Northwest Observer I March 28 - April 3, 2019 by PS Communications / Connect2 NWGuilford

March 28 - April 3, 2019

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bringing the local news home to northwest Guilford County since 1996

Newly formed BSA troops draw girls wanting more outdoor adventures, challenges Troops 219 and 465 are two of seven all-girl Scout troops formed in the Old North State Council of the BSA since membership opened to girls in February.

Photo courtesy of BSA Troop 219

Scoutmaster Mike Matzinger stands behind founding members of the newly formed all-girls Scout BSA Troop 219 following their candlelight joining ceremony last week in front of family and members of the church’s separate all-boys’ Troop 600. Shown in forefront, founding BSA Troop 219 members: (L-R) Selby Chipman, Caroline Ruppel, Riley Mannella, Alexandra Santiago and Samantha Poole.

by MEREDITH BARKLEY & CHRIS BURRITT OAK RIDGE – If you wonder why girls would want to be part of Boy Scouts of America, Samantha Poole would be happy to tell you.

Troop 465 Scoutmaster Christy Kirksey guides Kate Heltsley on how to perfect her square ...continued on p. 18 knot at the Scouts’ ﬁrst meeting March 13.

Mayor’s email ‘newsletter’ draws criticism, stirs debate Gail Dunham said she won’t add anyone who “hates her” to email distribution list for her town newsletter. Opponents said she’s acting unfairly and misleading residents. by CHRIS BURRITT

SUMMERFIELD – A March 12 email by Mayor Gail Dunham pointed out that town staff had made an error on the agenda for the Town Council’s meeting later that day. She also noted the town’s Historic Committee was “now working on the restoration of the Saunders Inn” on N.C. 150. At the meeting that night, Town Manager

IN THIS ISSUE News in brief ..................................................... 3 Your Questions ................................................. 4 Boots and Buckles ........................................... 7 Stokesdale Town Council ................................ 8

Photo courtesy of BSA Troop 465

‘I’m done,’ Robinson says

Summerﬁeld resident says she will not engage in more legal battles with former town council member Todd Rotruck by PATTI STOKES SUMMERFIELD – What began in February 2018 as a voter registration challenge has cost Janelle Robinson far more in time

...continued on p. 26 Calendar Events ..............................................12 Crime/Incident Report ...................................13 Youth/School News ........................................15 Erin James, artist at heart...............................16 Student profiles............................................... 20

...continued on p. 2 Grins & Gripes................................................. 22 Facebook Comments ................................... 24 Classifieds ....................................................... 27 Index of Advertisers ........................................31 NWO on the Go!............................................. 32

ertical date

ROBINSON: ‘I’M DONE’ and money than she ever dreamed. Still, the Summerfield resident said in an interview she has no regrets about following her conscience and standing up for what she knew wasn’t right. “I never imagined that I would still be dealing with this a year later,” Robinson said of her involvement in multiple court hearings spanning more than a year. “I’m done. I have accomplished what I set out to do. I wanted to bring Todd Rotruck’s past and current living location to the attention of the Guilford County Board of Elections.

...continued from p. 1

It all started in October of 2017. “I had never voted on Summerfield politics. I couldn’t name a single past or current council member or mayor,” Robinson said. “But then in the Northwest Observer’s Oct. 20, 2017 issue, each candidate introduced themselves. Most stated how long they had lived in Summerfield. Rotruck instead stated his family purchased a home in Summerfield a year and half ago. I thought that sounded odd. Why didn’t he just say ‘my family has lived in Summerfield for a year and half?’”

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More questions arose at a candidates’ Meet and Greet later that same month, when Herman Messer, the man who sold Rotruck the property on Strawberry Road in Summerfield and who has since built a home adjacent to it, stood up and spoke to Rotruck’s character – and then said he looked forward to having him as his neighbor. “I had to wonder, why would Mr. Messer say he looked forward to having Rotruck as his neighbor if Rotruck had been living next door for the last 14 months as he had claimed?” Robinson said she asked herself. “This whole issue continued to nag at me. If Rotruck didn’t actually live in Summerfield he had lied to me and the rest of the Summerfield citizens.” That’s when Robinson said she started asking around, and approached Rotruck directly. “He told me (via a text message) ‘Bought house late July 2016, moved sometime in August, and currently adding additions to the house.’ At that time I believed him and let it go,” she said. But sometime in January 2018 as Robinson was passing Rotruck’s house on Strawberry Road she noticed the addition still wasn’t finished. “I felt like I was lied to and one morning in February I decided to go knock on his door and see if anyone answered… but there wasn’t a door,” she said. After doing some research and discussing the issue with her husband and her father, who she said she needed to “have my back,” Robinson said she decided a few days later to file a challenge to Rotruck’s voter registration with the Board of Elections.

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And the rest is history, although one that’s still in the making. After a hearing in April 2018, the BOE determined that Rotruck had not established permanent residency in Summerfield. The county attorney and Summerfield’s town attorney both agreed that made him ineligible to hold office in Summerfield and his council seat was vacated. Rotruck fired back within days and filed a lawsuit against the BOE and Robinson, and a separate lawsuit against the Town of Summerfield. The lawsuit against the Town was dismissed by Judge Susan Bray last summer. In the lawsuit against the BOE and Robinson, last October Judge John Craig upheld the Board of Election’s findings. Rotruck subsequently appealed that decision, which is now making its way to the N.C. Court of Appeals. Attorneys for Rotruck are in the process of preparing the proposed record on appeal. Once completed and agreed upon by County Attorney Mark Payne, who will represent the Board of Elections in the case, the appeal will make its way to the state appeals court. As for Robinson, however, she said she’s done. “I have nothing to gain from the challenge,” she said. I have given much thought lately and I am ready for it to be over. I don’t have the funds to pay the attorney for this appeal. Todd Rotruck obviously has more time and money to spend on this than I do. If this appeal goes to a hearing, I will just have to go and tell the truth, on my own. My heart just isn’t behind this anymore.”

photocopies) to the driver license office: • One (1) proof of identity/date of birth: certified birth certificate or unexpired U.S. passport

NEWS in brief

DMV hosts REAL ID Express Day in Kernersville KERNERSVILLE – Starting October 2020, people will be required to have a REAL ID or valid U.S. passport for flying, entering federal facilities and visiting military installations. Some military bases already require REAL ID. The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles has scheduled more opportunities for people to get their N.C. REAL IDs this week. The next REAL ID Express Day will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday at the Kernersville driver license office, 810A North Main St. in North Main Crossing Shopping Center. The NCDMV has hosted REAL ID Express Days in several North Carolina communities to help more people get the identification quicker.

People who visit the Kernersville office on Saturday will be able to convert their current driver license or ID cards to REAL IDs. Anyone with an expiration date before Sept. 30 is eligible to renew their license or ID card now. Duplicates and first time ID cards will also be available. Knowledge tests, driving skills tests and legal presence or lawful status transactions will not be provided during REAL ID Day at the Kernersville office. Instead, people who wish to take a test or conduct a lawful status transaction can go to the West Greensboro office or the South Winston-Salem office from 8 a.m.noon, where those services are offered each Saturday. To obtain a REAL ID, residents will need to bring the following documents (no

tion card, voter registration card, utility bill, cable bill, bank statement

• One (1) proof of full Social Security Number: Social Security card, W-2 or 1099

• Proof of name change (if applicable): certified marriage license, divorce decree and/or court document indicating the name change (number of documents depends on number of name changes)

• Two (2) proofs of current physical address: driver license, vehicle registra-

Additional documents are available at NCREALID.gov.

Forsyth County is considering the purchase of about 215 acres of Duke Energy land on Craig Road in Belews Creek to preserve and develop as a new public park site. The county anticipates any future development to be of the “passive park” variety with amenities like hiking trails, picnicking and bank fishing. Detailed plans would not be developed unless and until county commissioners approve the purchase. Forsyth County Commissioners will hold a public comment session on the potential Belews Lake Park project Thursday,

March 28, 2 p.m. in Forsyth County Government Center, 5th Floor Meeting Room 201 N. Chestnut St., Winston-Salem. Advance written comments may also be emailed to Ashleigh Sloop, clerk to the Board of Commissioners, at sloopam@ forsyth.cc, or mailed to: Ashleigh Sloop, clerk to the Board of Commissioners, Forsyth County Government Center, 201 N. Chestnut St., Winston-Salem, N.C. 27101. More info: Forsyth County Parks and Recreation Director Mike Anderson, (336) 703-2500 or andersmb@forsyth.cc.

Public comment period open for potential Belews Lake park project

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Stokesdale

Located at Kings Crossing

7705 Highway 68 N (336) 441-8066

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

Summerfield

4420 US Highway 220N (336) 793-5391

Madison

706 Burton Street (336) 548-6674

MARCH 28 - APRIL 3, 2019

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

OUR TEAM Patti Stokes, editor/publisher Laura Reneer, marketing manager Marilyn Grubbs, admin/editorial assistant Yvonne Truhon, page layout Leon Stokes, IT director Lucy Smith, finance manager Linda Schatz, distribution manager Steve Mann and Chris Burritt, staff writers; Helen Ledford, Stewart McClintock, Meredith Barkley and Annette Joyce, contributing writers

Photo by Patti Stokes/NWO

This large tank beside the Food Lion in Summerﬁeld stores water for the shopping center’s commercial tenants’ use as well as ﬁre protection for the sprinkler systems in the center’s buildings.

HOW TO REACH US email: info • celebrations • photos communitynews • realestatenews calendarevents • grinsandgripes opinions • editor • questions ... @ nwobserver.com phone: (336) 644-7035 fax: (336) 644-7006 office: 1616 NC 68 N, Oak Ridge mail: PO Box 268, Oak Ridge, NC 27310 hours: M-F 9am-2pm (or by appt.)

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Located two doors down from Tabitha’s Closet Thrift Store, Tabitha’s Furniture Nook will begin receiving and selling gently used furniture items March 30. All proceeds will go directly to the continued operation of the Tabitha Ministry outreach. Tabitha Ministry, a 501(c)3 non-proﬁt organization since 1999, provides help, hope and a home for hurting women.

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The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

There is a large storage tank next to the Food Lion at the U.S. 220 and N.C. 150 intersection in Summerfield. Can you tell me what it is for? I asked in the Food Lion, but they didn’t know. That tank beside Food Lion is for storing water for the shopping center’s commercial tenants’ use, confirmed Chief Chris Johnson of Summerfield Fire District. Johnson said the tank also provides fire protection to the sprinkler systems in case of an emergency in the Food Lion, ABC store and Walgreens buildings.

I’ve heard Summerfield’s finance officer, Dee Hall, makes over $70,000 a year and only works a couple days a week. If that’s true, Hall must

command quite an hourly salary!

Would you confirm how much she makes? Does she get benefits? Also, what kind of professional experience did she have before she was hired as Summerfield’s finance officer?

Dee Hall

No, that figure for Summerfield’s finance officer’s salary isn’t accurate, although that has been rumored – and corrected –

...continued on p. 6

Summerﬁeld Fire District Station 9

7400 Summerﬁeld Road (336) 643-4341 LIF

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Volunteers Needed

Station 29

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Station 39

6214 Lake Brandt Road (336) 643-2253

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Summerﬁeld Fire District is a combination department, meaning we have career staﬀ as well as volunteers. 

Upcoming Events

Full-time firefighters at Summerfield work 24 hours on and then have 48 hours off. They have sleeping quarters at the station so they can be prepared to run emergencies that occur in the middle of the night. Because of this schedule, many firefighters have part-time jobs and work on their days off to supplement their income.

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Saturday, March 30, at 8:45 a.m.

Kids Fire Camp

June 24-28 open to rising 3rd- to 5th-graders

Applications available at Station 9 or by emailing jdaniels@summerﬁeldﬁre.com

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Safety Message 

Test your smoke alarm monthly And don’t forget to change the batteries in your smoke alarm(s) every six months!



Dalmatians are associated with the fire department because they were used to clear the way and calm the horses that would pull the horse-drawn fire engines. A firefighter’s full gear usually weighs around 50 pounds. If a firefighter stops moving during a fire, an alarm will sound on his or her air pack, alerting other firefighters that something may be wrong. Have questions about operations of Summerfield Fire District? Please feel free to contact us at (336) 643-4341. We love to hear from our citizens!

YOUR QUESTIONS ...continued from p. 4 Spring 2019

by Hall on several different occasions. “My W-2 for 2018 shows I made $58,668.98,” Hall told the Northwest Observer. “I’m paid hourly. Last fiscal year I made $38.90 per hour; this year I got a raise to $40.46 an hour. I work on average 29.75 hours a week, and sometimes more when there are additional meetings, and during budget and audit season.”

! 4 il r p A g in m Co

Hall does not get insurance benefits as part of her salary, but does participate in the state employees’ retirement program.

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As for experience, Hall has a bachelor’s degree in finance from Arizona State University and nearly 37 years of accounting experience. Before coming to work for the Town of Summerfield three years ago she served as finance officer for the Town

of Madison. Hall told us she has one class left before completing coursework for UNC School of Government’s public finance officer program; once finished, she will need to pass four exams in the public finance field to become a certified North Carolina public finance officer. Those exams are in the areas of: governmental accounting; financial planning and budgeting; cash management and investments; and financial management.

Curious about something? Submit your questions about topics relevant to the northwest area

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

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Boots and Buckles to feature local Nashville star Proceeds from the April 14 event will go to HorseFriends in Summerﬁeld, which provides therapeutic riding lessons for people of all ages with special needs by ANNETTE JOYCE Looking to have a fun-filled evening and support a great local organization at the same time? Then come on out to the Boots and Buckles benefit at Summerfield Farms on Sunday, April 14, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. A fundraiser for Summerfield-based HorseFriends, a therapeutic riding center that provides its services at no charge to participants, Boots and Buckles will feature a live performance by Stephanie Quayle, the region’s own Nashville recording artist and CMT’s Next Women of Country’s 2019 Inductee. As a bonus, popular country singer Zack MacKenzie will warm up the crowd before Quayle takes the stage. According to event organizer Lisa Bunch, “the lively concert is just part of the evening’s festivities, all of which will benefit HorseFriends’ free ongoing therapeutic riding programs and services for children and adults with special needs.” Besides the concert, attendees can participate in live and silent auctions. The event committee has gone to great lengths to ensure the roster of auction items has something for almost any interest and budget. A four-day cruise, a specially-prepared wine and dinner party for eight from the Painted Plate and an adorable black Labrador puppy from a champion AKC-registered

bloodline are at the upper end of the offerings. By the way, the pup comes with a crate, heartworm pills, microchip, first year’s vaccinations and an introductory training package from a professional dog trainer. (The breeder has final approval of the puppy’s owner.) Auction items also include horseback riding lessons, concealed carry classes, artwork, dance lessons, a bucket of craft beers from around the country, dozens of restaurant gift cards, gift baskets and much more. Tickets for the event are $75 each, which includes the concert, activities and auctions and a delicious selection of heavy hors d’oeuvres, wine and beer. Although ticket sales have been brisk, Bunch said a limited number are still available but are going quickly. If you’re interested in going, she advises purchasing your tickets this week.

Photo courtesy of HorseFriends

Nashville recording artist Stephanie Quayle, who along with her husband David Couch owns Summerﬁeld Farms, brings her talents to the local stage to beneﬁt HorseFriends.

The ﬁrst-graders at Stokesdale Elementary created these cards to thank us for visiting during Children’s Dental Health Month!

“This is the first gala event of this magnitude that HorseFriends has undertaken,” Bunch said. “We have expanded by leaps and bounds here in Summerfield and want to expand even further in order to be able to fully serve as many special needs individuals as possible. We need money to do that.” With a fundraising goal for the evening of $75,000, Bunch and the entire HorseFriends’ team encourage everyone to come out, have a wonderful time and support a great cause.

want to go? Boots and Buckles benefit Sunday, April 14, 6:30 to 9 p.m. Summerfield Farms 3203 Pleasant Ridge Road, Summerfield $75 per ticket www.horsefriendsnc.org/tickets More info: (336) 420-4588

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STOKESDALE town council

March 14 / MEETING HIGHLIGHTS as reported by PATTI STOKES Mayor John Flynt called the monthly council meeting to order with all four fellow council members in attendance, along with town attorney John Bain, town clerk/finance officer Alisa Houk and about 10 citizens. Per Councilman Tim Jones’ request, approval of minutes from the Feb. 14, 2019, meeting was continued, pending the town clerk adding more details about who voted how in cases of split council votes.

PUBLIC SAFETY Sheriff’s Office. Capt. Brian Hall with the sheriff’s District 1 office reported the district responded to 68 calls in Stokesdale last month. Of those, five were Part 1 crimes (those of a more serious nature) which included three residential

burglaries; the burglary cases have since been cleared by arrest. Response times, at an average of about 8.5 minutes, are “as low as we have seen them in a while,” Hall reported. Residents were urged to keep their car doors locked and to remove all valuables. “In Summerfield, the night before last, a homeowner left keys in a car and all sorts of electronics,” Hall said. The electronics, along with the car, were stolen. When asked by Mayor Pro Tem Thearon Hooks if there had been any changes in District 1 since Sheriff Danny Rogers took over a few months ago, Hall said there had been no changes in District 1 as a result of having a new sheriff. Sheriff Danny Rogers, accompanied

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by Chief Deputy Steve Parr and Col. Vic Maynard, spoke next and following up on Hooks’ question, said, “Has anything changed? If the wheel is not broken, you don’t mess with it.” Rogers noted the sheriff’s office is working on a re-entry program for convicted criminals. “People go back and forth to our detention centers – we have to find a way to put them on the right track,” he said. He also encouraged people planning to vacation to notify their district office to let them know dates they would be gone so deputies could keep an eye on their property in their absence. Parr introduced himself next and said the sheriff’s office is working with the High Point police chief, who has asked for help with the opioid problem. “We’re getting ready to move up here to Stokesdale,” Parr said. “We’re trying to displace some criminals to go somewhere else.” Parr also said the sheriff’s office wants to “put more people (deputies) on the street, and recognizes that District 1 encompasses a wide area.” Last, Maynard said he came out of retirement to work under Rogers, whom he had known a long time. “I’ve been blessed to come back. I know this area well,” Maynard said. Traffic safety and people driving under the influence of alcohol are two of the big concerns in the Stokesdale area, and the sheriff’s office wants its DWI Task Force to become more proactive, Maynard added. The office also wants to be more proactive with drug enforcement and hopes to add another School Resource Officer (SRO). The sheriff’s office is losing highquality deputies and officers not because they are not happy, but because of low salaries, Maynard continued. He urged council members to use their voice with county commissioners to address this through allocating more funds for the sheriff’s office.

Stokesdale Fire District. Dep. Chief Randy Southard reported the department responded to 71 calls last month,

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

including two building fires, one grass and woods fire, eight false alarms (unintentional); and two hazardous conditions involving gas leaks. Also, there were six non-emergency calls, the majority involving people seeking help getting their car keys out of their locked vehicle; and 10 “good intent calls,” from people needing help with things like changing their smoke alarm batteries. The fire district is averaging about 70 calls a month, Southard said, noting the district encompasses 36 square miles and is the largest single fire department district in Guilford County. On a safety note, Southard urged everyone to change their smoke detector batteries twice a year, when the time changes. “They save lives,” he said. “Most people die from smoke, not from the fire itself.” Councilman Tim Jones said he hears many people complain about the way others drive and, from the fire department’s perspective, he wondered if there was anything the council should be looking at to address that. “Other than what law enforcement can do to put people out here so people can see them, no,” Southard responded, adding, “I don’t know how to get people to slow down. People seem to be in a hurry to go nowhere.”

CITIZEN COMMENTS  Girl Scouts Sophia Rowles, Caroline Gore and Carley Allred with Troop 02469 based in Stokesdale introduced themselves. The three girls are working on their Silver Award, the highest award a Girl Scout Cadette can earn, and proposed the creation of a Little Free Library as their Silver Award project. The small enclosed library with a door would be registered at www.littlefreelibrary.org and located in the town park, near one of the picnic shelters. The Scouts were asked to follow up by providing specs and design concepts for the library.  Kathryn Bunthoff said she is a member of Friends of Stokesdale, a small group of people working to cultivate a sense of pride and stewardship in Stokes-

repairs on U.S. 158 last year. “There have been a lot of expenditures not voted on by the council,” he said. “I’ve got big concerns about that. I don’t know what’s been spent around here because I haven’t had a financial statement in six months.”

Photo by Patti Stokes/NWO

(L-R) Carly Allred, Sophia Rowles and Caroline Gore, members of Girl Scout Troop 02469 based in Stokesdale, addressed Stokesdale Town Council members at their March 14 meeting and asked for permission to establish a Little Free Library in the town park. dale. As part of preserving the small-town character, small businesses must be supported, historic buildings preserved and histories of people connected with those historic buildings gathered, Bunthoff said. Those having information to share about the town’s historic buildings and the people connected to them, particularly those who lived in the first half of the 20th century, are invited to contact Bunthoff at k.bunthoff@gmail.com. Friends of Stokesdale also welcomes new members.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Alisa Houk, town clerk/finance officer,

explained the provided financial reports were separated by month and the transactions for October through December 2018 were still on the old Quickbooks system; January and February 2019 are on the new online system. “We’re still working diligently to mesh these things together,” Houk said when explaining why a combined actualversus-projected budget report for the last quarter of 2018 and first quarter of 2019 was not yet available.

In response to Tim Jones’ suggestion that the town hire a financial professional to help get it caught up so that a combined, up-to-date actual-versus-projected budget report could be provided, the council debated the challenges of contracting with a financial professional who would be available in the middle of tax season. As the discussion went on tensions mounted, and after several moments of debating and a motion made and withdrawn, Flynt tasked Bill Jones with coming back next month with a written proposal from a financial professional willing and available to work with the town at a rate that Bill and Tim Jones felt was affordable. “We’ll leave it in your hands,” Flynt told Bill Jones.

(For more details on this discussion and other finance-related issues in which the five council members repeatedly disagreed, with votes often split 3-2 (Bill Jones and Tim Jones opposing the motions) see front-cover article in our March 21-27 issue.) A public hearing date for public comment on closing a portion of Loyola Drive to public use was set for May 9.

 3  2 to approve Flynt’s motion

to transfer funds from SunTrust to a cash sweep account with the Bank of Oak Ridge, where it will yield a greater return on investment, with Bill and Tim Jones opposed. “In the absence of a financial spreadsheet I’m just not comfortable voting because I can’t see where money is being transferred from one account to another,” Tim Jones said. “No, for the same reason,” Bill Jones commented.

 3  2 to approve Councilman

Frank Bruno’s proposal to hire Beaver

...continued on p. 10

To that, Councilman Bill Jones asked why budget amendments had not been approved by the council for waterline

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TOWN COUNCIL

...continued from p. 9

Outdoor Solutions to maintain town property at a weekly rate of $845 during the growing season, with Bill and Tim Jones opposed. The vote came after several minutes of sometimes tense discussion and disagreement. “I’m not voting to approve it, period, because you’re spending about $30,000 to $40,000 more a year than you are now,” Bill Jones said. (For more details on this discussion and subsequent discussions and 3-2 votes on park-related expenditures, including the purchase of picnic shelter tables and benches, mats for under the swings and sliding board and permanent border materials for the volleyball court, see frontcover article in our March 21-27 issue.)

 5  0 to accept a $4,000 citizen’s

donation to cover the balance due (after remaining grant funds have been used) on a town clock to be installed at the fire department.

 5  0 to set up a training ses-

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sion with Bain and Town Planner Oliver Bass for Planning Board and Ordinance Review Committee members, after the members have watched a series of online training modules.

Abandoned home. At the request of a citizen who was left with a longabandoned house after his parents died, council members discussed whether to approve letting the citizen disconnect from the town’s water system and discontinue paying the monthly connect fee. No vote was taken. Water tank. Council members debated for several minutes over whether to hire McGougan, who has worked on the town’s water system in the past, or S&ME to assess the town’s water tank. Should the tank ultimately need to be stripped down to bare metal, the cost difference between the two companies could be as much as $100,000. “Mr. McGougan is an engineer and would be overseeing the project, whereas

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

Mr. Green (with S&ME) would be hiring someone else … to me, we run the risk to spend an extra $100,000,” said Bill Jones, who along with Tim Jones strongly favored hiring McGougan for the project. After Bill Jones’ motion to accept McGougan’s proposal was voted down, the council continued to debate the issue until Flynt motioned to authorize a $2,900 expenditure for S&ME to evaluate the project, write design/engineer specs, prepare a proposal and meet with vendors for bid tabulations. “I have no choice but to vote ‘aye’ on this because the tank needs to be serviced. But it is under duress, so I am ‘aye,’” Tim Jones said.

 4  1 to approve Flynt’s above motion, with Bill Jones opposed.

 3  2 (with Bill and Tim Jones opposed) to approve three budget amendments for a total of $24,678.51 for park-related expenditures.

Budget meeting. A date of Thursday, April 25, at 10 a.m. was set for a budget meeting to begin work on the fiscal year 2019-20 budget. Property Improvements. Bruno, chair of the town’s Property Committee, reported a second picnic shelter has been installed in the park; trees and limbs that had fallen in the aftermath of major storms last fall have been cleared; mulch has been installed in areas of the park where grass is hard to grow; an area of the walking trail that experienced drainage issues has been patched and is waiting to be sealed; locks on the restroom doors of the concession building have been repaired; new hand soap dispensers have been mounted over the restroom sinks; the leaking water fountain will be replaced and another doggy bag dispenser has been installed at the opposite end of the walking trail. Performance reviews. Bruno said deputy clerk Priscilla Hunsucker was past due for a 59-cent-per-hour raise. Based on a positive performance review conducted by Houk, a motion was made to raise Hunsucker’s salary to $15 per hour.

Tim Jones questioned how Bruno had been put in charge of employee performance reviews, to which Bruno said, “I don’t need something else to do – if somebody else wants to do them, that would be fantastic.”

 5  0 to approve Hunsucker’s

hourly pay raise. Bill and Tim Jones voted in favor of the motion, but expressed objections to being asked to approve the raise when they weren’t notified in advance that performance reviews were being performed.

ADMINISTRATIVE

Houk said Hunsucker continued working on cleaning up and catching up on water accounts 60 to 90 days in arrears as well as reorganizing files. Houk said she was working on several water system reports that will be due in the coming weeks. The town’s part-time water technician has performed water testing and confirmed chemicals are well within the acceptable range, Houk said. A resolution has been submitted to DOT to take over roads in the North Ridge subdivision. Half of the town’s funds with SunTrust have been moved over to Bank of Oak Ridge. Mayor Pro Tem Hooks was sworn in as deputy finance officer and Houk said the two of them have been working with FEMA and NC State Emergency Management to get the $75,000 refunded that the town spent to repair a main waterline on U.S. 158 that was damaged after the hurricanes last fall. Houk also noted a couple of builders who had tampered with the water meters in the meter boxes have been sent invoices for the cost of replacing their meters.

CITIZEN COMMENTS  Bunthoff, the only citizen remaining after over 3 ½ hours, thanked the council for supporting the town park. “I know the decisions are tough to arrive at but I truly believe this park is huge to the quality of life. I appreciate that it shows a commitment to Stokesdale citizens,” she said, adding that the decisions also acknowledge the public’s need for outdoor space.

COUNCIL COMMENTS

 Bunthoff was thanked by Bill Jones and Tim Jones for staying until the meeting’s end.  Of the park-related expenditures approved, Bill Jones said, “I am for the park… I do have a problem with the process and with spending money without voting on it … there’s no communication here. There’s no vote taken. People take it upon themselves to do what they’re going to do. I still don’t prescribe to the theory that if it’s in the budget, any council member can spend it. That’s not true. That’s the biggest problem we have, is people taking things upon themselves without having the authority to do it.”  Bruno thanked Eileen Thiery, the citizen who donated $4,000 for the town clock, and the fire department for allowing the town to put the clock on its property. “They have gone above and beyond to make this work,” Bruno said of the department.  Hooks said council members should have a copy of the FEMA report in their council packet, which prompted Tim Jones to ask why Hooks was talking about an agenda item when discussions had closed. Hooks said no more.  Flynt said he appreciated Houk’s and Hooks’ time-consuming work to go through the FEMA process and get a $75,000 refund for expenses relating to repairing a waterline damaged during the hurricane last fall. Flynt also said he and Hooks had spent a lot of time studying how the town could get a better rate of return on its invested funds and the town’s income will go up by about $70,000 or more this next year as a result. Referencing the park-related expenditures the council had approved earlier in the meeting, Flynt said, “I believe the town voted to purchase the (park) property – I’m proud of the park and would love to expand it, and to get another shelter. I’m delighted and I thank Frank (Bruno) for a lot of work on the park.” With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:48 p.m.

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The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

MARCH 28 - APRIL 3, 2019

mark your

calendar

SATURDAY, MARCH 30

 Spring Crafts Market | Reidsville Federated

Woman’s Club will hold a spring crafts market on March 30, 9 a.m. at the Bee Penn Moore Community Center, 708 Barnes Street in Reidsville. Beautiful homemade wooden crafts, aprons and kitchen items, pottery, wreaths, jewelry, candles and more will be for sale. Proceeds support local charities and a student scholarship program. Tickets are $1 at the door or in advance from a club member. More info: jen.lilly717@gmail.com.  Hot Dog Fundraiser | One Child’s Voice will hold

a hot dog fundraiser March 30, 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Lowes Foods in Oak Ridge Commons, 2205 Oak Ridge Road. For more info about this organization, visit www.onechildsvoice.org.

Ridge Commons Shopping Center. A percentage of all pints of beer sold will be donated to Break the Chain Kennel Kru, a non-profit organization that assists families with chained dogs in Guilford County. For more info contact Best 4K9 at (336) 298-7781, or to donate visit www.btckennelkru.org.

 Book Launch | Summerfield author Mary Flinn

9 a.m. on Mondays

 SMA Meeting | Summerfield Merchants Associa-

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The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

CRIME / INCIDENT report

District 1 Sheriff’s Office

has recently responded to the following incidents in northwest Guilford County ... AUTO THEFT

SHOPLIFTING

MARCH 24 | A resident of the 2100 block of Beeson Road in Oak Ridge reported that sometime between 3 and 3:56 p.m. her mother’s unlocked 2007 Nissan Versa car and a ZTE smartphone that was inside were stolen. The total estimated loss is $10,030, and the vehicle was entered into the NCIC database as stolen. Update: Since this report was filed, the sheriff’s office has learned the vehicle was taken by a person known to the family.

MARCH 19 | The manager of Lowes Foods in Oak Ridge reported that around 11:30 p.m. a suspect stole several packages of meat with an estimated value of $47 by concealing them under his shirt and walking out of the store.

BURGLARY MARCH 21 | A resident of the 6300 block of Autumn Crest Court in Summerfield reported that sometime between 8 a.m. on March 19 and 10:53 a.m. on March 21 an unknown suspect(s) broke a glass door and entered the residence. Once inside, numerous items were stolen including jewelry, a watch, coins and clothing with a total estimated value of $7,492. MARCH 25 | A resident of the 5500 block of Briardenn Court in Summerfield reported at 12:40 p.m. an unknown suspect accessed the back porch through a ripped screen and broke a back window – however, no entry to the home was made.

DRUG INTERCEPTION MARCH 19 | 1,421 grams of marijuana with an approximate street value of $71,050 was seized at the FedEx shipping center at 6000 Old Oak Ridge Road in Greensboro. On this same date, 2,357 grams of marijuana with an approximate value of $117,850 and 1,414 grams of marijuana with an approximate value of $70,700 were seized from the same location.

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THEFT MARCH 25 | A resident of the 7000 block of Denison Road in Summerfield reported that sometime between 7 p.m. on March 23 and 9 a.m. on March 24 an unknown suspect(s) entered her unlocked vehicle and stole tennis rackets with an estimated value of $320.

VANDALISM MARCH 20 | At 4:55 p.m. a person at Northwest Guilford High School, 5240 Northwest School Road in Greensboro, reported that sometime between 8:50 a.m. and 3:50 p.m. an unknown suspect(s) poured an unknown substance into the vehicle’s gas tank. Total estimated damage is $500.

ARRESTS/CITATIONS MARCH 19 | A 31-year-old male was arrested at 5:48 p.m. in the 8600 block of Warner Road in Stokesdale for five counts of failure to appear on misdemeanor charges. MARCH 21 | A 20-year-old male was arrested at 12:56 p.m. in the 5000 block of Leadenhall Road in Oak Ridge on a warrant for arrest from another agency.

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MARCH 21 | A 24-year-old female was cited at 11:21 p.m. near the intersection of U.S. 158/Athens Road in Stokesdale for an expired inspection certificate.

...continued on p. 15

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Northern Guilford High School presents…

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

NWHS’s Bare selected to co-coach all-star wrestling team by MEREDITH BARKLEY

“It’s a great honor, given all the coaches in North Carolina,” said Bare, 55, who has coached wrestling at Northwest 30 years and has been head coach the last 23. “I feel very privileged to be able to coach the all-star team.”

It will be North Carolina’s second all-star wrestling team. South Carolina has had one for a number of years, Bare said. But for North Carolina, it’s all new, he Bare said. “It’s a real big deal for South Carolina,” Bare said. “They’re very established in that. North Carolina is trying to get there.”

Bare will be one of four coaches for the team. They’ll pick 14 wrestlers – one from each weight class – from a list nominated by coaches around the state. They’ll all be seniors. Bare and the other coaches will direct the team as it takes on the South Carolina All Stars in an end-of-season tournament.

In this year’s early March inaugural tournament between the two states the North Carolina team had its way with the South Carolina team, defeating them 62-9. One of Bare’s wrestlers – state champ Chris Garrison – was selected for the team and won his match in the 182-pound weight class.

CRIME/INCIDENTS

in the 7600 block of U.S. 158 in Stokesdale for possession of marijuana and driving with a cancelled/revoked/ suspended tag during a traffic stop.

NW GUILFORD – Coach Ron Bare, who led his Northwest Guilford wrestling team to its first Class 4A state title in February, was recently selected to help coach next year’s North Carolina All Star wrestling team when it takes on the South Carolina All Stars.

...continued from p. 13

MARCH 21 | A 26-year-old male was cited at 11:58 p.m. in the 5900 block of Church Street in Summerfield for possession of a Schedule IV controlled substance. MARCH 22 | A 43-year-old male was cited at 2:12 a.m. near the intersection of U.S. 220/N.C. 150 in Summerfield for speeding. MARCH 23 | A 22-year-old male known offender was cited at 4:34 p.m.

MARCH 25 | A 29-year-old male was arrested at 4:16 p.m. in the 9400 block of Gideon Grove Road in Stokesdale for four charges of out-of-county order for arrests. MARCH 25 | A 26-year-old female was cited at 8:40 p.m. near the intersection of U.S. 158/Stokesdale Street in Stokesdale for driving 15 mph over the speed limit.

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The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

MARCH 28 - APRIL 3, 2019

FEATURED ON

Erin James, artist at heart Northwest High School senior’s latest recognition for her artistry is at the state level by PATTI STOKES If she weren’t planning to pursue a career in art, Erin James said a career in science would likely have been her next choice. But although she enjoys the area of science that deals with “how everything in the world works,” art is definitely her first love – and that love is taking her places. James, a 17-year-old Northwest High School senior, will head to The Savannah College of Art and Design this fall on a full scholarship. She said she is grateful for the opportunity to further hone her artistic skills at the college level, just as she is optimistic about one day making a living while following her passion. Describing herself as “quiet and laid-back,” James said art gives her a way to express her emotions without speaking them out loud. And art is something she is good at – really good. With no formal art lessons growing up, James said she just enjoyed art as a child and started practicing early on to get better at it. “As an artist, I wanted to improve

my skills,” she said. “Formal art lessons probably would have helped, but I’m kind of glad I had to figure things out on my own – like how to draw a hand.” It was around middle school that James started recognizing herself as an artist, but she said she initially shied away from being labeled as such. “Originally I didn’t like the term ‘artist’ – a lot of times I would hear people say things like, ‘oh, what would you do with a degree in art?’ I wasn’t sure I wanted to be an artist and I was thinking of other career fields,” she said. As she got a little older, however, she realized there was money to be made and she just might be able to “do art” as a career. That first realization came at about age 14 or 15, when she set up a shop on Etsy and started selling her art on commission. “I had to personalize it, fully sketch it, and then ship it out,” she said. And in the process, there were sometimes customer change requests. “In the beginning, if something wasn’t right or a customer didn’t like it, I was already in the final stages and I had to start over. As I got older, I realized it was better to sort out all the kinks in the first stages.” The trial-and-error method was

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time-consuming, but happy customers were always the end result, and James said her Etsy reviews were never less than 5 stars. She came to recognize she wasn’t charging enough for her personalized artwork, but the lessons learned through having her online art business were valuable – as was the time she spent researching other artists who were successful in selling their work. “I had to go on the internet and find tips from people who established themselves,” she said of not only further developPhoto courtesy of Stacy James ing her artistry but her NWHS senior Erin James stands by her art piece which business savvy. “From won ﬁrst place in the category of mixed media at the other artists I’ve learned North Carolina Association for Scholastic Activities’ 2019 you have to sell yourself Art Showcase held Feb. 9 at Northwest High School. and get connected with people. You have to get each grade level was chosen to crein people’s faces and say, ‘Oh, I do ate a replica of the school mascot’s art – do you need something commisshield on circular pieces of wood. sioned?’” Each painting had a theme around Although her Etsy shop is down which the Vikings, in fun, were atwhile she focuses on her last few tacking the High Point Central bison, months of high school, she plans to their opponent in the homecoming re-open it this summer after she’s had game. James’ shield won the school’s time to create a more professionally shield competition. mature look and feel to her online Also last fall, a portrait James drew presence. was recognized in the Guilford County In the meantime, the accolades Schools’ 2018 Superintendent’s Choice are piling up. James has received Art Awards. several school-level recognitions for her artistry, including a “People’s And just last month James was Choice” award at each of the school’s a winner of North Carolina Associalast two annual art shows. Last fall, as tion for Scholastic Activities’ 2019 Art part of several activities tying in with Showcase in the category of mixed media at the high school level. The homecoming, a Viking shield comstatewide competition recognizes both petition was held and a student from

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

the best individual artists and best art programs in North Carolina schools. When asked how she has developed her artistic skills and talent over the years, James said the key has been to simply continue drawing.

“The hard part for many people is to keep trying. The reality of art is that it is a big case of trial and error,” she said. “Getting better is about having the willpower to continue and keep failing and keep mastering what you’re doing. Of course if you stop drawing at age 4 or 5 you’re not going to get any better… it’s really about continuing to try.”

As part of her artistic maturation, James is finding new ways to create her artwork. “I recently invested in a (drawing) tablet with a screen and am experimenting with it,” she said. “There is a lot you can do there and you don’t even have to physically ship the artwork in a package, you can digitally email it. With some tablets, you’ll have a solid metal slate where you draw with your hand and look up at the screen. Some of the styluses you get, you can flip them upside down and erase just like you can with a pencil.” Besides her classwork, James is a member of the school’s Comic Book Club, which her friend started two years ago; serves as treasurer of the school’s chapter of National Art Honor Society; and volunteers when she can (she especially enjoys volunteering in the summer with Safety Town of

Greensboro, a community service program for 5- and 6-yearold children). In her free time she also enjoys video games. When James heads to college in Savannah next fall, where she’ll major in illustration and likely minor in graphic design, she’ll not only be looking forward, but no doubt still find value in occasionally looking backward. “I like to look back at my old art sometimes – not only does that help to see how far I’ve come, but sometimes I can point out what I’ve learned,” she said. And as a cartoon lover, even in college she’ll still be the first one in line for the next Disney or Pixar animated movie. Who knows? One day it could be her illustrations up there on the big screen.

Photo courtesy of Stacy James

This portrait created by Erin James was one of the pieces recognized last September in the Guilford County Schools’ 2018 Superintendent’s Choice Art Awards.

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MARCH 28 - APRIL 3, 2019

SCOUTING

...continued from p. 1 “We want to be out in the wilderness and explore and survive,” said Poole, one of five founding members of the all-girl Troop 219, which recently began meeting at Oak Ridge Presbyterian Church. “It’s going to be hard. I’ve heard some stories. But it’s all worth it.” Nearby at Oak Ridge United Methodist Church, 15 girls are participating in Troop 465, led by Scoutmaster Christy Kirksey. Her two sons, Chris and James, earned the rank of Eagle Scout several years ago. “I am excited to play a part in this historic first year of BSA,” said Kirksey, whose 12-year-old daughter, Isabella, is a member of Troop 465. “I have been involved with scouting for nearly 20 years working a variety of positions, seeing my two sons grow from Cub

Scouts all the way to Eagle Scout. I saw young men develop into men of character, and now I’m excited that the young ladies are getting the opportunity to do this.”

the event, I posted a picture of the scouts to social media. Almost immediately someone commented, ‘These girls are going places!’ and, you know, I couldn’t agree more.”

That sentiment is shared with other parents, several of whom have boys already participating in the BSA program. Kirksey’s leadership team includes two former scoutmasters, Brent Benson and her husband, Giles Kirksey.

Troops 219 and 465 are affiliated with Scouts BSA’s eight-county Old North State Council of the BSA, headquartered in Greensboro. The troops are two of seven all-girl troops formed in the council since membership opened to girls in February, giving them the opportunity to participate in 110 years of proud scouting tradition.

But the girls in Troop 465 are even more excited than the parents. Before they even held their first formal meeting, five troop members volunteered to represent girls in the Scouts BSA at the Old North State Council’s annual Citizen of the Year Breakfast in Greensboro. “It was a very proud moment for me,” said Andrew Heltsley, the troop’s committee chair. Heltsey’s daughter Kate was among the attendees. “After

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“We studied it for more than three years,” Martin said of admitting girls. Parents, he said, told scout leaders: “We want family programs. We want something our girls can do, too.” While the Scouts have long had co-ed programs, Cub Scout and Boy Scout programs remained all male until last August, when girls were allowed to join Cub Scout packs. Because of the Scouts BSA calendar, girls couldn’t form their own troops until February. And while Cub Scout packs can mix boys and girls, Scouts BSA troops are either all boys or all girls, ages 11-17. As of this past December, the Old North State Council had 311 scouting programs, including 125 Scouts BSA troops and 119 Cub Scout packs. The programs served 8,600 youngsters.

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Ed Martin, chief executive of the BSA’s local council, said he expects as many as 18 all-girl troops to be established by the end of the year.

MARCH 28 - APRIL 3, 2019

As a first-grader, Kate Heltsley belonged to Daisy Scouts, the initial level of Girl Scouts, and decided “it didn’t really fit me,” she said. “It didn’t have enough adventure.” Now that she belongs to Troop 465, Heltsley said she looks forward to camping, hiking, fishing and other Boy Scouts activities. “I love the outdoors,” she said. Kate, 12, wasn’t interested in scouting when her father mentioned

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

it to her last year because she thought that boys and girls would belong to the same troop. When she learned it was girls only, she quickly rounded up the four other girls necessary to form a troop, Andrew Heltsley said. Christy Kirksey’s daughter, Isabella, said she’s eager to learn to cook and set up camp. “I’m looking forward to camping so I’m not sitting at home on my phone,” she said. Poole and Troop 219’s other founding members – Riley Mannella, Alexandra Santiago, Caroline Ruppel and Selby Chipman – are also drawn to the wealth of outdoor activities. Several, like Chipman, had heard brothers or friends talk of their experiences and wanted that opportunity. “He’d come back from camping trips and he’d tell me all about it,” she said of her brother. Mike Matzinger, scoutmaster for Troop 600, will also lead Troop 219 until another scoutmaster takes the position. He’s heard comments like those above and is happy to grease the skids for this new crop of Scout BSA members. “They realize these guys are getting something they’re not getting,” he said. Scouts BSA, Matzinger said, “is all about leadership, fitness, character development and citizenship,” pointing out that “two-thirds of scouting is outing.” That means climbing, rafting, hiking, sailing, camping and many other outdoor activities, he said. He believes in developing leadership skills by putting the youngsters in charge. Chris Chipman, Shelby’s father, said his daughter was in the Girl Scouts for several years, but “seemed to gravitate more to the things the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts were doing.” Plus, he said, in his experience Scouts BSA troops are generally larger, better resourced and offer more opportunities.

“At a certain point you ask: ‘Why hold her back from something she wants to do, especially if it makes her a better leader?’” he said. Said Alison Santiago: “They’re just really happy and excited, I think. It’s a great opportunity.” Of Troop 465’s first meeting last month and first steps into their scouting careers and toward their Eagle ranks, Rev. Christi Taylor, associate pastor at ORUMC, said, “We are already planning for growth. As soon as word gets out what these girls have started, we expect a lot of interest from other girls in the community.”

want to learn more?

Photo courtesy of BSA Troop 465

Founding members of Troop 465 pose for a picture to document their historical ﬁrst meeting on March 13. Back row, L-R: Audrey Benson, Lily Liszka, Kate Heltsley, Isabella Kirksey, Laura Metzloff, Swetha Anand, Michaela Staudinger and Charley Gaines; front row, L-R: Kate Jarrett, Ana Barbosa, Lillian Wu, Brenna Lauten, Emily Boothby and Teni Oladunjoye.

Alison Santiago said her daughter Alexandra, who is also a Girl Scout, will probably participate in both.

Ellen Mannella, Riley’s mom, is hoping to be an assistant scoutmaster for the newly formed troop.

“She wants the high adventure,” she said of her daughter, but added: “She loves her (Girl Scout) troop.”

“I’m up for a new adventure as well,” she said, wearing her scout uniform to last week’s meeting. “We’re

just hoping to get some more girls to join us.” Paul Poole, Samantha’s dad, was hesitant about letting his daughter join at first, but changed his mind after some thought.

Scoutmasters Mike Matzinger (Troop 219) and Christy Kirksey (Troop 465) are happy to answer questions about the newly formed all-girl BSA Troop 219, which meets weekly at Oak Ridge Presbyterian Church, and Troop 465, which meets at Oak Ridge United Methodist Church on Sunday afternoons. For Troop 219, contact Mike at mmatzinger@burco.com; for Troop 465, contact Christy at ckrecruit@gmail.com or Andrew Heltsley at (336) 250-2247 or afheltsley@gmail.com.

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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.

NORTHWEST GUILFORD Landon Clary, lacrosse by STEWART MCCLINTOCK Senior Landon Clary is a team captain on Coach Dan Tichy’s lacrosse team. Clary has been a member of the Vikings’ varsity squad since being moved up for the playoffs during his freshman year, and since that time he has excelled on the field. Last year Clary was awarded U.S. Lacrosse All-American and All-State honors,

as well as Metro 4A Conference Defensive Player of the Year and Northwest Guilford Defensive Player of the Year. Clary plays the critical position of long stick middie and describes his playing style as “aggressive.” “I like to push it in transition,” he said. “I communicate and help my teammates do their thing. I like to lead by actions and to create scoring opportunities for my teammates.” Of his goals for this season, Clary said, he hopes to lead the team in ground balls and takeaways, and score around 40 points for the year (points and assists combined). The team goal is, of course, to win a state championship. “It’s definitely achievable if we come together,” he said. “We want to win

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conference again (Northwest has won conference the last three years). Page has a good team this year, but I see us prevailing.” Of Coach Tichy, who took over the head coach position last year, Clary said, “He’s done a great job coming in and taking over. He’s developed a new culture; it’s very family-oriented, and I think that’s what we need. He knows the game and he’s very passionate and very knowledgeable about it. He played at Manhattan College. He’s also brought in very good assistants, and they all get along really well. It’s been a great experience.” Off the field Clary maintains a 4.46 weighted GPA and said he’s only made two B’s in his entire high school career. He is a member of National Honor Society and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He is also very active in the non-profit Caroline’s Promise, based in Colfax. Through this organization he has travelled to Guatemala the last two years to run sports camps for children and to help villages gain access to clean water.

“We help the people there learn selfsustainability, which is empowering,” he said. “I think it’s something that every kid in our area should go do, so they can see how truly blessed we are.” After graduating this spring, Clary will continue his lacrosse playing career at Syracuse University, where he plans to study journalism with a concentration in sports broadcasting. He’d love to ultimately work at ESPN and cover all sports. “I wrote about Stuart Scott (sportscaster and anchor on ESPN who died of cancer in 2015) in my acceptance letter to Syracuse,” he said. “I’d love to inspire as many people as he did to keep fighting.”

On a side note … Q: What is your favorite food? A: “Sushi.” Q: Favorite movie? A: “‘Fantastic Mr. Fox.’” Q: Favorite book? A: “‘The Great Gatsby.’” Q: Favorite professional athlete? A: “I’m a lifelong Cowboys fan, so line-

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backer Sean Lee would have to be my favorite.” Q: Favorite celebrity? A: “Hugh Jackman.” Q: Do you have a role model? A: “My dad. He always motivates me, he always does the right thing and he always lives out his faith.” Q: “Do you have any pets?” A: “I have a German shorthaired pointer; her name is Middie.” Q: If you could interview one person, living or dead, who would it be? A: “Jesus Christ. I would like to ask him how he was able to live so cleanly while being persecuted so much. Not giving in to peer pressure is never easy, and he never faltered.” Q: What is one thing we all could do to make the world a better place? A: “Pay it forward more. If someone does something nice for you, return the favor, do something nice for them or someone else, and start an endless cycle.” Q: What’s an invention the world needs? A: “Waterproof socks.” Q: How do you enjoy spending your free time? A: “I spend a lot of my time playing lacrosse or in the gym, reading, hanging out with friends and playing video games.” Q: Where would you go on a dream vacation? A: “Machu Picchu in Peru. It looks so beautiful and it would be a great place to hike.”

NORTHERN GUILFORD Mason O’Connor, basketball by STEWART MCCLINTOCK At 6 feet, 6 inches tall, Northern Guilford senior Mason O’Connor puts his height to good use on the Nighthawks’ basketball team. As a team captain, he also has a leadership role on the team. O’Connor has been playing basketball for as long as he can remember and has been a member of Coach Bill Chambers’ varsity basketball team for the last two years. Of his role on the team, O’Connor, who plays center, said his main focus is on rebounding, setting up shots for the guards and playing defense. “I really try hard to just be a presence inside and guard the paint,” he said. “I’ve had a lot of fun playing basketball, and I’ve met my best friends playing basketball.” Of his coaches, O’Connor said, “Coach (Derek) Hodge has been hard on me up until this year. He’s taught me a ton about basketball and even more about life. He and Coach Chambers are both great coaches.” Off the court O’Connor is focused on academics and is an all A/B student (he told us he has never made a C in

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any of his classes). He’s a member of the school’s Beta Club, National Honor Society, and serves as secretary of National Art Honor Society. After graduating this spring, O’Connor plans to attend James Madison University in Virginia and study industrial design. “My grandpa and my dad are both in the furniture industry, and I definitely want to carry on that tradition,” he said.

On a side note … Q: What is your favorite food? A: “Anything Mexican.” Q: Favorite movie? A: “‘The Wolf of Wall Street.’” Q: Favorite athlete? A: “LeBron James.” Q: Favorite genre of music or favorite artist? A: “R&B. Daniel Caesar is my favorite artist right now.” Q: Favorite celebrity? A: “Odell Beckham Jr.” Q: Do you have a role model?

A: “My dad – I’ve always looked up to him. He’s a great man, and a great family man.” Q: Where would you go on a dream vacation? A: “Hawai’i. I’ve always loved the beaches there.” Q: What’s one thing we all could do to make the world a better place? A: “Recycle.” Q: What’s an invention the world needs? A: “Flying cars.” Q: What’s something about you not everyone knows? A: “I’ve enjoyed doing art for as long as I can remember. Because I’m tall, everyone has always just viewed me as an athlete, but art is my passion. Paintings, acrylics and oils – portraits or landscapes are my favorites.” Q: How do you enjoy spending your free time? A: “I don’t get much free time, but when I do I like to hang out with friends.” Q: Any advice for other young people? A: “Don’t follow the stereotypes – follow your passions.”

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GRINS and GRIPES Delighted or dismayed by something in your community? Share your thoughts in words or less

online: nwobserver.com e-mail: grinsandgripes@nwobserver.com Grins & Gripes are published based on available space and editor’s discretion.

GRINS to...  The faculty at Guilford College for all their hard work and kindness shown to us in our transition acclimating back to good ole North Carolina. Shout out to Kyle Wooden in admissions! Go Quakers!  Golden Antiques’ owners John and Gina Childress for deciding to bring this store “back home” to Summerfield. Can’t wait to have you return!  Stokesdale resident Eileen Thiery for very generously donating money to help the town offset the cost of a beautiful town clock that will soon be placed in front of the fire department in downtown Stokesdale.  Former sheriff BJ Barnes for considering running for mayor of Summerfield and rescuing us from the fiasco we’ve been dealing with for the past 16 months (seems more like an eternity). If you run, we will follow!

GRIPES to...  Northwest Observer for including a delusional comment about AOC in the local Grins section. Don’t we already have enough double standards in political commentary?

Editor’s note: I find it interesting that this gripe wasn’t directed at the “delusional comment” author, rather at our newspaper for publishing it in the Grins and Gripes section – which is intended for opinions. As for the “double standards” remark in this reader’s gripe, I can only say that we strive to be an “equal opportunity” newspaper and publish delusional comments from readers on all sides of the political spectrum.  Those who support roundabouts in Oak Ridge, especially in light of the crumbling infrastructure everywhere else. Obstructing a state highway for your image? #VanityVillage.  Summerfield Mayor Gail Dunham for still not fulfilling public records requests for her emails after almost a year. “Vacations.” “Holidays.” “Extremely busy with aviation.” What will be your next excuse?  The concept of traffic circles in Oak Ridge. What a waste of money – we don’t have a traffic problem! I drive at “heavy” traffic times morning and evenings, five times a week, and am not bothered with stopping a few minutes.  People who tailgate all the time! I’m going the speed limit… if you don’t budget enough time to get where you need to go, that’s not my problem.

Remember, your GRINS & GRIPES should be 40

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

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Posted recently on NWO’s Facebook page The following are just some of the responses our posts recently received from our Facebook followers – to see more or to join your northwest Guilford neighbors in community discussions, visit www.Facebook.com/NorthwestObserver. Carolyn E. Best of success Golden Antiques! Posted Wednesday, March 20, at 7:23 a.m.

Ashley F. Awesome! So excited!

It’s true – Golden Antiques and Treasures is returning to Summerfield and will occupy the spot it held for many years in Summerfield Square (aka the “old Food Lion shopping center” and/or “the Dollar General shopping center”) off U.S. 220! Gina and John Childress (shown in photo below) say most of Golden Antiques’ 70 vendors will come with them when they move their store from Stokesdale (hopefully sometime within the next month) into the refurbished space the store formerly occupied. A bike shop is also re-locating from downtown Greensboro to the shopping center, in the building across from Golden Antiques. Read more about the revival of this long neglected shopping center in this week’s Northwest Observer’s business and real estate section.

Malori P. Nikki R. excited! May be even more of a problem

Zandy C. I thought y’all moved out due to rent gouging why would you go back

Terri R. If they would remodel the rest of the place, they’d probably get even more business. This place is an eyesore to Summerfield.

Sandy V. Zandy C. I may be wrong but I was thinking Agapion owned the shopping center before & now someone else owns it? (If I’m remembering correctly?)

Bill B. So what happens to the building they are currently in out in Stokesdale????

Northwest Observer. Sandy V., Agapion did own this shopping center for several years, but it was sold about four years ago and Kotis Properties took over the management. Golden Antiques’ rent dramatically increased in the process, which led to the store, then owned by Kevin and Wendy Golden, ultimately relocating to Stokesdale. Not sure what Golden Antiques will be paying in rent now, but I suspect since the property has been vacant the last few years, it will be more affordable than it had last been. Sandy V. Northwest Observer I was very glad when the Slum Lord sold it. BJ B. More parking for Ladies’ Nights Carla H. I know exactly where that is. I grew up going to food lion there. Seen alot of changes there in that strip mall. Sandy V. I just hope the property owners will clean up the entire shopping center & parking lot. It’s been an eyesore for way too long. ... Rachel M. That’s great and you guys definitely go check out the bike shop!!! He is very knowledgeable and has the best there is to offer!!! https://m.facebook. com/profile.php?id=1598512967136771...

Teresa T. Will miss them in Stokesdale Gina C. Teresa T. Thank you Teresa, Stokesdale was so wonderful to us ! Julie J. Wonderful news i have missed it for sure i sure hope they do some renovations and upkeep to the entire space ..a restaurant would be great addition as well Suzanne S. The current location in Stokesdale will continue to function as an Antique Mall with vendors as well as offering new furniture. Should only have a week or so of down time and be open the first week of April. There may be open spots for vendors for those interested. Trish N. Wowowowow! Jennie E. I feel the location they are at is so much nicer. The slumlord who use to/maybe still owns that Summerfield shopping center keeps it run down and gross. Hopefully they will clean up their act. The parking lot is full of pot holes also. I enjoyed the new location much better. Will still be a loyal shopper as I love the couple who owns it and the goods they sell.

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MARCH 28 - APRIL 3, 2019

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

Posted recently on NWO’s Facebook page Posted Tuesday, March 5, at 9:10 p.m. ROUNDABOUTS: crazy or great idea for Oak Ridge? How many of you attended the open house this afternoon/evening at Oak Ridge Town Hall, in which NCDOT presented ideas for improving three major intersections in Oak Ridge – one at N.C. 68 and 150; one at N.C. 68 and Linville Road; and one at N.C. 150 and Marketplace Drive? And if you were there, what did you think?

Miranda Z. Would roundabouts bring us a Starbucks to the area? Asking for a friend! Northwest Observer. Miranda Z., please tell your friend that I don’t think so (but good thing for me, because I’ll save a lot of money by not having one so close to our office). A few years ago I was talking with a developer who owns commercial property in Oak Ridge and he told me he tried to attract either Starbucks or Chick-Fil-A (or both) to Oak Ridge, but obviously wasn’t successful. I gather that neither one felt they would generate enough business in Oak Ridge to support a location here. Miranda Z. Northwest Observer no way! We want both...and the lovely people of Oak Ridge can afford a Starbucks every now and then Gina T. I like roundabouts! Karl E. Northwest Observer I feel like my household would contribute to the sales of both a Starbucks and a Chick-fil-A enough for them to turn a decent profit. You can pass that on to who ever it may concern. Lori W. Dumbest idea ever. Most these fools

have a hard enough time trying to drive in a straight line!!! Andrea R. Lori W., That’s the God’s honest truth! Anthony H. No way. You are talking about a traffic mess. William H. Take down All the utility poles and widening the intersection with more lanes would be too easy I suppose? Keep the traffic flowing in a straight line Joe T. Even NJ, the capital of traffic circles, is moving away from using circles. Keep the regular traffic lights. Jim K. Traffic Circles may be on the way out in NJ, but they are on board with Roundabouts. Something I learned, Circles and Roundabouts are not one and the same. Roundabouts are one option they consider when replacing a traffic Circle http://nj1015. com/njs-hated-traffic-circles-are-on-the.../ Joe T. Give me a red light over a circle or roundabout any day. Reduces the chances of collisions and can be programmed to keep traffic moving at peak times. Jim K. That runs counter to the general data, roundabouts have less accidents and the ones they do have are less severe. Intersection accidents tend to be t-bone and at higher speeds. Roundabouts tend to be fender benders with less injuries. Accidents in roundabouts tend to be tow truck events versus ambulance events. More cars can get though a roundabout than a light controls intersection in the same time. Cheryl L. I call these traffic circles swoopy doopys! Most people really have to learn how

to navigate them at first. I grew up in Oak Ridge but currently live in WS. On one road here there are 4 traffic circles in less than a half mile on the same road. Talk about confusion! Todd K. They want to improve some traffic patterns in Oak Ridge? How about a left turn lane at Linville and 150 in front of the elementary school. If you have to turn left there, you end up log jamming everyone behind you while you wait on that one slow eastbound SUV to hurry up and go through the light.

John H. Save the money and keep our town simple. Do not need big box retailers and other chain stores attracted to this town because we slowed traffic down to ponder what is there. Attract good old mom and pop busineses and make the majority of us Happy. Landy R. Roundabouts are the absolutely dumbest idea ever

Lesley C. Todd K., yes to this, 1000 times over!! Michael C. You don’t need Starbucks. Go to kville. No more chains. No more lights. Stop it! Beth W. Personally I dislike most roundabouts and feel one at 150 and 68 would be a nightmare particularly for trucks. Too bad developers did not have the foresight to leave enough land at that intersection for the growth that we all knew would come. As for Marketplace, why not try a stoplight first? The experience with Kernersville’s roundabouts and insane traffic pattern at their shopping area on 150 should be a lesson. Mike H. Bad idea. Waste of money. Phyllis A. Love me some round abouts Ann S. Thanks to all who attended yesterday ... It was a great opportunity to ask questions and share opinions and concerns. I learned a lot. Thanks to the NW Observer for being there and for helping spread the word. Sondra B. I find as I grow older these traffic circles become even more confusing especially if there are multiple lanes.

Posted Wednesday, March 20, 12:20 p.m. What? I was so focused on today being a printer deadline day that I forgot it was ... the FIRST DAY OF SPRING! Woohooooooo! Welcome spring, warm temperatures, blooming flowers - and yardwork! Hope you’re enjoying the sunshine! (And BTW, for those of you who suffer from spring season allergies, how are you doing?)

Mike S. Dear Lord, you know best, but I don’t need any spring showers for a while. Angela P. It’s my first Spring living in NC, and as much as I love all the blooming my allergies have been AWFUL. I could probably single handedly keep Kleenex in business this quarter!

As seen on facebook.com/NorthwestObserver The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

MARCH 28 - APRIL 3, 2019

MAYOR’S ‘NEWSLETTER’ DRAWS CRITICISM

together on issues – disagreed with the mayor’s stance on her newsletter. An ally of Dunham, council member Teresa Pegram sided with Dunham on her email distribution.

...continued from p. 1

Scott Whitaker acknowledged the mistake. Gary Brown, chair of the Historic Committee, told the council the mayor’s email was “incorrect” in stating the committee was working to restore the historic, crumbling Saunders Inn. Those incidents illustrate how Dunham’s email newsletter is fueling discord that pits the mayor and her supporters against town staff and her opponents on Town Council and in Summerfield. She has ignored past requests by some residents and Mayor Pro Tem Dena Barnes and council member Reece Walker to add them to the email distribution list. The standoff raises the question of whether the mayor is breaking North Carolina disclosure laws requiring elected officials to make town business-related communications public. “The key question is whether the emails are related to the transaction of town business,” said Christopher McLaughlin, an associate professor of public law and government at the University of North Carolina’s School of Government in Chapel Hill. “Different people may have different views on that.” Bill Hill, Summerfield’s town attorney, said he’s not researched whether Dunham is legally obligated to distribute her newsletter to the public.

to town business since she was sworn into office Dec. 12, 2017. She said in an interview earlier this week she’s working on fulfilling several public records requests for her emails.

Dunham said she used the email for her campaign when she ran for mayor in 2017. Since taking office, she said she’s distributed the newsletter to “provide the most accurate information as possible about meetings because the town isn’t doing it.”

As for her newsletter, Dunham said, “When somebody hates me, I see no reason to put them on my email list. There are just a handful of people I have not put on the list. They don’t support what I’m doing.”

At least eight times in her newsletter Dunham directs subscribers to Summerfield Scoop, a Facebook page administered by Summerfield resident Don Wendelken which she promotes as a viable and comprehensive news source for Summerfield. Despite requests by Northwest Observer Editor Patti Stokes, Dunham refuses in her newsletter to acknowledge the NWO as a community news source.

Dunham said she distributes the email via one of her personal accounts, mayorgail@yahoo.com. At the end of the newsletter, she writes that “Email is not provided at government expense. Paid for by ‘Friends for Gail Dunham.’” “Because it’s private, because it comes out of my campaign funds, they can’t demand it,” Dunham said. “They are demanding it to be ornery.” The viewpoints of the five council members were split along familiar lines. In telephone interviews this week, Barnes, Walker and Councilman John O’Day – who often differ with the mayor and typically vote

“Any politician can campaign, promote their views,” Hill said in a telephone interview earlier this week. “Does it become a public record when someone else asks for it? Where that line is, I do not know.” It would possibly require a lawsuit in which a plaintiff seeks the mayor’s newsletter to answer the question, Hill said. Separately, Dunham hasn’t yet provided copies of her emails relating

“Gail has been sending this newsletter for years,” Pegram said. “It’s just letting people know about meetings.”

MARCH 28 - APRIL 3, 2019

In her March 12 newsletter, Dunham lists the dates for the upcoming meetings of the town council and committees. She refers readers to the town’s website, suggests they contact her with suggestions for the town’s budget, and lists contact information for various news outlets. She also provides contact information for Town Manager Scott Whitaker.

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The mayor frequently criticizes Whitaker for his scheduling of meetings and distribution of materials to council members. Whitaker defends the performance of himself and town staff, saying they follow rules for providing information to council members and the public in a timely fashion. Councilwoman Dianne Laughlin said she doesn’t think the mayor “should be putting out a newsletter. She can’t speak for the town on her own. Ethically, you would think that she would send it to the people who asked for it.” O’Day said he “thinks it is a good policy to send information to any constituent who is asking for it.” He said he doesn’t block people from posting on his Facebook page which includes his recent criticism of Dunham’s behavior during a Town Council meeting. Barnes said she believes elected officials are obligated to share communications with the public “any time you are discussing town business.” Dunham should provide her newsletter to town staff so they can make it available to the public as they do with other public documents, Barnes said in an interview.

“I applaud the mayor for trying to get public input,” Walker said. “But it is not always accurate information and it is not distributed to everybody.” Walker said he sometimes gets the mayor’s email from people on her distribution list. He said all council members should receive it directly from Dunham. “I think we would all like to know what’s coming,” Walker said. “We don’t like to be blindsided in the grocery store.”

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Call (336) 644-7035, ext. 10 Mon - Fri • 9am -12:30pm

INDEX

Auto Sales & Service ................... 27 Employment ............................... 27 Public Notice............................... 27 Save the Date ........................ 27-28 Yard Sales ................................... 28 Home Services ....................... 28-29 Misc. for Sale ......................... 29-30 Misc. Services.............................. 30 Misc. Wanted .............................. 30 Pets & Animal Services ................ 30 Real Estate.................................. 30

Carson Dellosa Education is now hiring SEASONAL WAREHOUSE ASSOCIATES for June, July and August. Must be able to lift 50 lbs. Great pay and flexible hours. Perfect opportunity for students. Conveniently located off Pleasant Ridge Road at 657-A Brigham Road, Greensboro. Please contact human resources for a tour at (336) 808-3225.

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April 4, 2019: 7 p.m. at Oak Ridge Town Hall, 8315 Linville Road. The draft plan may be viewed on the Town website (visit www.oakridgenc.com, go to Ordinances/Plans, then click on Draft Streetscape Vision Plan), or copies are available at Town Hall for review during normal business hours.

SAVE THE DATE DALY FLORAL DESIGNS is having an OPEN HOUSE Sat., March 30, 10am-5pm at 7805 Cedar Point Drive in Summerfield. See all the possibilities for prom flowers, spring wreaths and cemetery arrangements. www.dalyfloraldesigns.com. ONE CHILD'S VOICE HOT DOG FUNDRAISER. Sat., March 30, 10:30am-4pm at Lowes Foods in Oak Ridge Commons, 2205 Oak Ridge Road. #thenext56days, FREE INTRODUCTION MEETINGS AT MULTIPLE LOCATIONS. Do you suffer from high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, low energy, over overweight, can’t sleep, acid reflux? It’s time to take control of your health! Come hear about our program, THE NEXT 56 DAYS. FREE introduction meetings will be held at the following locations and times: Tuesday, April 2, at Giadas Trattoria, 210 N. Main Street, Kernersville. Tuesday, April 9, Countryside Village, 700 U.S. 158, Stokesdale. Both meetings will have assessments beginning at 5:30pm; the intro begins at 6pm. Tuesday, April 16, at Stokesdale United Methodist Church, 8305 Loyola Drive, Stokesdale. Assessments begin at 9am and the intro begins at 9:30am. Instructed by Tina Combrinck-Graham, Daniel Bar Barnett and Linda Stout. Food samples, fun and prizes! www.thenext56days.com or call (336) 686-7274 for more info.

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

EARTH DAY CELEBRATION, Saturday, April 6, 1-5pm, "Free Eco-Fun for Everyone!" Kathleen Clay Edwards Library, 1420 Price Park Road, Greensboro. All free! BUTTERFLY RELEASE, Sunday, April 7, 2pm, Oak Ridge Town Park, Shelter 2. The live butterfly release is to honor the lives of our lost children. If you have lost a child and want to participate, please RSVP to forsusannah@yahoo.com, as quantities are limited. Open to the public. STOKESDALE SPRING FESTIVAL Sat., April 13, 10am-4pm at 8407 & 8411 Stokesdale Street. Over 70 vendors with handmade and repurposed items, food trucks, music, face painting and Easter egg hunt. More info: mandmjordahl@aol.com. ANNUAL EASTER EGG HUNT, Saturday, April 13, 10am-12pm, at Gideon Grove UMC, 2865 Gideon Grove Church Rd., Stokesdale. Egg hunt begins at 10:30am, followed by crafts, egg dying, games & snacks. Contact Laura at (336) 643-6042 for more information. Rain or shine.

SOMETHING GOING ON? Place your Save the Date classified ad online at www.nwobserver.com, or call (336) 644-7035, ext. 10. PURCHASE TICKETS NOW for Boots & Buckles Fundraiser. HorseFriends Therapeutic Riding Center will have a fundraiser Sunday, April 14, 6:30pm at Summerfield Farms, 3203 Pleasant Ridge, Summerfield. Stephanie Quayle, CMT’s Next Women of Country’s 2019 Inductee, will be performing. Heavy hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine, live and silent auction. Purchase tickets for $75 each at www.HorseFriendsNC.org/tickets.

... continued on p. 28

MARCH 28 - APRIL 3, 2019

SAVE THE DATE

HOME SERVICES

COMMUNITY GRAND OPENING AND CAR SHOW! JBE Sports, an indoor baseball and softball facility, will host a car show for its Grand Opening weekend. Saturday, May 4, and Sunday, May 5, 9am-4pm at 490 K-Fork Road Madison, NC. Come see the cars and indoor training facility. Raffles, door prizes and food for sale.

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

APPLIANCE REPAIR – Call Mr. Appliance A step above the rest! (336) 609-5707.

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

YARD SALES YARD SALE, Sat., March 30, 8am-2pm, 5908 Crutchfield Farm Road, Oak Ridge. Rain or shine. HUGE YARD SALE, Saturday, March 30, 8am-1pm, 2920 Oak Ridge Road, Oak Ridge. Furniture, clothes, books, tools and household items. Make us an offer. MOVING SALE, Sat., March 30, 8am-1pm, at 4606 Joseph Hoskins Road, 27358. Everything must go! It’s YARD SALE season! To place your Yard Sale ad, visit www.nwobserver.com and click on Place a Classified. The deadline is Monday!

HOME SERVICES AIR CONDITIONING & HEATING A-ACTION AIR. Repair and service. Checkup special $39.95. Call (336) 382-3750.

CastleWorks WINDOW CLEANING Includes gutters, pressure washing, chandeliers and other high ladder work. Fully insured and bonded, free estimates. (336) 609-0677. www.castleworkswindowcleaning.com. MAIDS OF HONOR HOME CLEANING $25 off! Locally owned, bonded staff. 40 years in service. BBB A+ rating. (336) 708-2407.

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

ELECTRICAL

Need an electrician? Call BLACKMON ELECTRICAL, INC. Free estimates. Commercial & residential. Licensed & insured. Call (336) 430-5018. Do you have ELECTRICAL NEEDS? Call Coble Electric LLC at (336) 209-1486.

28 28

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. FIX YOUR MOWER. Free pickup & delivery. Call Rick, (336) 501-8681. AFFORDABLE HOME REPAIRS. One call fixes all! A+ with BBB. For a free estimate, call (336) 643-1184 or (336) 987-0350.

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GENERAL REPAIR & SERVICES

OLD SCHOOL

KOONTZ CLEANING SERVICE, serving Summerfield and surrounding areas since 1985. Quality carpet and upholstery cleaning, tile and grouted floors, leather furniture, Oriental rugs. Ask about our hardwood floor deep-cleaning system and finish application. Spring specials. Please call (336) 643-6323 or (336) 392-8802.

GREENERTIMES SMALL ENGINE Sales & Service Center. All types sold and repaired; comm./res. 9428 NC Hwy. 65, Stokesdale. (336) 548-9286 or (336) 312-3844.

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

CLEANING CHRISTIAN MOM needs work cleaning houses, running errands. Will fit to your budget. Pet taxi/pet sitting also avail. References. Call Laura Bennett, (336) 2311838.

MOWER DECKS WELDED & REPAIRED. Pickup and delivery available. Call or text Morris at (336) 880-7498.

HOME REPAIR /IMPROVEMENTS

GRADING / HAULING

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

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

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

“No Job Too Small”

(336) 669-7252

oldschoolsjhr@triad.rr.com

L & T SMALL ENGINE SERVICE "We get you mowing!" Comm./res., all models. 2103 Oak Ridge Rd., Oak Ridge. Call (336) 298-4314, landtsmallengineservice.com.

MARCH 2828 - APRIL 3, 3, 2019 MARCH - APRIL 2019

BRAD'S BOBCAT & HAULING SVCS. LLC Debris removal, grading, gravel/dirt, driveways, concrete work. (336) 362-3647. PEARMAN QUARRY HAULING Fill dirt, gravel, sand rock, mulch & more. Joel Richardson, (336) 803-2195.

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LAWNCARE / LANDSCAPING CAROLINA STUMP & TREE SERVICE Complete tree service, $1 million liability, workman’s comp. Rick & Judy, (336) 643-9332. www.carolinaStumpAndTreeServices.com. WILSON LANDSCAPING, INC. Lawn maint, landscaping. Irrigation/ landscape contractor. Hardscaping & landscape lighting. 26 years exp. (336) 399-7764. AFFORDABLE LANDSCAPING for all your landscaping needs, including irrigation, installation and repair. Call Joe at J. Gibson Landscaping, an Americanowned and operated small business. Built on Capitalism, not Socialism. In God we trust. (336) 419-7236. ATCHISON LAWN CARE. Dependable. Honest. Local. Call (336) 486-9837. SEYMOUR'S LAWNCARE AND LANDSCAPING. Call Simon, (336) 314-1068. COLFAX LAWNCARE. Core aeration & seeding. Fertilizing, mowing, trimming, pine needles. Complete lawn care maintenance. Res./comm. Fully insured. Serving the Triad for 28 years. (336) 362-5860. DELIMA LAWNCARE. 24 hours/7 days a week. Free estimates, licensed/insured. Commercial & Residential. (336) 669-5210. SOUTHERN CUTS LAWN CARE, complete lawn maintenance services. 13 years experience. Nathan Adkins, (336) 500-1898. HILL LAWNCARE & OUTDOOR SERVICES. Free estimate. Call (336) 669-5448.

HOME SERVICES

STEVE NEWMAN TREE SERVICE. Free est. Lic/Ins. 40 yrs. exp. Lots & natural area thinning and cleanup. Large shrubbery jobs, chipping. Oak Ridge, (336) 643-1119.

PAINTING & DRYWALL

WEBSTER & SONS PLUMBING, Inc. (336) 992-2503. Licensed, insured, bonded. 24/7 service. Plumbing, drain cleaning, well pumps. Give us a call, we do it all! Go to www.webstersplumbing.com for more info.

KEITH SMITH CONSTRUCTION

ORTIZ LANDSCAPING, complete lawn care. Trimming, cleaning, planting & mulch, gutter cleaning, patios & pavers, waterfalls, retaining walls, sidewalks, stonework. Residential and commercial. (336) 280-8981. GUZMAN LANDSCAPE & MAINTENANCE Pine needles, mulch, leaf removal, tree pruning, complete lawn maint. (336) 655-6490. ARBOR MASTERS TREE SERVICE Total tree removal, storm damage cleanup, shrub and tree pruning. Bobcat work and more. Free estimates. Licensed & insured. Call Joe at 643-9157.

PAINTING – INTERIOR & EXTERIOR 32 yrs. exp. Sheetrock repair. No job too small. Insured. Brad Rogers, (336) 314-3186. CARLOS & SON PAINTING, interior and exterior. 24 hours/7 days a week. Free estimates, licensed/insured. (336) 669-5210. STILL PERFECTION PAINTING Reliable, skilled, affordable. Painting, pressure washing, handyman services. Scott Still, (336) 462-3683, stillperfectionpainting.com.

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

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

(336) 931-0600

FAY'S LAWNCARE & LANDSCAPING Complete landscape maintenance & hardscaping. Tree work. Reasonable & honest. Call Taylor, (336) 458-6491.

• References Available • Licensed & Insured • All Work Guaranteed

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MASONRY SOUTHERN STYLE concrete & landscapes. How about a new patio or fire pit? We can help with all of your outdoor living and entertainment spaces! Fire pits, driveways & sidewalks, patios and more! Give us a call at (336) 399-6619 for all your concrete and landscape needs.

BEKPaintCompany.com

LAWSON'S PAINTING. Custom decks, pressure washing, boat docks, block fill, wood repair, stain work, textured ceilings, sheetrock repair. Call (336) 253-9089. CINDY’S PAINTING. Interior painting, wall-paper removal. References & free estimates available. (336) 708-9155.

PRESSURE WASHING PRESSURE WASHING, gutter & window cleaning. Fully insured. Crystal Clear, www. windowcleaningnc.com (336) 595-2873. HOUSE & ROOF SOFT WASH CLEANING. We take the hassle out of cleaning your castle. Call us today (919) 931-0856. MartinsPressureWashing.com.

REMODELING / CONSTRUCTION

Services TM Construction , INC

BUILDING | RENOVATIONS | ADDITIONS

Feature walls

(336) 644-8615 office (336) 508-5242 cell Licensed & insured NC Gen. Contractor #72797

DOUGLAS CONSTRUCTION & REMODELING, LLC. Custom Builder, sunrooms, garages, additions, kitchens baths. Licensed & Insured, BBB A+ accredited. Free est. Visit www.douglascr.com or call (336) 413-5050. RENOVATION WORKS, INC. New construction, remodeling, additions, kitchen, bath and decks. We are a locally owned, full-service design and build company, A+ accredited with the BBB. Visit www.myrenovationworks.com or call (336) 427-7391 to start your next project.

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

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

PLUMBING

GRILLS, FIRE PITS, gas logs, heaters, gas inserts, tankless water heaters. General home repairs. Call Don Hill, (336) 643-7183.

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

JLB REMODELING, INC. Remodeling and additions. Fully insured. NC GC license #69997. Free est. Call (336) 681-2902 or visit www.jlbremodeling.com. ORTIZ REMODELING – Total restoration & home improvement. Drywall, painting, kitchen cabinets, interior trim & more. Free estimates. (336) 280-8981.

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

30 years experience. Specializing in room additions, kitchens & baths, garages, vinyl siding and windows, painting, ceramic tile, laminate, hardwood and linoleum floors, and remodeling of all kinds. No job too small. Free est. Call (336) 362-7469. BELEWS CREEK CONSTRUCTION Kitchens/baths, custom decks, garages, dock work, siding, windows, roofing, rotted wood. Sr. disc., 39 years exp. (336) 362-6343.

ROOFING ROOFING. Best prices in town! Shingle and metal roofing. Top-notch quality. Res./comm., licensed & insured. Financing available. Belews Creek Construction, (336) 362-6343. CLINARD & SON ROOFING, LLC. Residential roofing, rubber flat roofs, roof coating, metal roofs. 30 years experience. Call (336) 643-8191 or (336) 580-3245. RED RHINO ROOFING, based in Oak Ridge, NC. Storm damage specialist experienced with all types of roofing. BBB accredited A and listed with Angie’s List. Call (336) 944-6118, or visit redrhinoroofing.com. KEITH SMITH CONSTRUCTION 30 years experience. Residential shingle & metal roofing. Free est. (336) 362-7469.

MISC. FOR SALE FOR SALE: VECTRA 1650 Light Commercial Home Gym. Space saving, smooth and versatile. Great condition! $2,700. Text or call (336) 508-4345. 2016 KEYSTONE RV Passport UltraLite Grand Touring, M2920 BH. 30-feet long, 5,400 lbs. empty. Queen size bed and 4 bunks, slide-out, excellent condition. $17,000. Call (336) 643-1230. TRAILER, TESH BUILT. 5X10, 215 R15 Radial, wheel stand & deluxe lights. Springassisted tailgate. $750, (336) 643-3582.

... continued on p. 30

MARCH 28 - APRIL 3, 2019

 MISC. FOR SALE

 PETS & ANIMAL SVCS.

 REAL ESTATE

SEASONED FIREWOOD, delivered and stacked, 1/2 cord, $80. Call (336) 686-6373.

LOST PET

HOMES FOR SALE

 MISC. SERVICES ERRANDS AND MORE, LLC. Providing assistance with general errands for families of all ages including senior-care services, transportation to Dr. appts., house sitting, pick-up & delivery service for Rx, meals & groceries. Additional services available. Insured. Follow us on Facebook at Errands and More, LLC. Call Pam at (336) 202-2420.

LOST ORANGE & WHITE CAT. Southard and Thomas Roads in Stokesdale area. (336) 265-1351.

PET SITTING KRISTIN'S PET SITTING, dog walking, daily visits, medications, etc. Vet tech experience. (336) 337-8172. WENDY COLLINS PET SITTING. Registered & Insured. Follow me on Facebook! Call or text, (336) 339-6845. Send in your pet photos to photos@nwobserver.com for our

Locally owned & operated

Gated access with 24/7 camera surveillance 6705 US Hwy 158, Stokesdale • (336) 643-9963 (affiliated with Stokesdale Storage)

 MISC. WANTED

Pets & Critters section in

FREE PICK-UP of unwanted riding & push mowers, tillers, golf carts, ATVs, generators, power washers, chain saws, bikes, grills, metal and electrical items, etc. (336) 689-4167.

5602 Feather Court

Otey Construction offers this versatile floor plan w/ 3,600+ sq. ft. well situated on approximately 1 acre. Main level impresses w/ 10’ ceilings & conveniently includes master bedroom suite, second BR w/ full bath and office. Large greatroom w/ fireplace, covered porch w/ grilling deck. Two more BR, second office and large bonus space on second floor. Add’l storage in unfinished basement. 3-car attached garage with people door to back yard.

Jake Letterman (336) 338-0136

Convenient location in Northern school district. Flexible floor plan with 2 bedrooms on the main. Stacked stone fireplace, Sub-Zero fridge, Wolf range, champagne massage tub and separate 4-head shower bring all the luxuries to you! Garage space for 3 cars and a lovely level, fenced yard. Connecting trail to Ridgewood pool. Offered at $525,000

Nancy J. Hess

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

the ﬁrst issue of every month.

 REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

LUXURY AND FUNCTION

PRIVATE RETREAT ON 18 ACRES!

We Help Everyone! SELLERS & BUYERS

$$$ – WILL PAY CASH for your junk or wrecked vehicle. For quote, call (336) 552-0328. HOST AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT. Looking for caring families to share in a cultural exchange by hosting a high school student attending Caldwell Academy. Transportation and meals included. Receive $1,100 monthly. For more information please contact rarnold@tbiedu.com.

CONVENIENT NORTHERN LOCATION!

VERSATILE FLOOR PLAN

6815 Brookbank Road, Summerfield

(336) 643-4248

www.ANewDawnRealty.com

Perfect harmony of luxury and function. Upscale end unit complete with elevator. Convenient location within minutes of downtown. Open floor plan, main-level office, upgraded kitchen, lower-level game room/theatre with wet bar and full bath. Not your average townhouse! Offered at $423,500

Nancy J. Hess

LAND FOR SALE LAND FOR SALE with small house.

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

Stokesdale area, (Rockingham County). 5.75 acres. Call (336) 549-9599.

REACH OUT TO

S R E D A E R 0 0 0 , 6 2

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MARCH 2828 - APRIL 3, 3, 2019 MARCH - APRIL 2019

IN OUR

special-focus section. The The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996 1996 Northwest Observer • Totally local since

Rare opportunity to obtain an 18-acre private retreat in the heart of Summerfield/Oak Ridge. Enjoy coffee while watching nature on the wraparound porch.In-law suite with separate entrance. Oversize barn for all your storage needs. $745,000

DeDe Cunningham REALTOR®/Broker NC Licensed Contractor

(336) 509-1923 dedesrealestategroup.com dedecunningham@kw.com

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

index of DISPLAY ADVERTISERS

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ACCOUNTING

DENTAL SERVICES

HOME PRODUCTS & SERVICES

ORTHODONTICS

Carlotta Lytton, CPA, PA .................... 12

DeVaney Dentistry ................................ 7

Nature’s Select ................................... 18

Olmsted Orthodontics ........................ 20

Kimberly Thacker Accounting............. 12

Summerfield Family Dentistry ............. 12

New Garden Landscaping & Nursery ... 9

Samuel K. Anders, CPA, MSA, PC...... 12

AUTOMOTIVE SALES/SERVICES Piedmont Truck Tires .......................... 10 Tire Max ............................................... 3 Vestal Buick GMC ................................ 2

BUILDING / REMODELING TM Construction Services .................. 29

CHILDREN’S SERVICES Guardian Ad Litem Program .............. 21

Old School Home Repair ................... 28

EVENTS HorseFriends Boots & Buckles Benefit..13 SFD Stop, Drop and Roll 5K ............... 11

HEALTH/FITNESS YMCA of Greensboro ......................... 19

HOME PRODUCTS & SERVICES BEK Paint Company ........................... 29 Budget Blinds ...................................... 6

Prostone Inc. ..................................... 15 Rymack Storage .................................30 Stokesdale Heating & Air...................... 8

PET SERVICES & PRODUCTS Bel-Aire Veterinary Hospital ............... 12 Northwest Animal Hospital ................ 16 Westergaard Kennels ......................... 26

REAL ESTATE

INSURANCE Justin Fulp, Farm Bureau Insurance .... 12

A New Dawn Realty ..........................30 DeDe Cunningham, Keller Williams ....30

LEGAL SERVICES

Jake Letterman, Berkshire Hathaway ...30

Barbour & Williams Law ..................... 21

Nancy Hess, BHHS Yost & Little .........30 Nicole Gillespie, RE/MAX ..................... 9

Calderon Painting & Remodeling........ 29

MEDICAL CARE

COMMUNITY INFORMATION

Carpets by Direct ............................... 22

Dove Medical Supply .......................... 14

RETAIL

Summerfield Fire Department .............. 5

Eanes Heating & Air ........................... 17

LeBauer Healthcare ......................20,23

Tabitha’s Furniture Nook ...................... 4

Find out about your community and our part of Guilford County SUMMERFIELD

COLFAX

OAK RIDGE

GUILFORD COUNTY

STOKESDALE

2019

Jam-packed with a variety of community resource information for northwest Guilford County.

In print every January and online year-round at nwobserver.com The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

Summerfield | Colfa x | Stokesdale | Oak Ridge | northwest Gree nsboro published by

MARCH 28 - APRIL 3, 2019

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Postal Patron

Oak Ridge, NC Permit No. 22

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

at Lake Junaluska. NWO on their sixth annual ski retreat CenterField Youth enjoyed reading the e UMC, led by Katie Nelson.) p of Center UMC and Summerﬁeld Peac grou h yout d bine com the is ield terF (Cen

e, and their cousin Maila Stevens Sam Stack, Marin Stack, both of Oak Ridg of the historic Palmer House, Chicago’s of Chicago check out the NWO in front most famous hotel.

ECRWSS

Becky (above) and Allen Hammitt took their NWO to Hawai’i, where they enjoyed the beautiful scenery (and wonderful weather!).

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