Northwest Observer / March 18-31, 2021 by PS Communications / Connect2 NWGuilford

March 18 - 31, 2021

bringing the local news home to northwest Guilford County since 1996

IN THIS ISSUE News in brief.............................................. 2 Your Questions

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Appeal dismissed North Carolina Court of Appeals dismisses appeal to earlier ruling relating to a lawsuit ﬁled by three Summerﬁeld citizens in May 2019 by PATTI STOKES

Who’s going to pick up all the trash? And when?

....................... 4

SUMMERFIELD – The town of Summerfield can cross one more pending lawsuit off its list, following a ruling of the North Carolina Court of Appeals this week. In a written opinion filed on

Summerfield Town Council meeting .... 6

...continued on p. 16

Parker’s: Serving meals for 62+ years..20

High school students split on remote versus in-person learning

Riding the COVID-19 roller coaster ..... 22

by CHRIS BURRITT

NWO Kids’ Korner ................................... 28

NW GUILFORD – Wearing PJs or a mask – that’s one of the choices facing high school students deciding whether to return to classes for the rest of the school year. More than half of students at Northwest Guilford High School decided to stick with remote learning, while four in 10 at Northern Guilford High School are finishing the year from home, according to principals at the schools. “We have lots of students who would rather stay at home where they do not have to wear a mask and

Oak Ridge Town Council meeting.......10 Retracing our paths ................................13 NWO Business & Real Estate ..................17 Business News..........................................18 Real Estate News/Briefs ..........................18

All-conference honors go to... ............ 30 Jump, ride, win! .......................................31 Student Profiles ....................................... 32 High School sports roundup................. 36 Crime/Incident Report .......................... 38 Community Calendar........................... 39 Grins and Gripes .................................... 40 Classifieds ............................................... 43 Index of Advertisers ................................47 NWO At Home / On the Go..................48

they can stay in their PJs all day,” said Stacy Garner, chair of Northwest Guilford’s counseling department and liaison to the senior class. “This is still not normal school, so they decided to stay home.” Starting the first week of March, high school students in Guilford County were given the option to return to classrooms for the first time in nearly a year. The onset of the COVID-19 outbreak forced the closing of schools last March, requiring the school district to switch to remote learning for all students for

...continued on p. 37

‘I did not dupe anyone’ Town resident, homebuilder seeks apology from mayor and town clerk for false accusations by PATTI STOKES STOKESDALE – Stokesdale resident and homebuilder Commie Johnson came to the March 11 town council meeting seeking an apology for statements made in an email written by Town Clerk Alisa Houk last month on behalf of Mayor John Flynt. Johnson obtained the email, which was addressed to the town’s attorney, after

...continued on p. 14

NEWS in brief  Correction OOPS! An article appearing in our March 4-17 issue incorrectly stated that NCDOT has ruled out the possibility of a four-lane divided highway for the U.S. 158 Bypass in Stokesdale. NCDOT Division 7 district engineer Archer Wright confirmed the R-5823 project (road improvements along a

two-mile stretch of highway beginning at N.C. 65’s southernmost intersection in Stokesdale, at Belews Creek Road) will definitely not be a four-lane divided section; however the U.S. 158 bypass (R-2577 C project) may be a four-lane divided highway. “But, we will not know the lane configuration for years,” Archer wrote in an email to the Northwest Observer.

Town mulls recouping Summerﬁeld Farms Village expenses by CHRIS BURRITT

Players from the 2019 Pigskin for Hodgkins smile big after the game. “Three years ago, my little sister, Karly, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Thankfully, she won her battle, but Karly’s journey inspired us to find a way to give back to the community and help other families going through the same experience. “Pigskin for Hodgkins is a charity flag football game that features two teams comprised of former high school, college, and professional athletes playing alongside other familiar faces from the area. “While the football game is the main event, Pigskin for Hodgkins is a family-friendly event that includes a silent auction, games, prizes, raffles, and food. All proceeds from the day will be used to support families battling cancer and to fund Hodgkin’s Lymphoma research.” - Hampton Billips, NWHS Class of 2014

Saturday, March 27

11:30 am gates open • 1 pm kick-off Oak Ridge Town Park 6231 Lisa Drive, Oak Ridge Admission: minimum $1 donation at the gate For more info or to donate to this cause, visit:

pigskinforhodgkins.org

MARCH 18 - 31, 2021

The Northwest Observer

SUMMERFIELD – Summerfield leaders are considering whether to seek money from developer David Couch to recoup the town’s expenses for exploring the expansion of Summerfield Farms. Couch has proposed creating a special tax district and negotiating a development agreement with the town as part of his plans for Summerfield Farms Village. The 650-acre mix of houses and businesses would require the collaboration of the town of Summerfield, the city of Greensboro and Guilford County in extending water and sewer services from Greensboro to Summerfield Farms. “The project is still being explored and the town is absorbing costs, although the project has not been submitted formally to the town,” Town Manager Scott Whitaker wrote in a memo for the Town Council’s meeting last Tuesday, March 9. Whitaker raised the possibility of the town reaching an agreement with the developer to deposit money into an account for the reimbursement of the town’s planning, legal and other expenses related to Summerfield Farms Village. Such an agreement would ensure that “we’re not eating that money for a project that may or may not come to fruition,” the manager said. Tom Terrell, a lawyer representing Couch, said in an email this week that Summerfield Farms representa•tives Totally local since 1996 haven’t seen the town’s proposed

agreement, but added that “we are willing to work with the town to defray reasonable costs.” Last September, Couch, chief executive officer of Blue Ridge Cos., unveiled plans for expanding Summerfield Farms on Pleasant Ridge Road. He said he wants to negotiate a development agreement with the council to develop the project, while creating a special tax district that would charge only property owners in his development – not other Summerfield taxpayers – for water and sewer services. Whitaker described Couch’s proposal as “an example of a complex development project” that may require Summerfield to hire specialized consultants or legal help to negotiate on the town’s behalf. At present, Whitaker said, the town has “no mechanism that allows the collection of sufficient planning fees to offset the town’s exploratory costs. A developer typically deposits a specified amount to cover exploratory expenses, and agreements sometimes contain a provision requiring additional deposits when the balance gets down to a pre-determined threshold.” The council voted 4-1 last week to defer discussion of the topic until its next monthly meeting April 13. Council member Reece Walker voted nay, saying he’d prefer to address the issue right then since the town is continually incurring expenses related to Summerfield Farms Village.

Students present art rendering for tunnel

STOKESDALE Fire Department 8401 U.S. Highway 158

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Art students Sarah Willoughby of Northern Guilford High School and Evan Edwards of Northwest Guilford High School recently presented Summerﬁeld Town Council with a rendering of a mural planned for the pedestrian tunnel under U.S. 220. The students plan to start the project April 10, transforming the concrete walls of the 110-foot-long tunnel with an “abstract, bold take on a park scene.” “We want to include lots of geo-

metric shapes and bold colors not typically found in nature, yet synonymous with the four different seasons,” the students told the council at its March 9 meeting. The rendering (a segment of which is shown above) depicts cyclists, a runner and a dog walker against a backdrop of dark brown trees and a sky of triangular shapes in various shades of blue. Changing colors of the leaves will denote the different seasons.

Bandera Farms trails estimated to cost as much as $1.7 million

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Photo courtesy of Piedmont Land Conservancy

The Bandera Farms tract in Summerﬁeld offers a sweeping view as one of the highest elevations in Guilford County. The property is being developed for equestrian and hiking trails.

by CHRIS BURRITT SUMMERFIELD – A network of equestrian, running and cycling trails planned for Bandera Farms will cost $1.6 to $1.7 million over the next 10 to 15 years, according to a presentation by the

CH UR E CH ANC TR EN

A presentation by the Piedmont Land Conservancy lays out plans for creating recreational area and preserving open space

The Northwest Observer ...continued on p. 5 • Totally local since 1996

. PT DE NCE E A FIR TR EN FIRE DEPT.

HIGHWAY 158

MARCH 18 - 31, 2021

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

OUR TEAM Patti Stokes, editor/publisher Laura Reneer, marketing manager Kelli Jessup, publisher’s assistant Rene Collins, administrative assistant Yvonne Truhon, graphic designer Leon Stokes, IT director Lucy Smith, finance manager Linda Schatz and Tom McCoy, distribution Chris Burritt, staff writer; Helen Ledford, Meredith Barkley, Lily Pierce and Annette Joyce, contributing writers

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 Correction

OOPS! An answer to a question in the March 4-17 issue stated that Air Force One planes had not been practicing touch-and-go procedures at Piedmont Triad International Airport for about 10 years. The statement should have read: “It’s very cool to have them here,” said (PTI executor director Kevin) Baker, explaining that the U.S. Air Force planes have been practicing at PTI for about 10 years. They come about once a month, he said. We apologize for the error.

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Adobe Stock photo

NCDOT reports that paid crews, contractors and volunteers have picked up about 2.15 million pounds of litter along roads throughout the state since the beginning of this year. Besides paid staff and contractors, the department relies on volunteers to help with litter management through its Sponsor-A-Highway, Adopt-A-Highway and semi-annual Litter Sweep programs.

Our area roads are looking mighty trashy, and I was curious if the prisons still bring inmates out to pick up garbage on the roadsides.

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MARCH 18 - 31, 2021

Tracy Williams, attorney

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

I realize they may not be doing that because of COVID, but are there any plans in place to pick up trash, or will it just continue to get worse – it’s looking pretty bad along N.C. 68!

We spoke with Antoine White, county maintenance engineer for North Carolina Department of Transportation’s District 7, this week and he told us the local NCDOT office in Greensboro no longer uses inmates to pick up trash in Guilford County. The department uses its own crews and contractors for litter cleanup, Road, Suite E-3 and White8004 said heLinville will send someone out to assess litter along the roadsides in our part of the county. barbourwilliams.co In a press release we received this week, NCDOT reported that crews, contractors and volunteers have collected more than 2 million pounds of litter from roadsides statewide this year. “We are only just beginning this year’s efforts to clean up and prevent litter on our roadsides,” said state Transportation Secretary Eric Boyette. “But we need everyone’s help. We all are responsible for keeping North Carolina clean and beautiful.” NCDOT uses both employees and contracted companies statewide to Tracy Williams, attorney remove roadside litter. The department also has a Sponsor-A-Highway Program which allows businesses, organizations

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and individuals to sponsor litter removal along roadsides, and it partners with more than 120,000 participants in the Adopt-A-Highway Program, where volunteers pledge to clean a section of our highways at least four times a year. North Carolinians looking to help keep the state’s roadways clean can also volunteer for the upcoming Spring Litter

Sweep, which will run from April 10-24. For more information about NCDOT’s Sponsor-A-Highway, Adopt-A-Highway and Spring Litter Sweep programs, visit www.ncdot.gov and type “litter management” in the Search bar. On this same website you can also report people who you see littering.

NEWS in brief ...continued from p. 3 Piedmont Land Conservancy (PLC). The organization purchased the 115 acres on Bunch Road at Interstate 73 for $575,000 in December, with financial contributions from Summerfield, Oak Ridge, the city of Greensboro and Guilford County. The PLC is now planning the development of the rolling, wooded land with about five miles of trails envisioned for horseback riders and hikers. “You could easily spend two hours on your horse exploring the trails,” Palmer McIntyre, the PLC’s conservation planner, said in a Facebook Live presentation last month. She’s spearheading the project with help from Destination by Design, a recreational trails design firm based in Boone, North Carolina. Aside from developing trails, the project envisions protecting Greensboro’s water supply and preserving open space with some of the highest views in the county, McIntyre said. “There are now 115 acres in an area that is rapidly growing,” she said. “You can drive out to any of the roads in this area of the county and see housing developments going up all of the time.” The property is bordered by Reedy Fork Creek, creating a floodplain along which the Piedmont Greenway will eventually run. The path will stretch 19 miles from Greensboro to WinstonSalem through Summerfield and Kernersville. The asphalt greenway will accommodate runners, walkers and cyclists, while the natural-surface trails looping through the property will handle horses and hikers, McIntyre said. Horseback riding trails in state and county parks typically follow old farm

and logging roads. By contrast, the trails in Bandera Farms will be “purpose-built for equestrians” with wooden bridges and boardwalks traversing creeks and wet areas, McIntrye said. Plans call for two parking lots on Bunch Road, with the design for equestrian parking incorporating suggestions from horseback riders surveyed by the PLC. The parking lot for riders will allow trucks and trailers to pull in and out so they won’t have to back up their rigs. Mounting blocks will help riders get on and off of their horses, with accommodations for disabled riders. A separate parking lot will serve visitors who want to walk and cycle on the greenway and play in an adventure playground. Restrooms, the play area and paths will also comply with requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, McIntyre said. Development of the property is planned over three phases, starting with construction of the trailhead on Bunch Road followed by the development of the trails and the eventual paving of the mile-long greenway, according to McIntyre. The PLC owns the property and will eventually transfer it to the town of Summerfield for permanent ownership and management. The pace of development will depend upon fundraising by the PLC and the town, McIntyre said. They plan to seek grant funding from the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, which requires a dollar-for-dollar match from local The Northwest Observer • organizations.

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MARCH 18 - 31, 2021

SUMMERFIELD town council

March 9 / MEETING HIGHLIGHTS as reported by CHRIS BURRITT Mayor BJ Barnes called the monthly meeting to order, with Mayor Pro Tem Tim Sessoms and council members John O’Day, Lynne Williams DeVaney, Teresa Pegram and Reece Walker present. Sessoms offered the invocation and DeVaney led the Pledge of Allegiance. The council limited attendance to the meeting in Summerfield Community Center due to public gathering restrictions related to COVID-19. The deliberations were livestreamed on the town’s Facebook page, where a recording is available for viewing. Pegram voted against accepting the meeting agenda and the open-session minutes of the council’s Feb. 9 and 13 meetings. While other council members approved the consent agenda, Pegram cited what she called a lack of public involvement in town affairs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

PUBLIC SAFETY Summerfield Fire District. The fire district reported it responded to 192 calls in February, including 55 fire-related calls, 57 EMS-related calls and 80 other calls. Citizens were urged to place fire pits

and grills at least 10 feet away from their houses, shrubs and low-hanging tree limbs.

Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s District 1 office reported it processed 121 calls in Summerfield last month; of those, 43 calls related to burglar alarms being set off, eight were reports of suspicious activity and three involved accidents resulting in personal injuries.

PUBLIC COMMENTS  Dwayne Crawford asked town staff to provide a financial audit trail for a $1,500 check paid to Summerfield three years ago by a group of residents seeking to amend the town’s comprehensive plan. In 2017, the town wrote a $1,500 refund check to Crawford and Pegram, who were co-chairs of the Save our Summerfield Committee. However, they refused to accept the refund, saying that doing so would indicate they were rescinding their request for the council to amend the comprehensive plan. Crawford reiterated the position in his comments during the March 9 council meeting.

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WHAT they voted on, and HOW they voted: Mayor Pro Tem Tim Sessoms and council members John O’Day, Lynne Williams DeVaney, Teresa Pegram and Reece Walker voted on the following items during the March 9 council meeting. Mayor BJ Barnes was present, but in Summerfield the mayor votes only to break a tie.

 4  1: Approve (Pegram opposed) the rezoning of nearly 13.4 acres on U.S. 220 where the town of Summerfield plans to build a new town hall

 4  1: Appoint (Pegram opposed) Andrew Broom and Barbara Mendoza to three-year terms on the Board of Adjustment  5  0: Appoint Anthony Donato as an alternate to the Board of Adjustment for a three-year term  5  0: Appoint Ginger Lambrecht to the Trails and Open Space Com-

mittee for a two-year term ending July 2023

 5  0: Change the town’s personnel policy to pay staff for full, regular hours when Town Hall is closed for an entire day due to adverse weather  4  1: Reduce (Pegram opposed) the size of the proposed extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) around Summerfield

 4  1: Authorize (Pegram opposed) town staff to work with the Summerfield Fire District to identify potential sites and costs for the installation of water tanks for firefighting

 5  0: Schedule a Zoning Board public hearing mid-April to hear residents’ views about the proposed UDO (unified development ordinance)  5  0: Allow Revolution Academy to open to students Thursday, March 11, provided student drop-off and pick-up is staggered Barnes instructed Whitaker to document on the town’s website the information sought by Crawford. Walker added the documentation should explain how the town handled the group’s request for the comprehensive plan to be amended, including its consideration by the Zoning Board.  Former Summerfield mayor Gail Dunham urged the council to reject plans by developer David Couch to expand residential and commercial development around Summerfield Farms. Even though Couch hasn’t presented a formal proposal to the town, he has said he wants to build a range of housing from townhomes to houses costing $2 million. “Most people do not want Summerfield to be Greensboro,” Dunham said. “If you want to be just like Greensboro,

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

please move there.”  Don Wendelken asked Town Manager Scott Whitaker whether he had received his application for “the town manager’s position in the future.” Whitaker said he could address the topic later but didn’t revisit it during the meeting. Wendelken alluded to the possibility of changes in town staff depending upon the outcome of the council election in November. “The position isn’t open,” said Wendelken, referring to the town manager’s post. “But at some point in the future I’m sure it will” be. Wendelken encouraged other people to apply for town jobs “because you never

...continued on p. 8

Summerﬁeld Fire District

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E SAFETY

Upcoming Event

Summerfield Fire Department is hosting our first ever Easter Hoppin’ Drive-Thru on March 28 at 2 p.m. We can’t wait to see you at this event, which will feature our fire truck chute for the Easter Bunny to hand out candy-filled Easter eggs.

Have a happy and safe Easter!

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Enjoy your fire – safely! Place fire pits at least 10 feet away from your house and anything else that can burn. Place a metal screen over wood-burning fires to keep sparks from drifting away. Have a fire extinguisher, garden hose, and/or buckets of sand or dirt handy in case of emergency.

Spring ﬁre season, March-May

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NC Forest Service urges residents to:

Bleach and ammonia produce a toxic gas called chloramine. It causes shortness of breath and chest pain.

BLEACH + RUBBING ALCOHOL

Bleach and rubbing alcohol makes chloroform, which is highly toxic.

HYDROGEN PEROXIDE + VINEGAR

This combination makes peracetic/peroxyacetic acid, which can be highly corrosive.

Have questions about the operations of Summerﬁeld Fire District? Please feel free to contact us at (336) 643-4341.

We love to hear from our citizens!

Extinguish your fire before leaving the backyard. Store fire pit materials like wood, matches and lighters out of children’s reach. Closely watch children when fire pits are in use, especially for roasting marshmallows or other treats.

“When the wind is churnin’, don’t be burnin’”

BLEACH + VINEGAR

A bleach and vinegar mixture produces chlorine gas, which can cause coughing, breathing problems, burning and watery eyes.

EMERGENCY DIAL 911

Spring is also a time when people do a lot of yard work that often includes burning yard debris and leaves. The months of March through May are typically known as “spring fire season” and residents are urged to exercise caution before you consider any burning. Contact NC Forest Service if you are unsure it is safe to burn. • Consider alternatives to burning yard debris such as leaves and grass, which may be more valuable if composted. • Check with your local NC Forest Service Office for local laws on burning debris. Some communities allow burning only during specific hours; others forbid it entirely. • Make sure you have an approved burning permit, which can be obtained at any Summerfield Fire Station or online at http://ncforestservice.gov.

• Don’t burn if weather conditions are dry or windy. • Only burn natural vegetation from your property (burning household trash or man-made materials is illegal). • Keep fire tools ready. To control the fire, you will need a hose, bucket, a steel rake and a shovel for tossing dirt on the fire. • Never use flammable liquids such as kerosene, gasoline or diesel fuel to speed burning. • Stay with your fire until it is completely out. Debris burning is the No. 1 cause of wildfires in North Carolina.

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Visit us online at summerﬁeldﬁre.com and click “Community” for information about volunteering

SUMMERFIELD TOWN COUNCIL ...continued from p. 6 know what happens in an election year.” O’Day asked staff members whether they viewed Wendelken’s comments as a threat. “I do,” finance officer Dee Hall said.

PEDESTRIAN TUNNEL ART

Art students Sarah Willoughby of Northern Guilford High School and Evan Edwards of Northwest Guilford High School presented a rendering of a mural planned for the pedestrian tunnel under U.S. 220. Students from both schools intend to start the project April 10, transforming the concrete walls of the 110-foot-long tunnel with an “abstract, bold take on a park scene,” according to the students’ presentation, which drew praise from council members. “We want to include lots of geometric shapes and bold colors not typically found in nature, yet synonymous with the four different seasons,” the students said.

The rendering depicts cyclists, a runner and dog walker against a backdrop of dark brown trees and a sky of triangular shapes in various shades of blue. Changing colors of the leaves will denote the different seasons. Noting that students from the two schools don’t typically interact, Willoughby said the mural will convey “the idea that, although many things change through the seasons, the community remains the same.”

PUBLIC HEARING  4  1 (Pegram opposed) to

approve the rezoning of nearly 13.4 acres on U.S. 220 where the town of Summerfield plans to build a new town hall. The town’s rezoning request proposed about 15 uses for the property other than as the site for the town hall; potential uses include a library, museum, public park and trails, according to the rezoning request.

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Other proposed uses – a swimming pool, police station, emergency center and water cistern for fire protection – signal how Summerfield may eventually develop the tract at 7818 Summerfield Road. A public recreation facility, sports and recreation club, church, newsstand, and a site for temporary events, such as Founders’ Day, are other possible uses. During the public hearing, Wendelken criticized what he described as limited participation by the public in planning for the town hall. Barnes, Sessoms, DeVaney, O’Day and Walker said they have received no phone calls from residents objecting to the process for building the facility. By contrast, Pegram said she’s heard from residents who suggested town leaders consider different town-owned property for the town hall. They recommended selling the tract on U.S. 220 instead of building on it, she said. It was the town’s second rezoning proposal for the property, bounded by U.S. 220 to the east, N.C. 150 to the south and Summerfield Road to the west, near the current town hall. The new 9,000-square-foot facility is estimated to cost $3.5 million. Efforts to rezone the site suffered a setback last month, when the council voted 3-2 to withdraw town staff’s request to rezone the property for general business. The council’s vote concurred with the Zoning Board’s earlier opposition to the rezoning out of concern it might invite unwanted development along the highway. Earlier this month, the Zoning Board unanimously recommended the council approve the request to rezone the property for a general business district with conditions. It was zoned for two residential classifications – RS-30 and town core district.

MANAGER’S REPORT Appointments

 4  1 (Pegram opposed) to appoint Andrew Broom and Barbara Mendoza to three-year terms on the Board of Adjustment (BOA).  5  0 to appoint Anthony

Donato as an alternate to the BOA for

The Northwest Observer •three Totally local since 1996 years.

 5  0 to appoint Ginger Lam-

brecht to the Trails and Open Space Committee for a two-year term ending July 2023. Her husband, Paul, already serves on the committee.

Personnel policy changes

 5  0 to change the town’s per-

sonnel policy to pay staff for full, regular hours when Town Hall is closed for an entire day due to bad weather. Previously, the policy required employees to use vacation or sick leave for the day off. Barnes said he’d expect employees to be available to conduct business by phone on days when Town Hall is closed because of adverse weather.

 5  0 to remove from the personnel policy the stipulation that staff can’t take less than four hours at a time for vacation. The change allows employees to use shorter increments of time for activities such as doctor’s appointments and events at their children’s schools. Community Center rental The council instructed staff to rework proposed rules for renting the Summerfield Community Center, which is now owned by the town. A draft application and rental agreement presented by Whitaker states the facility on Centerfield Road isn’t available for commercial uses, politically related events or religious services. Barnes said he’d favor renting to an organization raising money for a church or veterans, but not for the Communist Party. Prohibiting religious services would prevent a Summerfield congregation from renting the center, for instance, after losing their church due to a fire, he said.

The town would open itself to legal challenges under the First Amendment, which guarantees the rights of religion, free speech and peaceful assembly, if it were to rent the center to certain groups and not others, according to Town Attorney Bob Hornik.

“If you let the Republicans or Democrats or Green Party do it, you can’t say no to the Communist Party or the Nazi Party,” he said. “You’re better off just saying no to that kind of activity.”

annexation of that area by the city of Greensboro raises the possibility of higher density housing allowed by the city’s zoning rules abutting Summerfield’s limits, Walker said.

Rental policies typically allow nonprofit groups such as the Scouts to raise money, Hornik said, while preventing commercial operations such as food trucks and T-shirt vendors.

Pegram objected to establishing an ETJ, saying “it sounds like a dictatorship” because property owners would fall under Summerfield’s zoning and development rules without the right to vote in town elections. Owners in the ETJ area would not be subject to Summerfield taxes.

“I think this might need a little more work,” said Walker, joining other council members directing staﬀ to revise rental policies not only for the center but also for facilities at town parks. Separately, Whitaker reported that a contractor replaced the roof of the community center. Staff is trying to determine how to make the two bathrooms in the facility compliant with Americans with Disabilities requirements, he said. Sessoms, DeVaney and O’Day agreed to work with staff on setting priorities for renovating the facility. Earlier, the council discussed projects such as replacing appliances, doors, paneling, flooring and lighting.

COUNCIL’S REPORT

Extraterritorial jurisdiction

 4  1 (Pegram opposed) to reduce the size of the proposed extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) around Summerfield.

The move followed the council’s decision in January to ask Guilford County to cede zoning control over a two-mile-wide band of property so the town can regulate the density of residential development on the town’s borders. Under the initial proposal, the ETJ would contain land beyond Summerfield’s northern, eastern and southern boundaries. During last week’s meeting, Walker suggested establishing the ETJ in phases, initially focusing on property south of N.C. 150 that contains large tracts of undeveloped land around Lake Brandt and Plainfield roads. Potential

Property owners in the ETJ would be represented on the town’s Zoning Board and Board of Adjustment. As an alternative, Pegram said, property owners could seek voluntary annexation, giving them the right to vote and the requirement to pay property taxes in Summerfield. Walker said developers such as Summerfield Farms owner David Couch own property outside of town limits with the potential for development at higher density than allowed by Summerfield regulations.

“How that (land) is developed is of great concern to me,” he said. “I’d like for those folks to play by Summerfield’s rules.” Water and fire protection

 4  1 (Pegram opposed) to

authorize town staff to work with Summerfield Fire District to identify potential sites and costs for the installation of water tanks for firefighting. Walker, a Summerfield fireman, identified six possible sites for tanks: the town-owned property on U.S. 220 proposed for the new town hall; Scalesville Road and Windspray Drive; N.C. 150 and Strader Road; Lake Brandt Road and N.C. 150; Stanley Huff and Bunch roads; and Henson Forest Drive and N.C. 150. The town would pay for the tanks and pumps with the state legislature’s TheofNorthwest appropriation roughly $1.1Observer million

of unspent funds coming back to the town of Summerfield from the study of a regional water system in northwestern Guilford County. Placement of tanks would put water closer to neighborhoods in the event of a fire, Walker said. At present, fire tankers fill up at water points such as ponds, tying up equipment and personnel that otherwise could be fighting fires, he said. Aside from installing tanks, Walker urged the council to adopt an ordinance requiring developers to build water tanks for new subdivisions with more than 14 lots. Pegram said Summerfield Fire District should pay for water tanks, using

tax revenue it collects from residents.

UDO update

 5  0 to schedule a Zoning Board public hearing during the second or third week of April to hear residents’ views about the proposed UDO (unified development ordinance). The UDO is an update of regulations governing residential and commercial development. Council members decided to hold the public hearing sooner than the board’s monthly meeting April 26 to expedite review and adoption of the UDO by the council. Meanwhile, the town has scheduled a public information meeting and open house for the draft UDO at 6 p.m. this Thursday, March 18. ...continued on p. 42

[

Parks, Trails, & Open Space Master Plan Presentation Tuesday, March 23, 7:00pm, Zoom The Town is developing a master plan for parks, trails, and open space and recently solicited community feedback as part of the process. The consultant (WithersRavenel) will share the results of the survey data, along with draft recommendations, during this presentation. Due to COVID, this meeting will be virtual via Zoom. Access details are on the Town website calendar or by emailing clerk@summereldnc.gov.

Check the website and Facebook page for potential updates. w w w. s u m m e r f i e l d n c . g o v 336-643-8655

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MARCH 18 - 31, 2021

OAK RIDGE town council

March 4 / MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

PROCLAMATION Female Eagle Scouts. Schneider read a proclamation honoring Troop 219G members Caroline Ruppel, Alexandra Santiago and Samantha Poole for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout and being members of the inaugural group of female recipients; Selby Chipman was also part of the group, but was not able to attend the meeting. BSA began accepting girls in 2018.

PUBLIC SAFETY Sheriff’s Office. First Lt. Jeremy Fuller reported deputies responded to 85 calls in Oak Ridge in February; they included 19 burglar alarms, seven reports of suspicious activity and one larceny.

Fuller urged landscapers, tree surgeons and residents who work outdoors to secure their chainsaws, mowers and other power equipment to prevent them from being stolen. He also recommended that owners record the serial numbers on their tools to share with police in the event they’re stolen.

Oak Ridge Fire Department. Assistant Chief Sam Anders said firefighters responded to three chimney fires last month. He suggested homeowners hire professionals to inspect and clean their chimneys before using them each winter. Anders also cautioned homeowners to refrain from cutting up fallen trees after ice storms when they’re in the vicinity of downed utility lines. Touching a live electrical line can lead to injury or death, he said. The fire department didn’t provide its typically detailed report listing the number of fire-related and emergencyrelated calls and training hours.

MANAGER’S REPORT  5  0 to approve the appointment

of Barbara Engel and Courtenay Harton as full members of the Historic Preservation Commission.

 5  0 to approve Oak Ridge’s participation in the North Carolina

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motion, based upon Town Attorney Michael Thomas’ view that the council may want to direct the P&Z Board to examine the request.

NEW BUSINESS

The council unanimously approved an amended motion to that effect.

Private road request

as reported by CHRIS BURRITT Mayor Ann Schneider called the monthly meeting in Town Hall to order, with council members George McClellan, Doug Nodine and Martha Pittman present. Mayor Pro Tem Jim Kinneman participated remotely. The meeting was livestreamed on the Town of Oak Ridge’s YouTube page, which is linked to its Facebook page. Milana Nostrand, a member of Boy Scouts of America’s (BSA) Troop 219G, offered the invocation; afterward, she and other members of the all-girls BSA troop led the Pledge of Allegiance.

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Schneider said she wants to know whether homeowners on Hidden View and Zoning Board to investigate a Drive have talked to the Beesons about request by homeowners on Hidden the possible negative impact on their View Drive to turn the public property. She also said she road into a private street. wants to know whether The council decided the homeowners are NEXT MEETING to table a resolution aware of town rules Thursday, April 1 • 7pm to hold a public regarding private Visit website for details hearing on posroads. sibly ending the CONTACT YOUR TOWN “I don’t want road’s dedication to trample on (336) 644-7009 as a public right either our own ssmith@oakridgenc.com of way. Instead, it ordinances or on www.oakridgenc.com instructed the P&Z any individual landBoard to examine the owner’s rights in order request by homeowners to serve the desires and before the council decides requests of another group of whether to schedule a hearing. landowners,” the mayor said. “I have some serious reservations Conservation easements about the validity of the request,” said  5  0 to approve the recomPittman, echoing concerns by other mendations of the town’s Conservation council members. Easement Committee for the preserNorthwest of Oak Ridge, Hidden vation of open space and historical View Drive runs 1.1 miles from Haw structures. River Road to a stub street ending at The council voted to create a per93 acres owned by Danny Beeson, Kay manent committee to extend the work Beeson and Linda Shields, according of the temporary committee, which was to a report by Sean Taylor, the town’s created in 2019 to explore steps for the planning director. town to help owners protect their propTurning the road from public to prierty and structures with easements. vate “could possibly limit development The council also instructed town opportunities for that property,” Taylor staff to earmark as much as $20,000 in said. the proposed budget for the fiscal year Dedicating the street as a private starting July 1 to cover legal, adminisroad would be “like creating one long trative and other upfront costs to help cul- de-sac,” violating town regulations, owners establish easements. McClellan said. Town Manager Bill Bruce told “It is against our ordinances,” he Nodine the town wouldn’t incur ongosaid. “It is also an infringement upon ing costs for helping owners maintain the Beeson property. I can’t think of a easements after initial expenses. Ownsingle good reason to close this road.” ers would be responsible for paying McClellan offered a motion to reject organizations such as the Piedmont Land Conservancy and Preservation the request for a public hearing. No North Carolina to monitor and enforce other council members seconded his

 5  0 to instruct the Planning

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the easements into perpetuity. “This is a strategic planning goal to help encourage open space and historic structure easements,” Schneider said. “This grows out of residents’ concerns that the town balance strong development trends with efforts to conserve open space.”

Voluntary annexation

 5  0 to approve a voluntary

annexation policy for areas south and southeast of the town limits. A map prepared by town staff at the council’s instruction shows areas of possible voluntary annexation east and west of N.C. 68. The areas are bisected by North Bunker Hill Road, Ballard Road, Edgefield Road, Alcorn Road and Northwest School Road. State law prohibits involuntary annexation of property. As a result, all property owners in a subdivision would be required to request annexation before Oak Ridge could proceed with it, explained Bruce, who added, “We can’t take subdivisions piecemeal.” Individuals who own property outside of subdivisions would also be eligible for voluntary annexation, Bruce said. That includes areas already located in Oak Ridge’s extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ). Town staff plans to advertise that Oak Ridge is accepting applications for voluntary annexation. Property owners who apply by May 1 will be eligible for annexation next fiscal year (starts July 1). Property owners who apply after May 1 would be eligible for annexation in the following fiscal year starting July 1, 2022.

“We need to constantly remind people that this is voluntary,” Kinneman said. “This is not a land grab. So if they want to become part of Oak Ridge, they can. If they don’t, they don’t.”

Property owners annexed into the town would pay Oak Ridge property taxes and be covered by the town’s planning and zoning rules; they would also be eligible to vote for Oak Ridge elected officials and to serve on town boards and committees. Oak Ridge’s ETJ is already covered by the town’s planning and zoning rules, which would be extended to other newly annexed areas.

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Water project funding

 4  1 (Nodine opposed) to

approve how the town may spend $1.15 million in state appropriations for water-related projects over the next year and a half. The proposed scope of work endorsed by the town’s Water Subcommittee lays out four projects related to the possible establishment of a municipal water system in Oak Ridge. First, the town may buy community wells and well distribution systems in the Shiloh, Autumn Ridge, Carriage Cove and Knight’s Landing subdivisions. Those systems are owned by Envirolink Inc., a contractor that has proposed operating the municipal system. The wells would “serve as the foundation of the town’s future water system, providing municipal control of water resources and offering the potential for future interconnections,” according to the scope of work that Oak Ridge plans to submit to the North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management. The state agency is administering the $1.15 million appropriation. It must approve Oak Ridge’s proposed scope of work and budget before the town would be eligible for the full amount, Town Manager Bill Bruce told the council in a Feb. 26 memo. Any funds not spent or encumbered by June 30, 2022, must be returned to the state. Oak Ridge also proposed purchasing an inventory of parts and equipment, such as one or more generators, for the maintenance and operation of community wells.

...continued on p. 12

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OAK RIDGE TOWN COUNCIL ...continued from p. 11 Third, the town plans to conduct a feasibility study and preliminary engineering and possibly start constructing water mains to connect well systems. Finally, the town plans to explore future water priorities, such as the feasibility of building a storage facility for water for firefighting. “Our goal is to gain access to these funds,” said Schneider. She added that town leaders are “trying to throw the net out as widely as possible” so that if Oak Ridge doesn’t proceed with all elements of the proposal, such as the purchase of community wells, it would be able to move forward with other aspects.

“I think it is foolish for us to do this,” said Nodine, who has opposed establishing a municipal water system since its proposal by then-Mayor Spencer Sullivan almost two years ago.

“It seems like kind of bad practice to spend money when you don’t know what the system is or what it is going to cost,” he said. Pittman countered that the council wasn’t committing to spending the state appropriation, but instead engaging

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town’s budget by $6,120 to cover higher unemployment costs for staff and higher expenses for website hosting fees.

Oak Ridge, Summerfield and Stokesdale each got $1.15 million from the General Assembly after it divided among the towns nearly $3.5 million of unspent funding that had been allocated for the study of a regional water system in northwestern Guilford County.

COMMUNITY UPDATES

Veterans’ site

Finance Committee. Chair John Jenkins said the committee has begun preparing the proposed budget for FY2021-22, and he and other committee members were “pleasantly surprised” by the town’s anticipated revenue for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1.

ceptual design for the site honoring veterans planned for the Whitaker property.

Special Events Committee. Vice Chair Caroline Ruch said the committee plans to prepare a formal fundraising plan for the veterans’ site by April 1.

 5  0 to approve the final con-

The design by Revington/Reeves, a Greensboro-based landscape architecture and planning firm, shows a curved concrete sidewalk leading to the circular site with granite monuments honoring the different military branches. Benches and seating areas are included, as well as a lawn for events, according to Caroline Ruch, vice chair of the Special Events Committee.

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As part of fundraising efforts, the committee will sell pavers inscribed with the names of veterans for a path known as the Walk of Honor.

As the committee considers a name for the site, it’s refraining from using the word “memorial” since it will honor living as well as deceased veterans. Council members praised the design and thanked the committee and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board for their efforts. Last month, the council committed to providing $68,000 in matching funds over two years to help the committee meet its goal of $150,000, the estimated cost for the project.

FINANCIAL UPDATE  5  0 to approve Finance Offi-

cer Sam Anders’ request to amend the

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Mountains-to-Sea Trail. Co-chairs Anne Steele and Bill Royal reported the committee met with representatives of the Piedmont Land Conservancy about planning for the connection of future trails on the Bandera Farms property. The 115-acre tract on Bunch Road is under development by the PLC as a horseback-riding preserve. Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. Co-chairs John Garrett and John Browning reported the board has received 47 suggestions for names for the Whitaker property on Linville Road.

COUNCIL COMMENTS  McClellan said he’s heartened by the widening distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines. “I think there’s a lot of hope,” he said.  “We are turning a corner” in fighting the coronavirus pandemic, Kinneman said, while urging people to continue wearing masks and following other safety steps.  Nodine thanked people for attending the meeting.  Pittman said she’s pleased the Special Events Committee plans to resume Music in the Park at the town park in coming months.  Schneider thanked town staff for their professionalism in preparing items for the meeting’s agenda. With no further council comments, the meeting was adjourned at 9:16 p.m.

Turning back the calendar and retracing our paths by HELEN LEDFORD Measurements of time have been recorded since prehistoric days when men scratched lines, squiggles and other images on cave walls. When I was a little farm girl, we marked time on wall calendars, whereas now most folks keep significant records of importance on their cell phones or other modern devices. When hunger began to gnaw at our innards while we were working in the fields, we didn’t need a timepiece to tell us it when it was time to eat, for old “Sol” stood straight overhead in the sky as an indication of the noon hour. Our watches and alarm clocks had to be wound manually. Life seemed so much less complicated then (and it really was!). At the end of each December, businesses in town offered free calendars imprinted with their logos. They were an excellent opportunity – and effective way – to show appreciation to customers. In our small town, there was C. B. Rogers mercantile, Alec’s Cafe, Hooper’s Feed and Seed and Richardson’s Barber Shop, to name a few. The latter had a catchy motto: “We need your head in our business!”). But our most favored one was kept on the wall in Mama’s room; it was courtesy of the town pharmacy, over decades simply known as “the drugstore.” The drugstore’s calendar was not a fancy one, but

was popular partly because its bold black numbers could be read easily across the room. And there was an added bonus – the popular old standby, “Farmer’s Almanac.” Moon phases and detailed planting tips were valuable pieces of information for country dwellers who planted crops and gardens faithfully by the moon and planet “signs.” Holidays were printed in bright red – thus dubbed by our mother as “red-letter days.” Those scarlet numerals were reminders that rural mail carriers would not be stopping at our postal box on those days. It is also a long-gone era when George Washington and Abe Lincoln’s birthdays were not squeezed into one “President’s Day” holiday like two pickles in a jar! Their noble likenesses were artfully displayed on the February page – each on his own calendar square – with the “Father of Our Country” honored on

Feb. 22 and “Honest Abe” on the 12th. On this “drugstore calendar” were many advertisements for remedies to ease ladies’ afflictions – Cardui, Lydia Pinkham’s herbal supplement, etc. Other medicinal products featured were Carter’s Little Liver Pills, castor oil and Rawleigh salve, good for rubbing the chest when wintertime brought flu, croup or bouts of bronchitis. I don’t recall any females in our family ever using any Lydia Pinkham’s or Cardui for monthly miseries. However, Mama swore by another calendar advertisement product – Black Draught laxative tablets, derived from dried senna leaves (yuk!) She let us children have coffee (a small amount), laced with plenty of fresh milk and mixed with senna, which was supposed to “clean you out.” And from experience, I can confirm it worked! After drinking that awful, greenish “cocktail,” our path to the outhouse became quite well-traveled for several hours! Other terms for those unpleasant results were “back-door-trots” or “green apple two-step.” My siblings and I dreaded with a passion the twice-a-year (spring

...continued on p. 42

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‘I DIDN’T DUPE ANYONE’ ...continued from p. 1 submitting a public records request. At the end of a long, intense discussion, Johnson received his apologies – but not before sparks flew and three former council members had their say in the matter. The email related to a waiver the town’s Planning Board approved last November; the waiver allowed Johnson, who co-owns Johnson & Lee, to build three duplexes on Notees Lane, beside four duplexes his company had previously built. Entering and exiting the new homes from Notees Lane would prevent having several more driveways off Haw River Road, Johnson explained to the Planning Board in November, and again to the town council when he addressed them last week. The Planning Board’s waiver approval created unexpected controversy, however, which began when

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Flynt filed an appeal to the board’s decision on Dec. 3. At the council’s Jan. 13 meeting, the mayor was taken to task by fellow council members Derek Foy and Jimmy Landreth for filing an appeal without consulting the rest of the council. If Flynt didn’t file his appeal as the mayor, but rather as a private citizen, he would have had to pay a $200 filing fee, which he did not. Flynt told his fellow council members the town planner told him he did not need to pay the filing fee. “He assumed I was filing as a member of the council and said basically I would be taking money from the town of Stokesdale and paying it back to the town of Stokesdale,” Flynt said. Explaining the reason for his appeal, Flynt said the town’s development ordinance allows for up to four lots on a private drive, which Notees Lane is. When the number of lots on Notees Lane increased from four to seven, it automatically made the subdivision a major rather than a minor one, he said, claiming the Planning Board subsequently made “three egregious mistakes” when approving the waiver request. The town council wasn’t convinced, however, and voted 3-2 at the Jan. 13 meeting to deny Flynt’s appeal. The mayor then said he would take his appeal to Guilford County Superior Court; no appeal has been filed as of the date of this article. Besides Flynt’s appeal, the email Houk wrote to the town attorney also referenced previous actions Johnson had taken and insinuated they were questionable and perhaps even illegal. When addressing the council last week, Johnson took issue with his reputation being called into question. During the period for Citizen Comments, he read Houk’s email out loud,

becoming emotional at times as he came upon statements that he had been previously allowed “to run his water lines a little unconventional and not to proper specs…

“I didn’t dupe anyone and I don’t appreciate being accused of doing so,” Johnson said, then offered to share copies of cancelled checks he had written for eight meters.

“Somehow Commie, and quite possibly (former) Mayor Braswell duped the then deputy clerk,” the email read.

Continuing, Johnson read from the email, “Basically, John (Flynt) is wanting to know if the town has any way of going back to Commie Johnson for this illegal wrongdoing and to reiterate his (the mayor’s) reason for appealing the Notees waiver …”

“There isn’t very much in this email that was true,” Johnson said, emphasizing phrases including “a little unconventional” and “It was never brought to council.” He then shared copies of letters he had retained from an engineer with N.C. Department of Environmental and Natural Resources in which he outlined what he had planned for a subdivision underway at that time. “The response from the engineer was, ‘As long as the service is for domestic/potable use only and no further extension … we would not object as long as the town considers this is a service line.” As for a request for a gang meter assembly for the first four duplexes he built on Notees Lane, Johnson read minutes from a June 25 special council meeting in which the council unanimously approved the request. “The clerk’s email goes on to say that I was ‘allowed to run old lines already on the property from the duplexes to the meters,’” Johnson continued. “I don’t even know how she dreamed that up. I have receipts for eight meters. Why would the town clerk add this total false statement? Is she trying to make me look bad? Or is she simply doing what the mayor asked her to do? “Then, the email says, ‘I, and quite possibly Mayor Braswell, duped the town staff into giving six meters…’” Johnson said.

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In what Johnson described as a final blow, he read, “…there were a couple of other situations like this between Braswell, (former council member) Tim Jones and Johnson.”

“She does manage to libel former Mayor Randy Braswell, current Planning Board chair Tim Jones and, I suspect I have been slandered when this was discussed with other council members,” Johnson said. After learning of the email, Johnson said he met with Councilman Derek Foy and clarified the payment history for four water meters he had previously purchased on Notees Lane.

“The truth does matter,” Johnson said. “When you start challenging my personal integrity, you’ve crossed the line. This is defamation of my character… and this is not what the citizens of Stokesdale should get from their elected oﬃcials and paid staﬀ.” After discussion between Flynt and Johnson, Braswell took his turn to speak and commanded council

members to read I Kings 16:31. “This is the exact story reliving it right here,” the former council member and mayor told the council. “…The town deserves better than this. The man laid out a case and he can put the screws to this town and you better fix it.” When Foy later asked Flynt if he intended to apologize, the mayor said he wasn’t going to apologize for the

gems in

process on the zoning. “I want him (Johnson) to understand that I talked with the attorney. In terms of the other, I’m telling you, when you see stuff in the file like I did…” “This has gotten all blown out of proportion,” Houk said. “This was never intended to leave a closed session meeting …” When Foy pointed out the email was written before the referenced

closed session and therefore subject to public record, Houk told Johnson, “I am sorry, because all I did was take dictation (from the mayor).” Flynt followed by saying, “I was basing it on the stuff I saw in the file. I give you a public apology.” “If you would have called me, I would have provided the same information as I provided to Derek Foy,” Johnson told Flynt. After saying, “I’m

sorry, but I was going on some bad information,” Flynt invited Johnson to come to town hall the next day and review the documents he had based his assumptions on. Following the March 11 meeting, Johnson told the Northwest Observer he was satisfied with the apologies he received from the mayor and the town clerk and, “As far as I’m concerned, the issue is over and done with.”

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APPEAL DISMISSED ...continued from p. 1

Tuesday, Judge Jefferson Griffin wrote that, in their motion last year to appeal a Guilford County Superior Court judge’s decision, Summerfield citizens Don Wendelken and Dwayne Crawford had not shown proper standing to “bring the claims as alleged and therefore failed to state a claim for which the court could provide a remedy.” Town representatives and council members are hopeful the judge’s decision brings closure to a long series of lawsuits relating to former councilman Todd Rotruck, who was elected to Summerfield Town Council in November 2017 and sworn into office a month later. However, in April 2018, the Guilford County Board of Elections determined Rotruck had not established permanent residency in Summerfield, and therefore was not eligible to serve on the town council. He was forced to vacate his seat, which

remained vacant until October 2018, when the council appointed Dianne Laughlin to serve until the next municipal election.

seat on the Summerfield Town Council. Nelson withdrew from the lawsuit before the Nov. 5 election in which he ran for mayor.

In January 2019 Rotruck filed a quo warranto action challenging Laughlin’s right to hold her seat.

The following October, Wendelken and Crawford filed a motion to amend their complaint a second time, hours before a scheduled hearing on the town of Summerfield’s motion to dismiss the case. The hearing was postponed until Dec. 9, 2019.

In a separate but related case, on behalf of Wendelken, Crawford, and a third Summerfield resident, Danny Nelson, Attorney Gavin Reardon of Greensboro filed a pro se complaint in May 2019, and then filed an amended complaint several weeks later; both were in response to an unfavorable ruling Reardon’s clients had received after initially suing the town of Summerfield, Mayor Pro Tem Dena Barnes and council members Dianne Laughlin, John O’Day and Reece Walker. In that suit, the three men claimed the town and the four named council members had unfairly spent taxpayer money to pay for Laughlin’s attorney fees in the quo warranto action challenging her right to fill Rotruck’s

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Rotruck voluntarily dismissed his action in January 2020. That same month, Guilford County Superior Court Judge David Hall dismissed Wendelken and Crawford’s complaint and the two filed an appeal within weeks. Tuesday’s decision was the result of a hearing the state’s Court of Appeals held in February to consider their appeal.

Of the appeals court’s decision this week, former Councilwoman Dena Barnes said, “I am so glad this is finally over. We spent so much time and money over these frivolous lawsuits when we could have worked together and already built a town hall!” Summerfield Town Manager Scott Whitaker said he is hopeful the Court of Appeals’ dismissal “closes this chapter of litigation and expense. The town can now look forward with

one less distraction.” In an email to the Northwest Observer, Councilman Reece Walker said he is happy that once again the court has ruled in the town’s favor, but he remains disturbed by how much lawsuits against the town have cost taxpayers. “I am sad when I see what we have spent on legal fees (over $155,000 to date) related to frivolous lawsuits – especially when those fees have resulted from suits brought forward by a few citizens who claim to be some of our most financially conservative neighbors,” Walker wrote. “There is still one outstanding case that falls into the frivolous category, but I am hopeful for a quick and positive outcome to that case as well. “As a younger elected official, I have definitely been exposed to a lot in my 5.5 years of service to Summerfield,” Walker continued. “So much so, that at times I have wrestled with whether all the aggravation is worth it (I think that is the goal of the lawsuits). The suits brought forward by a few citizens are evidence that they are willing to go to great extremes to harass staff and certain council members who they disagree with. “Three separate times the court has agreed with us on this issue, and that is definitely a relief,” Walker concluded. “I hope all of this silliness doesn’t discourage others who are not in their group from seeking office in the future.”

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The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

Photo by Annette Joyce/NWO

Serving the northwest area for over 62 years

Parker’s Home Cookin’ Restaurant on U.S. 158 in Stokesdale opened as Parker’s Café on Aug. 11, 1958.

18 Business Briefs seek 18 Homeowners private road for subdivision

Oaks subdivision 19 Willow underway on historic Benbow property

22 COVID: a roller coaster year

BUSINESS BRIEFS

REAL ESTATE NEWS/BRIEFS

Realtor recognized Homeowners seek private road for subdivision Ramilya Siegel was recently recognized at the regional Keller Williams awards ceremony for top sales as an individual Realtor in the Carolinas. She has 25 years of experience in the real estate industry.

by CHRIS BURRITT

Ramilya Siegel

DeVaney ‘bones up’ on grafting With the expanded functions already performed under IV sedation in DeVaney Dentistry’s office, Dr. Matt DeVaney was looking to expand his bone grafting techniques. To do so, he recently completed a 14-hour continuing education course in Sarasota, Dr. Matt DeVaney Florida, on bone grafting; the course was held by Dr. John Russo, a very highly regarded periodontist and nationally recognized expert in dental implants and bone grafting.

OAK RIDGE – Homeowners in the Mountain View subdivision want the town of Oak Ridge to turn the public street in their neighborhood into a private road. Doing so would block access to adjacent property, however, raising concern among Town Council members. Hidden View Drive runs 1.1 miles from Haw River Road before ending at 93 acres owned by Danny Beeson and his sisters, Kay Beeson and Linda Shields. Beeson and his wife, Sherry, have lived in a house that abuts the larger tract for almost 40 years. So far, the family has turned down developers who want to buy the 93 acres for a subdivision.

Beeson said he’s not heard from the Mountain View homeowners association, but he’s wary of its proposal because making the street private “would basically landlock our property.” Since 2008

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Homeowners in Oak Ridge’s Mountain View subdivision off Haw River Road aren’t allowed to use the security gate because it would block access to a public road. The neighborhood’s HOA is seeking to turn the road private.

“I can appreciate their view that they don’t want traffic going past their homes,” Beeson said in an interview earlier this week. But he added, “If a potential developer wanted to purchase our property, I would think the road being public would be of utmost importance.” The HOA isn’t prepared to discuss its request, Patti Dmuchowski, the group’s secretary/treasurer, said in an email earlier this week. Starting in 2001, the wooded, rolling subdivision contains more than a dozen houses, set back from Hidden View Drive on long driveways. A house is under construction, and several lots are still for sale. A security gate remains open at the entrance to the subdivision because “public right of ways are not allowed to

be gated,” according to Sean Taylor, the town’s planning director. If the street were to become private, homeowners would be able to use a security gate, he said. Taylor presented the homeowners’ request to the Town Council during its March 4 meeting. It tabled a resolution to hold a public hearing on converting the road from private to public and instead, instructed the Planning and Zoning Board to investigate the homeowners’ request. Turning the 1.1 mile-long road from public to private would create a cul-desac longer than allowed by town regulations, Taylor said. A cul-de-sac street can be no longer than 1,200 feet, partly to allow access by emergency vehicles, he said.

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Willow Oaks subdivision underway on historic Benbow property by CHRIS BURRITT OAK RIDGE – Construction of a new subdivision in Oak Ridge’s historic district is getting underway, with the design of houses blending traditional and modern characteristics. Builders MD plans to start construction of two houses on Billet Road in the next several weeks, according to Drew Stokes, the contractor’s office manager. The town’s Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) was set to meet Wednesday, March 17, (after the newspaper’s deadline) to consider final design approval for the houses. The subdivision, called Willow Oaks, is located on nearly 22 acres on N.C. 150 between Billet and Williard roads. The property was once part of a farm belonging to Jesse Benbow, who helped start Oak Ridge Military Institute (now Oak Ridge Military Academy) in 1852. The land is adjacent to Benbow’s house, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The design combines “a farm house feel with a modern twist,” said Stokes, who is helping Builders MD owner David Flanders plan the subdivision. “We don’t want to build the typical Oak Ridge house. But we also want to pay homage to Oak Ridge’s history. We’re seeking a balance between the two.” One of the two houses will be a custom home for a client, while the other will be a spec house. The approximately 4,000-square-foot spec house will contain four bedrooms and four baths with a listing price in the $800,000s, Stokes said. Builders MD plans to construct seven houses in the subdivision, Stokes said. Two other lots are owned by an adjacent property owner and Oak Ridge resident Brian Hall, who bought all of the property last year and hired Builders MD as the exclusive builder in the subdivision. The project envisions preserving 12 acres of property as open space. Even so, the number of houses is relatively large for Oak Ridge’s historic district. Over the past five years, seven houses have been

Photo courtesy of Builders MD

The design of this house planned for Willow Oaks combines “a farmhouse feel with a modern twist,” according to Builders MD, the Oak Ridge subdivision’s exclusive builder. built in the historic district, according to Builders are required to submit certifiSean Taylor, the town’s planning director. cate of appropriateness applications to the HPC. Nine pages of guidelines dicLast September, the Town Countate the pitch of roofs, the types of buildcil approved Hall’s request to rezone ing materials (vinyl siding isn’t allowed) the property from AG (agricultural) to other characteristics aimed at makRS-40 (Residential). Its location inN the EW Land o c atio n ing new construction compatible with town’s historic district requires design in K e r n e rsvillehistoric properties. surrounding approval by the HPC.

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Serving the northwest area for over 62 years by ANNETTE JOYCE

the Joyners’ children and current owner of the restaurant, said it worked fine for the family, which eventually grew to include two more children. Jerry added that the family ate all their meals in the restaurant’s dining area and rarely sat down together for a meal.

People just passing through Stokesdale wouldn’t take much notice of the small unassuming building sitting near the crossroads of U.S. 158 and Ellison Road. However, if they’re looking for some authentic and delicious home cookin’ served up with a side of town history, it’s worth stopping by Parker’s Home Cookin’ Restaurant, known by most people simply as “Parker’s.”

He remembers how isolated the area surrounding Parker’s was when his father started building the café.

Originally dubbed Parker’s Café, the restaurant was established by husband and wife Parker and Lucie Joyner. Parker purchased the 3.5 acres on which to build the restaurant from his father-inlaw, Clay Wilson, who lived in the family farmhouse across the highway.

“As he was building the restaurant, people would stop and tell him he was going to starve to death in the middle of nowhere,” Jerry said. “(Plus) people didn’t eat out much back then. (Even so), after the first day, he knew he was going to be okay.”

When Parker’s Café opened in August 1958, it served not only as a local eatery but also as home to the Joyners and their five children, who occupied two bedrooms and a bath located at the back of the restaurant beside the kitchen.

Parker added a small motel beside the café and in 1963 built the family a separate home behind the restaurant. On the same property sits a “round” house where Parker and Lucie resided until Parker

It’s hard to imagine a family of seven fitting into such a small space, but Jerry Joyner, the eldest of

Photo by Annette Joyce/NWO

Jerry Joyner, his wife Glaisa (shown in photo) and Joyner’s three daughters work as a team to ensure Parker’s in Stokesdale continues to serve homecooked meals long into the future, just as it has since 1958.

passed away in 1994. Lucie still lives in the unique structure. The motel has been converted into apartments where his sister, Linda, lives while Jerry and

...continued on p. 26

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Riding the COVID-19 roller coaster A year after the virus outbreak, some businesses struggled to survive while others thrived amid the abrupt, unexpected economic slowdown

“I think people are ready to get out,” Stork said. “They’re feeling better about the state of things. They’re willing to take a little bit of risk.” Not all changes by businesses have been as visible as hanging a new sign. Summerfield’s Priority Payments East has set up contactless payment systems for companies increasingly reliant upon virtual transactions instead of dealing with customers face to face.

by CHRIS BURRITT NW GUILFORD – A young family who bought a new house from builder Ray Bullins in 2019 circled back a year later at the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak. As a result of public health precautions, both parents worked from home and their two children were attending school remotely. The family contacted Bullins last March and called back urgently in August. “We’re out of space and all over the top of each other,” the builder recalled them saying. They hired him to convert unheated space in their Stokesdale home for work and study. Remodeling a house that’s only a year old isn’t common. But the past year has been anything but ordinary as the coronavirus has created a roller coaster for business owners in northwestern Guilford County. Recently, the outlook has brightened with the growing availability of vaccines. “I can see momentum,” said Bill Stork, who owns Summerfield’s Blissful Art & Framing with his wife, Amanda.

Adobe Stock photo

The last year with COVID has been like a roller coaster ride, marked by sharp rises in unemployment, a soar in demand for new houses and remodeling, and for many – but not all – business owners, a prolonged period of decreased revenue. “Cautiously optimistic” is what some say they’re feeling at last as the number of new COVID-19 cases continues to fall and the economy slowly improves. “People seem a little more optimistic.” Even so, North Carolina’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate since last year illustrates the up-and-down economy, with a pre-COVID jobless rate of 3.5 % in January 2020 surging as high as 13.5 % last April and May. Since then, it’s steadily declined to 5.9 % in January, according to the latest report by the state’s Department of Commerce. Despite the improving rate, nearly 118,000 more North Carolinians were unemployed in January than a year earlier.

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Since the couple bought the art and framing store in Summerfield Square shopping center last June, they’ve broken even most months. “March has been really, really good,” said Stork, who credits the improving COVID-19 outlook along with changes in the business. In January, he erected a new sign over the entrance, making it clear that the store provides custom framing, its most profitable service. He replaced framed art on the back wall with displays of actual pieces of framing to showcase that part of the business. Stork credits the changes to an uptick in repeat framing orders and first-time customers toting “art that had been rolled up in tubes for years.”

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As long as business continues improving, Stork said he may expand hours and is exploring the possibility of offering art classes taught by Greensboro watercolorist Ken Hobson, one of several artists selling their work in the store.

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“We spent a lot of time serving existing clients,” said Terri Hawkins, who operates Priority Payments East with Peggy Scott. As an example, they’ve taught companies how to put a payment link on their websites and send emails with invoices. “It’s taken a lot of energy and work,” said Hawkins. “It’s been a hard year.” Over the past year, Tessa Clemencia has moved her women’s clothing business, Love Ava Boutique, strictly online. She uses her former storefront at the corner of Summerfield and Pleasant Ridge roads in Summerfield as a warehouse for shipping orders. She also runs another business, Clemencia Cleaning Crew, from the space. Clemencia’s duties vary: packing and shipping orders, modeling new clothing on Love Ava’s Facebook page and occasionally helping her crews clean houses and businesses. After she closed the store, she got more involved with the cleaning business, boosted her crew from two to nine workers and increased her number of vehicles from one to three. As people have spent more time at home, they’re paying more attention to cleaning, Clemencia said. Some would prefer to hire cleaners to do the work for them, creating an opportunity for her company. “I decided to work a little harder and

...continued on p. 26

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Randy Dezern, owner of RS Dezern Construction, begins every home building project by first developing relationships with his clients to insure they get the home of their dreams. “When I build a house, I’m working on more than just brick and stone,” Dezern said. “I’m looking at a place that will be a home to people I often become friends with. Even if it’s a spec home and I don’t know the buyers in advance, I want it to be as nice as possible for the people who will someday live there.” Because of this belief, Dezern limits the number of homes he builds to no more than five a year, a volume that enables him to remain onsite and hands-on. Dezern started his construction career after high school, when he went to work for a commercial construction company. Wanting to pursue something more stable and lucrative, he later went to work for the United States Postal Service, where he remained employed for 36 years before retiring. Back then, his schedule with the post office ended mid-afternoon. In 1977, Dezern decided to use his extra weekday and weekend hours to build his own home. A few years after it was completed, he decided to continue building homes for other people while still working his full-time job. After retiring from the USPS, he turned his passion for building homes into a second career. Although Dezern

has a reputation for being accommodating and easy to work with, make no mistake – he’s seriously intense when it comes to making sure his clients get the highest quality work and a home that makes them proud. “Working with Randy was a pleasure,” Laura Reneer said. She and her husband, David, contracted with Dezern to build their home in Stokesdale last year. “Randy builds a custom home as if he was building it for himself, giving attention to every detail, while always keeping us in the loop along the way,” she added. “Sometimes I think he’s pickier than we are!” Gary and Debra Pendry worked with Dezern to build their 4,500-square-foot High Point home, which was showcased in the Greensboro Builders Association’s Parade of Homes last fall. “My husband and I are really pleased with Randy and his work,” Pendry said. “He is very focused and conscientious. Plus, we were impressed with the way he communicated. We always knew what was going on.” Pendry also noted there were no unforeseen issues during the building process and the couple has heard numerous compliments from family and friends who have observed their home’s quality of workmanship. Those are the kind of comments

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PARKER’S: STILL GOING STRONG AT 60+

It is those kinds of customers who have contributed to the restaurant’s long-term success.

...continued from p. 20

his wife, Glaisa, live in the original family home. Jerry said Linda refers to the property as “the Joyner compound.” Growing up, all six of the Joyner brothers worked in the restaurant. Linda was responsible for cleaning the house and the motel. Back then, Parker’s served up hamburgers at 15 cents each and hot dogs for 10 cents. A drink added another dime to the meal. Country-style steak, along with a couple of vegetables, was available every day. While most of his brothers headed in different career directions, Jerry had developed a love of the food industry. After several stints in various eateries, he ended up at Piccadilly Cafeteria in Greensboro. He started out as an assistant baker and within four months took over as head baker; from there, he quickly moved into the company’s management program where he learned the ins and outs of running a restaurant. “The program was better than any college or school for learning the business,” Jerry said. “They teach you to cook and you have to go through every job.”

In 1978, Jerry came to Parker’s full of ideas about making the business better. During the next 16 years, he mostly worked with his family, leaving once to start a restaurant in High Point. When that business failed, he returned to Parker’s and in 1994 took over the operation of the family business.

“Most of the folks are regulars, but we get new people, too,” Jerry said. “A lot of guys come in almost every day for breakfast and we have people who come here three or four nights a week. Customers tell me all the time about how someone else told them to come by.”

Just what is it that’s made this little family-owned place so popular? The answer is simple: it’s the food. “We eat most of our meals here, so we go above and beyond to ensure quality and taste,” Jerry said. “We use only real butter in our cooking and do our best to make sure our customers are eating quality, wholesome foods every time.” Homemade biscuits are made from scratch, as well as the hushpuppies, onion rings and cornbread. And there are specials every day, including meat loaf on Mondays and country-style steak on Thursdays. When Jerry mentioned “fried chicken on Fridays,” a customer leaned around him to note it more aptly should be described as “world famous fried chicken.”

About six years ago, Jerry stepped back from the business and let his wife and three daughters, Sheena Rumley, Amy Joyner and Misty Manley, handle the daily operations. He keeps his hands in the business by making deliveries and taking care of the bookkeeping. And, he also keeps dreaming about what the next phase of Parker’s will look like. He likes the idea of expanding the existing structure, but his real dream is adding a twostory round building with a restaurant on the first floor and a banquet area on top.

COVID ROLLER COASTER ...continued from p. 22

keep going,” she said. “Running my business and not quitting has been a blessing.” For real estate agents, the onset of the pandemic last spring resulted in a temporary ban on open houses, curtailing strong activity fueled by historically low mortgage rates. As restrictions eased, the return of buyers to the market fueled sales despite a shortage of houses, especially moderately priced ones. The “very slim” inventory of houses is spurring buyers’ demand for “pre-sales,” or custom-built houses, said Betty Smith, president of Smith Marketing Inc., which recorded record sales of about $155 million last year, up from $150 million in 2018. Even now, COVID-19 is weighing on the supply of houses for sale. Smith said some homeowners are reluctant to list their houses because they don’t want prospective buyers walking through them. An influx of newcomers from urban areas is increasing demand for houses in northwestern Guilford County, according to Ray Bullins, the builder. He’s built seven houses over the past year while taking on seven remodeling projects. “The remodeling business is booming,” he said. “People working from home have come to the realization that if they’re going to be there, they may as well make it as nice as they can.”

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r e n r o K ’ s Kid

Did you know all these colorful words?

If you got stumped, check out p. 45 for the answers. More and more color is starting to pop up outside as new plants and �lowers grow; can you spot these colors around you?

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Youth

welcome to ... Sync A regular section in the Northwest Observer focused on our local youth and the adults who positively impact them.

And the student-athlete and coach all-conference honors go to … The Northern Guilford and Northwest Guilford student-athletes and coaches shown at right and below received special individual recognitions for their performance this season.

Northern Guilford – Mid-State Athletic 3A Conference

by MEREDITH BARKLEY NORTHERN/NW GUILFORD – Athletes from Northwest Guilford and Northern Guilford high schools were well represented on all-conference lists published a few weeks ago, and a number were singled out for special recognition.

Maura Schoppa

Matt Wachendorfer

Jack Dingman

Thanh Ngo

Most Valuable Girls Swimmer

Most Valuable Boys Swimmer

Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Year

Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year

Northwest Guilford – Metro 4A Conference

Elle Thigpen

Grace Hammond

Jadyn Murray

Volleyball Defensive Player of the Year

Volleyball Offensive Player of the Year

Women’s Basketball Player of the Year

Madison Young

Haley Irwin

Women’s Basketball Runner of the Year Defensive Player of the Year

Coach Paul Egleston

Cross Country Coach of the Year

Northern loaded up on swimming honors. Maura Schoppa, a junior and state champ in the 100-yard backstroke, was named Mid State 2A/3A Athletic Conference most valuable girls swimmer. Matt Wachendorfer, another junior and part of the Nighthawk boys 200-medley relay team that took third in the state, was named the conference boys most valuable swimmer. Northwest’s volleyball team, which finished 16-2 overall, 8-0 in the Metro 4A Conference and made it to the third round of the state playoffs, had the conference’s offensive and defensive players of the year. Defensive player of the year – senior Elle Thigpen – led the team in digs with 168. Offensive player of the year Grace

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MARCH 18 - 31, 2021

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Youth Sync Hammond, also a senior, led the team with 41 aces and was second with 229 assists and 117 digs. She was named to the NC Volleyball Coaches Association’s all-region and all-state teams. She was also picked for the all-region team by WRAL-TV and for its all-state second team. Northern cross country runner Jack Dingman, a senior, won the conference and his second conference runner of the year award. He’ll be running for East Carolina next year. His coach – Thanh Ngo – was named conference coach of the year. Northwest girls basketball, which was 12-2 overall and 7-1 in the conference, had both the conference’s player of the year and its defensive player of the year. Player of the year was Jadyn Murray, a 6-foot-1 senior, averaging 14 points and 12 rebounds a game. Defensive player of the year – Madison Young, a 5-foot-10 sophomore – averaged about 13 points a game. Northwest runner Haley Irwin, a senior and individual state 4A cross country qualifier, was named conference runner of the year. Her coach – Paul Egleston – was named conference coach of the year.

The rest of the Northern all-conference selectees are: Men’s cross country: Ernesto BarriosZavala, Logan Dingman, Hazen Harvell, Mateo De Lisa, Matthew Weaver

and Jack Harrigton Women’s cross country: Sarah Baum, Emma Hardiman, Natalie States, Katie Howell, Kiersten Kohler, Sarah Rackers and Audrey Wrinkle Men’s swimming: Ethan Pollina, Reid Teoh, Chris Glebus, Jayson Snyder, Christopher Schilling, Bradley Gentry, Will Cooper, Carter Warrick and Nikolai Teague Women’s swimming: Rori Roundtree, Helena Teague, Kyndall Beane, Hannah Wachendorfer and Sydney Roberts Boys basketball: Nolan Hodge, Manny Elliott, Nijah Whitley and Jackson Helms Volleyball: Aimee Pack, Macy Bolyard and Bella Wooden

The rest of Northwest’s all-conference selectees are: Women’s cross country: Sydney Partyka, Eleanor Long, Olivia Smith and Ava Overmeyer Men’s cross country: Shaun Nag Men’s swimming: Brady Dole and David Masneri Women’s swimming: Elizabeth Greene, Hadley Osborne and Agnes Cruz Men’s basketball: Drew Watkins and Connor Ballou Women’s basketball: Aniston Greene, Shaena Riddles and Hannah Parker Volleyball: Avery Dole, Amelia Hammond and Zoe Whisnant

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Three northwest-area students competed with Jamestown Equestrian IEA (Interscholastic Equestrian Association) team Feb. 27-28 and won first place for their divisions at the IEA regional championship show in Chatham, Virginia. Eden Lieske Photos, info contributed by Paige Lieske is a sophomore at Northwest Guilford, Ella Rose Trull is a (L to R) Eden Lieske, Ella Rose Trull and Skyler Jones seventh grader at Northern won ﬁrst place for their divisions at the Interscholastic Equestrian Association regional competition in ChaMiddle, and Skyler Jones is tham, Virginia, Feb. 27-28. The three equestrians will a fifth grader at Revolution advance to the Zone ﬁnals in Spotsylvania, Virginia, Academy on N.C. 150 in March 27-28. Summerfield. When competing in Spotsylvania, Eden, Ella To compete at regionals, the students had to qualify with points Rose and Skyler will face finalists from Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia, all hopearned throughout the year. In ing to advance to IEA’s National Championship in order to advance to the Zone finals held in Spotsylvania, Virginia, Perry, Georgia. on March 27-28, they had to be For more information about IEA, a nonfirst-place winner in their division. profit organization, visit www.rideiea.org.

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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.

by MEREDITH BARKLEY

NORTHWEST GUILFORD Jared Petrosky, senior Sport: soccer Jared Petrosky, a soccer player since age 3, wrapped up his high school career at Northwest Guilford earlier this month. The senior Vikings defender heads to Syracuse University next year, but doesn’t plan on playing for the school. He said he’ll likely look for intramural or

club soccer opportunities, which will still allow him to continue playing while also focusing on his academic studies. “I’m a student athlete, and the student always comes first,” he said. Still, he’s played the game so long it’s a big part of him. “I can’t imagine stopping,” he said. When the day finally comes that he can no longer play, he said he’ll enjoy watching it and perhaps coaching. At Northwest, he said he played every single position, but this season he played defense. That’s a position he’s particularly fond of. It requires a knack for seeing the field

and knowing where the play is headed. “I feel the comfort when I’m back there,” Petrosky said. He particularly likes the speed of the game, and that it only stops when the ball goes out of bounds. At Syracuse he plans to study political science and public relations, and hopes to one day work on political campaigns. “I like how you have to appeal to everyone,” he said of his interest in politics. “You can’t be one-dimensional. You have to find a balance between everyone’s thoughts and ideas.”

NORTHWEST GUILFORD Diego Giffuni, junior Sport: soccer

Petrosky considers himself a moderate, and when he’s old enough to vote he says he’ll likely register as Unaffiliated. He can see himself voting for candidates from both parties. He already has some political experience – he’s been on student council for three years and is senior class vice president. He sees his role as being open to differing opinions and cultivating unity.

can remember. He even played some summers in Colombia, where he joined a club team near his grandparents’ home and went up against guys two and three years

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Perhaps not surprisingly, then, his favorite class has been AP Human Geography, which, he said, looks at “how different cultures get integrated into one another and how they move around through those different cultures.”

Northwest Guilford junior Diego Giffuni, a varsity soccer player since freshman year, has been at the game as long as he

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and I like health science,” he said. “I love sports and I want to be as connected as possible with it.” His favorite high school class is Honors Math II. “The teacher (Jennifer Lavato) is very nice and the people in class are all friends,” he said. “And I’m pretty good at math.” Giffuni is bilingual, speaking English and Spanish. That often comes in handy. When he worked at a McDonald’s, for example, he often helped non-English speakers navigate the menu. And in Colombia, he helped locals with English words. Being bilingual makes it possible to “talk to a larger population of people,” he said. He also pitches in to help his special needs sister and, through her, he said he helps others with special needs. “I just feel great taking care of them,” he said.

NORTHWEST GUILFORD Tilde Hogberg, junior Sport: lacrosse The way Northwest Guilford’s Tilde Hogberg recalls it, her love for lacrosse began in the seventh grade when a friend suggested she give the sport a try. She’d tried lots of sports growing up: basketball, soccer, gymnastics, cheerleading, swimming. Lacrosse was different. “The first day, I was like, ‘Wow! This is the sport I want to play,’” Hogberg recalled. The other sports she was playing at the time soon took a back seat when she started playing lacrosse in a

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recreation league. She moved up to varsity level her freshman year at Northwest, and at the end of the season was named Rookie of the Year. “Generally, I like that it’s so different from any other sport,” said Hogberg, a 5-foot-8 junior defender who also plays club ball with NC Fusion. “It’s a fast game, it’s exciting, and there’s always something happening. You can never relax on the field.” And she particularly likes defending. It’s where her first coach put her and where she stayed. “It’s fun,” she said. “I’m muscular, so I feel like I’m better at defending rather than trying to score goals.” She hopes to play in college and is drawn to smaller schools. She has yet to decide where she’ll go, but knows what she’ll study: psychology. She wants to be a psychologist or a psychiatrist and work with either

...continued on p. 34

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NORTHERN GUILFORD JT Buckley, senior Sport: soccer When Northern Guilford’s JT Buckley considers taking his soccer skills to the next level, he’s not hunting college

“That’s what really got me going in the criminal psychology side,” she said. “The way they analyze the minds of criminals is so interesting to me.” As for children, she said, they “have a hard time expressing emotions. It’d be interesting working with them to prevent mental disorders. I’d be able to help people who don’t really have a big voice when they’re little.”

Believing it’s important to give back to the community, Hogberg is a member of Northwest’s Key Club, which provides community service opportunities. She also belongs to an organization that connects her with retirement home dards in the industryAnd, she spends some of her residents. time tutoring chemistry.

scholarships. At least not in the traditional sense. Buckley, a senior, four-year starter and the team’s leading scorer, is headed to England in September for a year of college classes and soccer training under the guidance of former players and coaches from England’s Premier League, the top level of that nation’s professional soccer system. “I can’t wait,” said Buckley, a

Northern co-captain who was named to all-conference teams the past two years and all-region last year. “I’m very excited, but I’m also a little nervous, because there’s going to be some very good competition.” Coach Aaron King described Buckley as a “leader” who “works hard.” He’s “probably our best player,” King wrote in a text message. During the nine months he’s in England, Buckley will study sports and exercise science part of the day at a university in York. He’ll also practice with i2i International Soccer Academy, which partners with the university, several hours each school day. On weekends his team will compete against college teams there as well as professional and semi-professional teams. Buckley, who got his first soccer ball at age 2 and soon became a devotee, called it “an experience I couldn’t pass up.” The program, which i2i describes

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as “pro-level soccer development,” is “pretty selective,” Buckley said. “But I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to play there next year.” He doesn’t know whether he’ll return for a second year, noting “It’s pretty expensive.” But if he doesn’t, he’ll likely return to the U.S. and play college ball. He has had offers from several colleges, but none from NCAA Division I schools, he said. With the experience he gains next year, he hopes that will change. His dream school: N.C. State. “If I could come back and play for N.C. State, I’d be walking a dream,” Buckley said. He hopes the ride doesn’t stop there, though – he’d love to play soccer professionally. “That’s always been my dream,” Buckley said. “I believe the academy gives me the best opportunity to play beyond college.”

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Hannah McMasters, senior Sport: lacrosse A flier from elementary school led Northern Guilford’s Hannah McMasters to lacrosse, a sport she grew to love. Perhaps it was providence. In it she also found a cause. “With me being a Black African American female in the sport, I bring awareness for minorities, letting them know it’s okay to come into a primarily white sport and still flourish,” said McMasters, a senior, Nighthawk cocaptain and among the team’s and conference’s leading scorers. She arrived at Northern freshman year as the only Black team member. Over the next couple years, she persuaded a handful of others to join – one of whom now plays in college. “So, I feel like I’ve made a big impact in getting girls to come and try out,” said McMasters, who has been

She stayed with lacrosse despite a neck injury after freshman year that she feared would end her career. She refused, she said, to quit. This fall she heads to Delaware State, a NCAA Division I school and one of the nation’s historically Black colleges and universities. Its HBCU status sealed the deal, McMasters said, and she looks forward to playing with other minorities who’ve succeeded in the sport.

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“There’s so much talent, and so many athletes who would just flourish at this sport but don’t have access because of where they live,” she said.

NORTHERN GUILFORD Ben Shuttleworth, senior Sport: soccer For Northern Guilford’s Ben Shuttleworth, dreams of helping guide the soccer team to a conference title his senior year vanished in seconds when his snowboard hit ice at Beach Mountain in early January, sending him tumbling, landing hard and

She’ll study criminal justice, minoring in business and management. She hopes to use that as a platform to work for racial justice. While she’s not sure what jobs she’ll pursue, she wants to see that minorities are treated fairly. A business background, she believes, will provide more opportunities for advancement. “Everything that’s going on has really inspired me to take criminal justice to the next level,” McMasters said, referring to racial unrest sweeping the nation. It all caused her to think: “Yes Hannah, you can do something with this. You can advocate for a better cause.” Lacrosse, she hopes, will continue to play a role in her life. She sees herself returning to Greensboro and setting up a lacrosse league in underserved areas.

mangling his right leg. After four hours of surgery, four nights in the hospital and two weeks of bed rest, he has been learning to walk again. “It’s not the most encouraging activity,” Shuttleworth confessed when we spoke with him a few weeks ago. “There’s not very much progress every

...continued on p. 41

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High School sports roundup by MEREDITH BARKLEY Six teams from Northwest Guilford and Northern Guilford headed to the state playoffs this week, four of them as conference champs.

having outscored opponents 221-24. They’re expecting a deep playoff run.

“I think we should win it all,” said Anthony Meley, head lacrosse coach.

BOYS LACROSSE

The No. 3 seeded Nighthawks, who went 8-0 in the Conference 11, began post season play Monday, defeating 14th-seeded Hickory (5-2) 20-3. The Nighthawks were scheduled to take on 11th-seeded Community School of Davidson (6-5) on March 17 in the second round.

Northern Guilford boys lacrosse, the only team to go undefeated, won their 10 regular season games by huge margins, entering the post season

Northwest Guilford boys lacrosse made the playoffs as a No. 8 seed, squeaking past ninth-seeded Reagan (10-4) 12-11 in Monday’s first round of

playoffs. The Vikings finished the regular season 8-6 overall and 3-1 in Conference 12. They lost the conference title game to Page, which also finished 3-1 in the conference. The Vikings were scheduled to take on No. 1 seeded R.J. Reynolds (11-2) on March 17.

“This is a special group,” Coach Dan Tichy said of his seniors, who were freshmen his first year at Northwest and many of whom he had coached for years as youth. “It’d be exciting to go the distance.”

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Coach Ashlynn Parks credited much of the team’s success to senior leadership and goalie Lea Shafer, who transferred from Grimsley. Her girls, she said, are “ready for the playoffs.”

BOYS SOCCER Northwest Guilford (9-2, 7-1), No. 2 seed, defeated 15th-seeded Butler (6-2-1) 4-0 in the first round of soccer playoffs on Tuesday. The Vikings, who had won their fifth consecutive conference title, face No. 10-seeded Athens Drive (9-2) on Thursday, March 18. “This year was significant after graduating nine starters from last year and, of course, navigating the pandemic,” Coach Jason Allred wrote in an email to the Northwest Observer.

In girls lacrosse, Northwest (14-1, 10-0) entered the playoffs as Conference 9 champ and a No. 4 seed. They whopped 13th-seeded South Mecklenberg (7-4) 18-3 on March 15 and were scheduled to play fifth-seeded Lake Norman (8-6) March 17.

Northern Guilford (12-1), playing a conference-only schedule, again won the title, defeating Western Alamance (8-1-1) in the final game of the season. The loss dropped Western, which had defeated the Nighthawks earlier in the season, into second place because of a 2-2 tie at Eastern Alamance.

“We’re all just super excited we even had a season this year,” said Coach Kristen Herndon.

“They were really happy to avenge the one loss we had,” said Coach Aaron King of his team’s win at Western.

Tenth-seeded Northern Guilford girls team (9-4, 8-2) finished second

in their conference after knocking off previously undefeated and seventh-seeded Mt. Tabor (10-1) 10-9 in overtime; they were set to face 15th-seeded Charlotte Catholic (12-2) March 17.

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Ninth-seeded Northern was scheduled for a first-round matchup against

eighth-seeded Terry Sanford (10-0) March 17.

FOOTBALL Northwest Guilford remains undefeated, winning 41-0 at Page (0-3, 0-1) and improving to 3-0 overall, 1-0 in the Metro 4A Conference. Next up for the Vikings: this Friday, March 19, at Grimsley, which is also undefeated and defending conference champs. Northern Guilford, 2-1 overall and in the 2A/3A Mid State Athletic Conference, dropped its first game of the season on Friday, losing 28-24 at Eastern Alamance (3-0, 3-0). This Friday, March 19, the Nighthawks take on Person (1-2) at home.

STUDENTS SPLIT

because it is my senior year,” Joyner said in an interview earlier this month. “Then I decided to stay at home for school work. There are positives about studying online. It’s easier to focus, and I like being able to do it on my own time, especially because I work a lot.”

according to Ashley Young, principal of Northwest Guilford High School.

...continued from p. 1

the remainder of the last school year and the start of the academic year in August. The youngest students began returning to schools last fall, followed by older students. Middle and high schoolers are following a cohort model, with half of students attending in-person classes Monday and Tuesday and the other half attending in person Thursday and Friday.

“A lot have opted to stay remote,” Young said in an interview earlier this week. “Some students have said they don’t necessarily want to wear a mask all day.”

At Northern Guilford, 528 students continue to study remotely, while 793 returned to classes, according to Principal Janiese Mckenzie. “Because the atmosphere is different and socialization is limited, many students find it more convenient and comfortable to remain at home, especially with the short amount of time left in the school year,” Mckenzie said.

About 1,100 of the school’s 2,040 students decided to continue virtual learning, she said. “While I’m little bit surprised by the percentage who opted to stay remote, I’m super happy with how it’s gone for the ones who are here,” Young said. “The safety protocols have gone very smoothly, and the kids have been amazing. It’s a lot better than sitting at home.” Northwest Guilford senior Isabella Joyner said her desire to return to inperson classes faded as she learned about restrictions for returning students and staff. “At first, I definitely wanted to go back

Schools are following public safety protocols from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. “We know that the three Ws remain the most important prevention practices for all of NC’s students and staff: Wear a cloth face covering at all times; wait six feet apart and keep that distance consistently; and wash your hands regularly,” the agency said in a post on the Guilford County Schools website. The guidance created uncertainty among some students as they decided whether to return for in-person learning,

A higher percentage of upper class students at Northwest Guilford opted to continue remote learning, possibly because older students “are getting socialization outside of school,” Young said. There are about 80 seniors in the building at any one time. “That’s why it looks so sparse when you walk around the hallways,” she said.

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Single father of three dies from gunshot wounds Neighbor charged with second-degree murder

NORTHERN GUILFORD – Law enforcement officers responded to a shooting in the 7600 block of Cedar Chase Drive in northern Greensboro on March 7, at 9:23 p.m. Upon arrival they found Jeff Goldbach, 41, with shotgun wounds. Goldbach was transported to Moses Cone Hospital and later died from his injuries. A neighbor of Goldbach’s, Brandon Hyde, 37, was arrested for second-degree murder and transported to Guilford County Jail, where he was placed on $75,000 bond. The motivation for the shooting was not confirmed at the time of the initial police report. Goldbach was a single father to his 18-year-old daughter and two sons, ages 15 and 16. Goldbach gained notoriety in his

hometown of Princeton, Indiana, with his baseball talents. According to an article published in the Courier & Press last year, “He became such a feared hitter at Princeton Community High School in the mid-to-late 1990s that opposing teams intentionally walked him by the time he was an upperclassman. As a result, professional scouts were instructed to get to ‘the Gil’ (Gil Hodges Field) early, to watch Goldbach’s batting practice barrage.” He was a second-round draft choice of the Chicago Cubs in 1998 but spent most of his baseball career playing in the minor leagues. While playing baseball professionally, Goldbach earned his bachelor’s and MBA from Oakland City University. According to his obituary, for the past seven years he had been employed by Analog Devices and served as the HR business partner over wireless, automotive and aerospace defense.

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CRIME / INCIDENT report

District 1 Sheriff’s Office

has recently responded to the following incidents in northwest/northern Guilford County ... ASSAULT March 3 | An 18-year-old male was arrested in the 8100 block of Shoeline Road in Stokesdale (near U.S. 158) for assault on a female. March 5 | A resident of the 6500 block of Ashton Park Drive in Oak Ridge (off Bunch Road) reported he and his two siblings had all assaulted each other. March 6 | A resident of the 2800 block of Fleming Drive in northwest Greensboro reported a known suspect grabbed her hair and pulled her to the ground. March 13 | A resident of Countryside Village Retirement Community on U.S. 158 in Stokesdale reported a known suspect pushed her in the chest.

DRIVING WHILE IMPAIRED March 6 | A 32-year-old male was arrested at 2:54 a.m. in the 8500 block of U.S. 158/Vaughn Street in Stokesdale for driving while impaired and also cited for driving with a revoked license. March 11 | A 54-year-old female was arrested in the 7700 block of N.C. 68 N in Stokesdale for driving while impaired.

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March 9 | A 61-year-old male was cited in the 2600 block of N.C. 150 (Oak Ridge Road)/E. Sandylea Road in Oak Ridge for possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance. March 10 | An 18-year-old male was cited in the 3900 block of Battleground Avenue in northwest Greensboro for possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance, speeding, driving without a license and fictitious tags. March 12 | A 42-year-old female was cited in the 9100 block of U.S. 158/ Anthony Road in Stokesdale for possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance and possession of drug

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

paraphernalia. March 13 | A 25-year-old male was cited in the 300 block of N.C. 68 N/ Cornerstone Drive in northwest Greensboro for possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance. March 13 | A 19-year-old female was cited in the 3600 block of N.C. 150/I-73 S in Summerfield for possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance.

FRAUD March 3 | A resident of the 8300 block of Deep Valley Road in Summerfield (near U.S. 220 N) reported an unknown suspect used her banking information to make purchases totaling $473.35 between Feb. 11 and Feb. 14. March 5 | A resident of the 7300 block of Winchester Trail Loop in Summerfield (near Strawberry Road) reported an unknown suspect made two purchases via his checking account totaling $303.46. March 6 | A resident of the 8300 block of Maloe Court in Oak Ridge (off Stafford Mill Road) reported an unknown suspect used her PayPal account to make purchases totaling $454 at about 7:15 p.m. March 10 | A resident of the 8600 block of Bull Road in Colfax (off N. Bunker Hill Road) reported an unknown suspect made purchases via his checking account totaling $2,950 between March 7 and March 10. March 11 | An employee of State Employees’ Credit Union in Oak Ridge reported an unknown suspect cashed a fictitious check for $1,371.04 on March 10 at 3:36 p.m. March 15 | A resident of the 3900 block of Lewiston Road in Sum-

...continued on p. 47

mark your

calendar

SATURDAY, MARCH 27

 Easter egg hunt | HorseFriends of NC, a nonprofit therapeutic riding program, will host an easter egg hunt March 27, 2 to 4 p.m. at Still Water Farm, 7169 Strawberry Road in Summerfield. The event will include Easter egg hunts by age group, pony rides, candy and games. Cost is $10 per child. Bring your own basket(s). More info: (336) 420-4588 or info@horsefriendsnc.org.

 Food pantry | Good Samaritan Ministries’ food

pantry in Stokesdale will open for those in need of food on March 27, 9 to 10:30 a.m. at Stokesdale Business Center, 8500 Ellisboro Road. To make a financial donation or request emergency assistance, contact Terri Johnson, (336) 643-5887 or terrij1957@yahoo.com.  Easter egg hunt | Gideon Grove United Method-

ist Church will host an easter egg hunt March 27, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 2865 Gideon Grove Church Road in Stokesdale (in case of rain, this event will be a drive-thru). Bring your own basket(s). More info: Laura Harrell, (336) 643-6042.  Fire Dept. BBQ | Stokesdale Fire Department, 8401 U.S. 158, will host its annual BBQ March 27, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (while supplies last). BBQ costs $8 per pound, and coleslaw costs $2 per six-ounce container (sorry, no pre-orders). Drive-thru or takeout only. Drive-thru line starts at Stokesdale United Methodist Church. See display ad on p. 3 for more info.  Pigskin For Hodgkins | The third annual charity

Full Service Florist 336-509-1020

 Easter Horse Show | Oak Ridge Easter Horse Show will be held April 2-3, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., at Steeple Hill Farms, 7000 Belford Road, Summerfield. Enjoy traditional horse show competitions along with longtime spectator favorites including the draft horse pull, mutton bustin’ and calf scrambling for kids, and bull riding. Visit www.oakridgehorseshow.org for more details and to purchase tickets (tickets are limited due to COVID restrictions). Participants, volunteers, sponsors and exhibitors are also welcome to visit the website for more information, or call Isaac Bennett at (336) 402-7540 or Richard Isley at (336) 908-3302.

Elvis Mendoza

Fresh Flower & Silk Arrangements Holidays • Special Occasions • Weddings

Licensed Massage Therapist NC LMBT# 18352

336.212.7614

 Tax Returns  Tax Planning  Payroll Service  Bookkeeping  Financial Reports  Budget Analysis

(336) 644-2741 office (336) 644-2743 fax

FRIDAY, APRIL 9  Sweet Spring Gala | HorseFriends of NC will host a Sweet Spring Gala April 9, 6 to 9 p.m. at the Colonnade at Revolution Mill, 900 Revolution Mill Drive in Greensboro. The event will include heavy hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine, fantastic live auction items and performances by professional dancers. Tickets are limited and cost $75 per person. All proceeds go to HorseFriends. Face masks required. Learn more and purchase tickets at horsefriendsnc.org.

COMING THURSDAYS, BEGINNING APRIL 23  Farmers Market | Oak Ridge Farmers Market will return on Thursday evenings, 4 to 7 p.m., in Oak Ridge Military Academy’s parking lot next to the football field, beginning April 23 and running through Oct. 28. Over 25 vendors have already signed up to participate, including artisans, farmers and those offering food specialty items. Interested in being a vendor? Email oakridgefarmersmarketnc@gmail.com.

WE’LL BE BACK IN PRINT APRIL 1 (No fooling!) for DISPLAY ADVERTISING info, call (336) 644-7035, ext. 11, or email advertising@nwobserver.com

Carlotta Lytton

, CPA, PC

Individual & Corporate Tax Returns Specializing in Payroll & Accounting for Small Businesses

7805 US Hwy 158, Stokesdale clyttoncpa@bellsouth.net

www.dalyfloraldesigns.com Dalyfloraldesigns@gmail.com

Tax & Consulting Services For Individuals & Businesses

8400 Hwy 158 • PO Box 469 Stokesdale, NC 27357 kim@kimberlythacker.com

FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 2-3

Elvis’ In-Home Massage

Locally Owned in Summerfield

Voted #1 Florist in Guilford County

flag football game raising money for families battling cancer and for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma research will be held March 27, starting at 1 p.m. at Oak Ridge Town Park, 6231 Lisa Drive. See display ad on p. 2 or visit www.pigskinforhodgkins.org or email pigskinforhodgkins@gmail.com for more info.

submit your

events online at nwobserver.com

Your event will appear on our online community calendar and be considered for print publishing Visit our homepage and click “community calendar”

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

phone: (336) 644-7033 fax: (336) 644-7038

We love your referrals

To show our appreciation if you refer a friend or family member, we will give them a $10 credit on their account (YOU get one, too)!

Serving the northwest Triad area since 1991

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full-service animal hospital | boarding & grooming | laser therapy & acupuncture

MARCH 18 - 31, 2021

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...

ST BAPTIS T RE O

ALTH HE

WAKE F

 Brad, the manager of Lowes Foods in Oak Ridge, for going above and beyond regarding a customer recovery. Thanks for making my daughter’s birthday extra special – the rainbow cake was perfect!

COVID-19

PROTECTED

care for life

Welcome Shawn Lazoff, DO Specializing in comprehensive primary care and osteopathic manipulation therapy for musculoskeletal pain.

Now accepting new patients. FAMILY MEDICINE – SUMMERFIELD 4431 US Highway 220 North, Summerfield, NC 336-643-7711 ACCEPTING MOST MAJOR INSURANCE PROVIDERS.

MARCH 18 - 31, 2021

 Northwest Observer editor/owner Patti Stokes for an informative newspaper that is well done. I look forward to it every time it is published.  Oak Ridge Post Office – the new landscaping looks great!

to Family Medicine – Summerfield.

A WAKE FOREST HEALTH NETWORK PRACTICE.

 All the teachers getting vaccinated. This will help with continuity of children’s education. You don’t have to be “at risk” or old to become seriously ill from COVID-19. Stay safe!

 All the teachers in our community who work so hard every day to make sure our students are safe. I’m so happy you could be vaccinated so you can continue working while keeping kids safe and socially healthy!  Summerfield firefighters Steve Satterfield and Dustin Barnett for following with a fire truck and directing traffic so ninth grade students from Caldwell and Northern could pick up trash on Summerfield Road for service hours!  Wilson’s Grocery & Gas on Pleasant Ridge Road. The February power outage fried their equipment, meaning they couldn’t sell gas. Now they’re up and running again, and selling their gas for the old price when they could easily charge more.  The lady in the silver-gray car who paid my bill at Wendy’s on Monday, March 1. They say “pay it forward.” I took one of the Frosties to a friend.

The Northwest Observer •Totally local since 1996 All the teachers who are diligently

working to keep learning going. I’m a 10-year-old kid, and even I can see that they are working so hard for all their students, remote and in-person. Teachers are superheroes!  The tellers at BB&T in Oak Ridge. They are always pleasant, and Jake especially makes me feel like he’s just been waiting for me to stop by. Keep up the great customer service, y’all!

GRIPES to...

 Proposed town hall for Summerfield. It is ugly and not what we envisioned. Design would be okay for hunting lodge or rest stop along Blue Ridge Parkway. Take it back to the drawing board and incorporate features similar to historical buildings!  The person shaming teachers for getting their desperately needed vaccine. Many teachers have been in-person full-time since August. I assure you there was no cutting in front of others, and all rules to schedule and receive the vaccine were followed.  The Stonehenge resident with the aggressive springer spaniel that charges everyone walking down the street and doesn’t stay in your yard. Laughing about it doesn’t make you a good neighbor. Obey the leash law like the rest of your neighbors do!  David Couch, CEO of Blue Ridge Companies, for trying to develop a new “mega community” in Summerfield and not properly maintaining and completing the one you have already started in Oak Ridge.  The individual (last issue’s griper) who has no idea about the intense hard work that every teacher in this community has put in this year – shame on you! We got vaccinated to ensure children

can be safe and be back in school!  Summerfield Post Office. It is time to clean up and replace the flooring!  Parent-Teacher-Student Associations that have solely focused on the “T” in their name this past year. Where is the advocacy for students and parents? When will you do what is needed to support kids and parents?  Those still displaying your Trump flags and such. Your dedication to an absolute loser makes me smile.  All the people who litter in Oak

Outside the

Ridge and the surrounding areas – please stop!

STUDENT PROFILES ...continued from p. 35

 Down 420 Lane and their ugly tiedye sign, which is such an eyesore in downtown Stokesdale. The huge sign and name shouldn’t have been allowed in this town if we’re trying to bring in more nice businesses.

day. It’s very slow.”

 Those people who drive down Highway 150 in Summerfield thinking they are so cool while going 80 mph and revving their engines like psychopaths. You’re a thorn in my side.

…

The following reader-submitted GRIPES express opinions about state and/or national topics, and have been separated from the other grins and gripes as a courtesy to those who do not want to read others’ opinions on state and/or national political and other non-local topics in a local newspaper.

GRIPES to...

 The blatant and offensive racism

of Joe Biden’s law that pays off 100% of the business debts of farmers who are black, Asian, Hispanic or Native American. So, it’s like winning the lottery for farmers! Unless you’re white...  The Biden administration, which seem to be blaming everything on the previous administration. Biden said he had a plan for fixing everything. Seems like his plan is to pay everyone off.

Coming to grips with having to sit out the season “was pretty devastating,” he said. Still, he tried to remain part of the team the last few months, attending home games, staying in touch with friends and helping younger players. “He had a great career at Northern, but obviously could only be on the sideline with us this season,” Coach Aaron King wrote in a text message. “But we tried to include him as best we could and he was great to have around.” Shuttleworth, now with a titanium rod supporting his lower leg, said he continues working on building muscle and putting weight on his foot, walking with crutches and improving mobility. He came to terms with his new normal during his hospital stay.

“I said: ‘This is my life now. I’m not going to get my senior season,’” he said. “But after learning what I could do and could not do, it got better.” Doctors have been cautious about predicting how progress will go, he said. He sustained a comminuted fracture – one in which a bone breaks or splinters into more than two fragments – which definitely complicated his prognosis, Shuttleworth said. “There’s not a script for how things can go,” he said. He plans to attend college in the fall – perhaps the University of South Carolina or the University of Florida – and major in business with a minor in a foreign language. He’d like to work outside the country. And while in college, he said, he hopes he can get back to soccer, perhaps on an intramural or club team.

Keep up with what’s up:

/NorthwestObserver

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SUMMERFIELD TOWN COUNCIL ...continued from p. 9

Ever feel like just driving?

OTHER BUSINESS

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Summerfield basketball star Walker suggested the council honor Summerfield’s Elissa Cunane, a star on North Carolina State University’s women’s basketball team. The Northern Guilford High School graduate was named MVP in the Atlantic Coast Conference earlier this month. N.C. State won the tournament and is highly ranked in the upcoming national women’s tournament.

Revolution Academy opening

 5  0 to allow Revolution Academy to open to students Thursday, March 11, as long as the school staggers student drop-off and pick-up to lessen traffic

DAYS OF OUR LIVES ...continued from p. 13

and fall) nasty ritual which Mama swore by to help promote good health! I have kept journals for years, and once, when I was 13, a diary. I kept it hidden, and would have perished if I thought anyone would find and read any of my foolish ramblings. Our calendar, in contrast, was where daily happenings were usually scrawled across 12 months of pages representTruck Tires ing a chronology of our lives and exis& tence. Appointments, birthdays, school and church activities, births, deaths, plus Mama’s egg-and-butter sales were usually recorded for all to see. Often, there were reminders of the dates she had put a “setFull automotive repair & maintenance • Tune-ups ting” of eggs under a hen, or specifically, Wheel & tire repair/alignment • NC inspections when an old rooster had been “imprisASE certified technicians oned” and fed well in anticipation of his being our main dish on Thanksgiving! – In winter months, spaces were more than likely reminders of pending bad Dan Rice Mitch Glover weather, or just the words “snow or sleet,” President VP/GM of Greensboro and the number of inches of the same. Summer entries changed to “barefoot weather,” “plant corn today,” “chop (336) 668-0091 • 312 S Regional Rd, Greensboro tobacco,” or sometimes, “bad thunder11 locations open M-F 7:30-5:30 storm last night!” Since the internet did Emergency roadside 24/7/365 • Shuttle service within 8 miles not exist back then, we just kept a writing www.piedmonttrucktires.com tool handy for making notations of family importance. While most folks today use their cell phones and computers to MARCH 18 - 31, 2021 The Northwest Observer •record Totally local since 1996 things that matter, we had our

Piedmont

Automotive Center

FULL-SERVICE SHOP

congestion on N.C. 150. The school also agreed to post an officer to direct traffic at the entrance to the campus. The council’s vote rescinded last month’s agreement between the town and Revolution Academy allowing staff to move into the building, along with as many as 20 students for tutoring and assessments. Weather-related delays in widening N.C. 150 and installing a stoplight forced the school’s 390 students to study remotely. Parents inconvenienced by the delayed opening contacted council members, asking them to approve opening of the building before the completion of road work. With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:06 p.m. own system before technology began to rule the world: pencil, pen and a surface for writing. Being from the old school, I still use that “medieval” method. Some time back, I acquired an old cedar chest that had belonged to my oldest sister. Inside were many letters, cards, newspaper clippings, photos, tax records, etc. In addition, I discovered several large calendars she had kept that came from an old, now defunct bank in the town where she had lived. For decades, she and her husband had evidently used the oversized wall calendars as a basis for keeping financial records, relatives’ birth and death dates, church business notations, etc., until almost every space on each calendar was filled. And so, a calendar is not just a calendar, rather it can be a nostalgic glance in the rearview mirror of our lives, and written evidence of past days of our family’s history. When we all lived on the farm, anything made of paper invariably usually ended up in our outhouse. Even calendars we had kept for a year made themselves “useful” there. Of course, before they were discarded, we flipped through the last 365 days of our lives and the notations thereof. When the old calendar was taken from the wall and Mama removed the two or three needles with different colored threads she had kept there (somebody always had a rip that needed sewing!), there was a new drugstore calendar to put in its place. And with that, a new chapter in our family’s story began…

 AUTO SALES & SERVICE KNIGHT IMPORT SPECIALTY SERVICE. European Auto Service & Repair, 4559 US Highway 220, Summerﬁeld (across from Food Lion). Specializing in factory-scheduled maintenance and repairs. BMW, Audi, Volvo, Mercedes, Volkswagen, Mini and Porsche. 32 years experience. (336) 337-0669. SAM'S AUTO BODY SHOP. Any type of body work. 45 years exp. (336) 965-7955. CHOICE TIRE AND AUTOMOTIVE. Oil changes, inspections, alignments and general automotive repairs. 1080 US Hwy 66 S, Kernersville, NC. (336) 992-9002.

Place online at

 EMPLOYMENT

PT COOK/CHEF needed for evenings (weekday and weekend) and Sunday morning/early afternoon shifts. Talent for creating unique culinary dishes for daily dinner specials a plus. Positive attitude, dependability, care of cooking space and insistence on cleanliness, and experience working in busy environment are a must. Experience as chef desired, but will consider training. Send resume including last two years’ work/ restaurant experience, along with professional references, to Claizure1@gmail.com or call (336) 643-6359 between 2:30 and 4:30, Monday thru Friday afternoons.

 SAVE THE DATE EASTER EGG HUNT. Saturday, March 27, 11am-1pm. 2865 Gideon Grove Church Rd., Stokesdale. Egg hunt will be divided into family zones for COVID-19 safety. Will be drive-thru if raining. Goodie bags also provided.

 YARD SALES MOVING SALE. Fri., Mar. 19, & Sat., Mar. 20. 8am-2pm. 8205 Staﬀord Mill Rd., Oak Ridge. Everything must go, including home health care items. MULTI-FAMILY yard sale. Sat., March 20, 7am. Pearman Estates neighborhood, oﬀ of Haw River Rd., Oak Ridge.

 HOME SERVICES AIR CONDITIONING & HEATING

DEADLINE: Monday prior to each issue

NOW HIRING: Knitters and Creelers. Located in Stokesdale, NC. Give us a call at (336) 643-7751 for more information.

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

INDEX Auto Sales & Service ........ 43 Employment .................... 43 Home Care Available ....... 43 Lost and Found ............... 43 Save the Date.................. 43 Yard Sales ....................... 43 Home Services ...........43-46 Misc. Services .................. 46 Misc. For Sale .................. 46 Misc. Wanted .................. 46 Pets & Animal Services .... 46 Real Estate ...................... 46

HIRING?

 EMPLOYMENT MT. PISGAH WEEKDAY SCHOOL. NOW ENROLLING & HIRING teaching positions for Fall 2021. For more info, contact mpws@mtpisgahgso.org. PART-TIME MORNING OR AFTERNOON SITTER needed for two children in Summerfield. Monday-Thursday with flexibility. Must have clean driving record and reliable transportation. Please send information to info@orchiro.com. PART-TIME TOW TRUCK DRIVER. Local, Summerfield area. Preferably a retired guy with some truck driving experience. Call for details, (336) 382-8040. SUMMERFIELD VETERINARY HOSPITAL is currently seeking a full-time kennel assistant. Weekends & holidays are a must. Drug test required. Please apply in person, 4318 Hwy 220 N, Summerfield, NC 27358, or email Lydia@summerfieldvet.com. (336) 643-6326.

We can help!

Place your classiﬁed ad online at

www.nwobserver.com

A-ACTION AIR. Air conditioning checkup, $49.95. Call (336) 268-6768 or (336) 382-3750.

CLEANING MAGIC MAIDS LLC. I have good references. 10 years experience. Insured and bonded. Weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, one-time, move-in or move-out. Call Patty, (336) 932-0245.

DIGNITY

THE CLEANING TECHNICIAN LLC. With the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be a little overwhelmed. I would like to oﬀer my cleaning services at a discount. Licensed, bonded, and insured. Call Lisa, (336) 207-0770.

Quality In-Home Staffing Nurses/CNAs/Aides Licensed & Insured

ANNASARAH'S CLEANING. Excellent references. Trustworthy. Family owned business. Free estimates. (336) 543-3941.

 HOME CARE AVAILABLE

HEALTHCARE, INC.

Dignityhealthcarenc.com (336) 298-7248 Serving all your healthcare needs with pride and dignity

 LOST AND FOUND PLEASE RETURN the wheelbarrow taken from Wake Forest Family Practice of Summerﬁeld. It is red and yellow with a purple wheel. Return with no questions asked.

The Northwest Totally local since 1996 The Northwest ObserverObserver • Totally•local since 1996

MAID-2- SHINE. Excellent ser vice, 15 years experience. Free estimates, excellent references. (336) 338-0223. PAOLA CLEANING SERVICE. Residential & commercial. Insured. (336) 669-5210. CRYSTAL CLEAR WINDOW CLEANING Gutter cleaning, pressure washing. Fully ins. windowcleaningnc.com (336) 595-2873

continued on p. 44

MARCH 18 -18 31, 2021 MARCH - 31, 2021

43 43

HOME SERVICES

CHRISTIAN MOM needs work cleaning houses, running errands. Will fit to your budget. Pet taxi/pet sitting also avail. References. Call Laura Bennett, (336) 231-1838.

CLOCK DOCTOR. Free house calls for sick clocks. (336) 643-9931 or (336) 392-4124.

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

DELIMA LAWNCARE. Commercial & Residential. Free estimates. (336) 669-5210.

DECORATING

“No Job Too Small”

BLISSFUL ART & FRAMING. SHOP LOCAL! Framing, gifts, graphic design. 4533 Hwy. 220 N., Summerfield. (336) 298-4502.

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

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 est. Comm. & res. Licensed & insured. Call (336) 430-5018. Do you have ELECTRICAL NEEDS? It's generator season. Call Coble Electric LLC at (336) 209-1486. BALEX ELECTRICAL COMPANY, LLC. Got Power? Residential, commercial and solar electrical services. (336) 298-4192.

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

GENERAL REPAIR & SERVICES 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. 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. AFFORDABLE HOME REPAIRS. One call fixes all! A+ with BBB. For a free estimate call (336) 643-1184 or (336) 987-0350.

44 MARCH - 31, 2021 44 MARCH 1818 - 31, 2021

(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.

GAULDIN TRUCKING, grading & hauling, bobcat work, lot clearing, driveways, fill dirt, gravel, etc. (336) 362-1150. H&L GRADING, LLC. No job too tough or too small. Call us first! We are a full-service grading company that specializes in residential projects. Owner/ operator Timmy Hart has more than 30 years of grading and equipment experience. Fully licensed and insured. Land clearing, debris removal, driveways, French drains and much more. (336) 543-7867.

Your business should be here!

D S L DRAIN SYSTEMS & LANDSCAPING. Complete lawn service & drain systems. Mowing, pine needles, mulch, leaf removal, fertilization, trimming and more. Also providing drain systems solutions. (336) 362-4354. ORTIZ LANDSCAPING, complete lawn care. Trimming, cleaning, planting & mulch, gutter cleaning, patios & pavers, waterfalls, retaining walls, sidewalks, stonework. Residential and commercial. (336) 280-8981. SOUTHERN CUTZ LAWN CARE, offering complete lawn maintenance services & bush hogging. Nathan Adkins, (336) 430-6086.

Place your classified ad online at

SMALL ENGINE AND MOWER REPAIR is back at a new location. Welding available. Call or text Morris at (336) 880-7498.

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

GUTTERS / SIDING / WINDOWS

FIX YOUR MOWER! Service and repairs. Spring specials. "We do it right." Free pickup & delivery. Call Rick, (336) 501-8681.

S&M SEAMLESS GUTTERS. Install new gutters. Repair and clean old gutters. Free estimates. Fully insured. (336) 587-8223 or (336) 709-5944.

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

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

WILSON SEAMLESS GUTTERS, new construction, repairs, replacement, leaf guards. Free estimates. (336) 420-0200.

GRADING / HAULING E&W HAULING & GRADING INC. Driveways, fill dirt, demolition, lot clearing, excavating, bobcat work, etc. (336) 451-1282. TRACTOR WORK. Garden prep., loader work, brush hogging, core aeration, finish grading, mowing, etc. Please call or text (336) 908-0890. ANTHONY’S GRADING & HAULING Excavating, land clearing, demolition, dirt, available. Zane Anthony, (336) 362-4035. DTW GRADING & HAULING, INC. Offering a sum of aggregates, including but not limited to: fill dirt, stone, asphalt millings, and crushed concrete. We also offer full bobcat services. Driveways, minor clearing, drainage solutions and snow removal. Daniel Wilson, (336) 339-0212.

PLACE YOUR AD: nwobserver.com

www.nwobserver.com

LAWNCARE / LANDSCAPING

Residential & Commercial Mowing • Trimming • Overseeding Fertilizing • Plugging Pine needle distribution • HOA

(336) 362-5860

www.colfaxlawncare.com

PECHES LANDSCAPING & LAWNCARE. Tree service, brush cutting & clearing, mulching, landscaping & lawncare, deck, fence and retainer wall building, land clearing, wood chipping and snow removal.. Call John, (336) 451-6941, or call Brad, (336) 453-6180.

The Northwest ObserverObserver • Totally•local since 1996 The Northwest Totally local since 1996

GUZMAN LANDSCAPE & MAINTENANCE Pine needles, mulch, leaf removal, tree pruning, complete lawn maint. (336) 655-6490. HILL LAWNCARE & OUTDOOR SERVICES. Free est. Call (336) 669-5448. WILSON LANDSCAPING, INC. Lawn maint., landscaping. Irrigation/ landscape contractor. Hardscaping & landscape lighting. 26 years exp. (336) 399-7764. ARBOR MASTERS TREE SERVICE Total tree removal, storm damage cleanup, shrub and tree pruning. Free estimates. Licensed & insured. (336) 643-9157. STEVE NEWMAN TREE SERVICE. Free est. Lic./Ins. 40+ years experience. All phases of tree work. Lots & natural area thinning and cleanup. Large shrubbery jobs, chipping. Oak Ridge. Call (336) 643-1119. Hire a local with references. EXTERIOR GREENSCAPES. Lawn maintenance service. Call for a free estimate (336) 682-1456.

 HOME SERVICES

MASONRY

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

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

KEITH SMITH CONSTRUCTION. N.C. General Contractor with 30 years experience. Specializing in new homes, room additions, kitchens & baths, garages, decks, vinyl siding and windows, painting, tile, laminate and vinyl plank, and remodeling of all kinds. Quality for the Right Price. Free est. Call (336) 362-7469.

NEW PHASE CONCRETE. Here for all your decorative concrete needs. Specializing in decorative stamp, stained, epoxy and all other concrete poured finishes as well. Also offering refurbishment of existing stamped concrete. Make your existing stamped look like new again! (336) 399-1474 or (336) 595-4654. SOUTHERN STYLE concrete & landscapes. How about a new patio or fire pit? We can help with all of your outdoor living and entertainment spaces! Fire pits, driveways & sidewalks, patios and more! Give us a call at (336) 399-6619 for all your concrete and landscape needs. MASONRY CONCEPTS, brick, block, stone concrete & repairs. Free est. (336) 988-1022, www.masonryconceptsgso.com. COLONIAL MASONRY. 40 yrs. exp. Specializing in outdoor living spaces; dry-stack natural stone and flagstone. Let us help you plan your patio, fire pit, fireplace, kitchen – or anything else you would like! Call (336) 949-9019. www.colonialmasonry.com.

PLUMBING WEBSTER & SONS PLUMBING, Inc. (336) 992-2503. Licensed, insured, bonded. 24/7 service. Plumbing, drain cleaning, well pumps. Give us a call, we do it all! Go to www.webstersplumbing.com for more info. FREEMAN PLUMBING – new construction, remodel and repair. For ALL your plumbing needs! (336) 580-4525. BRANSON PLUMBING & SOLAR. No job too small! Experienced, guaranteed. Lic./ Ins. Cleanliness in your home is our #1 priority. Call Mark, (336) 337-7924.

Wilson

Ain’t God Good

Septic Pumping & Repair Family owned & operated since 1972

(336) 643-6427

Place your classiﬁed ad online at

Tank pumping, repairs, clogs, advice – ALL WITH A SMILE!

MISC. HOME SERVICES/PRODUCTS

Discounts: mention this ad, veteran, senior citizen, cookies & milk Find us on Google, neighborhood.com, FB

www.nwobserver.com

ON EAGLE'S WINGS residential home design/drafting. Call Patti, (336) 605-0519. JUNK & DEBRIS REMOVAL, construction, remodeling, and general cleanup, out buildings, garages, basements, yard waste, etc. Call (336) 706-8470.

PAINTING & DRYWALL CARLOS & SON PAINTING. Interior and exterior. 24 hours/7 days a week. Free estimates, licensed/insured. (336) 669-5210. PAINTING INTERIOR & EXTERIOR, 40 yrs. exp. Sheetrock repair. Average BDRM walls $100. Insured. Call Brad Rogers, (336) 314-3186. STILL PERFECTION PAINTING. Reliable, skilled, aﬀordable. Painting, pressure washing, handyman services. Scott Still, (336) 462-3683, stillperfectionpainting.com.

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

HOUSE and ROOF SOFT WASHING. Martin's Pressure Washing. (919) 931-0856.

REMODELING / CONSTRUCTION

Construction Services, INC

BUILDING | RENOVATIONS | ADDITIONS

Roof and window replacement

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

Of The Triad

The Bathroom of Your Dreams in as Little as a Day

AMERICAN BUILDER CONSTRUCTION INC. Repairs & remodeling, kitchens/baths, additions, decks, attics, basements. Licensed & insured. Short wait list. NC General Contractors. (336) 225-7478. BELEWS CREEK CONSTRUCTION. Kitchens/baths, custom decks, garages, dock work, siding, windows, rooﬁng, rotted wood. Sr. disc., 41 yrs. exp. (336) 362-6343. 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.

COLORFUL WORDS Answer Key From activity on p. 28

GRAY INDIGO EBONY MAGENTA YELLOW

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.

SAPPHIRE ORANGE WHITE PINK

GOLDEN IVORY BROWN BLACK TERRACOTTA

(336) 497-0765 NCGC License #84330

www.BathPlanetTriad.com 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. PAINTING, DECKS AND MORE. Call Premier Construction for free estimates. (336) 430-9507.

ROOFING 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. CLINARD & SON ROOFING, LLC. 40 + years experience. (336) 643-8191 or (336) 268-1908.

continued on p. 46

The Northwest Totally local since 1996 The Northwest ObserverObserver • Totally•local since 1996

MARCH 18 -18 31, 2021 MARCH - 31, 2021

45 45

 HOME SERVICES

 MISC. FOR SALE

PREMIER ROOFING. Commercial/residential. Providing service for all of your rooﬁng needs. Locally owned. Please call (336) 430-9507 for free assessments.

SEASONED FIREWOOD. $80/pickup truck load delivered & stacked. (336) 253-7615.

BELEWS CREEK CONSTRUCTION. Lifetime shingle and metal rooﬁng. We ﬁ nance. Free Estimates. Since 1979. Please call (336) 362-6343.

 MISC. SERVICES RESTORE, REPAIR & CUSTOM BUILD! Give us a call today for your free estimate! Check us out on Google to see our rating, reviews and tons of pictures of our work. Fat Rabbit Furniture, (336) 816-3641. CUSTOM HORSE BOARDING. Available in Colfax area. Call or text (336) 414-1859.

locally owned & operated 6705 US Hwy 158, Stokesdale

(336) 643-9963 (affiliated with Stokesdale Storage)

 MISC. FOR SALE PRIDE 3-WHEEL ELECTRIC SCOOTER. For seniors or handicapped. Used, like new. Swivel folding seat, built-in charger, new batteries, non-marking tires. Good up to 250 lbs. Suitable for indoor or outdoor use. $340. Please call (336) 643-0282. USED KITCHEN APPLIANCES for sale. Range — $75, dishwasher — $25, over the range microwave — $80. Please call (336) 643-9331. FREE PINE FIREWOOD. Great for ﬁre pits. You pick up. Call (336) 389-7945.

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

Coming Spring

 MISC. WANTED

April 29

2021 edition

$$$ – WILL PAY CASH for your junk / wrecked vehicle. For quote, call (336) 552-0328. YARN NEEDED to make children's hats for Samaritan's Purse Shoebox Ministry. Call Beth (336) 644-8155. FABRIC NEEDED for Sew to Sow Ministry to make dresses for girls in Kenya. Cotton fabrics work best, any amount. Also need buttons, ribbon, lace trimming, elastic and thread. Call Beth, (336) 644-8155. FREE PICK-UP of unwanted riding & push mowers, tillers, ATVs, generators, power washers, go-carts, mini-bikes, golf carts, 4-wheelers, etc. (336) 689-4167.

IT’S TIME to reserve your ad space!

 PETS & ANIMAL SVCS. WENDY COLLINS PET SITTING LLC. Certiﬁed, bonded & insured. (336) 339-6845. wendycollinspetsitting.com.

 REAL ESTATE LAND FOR SALE BEAUTIFULLY LAYING 15.5 ACRES. Perked for four bedrooms in Mayodan oﬀ of Rt. 770. Ten minutes from Walmart and 30 minutes to Greensboro. 800 feet of road frontage. $130,000. Call Derl, (336) 215-7759. 2 TRACTS OF LAND, 10 acres and 15 acres. Call (336) 430-9507. LAND FOR SALE. 25+ acres. Gorgeous wooded tract. Has 2 creeks. Quiet & serene. Possible owner ﬁnancing. (336) 430-9507. BEAUTIFUL WOODED 4+ ACRE HOMESITE. (336) 430-9507.

WE’LL BE BACK IN PRINT THURSDAY, APRIL 1 Place your CLASSIFIED AD online at nwobserver.com, or call (336) 644-7035, ext. 10

46 MARCH - 31, 2021 46 MARCH 1818 - 31, 2021

 REAL ESTATE

nication published by pscommu

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

In print every spring and fall and online year-round at nwobserver.com Contact us at advertising@nwobserver.com or (336) 644-7035, ext. 11, to secure your spot

Reserve ad space by April 5!

The Northwest ObserverObserver • Totally•local since 1996 The Northwest Totally local since 1996

CRIME/INCIDENTS ...continued from p. 38

merfield reported an unknown suspect drafted $198.70 out of her checking account on March 9.

POSSESSION OF STOLEN GOODS March 8 | A 31-year-old female was arrested in the 6500 block of U.S. 158/ I-73 S in Stokesdale for possession of stolen goods.

THEFT March 3 | An employee of Lowes Foods in Oak Ridge reported an unknown suspect stole $273.28 worth of alcoholic beverages and food products on Feb. 2 at about 7:35 p.m. March 4 | A resident of the 4600 block of U.S. 220 N in Summerfield reported an unknown suspect stole his orange/ white Stihl backpack blower worth $450 at about 9:30 a.m. March 8 | An employee of Priority One Auto Sales on U.S. 158 in Stokesdale reported an unknown suspect entered an outbuilding and stole numerous items with a total value of $28,000, sometime between 4:30 a.m. and 6:42 a.m. March 8 | An employee of Lowes Foods in Oak Ridge reported an unknown suspect stole her cell phone, worth $1,160, off the counter while she was working at a cash register.

index of DISPLAY ADVERTISERS

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

By the Book Accounting ......................15 Carlotta Lytton, CPA............................39 Kimberly Thacker Accounting .............39 Samuel K. Anders, CPA, MSA, PC.......10

AUTOMOTIVE SALES / SERVICE

Beamer Tire & Auto ............................19 EuroHaus ............................................43 Piedmont Truck Tires...........................42 Prestige Car Wash .................................6 Tire Max..............................................37

BUILDING / REMODELING

Bath Planet .........................................45 Don Mills Builders ................................21 Disney Construction Company ............24 Friddle & Company..............................27 Johnson & Lee, LLC.............................25 Naylor Custom Homes ........................23 R&K Custom Homes ...........................29 R.S. Dezern Construction ....................23 Ray Bullins Construction ......................26 TM Construction Services ....................45 Walraven Signature Homes .................26

CHILDREN’S SERVICES

Guardian Ad Litem ..............................38

BEK Paint Company ............................14 Carpets by Direct...................................5 Colfax Lawn Care ................................44 Eanes Heating & Air ............................20 New Garden Landscaping & Nursery ....8 Old School Home Repair.....................44 Rymack Storage ..................................46 Stokesdale Heating & Air.......................6 Wilson Septic & Pumping ....................45

INSURANCE

Gladwell Insurance Company ..............36

LEGAL SERVICES

Barbour & Williams Law ........................4

MEDICAL / EYE CARE

Dignity Health Care .............................43 LeBauer HealthCare............................13 Northwest Oral & Maxillofacial Surg. ...32 Summerfield Family Eye Care ..............35 Wake Forest Baptist Health .................40 WF / Family Medicine – Summerfield...31

COMMUNITY NEWS

PET SERVICES & PRODUCTS

Oak Ridge Chiropractic .......................18 Summerfield Fire Department ...............7

DENTAL SERVICES

DeVaney Dentistry ...............................33 Summerfield Family Dentistry ..............34

EVENTS

www.guilfordcountync.gov/ our-county/sheriff-s-office

HOME PRODUCTS & SERVICES

ORTHODONTIC CARE

Greensboro Performing Arts ................33

7504 Summerfield Road Main number: (336) 641-2300 Report non-emergency crime-related incidents by calling: (336) 373-2222 8 a.m.–5 p.m., M-F

Elvis Mendoza In-Home Massage........39

CHIROPRACTIC SERVICES

DANCE / MUSIC / THEATER

District 1 Sheriff’s Office

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Pigskin for Hodgkins ..............................2 Stokesdale Firemen’s BBQ .....................3 Town of Summerfield ............................9

FLORIST

Daly Floral ...........................................39

FUNERAL SERVICES

Forbis & Dick Funeral Service ..............15

GROCERIES / SUPPLIES

Southern Foods ...................................41

Olmsted Orthodontics .........................35 Bel-Aire Veterinary Hospital .................39 Northwest Animal Hospital..................31

REAL ESTATE

A New Dawn Realty ............................15 DeDe Cunningham – Keller Williams ...22 Nicole Gillespie, RE/MAX ....................28 Ramilya Siegel, Keller Williams ............11 Smith Marketing / Allen Tate Realtors..23

We need your

RECIPES This year’s Spring At Home issue will include some of our readers’ favorite recipes. Have a recipe you love to make, especially during spring and summer?

Share it with us! Email recipes to patti@nwobserver.com and include your name, community you live in, and a high-res photo of your dish, if you have one.

Coming April 29

RESTAURANT EMPLOYMENT

McDonald’s Oak Ridge .......................12

RESTAURANTS

Bill’s Pizza Pub.....................................32 Domino’s Pizza ....................................34

YOUTH SPORTS / CAMPS

Oak Ridge Youth Association ..............11 YMCA of Greensboro ..........................30

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

nication published by pscommu

MARCH 18 - 31, 2021

PRSRT PRSRTSTD STD U.S. U.S.POSTAGE POSTAGE

Postal Postal Patron Patron PO POBox Box268, 268,Oak OakRidge, Ridge,NC NC27310 27310••(336) (336)644-7035 644-7035

zza Kory, aka “the Pi Teeter on Man,” at Harris n Creek Pe se or U.S. 220/H his break Road, wisely uses e most retime to devour th Northwest cent issue of the e you Observer. Next tim ll him you see him, please te back cover saw him on the promised of this issue (we fortune, in him fame, if not ng us take exchange for letti e NWO). his picture with th

PAID PAID

Oak OakRidge, Ridge,NC NC Permit PermitNo. No.22 22 ECRWSS ECRWSS

At home or on the go... Send us photos of you with the NWO!

Email your high-res photo to

photos@nwobserver.com Please include your name, community you live in, and a brief description of the photo.

Oak Ridge Lions Club is a small but migh ty group of citizens dedicated to serving their community in numerous ways, from pick ing up trash along the local roadsides to prov iding annual scholarships to local high school senio rs. At a recent monthly meeting, members discu ssed plans for an upcoming golf tournament fund raiser in May and receipt of a plaque from NCD OT for 25 years of participating in the Adopt-A-H ighway program. Before dispersing, the group shar ed some laughs and conversation about thing s they read in the recent Northwest Observer. Mem bers shown in photo, L to R: Cathy Nodine (stan ding), Doug Nodine, Danny and Linda Yanusz, Ann Schneider, Frank Kelleher, Lions Club pres ident (standing), Carolyn Brown and George McC lellan.