INSIDE THIS EDITIONINSIDE THIS EDITIONINSIDE THIS EDITION

Spring 2013

ALSO INSIDE: Reduce your chances of a home/auto break-inTest your knowledge of northwest Guilford County • Maintaining your septic system Cabinets: new or re-new? • Historic homes hold lifetimes of memories

See the latest home styles, amenity trends at the Parade of Homes

It’s springtime–what to plant, when, and how to care for it

Bedbugs–how to avoid them and what to do if you get them

Tips for getting your house ready for a quick and profi table sale to do if you get them

p. 8 p. 18 p. 22p. 12

Spring 2013Spring 2013

Free�Plans�•�Free�Customization�•�On�Your�Land��•�Great�Prices

Greensboro�Building�Center4012�Battleground�Ave

Next�to�Harris�Teeter�at�Horsepen�Creek�Rd

Come�In�Today�And�Let�Us�Show�You�WhyAmerica’s�Home�Place�Is�The�Best

Custom�Home�Building�Value�In�North�Carolina

Building Trust Since 1972

*Prices�are�base�price�only�and�do�not�include�closing�cost,�land,�or�site�improvements�to�land.�Prices�subject�to�change�without�notice.�Pictures�may�show�upgrades�not�included�in�price.

The Maryland A$249,433*

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3,488 sq ft

Call�Us�Today!

336-553-0860

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Front: Jeff Smith & Betty Smith l From Left: Jeff Craig, Tara Beaver, Ray Alexander, Cynde Dorzweiler, Jim Duncan, Linda Mitchell

Smith Marketing

Smith Marketing

Jeff Smith l 336.215.7880 l jeff.smith@allentate.com Betty Smith l 336.451.4923 l betty.smith@allentate.com

4 Spring 2013

THANKS TO OUR ADVERTISERS for making this publication possible

Builders/Remodelers America’s Home Place, Inc. ..................................................................2 Building Dimensions ............................................................................ BC Friddle & Company ..............................................................................4 Greater Greensboro Builders Association .................................... 14 Home Team Builders .......................................................................... 21 JLB Remodeling .....................................................................................8 KC’s Improvement & Construction ................................................... 20 On-Target Construction ..................................................................... 17 R.S. Hopkins Construction .....................................................................5 Tim Frazier Builders ........................................................................... 22

Miscellaneous Products & Services BB&T Bank ........................................................................................... 19 BEK Paint Company ........................................................................... 11 Colfax Lawn Care ............................................................................. 18 Furniture Medic ................................................................................... 11 Interior Design Solutions by Maria ................................................. 13 John Hall Guttering ..............................................................................7 MetLife (InsSouth) ............................................................................... 17 Mosquito Squad of the Triad..............................................................6 Oak Ridge Shrubbery....................................................................... 18 Pest Management Systems, Inc. ....................................................... 22 Shelton’s Inc. Kitchen & Bath ............................................................ 10 Triad Dog Fence ................................................................................. 21 Woodmen of the World/Frank Bruno ........................................... 13

Real Estate Sales A New Dawn Realty .......................................................................... 21 Bobbie Maynard/Allen Tate ........................................................... 15 Chandra Tippett/Prudential Yost & Little ..................................... 15 DeDe Cunningham/Allen Tate ......................................................... 15 Gil Vaughan/Prudential Yost & Little............................................. 15 Nancy Hess/Prudential Yost & Little .............................................. 15 Wendy Bennett/Re/Max.................................................................. 15 Smith Marketing ....................................................................................3

Friddle and Company, Inc. offers a unique perspective on construction and design with the commitment to raise the standards of custom home building.

We build custom homes from $350,000 to over $1 million and have become known for our attention to detail, creativity and exceptional customer care.

Michael and Paige were very devoted to every inch of our home, bringing great vision, incredible detail, elegance and comfort. They have truly built our dream home…Unbelievable! We recommend Friddle and Company to anyone looking for an oooh and aaah home and a stress free building process. A delightful experience! – The Michaels

Michael and Paige FriddlePhone: 404-0160 or 908-0966www.FriddleAndCompany.com

Visit our Parade of Homes Entry at 7606 Calmeria Ct. in Arbor Run on April 27-28 & May 4-5 from 1-5 p.m., 3,996 sq. ft., $579,000

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Somewhere between oooh and aaah! TM

Photography by Singleton Photography

”

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Spring 2013 Parade.indd 1 4/15/2013 2:53:15 PM

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RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIALNEW CONSTRUCTION & RESTORATION

6 Spring 2013

By THOMAS LESTER

In keeping your home, your automo-bile and your valuables safe, common sense and good habits go a long way.

That message, from the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office, includes such steps as locking doors and keeping valuables out of plain sight.

While it’s more common for items to be stolen as the temperatures rise, Capt. Phil Byrd, Guilford County Sher-iff’s District 1 commander, notes that break-ins happen throughout the year.

“Spring is going to have more (break-ins) because it’s warm and thieves are going to be out more,” Byrd says. “You don’t have that cold weath-er like you do in January and Febru-

ary, where they don’t want to get out at 2 a.m. because it’s 20 degrees.”

Byrd says one of the more common warm weather thefts involves yard equipment. Whether in front yards or in open garages, these items become easy targets.

“Lawn mower thefts start up in the spring, when everybody is getting their lawn equipment out of their outbuild-ings and their garages and changing oil and making that first mow,” Byrd notes. “Then what they do is, they’ll leave them in the carport where you can see them from the road. I’ve seen them left in the yard; they’re going to work tomorrow so they just leave it. Those weaknesses are what (thieves are) looking for.”

Whether an individual chooses to

Lock it upand avoid becoming a burglary victim lock their car or not, it’s important to keep valuables out of sight. Byrd says in cases in which a locked car is broken into, it’s often because a thief sees some-thing of value that can be taken quickly.

“You’re going to have a broken window once in a while. Broken win-dows are usually because when someone looks in the car, they see a laptop bag or a GPS and it’s worth break-ing a window to get it,” he notes. “If you take everything out of view in your car and you lock your doors, the chances of having your window broken are very slim because thieves are less likely to risk the commotion associated with breaking a window.”

Concerning home break-ins, Byrd says the stereotypical night prowler (the thief who enters a home in evening hours, or when residents are likely to be in the home) is not the most common burglar in the northwest. Typically, most break-ins and burglaries occur during regular business hours.

“Folks are at work and they (burglars) expect no one at home,” Byrd says.

Potential burglars will often go door to door and knock. If somebody is home, they make up a cover story. If nobody answers, they will proceed to break in. With that in mind, Byrd says it’s critical to at least respond to the knock, if only by talking through the door.

“Always answer the knock but do not open the door,” Byrd warns. “Talk

through the secure door and advise the person you are not interested. Call 911 if you suspect suspicious activity. If you do not answer, you may be face-to-face with an intruder in your home.”

And no matter how much informa-tion the sheriff’s office puts out there,

Byrd notes that, unfortunately, experience is the best teacher

when it comes to safe-guarding valuables.

“We send informa-tion to community watches and put things online too. I think complacency is probably a big reason,” he says. “If

it’s not happening to someone personally

and they haven’t been a victim before, it’s not con-

sciously on their mind.”Common sense goes a long way,

Byrd says.“You don’t have to have a lot of

training to be alert or to secure your property. It’s the things you have to think about,” he notes. “When you leave the house, did you lock your doors and set your alarm? We have folks whose homes got broken into and they didn’t have their alarms set. I know every now and then we all can forget something, but you’ve got to have that check-off list in your head.”

Suspicious activity in your

neighborhood? The Guilford County

Sheriff’s District 1 office can be

reached by calling (336) 641-2300

between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday

through Friday. In the case of emer-

gency, always call 911.

Lock it up

Spring 2013 7

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1 Before the Battle of Guilford Court-house, the miller of the Old Mill of Guilford reportedly had a dream that:

A He was Gen. George Washington and played a crucial part in the war for independence from Britain

B He was attacked by a wolf dressed in a red coat

C His toe was on fi re; that toe was reportedly shot the following day during a skirmish with British soldiers

D He fell and drowned in the millpond

2 Original name for Stokesdale:A Red Tree (later called Tree)B Green Pond (later called Pond)C Summer’s Lawn (later called Lawn)D Oak Leaf (later called Leaf)

3 The “dry bridge” in Summerfi eld was so named because:

A The river that once fl owed under it was diverted by Rockingham County residents who controlled rights to the water

B No water fl owed underneath; the high bridge allowed trains to pass under the road there

C The town allowed no sale of alcoholD Lake Summerfi eld, which the bridge

crossed, dried up after Lake Brandt was built as a reservoir for Greens-boro residents’ drinking supply

northwest nuggetsjust for fun:

4 Railroad that once traveled through the northwest area was:

A The Guilford & Richmond LineB The Wilmington-to-Mt. Airy Rail

SystemC The Danville-Salisbury Rail LineD The Atlantic & Yadkin Railroad

5 Guilford County’s seal was:

A Adopted in 1981 and includes ele-ments of the coats of arms of Dr. David Caldwell, Gen. Nathanael Greene and the fi rst and second Earls of Guilford

B Designed in 1781 by Gen. Na-thanael Greene

C Sketched at the Summerfi eld home of Charles Bruce by Henry “Light-Horse Harry” Lee, a Revolutionary War offi cer and father of Confed-erate Gen. Robert E. Lee

D Commissioned in 1907 by the Earl of Guilford in England as a gift for the county which bears his name

6 Greensboro’s nickname is:

A The Bridge CityB The Green CityC The City of FriendshipD The Gate City

7 The words “patria dei” on the Oak Ridge town seal mean:

A In God’s CountryB Strength, Courage, LoveC Land of Mighty OaksD What God Hath Given

Who says history has to be boring? Check out this questionnaire on northwest Guilford County and see how many historical “nuggets”you know about the areain which you live.

continued on page 21

Northwest nuggets

8 Spring 2013

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By LIZ GAUGER

Looking for a new home or just want to see the latest in home design trends? Visit the Spring Parade of Homes April 27-28 and May 4-5. Homes on the tour will be open from 1 to 5 p.m. each day. Admission is free.

The annual parade, presented by the Greensboro Builders Asso-ciation (GBA) and the Home Build-ers Association of Winston-Salem and High Point, features 60 newly constructed homes in Guilford and Forsyth Counties.

The parade gives area residents a chance to see a variety of interior and exterior home styles and fea-tures, and talk with builders, design-ers and suppliers. Touring homes also provides a chance to see what’s hot now, including open fl oor plans, generous master suites, kitchens with all the bells and whistles and comfortable outdoor living spaces, GBA offi cials said.

Northwestern Guilford County builders and Parade of Homes participants confi rm the market for new homes is healthier now than in past years.

“It’s much stronger than last spring,” said Casey Johnson of John-son & Lee, residential and commer-cial builders based in Stokesdale. Interest rates are still favorable and lower home inventories mean there’s a strong demand for new builds coming on the market, he said.

R&K Investment Properties in Summerfi eld has fi ve homes in this year’s Parade of Homes, ranging from

Spring 2013

Parade ofHomes

April 27-28 | May 4-5

Parade of Homes

Spring 2013 9

$335,000 to $599,900. President Rich Dumas said the demand for new homes has been fueled, in part, by people relocating to the area thanks to expansion of major area employers, including Moses Cone Hospital and Volvo.

“People were sitting and watching” the market for a while, said Paul Harris, general manager of Otey Construction of Summerfi eld, which builds custom homes. “But now they’re ready to make a move.” However, he said, homeown-

ers are defi nitely being cautious about how

they spend their money.

Otey Construction’s president,Kevin Otey, said new constructionmeans homeowners can get morefor their investment because they can choose a layout and fi nishes they want rather than inheriting choices a previous owner made.

Northwestern Guilford County is at-tractive to home buyers because of the reputation of area schools and the tax rate, said Don Mills of Don Mills Builders Inc., who is also currently serving as GBA president. Road improve-ment projects, more shopping and the central location near other Triad com-munities also makes

continuedon page 14

About 75 percent of the homes in the Greensboro Builders Associa-tion’s 2013 Parade of Homes are located in the northern and north-west regions of Guilford County.

View a detailed map at www.greensborobuilders.org or scan the QR code on the GBA ad on page

14 of this publication.

R&K Custom Homes will have five homes in the spring Parade of Homes. Featured below is a 3,922 sq-ft home

in the Lennox Woods neighborhood of Summerfield. It has 4 BRs and a bonus room, stacked stone fireplace

with vaulted ceiling in the family room, custom cabinets with granite tops, and a keeping room off the kitchen.

10 Spring 2013

SHELTON’S INC.KITCHEN & BATH WORKSKITCHEN & BATH WORKSKITCHEN & BATH WORKS

Since 1995

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Thanks to Sue Watson of MPW Construction for the opportunity to create the custom cabinetry

in her featured Beaver Creek home in the 2013 Spring Parade of Homes.

kitchen & bath designall types of

Photographer: Falcon 2012 Designer: Maria Adams

Cabinets: new or ?By LIZ GAUGER

First, you’ll need to decide wheth-er you want to remodel the whole space or just make a few strategic moves to freshen the look.

Regardless, cabinetry will play a critical role in freshening up your

space, or giving it an entirely new look.

You’ll have lots of choic-es in cabinet styles and

materials, says Mark Shelton, who owns Shelton’s Kitchen and Bath Works in Stokesdale with his wife Suzette. The business sells mainly oak, cherry and maple cabinetry.

When meeting with families in their homes, Shelton helps them make choices about door styles and fi n-

ishes, along with the countertops that also are part of their cabinet project.

In addition to choosing styles and fi nishes, customers also can select other options, such as base or pantry cabinets with pull-out shelves. These are a great choice because homeowners don’t have to reach to retrieve items in the back of the cabinet, Shelton says. Another good choice in cabinetry is soft-close door hinges and under-mount drawer

re-new

Spring 2013 11

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glides that offer smoother opera-tion, quieter closing and longer life.

People still love cabinetry that is stained to bring out the charac-teristics of the wood, but painted cabinets are “really big now,” Shel-ton says. Also popular are simple door styles like Shaker or Mission, he said.

Re-facing cabinets or enhancing them is an alterna-tive option for homeowners who either don’t want to re-place their cabinets, or fi nd the cost to do so is prohibitive.

In the re-facing process, cabinet doors and drawer fronts are re-moved and replaced and the cabinet frame gets a fresh stain or coat of paint.

Jeff Hughes, owner of Furniture Medic by Jeff Hughes in Greensboro, says re-facing projects work best for families who generally like the fl ow of their kitchens and don’t need to reconfi gure the space. He points out that cabinets suitable for re-facing must be in good general repair.

Re-facing materials have im-proved signifi cantly in recent years, Hughes says. “The advancements they have made in the materials are amazing.”

Homeowners can choose solid wood or wood composite doors and drawer fronts. Each comes with different profi les for different looks. Both are good choices. The solid wood is a traditional favorite. Hughes says the wood composite

“is bulletproof,” because it is water-resistant and has a longer warranty than the solid wood product.

Cabinet enhancement, another alternative, involves applying a poly-acrylic or tinted furniture-grade coating to the cabinet to provide a new look. The process is

generally less expensive than re-facing, but it

requires meticu-lous prepara-

tion work to the cabinet surfaces.

“It’s not an easy process,” says Judy Long, who owns BEK

Paint Co. in northwest

Greensboro with her husband David.

Their crews remove cabinet doors and drawer

fronts and take the cabinetry out-side to do the preparatory work and apply the new fi nish, which Long says is an oil-based paint that resists chipping and peeling.

That preparation includes clean-ing and sanding the cabinets to re-move any dust, grease or buildup of cleaning products. “You could have a mess if it’s not prepped right,” she said. “The prep work is what makes it look good.”

Long points out that customers can be creative with cabinet en-hancement. They may choose, for example, lighter colors on main cabinets and darker colors for lower cabinets or choose another color for cabinets on a kitchen island.

Hughes adds that custom-ers don’t have to choose just one method of remodeling to make the

changes they want. For example,he has used both re-facing and enhancement in kitchen projects.In addition, he says another simple and inexpensive way to give cabi-netry a fresh look is to switch out the hardware on door knobs and drawer pulls.

“Cabinetry and hardware are very much like clothing. Styles

change often,” he says. A small hardware change can make a big difference in updating a kitchen.

Whatever method homeowners choose when undertaking a project, Long says it is important to fi nd out if the company they are consider-ing hiring has experience with the process. And as always, make sure to get references.

a a a

12 Spring 2013

Getting your house in order: Tips for selling your

home quicklyand profi tably

house numbers. Add a few potted plants and a new doormat.

Wash all windows. Not only do clean windows look good,

they also allow more light to fl ood into your home.

By ANNETTE JOyCE

Spring is upon us, and so is the house selling season. In order to get the best price for your home and sell it as quickly as possible, you want potential buyers to see your home in its best light. That means taking care of both the big and little things, and going the extra mile to

set your home apart from the competition. Below is a check-list to help you get your house

ready for the sale.

That fi rst impression is critical. From the moment buyers drive up to your home, you need to "Wow" them.

Freshen up the landscaping. Get rid of dead plants and weeds. Trim shrubs. Keep the lawn mowed. Repair fences and remove unsightly debris such as limbs,

concrete blocks, broken play sets and old fl owerpots. For an inexpensive blast of color, plant some fl owers.

Don't forget the mailbox. Remove any signs of deterioration. Giving it a good coat of paint may be all that's needed. Surround the mailbox with some cheery fl owers.

Inspect driveways and walks. Re-move grease spots, fi ll and seal cracks and use a pressure washer for a deep clean. Remove any weeds that may be growing in the cracks.

Paint, clean and repair the exterior of your home. Is the paint peeling? Mildew and dirt on the vinyl? Are the light fi x-tures old and rusted?

Create an inviting entrance. Get rid of any cobwebs. Make the light fi xtures sparkle. Clean or paint the door. Polish the hardware on the door. Replace worn

Declutter your home. Most homes have way too much stuff. Either get rid of it or store it. Lots of furniture can make a room look smaller. Remove and store as much as possible. Go through your closets and give away or sell items you no longer need. Store seasonal clothing to make your closets appear more spacious. Take down personal family photos. Remove the artwork, magnets and menus from the refrigerator door.

Check out the fl ooring. How does the carpet look? Dirty carpet can be cleaned,

Gett ing your house in order

Spring 2013 13

MARIA ADAMSmaria@idsbymaria.comwww.IDSbyMaria.com

(336) 944-2750

PAINT: add color and take builder’s bland to decorating glam

ACCENT FURNITURE: create a vignette with a unique chair or small table

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ACCESSORIZE with books, plants, bowls, vases, artwork, ceramics and the things that matter most

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but if it's worn or dated, seriously consider having it replaced. This is one area where you should get your money back.

To paint or not to paint? Lots of scuffs and marks on the wall or a bedroom painted neon orange cry out for paint. Keep in mind that today's buyer is looking for move-in ready. Paint is an inexpensive way to give a home a facelift.

Clean every room thoroughly from top to bottom. Baseboards and moldings should be dust free. Clean the grout in tile fl oors. Make sure shower doors and faucets shine. Or-ganize cabinets and drawers.

Repair what's broken. Go through your house and make a list of items that need repairing. While you may have grown accustomed to certain quirks in your home, buyers won’t be. Such things as leaky fau-cets, broken windows, torn screens and cracked tile suggest that the home might not have been well main-tained. The buyer's home inspector will point out any shortcomings, so get rid of as many as possible before the fi rst potential buyer sets foot through the door.

Eliminate offensive odors. This one is tricky because most homeown-ers don't realize their house has an odor. Ask a friend to be honest with you. Smells can trigger a negative response that's impossible to get past. Be careful with air fresheners

and overpowering scents, be-cause these can be as bad as the odor

itself.

Garages, attics and basements are often over-looked when it comes to prepping a home to sell.

Do what you can to make them ap-pealing.

Garages are for parking cars. At least, that's what the buyer is thinking. However, most garages can't accom-modate a single vehicle because of all the stuff that's jammed inside. Make your garage look spacious enough to house those two cars. At the very least, arrange everything neatly.

Organize the other areas. Base-ments, attics and storage buildings can be made more appealing simply with a little organization, inexpensive

shelving and a good cleaning.

Don't be caught off guard by a buyer's home inspector. Check basements or crawl spaces for mois-ture problems. Make sure your hot water heater and heating and air system are in good working order. Inspect the roof to see if there are any areas that might need repair.

Have a pet plan. If you have in-side pets, decide how you will handle showings. Can your dog be crated or left in an outside pen? Is your sched-ule fl exible enough to allow you to remove the animal yourself? If not, maybe a neighbor could help out.

Consider offering a home war-ranty. Most buyers will ask for a warranty which covers the home for a one-year period. It's a good market-ing tool and provides peace of mind for the potential buyer.

While it sounds like a lot to do, a little elbow grease and some es-

sential repairs will go a long way in helping you achieve your

goals – a quicker sale with a higher selling price.

Garages, attics and basements are often over-looked when it comes to prepping a home to sell.

sential repairs will go a long way in helping you achieve your

goals – a quicker sale with a higher selling price.

14 Spring 2013

Take advantage of this opportunity to see the very best in new construction on

Saturday & Sunday, April 27-28 & May 4-5 from 1-5 pm

Admission is FREE

Utilize the mobile website to map your tour... as well as our smart phone app!

Sponsored by:

o map your tour... as well as our smart phone app!

Parade of Homes magazines are available at the Parade homes as well as area Harris Teeter and Lowe’s Home Improvement stores.

the area a great choice for home buy-ers, he said.

As people tour homes on the pa-rade, Mills said they will see trends including more master suites and in-law suites on the main level and lots of spacious outdoor living spaces with features such as fi replaces and fully-equipped outdoor kitchens.

Twenty-three area builders will be showcasing a total of 35 newly constructed houses on the Parade of Homes tour in Guilford County. And with imaginative touches like coat hooks and backpack cubbies in the “drop zone” near an entry door or a mantel fashioned from reclaimed barn wood, each home is sure to offer a showcase of impressive workmanship.

Participating builders in the Greensboro Builders Association 2013 Parade of Homes are: Brian Thompson Homes; Builders MD; D. Stone Builders; Don Mills Build-ers; Eastwood Homes; Friddle and Company; GC Builders; Gingerich Homes; Granville Homes; Gunter Custom Homes and Design; Home Team Builders; J Douglas Homes Custom Division; John Marks & As-sociates; Johnson & Lee; Matthew Walraven Construction; MPW

Construction; Naylor Construc-tion Company; Otey Construction; Precept Construction; R & K Custom Homes; RAM Homes; Royal Homes of NC; and Worth-Reitt Associates.

Want to go?The Spring Parade of Homes will show-case 60 newly constructed houses in

Guilford and Forsyth counties, and will take place April 27-28 and May 4-5,

1 to 5 p.m. Admission is free.

For a list and description of all of the homes on the Parade of Homes tour, an online copy of the Spring 2013 Parade of Homes magazine, and a downloadable Parade of Homes app for smartphones, iPads and tablets, visit GBA’s website at www.greensborobuilders.org (or scan the QR code on GBA’s ad on this page)

continued from page 9continued from page 9

This 2,742-sq-ft home built by Johnson & Lee is in Stokesdale’s Angel’s Glen neighborhood and can be toured during the Parade of Homes. It features a granite kitchen and bath, outdoor fireplace and unfinished bonus space.

Looking for a full-time agent that puts your best interests first? Look no further! I’m originally from small-town PA but have lived in the Triad for over 23 years. I live, work & play in the NW area, and proudly give back to the community that has given me so much. With technical expertise to know a home ‘from the ground up,’ I can advise my clients in making savvy decisions in buying and selling. A consistent achiever and Top Performer for 2012, my priority is simple–YOU!

DeDe Cunningham, Realtor/BrokerNC Licensed Contractor • (336) 509-1923 mobiledede.cunningham@allentate.com

www.allentate.com/DedeCunningham

If you are looking for a real estate agent, simply ask yourself: ‘Do I want someone who... 1) is a “full-time” real estate broker; 2) will work hard for me and put my interests first; 3) is thorough and will walk me through the entire process step by step; 4) is on time, honest and accountable; and 5) will provide me with professional, positive and satisfying results?’ If so, then feel free to contact me whether you are buying or selling. Then sit back and relax!

Gil Vaughan Buyer & Seller RepresentationRealtor/Broker, ABR, CGP, CSP, e-Pro, SFR, SRES(336) 337-4780 • GIL@PruYostandLittle.com

gilvaughan.pruyostandlittle.com

THE BOBBIE MAYNARD TEAM – Experienced Team of 6 Realtors/Brokers with 2 agents who focus on and live in NW Guilford County. We spend quality time and are dedicated to making your real estate dreams come true. We specialize in working with relocation companies to market your home for sale. Whether you are buying your first home, moving up or downsizing, we have an agent to fulfill your needs. We will put our years of experience to work for you!

Bobbie Maynard, Broker/RealtorCRS, GRI, CSP, Green • (336) 215-8017

www.bobbiemaynard.com

A real estate junkie, my favorite part is pulling out the Wellies and walking the land. A hard-working farm girl in real estate since forever, with an Alphabet Soup of letters after my name – it still thrills me! 20-year Summerfield resident, community activist and animal lover. Professional, proficient in new construction, relocation, luxury homes, strategic pricing and selling/buying farms and land. Consistent achiever with a “there’s got to be a way” initiative in problem solving.

Call Nancy Hess, for buying and sellingState Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser

(336) 215-1820 cellnancy.hess@pruyostandlittle.com

A native of the Triad, I now live in Oak Ridge with my husband and three children. Licensed in 1996, I enjoy working with buyers and sellers in Guilford and the five surrounding counties. I also handle short sales, relocations, and estate sales. I welcome all referrals. Relentless, driven, and competent – with me you are not just a number. I donate to my client’s favorite charity at every closing!

Chandra Tippett Realtor/Broker(336) 749-7977 cellchandra@pruyostandlittle.com

chandra.pruyostandlittle.com

Affiliated with REMAX since 1988, I’ve moved around the country participating in the company’s national growth. That’s why I’m your relocation specialist. If you are moving around the corner or across the country, let me help you with your next move. I am a top REMAX agent in our NW Guilford area. My clients have often said ‘Wendy, you have not been a typical real estate agent – you have been my friend, a pro-fessional in the negotiations and sale of real estate.’

Wendy Bennett (336) 423-0030 office • (336) 209-0705 cell

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Let us introduce you to thesenorthwest-area Realtors

16 Spring 2013

Alexander Strong Martin house

The striking Greek Revival house was built at the corner of Oak Ridge and Summerfi eld roads in the late-1830s. With 18-inch-thick walls of handmade brick, it was built to with-stand the many changes it has no doubt witnessed.

“If I had a million dollars (to bring it back to its original grandeur), it would be wonderful,” says Linda Southard of Summerfi eld, the house’s owner.

Southard, whose grandparents lived in the house, remembers sharing holidays there with extended family. Visions of watermelons cut on a big, fl at rock in the back yard and a fi g tree her grandmother planted are also stored in her memory bank.

Charles Bruce, the founder of Summerfi eld, originally owned the land that the historic home is on. After Bruce’s death, his son sold 872 acres to James Allen and his brother Valentine in 1835. Two years later, James sold out to his brother, who likely built the house. The imposing brick edifi ce that predates most structures in the area is said to be “one of the largest brick houses of its era in the county” by

the authors of “A Guide to the Historic Architecture of Piedmont North Carolina.”

In 1838, Valentine Allen sold 448 acres, along with all houses and farm outbuildings, to Alex-ander Strong Martin. Martin was the illegitimate son of Alexander Martin, who served six non-consecutive one-year terms as governor between 1782 and 1792. The National Register of Historic Places registration form for the Summerfi eld historic district says the elder Martin, a friend of James Madison, had a career as a “patriot, merchant, lawyer, soldier and legislator in the North Carolina Assembly and the U.S. Senate,” but he never married.

He did, however, have a son with a woman named Elizabeth Strong. Charles Rodenbough of Madison penned a book on Martin and says Strong’s husband left on a winter trip across the Appalachian Mountains and never returned. Strong and Martin’s son later took his father’s last name and was always publicly acknowledged by him. Both he and his mother were taken care of in the former governor’s will.

Alexander Strong Martin never lived with his father, nor did he go to college as his father had. In fact,

and the memories it holds

he reportedly could neither read nor write. Still, education was important to the governor, who served on UNC’s Board of Governors for 17 years.

The younger Martin owned the Summerfi eld property for 11 years. It then passed through several own-ers, including Cicero Harris, who left the property to his six children around 1896. Harris’s daughter, Dr. Joy Harris Glascock, became the third woman licensed to practice medicine in North Carolina.

In 1919, Andrew Jackson Ayers, Linda Southard’s grandfather, pur-chased the property. A farmer, Ayers was also a justice of the peace who tried criminal and civil cases and mar-ried couples ready to begin wedded life. He held many offi ces within Sum-

merfi eld Baptist Church, and he and wife Mattie raised 10 children. Mattie also had a fabric shop in one room of the house, and daughter Helen had a beauty salon upstairs.

“I just have so many good memo-ries here,” Southard says, gazing out a fi rst-fl oor window onto the front porch, where a swing used to hang.

The house was split into apartments and has been rented for many years. “My kids keep saying to me, ‘Mama, you’ve got to let it go,’” Southard says, admitting there are challenges with owning a 175-year-old house coupled with fi nding and keeping good tenants.

When she’s ready to let go, she hopes it will be to someone who will create the kind of memories she has enjoyed.

The illegitimate son of a governor, an early woman doctor, the county sheriff and a professional baseball player. While the four seem to lack commonality, it is there - all chose northwest Guilford County as home.

This old house

Above: The Alexander Strong Martin house, built in the late 1830s, is located across from the Summerfield Town Hall at the corner of Oak Ridge and Summerfield roads. Right: Owner Linda Southard points out the National Register of Historic Places marker on the front of the house.

This old house

Spring 2013 17

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Stafford-Benbow houseFor Sam and Torie Cook, living in

the large white house in the heart of Oak Ridge’s historic district is perfect.

After their oldest son decided to at-tend Oak Ridge Military Academy, the Cooks, who were Kernersville residents, started looking for an older home nearby. They found the Stafford-Benbow house, which was being used as a boarding house. Though it wasn’t even on the market, the couple ap-proached the owner, who agreed to sell. They purchased the house in 1988.

It takes much love and care to keep an old structure in good condi-tion, and even a few years of neglect had taken its toll.

Though the Cooks had experi-ence with renovating a historic home in Winston-Salem and a 1950s-era home in Kernersville, they didn’t realize what was in store when they purchased their home in Oak Ridge. Their fi rst task was removing the

sagging ceiling tiles that decreased the height of each room by about 18 inches. Between the dropped and original ceilings, they found air vents and hanging electrical wires that had been added over the years.

So much work has been done since then that the couple can’t remember what came next. Jacking up sections of the house, reinforcing fl oor joists and foundations, removing carpet and linoleum tiles, installing sheetrock, re-plastering and other projects have fi lled the years.

“I can’t tell you how gross it was,” Sam Cook says of the house’s original condition.

“Gross and embarrassing for any-body to come here,” Torie adds.

With hard work, dedication and Torie’s exceptional eye for aesthet-ics, the Cooks are slowly bringing the house back to life.

And they’ve learned many inter-

Below: Oak Ridge’s Stafford-Benbow house was constructed in the 1880s. Sam and Torie Cook purchased it in 1988 and have been working hard ever since to completely renovate it. They say they “try to do one thing every day” toward that goal. Left: Torie and Sam on the upstairs veranda.

continued on page 19

18 Spring 2013

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Stubborn rain showers and linger-ing cold have given way to full-blown springtime – time to round up those work gloves and head outside. Your yard is waiting.

This time of year is all about TLC and transformation – taking care of necessary maintenance and thinking about what new plants will enhance your property.

But where to start?Joe Barbagallo, owner of One

Guy and a Machine, a Summerfi eld landscape and hardscape design and

maintenance business, says it’s time to spruce up fl ower beds and think about the basic needs of lawns.

In this area, the soil “is almost all clay,” Barbagallo says. “Homeowners need to recognize that clay inherently has a very high acidity rate and a grossly high compaction rate.”

Applying lime to soil helps balance the acidity. Core aeration – in both spring and fall – allows soil to breathe and helps alleviate the compaction issue.

Homeowners also need to keep an eye on how much water their lawn and plants are getting, Barbagallo says. “Clay is horrible for water permeability, so when we get a heavy, fast rain, it is

not as benefi cial to the plants and grass as a slow, steady watering that allows the water to soak through the clay.”

Cindy Jones, owner of Oak Ridge Shrubbery, a nursery and landscape and hardscape design busi-ness, suggests a process called “amend-ing the soil” when homeowners add new plants to their yards.

Soil amendments are products that contain nutrients and other additives that improve drainage. Starting with soil amendments provides a healthy foundation for that fl ower bed you’re fi lling with new plants or for that spot where you want to put a new shrub or tree, she says.

Spring showers,May flowers

and your yard awaits

“If you can work with the clay soil and amend it, it can really be a good

base,” confi rms Shannon Morris, area manager for New

Garden Landscape De-sign Center & Nurs-

ery in northwest Greensboro. But starting with a good base for a new plant is vital for its developing root system. “It’s

what you don’t see that’s important,”

she says. Other springtime

tasks can include minor tree pruning, Jones says. But she

advises that more aggressive pruning should be done when trees are dor-mant in the fall and winter.

This is also a good time of year to put pre-emergent products on lawns to cut down on crabgrass and add weed-and-feed products to fl ower beds,

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ak R

idge

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Spring showers, May fl owers

Spring 2013 19

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esting facts about their home, which started as a two-story, two-room house built by Robert M. Stafford in the 1880s. A few years later, the house was expanded to its current size and the grand, two-story Doric columns added out front.

Stafford served as Guilford County sheriff from 1865 to 1880, and 1937 tax records indicate there was also a jail on the property. Stafford also owned the Old Mill from 1888 to 1897.

After Stafford’s death, his son Bob, an outstanding baseball player who broke into the big leagues in 1890 with the Philadelphia Athletics, sold the house to A. Murrow Benbow. Benbow was a second cousin of famed news-man Edward R. Murrow, who is said to have visited and possibly slept in the house. Old-time Oak Ridge residents recall large hunting parties, with

participants gathering at the house. A Greensboro newspaper clipping shows hunters and their dogs posing out front.

The house also has ties to Oak Ridge Military Academy. Jesse Benbow, an academy founder, was Murrow Ben-bow’s grandfather, and generations of Benbows were educated there. When a fire destroyed a dormitory, Sam Cook says cadets stayed temporarily in neighboring houses, including theirs. The Cooks’ two sons also attended the academy and excelled there.

While much work has been done on the Stafford-Benbow house, there is still plenty of work left. “We try to do one thing every day,” Sam Cook says.

With the house so steeped in local history, the Town of Oak Ridge’s His-toric Preservation Commission plans to commemorate it with a historic marker later this year.

continued from page 17

Morris says. In addition, it’s a great time to add new mulch around plants to help them retain moisture and keep weeds at bay.

In late spring, trim and shape hedges, Barbagallo says. During the summer months, apply post-emergent weed control herbicides and keep an eye on how much water your lawn and plants are getting.

Thinking of adding new plants to your yard? Choose native or hardy plants that can handle the weather extremes and the clay soil here. Keep in mind your yard’s topo-graphy, how much space is available and how much sun or shade you have, says Jones. The key to good land-scaping is to choose plants that complement both the style of your home and your personality, she says.

Barbagallo, Jones and Morris offer these suggestions for plants that do well in Guilford County:

Cal

licar

pa (b

eautyberry)

Shrubs: Abelia, azalea, beautyberry, buddleia (butterfly bush), deciduous holly, hydrangea, rhododendron, viburnum and witch hazel. Other choices:

Knockout roses, a repeat bloom-ing shrub that can grow 3-4 feet tall;

they are less prone to disease than traditional rose bushes

False Yew, which has dark green needle-like

foliage and is deer resistant

Trees: Bay magnolias,

buckeyes, Carolina silver bell, chionanthus

virginicus (also called old man’s beard because that’s what

it looks like), dogwood, redbuds, sassa-fras, serviceberry, sourwood and sugar maples (good shade trees with great fall color).

20 Spring 2013

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By THOMAS LESTER

With no municipal waste system serving the rural communities of Oak Ridge, Summerfi eld and Stokesdale, property owners rely on private waste removal systems.

The wastewater system separates waste from water and returns the wa-ter deep into the ground. The waste is deposited into the septic tank, where bacteria break it down.

Because the waste builds up over time, it’s important to include a pe-riodic pumping as part of the sys-tem’s regular maintenance to ensure problem-free fl ushes for years.

Most experts agree that septic tanks need to be pumped at least twice a decade. Some advocate for more.

“It’s like changing oil in your car; you don’t wait until you have trouble. It’s too late then. In the fi rst fi ve years, get it looked into,” says Summer-fi eld’s Martin Decker, who has been in the family business since he was a 12-year-old in 1962.

Stokesdale’s Lawrence Wilson, who has been pumping septic systems for more than 30 years, recommends pumping septic tanks every three to four years. “That waste isn’t going anywhere; if you don’t get it out of the tank it will get out into the fi eld,” he says.

Decker says that each bedroom in a home requires a septic tank capacity of 120 gallons of wastewater per day. So

And how to keep your system at optimalperformance

for a three-bedroom home, the septic system must be capable of taking on 360 gallons of wastewater per day.

Wilson says each fl ush adds to the buildup in the septic tank, bringing it a little closer to its next scheduled pumping – or a potential disaster.

“When you fl ush your commode, three or four gallons of water go through the tank,” he notes. “The wa-ter drops the waste into the tank and then goes into the fi eld. That’s why you need to get them serviced every three to four years.”

An overfl owing septic system can be a headache in more ways than one.

“When it (waste) gets out, you’ve got big problems; $5,000 to $6,000 worth of problems,” Wilson says.

Products such as Rid-X can help, but the jury is out as to what extent they help. “It makes the bacteria in the tank work, but it won’t take care of the tank,” Wilson says. “You’ve still got to have maintenance on it.”

What goes into the tank also fac-tors into how often it will need to be pumped. Decker says thicker toilet paper – comforting though it may be – can wreak havoc on a system.

“Three-ply paper – it’s septic safe but it’s like a sponge in that it soaks up water and is hard to get out,” he says.

Plastics, diapers, paper towels and garbage should never be fl ushed into the septic system, as they do not

All you ever wanted to know about

septic systemsbut were afraid to ask

Septic systems

Spring 2013 21

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8 Unlike its neighbors, Stokesdale has a municipal water system because:

A The Haw River, on which most residents depended for water, was polluted by moonshiners

B Contamination, likely from farm chemicals and old gas stations, was found in the groundwater in some areas

C The old rock quarry, which served as a reservoir, was polluted by lo-cal industries

D The old water tower at Stokesdale School was torn down

9 James Gillies, the bugler who is de-picted on the Summerfi eld town seal:

A Was killed by British troops along Oak Ridge Rd near Eversfi eld Rd

B Was wounded when delivering a

packet of diplomatic papers to Summerfi eld patriot Charles Bruce

C Was called “Tipsy” Gillies by fellow soldiers after he mistakenly “im-bibed upon spirituous liquids,” then attempted to simultaneously play his bugle and ride his horse backwards

D Was wounded by his commanding offi cer as he was cleaning his musket

10 The old Stokesdale railroad depot:

A Burned down in 1947 B Was moved nearly 100 yards by a

tornado in May 1903C Was moved up U.S. 220, renovated

and is used as a private residenceD Was demolished when it was hit by

a runaway train that left the track in 1897

Answers:1. C; 2. B; 3. B; 4. D; 5. A; 6. D; 7. A; 8. B; 9. A; 10. C

continued from page 7

break down. Using a garbage dis-posal will result in the need for more frequent septic tank pumpings.

Salt water should be avoided at all costs. “You never want salt water in a septic tank. Lime and salt don’t mix,” says Decker. “It looks like soap when you see the salt combining with the lime in the concrete. That doesn’t happen often, but when it does, you’ve got to replace the whole tank.”

Also avoid caustic drain openers for clogged drains – use boiling wa-ter or a drain snake instead.

Driving over any part of the septic system can compact the soil in the drain fi eld or damage the pipes, tank or other parts of the system.

The only plant that should be planted directly over a septic system is grass. Decker says certain trees, particularly maples and weeping trees, shouldn’t be planted any closer than 40 feet from the septic system.

“Some people will go buy a maple and stick it between two septic lines; that’s the worst thing you can do. They (maple trees) are looking for water and they’ll go anywhere to fi nd water,” he says.

Decker says when a maple tree can get its roots inside a septic tank, it will eventually take the tank over, fi lling it with a mass of roots.

For maintenance, it’s important to check for leaks. A leaky toilet can add gallons of water to the septic system in little to no time.

“You’ve got to control the water before it gets in it,” Decker says.

Other advice includes keeping records of repair, periodic pumpings, inspections, permits issued and other system maintenance activities. It’s also important to learn the location of the system and to have a sketch with the maintenance record to assist septic professionals when they come to pump or repair the system.

22 Spring 2013

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By THOMAS LESTER

Though wiped out in the U.S. short-ly after World War II, the bedbug made its return about 10 years ago.

“With the infl ux of people we have coming from all over the world, bedbugs found a way back,” says Don Summy, senior service advisor with Pest Management Systems in Greensboro. “They are hitchhikers. They hop a ride and are brought to the home. It can be on a person, on their luggage, on a used piece of fur-niture, on a brand-new piece of cloth-ing – anywhere. They have multiplied in pretty alarming numbers.”

Summy says it’s easy to bring bed-

bugs home without knowing it.“The problem with bedbugs is the

eggs and nymphs are so minute that they are not as easily visible as the adults,” Summey points out. “That is one of the reasons they can get carried from place to place so easily and nobody will know they’re there.”

While the name bedbug creates images of the insect attacking sleep-ers at night, Summey says it can be found anywhere in the home.

“The bed is not the only place they’re going to be,” he says. “The bed is the fi rst place I check. However, they’re on upholstered furniture, tables, ceilings, behind paintings, behind baseboards, in carpet and almost

anywhere in your house you can think of.”

Bedbugs are most active between 2 and 5 a.m. and are drawn to human body temperature and exhaled carbon dioxide. They can go a year between feedings, though they prefer to feed daily. While they feed on blood, Summey says they are not known to transmit blood-borne diseases.

Summey says once residents notice blood stains on their sheets or traces of bedbug waste, it creates a sense of unease.

“Bedbugs create a lot of emotions. People feel violated, nasty, harmed and fearful. There’s confusion,” he says. “It can be a very traumatic experience because these things feed on the blood of humans. We’re their main course.”

As for prevention, Summey says nothing can take the place of vigilance.

“The fi rst thing we’ve all got to do is change the way we’ve always looked at things or lived. Our guard has to be up. You can’t go into a theater and carry a pocketbook and set it beside you and hope something doesn’t hap-pen,” he says. “When you do travel, before you pay for that room, do a

thorough inspection yourself. Lift up the mattress; pull back the covers, check behind the headboard if you can.”

Summey also advises not using dress-ers in hotels and making sure all clothes in the closet are placed in the center. He notes that the best place to keep a suitcase is on the bathroom fl oor.

Should a home become overrun with bedbugs, raising the tempera-ture is the most effective way of get-ting rid of the parasites.

“Heat treatment, in my opinion, is the best way to eliminate bedbugs. You can’t get liquid on every joint of every piece of furniture. When we do heat treatment and heat everything in a home to a minimum of 125 degrees, everything is 125 degrees,” Summey says. “At 109, they become very un-comfortable; at 113, they begin to die in a short amount of time; at 120, they die very fast. We get the temperature to 125 for four or fi ve hours. That is the way to eliminate them.”

Good night, sleep tight

need-to-know, fun-to-know and good-to-know info about northwest Guilford County

healthhealthhealth 2012-132012-132012-13youryouryour

healthhealthhealthyour

healthhealthhealthyour

healthhealthhealthyour

healthhealthhealth fitnessfitnessfitness&&&healthhealthhealth&healthhealthhealth&healthhealthhealth&healthhealthhealth fitnessfitnessfitness&fitnessfitnessfitness&fitnessfitnessfitness&fitnessfitnessfitnessthe

to

a resource for medical & wellness services in northwest guilford county

a publication of

INSIDE THIS EDITIONINSIDE THIS EDITIONINSIDE THIS EDITION

Spring 2013

ALSO INSIDE: Reduce your chances of a home/auto break-in

Test your knowledge of northwest Guilford County • Maintaining your septic system

Cabinets: new or re-new? • Historic homes hold lifetimes of memories The latest home styles,

amenity trends at the

Parade of Homes

It’s springtime–what to

plant, when, and how

to care for it

Bedbugs–how to

avoid them and what

to do if you get them

Tips for getting your

house ready for the

sale

to do if you get themp. 8

p. 18p. 22

p. 12

need-to-know, fun-to-know and good-to-know info about northwest Guilford County

IN THIS ISSUE

News Briefs ..........................

......2,4

Stokesdale Town Council ....... 6-8

Community Calendar ......... 10-11

Udaeped ut liquasp eribea niasit

maionse quature rfernate nullaut

enimo omnimi, sinitae quatur, odis

duntiam et, officiis enecatur.

Boston marathon ....................... 13

Crime Report ............................

.. 14

Student Profiles ........................... 14

Bits & Pieces .........................15, 22

Editorials ...........................

........... 16

Grins & Gripes ............................

17

Classifieds .......................18-21, 23

Ad Index .............................

........23

ALSO INSIDE THIS ISSUE

bringing the local news home to northwest Guilford County since 1996 • nwobserver.com •

April 26 - May 2, 2013

Clark Doggett, 70, of Summerfield, ran in his first

Boston Marathon on April 15. Doggett was at

mile 22 when the bombings occurred, and

was pulled from the course at mile 25.

See story on page 13

Looking strong

at mile 22

Happy 100th birthday, Cora Pegram

Centenarian says she wants to dance

by HELEN LEDFORDA petite, gra-

cious lady with

smiling blue eyes,

snowy hair, infec-

tious and hearty

laugh – that’s

Cora Tucker Pe-

gram. Her youth-

ful manner and

appearance belies

the fact that on April 26 she will chalk

up a century of living on this earth. The

Oak Ridge resident is anticipating her

super, stupendous celebration event,

although in truth, she declares, “I don’t

feel much different.”

Born on Pleasant Ridge Road in

1913 to Clay and Annie Tucker, Cora

entered this world under the presidency

of Woodrow Wilson. Since that time,

she has lived under the govern of 16

other elected gentlemen who have

slept with their prestigious shoes under

a White House bed.

One of eight children,

Pegram recalls farm life and

coming home from school

with many chores to do.

Bringing in enough wood to

keep the stove fired up and

helping with the crops kept

her and her siblings busy.

Cora milked two cows twice a day

and once, while performing that task

in a rainstorm, lightning suddenly

struck a nearby wire. She recalls how

her shoulder was burned severely

from the metal handle of an umbrella

she held across her shoulder, and she

Pegram

...continued on 1

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