fenced yard. Remodeled kitchen and bathrooms. Must see! Visit www.1814MadisonAvenue.com.
W. Wendover Avenue, Greensboro. Call (336) 641-3400 or visit www.myguilford. com/animal-shelter to learn more.
Place your
Basic baths to designer clips
$129; King, $191. Can deliver, layaway
38
Road, near Cook Farm Road. Gracie is a
submit your ad at
SEASONED FIREWOOD, delivered and
COMING UP AT GOLDEN ANTIQUES December 20 & 27, Football Sunday – watch your favorite team with us in our own TV viewing area. December 19, Arts & Crafts fair, 10am-4pm, $10/space – call to reserve. (336) 949-4958.
LOST DOG, STOKESDALE, Belews Creek
NWO classifieds
PETS & ANIMAL SVCS.
w/ warranty. Twin, $99; Full, $109; Queen,
HOME FOR RENT
Sell it here in the
more! (336) 816-3441 or 996-3892.
ALL NEW MATTRESS SETS. Still in plastic,
COMMERCIAL BUILDING FOR SALE, approx. 1,300 sq. ft., 7301 Summerfield Rd. $115K – serious inquiries only. (336) 202-1942.
classified ad
online at
for just $4 per line Deadline is the Monday before each Friday’s issue
The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996
LAND FOR SALE 57 ACRES, MAYODAN, NC, convenient to Hwy. 220, great development potential, mostly wooded, brokerage protected, $171,500. (336) 707-3822.
LAND WANTED 2-20 ACRES WANTED to build single-family home in northwest Guilford County area. Please call (540) 312-9050.
Classifieds are $4/line per issue, and can be placed online at www.nwobserver.com. The deadline is Monday.
display advertiser index A/C & HEATING
Stokesdale Heating & Air.....................19
ACCOUNTING
Carlotta Lytton, CPA, PA .................... 11 Kimberly Thacker Accounting .............25 Samuel Anders, CPA, MSA, PC .............5
ART / KARATE / DANCE
Draw & Learn .......................................9 Northern Arts LLC ..............................33
CHIROPRACTIC CARE
Oak Ridge Chiropractic ........................4
CHURCHES
Oak Ridge United Methodist Church ..32
DENTIST
Beth Borden, DDS ................................8
FUNERAL SERVICES
Forbis & Dick – Brooke Chapel ...........25
HAIR CARE / NAILS / TANNING
INSURANCE
REAL ESTATE / MORTGAGE
Melda’s Hair Design ........................... 11 POSH Hair Studio ............................... 11
North Carolina Farm Bureau ..............31
A New Dawn Realty ......................16, 25
LEGAL SERVICES
Bobbie Gardner, Keller Williams........... 11
HOME BUILDERS Brian Thompson Homes .....................20 Builders MD ........................................24 Disney Construction ............................20 Don Mills Builders ...............................20 Friddle & Company .............................20 Johnson & Lee ....................................21 Kickin Clouds .....................................18 Naylor Custom Homes .......................21 R&K Custom Homes ..........................21 Ray Bullins Construction .....................21
HOME PRODUCTS & SERVICES Budget Blinds .....................................12 House of Stars ....................................22 ProStone, Inc. .......................................5 Romar Elevators ...................................3 Southern Comfort Consulting .............14
Berkshire Hathaway Yost & Little ........23
Attorney Bill Barbour ..........................17
David Nishan, McLean Mortgage .......24 Donna Smith, Keller Williams .............17
MEDICAL Eagle Physicians at Oak Ridge ............28 LeBauer Healthcare .............................3 Northwest Family Medicine ................30
Jason Smith, BSI – Allen Tate .............20
MISCELLANEOUS
RETAIL
NWHS Speech & Debate Team ..........27 Tim Sessoms Family ...........................33
Bi-Rite Food Center .....................6-7, 25
Johnnye Letterman, BHHS .................17 Ramilya Siegel, Allen Tate ..................18
Citrus Unlimited .................................. 11 Dewey’s Holiday Store ........................34
PET SERVICES KPS – Kelly’s Pet Services ................... 11 Northwest Animal Hospital .................. 11 Stokesdale Veterinary Hospital ......13, 25
Gigi’s Flowers & More ...................13, 25 Gordon’s Menswear ............................10 Midtown Furniture ..............................40
Veterinary Hospital at Oak Ridge......... 11
RETIREMENT COMMUNITY
Westergaard Kennels...........................29
Spring Arbor .......................................29
DON’T MISS YOUR CHANCE TO BE INCLUDED Reserve your ad space today (336) 644-7035, ext. 10 advertising@nwobserver.com
We reach over 26,000 readers each week – and so do our advertisers. Contact us for advertising info advertising@nwobserver.com • (336) 644-7035, ext. 10
Get year-long exposure in the only community directory specifically for northwest Guilford County. Direct-mailed to 11,000+ northwest homes 5,000 more copies distributed for free pick-up Online at nwobserver.com and shared with over 9,500 Facebook fans
The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996
8 th ANNUAL EDITION
DEC. 18, 2015 - JAN. 7, 2016
39
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Postal Patron
Oak Ridge, NC Permit No. 22
PO Box 268, Oak Ridge, NC 27310 • (336) 644-7035
ECRWSS
Special Purchases, Discontinued Special Purchases, Discontinued SAY SA NO Y TO NO TO HIGH H I G H Markdowns Items & Final Items & Final Markdowns PRICES P RPRICES NOW NOW ICES WAS ONLY SAVE WAS SAVE Limited Quanities Limited Quanities HIGH HIGH PRICES ONLY
$ Day Bed Day $ Bed 249 $499 249 $250 $499 $250 $ $ $ Adjustable Adjustable $ $ KIaussner Wingback Chair KIaussner 499 Wingback Chair$949499 $450 $949 $450 Bases Bases Twin TFoam winFull Foam or Queen Memory Full Twin, Full or or Queen Queen Memory Twin, Full or Queen LaneFoam Power Reclining Sofa Lane$ Power 899 Reclining $2099 Sofa Set $899 $1200 $2099 $1200Also Also Mattress Mattress Foam Mattress Only Mattress Set Mattress Only Mattress $ $ Only Only Electric Lift TVAvailable Stand Electric 599 Lift TV Stand $1899 599 $1300 $1899 Available $1300 $ $ Lane Leather Loveseat Lane Leather 399 Loveseat$1299 399 $900 $1299 $900 Protector with A FREE Mattress Protector with $ $A FREE Mattre Riverside Rolltop Desk Riverside 399 Rolltop Desk$1199 399 $800 $1199 $800 ase Over $899 Any Mattress Purchase Over $899Sets Any Mattress Pur OFF All MattressOFF Sets All Mattress $ $ Microfiber Sectional Microfi 699 ber Sectional $1999 699 $1300 $1999 $1300 $ $ TO E FROM MORE MORE THAN 30 STYLES THAN TO CHOOSE 30 FROM STYLES CHOO Electric Fireplace/TV Stand Electric 1699 Fireplace/TV Stand $3999 1699 $2300 $3999 $2300 $ $ Electric Fireplace/TV Stand Electric 699 Fireplace/TV Stand $1999699 $1300 $1999 $1300 Sofa or Sofa or $ $ Twin/Twin Bunk Bed Twin/Twin 199 Bunk Bed $499 199 $300 $499 $300 Loveset Loveset $ $ Table & 6 Chairs Table 699 & 6 Chairs $1999699 $1300 $1999 $1300 $ $ Twin, Twin, HUNDREDSCompare OF HUNDREDS ITEMS OF MORE ITEMS Compare at $1099 at $1099 MORE Full Full or or AVAILABLE WITH SIMILAR AVAILABLE WITH SAVINGS SIMILAR SAVINGS Queen Queen Sofa or Bedroom Bedroom Suit $ Suit Sofa or $ Also Also Available inAvailable White or Cherry in WhiteLoveset or Cherry Loveset
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RNITURE M FSURNITURE IDTOWN FU SIDTOWN UT PE T O R EM SUPERSTORE SUPER S OR R E SUPERSTORE CENTER & MATTRESS CENTER& MATTRESS Call Call 427-5413 427-5413 Mayodan
Eden
Mayodan 135
704
Midtown Furniture
704
Madison
Hours: Mon.-Sat. 9:00 am-6:00 pm or by appt. Hours: Mon.-Sat. 9:00 am-6:00 pm or by appt. 311 Plenty of Parking • Large Showroom Plenty of Parking • Large Showroom Winston-Salem
Eden
135
Midtown BYP 220 Furniture
Madison
BYP 220
Reidsville Reidsville
311 704
Winston-Salem Greensboro
704
C 27025 Hwy. Hwy. 220 www.midtownfurniture.com Business 220 across from Business Kmart, 727 N. Highway across Street, Madison, from NC 27025Kmart, www.midtownfurniture.com 727 N. Highway Street, Madison Greensboro
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